11/29/2015 First Sunday of Advent

Sermon: “Something New for Christmas”

Theme: If we will be awake to what God is doing in our midst, the Messiah will transform and change our world so that we may experience the fruit of love and grace in our relationships with God and others.

Purpose: The congregation will seek to let go of their needs for control so that they may be open to change that God will bring.

Scriptures: Luke 21:25-36 See the signs but know what to focus upon.
Jeremiah 33:14-16 Promise of a branch of righteousness

Questions:
What needs to change in our lives in order to be ready to receive Christ in a new and powerful way? Do we want to be changed? Do we want a fresh sense of Christ’s presence enlivening us? Or are we more determined to have a Christmas that reaffirms our memories and keeps alive what was important to us in the past? What needs to go in order to have something fresh in our hearts and relationship with Christ for Christmas? What needs to be stripped away that has been in the way of enjoying Christ’s love and presence fully in our lives?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

11/22/2015 Giving Hands

Sermon:           “Reaching Out in Love”

Theme:            The body of Christ has meaning and purpose by reaching out in love (and does not exist for any other purpose.

Purpose:          The congregation will seek to live and function as the Body of Christ, and measure success of our work together by being those who reach out in love to the world.

Scriptures:       James 1:22-27 Do not be hearers only but be doers of the word.

Luke 9:23-27   If anyone to be followers, let them take up their cross, what does it profit if they gain the world but lose their purpose?

Questions:

In what ways is the “body of Christ” doing the work of Christ today? Do non-church people see Christians as generous and compassion or as judgmental and self-righteous? What do we need to do so that God’s love flows more fully through our actions? Does our religion reflect James description:  “27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world?”  Do we worry more about our needs and rights than about living faithfully the love of Christ in daily actions? What are some specific changes we could make to better show the love and grace of Jesus?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

11/15/2015 Feet Shod to Share the Gospel

Sermon:           “Humbly Walking the Walk”

Theme:            Christ calls us to show our knowledge of God through our humility and faithfulness.

Purpose:          The congregation will understand the value of “Growing Humbly in faith.”

Scriptures:       Romans 5:1-8  Our sufferings and pain serve to mature us into enduring, humble Christians.

Matthew 10:5-15        Jesus sends the disciples out to preach and heal, and to wipe the dust off their feet where they are not received.

 

Questions:

What does it mean to us to share the gospel? Is there a way to spread the good news without being pushy and rude? How should we understand our role to share Christ? Is it possible that we can enter into relationships with others and share God’s love as our work of evangelism? Is it possible that we have a particular character as the Body of Christ which will flow naturally from our hearts? How can we tap into this natural manner of sharing Christ’s love?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

11/8/2015 Ears that Listen

Sermon: “Christians (Having Received the Word)

Theme: We have heard the word and now seek to live it faithfully as the Body of Christ in fellowship with one another.

Purpose: The congregation will commit itself to living as Christ calls us to live.

Scriptures:
Acts 11:19-30 The name “Christian” is first given to people who followed the example of the Anointed one.
John 13:33-35 By your love, everyone will know that you are followers of Christ.

Questions:
What does it mean to be Christ-like? Do we raise to the measure of being people who are seen for our love for one another and for all of the world? Do we show that we have received God’s word by our love? What do people think of when they hear about Christians? Why are some who claim to be Christian so prone to be resentful, hostile, and negative? How do we reclaim the meaning of the word Christian from those who have caused it to be associated with judgmentalism and hypocrisy?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

11/1/2015 Heart Communion

Sermon:           “They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love”

Theme:            The measure of the health and nature of the Body of Christ is love above all else.

Purpose:          The congregation will affirm the need to practice our love of Christ.

Scriptures:       1 Corinthians 13          Love is patient, love is kind, love does not seek its own way.

Matthew 25:34-40      Then the king will say, “When I was hungry you fed me…”

 

Questions:

As the Body of Christ, in what ways are we demonstrating that we are Christians? How do we stand against the definition of love given in 1 Corinthians 13? Are we arrogant, boastful, and rude? Or are we patient, kind, loving, and willing to accept each other? Is our love in practice so that we will stand the test of Matthew 25 (feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, visiting the stranger, the prisoner, and those who are alone)?  Do we take the command to love as our first and most important assignment as the body of Christ?

 

11/8/2015       Ears that Listen

Sermon:           “Christians (Having Received the Word)

Theme:            We have heard the word and now seek to live it faithfully as the Body of Christ in fellowship with one another.

Purpose           The congregation will commit itself to living as Christ calls us to live.

Scriptures:

Acts 11:19-30  The name “Christian” is first given to people who followed the example of the Anointed one.

John 13:33-35  By your love, everyone will know that you are followers of Christ.

Click HERE to listen to the message.

10/25/2015 Foot (Humbly going to others)

Sermon: “Running to Share Christ’s Peace”

Theme: We are equipped to take peace to people who are troubled and afraid, in need of peace.

Purpose: The congregation will become aware of the need to carry Christ to people who are struggling with conflict and fear.

Scriptures: Isaiah 52:7-10 How beautiful are the feet of the messenger who announces peace and brings the gospel.
Ephesians 6:10-18 For shoes, put on what will make you ready to share the gospel of peace.
Questions:
Are we enthusiastic to serve by sharing God’s word and peace? Are we more interested in being the center of attention and being noticed or are we more invested in seeing that the message gets to people who are struggling and in need? How do we become more invested in sharing the love of Christ than in our own status or significance? How do we deal with those who are more concerned about their personal importance than about being a part of serving Christ? In what ways is humility necessary for reaching out in love? How do we learn and grow to share that humility together?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

10/18/2015 Brain (What You Think About)

Sermon: “Thinking for Peace”

Theme: We have to choose to direct our mind and thoughts towards forgiveness and peace.

Purpose: The congregation will pay attention to their thoughts and focus towards peace.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Wisdom that comes from God versus wisdom of the world.
James 3:13-18 The wisdom of God is peaceable and gentle.

Questions:
How do we share the wisdom of our relationship with God, especially in a world that is oriented around a completely different set of values? In what ways does being wise and understanding as Christians put us out of step with people whose values are oriented around personal gain or self-importance? Are there ways in which we try and compromise, holding onto the wisdom of personal gain and self-importance, while still trying to live by the wisdom of holiness and relationship with Christ? How do we develop the humble wisdom of living in Christ?

10/25/2015 Foot (Humbly going to others)
Sermon: “Running to Share Christ’s Peace”
Theme: We are equipped to take peace to people who are troubled and afraid, in need of peace.
Purpose: The congregation will become aware of the need to carry Christ to people who are struggling with conflict and fear.
Scriptures: Isaiah 52:7-10 How beautiful are the feet of the messenger who announces peace and brings the gospel.
Ephesians 6:10-18 For shoes, put on what will make you ready to share the gospel of peace.

Click HERE to listen to the message.

10/11/2015 Tongue (What comes out of our Mouths)

Sermon: “Consider Before You Speak”
Theme: The manner in which we control our speech is the clearest and most significant sign of spiritual growth.
Purpose: The congregation will seek to be sensitive to what they choose to say.
Scriptures: Matthew 15:3-13 It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles but that which comes out.
James 3:2-13 The tongue is a powerful member, and can do good or harm.

Questions:
How do we manage our communications as the body of Christ? In what ways does our manner of speaking to one another affect the way people see the body of Christ? In what ways has rude, harsh, and disrespectful communication within the body of Christ caused people to turn away from the Christianity and the Church as a resource for healing, help, and spiritual growth? How do we change the way in which we behave towards one another? What is hypocrisy? What do we do in order to be joyful healthy Christians together?

Click HERE to listen to the Message.

 

10/4/2015 Heart “Openness” Opening your heart. World Communion Sunday

Sermon: “The Discipline of an Open Heart”

Theme: God calls us to open our hearts and be willing to receive all people with love and acceptance.

Purpose: The congregation will reconsider their preconceptions about others and seek to be open to all people.

Scriptures: Ephesians 1:15-23 With the eyes of your heart enlightened you may have a spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Mark 12:28-33 Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, and strength, love your neighbor as yourself.

Questions:
What does the Apostle Paul mean by the “eyes of the heart” being “enlightened?” What does our heart have to do with having strength and power to serve Christ? What does it mean for us to have our hearts open to Christ’s guidance and serving? What is meant by the commandment to “Love God with all of our heart, mind, and soul?” How does that type of love affect the Body of Christ? How is the love for God related to our love for others in the world? How does our ability to learn to love fully affect the Body of Christ?

Click HERE to listen to the Message.

9/27/2015 Seeing (Paying Attention)

Sermon: “How You Look At Things”

Theme: Through faith we learn to look through love and trust in God, so that we become focused on living lives of generosity, love, and faith.

Purpose: To teach the congregation to focus on what they are focusing their eyes and thoughts upon.

Scriptures: Matthew 6:19-24 The eye is the lamp of the body, it can be full of greed or light.
Acts 9:3-9, 17-22 Saul receives his sight through prayers and the removal of the scales that blinded him.

Questions:
What are the things that we focus our attention upon? Do we choose to focus on the things that are up building and worthy of our attention? Do we tend to focus on things that are negative and critical? How does our focus and attention affect our attitude? How does our attention and focus affect the people around us? In what ways does our attention and focus either build up the body or Christ or function in a way that is negative and destructive? How do we keep our focus on the mission of serving Christ and remove it from complaint and criticism?

Click HERE to listen to the sermon.

9/20/2015 Hearing

Sermon: “Listening and Hearing”

Theme: God calls us to open our ears, and to be open to listening, but to be thoughtful about what we choose to hear, and how we choose to support the body of Christ by listening for God’s presence.

Purpose: The congregation will understand that listening is a discipline and will begin to work to practice listening so as to build up the body of Christ.

Scriptures: Mark 7:31-37 Jesus opens the ears of the deaf mute.
1 John 4:1-6 Listening to what confesses God and not encouraging that which furthers hostility or animosity.

Questions:
What happens to the body of Christ when we choose to listen to gossip and hostility? Is it kind to encourage people to continue to complain and pour out their hostility or is it encouraging them to dwell in their unforgiveness? What can we do to actively listen and in that way build up others? What can we do to encourage through listening that people seek to grow in their relationship with God and seek healing? In what ways is our listening going to either encourage growth in wisdom and knowledge of God or deepening of resentments and hostility?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

9/13/2015 Introduction – One Body. 2 services, Kick off Sunday

Sermon: “One Body of Christ” Theme Song: One Bread, One Body

Theme: We are united as the one body of Christ, each called to be a part of the body in love and fellowship.

Purpose: The congregation will seek to support the health and union of the whole body.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 You are the body of Christ and individually members of that one body.
John 15:7-17 Jesus commands that we love one another and that love be the center of our relationships (not servants but friends).

Questions:
What does it mean that we are the one body of Christ? What are the ways in which we are struggling with acceptance of others? In what ways are we encountering a need to growth in diversity? What are the “less honorable” parts of the body? Do we treat the “unseen” and “unappreciated” parts of the body with the honor they deserve? Are there ways in which we have been neglecting to encourage the diversity of the body? What is your part or strength in the body of Christ? What can you do to help the whole body to be healthier?

Click HERE to listen to the message.

Pages: 1 31 32 33 34 35 40