Sermon:           I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth

Theme:            God’s act of creation was an extension of God’s nature and love which is fulfilled in our love and sharing in creation.         

Purpose:          To focus on the nature of God as loving and creative.         

Scriptures:       Genesis 1:1-5, 31        God created the heavens earth, Let there be light, and all was good.

                        John 1:1-5       In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God.

Questions:

Why did God create the heavens and the earth? What about the Big Bang? How was God created? (who is God’s mom?)  What is heaven? In what ways do we see God’s nature as being loving and caring through creation? What does it mean that God created everything good? What difference does it make that the manner of creation is through the Word of God? How do we relate to that Word of God? What is our role in taking part in God’s creation? How do we understand that God’s work of creation separates what is good out of chaos?

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Theme:            Our confidence and joy come from seeing the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness shared with the world around us.     

Purpose:          The congregation will seek to participate with God’s work of transforming and making things right in the world.      

Scriptures:       Ephesians 1:3-14         God has made his work complete in adopting us as children at the right appointed time.

                        Luke 17:20-37 Pharisees ask where the Kingdom of God is. Jesus warns that the kingdom comes unseen and unexpected.

Questions:

Why don’t the Catholics say: “Thine is the Kingdom and power?”  Is it they want to get out of church faster?  What is the glory of God?  “Forever?”  Seems a little much.  There’s got to be an end somewhere.  How do we know that the Kingdom of God is coming? What does it mean when Jesus says that the Pharisees cannot see the Kingdom of God? Why is God’s reign a monarchy and not a president or prime minister? How do we understand God’s reign as a King? How are we supposed to understand Jesus’ warning about the kingdom coming unexpectedly?

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Theme:            We trust God to enable us to grow in wisdom and strength through our experiences rather than fear unknowns that are out of our control.      

Purpose:          The congregation will recognize that we come together to seek strength from God to grow and be wise.

Scriptures:       James 1:2-4, 12-21      Count it all joy when you experience trials. Let your temptations lead to the implanted word that has the sower to save your souls. Matthew 4:1-11           Jesus is tempted in the wilderness.

Questions:

Why would God want to lead us into temptation? What role does temptation play for us? What difference does it make that we pray together that we be strengthened in the midst of our temptations? Are we focused on our temptations as individuals or the whole church? Do we create our own temptations or are they sent to us by God or by the devil? How would we be lead to evil? How do we come to trust God with our vulnerable appetites and weaknesses? Why are temptations such a big part of our lives? Why can’t we pray that God just make us strong without having to go through trials and temptations?

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Theme:            We are able to enjoy the freedom of forgiveness as we practice releasing others of our accounts and grievances, and in that way are released of feelings of guilt or remorse.

Purpose:          The congregation will explore their practices of letting go of the faults of others so that they may enjoy release from guilt and defensiveness.

Scriptures:       Colossians 3:12-17      As God’s chosen ones, clothe yourself with compassion, love, and forgive one another.

                        Matthew 18:21-35      Parable of the unforgiving servant.

Questions:

Why do we pray together that our sins be forgiven as we forgive others? What does forgiving others have to do with our own forgiveness? What if we are still angry? Does forgiving mean we have to forget what happened before? What do we need to have forgiven for us together rather than individually? Do we have to forgive all sins or can we just forgive ones that aren’t so bad? Why do some say trespasses, and some say debtors, while we pray to that our sins be forgiven.

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Theme:            We find joy and satisfaction in trusting God to provide for all of our needs as we grow in wisdom and gratitude.          

Purpose:          The congregation will explore gratitude as a way of finding satisfaction and security in their lives.

Scriptures:       John 6:30-35   Jesus says: I am the bread of Life.

Luke 11:3, 5-13           God will respond as we persistently ask, search, and knock.

Questions: What do we mean by “daily bread?” Was Jesus being literal or is this referring to something more? What does it mean for us to live from day to day, depending on God’s provision for us? What is the relationship between praying for “daily bread” and the Manna that the Hebrew people received in the wilderness? Why can’t God just give us all we need for a longer period of time? What does this have to do with faith?

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Theme:            We participate in a relationship in which God’s Kingdom and intention for humanity is experienced through our way of living and treating one another.   

Purpose:          The Congregation will seek to see ways in which they may share God’s heavenly realm in their relationships.

Scriptures:       Revelation 21:1-7        A new heaven and a new earth. God will wipe away every tear.

                        Luke 17:20-37 Some will be taken and some will not in the coming judgment.

Questions: What is the relationship between things happening on heaven and earth? How can we have a heavenly presence on earth? How do we participate with God and with one another in bringing about the reign of God on earth? Do we really want God’s plan for earth or are we still serving our own egos? How do we learn to pray this with confidence that we want God’s plans?

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Theme:            We submit our will to listen to God’s will and find joy in aligning our desires with God’s will in the world around us.

Purpose:          The congregation will explore the process of humbling selfishness in order to find satisfaction and joy in God’s will.

Scriptures:       Romans 8:18-30          We do not consider the sufferings of the present times worth comparing what will be revealed. All things work together for Good for those in Christ Jesus.

                        Luke 12:13-31 Parable of the wealthy man, seek first the Kingdom of God.

Questions: How do we know what God’s will really is? Is God’s will more than that we live by the laws and rules of the bible or is there something more? Who decides what the will of God is on earth? In the flood, God willed that an event that killed a lot of people, does that mean that God will for bad things to happen in the world today? What difference does it mean that we pray together for God’s will? What do we need to do as God’s people together in order to be faithful to God’s will?

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Theme:            We need to experience the gift of sacred space and holiness in order to know God’s presence in a powerful and mysterious way.   

Purpose:          The congregation will explore where they experience what is sacred and holy in their lives.

Scriptures:       Hebrews 10:19-25       We are cleansed to enter together into worship.

Acts 2:1-21      The Holy Spirit pours out on all people, enabling glorifying God in every language.

Questions: What does Pentecost mean to us today? What does it mean to share the Holy Spirit in our lives together? What is the holiness of God? What does it mean to hold God’s name in holiness? Does that mean we should not swear or is it something more? In what ways does God’s holiness affect our perspective about the world around us? How is it important that we have some things sacred together? How does God’s Holy Spirit renew what is sacred in our relationships with one another? How does the holiness of God’s Name and Pentecost draw us together as one people?

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Theme:          We come to a relationship with a heavenly father that provides healing and becomes our source of confidence in the world.

Purpose:         The congregation will consider their experience with “father” and will seek to know God as a healthy heavenly father.

Scriptures:     Romans 8:31-39           Spirit of God intercedes, Abba Father.

                        Matthew 6:5-8            Your Father knows what you need before you pray.

Questions: Who is our “Heavenly Father?” What does it mean to call God “Father?” How does our relationship with our earthly father affect our relationship with God as father? Is God really masculine or is it a parenting relationship? How do we relate to God as a healthy father – child relationship? How do we learn to find joy in our sharing God as our Father together? What do we need to imagine or picture in our mind to find God’s presence comforting and reassuring?

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Theme:            God calls us to be in fellowship in order to grow in faith together.  

Purpose:          The congregation will understand their need for one another in relationship together.    

Scriptures:       1 Corinthians 12:12-17 Just as the body is one and has many members, so we are all one body.

                        Luke 11:1-4 The disciples ask Jesus to tach them to pray.

Questions:

Why do we say the Lord’s Prayer every Sunday? Why do we say “our” instead of “my?” Where does the Lord’s prayer come from? Why is it different in Luke than in Matthew? What difference does it make that we say it in worship? What difference does it make when we worship together?

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