The Anchor Holds

Last Sunday we talked about the passage from Hebrews, chapter 6, which describes our hope in God as a strong anchor for our souls.  The God we need is a solid, firm foundation that can hold us by His side, despite the collisions and storms of life.  I found this illustration to support that idea but ran out of time to use it.

Great Quote that Just Missed
‘The Cut’ to be Included In the Sermon

      Jen Wilkins, in her excellent exposition of the ‘Ten Words’ writes:
“If I am walking into my home and see a ladybug on my doorstep, I smile and take care to relocate it to the nearest plant. But if I see a cockroach, I have a different response. Why? Because I feel affection for one and contempt for the other.

Gossip

      I’d preached on the Ten Commandments or the Ten Words before (I know, who would have guessed).  In that sermon I focused a bit more on off shoots of false witness such as hypocrisy and gossip.  Here’s one of my favorite illustrations regarding spreading falsehoods about others.

Thankfulness is the Mother of Nearly All Good Things

          Of all places, I came across a quote from the Roman Senator, Cicero, on the business website, Forbes.com.  He said, back in Julius Caesar’s time, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”  That was the gist of what Bishop Trimble said to us from the pulpit.  ‘Thank you’ is not only a beautiful prayer, it is the well spring from which love, grace, and Christian living flow. 

Archived Posts

There is a challenge when it comes to preaching the Word of God. 

         Preachers are called to open up and interpret the word—inspired and written down thousands of years ago—and make it relevant to a very different world.  On top of that there’s a degree of persuasion that goes along with the process. 

What Jessica Really Meant to Say in Her Sermon…

          When Jessica or Rick or a guest preacher takes the pulpit it’s hard for me to write a One More Thing Blog.  I can’t share with you what didn’t make it into the sermon because I have no idea, not having written or delivered it. 

Jesus Keeps On Ruining Funerals!

       I didn’t have anything this last week that didn’t end up in the sermon.  No catchy illustrations that didn’t make the cut.  No theological insights that slowed down the main point.  No one can ruin a funeral like Jesus. Told as I saw it and that was it.  So I did some quick research and I thought I’d share just a reminder of what Easter is all about.

When I Don’t Get To Give My Benediction

          Yesterday’s sermon talked about how we are in the thrall of self-centeredness—caught in a system that rewards those who climb to the top, even when you have to climb on the back of others.  I talked about a famous sermon by Dr. Martin Luther King, ....

Some Good Quotes that I Didn’t Get To Last Sunday

          I have been working out of Adam Hamilton’s excellent book, Why Did Jesus Have to Die?  And when I find something that says what I want to say more succinctly and expressively than I can, I like to quote it...