Sermons on Retreats:

Baptism Is A Gift We Receive Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 4, 2014

God loved us so much that He gave up His only begotten Son, as the blood-price of our justification. You and I first enter that covenant when we, or our parents and godparents, make covenant promises to God at our baptism.

Thursday of 5th Week in Lent 2014 Lumen Fidei The Gospel of John, more than the Synoptics, clearly states what the Church has always and everywhere taught–Jesus is the fleshly manifestation of the same God who made a covenant of love and fidelity with Abraham. Although Israel turned its ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:3-9

Denomination: Catholic

On A First Name Basis Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Oct 5, 2015

Israel is in slavery and calls for help. God calls Moses to bring release.

Exodus 1:8-14, 3:1-15 "On a First Name Basis INTRODUCTION One of the greatest figures in the Old Testament is Moses. We have all heard stories about Moses confronting Pharaoh with the ten plagues and splitting the Red Sea. Most of us have viewed movies about Moses ala Charlton Heston and ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15

Denomination: Lutheran

Open The Doors Of The Church Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 29, 2014

Jesus enjoins us to do the will of the Father, but learning how to do God's will is a lifelong journey.

Thursday of the 1st Week in Advent Joy of the Gospel When I read this passage from the great prophet of Advent, the Hebrew priest Isaiah, my memory goes back almost ten years to our pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Both the Old and New Testaments contain a recurring theme, one we see most perfectly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-27

Denomination: Catholic

Faith Seeking Understanding

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 1, 2014

God redeemed the world through suffering, and we can understand, if not fully comprehend, the mystery.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2014 Lumen Fidei On this first day after the solemn beginning of Lent, as we begin our forty-day retreat, the Church gives us some stark words. Deuteronomy tells us that the choice is between life and death, between blessing and curse. Honor and obey God alone, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:22-25

Denomination: Catholic

Matthew 13:1-23 – Part 6 - Dungeons And Mansions? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 28, 2011

Whether I live in a DUNGEON or MILLION DOLLAR mansion I can still be stupid about what really matters in life.

Matthew 13:1-23 – Part 6 - DUNGEONS AND MANSIONS? She is not deaf but her heart is a fortress, cold, hard, defensive. The gates are huge, old and impenetrable, bolted with fear and pride that slide across into their iron brackets at the mention of Christ. She sits in a dungeon of her own ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Stay Straight"

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Dec 10, 2014

Don't walk in circles stay straight.

Mark 1:1-8 “Stay Straight” In 1870-1880 the most popular sport was called “Pedestrianism”. It involved walking in circles on dirt arena. Men and women competed; they would walk around the track for 6 days traveling ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Methodist

And Heaven Came Down Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Feb 2, 2012

In Jesus the kingdom of God arrived on earth. The world and the lives of people (like Peter, Andrew, James and John) have never been the same. They have received a new purpose and started to follow a different path.

Mark 1:14-20 “And Heaven Came Down” INTRODUCTION What would make you drop everything and pursue an entirely new life? A great job offer? A marriage proposal? The chance to make a huge difference in another part of the world? What do you think--what would prompt you to take off ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20

Denomination: Lutheran

And Heaven Came Down Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Feb 2, 2012

In Jesus the kingdom of God arrived on earth. The world and the lives of people liek Peter, Andrew, James, and John have never been the same. They hav received a new purpose and started to follow a different path.

Mark 1:14-20 “And Heaven Came Down” INTRODUCTION What would make you drop everything and pursue an entirely new life? A great job offer? A marriage proposal? The chance to make a huge difference in another part of the world? What do you think--what would prompt you to take off ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Free To Fail

Contributed by David Radcliff on Nov 30, 2017

As far as the biblical record is concerned, some of the greatest achievements in the history of God’s kingdom have come from very ordinary, imperfect people who have overcome failure to be used of God in a significant way. Their lives model some biblical

FREE TO FAIL Matthew 25:24-25; Philippians 4:13 Matthew 25:25 “And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.” and Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” are two very different statements. The first was made by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:24-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Cost Of Discipleship.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 1, 2022

Let us not be of those who draw back.

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP. John 6:60-71. JOHN 6:60. “Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” Many “disciples,” who had been following Jesus for a season, were now beginning to turn back. All this talk about eating His flesh – ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-71

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Contending With Evil Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 13, 2019

Just because we are chosen by God, baptized into Christ, does not mean that we are infallibly going to attain God’s promises. We are always tempted, as Christ was, to follow the allurements of the world, flesh and devil.

Saint Anthony of the Desert 2019 Saint Anthony–the less famous one we call “Anthony of the Desert”–died 1653 years ago today. Since he is also called “Anthony the Great” and “Anthony of Egypt” and several other honorifics, we might want to know more about him, and what he can teach us today. But ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45, Hebrews 3:7-14, Psalm 95:6-11

Denomination: Catholic

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit As Applied To Prayer

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 23, 2017

Poverty of soul is a way of entering in prayer, especially at the outset of when we begin to pray.

Poverty of soul is a way of entering in prayer, especially at the outset. Poverty of soul cannot be sought as an item of self-knowledge. It retains always an unknown, elusive quality. It cannot be simply a thought of our unworthiness before God. Much less can it be a mood of despondency about ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

The True Summit Of Our Vocation As Human Beings Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 7, 2011

Music must be in harmony with Logos, not an offbeat and disordered hymn to individualism.

Monday of 3rd Week of Easter Spirit of the Liturgy The Spirit that inflamed deacon Stephen is always at work in the Church. This spirit, the Holy Spirit of God, fills those who respond to the gift of faith, and makes us hungry for the Word of God, the Sacrament of the altar, and service to those ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15

Denomination: Catholic

Care: The Metaphor Of Love

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Sep 19, 2020

How can we speak of a God of love in a situation characterized by pain and suffering, death guilt and hopelessness?

Care: The Metaphor of Love Reflection Matthew 8:1-4 Roshini (name changed) was outcast, called dirty and sunned by her village from the day she was raped at the age of 16. After four years, she had to run away to Mumbai city with a boy who abandoned her and their infant boy. Roshini ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-4

Denomination: Other

When Trouble Comes

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 17, 2022

God is always there to assist, offering safety, peace, and refuge. God's power is unending, and He will triumph in the end. Those who love Him will always be saved by Him.

In verses 1-3: The dread of mountains and urban communities out of nowhere disintegrating into the ocean because of an atomic impact frequents numerous individuals today. Yet, the psalmist says that regardless of whether the world ceases, we need not dread. Notwithstanding utter annihilation, he ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible