Puzzle Pieces – Sermon Summary

1 Corinthians 12:1-12.

I love “working” a puzzle.  Diane and I will get one started once in a while and it won’t take long for Derek and Doug to join us.  While we may not be the speediest of puzzlists around the world, it is always a fun thing to do.  There is only one time when putting together a puzzle results in frustration and aggravation – when a piece is missing!

God puts the church together much like a puzzle.  There are pieces of various sizes and shapes.  They are mixed and matched and pieced together in such a way that we can see in time precisely how He formulates the portrait known as His church.

Never Without Friends – Always Say Never pt. 5

Romans 12:4-8.

We will soon get to the subject of spiritual gifts and how to discern yours and such other topics that this text can also address.  But sometimes you just read a passage and a certain phrase just jumps off the page at you, commanding your attention.  As I was reading this, I had one of those phrases hit me; “…each member belongs to all the others.”

It’s Alive! – Sermon Summary

Ezekiel 37:1-14.

Ezekiel’s name means “God Strengthens”, or “Strengthened by God.”  He was a priest who became a prophet and acted out his bizarre visions instead of just telling them.  His messages to the people of God came in three phases: 1) Warning of the Fall of Israel, 2) God’s deliverance was going to be slow, and 3) There is hope for God’s people.  Get ready!

How can any church experience revival today?

Set an Extra Plate – Sermon Summary

Acts 10:1-11:18 (10:44-48 focal).

One of my favorite memories of grade school was what happened on our way home on the last day of school.  Our bus would always stop at The Golden Bear, a local ice cream stand typical in small communities where I grew up in Ohio.  I’d ask Mom for money or save pennies or whatever it took to have enough to get an ice cream cone – what a special treat.  I also remember my last day of school in 2nd grade.  Whether I forgot my money or we didn’t have any is not what I recall, but I do know that I did not have any money and I sat in the back of the bus crying while watching all of the other kids get off the bus to go get their treat, laughing and playing and not paying any attention to the one kid being left out. 

I know what it means to be left out of something of which I really wanted to be part.

A Sunday Walk – Sermon Summary

Luke 24:13-35.

Sometimes we have to be good and confused in order for things to become clear for us.  Take these disciples, for instance.  They’re walking home on what we know as Resurrection Day, sad because of the crucifixion yet confused because they had heard that Jesus was risen.  But they didn’t stick around to find out with certainty, so they walk along confused and frustrated.  Jesus appears and they still don’t get it but soon it becomes clear, and the results of their encounter should show us three things every Christian should possess.