Sermons on Oriented:

Sixteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C: Martha And Mary

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jun 1, 2022

When Martha brought her stress and complaints to Jesus, he heard her deepest need. He wanted Martha’s soul to catch up to her body.

A journalist with Bon Appetit Magazine asked readers to submit examples of their worst dinner party experiences. A woman names Bea Stein wrote about how the candles on her patio table fell over and set the whole table on fire. Another hostess had 50 guests coming over for brunch when the city ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Catholic

Philip The Apostle Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 7, 2022

Of the four Gospels, Philip figures most prominently in the Gospel of John. Jesus asks Philip how to feed the 5,000 people. Later he appears as a link to the Greek community. Philip bore a Greek name, may have spoken Greek and may have been known to the Greek pilgrims in Jerusalem.

Philip the Apostle (Not to be confused with Philip the Evangelist.) Saint Philip the Apostle Apostle and Martyr Born 3 AD Bethsaida, Galilee, Roman Empire Died 80 AD Hierapolis, Asia, Roman Empire Venerated in Anglicanism Catholicism Eastern Orthodoxy Oriental ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:5

Denomination: Baptist

We All Become Shepherds Of The Flock

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 7, 2015

The value of chastity and the witness of a Christian marriage to a depraved culture

Sixteenth Sunday in Course 2015 Ordinary Form “A great throng. . .like sheep without a shepherd.” What a picture for those of us with any experience with cattle or sheep. If you have a good cutting horse, one man or woman can control the behavior of a herd of cows. If you have a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:31-34

Denomination: Catholic

What Makes You Mad? Series

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jul 25, 2015

Fear and anger have a way of causing us to stray from God's will. Jonah shows us a clear example of this and Jesus shows us how to avoid it.

Growing up as a child in the midst of American patriotism during the cold war with Russia, I remember hearing it said by otherwise good Christian people that they wished we would just launch a bunch of our atomic warheads at Russia and blow them off the map. Some would even look at biblical books ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Loving God Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 11, 2021

Let's look at the first of the great commandments, loving God.

Before we get into the topic of loving God deeply, let’s do a little housekeeping. Mark 12:30 seems to add a word, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Where does the extra word come from? When the Bible ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:30

Denomination: Baptist

We Need To Get Turned Around

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Jan 10, 2015

John the Baptist called for each of us to repent. What does that mean? How do we get turned around when we find we are on the wrong road?

About 15 years ago, I was on my way to an orientation and open day at the seminary. I had never been to the campus before, and the freeways in California can be tricky. In this case, the 57, which I was taking, and the 60 joined together for a couple of miles before they split apart. Somehow I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:4-11, Galatians 5:16-24

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

“the Sheep's Shepherd”

Contributed by Ian Humphrey on Nov 4, 2015

“The Sheep's Shepherd”

Psalms 23:1-6 “The Sheep's Shepherd” “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (v. 1). The word “Lord” in verse 1 is the word ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Holiness

What Have We Spoken Against You? Series

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Nov 19, 2015

In this passage God is addressing disappointed and disillusioned people who accuse Him of being unfair. Problem: People speak against God.

Introduction: What speech is spoken against God? 1) vain speech (uselessness or false) Exo 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. 2) deceptive or smooth speech (lying) Rom 16:18 For such men are ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Good Things Always Come In Three’s? Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Oct 1, 2015

A study of the book of Ester 10: 1 – 3

Ester 10: 1 – 3 Good Things Always Come in Three’s? 1 And King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. 2 Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the ...read more

Scripture: Esther 10:1-3

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Long Road Rome Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 7, 2021

Paul used personal ingenuity and shrewd strategy to accomplish God’s ultimate will. We, too, can better serve God if we embrace the unlikely combination of being innocent but yet shrewd.

The Long Road Rome (Acts 23:1-35) 1. Over the next few chapters, we are going to meet some interesting characters. 2. Today, we will be introduced to Felix (show photo 1). 3. In a few weeks, we will meet Festus (show photo 2). 4. Last of all, we will meet Agrippa (show photo 3). 5. Paul was in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 23:1-25, Luke 16:1-13, Matthew 10:16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A New Direction

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Dec 21, 2021

Michelangelo left four unfinished sculptures called “The Prisoners or Slaves”. Individually they are known as “The Awakening Slave”, “The Young Slave”, “The Bearded Slave”, and “The Atlas Bound” (Accademia).

Michelangelo left four unfinished sculptures called “The Prisoners or Slaves”. Individually they are known as “The Awakening Slave”, “The Young Slave”, “The Bearded Slave”, and “The Atlas Bound” (Accademia). They are partway carved from their block of marble but, never finished, they are forever ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Philippians 1:3-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Today's Stumbling Blocks Of The Church

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Aug 17, 2021

Jesus spoke about stumbling blocks in the faith. Oh yes, that includes the church. Does the church have any?

42 "aWhoever causes one of these 1little ones who believe to stumble, it 2would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he 3had been cast into the sea. 43 "aIf your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:42-48

Denomination: United Methodist

Hope For The Way

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Apr 26, 2023

A sermon for the third Sunday of Easter, Year A

April 23, 2023 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Luke 24:13-35 Hope for the Way Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” – Luke 24:21 Hope. Hope is something that allows ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Lutheran

Seeking The Peace And Love Of Jesus Christ

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Aug 2, 2023

Jesus' peace and love is eternal. His hope is that eternal peace and love would come to the earth.

Seeking the Peace and Love of Jesus Christ John 14:25-31 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz John 14:25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 “But the aHelper, the Holy Spirit, bwhom the Father will send in My name, cHe will teach you all things, and dbring to your remembrance ...read more

Scripture: John 14:25-31

Denomination: United Methodist

Stephen Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Sep 22, 2023

As the gaze of the Sanhedrin fell on Stephen they saw “that his face was like the face of an angel.” Stephen stood there, unafraid, his face glowing with the peace and calm of heaven.

September 23, 2023 As the church grew, it began to experience growing pains. One source of that pain involved the distribution of food to the Jewish and Gentile widows. The Gentile widows made accusations that they were not getting their fair share of the daily food distributions. The ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:11, Acts 6:8, Acts 7:1-60

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist