Sermon Archive

Text: Ephesians 6:10-20 There is a certain power in putting on a costume or a uniform. In a dramatic production, one is stepping into a role, of playing the part. Quite often actors will say that putting on makeup, or donning the costume for their role really helps them get into character. It completes the transformation, and allows them to really get into the role once they get on stage or in front of the camera. The same is also true for real life, especially in those professions that have uniforms. By donning clothing for the role at work, we go from Joe or Jane Average to Dr. Jane, or Constable Joe. I know from my own experience, putting on this alb helps me to focus on my role in leading worship from Sunday to Sunday. Not only that, people are far less likely to be distracted by what I might otherwise be wearing. Historically, in the church, everybody put one of these on… so there was no distinction between those who were rich or poor. Everyone was equal in the sight of God. Ther...

Text: Ephesians 5:15-20 How do we really know what the will of God truly is? “What does God really want me to do?” It’s certainly not a new question at all, people both unknown and famous have asked it throughout the centuries. We’re certainly no different. Imagine if people like Martin Luther or John Calvin had resigned themselves to their original careers as lawyers? The church as we know it would be a very different place. Keep in mind that people like John Calvin didn’t set out to be the founder of the Reformed Church movement. Martin Luther didn’t set out to have a church named after him. As a book I am currently reading reminds us, that leaders are neither born nor made… they are summoned. God calls or summons otherwise ordinary people to do extraordinary things. That includes both you and me. The trouble is, we often miss what God is trying to say to us. We’re expecting something grand, something spectacular… all the while, the subtle clues and hints are all around us. God is ca...

Text: John 6:35, 41-51 I wonder, have any of you ever gotten a titch hungry when listening to the Gospel of John? After all, it’s probably been a few hours since most of us have had breakfast. Lunch is slated to be in about an hour… maybe some of you have already planned on going out to a restaurant? Maybe some of you have something at home ready to go in the oven for Sunday dinner? Chances are I’ve already started your stomachs growling for your next meal… which makes it particularly challenging to preach, because now all anybody is thinking about right now is food! Not exactly easy to preach when the whole congregation is thinking about their next meal. So, I planned for this contingency… here’s something to chew on… (Pass out Timbit boxes) It seems that a good number of the early stories in John’s gospel centre around food. We have the wedding at Cana, the feeding of the multitude, his conversations about the living water with the Samaritan woman, and the well known statement “I am ...

Text: 2 Samuel 11:26 – 12:13a It’s not that often that I preach a sermon in three parts… but in essence, today brings together the two different themes over the past two weeks. 2 weeks ago, God chastises Nathan for being a Yes-Man to David. Last week, we see the corrupting influence of power creeping in on David… on no small part to Nathan’s unwillingness to rein David in early. Now it’s time for redemption… for both Nathan and David. Last week, we heard the story of David and Bathsheba. David, being the middle-aged King, commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. She gets pregnant, and David does everything in his power to cover it up… going so far as to have Uriah intentionally killed in battle. Without putting too fine a point on it, David has Uriah murdered… and then he takes Bathsheba as his own wife. He would have gotten away with it too… It is also fortunate that the story does not end there. David may well have gotten away with it, if it weren’t for the prophet Nathan....