Sermon:           Christians Share their Faith

Theme:            Christians do not attempt to change other people but share their love and knowledge of God as a gift of hope and peace to everyone they meet.

Purpose:          We explore what it means to bring Christ to the people around us with love and respect.

Scriptures:       2 Thessalonians 3:6-13           The disciples worked to not be a burden to the people.

                        Isaiah 65:17-25            Promise that God will create and new heavens and new earth and will create a place of health, healing, and joy for the people.

Questions:

What does it mean to us that God’s intention is to create a new heaven and new earth? How does our commission to share Christ’s message of love flow from a work of healing and transforming our world? What difference does it make whether a person believes in God acting in supernatural ways that are outside of our responsibility, or whether we believe that God is working through us to bring healing and renewal to the world? What is each person’s labor in the work of restoring our community and our nation?  How do we motivate one another to labor on God’s behalf?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon:           Christians Live Resurrection Hope

Theme:            Christians anticipate that their faith will face difficult times.

Purpose:          For the congregation to consider how they might practice their prayer, mediation, and learning so as to have strength for difficult times.

Scriptures:       1 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17  Paul and the others did not come to deceive or “sell” the gospel but came to share what they had received themselves.

                        Luke 20:27-38 Sadducees question Jesus about the resurrection, but God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

Questions:

What difference does the resurrection mean to our perspective and values for this life? How does God’s promise of resurrection cause us to see suffering and injustice differently? In what ways do we trust in God’s righteousness over and above the values of our earthly life? How do we become people who endure trials and hardships without being overwhelmed or discouraged? What do we know about God’s promises of justice and righteousness, and how does that affect our thinking about this life and the life to come?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Theme:            Intolerance, prejudice, unforgiveness and racism are incompatible with a healthy relationship with Christ and call Christians to constant work to be healthy.

Purpose:          The need to withhold judgment will be explored.

Scriptures:       2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18           Paul has kept the faith and accepts his circumstances even though he has been abandoned by some he thought were his friends.

                        Luke 18:9-14   Parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying for forgiveness.

Questions:

What does it mean to be accepting of people who are different from ourselves? In what ways do we participate and live in systems that are discriminatory and oppressive? What is the difference between being racist and living in systems that are unjust? How do we become open to seeing our place and role in causing problems in which we live? What can we do to share Christ’s love in ways that are healing and renewing?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Theme:            As Christians we seek to know God in our own experience and understanding, through a process of questioning and seeking.

Purpose:          The people in the congregation will grow in their understanding of what it means to struggle with their faith and beliefs.

Scriptures:       Genesis 2:22-31          God created man and women, made them to be one flesh.

                        Luke 18:1-8     Parable of unjust judge moved by persistence.

Questions:

What is the experience of growing in our faith and in our relationships as Christians? How do we deal with situations that are challenging and confusing? What does it mean for our faith to persevere? What do we need to do in order to be faithful, and yet open to growth and change? How do we know the difference between being rigid and being too easily swayed? How do we deal with living faithfully when we are in times of faith transition and doubts?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Theme:            The people of God work with the circumstances in which they live for peace and healing.

Purpose:          Christians are adaptable and practical in their faith, which means that they seek what is best for themselves and the people who are around them.

Scriptures:       Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7      Work to accomplish what is best in the city of your exile.

                        2 Timothy 2:8-15         Endure in the midst of hardships, Christ is faithful to us, do not get caught up in meaningless controversy.

Questions:

How do Christians respond to situations in which their faith conflicts with the culture and practices around them? How do Christians manage to live their faith without being obstinate, conceited, or arrogant? How do we keep our values and priorities in a world that pushes for conformity? How do we “stand out” for Christ without being rude or inconsiderate? How do we seek what is best for the land in which we live? What does it mean to be strangers in a strange land?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Theme:            Meaningless conflicts, disrespect, and broken relationships are signs of immaturity and a lack of submission to Christ. Christians instead practice behaviors that support healthy family relationships.

Purpose:          The congregation will seek to support discipleship practices in their family.

Scriptures:       2 Timothy 1:1-14         Do not be ashamed of the testimony of God; a faith that Timothy received through his grandmother and mother.

                        Luke 17:5-10   Faithfulness creates faithfulness.

Questions:

How is our relationship with Christ reflected in our family and other close relationships? In what ways does our knowledge of God enhance and enable us to be healthy and joyful in our relationships? In what ways are conflicts and family issues a result of failing to practice healthy forgiveness, compassion, kindness, and grace? In what ways do family struggles arise from other issues and problems that our faith and practice do not enable us to address well? How does our relationship with God assist us in those times of irreconcilable conflicts?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon:           I Believe in Eternal Life          

Theme:            We rejoice in a relationship with God that puts our whole life span in a context of love and grace, rather than focusing on physical limitations and loss.           

Purpose:          The congregation will explore what it means to be more than a body.       

Scriptures:       1 Corinthians 15:12-20           The resurrection is the source of our hope.

                        Luke 20:27-38 The Sadducees question Jesus about the resurrection, Jesus affirms that the resurrection will be the gift of eternal life.

Questions:

Do I really have to learn to play the harp? Is it just going to be like worship or do we get to do something fun? Is my back still going to hurt? Do I have to spend eternity with that person I can’t forgive? Or will it matter? If I die in an embarrassing way are people going to laugh at me the whole time? Will we be reunited with our loved ones? Will we be at peace? How do we come to see ourselves as more than a body? What difference does it make to us to believe in a resurrection? What can we do to believe in what we can neither prove or disprove?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon:           I Believe in Forgiveness          

Theme:            We are the people who live and practice a message of forgiveness that flows from God through all people who are willing to participate in God’s grace and healing mercy.         

Purpose:          The congregation will explore the process and work of forgiveness.           

Scriptures:       Luke 24:42-52 Jesus commissions the disciples to forgive sins and proclaim God’s love.

                        Colossians 3:1-4, 12-17           If you have been raised with Christ, seek what is above. Practice forgiveness.

Questions:

Does forgiveness mean I have to like someone who wronged me? I believe in forgiveness but I’m still angry?  What if I keep forgiving someone for the same thing? How many times do I have to do that? Is there a time limit or can we wait twenty years or so? What does it mean for us to retain the sins of someone? How do we practice forgiveness in a way that enables us to be healthy and joyful? What do we do when we are struggling to let go of hurt and pain? What causes us to have difficulties in forgiving?

Click HERE to listen to the message

Sermon:           I Believe in the Church           

Theme:            God has called us to be part of the community of believers in order that we may make God’s presence and love known to the world.        

Purpose:          We will affirm that together we are representatives of God’s love and covenant.  

Scriptures:       Hebrews 10:19-25       Let us provoke one another to Good Works and to not neglect the fellowship.

                        Matthew 16:13-26      Jesus gives the “Keys to the kingdom” to the church, any who want to follow need to take up their cross.

Questions:

Why would I believe in a building?  Is the church a building? Do really need it? Why do so few people attend Church? What’s going to happen to people who don’t? What actually is the Church? How do we develop our ability to be part of God’s presence in the world? What do we need to do in order to accurately reflect God’s intention for the Church on earth? How can we create a space where people experience God’s presence with truth and healing grace?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon:           I Believe in the resurrection and Judgment.  

Theme:            We believe in God’s justice and that our choices whether to follow Christ’s love or our own selfish ego determines whether we experience grace or an absence of God’s presence.   

Purpose:          To help the congregation understand judgment and responsibility as a part of our relationship with God and the world around us.               

Scriptures:       John 14:1-5, 25-27      Jesus offers peace to the disciples through the promise of the resurrection.

                        1 Thessalonians 4:13-18         We do not grieve as those who have no hope.

Questions:

Is there really a Hell? Will Jesus really send people to hell or is it like threatening to send us to bed without dinner? Does he judge us? Are there bigger sins than others? When we ask for forgiveness is our slate clean?  Is there a way to hack in and see our score cards? What does it mean for us that we believe that some people are judged? Can we believe in righteousness and justice if we don’t believe in hell? How are people responsible for their own judgment? What does it mean to us that “hell” is the absence of the presence of God’s love?

Click HERE to listen to the message.