Online Sermons

Does God Answer Prayer?

I suppose there has been no word on Christians' lips so frequently at this time as the word "prayer," and there is not one in this hall who has not thought often, during the last forty-eight hours, of the importance of prayer.

During this week of prayer, they are a great many not only thinking about it, but talking about it. When there is a special interest and awakening in the community on the subject of religion, then it is that a great many skeptics and infidels, and a great many mere nominal professors of Christianity - we will not judge them - begin talking against "prayer."

They say, "The author of the world doesn't change His plans because of these prayers. The world goes right on. You cannot move God to change His mind or His doings." You hear this on every side. These young converts hear it. I have no doubt that many are staggered by it, and when you kneel down you say, `Is it a fact that God answers prayer? Is there anything in it?'

I think it would do us good in the week of prayer to take the word "prayer," and run through the Bible tracing it out. Read about nothing else. I think you would be perfectly amazed if you took up the word "prayer," and counted the cases in the Bible where people are recorded as praying, and God answering their prayers.

A great many think it is only the perfectly righteous and pure that pray. But you remember who it was who prayed in this fashion, "Lord remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom." You remember that Christ answered the dying thief's prayer.

We cannot but notice that every man of God spoken of in the Bible was a man of prayer. You have therefore very good authority and encouragement for asking God to hear your prayers, and for praying on behalf of others, as we are daily requested to do. Many are surprised at these requests. But many mothers and fathers are rejoicing that they sent them in. The prayers offered up here have been answered, and their children have been saved.

Last night I was more confirmed in my views regarding the power of prayer than ever. "This is all excitement," some say; "it is got up by earnest appeals that work on the feelings of people, and move their impulses, making them uneasy and anxious." Now, for example, there was nothing said last night to speak of, and I never was more disgusted with myself than I was on Sunday -night. It seemed as if I could not preach the Gospel, as if my tongue would not speak. But still the number of inquirers was extraordinary.

Last night, when there was no speaking at all, and when I just came in and asked that any inquirers might follow me into the moderator's room, taking a few with me, and expecting to come in and ask out a few more when I had seen these, the number was so great that came out without solicitation that I did not need to return. I saw over a hundred inquirers last night, and there were from fifty to seventy that I had to close the door on, being unable to see them.

A great many who have not been at the meetings at all, have been converted in their own homes. God is working, not we. Oh! that we would keep ourselves down in the dust, and every one of us get out of the way, and let God work. It would be so easy for Him to go into every dwelling in Edinburgh, and convict and convert ten thousand souls.

Look at the 6th verse of the 4th chapter of Philippians. "Be careful for nothing, but in everything" - mark that - "by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." He doesn't say He will answer all, but He says, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ."

He tells us to make our wants known; to make our requests known to Him by prayer and supplication. It is right to come and make our requests known. He has told us to come and pray for the conversion of souls.

It is said by many people that God does not do anything supernatural in answer to prayer; that the God of nature moves right on and never changes His decrees. Read the first six verses of the 20th chapter of 2nd Kings, and see - "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death: and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, I beseech Thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before Thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah, the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David, thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears, behold I will heal thee; on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord, and I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the King of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

Was not that a direct answer to prayer? Hezekiah was only praying for his own life; we are come together to pray for the life of others, and not their temporal but their eternal welfare. He was not praying for Christ's sake as we now do, but we can come to-day and ask God to save the souls of men for Christ's sake, not only for our sake, but for the sake of the beloved Son. He loves to honor that Son, and to see Christ honored. We can come now and ask Him to save souls, that it might bring glory and honor to the Son of His bosom, and glory and honor to the Son He delights to honor. "I will," He says to Hezekiah, "defend the city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake." That is only one instance.

Look also at Daniel praying. It was his prayers that took the Jews back to Jerusalem. It was his prayers that turned Nebuchadnezzar to the God of Israel, and brought Gabriel down from heaven to tell him he was greatly beloved. He had power with God.

See also how God answered Jacob's prayers and Isaac's prayers. All through the Bible we have records of the answers to prayers. It would be terrible to think that God did not delight to answer prayer.

Turn to the 20th chapter of 2nd Chronicles. There we read that the Moabites, the Ammonites, and others coming against Jehoshaphat, he was afraid, "and set himself to seek the Lord," and that afterward Judah "gathered themselves together to ask help of the Lord." That is what we want - to seek the Lord not only here in the public assembly, but alone. If you have got an unconverted friend, and are anxious that he should be saved, go and tell it privately to Jesus, and if a blessing does not come, like Jehoshaphat, spend a few days in fasting, and prayer, and humiliation.

"If when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in Thy presence (for Thy name is in this house), and cry unto Thee in our affliction, then Thou wilt hear and help."

When I go into the streets, and see the terrible wickedness, and blasphemy, and drunkenness that is in them, it seems dark, but I look up and think that God can repel those dark waves of sin and iniquity. Let us pray that God will bless this land of Scotland, bless and save all the people in it. It would be a great thing for us, but very little for God. May God give us faith!

--Message delivered by Dwight L. Moody at the noon prayer-meeting, Edinburgh, Scotland, Jan. 6, 1874.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.

 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.  
 

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Freedom of Religion Limited?

By Rev. Herbert Fuchs

Sounds like a company ? it isn't.

It rather is a real unorganized and continuing problem on our schools. Almost every other day in the headlines of our news-media, a remark of misconduct for a student, a teacher suspended from duty, and so on.

Did anyone ever analyze what "Freedom of Religion" really means?

I guess "Freedom of Religion" means that we all can believe in whatever we want and that we are able to proclaim our belief (together with our "Freedom of Speech") whenever and wherever we want.

What I didn't know is that this does not include our children. Nevertheless, as much as I searched in our Constitution, I could not find any exclusion of children!

All this appears very simple. Our children are not supposed to practice their religion in school, because this would then possibly offend, confuse or at least influence children of any other religious belief?.

If I correctly translate that, it means that we all can have our opinion and religious belief, but we can't practice this belief in order not to bother others, at least not children because they can be influenced, confused, or offended.

If that is so, we should stop selling newspaper over the counter too and better put it together with playboy magazine under cover on the top shelf in our stores. We then should classify even speeches of our honorable President at least PG13 or higher, because he openly says that he is praying to God.

The good part for me , I will be able to cut the allowance of my children by law, because on all our money is printed "In God we trust."

Now, am I confused or not?

Truth is?.

Our great country came a long way and one reason is surely that it made the law of God to its own law. We live in the greatest country of this entire world, with all liberties and freedoms possible. Now, how about these cut backs? Even our President prays to God!

I guess in that case, our Constitution is equally abused like our Bible. Some people just can't stop explaining things their way ? thinking that the majority of us can't read themselves.

(I defended this Constitution for many years proudly in an US Army uniform!)

To the surprise of many Americans, there are other countries with "Freedom of Religion" which are capable to handle this right just fine. They even have classes in Religion in school - voluntary participation and divided by denominations. Every child has the right to receive religious instructions in their belief , if they want!. The instructors are voluntary Christian Ministers of all the different denominations , I would not know one single church who would not volunteer! This way, our children would have real "Freedom of Religion."

Fact is, that children from private religious schools are far lesser involved in crime or substance abuse. Official statistics proof that! Therefore, it can't be too bad to bring religion into our schools. Same right for everybody, " my children are in public schools." I can't afford sending my three children to a private school.

I hope nobody will argue that it would be very complicated to implement religious instruction in our schools. I get daily school papers to sign for all types of things, taking school pictures, organizing a field trip, making a collection for a special event, and one more per year would not make a difference at all.

The church has a great social function too, in crime and drug prevention, counseling for domestic violence, alcohol abuse. All this and more is greatly accepted and appreciated in our society, why do we want to cut out our children from it?

Let us read the Constitution as it was written and not like anyone else tries to explain it to us in a secondary or personal interest.

Mr. President, would there be anyone able to put an end to this "American Joke of Religion"?

Should we pray for that? (Outside of public schools certainly!)

God bless you, and our great country!

Pastor Fuchs

Church of Jesus Christ in Lutheran Belief

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

Ordination with the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.


 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.
 

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The Key to Praying with Power

Luke 18:1-8

by Steve May

Today, as we conclude our series on prayer, we'll look at a story Jesus told that teaches the most important principle of all regarding prayer. This story teaches us the key to praying with power.

You heard the story just a moment ago when we read the scripture from Luke 18. It's about a ruthless judge who fears neither God or man, and a widow who comes to him repeatedly with the request, "Grant me justice." For a long he time he refuses to consider her request, but finally in exasperation he says...

(v. 4-5) "Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her complaining!"

Then Jesus said in the same way God will bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night.

Here's the principle—the key to praying with power; the key to getting results in prayer: Keep at it. Pray with persistence.

If you're asking God for anything, this is the most important principle involved in your prayer. And this is exactly where we most often drop the ball when it comes to praying. Too often, we pray for awhile, but when we don't get the answer we want fast enough, we give up. We tell ourselves "It must not have been God's will"...or we tell ourselves, "Maybe this prayer thing doesn't work after all"...or we tell ourselves, "Maybe God doesn't care enough about me to answer my prayers—he'll answer prayers for others, but not me." The fact is, none of these things are true—but we fool ourselves into believing them simply because it's easier to give up than to keep praying.

God answers prayer, but he doesn't answer every prayer immediately. There are some prayers that he answers only when we pray persistently. Why is that? Why does God want us to pray with persistence? Today we'll look at three reasons—three ways you benefit from persistent prayer. First of all...

1. Persistent Prayer Keeps You In God's Presence.

Just like the widow who kept coming back to the judge, day after day, standing before him, asking for justice, persistent prayer places us in God's presence, day after day after day.

There's something more important to God than answering your prayer: he wants to have a personal relationship with you. He wants you to know him intimately. He wants to be your best friend—your constant companion. Persistent prayer helps you develop and nurture your relationship with God.

One evening I was having dinner with a married couple, Kirk and Dianne, and they told me how they met. Diane was a realtor and Kirk was looking for a house. Diane said, "I had to show him at least a dozen houses before he found one he was willing to buy. We were looking at houses together 2 or 3 times a week, and we eventually fell in love. Fortunately for me, Kirk doesn't make quick decisions." Kirk said, "Fortunately for me, Diane doesn't give up!" Looking at properties together kept them in each other's presence long enough for their relationship to develop.

It works the same with persistent prayer. If you pray about something every day, that means you're spending time alone with God every day—and the more time you spend with God, the closer you get to God. That's why Jesus said in verse 6 that we're to cry out to God "day and night." It's why the Psalmist said...

Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. (Psalm 55:17)

God wants to be the central focus of your life. The purpose of prayer is not to get God to do things for you, it is to teach you to depend on him as your only source. Persistent prayer keeps us in God's presence.

Secondly...

2. Persistent Prayer Helps You Define and Refine Your Requests.

I firmly believe that anything you want you should pray for first. Anything at all. Does that mean you'll get it? No, of course not. But this is what will happen. As you pray for something earnestly and persistently over a period of time, you'll find that your request gets refined and re-defined according to God's will. In other words, if you're asking for the wrong thing, God will let you know.

You may begin to pray for one thing, but as you continue to pray over a period of time, and as you continue to seek God's will on the matter, your request will be transformed into a request that is pleasing to God.

A friend of mine named Ken told me that he was tired of living "hand-to-mouth", and began to pray that he would receive either a raise in salary or a better paying job. He came up for a performance review at work, and was told that even though he was doing a great job, there was no money in the company for raises this year. So, he began sending out resumes—after sending out dozens he had not received a single offer better than what he already had. During this time God began to speak to him about several areas in which he was spending too much money. Over a period of time his request changed from "Give me more money" to "Make me a better steward." He said that he was able to reduce his expenses $300 a month by cutting out unnecessary things, such as HBO, a gym membership (he rarely went), changed calling plans on his cell phone, began eating out less, and so on. Also, for all of his adult life Ken had had a car payment; every two or three years he would trade in his "old" car for a new one. This year, he decided to pay off the car and keep it—freeing up another $400. He said, "My income hasn't changed, but it's like I got an $8000 a year raise!" It began with a request for more money. Over time, the request was refined to "Lord, make me a better steward."

If God had answered his prayer immediately and he had been given a raise at work, it would have been just a matter of weeks before he was as over-committed as he had always been. Instead, because he prayed persistently, his request was re-defined into what he really need to pray for, and God was able to do a great work in his life.

When we first begin praying for something, we might not be praying for exactly the right thing, or for the right reasons. Persistent prayer improves our prayers; it helps us get on the right track.

It's hard (if not impossible) to pray persistently for something frivolous. The longer you pray, the more you realize: "This is silly; this isn't God's will."

Conversely, when you're praying for the right things, the longer you pray the more convinced you become of God's will; the more determined you become to keep praying for it.

Persistent praying helps you define and refine your requests so that you're ultimately asking for something that is consistent with God's will for your life.

Thirdly...

3. Persistent Prayer Proves Your Faith.

Jesus ended this parable by saying...

(v. 8) "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

In other words, will he find people praying persistently? Persistent prayers demonstrate faith.

Earlier in the gospel of Luke, when Jesus was teaching on this very same subject, he said...

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

You've heard me say this before: the verbs "ask", "seek" and "knock" are spoken in the present indicative active voice, which means that it is an on-going action. In other words, "Ask and keep on asking"; "Seek and keep on seeking"; "Knock and keep on knocking". If you believe God will answer your prayer, you prove your faith by continuing to ask.

A friend dropped by to see me yesterday. He saw my truck in front of my office, so he knew that I was here. The outside entrance was locked, so he started pounding on the door. Due to my recent shoulder injury, he knows I'm not moving very fast these days, and he didn't expect to come rushing down the stairs in a matter of seconds, but he knew that eventually I would come open the door—so he kept pounding. I was on the phone, and he kept pounding. This went on for at least five minutes—every 30 seconds or so he would pound on the door or tap on the glass or shake the door handle. When I finally made it downstairs I said, "Are you trying to drive me crazy?" He said, "I knew eventually you would come down and unlock the door. I just didn't want you to think that I had given up and gone away." I said, "I need to learn to pray like you drop in on friends; I need to be more persistent."

When we have refined our requests and are asking for the right things, God will answer our prayers. Jesus said so.

(v. 7-8) And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly."

Wait a minute. Does that say "quickly"? Then why do we have to pray and pray and pray and ask and ask and ask seemingly forever? The answer is simple. "Quickly" is determined by God's timetable, not our own. "Quickly" doesn't mean we can snap our fingers and God will speed up the process; it means that God will answer our prayers on time. He's not late. He's never in a hurry, but he's never late.

CONCLUSION

The key to praying with power is found in praying with persistence. When you pray persistently you remain in the presence of God, and you are able to define and refine your requests according to his will, and you prove your faith.

Persistent prayer takes prayer out of the "plan b" category—the "last-ditch-effort" category—and puts it where it belongs: top priority in your life.

For the last six weeks we've talked about prayer as the ultimate lifestyle. We began this series with the verse...

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

And that is where we end it. Pray and pray and keep on praying. Persist in prayer; make it your lifestyle.

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Universal Life Church

Unity in Diversity

By Rev. Chris Beard

Universal Life Church

Merry Meet New Friends!

I've only recently joined the family of the Universal Life Church. Yet I have long held the belief that people of all spiritual paths, though diverse in personal convictions; could live and work together for the betterment of all life on this our sacred Earth.

As we look around our world today it has become plagued with ideologies of hate, violence, and war; all played out to the soundtrack of religious extremist rhetoric. Unspeakable acts of violence have been committed against all of humanity, with the perpetrators calming all was done in the name of their deity! Even the President of our great nation justified his actions in Iraq in a recent press conference by holding a Bible high over his head and saying: "This is my rule book." We are a world of diversity; diverse in ethnicity, culture, lifestyles, ideology, spirituality, and in almost any manner one could think of. Many fear these differences, seeing them as a direct assault on their personal beliefs. That fear gone unchecked can lead to mistrust and hate, and ultimately to violence. It is time to break that cycle by uniting in respect and in celebration of our diversity. It is our diversity that brings beauty and life to a world that would otherwise be stagnant and void of inspiration. It is time we unite, with open minds and hearts; in respect and love, and in the common belief of the sanctity of life. We do not have to agree on all matters of life and spirituality to love and respect one another. Yet we msut be willing to listen to one another, and be willing to reach across what barriers may exist. Simply because we differ in spiritual paths does not mean that one must be right while the other one is wrong. Personal truths are sacred and where as my personal truth may not be right for you it does not make my path any less true or valid. It is simply my path and is sacred to me as your path is to you.

So let us not break our unity upon the shoals of our diversity. Let us not be afraid to embrace one another as friends or family simply because of differences in personal truths. Let us instead celebrate our diversity and uplift one another. Let us unite and use our collective good will and love to bring the light of compassion into an overcast and shadowy time in the history of our world. Diverse our paths may be, but united in love shall we live. So mote it be.

Blessed Be One and All.

Rev. Chris Beard

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive and affordable online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, a beginning course on  Wicca, as well as a beginning course on  Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is a free and lifetime ordination, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. We also make available many free wedding ceremonies for your use, as well as funeral ceremonies and other types of ceremonies.

 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program where you can earn the coveted title of Chaplain. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church materials to help you with your professionalism and confidence.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and an amazed by the frequent upgrades and new functions of the seminary.
 

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Scripture Reading: Prov. 8:1-8

Text: Prov. 8:8

Introduction: Through the years I have attended a number of meetings held specifically to instruct and encourage preachers to be better servants of God. In one of them the instructor, a pastor, gave suggestions for finding God's will for a sermon for a specific service. One of those tips was for the minister to examine his own heart and life for his own needs. If the preacher could recognize his own needs, there would be a good possibility the congregation would have some of the same needs.

If preachers need help in any area, it is this one, for preachers' vocation is one of almost constant talking. If your pastor needs help in any area, it is this one, for although I may not be talking all of the time when I am out of the pulpit, I do enough talking to stay in trouble. As a matter of fact, I am so much "myself" when I am IN the pulpit, I am so relaxed when I am in the pulpit that I am liable to say something I shouldn't.

I believe the answer to my problem and yours tonight is found in the word of God, so I'm going to preach it as I understand it, regardless of how much it may hurt you and me temporarily. If we will get right with God, we can benefit from this service.

I want to speak to you on the subject, "How to Keep Your Foot Out of Your Mouth."

I. SPEAK PROFITABLE WORDS

1 Corinthians 7:35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

A. Profitable for saving the lost

B. Profitable for serving God

C. Profitable for strengthening the weak

II. SPEAK PURE WORDS

Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

A. We should use scriptural language as much as possible

B. We should use spotless language

C. We should use saintly language

III. SPEAK PLEASANT WORDS

Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

"He who makes waves must be prepared to swallow salt water."

"Make your words sweet; you may have to eat them."

A. Praise God

B. Point toward God

C. Promote what God is doing

IV. SPEAK PREPARED WORDS

Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

A. Fill your heart with scripture

B. Focus on doing right, not what makes you feel good

C. Find God's will for your conversation

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God bless...

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

Ordination with the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.

 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.
 

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

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By Scott Phillips

In Him By Him Through Him

You cannot give what you do not have

Do you have any bread in the house? This is the question the man heard at the door in dark dead of night. This man awakened from his sleep whispering to his neighbor who found himself in a fix, company came and he did not have anything to feed them, so he went to someone who he knew would have bread in the house.

What an indictment. To have unexpected visitors and have nothing for them. It occurred to me as I prayed tonight, that you couldn't give what you do not have.

Peter looked at the blind man with confidence, he did not have what the man wanted, but he had what the visionless man needed. The blind man was looking for a penny, but Peter possessed power and the

knowledge of it unlocked something inside of Peter. He could look at everyone he had met before in a new way, because he knew he had to give what everyone needed.

I have thought along these lines in the past. I have known people who could not seem to provide any affirmation or support and it sprang from their own deep sense of deficit. I have known the braggart and boaster who in truth only covered for the deep sense of inferiority. How many times have I seen and heard of situations of men who should have a deep sense of who they are in God, feel threatened and try to tamp down anyone else, because they might shine brighter.

My philosophy is this, If I see someone on fire and being used of God, I want to pour gas on them to see them be even more effective.  I know who I am in God and this knowledge helps me in two ways. Number one, I know that I have value and number two I know I need you. The greatest gift we can possess is the ability to recognize and give honor to those who are being used by God. So often we only pay this to those in position, when often those God is using have not yet reached position. Remember Saul was fearful in his

tent, when David slew the giant. David was not eyeing Saul, but Saul felt threatened by David. Rather than rejoicing with the young man, he sought to kill him.

Have you ever felt yourself in a situation where a person had a need, and you did not feel you possessed the substance to meet that need? If we are honest, we all have been there. The word that I ponder and the prayer I am praying, "Let there be bread in my house."

"Lord I don't pray only for your blessing, but I pray that you would help me to possess what those I will encounter need. If they need a word of wisdom, let wisdom be in my heart. If they need faith, let it be in my mouth. If they need love and support, let it be in my spirit. Let me not feel bankrupt of spiritual currency when I meet the visionless man in my path. Let me have to give to he that asketh."

Rejoice in the Lord.

You possess all things.

In Him, By Him, Through Him,

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

Ordination with the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.
 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.
 

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Universal Life Church

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Sermons are quite closely related to lesson plans. There are many formats and you should choose the one that is comfortable to you.When writing a sermon you should:

Define your objective.

Define the time that you expect to deliver your sermon.

Determine and explore any prerequisites necessary to complete the objective.

Explore the subject of your sermon with your congregation. Provide examples and personal experiences.

Expand on your subject. Give 'homework' to aid the parishoners in practicing the subject of the sermon.

Following the sermon, critique yourself. Did you meet your objectives? Were you successful in presenting the material?Remember, no two ministers have the same style for preparation and delivery. What works for me may not work for you. There is no right or wrong.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive and affordable online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, a beginning course on  Wicca, as well as a beginning course on  Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is a free and lifetime ordination, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. We also make available many free wedding ceremonies for your use, as well as funeral ceremonies and other types of ceremonies.

 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program where you can earn the coveted title of Chaplain. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church materials to help you with your professionalism and confidence.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and an amazed by the frequent upgrades and new functions of the seminary.
 

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THE LITTLE TREE - A story of courage

By Kurt A. Fondriest

In a forest of magic and wisdom of rainbows and fairies, lived a little tree who was smaller, by far than any other. He knew that his branches were supposed to be strong and always reaching upwards because his mother and father would tell him so ? Little tree,? they would say, ?stretch your branches up to the sun so the birds may come and play music on your limbs.? With all his might, he would try to reach for the sky but he could not hold his branches so high for very long. Little Tree would lean sadly against his mother while he watched all the branches of all the other trees in which birds of all colors and sizes were nesting and singing praises to the magic of the forest. His own little branches could barely hold his leaves, as they ached with pain.

Across the valley of blue and sunlit flowers lived an old wise forest elf. Little tree?s mother called upon him to see why her son was having a hard time with his childhood roots. It was a cloudy day in the forest when he came to see little tree and the silver reflection on leaves from the recent rain mirrored his image and his magical bag of potions. The elf was the wisest soul in the forest; surely he could heal little tree. Wise old elf embraced little tree. ?Ouch? cried little tree. Father tree started to scold his son ?quit being such a little sapling. Let the old one touch you; he will heal you. ?Little tree started to cry.

Wise old elf said, ?Why do you start a rainstorm on me, little tree?? Little tree turned his leaves so he could better see the magic one. ?I hurt from my roots to the tip of my crown; my branches feel all twisted and knotted. My trunk feels as if a thousand wood-peckers were doing their noise making dance on me?. As his tears continued to fall, he said, ?I feel more like a weeping willow than a royal oak. My branches cannot hold the beautiful song makers of the valley or the colorful rainbow of butterflies that take flight?. With this little tree dropped his branches to where they took the shape of heavy, wet rope.

Wise old elf stepped back from under little tree. He stood there with all his magical devices, rubbing his fingers through his snowy, white beard. The clouds were parting and sunlight started to dance down from the sky, warming the valley. The blessings of the wood fairies could be heard as they gathered on the shoulder of the wise old elf. One magically whispered in wise old elf?s ear. ?What is wrong with little tree? Hurry and fix him so we may color his leaves with the tones of earth for the coming fall.?

Wise old elf held his powerful arms up to the eyes of the creator and asked the forest for guidance. You see, wise old elf could do many things of wonder, but he could not heal little tree. To him this tree looked just liked any other small tree in the forest. He came from strong roots, and from a family of shading grace. Wise old elf had seen the entire forest grow from the beginnings of time. He remembered the first rain onto this once barren field, which was now linked together by intertwining branches of love.

Little tree leaned his heavy burdened branches around his mother?s. ?I?m so scared because of how I feel. It hurts mommy, and no birds will sing their songs in my branches because I cannot hold my arms to the sky. Why do I have this pain and hurt? It is not fair that no other tree my age feels this way. All I hear is the echo of tree teasing from the others. Sometimes I wish a lumberjack would come along and?..?

Just then a radiant light danced down from the golden spiral in the sky, lighting up the face of wise old elf. A low humming noise was whistling through the valley until it came upon the ear of the old elf. ?Little tree,? Spoke wise old elf. Little tree turned his leaves once again so he could see the old elf. All was silent in the valley. Even the wind had become voiceless. The birds of the forest bowed their heads of feathers in silence.

The animals crept up to little tree filled with love for their brave, little branched friend. The fairies surrounded little tree, holding circles of light that were reflections of the sun?s warmth. Wise old elf walked under little tree and raised his head, looking upward into his branches.

He lifted his hand to touch one of the small, drooping ones. Do you know why you feel pain in all your branches?"No" whispered little tree, as his leaves were gently stroked by his mother's caring branches. The wise old elf summoned for all the forest to listen by singing an ancient forest song.

GOLDEN LIGHT IN THE AIR I BREATH TOUCHING ALL MY BRANCHES FROM YOU TO ME. WE ALL ARE BRANCHES OF THE ONE LOVING TREE. BLESS THIS FOREST WITH UNDERSTANDING THE PAIN OF OUR LITTLE TREE.

Little tree? spoke wise old elf, The name of your pain is FIBROMYALGIA. The word was winded throughout the entire forest. Fibromyalgia is a painful bark condition. It can make your roots so painful that you will want to cry, and it is okay to cry. You must understand that maybe your branches cannot hold the birds to make their music, but they can hold caterpillars until they are born into butterflies. Maybe you will not be able to reach all your branches to the sky to touch the sun, but earth needs shade at times and lower branches like yours are perfect ones. Yes you will feel pain for no forest is perfect. However you must remember you are a royal oak and you will always be a tree of strength and truth. With this, the entire forest of trees interlocked their branches to form one. The old elf lowered his head, turned and walked toward the hills of home. A swarm of lighted fairies lit his path as the sun lowering its face into the sky. Fall came to the forest and then did winter. Months passed while old elf spent his days doing deeds of good throughout the forest. It was on the first day of May when a purple passionflower fairy landed on old elf's shoulder. "Ah" said wise old elf. You come to bring me news of my dear friend little tree? The old elf snuggled the fairy into his vest pocket and spoke he must journey to see for himself.

The fields were of mustard yellow and the scent of dandelion blanketed the spring a top crescents. The winding road seemed steeped for our friend of the ages. As he came through the clearing clouds of rolling white peaks cast shadows to the earth below. At the top of the hill stood little tree, who was not as little as before. The old wood elf stepped up the hill to the trunk of his dear friend. What he saw was not the same as nearly a year ago. Little tree turned his leaves so he wise old elf.

Your branches are filled with light color butterflies and your roots blossom the most beautiful flowers that grow in any forest shade. Little tree spoke with a voice of confidence and quiet strength. Old wise one, take heed of the forest vines that grow around me. The old elf squinted through his glasses. He saw how the vines of the earth had grown up little tree's limbs and wrapped and secured them with their support. Wise old elf spoke little tree, each day in our forest I awaken in pain. I still pray to the great creator of the forest to take away this spell in hopes that one day my bark will all be well. But I must tell you that there is no pity here, only courage. Courage, coming from my friends of the forest, who help me each day with this spell of FIBROMYALGIA. When the rain comes down too fast and hurts my limbs, the older keep me dry, and the sun will dance warmth down onto my crown which helps the pain every morning, especially after a night of pain.

Wise old elf spoke while touching one of little tree's branches. In our forest, we will someday break this spell. Until then, little tree, you overshadow us all with the courage and the strength of the beauty you tell. And with this, the old woods elf embraced little tree while dancing fairies sang songs of the wood bees.

THE END

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Universal Life Church

Universal Life Church

Do not remember the things of old. The other day I was sitting with a few of my Army buddies talking about things we had done and had seen. So many distant lands and cultures. We where stranger’s in a strange land. Bound together by one thing. Our faith in the Almighty. That same faith is what brings everyone of us here together on this day.Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 43:18-2518} 

Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. {19} I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. {20} The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, {21} the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise. {22} Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! {23} You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. {24} You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities. {25} I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.New Testament Reading: Mark 2:1-12 {1} When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. {2} So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. {3} Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. {4} And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. {5} When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." {6} Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, {7} "Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" {8} At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? {9} Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'? {10} But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the paralytic-- {11} "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home." {12} And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" Please Pray with me now:Spirit of God, would you fall upon all of us. Seep into our hearts and into our minds, and allow us to hear your words in the coming moments. In Christ’s name we pray. AmenI found a story in the Old Testament some of you are probably familiar with. Moses wanted to enter into the Promised Land, and so he sent twelve spies into the Promised Land from the wilderness to check it out and see what they should do. The twelve spies came back, and ten of them said, “Ohhhhhh! Bad idea! There are giants over there. They are way too big for us, and we couldn’t possibly defeat them and take over the promised land. It is a land filled with milk and honey. Wonderful! But we can’t go there.” But Joshua and Caleb gave the minority report. The minority report was, “No, let’s trust God. We can go there. That’s the land that God has promised us.” My friends and I at the end of our Duty Day would sit and talk of the days events. We would talk and complain of how things where being done and how things could never change. The majority report was always the same. Orders are orders and not to be questioned. The minority report was some things must be questioned or no change will ever come about. Two of my friends took this conversation to heart and the other’s wanting to remain with the majority kept silent and distant. In the end a few of us gave the minority report and that report did not fall on deaf ears. In time changes came to be made for the better but it came with a price.Our passage this morning from Isaiah is a little like that. I want to read it again. Isaiah 43, starting with verse 18: “Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing. Now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. This passage comes to us at that moment when Israel is being called out of exile towards restoration. Some of you may remember that the two Kingdoms, the North and the South, had in one way or another been destroyed. The Northern tribes were obliterated by the Assyrian Empire, and then the two Southern tribes were finally taken into captivity and exiled by the Babylonian Empire. That’s just the way Babylon did business, and they lived in that exile for 70 years, or thereabouts (it’s kind of a biblical number, 70). Then God called them out of the exile, out of the consequence of their unfaithfulness to God towards something new. And this poem in Chapter 43, (it begins in Chapter 40, Verse 1), is part of the call that God gives to God’s people to come out of the time of exile into a time of restoration, and he says, “Do not remember the things of old.” Now that Hebrew word is more than just “remember”. It is “don’t memorialize”. 

Don’t set things in stone. Don’t ponder, think, and attach yourself so much to things of the past. Don’t memorialize, and don’t consider, it says. That is, don’t be absorbed by the things of the past. So, what things would it be that God is concerned that the people of Israel, who had been exiled in Babylon, might be remembering, might be memorializing, might be absorbing? 

Part of it is the glory of old, or the image of who they once were. The people of Israel are striving and longing not so much for something in the future, as for something that sits in the past. Now that doesn’t mean that the new thing won’t have the very same character of God’s love in the middle of it, but there it is. We must not forget the lesson’s of the past, but nor should we dwell in the past. We must look ahead to see what is before us. God is doing something new. God is fashioning something wonderful for each and every one of you! Do you perceive it?

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

Ordination with the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.
 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.
 

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar