Show No Partiality To The Rich Of The World Because God Favors The Poor In Spirit-James 2:1-13
Saturday, June 14th, 2008Introduction: I grew up in an upper-middle-income home in northern Florida. Yet, from about the time I was old enough to remember, my parents were making their ways up the social ladder. Their careers were going well, the $115 mortgage payment was starting to look small, and our vacations were getting nicer. [...]
The Shortest Distance Between Two Lines Is A Straight Line (Children’s Sermon)-Ephesians 5:1-17
Saturday, June 14th, 2008Objects Needed: An obstacle course [small tables, waste baskets, hall trees, chairs, piano bench.] Each of the items should have a tag attached that speaks of some sin such as hate, jealousy, stealing, greed, dishonoring parents, etc. The course can be set up in the center aisle after the children gather up front. [...]
All Of Life Is Worship-Romans 12:1-2
Saturday, June 14th, 2008Introduction: When I was finishing my undergrad degree in Philosophy, I had an ethics professor suggest that driving our cars is the greatest laboratory for determining our own ethical system. I think he’s right…
Why Are You Here?-Matthew 21:1-11
Saturday, June 14th, 2008ME:
You know, even though my family was not one for church when I was growing up, we still said grace three times a year: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. We were not really against God, though we certainly held that religion, like other things that could easily be taken too far, should be held [...]
Are You The One?-Matthew 11:2-15
Friday, June 13th, 2008Our Gospel passage this morning has always puzzled me. The story is pretty simple; John the Baptist sends some of his followers to talk to Jesus, to ask him if he is really the Messiah they have been waiting for, or if they should keep looking. Rather than getting into a bunch of theological jargon, [...]
What’s in a Name?-Matthew 1:18-25
Friday, June 13th, 2008What’s in a name? Naming a new baby is a challenging process. It’s hard to please everybody with a name. Dad wants a name with alliteration in it, something that would sound good on a sports report–Sammy Sousa or Johnny Justice. Mom selects a fashionable name and insists on no nicknames, [...]
But Wait! There’s More!-Luke 20:27-40
Friday, June 13th, 2008Recently I heard about a man who had spent his life in the Air Force. One of his friends suggested that the family play the Air Force theme song at his funeral. His wife vetoed that idea. With a laugh, she said, “At your father’s funeral, we are not going to play [...]
Daily Devotional of 1 Peter
Friday, June 13th, 2008Below is a sample of the linked daily devotional of 1 Peter. Each day takes a look at a section of the book with a reading, some thoughts for reflection and questions for application.
1 Peter Devotional
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The entire book of 1 Peter is scary to us because it (repeatedly I might add) calls Christians to [...]
Urban Legends: The Myth of the Lone Ranger Christian - Ephesians 4:1-16
Thursday, June 12th, 2008Opening
March of the Penguins – DVD Ch 4, 18:18-20:30
Penguins on a march – a journey to the breeding grounds
2 scenes – 1 of penguin on journey alone, other of penguins on journey together
Solo penguin
“And for those who began their march too late, or have fallen behind due to weakness or hunger – the hope of [...]
A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving-Luke 17:11-19
Thursday, June 12th, 2008Rev. Charlie Vensel
ACTS Church-Littleton (2nd Sermon in New Position)
Sermon delivered 10/14/07
I can recall three rhetorical questions that accompanied me throughout my childhood. I remember them so well because I have carried on the tradition:
The first was, “Were you born in a barn?” That usually came when I left a door open, or didn’t [...]