08/27/2008
Sermons From Grace Church
By G-web
We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it. (Madeleine L'Engle, American Author) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CLICK ON THE "READ MORE" LINK BELOW A SERMON'S TITLE AND OTHER INFORMATION TO OPEN IT.
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08/27/2008
Faith and Community
By The Rev. Bob Blackwell
Abraham Lincoln is credited with saying: “If all the people who fell asleep in church on a Sunday morning were laid out end to end.... they would be a whole lot more comfortable.” Hard pews, long sermons, unsingable hymns, enforced silence and excruciating boredom...are just a few of the ingredients which make up the common image of the church. Maybe not here at Grace, but how many people do you know of who’s experience of church is something you grit your teeth through, until the aroma of Sunday lunch begins to brighten the day?
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08/18/2008
A Portfolio of Faith
By The Rev. Bob Blackwell
A realtor in Southern California writes about a surprising sale he once made and the lesson he learned from it: “He was sitting in his real estate office one afternoon when a “not too prosperous” looking man walked into the office. Right behind him was a young couple who had every appearance of wealth. Both the older man, and the young couple, were asking about the same piece of property. The senior realtor in the office jumped up to invite the younger couple into his office, while the rather ragged looking old man was left to the younger, inexperienced realtor. The junior realtor writes that he begrudgingly invited the old man to sit at his desk, with the attitude of “this is wasting my time and yours”, tried to get rid of the man, knowing that the property he was asking about was way out of his price range.
To shorten the story, and to get to the point, It turned out that the affluent looking young couple could not qualify financially to purchase the property, while the older, humble man could... in fact, he had brought with him, in a card board box, the total cash needed to purchase the piece of land.
Thus we begin our reflection on our gospel for today.
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08/10/2008
Motorcycle or Lawnmower???
By The Rev. Bob Blackwell
Today’s Gospel lesson is from Mathew 14: 22-33 “Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus”.
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08/03/2008
How Do You Handle Stress?
By The Rev. Bob Blackwell
How do you handle stress? Someone once offered this technique for stress relief, which I really liked: ‘Imagine yourself near a beautiful mountain stream. Birds are chirping softly in the cool crisp air. Nothing can bother you here. No one knows this secret place. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with the cascade of serenity. The water is clear. You can easily make out the face of the person whose head you are holding under the water. It is the person who has caused you all this stress. You let them up, just for a quick breath, then, splish, splash, you push them back under again. Are you starting to feel better?
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07/27/2008
The Kingdom of Heaven is like...
By The Rev. Bob Blackwell
“Jesus put before the crowd another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed...”
If you have been following our gospel readings these past few weeks, you will remember that Jesus is on the beach, in a boat, put out a bit, preaching and teaching to a crowd that has gathered there on the shores of Galilee. There are farmers and fishermen who have come to hear him preach...and so he tells them parables of the gospel which they will understand..
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07/22/2008
Bring Your Messes To Me And I will Give You Rest
By The Rev. Bob Blackwell
Today's Gospel lesson is from Romans 8:18. "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us."
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07/13/2008
A Waste of Time?
By The Rev. Bob Blackwell
Today's Gospel lesson is from Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 -----
Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!" ------
"Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
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07/06/2008
The Best Response To God's Call is, "Here I am."
By Daniel Strandlund
Today's Gospel lesson comes from Matthew 11:25-30 --------
At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Come to me, all that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
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06/30/2008
Love Outside The Box
By The Rev. Milt Glor
Today's Gospel lesson is from Matthew 10: 34-42. Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household! If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.
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