Author: Kim Braatz

8:00     “Into the Darkness, and then to Light”      

Sermon:           “Into the Darkness, Then Comes Light”

Theme:            Often the path that leads us into darkness is the way in which we come to know Christ, and have a message to share.

Purpose:          The congregation will be encouraged that times of darkness are the pathway to growing closer to Christ and wiser.

Scriptures:       1 John 1:5-7     God is light, and we learn to walk in the light.

Acts 26:9-18    Paul’s testimony of being plunged into darkness, and then carrying the message of the light.

Questions:

Paul was convinced he was doing right when he was persecuting and full of rage; but discovered that he was completely wrong.  Have we had times when our hostility and our overconfidence caused us to do harm? How do we know that we doing what is right or wrong? In what ways are times of darkness and doubt important in coming to be open to new possibilities?  What will Jesus say to us about the grudges and hostilities that we bear? In what ways are times of being confronted and challenged by Christ an act of grace and mercy? Do we receive them as gifts, especially when they disturb our assumptions and plans?

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8:00                 “Being On the Messiah’s Side”     

Sermon:           “Choosing the Messiah’s Side”

Theme:            It is not a question of whether God is on our side, but whether we are on God’s side.

Purpose:          The congregation will be challenged to seek to set aside their focus on themselves in order to grow in knowing and following Christ.

Scriptures:       Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11      The Spirit of the Lord has called me to proclaim good news to the oppressed.

Luke 1:46-55   Mary proclaims that the Messiah will be on the side of the weak and distressed.

Questions:

We want the coming of God’s blessings but do we want God’s justice as well? Are we prepared to see the poor and oppressed receive greater blessing because of their suffering? Are we prepared to let go of our control and our advantages in order to see others blessed?  We want to see God’s restoration of the righteousness but are slow to want to have our own lives examined and our own sins taken seriously?  What do we have to sacrifice in order to rejoice at God’s justice?

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Communion – In the Pews, Baptism at 8:00 Service

Sermon:         “The Lord’s Time”

Theme:          We are changed by our waiting and learn to be transformed by the Holy Spirit so that when the time comes, we will be holy and mature in Christ.

Purpose:         The congregation will turn from focusing on issues of the ego and instead focus on their relationship with Christ so that they may grow through the times of darkness.

Scriptures:     Isaiah 40:1-11 Prepare the way for God’s presence.

2 Peter 3:8-15a  For the Lord a day is like a thousand years, everything in its time. We wait.

Questions:

In what ways do we need to grow in order to be ready to embrace Christ’s coming in our lives? What are the valleys and mountains that need to be smoothed over in our spiritual lives? In what ways are we too full of bitterness, unforgiveness, and hostility to embrace Christ’s presence? In what ways are we needing to have jealousy and selfishness burned away so that we might be purified? What has to happen so that we may rejoice in these purifying times rather than to be complaining and blaming God for our troubles?  How do we grow so that waiting on Christ becomes a source for growth rather than a cause for resentment?

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Sermon: “The Light Will Come”
Theme: Among people struggling and encountering darkness we proclaim good news of God’s healing light.
Purpose: To motivate the congregation to share Christ’s light in the midst of all of the busy Christmas season.
Scriptures: Mark 13:24-37 Powers are broken and chaos take place as a part of the work of God.
Isaiah 60:1-6 Light has come and will shine for the nations.

Questions:
How do we open ourselves to Christ’s light in the dark places of our lives? What is the light that we are craving will dawn upon us? How might we become light in the midst of the darkness that others are feeling in their lives? How do we begin to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ? How do we let go of our expectations of the way things should be and our disappointments in the way things are?

Click HERE to listen to the Sermon.