Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church Jan. 29, 2023 Romans 12:9-21 A couple years ago I was having a planning meeting with a couple, just a few weeks prior to their wedding day. I asked them if they’d selected their scripture passages. The bride said, “Yes, it’s this one. May I read it?” […]
Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church, UCC Jan. 15, 2023 Acts 9:23-30 Note: The Saul in this passage is the Apostle Paul, one of the most important Christians who ever lived! Saul was a Pharisee and a fierce persecutor of the first Christians. Then he had a miraculous experience on the road to Damascus […]
Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church Jan. 8, 2023 Matthew 3:13-17 We’re going to look at Jesus’ baptism this morning. By the way, it’s “Jesus’ baptism” not “Jesus’s” “Jesus’ baptism” is grammatically correct and it just sounds better. When we study stories in the Bible we usually ask, what’s the moral of the […]
The Light of Christ Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church, UCC John 1:1-18 (selected verses) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. […]
Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church, UCC Sept. 4, 2022 Our topic this morning is reframing – changing your perspective on a given situation. Here are two great examples of reframing found in the Bible. Genesis 50:15-21 ( the end of “Joseph & his Technicolor Dreamcoat”) Realizing that their father was dead, […]
Pastor Rich Knight July 10, 2022 Luke 6:12-16 Sabbatical Thoughts This message was given the day before the start of sabbatical time off. The standard contract for UCC pastors provides for a 3 month sabbatical after 5 years of service. Last summer I took 2 months of sabbatical time, and tomorrow starts the […]
Pastor Rich Knight June 26, 2022 Numbers 14:1-10a I changed the scripture lesson and sermon for this morning. I’ve had a message churning around in my mind, and this week brought some clarity. The Context for Numbers 14: The story of the Israelites escaping slavery in Egypt is well known. Moses led them […]
April 24, 2022 Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church John says this is the third time John tells us about a post-resurrection appearance of Christ; twice in the Upper Room and now here on the beach. Let’s take a look. John 21:1-14 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples […]
April 10, 2022 – Palm Sunday Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church Before the passage: you’ll notice in the passage that Palm Sunday was carefully planned by Jesus himself. He would have known the prophesy that Margie read from Zechariah 9, that one day the Messiah would enter Jerusalem in a very humble […]
“When It’s Hard to Love” Series: “Living Lent with Love” April 3, 2022 Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church We’ve been talking about love this Lent. It’s our true & central calling as Christ followers. To do justice to this topic, I believe we need to think […]