Sermons on Rodney Buchanan:

Rocks & Rolls

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 13, 2011

Was Jesus really tempted? Was it possible for him to sin? Did he have free will?

Many people encounter a dilemma when they think of the idea of Jesus being tempted. They question whether Jesus was really tempted. Did he feel temptation the way we do? Could he have given in to temptation? Was it possible for him to sin? The Bible gives a pretty clear answer when it says, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

I Believe In The Virgin Mary

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 13, 2012

What is the significance of the virgin birth.

I believe in the Virgin Mary. That may sound like a strange sermon title for a Protestant, but actually it is quite important. It is important to believe that there was such a person in history, that she was the mother of Christ, and that she was a virgin at the time of his birth. In fact, this ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 8:22-31

Denomination: Methodist

I Believe In The Holy Catholic Church Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 10, 2012

The church of Jesus Christ is catholic, i.e. "universal". All of every age, race, and station stand in need of the means of grace which it alone supplies.

The most misunderstood part of the Apostle’s Creed is the phrase we are considering today. I have had sincere people tell me that they do not repeat this part of the creed because they think that it means the Roman Catholic Church, and if they had wanted to be Catholics they would have ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:7-19

Denomination: Methodist

I Believe In The Communion Of The Saints Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 17, 2012

The benefit and necessity of being a part of the life of the church.

I believe in the communion of the saints. The words sound strange, and you may ask, “Who are the saints?” Are they the ones we see in some churches that are made of plaster standing on little shelves around the walls? Are they the ones whose image people wear around their neck or ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Methodist

I Believe In The Forgivenss Of Sins Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 2, 2012

What is forgiveness and who is forgiven?

On September 8, 1974, President Gerald R. Ford granted a full pardon to former President Richard Nixon. From that point on Nixon was legally forgiven. All investigations and indictments were ended. Eight days later Ford granted amnesty to all those who had avoided the draft illegally, as well ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Who Do You Say I Am?

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Aug 25, 2011

It is not what others say who Christ is, it is what you say that matters.

To capture the full scope of the story today we have to go back to what happened before. Luke tells us that Jesus had commissioned his disciples to preach and heal and sent them out all over Israel to carry out his mission. News of what was happening spread quickly and there was great excitement ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Methodist

Take Up Your Cross And Follow

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Aug 29, 2011

What gives Jesus the right to ask us to give up our lives?

Chuck Colson relates this interesting story in his book How Then Should We Live? “In William Steig’s Yellow & Pink, a delightfully whimsical picture book for children, two wooden figures wake up to find themselves lying on an old newspaper in the hot sun. One figure is painted ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Denomination: Methodist

Forgiveness And Relationships

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 13, 2011

Taking seriously the command of Jesus to forgive -- what it means and what it does not mean.

A man was walking on the sidewalk outside a playground with a high wooden fence and heard the children chanting, “Thirteen! Thirteen! Thirteen!” He stopped and, finding a small hole in the fence, he bent over to look in. Just like that, a finger poked him in the eye. And the chanting continued, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Methodist

Workers In The Vineyard

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 18, 2011

A look at all of us who work in the vineyard and our attitude in our work.

I can remember as a boy riding with my Dad into the downtown area, in my hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana, and seeing a crowd of men standing on a certain street. There were so many of them that there did not seem to be any room left to walk on the sidewalk. I asked my father what they were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Methodist

The Will To Believe

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 25, 2011

Faith is a decision, and a more reasonable decision than unbelief.

I have always been amazed that some astronomers gazing into the vast universe find it impossible to believe in God. After all, they more than anyone else understand the vastness of space and the intricate balance that keeps it all in place. Likewise, I never could understand why scientists ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32

Denomination: Methodist

Choosing To Do The Right Thing

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 16, 2012

A look at various approaches to making ethical decisions.

When I taught an ethics course, as an adjunct, at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, I started the class by talking about the fact that moral decisions are at times exceedingly complex. Black and white categories do not work very well in the real stuff of life. To demonstrate this I used an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Denomination: Methodist

Christianity, Jesus Style

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 23, 2012

What is a true Christ follower?

A few years ago I was driving to the Adirondack Mountains where I would spend a week in the Whitney Wilderness area. My canoe was on top of the car, my backpack and other equipment was in the back and I was set for the long trip to upper state New York. Driving that far is a little boring so I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Methodist

Blindness & Light

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Aug 6, 2012

Who is blind and has sight in the story of Jesus healing the blind man?

A recent article reported, “The blind will be able to see the light with a new bionic eye implant which is said to be available within 2 years. The development of the bionic eye will at last restore blind people’s sight. The prototype high tech implant will be fitted to approx 50 to ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

Wages And Rewards

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 26, 2011

A look at a bigger idea of God's Salvation.

James MacDonald writes: “The church of Jesus Christ is not like a Target store. It’s not like you go, get what you came for, and then head home again. The church isn’t just about you getting what you need. It’s about you participating in what everyone needs. It is a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:40-43

Denomination: Methodist

Hidden Things

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 3, 2011

God hides himself from the arrogant and reveals himself to the humble, childlike people who love him.

Imagine that you hear the roar of a car engine outside your door. As you look out, you see a red sports convertible, and in it is a young man with flowing hair and mirrored sunglasses. You can see that he is well tanned because he doesn’t have a shirt on — just shorts and flip flops. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:16-30

Denomination: Methodist