Concord United Sermons

Practicing Taming Our Tongue | Rev. Wil Cantrell

There is the adage that “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  That is not true.  Our words cause damage in our close relationships and with those we do not know.  Practicing our faith includes taming our tongue, as James teaches.  The book of James notes more than once the significance of what comes out of our mouths, and how it is evidence of practicing our faith or not.

Scripture - James 3:1-12

Practicing Taming Our Tongue | Rev. Brooke Hartman

There is the adage that “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  That is not true.  Our words cause damage in our close relationships and with those we do not know.  Practicing our faith includes taming our tongue, as James teaches.  The book of James notes more than once the significance of what comes out of our mouths, and how it is evidence of practicing our faith or not. 

Scripture - James 3:1-12

Practicing Our Faith | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, “What you do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say.”  This applies to our faith as well.  Our faith, our trust, and dependence on God can be relegated to our beliefs, doctrines, and principles, yet never applied to our everyday life.  The author of James challenges that faith is not merely knowing but in acting through faith.  At times, the book of James can be accused of countering Paul’s words about faith not being about works.  This is true that our faith is not about earning, or acting enough to earn God’s grace and love.  The other piece is that as Christians, we are called to live out our faith through actions.  Faith is not solely intellectual; it is practical.  We can know all about God’s word, yet we are called to practice our faith within the world, within our relationships at home, work, school, and the “marketplace”. 

Scripture - James 1:19-25; 2:14

Practicing Our Faith | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, “What you do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say.”  This applies to our faith as well.  Our faith, our trust, and dependence on God can be relegated to our beliefs, doctrines, and principles, yet never applied to our everyday life.  The author of James challenges that faith is not merely knowing but in acting through faith.  At times, the book of James can be accused of countering Paul’s words about faith not being about works.  This is true that our faith is not about earning, or acting enough to earn God’s grace and love.  The other piece is that as Christians, we are called to live out our faith through actions.  Faith is not solely intellectual; it is practical.  We can know all about God’s word, yet we are called to practice our faith within the world, within our relationships at home, work, school, and the “marketplace”. 

Scripture - James 1:19-25; 2:14

Saved For Eternity | Rev. Wil Cantrell

: Jesus tells his disciples that he came to offer eternal life to those who believe in and follow him. Eternal life is described in the Bible in several ways. It is described as knowing Jesus, the heavenly city, and the eternal kingdom. These images point to an eternity within a community of restored relationships where every wound has been healed and where we are able love as God has loved us. Jesus’ teachings lead us to questions: 1) Can we know we are saved?  2) Can we know others aren’t saved?

 

In regards to question 1, Jesus’ teachings indicate that if we have sought his forgiveness and placed our trust for this life and eternity in him, we can trust we are saved even if we did not feel anything immediately when we prayed.  Jesus also promises to send his Spirit to give us an assurance of salvation and calls us to trust His word that he will be true to his promise for those who seek him. While sometimes we have to wait longer than we would wish for a spiritual experience of assurance, often God’s silence is an invitation for us to more deeply pursue him. As relates to question 2, Christian disagree. While some Christian traditions, hold that those who never publicly profess faith are condemned, most Christian traditions hold out the possibility that Christ is still able to work in the lives of those on their deathbeds and those who sought God with their lives, but lived in cultures where they never learned the Gospel. As Methodists, we believe in free will and, therefore, we believe God will not force salvation on anyone. If a soul chooses darkness over light, God will respect the choice.  

Scripture - John 10:27-30, Romans 10:9–10, Revelation 22:1–5

Saved For Eternity | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Jesus tells his disciples that he came to offer eternal life to those who believe in and follow him. Eternal life is described in the Bible in several ways. It is described as knowing Jesus, the heavenly city, and the eternal kingdom. These images point to an eternity within a community of restored relationships where every wound has been healed and where we are able love as God has loved us. Jesus’ teachings lead us to questions: 1) Can we know we are saved?  2) Can we know others aren’t saved?

 

In regards to question 1, Jesus’ teachings indicate that if we have sought his forgiveness and placed our trust for this life and eternity in him, we can trust we are saved even if we did not feel anything immediately when we prayed.  Jesus also promises to send his Spirit to give us an assurance of salvation and calls us to trust His word that he will be true to his promise for those who seek him. While sometimes we have to wait longer than we would wish for a spiritual experience of assurance, often God’s silence is an invitation for us to more deeply pursue him. As relates to question 2, Christian disagree. While some Christian traditions, hold that those who never publicly profess faith are condemned, most Christian traditions hold out the possibility that Christ is still able to work in the lives of those on their deathbeds and those who sought God with their lives, but lived in cultures where they never learned the Gospel. As Methodists, we believe in free will and, therefore, we believe God will not force salvation on anyone. If a soul chooses darkness over light, God will respect the choice.  

Scripture - John 10:27-30, Romans 10:9–10, Revelation 22:1–5

Saved Through Faith | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Though we are saved by grace, we are saved through faith. It is faith that allows us request and receive God’s grace and provision through our trust in God. Hebrews 11  describes faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. It is faith through which the Holy Spirit gives us the internal witness to our souls which allows us to trust God to save us for eternity and to guide us in this life. Living by faith means following God’s guidance and calling this life, and trusting that God will prepare a place for us in God’s eternal kingdom. 

Scripture - Ephesians 2:4-9, Hebrews 11:1,6

Saved Through Faith | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Though we are saved by grace, we are saved through faith. It is faith that allows us request and receive God’s grace and provision through our trust in God. Hebrews 11  describes faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. It is faith through which the Holy Spirit gives us the internal witness to our souls which allows us to trust God to save us for eternity and to guide us in this life. Living by faith means following God’s guidance and calling this life, and trusting that God will prepare a place for us in God’s eternal kingdom. 

Scripture - Ephesians 2:4-9, Hebrews 11:1,6

Saved by Grace | Rev. Brooke Hartman

We can be saved only by grace, God’s unmerited forgiveness and blessing given to us in the midst of our sinfulness. This grace cannot be earned, but must be requested and received. To illustrate grace, Jesus used the example of the prodigal son, who wronged his Father, wasted his resources, and yet knew enough of his Father’s love to return and beg for forgiveness and provision – which the Father joyfully provides.  

Scripture - Ephesians 2:4-9, Luke 15:11-32  

Saved by Grace | Rev. Wil Cantrell

We can be saved only by grace, God’s unmerited forgiveness and blessing given to us in the midst of our sinfulness. This grace cannot be earned, but must be requested and received. To illustrate grace, Jesus used the example of the prodigal son, who wronged his Father, wasted his resources, and yet knew enough of his Father’s love to return and beg for forgiveness and provision – which the Father joyfully provides.  

 

Scripture - Ephesians 2:4-9, Luke 15:11-32