Sermons on Mark (Page 3)
It Is For Freedom
2 Corinthians 12: 2-10; Mark 6: 1-13 July 4 6th Sunday after Pentecost It Is for Freedom 6th Pentecost 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 July 4, 2021 Mark 6:1-13 The word freedom is tossed around a lot these days, and it has been especially on my mind as we have approached our country’s Independence Day. Freedom! It’s the battle cry of every person who is struggling against powers that would enslave them, that would imprison them unjustly. Freedom. I’m remembering a conversation…
Normal or Nomad
1 Samuel 8: 4-11, 16-20; Mark 3:20-35 June 27, 2021———-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Guest Preacher, Rev. Christy Ramsey We have all felt like Samuel. No, I’m not talking about being called old by the people, although we may have been there, too. I’m talking about Samuel going crazy. This is crazy Samuel time. When you know what is right. When you know what happens, and what will happen, and how the world is arranged, and you tell the people that. …
God Sees the Potential
1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13; 2 Corinthians 5:6-17; Mark 4:26-34 God Sees the Potential 3rd Sunday after Pentecost – – – -June 13, 2021 Many of you know the name of Ben Carson, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Still more of you know that he had a career as an acclaimed brain surgeon. But I think that most of you don’t know that Ben was born to a woman who only completed 3rd grade. She married real…
From Temporary to Eternal
From Temporary to Eternal 2nd Pentecost Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; June 6, 2021; Mark 6:20-35 Most of us know what a mirage is, right? You’re out in the desert, hot and parched, and you see up ahead some WATER, shimmering in the heat! You move toward the water, anticipating a good drink. But, of course, when you get there, the water has all disappeared! It was an optical illusion, not really there at all. We’ve seen this…
The Humble King
The Humble King—–Palm Sunday Zechariah 9:9-10—–March 28, 2021—–Mark 11: 1-11, 14: 1-9 When I was a little kid, I used to have a fantasy that I would someday become King of the World. As King, I would send out people to hunt down an older kid who had been bullying me so much that I didn’t want to go to school. And, when they brought this kid before me, forcing him to kneel in humble submission, I would look down…
In the Presence
In the Presence 2nd Sunday in Lent 2 Kings 2: 1-12 February 28, 2021 Mark 9: 2-9 Once upon a time, there was a young boy who walked to Sunday School every single Sunday. An old sinner who lived near the boy’s path decided he would intercept the young fellow and “throw a wet blanket” on his faith. So, one Sunday morning, he stepped in front of the boy and said, “Son, I’ll give you a nickel if you can…
Lead Me in Your Truth
Lead Me in Your Truth 1st Lent Feb. 21, 2021 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15 I have been thinking this week about TRUTH, and (as always) it has reminded me of a movie—one that focuses on how important it is to tell the truth. It’s called “Liar, Liar” and it stars Jim Carrey as a lawyer who uses lies in every aspect of his life, both his professional life and his personal life. He is suddenly no longer…
The Cure
The Cure 2 Kings 5:1-14 February 14, 2021 Mark 1:40-45 Many of you know that I spent five days in the hospital in the middle of January, recovering from COVID-19. From my room, I could hear the coughs and cries of other patients in the “COVID ward,” and I marveled at all the nurses and therapists who never seemed to be discouraged by the whole ordeal. As the “brain fog” cleared, I found myself thinking a lot about healing,…
When the Spirit Says “Move”
When the Spirit Says “Move!” 5th Sunday after Epiphany 1 Corinthians 9: 16-23 February 7, 2021 Mark 1: 29-39 Several years ago, a church in South Africa split. The pastor left, and took most of the members. Those who remained couldn’t afford to maintain the facility, much less pay a pastor. But then, God led John to them. Pastor John asked his new flock (of fewer than 40 members) to consider what God wanted to do through them. They felt…
A New Teaching
A New Teaching 4th Epiphany 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 January 31,2021 Mark 1:21-28 Life is all about making choices. The essence of life is found in the choices that one makes. So, how do you make most of your choices? After all, there are MANY ways to choose. For example, there is the impulse way—walking past a tray of warm chocolate chip cookies and grabbing one and stuffing it into your face, without considering how it fits into your eating plan. …
What’s the Catch?
What’s the Catch? 3rd Sunday of Epiphany 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31 January 24, 2021 Mark 1: 14-20 Actually, I don’t know a lot about fishing. My Dad never taught me anything about it. There was some thing about him and his brother so he did not want anything to do with hunting or fishing. And since I didn’t know what I was missing, I didn’t mind it. Until my sons wanted to go fishing and I realized I…
God’s Spirit at Work
God’s Sprit at Work Baptism of the Lord Acts 19:1-7 January 10, 2021 Mark 1:4-11 What comes to mind when I say the word “ghost”? Is it something creepy from Ghostbusters, or a haunted house like the Amityville Horror, or is it something more like Casper the Friendly Ghost? The word “ghost” is peppered throughout our vocabulary: “She doesn’t have a ghost of a chance”; or “We drove up to an old ghost town”; or “the car ghosted under the…