Think of the Sermon as God’s Word Through a Messenger

Excerpts from sermons to be delivered around Orange County on Sunday:

WORD OF GOD: “The sermon for the day is not a lecture on a religious topic, but the Word of God. It is a message sent from God through a messenger. . . . The best thing to say to a pastor if the sermon is helpful to you is ‘Thank you,’ not ‘That was a good sermon.’ (Of course, it is better to say ‘That was a good sermon’ than to say ‘That was a lousy sermon.’) A simple ‘thank you’ acknowledges that God sent the message through the messenger and that the message was received.”

--Pastor Ron Lavin, speaking at 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services Sunday at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 10280 Slater Ave., Fountain Valley.

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GOSPEL VALUES: “We face . . . danger from the erosion of the ‘moral ozone,’ a similarly invisible shield composed of the basic ethical values that are embodied in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This core of Gospel values protects us from the toxic aspects of human nature, including unrestrained anger, greed, envy, selfishness, immorality, and the urges to lie, cheat, and steal.”

--William W. Wynder, speaking at Cypress First Ward Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Service begins at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, 5151 Orange Ave., Cypress.

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WONDER OF CHRISTMAS: “Life does not begin to approach its potential pleasures unless and until a sense of wonder is infused in our consciousness. And what gives birth to a sense of wonder? Mystery! Majesty! Mystery and majesty are the emotional mothers of wonderment. No wonder Christmas is awesome in its spiritual pleasures and powers.”

--Rev. Robert H. Schuller, speaking Sunday at the Crystal Cathedral. Services are at 9:30 and 11 a.m. at 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove.

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The Message highlights excerpts from sermons to be delivered in Orange County houses of worship in the coming week. Submissions, which will be published at the discretion of The Times, should be delivered by noon each Thursday to Orange County religion editor Jack Robinson, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Fax: (714) 966-7711.

E-mail: jack.robinson@latimes.com

Submissions must include name and title of the clergy member delivering the sermon, date and time of service, name and address of the church or synagogue, and a telephone number in case of questions.