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Sermons

Do Pray-Part 1 (Matt. 6:5-15)

Mel Brooks is one of seven entertainers to earn the Tony, the Emmy, the Grammy and the Oscar.  Last year Forbes asked Brooks to describe the “American Dream.”[1] The “American Dream” is the vision that Americans have of life.  It is what they believe life in America is all about.  Here is how Brooks responded: “When I was a little kid 50 years ago, in 1946, I had just got out of the Army after two years fighting in the war. The American Dream was a house and a car.  Today, the American Dream is winning American Idol. It’s changed slightly.  In another 50 years from now, when the economy collapses and everything is in threads and torn, the American Dream then, in 20-whatever, will be a house and a car.”  With tongue-in-cheek, Brooks describes the American dream as the pursuit of possessions or prominence.  Sometimes the American Dream is the pursuit of possessions, like a house and a car.  At other times that dream is the pursuit of prominence, like winning American Idol.  This vision of possessions or prominence is something which many dream about.

Read More »Do Pray-Part 1 (Matt. 6:5-15)

Don’t Worry

A recent news magazine includes a photo taken on Wall Street.[1]  Amidst business men and women stands a person wearing a white mask.  The person appears to be a woman.  She holds up a sign.  The sign says, “You have every reason to worry.”  The message continues on another sign hung around her neck: “No end in sight.”  In the heat of the economic meltdown, here was one person’s conclusion: “You have every reason to worry.  No end in sight.”  Read More »Don’t Worry

The Simple Way: People Who Are Sent to Save (Matt. 5:13-16)

One of the movies Kendra and I used to watch with Jordan and Jacob was called An Extremely Goofy Movie.[1]  The story centers on Goofy struggling with the empty-nest-syndrome caused when his son Max leaves home for college.  Goofy misses Max so much that he enrolls in Max’s college just to get near him.  Max, however, wants nothing to do with his dad.  In class one day Goofy daydreams about happier times with Max.  The soundtrack to the dream is a song by the Partridge Family called “Come on Get Happy!” [2]: Traveling along there’s a song that we’re singing, “Come on get happy!” A whole lot of loving is what we’ll be bringing.  We’ll make you happy!  While the song plays, Max appears as a young boy in love again with his dad.  Together Max and Goofy float in the clouds.  Everything is right.  But then Goofy is dragged back into the painful reality.  Read More »The Simple Way: People Who Are Sent to Save (Matt. 5:13-16)

The Simple Way: People Who Are Sent to Serve (Acts 1:1-11)

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  (Acts 1:1-6 TNIV)Read More »The Simple Way: People Who Are Sent to Serve (Acts 1:1-11)