Sermons on Raynald Iii:

Teamwork In Transit To Jesus

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 17, 2003

In Mark 2:1-12, we have a miracle story about a paralyzed man whose "conscience" seemed to be "troubling him". ... Jesus enables the paralyzed man to experience healing as forgiveness.

TEAMWORK IN TRANSIT TO JESUS Text: Mark 2:1-12 A man consulted a doctor. "I’ve been misbehaving, Doc, and my conscience is troubling me," he complained. "And you want something that will strengthen your will power?" asked the doctor. "Well, no," the man said, "I was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

The Power Of Faith

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 19, 2003

What we believe about God we believe because of our faith.

THE POWER OF FAITH Text: First John 5:4 Someone has said that "The CRITICS of the Christian religion have often contented that religious faith is a form of psychological "escapism". A man, they say, finding the problems and demands of adult life too much for him will attempt to return to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:4

Denomination: United Methodist

Coming Down From The Mountain

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 27, 2003

There are times in our lives when we are at the peak of joy when we do not want the moment to end. There are other times when we do not feel as though we will make to the journey’s end because of being on the verge of burning out.

COMING DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN Text: Mark 9: 2-9 One of my favorite places in all of the United States is at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. Any one who has ever been to Lake Junaluska will know what I am talking about. Many ministers dream of having a retirement home there. It is indeed ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-9

Denomination: United Methodist

Called To Reconciliation And To Reconcile (The Trampled Triumphant)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 4, 2003

There is no one who ... can stand before God justified and clean because without the blood of Jesus that washes away our sin our righteousness is nothing more than filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). (A sermon for Ash Wednesday).

CALLED TO RECONCILIATION AND TO RECONCILE Text: Second Corinthians 5:20 - 6:10 William Cowper, the poet, found peace with God through the words, "Jesus Christ, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins" ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Baptism And The Battleground

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 5, 2003

We can only win over and against temptation by putting our faith in Jesus Christ who can help us to resist temptation.

BAPTISM AND THE BATTLEGROUND Text: Mark 1:9-15 "It is said that Ignatius of Loyola once had a hole dug for the novices [rookies] of his order a grave, having them buried except for their heads, asking, "Are you dead?" To those who answered yes, he would reply, "Rise then, and begin ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-15

Denomination: United Methodist

We Are God's Workmanship

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 18, 2003

Before we knew Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were alive physically, but spiritually dead.

WE ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 There is a story that I once read when I was in my freshman year of college. There was a man in a mental institution that had the delusion that he was dead. His counselor got sick of the ongoing routine of this man’s delusion. "Eureka," he ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist

The Meaning Of The Cross Is Bittersweet

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 19, 2003

For Jesus, there is no such thing as a crown without a cross! The meaning of the cross is bittersweet!

THE MEANING OF THE CROSS IS BITTERSWEET Text: Mark 8:31-38 "A girl reportedly came up to Dwight L. moody after one of his evangelistic meetings and said, "I felt that God was calling me to go to the mission field tonight." Moody asked her, "How did you reply to that?" "No, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: United Methodist

When God Called Samuel

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jan 14, 2003

Samuel’s call was timely because the priesthood of Eli’s family line had been defiled and compromised by his sons Hophni and Phineas.

WHEN GOD CALLED SAMUEL Text: First Samuel 3:1-10 We have all heard of a thing called tough love. Tough love is when one confronts another with unyielding consequences. Tough love does not yield to the ones who want to bend the rules. Tough love is tough because it reminds the ones or the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist

Nothing Can Separate Us From God's Love

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jul 22, 2002

This sermon addresses how God loves us beyond our comprehension even when we feel alone in our trials and sufferings.

NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD’S LOVE Text: Romans 8:18-28, 34-37 "I heard about a frustrated mother whose two sons where driving her crazy. She had tried everything to keep them in line, when one day she had an over-the-fence discussion with a neighbor. "I took my son to our ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-28, Romans 8:34-37

Denomination: United Methodist

Being Patient

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jul 22, 2002

This sermon addresses how we need to be patient and let God decide when it it is time to separate the wheat from the weeds of His field.

BEING PATIENT Text: Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43 I used to work at the Milliken plant in Saluda, SC. As I worked there I became increasingly familiar with how things were in the textile industry here in the United States as opposed to other countries. One day while eating breakfast I had read ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:36-43, Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: United Methodist

A Prophet Challenges The System

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 20, 2002

This sermon addresses the issue of how prosperity does not always mean that God apporves of what is going on with those in positions of power.

A PROPHET CHALLENGES THE SYSTEM Text: Amos 7:7-17 One of the most intriguing sights in all the world is that of the leaning Tower Of Pisa in Tuscany, Italy. It was begun in 1174 and completed in 1350. It stands 179 feet high and leans some 16 and a half feet out of the perpendicular as of ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:7-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Jesus Came To Set Us Free

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 20, 2002

This sermon addresses those times when we feel as though God might have forgotten about us and our desire for freedom.

JESUS CAME TO SET US FREE Text: Luke 4:14-21 The scripture that Jesus read in the synagogue was a message of hope that Jesus told them was going to be fulfilled in their hearing. It just so happens that when Jesus read this scripture, it was during the time of JUBILEE. Jubilee goes all the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:14-21

Denomination: United Methodist

Called To A Life Of Holiness

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 10, 2002

It is one thing to talk about Christianity, but it is another thing altogether to live a Christian life.

CALLED TO A LIFE OF HOLINESS Text: First Peter 1:13-25 "Quaker philospher Elton Trueblood described our society as a "cut- flower" civilization. The basic Christian truths have built it, but if we are disconnected from our roots, our ideals and ethics eventually fade and die. If we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Denomination: United Methodist

God Is Calling Us

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 10, 2002

God calls all of us to salvation, but not all who are called will choose to comply.

GOD IS CALLING US Text: Jeremiah 1:4-10 You have heard of the term, Predestination. When you read the first chapter of Jeremiah, you cannot but help to think about how Jeremiah’s life was predestined or predetermined. Normally, when we think of the term “predestined or predestination” we ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Denomination: United Methodist

Love Never Fails

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 11, 2002

The kind of love that God loves us with is what the Bible refers to as unconditional love.

LOVE NEVER FAILS Text: First Corinthians 13:1-13 If there is any one word in the English language that we have distorted, it is the word love. We often say that we love fried chicken, chocolate cake, scrambled eggs and sausage and so on. We even say that we love this movie, this TV ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: United Methodist