In Sermons: showing 61-75 of 344

The Glory

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 20, 2007

1. The Word dwells with us. 2. The Word is the glory of God. 3. The Word shares his glory with us.

The Glory John 1:1-14 Leonard Slatkin, music director of the National Symphony Orchestra, was asked a hypothetical question: “What would happen if one of the world’s great violinists performed incognito before a traveling rush-hour audience of over 1,000 people?” “Let’s assume,” Slatkin said, ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

What Is Sabbath?

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 7, 2007

1. Sabbath is a principle. 2. Sabbath means losing control. 3. Sabbath means modeling the life of God.

I’m a fan of the television show "24". It has more fast-moving action packed into an hour than any show I have ever seen. The lead character, special agent Jack Bauer, is on the run practically the entire show. He has no sooner solved one crisis than another rises. The title "24" is taken from ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:9-11

Denomination: Methodist

What Is Community?

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 29, 2007

Living in Christian community means: 1. Unity in love. 2. Focusing on Jesus. 3. We lose ourselves in service.

What Is Community? John 17:15-21 I talked with a friend and her husband from another town this week who are having trouble with their teenage daughter. They have been to court several times because she is completely out of control. They have also taken her to professional counselors who have ...read more

Scripture: John 17:15-21

Denomination: Methodist

What Is Faith?

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 22, 2007

1. Faith is born from doubt. 2. Faith brings a reward.

A recent headline in the Sacramento Bee read: “Ignorance of the Good Book Reaches Biblical Proportions.” You can say that pun again! The other day I read about a chain of supermarkets in the U.K. which decided to lecture shoppers about Easter. In a press release sent to the London Times ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

The Resurrection Of Jesus

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 8, 2007

The resurrection of Jesus 1. was physical. 2. is a mystery. 3. means hope.

I had an interesting conversation on the phone with my mother a few years ago. She told me she had been going to a Bible study at her church, led by her pastor, and he was saying that it was Jesus’ body that was raised from the dead. She has been in the church most of her life, but somehow that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-9

Denomination: Methodist

The Openness Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 1, 2007

1. Jesus’ arms are open as an act of invitation 2. Jesus gives an open invitation to a life of fruitfulness.

It must have been quite a scene as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. First, he is not riding a warrior’s horse, he is riding on the colt of a donkey. His head is bobbing as the colt takes its awkward steps. And all around is a motley crowd. Former prostitutes, shouting children, people who had been ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-42

Denomination: Methodist

The Meekness Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 25, 2007

1. Meekness means we do not retaliate. 2. Meekness means we live without fear. 3. Meekness comes with a blessing.

The famous atheist Frederick Nietzsche, who coined the phrase “God is dead,” once said, “Assert yourself. Care for nothing except yourself. The only vice is weakness and the only virtue is strength. Be strong. Be a superman. The world is yours if you work hard enough for it!” Hitler read ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Methodist

The Perseverance Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 19, 2007

1. He faced opposition from people. 2. He faced the evil of a fallen world.

Annie Dillard is one of my favorite authors. In her book Teaching a Stone to Talk, she writes: “You don’t have to sit outside in the dark. If, however, you want to look at the stars, you will find that darkness is required. The stars neither require it or demand it.” Darkness is a part of the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-4

Denomination: Methodist

The Confidence Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 11, 2007

1. His mind was set on who he was. 2. His minds was set on his goal. 3. His mind was set on God.

Sgt. Juanita Wilson was on patrol outside Baghdad when a roadside bomb exploded beneath her vehicle. She was trying to help her driver after the explosion when she felt something unusual. When she looked down, her hand was gone. Less than two years after her injury, she is demonstrating her ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:17-30

Denomination: Methodist

The Kingdom Awareness Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 4, 2007

1. People often miss the presence of God. 2. The Kingdom of God comes in simple ways. 3. We are called to live in awareness.

“How do you expect me to believe in God,” asked Woody Allen, “when only last week I got my tongue caught in the roller of my electric typewriter?” There are many people like Woody Allen who focus on the annoyances of life rather than wonderful things of life. It always seems that the troubles of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:20-21

Denomination: Methodist

The Humility Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 25, 2007

1. His focus was on the will of God, not his own. 2. His focus was away from himself, not on himself. 3. His focus was on serving, not being served.

It was January 30, 1994 and Super Bowl XXVIII was being played out at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The NFC champion Dallas Cowboys had just defeated the AFC champion Buffalo Bills, 30–13. Dallas scored 24 unanswered points in the second half, and Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith was named the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 11:16-19

Denomination: Methodist

Abraham: Living By Grace Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 18, 2007

Lessons from Abraham’s life: 1. God uses imperfect people. 2. Having received grace, we give grace. 3. A life of grace will sometimes be difficult.

Abraham: Living by Grace Hebrews 11:8-12 Abraham’s experience with God began when the Lord appeared to him and said, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-12

Denomination: Methodist

Gideon: Discovering Why You Were Born

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 11, 2007

How do we discover why we were born? We have to overcome: 1. Discouragement 2. Doubt 3. Obstacles 4. We have to remain faithful

Gideon: Discovering Why You Were Born Judges 6:1-14 I have to confess that I used to like to watch American Idol. And the best part of the season was when all the wannabees come out for the auditions. I lose interest when it is narrowed down to the last 50 who actually have some talent. It is ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

Jacob: Finding Your Way Back Home

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 4, 2007

Why is it that makes it difficult to find our way back home? Because: 1. The rebellion of the human heart. 2. We don’t know the way. 3. We have to decide what is important.

CNN’s website featured an article about Frank Warren, editor of the book The Secret Lives of Men and Women: A PostSecret Book. After a troubling period in his own life, he handed out 3000 self-addressed stamped postcards to people on the street, asking them to anonymously mail him their secrets. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 35:1-15, Ephesians 4:32

Denomination: Methodist

Josiah: When Reform Is Not Enough

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 28, 2007

True revival comes when there is: 1. A call to prayer. 2. A reemergence of God’s Word. 3. A sense of conviction and true repentance.

Josiah: When Reform Is Not Enough 2 Chronicles 34:16-21 The story of Josiah, King of Judah, is one of the most unusual in the Old Testament in many ways. He was only eight years old when he took the throne. He is one of the last kings to reign before the nation was overrun by the Babylonians. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 34:16-19

Denomination: Methodist