"community" Tagged Sermons
Faith-Shaped Parenting
In connection with child dedication, we want to do some discussion of how our faith shapes our everyday parenting. We also want to address how this is important for the non-parents in the room as well (e.g., “it takes a village”). An opportunity to encourage others to pour into the next generation more broadly. Matthew 6:33; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21 Sermon Outline “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on…
We Need Each Other
Paul concludes this letter with a wonderful look at the interrelationships that exist between him, various people, and the Corinthians believers. (1 Corinthians 16:1-24) Sermon Outline We give to tangible support each other Paul’s description of the relief offering for Jerusalem believers Trust is part of the foundation of community, and stewardship We all have a part to play While we think Paul was a solitary letter writer, in reality his letters were a team effort, as was his ministry…
A House Divided
The Corinthians have such great divisions that they cannot solve them apart from going to court. Paul says they have already been overcome by their own divided ways. (1 Corinthians 6:1-11) Sermon Outline …but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Since the Church has been set apart from the world through its union with Christ, we must live…
Living Alive and Free in Christ
Using the startling example of sexual incest occurring within the Corinthian church, Paul calls the believing community into discernment about what holiness means in our sexuality, as well as how to live holy as God’s chosen people in every area of our lives. Sermon Outline “Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:8) Living as a Community of Christ’s Life…
Facing Opposition in a Good Work
There are opponents from the very beginning and all throughout Nehemiah’s efforts. It shouldn’t be surprising when troubles arise as we pursue the work of repair and rebuilding. (Nehemiah 2:10, 19-20; 4:1-23; 5:1-19; 6:1-14) SERMON OUTLINE “But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. ‘What is this you are doing?’ they asked. ‘Are you rebelling against the king?’” (Nehemiah 2:19) The Reality of Opposition There will be…
The Community of Repair
The list of builders by section seems sort of odd to us but is also an important recognition of the workers who apply themselves to the task. This is really not about Nehemiah but about the people. (Nehemiah 3:1-32) SERMON OUTLINE What Reason Did They Have to Rebuild the Wall? The Voice of Reason: We need Walls Nehemiah’s Reason: We are Disgraced (Nehemiah 2:17) The Best Reason: For His Name & on His Heart (Nehemiah 1:9,11; 2:12) What Did It…
Living Hope
Along with some final greetings, Paul’s last segment of this letter gives us some basic exhortations to living our hope out in everyday life as God’s new community, the church. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-28) SERMON OUTLINE “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Living as the Good Community of God (1 Thessalonians 5:12-15) Acknowledge those who serve Warn those who are idle Encourage those who are…
A Reset in Light of the Future
This week we want to talk about the importance of encouraging one another until Christ returns. This is a long haul and keeps us looking forward together as a community. We have so many examples of this in the ‘hall of faith’ of Hebrews 11. SERMON OUTLINE “Let us consider how we may spur one another on… and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) The Challenge of Time in Our Day The challenge of coming…
A Reset on Gathering
During a time when it has been difficult to meet together, we want to encourage people to meet together in person again for weekly worship. SERMON OUTLINE Gathering Together to Worship In the Old Testament God’s idea, God’s command Festivals at temple in Jerusalem Psalm 100, the reset psalm Synagogues In the New Testament Jesus’ insistence on it “Wherever 2 or 3 of you are gathered…” (Matthew 18:20) “I will build my church…” (Matthew 16:18b) Institution of the Lord’s Supper…
A Reset on Service
We are called toward love and good deeds. We are a body and a team. We want to help everyone find avenues for serving within the church and beyond the church. SERMON OUTLINE “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…” (Hebrews 10:24) A Reset on Our Concept of the Church The church as an event or a consumer activity Last week: the church as a family who loves one another This week…
A Reset on Love
We are called to “spur one another one to love.” That means we are a family, a community, and we need to learn to live in that way together. SERMON OUTLINE “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) A Reset on Our Image…
“I believe in the holy Christian church, the communion of saints.”
This series walks through the Apostles Creed as a basic summary of our faith but also as a way to live our faith out with God in the world. Each weekend of this series will explore the biblical and theological roots of the Apostles Creed, while also providing specific spiritual practices and approaches to living out what we know as we ‘proclaim and embody’ the Creed in our daily lives. This week focuses on the phrase, “I believe in the…