First Mennonite Church April 15, 2018 Afraid No More! Text: Acts 5:12-42 Last week we saw the disciples hiding behind closed doors out of fear. And had the story of Jesus’ disciples ended with that image, Jesus, his life, death, resurrection and ascension would not have been a great deal. The story of Jesus would … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church April 8, 2018 The Disciples and Their Own “Resurrection” Text: John 22:19-29 There are things that are simply hard to believe. But as people used to say, fact are facts. I do not know about you, but as for me, reading facts about things has always fascinated me. Here is one about … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church April 1, 2018 The Lord Is Risen: It Is Not a Metaphor Text: Matthew 28:1-10 Today, Christians around the world greet one another with, “Christ is risen!” and return the greeting with, “He is risen indeed!” The Easter greeting’s claim that “Christ is risen,” is not a metaphor. Jesus’ resurrection literally took … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church March 25, 2018 Do This in Remembrance of Me Text: Luke 22:14-23 In the manner of every Jewish household, Jesus took the role of head of the household when he celebrated his last Passover with his disciples. He took his place at the table and expressed his eagerness to eat the Passover … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church March 18, 2018 Being Church in a More Excellent Way Text: 1Corinthians 13:1-13 This chapter is one of Paul’s most well-known passages in the New Testament. Some call 1Corinthians 13 the “Poem to Love,” some others the “Great Hymn to Love, and yet others call it, “The Song to Charity.” Often times … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church Sunday, March 11, 2018 Sermon was given by Clare Ann Ruth-Heffelbower Conference Minister for Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference Text: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Title: “Abraham’s Descendants” Sermon text unavailable
First Mennonite Church March 4, 2018 When Reworking the Clay Becomes Necessary Text: Jeremiah 18:1-11 The other day I was listening to the story of a woman. She was raised in a family where several of her siblings did not have birth certificates nor ever stepped into a doctor’s office. She is the youngest of … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church February 25, 2018 Jesus Gate and Shepherd of the Fold Text: John 10:1-21 When I was young, on our way to school my brother and I had to walk under a huge Guanacaste tree (Monkey ear tree/elephant ear tree). The diameter of the trunk of that tree was about 6-7 feet and … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church February 18, 2018 Every Time It Seizes Him Text: Luke 8:26-39 This is the same text I used for my sermon of September 24, 2017. Today I would like for us to revisit this text from a different perspective. I should tell you beforehand that I, like you and maybe the majority … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church February 11, 2018 The Psalmist’s Sleeping Pill Text: Psalm 4:1-8 What if you would put down in writing each concern you have on a piece of paper, at least for one day? What if you were to write down everything that comes to your mind that worries you? That could be a … [Read more…]