Gospel of John – Page 7 – My Pastoral Ponderings

Posted on April 1, 2021March 31, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 4 Comments

Jesus Loved Us to the End: My Sermon on Maundy Thursday

Jesus "loved them to the end," John tells us. Here is my sermon on John 13:1-17, 31b-35.

Posted on March 20, 2021March 18, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 7 Comments

We Wish to See Jesus: My Sermon on John 12:20-33

"Sir, we wish to see Jesus," they asked that day, but to see Jesus we must look to the cross. Here is my sermon on John 12:20-33.

Posted on March 13, 2021March 13, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 2 Comments

The Gospel in Miniature: My Sermon on John 3:14-21

Martin Luther is said to have described John 3:16 as "the gospel in miniature." He also said that this verse "is so pregnant with meaning that it can never be exhausted." Here is my sermon on this famous passage.

Posted on March 6, 2021March 6, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 2 Comments

Signs, Wisdom, and the Power of God: My Sermon on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

A sermon on the message of the cross, a stumbling block to some, foolishness to others, but to all who are called, it shows us the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Posted on March 3, 2021September 21, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 9 Comments

What Does It Mean to Pray “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”?

What does it mean to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread"? Here is my reflection on this question, as I continue my series on the Lord's Prayer.

Posted on January 23, 2021November 22, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 3 Comments

What’s So Special About John’s Gospel?

All four gospels are important to understanding the good news of Jesus, but what is important about John's Gospel? Here is my answer to that question, along with a brief overview of this gospel.

Posted on January 16, 2021January 31, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 2 Comments

Jesus, Our Ladder: My Sermon on John 1:43-51

Jesus makes a remarkable promise in John 1, to Nathanael and to all of us, that Jesus would fulfill the promise first made to Jacob in Genesis 28. Here is my sermon on John 1:43-51.

Posted on October 24, 2020October 23, 2020 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 5 Comments

Resting in the Grace of Our God

When the grace of this world lets us down, we can turn to the grace of our loving God. Here is my sermon for Reformation Sunday.

Posted on May 30, 2020 by Rev. James E. Laurence

A Quiet Pentecost: My Sermon on the Day of Pentecost

The Holy Spirit given at Pentecost is now always given so dramatically. Here is my sermon shared on the Day of Pentecost on the quieter Pentecost moments that most of us experience.

Posted on May 16, 2020May 17, 2020 by Rev. James E. Laurence