Sermons on Sacrament:

Introducing Christ Series

Contributed by Dr. Rich Denning on Apr 20, 2017

This is part one of a series of messages in the Gospel of John.

INTRODUCTION: John’s gospel is different from the others. There is no genealogy, no manger scene, no boyhood, no temptation, no Mount of transfiguration, and no Gethsemane. There are only a few special miracles chosen by John as “signs.” We have the famous “I AM” sayings of Jesus and many ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-51

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Good Shepherd And How To Get More Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 22, 2017

Pray especially for holy priests, brothers and sisters. Pray for those who are preparing for or struggling in marriage. And pray for those who have chosen to remain unmarried in a celibate state, and for those who are trying to run from the divine call.

For many decades this day has rightly been called “Good Shepherd Sunday,” because both of our New Testament readings speak of Jesus as Shepherd of our souls, Shepherd of the One Flock, the Church. Both of these precious proclamations have Old Testament roots. Let’s start with the story of Abraham ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-16

Denomination: Catholic

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit As Applied To Prayer

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 23, 2017

Poverty of soul is a way of entering in prayer, especially at the outset of when we begin to pray.

Poverty of soul is a way of entering in prayer, especially at the outset. Poverty of soul cannot be sought as an item of self-knowledge. It retains always an unknown, elusive quality. It cannot be simply a thought of our unworthiness before God. Much less can it be a mood of despondency about ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Scandal And Anti-Scandal

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 22, 2014

We must stay award of the stories of those around us who are on the journey of faith

Thursday of 7th Week in Course 2014 Lumen Fidei There is a horrible temptation always attracting the Christian, the one who has been invited to the banquet of Word and Eucharist, has accepted the invitation, has led a good life of service to others. The temptation is to believe that we have ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:41-50

Denomination: Catholic

Advent 2c-- Make Straight His Paths Series

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 1, 2018

What needs straightening out in my life? How can I help ease the path of others?

Father Joseph Donders who lives in Washington DC tells an interesting story about going to the airport to pick up a friend who was coming to visit him from Africa. It was a cold, winter day and all the trees were bare except for a few firs and pines. This was the first time his friend ever left ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

The Gift Of Mary, Mother Of The Church

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 10, 2019

By the grace of Christ won on the cross, we are sinners on our way to becoming saints.

Monday of Pentecost Week 2019 Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church Whatever utopian vision human beings must embrace–whether fascism, Marxism, socialism or any other “ism”–that vision and every other one collapses when faced with the reality of sin. Today, on the feast of Mary, Mother of the ...read more

Scripture: John 19:25-34, Genesis 3:9-20

Denomination: Catholic

Justified By Faith And Living In Love Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 6, 2018

“Luther’s expression sola fide is true if faith is not opposed to charity, to love.”

Thursday After Epiphany 2018 Reformation/Revolution The action of the Israelites and the response of the Philistines we have heard proclaimed from the first book of Samuel help us see the two primitive and wrong conceptions of the divine. For the Israelites, their God was the God of Moses who had ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

Do Not Lose The Mission For A Tradition!

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jan 19, 2018

Churches need to get out of the marriage business. It is a tradition, not a biblical mandate. Stick to mission!

Gen 2 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

Promote The Good; Proscribe The Evil Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 23, 2013

The call of Christ not to judge, not to condemn, is directed at our relationships with other humans, not evil actions themselves.

Monday of 2nd Week in Lent 2013 Gaudium et Spes Today’s Scriptures are most appropriate as follow-ups to the Gospel of Transfiguration we heard on Sunday. Jesus is seen on Mount Tabor conversing with Moses, the great lawgiver, and Elijah, the greatest prophet. Jesus has always been seen by ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:36-38

Denomination: Catholic

Your Child Will Live Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 9, 2013

Wisdom gently attracts the mind of humans to a quest and a love for what is true and good through the beautiful. The modern mind no less than the ancient mind needs God.

Monday of 4th Week in Lent 2013 Gaudium et Spes Most commentators–even those who wrote in the first millennium–believe that John’s Gospel was the last one written. The historian Eusebius quotes Clement of Alexandria as saying that John, aware of the other three Gospels, wrote a ...read more

Scripture: John 4:43-54

Denomination: Catholic

Should Protestants Be Allowed To Have An Opinion Regarding The New Pope?

Contributed by Frederick Meekins on Mar 20, 2013

Should Protestants Be Allowed To Have An Opinion Regarding The New Pope?

It has been suggested that it is a tragedy for Evangelicals to pray and fast regarding the new pope as called for by Rick Warren. While it might not be an issue worthy of fasting over as it doesn't look like most of the top contenders to the papal throne have themselves missed too many meals and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Seeds, Part I Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 23, 2013

Jesus was the seed that died so that we might live; we too are called to die to self so that others may live.

Monday of Holy Week 2013 Seeds 1 Two of the privileges given to deacons in this diocese is the ability to preside at baptisms and wake services. What is striking to me every time is the use of this psalm 27, this psalm which begins this first day of three at the head of Holy Week. “I ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-24

Denomination: Catholic

Keep Salt In Yourselves

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 10, 2020

5th Sunday, Year A, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The late Pentecostal preacher David du Plessis was once approached by a Christian who complained that people don’t seem thirsty for the Lord these days. Without missing a beat, du Plessis replied, “It’s not that they are not thirsty enough. It’s that we are not salty enough!” Since moisture ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:7-10, Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Catholic

The Gospel Succeeds Even In An Age Of Fecklessness Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 11, 2020

We need to continue on the path we were set on by Jesus long ago–the path to holiness. That means giving up everything of this world that keeps us from imaging Jesus and Mary.

Tuesday of the First Week in Course 2020 Saint Mark gets right to the point, just like the high priest Eli. But Saint Mark gets the whole picture, and Eli does not. Mark’s Gospel is designed to demonstrate to his Roman audience–and us–that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Messiah. Look how few ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1-8, 1 Samuel 1:9-20, Mark 1:21-28

Denomination: Catholic

Canonized Or Not, All Are Called To Be Saints Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 7, 2019

The slavery to sin that we all labor under for some part of our lives is destroyed by the infinite loving power of Christ.

Tuesday of 23rd week in course 2019 St. Agnes Tsao-Kou Ying We don’t become disciples of Jesus Christ on our own volition. We must be called to follow Christ. Some teachers have misunderstood this to mean that some are called and others are not called, and therefore are damned to perdition by ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-15, Luke 6:12-19

Denomination: Catholic