Sermons on Rodney Buchanan:

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

The Will Of God

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 20, 2013

Understanding the difference between the sovereign will of God, the perfect will of God, the permissive will of God and the ultimate will of God.

On November 30, 2012, Sandy Hook Elementary School, had its security protocol upgraded, requiring visitors to be individually admitted after an identification review by video monitor. The school had 456 children enrolled in kindergarten through fourth grade. The doors to the school were locked ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Denomination: Methodist

Hidden Talents

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Nov 14, 2011

A look at what Christ demands of us until he returns.

Jesus was going through Jericho on his last journey to Jerusalem. When he finally arrives, he will receive the welcome of a king as he rides triumphantly into the city of David. Everyone’s expectations are high and they are anticipating the days in Jerusalem. They expect that Jesus will ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-28

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

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

Babel And Pentecost

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 12, 2011

A contrast between Babel and Pentecost. Pentecost undoes what happened at Babel.

The Philadelphia Daily News reported that 46-year-old David Vassallo boarded a jetliner in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a flight to North Carolina. He began talking to the man seated next to him and boasted that he was an undercover federal sky marshal. The man he was talking to was quite ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11

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

Instant Christian

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 10, 2011

We have adapted the Christian life to the culture. We want it hot, easy, quick and effortless.

The American people expect everything fast, easy and cheap. And we often treat the Christian life like that. We want it to be like a McDonald’s drive through — drive up to the window, get what you want and drive off. Have you noticed all the ads that tell us about the products ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-24

Denomination: Methodist

An Enemy Is Responsible

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 17, 2011

A sermon on the problem and end of evil from Jesus’ parable of the weeds and wheat.

An Enemy Has Done This Matthew 13:24-30 The world has been staggering from the overwhelming catastrophes that have taken place since the beginning of this year. The devastating earthquake and resulting tsunamis in Japan left over 28,000 people dead or missing. There are mudslides in South Korea ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

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

The Message Of Jesus

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Nov 16, 2009

1. Salvation is more than just me being forgiven for my sins. 2. The goal of the Christian life is not just salvation, but transformation. 3. We are transformed in order to be God’s transforming agents in the world.

Several years ago, Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks did a comedy skit called “The 2013 Year Old Man”. In the skit, Reiner interviews Brooks, who is the old gentleman who has lived for over 2000 years. At one point, Reiner asks the old man, “Did you always believe in the Lord?” Brooks replied: “No. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:14-21

Denomination: Methodist