Month: September 2015

Sermon: “How You Look At Things”

Theme: Through faith we learn to look through love and trust in God, so that we become focused on living lives of generosity, love, and faith.

Purpose: To teach the congregation to focus on what they are focusing their eyes and thoughts upon.

Scriptures: Matthew 6:19-24 The eye is the lamp of the body, it can be full of greed or light.
Acts 9:3-9, 17-22 Saul receives his sight through prayers and the removal of the scales that blinded him.

Questions:
What are the things that we focus our attention upon? Do we choose to focus on the things that are up building and worthy of our attention? Do we tend to focus on things that are negative and critical? How does our focus and attention affect our attitude? How does our attention and focus affect the people around us? In what ways does our attention and focus either build up the body or Christ or function in a way that is negative and destructive? How do we keep our focus on the mission of serving Christ and remove it from complaint and criticism?

Click HERE to listen to the sermon.

Sermon: “Listening and Hearing”

Theme: God calls us to open our ears, and to be open to listening, but to be thoughtful about what we choose to hear, and how we choose to support the body of Christ by listening for God’s presence.

Purpose: The congregation will understand that listening is a discipline and will begin to work to practice listening so as to build up the body of Christ.

Scriptures: Mark 7:31-37 Jesus opens the ears of the deaf mute.
1 John 4:1-6 Listening to what confesses God and not encouraging that which furthers hostility or animosity.

Questions:
What happens to the body of Christ when we choose to listen to gossip and hostility? Is it kind to encourage people to continue to complain and pour out their hostility or is it encouraging them to dwell in their unforgiveness? What can we do to actively listen and in that way build up others? What can we do to encourage through listening that people seek to grow in their relationship with God and seek healing? In what ways is our listening going to either encourage growth in wisdom and knowledge of God or deepening of resentments and hostility?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon: “One Body of Christ” Theme Song: One Bread, One Body

Theme: We are united as the one body of Christ, each called to be a part of the body in love and fellowship.

Purpose: The congregation will seek to support the health and union of the whole body.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 You are the body of Christ and individually members of that one body.
John 15:7-17 Jesus commands that we love one another and that love be the center of our relationships (not servants but friends).

Questions:
What does it mean that we are the one body of Christ? What are the ways in which we are struggling with acceptance of others? In what ways are we encountering a need to growth in diversity? What are the “less honorable” parts of the body? Do we treat the “unseen” and “unappreciated” parts of the body with the honor they deserve? Are there ways in which we have been neglecting to encourage the diversity of the body? What is your part or strength in the body of Christ? What can you do to help the whole body to be healthier?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Sermon: “Seeing Christ in Each Person”

Theme: Faithfully following Christ calls us to confront our own partiality and seek to be welcoming, accepting, and compassionate towards all people.

Purpose: The congregation will examine and consider how they judge and condemn

Scriptures: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 Faithfulness requires honesty and respect for all.
James 2:1-13 Being partial towards people who have signs of wealth or power is not living in Christ’s love.

Questions:
In what ways do we tend to prejudge people? What are some of our weaknesses in reacting favorably or unfavorably towards people’s appearance or other mannerisms? In what ways do we need to be active in recognizing our bias and prejudice? What can we do to offset those attitudes? When is it that we have opportunities to grow in love and acceptance, particularly towards those who appear in a manner that is challenging for us? What can we do in order to be more welcoming and compassionate towards individuals whom we have previously prejudged?

Click Here to listen to the Message.