All the Sermons

Mark 4: 1-20 Listen Link:  http://www.firstcovenantcadillac.org/#!this-weeks-sermon/c20mw To begin, a timely quote: I will tell you who said it after I read it. “Our capacity to deal creatively with shattered dreams is ultimately determined by our faith in God. Genuine faith imbues us with the conviction that beyond time is a divine Spirit and beyond life is Life. However dismal and catastrophic may be the present circumstance, we know we are not alone, for God dwells with us in life's most confining and oppressive cells. And even if we die there without having received the earthly promise, he shall lead us down that mysterious road called death and at last to that indescribable city he has prepared for us. His creative power is not exhausted by this earthly life, nor is his majestic love locked within the limited walls of time and space. -- Martin Luther King Jr. "Shattered Dreams" The reason I think that is a timely quote is, 1. we just celebrated Martin Lut...

Mark 4:1-20 Listen Link:  http://www.firstcovenantcadillac.org/#!this-weeks-sermon/c20mw     Author blogger Bronwyn Lea recently wrote: I got that lead-balloon feeling on Sunday when our pastor pointed out all the things Paul didn’t pray for in his letters: people with cancer, busy schedules, promotions at work, successful ventures, hard pressed finances, strained relationships…. Not that those things don’t matter, or that we shouldn’t pray for them, or that God doesn’t care about the minutiae of our lives, but they weren’t on the apostle’s regular prayer card. It raised the old question for me again: why do I always find my prayer list filled with immediate needs, when I know that matters like the Kingdom come, His will be done, missions, justice, global worship etc. are weightier and worthy of prayer? Why is it that when I do sit down to pray (and my struggles with that are lengthy and complex) I pray fo...

How to Remove Rocks Mark 4:1-20 Listen Link:  http://www.firstcovenantcadillac.org/#!this-weeks-sermon/c20mw   Like my little froggy chia pet here? The seeds are on there. But of course the root is going nowhere in the extremely shallow soil. I read in the instructions that the chia plants on here can last up to four weeks, if they grow at all. Well I planted this a week ago and this is all I got. Froggy is smiling a happy smile, but that’s about all he’s got going for him. He’s really shallow. Cadillac News columnist, Mardi Suhs, recently asked me, along with other pastors in the area, and some church members too, to write a little essay for a column she is working on in which she is exploring what we think are the five greatest challenges to the Christian church today. Among other things I said that one of our greatest challenges is getting disciples of Jesus Christ to read and understand the Bible as much more than a book about moral teachings. For example, I...

Mark 4:1-20 Listen Link:  http://www.firstcovenantcadillac.org/#!this-weeks-sermon/c20mw   I just have to tell you something about the New Year’s Eve Party. And actually, it does relate to today’s message too. In one part of the meeting they did something they call the red ball activity. One person has a red ball, shares a little something about himself or herself and then tosses the ball to someone else in the room. Then they have the floor and it is their turn to share. Now they don’t have to say anything. They could just say their name, and say, “pass” and toss the ball to someone else. Out of twelve to eighteen people, everyone told a story of their struggle or their triumph over struggle. It was all very beautiful, touching, and even a few tears were shed out of sympathetic joy or sorrow. Here’s the part you need to know. Three separate people that I never met before, each specifically gave thanks to you, the people of First Covenant Church for hosting the Narcotics ...