Sermons on Sacraments:

Celebrate God's Grace This New Year's Eve

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Jan 4, 2002

Isaiah invites us to look back on a year of God’s grace drawing to a close and to look ahead to another year of God’s grace that is just beginning.

In the ancient calendar used by the Romans, from which our calendar was created, the name of each month had a meaning. For example the month of February was so named because that was the time of the year for a feast called Februa. Some of the months were named for the false gods that the Romans ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 63:7-9, Isaiah 63:1, Isaiah 63:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

Temptation Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 3, 2012

How temptation comes and how to withstand it.

Introduction Have you ever been in this situation? Parents do this a lot; teachers, coaches also revert to it. Someone wants to tell you a story. As you are listening, you start to grow uncomfortable as you realize there is a moral to the story which is about to be applied to you. Paul is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:6-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Real Miracle-Grow Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 29, 2012

The kingdom of God is mystery. Whether we are asleep or awake, whether its seed seems small or large, it will generate life that is abundant and rich.

Introduction A number of years ago at the prodding of a neighbor, who was also a church elder, my wife and I ventured into the mystical world of gardening. A section of our yard had once been a rose garden that one minister had lovingly cared for and another pulled up, so that it was bare when we ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:26-34

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Paul's Final Proclamation To Pastors

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 23, 2021

Paul gives a farewell sermon to the pastors at Ephesus. We consider the relationship of sheep with shepherd on a Good Shepherd Sunday.

4.25.21 Acts 20:28 28 “Always keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. This is part of Paul’s farewell speech to the pastors in Ephesus. He was on his way ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:28

Denomination: Lutheran

Promises, Promises Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 25, 2022

How the prohibition against adultery expanded to include lust.

Moses has been gone up in the clouds on Sinai for days and the elders are getting nervous. Finally he appears, carrying two large hunks of rock, with what appears to be writing on them. The elders are nervous, understandably, given what’s been happening - the golden calf, and so on. Moses ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:18, Matthew 5:27-28

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"Lord, Prepare Us For Your Advent”

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Feb 3, 2025

Just as many of us travel during December, Advent reminds us of Jesus' "travel plans" to serve as our Savior. We'll use the Apostle Paul's travel plans to visit the Thessalonians as our guide.

It’s estimated that a record 80 million Americans traveled 50 miles or more over the Thanksgiving Holiday this year. Of course, the majority (a record 71.7 million) of those traveled by car. But today they anticipate that a record-breaking 3 million people will travel by air. Yes, travel plans ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Matthew 25:40

Denomination: Lutheran

Doubting, Sceptical Discipleship Series

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Apr 12, 2004

A sermon on the place of doubt in relation to faith.

Sermon for 2 Easter Yr C, 18/04/2004 Based on Jn 20:24-29 By Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, & Chaplain of the Good Samaritan Society’s South Ridge Village, Medicine Hat, Alberta “Doubting, Sceptical Discipleship” In a Charlie Brown cartoon, Charlie and Lucy are walking ...read more

Scripture: John 20:24-29

Denomination: Lutheran

Follow Me

Contributed by Paul Zwarich on May 28, 2008

God has called me, a poor sinner, to be His disciple in His creation.

Lectionary 10 Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 Harry Truman is said to have loved telling a story about a man who had been hit on the head at work. The blow was so severe that the man was knocked unconscious for an extended period of time. His family, convinced he was dead, called the funeral home and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-26

Denomination: Lutheran

Let Any One Who Thinks That He Stands Take Heed Lest He Fall Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 15, 2013

Training and exercise in the spiritual life, and self-mastery, are a requirement for sanctity and effectiveness.

“let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” In nomine Patris. . . Over the last several months, my wife and I have learned a great deal about standing and falling. One seldom thinks about knees until one stops working perfectly. A knee really gets attention when ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:6-13

Denomination: Catholic

Individualism And Making Holy Families Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 26, 2021

Individualism, like most isms, is a philosophy of “me, first.” “I don’t care about anything or anybody but me.”

Homily for Feast of the Holy Family Sir 3: 2-7, 12-14; Psalm 127; Col 3: 12-21; Lk 2: 22-40 Version 2 (request that lector read the long version of Colossians) Is any English word so misunderstood today as the key word in Paul’s letter to the church of Colossae? No, I don’t mean the word ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-21, Luke 2:22-40, Malachi 2:16

Denomination: Catholic

Compost Your Fig Tree Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 18, 2021

If our fig tree isn’t bearing fruit, it’s time to dig around it and apply some good compost. Both are important, essential actions.

Third Sunday in Lent The brilliance of Jesus the preacher can be seen in today’s story, unique to St. Luke, about how He handled some local gossip. Pontius Pilate, the Roman boss of Judea, ruled as a tyrant. On this occasion, it appears he broke up a revolutionary plot right in the area of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-12, Psalm 103:1-11, Exodus 3:1-15, Genesis 2:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Thanksgiving Day

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 16, 2020

The Apostle Paul did not write 365 thank-you notes. But he did write about one-half of the letters that make-up the New Testament. And Paul’s letters overflow with thanksgiving.

Gratitude is an intentional way of thinking about receiving a benefit and giving credit to others beside oneself for that benefit. Practicing gratitude magnifies positive feelings more than it reduces negative feelings. To illustrate: John Kralik found his life at a terrible, frightening low ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Catholic

Maundy Thursday Reflection Series

Contributed by John Saynor on Mar 28, 2024

We all want to be remembered don’t we? Look at the memorials on the walls…people who would be long forgotten whom the parishioners at the time didn’t want them to be forgotten. There is a memorial right here for a rector who was here in 1830!

Phyllis and Doug Weir were parishioners of mine in the parish where I served my curacy in Peterborough, Ontario . They would often have me over to their home for dinner and on one such occasion, Phyllis brought this out – a Royal Doulton figurine of an old man who was selling balloons – and gave ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:22-25

Hard Sayings: How To Accept Them

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 21, 2024

The problem with “nice” religion is that it isn’t religion at all, and today’s three Scriptural passages are proof of that reality.

Nineteenth Sunday in Course 2024 Hard Sayings There’s a very popular opinion about religion, and I think you may be already aware of it. Folks often think that religion ought to be “nice.” In other words, religion should make you feel good about yourself, first, and then, if possible, about other ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-69, Ephesians 5:21-32, Psalm 34:2-3, Psalm 34:16-21, Joshua 24:1-2, Joshua 24:15-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

The Solemnity Of The Most Holy Body And Blood Of Christ-- Corpus Christi

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jun 20, 2025

“Heavenly bread, hellish misunderstanding."

Paul Allman Siple was the scientific leader of the United States' first permanent station at the South Pole. In his workroom at that distant outpost he had a large globe of the world. It was upside down. In other words, it had a South-up map orientation; sometimes called upside-down maps. We ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:11-17

Denomination: Catholic