Sermon:           We Need Rest in Order to be Wise.

Theme:            Sabbath keeps us in healthy relationship with God and our physical needs so that we may make wise decisions in the midst of conflict.

Purpose:          The congregation will reconsider their needs and priorities so as to experience real sabbath rest.

Scriptures:       Genesis 2:2-3  God rested on the Sabbath.

Mark 2:23-3:6 The lack of understanding of Sabbath and hardness of heart.

Psalm 37:1-9   Do not fret over the wicked, find strength in stillness.

Questions:

What difference does time for rest make in our ability to resolve conflicts? In what ways does a lack of rest affect our ability to be open to resolving conflicts? In what ways does a lack of sabbath time lead to additional conflicts? How do we learn to find balance in our lives so that we may be healthy and wise? What can we do so that we are in a healthy state of mind when we are attempting to find resolution in conflict situations? How do we reach out in love and compassion to those whose lives have not had enough rest?

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Sermon:           “Acting To Bring Reconciliation”

Theme:            We dedicate ourselves to working for reconciliation and healing, confessing our shortcomings, and recognizing our struggles together so that we may reflect the love of Christ.

Purpose:          The congregation will confess their failures in working for reconciliation and commit themselves to learning and growing in the love and forgiveness of Christ Jesus.

Scriptures:       Ephesians 4:25-32       Speak the truth in love, do not allow evil talk to come out of your mouth.

Matthew 18:15-22      Go to the person with whom you have the issue directly, and then work to find reconciliation.

Questions:

What difference does our way of dealing with conflict make in our relationship with God? In what ways are our challenging relationships a part of the process of growing as disciples? What difference does “speaking the truth in love” make in a relationship? Why is that different from “speaking the truth?” Does this mean that we should be honest in what we feel or should we be thoughtful in what we choose to say? What does it mean to “grieve the Holy Spirit?” In what ways do conflicts between God’s people affect the people around them? In what ways does this cause grief to God?  Is Jesus serious about constantly forgiving people? How does this change the way we resolve issues with others?

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Prayer for Our Enemies, Blessing our Oppressors

Sermon:           Practicing Prayer for Enemies

Theme:            The practice of praying for our enemies is necessary if we are going to remain healthy and capable of making peace.

Purpose:          The congregation will take prayer for enemies seriously as a discipline and practice.

Scriptures:       Romans 12:14-21        Bless those who persecute you, by so doing you will heap burning coals upon their heads.

Luke 6:27-36   Jesus’ call to bless those who persecute you, and do not resist the evildoer.

Questions:

How should we pray for our enemies? Why is it that often our prayers become imagining our enemies being punished or injured? What impact does our praying have upon our enemies? What impact does our prayer have upon ourselves? What does God do with our prayers for people who do wrong? How do we learn to pray regularly in a way that enables us to let go of our hostility or bitterness? How do we practice praying in a way that will be healing for ourselves and others?

From the sermon:

Practical Steps for praying for someone with whom you are in conflict:

• Pray for at least five minutes each day for that person that causes you anger and fear;
• Allow God to help you to see what you have associated with this person (other past poor relationships;
• Pray both that they be changed and that your heart be changed.

As a result of these steps:

• Be open to seeing them as a child of God – created in God’s own image;
• Trust that God is greater than they are – and will care for your needs;
• Accept that there are places where you need to grow and change as well.

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Message: “Mighty in the Scriptures”  Pastor Paul Zoschke preached.

Scriptures:  Acts 18:24-28   I Cor. 3:4-8

*Thoughts:
Our scripture lesson says Apollos was well versed (mighty in the scriptures) in the Word of God.

What steps can we take to be well versed in the Word of God and be an inspiration to other people?

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Sermon:           Taking our Words Seriously

Theme:            We grow in peacemaking as we grow in the discipline of watching our choice of words, and choosing to speak words that will result in peace.

Purpose:          The congregation will recognize the need to choose words carefully and to take time to heal relationships rather than allowing the words to be tossed carelessly.

Scriptures:       James 3:1-12   Not many should be teachers – the damage done by the tongue.

Matthew 5:21-26        Jesus teaches regarding not keeping offenses with others.

Questions:

How do we choose to speak in ways that will bring peace? Why is it that we find ourselves saying things that later result in more hurt and hostility? Is it possible for us to speak the truth in love? What preparation do we need to make before we seek to speak to someone about sensitive issues? How do we choose when to speak and bring up something that may be divisive?  What is our responsibility when there are people who are upset with us? What do we need to learn in order to be effective in speaking the words that will be best for bringing changes that are needed?

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Sermon:           “Who’s in Charge Here?”

Theme:            We submit our labor and commitment to God because we recognize that obedience leads to wholeness, healing, and grace for all.

Purpose:          The congregation will turn from being reactive to the news and violence in the world around them to be focused on developing our own obedience and faithfulness to God.

Scriptures:       Jeremiah 18:1-11        God speaks to Jeremiah as a potter, who has the ability to remake the people as a potter can remake the clay on a wheel.

Luke 14:25-33 Jesus calls the crowd to be mindful of what is going to be expected of them as they follow Christ.

Questions:

Do we really want God to be in control over our lives? What is the benefit of practicing obedience to God? Or is obedience somehow giving up our right to be ourselves? In what ways does God want us to submit our labor and our possessions to His direction? Why are we so uncomfortable with God’s control over our stuff? What is the wisdom in placing our lives and our fellowship in God’s hands? What is the danger of being arrogant and willful as individuals and as a nation?  How does our faithfulness with God influence our shopping? In what ways is God involved in the choices we make about how we use our money?

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When I Need to be Reminded:

Have you ever forgotten a critical piece of information when you needed it the most? An important phone number, perhaps, or a password or even a name. Studies tell us that during a crisis the part of the brain that deals with memory gets a reduced amount of blood flow thus leaving us with lapses in memory. It is during these times when we need one another to help us remember what God has done for us.

Chaplain Darren Beachy160828_001

Sermon:           “Who Should Do We Want to Be When We Come Home Again?”

Theme:            The purpose of spiritual growth is to become someone who lives in the fullness of the grace and love of Christ, and enjoys the gifts of that maturity and love.

Purpose:          The congregation will recognize that mature Christianity is shown in our relationships and joyful living in fellowship with one another.

Scriptures:       Psalm 137:1-4 The lament of the people when they were in captivity in Babylon.

Colossians 3:5-17  Put to death what is destructive within you and clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

Questions:

What makes us feel “at home?” What enables us to feel that we belong? In what ways do we want our home to be shaped by the presence and love of Christ? In what ways do we want our relationships to be clothed in kindness, compassion, and patience? In what ways are we prepared to allow our pilgrimage to strip us of the unforgiveness, hostility, and fear that separate us from God? In what ways do we truly want to come home as different people than how we left? What are the ways in which we need to grow in relationship with one another so that we may be whole?

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Sermon:           “Not from Around Here”

Theme:            As Christians we live by values that do not blend with the culture and often cause us to feel alienated and alone, but that is how we testify to Christ’s love and justice.

Purpose:          The congregation will seek to be peaceable and compassionate rather than angrily seek to get their way.

Scriptures:       1 Peter 2:11-25   You should live as aliens, living peaceably and enduring hardship

Luke 4:14-30       Jesus was not accepted when he returned to Nazareth.

Questions:

Do we consider ourselves as “strangers” and “aliens” or do we think of ourselves as people with rights and entitlements? Do we treat the people around us as fellow travelers? Or do we think of ourselves as belonging and others as not belonging? What is the cost to our relationship with God when our identity takes on the values of the world around us? Do we like the values of the culture around us at this time? Do we want to be shaped by our knowledge of God or will we allow the attitudes and beliefs that surround us to form our faith?

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Sermon:           “Knowing God Through Those Around Us”

Theme:            On our pilgrimage we come to know God through the people whom we meet along the way, both those whom we are called to serve, and those who serve us.

Purpose:          The congregation will be conscious of how their relationships with the people around them shapes their relationship with God.

Scriptures:       1 John 1:1-10  We fellowship more than just with other people, but with God in our conversations with other people (light and darkness).

Matthew 22:35-40      We learn the law of God in context of loving our neighbor, and of faithfulness to God.

Questions:

Is our faith journey a solo or do the people whom God places around us matter? Can we have healthy spiritual growth without healthy relationships with family, friends, and other people of God? In what ways is growth in Christ dependent on our growth in relationships with others? What role does forgiveness, acceptance, and love for others play in our relationship with God? In what ways do we need to be conscious about growing in our relationship with Christ in order to be healthy and the people who are around us?

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