Two weeks left and today's throwback sermon deals with old sermon titles and topics. This was my plan and then when I read today's epistle it served as a kind of outline with a list for topics-- the fruit of the Spirit. This list has been covered from this pulpit over the years by many in many ways. So without great ado, here are nine blasts from the past, sermons that were memorable for me... but probably long forgotten by most.
I will use the list of fruit from the screen hung in the choir loft, first one, Love. And I share now the opening paragraph of one of my favorites, Another John 3: 16, “Most all of us have memorized at least partially the most famous verse in the bible, John 3: 16. And while various translations change the words a bit, the the basic verse goes like this: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” A wonderful verse of a God who gives, a verse of welcome and promise and invitation. But if we stop and consider what it meant for God to “give” his son, it becomes a much more challenging word. And so I want us to look at another John 3: 16; 1 John 3: 16 tells us what that gift cost. “We know love by this, that Jesus laid down his life for us.” That gift of love was not free, it cost the life of Jesus Christ.