Things to Ponder

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 13; Colossians 3:9b-14

 

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Sermon Text: John 15; Ephesians 4

 

We concluded our series on the windows by looking at the final two, representing baptism and communion. What are the sacraments, and what do they do? We talked about the remarkable gift they are. Then we stepped back and looked at the sanctuary in its fullness - what is the message of this place? Short answer? In our deepest heart, God meets us with love and bids us come follow him. That's still our call today.

 

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Sermon Text: Revelation 4:6-8

 

Today we looked at the traditional symbols for the four gospels in our windows, and discovered these images come from Scripture itself! They are a reminder that every time we open Scripture, we are brought into the presence of God in a powerful way. the Bible is intended to point us to Christ, and the Bible is only life-changing as we allow Christ to shine through it.

 

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Sermon Text: Colossians 1

 

Today, we released a new logo! Logos - and imagery of all kinds - makes our feelings, beliefs, and visions tangible. But the Bible is notoriously skeptical of images, because we can't capture God in a finite image. But what if God GAVE us an image? In Christ, God did. And all of our images are intended to point back to that singular image - Jesus crucified, resurrected, and coming again.

 

BONUS:  For the mission to be alive in the church, it has to be alive in us.  What is God cultivating, growing, and renewing in you?

 

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Sermon Text: 1 John 4

 

Trinity Sunday is one of a very few Sundays where we celebrate a doctrine. But what does the doctrine of the "Trinity" actually do for us? In the Trinity, God is a swirling, living, breathing experience of love. By being 3-in-1, God can be love in God's very essence. And through the Holy Spirit in us, we participate in that life. To be disciples, then, is to go seeking to give love in community. That is the challenge of the Trinitarian Church.

 

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Sermon Text: Acts 2

 

The apostles waited eagerly for the sending of the Holy Spirit, and on that Pentecost Sunday the Spirit was sent and the gospel began its spread across the world, until it reaches us. We are the people the apostles were praying for. In the same way, this congregation has prayed for an outpouring of God's Spirit, and today we confirmed 6 students into the faith and family of Jesus Christ. They are the people we've been praying for. May God bless them, and us, as we set out on this new journey together.

 

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Sermon Text: Acts 1, Ephesians 1

 

Good theology starts with a simple question: Where is Jesus' body? On Ascension, we celebrate that Jesus' body goes to the right hand of God. He is above all powers, and fills all things, and our citizenship is in heaven. Church, then, is the place to experience heaven right now, and our responsibility is to join Jesus in bringing heaven's life to earth, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done."

 

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Sermon Text: John 14:1-14

 

In his resurrection, Christ has created a new home for us. "But how do we get there?" Thomas asked. It can feel that way for us as well. How do we get to resurrected life? Jesus gives us three metaphors, "way, truth, and life." As we commit our lives to Jesus and follow in his way, his truth, and his life, the Kingdom is made real in us.

 

Bonus Content begins at 21:55.  In light of the many shootings and acts of violence all around us, we wonder:  can a contemplative life lived in the Jesus way, truth, and life actually bring about change in the world?  Spoiler warning - yes!

 

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Sermon Text: John 10:1-10

 

Mrs. Diane Flickinger was our special guest speaker to reflect on the ways that Christ is the Good Shepherd. Thank you, Diane, for your wonderful message!

 

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Sermon Text: Genesis 32

 

Today we did a Blessing of our Garden. In our gospel reading, Jesus withdrew to a secluded place to pray, a place a lot like this one. It was out of that that he could do the miracles he did. The life we live in relationship to agriculture and the earth is spiritually weighty, and we often find ourselves wrestling with God. That wrestling is holy, and brings us to a place where we can experience God. That's what can happen in a garden - contemplative space that can change us.

 

Bonus Content (begins at 21:40):  What We Need Is here. On the heels of our garden blessing, I thought we might continue the theme by diving into a little poetry - Wendell Berry's "Wild Geese." And through simple, powerful images, he makes a compelling case for resurrection life breaking out in you and in me precisely where we are.

 

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