How To ……..

Sunday, November 23, 2014 The Strength and Joy of a Thankful Heart

Posted by Deb Zorn on November 20, 2014

Sermon: Strength through Giving Thanks”
Theme: Through the discipline of giving thanks we develop the strength and resilience to overcome trials.
Purpose: To encourage the congregation to thoughtfully reflect upon God’s blessings and draw strength from realizing God’s grace.
Scriptures: I Thessalonians 5:15-24 …give thanks in all circumstances
Philippians 4:4-9 Don’t worry about anything, but ask in prayer with thanksgiving…..and the peace of God will guard your heart.
Luke 17:11-19 Ten lepers are healed but only one offers thanks.

Questions:
How does the practice of gratitude affect our relationship with Christ and our relationships with the people around us? How does gratitude give us strength to overcome the setbacks and challenges we face? What does it mean to give thanks in all circumstances? Is that just wishful thinking or is there an act of faith involved in choosing to appreciate what is good in our lives? What happens to us spiritually when we become focused upon all that is wrong and disappointing in our lives?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sunday, November 16, 2014 The Joy of Disciplined Giving

Posted by Deb Zorn on November 17, 2014

Sermon: “Thinking, Praying, and then Giving”
Theme: God calls us to make our generosity flow from our relationship with Christ and a heart dedicated to growing through being a part of God’s work.
Purpose: To connect giving with an intentional desire to grow in relationship with Christ.
Scriptures: Luke 14:25-35 Large crowds were following – Jesus told them to consider the cost.
II Corinthians 9:6-15 Each…should give what he has decided….not reluctantly or out of compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver

Questions:
What does it mean to give out of our spiritual disciplines? What is the difference between giving because we feel guilty and giving out of our desire to participate in God’s work? What is the sacrifice that God wants us to make? How much of that sacrifice has to do with our money and how much of it has to do with our relationship with Christ and with Christ’s work? What thinking and praying should we be putting into our giving?

Click HERE for the sermon.

Sunday, November 09, 2014 Generosity and Joy, Scarcity and Anxiety.

Posted by Deb Zorn on November 10, 2014

Sermon: “We Give From Our Hearts”
Theme: The congregation will understand that thoughtful giving leads to meaningful relationships with God and with the church.
Purpose: To motivate the congregation to be thoughtful and reflect upon what they choose to give.
Scriptures: II Samuel 24:18-25 I will not sacrifice to the Lord an offering that cost me nothing.
2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Out of the..severe trial, their…joy and ..poverty welled up…generosity..
Gave themselves first to the Lord..excel in the grace of giving.
“God doesn’t need our $ (offering) we need to give.

Questions:
What is meaningful giving? What does it mean to be generous? What does it mean to refuse to give what is of no value, but instead to insist on giving what is meaningful? Do we normally associate our spiritual life and our faith with our giving? Or do we tend to give out of a sense of obligation? What does it mean to give out of poverty? What does it mean to offer “tested” giving?

Click HERE for Sermon Audio.

Sunday, November 02, 2014 Discipleship: Healthy Living Doesn’t Happen by Accident

Posted by Deb Zorn on November 3, 2014

Sermon: “The Temple of the Holy Spirit”
Theme: Generosity begins with being generous with our physical needs and grateful for what God has given us.
Purpose: The congregation will begin a groundwork of generosity living in health and appreciation for our physical bodies.
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 The body is the temple off the Holy Spirit Treat your body as holy.
Proverbs 3:1-3, 7-14 Hold onto the teachings of God, They will be the source of your good health and your prosperity.

Questions:
What does it mean to care for our bodies as a holy temple? What does it mean that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? In what ways are we insulting God by treating our bodies with contempt? What are some basic things we could do that would improve our health? In what ways is our physical condition related to our spiritual life? In what ways does pain, injury, and inactivity affect our relationship with God? What is Jesus’ desire for us in terms of our physical condition?

Click HERE for the Message.

Sunday, October 26, 2014 Living the Life of Generosity

Posted by Deb Zorn on October 20, 2014

Sermon: “Learning to Live the Good Life”

Theme: The life of those who are generous is a good life, and fills us with all of the things that many seek to gain through wealth, ego, or other means.

Purpose: The congregation will see that great wealth and joy is found through deepening our relationship with Christ.

Scriptures: Matthew 6:19-24  Do not store up treasures in heaven

Proverbs 3:1 Never let loyalty & kindness get away from you…..

Prov3:27 Do not withhold good…if you can help now.

Prov. 31:8-9 Speak up for…the destitute….Defend the poor and needy.

Questions: What do we have that is of real value to us (our health, our family, joy and appreciation)? Is it something that a price can be placed on? What are the good investments for our time and life? What are the things that we pursue with our energy and health? What does it take to make our treasure our relationship with Christ? How do we change our focus so that we may become generous and compassionate people? What does it mean to be generous people? Why are some people so joyful and generous?

Click HERE to listen.

October 19, 2014 “How the Wise Use Their Money”

Posted by Deb Zorn on

Sermon: “Wisdom and Money”
Theme: Those who are wise submit their hearts and finances to God, drawing their strength from Christ’s love.
Purpose: To focus on the need to find maturity in Christ as a way of living in joy rather than off our purchases or consumptions.
Scriptures: Proverbs 3:28 Do not withhold good when you can act.
Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 Love of money does not bring happiness.

Questions:
What is our relationship with our wealth? Does wealth make us happier? How does our financial circumstance affect our spiritual life? How does it affect our way of seeing ourselves? In what ways is managing our money an essential part of wisdom? Is there a way in which wisdom teaches us to have a different point of view or attitude towards money? What does it mean to be wealthy?

Click HERE to listen to the Sermon.

Sunday, October 12, 2014 Parents and Children.

Posted by Deb Zorn on October 14, 2014

Sermon: Wise Parenting
Theme: Those who are wise give instruction and teach their children so that they may grow healthy faith in God.
Purpose: To encourage parents to teach and share faith with their children.
Scriptures: Proverbs 13:24 Spare the rod, spoil the child.
Luke 18:15-17 Jesus blesses the children.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Command to love the Lord your God and teach the children.

Click HERE to listen to message

 

 

October 05, 2014 How We Choose to See The World. World Communion Sunday,

Posted by Deb Zorn on October 6, 2014

We will be Receiving the Peacemaking Offering
Sermon: “The Wisdom of Being Aware of Ourselves”
Theme: Those who are wise seek to see themselves in a healthy perspective which is in relationship with God and with the world.
Purpose: The congregation will reflect upon their own perspective and self-awareness.
Scriptures:
Psalm 8:1-9 How majestic is Your Name over all of the earth.
Luke 9:46-56 Whoever is not against us is for us, Jesus rebukes the disciples for their judgment.

Click HERE to listen to message

 

September 28, 2014 The Way of The Wise; The Way of the Wicked

Posted by Deb Zorn on September 28, 2014

Sermon: Righteousness and Unrighteousness
Theme: God shows us that we are capable of good and evil, so that we may recognize our weakness and be open to being challenged to grow.
Purpose: The congregation will become more aware of their own capabilities for self-justification and holding onto hostility in order to avoid confronting the evil within.
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 1:17-31 The wisdom of God is foolishness to the world.
Psalm 37:1-11 Do not become upset by the ways of the wicked.
Proverbs 3:31 Do not envy a violent man.

Click HERE to listen to message.

 

September 14, 2014 The Source of Wisdom.

Posted by Deb Zorn on September 14, 2014

Sermon: Wisdom, Our Source for Life
Theme: We search for wisdom as the means to be fully alive and joyful.
Purpose: The congregation will understand the need to seek wisdom and desire to grow.
Scriptures:
Proverbs 2:1-11 Wisdom comes from the mouth of God.
Mark 6:1-6 Jesus teaches and they wonder where his wisdom came from.

Click HERE to listen to message.

 

 

 

September 7, 2014 Time to Get Started

Posted by Deb Zorn on September 8, 2014

Sermon: “Time to Get Started”
Theme: Discipleship is the path to wholeness and joy, but requires the ongoing commitment that requires sacrifices of our ego that opens the door to growing.
Purpose: The congregation will recognize the need to shift from focusing on their negativity and instead surrender to the gift of God’s renewal.
Scriptures: Luke 9:57-62 – Those who were going to follow but were not ready to pay the cost.
Romans 13:8-14 Owe no one except to love one another; wake from sleep.
Questions:
What difference does it make if we are disciples? What is it that we really want out of our relationship with Christ? Why is it that many do not see a benefit of being a Christian? What is the relationship between sacrifice and spiritual growth? How is it that many of us seem to encounter the same issues and challenges repeatedly? What can we do to move forward and actually encounter God’s presence in our lives? What can we do to make today different from the past?

Click HERE to listen to message.

 

August 31, 2014 “Welcoming the Unwelcome Guest”

Posted by Deb Zorn on August 31, 2014

Sermon: “Welcoming the Unwelcome”
Theme: As we see Christ in others it transforms us into the body of Christ that can heal and transform others.
Purpose: To bring the series to a close with a commitment to be a body of Christ who practice love and hospitality with all people.
Scriptures: Luke 15:1-10 Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors, rejoicing in salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 We no longer regard anyone from a human point of view.

Questions:
What are we really willing to sacrifice in order to extend hospitality? What difference it really make when we offer hospitality, especially in challenging situations? In what ways was Jesus an “unwelcome guest?” In what ways is Jesus too demanding? In what ways does Christianity expect too much of us? How do we grow to where we can joyfully and lovingly offer hospitality, even when it is a sacrifice? How does growing in the ability to be gracious, welcoming, and kind change us as a church? In what ways does it change our ability to share Christ’s love with the world?

 

Click HERE to listen to message

 

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