My Pastoral Ponderings

My Pastoral Ponderings
Skip to content
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Sermons
  • My Poetry
  • Devotions
  • Contact

Month: September 2021

Posted on September 30, 2021September 29, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 5 Comments

How Does God Speak to Us? A Reflection on Hebrews 1:1-4

God speaks to us in many and various ways, but one way is more important than any other. Here is a reflection on Hebrews 1:1-4.

Posted on September 28, 2021September 22, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 3 Comments

Why Read the Bible?

Why read the Bible? Here are five basic reasons to read the Bible, according to the Bible itself. 

Posted on September 25, 2021September 24, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 5 Comments

Costly Grace: My Sermon on Mark 9:38-50

What would you be willing to do to enter the kingdom of God? Nothing is required, of course, because it is God's gift to us. But this gift still asks something of us, doesn't it? Here is my sermon on Mark 9:38-50.

Posted on September 23, 2021September 22, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 1 Comment

A Nonet of Joy

A Nonet of Joy

Posted on September 21, 2021September 29, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 13 Comments

Why Pray the Lord’s Prayer?

Why pray the Lord's Prayer? Isn't better to just talk to God, to share what is on our heart? Sometimes it is. But at other times, the Lord's Prayer offers us the words that we need to address the God that we love.

Posted on September 18, 2021September 16, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 3 Comments

Getting the Question Right: My Sermon on Mark 9:30-37

Sometimes getting the question right is more important than having it answered. Here is my sermon on Mark 9:30-37.

Posted on September 16, 2021September 16, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 5 Comments

Can Any of You by Worrying Add a Single Hour to Your Span of Life?

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us not to worry. But we still worry. At least I do. So here are three things that Jesus teaches us about how to handle the inevitable worries of life.

Posted on September 14, 2021September 15, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 1 Comment

The Message of Holy Cross Day

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”1 Corinthians 1:18 Today, September 14, I join with many Christians around the world in observing “Holy Cross Day.” The history of this festival is quite interesting. It begins back in…

Posted on September 11, 2021September 11, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 1 Comment

Jesus, Our Messiah, But What Does That Really Mean?: My Sermon on Mark 8:27-38

When Jesus asks his famous question, "Who do you say that I am?" we know the answer. But do know what the answer means, for Jesus and for us? Here is my sermon on Mark 8:27-38.

Posted on September 10, 2021September 9, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 3 Comments

Five Simple Steps to Perfection (A Lutheran Version)

Want to be perfect? Here are five easy steps, which I am calling the Lutheran version, but it's really true for all Christians: Begin at the cross, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Thank him for his love and resolve to live for him daily.Decide that it is going pretty well. Begin to think…

Post navigation

Older posts
1 of 2
Follow My Pastoral Ponderings on WordPress.com

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 882 other subscribers

Categories

  • Book Reviews
  • Devotions
    • My Poetry
      • Sonnets for Psalms
    • Poems, Prayers, Psalms, and Promises
  • Favorite Poems
  • Favorite Prayers
  • Favorite Quotes
  • Other Ponderings
  • Sermons

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Bible Gateway

Thank You BibleGateway.com for your many biblical resources and for your network of Christian faith-based bloggers

Top Posts & Pages

  • What Does the Lord Require of You? My Sermon on Micah 6:8
  • The Message of the Cross: My Sermon on 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
  • Rejoice in the Lord: My Sermon on Philippians 4:4-7
  • What Does It Mean to Pray “Forgive Us Our Trespasses”?
  • Even Though He Sleeps, Christ Is in the Boat: My Sermon on Mark 4:35-41
  • Ephphatha, Be Opened: My Sermon on Mark 7:24-37
  • Who Do You Say that I Am?: My Sermon on Matthew 16:13-20
  • About Me
  • Why He Walked on Water: My Sermon on Matthew 14:22-33
  • Listen, and Believe: My Sermon on the Transfiguration of Our Lord

Blog Stats

  • 163,965 hits

Tags

1 Corinthians 1 Thessalonians Acts of the Apostles Advent Ann Weems Ash Wednesday Augustine Baptism Baptism of Our Lord Beatitudes Bible Blogging C.S. Lewis Christian Mysticism Christian Poetry Christmas Christmas Eve Colossians COVID-19 Pandemic Daily Devotional Dietrich Bonhoeffer Divine Office Easter Emily Dickinson Ephesians Eugene Peterson Evelyn Underhill Exodus Faith Favorite Quotes Fruit of the Spirit Galatians Genesis George Herbert Gospel of John Gospel of Luke Gospel of Mark Gospel of Matthew Gratitude Henri Nouwen Holy Week Isaiah Jeremiah John the Baptist Lamentations Lent Letter to the Hebrews Lord's Prayer Lutheran Madeleine L'Engle Malcolm Guite Martin Luther Martin Luther King Jr. Mary Oliver Maundy Thursday Nonet Palm Sunday Philippians Pilgrimage Prayer Psalms Racial Reconciliation Reformation Resurrection Romans Running Scripture Seven Last Words Sonnets The Imitation of Christ Thomas Merton Transfiguration Vespers Wendell Berry Worship

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
Blog at WordPress.com.
  • Follow Following
    • My Pastoral Ponderings
    • Join 485 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • My Pastoral Ponderings
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...