Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. September 17, 2017 Text: Romans 14:10, O.T.: Psalm 114, N.T.: Romans 14:1-12 On September 11, 2001, Americans awakened to the beauty of the Lord’s Day. We were a people who usually refrained from judging each other. We had our disputes, our arguments over weighty topics, and our disagreements over lesser topics. But we were a people at peace. Democrats and Republicans defended their opposing social views. But, they met…
Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. September 10, 2017 Text: Romans 13:10, O.T.: Psalm 149 N.T., Romans 13:8-14 The University of Paris was only 29 years old when she faced her first crisis with her students. It was the night before Ash Wednesday. Students were celebrating Mardi Gras by drinking in a local tavern not far from the University on the Seine’s West Bank. Fat Tuesday was and still is a time for revelry.…
Rev. Dr. Jack Lolla, Jr. August 27, 2017 Text: Romans 12:2, O.T.: Psalm 214, N.T.: Romans 12:1-8 There are many authors whose conclusions we disagree with. But there remains an element of truth in them. Karl Marx was concerned about how people identify their worth in terms of what they earn. This results in a conflict between the haves and the have nots that can lead to class conflicts we don’t want to…
Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. August 22, 2017 Text: Romans 11:29, Old Testament: Psalm 133, New Testament: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-36 Sin is the sign God’s authority is not accepted. Sin shows independence from God. Sin is people wanting to live life the way they think is right, the way they want, regardless of whether it follows God’s will for their lives. Sin is uncompromising pride in our own rightness as…
Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. August 13, 2017 Text: Romans 10:6-7, Old Testament: Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b, New Testament: Romans 10:5-17 Believing in Jesus isn’t meant to be complicated. There is a simplicity to having faith in Jesus as God’s Son that doesn’t need explanation. Just have faith. This is what the Apostle Paul says continually in his epistles. “We are saved by grace through faith alone and this is not…