Printable Text Sermons Library

• • “It is a law of the Divine Providence that man should be led and taught by the LORD from heaven by means of the WORD and by means of doctrine and preachings from the WORD, and this to all appearance as if by himself.”
    Emanuel Swedenborg – Divine Providence #154

2018/2019

• 8th Commandment, N19“  –  November 17th, 2019 at Mitchellville.
• Delores Soderberg  –  Memorial Service, November 4th, 2019
• “Compensations”  –  at Mitchellville on October 22, 2019
• “The Fifth Commandment and the Lord’s Prayer:  – Rev. Michael D. Gladish at Atlanta on October 6th, 2019.  (CHART compares 10 Commandments & Lord’s Prayer).
• The Power of Prayer: –   Rev. Michael D. Gladish at Lake Helen, Florida on  October 20th, 2019
• How to Read the Word:  Delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish at Mitchellville on July 21st, 2019.
• The Twelve Sons of Israel:  –  What do they represent in our spiritual lives?  Read and study this sermon and the accompanying 3×4 chart and references.  Delivered by Pastor Mike on Sunday May 12th, 2019.  Click here for a large print version.
• Prophecies of the Lord’s death and resurrection: How many times did the Lord predict these events, and why didn’t the disciples believe Him? What is missing in OUR lives when we don’t understand what the Lord is telling us about our own future, and what can we do about it? – MDG on Sunday April 7th, 2019.  Click here for a large print version.
• “We are ALL Children in the Lord’s eyes.”   Read this sermon to explore what this really means and why our acknowledgement of this fact is so important.  –  MDG on March 31st, 2019.  Click here for a large print version.
• “Mercy” – What is it, and how do we practice it.  This is the last of the series on Fear, Hope and Mercy, by Rev Michael Gladish, delivered on March 3, 2019.
• “Hope”  –  The sequel to “Fear” by Rev. Michael D. Gladish, delivered on February 17th, 2019.
• “Close Enough to Catch Us:”  –  The sermon given by Rev. Jared J. Buss, visiting preacher from Toronto, Canada on February 10th, 2019.
• “Fear”  –  In these times of uncertainty – for the church, for our country, and for ourselves, what do we need to know about fear, where it comes from and how to deal with it? How is fear related to anger – and courage?. ~ MDG  February 3rd, 2019
• “Making Your Proprium Work for You”  (rather than against you).  “How can we experience the peace and fulfillment of heaven? – by doing what the Lord teaches! And we will do this not of or from our-selves, but as if of ourselves, knowing that the Lord alone can inspire it, the Lord alone can direct it, and the Lord alone can empower it.” –  MDG January 20th, 2019.
• “Seek First the Kingdom of God:” –  Ten suggestions for putting the Lord First.  A New Year’s sermon by Rev. Michael Gladish at Mitchellville, MD, January 6th, 2019.
• Christmas Eve, 2018:  – Brief remarks on 4 Christmas Readings by Pastor Rev. Michael D. Gladish.
• Reflections on Prophecies from the Lord’s Birth to His Crucifixion:  – A brief sermon by Rev. Michael Gladish on December 9th, 2018.
• Spiritual Alchemy: – In medieval times people really thought they could change baser metals into silver or gold.  Of course they were wrong, but this Sunday we describe what vital truth is represented by this idea in Isaiah 60:15-18. ~ MDG
• Controlling our Emotions:  – Did you know that the understanding does NOT lead the will?  It is the other way around!  So how can we stay centered and avoid being overly reactive to other people and things? – MDG on Sunday November 18th, 2018.
• 18-10-14 Generalizations & Stereotypes in the Word – What can we make of the harsh things that are written throughout revelation about whole nations, peoples and churches? What does this mean and how is it useful? ~ MDG – Sunday October 14th, 2018.
• Matters of Life and Death: –  Following a series of doctrinal sermons, this Sunday we get down to the basics of what really matters – and it’s not just family! ~ MDG – Sunday October 7th, 2018.
• The Divinity of the Lord: –  Today I have ventured into some troubled waters about the way we see and understand God, and I make a case for seeing Him definitively as a Divine Man, i.e., male.  WHY?  Read on.  But apart from any controversy this may feed, I do hope it is useful in understanding what constitutes true masculinity, and why God appears as a man. – MDG September 23rd, 2018
• The Meaning, Use and Nature of Temptations:  – We all have them, but why?  And what can we do to ease the burden and gain the benefits of them?  – MDG Sunday September 9th, 2018.
• “Understanding Miracles” –  Examples from Scripture and real life
  will illustrate this sermon as we explore what the heavenly doctrine
  has to say about these phenomena. ~ MDG.  Sunday September 2nd, 2018.
• The Church in the Wilderness  –  As the church struggles in a “post-Christian” culture, or in some cases an “old Christian” culture, I thought it would be appropriate to address what the Writings have to say about this.  – MDG.  Sunday August 19, 2018.
• How to Read People’s Minds – or, “How to Judge Motives and Intentions.” – It’s the intent that matters.  Read this challenging sermon by Rev. Michael D. Gladish, delivered on Sunday August 12th, 2018.
• Chaos and the Leading of Providence: – “Before anything is reduced to order
  it is very common for everything to be reduced first of all to a state of confusion resembling
  chaos so that things that are not compatible may be separated from one another. And once these
  have been separated the Lord arranges them into order” (AC 842:3).   Open this sermon delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday July 29th and read more.
• Simulations of Love and Wisdom – “One of the great misconceptions of our age is that doing something nice or good when we don’t really feel like it is hypocrisy!”  Read this sermon and learn”Why Self-Compulsion is Useful and Not Hypocritical.”Delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on July 22nd, 2018.
• Rights and Responsibilities was the subject for the service at Mitchellville on July 15th, 2018.  The sermon by our pastor Rev. Michael D. Gladish, titled “Keeping it Real,” explores the concept of human rights, or entitlements, as distinct from responsibilities, and asks each of us to look within ourselves to see what we can do to make the world a better place.  Do we have a right, for example, to affordable health care, or is it a responsibility we have for one another?
• “A New Vision of the Lord” – In preparation for New Church Day, we consider the symbolism of the vision John saw in the first chapter of the book of Revelation and see why it is so instructive and inspirational. – MDG, June 10th, 2018.
• “And then they shall know …..”  – The prophecies of Ezekiel often repeat this phrase: “…. And then they shall know that I am the Lord their God.”  How? When? And what does this mean for US today? What does it take? – MDG May 27th, 2018
• Mothers’ Day 2018 – “Two Universal Atmospheres from the Lord”   – The love of having children and the love of protecting them.  How they relate to marriage, motherhood and the purpose of creation. – MDG on Sunday May 13, 2018.
• “Letting Go and Getting More:” – Sometimes our most fervent prayers go unanswered. Then what? How can we learn to let go of what isn’t working so that we can receive more of what does work? How can humility inform purpose? ~ MDG on Sunday April 29th. 2018.
• “For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory …” – the last in the occasional series on The Lord’s Prayer, delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday, April 15th. 2018.
• Easter Sunday 2018 – “The Awesome, Liberating Power of the Lord’s Love,” a family talk in 2 parts by Rev. Michael Gladish at Mitchellville on  April 1, 2018.
• Palm Sunday – is a commemoration of the events that took place when the Lord entered Jerusalem just before His crucifixion.  This sermon, delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on March 25th, 2018 focuses on what happened in the Temple’ on 
• “Forgive us our Debts, as we also Forgive Our Debtors” – continuing the occasional series on the Lotd’s Prayer, our topic this time is foregiveness – Rev. Michael D. Gladish, on Sunday March 4th, 2018.
• “Lead Us Not Into Temptation” –  Another sermon in the series on The Lord’s Prayer,  delivered on Sunday February 25th, 2018.  This sermon explores how and why the Lord permits temptations in our lives and leads us through them. – MDG
• “Jeremiah: the Prophet and his Prophecies” –  He was one of the most courageous characters in the Bible and yet we know very little of his work.  Read and learn, and be more inspired by what he has to teach us today. – MDG, February 18th, 2018.
• “Hallowed be Thy Name“ – Second in the series studying the Lord’s Prayer,  delivered on Sunday February 4th, 2018.
• “The Second Coming of Christ”  – A sermon to celebrate the birthday of Emanuel Swedenborg on January 29th which describes the true nature of the Lord’s Second Coming.  By Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday January 28th, 2018.
• “Our Father” –  Delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday January 14th 2018, this sermon describes the importance and inner meaning of the opening words of The Lord’s Prayer.  It is the first in a series on the Lord’s Prayer.

2017

• A Christmas Family Talk in two parts:
  • Part I – Christmas Eve, “The Tabernacle of God with Men.“
  • Part II – Christmas Day, “Why the Lord Was Born on Earth.“
• Thy Kingdom Come:  – Part of a series on the concepts of the Lord’s Prayer, this sermon studies the text “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done, as in Heaven so upon the Earth.”  Delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday, December 3rd, 2017.
• Thanksgiving for Opportunities to Serve:  –  A two-part sermon delivered at Mitchellville on Thanksgiving Day 2017.
• Our Daily Bread: – the first of an occasional series on the concepts in the Lord’s Prayer.  Delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on November 19th, 2017 at the beginning of Thanksgiving Week.
  There is no Bible Trivia:  This sermon delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday November 11, 2017 teaches us that what may appear to be insignificant details in the Word contain significant inner meaning and concludes with the following encouraging statement:  “Even if in our reading it is all we can do to marvel at the strangeness of it all and reflect on how incredibly deep and powerful the Word is, whether we understand it or not, it will be sufficient to connect us with the Lord and with the angels of heaven who do understand it, and whose influence upon us is strengthened through it.”
• Sin and Sickness: – what is the real connection between the two?  Sermon delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday October 29th,  2017
• Shame and Blame:  – Why do we do this to each other? What’s the point? Does the Lord ever shame anyone? It’s an important question, and the answer may not be obvious. Let’s see what the Word teaches us about it.  Rev, Michael D. Gladish October 22nd, 2017.
• Feeling Lost? – by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on October 15th, 2017.  Three parables in Luke 15 give us help: the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost (prodigal) son.
• The Church as Heaven on Earth: – Delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday October 1st, 2017. How could this be, given that we are all “works in progress”? It depends on how you define “church” and what you expect in heaven.    “…. heavenly love is such that it wills what is its own to be another’s; and consequently no one in heaven regards his own good in himself as good, unless it be also in another.”  (HH – 268)
• Rewards and Punishments after Death: –  Delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday September 24th, 2017.  “What could be more common in the world of religion than the concept of eternal consequences – rewards and punishments – for our actions in this world? And yet, what concept in religious thought could be more seriously misunderstood!”
• The Organization of Heaven:  – How the whole spiritual world is organized – in the human form.   Delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday September 17th, 2017 describes how societies in the heavens, and the hells, are organized to correspond exactly with the functional attributes of the human form in this world.
• Associate Spirits: – The first of a series about the spiritual world, this sermon, delivered on Sunday September 10th starts with the well-known Jacob’s Ladder text –“And [Jacob] dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” ~ Genesis 28:12
• The Life of Religion – Judgement: – Fifth in the summer series, delivered on Sunday August 27th, this sermon is about the very important and topical subject of how we should or should not judge.  “The question is, will we judge according to the appearance or will we judge with good, that is, with ‘just judgment’?” 
• The Life of Religion – Repentance: – Fourth in the summer series, delivered on Sunday August 20th, this sermon describes what is involved in actual repentance.
• The Life of Religion – Conscience:  – For the third in our summer series this year, the topic is conscience and how conscience affects what we do.  Delivered by Rev. Michael Gladish on August 6th. 2017.
• The Life of Religion – Faith: – The second in our summer series, this very interesting sermon on the subject of FAITH, about which much has been written, was delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday July 30th, 2017.
• The Life of Religion – Charity:–    Our theme for the summer series is the life of religion.   This sermon, the first in the series, was delivered by our Pastor, Rev. Michael D. Gladish on July 23rd, 2017.
• “Render to Caesar the Things that are Caesar’s  and to God the Things that are God’s”    -” As we approach the celebration of our country’s declaration of independence 241 years ago it is appropriate to give a little thought to the challenges we all face in reconciling our spiritual duties with our civic duties, especially when they seem to clash in some way.”  Sermon and prayers delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on July 2nd, 2017.
• One Church from Seven – In explanation of the inner meaning of the letters to the seven churches described in the opening chapters of Revelation, The Apocalypse Revealed takes note of the spiritual characteristics represented by each church, including all their shortcomings of doctrine, worship and life, and concludes with this statement: “All these are called to the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem” (AR 68). The invitation is repeated even after the description of Laodicea, which is listed as the worst of them all and severely criticized (AR 153b). What can we make of this, and how does it apply to our lives individually and as New Church members?
• Gideons Transformation –  Delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday May 28th, 2017,   the first half of this sermon is on lessons we can learn from the literal sense of the story of Gideon (Judges 6-8), and the second half is an exposition of the spiritual sense for more interior application.
• The Challenges of Motherhood – The talk given at Mitchellville for Mothers’ Day May 14th 2017.  (In large print for easy reading).
• How, and What it Means to “Rest in the Lord” –  Delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish on Sunday May 7th, 2017, this sermon is based  on the text:-  “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” ~ Matthew 11:28
• Patience – Delivered by Rt. Rev. Brian Keith at Mitchellville on Sunday April 30, 2017.  “By your patience, possess your souls.”  Luke 21:19
• The Lord’s Crucifixion – A Holy Supper compilation and address for “Good Friday, Mitchellville, MD, April 14th, 2017
• Palm Sunday 2017 – Delivered at Mitchellville on April 9th, 2017 , this sermon studies the issue of Divine Foresight and Providence in the events of Palm Sunday
• Judgement and Mercy – “Very ironically, one of the things a lot of people criticize about the church is the fact that they feel criticized when they attend church functions. Or, to put it another way, one of the major judgments people make about the church is that they feel judged by the members.”   Read More.
• Building Community in the Church – A challenging talk delivered by our pastor for the worship service on Sunday March 26th, 2017.
• The Covenant with Noah:  The Four Seasons – This sermon, delivered by our Pastor on Sunday March 19th, examines the internal sense of the text – “During all the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22).
• Trusting Our Sense Experience – Delivered by Rev. Michael Gladish for Holy Supper worship service on March 7, 2017.
• The Purpose and Value of Life in This World – Delivered by Rev. Michael Gladish during the worship service on Sunday, February 18th 2017.   “In summary, life in this world, whether pleasant or troubled, can be described in one word, and that word is opportunity. Naturally, materially, we are often bound and limited, but spiritually everything we experience can be used for our benefit. Let us use it wisely, and support one another to the best of our ability as we do.”
• “Be Fruitful and Multiply; Fill the Earth and Subdue it…” – Delivered by Rev. Michael D. Gladish for the worship service on January 22nd, 2017, this sermon discusses the first commandments given to mankind.  “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28).
•  Counting the People – Delivered by Rev. Michael Gladish during the worship service on January 15th. What is the real meaning and purpose of num­bering in the Word, and why is it important in our present day lives?  Read this sermon and find out.
• First, Do No Harm  – A sermon for New Year’s Day 2017 by Rev. Michael Gladish.

2016

• The Joy of the Shepherds and the Gifts of the Wise Men – A family talk by Rev. Michael Gladish delivered on Christmas Day.
• Darkness and Light in the Advent – A family talk by Rev. Michael Gladish delivered on Christmas Eve 2016.
• Our Sensory Experience of the Lord: – Delivered on Sunday December .4th, 2016 for the Holy Supper worship service.  “… Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me…’” (John 14:6-11).  This sermon shows how our experience of the holy supper can enhance our connection with the Lord.
• Principles of Marriage  –  Delivered on Sunday November 20th 2016, this sermon expands on  the text:  Jesus said, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man put asunder.”  Matt. 19:6
• Evil and Falsity Used for Good – by Rev. Michael Gladish for the worship service on October 30th.  If man ….  “were not allowed to think in accord with the love in his will, which is hereditarily implanted in him, that love would remain shut in and never be seen by him. A love of evil which does not become apparent is like an enemy in ambush, like matter in an ulcer, like poison in the blood, or corruption in the breast, which cause death when they are kept shut in. But when a person is permitted to think the evils of his life’s love, even to intend doing them, they are cured by spiritual means as diseases are by natural means.” – DP #281(2).
• The Power of Sharing Personal Struggles and Insight – by Rev. Michael Gladish for the worship service on October 2nd, 2016.
• Nourishment and the Holy Supper – by Rev. Michael Gladish for the Holy Supper Service on Sunday September 254th, 2016.  ” …. the holy supper is an introduction into heaven.” (TCR #719)
• Summer Series on “Our Connection to Heaven”
  • Part 5 – “The Heavenly Life” –  this sermon  by Rev. Michael Gladish for the Worship Service on Sunday September 4th, 2016, observes that ‘heaven is a state of mind and not a place in the usual sense of the word’ and describes the  life of heaven where all are ‘in the delight of their work and labor from a love of use, and no one  from a love of self or of gain.’ (HH 393)
  • Correspondences  – “everything we see, hear, taste, touch or smell in this natural world is symbolic of something in the spiritual world; ….      it is the physical expression of something spiritual, and if it is functioning in an orderly way it is an expression of something heavenly.”   Delivered by Rev. Michael Gladish on Sunday August 21st. 2016.
  • Bringing Heaven to Earth – about the Church as one form of our connection to heaven; delivered by Rev. Michael Gladish on Sunday August 7th. 2016.
  • Our Need to Know about Heaven   – the importance of the New Church revelation about the spiritual world.  July 24th. 2016.
  •   Family Talk on Influx and Associate Spirits – delivered on July 10th, 2016 for the family service.
• True (and False) Patriotism –   some reflections from the doctrines on how we can truly love our countries – any countries!   Delivered by Rev. Michael Gladish on July 3rd, 2016.
•   Amazing Features of the Holy City – delivered for the Family Service on New Church Day June 19th, 2016.
• “Focus on the Lord”  –  A sermon for the Holy Supper by Rev. Michael Gladish, June 5th, 2016
• The Conquest of Canaan by Israel – By Rev. Michael Gladish May 15th, 2016 explores the “whole concept of what might be called murder and mayhem in the Bible” and concludes with “some serious lessons from it for our personal lives.”
• The Life of a Mother  – By Rev. Michael Gladish, these are the notes for the Family Service talk on Mothers’ Day May 8th, 2016
• Light of the World  – By Rev. Michael Gladish, May 1st. 2016
• Salt of the Earth  – by Rev. Michael Gladish, April 24th, 2016
• Signs that Will Follow Those Who Believe – by Rev. Michael Gladish, April 3rd. 2016
• THE DIVINE TRINITY
  • Part 1: “Our Heavenly Father” –  Sunday February 21st. 2016
  • Part 2: “The Son of God” –  Sunday February 28th. 2016
  • Part 3: “The Holy Spirit”- Sunday March 6th, 2016

• Taking Responsibility  – by Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss, Jr., on Sunday January 31, 2016
• Acts Epistles and the Word   –  Sunday January 24th, 2016
• Letting Go Without Giving Up  – delivered on Sunday January 10th, 2016 in preparation for the Holy Supper
• The Past, the Future & the Present, – delivered on Sunday January 3rd. 2016;

More about Sermons:

Here on the website, rather than include the hundreds of sermons that are available, we have picked a representative sampling under various headings that may interest you.   Click here for more sermons  preached at the Washington New Church then on any heading and it will take you to those selections.  Write or call if you are interested in a topic you don’t see here.  If we can’t provide a sermon on it we can almost certainly send you some information in another format.

For  audio or text sermons from other General Church ministers click  under “Related Links” in the sidebar to your right..