When One Iota Matters A Sermon by Rich Holmes on John 14:23-29 Delivered on May 1, 2016 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "When One Iota Matters A Sermon by Rich Holmes on John 14:23-29 Delivered on May 1, 2016 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio"

Transcription

1 When One Iota Matters A Sermon by Rich Holmes on John 14:23-29 Delivered on May 1, 2016 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio If you are as much of a nerd as I am, you may like knowing where certain common expressions come from expressions like It s raining cats and dogs, The whole nine yards, or Having an ax to grind. As you ve probably guessed, there are stories behind all these things. And one of my favorite stories is the one behind the expression It doesn t matter one iota, or It doesn t make one iota of a difference. My father always used to say that, and I always wondered what an iota of a difference was. Well, that brings us to the story of the Arian controversy. Now some of you are saying, Oh the Arians! Yes, those are the blonde haired blue eyed people that the Nazis loved so much amid their racist hatred of everyone else. But no, those aren t the Arians I m talking about. I mean a different group of Arians. Back in the fourth century, there was an important debate going on in the church. On one side of the debate were the Trinitarians, and on the other side were the Arians. Now the Trinitarians, you see, were those who read the bible to say that Jesus Christ is equal to God, equal in importance, equal in power, equal in divinity and all the things that could make anyone equal with God, simply because he is God. But on the other hand, the Arians were those who followed a guy named Arius. And Arius, you see, believed everything the Trinitarians believed, except he didn t believe Jesus to be equal to God. Is Jesus holy? Yes, he said. Is he the Son of God? Yes, Arius said, but the Son is just not equal to the Father. Now, let s cut to the chase. Who won the debate? Well, since you have probably never heard of Arius you have probably already guessed that he lost the debate. The church decided 1

2 that the Trinitarians were right and the Arians were wrong. And you may be interested to know that the Nicene Creed which we will be saying in our worship service today would not have been written had it not been for this Arian debate. Now you know why the Nicene Creed talks about Jesus saying God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, of one being with the Father. Why is it important to talk this way? Why did it matter that Jesus was God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God and all that stuff? Because those who wrote this creed were talking to the Arians. The Arians denied these things. Well, by now, you are probably saying that this is all very interesting but what does this have to do with the expression it doesn t make an iota of a difference? Well, you see, the debate between the Arians and the Trinitarians all came down to the Greek letter iota. The Trinitarians said that Jesus was homoousis with the Father, which means he was made of the same stuff. But the Arians said that Jesus was not homoousis but homioousis, which means that Jesus and the Father were only made of similar stuff, and the difference between homoousis and homioousis is, guess what? One iota. So, one iota made the difference between the Arians and the Trinitarians. So now you know. Now, I tell you this story today not just to tell you about the origins of the expression an iota of a difference, but because today s gospel lesson has one of the Arians favorite passages. In today s gospel lesson, the Lord is giving a sort of farewell address to his disciples, telling them that he is going away, and telling them that soon he will be ascending to the Father, but also telling them that if they love him they should rejoice that he is going away because the Father is greater than he is. So, the Arians read this and they said to their opponents, Aha, see there, God the Father is greater than Jesus. And in some way they must be right because that s what 2

3 Jesus says. We don t have to believe that the Father was greater than Jesus in the same way that they believed, or that at least in his divine nature Jesus was not equal to God, but in some way, Jesus says, The Father is greater than I. But regardless of how we understand Jesus statement The Father is greater than I, here is the important thing. In this passage Jesus tells the disciples that because the Father is greater than I, you should rejoice that I am going to the Father and not be sad that I am going away. And I think a lot of people would say that this strike their ears as strange. How could the disciples not be sad that Jesus left them? How can we, two thousand years later not be sad that our Lord is absent from us and has not returned to us still? Jesus answer is this. If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going away, because I am going to glory. I am going to sit on the right hand of God the Father in glory, and I am leaving this world of pain and sorrow and woe. I am going to where there are pearly gates, and streets of gold. I will return to you, and furthermore I will not leave you orphaned. I am giving you the Holy Spirit, but for now, if you love me, you should rejoice over where I am going. I think we can all agree that our Lord is right. If we love him, we should rejoice that he has gone away. But while I think we can all agree that it matters greatly that God loves all of us, as long as we are talking about iotas today, does it make an iota of a difference whether we love God? We can never overstate the importance of the good news of the gospel when we proclaim that God loves us. The world hasn t always believed in a loving God. The ancient Greeks had a very different view of the divine. Prometheus was punished by Zeus because he dared to show compassion for mortals. In Aristophanes comedy The Frogs, Dionysius and a slave named 3

4 Xanthias wanted to have a test to see which if either of them were divine. The test they came up with was that they would both be flogged with a whip and whichever one of them squealed out in pain or even batted an eyelid will have proved not to be a god at all. The ancient Greeks thought that to be divine meant to be free from suffering and free from compassion. These things weren t worthy of a divine being, and so for the gospels to say that in Jesus Christ we have a God who is unlimited in compassion and who suffers when we suffer, well that s great news. What if God were not only unloving but as incapable of suffering as the ancient Greeks believed? Surely we are better off living in a creation where God loves us and suffers when we suffer. But does it make an iota of a difference if we love God? Are we better off for loving God? Well, imagine this. Imagine on your street where you were growing up there were two kids in two different homes. One kid in one house got everything he could possibly wish for from his parents. He wanted a puppy, his mom and dad gave him a puppy. He wanted all kinds of electronic gadgets, his mom and dad gave him that too. And every year when it became time to plan a summer vacation, he got to be the one to decide where the family would go on vacation. But the second kid, a few doors down, didn t get all that stuff. He didn t get anything like that from his mom and dad. He received the clothes he needed on his back, the shelter he needed, the food he needed, but not much else no pets he could collect insects in a jar and poke holes in it if he wanted, but no pets and no electronic gadgets maybe a few cheap toys from the dollar store every now and then, but no electronics. And as for vacation spots, not only was he not asked where he d like to go, most of the time his family didn t even go on vacation. 4

5 The first kid got everything his little heart desired, and the second kid got the bare necessities and not much else. But the second kid genuinely loved his parents as most normal happy children do, and the first kid did not. Which of the two kids would you say was better off? Which of the two would you say had a better childhood? Maybe these two kids describe some of the people you grew up with when you were a kid, maybe we all had these two kids in our neighborhoods, I don t know. But, I think we would all agree that the second kid was better off. And that is because for all the advantages that the first kid had with the electronics and pets and vacations, in not being able to love his parents and feel gratitude toward his parents for all they gave him, the first child was missing something missing something quite important, and missing something which could not be compared to what the second kid was missing. For maybe the second kid was missing a life filled with material things. But there was something of value in what the first kid was missing, and something of value that could not be compared to the so called value of material things. And I know and you know, we both know that some people out there will tell us that loving someone else does not make an iota of a difference if you don t have all the things the second kid had. But I think we all know that they re wrong. I think even they know that they re wrong. And in the same way, you may know people who are missing a little something in their faith. For they have the kind of faith where they worship a Lord who is like a fairy godmother. They believe that if they raise their prayers to heaven they will get whatever they want from God if they just ask, if they just pray, just like a fairy godmother who gives them whatever they wish for. They will get everything they want not just in terms of relief from sickness and distress, but even in the form of success, and wealth and power. But then once they get whatever they 5

6 want, they have absolutely no need of God anymore, that is, until they happen to need something else and then they call on the fairy godmother again. And some people may say to me, Pastor Rich, isn t it better to believe that God is like a fairy godmother than it is to believe that God is like one of the ancient Greek deities who doesn t care about us at all? Yes, I suppose. But if you see someone who has a fairy godmother Lord and a fairy godmother faith, then I think you are right to feel sorry for such a person. They re missing something. Their faith is impoverished. It is immature; it is incomplete. They are missing something unless their faith also includes a love of God for God s own sake. And so now we understand Jesus message to his disciples. His message is that it is great if you want to rejoice that God has sent me to love you and to be with you, that s wonderful. But if you love me, don t just rejoice that God let s good things happen to you, rejoice that God let s good things happen to me. For all those who know that God loves them, there are some who love God in return and there are some who don t. And ask yourself if that makes an iota of a difference. 6

Far from Home A Sermon by Rich Holmes on Mark 9:33-37 Delivered on September 23, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church

Far from Home A Sermon by Rich Holmes on Mark 9:33-37 Delivered on September 23, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church Far from Home A Sermon by Rich Holmes on Mark 9:33-37 Delivered on September 23, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church One time, I was told a story that is supposedly a true story, although I hope it

More information

Imitators of God A Sermon by Rich Holmes Delivered on October 7, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio

Imitators of God A Sermon by Rich Holmes Delivered on October 7, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio Imitators of God A Sermon by Rich Holmes Delivered on October 7, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio When I was in the eighth grade I remember going to a dance at Crabapple Middle

More information

Too Much Talking! Derek Starr Redwine! Sunday, Sept. 2! James 1:17-27!

Too Much Talking! Derek Starr Redwine! Sunday, Sept. 2! James 1:17-27! Too Much Talking Derek Starr Redwine Sunday, Sept. 2 James 1:17-27 One of the challenges of being a Christian is being in the world, while not being of it. Since the 1st century followers of Jesus have

More information

that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has

that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has Joseph, Did You Know? A Sermon on Matthew 1:18-25 by Rich Holmes Delivered on December 18, 2016 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one

More information

teaching classes on the side, as of today, as of this day, Sunday, June 10 th, I am launching a new

teaching classes on the side, as of today, as of this day, Sunday, June 10 th, I am launching a new Seen and Unseen A Sermon by Rich Holmes on Second Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Delivered on June 10, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio Well, I begin my sermon today with an announcement.

More information

Are You Adding A New Pet To Your Family?

Are You Adding A New Pet To Your Family? Are You Adding A New Pet To Your Family? All we know that pets catch the attention of almost everyone. Possible or not but everyone urges to own a pet and spend their leisure hour playing with them. Kids

More information

SERMON Time after Pentecost Lectionary 24 September 12, 2010

SERMON Time after Pentecost Lectionary 24 September 12, 2010 SERMON Time after Pentecost Lectionary 24 September 12, 2010 Exodus 32:7-14 Psalm 51:1-10 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10 Brothers and sisters in Christ, grace to you and peace from God the Father, and

More information

LESSON TITLE: The Birth of John the Baptist

LESSON TITLE: The Birth of John the Baptist Devotion NT206 CHILDREN S DEVOTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF: LESSON TITLE: The Birth of John the Baptist THEME: God is worthy of our praise. SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:39-80 Dear Parents Welcome to Bible Time for Kids!

More information

Krishna Sunday Service Children s Story. Time: 9 10 minutes depending on storyteller delivery and children s responses.

Krishna Sunday Service Children s Story. Time: 9 10 minutes depending on storyteller delivery and children s responses. Materials: Chart of the Divine Self Pictures of Krishna Krishna Sunday Service Children s Story Preparations: Prepare any necessary materials. Invite children up to steps of altar. Reader of story sits

More information

Module 1.2: Making Connections

Module 1.2: Making Connections Worksheet 1 How can you make the conversation sound friendlier? Complete the mini-dialogues with the discourse markers in the box. Sometimes, more than one choice is possible. The first one is done as

More information

Pierce keeps having the most terrible nightmares. My mom

Pierce keeps having the most terrible nightmares. My mom Before me there were no created things, Only eternal, and I eternal last. All hope abandon, ye who enter in! DANTE ALIGHIERI, Inferno, Canto III Pierce keeps having the most terrible nightmares. My mom

More information

REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8

REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8 Dr JD Harless Tri-County Christian Church July 31, 2016 Resources: Expositors & Commentaries REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8 There once was on old man who loved to play golf. But he was approaching

More information

Does Goodness Have a Point? A Sermon on Psalm 1 by Rich Holmes Delivered on May 12, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio

Does Goodness Have a Point? A Sermon on Psalm 1 by Rich Holmes Delivered on May 12, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio Does Goodness Have a Point? A Sermon on Psalm 1 by Rich Holmes Delivered on May 12, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio Why is it, why is it that so many times in this world

More information

1. Jesus taught us that instead of being mean, we should be kind. What is one kind thing you have done?

1. Jesus taught us that instead of being mean, we should be kind. What is one kind thing you have done? Follow Jesus Grade: Preschool The Lord said, if you believe in me, follow everything I have taught you. What I have taught you is to be kind instead of mean. This isn t easy. You will find that some people

More information

Receive the Blessings of Our Triune God A sermon based on 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 Sunday, June 19, 2011 Trinity Sunday A

Receive the Blessings of Our Triune God A sermon based on 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 Sunday, June 19, 2011 Trinity Sunday A Receive the Blessings of Our Triune God A sermon based on 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 Sunday, June 19, 2011 Trinity Sunday A In a small town in Ohio there lived a man named Bob who was the butt of many jokes.

More information

The title of my sermon today is Does Christian Unity Still Matter? Maybe that title is a little

The title of my sermon today is Does Christian Unity Still Matter? Maybe that title is a little Does Christian Unity Still Matter? A Sermon on Ephesians 4: 1-6 Delivered by Rich Holmes on September 16, 2018 The title of my sermon today is Does Christian Unity Still Matter? Maybe that title is a little

More information

As a Mother Comforts Her Child Isaiah 66:10-14 (5/14/17)

As a Mother Comforts Her Child Isaiah 66:10-14 (5/14/17) 1 As a Mother Comforts Her Child Isaiah 66:10-14 (5/14/17) As a Mother Comforts Her Child that s our sermon title today, and I lifted it straight from the Scripture passage we ll read in just a moment

More information

Sermon: UNSEEN COMPANION Rev. Steve Garnaas-Holmes Saint Matthew s UMC April 30, 2017

Sermon: UNSEEN COMPANION Rev. Steve Garnaas-Holmes Saint Matthew s UMC April 30, 2017 Sermon: UNSEEN COMPANION Rev. Steve Garnaas-Holmes Saint Matthew s UMC April 30, 2017 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking

More information

Faithfulness Preached at 8.15 and on 19 th April 2015

Faithfulness Preached at 8.15 and on 19 th April 2015 Faithfulness Preached at 8.15 and C@10 on 19 th April 2015 Matthew 25:14-30 Intro My Collie, Luka, is a faithful old boy! When I m at home working in my study he s there under the desk at my feet all day.

More information

Wash away all of the evil things I ve done. Make me pure from my sin. Psalm 51:2

Wash away all of the evil things I ve done. Make me pure from my sin. Psalm 51:2 Bible Verse: Wash away all of the evil things I ve done. Make me pure from my sin. Psalm 51:2 Bible Point: Coloring Page: God forgave David s sins. God forgives me when I m sorry for doing wrong things.

More information

ran but the bear kept getting closer. At last the on top of him, getting ready to swat him

ran but the bear kept getting closer. At last the on top of him, getting ready to swat him Psalm 19:1-4a Believe God Fully Revealed 1 Rev. Brian North September 9 th, 2018 This morning we begin a brand new series of messages titled, Believe. This series is going to revolve around the idea of

More information

died. Of course, the three small children were quite sad. To help them with their grief, their mother

died. Of course, the three small children were quite sad. To help them with their grief, their mother SERMON TITLE: The Holy Who? SERMON TEXT: John 14:15-27 PREACHER: Rev. Kim James OCCASION: May 21, 2017, at First UMC INTRODUCTION There s an old story about a family that had a pet parakeet. The day came

More information

GRACE - God's Free Gift to Us" Rev. Keith W. Tamlyn

GRACE - God's Free Gift to Us Rev. Keith W. Tamlyn GRACE - God's Free Gift to Us" Rev. Keith W. Tamlyn There s a story about a famous Pastor named John Todd. John Todd was born in Rutledge, Vermont into a family of several children. They later moved to

More information

Four Important Questions: 1. Where did I come from (origin) we ll look at this more tonight. 2. Where am I going? 3. What went wrong? 4. Who am I?

Four Important Questions: 1. Where did I come from (origin) we ll look at this more tonight. 2. Where am I going? 3. What went wrong? 4. Who am I? Title: Living for Eternity Now pt.1 Text: 1 Corinthians 15.35-49 Theme: Why the resurrection makes sense Series: 1 Corinthians #92 (Living for Eternity 2007 pt.1) Prop Stmnt. The resurrection of our bodies

More information

Sermon by Bob Bradley

Sermon by Bob Bradley Sermon by Bob Bradley COPYRIGHT 2017 CAMPBELL CHAPEL FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH 1709 Campbell Drive * Ironton, OH 45638 When Death Meets Life Sunday, October 22, 2017 Bob Bradley There is a little thought

More information

Samson s Great Strength

Samson s Great Strength Samson s Great Strength In this lesson about Samson and Delilah, children learn that talents and strengths are gifts from God. TOPICS Following God, Obedience, Power of God, Samson, Strength AS KIDS ARRIVE

More information

Well Done. Good and Faithful Servant Sunday, November 16, 2014

Well Done. Good and Faithful Servant Sunday, November 16, 2014 Well Done. Good and Faithful Servant Sunday, November 16, 2014 Etty Hillesum was a young, talented, Dutch-Jewish woman who became a prisoner in a Nazi transit camp where she worked very hard to comfort

More information

The Crucial Difference Between Discipline and Punishment

The Crucial Difference Between Discipline and Punishment Podcast Episode 159 Unedited Transcript Listen here The Crucial Difference Between Discipline and Punishment David Loy: Hello and welcome to In the Loop with Andy Andrews, I m your host David Loy. With

More information

The tenth, and last, in a series of messages from Pastor Laurel Neal on the book of Philippians. September 25, 2016 Rev.

The tenth, and last, in a series of messages from Pastor Laurel Neal on the book of Philippians. September 25, 2016 Rev. Contentment & Confidence Philippians 4:10-23 The tenth, and last, in a series of messages from Pastor Laurel Neal on the book of Philippians. September 25, 2016 Rev. Laurel Neal Philippians 4:10-23 I rejoiced

More information

Unit 1 Summary: Act Up

Unit 1 Summary: Act Up Unit 1 Summary: Act Up T here is an amazing God working behind the scenes of our everyday lives. While our lives may seem ordinary and boring, this God is just waiting to break into our day and take us

More information

Because of Us. For Us.

Because of Us. For Us. Because of Us. For Us. Matthew 21:1-11 Intro So I am going to start with the obvious: today is Palm Sunday and with it being Palm Sunday there is an understandable expectation that most people want to

More information

Crenshaw Novel Study. Name:

Crenshaw Novel Study. Name: Dear incoming 4 th graders: Please complete this novel study as you read Crenshaw over the summer. You will be expected to hand it in on the first day of school. Happy reading! Novel Study Name: Chapter

More information

THEME: Jesus brings healing and hope to a dying world.

THEME: Jesus brings healing and hope to a dying world. Devotion NT228 CHILDREN S DEVOTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF: LESSON TITLE: The Pool at Bethesda of God. THEME: Jesus brings healing and hope to a dying world. SCRIPTURE: John 5:1-15 Dear Parents Welcome to Bible

More information

July 18-19, The Exodus. Exodus 12-14; Jeremiah 29:11. God provides for his family.

July 18-19, The Exodus. Exodus 12-14; Jeremiah 29:11. God provides for his family. rd 3 5 July 18-19, 2015 The Exodus Exodus 12-14; Jeremiah 29:11 God provides for his family. Connect Time (20 minutes): Five minutes after the service begins, split kids into groups and begin their activity.

More information

RADICAL: relationship Galatians 4:1-11

RADICAL: relationship Galatians 4:1-11 March 16, 2014 Pastor Mark Toone Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church Sermon Notes 1 RADICAL: relationship Galatians 4:1-11 This morning is our last sermon in the Radical sermon series based on the first half

More information

EMMA BURNS AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING CAT

EMMA BURNS AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING CAT EMMA BURNS AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING CAT Book #1 in the Emma Burns Mystery Series Contents 1. Emma Burns 2. Chester and the secret hideout 3. All great detectives 4. Hotdogs on the BBQ 5. Peter s help

More information

I have this necklace, it was given to me by Natalie. Natalie was my girlfriend,

I have this necklace, it was given to me by Natalie. Natalie was my girlfriend, Moon Stone I have this necklace, it was given to me by Natalie. Natalie was my girlfriend, keyword was. She was killed in an accident, sadly, and the day of she had given me this. It was a stone, not sure

More information

Lesson 10 - Animals feel God s love

Lesson 10 - Animals feel God s love My Book of God Unit 1 Lesson 10 - Animals feel God s love Aim * For children to learn about the life-cycle of frogs * To understand that animals have feelings and they can feel God s love through people,

More information

LIGHT GREATER THAN OUR DARKNESS Text: John 20: 1-18 April 20, 2014 (Easter Sunday) Faith J. Conklin

LIGHT GREATER THAN OUR DARKNESS Text: John 20: 1-18 April 20, 2014 (Easter Sunday) Faith J. Conklin LIGHT GREATER THAN OUR DARKNESS Text: John 20: 1-18 April 20, 2014 (Easter Sunday) Faith J. Conklin It was a Christmas Eve some years ago. (Yes, Christmas.) I stepped forward to offer the welcome. I reminded

More information

Early Foundations Curriculum

Early Foundations Curriculum Early Foundations Curriculum Sin and Forgiveness Monthly Teaching Guide Copyright 2005 Foundations Publishing, LLC All Right Reserved For Ages 2-6 Early Foundations Equipping Churches, Empowering Parents

More information

Elijah Confronts Evil Ahab

Elijah Confronts Evil Ahab Elijah Confronts Evil Ahab Bible Passages: 1 Kings 18 Main Point: The one true God defeated the prophets of Baal. Big Picture Question: How many gods are there? There is one true God who alone deserves

More information

90 Day Challenge II: The Acts of the Holy Spirit By the Spirit We Are Conspicuous Acts 2:41-Acts 3

90 Day Challenge II: The Acts of the Holy Spirit By the Spirit We Are Conspicuous Acts 2:41-Acts 3 May 3, 2015 Pastor Mark Toone Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church 90 Day Challenge II: The Acts of the Holy Spirit By the Spirit We Are Conspicuous Acts 2:41-Acts 3 We are journeying one chapter at a time

More information

What s your excuse? Luke 14: 15-23

What s your excuse? Luke 14: 15-23 What s your excuse? Luke 14: 15-23 Excuses, we all have them and use them. These are the Top 5 excuses for speeding according to insurance.com 5. I'm having an emergency situation in my car 4. Everyone

More information

Psalm 139:1-6 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and

Psalm 139:1-6 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and God Is Here Always Near Page 1 of 8 God Is Here: Always Near Psalm 139 Today is the first Sunday in the season of Advent. The word advent simply mean arrival; this is the season that leads up to the arrival

More information

Rise and Walk by Rev. Thomas A. (Tommy) Williams. June 28, 2015 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. 8:30 and 11:05 a.m. St. Paul s

Rise and Walk by Rev. Thomas A. (Tommy) Williams. June 28, 2015 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. 8:30 and 11:05 a.m. St. Paul s Rise and Walk by Rev. Thomas A. (Tommy) Williams June 28, 2015 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 8:30 and 11:05 a.m. St. Paul s United Methodist Church 5501 Main Street Houston, Texas 77004-6917 713-528-0527

More information

Light in the Darkness. I believe that happiness is a choice. As someone who has struggled with depression I can

Light in the Darkness. I believe that happiness is a choice. As someone who has struggled with depression I can Woods 1 Brooklyn Woods ENGL 1010-15 Dr. Julie Simon 11 September 2014 Light in the Darkness I believe that happiness is a choice. As someone who has struggled with depression I can tell you that sometimes

More information

2 Thessalonians: When He Comes

2 Thessalonians: When He Comes 2 Thessalonians: When He Comes We are going to study 2 nd Thessalonians. We are in the 14 th exit into the New Testament as we continue to travel down Route 66. This is Paul s second letter to the church

More information

The Good Shepherd A Sermon on John 10:1-18 by Rich Holmes Delivered on April 22, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio

The Good Shepherd A Sermon on John 10:1-18 by Rich Holmes Delivered on April 22, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio The Good Shepherd A Sermon on John 10:1-18 by Rich Holmes Delivered on April 22, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio Since I have been living in Ohio, one of the people I have

More information

REFLECTION ENGLISH SECTION

REFLECTION ENGLISH SECTION REFLECTION ENGLISH SECTION FEEL YOUR CHILDHOOD Sanskruti Mohanty VIII C 344 I want to go back to the time when innocence was natural When getting high meant on a swing When drinking meant Rasna When Dad

More information

Prayers. For those separated from their loved ones when they fled war and conflict, reunite them and give them protection.

Prayers. For those separated from their loved ones when they fled war and conflict, reunite them and give them protection. Prayers Prayer #1 All-embracing God, no one is a stranger to you and no one is ever far from your loving care. In your kindness, watch over refugees and exiles. For those separated from their loved ones

More information

Robbing God, Malachi 3:7-12

Robbing God, Malachi 3:7-12 Intro: It ll never be forgotten in our family. It was New Years 2004. We attended a big church in our area, you know, the kind with it s own Starbucks in the building. The pastor and his wife emerged from

More information

DAY 1. Read Genesis 2:15. Thank God for creating a beautiful place to live and care for. DAY 2. Read Psalm 24:1

DAY 1. Read Genesis 2:15. Thank God for creating a beautiful place to live and care for. DAY 2. Read Psalm 24:1 WEEK 1 K -5 GRADE TH Read Genesis 2:15 DAY 1 In the beginning, there was nothing except God. The universe was one big empty space. And then God created the heavens and the earth. God made Adam and Eve

More information

Keeping Your Behavior in Line. Bertha Chatman. July 17, 2011

Keeping Your Behavior in Line. Bertha Chatman. July 17, 2011 Keeping Your Behavior in Line Bertha Chatman July 17, 2011 Introduction We live in a me focused culture. People tend to do what is most beneficial to them economically, socially, and politically with little

More information

That might be how it feels on Palm Sunday, celebrating the victory while the struggle is ongoing.

That might be how it feels on Palm Sunday, celebrating the victory while the struggle is ongoing. It seems like an odd day for a celebration Jesus is marching into Jerusalem, crowds cheering, palm branches waving, hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! but he knows what s coming. This parade is known as the Triumphal

More information

I begin today with a quote from the book of James. What good is it, my brothers and

I begin today with a quote from the book of James. What good is it, my brothers and Christian Virtues Part I: The Virtue of Faith A Sermon by Rich Holmes on Hebrews 11: 1-3; 8-16 Delivered on August 7, 2016 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio I begin today with a

More information

An Enchanting Tale of the Qualities of Peace from Children at the Peaslee Center in Over-the-Rhine

An Enchanting Tale of the Qualities of Peace from Children at the Peaslee Center in Over-the-Rhine An Enchanting Tale of the Qualities of Peace from Children at the Peaslee Center in Over-the-Rhine INTRODUCTION CHILDREN ENGAGING COMPASSION is a project of S.O.S. Art and Peaslee Neighborhood Center.

More information

Down to Earth A Sermon on Mark 4:26-32 by Rich Holmes Delivered on June 24, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio

Down to Earth A Sermon on Mark 4:26-32 by Rich Holmes Delivered on June 24, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio Down to Earth A Sermon on Mark 4:26-32 by Rich Holmes Delivered on June 24, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio You came from heaven to earth to show the way. So says a popular

More information

Message: October 14, 2018 Given by: Geoff Kohler Series: What We Have to Offer Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11. Wrapping the Gift

Message: October 14, 2018 Given by: Geoff Kohler Series: What We Have to Offer Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11. Wrapping the Gift Message: October 14, 2018 Given by: Geoff Kohler Series: What We Have to Offer Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11 Title: Wrapping the Gift Last week, this week and over the next couple of weeks we re talking about

More information

Luke 20:27-38 (NRSV) HOSTILE QUESTIONS

Luke 20:27-38 (NRSV) HOSTILE QUESTIONS First Presbyterian Church of Kissimmee, Florida Dr. Frank Allen, Pastor 11/11/07 Luke 20:27-38 (NRSV) Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him [28] and asked him a question,

More information

which includes the whole Eastside they

which includes the whole Eastside they Mark 12:41-44 Believe Stewardship 1 Rev. Brian North November 4 th, 2018 Today we are looking at a topic that is everyone s favorite topic to discuss: Money, and what to do with it. Isn t that one of the

More information

Paul Teaches About Self-Respect

Paul Teaches About Self-Respect Paul Teaches About Self-Respect Ephesians 2:8-10 The Point We respect ourselves. Large-Group Lesson 3 CHOOSE YOUR OPTIONS Each option below is designed to last 10 minutes. The option used to tell the Bible

More information

CRU Camps Facebook: address: CRU Camps website:

CRU Camps Facebook:    address: CRU Camps website: CRU Camps Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/crucamps Email address: info@crusaders.edu.au CRU Camps website: www.crucamps.com Hi! We re really glad that you have been challenged by God s word! We hope

More information

Love God + know the Bible better: 1. Read the passage cited above, and try to answer the questions below before your group meets.

Love God + know the Bible better: 1. Read the passage cited above, and try to answer the questions below before your group meets. NG Study Guide: 2Jn. 1:1-6 Practice Truth [6.24.18] Love God + know the Bible better: 1. Read the passage cited above, and try to answer the questions below before your group meets. 2. Leader note: Please

More information

God s Big Story Lesson 2 February 24/25 1

God s Big Story Lesson 2 February 24/25 1 1 Series at a Glance for Kid-O-Deo About this Series: Every Easter we hear the greatest story ever, but have you ever wondered why Jesus had to do everything he did? This series, we ll dig deep into the

More information

October 23, 2016 Family Portrait Sibling Rivalry Rev. Dr. John Ross Bible Reference: Genesis 25:19-28

October 23, 2016 Family Portrait Sibling Rivalry Rev. Dr. John Ross Bible Reference: Genesis 25:19-28 October 23, 2016 Family Portrait Sibling Rivalry Rev. Dr. John Ross Bible Reference: Genesis 25:19-28 We are in a month-long series of messages about family. We re painting a family portrait. You can see

More information

Bellaire Community United Methodist Church October 9, Giving With Great Joy. Together We Can Do More, part 4

Bellaire Community United Methodist Church October 9, Giving With Great Joy. Together We Can Do More, part 4 Eric Falker, page 1 Bellaire Community United Methodist Church October 9, 2016 Giving With Great Joy Together We Can Do More, part 4 Luke 19:1-10 A man had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital.

More information

The Beatitudes A sermon preached at Skipwith UMC On February 2, 2014 William A James Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes A sermon preached at Skipwith UMC On February 2, 2014 William A James Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes A sermon preached at Skipwith UMC On February 2, 2014 William A James Matthew 5:1-12 This is our third message in a series on Jesus call and how that call informs our lives and the life

More information

Sunday before the Elevation of the Precious Cross, John 3:13-17 September 10, 2006 Jesus Died and Rose So We Can Be With Him

Sunday before the Elevation of the Precious Cross, John 3:13-17 September 10, 2006 Jesus Died and Rose So We Can Be With Him Jesus Died and Rose So We Can Be With Him Grade: Preschool 1. What is the name of God the Son? 2. What is something bad that has happened to you? 3. Were you sad when it happened? 4. Did a grown-up help

More information

Fishing for People A Sermon by Rich Holmes on Mark 1: Delivered on January 21, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio

Fishing for People A Sermon by Rich Holmes on Mark 1: Delivered on January 21, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio Fishing for People A Sermon by Rich Holmes on Mark 1: 14-20 Delivered on January 21, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio Since I have been a minister, there have been two things

More information

The law was given through Moses. Respect your father and mother, and you will live a long time in the land that I am giving you.

The law was given through Moses. Respect your father and mother, and you will live a long time in the land that I am giving you. [25] THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT B FIRST READING The law was given through Moses. A reading from the book of Exodus 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17 The Lord gave Moses these commandments: I am the Lord your God. I brought

More information

Master Teacher, Part 4: Paying Attention May 21 st, 2017

Master Teacher, Part 4: Paying Attention May 21 st, 2017 Master Teacher, Part 4: Paying Attention May 21 st, 2017 As we continue our series called The Master Teacher, I d like to begin by looking at an amazing encounter between Jesus and a man who was, in almost

More information

How can I learn to love myself when I have been told by mom, dad, grandparents and teachers that I am worthless?

How can I learn to love myself when I have been told by mom, dad, grandparents and teachers that I am worthless? There are some very common questions that I receive through comments on the website, the contact form, on the Emerging from Broken Facebook page and through my private coaching practice. Because these

More information

James 1:22 Read it together with me

James 1:22 Read it together with me A WALK THROUGH THE BIBLE September 17, 2017 1 st & 2 nd Peter Last week we finished the book of JAMES We said that the KEY VERSE for James is: James 1:22 Read it together with me Do not merely listen to

More information

COMMUNICATOR GUIDE. Haters / Week 1 PRELUDE SOCIAL WORSHIP STORY GROUPS HOME SCRIPTURE TEACHING OUTLINE

COMMUNICATOR GUIDE. Haters / Week 1 PRELUDE SOCIAL WORSHIP STORY GROUPS HOME SCRIPTURE TEACHING OUTLINE COMMUNICATOR GUIDE Haters / Week 1 PRELUDE SOCIAL WORSHIP STORY GROUPS HOME BOTTOM LINE Drop the rock. GOAL OF SMALL GROUP To encourage students to move away from judging others (and comparing sins) and

More information

God s Treasure of the Eucharist

God s Treasure of the Eucharist Eucharist Student Booklet Discover God s Treasures God s Treasure of the Eucharist Prayer Thank you, God, for this time together to prepare for the Sacrament of the Eucharist. I ask you to be with me as

More information

By Dr. Jim Denison, Pastor, Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas

By Dr. Jim Denison, Pastor, Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas BAPTISTWAY PRESS Adult Online Bible Commentary By Dr. Jim Denison, Pastor, Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas Studies in Psalms: Songs of Faith Lesson Nine Give Thanks for God s Blessings Focal

More information

Study Guide for the Central Church of Christ

Study Guide for the Central Church of Christ Study Guide for the Central Church of Christ 10-9-16 October 9 we will study Mark 3:7-35. Discussion ideas are: 1. When does the church most seem like an extended family to you? 2. When does the church

More information

Losing Your Marbles Just Say Yes!

Losing Your Marbles Just Say Yes! Losing Your Marbles Just Say Yes! That s Robby Novak, and he s an internet sensation known as the "Kid President". He s got a disease that makes his bones brittle. Robby s had more than 70 broken bones

More information

Sermon preached at Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Kingstowne, Virginia, by Dr. David Fischler, on Sunday, June 19, 2016 BLESSED IS THE ONE

Sermon preached at Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Kingstowne, Virginia, by Dr. David Fischler, on Sunday, June 19, 2016 BLESSED IS THE ONE Sermon preached at Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Kingstowne, Virginia, by Dr. David Fischler, on Sunday, June 19, 2016 BLESSED IS THE ONE Psalm 32:1-11 I doubt very much that it is news to anyone

More information

Note to the Reader. xvii

Note to the Reader. xvii Note to the Reader How many times have you thought about Heaven in the last week? Have you brought up the subject or asked anyone a question about Heaven? Unless a person or a pet close to you has died

More information

A Prayer Book. for CHILDREN. Spending Time

A Prayer Book. for CHILDREN. Spending Time A Prayer Book for CHILDREN Spending Time with God 1 My Name Prayer Helps Us Be Better Friends Prayer is spending time with God. It is a time when we become better friends by sharing what we are thinking

More information

Acknowledgments. Thank you to all who contributed to The Pure Life, with special recognition to:

Acknowledgments. Thank you to all who contributed to The Pure Life, with special recognition to: Table of Contents Acknowledgments...7 Foreword...9 Introductory Story...11 Chapter One: Purity 101...15 Chapter Two: All of Me for All of Him...27 Chapter Three: Looking Back and Moving Forward...37 Chapter

More information

Sincerity Wears No Mask

Sincerity Wears No Mask Copyright 2016 by Elizabeth L. Hamilton All Rights Reserved. Sincerity Lesson 4 of 4 Sincerity Wears No Mask (Sincerity is totally transparent, never hiding behind a mask or facade. What you see is what

More information

Extinguished John 1:29-30 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man who ranks before

More information

Step 1 Pick an unwanted emotion. Step 2 Identify the thoughts behind your unwanted emotion

Step 1 Pick an unwanted emotion. Step 2 Identify the thoughts behind your unwanted emotion Step 1 Pick an unwanted emotion Pick an emotion you don t want to have anymore. You should pick an emotion that is specific to a certain time, situation, or circumstance. You may want to lose your anger

More information

Gentleness Rejects Violence

Gentleness Rejects Violence Copyright 2016 by Elizabeth L. Hamilton All Rights Reserved. Gentleness Lesson 2 of 4 Gentleness Rejects Violence (Gentleness understands the destructive nature of violence and rejects it in both physical

More information

Christ Presbyterian Church Edina, Minnesota April 15 & 16, 2017 (Easter) John Crosby Emmaus Road Luke 24:30-31

Christ Presbyterian Church Edina, Minnesota April 15 & 16, 2017 (Easter) John Crosby Emmaus Road Luke 24:30-31 Christ Presbyterian Church Edina, Minnesota April 15 & 16, 2017 (Easter) John Crosby Emmaus Road Luke 24:30-31 The famous preacher Philips Brooks once taught a class of students that a sermon is thirty

More information

season of Easter, for with Jesus ascension, the Easter event takes on a community in particular, and objectively for the whole human race.

season of Easter, for with Jesus ascension, the Easter event takes on a community in particular, and objectively for the whole human race. Ascension 2012 Today s solemn feast of the Ascension of Jesus brings to its climax the season of Easter, for with Jesus ascension, the Easter event takes on a dramatic new meaning and provides a new source

More information

Living in the Present Moment Matthew 24:36-44 Sermon by Dan Schrock November 27, 2016 Advent 1

Living in the Present Moment Matthew 24:36-44 Sermon by Dan Schrock November 27, 2016 Advent 1 Living in the Present Moment Matthew 24:36-44 Sermon by Dan Schrock November 27, 2016 Advent 1 36 But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

More information

The Lord Is Near. by Rev. Thomas A. (Tommy) Williams. October 12, :05 a.m. Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. St. Paul s

The Lord Is Near. by Rev. Thomas A. (Tommy) Williams. October 12, :05 a.m. Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. St. Paul s The Lord Is Near by Rev. Thomas A. (Tommy) Williams October 12, 2014 Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost 11:05 a.m. St. Paul s United Methodist Church 5501 Main Street Houston, Texas 77004-6917 713-528-0527

More information

My Alibi A Sermon by Rich Holmes on Acts 3:12-19 Delivered on April 15, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio

My Alibi A Sermon by Rich Holmes on Acts 3:12-19 Delivered on April 15, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio My Alibi A Sermon by Rich Holmes on Acts 3:12-19 Delivered on April 15, 2018 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio One of the first things I learned in Seminary is that every sermon

More information

ENVISIONING THE TRINITY

ENVISIONING THE TRINITY 1 ENVISIONING THE TRINITY THE SHAPING OF A DOCTRINE No one has ever claimed that the doctrine of the Trinity is easy to understand. So we may find it helpful at the outset to keep in mind several important

More information

My year in Canada! (4 th slide) Ruth and Ormand took me different places and it was always fun!

My year in Canada! (4 th slide) Ruth and Ormand took me different places and it was always fun! My year in Canada! I left in Estonia on August 5 th. I remember when I was at the airport I didn t realize that I m going to Canada. Everyone were crying and I was like don t worry I will be back soon!

More information

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (The Bible, Exodus 20:12, NIV)

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (The Bible, Exodus 20:12, NIV) Message: What Parents Need From Their Kids What comedian has become somewhat famous for his top ten lists? Late night talk show host, David Letterman. They are very popular. You may watch Letterman just

More information

If you ve ever known a guy who said, Yeah, Honey, those pants do make you look fat. They are not with us anymore, may they rest in peace.

If you ve ever known a guy who said, Yeah, Honey, those pants do make you look fat. They are not with us anymore, may they rest in peace. Famous Last Words #1 Father, Forgive them Today, and for the next 4 weeks we are going to be looking at the words of Jesus on the cross and I pray that the Spirit of God, through His Word, will speak into

More information

meekness : : : lesson 3

meekness : : : lesson 3 meekness : : : lesson 3 BEATITUDE Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 (NIV) COMPASSION Having the power to prove your point but choosing not to do so. November 21 22 Episode

More information

The Skull. By Chloe C. Written in omniscient form

The Skull. By Chloe C. Written in omniscient form The Skull By Chloe C. Written in omniscient form One day as Maria and Jackson were walking home from school Jackson spotted something in the bushes. He pointed it out to Maria and they both went over to

More information

Colossians 1:15-16 Fueling Our Worship of Jesus

Colossians 1:15-16 Fueling Our Worship of Jesus Colossians 1:15-16 Fueling Our Worship of Jesus This morning we begin looking at one of the most amazing sections of Scripture as it relates to the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul here details who

More information

From Humbug to Hallelujah - Reawakening the Joy Inherent in Christmas

From Humbug to Hallelujah - Reawakening the Joy Inherent in Christmas INTRO: There was a small country church having a yearly cantata. Part of their tradition was that they would march in singing, O Come All Ye Faithful. Now this church had a large floor furnace, and the

More information

2/28/2016 The Gift of Being. Thunderstruck. Part 3 in the Series: Gifts of the Dark Wood. Pastor Brad

2/28/2016 The Gift of Being. Thunderstruck. Part 3 in the Series: Gifts of the Dark Wood. Pastor Brad 2/28/2016 The Gift of Being Thunderstruck Part 3 in the Series: Gifts of the Dark Wood Pastor Brad 1 When I was a kid, I wasn t very good at team sports. In fact, I was pretty awful at anything that had

More information