Sermons on Pentecost (Page 5)
Not Far from the Kingdom
Ruth 1: 1-18———-Mark 12: 28-34———-23rd Sunday after Pentecost October 31, 2021———-Rev. Patrick Mecham Several years ago, I went to see a movie called “The Green Mile,” based on a book by Stephen King. Except for one horrific scene, it was an excellent film. The story line was full of Gospel messages and truths about selflessness and healing and judgment. I had always thought of the author as some “wacko” who excelled at writing horror stories. But, at the end of…
Job’s New Insights
Job 42: 1-6, 10-17———-Psalm 34: 1-8, 19-22———22nd Sunday after Pentecost October 24, 2021———–Rev. Patrick Mecham You all know the story of the lowly caterpillar. It is earthbound, slowly crawling from leaf to leaf, munching its way through life. Then one day it attaches itself to a branch and develops a chrysalis and, to the uninformed eye, DIES. How sad. But, on a later day, the apparently dead thing starts to wiggle and eventually splits and the form of a butterfly…
Job Is Questioned
October 17, 2021———-Rev. Patrick Mecham Job 38: 1-7, 34-41———-Psalm 104: 1-9, 24, 35c———-21st Sunday after Pentecost Do you know any “know-it-alls”? You know, people who either think they know everything or at least like to give the impression that they have a firm grasp of everything worth knowing. Years ago, I was telling a friend that we were looking at moving to Elko, Nevada. He asked me, “What’s the base of the economy there?” and I told him, “Gold mining”…
Letting Go and Letting In
Psalm 90: 12-17……….Mark 10: 17-31……….20th Sunday after Pentecost October 10, 2021……….Rev. Patrick Mecham Letting Go and Letting In…………….Special Message by Maggie A.F. Harmon, Esq. A common critique of my sermons that I have received, and it may be a mistake to start a sermon by telling you what the problems are, but here goes – a common critique I have heard is that I am too academic (not shocking in a presbyterian church) and that I don’t share enough of…
Restoring relationships
Hebrews 1: 1-4, 2: 5-12…………..Mark 10: 2-16 ………….19th Sunday after Pentecost Rev. Bob Kelley
Audacious Asking
Psalm 124———-James 5: 13-30———-18th Sunday after Pentecost September 26, 2021 Many years ago, I met two 14-year-olds that were in the youth group at the church where I was a new intern. Within ten minutes of meeting me, they asked, “Can we borrow your car?” I was flabbergasted! What an audacious request! Firstly, they were too young to drive. Secondly, I barely knew them—but they appeared to be entirely serious about it! I said, “No, guys. Sorry.” And they said,…
Servant Leadership
James 3: 13 – 4: 8a———-Mark 9: 30-37———–17th Sunday after Pentecost September 19, 2021 Listen to this description: “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth!” This is what Numbers 12:3 tells us about the most famous leader in the early history of our faith! A very HUMBLE man. Isn’t humble a funny word? We might say, “Welcome to my humble abode” when we actually have a home any royalty…
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…
Body Armor
August 22 “Body Armor” Rev. Patrick Mecham Ephesians 6:10-20 John 6:56-69 13th Sunday after Pentecost We all understand that, when a new recruit joins the military, he or she goes through extensive training and physical fitness preparation before they are sent into action. But we wouldn’t think of deploying them without a helmet or body armor—that would be just plain foolish! In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he’s saying something similar: Christians need to put on body armor…
Becoming or Behaving
August 15, 2021 “Becoming or Behaving” Rev. Patrick Mecham Ephesians 5:15-20 John 6:51-58 I once heard a teacher describing the kids in his class. He said that some of the kids looked at him while he talked, nodded their heads when he made a point, chuckled when he said something funny, raised their hands when they wanted to speak—basically making his day easier. And then there were others—kids who didn’t seem to listen to him, who never seemed…