Month: March 2015

Sermon: “Humbly, Riding on a Donkey”
Theme: Christ comes to us in humility, and we know Christ when we take on the same lowliness and servanthood.
Purpose: The congregation will seek to know Christ through setting pride aside and seeking to live faithfully.
Scriptures: Mark 11:1-11 The Palm Sunday Procession into Jerusalem.
Philippians 2:5-11 Have this same mind that was in Christ Jesus.

Questions:
Why did Jesus choose to ride a donkey into Jerusalem at that time? Did he know that he was fulfilling a prophecy or did it just happen that way? Why did everyone get so excited about Jesus coming to Jerusalem that day? In what ways did Jesus contrast with other leaders of the same time? What difference does it make to us if we seek to be humble and willing to serve God? Is servanthood still something worth practicing?

Click HERE to listen to the Sermon Audio.

Sermon: Too Broken to Pray
Theme: Prayer is a relationship with God that at times transcends words, and at times is challenged by not conforming to our will. “Thy will be done.”
Purpose: The congregation will recognize that we pray to a God that does not conform to our will yet loves and walks with us at all times.
Scriptures: Romans 8:26-30 We don’t know how to pray, but God has determined that we will be conformed to the image of the son.
Mark 14:26-42 Jesus prays that the cup pass, disciples cannot stay awake to pray.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Jesus has been tested in all ways that we have been, grace in time of need.

Questions:
How do we handle the times when we are too upset or angry to pray? Does God become angry with us when our prayers are selfish or angry? What if we accidently pray something that is not good for us? Will God punish us if we tell God off or pray in a disrespectful manner? Why do some feel the need to pay in very formal ways? What does it mean when we say in the Lord’s prayer: “Thy will be done?” Do we really want God’s will or are we at times just being polite?

Click HERE to listen to the Sermon Audio.

Daylight Savings Time
Sermon: “Unanswered Prayer?”
Theme: As Christians we are at times challenged by prayers that are unanswered, or events that cause us fear and doubt.
Purpose: The congregation will understand prayer as a living relationship with a sovereign God that at times is difficult.
Scriptures: Luke 18:1-8 Parable of the unjust judge
1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 Pray without ceasing, do the work of God.

Questions:
Why do some of our prayers go unanswered? Did we do something wrong or is there another reason why prayers that seem so right do not result in what we believe should take place? How do we “Pray without ceasing?” Is God really like an unjust judge that doesn’t care or was Jesus trying to make some other point? What does persistence accomplish with prayer? Does persistence actually wear God down to our point of view or does it change things for us somehow?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon: “And When You Pray”
Theme: Prayer is a practice that we work on individually as we grow in our relationship with God.
Purpose: Recognizing the value of prayer, the congregation will seek to develop their prayer practices.
Scriptures: Matthew 6:5-8 Pray in silence, and God knows what you need before you ask.
2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Paul describes the height and depth of spiritual experiences.

Questions:
What do we need to do in order to be good at praying? Are there particular tricks or techniques that make prayer work? What does it mean to have a strong and healthy prayer life? In what ways is prayer about experiences? What should we feel when we pray? If we don’t really feel differently, does it mean we are not praying correctly? Why should we pray since God already knows what we want before we ask?

Click HERE to listen to the Message