Sermons on sacraments:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Does It Mean To Be Born Again?

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Aug 3, 2021

This sermon looks at why we need to be Born Again and what it means to be Born Again.

Scripture: John 3:1-21; Acts 2:38-41 Theme: Salvation Title: What does it mean to be Born Again? This sermon looks at why we need to be Born Again and what it means to be Born Again. INTRO: Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! I want to talk to you today about ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21, Acts 2:38-41, Matthew 28:18-19, Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Nazarene

I Am The Way, The Truth, And The Life (Fifth Sunday Of Easter)

Contributed by Dr Fr John Singarayar Svd on Jun 20, 2020

What is the way? What is the truth? What is the life?

Reflection I am the way, the truth, and the life. I am the way. What is the way? The way has three stages. They are: Preparing for the way, Signs to the way, & Reaching the way or destination. How do I prepare for the way? Reading the Scripture, Attending the Eucharist, Participating ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-12, 1 Peter 2:4-9, Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Other

How To Be Storm Ready

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Oct 1, 2020

What does it take to be ready for the storms of life and death? Jesus says what is essential.

10.4.20 Matthew 7:24–27 24 “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on bedrock. 25 The rain came down, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not fall, because it was founded on bedrock. 26 Everyone ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27

Denomination: Lutheran

Transitions

Contributed by Peter Thelander on Oct 31, 2001

A message from the lay leader on the changing of pastors.

Transitions I. A look at this change in pastors A. Subtitle – Why do United Methodists seem to torture themselves every few years by changing pastors? II. History lesson A. Methodism goes back to a renewal movement in the Church of England in the 1700’s 1. Footnote: Church of England is also ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8, John 3:1-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Fight The Good Fight

Contributed by Andrew Schroer on Oct 18, 2001

St. Paul encourages us to fight the good fight of faith, holding on tightly to the salvation that we have been given and being content with God’s blessings.

The United States has attacked Afghanistan. It has begun. The long war on terrorism. We don’t know how long it will last. We only know that it will be a long and difficult struggle. This morning, Paul encouraged Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith”, to join in hand to hand combat against ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Amazing Grace: God's Unmerited Love Proclaimed Through Holy Communion

Contributed by Johann Neethling on Sep 5, 2003

None of us deserves this great kindness from God. We can only accept it as His unmerited favor and mercy.

1) Lon Bonsberry is a native Texan, Vietnam Veteran, and legal editor. He has a website called “Writers on the Loose” and on his homepage he recounts a story of “The Time I Received Holy Communion” 2) He writes of how when he was just 12 years old, he and his ten-year-old brother boarded a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, 1 Corinthians 11:17

Denomination: United Methodist