Month: July 2019

Sermon:           I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth

Theme:            God’s act of creation was an extension of God’s nature and love which is fulfilled in our love and sharing in creation.         

Purpose:          To focus on the nature of God as loving and creative.         

Scriptures:       Genesis 1:1-5, 31        God created the heavens earth, Let there be light, and all was good.

                        John 1:1-5       In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God.

Questions:

Why did God create the heavens and the earth? What about the Big Bang? How was God created? (who is God’s mom?)  What is heaven? In what ways do we see God’s nature as being loving and caring through creation? What does it mean that God created everything good? What difference does it make that the manner of creation is through the Word of God? How do we relate to that Word of God? What is our role in taking part in God’s creation? How do we understand that God’s work of creation separates what is good out of chaos?

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Theme:            Our confidence and joy come from seeing the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness shared with the world around us.     

Purpose:          The congregation will seek to participate with God’s work of transforming and making things right in the world.      

Scriptures:       Ephesians 1:3-14         God has made his work complete in adopting us as children at the right appointed time.

                        Luke 17:20-37 Pharisees ask where the Kingdom of God is. Jesus warns that the kingdom comes unseen and unexpected.

Questions:

Why don’t the Catholics say: “Thine is the Kingdom and power?”  Is it they want to get out of church faster?  What is the glory of God?  “Forever?”  Seems a little much.  There’s got to be an end somewhere.  How do we know that the Kingdom of God is coming? What does it mean when Jesus says that the Pharisees cannot see the Kingdom of God? Why is God’s reign a monarchy and not a president or prime minister? How do we understand God’s reign as a King? How are we supposed to understand Jesus’ warning about the kingdom coming unexpectedly?

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Theme:            We trust God to enable us to grow in wisdom and strength through our experiences rather than fear unknowns that are out of our control.      

Purpose:          The congregation will recognize that we come together to seek strength from God to grow and be wise.

Scriptures:       James 1:2-4, 12-21      Count it all joy when you experience trials. Let your temptations lead to the implanted word that has the sower to save your souls. Matthew 4:1-11           Jesus is tempted in the wilderness.

Questions:

Why would God want to lead us into temptation? What role does temptation play for us? What difference does it make that we pray together that we be strengthened in the midst of our temptations? Are we focused on our temptations as individuals or the whole church? Do we create our own temptations or are they sent to us by God or by the devil? How would we be lead to evil? How do we come to trust God with our vulnerable appetites and weaknesses? Why are temptations such a big part of our lives? Why can’t we pray that God just make us strong without having to go through trials and temptations?

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Theme:            We are able to enjoy the freedom of forgiveness as we practice releasing others of our accounts and grievances, and in that way are released of feelings of guilt or remorse.

Purpose:          The congregation will explore their practices of letting go of the faults of others so that they may enjoy release from guilt and defensiveness.

Scriptures:       Colossians 3:12-17      As God’s chosen ones, clothe yourself with compassion, love, and forgive one another.

                        Matthew 18:21-35      Parable of the unforgiving servant.

Questions:

Why do we pray together that our sins be forgiven as we forgive others? What does forgiving others have to do with our own forgiveness? What if we are still angry? Does forgiving mean we have to forget what happened before? What do we need to have forgiven for us together rather than individually? Do we have to forgive all sins or can we just forgive ones that aren’t so bad? Why do some say trespasses, and some say debtors, while we pray to that our sins be forgiven.

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Theme:            We find joy and satisfaction in trusting God to provide for all of our needs as we grow in wisdom and gratitude.          

Purpose:          The congregation will explore gratitude as a way of finding satisfaction and security in their lives.

Scriptures:       John 6:30-35   Jesus says: I am the bread of Life.

Luke 11:3, 5-13           God will respond as we persistently ask, search, and knock.

Questions: What do we mean by “daily bread?” Was Jesus being literal or is this referring to something more? What does it mean for us to live from day to day, depending on God’s provision for us? What is the relationship between praying for “daily bread” and the Manna that the Hebrew people received in the wilderness? Why can’t God just give us all we need for a longer period of time? What does this have to do with faith?

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