INTRODUCTION: We are all generally familiar with what happened on the day of Pentecost. But we also need to take note of where it happened . . . and where it did not. THE TEXT: “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly …
To His Own Master/Palm Sunday 2009
INTRODUCTION: We have many times addressed how much we need to learn how to define our days in Christian terms. The salvation that Jesus Christ brought to the world was a public salvation. He was crucified in the public square, and His resurrection was not done in secret. Connected to this, we have to recognize …
Unless They Don’t Need It
Once there was woman who would get overwhelmed with her housework from time to time. She was industrious, and not lazy at all, but there were times when it just got away from her. Her husband was considerate and thoughtful, and so he surprised her one day with the news that he had hired someone …
The World’s Last Conservative Cook
Once there was a man who didn’t believe in flipping hamburgers when he was barbequing. As a result, his wife didn’t ask him to cook very often, but sometimes he would just volunteer, and then, there everybody was. The result of his unique approach was, of course, that either a hamburger was charred on one …
Missing the Point
Once there was a young boy who had quite a collection of remote control cars, toys, and even a small airplane or two. He took good care of them, and had them arranged nicely on a shelf in his bedroom. Occasionally, he would take one of the cars down and play with it by hand …
Covered By Snow
Once a young man was told by his father to pick up some clutter in the side yard—there were some tools, and a few toys, and some debris from a small rock wall that they had been building for a flower bed. His father came home after dark that day (it was winter and so …
Friends With Susan
“Mom, you told me once that I didn’t have to be friends with Susan, right?” “Actually,” her mother replied, “I told you that I would rather you not be friends with Susan. But basically, yes.” “Well, in the last couple weeks she has asked me to two different events. A get together at her place …
A Wiseacre Turk
“Dad, what is a parable anyhow?” the young fellow asked. His father, who had fortunately read something about this just recently, answered him on this wise. “Well, kid, let me tell you.” “Well, dad, tell me. That’s why I asked.” “The word parable comes from two Greek words, which together mean to ‘cast or throw …
Tell the Wizard What He Wants
Once there was a boy who had a very unfortunate experience. He lived in a fairy tale, and this is why he was not very surprised when a wizard stopped him on the way home, and asked where he was going. The boy said nothing, because he had learned a long time ago that the …
State of the Church 2009
INTRODUCTION: As we consider God’s ongoing kindnesses to us as a congregation, we need to be sure to grasp more than just the “facts.” We need also to have a biblical paradigm for processing those facts—otherwise we will radically misinterpret what is happening to us. THE TEXT: “But this I confess unto thee, that after …