Concord United Sermons

The Rich Young Ruler: Talking with Cultural Christians | Rev. Wil Cantrell

The Rich Young Ruler is someone we might think of as culturally religious. He has done everything his religious culture has asked of him, and he thinks that should be enough to win God’s approval. Jesus challenges him to place God first above everything else. Rather than making God one priority (perhaps even his first priority) among many, Jesus invites him to let God be God and order all his priorities. Sometimes we encounter Cultural Christians (Elon Musk recently described himself as one) who believe Christianity has a positive influence, but who have not ever fully surrendered their lives to Christ or experienced the supernatural presence of the Holy Spirit. Our job is listen and appreciate where, they are coming from and invite them to surrender fully to Christ and seek guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

Scripture - Luke 18:18-30

The Rich Young Ruler: Talking with Cultural Christians | Rev. Brooke Hartman

The Rich Young Ruler is someone we might think of as culturally religious. He has done everything his religious culture has asked of him, and he thinks that should be enough to win God’s approval. Jesus challenges him to place God first above everything else. Rather than making God one priority (perhaps even his first priority) among many, Jesus invites him to let God be God and order all his priorities. Sometimes we encounter Cultural Christians (Elon Musk recently described himself as one) who believe Christianity has a positive influence, but who have not ever fully surrendered their lives to Christ or experienced the supernatural presence of the Holy Spirit. Our job is listen and appreciate where, they are coming from and invite them to surrender fully to Christ and seek guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

Scripture - Luke 18:18-30

The Woman at the Well: Talking with Someone from a Different Religion | Rev. Mike Stallings

The woman at the well is a Samaritan who believes differently about God than the Jewish people. Jesus engages in a deep conversation about theological truth and her personal journey. He begins by engaging her in a conversation about her beliefs and practices, and then shifts to sharing how God is present in her life and in the world. As a result she helps lead many Samaritans to faith in Christ. Following Jesus’ example, our conversations with those our other religions should start with genuine curiosity about their beliefs and practices. As they share we should listen for a way in which they already believe something true about God. (For example, “I see you believe in concrete right and wrong. Me too.”) And then be ready to share how Christ affects the way you approach that issue. (Ex. How do you discern what is universal right and wrong and what is cultural preference? For me, Jesus’ example and teachings are the measuring stick for universal right and wrong.) Remember, your job in these conversations is to invite others to take the next step on a spiritual journey guided by the Holy Spirit towards Christ, not to close the deal for Christ.

Scripture - John 4:4-42

The Woman at the Well: Talking with Someone from a Different Religion | Rev. Wil Cantrell

The woman at the well is a Samaritan who believes differently about God than the Jewish people. Jesus engages in a deep conversation about theological truth and her personal journey. He begins by engaging her in a conversation about her beliefs and practices, and then shifts to sharing how God is present in her life and in the world. As a result she helps lead many Samaritans to faith in Christ. Following Jesus’ example, our conversations with those our other religions should start with genuine curiosity about their beliefs and practices. As they share we should listen for a way in which they already believe something true about God. (For example, “I see you believe in concrete right and wrong. Me too.”) And then be ready to share how Christ affects the way you approach that issue. (Ex. How do you discern what is universal right and wrong and what is cultural preference? For me, Jesus’ example and teachings are the measuring stick for universal right and wrong.) Remember, your job in these conversations is to invite others to take the next step on a spiritual journey guided by the Holy Spirit towards Christ, not to close the deal for Christ.

Scripture - John 4:4-42

Nicodemus: Talking with a Curious Skeptic | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Nicodemus is someone we might consider a curious skeptic. As a Pharisee, he is interested in the spiritual realm and explicitly believes in God. He is intrigued by Jesus, but he just can’t quite accept some of Jesus’ difficult teachings about the degree to which a person must surrender and be transformed to follow God. Jesus engages Nicodemus in a deep, respectful conversation about how Jesus’ teachings are line with much of what Nicodemus already believes and challenges Nicodemus to move to a deeper understanding and expression of faith. Sometime later, Nicodemus becomes a follower of Christ because of the spiritual journey begun in this conversation. When we talk to Curious Skeptics, we often encounter people who believe in the possibility of spiritual truth, but what they have heard about the Christian God does not yet entirely fit with their lived experience. Our job is to engage them in deep, respectful conversations in which we seek to understand how they see the world and challenge them to look for Christ’s presence within it. 

Scripture - John 3:1-21

Nicodemus: Talking with a Curious Skeptic | Rev. Sabine Collins

Nicodemus is someone we might consider a curious skeptic. As a Pharisee, he is interested in the spiritual realm and explicitly believes in God. He is intrigued by Jesus, but he just can’t quite accept some of Jesus’ difficult teachings about the degree to which a person must surrender and be transformed to follow God. Jesus engages Nicodemus in a deep, respectful conversation about how Jesus’ teachings are line with much of what Nicodemus already believes and challenges Nicodemus to move to a deeper understanding and expression of faith. Sometime later, Nicodemus becomes a follower of Christ because of the spiritual journey begun in this conversation. When we talk to Curious Skeptics, we often encounter people who believe in the possibility of spiritual truth, but what they have heard about the Christian God does not yet entirely fit with their lived experience. Our job is to engage them in deep, respectful conversations in which we seek to understand how they see the world and challenge them to look for Christ’s presence within it. 

Scripture -John 3:1-21

Christianity is Personal, Not Private | Pastor Becca Means

Jesus sends out his disciples to share the good news about God. He informs them that “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Still, today Jesus sends out his followers. And the good news about God still changes lives and transforms communities. The biggest challenge facing the spread of the Gospel is not the Gospel’s lack of power – if has more than enough, it is the lack of people ready and willing to spread. In our culture, we have been discouraged from sharing our faith by the lie that religion is private. The Christianity we inherit from Jesus’ own teachings to the earliest disciples is personal, not private. Every Christian is called to learn the art of spiritual conversation – learning to listen and relate to the spiritual journey of others and to share the Gospel in a gracious, kind, and loving manner.

Scripture - Luke 10:1-11,17-20

Christianity is Personal, Not Private | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Jesus sends out his disciples to share the good news about God. He informs them that “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Still, today Jesus sends out his followers. And the good news about God still changes lives and transforms communities. The biggest challenge facing the spread of the Gospel is not the Gospel’s lack of power – if has more than enough, it is the lack of people ready and willing to spread. In our culture, we have been discouraged from sharing our faith by the lie that religion is private. The Christianity we inherit from Jesus’ own teachings to the earliest disciples is personal, not private. Every Christian is called to learn the art of spiritual conversation – learning to listen and relate to the spiritual journey of others and to share the Gospel in a gracious, kind, and loving manner.

Scripture - Luke 10:1-11,17-20

Something Bigger Than Hate | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Love is a word with many implications, from the trivial to the significant. The same is true for hate.  We use the words loosely to describe our feelings towards things and people.  We love and we hate.  There is healing and damage within both, yet there is a love bigger than our human attempts.  It is the love that undergirds our hope, faith, community, purpose, grace, and forgiveness.  The love that poured out on the cross for each of us.  The love that challenges our words and actions, and leads us to something bigger than the world can give us.  The love of our God, of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit.  Love is something bigger than.

Scripture - John 15:12-13

Something Bigger Than Hate | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Love is a word with many implications, from the trivial to the significant. The same is true for hate.  We use the words loosely to describe our feelings towards things and people.  We love and we hate.  There is healing and damage within both, yet there is a love bigger than our human attempts.  It is the love that undergirds our hope, faith, community, purpose, grace, and forgiveness.  The love that poured out on the cross for each of us.  The love that challenges our words and actions, and leads us to something bigger than the world can give us.  The love of our God, of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit.  Love is something bigger than.

Scripture - John 15:12-13