Sermons on Mark (Page 2)
Successful Losers
Mark 8:27-38 ———– Proverbs 1:20-33 —-16th Sunday after Pentecost September 12, 2021 (Holding up Romex): Do you see this wire? Anyone who has helped build a house or has done any wiring project will recognize it. Everybody I know calls it “Romex,” and it makes life as we know it possible! Without wire like this running through our homes and businesses and even here at church, life would be very different. Because electricity flows through the wire, amazing things happen. …
Dogs, Demons, and Discrimination
James 2: 1-17———Mark 7: 24-37—-15th Sunday after Pentecost September 5, 2021 One of my favorite authors is Dr. Seuss! At our house, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a favorite every December. The old animated version seen on TV brings to life a story about how celebrating the True Meaning of Christmas is more important than all the presents and decorations and feasting. It is a story of redemption in which the hardhearted Grinch is drawn into the celebration instead…
“Worthless Religion”
August 29, 2021 “Worthless Religion” Rev. Patrick Mecham James 1:17-27 ———– Mark 7:1-23 ———-14th Sunday after Pentecost In 1859, a French tight-rope walker by the name of Charles Blondin decided to pull a stunt that would guarantee him great fame. He walked 1100 feet on a highwire that was strung 160’ above Niagra Falls! Over the next few years, he returned to Niagra to repeat his feat, with further difficulties thrown in—crossing it blindfolded, manacled, on stilts, pushing a…
Drawn to Power
Drawn to Power 8th Sunday after Pentecost Ephesians 2:11-22 July 18, 2021 Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 I’m willing to bet that something like this has happened to you: You’ve been working on something really hard (without a break), and you are really looking forward to a chance to kick back and relax. And just at the time when your break comes, someone asks you to help them—and it’s obvious that you have to defer that break. Something in you says,…
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,…