Category: sermons
Sermon 3/17/2024
Sermon 3/10/2024
Sermon 6/18/2023
Kin-dom of God: Within Us, Among Us
He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’ Mark 4:30-32
Seeds grow. It’s what they are supposed to do. Seeds have the capacity for great things and with basic interaction with the elements of soil, water, nutrients and sunlight the seeds live into their destiny.
According to the Disciples of Christ General Assembly preaching resource materials, “perhaps Dr. Amy Jill-Levine is correct in her book ‘Short Stories of Jesus’ when she writes ‘sometimes a seed is just a seed, a bird is just a bird, and a tree is just a tree.’ A mustard seed, after all, is supposed to grow into a larger plant. A mustard plant, after all, is intended to be beneficial to the gardener who plants it. It is no stretch to imagine that a tall tree or a tall bush (however big a mustard plant should be), would have birds amongst its branches. What does it mean, then, for Jesus to compare the Kin-dom of God to a mustard seed? Simply put, the Kin-dom of God is meant to grow, and it is meant to be a blessing where it grows.”
Sunday in worship we explored in greater detail what it means for us, the kin-dom of God, to grow. We are supposed to grow. It is what we are intended to do if we truly are doing our part as Christ’s church. We broke down the necessary elements it takes for us as the body of Christ to fulfill our responsibility to grow into a bush with ample branches, limbs, and leaves to nest whoever is flying by and needs respite from our presence.
Sermon 6/11/2023
Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!” For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.
Luke 17:20-21
When? When will we see the reign of God? The Pharisee asked, but he is not the only one who has asked. Some folks are out here praying for it “to come,” but Jesus says, “Look, here it is!” So, what exactly are we waiting for? We can wonder if Jesus is telling us that spending all our time looking for signs is futile, and we will be so busy looking for the sky to start falling that we will miss the presence of God’s reign here and now. Could he be saying that it starts with us…When we put our hands to the plow and start preparing to plant seeds, the kindom of God will grow?
Kindom is a concept we will explore in greater detail this Sunday. “Kindom of God: Within Us, Among Us” is the theme for the 2023 General Assembly of our denomination, at the end of July. We will engage with greater intentionality what this means and how are keeping the will and presence of God among us. The reality is, God’s expansive love connects each of us as “kin” and to each part of the larger kindom of God.
Kindom is not evidenced by the number of church buildings, church members, and religious organizations that exist in God’s name, but rather by the healing works we do (physically and systemically). Kindom, we are evidenced by how we treat the widow and the orphan. The evidence is in how we seek justice and walk humbly with God. The evidence is of how we treat the least among us. “When will we see the reign of God?” When we realize God is to be experienced on earth. God is here, inside of us. We don’t have to wait for what Jesus has already revealed!
I give credit for words and inspiration for this devotion to the preparation materials called “Kin Curriculum” put out by the General Office of our denomination.
Brett
Sermon 6/4/2023
If I were to ask you to think about a table that has been significant in your life, where does your mind go first?
I have a feeling that if I were to ask you to think about various kinds of tables, a fairly clear picture will come to mind as well as a flood of memories and experiences. Take a few moments and think about each of these tables and what triggers your memory:
- kitchen table
- dining room table
- craft or hobby table
- work table
- Communion table
We, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are a people of the table. First and foremost, we refer to the Holy Table of Communion. The Lord’s table is a place where Jesus welcomes all as equally worthy to receive, as well as to go forth and serve another. Each time we gather at this table, it is a unique experience unto the moment. It is a communal encounter shaped by those present.
We are also people of other significant tables. Disciples love to eat. There is something about food on a table to bring us together in conversation and fellowship. Also, at table we study, pray, create, and provide in ways that build up the reign of God in our midst. Community happens at and because of the table.
The text for Sunday is Luke 22:23-30. A dispute has broken out amongst Jesus’ followers regarding which of them could be regarded as the greatest. In verse 27 Jesus gives us another of his patented, ‘yes and’ answers when he replies: “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”
We seek to understand what Jesus meant and to explore in greater detail how we are truly people of the table.
Sermon 5/28/2023 Pentecost
This Sunday we celebrated the day of Pentecost. It signifies 50 days following Easter and it is also the occasion at which the gift of the Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Jesus.
For some churches, the significance of Pentecost as a holiday may be the least of all sacred holidays. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), however, embraces the understanding that because of the gift of the Spirit, the presence of Christ lives on through us.
There is still work to be done, and it is our role to carry it out. With that in mind, Pentecost is a big deal. Often it gets referred to as the birthday of the church. It was the day when the followers of Jesus could see and understand the needs of their foreign neighbor. They could now speak with them in a language of love that not only heard but understood.
Our text is Acts 2:1-21 as we welcome the Holy Spirit into our post-Easter journey!
Sermon 5/21/2023
On May 21st we celebrated Ascension Sunday, the occasion when Jesus physically leaves the earth for good and ascended into the heavens. Earlier in the season we focused upon Matthew’s telling of the final words and encounter with Jesus and this week will hear from Luke in Acts 1:6-11. After resurrecting from the now empty tomb, Jesus had been preparing his disciples one final time for the ministry that awaits them, and us still.
Jesus speaks cryptically of not leaving us alone in serving as church. We will pay particular attention to Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
Jesus’ faithful ones need not wait long, as next Sunday we will celebrate Pentecost, the day when the gift of the Holy Spirit descends upon all who believe.
This gift is a pillar of who we are as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and this core verse underscores our denominational mission statement, “to be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth.”
In our act of worship, we will also tend to deep understanding of our vision as a denomination, “to be a faithful, growing church, that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice.”
Sermon 5/14/2023
It is amazing to see things that are good individually, unite, forming something great: peanut butter and chocolate; macaroni and cheese, needle and thread, milk and cookies, Batman and Robin.
Unity is a good thing.
The next pillar that defines us as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is unity. There are two passages of scripture that we will focus on this Sunday. The importance of unity is highlighted in Psalm 133:1. “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!”
In John 17:20-24, the author highlights a prayer of Jesus in which he requests: “‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.’” Jesus is offering a prayer of unity that all might be one in God, Christ himself, and each other.
This Sunday we talked about the founding fathers of our movement for wholeness, Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone and the claim being, “unity is our polar star.”
Sermon April 30, 2023
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. – Romans 15:7
I can remember spending spring break holidays at the family farm with my grandparents. On the weekends, a treat for us kids was going out to eat followed by stopping at someone’s house for dessert, cards, and conversation. It was always a spontaneous drop-in.
We would drive around a little bit (long before the days of cell phones and texting) to see who was entertaining. The first clue we looked for were the vehicles in the driveway to see if folks were home and if they already had guests. The second signal was if the porch light was on.
That porch light was the small-town welcome sign. If the light is on, all are welcome, stop on by, come on in. It was like those old Motel 6 commercials, “We’ll leave a light on for you, except when we are closed.”
This Sunday was our third installment into our series, “We Call Ourselves Disciples.” We focused our attention this week on our sense of welcome. We claim an open table, to which all are welcome. Showing a wide-open hospitality is a trait the (Disciples of Christ) pride ourselves on.
Romans 15:4-13 reminds us to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with what Christ Jesus would express. So, with that in mind, we can see that the guest list is quite long. We explore together the ways we leave the porch light on, and who it is we welcome.