July 17, 2011

Sermon for July 17, 2011

Click HERE to listen.

Mugshots and Magazine Covers


Humans really can be easily fooled by appearance.  Most of us assume that bad guys look like they do in mugshots and good guys look like the pretty folks we see on magazine covers.  But what if the real measure of a person has less to do with how we look, and more to do with what fruit we bear?


Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
13:24 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field;13:25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.13:26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.13:27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?'13:28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'13:29 But he replied, 'No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.13:30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"13:36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." 13:37 He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man;13:38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one,13:39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.13:40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers,13:42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

July 9, 2011

Sermon for July 09, 2011

Click HERE to Listen!

"I'm in That Story?"
Today's text invites us to find ourselves in the parable of the sower and the seeds, but which seed am I?  Maybe we are all of them...


Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.13:2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.13:3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow.13:4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up.13:5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil.13:6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away.13:7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.13:8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.13:9 Let anyone with ears listen!"13:18 "Hear then the parable of the sower.13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path.13:20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
13:21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.13:22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing.13:23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

July 3, 2011

Sermon for July 3, 2011

Click HERE to Listen.

Energy Crisis

This weekend we celebrate America's independence.  On a fun note we retired our sanctuary flag and installed a new one this Sunday and in the process of planning this we realized that our flag had 49 stars.  Yes, I think that flag was ready to be retired.  As it is an historic flag it will be placed on display.

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
11:16 "But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, 11:17 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.' 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; 11:19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." 11:25 At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 11:26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 11:27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 11:28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."