Second Sunday of Advent - A
Frank Ramirez
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? (v. 7)
Well, it may be the season of Advent, and more important, counting the days until the season of giving, receiving, and Christmas, but for those who follow college and professional football it’s a season where family gatherings for the holidays turn into mini-stadiums so friends and relatives can cheer, holler, beg, and — hopefully not too often — curse the players on their TV screens! Heaven only knows how many holiday dinners were ruined because relatives root for different teams.
Which begs the question — which team did God support? That may seem ridiculous, but a recent survey of 1,012 Americans taken by the Public Religion Research Institute suggests that one in four Americans believe, quote, “God plays a role in determining which team wins a sporting event.”
Well, it may be the season of Advent, and more important, counting the days until the season of giving, receiving, and Christmas, but for those who follow college and professional football it’s a season where family gatherings for the holidays turn into mini-stadiums so friends and relatives can cheer, holler, beg, and — hopefully not too often — curse the players on their TV screens! Heaven only knows how many holiday dinners were ruined because relatives root for different teams.
Which begs the question — which team did God support? That may seem ridiculous, but a recent survey of 1,012 Americans taken by the Public Religion Research Institute suggests that one in four Americans believe, quote, “God plays a role in determining which team wins a sporting event.”
David O. Bales
Contents
"Less Than A Peaceable Kingdom" by David O. Bales
"Prayer For Righteous Government" by David O. Bales
* * * * * * * *
Less Than A Peaceable Kingdom
by David O. Bales
Isaiah 11:1-10
"Less Than A Peaceable Kingdom" by David O. Bales
"Prayer For Righteous Government" by David O. Bales
* * * * * * * *
Less Than A Peaceable Kingdom
by David O. Bales
Isaiah 11:1-10
Peter Andrew Smith
Contents
"Repentance" by Peter Andrew Smith
Repentance
by Peter Andrew Smith
Matthew 3:1-12
“Hey Matthew, I made the hockey team at school!”
“Good for you!” Matthew put his trash cans down and gave Ginny a huge grin. “I knew you were going to set that place on fire. What about you Patsy?”
Patsy scowled. “Matthew, you know that I really don’t like hockey.”
Matthew rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. You can play any instrument you want so have you signed up for the band yet?”
“I was thinking about it.” She shuffled her feet. “I don’t know if they would want me.”
“Huh.” He stood up and scratched the top of his head a couple of times. “I wonder how you could find out.”
Patsy let out an exaggerated sigh. “I suppose I could sign up.”
"Repentance" by Peter Andrew Smith
Repentance
by Peter Andrew Smith
Matthew 3:1-12
“Hey Matthew, I made the hockey team at school!”
“Good for you!” Matthew put his trash cans down and gave Ginny a huge grin. “I knew you were going to set that place on fire. What about you Patsy?”
Patsy scowled. “Matthew, you know that I really don’t like hockey.”
Matthew rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. You can play any instrument you want so have you signed up for the band yet?”
“I was thinking about it.” She shuffled her feet. “I don’t know if they would want me.”
“Huh.” He stood up and scratched the top of his head a couple of times. “I wonder how you could find out.”
Patsy let out an exaggerated sigh. “I suppose I could sign up.”
Keith Hewitt
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"The Tree" by Keith Hewitt
"Think Like a Bee" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * *
The Tree
by Keith Hewitt
Isaiah 11:1-10
The stump, if it could have spoken, would have boasted of great things -- the tree that had towered above it for a century or more had been felled in service to a mighty kingdom. The branches had been stripped away, and the massive trunk had been planed and shaved, finished to a manmade perfection that rivaled the God-made perfection in which it had stood for so long... and when it was just so, it became a beam that supported the roof of the Great Temple in Jerusalem -- Herod's gift to the people he ruled and to his own posterity.
"The Tree" by Keith Hewitt
"Think Like a Bee" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * *
The Tree
by Keith Hewitt
Isaiah 11:1-10
The stump, if it could have spoken, would have boasted of great things -- the tree that had towered above it for a century or more had been felled in service to a mighty kingdom. The branches had been stripped away, and the massive trunk had been planed and shaved, finished to a manmade perfection that rivaled the God-made perfection in which it had stood for so long... and when it was just so, it became a beam that supported the roof of the Great Temple in Jerusalem -- Herod's gift to the people he ruled and to his own posterity.
Keith Hewitt
Larry Winebrenner
Contents
"Just Like -- Us?" by Keith Hewitt
"Baptism by Water and… by Fire" by Larry Winebrenner
"Saving the Afflicted" by Larry Winebrenner
* * * * * * * * *
We like to think we know the people we're close to -- friends, neighbors, the people we share the sanctuary with on Sunday morning. But the truth is that everyone has secrets, and everyone is different. How we deal with those differences says a lot about who we are, and the church we're a part of. Keith Hewitt explores this truth in his story, "Just Like -- Us?"
Just Like -- Us?
by Keith Hewitt
Romans 15:4-13
It was like watching the Zapruder film.
"Just Like -- Us?" by Keith Hewitt
"Baptism by Water and… by Fire" by Larry Winebrenner
"Saving the Afflicted" by Larry Winebrenner
* * * * * * * * *
We like to think we know the people we're close to -- friends, neighbors, the people we share the sanctuary with on Sunday morning. But the truth is that everyone has secrets, and everyone is different. How we deal with those differences says a lot about who we are, and the church we're a part of. Keith Hewitt explores this truth in his story, "Just Like -- Us?"
Just Like -- Us?
by Keith Hewitt
Romans 15:4-13
It was like watching the Zapruder film.
Frank R. Fisher
David O. Bales
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Preparing the Way" by Frank Fisher
"Repenting in the Friendly Skies" by David Bales
What's Up This Week
Christianity is all about relationships -- our relationship with God, and our relationships with each other. The fact that these relationships can be and have been broken is one of the great tragedies of the human condition. How can these connections be restored? Jesus reestablished the link between humanity and God on the cross. Is there a "cross" for our broken relationships with each other? In "Preparing the Way," Frank Fisher shows us that open arms and loving hearts can bring restoration and wholeness, just as Christ brought restoration to humanity's connection with God. In "Repenting in the Friendly Skies," David Bales demonstrates that repentance and resigning our "right" can bring healing, restoring broken bonds. What broken relationships do we need to mend in our own lives?
What's Up This Week
"Preparing the Way" by Frank Fisher
"Repenting in the Friendly Skies" by David Bales
What's Up This Week
Christianity is all about relationships -- our relationship with God, and our relationships with each other. The fact that these relationships can be and have been broken is one of the great tragedies of the human condition. How can these connections be restored? Jesus reestablished the link between humanity and God on the cross. Is there a "cross" for our broken relationships with each other? In "Preparing the Way," Frank Fisher shows us that open arms and loving hearts can bring restoration and wholeness, just as Christ brought restoration to humanity's connection with God. In "Repenting in the Friendly Skies," David Bales demonstrates that repentance and resigning our "right" can bring healing, restoring broken bonds. What broken relationships do we need to mend in our own lives?
John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt
Contents
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "Baptism of Repentance"
Shining Moments: "Coventry Story" by Jody E. Felton
Good Stories: "The Wrath to Come" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: Excerpts from Mark Twain's War Prayer
What's Up This Week
Peace, repentance, and hope are the standout themes in the readings this week. Jody Felton's beautiful "Coventry Story" in Shining Moments offers a little bit of each: "The people of Coventry have learned the fine balance of remembering and forgiving, allowing God to transform memories into a movement of reconciliation. They remember not so they can hold a grudge, but so that they may be instruments of God's action in the world. Their understanding of their mission is summed up in the words found under the glass wall in the new cathedral, 'To the glory of God this cathedral burnt November 14, A.D. 1940, and is now rebuilt 1962.' "
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "Baptism of Repentance"
Shining Moments: "Coventry Story" by Jody E. Felton
Good Stories: "The Wrath to Come" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: Excerpts from Mark Twain's War Prayer
What's Up This Week
Peace, repentance, and hope are the standout themes in the readings this week. Jody Felton's beautiful "Coventry Story" in Shining Moments offers a little bit of each: "The people of Coventry have learned the fine balance of remembering and forgiving, allowing God to transform memories into a movement of reconciliation. They remember not so they can hold a grudge, but so that they may be instruments of God's action in the world. Their understanding of their mission is summed up in the words found under the glass wall in the new cathedral, 'To the glory of God this cathedral burnt November 14, A.D. 1940, and is now rebuilt 1962.' "
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StoryShare is a treasure house with hundreds of good stories to share, stories which relate authentic, life-changing experiences that demonstrate the Lord's power and presence. Many are intensely personal accounts that concern visions, healing, or answers to prayers, but all bear witness to the indescribable joy, comfort and peace that come from a personal encounter with the divine. Our "Good Stories" section includes short fiction, parables much like those Jesus told.
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Yes, you can. You have good stories to share too, probably more than you know: personal stories, and stories from others that you have used over the years. StoryShare is always looking for stories involving personal experiences of the presence of God. Have you or someone you know heard the voice of God or been healed as a direct answer to prayer? If you have a story that you can share send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here (storyshare@sermonsuite.com) and email your story to us.
