Ted Schroeder writes, "Much of what passes for religion in our world has to do with obligation, guilt and rules. Sometimes people take offices in the church because they feel obligated. Sometimes people try to please God by "doing their duty." "Martin Luther struggled with the idea of religious obligation.
These Beatitudes are one of the central passages in the Bible. Consider where they appear. When Jesus begins his public ministry, he goes up on to a mountain top and sits down among his disciples and the crowds surrounding him.
There is the simple but essential role that the confidence of mother plays. Confidence, con fide from the Latin, "with faith." Paul wrote, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you."
A huge part of the Federal Budget is spent on the pathology produced by families who do not do this job. The family and church, which is nothing more than families gathered together, remain the most effective department of health, education, and welfare. And the seedbed of life-giving faith.
Sermons for Disasters & Troubled Times SCROLL DOWN to see homiletical responses to these situations: Situation 1. Hurricanes, and Other Natural Disasters Situation 2. Shootings and Other Violent Acts Situation 3. Troubled Times & Personal Crises Situation 4. Financial Issues & Hardship [dcwp-jquery-accordion menu="Timeofdisaster" disable="true" auto_close="true" openfirst="false" openall="false"]
William Sloane Coffin, sometime chaplain at Yale and national gadfly, put it well when he said, "Democracy is a form of government that demands more virtue of its citizens than any other form of government, but I do not think we can say that democracy guarantees that the virtue will be exercised."
A Wedding Homily Song of Solomon 2:10-13, 8:6-7 & Ephesians 5:1-2, 21-33 Love, Comfort, Honor, Keep By The Rev. Charles Hoffacker Since this wedding, which takes on American soil, was made possible by an encounter on the Blue Water Bridge, it seems only fair to begin with a Canadian story. This story was told [...]
A Wedding Homily Song of Solomon 2:10-13; 8:6-7 The God-Flame Check out these helpful resources Biblical Commentary Sermons Children's Sermons Hymn Lists Song of Solomon 2:10-13; 8:6-7 The God-Flame The Rev. Charles Hoffacker Brian and Molly chose for this service three readings from the Bible, all of which have to do with love. It [...]
A Wedding Homily Song of Solomon 2:10-13; 8:6-7 Ask For Wonder Check out these helpful resources Biblical Commentary Sermons Children's Sermons Hymn Lists Song of Solomon Ask For Wonder The Rev. Charles Hoffacker A few years back, none of us would have imagined this day. Graham and Laurie were unknown to each other and [...]
A Wedding Homily Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 Check out these helpful resources Biblical Commentary Sermons Children's Sermons Hymn Lists Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 Pastor Steven Molin Alec and Kathy, what a day! Who would have imagined three years ago, when you began teaching at the same school that you would one day be standing together, making promises to [...]