Bret Hammond

Praise Points to Promise; Mark 11:1-10 by Bret Hammond

John 17 records Jesus' last prayer in this world. It's not a prayer for a pain-free death (he wouldn't get that). It's not a prayer for a death surrounded by his loved ones (he wouldn't get that either). It's a prayer for you and me that we would be one. If our unity was such a priority that Jesus made it his last prayer, shouldn't it be a priority for us? Shouldn't it be seen in how we relate to...

Bringing Glory in His Promises; John 17:9-19 by Bret Hammond

You bring God glory by trusting his story.

Deep Faith Cares Deeply; James 5:13-20 by Bret Hammond

It's been a wild ride of a week! Sub-zero temperatures and piles of snow all around. Then, today the promise of 39°. That sounds absolutely balmy! James would remind us to be patient as we wait for the changing of the seasons (James 5:7). His advice of patience applies both to seasons of the year as well as seasons of difficulty and disappointment. "You also, be patient," James writes, "Establish...

I don't know how many times I've heard it said, "Lord willin' and the creek don't rise!" Are you making it to church this Sunday? Can I count on you to be there? "Lord willin' and the . . . " well . . . today it's more like, "Lord willin' and the pipes don't freeze!" That familiar saying does have its origin in the Bible, you know. In James 4:15, we're told that rather than trust in our plans, we...

What Causes Quarrels? James 4:1-10 by Bret Hammond

A Funeral Service for Pam Harmon by Bret Hammond

Over 300,000 people are injured with kitchen knives every year. The vast majority of injuries are caused by carelessness. The person using the knife didn't realize how sharp it was, got their fingers in the wrong place, or handled the knife wrong. And yet, kitchen knives are useful tools. What's the answer? How do we keep from hurting ourselves and others? James has similar things about another us...

"As useless as a screendoor on a submarine." What a great image! A screendoor on a submarine would not only be useless, but it would also prevent the submarine from . . . well . . . submarining! Or, more appropriately, un-submarining. Rich Mullins used this imagery in his song "Screen Door." It's there he sings, "Faith without works is like a song you can't sing. It's about as useless as a screen...

“Minimum daily requirements.” Those are the words I look for on the bottles of the vitamins and supplements I take every day. My doctor has convinced me that between her pills and these potions, I should remain relatively healthy. So far, so good. “Minimum daily requirements” gives us the least amount necessary for the supplements to be effective. It’s not overdoing it; it’s not more than needed....

This past week, we had a front-row seat to the destructive power of anger. It was more than buildings and property, though; we saw anger destroy trust. We watched anger give birth to fear, division, mistrust of our leaders, and each other. That's just how powerful anger is. But there's still so much that anger cannot do. James tells us, "the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God"...

What's Below the Surface; James 1:1-18 by Bret Hammond

This sermon was written for a class I took on Creative Biblical Preaching. When I originally wrote it, I had no intention of preaching it. But, I got a lot of encouragement from the professor, other students, and friends, so here it is! We also had a lot of fun putting the video for this sermon together. You can check it out at this link: https://youtu.be/CQpxoNBcuIU Huge thanks to Hannah Brimner...

The good news you share with others changes their world.

"God with us" doesn't begin and end with Jesus' birth. "God with us" is a gift we give to those around us when we meet them in their hurts.

At the end of Luke's Gospel, there's one more encounter, one more engagement, one more table. And we're invited to sit and eat.

Every table in Luke's Gospel has led us to this table.

Luke's point all through his Gospel has been "The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost." Here, in the story of Zacchaeus, he illustrates what Jesus does for everyone who comes to him.

From the beginning of his Gospel, Luke has promised that Jesus will give sight to the blind. Here, as he approaches Jerusalem, he finally keeps that promise.

A rich man came to Jesus asking, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" What must you DO? You have to be born into the family to inherit!

A Funeral Service for Jim Webb by Bret Hammond

The only thing you can bring to Jesus is your hopelessness.

One of the godliest things you can do for someone is hearing them.