Sermons on Gospel
Receptivity | Luke 8:4-15
Listen as Pastor Ron explores the message of the parable of the sower. Discussion Questions 1. Is the intent of this passage to help us discern who is “saved?” 2. Is it possible for all four soils to co-exist in one person? 3. How do we explain the lesson of this parable in light of Isaiah 55:10,11 ? 4. Can the lesson of this parable be applied to the church ? Is that helpful, and encouraging?
Troubling Truth | Acts 17:1-9
Pastor Ron introduces us to Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica as he begins a new sermon series entitled “A Better Life Now”. Discussion Questions 1. Suffering and Death were great hurdles or obstacles for the Jews to believe Jesus was Messiah. What are some of the common hurdles or obstacles for people today to believe Jesus is who He says He is? 2. How does the gospel trouble you? 3. Jealousy was a problem here. (Note: Prov.14:30; James 3:16: Mark 7:22)…
Gracious | Colossians 1:11-22
Dave Astolfi shared a message called “Gracious” to wrap up our series on Grace. Watch Here Discussion Questions Can you recall a time when someone extended grace to you? (Not just mercy or forgiveness, but they went the extra mile?) Which of the salvation metaphors do you identify with? How does that impact the way you see yourself? What is in your spiritual diet that keeps you reminded of God’s love?
Unexpected Deliverance | Acts 23:12-35
There’s something wrong with our youth; and I don’t mean our teenagers. I mean the children. There’s this thing that they are just addicted too. It gets in their brains. They always want to watch it, and sing it. That’s right, I’m talking about the dangers of Encanto, Disney’s newest adventure for the whole family. We watched Encanto a couple weekends ago and now we’re listening to Surface Pressure and We Don’t Talk About Bruno so many times. Here’s the…
Invited to the Party | Hebrews 10:19-25
Remember what it was like before the pandemic when you’d get invited to someone’s birthday party? I remember birthday parties being really exciting when I was a kid. Your friend invites you (or their mom), you purchase a gift for them, and then you get to go over to their house for the party. There’s cake, games, and maybe a movie and a sleepover if it’s a really exciting birthday. Imagine your best friend has invited you to their birthday.…
Part 7. “I” – Image of God (Imago Dei) | Mark 12:13-17
I want to start today’s sermon with a quiz. By a show of hands, I want you to guess whether the following portion of tweets are about a sports team or politics. These are actual selections from tweets: His biggest win yet. Let’s hear it for your [blank] champion[1] Sports or politics? “Let’s hear it for your 2021 #NASCAR Cup Series champion. . . ” Sports! Heads, we win. Tails, you cheated. Give me a break man.[2] Sports or politics?…
Part 1. A Vision of Flourishing | Genesis 1-3 (Faith & Politics Sermon Series)
If you were to describe our nation’s political landscape, how would you depict it? Would you describe amber waves of grain and a fruited plain like America the Beautiful sings? Or maybe more likely, you would describe a barren desert with a tumbleweed blowing by, a snake slithering under a rock, and a lone cactus. I imagine most of us today feel politics are more like a desert than a field of wheat. But what if, as you were looking…
Paul R. Romig Memorial Service Message | Romans 12:1-2 & Galatians 2:20
Six months ago, my dad updated his testimony, the story of how he came to faith in Jesus Christ. Dad did this as part of becoming an Elder at Rocky, but I think one of the reasons God led him to update his testimony was to help me retell his testimony today. It seems so providential. Today I want to tell you my dad’s story with some of his favorite Scripture passages and a couple of personal memories. I hope…
When Facing Resistance | Acts 21:1-26 (Agabus & Paul’s Nazarite Vow)
Jamie is a Senior in college. That summer, she works at a Christian camp as a camp counselor. She leads hikes, runs workshops, and leaders her cabin time small group. She even gives some of the devotionals in the large group setting. Over the course of the summer, she begins to sense, not with audible words, but deep in her soul that the Holy Spirit might be calling her into Christian ministry. Jamie doesn’t know what that means, so she…
Passing the Baton | Acts 20:13-38
I know some of our teens do track. I think that’s pretty cool. I never did it, but my brother Matthew did the long jump and ran hurdles, 110 and 300. I love watching the Olympics, which are supposed to happen this summer in Tokyo. There are all sorts of great events, especially the team-relay events. The 4×100 involves four sprinters, who each pass a baton to one another before sprinting to their next partner. Did you know that in…
Something Better | Matthew 28:1-10
Do you ever go to the store to buy one thing, but come home with something else? Back during the start of Covid my wife Monica was seven months pregnant and I went grocery shopping. This was new for me. I’m not usually the one to go to Market Basket. It was kinda fun. You learn where things are, the dairy section, the cereals, the meats, the frozen vegetables. I got the hang of it, but as I was walking…
Ode to a Donkey | Matthew 21:1-11 (Jesus’ Triumphal Entry)
Today is Palm Sunday, the day the church celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem, only to be crucified by the end of the week. There’s one character in the story of Jesus’ ride into town that has just captured my imagination. This character shares the spotlight with Jesus, but I don’t think we give him or her enough time. Can you guess who I’m talking about?… The donkey! I was reading a book for my Doctorate of…