Tag: Sermonettes

Hippocratic or Hypocritcal?

R. Mangold

In the 5th Century Hippocrates, the “Father of Western Medicine” penned the words to perhaps history’s oldest binding document, the Hippocratic Oath. A portion of this oath states, “I will do no harm or injustice to them [patients].” Graduating medical students swear, to the best of their ability, to cure their patient doing the least amount of harm in the process, and when possible strive not to further exacerbate the wound or condition.

When a wayward sinner, who is bound by addictions, battered and abused by the world, and kicked to the proverbial curb of life, enters our doors, we’d do well to adhere to the Hippocratic Oath as Christians; DO NO HARM! How dare we sneer and thumb our noses at the mirror-image of who we were before Christ found us? Have we grown so accustomed to God’s blessings and favor that we’ve forgotten, but for the grace God we’d be in their very shoes?

Rather than take a “Hypocritical” approach of the priest and Levite, oblivious to the anguish and pain, let us adopt the Samaritan’s “Hippocratic” approach who was quick to provide healing to the wounded traveler – because…”such were some of you.”

Source Link to Hippocratic Oath Information: U.S. National Library of Medicine

 

“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

Righteous Enough to Get Your Prayers Answered?

R. Mangold

If you’ve ever prayed God would perform the miraculous for you, you know what it’s like to hope with all that lies within you that God will answer. Of course, there are times God is silent and our request is seemingly denied. But, we’re quick to quote, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much;” almost as if to say, if we’re “righteous enough” God will take up our cause. But, can we truly determine how righteous we are by twisting God’s arm?

There was never a greater righteous man than Christ. Every time He called upon heaven His prayers were answered; blinded eyes opened, deaf ears unstopped, raging seas tamed, and the dead resurrected. Christ’s track record was stellar. However, in his darkest hour in the Garden of Gethsemane, feeling the impending doom, Christ prayed three times, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done.” Yet he still had to drink the “bitter cup.” Today, don’t be discouraged by unanswered requests. Humanity was afforded salvation and redemption when Christ set aside his own humanity and prayed, “Father, thy will be done.”

“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

God of the Leftovers

R. Mangold

Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten. John 6:13

We live in a wasteful and disposable society. When we’re done with it, we toss it. Not so with Jesus. He told the disciples to gather up the fragments of this miracle of feeding the 5000. Doesn’t it sound strange that God, manifested in the flesh, who could fully create more of anything he wanted, is concerned about fragments?

I like to think Christ was concerned about gathering the 12 baskets of fragments because He wanted us to be concerned with the leftovers, the pieces nobody else wanted. Society is full of fragments of people whose hearts are hurting and looking for compassion. They feel they’re the leftovers or the parts no one else wants. The Greek woman told Jesus she was willing to settle for the fragments, or crumbs from the Master’s table; she knew even in the fragments, there was life; every morsel invaluable!

Don’t ignore the fragments – they’re important to God and they should be important to the very people who at one time were fragments themselves.

“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

The Life Well Lived

R. Mangold

So many speak of their willingness to die for their belief in Jesus and His Truth; and those are grand and noble sentiments. But wouldn’t it be grander and more noble to LIVE WELL for Him? 

The impact of a sacrificial martyr’s death fades in comparison, to the robust impact and influence of the life lived out day-by-day in consistent, committed Christian excellence.

~ J. Samuel Willoughby

By Guest Author Rev. James Willoughby is an Evangelist and Bible Teacher, as well as a published author. His teaching ministry, Focal Points carries him into many different venues. Emphasizing…discipleship training, small group development, structures and strategies for leadership, and ministry mentoring for young men and women. His evangelistic ministry has been blessed of God with great anointing, and powerful demonstration of the Spirit in healings and miracles as he ministers the Word of Faith. View all posts by jswilloughby →

“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

The Grip of Regret

R. Mangold

Benjamin Franklin said, “In this world nothing can said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Aside from God being the most certain of all things in this world, I’ve another to add to Mr. Franklin’s list of certainties. If you’ve your wits about you, and you’ve lived any length of time on this planet you’re going to have regrets! Ironically, we often find our regrets don’t center on the things we’ve done as much as they do upon the things we’ve left undone; those moments we wish we would have acted differently, said something differently, or treated someone differently. Perhaps we left a kind word unsaid, or a kind act undone.

Life is going to be full of those moments without you adding more to that list. James teaches us, “He that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin (4:17). Don’t frame your life by regrets for things done or undone. If God’s called you and you’re not answering that call…start NOW! If you’re doing something you shouldn’t…STOP IT! Allow the Holy Ghost full reign of your appetites, affections, and attitude. Another certainty to add to Mr. Franklin’s list…You’ll never regret serving God!

“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

God's Order or Ours?

R. Mangold

What glorious paths can be ours when we tap into, and allow God’s Order to become our own! From the beginning we can see that our God is indeed a God of order. He is NOT chaotic, but very methodical; structuring our world from the very seed out…to include all of life that is. And placing within that seed that which will sustain and propagate life through the ages.

The Problem comes when we, that is Man, begins to worship the order over the God of the order (in his search of an image). And when God does not grace us with His Presence, due to our sins, or whatever…we (like Saul) take it upon ourselves to do it on our own. We order the thing and present “our thing” as “God’s thing” and try to manipulate, dominate and coerce others into it, with a great degree of exclusivity involved. (After all, IT IS, ‘our thing’) and we end up with something that kinda resembles God…and yet, not at all. For at its heart it is corrupt and flesh based.

By Guest Author Rev. James Willoughby is an Evangelist and Bible Teacher, as well as a published author. His teaching ministry, Focal Points carries him into many different venues. Emphasizing…discipleship training, small group development, structures and strategies for leadership, and ministry mentoring for young men and women. His evangelistic ministry has been blessed of God with great anointing, and powerful demonstration of the Spirit in healings and miracles as he ministers the Word of Faith. View all posts by jswilloughby →

“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

God's Missing Children

R. Mangold

“Your child is missing!” Words no parent ever wants to hear. With the advent of one gallon plastic milk containers, and on-the-fly breakfasts, one may not recall at one time the American breakfast table included cereal and cardboard milk containers with pictures of missing children. A heart-wrenching reminder that somewhere a child was not enjoying breakfast with their parents because they were lost or abducted…or worse!

Jesus was adamant about keeping his flock complete asking, “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?” (Luke 15:4)

You may be enjoying the green pastures and still waters of an impressively large congregation. But, our Good Shepherd is fixated on the empty pews. Sure, He loves all those that are present in the safety of the fold, but the heart of our Heavenly Father aches for those faces that are missing from the table He has prepared especially for them. Today, won’t you join the Shepherd in leading that one lost sheep home? After all, at one time we were ALL sheep who had gone astray.

“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

Mission "Ant-possible!"

R. Mangold

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Proverbs 6:6

Solomon was contrasting the sluggard with the industrious ant, but as Christians, what’s our take-home message? Have we become like Aesop’s lazy grasshopper, basking in the temporary pleasures of this world, flitting from one blade of grass to another seeking enjoyment and pleasure? Or, are we like the laser-sharp-focused ant who never forgets she’s on “Mission from God?” We’ve been commanded to go into all the world preaching the Gospel of Christ’s Death, Burial and Resurrection. An ant builds a colony, numbering in some cases in the millions. Let’s make God’s Mission, our mission. Let’s work the harvest while it is day, and colonize for the Kingdom of Heaven.

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“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 Friend Named "Failure"

R. Mangold

II Cor. 12:9 – And he said unto me [Paul], My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

  • If Failure exposes our weakness…
  • If Failure removes the veneer of pride and selfishness…
  • If Failure causes God’s strength to be perfected in us…
  • If Failure draws us closer to God…

Then Failure is our friend!

These famous people defined their failure as…

  • “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.”– Henry Ford

  • “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”– Thomas Edison

  • “If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down.”– Mary Pickford

  • “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

The Answer is IN You

R. Mangold

We keep looking for the answers to come from outside us, but God promised Eve that her “seed” would deliver her!  What God births FROM US is the thing that will deliver us!  “OUT OF YOUR BELLY shall flow RIVERS of living water!

Eve believed God’s Word SO much when she bore a son, She said, I’ve gotten a “man” from God.  Her faith was that this child was her Promise!  Every time she birthed a son she had the hope this could be the One who would destroy the thing destroying her…Her “seed”…Whatever God speaks into you…His Word CANNOT FAIL, IT WILL COME TO PASS!

 ~ From T.D. Jakes’ sermon, The Blood Speaks

From Guest Author Rev. James Willoughby is an Evangelist and Bible Teacher, as well as a published author. His teaching ministry, Focal Points carries him into many different venues. Emphasizing…discipleship training, small group development, structures and strategies for leadership, and ministry mentoring for young men and women. His evangelistic ministry has been blessed of God with great anointing, and powerful demonstration of the Spirit in healings and miracles as he ministers the Word of Faith. View all posts by jswilloughby →

“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