Sermons on Robert Powell:

We Are The Church

Contributed by Carla Powell on Apr 20, 2002

Explores the four images of church/Christians in 1 Peter 2: infants, living stones, priests, chosen people.

Lectionary Texts for 5th Sunday of Easter - April 21, 2002 "We Are The Church" - 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14 [Okay-say it with me…]"Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors, and see all the people." That little kids’ rhyme and fingerplay holds some truth to it. The church is your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:2-10

Denomination: Lutheran

Made Known In The Breaking Of The Bread

Contributed by Carla Powell on Apr 20, 2002

Involves the congregation in some immediate community-building, as well as inviting them to see the face of Jesus on their brother or sister. Explores the corporate role of "communion".

Easter 3A - April 14, 2002 "Made Known In The Breaking of the Bread" - Luke 24:13-35 Grace and peace be to you from our Lord and Savior, who is made known to us in the breaking of the bread. On that first Easter day, two of Jesus’ followers were heading away from Jerusalem toward Emmaus. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Lutheran

Panic Room

Contributed by Carla Powell on Apr 20, 2002

References the movie "Panic Room" (Jodie Foster). Recalls the disciples’ reaction to hide out in a locked room after finding the tomb empty. The "Panic Room" can be both a safe haven and a well-fortressed prison.

"Panic Room" - Easter 2A April 7, 2002 - John 20:19-31 This week I saw the newly-released movie "Panic Room". In this movie, "Jodie Foster plays a wealthy single mom with a teenage daughter. They buy a fancy brownstone in NYC that has a ’panic room’, a fortified hi-tech room in the center of ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Lutheran

Justice From Within

Contributed by Carla Powell on Mar 2, 2002

Overview of Nicodemus’ role in the gospel of John, particularly John 3:1-17 and John 7:51. Encourages hearers to get involved on behalf of God’s justice - even if they are the sole voice speaking out.

February 24, 2002 - Second Sunday in Lent (A) "Justice from Within" - John 3:1-17 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. In our gospel lesson, Nicodemus, a leader of the Pharisees, comes to Jesus at night. He has some questions for Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17, John 7:49-51

Denomination: Lutheran

Running From Your Baptism

Contributed by Carla Powell on Mar 2, 2002

Exploration of traditions of adult/infant baptism, and discussion of how we respond to our baptism. Do we run from it? Or do we turn toward God who is always turning toward us?

Baptism of our Lord (A), January 13, 2002 "Running from Your Baptism" Today we hear about Jesus’ baptism as an adult. This baptism was the beginning of his official ministry, sort of his inauguration or commissioning as it were. John was baptizing people at the Jordan River as a symbol of washing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Worthless Weeds

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jul 20, 2002

Using Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares, this sermon looks at the miraculous way weeds can turn into wheat when God’s in charge.

Around Timothy Lutheran, there are a number of you who have incredibly green thumbs. You know how to identify plants and what the different flowers look like. You know how to coax flowers and vegetables from seeds planted in the soil. Some of you are quite amazing when it comes to the garden. And ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Lutheran

Slaves Either Way...

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jul 20, 2002

St. Paul tells us we’re going to be slaves, but will we be slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness (draws heavily on some Martin Luther quotes).

As we approach Independence Day, I hear more and more conversations talking about what freedom means. In 1941, FDR identified four essential freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of each individual to worship God in their own way, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Today some people suggest ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:12-23

Denomination: Lutheran

Sum Of All Fears

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jul 20, 2002

Looks at fear and why we shouldn’t be afraid. Tom Clancy’s movie is used as the title, and little else.

Just a few weeks ago, the movie "The Sum of All Fears" was released. This movie plays on the fear of international hostility, and allows our favorite Tom Clancy character Jack Ryan to save the day once again. The movie title though, seems to hit on a very timely topic these days: fear. Even though ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-39

Denomination: Lutheran

Ministry In Daily Life

Contributed by Carla Powell on Feb 2, 2002

Sermon describes how we minister in our daily life, relating our ministry to our work using Jesus’ images of being salt, being the light of the world, and putting our lamp on a lampstand for all to see.

Matthew 5:13-20 - Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany [On this day, worshippers were asked to wear their work uniform or bring a symbol of their work so that we will be reminded of the connection between our faith and our work. I refer to it in my sermon several times.] Grace be to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Having Fun With Jonah

Contributed by Carla Powell on Oct 2, 2002

A re-telling of the entire story of Jonah, but with a twist.

This sermon was given without notes, so the text may differ somewhat from the actual preached word. I asked the people to help me as I read the story of Jonah from the Bible, to raise their hands whenever they heard something that differed from the story as told in the Bible. This sermon works ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Confrontation

Contributed by Carla Powell on Oct 2, 2002

Uses Matthew 18 to address the best way to approach interpersonal church conflicts.

An amusing news story from Wales told of a feud in a church looking for a new pastor. It read: “Yesterday the two opposition groups both sent ministers to the pulpit. Both spoke simultaneously, each trying to shout above the other. Both called for hymns, and the congregation sang two -- each side ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20

Denomination: Lutheran

What's The Big Deal About Angels?

Contributed by Carla Powell on Oct 2, 2002

Written for St. Michael and All Angels Sunday, this sermon explores the biblical purpose and role of angels. It does not highlight one particular text, but uses a broad biblical overview to confront the popular notion of a fluffy, harp-playing angel in fl

Today we celebrate the festival of St. Michael and all angels, known in some other countries and traditions as Michaelmas. Michael, the archangel, is mentioned in the books of Daniel, Jude, and Revelation, as well as other Bible-time writings that we do not consider to be part of our Bible. This ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:2, Psalm 35:5-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Sanctity Of Life

Contributed by James Powell on Sep 6, 2006

We are all precious to Jesus and each human life is worth something.

It is a few minutes before 11 a.m. when Harrison raps on the door of his operating room and walks in. His Fayetteville Women’s Clinic occupies a once-elegant home dating to the 1940s; the first-floor surgery looks like it was a parlor. Thick blue curtains block the windows and paintings of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:1-5

Denomination: Holiness

Transfiguration

Contributed by James Powell on Sep 6, 2006

What transfiguration is.

Mk 9: 1-19 Mr 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. Mr 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:1-19

Denomination: Holiness

A Renewed Start

Contributed by James Powell on Dec 20, 2006

Starting out the New Year with a RENEWED vision.

A renewed start for 2006 Psalms 51:7-13 Marc Axelrod “Last year at this time, some of you were saying, "This year, things are going to be different! I’m going to change! I’m going to be a better spouse. I’m going to spend more time with my family. I’m going to spend more time reading my Bible. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:7-13

Denomination: Holiness