Sermon:           The Fellowship Of God

Theme:            We are in fellowship with God who is a fellowship of diversity, and love.

Purpose:          The congregation will increase in appreciation for relationships and the complexities that take place in our fellowship with other as well as with God.

Scriptures:        Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 Wisdom sings of its creation

Romans 5:1-5  Since we are justified by faith we grow in Character and hope.

John 16:12-15 The Spirit of Truth will glorify Jesus.

Questions:

What difference does the Trinity make to us as Christians? How do we understand God as being with diversity and fellowship? How does that influence our seeking to be the image of God together? What does it mean for us to have wisdom from God? What role does humility play in understanding and receiving the Trinity? What role does wisdom play in being in fellowship and relationship with God and with others? What difference does the health of our relationship with other people have to do with our relationship with God?

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Sermon:           “The Moving Spirit of God”

Theme:            The Holy Spirit moves us to reach out to all of the world in love and appreciation as we share Christ’s love without fear.

Purpose:          The congregation will reconsider fears and discomforts with strangers.

Scriptures:       Romans 8:14-17          We are confident as the spirit makes us heirs of God and join heirs with Christ.

Acts 2:1-21      The Holy Spirit transforms the disciples and gives them a message for all nations.

Questions:

What does Pentecost mean to us today? What languages do we need to be speaking today in order that people can hear and respond to God’s love for the world? What fears keep our faith locked up and hidden? What kind of fire is needed in order to move us out to the places where people are longing to know God in new ways? What did it mean to have so many languages spoken among so many who were interested in knowing God’s love and blessing? How do we open ourselves to the same experience of being empowered and sent out today?

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Sermon:           “The Water of Life”

Theme:            We receive the love of Christ praying for us and over us as we walk through the challenges and trials that we face together and as the Body of Christ.

Purpose:          The congregation will be refreshed and encouraged by the knowledge of Christ’s Jesus’ love and prayers for them.

Scriptures:       Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21     Jesus promises the healing of the Tree of Life and the water of life to refresh them.

John 17:20-26 Jesus prays for the unity and strength of the disciples and all who come after them.

Questions:

What does it mean to us that Jesus is praying for us? How do we experience that love of Jesus in everyday life? Do we think of Jesus as caring for us and advocating for us? What does the “Water of life” mean? What do we think of as being invited to come, and to respond to God’s love with gratitude? Are we aware of all that Jesus has done on our behalf to heal us and quench our thirst? What do we need to do in order to feel the love and comfort that God is seeking to offer us through Jesus?

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Sermon:           “God’s Desire to Care for Us”

Theme:            The intention of God’s relationship with us is to free us from sorrow and fear, and to establish our hearts in healthy relationships.

Purpose:          The congregation will take on an appreciation of God’s intention for us that we be in a loving, healthy relationship.

Scriptures:       Revelation 21:22-22:5 The gift of God’s fellowship will be the light and peace of God’s people.

John 14:23-29 The Advocate will teach and bring to remembrance what is needed.

Questions:

What does Jesus mean when he promises the “Advocate” will make known to us what we need to know? How far does that promise extend to us? What do we have to do in order to experience that type of knowledge and wisdom? What is Revelation telling us about the relationship between ourselves and God? What does it mean that God will be our light? In what ways can God be our light today? What does it mean to discern direction from God? Does God function like some sort of “Ouija board” or is God’s direction for us something different? How does our free will and God’s direction work together?

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The Good Shepherd will wipe away every tear and bring peace to the sheep.

Sermon:           “The Good Shepherd”

Theme:            We listen to the voice of Jesus and make following faithfully our focus so that we may fully enjoy the love of God.

Purpose:          To encourage us to sacrifice ego and trust God’s guidance.

  Scriptures:       Psalm 23          The Lord is my shepherd.

John 10:22-30 Jesus says: “My sheep hear my voice and they follow.”

Questions:

What does it mean that Jesus is “The Good Shepherd?” In what ways are we called to be like sheep? What is comforting about knowing that Jesus will guide us? Are we prepared to submit ourselves and follow? Or are we wanting God to be our servant and to do our will?  What does it mean to “hear” the shepherd’s voice? Are we doing what we need to do in order to listen to Christ? Are we willing to let Jesus guide us through the valley of darkness? Or are we basing our faith on getting our own way?

Followed by Congregational Meeting to meet with Rev. Bill Blank of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center

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Through the risen Christ the veil of our personal egos, our fears, and our sins are all stripped away. Through the risen Christ we are no longer blind. Christ sheds light on the truth of our lives and the source of our salvation.

Sermon:           Jesus Asks: “Do You Love Me?”

Theme:            As we allow our ego and control to be stripped away we are able to be fully part of the compassion and love of Christ.

Purpose:           The congregation will focus on releasing their sense of power and control in order to be a part of the flow of Christ’s love.

Scriptures:       Revelation 5:11-14      The worship of “The Lamb that was Slaughtered” in heaven.

John 21:1-19   Jesus commissions Peter and the disciples to “care for the lambs” of God.

Questions:

When we claim to love Jesus, what is expected of us? How is the love for God related to love for the people around us? If we love God, what is our behavior towards the people created in God’s image going to be? How is Jesus’ love demonstrated towards Peter and the rest of the disciples after they had failed and been unfaithful? Can we truly worship God and be judgmental towards other Christians? What does it mean to submit our attitudes and beliefs to Christ?

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Sermon:           “We Shall Believe”

Theme:            God invites us to explore and struggle with our doubts so that we can be in a fully joyful relationship with Christ that involves our emotions and our minds.

Purpose           The congregation will explore their faith and feel joyful about living in the midst of doubt.

Scriptures:       Acts 5:27-32    Peter and the Apostles give account of Jesus to the High Priest and Sanhedrin.

John 20:19-31 Jesus appears to Thomas and breaths upon them the Holy Spirit.

Questions:

How did you come to believe in Jesus as more than simply a “historical figure?” What does it take for Jesus to be someone who matters in our lives today? What steps do we have to go through in order to experience the resurrection? How do we move from “believing” to living our lives based on the knowledge of Jesus?  What is your testimony or story of what it means to have encountered the resurrection? What would you tell the officials has been changed as a result of God’s gift of Christ’s raising from the dead?  Are you like Thomas, who needed to have an encounter with Chris that opened his mind and heart to believing?

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Sermon:           “Open the Gates and Let Christ In”

Theme:            Christ comes into our lives to open a new opportunity for righteousness and peace, if we will let go of our “inner Pharisees” and welcome the cleansing which will lead to our healing.

Purpose:          The congregation will welcome Christ’s presence to renew and open new avenues for healing.

Scriptures:       Luke 19:28-40 Jesus enters Jerusalem Triumphantly on a colt.

Philippians 2:5-11       Have the same mind that was in Christ, that he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.

Questions:

What does it mean to fully invite Jesus into our lives? What does submission to Jesus mean to us today? Do we really want to submit our grudges, our grievances, and our hurts to Jesus? How do we open ourselves to cleansing of the remainder from the anger and memories of the past? What does it mean to have the mind of Christ which is willing to suffer humility for the sake of peace? What difference is there between humility for Christ and making ourselves a target for further abuse?

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Sermon:           “Suffering: The Search for ‘Why?'”

Theme:            In the midst of our pain and discomfort we need a purpose and reason in order to work toward healing and peace.

Purpose:          The congregation will understand the need for disciplines that bringing meaning and purpose to their own and other’s suffering

Scriptures:       Philippians 1:21-30     Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel, living and suffering have purpose of serving God.

Matthew 5:10-15        Blessed are you when you are persecuted, a light should be allowed to shine clearly for all to see.

Questions:

How do we deal with suffering that seems to have no meaning or purpose? What is it about the suffering of the young, or those who seem undeserving of pain that is so hard for us spiritually? What difference does it make that suffering have a meaning to it? In what ways can we participate in finding meaning in suffering? What is the difference between seeking meaning in the midst of pain or suffering and trying to justify bad things happening?

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