Tag: Sermon Ideas

Changing the Unchangable?

R. Mangold

My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both? (Proverbs 24:21-22)

What brings a man or a woman to the point of lowering their guard on God’s mandates? What burning insatiable desire in mankind causes us to spin and take an “about face” stance on issues that before were nonnegotiable? Simply put…PRIDE!

No longer in pursuit of God’s sanctioning, preferring rather the approval of our fellow man, we insist on our intellect, we impose our position, we conspire to retire the essence, the anointing, the power, and the favor! Much like Uzzah, who touched the Ark of the Covenant, so too does mankind touch and tarnish, desire to desecrate, foundational truths. It seems everything we touch, we contaminate with our pride, our preferences, and prejudices.

God is God – He doesn’t change! But, some change can be good when we “decrease” and God “increases.” But, if the catalyst for change is based in self satisfaction or personal preference, we put our plans above God’s and we destabilize those over which we have influence. Uzzah thought he was stabilizing the Ark, when in reality he was indicating his ideas and mode of transport for God’s anointing were superior to God’s commandments. The outcome cost Uzzah his life, and disrupted the flow of God’s anointing and favor to the entire nation of Israel!

Big Lessons in Small Packages – Broken Tooth

R. Mangold

Like a broken tooth and a lame foot, so is confidence in an unfaithful person in a time of crisis. Proverbs 25:19

If you’ve ever had dental work of any sort you can attest, tooth pain can make your life miserable. It interferes with your ability to not only eat, but drink, think, and even communicate. You could be starving, malnourished, and emaciated, yet your crazy tooth won’t let you get so much as a decent morsel of food!

Placing our hopes, dreams, and best-laid plans in an unfaithful and unreliable person will feel just like a broken tooth. Just when you need them the most; just when you feel you’re about to starve to death and you’re so looking forward to the sustenance a good nutritious meal can provide, you can’t rely on your own tooth to allow you to eat because it’s broken…just like the promises of an unreliable friend…broken!

Today be grateful we “have a friend that stays closer than a brother.” Just by virtue of HIS NAME He is FAITHFUL!

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; Deuteronomy 7:9

When times get tough, and others bail on you, Jesus says, “I will never leave you…I’ll be with you always.” What an awesome reassurance we have that we can call on Jesus Name and He’ll be there…always right on time.

Now that’s a promise you can sink your teeth into!

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute.  One Minute Spiritual Sermonettes and Sermon Ideas  for Busy Christians, Pastors, Teachers, and Bible Students!  Visit our ABOUT PAGE  for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you.  Rev. RD Mangold

Leaving Behind a Treasured Legacy

R. Mangold

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Matthew 6:19-21

Part of any good treasure includes wealth that will outlive you and be passed to your future generations. The scripture teaches us in Proverbs 13:22 – A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.

Investing in God’s treasure for you, brings with it benefits that are not only good for you, but good for generations to come. Not only is this true, but the opposite it true. If you don’t invest yourself in the Kingdom of God, you’re selling yourself short and generations to come.

If you compromise now on your treasure, where will that leave your children? Where will that leave your children’s children. The greatest legacy I could ever leave behind is not the Mangold Name or Mangold fortune, but rather name of Jesus Christ. Future Christians that are going to mine for as much treasure as they can find in God’s Word!

You want to leave your children something…LEAVE THEM TRUTH!

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Who Was Tempting Who?

R. Mangold

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Matthew 4:1

Ironically, the devil can’t resist a good temptation nor can he resist spreading lies. He started in Eden and he hasn’t stopped since. He relished the idea of bringing God’s first created humans to their demise. Satan salivated at the idea of making God’s perfect and upright servant Job curse God. Then Lucifer lasciviously set his sights on Jesus Christ!

The devil attacking when he believed Christ was at His weakest, soon found himself face to face with the conqueror of all conquerors; the King of all Kings; the Lord of all Lords! With each temptation Christ stealthily wielded the Sword of the Spirit defeating the devil on each front – lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life!

The devil is the very embodiment of evil, wickedness, and pride – He was just prideful enough to think he even stood a chance of bringing the likes of Jesus Christ to his knees. It was the devil’s own foolish pride that tempted him into tempting Jesus! It’s almost as if God, knowing the devil couldn’t resist the temptation of tempting Jesus, allowed it to happen to crush Satan one more time! Knowing this fact, one could argue…who was tempting who?

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Where Were You God?

R. Mangold

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8 – 9

Facing calamities that challenge our faith to its core, our tendency may be to lay blame. “Where were you God, you should have done something!” We’re quick to point our human finger in the face of our Creator and accuse Him of inaction.

I do not purport to have an answer that will assuage our anxiety, but I will caution against recklessly “blaming” God or saying it is “God’s fault.” God doesn’t owe us an answer or explanation. In the face of his trial, Job demanded an audience with God. When God actually showed up, Job was dumbfounded! God had a few questions for him, “Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.” (Job 38:3-4)

We celebrate getting something we don’t deserve when it’s good. However, when getting something we don’t deserve, and it’s bad, we question God’s sense of fairness and justice. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 –8)

If you’re finding yourself feeling slighted, and pleading your case before God, be careful questioning God…He may have a few questions of His own!

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

A Star-spangled Thank-you to Our Soldiers

R. Mangold

The thundrous booms, showering crackles of light, and the piercing whistle of fireworks are enjoyed by millions of blue-blooded Americans each year as we celebrate our independence on the 4th of July. These spectacular displays of light, color, and sound inspire us while bringing to remembrance the courageous men and women who fought to protect our country’s liberties and freedoms; many paying the ultimate price.

For the soldier the “rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air” aren’t necessarilly cause for celebration as much as they are a call to duty. Plumbs of smoke, and the earth rumbling beneath their feet brings a soldier to a state of readiness. Rapid gunfire, roadside bombs, and fellow soldiers falling at your side are grim realities for our brave servicemen and women. Sleepless nights, frightening memories, and post traumatic stress disorder, are ever surfacing reminders, while your enemies may no longer be physically present, their ghosts forever haunt the landscape of your life. Their lives will forever be affected, their perceptions, and perceptions of them, forever altered.

This Independence Day, as you “OOOO” and “AHHH” over the brilliant displays of light, color, and sound, pause to reflect upon the sacrifices of those who braved the “perilous fight” to make such displays of pride and patriotism possible. As God’s Word implores us all, “Give honor where honor is due.” Whether in the Airforce, Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserves; past, present, or fallen, on behalf of the entire Mangold Family, here is a heart-felt thank-you for all you have done and sacrificed to protect the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!”

God bless our Troops and God bless America!

Pastor Rodger D. Mangold and Family

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

When Pain Feels Like Punishment

R. Mangold

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. Job 2:3

Growing up, if your parents were anything like mine, we were disciplined. Alright, that’s “frou-frou” for “we were spanked.” Of course that wasn’t the only form of punishment, but we soon learned that to do wrong brought with it very unfavorable consequences. Put simply, we associate pain with punishment. But, pain in some forms is not punishment at all, rather a reminder that we’re human, and part of our condition, in addition to the joys, there will be pain.

Job sought for purpose behind his pain believing he had wronged God and was being punished for it. Nothing could have been further from the truth. In fact, he had the distinct honor of being considered by God as a “perfect man who shuns evil.” Essentially, this was God’s vote of confidence. This runs contrary to our human logic, but God created you and knows what you’re fully capable of…even if it stretches us beyond the scope of human reason.

We may not always be able to make sense of our pain, but knowing God has the confidence in us to achieve victory, it’s almost as if God has faith in US, while at the same time helping US build OUR faith in HIM!

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

From Pain to Peace

R. Mangold

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Biologically, pain is an indicator there is something wrong in the human physiology. Nerves sense pain and send those signals to the brain to warn us to “be careful;” that action, or set of actions, is painful, so don’t do it again! But, emotionally, what’s the function of pain? We’d almost welcome a wound that could take a few stitches and a band-aid to heal, but emotionally there’s no such comfort. Emotionally we can take years to heal from a painful experience…if we heal at all.

Pain may not be optional, but the suffering is. Our goal, after the initial shock of pain, is to understand its source. Thankfully, when it comes to God, you’re not alone when in pain.

  • Jesus said He would not leave us comfortless. (John 4:18)
  • Jesus said He was sent to heal the broken-hearted (Luke 4:18)
  • God said He was near to the broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18)

Yes, we need the love and support of our brothers and sisters, but knowing you have God’s undivided attention during your most emotionally painful moments, can bring you peace, which passes all understanding and shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Disposed to Dispose

R. Mangold

For there is no respect of persons with God. Romans 2:11

We live in a disposable society. We eat off of paper plates, drink out of plastic cups and use throw away napkins. We shave with disposable razors, take pictures with throw-away cameras, clean our houses and baby’s backsides with disposable wipes and we even have what the accountants call, “disposable income!”

Dare I say, this “throw-away” mentality can even creep into our spiritual walk…

  • We swap churches and faiths like name brands
  • We wait until we’re in a good mood to praise God
  • We don’t like this sermon, so we’ll wait for the next one

 This disposable mentality can have us even feeling that way about people…

  • We avoid praying with people because the look “different”
  • We only share Christ with the “normal” people
  • We only help others when it benefits us

God’s commandments are not based on OUR “personal preferences!” We are to be lead by God’s Love and Mercy! God’s Kingdom is eternal, comprised of the souls of humanity. Don’t cast aside opportunities to share God’s unmerited grace and unfailing love with everyone…not just those we “deem” worthy. No soul is disposable to God – He gave His only begotten Son to save us ALL!

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Mountaintop Experiences – Must Be Present to Win

R. Mangold

And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. Exodus 24:12

This may sound counterintuitive if you’re looking for motivation to “do” something for God, but there are times God doesn’t want us do anything…just “be there.” One of the most difficult things for us to master is the art standing still and letting God be God; yielding full control to Him – we must decrease in order for God to increase! This is not an excuse to sit around and do nothing; rather it’s an admonishment to know when to wait on the Lord!

God called Moses up to the mount, not “do” or “give,” something, but to receive. In order to receive we must be present with no pretense. God wanted to “give” Moses the commandments so he could in turn “teach” or “give” the Israelites the benefit of God’s covenant and commandments.

In our busy fast-paced world, our challenge is simply to “be there.” We’re bombarded with phone calls, voicemail, email, and texts, which often distract us from being “present” in very important situations, not the least of which are times when our family, or more importantly, God is trying to get our attention! Like the old adage says when it comes to drawings…you must be present to win!

Part of the Mountaintop Experiences Serminute Series

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold