Tag: Sermon Topics

Looking Your Miracle in the Eye

R. Mangold

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. (Passage Link: John 5:2-9)

This compelling story finds Jesus amongst a multitude of sick and infirm surrounding the mystical pool at Bethesda. One man stands out, who had been ill for 38 years.

Jesus’ question cut to the chase, “Wilt thou be made whole?”

The disenfranchised man replied, “Sir, I have no man!”

On the contrary Jesus must have been thinking – “I AM THE MAN!”

–       Jesus must have thought, “I don’t care what’s going on in that pool, this man needs a miracle NOW!”

–       This man so focused on what he thought was going to get him his miracle, he failed to recognize he was looking his miracle in the eye!

He had an urgent need, but felt he was at the mercy of an angel, some troubled water and a man…

–       The only mercy he ever needed was the mercy of God!

–       The only man he ever needed was the man Jesus Christ!

Today he could stop guessing whether or not someone would come to his rescue…

JESUS WAS READY TO PERFORM THE MIRACLE – NO GUESSING INVOLVED!

Guessing whether or not today is the day for your miracle is like doubting God can or will perform it.

JUST LIKE THE MAN AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA JESUS HAS GOOD NEWS…

 YOU AREN’T WAITING FOR YOUR MIRACLE…YOUR MIRACLE IS WAITING FOR YOU!

“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

Sequence of Temptation

R. Mangold

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.  13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 14Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. (Passage Link – I Cor. 10:12-14)

In the plush green Garden of Eden, God commanded Adam not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Evidently Eve was told not to even “touch” the fruit (See Gen. 3:2-4) or she would die.

Understand the sequence of Eve’s Temptation…

 

  • TEMPTING
  • TOUCHING
  • TASTING
  • SHAME
  • SEPARATION

This sequence reveals the pitfalls of unbridled passion, obsession and fantasizing. Rationalizing there’s no harm in just “thinking” about a wicked act, couldn’t be farther from the truth. One element inevitably will lead to the next. When in the throes of temptation is not the optimal time to set your limit, rather, make up your mind now, while it is sound, without the influence of a power or passion that will so overtake you, that it is too great for even the purest resolve.

The decline is rapid and sure, like a wave crashing into the shore whose undercurrents will draw you deeper and farther than you ever wanted to go. Succumbing to depraved desire for something or someone, or surrendering to an insatiable habit or elicit addiction challenges our true devotion to God which paves the way to idolatry and we’re instructed to “flee from idolatry!”

God will faithfully provide the “way of escape,” but it will be you that must follow the escape plan; the path is clearly marked, but it’s you who must walk it! (Passage Link – Psalm 119:104-106)

“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

Serminutes – Now Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

R. Mangold

Dear Readers –

We’re baaack! Thank you for your patience while I took a much-needed vacation. With few exceptions, our new posting schedule will be Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It’s my sincere hope you can find enough to pique your interest between the nearly 150 posts now in our archive, in addition to the 3 new posts weekly.

I want to again thank the faithful few that read this blog, and if you’re so inclined, feel free to drop me a line in the comments section of any post to let me know how or when you’ve found these Serminutes helpful.

Prayefully in Christ’s Service,

Rev. R.D. Mangold

“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

You Are Who You Are

R. Mangold

You are who you are for a reason.

You’re part of an intricate plan.

You’re a precious and perfect unique design,

Called God’s special woman or man.

 

You look like you look for a reason.

Our God made no mistake.

He knit you together within the womb,

You’re just what he wanted to make.

 

The parents you had were the ones He chose,

And no matter how you may feel,

They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind,

And they bear the Master’s seal.

 

No, that trauma you faced was not easy.

And God wept that it hurt you so;

But it was allowed to shape your heart

So that into his likeness you’d grow.

 

You are who you are for a reason,

You’ve been formed by the Master’s Rod.

You are who you are, beloved,

Because there is a God!

 

Poem by Russell Kelfer 1933 – 2000. He was a layman and business man who taught for over 25 years. His timeless lessons on living the Christian life major on practical application and continue today to be heard, seen, read, and taught by others around the world.

“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

Protect the Source

R. Mangold

If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: 7 But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days. Deut. 22:6-7

Why would God even bother to include such a seemingly trivial commandment in the law that Moses was to deliver to the people? Because, protecting Mama means protecting the source of new life – the birth, protection, and continuation of the species.

In God’s wisdom, protection of the source of life is paramount. There will be casualties, and there will hard decisions to be made, but ultimately we are commanded to protect the source…the source of life. Destroying the source means the elimination of a generation, the elimination of a species, and possible extinction. We MUST protect the source.

Because this isn’t just about me getting what I need in my life time, this is about the continuation of the species…

  • There must be future Christians
  • There must be future Sunday School Teachers
  • Worship Leaders
  • Musicians
  • Preachers and Teachers

By protecting the source, we ensure the procreation and the propagation of another generation…THIS MUST OUTLIVE US!

God commanded Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply.” That is our duty – we must give birth to another generation of believers, another generation of life givers, another generation of truth!

“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

Big Lessons in Small Packages – Don't Relegate Yourself to "Bug" Status

R. Mangold

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

On the brink of the highly anticipated “Promised Land” God afforded the Israelites a preview by allowing them to send a spy from each of the 12 tribes. Despite bringing back huge grape clusters, pomegranates, and figs, and reports of the land flowing with milk and honey, 10 of them came back with an “evil report.”

They considered themselves “grasshoppers” as did the giants (Numbers 13). Fearful and disbelieving in God’s Divine Protection, they could see no way possible for them to overtake the giants

When facing any adversary, stop relegating yourself to “bug” status, ESPECIALLY when God is calling the shots. God’s Word gives us protection…

Ironically, throughout scripture God used small creatures to accomplish his tasks (see the Plagues of Egypt); grasshoppers included in Judges 6:4-6, the Midianites were considered grasshoppers in multitude and impoverished Israel!

Don’t underestimate the grasshopper, had Israel “jumped” at the chance and trusted God they would have easily destroyed the giants and happily “infested” the Promised Land forty years sooner!

Related Posts

“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

The Thread of Resilience

R. Mangold

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. I Peter 5:10

Throughout the rough course that is our life, there is a thread of resilience carefully woven into the fabric of our existence. Viewed in the right light, that is the light of God’s love and grace, that thread takes on a hue of compassion and tenderness. In the absence of God’s light, that very same thread of resilience exhibits bitterness and resentment.

Resilience is borne out of resistance, hardship, and even tragedy. Some of what we endure is brought on by our own selfishness, but other times we are being chastened, or corrected by the Lord. Hebrews 12:11 encourages us that, “Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

Were it not for God’s loving, yet firm Hand, we would be as a fatherless child Hebrews tells us. In fact, God corrects those He loves. Were we left to our own devices, appetites, and affections, we would find ourselves miserable and lost. Knowing, that when God corrects us it builds resilience, should bring us peace of mind. Because God’s motive for correcting us is borne out of love, not some selfish desire to manipulate. God is ultimately cultivating us, if we allow Him, so that one day we can spend eternity with Him.

“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

Big Lessons in Small Packages – Pray vs. Prey

R. Mangold

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31 – 32

One day while I was waiting for the light to change, a brown blur of feathers entered the intersection. Three sparrows were entangled in what resembled a World War II “dogfight.” Tragically, the embittered birds were so engulfed in warfare they never saw the vehicle that seconds later wiped out all three combatants in one fell swoop.

The analogy was inescapable. The misguided birds were so fixated on attacking each other they all lost their lives. Paul warned us, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6:12).

Our enemy is NOT each other! Satan is our foe, and a defeated one at that! He wants to destroy all hope of you spending eternity with Christ. But, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (I John 4:4).

Let brotherly love continue, building up rather than attacking each other. Let’s stop “warring” against each other or the enemy of our souls could easily destroy us “unawares!”

Sparrows are NOT birds of prey. Likewise, we should pray for, not prey on, each other.

Related Topics

“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

A Savior Between Two "Thieves"

R. Mangold

Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. Matthew 27:38

The account of Christ’s crucifixion never gives the identities of the two thieves or malefactors, but it dawned on me, the position of Christ between them has significance on several levels. It brings to mind an Old Testament showdown of Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal.

In I Kings 18:21 Elijah issues a challenge to Israel, “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

It occurred to me, people who have yet to be fully convinced of Christ’s redemptive work at Calvary find themselves in a similar quandary, almost persuaded (Acts 26:28) allowing their opinions to become the thieves of their salvation, with our Dear Savior hanging in the middle!

The two thieves surrounding Christ may not have had names in the Gospels, but in today’s message they do. For some they could be…

  • Pride and Arrogance
  • Greed and Power
  • Complacency and Apathy

Friend, how long will YOU stall in your valley of decision (Joel 3:14) to live for Christ? Will you continue to allow thieves to distract and rob you of choosing the blessed Savior hanging between them?

“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

The Lamb's Progression of Power

R. Mangold

Throughout scripture the lamb has seen a progression of power becoming a central figure in the cleansing, redemption, and even protection of God’s people. Consider the following passages…

Lamb for a Man

Genesis 4:4 “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering…”

Lamb for a Family

Exodus 12:21 “Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.”

Lamb for a Nation

Exodus 49:21  “And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 42This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.”

Lamb for the World

John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

I Peter 1:18 – 20 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

The Lamb is no longer a meek and timid creature which silently succumbs to an innocent death – rather Christ is as Revelation 5:11 reveals, “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.”

NOTE: A short word about the above remarks – This topic was derived from my Pastor, Stephen Trachsel, Sr. If some or all of this has been preached elsewhere I make no claims as to being the originator. If after reading this you know its true source please comment and I will ensure the author gets the proper credit.  Lastly, this post does exceed my 200 word limitation, the exception being it does so with scripture rather than my own words.

“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