Sermons on Ordinary Moments:

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

Thirty-Third Sunday In Ordinary Time, C: The Three Huge Apocalyptic Stones Of Jesus Christ

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 15, 2022

“THE STONE IS COMING! “THE STONE IS COMING!”

Wheeler Winston Dixon is the chair of the Film Studies Program at the University of Nebraska. In his book, “Disaster and Memory”, he writes, “People go to disaster movies to prove to themselves that they can go through the worst possible experience but somehow that they’re immortal.” (The Lure ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:5-19, Daniel 2:34-35, Luke 20:17-18, Matthew 28:2, 1 Corinthians 15:14, Luke 12:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time, C- Pink Slip; You're Fired!

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Aug 23, 2022

In Luke 16:8, the dishonest manger is called “Commended”, “Prudent,” which is to be “Clever,” “Resourceful.”

Pink slip in hand, which is a notice of dismissal, given to this employee, who was a top manager; now this manager has to figure out fast how to get significant benefits from the soon-to-be former clients before he or she is terminated. The words “You’re fired” packs more of a punch than “You ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Eighth Sunday Ordinary Time, C-- Get Out Of The "Christian Bubble” For Blessings And Thanksgiving

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Sep 12, 2022

Of the ten healed, only one came back and gave thanks to Jesus. A Samaritan, who had imperfect faith and belief.

“Where are the other nine?” Jesus asks. I read that nine out of ten husbands agreed that their wives are always right. The tenth one hasn’t been seen since the study was conducted. Luke 17:11 says that Jesus “traveled through Samaria and Galilee.” Jesus grew up in Nazareth, which was around ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19, 2 Kings 5:14-17

Denomination: Catholic

Seventeenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, B- 17th Sunday Year B-- Two Fish

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jul 23, 2021

In Jewish apocalyptic circles, it was expected that fish would be the main dish at the Messianic banquet.

Jonathan Turnbough of Garner, North Carolina, talks about the time when his mother was driving him and his sisters to school and she was pulled over by a policeman and ticketed for speeding. After their little visit with the officer, they took off again, and his mother was very careful to stay ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-15

Denomination: Catholic

Fifteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Cycle A-- 15th Sunday, Year A --The Sower

Contributed by Paul Andrew on May 17, 2020

It is the intuitive mind alone that can penetrate the essence and heart of a parable. Then it becomes a living reality, thoroughly relevant to one’s own life.

“To throw alongside” a story with cryptic meaning is called a parable in Greek. In Zen Buddhism, a parable is like a “koan,” which is a spiritual inquiry using perplexing language intended to rouse a student’s innate wisdom-mind to apply it to their own life. As Rabbi Ibn Ezra said of parables, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, Isaiah 55:10-11

Denomination: Catholic

Thirty-Second Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B., 32nd Sunday--Widow Stewardship

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 5, 2021

Like the widow in our Gospel today, she is our spiritual mentor standing there on the margins. Not afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

On the first day of a Bible study at a suburban parish, the participants introduced themselves and described what ministries they participated in at the church. The group was filled with active, engaged parishioners. There were lectors, singers, pro-life volunteers, and many more. But one ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Eighth Sunday In Ordinary Time; 28th Sunday B Rich Young Man

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 9, 2021

By the apostles leaving all of that, we can see that Jesus relativized all of the central institutions of his society.

The rich young ruler is not boasting; he is just speaking as a devout Jew. Not all Christians are called to literally give away their possessions, but all disciples are called to give up everything by way of detachment; that everything we have ultimately belongs to God. Spiritual poverty means to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-30

Denomination: Catholic

Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C: Fishers: The Call, Objection, Assurance, And Commissioning Stories

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 8, 2025

“You got it bad and that ain’t good. But there is a doctor in the house and his name is Jesus."

Robert Coles, a Pulitzer Prize winner who taught at Harvard, believes that “the characters in novels can be persistent voices reminding us of the constant temptation toward egotism, and self-deception to which the mind is heir,’ and exhorting us to live lives that are morally inspired.”1 For ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8, Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C -- The Word Nonviolent Can Be An Adjective, It Modifies How

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 20, 2025

Jesus is asking us today not so much as “how can I find a gracious God? But “How can I find God in my enemy?” And, how can we be children of God in real life without loving our enemies?

The fictional Klingon language from Star Trek has no words for love. Of course, the Klingons were creatures of pure logic, not emotion. So, the closest words for “love” in their language were “honor” or “unhate.” That would be easy for us if we could define love simply as “unhating” others. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 26:2-23, Luke 6:27-38

Denomination: Catholic

The Extraordinary Jesus

Contributed by Ely Lambert on Jan 1, 2003

The amazing factor of Jesus is beyond words. It is encouraging to hear about the extra-ordinary qualities of Jesus.

Introduction: I. The Sears tower is the largest building in America A. It is 110 stories tall and 1,454 feet high. 1. It contains 4.5 million square feet of floor space 2. It took three years to build at a cost of $150 million dollars 3. It contains 43,000 miles of telephone cable, 2,000 miles of ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Missing It When God Visits

Contributed by Richard Laraviere on Sep 22, 2007

How many times do we fail to see and hear God in the ordinary things of life?

Missing it when God visits Text: Luke 19:41-44 Text Verse: …thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." Vs. 44 Opening: 1. How many times have I missed a GOD ENCOUNTER simply because I saw only the natural surroundings with natural eye, that which God had meant for me see with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:41-44

Denomination: Mennonite

Cosmas, Damian And Lorenzo Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 24, 2011

"Mere" laymen can have a long-lasting impact by doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.

26 September 2011 Cosmas, Damian, and Lorenzo Ruiz The eighth chapter of the book of Zechariah is the last chapter that scholars attribute to the prophet, rather than one of his disciples. It was written after the Babylonian exiles, when the people of Judah had returned to Jerusalem and were in ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 8:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Matthew 13:31-32 - Small Seed, Incredible Potential - Part 13 Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Mar 12, 2011

It was no ordinary seed. It was a seed of destiny, a seed of promise, a seed of kingdom significance, the seed of the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Matthew 13:31-32 - SMALL SEED, INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL - Part 13. When I read the Parable of the Mustard seed I am left with some serious questions. Jesus just tells the story in two sentences and leaves it at that. No explanation. He just says "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Decided Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Jul 30, 2011

This is week 5 of our sermon series No Ordinary Family and looks at the faith that put Moses on the list.

Every story has a beginning and this story began on the side of the Nile River. But before we can tell you about the beginning we need to tell you the beginning of the beginning. I’ve told you the story several times about Joseph being sold into slavery and ending up as governor of Egypt, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:23-27

Denomination: Wesleyan