Many of you are familiar with the Indiana Jones movies. Those films are not very accurate from a theological perspective, but there’s one scene that I think makes a good biblical point. In The Last Crusade, Indiana Jones must pass three tests in order to reach the Holy Graill. The first test is called…
Shaped BY the cross into the shape OF the cross
Sermons on Spiritual Growth
The story is told of a man who was walking down the street one evening when three men jumped out of the shadows, beat him up, and robbed him. But the thieves found only 75 cents in the man’s pockets. And so, one of thieves asked him, “Why in the world did you put up…
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that there is a big difference between cats and dogs. Someone has described the difference this way — whenever you feed a dog, pet a dog, care for a dog, or in any way show your love for a dog, that dog believes that you must be…
This morning, I want to begin a new series of lessons from the book of 2 Samuel. We’re going to be taking a look at the life of King David, who is one of the most significant men in all the Bible. And I say that because, as his story goes on, one of his…
Today is Mother’s Day and I want to take just a moment to acknowledge and express appreciation to all the mothers who are in the audience this morning. Abraham Lincoln was not exaggerating when he said, “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my mother.” Mothers demonstrate the love of…
Those of us who are Americans love success. We celebrate it; we work hard to achieve it; and we honor those who attain it. Take the Fourth of July as an example. In a few months, we will do what we do every year – we’ll have parades, and speeches, and festivals and fireworks. On…
I want to begin this morning by giving you a pop quiz. I’m going to give you an advertising slogan and I want you tell me what the product is. “Snap! Crackle! Pop!” (Rice Krispies). “The Quicker Picker-Upper” (Bounty). “Just Do It” (Nike). “Melts in Your Mouth, Not in your Hand” (M&M’s). “Plop, Plop, Fizz,…
In astronomy, every now and then, there will be some unusual event that really captures people’s attention. For example, Haley’s Comet comes around every 75 years or so and it always gets people excited. Every couple of years, there will be a lunar eclipse. But probably the most spectacular astronomical event is a solar…
Russell Herman was a carpenter who lived in the state of Illinois. When he died at the age of 67, his will included a staggering list of beneficiaries. He left instructions for two billion dollars to be given to the city of East St. Louis, another billion and a half for the state of…
This morning, we have some very special guests with us. As many of you know, we have a Girl Scout troop that meets here in our church building a couple of Sunday afternoons a month. They are the ones responsible for supplying several of you with Girl Scout cookies a couple of weeks ago. …
