Month: July 2018

Sermon:           Neighbors and Politics

Theme:            Those who are mature in Christ are able to be confident in their own politics without attacking other people’s points of view.

Purpose:          The congregation will learn to be healthy and wise in disagreement.

Scriptures:       Philippians 2:12-18     Do all things without murmuring and arguing, rejoice in relationship.

John 6:25-34   The people want a sign and want to eat their fill of bread without commitment.

Questions:

How do we maintain a healthy ability to hold our points of view and opinions while allowing others to disagree with us? What are the traits needed to disagree and discuss as mature and authentic people? Why are some so easily upset by political disputes? What is the cause of discussions deteriorating into personal attacks and disrespectful language? Why are some unable to interact with the issues or concerns without feeling personally attacked? How as Christians (especially as Presbyterians) are we to teach others to engage in healthy discussion?

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Sermon:           Making the Neighborhood

Theme:            God’s people take joy in growing healthy relationships and reflecting God’s love in the way they treat others.

Purpose:          The congregation will reflect upon their attitude towards people who are close to them.

Scriptures:       Romans 13:8-14 Owe no one anything but to love one another, and be live honorably.

Mark 4:26-34  The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, what we sow is what will be produced.

Questions:

What is our role in shaping the community around us? What is Jesus’ call on us for how we build relationships? What should we be doing to intentionally assist our community and our nation in growing to be wise and healthy in relationships? How do we develop skills to that enable us to be thoughtful in how we build up the healthy elements of relationship in the world around us?

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Sermon:           Neighbors We Aren’t Sure How to Welcome

Theme:            God’s call crosses boundaries and causes us to be in relationships with people whom we hadn’t thought of as part of the family of God.

Purpose:          To call the congregation to let go of bias against people thought to be unacceptable.

Scriptures:       Acts 8:26-40    Phillip baptizes the Ethiopian Eunuch.

Mark 5:15-20  The man with the demon is rejected by his community and goes to proclaim Jesus among others.

Questions:

Who have we found it particularly difficult to accept as brothers or sisters in Christ? In what ways have we allowed judgment or discrimination to affect our attitude towards other people? In what ways do we prejudge and distort perceptions of groups, cultures, economic groups, or backgrounds? What does that do to us as Christians? What does it do to the church’s testimony of Christ?

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Sermon:           Are Those People Neighbors Too?

Theme:            The grace of God is for all people and we are called to not be partial in our acceptance.

Purpose:          The congregation will evaluate their own acceptance.

Scriptures:       Acts 10:34-48  God shows no partiality, Cornelius’ household is baptized.

Mark 6:7-13    Jesus sends the 12 disciples to all of the villages.

Questions:

What does it mean to us that God sent Peter to proclaim salvation and healing to the people Peter formally thought were unacceptable?  What does it mean to us that God calls no one unclean or unacceptable?  Do we accept Jesus’ commissioning to go out to all people? What happens to our faith and our relationship with God when we are stretched beyond where we are comfortable? What happens to us if we deny extending God’s love to some people? How does it distort our relationship with God not to welcome others as brothers and sisters?

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