No Short-Cuts to Maturity

  Feb. 4, 2023 Pastor Rich Knight Deuteronomy 6:1-9  “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the ordinances—that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, 2 so that you and your children and your children’s children may fear the Lord your God all the days […]

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What God Sees, What We Need to See

Cain smiting Abel with God’s Expulsion of Cain from the Garden of Eden is a painting by Sebastiano Ricci (1659-1734)   January 14, 2024  M.L. King Weekend   Context: The story of Cain and Abel is the second story in the Bible. Ch. 1 is a poetic celebration of God’s Creation of all that is. […]

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  Pastor Rich Knight October 15, 2023 Mark 5: 21-43 Introduction to Mark   The 1st Gospel to be written in the form we have them today. Author: the traditional view is that Mark was a travelling companion of Peter and Paul, and that Mark’s Gospel records the teaching/sermon material of Peter. Peter calls him, […]

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What is The Kingdom of God?

  Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church, UCC Sept. 10, 2023   We’re going to be studying the Gospels this month and next. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the four accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus. We’ll talk about the unique perspective of each gospel. But I want to start this week […]

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The Responsibility of Freedom

  Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church July 2, 2023   One thing to note: in the first verse we’re going to look at, Peter is quoting Exodus 19:6 – “You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Peter knew his Bible, which for him was the OT. I Peter 2:9-17 […]

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All in the Family

  Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church, UCC Father’s Day, June 18, 2023   We’re going to look at 2 Old Testament stories today. Here’s something to remember about Old Testament stories: The Bible doesn’t tell us what should have happened. The Bible tells us what actually happened, and we’re supposed to figure it out […]

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Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church June 4, 2023   II Timothy 4:1-5 (NIV translation) In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with […]

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Excellence Honors God

  This sermon is dedicated to Linn Flint, Our incredible Office Administrator for the past 20 years. We celebrated her ministry and retirement on May 14, 2023.     Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church, UCC May 14, 2023   I was going to read a passage from II Chronicles 3. In the essence of […]

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Betrayed!

  February 5, 2023 Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church, UCC   I Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, […]

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Bending & Blending

  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?” […]

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