Sermons

When Losing Control is OK

Mark 9: 2-9

Have you ever felt like you were losing control?  

What about the note you get from school saying you need to come in to a conference with the principal about your disorderly child? That can throw you off.

What about that promotion at work you were told you were in line to receive, but then they hired from outside the company over you? That can throw you off and give you a feeling you’ve lost all control.

Our Core Values: We Are Kingdom People

Matthew 13:24-33

A Sunday School teacher asked the students, “What do we know about God?” One student said, “God’s an artist.” How do we know that, asked the teacher. Said the student, “You know. Our Father, who does art in heaven, hallowed by thy name …”

OK we are concluding today a sermon series on the Great Ends of the Church.

Our Core Values: Claiming Faith That Is Personal But Not Private

Amos 5:18-24

Did you hear, “What happened when the cat swallowed a coin?” . . . . . "There was money in the kitty"!

The prophet Amos gives us the words of our calling: “… let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Our God who is a God of justice and righteousness seeks that we, too, desire justice and righteousness. God desires that we let justice and righteousness flow, to flow like water. Water has a force, doesn’t it. If you don’t believe me, let’s go down to the South Platte River after worship, and try to dam up the water. It’s not a big river, but even a modest amount of water has a big force.

Our Core Identity: We Are Truth-Bearers

John 17:6-19

Today we continue with this series of sermons on our core Presbyterian values. Please read aloud from your bulletin the boldface portion of this statement from our constitution about the great ends or purposes of the church. We’re reading the first four.  Today, we are reminded that one of our purposes as a body of believers is preservation of the truth. That is to say there is truth. We can find it. Or is it that it finds us? We can learn the truth, we can know truth, and embrace truth. And we can tell it.

Our Core Identity: Worship is Our Priority

Psalm 100

Did you hear about the gentleman who stumbled and fell coming out the front door and front steps of the church? Being Presbyterian, with that whole pre-destination thing going on, he picked himself off the ground, brushed off the dust from his clothes, and said, “I’m glad that’s over.” See, everything is planned. We’re just finding out about it along the way.

Our Core Identity: A Confessional and Connection People

Mark 1:4-11

Three themes are woven together for us today like a fine garment.

The first theme is baptism. We recognize that Jesus was baptized. Jesus submitted to John’s baptism, and blessing happened. The heavens opened. The Voice spoke. The Spirit descended. Ahhhhh. It’s a holy thing to be in pilgrimage at the Jordan River where it all happened. Brings one closer to God somehow. The baptism of Jesus serves to remind us of our identity with Christ through our baptisms. Think life commissioning, life purpose.

Longing For Peace

Isaiah 9: 2-7

An atheist was complaining that she had no special holiday. Christians have Christmas and Jewish people have Hanukkah, but atheists don’t have any holiday. And the Christian said, “Why not take April 1^st.”

Longing For Hope

Matthew 1:18-25

Advent is here. Christmas is coming.

But have you ever heard why Jesus is better than Santa Claus?

Santa lives at the North Pole,  But JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh,  But JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes once a year,  But JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies,  But JESUS supplies all your needs.

Clothe Yourself in Compassion

Colossians 3:12-15

Jody Pierce and I have been talking about doing this for several months. I’m glad the day has finally arrived. Welcome, Jody. Jody, I usually start with a short piece of humor. You might appreciate this. A church bulletin announcement read, “The Self-Esteem Group meets Thursday at 7 pm. Please use the back door.” You would never do that at the Pennock Center. Everybody uses the front door. This scripture text that we are reading today seems to touch on what the Pennock Center for Counseling is all about

The Roller Coaster of Life

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 & 2 Corinthians 12: 1-10

Two friends, one an Optimist and the other a Pessimist, could never quite agree. One day the Optimist decided he had found a good way to pull his friend out of his continual Pessimistic thinking.

The Optimist owned a hunting dog that could walk on water. He decided to take the Pessimist and the dog out duck hunting in a boat.

They got out into the middle of the lake, and the Optimist brought down a duck. The dog immediately jumped out of the boat, walked out across the water, retrieved the duck, and walked back to the boat.

The Optimist thought his friend just had to look at that and be amazed and upward thinking. Instead, the Pessimist looked at it all and said, “That dog can’t swim!”