Sermons on Midrash:

The Unfortunate, The Hothead, And The Believer Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 1, 2014

As representatives of our Lord and Savior, we want to reflect the ethical behavior that should characterize God’s people. Today we will look at two ethics we need to embrace.

The Unfortunate, the Hothead, and the Believer (Proverbs 22:22-25) 1. A rabbinic story tells about a group of people traveling in a boat. One passenger takes out a drill and begins drilling a hole under his seat. The other passengers, quite understandably, complain that this action may cause the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:22-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sovereignty Gone Viral Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 18, 2013

All things work together for ultimate good because God is Sovereign over all.

Sovereignty Gone Viral (Isaiah 45:1-13) 1. My friend reviewed her young son's fill-in-the-blank homework. One line: "At Christmas, we exchange gifts with ____." His response: "Receipts." [Reader’s Digest] 2. The word “exchange” can imply the mutuality of gift exchanging, or ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God, The Heart-Broken Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 22, 2011

Like a grieving husband who has been deserted by the wife he loves, God reflects upon his relationship to unfaithful Israel.

God, the Heart-broken (Hosea 12-13) 1. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa police arrested an expelled student after thwarting what they called a "catastrophic" plot to set off a bomb at his former high school next week, authorities said Wednesday. Police Chief Jane Castor said Jared Cano, 17, had threatened ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Messiah In Isaiah 49 Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 31, 2014

We need to understand Jesus and his mission as much as we can. Isaiah 49 presents, in prophetic verse, three truths about our Savior.

Messiah In Isaiah 49 (Isaiah 49:1-16) 1. Exciting day with Boris Goldin, Chosen People Ministries. 2. Some people enjoy Jewish Roots because they like the culture, heritage, or aura of ancient Judaism or Messianic Judaism. 3. I am interested primarily because I love the Word of God, both ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Does Jesus Make The Grade? Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 31, 2017

Jesus makes the grade. He is the ultimate high priest, the ultimate in compassion, and has the ultimate endorsement.

Does Jesus Make the Grade? (Hebrews 5:1-10) 1. A lot of serious and not-so-serious problems come our way when texting. Today, I was walking whilst texting. I thought I was going in a straight line but I ended up walking right into an open phone booth. A woman was inside making a phone call. I ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When Others Are Out To Get You Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 6, 2020

Even when we are lamenting our stressful situations, we can engage in a spiritual process and find God’s sustaining peace and joy, at least for a time.

When Others Are Out to Get You (Psalm 4) 1. The neighbors cut down a shade tree., and Marylu was lamenting that, our shade landscaping was now isunny. When one of her favorite hostas died, she lamented its loss. 2. I could have said, “Chin up. Just say, ‘Hosta La Vista, baby.’” But then again, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 4:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Short Answers To Common Questions 4 Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 2, 2016

Once again we are going to ask three questions on different subjects and seek to answer those questions from a Scriptural context.

Short Answers to Common Questions 4 1. Some problems have no solutions. One blogger writes, “Today, my roommate confided in me that she hadn't been taking showers while at school because she was afraid of being in the shower when the fire alarm goes off. She goes home once every month, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Blessings Of Solid, Godly Character Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 2, 2020

In a world emphasizing freedom and personal choice, it should not surprise us that character has taken a back seat. But for God’s people, things are different. Character matters. Today we are going to see three blessings of solid, godly character.

The Blessings of Solid, Godly Character (Proverbs 28:1-5) 1. Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A pair of animal control officers in New Jersey came to the rescue of a deer spotted with a plastic pumpkin stuck over its head. Montclair Township Animal Control said two officers responded after multiple calls came in ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:1-5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Different Angle Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 14, 2019

Sometimes we need to strive to understand important truths more deeply. Sometimes we need to be admonished to stay true to those truths, and to interpret events through their filter. Sometimes we need to find our unity through these.

A Different Angle Introduction to I John 1. Being well-intended does not always work. One blogger writes, “Today, I found out that shutting off the heat in the rental property my parents owned was a bad idea. The water froze and the pipes burst, causing the whole kitchen ceiling to fall down. The ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Real Life Wisdom Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 28, 2016

It is the simple things of the Christian life that determine our spiritual success. It is often the simplest wisdom that also pays the greatest dividends. It’s not rocket science!

Real Life Wisdom (Proverbs 24:27-34) 1. Everyone has to make judgment calls, using what wisdom they have. 2. Take an event that happened this week. It raises the question “Where’s the Beef?” PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- A bull escaped from a Philadelphia slaughterhouse and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:27-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Inheriting God’s Love Dna Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 1, 2019

We inherit a certain DNA from our parents; believers have one spiritual parent, the Father. We evidence our family relationship by evidencing His qualities, especially love.

Inheriting God’s Love DNA (I John 4:7-21) 1. There is much debate about whether obesity is genetic. Identical twins raised apart. 2. As one strand of DNA asked the other, “Do these genes make me look fat?” 3. Seriously, though, I have greatly enjoyed the results of a DNA test through ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Temptation And The Reality Of The Devil

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Feb 16, 2002

Exegesis of the Temptation in the Wilderness and an examination of the reality of the Devil from a non-fundamentalist perspective. "The greatest achievement of the devil was to convince people he no longer existed."

Sermon: 1st Sunday of Lent, Year A: 17th February 2002. Text: Matthew 4:1-11 In the name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “I can resist anything… except temptation!” So said the great wit, Oscar Wilde. Of all things in this world, temptation is something that we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Midrashim Leviticus On The Mount Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 30, 2009

Jesus took passages from Leviticus, taught them, and repackaged them so that His disciples can live out the principles behind them.

Midrashim Leviticus on the Mount (Leviticus 19:17-18 with Matthew 5:21-24; Leviticus 19:15-16 with Matthew 7:1-5; Deuteronomy 19:15 with Mathew 18:15-17) 1. We have an expression for conniving, called "fudging." Webster defines fudging as, "… to exceed the proper bounds or limits of something." ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 19:15-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Called To Be Super-Heroes Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 1, 2015

In the spiritual realm, we are called to be God’s super heroes. We can only be super heroes on earth, because — when we are in heaven — we will not need these unique skills.

Called to Be Super-Heroes (I Timothy 6:11-17, 20-21) 1. [This is a combination Norwegian and Chinese joke] A young man walks through New York Chinatown and notices a shop with the name Hans Olaffsen's Laundry. He thought it seemed out of place but curiosity got the best of him and he walked into ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:11-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Graciousness Spectrum Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 3, 2014

We humans and yes, we believers, are not all good or bad, black or white. We exist on a spectrum; at one end is Christlikeness, graciousness, truth, love. On the other end is self-centeredness, withholding of grace, compromised truth, and control.

The Graciousness Spectrum (Proverbs 22:8, 10-12) 1. Do you make fewer phone calls than you used to? 2. According to UPI, “…making phone calls is the sixth most common use of a cellphone, with first being sending text messages and second being receiving texts. Reading personal emails ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:8-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible