Sermon:          “The Poor are Rich”

Theme:            Our real source of joy, happiness, and peace are not found in material possessions but in the fullness of loving relationships through Christ.

Purpose:         The congregation will reflect upon their own values and concerns.

Scriptures:      Job 23:1-17     Job complains that he cannot find God and feels alone.

Mark 10:17-31 A rich man asks Jesus how to inherit the kingdom and is saddened by Jesus’ answer.

Questions:

What does it mean for us to be truly rich in the blessings of God? What is the wealth we know through gratitude, and through our relationship with Christ? What possessions or priorities keep us from enjoying the peace of God’s love and care for us? How do we separate ourselves from God through worrying about things that do not matter? How is it that we become obsessed with our problems and possessions rather than enjoying the gifts of God that surround us?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

10/7/2018       The smallest are greatest.      Communion, Peacemaking Sunday

Sermon:          “Real Faith: Called to Care For All Children.”

Theme:            Our relationship with Christ calls us to look past labels and controversies, to focus on the needs of the children and vulnerable of the world around us.

Purpose:         The congregation will examine their bias and prejudice in order to see a call to care for those who are in need.

Scriptures:      Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 Jesus reigns on high, and calls us to suffer in order to serve all children, brothers and sisters in the world.

Mark 10:2-16  Jesus welcomes the children, the lowest in society, and calls them great.

Questions:

What is our responsibility to those who are least powerful in our society? What impact does it make on us in our relationship with Christ and growth as Christians when we pay attention to people who are less influential or fortunate than ourselves? How do we imitate Christ’s work of being compassionate for the people who are in need of love and hope? How do we make our mission of reaching out in love a central part of our daily life in Christ?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon:           Real Faith: Real Strength and Meaning”

Theme:            Through mature Christian faith we have strength to create peace which overcomes the suffering and loss in the world around us.

Purpose:          The congregation will commit to a deeper, wiser faith and renounce the stumbling blocks of envy and grievances.

Scriptures:       James 5:13-20 Prayer is a healing balm for physical suffering and broken communities.

Mark 9:38-50  Whoever is not against us is for us, do not create stumbling blocks.

Questions:

What does it mean to place a “stumbling block” before one of God’s little ones? What causes people who are fragile in faith to stumble? How do we take seriously the large number of people who have had unpleasant experiences as a result of feeling judged or attacked by religious people? How do we develop relationships that are authentic, caring, and healing? How can we become a source of hope and healing for the many people struggling to find direction?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon:           “Real Faith: Wisdom and Humility”

Theme:            Strength and peace flow from the maturity and wisdom of releasing our need for control and importance.

Purpose:          The congregation will examine themselves in order to learn and grow in humility.

Scriptures:       James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a   Gentleness and wisdom are keys to contentment.

Mark 9:30-37  Disciples arguing over who is greatest in the kingdom of God.

Questions:

What does it mean to be humble? What are the benefits that humility creates in a wise Christian? In what ways does humility enable Christians to focus on what is truly meaningful and important rather than to be distracted by their own insecurity? In what ways does humility give the wisdom to see our challenges differently? What does it mean to us that Jesus taught that whoever is greatest is the servant of all?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon:           “Real Faith: Choosing Our Words”

Theme:            Faith calls us to respond to God’s call for caring rather than react to our own past issues or fears.

Purpose:          The congregation will examine their reactive nature and seek to live compassionately.

Scriptures:       James 3:1-12   Taming the tongue

Mark 8:27-38  If any want to become followers of Christ, let them take up their own cross.

Questions:

What did Jesus mean when he told the people to take up their own cross and follow? What does it mean to us that we worship one who suffered on behalf of others? What difference does practicing the love of Christ make in the way we speak to, or about other people? How can we learn to be more thoughtful before responding to the issues and problems we face?  What does James mean when he speaks of the tongue as a “restless evil, full of deadly poison?”  Do we take seriously the dangers of the way in which we speak? Do we recognize how our language affects our relationship with God?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon:           “Real Faith Really Acts”

Theme:            Our mature faith is shown in that we show our caring in ways that make a difference and bring healing.

Purpose:          The congregation will focus on practical acts of compassion not to impress.

Scriptures:       James 2:1-13   The body matters: knowledge of Christ demands that we be practical in our love for neighbor.

Mark 7:24-37  The healing of the Syrophoenician (privileged person) woman’s daughter.

Questions:

Who has been left out of the blessings and abundance around us? What is our responsibility to people who are in need? What difference does it make if we discriminate for or against particular groups of people? What difference does economic class make in the way we treat people? How does that affect our relationship with God? What can we do to be more open and accepting of people who we perceive to be affluent, and people we perceive to be poor or needy?  What does James mean when he says that partiality is a sin?  What is wrong about favoring one group over another?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon:           “God’s Call on Us”

Theme:            We are called to be people who show we have Christ’s love in us through the way we are thoughtful and kind in our manner with our neighbors.

Purpose:          The congregation will examine what is important about their relationship with Christ and treatment of others.

Scriptures:       James 1:17-27 Quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, be doers of the word.

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23        What makes us clean or unclean.

Questions:

Do we worry more about traditions and other people’s behaviors than about our own relationship with God? What does Jesus mean when he quotes: ““This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; ⁷ in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.” Do we put more emphasis on things that do not matter or on doing the things that show God’s love and compassion? What does James mean when he says: “²⁷Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world?” Do we do a good job of practicing our religion in ways that demonstrates God’s love?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon:           “The Unseen Neighbor”

Theme:            Those who have grown in faith and become wise will see those who are suffering and in need in their midst.

Purpose:          The congregation will begin to seek to set aside personal issues so as to see the neighbors in need.

Scriptures:       Romans 12:9-21          The Marks of a true Christian – love and forgiveness.

Luke 16:19-31 The Rich man and Lazarus, the knowledge of God means noticing our neighbors.

Questions:

What is God’s expectation for our compassion and care for people who are less fortunate than ourselves? What difference does sympathy and generosity play in our relationship with God and with one another? Can we be healthy Christians if we don’t care about the needs of others? What does it mean to “extend hospitality to strangers?” What happens to us spiritually if we don’t develop the ability to be compassionate to others?  What happens if we deepen our ability to care for others without fear or anxiousness about our own needs?

Click HERE to listen to the message

Sermon:           “But My Neighbor is a …..”

Theme:            Faithfulness to Christ calls us to see Christ in our neighbor’s heart rather than judge his or her behaviors.

Purpose:          The congregation will seek to let go of judgments of others.

Scriptures:       Colossians 3:12-17      Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

John 4:5-42     Jesus and the woman of Samaria at the well.

Questions:

How does God call us to relate to those who have suffered humiliation and discrimination in their community? How do we find ways to show Christ’s love to people who have been condemned or suffered shame? In what ways does God call us to be people of grace and acceptance? What difference will it make to the world when we practice this Christ-like love and compassion? How do we become people who stand out in the world for our ability to bring healing and hope?

Click HERE to listen to the message

Sermon:           “Do Not Judge the Neighbors”

Theme:            We are called to be people who practice love and acceptance, showing the grace and mercy of God.

Purpose:          The congregation will focus on acceptance of those who are different.

Scriptures:       Colossians 3:1-11        There is no longer Greek nor Jew, slave nor free, set your mind on the things that are above.

Matthew 7:1-5            Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

Questions:

What does holding grudges and prejudices end up costing us emotionally and spiritually? What happens to our relationship with God If we hold onto thoughts of judgment and condemnation? What is the cost to our fellowship together if we support suspicion, hostility, and bitterness? How do we learn to be people who are free from intolerance and condemnation of others? What leads us to practicing “wrath, malice and slander?” What leads us to focus on the things that divide us? In what ways can we be healed as we serve to bring healing to our communities?

Click HERE to listen to the message.