Sermons on Ordinary Men:

Twenty-Ninth Sunday In Ordinary Time; 29th Sunday B -- Can You Drink The Cup?

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 18, 2021

For training purposes, the supervisor suddenly handed the nurse a wine glass that happened to be on a nearby shelf. The "director" asked the nurse to "lose" her thumbs by tucking them into her palms. It was uncomfortable and difficult to hold the glass.

Jesus asked James and John, “Can you drink the cup that I drink?” To answer, One can use Theology as Drama. e.g. A supervisor and a nurse did a re-enactment when a patient was going to have an operation on her thumbs the following day. The nurse asked, "Why? What's the matter with ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:42-45

Denomination: Catholic

Sixteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Cycle A; 16th Sunday , Year A-- Weeds And Wheat

Contributed by Paul Andrew on May 21, 2020

This parable doesn’t mean that we tolerate all sorts of bad behavior. Jesus doesn’t condone weed (pun intended).

If we ask, "why is there evil in the world?" we must also ask "why is there good in the world?" We get our answers this Sunday: Beginning with pre-history “while everybody was asleep” (Matthew 13:24-30), the weeds represent the enemies of God, who are: Satan, demons, and humans ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Second Sunday In Ordinary Time, Cycle Or Year C-- Table Talk: Take The Lowest Place

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jul 30, 2022

It’s easier to ignore people at rectangular tables.

Recently there was a man from Ireland who became an internet sensation for a silly mistake he made while on vacation. This gentleman was visiting Las Vegas for the first time. So he borrowed his son’s GoPro camera, put it on a stick, and walked all over the Las Vegas Strip. He was filming all the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-14

Denomination: Catholic

Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year A: What Loving Your Enemies And Being ‘perfect’ Mean

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 8, 2023

“Now raise your hands if you have only one or two enemies.” And even fewer people raised their hands. “See,” says the priest, “most of us feel like we have enemies.”

A priest is giving a homily like I am right now on “What loving your enemies and being ‘perfect’ mean.” “Now,” says the priest, “I’ll bet that many of us feel as if we have enemies in our lives. So, raise your hands if you have a few enemies.” And several people raise their hands.” “Now raise ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time—b ; 26th Sunday B-- Lessons From Lizards

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Sep 24, 2021

According to the artist "the Thinker" is sitting in mute amazement as he contemplates lost people in hell.

Lizards scatter when they perceive a threat, and they will self-amputate their tail if a predator seizes it. It will leave its tail behind and run but with modified locomotor performance and mechanics. The lizard says to itself: 'It's better to lose my tail than to lose my ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-48

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Eighth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C-- The Perfect Thank You Has Four Parts

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 10, 2025

Start with “thank you;” Recognize the Gift; Why you’re grateful, Tell that person what they mean to you.

John Kralik, a lawyer, found his life at a terrible, frightening low at age 53. He was twice-divorced, out of shape, had money troubles, and he had grown distant from his two older children and was afraid he might lose contact with his young daughter. But during his tough circumstances, an idea ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Catholic

Fourteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B: Country Music, I Aint Leaving You, Thorn

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jun 4, 2024

then I realized that God uses not just our gifts, but our thorns too

Country music often tells stories about real life problems, thus the joke, “What do you get when you play country music backward?” You get back your wife, your dog, and your truck. One song tells about a man taking his beloved wife, whom he truly loves, to his 10th High School reunion, where he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7

Denomination: Catholic

Thirty-Second Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year A: Ten Virgins- Bring Your Own Oil

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 13, 2023

“The trumpet, scattering its awful sound. Across the graves of all lands, Summons all before the throne. Remember, gentle Jesus, that I am the reason for your time on earth, do not cast me out on that day, When the damned are confounded, and consigned to keen flames, call me with the blessed.”

BYOB stands for Bring Your Own Beverage. Today’s parable is about preparing for our individual and irrevocable particular judgment at death and it is always a Bring Your Own Oil affair—BYOO. [Thanks to Troy Borst for this phrase] The inevitable sleep of death overtook all ten of them, and our ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Catholic

It's Not Just How You Start, It's Also How You Finish Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Oct 15, 2001

Whether our story of starting our life with God is dramatic or ordinary, what truly counts is finishing.

[Note:  This sermon was preceded by a testimony of a person who had been an atheist and substance abuser who came to Christ through our church].   Isn’t it exciting to hear how God has changed Kevin’s life? But even as we rejoice, I know what some of you are thinking. Some of you are thinking, "I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Wall - Pt. 1 - Building Blocks Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Jan 13, 2012

An unlikely hero teaches us that, as ordinary as we are, our wall can and must be built!

The Wall Pt. 1 – Building Blocks I. Text Nehemiah 1:1-11 1-2The memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. It was the month of Kislev in the twentieth year. At the time I was in the palace complex at Susa. Hanani, one of my brothers, had just arrived from Judah with some fellow Jews. I asked them ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Wall - Pt. 3 - Wall Warriors Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Jan 23, 2012

An unlikely hero teaches us that, as ordinary as we are, our wall can and must be built!

The Wall Pt. 3 – Wall Warriors I. Introduction Nehemiah a captive, a slave has risen to status of cup bearer for the king. He gets a bad report about his hometown and responds. He has taught us that we must be moved beyond tears. That God keeps His Word . . . both curses and promises. That ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Wall - Pt. 4 - Wall Weapons Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Jan 31, 2012

An unlikely hero teaches us that, as ordinary as we are, our wall can and must be built!

The Wall Pt. 4 – Wall Weapons I. Introduction Nehemiah a captive, a slave has risen to status of cup bearer for the king. He gets a bad report about his hometown and responds. He has taught us that we must be moved beyond tears. That God keeps His Word . . . both curses and promises. That God ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Evangelism At The Well

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 19, 2017

Let’s see that the Gospel flows from ordinary people who have had an encounter with Jesus.

Intro What kind of people are able to spread the Gospel? Goal Let’s see that the Gospel flows from ordinary people who have had an encounter with Jesus. Plan Let’s examine John 4:5-42 and the woman at the well. John 4:5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field ...read more

Scripture: John 4:5-42

Denomination: Baptist

Following The Crowd

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 26, 2023

The crowd in Jerusalem that day was made up of ordinary people, people like you, people like me.

I wonder how many people in the crowd who shouted for Barabbas had also been in the crowd that shouted “Hosanna” a week before. Crowds had followed Jesus throughout his ministry. Crowds pushed their way into the little house in Capernaum so that the only way a paralyzed man could get to Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:6-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Average American

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Jul 18, 2024

Jesus knows ordinary folk need rest, help, healing, and he also knows they need compassion.

The Average American Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 1. Average folk that’s who and what we are • Average folk live normal lives • Average folk work mostly blue collar jobs • Average folk are concerned and caring • Average folk Believe in God, and goes to church at least 2 or 3 times a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-56

Denomination: Methodist