Sermon:           “Choosing: The Past or the Future?” 

Theme:            God invites us to lay aside our past history and accounts against one another and to instead extend grace to one another.

Purpose:          The congregation will intentionally practice grace and forgiveness rather than holding onto the grievances of the past.    

Scriptures:       2 Corinthians 5:16-21 We no longer regard others from a human point of view, all have become new in Christ.

                        Luke 15:1-3, 11-32      The parable of the Prodigal Son and the older brother, a story of forgiveness and struggling to choose love over resentment.

Questions:

What does it mean for us to cease to see people from a human point of view? How do we open our minds and hearts to seeing people differently? Does forgiveness mean that we allow others to take advantage of us? How do we practice grace and forgiveness while at the same time recognizing healthy boundaries and wisdom in relationships? How is the story of the Prodigal Son a story of God’s grace and our need to develop healthy relationships?

Sermon:           “Choosing to Let Go” 

Theme:            We are gifted with freedom from our past as we sacrifice our past hurts and stories in order to enjoy the gifts of God’s love today.           

Purpose:          The congregation will embrace the gifts of God’s grace and let go of the past losses and hurts that props up their egos.       

Scriptures:       Philippians 3:4b-14     All things that were accomplishments are meaningless in perspective of the surpassing gift of the knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord.

                        John 12:1-8     Mary anoints Jesus’ feet, and the disciples do not understand her sacrifice of love and appreciation.

Questions:

In what ways do our fears from the past and memoires of hurt influence our view of ourselves and others? How can we let go of the stories we tell ourselves about our past which shape our hurt and resentment? In what ways do we allow our issues and unforgiveness to dominate our relationship with God and with one another? What would be different if instead of living out of our past hurts, we were joyfully willing to receive Christ’s love in the present?