St. Martin United Church of Christ - High Ridge, MO

Is There a Reward?

Matthew 10:40-42. Isn't it a bad idea to promise rewards? Today, we explore the use of rewards and punishments in the Bible to see if there is something we are missing. And we will talk about why it's a bad idea to drop bombs on the children of God, ALL the children of God.

Family Feuds on Father's Day?

Matthew 10:24-39. If you read through the Gospels, you'll soon discover that Jesus didn't have much good to say about families. In fact, Jesus seems to suggest that the family is a poor substitute for the community he wants to establish on earth, the church! On any given Sunday, the church is full of people whose families are divided. Yes, we need good fathers, but if you don't have one, no worries because God will fill that rule for you in God's church! Join me as we take a much less traveled approach on this Father's Day.

Limitless

Sermon based on Genesis 18:1-15; (21:1-7). The news about the old "Mainline" denominational churches couldn't be much worse than it is today with plummeting declines in worship attendance, membership, and persons going into to the ministry to become ministers. So, should we jump ship? ignore the trends? or change course? But if we need to change course, where exactly should we go? In this sermon, I'll recap what's going on in mainline churches today and one potential course correction that might be helpful as we examine Abraham and Sarah's visit from strangers.

Eviction Notice

Sermon based on Genesis 12:1-9. Sure, the publishers all agree this is Abram's, soon to be Abraham's, call story. but it's nothing like the stories we tell about receiving a call, discerning our path, and embracing our future. No, it's more like, "Hey, so you thought you were in charge of your life, well not so fast! You are going to pack up all your things, the whole family, and go to a foreign land that will not welcome you." Yeah, following God's voice is really difficult. You might have to say things and do things that go against your basic instincts.

The Poetry of Creation: The Creation and Evolution Debate

Genesis Chapters 1 & 2 contain two different creation stories that are actually focused on interpreting God’s commandments. Should we read the Bible like a textbook on every subject under the sun, or more like a collection of literature aimed at imparting wisdom, love, and encouragement on how to live? Let’s explore this topic together in this teaching sermon.