Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. November 5, 2107 Text: I Thessalonians 2:13, O.T.: Joshua 3:7-17, N.T.: I Thessalonians 2:9-13 This is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. It’s a significant time for me since the influence of the reformation affects me personally. My father was Roman Catholic and I have a very large Roman Catholic family on my father’s side. My mother was a Congregationalist from a very small family of Puritan…
Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. October 29, 2017 Text: I Thessalonians 2:8, Old Testament: Deuteronomy 34:1-12, New Testament: I Thessalonians 1:2:1-8 On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther sent a letter to the Archbishop of Mainz Germany. Inside the letter were Ninety-five Theses or Disputations on the Power of Indulgences. Luther was the professor of moral theology at the University of Wittenburg. He intentionally chose that day to send his letter. It was All…
Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. October 22, 2017 Text: I Thessalonians 1:5, O.T.: Exodus 33:12-23, N.T.: I Thessalonians 1:1-10 A church does not exist for itself. God calls a congregation to reach the world for Jesus Christ. Christians are stewards first and foremost of Jesus Christ’s Gospel. The Apostle Paul writes letter after letter to congregations about their stewardship of Christ’s Gospel. He looked at what they were doing and responded to their…
Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. October 8, 2017 Text: Philippians 3:8b-9, O.T.: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, N.T.: Philippians 3:4b-14 Last Sunday we considered the importance of being of one mind as the people of Jesus Christ. The Scripture lesson from Philippians 2:2 encouraged us to be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. From this we considered how each generation should have the…
Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. October 1, 2017 Text: Philippians 2:1-2, O.T.: Exodus 17:1-17, N.T.: Philippians 2:1-18 A church is meant to be a family – the family of Jesus Christ. We gather as families. We worship as members of a family. We share common beliefs and values like a family. We’re a large extended family of Jesus. But churches face challenges that families face. We don’t always see eye to eye about…