NOTE: Sometimes during and after preaching a sermon, even when it has been written out beforehand, you realize connections and nuances you had not noticed when writing it. That happened this morning as I preached this message. So I have done a bit of editing to reflect that, including a change in the title. • [...]
Sermon: Serving a Generous Master (Matt. 25:14-30)
13 Nov by
Today’s Gospel text speaks of a man going on a long journey. The journey that has brought me to this place where I stand today has likewise been long. Picture in your mind a young boy growing up in the Midwest. His family took him to the Methodist church. He loved being in the sanctuary, [...]
Children’s Sermon: Jesus’ Blessing Is Here for You
30 Jan by
By Chaplain Mike I like the children’s sermon in a worship service. Many have suggested that adults usually get more out of it than they do the pastor’s sermon! I’ve heard my share of them over the years, good and bad. The best ones were simple, short, and directed to the imagination. It’s obviously wise [...]
Sermon: All Are Welcome
30 Jan by
By Chaplain Mike You have been reading posts about the Beatitudes this week. If you would like to hear my sermon from this morning on Matthew 5:1-12, you can do so using the player below. This sermon is about 22 minutes long.
Sermon: Walking in God’s Good Works
23 Jan by
By Chaplain Mike Below, you can listen to Chaplain Mike’s sermon, preached at a local Presbyterian church on 1/23/11. The Gospel reading for the day is Matthew 4:12-23. Other texts we read in the service, supporting the message, were Isaiah 41:17-20, Acts 10:38, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 2:11-14. Matthew 4:17, 23-25 (NASB) From that time Jesus [...]
Sermon: A Basic Conversation about Faith
17 Jan by
By Chaplain Mike Below, you can listen to Chaplain Mike’s sermon on John 1:35-42, preached at a local Presbyterian church on Sunday, Jan. 16. John 1:35-42 (NASB) Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The [...]
Circumcision of the Christ-Child
2 Jan by
By Chaplain Mike After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21, NRSV) eighth day and the baby cries hard tool cuts his flesh fulfilling all demands bleeding flesh by human hands [...]
Christmas I: An Ordinary, Humble Story Set on a Great Stage
26 Dec by
By Chaplain Mike In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to [...]
An Ordinary Night
24 Dec by
By Chaplain Mike It was an ordinary night. If you stop to think about it, how could it have been anything else? Days and nights proceed in a generally predictable fashion. Things happen in this world. Some of those things take your breath away, true, but most of the time even the most remarkable, awe-inspiring [...]
Advent II—How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place
5 Dec by
Note from CM: As we light the second Advent candle, we thank God for his gift of peace. Ephesians 2 speaks of the peace Christ brings to those far and near, calling them together into the one household of God (Eph 2:11-22). Thanks to Damaris today for the following meditation on God’s dwelling place. “How [...]
