Month: June 2018

Sermon:           “Love Your Neighbor, Love Yourself”

Theme:            God invites us to relationships free of insecurity and grievances so that we may be healthy and joyful together.

Purpose:          We will examine the way in which we look down upon others and see the need for forgiveness in ourselves.

Scriptures:       Galatians 5:13-16        Love your neighbor, do not devour one another.

Mark 12:28-44 The greatest commandment – love your neighbor as yourself.

Questions:

What does it mean to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength? In what ways does our love for God set us free from fears about the world and situations we encounter? How are holding onto past offenses and grievances a lack of trust in God’s ability to provide for us? What causes us to become bitter and resentful towards others? How does that affect our love for ourselves? What impact does our thoughts of resentment and attacking others have upon our ability to feel secure and at peace?

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Sermon:           “Being Neighborly”

Theme:            We have to choose between practicing the love of Christ or giving into our fears towards the people around us.

Purpose:          The congregation will explore their anxieties and fears about the relationships in their lives.

Scriptures:       Romans 12:9-21          The character of love.

Matthew 22:34-40      You shall love the Lord your God, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Questions:

What is genuine love?  How does our love for the people around us influence our relationship with God? In what ways does the way in which we relate to the neighbors with whom we are less comfortable make an impact on our relationship with Christ? How does our experience of God’s love and grace cause us to be less reactive and judgmental towards our neighbors?  What do we receive from learning greater compassion and grace?

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Sermon:           “Who is My Neighbor”

Theme:            Faithfulness to God is not in religiosity but in compassion and care for those who are around us.

Purpose:          The congregation will become aware of the needs of the people who are around them, take time to consider the needs of those who are near them.

Scriptures: Leviticus 19:9-16, 33 Commandments regarding care for others.

Luke 10:25-37 Parable of the Good Samaritan

Questions:

How does the law from Leviticus about providing for those who have less influence apply to us today? What is expected from us in terms of showing compassion and care towards others? Who are we responsible to show mercy and compassion? What difference does it make to our relationship with God for us to be compassionate and merciful? What difference does it make in our experience of the fears and anxiousness towards what is uncertain in the world around us?

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Sermon:           “Treasures in Clay Jars”

Theme:            The people of God have within them the precious and powerful gift of God’s love and presence.

Purpose:          The congregation will examine what is really important in their lives.

Scriptures:       2 Corinthians 4:5-12   We are treasures in clay jars.

Mark 2:23-3:6 The sabbath was made to serve humanity – God’s law is to bring healing and salvation.

Questions:

What do we consider precious to us? In what ways do things serve us? In what ways do we find ourselves worshipping things? What is our relationship with the building that is the church? In what ways do we need to see Christ’s love and presence as something greater than things? How are we able to put our traditions and customs into service to God rather than sacrificing relationships to things that are not important?

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