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Is It Too Easy? [Sermon]
There are a few things I’ve done around here that still make me smile. You might think of the services we had online during the COVID lockdown, or the Extra-ordinary time on leap day, or even the pride celebrations. But one of the things that makes me smile is a magnet I installed to hold…
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The Church Must Be Born Again [Sermon]
When I was in High School, there were Chevrolet people, Dodge people, and Ford people. There were jokes: CHEVROLET – Can Hear Every Valve Rap On Long Extended Trips DODGE – Dead On Day Guarantee Expires MOPAR – Moldy Old Parts And Rust FORD – Found On Road Dead These were done mostly as good-natured…
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When Sheep Lead [Sermon]
If you have a group of sheep, it’s called a flock. If you’re trying to move a flock of sheep around, it’s called herding sheep. If you’re a person who herds a flock of sheep, you’re a shepherd. But if you have a group of cattle, it’s called a herd, not a flock. And you…
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What Happened at the Sheep Gate? [Sermon]
I want you to open your Bible to the Gospel of John, chapter 5. What does it say in verse 4? If you say “There is no verse 4,” you’re probably reading one of the contemporary versions. Sometimes it’s just skipped. Other times there is a footnote like Other ancient authorities add, wholly or in…
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Do Sheep Recognize Each Other? [Sermon]
There’s a joke about belief: Atheists don’t recognize the existence of a god. Jews don’t recognize the divinity of Jesus. Protestants don’t recognize the authority of the Pope. And people who belong to faiths that prohibit drinking alcohol don’t recognize each other at the liquor store. Let’s go to God in prayer. God of wisdom,…
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Do Sheep Know the Shepherd? [Sermon]
Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. There was a disciple. Whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. If you’re of a certain age wand remember the TV series Bewitched, you might remember Tabitha…
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Who’s Watching the Sheep? [Sermon]
If you have spent years learning something, it can be annoying when someone with little to no training starts offering suggestions. This is especially true when it is your job, your career, where you have some level of expertise. You’re a physician with a difficult medical case, and the computer person suggests a diagnosis. You’re…
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They Returned to their Homes [Sermon]
We often think of the crucifixion and resurrection as being three days, but the timeline is shorter. If we recall that the Jewish day ends and begins at sunset, the Sabbath was the twenty four hours – more or less – from the sunset after his body was put in the tomb until the next…
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When You Don’t Know It’s Jesus [Sermon]
There are several different accounts of the resurrection, and they don’t exactly agree with each other. But let’s say you’ve been part of a movement you thought would change the world, and then the government executes your leader, and then the body is missing. You might be a little upset. Maybe you don’t always tell…