Sermons on Mary Interceding:

God Has Something Better

Contributed by Marie Tombow on Feb 2, 2009

Abraham was willing to give God that which was the object of his love … He’s asking you to do the same ….. offer Him the object of your love….

GOD HAS SOMETHING BETTER…. TEXT: GENESIS 22:1-18 A SMALL BOY, CLUTCHING A WELL-WORN TEDDY BEAR DAD HAD BROUGHT HIM A BETTER GIFT ME, CAUGHT UP IN MY WELL-WORN LIFESTYLE OFFERED TO GIVE IT UP ON THE CONDITION …. I. Listen to His Call V.1 God spoke to Abraham. He called him by name and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Gentle Servant

Contributed by Marie Tombow on Feb 2, 2009

As the Gentle Servant with God’s stamp of approval, Jesus works quietly, gently and victoriously; yet He impacts the entire world.

Isaiah 42:1-4 Intro: God owns Him: v.1 1. As one employed by Him He is my servant a. He learned obedience to the Will of God. b. He practiced it. c. He laid Himself out to advance the interests of God’s Kingdom. 2. As one chosen by Him He is mine elect (KJV) a. He did not thrust ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

One Is Bigger Than Many Series

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 7, 2009

Idea: THE ONLY WAY TO REACH GOD’S GOAL IS TO REACH IT TOGETHER

[INTRODUCTION] The Olympic contestants line up in the starting blocks for the hundred-meter dash. Anticipation has the crowd suspended on the edge of their seats. The starter raises his gun and fires. The athletes spring out of the starting blocks. As they do, it becomes obvious this is no ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Descending Into Greatness Series

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 7, 2009

Jesus example of humility

Introduction What does it take to be a success? When Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator of Italy for over 20 years, was asked that question by a New York journalist, his reply was, “Above all, keep your heart a desert!” According to Mussolini, having a heart which cared for no one was the key ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Road To Easter Runs Through A Cemetery

Contributed by Mari Larson on Apr 23, 2014

Good Friday was a necessary part of the Easter journey. The sermon shares a Leonard Sweet story about bell-ringing. (Each person who came to worship received a bell as they entered.)

They thought it was over. Jesus was dead and buried. The religious folks sighed with satisfaction. His followers wept in grief. But they were wrong! They were all wrong! From this side of Easter, we can call Friday “Good” because we know that it was not over, all had not been ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

Resurrection Adrenaline

Contributed by Mari Larson on Apr 23, 2014

Easter was a time of Adrenaline for the disciples, but the two walking to Emmaus missed it... until Jesus became known to them.

When I told people about my family’s plans to spend a day at the Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course last month, some nodded, others gave a look of questioning, and a few responded with one word, “WHY?!” Researchers tell us that younger generations are drawn more than ever to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Lutheran

Because He First Loved Me

Contributed by Mari Larson on Apr 23, 2014

No matter the circumstances of baptism, it is God who does the work because God loves us before we love God.

We may not know the nine verses of Frederick Whitfield’s 1855 hymn, “O How I love Jesus,” but I’m guessing most of us know the refrain: O, how I love Jesus; O, how I love Jesus; O, how I love Jesus, because he first loved me. Because he first loved me. Before I could do ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Testify To The Light

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Dec 18, 2023

A sermon for the third Sunday of Advent, Year B

December 17, 2023 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church John 1:6-8, 19-28 Testify to the Light Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. I saw a PBS show a few weeks ago about Dark Sky Preserves. They’re part of the greater Dark Sky ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-8

Denomination: Lutheran

We Are Not Alone

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Dec 26, 2023

A sermon for Christmas Eve

December 24, 2023 Christmas Eve Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Luke 2:1-20 We Are Not Alone Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. This Christmas season lasts but a brief 12 days. It’s a very short time to fit in so much! ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Lutheran

The Grounding Of Our Identity

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jan 8, 2024

A sermon for The Baptism of Our Lord, Year B

January 7, 2024 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Genesis 1:1-5; Mark 1:4-11 The Grounding of Our Identity Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Who are you? How do you understand yourself to be? In some ways, our identity ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:4-11, Genesis 1:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran

Handing Over The Keys

Contributed by Mari Larson on Sep 7, 2014

The authority to forgive (The Office of the Keys) has been given to us, but we don't use it.

Church life on the prairies of the Midwest is often quite different from church life here (in Arizona). Small congregations of Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, and German origins are slowly dying out, and since we no longer preach in the languages of our mother-lands (Thank God!), and because ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Are All Sparrows Equal?

Contributed by Mari Larson on Jun 15, 2014

Bad things do happen to good people. In Matthew 10, Jesus warns the disciples what will happen to them on their mission and then he reminds them that they were, are, and will be precious to God!

It is clearly in our nature to rate and rank others. When Jesus tells us today that we are of more value than sparrows, we’re probably not surprised, but we may wonder about the hierarchy of creation. We’re worth more than sparrows, and sparrows are certainly worth more than ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:29-31

Denomination: Lutheran

The Meal, The Message, And The Miracle

Contributed by Mari Larson on Jul 28, 2014

The Feeding of the 5,000 is a great miracle story, but it wasn't the only miracle that happened that day.

The Meal, the Message, and the Miracle Proper 13A – Matthew 14:13-21 -- August 3, 2014 Food! Be it blessed or tempting, it is filled with meaning that may not have anything to do with the food itself. Kringla, with its subtle hint of nutmeg, reminds me of grandma, who not only made these ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Ring Tone

Contributed by Mari Larson on Jan 18, 2015

Like Samuel and Eli, we don't always initially recognize God's Ring Tone, but God is calling to us, and our job is to listen.

As most of you know, I had planned to be at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, completing an intense Mini-MBA course this past week. But last Sunday afternoon, I had a strong sense that I wasn’t supposed to go. As I told that to (my husband) Gary and then to Wanda (our congregational ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Preparing For Christmas, John's Style

Contributed by Mari Larson on Dec 17, 2018

Preparing for Christmas beyond decorating trees and writing cards.

I have done it, and I cannot undo it. I have equated social media with that/this wild-eyed picture of John the Baptist. “You brood of vipers.” Polarizing. Negative. Scary, even. I hear some of you giggling, and I see you smiling. You know what I’m talking about. There’s a lot of speaking ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18

Denomination: Lutheran