In Sermons: showing 31-45 of 863

Our Eyes Are On You

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Apr 3, 2016

A final sermon to a congregation at my retirement. This may help fellow-pastors who need to construct a last, parting message.

I have served as your 14th pastor, and I'm retiring again after 17 years here in Saugus. I'm retiring just as I did after 25 years as an Army Chaplain--with fond memories and no regrets. This is all to the glory of God. Our choir sang “To God be the Glory,” which was sung at my ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-12

Denomination: Congregational

The Lordship Of The Risen Christ

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Mar 27, 2016

A key accomplishment of the empty tomb is so Jesus might be “the Lord of both the dead and the living.” Lordship implies ownership or the right to exercise authority over another. When we come to Jesus, we're under new management.

“Christ died and returned to life so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.” A few months ago I was summoned to serve jury duty for a serious murder case. Because of my former work with law enforcement and corrections, I wasn't selected, but I followed the case, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:9-11

Denomination: Congregational

Choose This Day Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Mar 13, 2016

We cannot be neutral. When God calls us, He demands strict and exclusive loyalty. We're to renounce all God-substitutes. We have a choice to make.

Knowing he is near the end of his life, Joshua assembles the elders to give one last charge to Israel. It is a solemn moment, and the climax of the book. Joshua's last words are rooted in history, and in the wondrous works of God the children of Israel witnessed themselves. Joshua reminds his ...read more

Denomination: Congregational

"I Want That Mountain!" Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Mar 6, 2016

Caleb was resolute in his faith and objectives. He shows us that life is a matter of perspective. Where others saw obstacles, he saw opportunities.

When I was in high school in New Jersey, I attended a church whose youth leader loved to sing an old-timey chorus: “I want that mountain, I want that mountain; where the milk and honey flow, where the grapes of Eschol grow. I want that mountain, I want that mountain, the mountain that the ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 14:6-14

Denomination: Congregational

Labor Pains

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Mar 4, 2016

A sermon on job satisfaction. Do you have a dead-end "job" or a holy "vocation"? Work worthy of your calling.

I’d like to read to you a workplace memo on the subject of “Absenteeism”… “The frequent absences by personnel have been brought to the attention of the company executives, and the following changes will be in effect immediately: -Sickness: There is no excuse. We ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Denomination: Congregational

Stopping The Sun Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Feb 28, 2016

God is the Warrior who fights for His people. When we're operating on our own, we accomplish what talent and education and money can do. When we're walking with God, we accomplish what God can do.

“Stopping the Sun” -Joshua 10:1, 5-14; Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts (28 Feb 2016) It turns out that D-Day wasn't “The Longest Day.” It was the Battle of the 5 kings! Here's how it began: Israel was deceived into making a ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 10:1-14

Denomination: Congregational

Sin In The Camp Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Feb 21, 2016

God's punishment upon Achan (and his family and possessions) seems severe...and it was, because sin is a serious matter. Sin is rebellion. Sin is covenant-breaking. Sin is choosing to go our way and reject God's way. And sin has consequences.

Hamlet famously complained that “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” Joshua found that something was rotten in Canaan, within his own people. After devoting himself to God, and after a miraculous victory at Jericho, Joshua's army suffered a defeat in Ai. Israel was enjoying ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-13

Denomination: Congregational

"Joshua Fought The Battle Of Jericho" Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Feb 7, 2016

This was the Lord of Host's battle, and His victory. The strategy was unconventional, but effective, and a reminder of the holy wrath of God upon wickedness.

God is depicted in the Book of Joshua as a Warrior--One who leads His people into battle and gives them victory. Throughout Scripture, God is referred to as the “Lord of Hosts,” literally “armies.” Joshua engaged the enemy in the Name and power of God, a holy conflict. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 6:1-27

Denomination: Congregational

Crossing On Dry Ground Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jan 31, 2016

Whether crossing a river or conquering the land, it would all be done by God's might and direction. And by remembering these glory days, they would revere God all their days.

>6 major events: Consecration, Crossing, Memorial, Circumcision, Passover, Warrior There are significant days we will always remember--days when we took a bold new step, eager to see what God would do. Israel was about to take a giant step across the Jordan River to the Land of Promise. Before ...read more

Denomination: Congregational

Rahab And The Spies Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jan 17, 2016

There was a time when we were like Rahab. We were outside of the family of God, living in the blindness and corruption of sin, till God instilled faith in us. Like Rahab, we are invited just as we are. God will take us and transform us.

This is a story of grace... The last time spies were sent to do a covert reconnaissance of the Promised Land, there were twelve, sent by Moses, and only two of them, Caleb and Joshua, had faith to believe God would grant Israel victory. Perhaps symbolically, Joshua sent two men to glean ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-24

Denomination: Congregational

You Can't Get There From Here Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jan 10, 2016

Joshua provides a bridge between Israel's unsettled wanderings and the establishment of a new nation. The children of Israel were shaken by the death of Moses, and were filled with uncertainty about their future...yet God hadn't left.

Mainers like to say when giving directions, “You can't get there from here”...or more accurately, “You can't get they-ahh from hee-yahh.” The children of Israel must have thought that, journeying through the wilderness to the promised land. It had been a long, grueling ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-18

Denomination: Congregational

New Year's Food

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jan 3, 2016

Just as we eat traditional foods at New Year, we partake of the Bread and Cup in the most significant meal of all.

I was twenty-four years old ... when I first became aware ... of what it meant to be ... under the scalpel of God's word. It was then ... that I heard and understood clearly ... that I was a sinner .... and as such .... had no right to eternity ... in heaven. I remember being cut through ... ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-22

Denomination: Congregational

Slave Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 29, 2015

In this overlooked parable Jesus describes the life of discipleship in terms of service. Rather than focusing on our rights and needs, and deciding what we'd like to do, we need to focus on how we can serve our Master.

This has been called “the most troubling parable” in the Bible. Why does Jesus say we are like unworthy servants? I know I must have read this before, but somehow I glossed over it. I've got a lot of books on the parables of Jesus and most omit this one. A year ago an article in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:7-10

Denomination: Congregational

Mary's Song

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 13, 2015

The Magnificat. We should take Mary seriously. Jesus' mother is also our mother. She is a “mother” to all who accept Jesus as Lord. Her most significant role is to point us to her Son.

Christmas songs bring back memories. When I hear certain carols, I'm transported back to my childhood in Germany. I especially remember Stille Nacht, the German hymn by Fr Joseph Mohr that celebrates Jesus, born of a virgin, sleeping in heavenly peace. Here in Luke chapter one we see Mary's song, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-55

Denomination: Congregational

Triumph!

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 6, 2015

Paul paints a word picture of believers, as former enemies conquered by grace, as conquerors, and as a fragrant aroma.

Note: I lit a piece of incense at the beginning of my sermon...also this has some Christmas references, but is not a Christmas sermon per se. Some of you may be familiar with the Grand March from Verdi's opera Aida. In the first act there is an elaborate, triumphant procession to mark the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Denomination: Congregational