Two fishing stories.  Book-ends really. The first in Luke 5:1-11 and the second in John 21  Luke 5:5-11:   5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep…

We don’t hear much about doctrine today. I’m not sure I heard much about doctrine when I was growing up. We knew we were Baptists and thought we knew what that meant but didn’t. We learned our doctrine from our hymns. We knew about propitiation from “Washed in the Blood” and “Nothing but the Blood”. We knew about the sacrificial death of Jesus from “The Old Rugged Cross”. We knew about forgiveness from “Just As I Am” and about grace from “Amazing Grace”. In their defense the influence of those songs has lasted for a lifetime. I’ve heard thousands of sermons and Sunday School lessons but it’s “It Is Well…

1.  The topic this morning is “Christian Worldview” and the text is Romans 12:1-2. It is such a familiar passage. But we should start reading in the previous chapter to see where Paul’s mind was heading. Let’s look at the doxology of 11:33-36: Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.…

1.  Perhaps the most fundamental figure of the New Testament is in the Old Testament – and he is not even a Jew but a Gentile. It is Abraham, the father of all who believe by faith. I say not a Jew because until he is almost 100 years old he is not circumcised and, as you know, that is the mark of a true Jew. So, this non-Jew is not only the father of all who come by faith but he is the father of all Jews. There are several stories that illustrate Abraham’s faith and this morning we are going to look at the second. The first is…

1.  Now and then I host what the Quakers called a “Clearness Committee” for an individual working their way through an issue about direction or a decision.  As I’ve mentioned in the past, it’s a group of friends who know a person well and their only role is to ask questions.  They cannot make statements or prescribe what a person should do.  The Quakers have a high regard for the ability of a person to come to the truth on their own. Last week our friend was sorting through an issue that affects all of us at one time or another.  They had a fine career and were suddenly sideswiped…

1.  The whole idea and image of “sanctification” may be intimidating for many of us.  It sounds more like an image of Grant Woods’ “American Gothic” – the famous painting of the farm couple.  Both unsmiling and humorless – the man with a pitchfork. It’s serious business, isn’t it? For some it’s probably a series of lists and personal challenges they tackle every day.  Benjamin Franklin developed a list of 13 virtues that he worked on every single day.  When he woke up in the morning he asked himself, “What good will I do today?” and when he went to bed at night he asked, “What good did I do…

1.  As Americans, we have a basic antipathy toward kings, don’t we?  It’s in our bones.  We resent any kind of royalty – except the ones we create – and the privileges of dynasties – except those who run for elected office.  It’s been so from the beginning. “In England a King hath little more to do than to make war and give away places; which, in plain terms, is to impoverish the nation and set it together by the ears. A pretty business indeed for a man to be allowed eight hundred thousand sterling a year for, and worshipped into the bargain! Of more worth is one honest man…

The lesson this morning is on redemption. What does it mean to be redeemed? For some it means a reputation recovered after being lost. I remember one of the Watergate figures, Jeb Magruder, going into the ministry after serving time in the Watergate break-ins. Actor Robert Downey, Jr. has struggled all his life with drug addiction and then a failing career but has recently turned that around and redeemed his career. Others have found lives of service or even anonymity after notoriety for a part of their lives. But all of these are people who have redeemed themselves or their lives. That’s not the same as the topic this morning.…

Sometimes when I read the book of Colossians I wonder what the congregation must have been thinking as they listened to it being read. I have to stop and think practically after every verse so I can imagine people saying to the reader, “Don’t go so fast. I didn’t get that. Stop and go over that again. Can I get a copy of that to take home with me to read?” So much of what Paul writes to the churches is practical counsel for day to day living and further on in the book there are rules for daily living. But in the first two chapters we are working through…

The lesson this morning is titled Jesus Reflects: Jesus is the exact representation of God. The three passages are Colossians 1:15-20; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 and John 5:36-44. Colossians 1:15-20: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from…