Blog Archives

Baby Moses Rides the Waves

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Listen to this sermon here. Now a man from Levi’s household married a Levite woman. 2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that the baby was healthy and beautiful, so she hid him for…

I Shout But There Is No Justice

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Scripture: Job 19:7-12 Mark 12:13-17, 28-34 These are notes from a sermon preached on July 10, 2016 at the Condon (Oregon) United Church of Christ. ___ Movement 1: God’s role in the world If I cry “Violence!” I’m not answered;…

Reclaiming Sodom & Gomorrah

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

For those who are insistent about excluding our LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, & queer) siblings from within God’s love and family, I can see why they use Genesis 19:1-38. This chapter can superficially be interpreted as a morality tale…

Tagged with: Gomorrah, hospitality, Orlando, Pulse Shooting, Sodom, Sodom & Gomorrah, welcome
Posted in Genesis, Genesis 19:1-38, Old Testament, Sermon

Immediately. Healing.

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Tim Graves — 1 Comment

The old white wing chair wrapped its arms around her. She was a lump, just sitting there holding it. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more depressed before or since,” she’d later say to friends and family. Her dreams, her…

Posted in Mark, Mark 2, Mark 2:1-22, New Testament, Sermon

God’s Broken Heart

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Sacred Words: Hosea 11:1-9 and Luke 13:34 Current Events: This sermon was preached the week following the terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut. Note: This sermon is longer than typical. God’s Broken Heart Jessica’s first steps Hosea Historical About 150…

Tagged with: Beirut, ISIL, ISIS, Paris, terrorism
Posted in After a Tragedy, Hosea, Hosea 11, Hosea 11:1-9, Luke, Luke 13:34, New Testament, Old Testament, Sermon, Special Times

We Didn’t Start the Fire

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Words of Wisdom: We Didn’t Start the Fire, Billy Joel Sacred Words: 1 Kings 18:21-39 Note: There is a short gap in the video due to a problem with the video equipment. We get it wrong, too. Like the Baalist…

Posted in 1 Kings, 1 Kings 18, 1 Kings 18:21-39, Acts, Acts 2, Acts 2:1-4, New Testament, Old Testament, Pentecost, Sermon

Who Am I? A Sermon

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Text for this sermon: Exodus 1:8-2:10, 3:1-15. Who are they!? asked Egypt’s new king. They worshipped a different God. They acted a different way. They looked different. They were growing in number. They must be a threat. And so he was…

Tagged with: midwives, Moses, pharoah, Shiphrah and Puah
Posted in 3:1-15, Exodus, Exodus 1, Exodus 1:8-2:10, Exodus 2, Exodus 2:1-10, Exodus 3:1-15, Old Testament, Sermon

Are You My Mother? A Sermon

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

The texts for this sermon: Are You My Mother by P.D. Eastman and Ruth 1:1-17. The rains stopped falling and soon food became scarce. No weekly trucks filled with fresh produce and other goods would be arriving at the local market…

Tagged with: Gomorrah, immigration, inclusion, Sodom
Posted in Ezekiel, Ezekiel 16, Ezekiel 16:49, Leviticus, Leviticus 19, Leviticus 19:33-34, Old Testament, Ruth, Ruth 1, Ruth 1:1-17, Sermon

The Challenge of Christian Call

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Tim Graves — 1 Comment

She’d always tell them with a wink, “I may look mahvelous but I hurt more than you when I move.” Lorna had reached the prime age of 77. She never left the house or opened the door without being well-groomed…

You Monkeys, You!

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

When you owe the IRS ten dollars, assuming you’ve calculated correctly and file on time, you pay the IRS ten dollars. When you owe Rome ten dollars, a tax collector shows up at your door, demands ten dollars plus the…