First Sunday of Advent
This sermon comes from Mark 13 and this chapter is called the Olivet Discourse. The Olivet Discourse is in all three of the Synoptic Gospels – Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21. You may remember I preached a couple of weeks ago Matthew 25:1-13 - the parable of the 10 Bridesmaids, and remember it is a part of the Olivet Discourse. What was the parable of the 10 Bridesmaids about? Being prepared for Christ’s return and keeping awake. The parable in our scripture for today, Mark 13:32-37 is about watching (being on guard) and keeping awake for Christ’s return.
Johnny Died Well
I can remember as a child my nightly prayer was this: Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my Soul to keep; If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my Soul to take. Frankly, that is a scary prayer my parents taught me to pray! There were some nights I did not want to go to sleep!
Is anyone Feeling Tired? I Am!
I preached this sermon "Is Anyone Feeling Tired? I Am!" on July 9, 2023. The Scripture covered was Matthew 11:25 - 30. We all have bad days but did Jesus have bad days? In Matthew 11:25-30 he ends what could be called a few bad days for Jesus with a prayer of thanksgiving and an invitation to come to him and he will give us rest. We are to take his yoke upon us and he will help us carry it.
Tired People Come to Me
I will be preaching on Matthew 11: 28-30 on July 9th. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” We could call this the “Declaration of Rest”.
Ananias and Sapphira’s Sin
The account of Ananias and Sapphira is one of the most disturbing narratives in the New Testament. It reveals how essential unity within the church is to God, and how seriously God takes deceit that threatens that unity.