Sermons on Priestly Vocations:

The High Priestly Prayer Of Jesus (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 17, 2023

Part 2 of a 2-part sermon that examines the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus as he prayed for God’s glory to be displayed in his life, and as he prayed for victory for the disciples who will carry the work forward on his behalf.

If you’re like me, one of the most frustrating aspects of my spiritual life is my prayer life. I don’t ever feel like I am praying enough. I feel like my mind wanders too often in prayer. I feel like my prayers are too repetitive at times. I don’t know why my appetite for prayer isn’t higher than ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

New Year’s And The Way To God’s Kingdom

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 31, 2009

Force, violence and recession are all just external means to get attention, but the way to bring God’s kingdom begins with a conversion of heart.

New Year’s Homily Isaiah 4:2-3 The words from Isaiah today are the comforting part of a longer passage that I would like to quote in full. Isaiah is speaking for God, and talking about the day of judgement: Seven women will take hold of one man on that day, saying: “We will eat our own food and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 4:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

Tolerance--No; Forbearance--Yes Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 5, 2015

We must go well beyond tolerance if we are to become the best version of ourselves, and always witnessing to the truth.

Thursday of 23rd week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel About ten years ago I asked Abp Gomez to visit my religion class and talk about priestly vocations to my boys. He kindly did so and started out with a pointed question: why are you a Catholic? It swelled my heart to hear one of the class ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-38

Denomination: Catholic

"reformation: Finding Peace With God"

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Oct 25, 2019

The Reformation explosive, hard hitting, controversial, grace saturated, salvation clarifying Christ moment in history, based on Luther’s understanding of God’s grace as he lectured on Romans. The Reformation changed culture and our view or vocation.

In Jesus Holy Name October 27, 2019 Text: Romans 3:21-24 Redeemer “Reformation: Finding Peace with God” What a great event last night. Good food. Great music. Fun fellowship. Great beer. I always tell my Calvinist friends I’m so glad I’m a Lutheran. Why? Because I don’t ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-24, Romans 5:1-3

Denomination: Lutheran

We Lift Our Hands Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Oct 7, 2024

The second sermon in a stewardship series. This week focuses on service and vocation.

September 29, 2024 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Micah 6:6-8; Philippians 2:1-11; Mark 1:29-31 We Lift Our Hands Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. We lift our hands. Hands are amazing things. There are 27 bones in a ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:6-8, Philippians 2:1-11, Mark 1:29-31

Denomination: Lutheran

A Wedding Banquet Not Just Any Old Party

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 25, 2025

All Christians, by their baptism and faith, put on Jesus Christ. That means that like Jesus, we are prophets, priests and kings or leaders. That imposes a moral code, doesn’t it?

Thirteenth Sunday in Course 2025 (Year C) There are a couple of strange sentences in today’s OT reading that need to be clarified, so you don’t leave church today with question marks on your face. Now we should all leave our Sunday assembly with questions, but they should be queries like “how can ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13-18, Luke 9:51-62, 1 Kings 19:16, 1 Kings 19:19-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

The Marvelous Cost Of Discipleship

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Sep 7, 2022

A sermon for the Sunday following Pentecost, Year C, Lectionary 23

September 4, 2022 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Luke 14:25-33 The Marvelous Cost of Discipleship Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. This is Labor Day weekend. Typically, we think of Labor Day as the last big holiday of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Lutheran

Eyes Front

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on May 28, 2023

As long as we’re looking at other people, we’re not getting on with what God has called us to do.

The disciples had just come back from going fishing. In the passage just before ours, we see Simon Peter, James and John, Thomas, Nathanael and two others, out in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, fishing. But then comes the twist in the story. We've already seen how Jesus appeared on the shore and ...read more

Scripture: John 15:23, 1 Corinthians 12:21-24

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Agents Of Grace

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jul 3, 2023

A sermon for the Sundays following Pentecost, Year A, Lectionary 13

July 2, 2023 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Matthew 10:40-42 Agents of Grace Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. I’ve always been a fan of good news - bad news jokes: One day, the Pope’s assistant urgently approached ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:40-42

Denomination: Lutheran

Not What They Had Planned

Contributed by Mary Erickson on May 2, 2022

A sermon for the 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C

May 1, 2022 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Acts 9:1-6; John 21:1-19 Not What They Had Planned Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Saints Peter and Paul. Both men are full of zeal. They will both be instrumental in the ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-19, Acts 9:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

The Time Has Come For Bi-Vocational Ministers And Staff

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jun 3, 2001

We are all ministers so we need to rethink some traditional vocational concepts.

The Time Has Come For Bi-vocational Ministers and Staff I have served in many churches over the last twenty-five years in a bi-vocational capacity. Only at the time I had not heard the terminology nor realized that it was what was needed in the churches. I had been saved and mentored under the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:7-9, Acts 20:33-34

Denomination: Baptist

When A Leader Of The Church Creates A Scandal Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 25, 2018

The Holy Ghost has the power to sweep up the shards and make from this mess a magnificent mosaic of Christ.

Fourteenth Sunday in Course: Extraordinary Lectionary The Church is in a “time that tries men's souls,” and it is not God who has put us in this trial by fire. A good friend of mine is a convert to the Catholic faith, and recently told me that if she were in the decision phase of that conversion ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-24, Psalm 83:10-11, Matthew 6:24-33

Denomination: Catholic

Jesus Christ Is King Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 24, 2015

The world has changed, and the culture is anti-Christian, but there are reasons for optimism in Christ.

Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King Last Sunday in October Extraordinary Form 2015 Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat! On this Feast of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and King, let’s take some time to reflect on the reign of Our King and our celebration of the Holy Mass according ...read more

Scripture: John 18:33-37

Denomination: Catholic

Doing Things God's Way

Contributed by Kumar Aryal on Jul 20, 2018

Tabernacle

Doing Things God’s Way Exodus 36:8-39:31(NIV) Good Morning Brothers and Sisters! What a joy to come together to worship God and to study His word. I would like to begin with a question this morning: What is the hardest thing about being a Christian? Could you please, ask your seatmate? How many of ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Individualism And Making Holy Families Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 26, 2021

Individualism, like most isms, is a philosophy of “me, first.” “I don’t care about anything or anybody but me.”

Homily for Feast of the Holy Family Sir 3: 2-7, 12-14; Psalm 127; Col 3: 12-21; Lk 2: 22-40 Version 2 (request that lector read the long version of Colossians) Is any English word so misunderstood today as the key word in Paul’s letter to the church of Colossae? No, I don’t mean the word ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-21, Luke 2:22-40, Malachi 2:16

Denomination: Catholic