Joleen Willis

IntroductionThis past Thursday was Ascension Day, and today Ascension Sunday. I have never done a sermon on the Ascension, so I don’t know what images that conjures up in your mind, but I know for some it conjures up pictures of the Amish and Mennonite communities gathering at Greenwood Furnace or other such parks for … Read more

Ephesians 4.29 An overview of the verse:Bad talk:Do not use talk that is unwholesome, foul, dirty, abusive. Swearing, vulgar, gossip, talking down to others, tearing others down or belittling, finding fault. Good talk:Say nice things: give compliments, be cheerful, tell the truth, put on a positive attitude. Edify: build up. Ministers grace:Not just that they … Read more

Psalm 22 IntroductionThis is a Psalm of lament, which as most turns from lament to praise. It is a Messianic psalm, especially evident in vv 16-18, sometimes called the Fifth Gospel account of the crucifixion. This doesn’t discount it’s present setting, a psalm of David, where David is in trouble, even near death and is … Read more

Ephesians 2.1-10 This passage about what God has done in Christ Jesus, not just through Jesus, not just with Jesus, but in Jesus. Your and my destiny is incorporated in that of Christ. Vv 1-3 are a description of our pre-Christian past. We were dead … in sin. The spirit that was at work within … Read more

Ephesians 1.17-23 Persistent Intercessory Prayervv17-18aPaul is praying a prayer of intercession, a prayer for others, specifically for the Ephesians. But it is my prayer for us and I want you to make it your prayer for yourself, for other believers and for this body. It is a persistent prayer, "I keep praying." He continues to … Read more

John 20.1-18 Do you like Easter? We all look forward to Easter don’t we? Easter is a sign that spring is here or on the way. We look forward to everything turning green and the first flowers are coming up. The first of my tulips bloomed just this week! We look forward to this very … Read more

1 Corinthians 6.12-20 IllustrationThere is a story of a woman who had tried everything to lose weight—diet, exercise, appetite-suppressing pills Finally she found something that worked. She attaches a 12” x 16” picture of a beautiful, this, shapely woman, dressed in a bikini, on her refrigerator door. Every time she was tempted to snack, the … Read more

Notice the use of "abundant" or "abundance" in the following passages.John 10.10Luke 12.15-21 Abundance of possessions or abundant life? Which will we choose? Greed: desires more and more Covetousness: greed with jealousy (desiring what another has)Avarice: an excessive desire to obtain and keep money or possessions. Hoarding. Hoarding: News story of woman whose house is … Read more

GreetingMy name is Joleen and I am a sinner. (response: “My name is ______ and I am a sinner.) Is that statement more of a reality than when we first started this series? We are looking at the 7 Deadly Sins, not so we can identify them in the lives of others, but so we … Read more

This sermon is part of the tuesday evening Community Lenten Series.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled/satisfied.Matthew 5.6 Hungry?Do you know what it means to be hungry? To be truly hungry? I don’t mean that little grumble in your stomach between mealtimes. I mean gnawing at you, hunger. … Read more