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Month: September 2023

Posted on September 29, 2023October 1, 2023 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 2 Comments

Ending the Blame Game: My Sermon on Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins who shall die. Ezekiel 18:4 We just did something quite strange, when you think about it. We listened to messages that were first read and shared thousands…

Posted on September 22, 2023September 21, 2023 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 1 Comment

First or Last? My Sermon on Matthew 20:1-16

Are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew 20:15-16 I have a confession to make: Whenever I have read or heard this parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16), I have always assumed that I was one of the laborers who…

Posted on September 15, 2023September 14, 2023 by Rev. James E. Laurence

Mercy not Math: My Sermon on Matthew 18:21-35

Peter came and said to [Jesus], “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22 Let’s talk about forgiveness. It is one of the most important topics in our Christian…

Posted on September 8, 2023September 7, 2023 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 1 Comment

The Privilege of Living Among Other Christians: My Sermon on Matthew 18:15-20

Living among other Christians is a privilege and a blessing, but also can be challenging. Here is my sermon on these themes, based on Matthew 18:15-20.

Posted on September 1, 2023August 31, 2023 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 3 Comments

Jesus Is the Messiah, But What Does that Mean? – My Sermon on Matthew 16:21-28

From that time on [after Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah], Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised. Matthew 16:21 For those keeping track,…

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