Sermons on Torah:

Blessings And Judgements – The Symbolism Of The Fig Tree

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Oct 26, 2021

The fig tree event as Jesus walked to Jerusalem can be viewed allegorically as the balance between blessings and judgment. The FRUIT is the blessings and we certainly can always use blessings.

Blessings and Judgements – The Symbolism of the Fig Tree Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Mark 11:12-14 12 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13 Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-14

Denomination: United Methodist

Can The Church Be An Obstacle To Discipleship For Jesus?

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 1, 2021

Is it possible that some of the doctrine, rules, and regulations of the church be a stumbling block to becoming a disciple for Jesus? Yes, it was definitely one for me and I still struggle with it.

{You may want to read Mark 4:1-9, This is the actual parable that I am speaking about. } [Why parables?] 10 As soon as He was alone, 1 His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:10-19

Denomination: United Methodist

Love, Fear, Hatred And God's Desire For Us Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 1, 2024

What do we do with those we hate and fear?

Sixth Sunday of Easter 2024 One of the biggest advantages of being closer to age 80 than age 70 is that you actually have a sixty or sixty-five year vantage point on history that you have personally lived through. That’s if your memory works at all, of course. Right now we are in the midst of both ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 98:1-4, 1 John 4:7-10, John 15:9-17

Denomination: Catholic

Rejoicing In The Holy Spirit--Our Names Are Written In Heaven Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 30, 2019

We should also rejoice, always. How do you do that when things are going wrong? Trust in God and make an act of thanksgiving for how Our Lord will bring good out of evil.

Tuesday of the 1st Week of Advent 2019 St. Francis Xavier To be poor is to be weak. It has ever been thus in this valley of tears. The Torah, the first five books of the OT, clearly tells judges not to consider the wealth or poverty of the people who apply for justice to their courts. But we know ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:21-24, Isaiah 11:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

The Way To Forgiveness Of Sin

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Dec 20, 2022

Jesus bought forgiveness and mercy into a world that desperately needed it. Today we need to practice Jesus' methods of forgiveness.

The Way to Forgiveness of Sin John 8:1-8 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz John 8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees *brought a ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-8

Denomination: United Methodist

Woe, Woe, Woe - Part 2 Series

Contributed by David Elvery on May 6, 2009

3 More things Jesus Condemned the Pharisees for.

“Woe, Woe, Woe - Part 2 – Luke 11:37-55” Gladstone Baptist Church – 12/11/06 am S1 - We love to condemn the Pharisees. OOPS I lived in Tasmania for 3 years before coming to Gladstone and I loved our time there. I’d go back any time. But you know what I’ve noticed … we love to pick on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:37-55

Denomination: Baptist

From This Day On, I Will Bless (Haggai 2:10-19) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Apr 14, 2022

When we move from being unclean, to clean, God views and treats us completely different. It's then that God's blessings flow.

Haggai's oracle in today's passage, chapter 2:10-19, comes roughly two months after his last one-- and three months after the people have begun rebuilding God's house. Here, again, Yahweh speaks through his prophet to encourage the people. So this is another message, I'm hoping, ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:10-19

The Law As Teacher

Contributed by Kenneth Roberts on Jul 10, 2001

God’s Law is a stern teacher, but stern for a purpose: to drive us to the Gospel of Jesus Christ where real genuine freedom is found.

One time when Jesus was off praying by himself, his disciples nearby, he asked them, "What are the crowds saying about me, about who I am?" [19] They said, "John the Baptizer. Others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the prophets from long ago has come back." [20] He then asked, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:21-25, Luke 9:18-24

Denomination: Lutheran

Recipe For Joy

Contributed by Shelly Griffin on Jan 20, 2001

This passage gives us a no-fail recipe for joy.

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 The other day one of the ladies of the church stopped by my office and gave me this beautiful cookbook. It was put together by an organization she belongs to, and it contains about 500 recipes. Some of these recipes are very elaborate, like this one for ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-10

Denomination: *other

Heartsick

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Apr 16, 2001

Dramatic monologue: pilgrim to Jerusalem observes behavior of priests, soldiers and disappointed follower at the crucifixion of Jesus.

Heartsick And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:35-37

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Believers We Need To Study The Word Of God Series

Contributed by David Jenkins on Dec 7, 2004

Believers we need to study the Word of God

            1st Timothy 4: If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8For ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Can You Smell The Bread?

Contributed by C Vincent on Aug 18, 2009

A famine in the land for food means we must give out the bread of life.

Can you smell the bread? John 6:1-9, 22-35 (have bread baking in a bread machine while speaking) He reproves them for seeking carnal food, and directs them to spiritual food v. 26, 27, showing them how they must labour for spiritual food v. 28, 29, and what that spiritual food is v. 30–59 Christ ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-36

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Article 19. The Threefold Function Of The Law Series

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Jan 13, 2010

This sermon unpacks the threefold function of the law: Natural universal function, its Evangelsitic diagnostic function and its didatic function.

THE THREEFOLD FUNCTION OF THE LAW OF GOD LAW IS A PHENOMENON THAT APPLIES TO ALL DIMENSIONS OF OUR LIVES: PHYSICAL LAWS OF NATURE- POSITIVE LAWS OF SOCIETY - IMPERATIVES OF HUMAN MORALITY - AND EVEN DIVINE LAWS OF REVELATION. THESE LAWS ALL HAVE FIXED FUNCTIONS WHICH INTERACT ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-19

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus In Jeans Part 2 Of 3 Series

Contributed by John Braland on Aug 21, 2007

What kind of a disciple are you? Are you a Christian in name only? Are you a wishy washy disciple? Or are you a revolutionary talmid, one of his fully devoted followers who live like Jesus and teach like Jesus and touch other people with God’s love jus

The tragedy at Virginia Tech has touched lives from coast to coast. The senseless acts of a rogue individual has damaged hundreds and thousands of peoples lives forever. The sad thing is that is exactly what he set out to do. Now we are in recovery mode and the first question people are asking ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keeping Up Appearances

Contributed by Paul Cull on Jan 3, 2005

The danger of the Pharisee tendency today

Matthew 23 Keeping Up Appearances Introduction We all know Hyacinth Bucket from the television sitcom ‘Keeping up Appearances’. Now although it may not be politically correct to make judgements about people, we all know that we all do it. And we can all make a judgement about the character. For ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-39

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican