“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised…

A Tale of Three Tables Sunday, May 9, 2010 Luke 14:12-24 Subject: Open your heart Theme: Open your heart to friends and strangers Proposition: INTRO: We have just celebrated what is typically called the “Lord’s Supper” or the “Lord’s Table.” It was a meal Jesus shared with his disciples the night before…

Fr. Jim Mayzik, SJ, offers a homily for the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Recorded at Church of the Epiphany

Jesus was certainly not very well received by the people of his hometown, was he? Basically, they rejected him! And, as HE was rejected, we may sometimes find ourselves rejected, OR we may reject others. Reactions of acceptance or rejection often depend upon just how we look upon our fellow man; and…

The way of Jesus' Kingdom is the way of authentic love pursuing God's pleasure and God's will. We ought to be authentic in our lives seeking to please God rather than men. Doing good things to be seen by people will result in failing to receive reward in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whether giving to the poor, praying, or fasting, let it be done in secret with no show. Let us not seek to manipulate others with our public demonstrations of 'good will'. Frequently, we are guilty of using the poverty of others for our own benefit. This should not be so. LORD, help us to be of no reputation, to take on ourselves the form of a slave, a servant; to do what is right and good and true and just, when no one sees. Even pursuing ways to do good with no one seeing. Because You see. And You are enough. Recorded at Refuge TLH on Sunday, July 21, 2019.

The Marks of a Believer Philippians 1:27-2:13 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - Aug. 12, 2012 *In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he said: “From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” (Galatians 6:17) *Can you imagine that? -- In 2 Cor 11:23-28,…

What are two great loves? How can we show love to God and man?

Acts 2:41-47 Stephen Caswell © 2001 Blest Be The Ties That Bind In 1765 John Fawcett was called to pastor a very small congregation at Wainsgate, England. He labored there diligently for 7 years, but his salary was so meager that he and his wife could scarcely obtain the necessities of life. Though the…

A fruitful Christian life follows a faith that has grown from its first state.

People always want to talk about stewardship. People never want to talk about stewardship. A Pharisee named Simon didn’t realize he was going to get a stewardship talk when he invited Jesus for supper. While eating, a notorious woman from town crashed the party. Not to nosh on Simon’s buffet, but to…

The fall and curse brought about a new reality, one that led to the eighth commandment. It recognizes four principles - Scarcity and Poverty and the answers to those - Responsibility and Charity. The beauty of the 8th commandment is the way God so perfectly balances all the variables of our fallen condition in this fallen world in a way that enhances human flourishing without any oppression.

1 Timothy 5:1-16 Intro: [OHP1a] - play Jeremiah: car accident, in hospital, some time before you’re fit for work, find job been given to another, unemployed, continues for some time until you’re too old. Disastrous! But: when in hospital - ACC; while unemployed - Dole; when old - super-ann/GRI - what…

Scripture Reading - Sunday, January 17, 2021

John addressed a topic that plagues Christians at various point in their life—doubting their salvation. Listen and learn how we can have assurance in times of doubt.

The Principal of Charity Luke 14:12-14 The main purpose for this saying of Jesus was to warn the Jews, of pandering to the elite religious crowd, of gaining the favor of man through self-serving motives and keeping the blessings for one’s self. For the Christian, there is a principal of true charity…

Intro: Throughout history there have been many different ones trying to find the way to show their Christianity, some through holiness, some through spiritual ways, and even some try to buy their way to heaven, while others try to find the easy way there. But Gods word tells us plainly that we must have…

Intro: Not all that long ago I remember hearing of someone who went around asking people on the street a question, “What is a Christian?” and there were a lot of different answers different descriptions and not all of them were all that wholesome or nice. Words like pushy, hypocrite among others were…