Sermon Date: October 17, 2021

The question was posed by Peter who when seeing a rich man approach Jesus asking what do I have to do to” get eternal life.” Jesus told him to keep the commandments and then proceeded to list 7 of them to which the rich man said he has kept them since he was a boy. Jesus looked at him and loved him and then said you still are lacking, “go sell what you have and give it to the poor and you will have riches in heaven.” The man couldn’t do that for he loved his wealth too much.

Today Jesus said how hard it is for the rich to get into heaven to which Peter asked the question “who then can be saved?” Jesus told him that with man it’s impossible but with God all things are possible.

Sermon Date: October 10, 2021

Mark 10:17-22, The Message
As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.” He said, “Teacher, I have — from my youth — kept them all!” Jesus looked him hard in the eye — and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.” The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12, Easy-to-Read Version
Those who love money will never be satisfied with the money they have. Those who love wealth will not be satisfied when they get more and more. This is also senseless. The more wealth people have, the more “friends” they have to help spend it. So the rich really gain nothing. They can only look at their wealth. Those who work hard all day come home and sleep in peace. It is not important if they have little or much to eat. But the rich worry about their wealth and are not able to sleep.

It’s not what you’ve got, but what you do with what you’ve got. You can’t take it with you!
Look for opportunity to engage others in conversation and be open to what the Holy Spirit may give you to share.

Sermon Date: October 3, 2021

The U.S. military plan to withdraw from Afghanistan didn’t go as planned, it had flaws, and the results are mixed as far as success or failure.

There was and is provided for all humanity an unflawed, successful eternal rescue plan in Jesus Christ, for all who believe in Him are saved forever.

Hebrews 2:14-18, New International Version

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Sermon Date: September 26, 2021

James 5:13-16
¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

(Read Psalm 13 and Psalm 34:17-18)

Sermon Date: September 19, 2021

A discussion from James 4:1-10
¹ What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. ⁴ You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? ⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” ⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Cf. Romans 5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Sermon Date: September 12, 2021

As a child of God we have a responsibility to be different than the world’s teachers. We are set apart to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus. We know that we’re not perfect and mess up. We say hurtful things to others. The difference is that we are sorry and repent of such behaviour. It is through the discipline of thoughtful words we can either build up or tear down one another.

James 3:13-18
¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Sermon Date: September 5, 2021

Pastor Leslie Brandt has written many books for the modern Christian reader. These include; “Prophets Now”, “Psalms Now”, “Jesus Now”, “Epistles Now”.

Today I read from “Epistles Now” on James chapter 1 with its relevance to the world in which we live now.

Sermon Date: August 29, 2021

When we worship is the place more important than who? Psalm 32 gives us a relationship when we gather as “Church”.

1. Blessed is the one
   whose transgressions are forgiven,
   whose sins are covered.
2. Blessed is the one
   whose sin the Lord does not count against them
   and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3. When I kept silent,
   my bones wasted away
   through my groaning all day long.
4. For day and night
   your hand was heavy on me;
   my strength was sapped
   as in the heat of summer.
5. Then I acknowledged my sin to you
   and did not cover up my iniquity.
   I said, “I will confess
   my transgressions to the Lord.”
   And you forgave
   the guilt of my sin.
6. Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
   while you may be found;
   surely the rising of the mighty waters
   will not reach them.
7. You are my hiding place;
   you will protect me from trouble
   and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
   I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9. Do not be like the horse or the mule,
   which have no understanding
   but must be controlled by bit and bridle
   or they will not come to you.
10. Many are the woes of the wicked,
    but the Lord’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
    sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Sermon Date: August 22, 2021

Holding fast to God, HIs Word, His promises or holding fast to self, the world and all it’s influences. Which one leads through to eternal life and peace?