April 8th, 2018 2nd Sunday of Easter.

Sermon:           “In Defense of Doubt”

Theme:            Our faith is shaped through walking with Christ and experiencing the living gift of God’s presence in our lives.

Purpose:          The congregation will open themselves to the experience of exploring faith and doubt.

Scriptures:       1 John 1:1-2:2 God is light, in him is no darkness, and we have fellowship through Jesus death and resurrection.

John 20:19-31 Jesus appears to the disciples and offers the Holy Spirit.

Questions:

What role has doubt played in your own faith? In what ways has your faith changed and evolved in the course of your life? What would you want to share with someone who is in a time of transition or change in their faith?  What difference does fellowship with other Christians play in growing closer to God through doubt? How should we develop an attitude of exploration and curiosity that builds our faith?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

April 1st, 2018 Easter Sunday Communion

Sermon:           “This is Our Good News!”

Theme:            The resurrection is the message of God’s love and justice overcoming everything, including death so that we live in confidence and unending joy.

Purpose:          The congregation will embrace the meaning of the resurrection for their own life.

Scriptures:       1 Corinthians 15:1-11 The testimony of witnesses to the resurrection.

John 20:1-18   The story of the resurrection

Questions:

What does the resurrection mean to us today? How can we live as those whose confidence comes from God’s victory over death and suffering? How do we put the challenges and problems that we and those whom we love face into a perspective that is shaped by the promise of the resurrection? What is God seeking to teach us in and through the resurrection in practical terms? What can we do to face the challenges we experience of death and suffering with confidence and peace?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

3/25/2018 Palm Sunday

Sermon:           “The Covenant of Peace”

Theme:            Real peace is found through developing strength of humility and mercy that comes from the full knowledge of the love of God.

Purpose:          The congregation will embrace the love and compassion of Jesus so as to know the fullness of God’s presence.

Scriptures:       Philippians 2:5-11       Have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus that he humbled himself.

Mark 11:1-11  Jesus enters Jerusalem riding a colt.

Questions:

What does it mean to us to have the mind of Jesus Christ and his humility? How do we learn to practice humility when we are fearful of being abused or taken advantage of? What is the difference between humility and being weak? How do we use our own personal power and authority in gentleness and compassion? What practices enable us to think more highly of others? How do we put Christ first in our lives so that we are able to be raised by God rather than fighting for our own status or position?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

3/18/2018 5th Sunday of Lent

Theme:            God calls us to have the law of God written on our hearts through openness, love, and forgiveness.

Purpose:          The congregation will seek to learn understanding and forgiveness.

Scriptures:       John 12:20-33 Unless a grain dies, it will not bear fruit, but out of suffering comes our gift of salvation for the world.

Jeremiah 31:31-34      The Law of God, written upon the people’s hearts.

Practice:          Learning to be less anxious and reduce defensive reactions.

Questions:

What does it mean to us to “Know the Lord?” How should the knowledge of God and love of Jesus Christ be reflected in our words and actions? In what ways is the covenant of practicing God’s love a challenge for our life every day? What can we choose as our current area to focus on practicing Jesus’ love in our relationships? What are some of the relationships in which that practice is most needed today?  What difference will this practice make in our lives?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

3/11/2018 4th Sunday of Lent Covenant of Grace

Sermon:           “The Healing Gift of Grace”    Practice:  Speaking the truth with love (or keeping silence until the time is right).

Theme:            Jesus came to offer us forgiveness so that we can be a people of grace and forgiveness.

Purpose:          To encourage the congregation to live by forgiveness and practice the grace of God with one another.

Scriptures:       Ephesians 2:1-10         God sent Jesus to offer us forgiveness through faith.

John 3:14-21   God sent Jesus in the world to bring forgiveness.

Practice:  Speaking the truth with love (or keeping silence until the time is right).

 

Questions:

How are we to practice a covenant of grace? What does it mean for us to make God’s commandment to love our neighbor central to our relationships? How does this affect the way we speak to one another?  What does it mean to us that those who are the most “spiritual” or “Christian” among us are those who show the most love and forgiveness? In what ways is the practice of forgiveness necessary to knowing Christ? How do we practice forgiveness in situations where we are still struggling with hostility and bitterness? How do we put Christ first over all of our insecurities, conflicts, and fears?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

3/4/2018 3rd Sunday of Lent Covenant of God’s Law, Communion

Sermon:           “The Gift of Covenant Law”

Theme:            God gave the gift of law that creates boundaries and instructs us in righteousness so that we may learn how to be gracious and loving with one another.

Purpose:          The congregation will reflect on their own commitment to do what is right to all people.

Scriptures:       John 2:13-22   Jesus drives out the moneychangers and proclaims call for faithfulness to God.

Exodus 20:1-17           God gives the law to the people at Mount Sanai.

Practice:          Commitment to our personal mission and purpose.

 

Questions:

What does it mean to us that the law that governs our life comes from God? In what ways does a lack of belief or trust in authority affect people’s lives? How does our attitude towards the laws of God give us the confidence to be healthy in our relationship with God and with the people around us? In what ways are we changed by our knowledge that God’s commandments will sustain us and be our source for wisdom and joy?  In what ways do we need to focus on our relationship with God in the law and less to legalism or self-justification?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

February 25, 2018 2nd Sunday of Lent Covenant with Abram and Sarai

Sermon:           “If We Are Ready to Follow, Then…”

Theme:            God calls us to fulfillment and purpose through using the gifts and abilities we have entrusted to be in meaningful relationships.

Purpose:          The congregation will examine and consider their call to meaningful relationships and healing.

Scriptures:       Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 The covenant with Abram and Sarai.

Mark 8:31-38  If any want to follow Christ, they must take up their own cross.

Practice:          Confession and recognition of what our regrets.

 

Questions:

What does it mean to us to be willing to take up our own cross and follow Jesus? In what ways does seeking to have control and stability cause us to lose our meaning in life? In what ways do the risks of faithfulness lead to lasting meaningful relationships? In what ways do the strengths to admit our guilt and errors lead us to be able to move forward in our relationship with God, other people, and sense of our own value? In what ways does our own growth in wisdom, self-differentiation, and spiritual maturity become a gift to the people around us?

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February 18, 2018 1st Sunday of Lent Covenant with Noah

Sermon:           God’s Promises and Love.

Theme:            God’s love is for all people, and God’s desire is for everyone to be reconciled.

Purpose:          The congregation will seek to practice love, even for those who are different and often seen as enemies.

Scriptures:       Genesis 9:8-17 The sign of the rainbow as a covenant of grace.

Mark 1:9-15    Jesus is baptized and God bestows his blessing of love, as Jesus seeks to fulfill his work.

Practice:          Offering blessings and acknowledging the needs of others.

 

Questions:

What difference is there for us that Jesus was affirmed as the “Beloved Son” in whom God is well pleased? What does God speak over us? In what ways do we receive the gift of God’s covenant that all is for our benefit and healing? How can we practice blessing others and recognizing them as in the process of growing in God’s image? How do we get out of seeing people as “problems” or focusing on faults and instead see others as beloved children of God?

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February 11, 2018 Transfiguration Sunday

Sermon:           “Seeing Christ Clearly”

Theme:            We open our eyes and hearts to see Christ in new and powerful ways so that we may be open to the work God is doing in our midst.

Purpose:          The congregation will seek to know Christ’s presence in the coming week through prayer and openness. Preparation for new commitments for Lent.

Scriptures:       2 Corinthians 4:3-6     Though the gospel is veiled to those who will not receive it, it is our light.

Mark 9:2-9      Jesus is transfigured before the disciples.

 

Questions:

What does the “Transfiguration” of Christ mean to us? What is it that we see when we learn to trust our “spiritual vision?” In what ways is our sight veiled by lack of belief in God and over focusing upon our fears and uncertainties? What is the vision that we need to find in order to have a vision for the world? What do we see in the people with whom we have differences and struggles when we see them through the vision of Christ’s power and love? In what ways does the knowledge of God’s power and promise give us a light to shine in the darkness?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

February 4, 2018 Communion

Sermon:           “The Strength that Flows from God”

Theme:            God gives us strength and confidence to do the work and will of Christ, loving even those who are struggling and at times hard to love.

Purpose:          We will focus on drawing strength to be loving and serving through our relationship with Christ.

Scriptures:       Isaiah 40:21-31            Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;

Mark 1:29-39  Jesus cured many, but then went off to pray.

 

Questions:

What is our source of strength and confidence to be the people God created us to be? How can we be strengthened and encouraged in order to speak and act with compassion and confidence? How do we find the gift of the knowledge of God that releases us from arrogance, judgment, and personal self-interest?  What does it mean for us to have the strength to support and care for people who have struggled with their own demons and secrets with a gift of God’s loving care?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

January 28, 2018 One Service 9:00 AM Congregational Meeting

Sermon:           “A Message to Change the World”

Theme:            God’s gracious gift is to lift us out of petty living so that we may be part of doing what matters.

Purpose:          The congregation will focus on serving in ways that matter and make a difference in the world.

Scriptures:       1 Corinthians 8:1-13   Knowledge puffs up, the grace of God sets free.

Mark 1:21-28  Jesus teaches with surprising authority and power that sets people free.

 

Questions:

What is it about Jesus’ authenticity and personal relationship with God that gave him the authority to heal and confront evil? In what ways does “knowledge puff up” but “love builds up?” What is it about our own fears of being judged or misunderstood that causes us to judge and make assumptions about others? How can we have a depth of relationship with Christ that gives us the ability to speak words that are healing and encouraging? What “unclean spirits” do we encounter that need a message of renouncing and healing?

Click HERE to listen to the message

January 21, 2018

Sermon:           “God’s Interruption”

Theme:            God’s message calls us to a new way of living and sharing Christ’s love to the world.

Purpose:          The congregation will perceive our serving is an opportunity to be transformed in heart and mind.

Scriptures:       Mark 1:14-20  Jesus calls the disciples to “fish” for people.

Jonah 3:1-5, 10           Jonah finally proclaims God’s word and the people respond.

 

Questions:

What does it mean for us to follow Jesus? In what ways are we called to share Christ with others? In what ways are we like Jonah, resentful when good things happen to people we don’t like? How do we learn to be more favorable to God’s call and direction than to our own resentments and personal feelings?  In what ways are we needing to let go of our attachments and grudges in order to take part in God’s mission?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

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