Welcome to the Rockland Congregational Church sermons and blog page. Here, we will post sermons in audio and PDF format (click on the season to the left), upcoming events and any thoughts from our pastor (click on the Rockland Congregational Church blog to the left), Please go to the menus above and choose the Church season you wish to explore.
Once you arrive at the page, click on the PDF or the audio to read or hear the sermon of the day.
Thank you for visiting and the blessings of God to you and your family!
Rev. Seth D. Jones.
Press play for audio files.
Click on "Sermon Title" for PDF.
11/24/13 -- Puritan Thanksgiving Service
Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-11; John 6:24-35; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
I have posted below the entire service. During the service, I try to explain some of the conventions that described a Puritan church service. You may be surprised to know that the Puritans were highly experimental during church services. Different structures and approaches were commonplace. But the nature of Congregational polity and the dissident status of the early Pilgrims and Puritans also defined the way a service was organized. I will figure out how to get sermons transcribed soon since I have not written out manuscripts for the last two weeks. Peace and blessings to you all this Thanksgiving week!
Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-11; John 6:24-35; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
I have posted below the entire service. During the service, I try to explain some of the conventions that described a Puritan church service. You may be surprised to know that the Puritans were highly experimental during church services. Different structures and approaches were commonplace. But the nature of Congregational polity and the dissident status of the early Pilgrims and Puritans also defined the way a service was organized. I will figure out how to get sermons transcribed soon since I have not written out manuscripts for the last two weeks. Peace and blessings to you all this Thanksgiving week!
11/17/2013 -- The Lord's Prayer and the 10 Commandments: Catechism and You
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-20; Mark 12:28-34
Thus ends our exploration of the 10 Commandments and the Lord's Prayer. I do not have a text for you this week, and nor do I have a mind-map. Instead, I tried a new technique for navigating the sermon. The new technique is actually a very ancient memorization technique which uses a familiar building, mnemonic devices and creative imagery to move through the ideas expressed. It is the way the Ancient Greek philosophers and publicans memorized speeches. So I have an audio here. If you would like me to explain the pathway I used, I can do that. Please email me at [email protected]. Peace and blessings to you all!
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-20; Mark 12:28-34
Thus ends our exploration of the 10 Commandments and the Lord's Prayer. I do not have a text for you this week, and nor do I have a mind-map. Instead, I tried a new technique for navigating the sermon. The new technique is actually a very ancient memorization technique which uses a familiar building, mnemonic devices and creative imagery to move through the ideas expressed. It is the way the Ancient Greek philosophers and publicans memorized speeches. So I have an audio here. If you would like me to explain the pathway I used, I can do that. Please email me at [email protected]. Peace and blessings to you all!
11/10/2013 -- The Ninth Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Scripture: Exodus 20:16; Romans 12:2-10; Mark 8:27-30
Scripture: Exodus 20:16; Romans 12:2-10; Mark 8:27-30
11/03/2013 -- The Eighth and Tenth Commandments: You shall not steal your neighbor's stuff; You shall not covet your neighbor's stuff.
Scripture: Exodus 20:15, 17; Ephesians 4:17-32; Matthew 6:24-34
Scripture: Exodus 20:15, 17; Ephesians 4:17-32; Matthew 6:24-34
10/27/2013 -- The Seventh Commandment: You Shall Not Commit Adultery
Scripture: Exodus 20:14; Colossians 1:11-20; John 8:1-11
No manuscript this week, but I did upload my map for the sermon. You can follow along and listen to the audio below. Thanks!
Scripture: Exodus 20:14; Colossians 1:11-20; John 8:1-11
No manuscript this week, but I did upload my map for the sermon. You can follow along and listen to the audio below. Thanks!
10/20/2013 -- The Sixth Commandment: You Shall Not Kill
Scripture: Exodus 20:12; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 5:21-26
Scripture: Exodus 20:12; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 5:21-26
10/06/2013 -- The Fifth Commandment: Honor Your Mother and Father
Scripture: Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-4; John 19:23-27
Scripture: Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-4; John 19:23-27
09/29/2013 -- ASK THE PASTOR! Sunday
Occasionally, on 5th Sundays of the month, I will do an "Ask the Pastor" Sunday, where people ask any question they want, and we have a discussion on it. Sometimes, if my daughter asks a question, "Ask the Pastor" becomes "Stump the Pastor" Sunday. Anyway, enjoy!
Occasionally, on 5th Sundays of the month, I will do an "Ask the Pastor" Sunday, where people ask any question they want, and we have a discussion on it. Sometimes, if my daughter asks a question, "Ask the Pastor" becomes "Stump the Pastor" Sunday. Anyway, enjoy!
09/22/2013 -- The Fourth Commandment: Honor the Sabbath and Keep It Holy
Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 58:8-14; Mark 2:23-3:6
This week, I used a mind-map again, and this time I think I put it in right-side up. If you want to follow along, start at the far left, and then everything moves clockwise. Smaller circles move clockwise around larger circles and represent ideas from the larger circle. Enjoy!
Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 58:8-14; Mark 2:23-3:6
This week, I used a mind-map again, and this time I think I put it in right-side up. If you want to follow along, start at the far left, and then everything moves clockwise. Smaller circles move clockwise around larger circles and represent ideas from the larger circle. Enjoy!
09/15/2013 -- The Third Commandment: You shall not use the Lord's name in vain
Scripture: Exodus 20:7; Joshua 24:14-18; Matthew 5:33-37
Scripture: Exodus 20:7; Joshua 24:14-18; Matthew 5:33-37
09/08/2013 -- The Second Commandment: You shall not create idols or graven images
Scripture: Exodus 20:4-6; Isaiah 44:9-23; 1 Timothy 3:16; John 1:1-5
This week I used a mind-map again. It is linked as a PDF above. If you want to follow the map, start at the left, with Exodus 20 and then everything moves clockwise.
I must apologize for the quality of the sound. I used a different recording device and it was not right next to me when I made the recording. I will monkey around with it and see if I can improve the quality. Peace!
Scripture: Exodus 20:4-6; Isaiah 44:9-23; 1 Timothy 3:16; John 1:1-5
This week I used a mind-map again. It is linked as a PDF above. If you want to follow the map, start at the left, with Exodus 20 and then everything moves clockwise.
I must apologize for the quality of the sound. I used a different recording device and it was not right next to me when I made the recording. I will monkey around with it and see if I can improve the quality. Peace!
09/01/2013 -- The First Commandment: No other gods before Me - Part 2
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-3; Romans 11:26-12:1; Luke 2:1-14
We still haven't got beyond the First Commandment. This is the second part of last week's sermon. Next week we will get into the Second Commandment. Audio is below. Enjoy!
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-3; Romans 11:26-12:1; Luke 2:1-14
We still haven't got beyond the First Commandment. This is the second part of last week's sermon. Next week we will get into the Second Commandment. Audio is below. Enjoy!
08/25/2013 -- The First Commandment: You shall have no other gods before Me
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-3; 1 Corinthians 8:1-6; John 18:33-38
Last weekend, we dropped our daughter, Rhiannon, off at college. The very capable congregation of Rockland Congregational Church ran the service while we were gone.
This week, we started on the First Commandment. I have divided our discussion on the First Commandment into two weeks, because it is the foundational commandment for all the others.
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-3; 1 Corinthians 8:1-6; John 18:33-38
Last weekend, we dropped our daughter, Rhiannon, off at college. The very capable congregation of Rockland Congregational Church ran the service while we were gone.
This week, we started on the First Commandment. I have divided our discussion on the First Commandment into two weeks, because it is the foundational commandment for all the others.
08/11/2013 -- Introduction to the 10 Commandments
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17; Mark 10:13-27
This week we began our series on the 10 Commandments. I only have a copy of my notes that I used, no text of the sermon, for this week. One day, I will transcribe these for you. For now, however, I only have notes and the audio below. Please enjoy!
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17; Mark 10:13-27
This week we began our series on the 10 Commandments. I only have a copy of my notes that I used, no text of the sermon, for this week. One day, I will transcribe these for you. For now, however, I only have notes and the audio below. Please enjoy!