Sermons on Robert Powell:

A Fairy-Tale Wedding

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 2, 2002

Urges the couple to seek faithfulness and communication in their marriage. Appropriate for an Interfaith wedding.

You all know the story about fairytale marriages. A beautiful princess goes into a forest and sees a frog. She kisses the frog. He turns into a prince. They get married, and live happily ever after. Or maybe you remember the prince who searches through every house in town and won’t give up until he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Genesis 2:21-24

Denomination: Lutheran

Love Your Enemies?

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 2, 2002

Responding to Sept 11th and a (minor) break-in to our church building, this sermon focuses on how live Jesus’ call to do unto others as we would have them do to us.

Today we celebrate All Saints Day, when we honor those well-known saints of the church. And All Saints Day also helps us to recall those faithful departed who have gone before, people who have died in the faith from this congregation and in our lives. But All Saints Day also serves as a reminder ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:20-31

Denomination: Lutheran

What's Love Got To Do With It?

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 2, 2002

Discusses Paul’s use of love as the yardstick for Christian living, then turns to several congregational issues to ask what the loving response would be.

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C) 1 Corinthians 13, is a popular passage to use for wedding sermons, because of course the topic is love. Brides and grooms have often chosen this lesson because of the beautiful, poetic prose it contains. But Paul did not write this to the Corinthians so ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Topsy-Turvy Kingdom

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 2, 2002

Approaches the Beatitudes as the promise of a future great reversal of fortunes (uses images from Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame).

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake." Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

The Nicodemus Question

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 2, 2002

What does it mean to be born again? How can we be saved?

Second Sunday In Lent (Year A) Many people attend sporting events carrying signs labelled JOHN 3:16, the promise that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. I heard of a sporting event recently, where the announcers began to snicker and gawk at a sign one of the spectators held that ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Lutheran

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

A God Who Camps With Us

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 8, 2003

Sermon focuses on John 1:14, using the translations the word became flesh and "tabernacled" or "set up camp" with us. (Good for use in a camping setting or a location where many hearers are familiar with camping.)

Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. How many of you would call yourselves “campers”? Yes, several of our members disappear for varied weekends throughout the summer to spend time at a campsite. But let me get more specific here. How many ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14, John 1:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Home By Another Way

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 8, 2003

An Epiphany sermon - explores the way that we are changed after we meet the baby in the manger, just like the "wise men" were. (also makes reference to the James Taylor song of the same title)

Grace be to you and peace from the One who was and is and is to come. Amen. As the story goes, the Magi in our gospel lesson had seen a star at its rising that they interpreted as announcing the birth of a king. Magi may have been dream-interpreters, astrologers, or astronomers, but not likely ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Random Acts Of Kindness

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 8, 2003

Uses Biblical story of the Sheep and the Goats to talk about the way to live out kindness and love in life. Presents three stories of "random acts of kindness" done by people.

Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Let me tell you a true story about kindness between two very different people who lived far away from one another: Beverly Powell (no relation), a cleaning lady from New Mexico, read a story in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Lutheran

Some Things We Need To Remember

Contributed by Jeffrey Powell on May 25, 2009

We must remember that our rich heritage and future is not just a result of red-blooded American courage, ingenuity, or superiority alone. America is a great nation because a Great God gave us National superiority. History is proof that any nation that fai

I got the basic outline and some material from Jerry Shirley’s Jan 6, 2004 “What God Has Done for America” Some Things We Need to Remember Dan 5:1-5 Jeffrey Powell 24 May 2009 Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American) (Toby Keith) ©2002 Tokeco Tunes (BMI) This was written a few days ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Interceding For America

Contributed by Jeffrey Powell on May 31, 2009

The unchurched population is growing exponentially and with that the anti-Christian sentiment is producing a society that God will not support, thus the downward spiral of America.

Interceding for America Psalms 2 After last week’s message I did a great deal more soul searching. For some time now I have not been happy with my own relationship with the Lord. I am increasing more aware of the masses around us who don’t go to church; probably don’t have a relationship with ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 2:1-12, Psalm 2:2-12

Denomination: Baptist

Old School: Hosea Series

Contributed by Lee Powell on Jul 2, 2009

A sermon on the book of Hosea in a series of messages focusing on the faith journeys of Old Testament characters.

We are in a throw back series, I mean you know the first clue, the disco ball, the platform shoes, the tie dye, the Cyndi Lauper song but really all of those things are just a throwback of the last 20-30 years. This series we are in, it’s really like a couple 1000+ throwback where we are looking at ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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