Sermons & Worship

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 89:1-4; Luke 1:26-35 Is there any good news? When one listens to the news of the day, one hears about the happenings everywhere in the world and one hears Is there any good news? As we enter this season of Advent, the answer is YES. Enter Isaiah, the prophet of God. Isaiah is the prophet to the Jewish people who are living in exile in Babylon (modern day Iraq). They are a people who need to…

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:8-12; Psalm 95:1-8; Philippians 4:4-7 In a few days we will celebrate one of the great American holidays. It isn’t that we are not a thankful people during the rest of the year; it’s just that on one of the days of the year our focus is on how much we have for which we are thankful. Sarah Josepha Hale was the advocate for the modern Thanksgiving holiday that we observe. As an editor of a magazine,…

Scripture: Exodus 35:4-10; Psalm 8; John 3:16-17 As soon as we turn the calendar to the month of November, we begin to think about the Thanksgiving holiday. Most of all we think about the blessings that have been placed into our lives and we give thanks to one another and to God. The Hebrews had much for which to be thankful. They had been rescued by God, with the help of Moses and Aaron, and brought into freedom. They now…

Scripture: Deuteronomy 34:1-8; Psalm 16:1-3,7-11; Hebrews 12:1-3 Today we celebrate All Saints Day; we celebrate the memory of all those who have gone before us. We especially remember those who have been translated into everlasting life during this past year. This morning we read those names that had been given to us and lighted a candle of remembrance for them. The writer of Hebrews also thought that it was important that we never forget the saints who have been a…

Scripture: Isaiah 42:8-10a; Psalm 62:5-8; Philippians 3:10-16 We recently celebrated the centennial year of this church. What a great history; what a great heritage! But what is next? What is the future to look like? Now, as we honor the past, this is our opportunity to embrace the future. Think about what it is like to embrace your children or your grandchildren. Embracing the future of this 100-year-old congregation includes wrapping our arms around whatever that will be and holding…

A Biblical Example of Choosing a Leader Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; 1 Thessalonians There are many reasons why a people may find themselves needing to search for a new leader. In our text today we find that there was the need for a replacement for the King of Israel. We also know that God was already preparing the person whom God would choose to become the next King. The nation of Israel was ruled as a theocracy, a…

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-17; Isaiah 40:28 – 31: Psalm 121; Romans 8:35, 37-38 The strength and the majesty of Eagles in flight is a wonder to behold. There is an island in the Mississippi River north of St. Louis that is a nesting place for eagles. One can go there and stand on the bank of the river and watch the eagles as they fly onto and off of the island. Eagles are giant birds with great wing spans that lift…

I Samuel 17:4-10,40-45; Psalm 59:1-8, 16-17; Philippians 4:4-7 Israel had a problem. His name was Goliath. He stood 10 feet tall and morning and evening, day by day, he came out to meet the army of Israel. This giant of a man carried on his body He was a one-man war machine. Israel was not unaccustomed to great trials. They had escaped from Egypt. They had survived as a nation in the face of hunger and thirst and serpents and…