It Is Good

Preaching is a funny occupation. Part analysis of ancient texts, part synthesis of other people’s ideas, part awareness of the congregation’s needs, part creative effort on the pastor’s part. When it comes together, it’s a God thing.

As I like to say after the service when people comment on the message, “If you liked it, give thanks to God. If you didn’t like it, that’s probably the bit I put in.” Come, Holy Spirit, come!

By nature, pastors share a lot. My seminary preaching professor, Dr. Bill Ritter, said, “All pastors steal. The good pastors steal the good stuff.” I make use of preaching resources like Homiletics Online (subscription required), Ministry Matters, the UMC Lectionary page, and Hymnary. I also read widely, listen a lot, enjoy popular culture, and absorb from who knows where.

In the spirit of sharing, I offer this archive of my sermon manuscripts. Sometimes, I’ve indicated sources, but not always. Infrequently, I have massaged and updated my own sermon or someone else’s. As I have borrowed from others, you are welcome to borrow from me. Questions? Interested in the PowerPoint to accompany a sermon? Email me at park@itisgood.org

“Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us – servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-9 MSG)

2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014

2013 | 2012 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2006 | 2005

2019

2019/09/01 “Prayer Together” (Psalm 118:1-4,22-29; prayer)
2019/08/25 “Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150; music Sunday)
2019/08/18 “The Wilderness Will Flower” (Isaiah 35:1-10; 4 of 4 in series “In the Wilderness”)
2019/08/11 “Wilderness Strong” (Luke 4:1-13; 3 of 4 in series “In the Wilderness)
2019/07/28 “In the Wilderness” (Exodus 16:1-5; 1 of 4 in series “In the Wilderness”)
2019/07/21 “Divine Perspective” (Psalm 8; Apollo 11 anniversary)
2019/06/30 “In the Image of God” (Genesis 1:26-27,31-2:3)
2019/06/23 “The Whole Church Met” (Acts 15:1-2,6-19; Annual Conference reflection)
2019/05/26 “Love in the Neighborhood” (Jeremiah 29:4-7,11-14a; 4 of 4 in series “Won’t You be My Neighbor?”)
2019/05/12 “Stranger Danger” (Luke 10:29-37; 2 of 4 in series “Won’t You be My Neighbor?”)
2019/05/05 “Won’t You be My Neighbor?” (Luke 10:25-28; 1 of 4 in series “Won’t You be My Neighbor?”)
2019/04/21 “The Most Important Sermon Ever” (Acts 10:34-47; Easter Sunday C)
2019/04/19 “Good Friday” (Isaiah 53; Good Friday C)
2019/04/18 “Washed Up” (John 13:1,3-15,34-35; Maundy Thursday C)
2019/04/14 “The Shouting Stones” (Luke 19:28-40; Palm Sunday)
2019/04/07 “Extravagant Generosity” (1 Timothy 6:17-19; 6 of 6 in Lent series, “Bearing Fruit”)
2019/03/31 “Risk-Taking Mission” (Matthew 25:32-40; 5 of 6 in Lent series, “Bearing Fruit”)
2019/03/24 “Intentional Faith Development” (Philippians 3:10-16; 4 of 6 in Lent series, “Bearing Fruit”)
2019/03/17 “Passionate Worship” (Psalm 84; 3 of 6 in Lent series, “Bearing Fruit”)
2019/03/10 “Radical Hospitality” (Romans 10:8-15; 2 of 6 in Lent series, “Bearing Fruit”)
2019/03/06 “Fruit for Repentance” (2 Corinthians 5:17-6:3; Ash Wednesday, 1 of 6 in Lent series “Bearing Fruit”)
2019/03/03 “The Family Name” (Luke 9:28-36; Transfiguration Sunday; 5 of 5 in series “We Are Family”)
2019/02/10 “Family Feud” (Galatians 5:25-6:5; 2 of 5 in series “We Are Family”)
2019/02/03 “God Family” (Ephesians 1:4-10 MSG; 1 of 5 in series “We Are Family”)
2019/01/27 “See the People” (Luke 4:14-21; Epiphany 3C; 4 of 4 in series “We Would See Jesus”)
2019/01/20 “See the Need” (John 2:1-11; Epiphany 2C; 3 of 4 in series “We Would See Jesus”)
2019/01/13 “Seeing with Spirit” (Luke 3:15-17,21-22; Baptism of the Lord 3C; 2 of 4 in series “We Would See Jesus”)
2019/01/06 “We Would See Jesus” (Matthew 2:1-12; Epiphany 1C; 1 of 4 in series “We Would See Jesus”)