In Sermons: showing 16-30 of 170

The Unexpected Yuletide Messenger Series

Contributed by David Smith on Jan 12, 2010

n the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesth

Some of you may remember the answer to the question: ’What is green, has four legs, and if it falls on you from a tree and hits you it will kill you?’ The answer, of course, is a billiard table, though some of you may have been wondering whether the answer was ’Christmas’’, which is also green ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-2

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Yuletide Cheer Of John The Baptist Series

Contributed by David Smith on Jan 12, 2010

[John] said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ’We have Abraham as our father.’ F

Last week we welcomed back to the Christmas stage that most unlikely of Yuletide figures - the gaunt and rather unjolly figure of John the Baptist. He emerges from the background shadows of the Nativity scene each year at this time, and last week I focused on just what an unexpected and unwanted ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Dysfunctional Family Of Jesus? Series

Contributed by David Smith on Jan 12, 2010

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did

For he was our childhood pattern Day by day like us He grew; He was little, weak, and helpless; Tears and smiles like us he knew; ... Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as He. (Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848) It’s the first Sunday after Christmas - the ’Feast of the Holy Family’. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-49

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Christ Is King! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Dec 3, 2009

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ’Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ’Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ’I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief

Welcome to the last Sunday of the Christian year - a day traditionally referred to as the feast of ’Christ the King’. I appreciate that there are probably not many here that manage their schedule according to the ecclesiastical calendar, yet I’m sure w are all familiar with the way in which ...read more

Scripture: John 18:33-38

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Everything Will Be Thrown Down!

Contributed by David Smith on Dec 3, 2009

"Jesus said ’Do you see these great buildings?’ Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’" (Mark 3:2)

It is such an offensive thing to say! Oh, I know that nothing in permanent in this life and that the greatest of our human institutions and heroic achievements will eventually pass and go the way of all flesh, but I really didn’t want to be confronted with that just now!. And though they take our ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Celebrating Ruth Series

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 14, 2009

But Ruth said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die - there will I be buried. May the Lord

Today is ’All Saints Day’ (or ’All Hallows Day’) and while I appreciate that this day is not as celebrated in our broader culture as is the day that precedes it - ’All Hallows Eve’ (or ’Halloween’) it is nonetheless a significant day of celebration in the church - a day when we celebrate our ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Life Is A Box Of Chocolates ... Not! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 29, 2009

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2) Yes, I’m quoting God from the book of Job, chapter 38, second verse - a book that I’ve finally decided, reluctantly, needs to be looked at.

I say reluctantly because it’s a depressing book, and depressing not only because it deals with the series of depressing events that befall the story’s main character, but depressing too because the man’s search for an answer to his problems never gets a result that I find satisfying. I’m assuming ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

No Rich People In Heaven Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 27, 2009

"Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom

In any journey, such as a trek through the bush, there are exciting parts, such as when we start out (perhaps) and when we near your destination, there are relatively boring parts, and there are patches that are just hard work. In our journey through the Gospel of Mark we seem to have reached an ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:23-25

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Remarriage Is Adultery Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 27, 2009

Jesus said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

Every now and then you find yourself tacking a Bible passage that just doesn’t lend itself to starting your sermon with a joke. Today’s Gospel reading is one such passage. For divorce is no laughing matter, and of course I know that first-hand. Indeed, not only did I experience the divorce of my ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:2-16

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Jesus Took The Child In His Arms Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 5, 2009

Then they left that place and were passing through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know it, for he was teaching his disciples and saying to them, "The Son of Man will be betrayed into human hands. They will kill him, but after being dead for three da

Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was at home, he asked the disciples, "What were you arguing about on the road?" But they kept silent, for on the road they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. So he sat down and called the twelve. He told them, "If anyone wants to be ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-37

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Dangers Of Discipleship Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 5, 2009

Then Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he was asking his disciples, "Who do people say I am?" They answered him, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others one of the prophets." Then he

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man would have to suffer a great deal and be rejected by the elders, the high priests, and the scribes. Then he would be killed, but after three days he would rise again. He was speaking about this matter quite openly. Peter took him aside and began to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Incomprehensibility Of Jesus Series

Contributed by David Smith on Sep 21, 2009

The person who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will also live because of me.

The person who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will also live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not the kind that your ancestors ate. They died, ...read more

Scripture: John 6:56-59

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Downward Mobility Of Jesus Series

Contributed by David Smith on Sep 21, 2009

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although He was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich. “

I thought it was about time I began a sermon with a joke, and today’s passage did make me think of that story about the world’s leaders at prayer, asking God when their countries would repay their national debts. As the story goes, President Obama prays to God, asking when the US economy will ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Asking The Right Questions Series

Contributed by David Smith on Aug 7, 2009

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into these boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus. When they had found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus replied t

A wise person once told me that what you see in life depends on what you are looking at, and that what you hear depends on who you listen to, just as the answers you get depend largely on the questions you ask. Now I do apologize for beginning my sermon with such a ponderous set of philosophical ...read more

Scripture: John 6:24-35

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Jesus' Most Trivial Miracle Series

Contributed by David Smith on Aug 7, 2009

After this, Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). A large crowd kept following him because they had seen the signs that he was performing on the sick. But Jesus went up on a hillside and sat down there with his disciples.

A wise person once told me that what you see in life depends on what you are looking at, and that what you hear depends on who you listen to, just as the answers you get depend largely on the questions you ask. Now I do apologize for beginning my sermon with such a ponderous set of philosophical ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-15

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican