Sermons on Acts
April 16: Our Holy Protector
2nd Sunday of Easter: Our Holy Protector Scriptures: John 20:19-31; Acts 2:14, 22-32, 37-40; 1 Peter 1:3-9 Growing up, I remember hearing about the time my grandpa was flying across the country, and midway through his first leg of the journey, for reasons we’ll never know, he decided to take a different connecting flight than the one for which he was booked. Imagine his utter shock when later that day he learned that the plane he was originally supposed…
Nov 13: Trusting God While Saying “Goodbye”
This sermon was delivered on the final Sunday that Elisabeth Danielsons, our Director of Children’s, Youth, and Family Ministrties, was with us before moving to Missouri. Scriptures: Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 37:23-24; Acts 20:17-24, 32, 36-38 Yesterday we bid our final goodbyes to the oldest member of our church, Donna Rock. A week ago Saturday, she passed away at the age of 103. Hers was a well-lived life. Donna will be missed by many as evidenced by the large number…
May 5: One With
May 5, 2022 – Pentecost Sunday Scripture: Acts 2:1-11 Many years ago, I attended a conference in Wheaton, Illinois, a city I’d never been to before. That Sunday, I wanted to worship at a particular church in order to talk with the pastor. The problem was I forgot to bring the name of the church with me; and I couldn’t remember it, either. After looking through the Yellow Pages—this was before the days of the internet and Google—I settled…
May 29: The Church At Work is Christ at Work
May 29, 2022 – Ascension Sunday Scriptures: Acts 1:1-11 & Ephesians 1:15-23 A while back I shared with you that for most of my adult life, I couldn’t wrap my head around the bodily ascension of Jesus as described in the Bible. Luke, who authored both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, includes it in both books, but provides a few more details in Acts. Mark also mentions it in the closing of his Gospel. Here’s…
May 15: A Church For All and Of All
Today we begin a 4-week sermon series entitled, “Now and Forever: Viewing the Church Through the Lens of Charles Wesley.” The theme for each Sunday will be based on the days’ lectionary reading from either Acts of Revelation, and supported by the lyrics of a hymn by Charles Wesley. The hymn which will get special focus is “And Can It Be that I Should Gain?” one of Wesley’s most beloved but lesser-sung hymns. Today’s theme is the inclusive Body…
May 1: For ME?
Today we begin a 4-week sermon series entitled, “Now and Forever: Viewing the Church Through the Lens of Charles Wesley.” The theme for each Sunday will be based on the days’ lectionary reading from either Acts of Revelation, and supported by the lyrics of a hymn by Charles Wesley. The hymn which will get special focus is “And Can It Be that I Should Gain?” one of Wesley’s most beloved but lesser-sung hymns. Today’s theme is God’s amazing love.…
January 16: A Deacon’s Heart: Connecting Church and World
This is the second in a 3-part sermon series entitled “Called to Ministry.” By virtue of water baptism, Christians receive a “call” to a ministry which is common to all followers of Jesus. Among the baptized, God calls some to ‘set apart’ ministries, the most common being a call to ordained ministry. The United Methodist Church has two orders of ordination: deacon and elder. Today’s theme is the role and purpose of The United Methodist Deacon. Sermon 1 –…
September 19: When ALL of God’s People Get Together (3/4)
Sermon: When All of God’s People Get Together Other messages in this series: Sermon #1: “Rethinking the Priority of Worship” (Sept 5) Sermon #2: “Worship You Don’t Have to Go To” (Sept 12) Sermon #4: “It”s What We Bring to Worship That Matters” (Sept 26) Scriptures: Psalm 68; Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:19-25 When one of my younger siblings—I think it was my sister, but I can’t say for sure—was getting ready to head off to the sr. prom, the…
May 23: Jesus Within Us and Around Us
May 23 Bulletin Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 I have a question for you. It’s not a trick question, but the answer I’m looking for may not be obvious to everyone. If you want to see God’s “face,” what are you supposed to do? Another way of asking the question would be, How does God intend to reveal himself to people who don’t know him? Some might suggest the Scriptures, and that’s certainly one important way God reveals himself, but it’s…
May 16: Because Jesus Ascended….
May 16 Bulletin Scriptures: Acts 1:1-11 & Luke 24:44-53 For much of my life, including most of my years as a pastor, the ascension of Jesus Christ has been an enigma. For the longest time, I had the hardest time wrapping my head around the idea of Jesus floating up into the sky like a helium balloon. In my last year of seminary, I was the last student to preach in chapel before graduation. As it was, the day I…