Sermon Synopsis:  A religious scholar asked Jesus, “What’s the greatest commandment?” When Jesus answered, “Love God and love your neighbor,” the scholar, making his won moral judgment, said, “You are right!” Still, today, when moral and spiritual claims are made, … Continue reading →

Sermon Synopsis:  Power—the ability to compel others to yield—always stands under the moral judgment of legitimate authority.  Even God’s power is constrained by the moral authority of justice and mercy.  God’s authority is rooted not in divine power but in … Continue reading →

Sermon Synopsis:  They kill widows and foreigners and murder orphans.  “The LORD isn’t looking,” they say. “and besides, he doesn’t care.” (Psalm 94).  God help us do better than that.  

Sermon Synopsis:  This sermon was created knowing it is my last as your associate pastor.  The concepts of connection and illumination as fellow children of God feel paramount at this time. This sermon reviews examples of how to remain connected … Continue reading →

Sermon Synopsis:  Psalm 1 compares believers to trees planted in a good place.  Unlike trees, however, we have some choice about where we are planted, about the kind of soil from which we draw our nourishment.  Let’s nourish our hearts … Continue reading →

Sermon Synopsis:  The epidemic has created great hardships.  Chaos and fear swirl around us.  Still, as has been Christian practice through the centuries, we fortify ourselves by remembering God’s past mercies, by giving much attention to God’s promises of a … Continue reading →

Sermon Synopsis:  A Christmas day run years ago, in 8-degree weather, provides insight and clarity regarding who Jesus is amid the confusing times we live in today.  Seeing through the eyes of Scripture, we get a 20/20 view of our … Continue reading →

Sermon Synopsis:  Tell the truth.  Don’t repeat accusations against your enemies until you have double-checked their accuracy.  Don’t repeat stories highlighting the virtue of your champion unless you have verified his/her truthfulness.  We need more than accuracy in our speech, … Continue reading →

Sermon Synopsis:  Josiah was crowned king when he was 8 years old.  The stability of the nation required continuity in the monarchy.  His dad was dead, so he needed to be king.  Obviously, at the beginning, others, handled the affairs … Continue reading →

Sermon Synopsis:  This week the words “total authority” have been in the news.  In the Bible there are examples of kings who imagined they had “total authority.”  They were wrong.  There is always another authority.