Bible Study

Sermon Mark 9:30-37 Why Are You Lazy? By Rev. Amy Butler As many of you know, the Pastors Sunday school class has been holding a series of discussions centered around various episodes of the TV show, The Simpsons. You may be skeptical, but I have to say, theres more spiritual depth to the Simpsons than … Continue reading “Mark 9:30-37 Why Are You Lazy (Butler) – Bible study”

Sermon Mark 9:30-37 The Greatest of the Kingdom By Dr. Philip W. McLarty Today marks the close of our little mini-series on the kingdom of God. I hope youve enjoyed it, and I hope that its helped you to feel a little more comfortable thinking, talking and learning about your place in Gods kingdom on … Continue reading “Mark 9:30-37 The Greatest of the Kingdom (McLarty) – Bible study”

Sermon Mark 9:30-37 The Circle of Inclusion By The Rev. Charles Hoffacker Today I would like us to consider what it means to be successful in the way of the world, and what it means to be first in the kingdom of God. Our culture tells us that the successful person acquires. What does that … Continue reading “Mark 9:30-37 The Circle of Inclusion (Hoffacker) – Bible study”

Sermon Mark 9:38-50 Amputating Our Resentments By The Rev. Charles Hoffacker Ask a hundred people to identify their favorite Bible passage, and it’s likely not one of them will mention these verses we just heard from the ninth chapter of Mark’s Gospel: If your hand causes you to stumble, cut if off; it is better … Continue reading “Mark 9:38-50 Amputating Our Resentments (Hoffacker) – Bible study”

Sermon Mark 9:38-50 Salty Believers By Dr. Keith Wagner This is not the first time that Jesus had used the metaphor of salt when he was describing a faithful disciple. In Matthew 5:13, he said, You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? … Continue reading “Mark 9:38-50 Salty Believers (Wagner) – Bible study”

Sermon Mark 9:38-50 The Welcoming Church By The Rev. Dr. James D. Kegel David Hartwig, a four-year-old, came up to me after our pre-school children’s chapel. I was the assistant pastor at Edison Park Lutheran Church in Chicago and one of my duties was to present the week’s Gospel at a pre-school level for our … Continue reading “Mark 9:38-50 The Welcoming Church (Kegel) – Bible study”

Sermon Mark 10:2-16 A Run Through the Thorns By The Rev. Charles Hoffacker This morning may we dare to run through the field of thorns and find the great treasure that awaits us there. In the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Today’s Gospel passage catches our attention because it addresses marriage and … Continue reading “Mark 10:2-16 A Run Through the Thorns (Hoffacker) – Bible study”

Sermon Mark 10:2-16 Straight Talk about Stewardship By Dr. Philip W. McLarty If you havent figured it out by now, todays the big kickoff of our stewardship campaign. The Session has approved a tentative budget for next year, but it wont mean much unless we have the pledges of support to underwrite it. So, thanks … Continue reading “Mark 10:2-16 Straight Talk about Stewardship (McLarty) – Bible study”

Sermon Genesis 2:18-24 & Mark 10:2-16 Loneliness in Paradise By Richard Niell Donovan I use a lectionary to select scripture texts for the sermon. A lectionary is a series of scriptures for each week on a three-year cycle. I like using the lectionary, because it stops me from preaching on a few favorite (and easy) … Continue reading “Mark 10:2-16 Loneliness in Paradise (Donovan) – Bible study”

Sermon Mark 10:2-16 Good News for the Divorced By Dr. Philip W. McLarty When I first read the gospel lesson for today, my first inclination was to skip over it altogether and preach from another text. At first blush, it would seem that Jesus comes down hard on those of us who’ve gone through a … Continue reading “Mark 10:2-16 Good News For The Divorced (McLarty) – Bible study”