Tag: Short Sermons

Big Lessons in Small Packages – A Child

R. Mangold

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13 – 16)

One of the most profound of all “Big Lessons in Small Packages” has to be this portion of Jesus’ teaching. The “adults” were quick to shoo away the children assuming they would be more of a nuisance to Jesus. There were only a few times Jesus was this “displeased.” One such episode resulted in Jesus quite literally “turning the tables” on “religious” professionals of His day. The impact of Jesus’ words regarding children had virtually the same effect.

By no means was Jesus saying become childish, in fact, Paul said to put away childish things (I Cor. 13:11). Rather Jesus was teaching us to strip away the pretense we display as adults; afraid to convey any sign of tenderness, love, and humility. As adults, we’re constantly on guard, always in control, have all the answers, and put on a strong front. Tragically, we keep a tally of those who’ve wronged us, harboring grudges, we lash out in anger, we distrust, we retaliate, we remain bitter. But as children, we were quick to love, quick to forget, and quick to move on. These qualities and childlike nature give us a glimpse into the beautiful Kingdom God is preparing for His “children!”

“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

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Cloud

R. Mangold

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare [thy chariot], and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. (I Kings 18:44)

Prior to this passage, Elijah decreed, “There is a sound of abundance of rain.” A spiritual precedent ensues. What you hear, God’s Word, will precede what you see…the miracle! The “sound” meant that rain was on its way. After 7 failed attempts at seeing the incoming precipitation, Elijah’s servant finally came back with news of a “little cloud.” It wasn’t rain, but it contained the rain.

This “little” cloud represented faith to a prophet who knew the 3-year-long drought was about to end. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The cloud contained the substance, or evidence of the unseen rain. That’s why as Christians, we walk by faith, not by sight.

Sight says, “That’s just a cloud.”

Faith says, “That’s no ordinary cloud, that cloud contains the tangible substance and evidence we’re hoping for…rain!”

Don’t underestimate the worth of a “little” cloud, it could be saturated with a deluge of promised life-giving rain! If God plants His Word in you, no matter how long your drought, don’t stop looking for rain. For those who love God, His Word is enough. If God has spoken it, listen for and anticipate the showers of abundant rain!

“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

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Sparrow

R. Mangold

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matt. 10:29-31)

Sparrows, seemingly inconsequential creatures, make their nests virtually anywhere they please, even being presumptuous enough in David’s day to nest on the altars of the Lord (Ps. 84:3). If one didn’t know better, they’d think their “Daddy owned the place!” Oh wait…He does!

Sold at a bargain price of 2 for a penny (farthing), sparrows were used in ceremonial cleansing of lepers; one was killed, the other set free. It may have been arbitrary to men which was killed, or set free, but not so with God. He took discriminate interest in both.

Our finite thinking dictates, the sheer magnitude of God’s responsibility, the survival and existence of the entire universe, interferes with His ability to account for one single human life; let alone the number of hairs on our head, or the life of an insignificant sparrow…NOT SO! Omniscient, God has the capacity to infinitely know everything that can be known about everything!

You are the hallmark of God’s creation, the apple of His eye, made in HIS likeness and image. Robed in flesh, God Himself became the ransom for your soul. Considering the ultimate price He paid to redeem you, your worth to God is immeasurable!

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“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


Memorial Day 2011 – Our Unsung Heroes

R. Mangold

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isa. 53:3-5)

Sadly, soldiers aren’t ever adequately paid for what they’ve done. Their sacrifice seldom, if ever properly recognized. The soldier is often the “unsung hero” of every freedom and liberty we so often take for granted. Soldiers, we may never know the price you’ve paid, and the sacrifices you’ve made, but if anyone can relate to a sacrifice unappreciated…Christ can!

As soldiers, you too can appreciate just a little of what Christ faced in His day as an unsung hero. Much like our soldiers, Christ’s supporters could easily be found when He was going about doing good for them, but when the guards came to drag Jesus away, His supporters scattered like dust in the wind.

It’s my hope, you don’t allow the work at Calvary, and the sacrifice Christ paid for your redemption to go unnoticed and unappreciated. I hope you’ll no longer scoff or sneer at the idea that a couple thousand years ago, there was a man who paid the ultimate price for an even greater freedom than we enjoy as Americans…That’s the freedom from SIN, and the penalty and punishment that was rightfully ours.

“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

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Foxes

R. Mangold

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines [have] tender grapes. (Songs of Solomon 2:15)

Who isn’t fond of the little fuzzy furry puppies? Pet store windows are full of puppies toppling over each other as if to say, “Pick me!” They start out cute and cuddly, however they don’t stay small forever. That cute little habit of gnawing on your favorite shoes and couch gets worse. Soon, it’s your hand, your arm, and…well you get the picture!

As cute as they appear, small foxes cause irreparable damage to grapevines by burrowing holes around the roots, nibbling flowering buds, and eventually consuming all the grapes. “Small” seemingly harmless things can and will infringe upon our relationship with God. The lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life, attack the root system of our moral and spiritual fiber, stemming the flow of vital nutrients to the branches, or our areas of influence – Marriage, Family, Church, Work, etc.

Big formidable enemies are obvious. Seeing them coming, you’re immediately on guard. David had no problem taking out the “giants” in his life; the bear, the lion, and even Goliath, were all very obvious opponents. His downfall was in not recognizing the “small” innocent looking “foxes” that can literally bring a man to his knees.

“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

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Spider

R. Mangold

24 There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 25 The ants…26 The conies…27 The locusts…28 The spider takes hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces. (Proverbs 30:24 – 28)

Afraid of them or not, spiders are found virtually everywhere. The artistry of her web is a microscopic engineering marvel, with intricately woven designs it’s a fusion of both form and function. A well spun web provides her inconspicuous hiding places, well out of the reach of would-be “smooshers!”

Her wisdom lies not in the teamwork of the ant or locust, nor in the ability to scurry to safety like the rabbit. Hers is the ability to “take hold” when others let go, gaining her V.I.P. access to royal palaces! The spider’s web “connects” her to her food, her nest, and to a secure structure. As Christians, our survival depends on our ability to “connect” our spiritual food, God’s Word, to our nest or family life, and “taking hold” to a secure structure, God’s Church. The spider’s web connects her to higher heights, so too will our ability to “connect” enable us to sit “together in heavenly places” in Christ (Eph. 2:6).

“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

The Blessing of Intercession

R. Mangold

INTERCESSORS ARE A RARE BREED!

It is not our fine clothes, or cars, or bank accounts that are going to win the lost! And it is not Fund-raisers, Polished Communicators, or Building Contractors that will build the Church of the Living God…but INTERCESSORS!

• ABRAHAM…dickered with God over Sodom…

• SAMUEL…thundered from his knees, “Spare my people!” and the Philistines came NOT AGAIN TO ISRAEL DURING THE LIFE OF SAMUEL…1 Samuel 7

Paul “…I could wish myself accursed for Israel’s sake!”

In Luke 11:1-8…right after they asked Jesus, “Lord teach us to pray…” He tells them of a man who needs bread and goes to his friend at midnight. HE ASKED FOR 3 LOAVES…but because he was URGENT AND TROUBLESOME…HE GAVE HIM AS MUCH AS HE NEEDED!!

JESUS EVER LIVES TO INTERCEDE FOR US!!

But you will never know the ministry of intercession until you allow the Lord to put you in their place…to let you by the Spirit understand their despair…

• The anguish of a broken home

• The loss of a child…

• When the one you love says, “I don’t love you anymore”…

WHEN YOU CAN FEEL THEIR PAIN AND HEAR THEIR VOICE IN THE NIGHT…

THEN YOU’LL PRAY!

By Rev. J.S. Willoughby – To read other posts by Rev. J.S. Willoughby visit his blog at http://jswilloughby.wordpress.com

“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

Drawing the Line

R. Mangold

When GOD was about to speak to the nation of Israel at the mountain, He told them to cleanse themselves and abstain from certain tasks in preparation. Then He ordained Moses with the responsibility of determining where the line approaching the mountain began. The issue is never where Moses established the line, it is once he drew the line he never once erased it and then established it again somewhere else.

By Sis. Natalie Johnson of Frederick, MD. She attends Apostolic Lighthouse Church – Pastor Michael Mangold. Her many talents include conference and camp meeting speaker and anointed singer and signer for the hearing impaired. A video of her testimony can be found at http://youtu.be/Nxq90806oCo


I Met God

R. Mangold

I Met God
by Ralph Cushman

I met God in the morning,
when my day was at its best.
And His Presence came like glory,
a sunrise in my breast.

All day long His Presence lingered,
all day long He stayed with me…
And we sailed in perfect calmness,
O’er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered;
Other ships were sore distressed.
But the winds that seemed to drive them,
Brought to us such peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind.
When I too had loosed the moorings,
with the Savior left behind.

So I think I know the secret,
learned from many a troubled way…
You must seek God in the morning,
if you want Him in the day

Submitted by Rev. J.S. Willoughby – To read other posts by Rev. J.S. Willoughby visit his blog at http://jswilloughby.wordpress.com

“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

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Locust

R. Mangold

24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 25 The ants…26 The conies…27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28 The spider… (Proverbs 30:24-28)

The fledgling nation Israel complained they had no king like other nations. God chose judges to govern them, while He remained Israel’s King. At their insistence, and to God’s chagrin, He allowed them a king, but this led to centuries of upheaval and unrest for Israel.

Proverbs asserts that the voracious locusts despite having no king, by uniting in bands wreak havoc on crops leaving starving nations in their wake. Astounding imagery of what can be accomplished when unity is at the core. No one trying to outdo the other; No jealousy if one does; No one concerned others aren’t carrying their load; No one worried whether there’s enough for everyone. Just intense focus on the mission!

Let’s end the madness of who’s getting the credit or glory, and get down to the business of winning the lost! If we unify our efforts, there’s no limit to our effectiveness. The harvest truly is ready – we “locusts” just need to unite!

“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