Get busy with Kingdom Work

Sermon delivered to God’s people at St. Mark’s ~Citrus Heights, CA on October 16, 2011 to the glory of God.

Sermon based on Matthew 20:1-16

 

1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3″About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5So they went. “He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7″ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8″When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9″The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12′These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 13″But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16″So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

 

Get busy with Kingdom Work

1)  Work a full day.

2)  Expect full pay.

OK, go get it.  Have at it.  Get busy.  While a friend and I were working our way through the Seminary our boss, Glen, would leave us at the jobsite with expressions

God Calls Out His People

Sermon delivered to God’s people at St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran Church of Citrus Heights, CA on January 30, 2011 to the glory of God.

Sermon based on Micah 6:1-8

God calls out His people.

1. God calls us on our issues.
2. God calls us to walk with him.

They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

I’ve had the chance to watch some basketball the past couple of weeks—including some St. Mark’s Lion’s basketball.  The players are playing hard and the spirit squad is being loud.  And I observed even at the grade school

Epiphany Grace Enriches Our Lives

Sermon delivered to God’s people at St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran Church Citrus Heights, CA on January 16, 2010 to the glory of God.

Sermon based on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Epiphany Grace Enriches Our Lives.

1.  In all our speaking.

2.  In all our knowledge.

Does the name Sanford mean anything to you?  Some of you might be thinking Sanford and Son.  But the Sanford I’m thinking this morning is Denny Sanford, a successful business man who made a gift, a donation that enriched the

God’s Glory Shines in Jesus

Sermon delivered to God’s people at St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran Church Citrus Heights, CA on January 2, 2010 to the glory of God.

Sermon based on Isaiah 60:1-6

God’s Glory Shines in Jesus.
1.  Jesus brought light to God’s people.
2.  You need the light.
3.  The nations need you.

Intro
If you are God Almighty, there are many ways you can reveal your power and glory.  You could destroy people who fail you in all kinds of creative ways:  fire and brimstone from heaven, sending

God Chose the Perfect Gift

Sermon delivered to God’s people at St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran Church Citrus Heights, CA on December 25, 2010 to the glory of God.

Sermon based on Hebrews 1:1-9

God Chose the Perfect Gift

1. More than something neat.
2. Exactly what we need.
3. It’s “wow” will never wane.

Let’s blame it all on Elmo.  Maybe on the cabbage patch kids, but definitely on the 1996 release of Tickle Me Elmo.  I can remember Cabbage Patch Dolls

Be Still, and Know That I am God

Sermonette delivered to God’s people at St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran Church on December 19, 2010—The Children’s Christmas Service.

Sermonette based on Psalm 46:10

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.”

There’s a lot of pressure that comes along with children’s Christmas services:  From the faculty’s point of view: “Are my kids ready, will they remember their lines, will I remember their cues?”  From the parent’s point of view: “Is my child going to be the child that does a little dance in front of church with “a dress over

Two Advantageous Advent Announcements

Sermon delivered to God’s people at St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran Church on December 5, 2010 to the glory of God.

Sermon based on Matthew 3:1-12

Two Advantageous Advent Announcements

1. Prepare.
2. Prepared.

Today’s sermon information in the bulleting and what Matthew recorded for us to read doesn’t really follow all that well.  Aren’t you either preparing for something or prepared for it?  Either you’re packing for the trip (preparing) or the trunk is

Be Sure to Take a Timeout and Thank the Lord!

Sermon delivered to God’s people at St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran Church on November 25, 2010—Thanksgiving Day to the glory of God.

Sermon based on 1 Samuel 12:24

Be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

Be Sure to Take a Timeout and Thank the Lord!

1. A timeout to fear the Lord.
2. A timeout to serve the Lord.

Chances are pretty good that as you enter the Thanksgiving/Christmas season, you will at some point find yourself running out the door with some last second instructions.  Maybe you will be sent out with a shopping list, or maybe you will be dashing out of the

It’s A Good Day In Zion

Sermon delivered to God’s people at St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran Church ~Citrus Heights, CA on April 18, 2010

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10).

Sermon text: Isaiah 12

 

¹ In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. ² Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” ³ With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. ⁴ In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. ⁵ Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. ⁶ Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

It’s a good day in Zion.

1. To praise God for your salvation.

2. To make God’s salvation known.

3. To thank God for your school.

Dear people of God,

Do you know who first said, “It’s a good day to die.”  It was a member of the Lakota people who held that it would be honorable to die in battle and go

He Served As No Other Priest

Sermon delivered to God’s people at St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran Church ~Citrus Heights, CA on April 2, 2010

In the past God spoke…through the prophets…but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son (Heb. 1:1,2).

Sermon text: Hebrews 7:27

 

²⁷Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

He served as no other priest.

1. He had no sin of his own.

2. He offered himself for others.

Dear people of God,

 

If you are a golf fan, you are giddy with anticipation of the Masters, a golf tournament that happens about this time every year.  It got the name, the Masters because