Most of you are probably aware that our country is deeply divided, and I don’t know if there is any hope of reconciliation. I’m not talking about the division between Republicans and Democrats. I’m not talking about the ways that different races are divided in our country today. I’m talking about something much deeper than…
Shaped BY the cross into the shape OF the cross
Sermons by Alan Smith
There’s a TV show that first came on decades ago that is currently having a comeback – “Kids Say the Darndest Things”. Art Linkletter hosted the first version, Bill Cosby hosted the second version, and now Tiffany Haddish is hosting the third version. And I enjoy watching that show, because it’s so true. You…
As I’m sure you know, this week is Thanksgiving and I hope that you will spend some time thinking about the importance of giving thanks to God. Before I begin my lesson, though, I want to share with you a brief video of what Thanksgiving is all about, at least in the eyes of…
Our grandson Eric is in the 7th grade this year, and he was very excited to be able to take algebra for the first time. But what that means is that, once or twice a week, I’ll get a phone call from Eric asking me to help him with his algebra homework. He…
When we tell our children the story of Jonah, we usually stop at chapter 3 because that closes the story on a very positive note. But it also leaves out a very important section. In fact, I think everything else in this book leads up to chapter 4 — which tells us that the…
This morning, we continue in our study of the book of Jonah. But first, I wanted to share with you a meme that Sueanne found on Facebook this past week. I thought you might enjoy that. Three weeks ago, we saw that Jonah was a man called by God to go to the…
This morning, we pick up in our study from the book of Jonah. In just a few moments, we’ll be in chapter 2 if you’d like to be turning there. But first, let’s take a moment to review where we’ve been. In the first verses of Jonah, we read, “Now the word of the Lord came…
This past week, beginning Tuesday evening, there was a very important Jewish holiday. Does anyone here know what it was? Yom Kippur. We probably know it better as the Day of Atonement. That’s the day when the Jewish people remember how they have sinned over the past year and then they seek God’s forgiveness. …
It is often said that Christianity is a religion of grace, which it certainly is. We talk about grace in our sermons and Bible classes, we sing about grace, and if anyone were to ask us, we certainly believe in grace. But I want to ask you a question this morning — Have you…
This morning, we bring our study of the Lord’s Prayer to a close. It all began when the disciples of Jesus came to him in Luke chapter 11 and they asked him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1). And Jesus taught them to pray using these words: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.…