Ernest F. Campbell Selected Sermons

  Epiphany I (A) Claimed by God January 9, 2011 By Rev.  Ernest F. Campbell In today’s Gospel as Jesus comes up out of the water He is claimed by God as His beloved son. “This is my son, the Beloved , with whom I am well pleased.” To my way of thinking that one-sentence, verbal embrace, becomes the rock-solid foundation for Jesus’ life and ministry. Knowing whose you are, makes wherever you are a place of faith and hope.  One simple illustration will explain what I mean. When our son Dave was a little boy, he was driven by the spirit of adventure. When we took him along on our shopping trips, Dave would see the display racks of clothing as an intriguing jungle of high-adventure, just begging to be explored. In our defense, after three girls, we were still discovering that boys are different. With Dave it was a steep learning curve. I should also tell you that Dave was quick and stealthy. He could disappear from our side into the jungle-of-clothing-racks faster than Marg...

  Christmas 2 A “Will-Power” Worship January 4, 1981 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell I am going to suggest that there are three ways to approach 1981; the right way , the wrong way , and the Gospel way . If we choose to follow the right way , we will; follow the rules, discipline ourselves and lead a good life. If we choose the wrong way , we will be; ship-shod, lukewarm, half-hearted, and indifferent. We have all (no doubt) lived with both options. On the many camping trips I have taken, I have observed people who prided themselves in how much they could contribute, and people who prided themselves in how much they could avoid contributing.  The right way and the wrong way have this in common; they depend on what man can or ought to do.  A third way, the Gospel way, is different! The Gospel way depends on what God can do. A work done the Gospel way is a work which is initiated and energized by God. the “right way” and the “wrong way” depend on men, the Gospel way depend...

  Christmas Eve A Trust Your Instruments December 24, 1983 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell God sent the first Christmas greeting to some shepherds who were working their flocks near Bethlehem ; “I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord .” In the final analysis, no matter how hard the world tries to stretch and bend Christmas to fit the ways of the world, it all comes down to the very simple but direct message printed on the window of a beauty shop across from the Eastgate Mall …. “ Jesus is the reason for the season .” Jesus is God’s response to humankind’s deepest needs. We will all die…. Jesus is life. We are all sinners …. Jesus is forgiveness. We will never have all knowledge … Jesus is the wisdom, knowledge, and the truth of God. Life, on our dangerous earth, is short and uncertain. In the face of that grim common denominator, we are given this comforting word from God’s...

  Advent 4 (A) Our Part in Salvation December 21, 1980 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell Let’s Pretend…. Let’s Pretend I am…. before I say the next word, I must turn my back to you because no mere mortal can bear to see the glorious splendor of my being. I am the creator of the vast expanses of all the galaxies , as well as the particles that make up the nucleus of the atoms. I set all the stars on their courses and established the multiplication of guppies . I know the deepest secrets of all men’s hearts, and I have the capacity to forgive and love them all beyond the wildest stretch of their imaginations. Now, are you ready? Let’s pretend…. I am God. Because I am God, and because I was in on your creation, I want you to know something of my heart. I want you to know that when you live your life according to my will and purpose, you will experience abundant life now….and always. I can understand why you have difficulty in believing my word…. Because that’s the way I made you. you like to...