Weekly Sermon, Announcements & Events

(Please note that the following are only some of my notes of the sermon) First Mennonite Church July 28, 2019 Life in the Spirit Text: Ephesians 4:29-32 Today, I would like for us to look at two important aspects about our relationship with the Holy Spirit: the danger of grieving the Spirit and our being … [Read more…]

First Mennonite Church July 21, 2019  The Holy Spirit in the New Testament Luke 4:1-20 Let me begin by admitting here to you something I cannot understand. It is a mystery to me.  (How do like that for an encouragement?) In Luke 4, verse one, reads: Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit and in verse … [Read more…]

First Mennonite Church July 14, 2019 The Spirit of God in the Old Testament Text: Genesis 1:1-5; John 14:15-17 Today and in the next couple of Sundays, I would like for us to reflect on the third person of the Trinity, as we refer to the Triune God, the Holy Spirit. I know it is … [Read more…]

First Mennonite Church July 7, 2019 Is It Right for You to Be Angry? Text: Jonah 3:10-4:11 The book of Jonah is unlike most other prophetic literature in the Old Testament in many ways. Unlike most prophetic materials that are poetic in style, Jonah is in narrative style. Jonah is a character in the story, … [Read more…]

First Mennonite Church June 30, 2019 Do I Choose or Am I Chosen? Text: Joshua 24:1-15 Choices! Choices! Choices! Every day we have to make choices. We have to choose getting up in the morning, what to eat for breakfast, in what mood do we want to face our tasks, the words we use, and … [Read more…]

First Mennonite Church June 23, 2019  What Is Truth? Text: John 18:28-40 What is truth? Pilate asked this question to Jesus at a very critical moment in Jesus’ earthly life. Jesus had been arrested, denied by Peter, interrogated by the temple authorities, and finally left at the hands of Pilate. From the very beginning, Pilate … [Read more…]

First Mennonite Church June 16, 2019 What Does the Lord Require? Texts: Micah 6:1-8; 7:18–19 During a recent Wednesday Bible study, we considered the passage about the death of John the Baptist. And Karen expressed very well the reason John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod. Karen said, “Being a prophet was a very risky … [Read more…]

First Mennonite Church June 9, 2019 Gaining the Whole World and Losing the Soul? Text: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11; Matthew 16: 26, 27 The words of the Qoheleth, translated, “Teacher” or “Preacher,” have attracted thinkers of all kind and throughout the ages. Not only do skeptics find food for thought in Ecclesiastes, but also to a certain … [Read more…]

First Mennonite Church June 2, 2019 Where Is Your Brother/Sister? Texts: Genesis 4:1-10; Luke 10:25-37  It has often been said, “The Bible is the answer,” or, “Jesus is the answer.” Often, as well, is the case that these propositions are offered to those who are not too willing to search the Bible for answers, nor … [Read more…]

First Mennonite Church May 26, 2019 God in the Book of Job (Part III) Text: Job 2:11-13; 3:1-3, 11-13, 20-26; 4:1-9 Today, I will conclude our three-part series on Job. As I said last Sunday, the story of Job does not respond to the question of why the innocent suffers. But the story allows us … [Read more…]