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Easter 2 (A) 1,000 Answers… 1,001 Questions

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Easter 2 (A) 1,000 Answers… 1,001 Questions May 1, 2011 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell If I were to suggest a patron saint for the Clergy Bible Study it would be Thomas . Good old doubting Thomas. What I have come to love about the Episcopal approach to the Christian faith is that you may hear one thousand (1,000) answers, only to discover that there are one thousand and one (1,001) questions. In our study group that one thousand and first question is okay. In fact, we’re glad you asked because in the process of our searching for the answer… we will all learn something. It has been said that the trouble with churches that have all the answers is that they don’t allow any questions. The news letter of St. Thomas Episcopal Church Dallas is called “ The Doubter .” There is no doubt that Thomas loved the Lord, but when he had a question, he was not afraid to ask. When Jesus said to His disciples, “You know the way to the place where I am going.” It was Thomas that spoke up and asked, “Lord,...
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Easter Day (A) Believe and be Saved

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Easter Day (A) Believe and be Saved April 11, 1993 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell When I think about the fact that after 40 years in the ministry this could be among the last Easter sermons I am privileged to preach, it makes me want to bear down a little harder. I ask myself, what really needs to be communicated.  The news that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead is the bedrock truth of Christian doctrine, and the center thrust of apostolic preaching . Paul , writing to the Corinthians (1 Cor: 15:3-4), says it like this: “What I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins, that He was buried and according to the Scriptures, He was raised on the third day.” (1 Cor: 15:14 & 15:17) “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless – your faith is useless and we are still in our sins.”   In the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2: 31-32), Peter proclaimed the resurrection of Christ like this, “Jesus was not abandoned to the grave, nor di...
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Maundy Thursday – Our Eucharistic Model for Ministry: Take, Break, Bless, and Give

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Maundy Thursday – Our Eucharistic Model for Ministry: Take, Break, Bless, and Give 1997 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell When you think about it when we come together as Christians, we make up a very, very, unique group of people. Just the individuals gathered here represent a wide range of backgrounds, skills, social interest, political positions, and philosophical and religious beliefs. And…while we may feel somewhat at home when we come together in this place, we need to remember that world wide there are 70 million Anglicans with whom we are in communion. And…  we need to remind ourselves that Episcopalians in the United States represent less than 2% of the national Christian population. The truth is that there are millions of Christians around the world with every color of skin on the skin color spectrum, who dress differently, live differently, think differently and who would not have understood a word that I have said so far.  Yet, for all our differences there is one thing...
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Palm Sunday (A) Let God’s Love Transform Us

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Palm Sunday (A) Let God’s Love Transform Us April 15, 1984 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell It is our high privilege to claim the freedom God gives through the cross, vital that we understand its meaning, and imperative that we share this powerful good news with our world. I have determined to make this sermon as simple and direct as I know how, with the hope that you will all be able to repeat the gist of it at the next opportunity. Ever since God created us with free will (the ability to obey or defy His plan for our lives), it has been our nature to defy Him. Every parent knows that if our children are allowed to behave in a defiant manner, undisciplined, we will lose the necessary authority to love them in the direction of worthwhile choices. Pity the child who defines his parents and is allowed to get away with it. Why? Because……. No teacher can teach in chaos…. no police officer can enforce the law in anarchy…. No government can survive if its citizens are allowed to flout authority. ...
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