Sermons on Robert Leroe:

Our Eyes Are On You

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Apr 3, 2016

A final sermon to a congregation at my retirement. This may help fellow-pastors who need to construct a last, parting message.

I have served as your 14th pastor, and I'm retiring again after 17 years here in Saugus. I'm retiring just as I did after 25 years as an Army Chaplain--with fond memories and no regrets. This is all to the glory of God. Our choir sang “To God be the Glory,” which was sung at my ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-12

Denomination: Congregational

A Desperate Dad

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jun 19, 2006

In 2 miracles, Jesus turns what is unclean into wholeness; He overcomes death and defilement. He also removes the stain of sin.

This morning we’re going to look at a dad briefly mentioned in the Gospels, a man named Jairus who was deeply concerned about his daughter; a father with a sense of urgency. Jairus was a prominent leader of the synagogue and a respected member of the community. Local synagogues were governed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-56

Denomination: Congregational

Before God's Throne Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jun 1, 2010

Isaiah receives a vision of the sacred Temple and blazing holiness of God and is forever changed and fully equipped to stand his ground.

The year Israel’s king died, Isaiah received a vision of the undying King of kings. Uzziah had reigned for 52 years, and his rule brought prosperity and national security. Uzziah’s death spelled the end of an era; his death weakened the nation, but the greatest King remained seated ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-13

Denomination: Congregational

Walking Fearlessly Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 9, 2008

How believers fearlessly face persecution.

I’ve been reading a book by an agnostic whose previous book chronicled his project to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. In his latest book he describes his attempt to live according to the Bible. To do so, he had to read it, and he admits, even as one with very little faith: “This is the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

Denomination: Congregational

A Powerful Prayer Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 9, 2008

Timothy and Epaphroditus served God with reckless abandon. They were willing to go wherever God led them.

There’s a subject in school you either love or hate--History. People who lack an appreciation of history don’t learn from it. Military leaders study the lives of great generals and the strategies of past battles. Even with the advent of sophisticated technology on the battlefield there is still ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:19-30

Denomination: Congregational

The Pharisee And Tax Collector Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Mar 22, 2010

The true “righteous” person is not someone who flawlessly observes all the “rules”, but someone who begs for mercy and is accepted by God--despite having plenty of human imperfections. To illustrate this, Jesus tells a story of two people who are polar o

In preparation for this sermon, I did my taxes last week…so I have lots to say about that tax collector! How do we get to Heaven? By human effort? By keeping the rules? That works only if we could obey perfectly, which excludes all of us. Occasionally someone comes along who thinks ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Luke 18:9, Luke 18:1-14

Denomination: Congregational

The Feast/The Excuses Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Feb 28, 2010

There are many excuses for rejecting what God has to offer, and God sees through them all. If we’re full of the world we’ll have no appetite for Heaven.

Today’s parable starts out as table-talk. At a dinner, Jesus mentions “the resurrection of the righteous”, an encouraging truth. Someone at the table gets so excited, he declares a Beatitude: “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the banquet in the Kingdom of God!” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:13-21

Denomination: Congregational

Wedding Wine

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Sep 16, 2013

Jesus can transform everything. We would do well to heed Mary's directive: "Do whatever He tells you."

A Sunday School teacher shared this account of our Lord’s first miracle, and after church a parent asked what the lesson was about. The child said, “I learned that if you’re having a wedding, make sure Jesus is there!” Sound advice. Wise is the couple who invites Jesus to ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Congregational

Provision Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Sep 22, 2013

Whatever we may think of Elijah, “he was a man just like us.” So says the Apostle James (5:16-17). Yes, he was a mighty prophet, but he was also a flawed person with doubts, fears, and needs--a real person, not a superhero.

Whatever we may think of Elijah, “he was a man just like us.” So says the Apostle James (5:16-17). Yes, he was a mighty prophet, but he was also a flawed person with doubts, fears, and needs--a real person, not a superhero. He experienced success and despair. “He put on his ...read more

Denomination: Congregational

Love & Marriage

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Feb 18, 2014

Love is "a many splendid thing" but how do we define it?

I trust you had a wonderful Valentines Day; I’d like to continue the theme of love by telling what the Bible says about it, principally in the context of marriage. In the marriage counseling I did when I was an Army Chaplain, I saw couples who were in conflict and who argued over all sorts ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Congregational

A True Prophet Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Sep 29, 2013

The prophet Elijah was God’s instrument to test this Gentile widow’s trust. It’s easier to be reminded of God’s promises than to act on them.

As someone who has moved 27 times in my life, I know that God decides how long we remain in place. I received orders from the Pentagon, but I regarded them as from God. Elijah was directly told when to move. We, on the other hand, do not have supernatural guidance, or access to God’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:7-24

Denomination: Congregational

Elijah & Obadiah Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Oct 6, 2013

Obadiah was a good man in a bad place, risking all to protect God's prophets...his concerns resonate with anyone with a stressful job, and show us the path to encouragement and reassurance.

It would be easy to skip over this passage as merely a transition, leading to the exciting confrontation that follows on Mount Carmel. Yet this brief episode in the life of Elijah is for anyone who feels discouraged and defeated. Following three years of drought, three years of decisively ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:1-15

Denomination: Congregational

The Unfailing Word

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Nov 2, 2023

The authority of Scripture is crucial to our faith. The Bible is either God’s word or mere human opinion.

I give you my word!” How often have we heard this? We hear it from politicians, salespersons, recruiters, unlicensed contractors, and unreliable people in general. When people give us their “word,” how dependable is their word? When they make claims and promises, we need to know their basis of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:35-37

Denomination: Congregational

"we're All One Family"

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Nov 15, 2023

Prejudice is a social evil present in every culture of our fallen world. It is holding negative attitudes towards others based on generalizations and stereotypes, resulting in discrimination. It is forming conclusions without consulting the facts.

The Apostle Paul affirms the unity and diversity of all nations in Acts 17. He was addressing Greeks who regarded themselves as superior race. Race matters only to racists; the rest of us care about character. It is distressing how people have twisted this passage to justify segregation. In ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-28

Denomination: Congregational

What Prayer Isn't

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 11, 2023

Even though we pray, we may wonder at times: “Why do I pray? What does it accomplish?” Along the way, we may pick up some misperceptions. I want to talk about what prayer isn’t.

The widow of the parable was pretty frustrated. In the Army, if soldiers feel they’ve been treated unfairly, they have several options: They can use their chain-of-command, see the Chaplain, contact Equal Opportunity, call the Inspector General’s office, or even write their Senator. We have the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Congregational