Month: March 2019

Sermon:           “Choosing: Fear or Joy?”        

Theme:            God’s people must practice choosing to live in the love and joy of God rather than to be pulled into fear, grievances, and despair.    

Purpose:          The congregation will reflect on daily practices to choose serving Christ over dwelling in fear and worry.      

Scriptures:       Isaiah 55:1-9    Why do you spend your money on that which does not satisfy? Seek the Lord and know his ways.

                        Luke 13:1-9     Galileans speak of the atrocities committed against them, Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree bearing fruit.

Questions:

Why do we spend so much of our time and energy on things that are meaningless? How is it that we become caught up in things that do not matter? What is the impact upon our relationship with God when senseless disasters and atrocities take place? How do we live in the healing and renewal of Christ Jesus rather than in the grief, hostility, and resentments of unresolved past hurts?  What can we do to help others be part of what truly bears fruit rather than caught up in what does not add to anyone’s life?

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Sermon:           “Choosing the Cross” 

Theme:            Through prayer and focusing on God’s love we learn to choose the love and healing of the cross over our own defensiveness and bitterness.   

Purpose:          The congregation will work to live and express the grace of God.   

Scriptures:       Philippians 3:17-4:1    “Enemies of the cross,” those who set their own wants and issues above their relationships with Christ and with the body of Christ.

Luke 13:31-35 Jesus is warned by the Pharisees of Herod’s intent to kill him. Jesus mourns the division between the people and God.

Questions:

What does it mean to be an enemy of the cross? How is it we are entangled in resentments and conflicts? From where does our animosity and bitterness arise? How is it we allow grievances to dominate the way we see ourselves and our relationships? How do we live without participating in the divisiveness and bitterness of the world? How can we have freedom to daily live in love and acceptance for all who are around us?

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Sermon:           “Who Are You Really?”          

Theme:            We are invited to allow Lent to be a season of discovering God’s love and grace for us individually and as the people of God together.       

Purpose:          The congregation will commit to seeking to deepen their relationship with God through Lent.           

Scriptures:       Romans 10:8-13 Confess with your lips Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart, and God who receives all will save you.

                        Luke 4:1-13 Temptation of Jesus, questioning what it means that he is the Son of God.

Questions:

Do you think of yourself as a beloved child of God? Does God’s love and approval of you enable you to see yourself differently? Do you know what it means to have confidence in your value and place in the world because of God’s love for you? How do we go about shaping our thinking of ourselves around God’s love for us? How do we become people who are joyfully living as God’s chosen?

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Sermon:           “Listen to Him”          

Theme:            We are transformed and renewed through the power of the lamp of Christ’s love and presence.       

Purpose:          The congregation will reflect on what they can do to be more open to hearing and dwelling in Christ’s presence in their lives.          

Scriptures:       Exodus 34:29-35         Moses’ face shone as he spoke with God and became a light that shone in his face.

                        Luke 9:28-43   The transfiguration, and the message that shines to the world that is greater than ourselves.

Questions:

What does it mean to us to listen to the voice of Jesus? What impact does it have on us to experience the awe and glory of Jesus? How does it change our perspective to see Jesus’ divinity and authority? How does a limited perspective of Jesus’ power limit us? What do we need to do in order to authentically know the majesty and power of God in Jesus?

Click HERE to listen to the message.