Jordan Rimmer Sermons

The Metaphor of Bread in the Bible

This sermon is a survey of the use of Bread as a metaphor in the Bible.  It begins with the importance of bread in ancient cultures and then moves through the Bible to look at Jesus as the Bread of Life.  It was also done on a communion Sunday so the conclusion sets the stage for the sacrament.

Food in the Bible: Lamb

In this sermon I talk about the Passover Lamb and ask the congregation to think about it from the perspective of a child participating in the process.  I asked the congregants to discuss what I was speaking about a few times.  It makes for a choppy recording, but I liked the way the story of Passover and the connections with Jesus came out. 

Food in the Bible: Bacon

This is a sermon on the dietary laws of Leviticus.  Why are they in the Bible?  Why don't we follow them as Christians?  If we don't follow them, then why do we hold to other Old Testament laws?  What can this discussion tell us about Jesus?

Food in the Bible: Manna

Sermon on the provision of Manna for the Israelites in the wilderness.  God provides for us and gives us grace, but so often we are less than grateful.  Sometimes we even choose slavery over freedom.

Food in the Bible: FRUIT

Starting a summer sermon series on Food in the Bible.  We will be using food as a lens to look at some of the major themes of the Bible.

In this sermon we look at the fall story.  Adam and Eve could have eaten from any tree in the garden without effort.  Why did they eat from that particular tree?  I think we eat from the same tree every day--even in our  churches.  Listen to find out what I mean.

START WITH WHY for Christians

This is a sermon that I did based on the work of Simon Sinek.  Sinek suggests that highly effective people and organization think and communicate differently.  They start with a sense of why they are doing what they are doing.  I think that Sinek's though is very Biblical.  I believe Christianity is a Why-based faith.

You can watch Sinek's Ted Talk that got wildly popular below.

Let's Get Spiritual

Several months ago local pastor and author Graham Standish came to my church and did a presentation for our leadership team.  He talked about becoming more spiritual as people and as a church by being open to and seeking to discern God's will.  This sermon is inspired by some of Graham's material.  Next week my sermon will be my presentation for this training.  

You can see Graham's website at http://ngrahamstandish.org

You can see Graham's book and follow links to others HERE.

I also recommend the video below for all church leaders:

Graham Standish - presbytery presentation from Presbytery of Lake Michigan on Vimeo.

The Mind of Christ

This is a sermon on the Mind of Christ.  I used a real cow brain as a prop to talk about how the brain works.  I was very visually oriented that way, but you can get the point from the audio recording.  You can also watch the video here:

GETTING THINGS DONE (A theology of productivity)

I have always, out of necessity, been interested in time management, personal success, and leadership literature.  Much of the best work in this field is not done from a Christian perspective.  I was ecstatic to pick up on a whim the book What's Next by Matt Perlman.  He goes past just the x's and o's of getting things done.  He actually gives a theology of productivity.  Ever since I read it I have been dying to share it in a sermon.

The sermon has three parts.  The first is a Biblical understanding of productivity.  The second part was a number of practical tips for productivity.  Much of this second part comes from the works of Stephen Covey and David Allen.

The third part was an experiment that I did on priorities.  I even had a lab coat and lab goggles for the full effect.  It was a very visual metaphor, but it should come through on the audio.  Essentially, if a jar represents your time then your job is to fill it.  There are little things (sand), medium things (gravel), and important things (larger stones).  If you put the big stones in first then it will fit, but if you let the small things take up space first then the big things will never fit.

Easter Sermon: An Easter People

In this sermon I talk about the followers of Jesus.  I think that the greatest testimony to the resurrection was and is the changed lives of an Easter people.  Our faith only makes sense and works if the resurrection is true.

Easter Sunrise Sermon: An Early Morning Surprise

This is my short sermon from my Easter early outdoor service.  I talk about Mary Magdalene and how she shows us the meaning of Easter.

Maundy Thursday: What is up with the Cup?

This is my sermon from Maundy Thursday.  It does not switch to audio well since I actually invited people forward and flowed right into communion.  Still, I thought it might be helpful and interesting for podcast followers. I explore the idea of the cup that Jesus wants the Father to take from Him and compare it to the cup that Jesus offers His disciples. 

THE HOLY WEEK OF JESUS

In this sermon I tell the story of the Holy Week of Jesus from Palm Sunday to the grave.  It is pretty graphic at the crucifixion, but I wanted to spell the week out as it really happened.

Love Like a Crop Duster

This is a sermon I did for a community Lenten luncheon on how we love because Christ first loved us.

THE HEALINGS OF JESUS

When we are hurt or in pain, we can feel desperate and alone.  Jarius feels this, as does the nameless woman that touches Jesus clothes to be healed.  By peering into their sandwiched stories, we can consider what it means for Jesus to heal us, and, perhaps, why Jesus sometimes chooses not to.

THE PARABLES OF JESUS

Here I look at how Jesus taught with parables by looking specifically at the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.  When you understand the value of a talent, you begin to look at this parable differently.  When that happens, you also begin to look at God and look at yourself differently.

THE TEACHING OF JESUS

             

Sermon on the teachings of Jesus.  I explore what it means that Jesus was a Rabbi.  At the same time, it is important to understand that Jesus did not follow all the expectations of Rabbis in his day.  I look at parts of Matthew 7 to explore how Jesus' teachings explain life and ultimately say something about who Jesus is.

In a side note: There are two times when I use visuals in the sermon.  At one point I put a log in my eye.  At another point I throw beads representing pearls at a stuffed kangaroo (we could not find a pig!).  These are not clear on the recording because they were meant to help the people in the pews.

THE MIRACLES OF JESUS

This is a look at the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine.  This is a miracle with a lot of layers and a lot of imagery.  

THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS

This sermon is on the childhood.  The only story we have from Jesus' childhood is his visit to the temple at the age of 12.  It does not have a lot of interest in what Jesus was like, but then what is this story about?

JESUS: A THEOGRAPHY

This sermon is a big picture look at the life of Jesus.  I start with Jesus as part of the Godhead and go all the way through the end of all time.  I borrow the title from a book by Leonard Sweet.  

PURVES LECTURE ON J. MCLEOD CAMPBELL

      

On Friday February 21 I sat down with Dr. Andrew Purves to get help for a Torrance ready group I am a part of.  He shared much of a chapter from his upcoming book on Scottish theologians.  It is very deep theological content and is really intended for the people in that group.  If you normally listen to my sermons this will probably not be real helpful to you.

THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH

This sermon wraps up a series I am doing about the current changes in our culture and the future of our church.  I give a little historical perspective and then give 8 shifts that I see coming in the future of the church.  I gave my congregation a handout with blanks so that is why I say some phrases awkwardly slow and repetitive on the recording.

THE STORM OF POST-ENLIGHTENMENT

In this sermon I take a look at how people's thinking and life paradigms are changing as our culture reject modern or enlightenment thinking.  I showed the two commercials that I have posted below and also poll the audience on some questions so for listening online you just have to stick with me.

THE STORM OF POST-MODERISM

In this sermon I look at the Storm of Post Modernism.  In it, I refer to a commercial that I showed earlier in the worship service.  It can be viewed HERE:

THE STORM OF POST-CHRISTENDOM

This sermon I continue my look at what is going on in our culture and what it means for the church.  I talk here about living in a post-Christendom culture.  For many in established churches, this is scary stuff.  But I think the church has great opportunities ahead of it.  

I am thankful to Leonard Sweet and his book "The Church of the Perfect Storm" for the general themes of this series.

I want to also say that I had a picture of Jesus as a prop today.  That is important when you listen because there is a point where I reference the symbol on our Christ comment and, as people strain to see it, I made a joke about seeing it later if Jesus is in the way.  It was a reference to this picture.  

THE CHURCH OF THE PERFECT STORM

This is the start of a series on what is going on in our culture today and how the church will need to change in the future.  Its title comes from a book of essays by Leonard Sweet.  I describe the storms differently than he does.  I talk about Post-Christendom, Post-Modern, and Post- Enlightenment.  This sermon is the introduction.  I will be looking at each storms in more detail each of the next three Sundays, and then will do a final sermon on my thoughts on the future of the church.

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR ANDREW PURVES

This is is not a sermon, but is an interview that I did with Dr. Andrew Purves about his teacher TF Torrance.  I and a number of other pastors are reading some of Torrance's work throughout this year.  I did this interview for those who are reading.

This is a very theological discussion so you might find yourself swimming in deep water if you are a regular sermon listener.

Sorry also about how quiet it is.  I recorded it in Dr. Purves' living room on my phone and it is clear but quiet.

FROM THE MOUTH OF AN ASS

This sermon is on the story of Balaam.  I am a bit playful with the story, but also really work to get at what the story is all about.  What does it mean for us as Christians to have God's words in our mouths?  How might this story challenge us for this new year?

Christmas Eve 2013

Here is my Christmas Eve sermon.  Why did Jesus come?  Why a manger and swaddling clothes? 

The Genealogy of Jesus

This sermon is an exploration of the Genealogies of Jesus.  For the most part, we ignore these passages because they are just a bunch of names to us--and different names in Matthew and Luke.  But they same some important things about Jesus...and about us.