Does the Bible Say That?

To Thine Own Self be True

This is the final message in our series, “Is That Really in the Bible?” So far, we’ve considered several statements often attributed to the Bible: God helps those who help themselves, God will never give you more than you can handle, God works in mysterious ways, and cleanliness is next to godliness. If this series, and our weekly Bible quizzes, have taught us anything, it&rsq...

Does the Bible Say That?

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15; Ps. 24:3-5; James 4:7-10

 Every preacher is bound to have an “off” sermon every now and then. That’s true whether you’ve preached 50 sermons or whether you’ve preached over 5,000 sermons. It’s estimated that John Wesley preached over 40,000 sermons over his lifetime, so I would ...

Does the Bible Say That?

God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle

James 1:12-17; 2 Cor. 1:8-10; John 17:6-15

This morning we continue our sermon series, Is that Really in the Bible. Two weeks ago, we looked at the phrase, “God helps those who help themselves” and discovered that the opposite is really the truth; God helps those who cannot help themselves and Jesus called us...

Does the Bible Say That?

God Moves in Mysterious Ways 

Isaiah 55:3-9; Jeremiah 9:23-24; Prov. 8:17; Rev. 3:20

We’ve begun a sermon series looking at popular sayings people assume can be found in the Bible. We began last week with “God helps those who help themselves” and this morning we focus on the saying, “God moves (or works) in mysterious ways.” These words are actually fr...

Does the Bible Say That?

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

Matthew 25:34-46; Ps. 94:17-19

This is the first message in a new series “Is That Really in the Bible?” We’ll be examining some popular statements people think are in the Bible, which aren’t found in Scripture or don’t exactly read as many believe. There are millions of Bibles in America, yet there is an ...

New Beginnings

New Beginnings

Judges 6:11-18; Rom. 12:1-2

The beginning of every new year seems to be filled with a mix of emotions: hope, determination to improve, unrest, dissatisfaction, a sense of uncertainty. Every year seems to bring something – economic issues, unemployment, war or violence, civil unrest, injustice. In 2020, we experienced all of that, and COVID as well. ...

Returning Home From Our Advent Journey

Treasuring Words … Pondering Meanings

Matthew 16:13-15; Luke 2:19

 Our Advent journey is over. For the past four weeks, we have visited the houses of the four Gospel authors, where we’ve experienced what Christmas means from that Gospel writer’s perspective and how Christmas is celebrated there. We’ve learned about the...

Christmas at John's House

Christmas at John’s House

Isa. 43:1-7; John 1:1-5, 14

For the past three weeks we have been on a journey visiting the homes of each of the Gospel writers. The purpose of our journey is to experience what Christmas means from that Gospel writer’s perspective and how Christmas is celebrated there. This week we have been invited to John’s house for Christ...

Christmas at Luke's House

Christmas at Luke’s House

Isa. 9:6-12; Luke 1:67-79; Luke 1:1-4; Luke 2:1-14

This Advent season we are looking at Christmas through each of the four Gospels. For each of the 4 weeks of Advent, we are on a journey to the four Gospel homes – Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. The purpose of our journey is to experience what Christmas means from that Gospel writer&...

Christmas at Matthew's House

Christmas at Matthew’s House

Gen. 15:1-6; Matt. 1:1, 17-23

This Advent season we are looking at Christmas through each of the four Gospels.  It's as if each of the Gospels represents the house of the Gospel writer and we have been invited to that house to celebrate the Christmas season. (This sermon series is based on the book, &...

An Attitude of Thanksgiving

An Attitude of Thanksgiving

Matthew 6:25-34; Col. 3:1-4, 12-17

As a product of my times, I learned the history of Thanksgiving from the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special which first aired on November 20, 1973. Grammar, of course, I learned from Schoolhouse Rock (a noun is a person, place, or things and conjunctions have functions!); my legal education ...

An Attitude of Generosity

An Attitude of Generosity

2 Cor. 9:6-15; 2 Chron. 1:7-12

 This morning we continue on our journey on the Gratitude Path, the path Jesus during his lifetime on earth. The path begins – and our journey last week began – with an Attitude of Gratitude. In our attitude of gratitude, we remember to pause and give thanks to God. Throughout the...

An Attitude of Gratitude

An Attitude of Gratitude

Luke 17:11-19

 The Lady Elgin was a steamboat built in 1851 to serve as a cargo and passenger ship on the Great Lakes, making trips from Chicago to Superior, Wisconsin and back. When the steamboat departed from Chicago’s LaSalle Street dock around 11 p.m. on Sept. 7, 1860, it was the start of a routine trip up the coast of Lake Michig...

What Does This Mean??? The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

What Does This Mean? The Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31

This morning we conclude our sermon series on the parables of Jesus with Luke’s account of the rich man and Lazarus. Before we jump into the parable, however, we need to take a look at the context. Jesus has been instructing in a series of parables, talking about lost sheep, a lost coin, ...

What Does This Mean??? The Parable of the Widow and Judge

The Parable of the Widow and the Judge

Luke 18:1-8

So, there’s supposedly this true story (it was on the internet, so it must be true) of a country woman who was the last in the county to get wired for electricity. Finally, years behind everyone else, she calls the electric company, pays the fees, and they come out and power is installed in her home. However, afte...