Concord United Sermons

Uncorrupting Christianity | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Christianity is not corrupted by sin. Christianity is founded upon the conviction that sin abounds in each human heart and we are in constant need of the grace of Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and enable us to grow in faith. Christianity is corrupted by idolatry which equates participation in a cultural practice or attitude with right relationship with God. Such idolatry creates a religion wholly different than Christianity because the foundation of such idolatrous religion is obedience to a law, and often culturally conditioned, selectively applied interpretation of a law, rather than on a saving and sanctifying relationship with Jesus Christ. In 21^st Century America, those with more progressive views often make an idol out of a certain political ideas and on the right we make idols out of other political ideas, in East Tennessee we often make an idol out of Tennessee Volunteer athletics, and sometimes within the church we even make idols out of our favorite worship styles and sacramental practices. If we are to live in the saving grace and lasting freedom of Christ, we ensure our identities are based on the Rock of Ages, not the idols of our age. 

Scripture - Galatians 1:6-7, Galatians 3:1-4, 3:23-29

Walking and Talking with God | Rev. Brooke Hartman

From the beginning, God has walked with us.  Prayer is one of the tangible ways that God walks with us and we walk with God.  Prayer is the language that God gave us to communicate with our creator.  Walking with God includes Jesus.  Jesus states that he is the light of the world and whoever follows him "will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life".   Walking with God through prayer includes a variety of methods.  One such method is a prayer labyrinth, a path of walking with God.

Scripture - Genesis 17:1-8; John 8:12; 12:35-36

Walking and Talking with God | Rev. Wil Cantrell

From the beginning, God has walked with us.  Prayer is one of the tangible ways that God walks with us and we walk with God.  Prayer is the language that God gave us to communicate with our creator.  Walking with God includes Jesus.  Jesus states that he is the light of the world and whoever follows him "will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life".   Walking with God through prayer includes a variety of methods.  One such method is a prayer labyrinth, a path of walking with God.  

Scripture - Genesis 17:1-8; John 8:12; 12:35-36

He Never Failed Me Yet | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Life has its challenges for sure.  Sticking with the basics of following Jesus provides peace through God when everything around us seems to be chaotic.  Paul's words in Philippians brings us back to core ways to put into practice following Jesus.  

Scripture - Philippians 4:4-9

He Never Failed Me Yet | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Life has its challenges for sure.  Sticking with the basics of following Jesus provides peace through God when everything around us seems to be chaotic.  Paul's words in Philippians brings us back to core ways to put into practice following Jesus.  

Scripture - Philippians 4:4-9

God is a Friend Who Loves | Rev. Wil Cantrell

As we wrap up VBS week, we dive deeply into God who is our friend who loves.  When God told Jonah to go preach to the people of Nineveh, Jonah jumped on the first ship . . . . . in the opposite direction!  Jonah did not think the Ninevites' deserved to hear about God's love.  But God had other plans.  Through the story of Jonah, we see the depths of God’s love to forgive both Jonah and the people of Nineveh.  This is true for us and those who we may see undeserving of God's love.  Our God is a friend who loves.

Scripture - Jonah 2:1-10

God is a Friend Who Loves | Rev. Brooke Hartman

As we wrap up VBS week, we dive deeply into God who is our friend who loves.  When God told Jonah to go preach to the people of Nineveh, Jonah jumped on the first ship . . . . . in the opposite direction!  Jonah did not think the Ninevites' deserved to hear about God's love.  But God had other plans.  Through the story of Jonah, we see the depths of God’s love to forgive both Jonah and the people of Nineveh.  This is true for us and those who we may see undeserving of God's love.  Our God is a friend who loves.

Scripture - Jonah 2:1-10

We Believe in the Life Everlasting | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Jesus promises eternal life to his followers. The eternal life Jesus offers is both quantitative (lasting forever) and qualitative (made possible only through relationship with Jesus Christ.)  Therefore, eternal life can start now. However, beyond this life, eternal life exists through the Resurrection of the Dead. The Resurrection of the Dead is not simply a reference to Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection is the first fruits of the resurrection offered to all people in God’s eternal kingdom. While the exact physical mechanics of the resurrection are mysterious, we now the resurrection involves judgement and (for those judged favorably) the gift of body, like Jesus’ resurrection body, which resembles our earthly bodies but does not decay and is not bound by the laws of physics.

Scripture - John 17:1-5 & John 11:21-27

We Believe in the Life Everlasting | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Jesus promises eternal life to his followers. The eternal life Jesus offers is both quantitative (lasting forever) and qualitative (made possible only through relationship with Jesus Christ.)  Therefore, eternal life can start now. However, beyond this life, eternal life exists through the Resurrection of the Dead. The Resurrection of the Dead is not simply a reference to Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection is the first fruits of the resurrection offered to all people in God’s eternal kingdom. While the exact physical mechanics of the resurrection are mysterious, we now the resurrection involves judgement and (for those judged favorably) the gift of body, like Jesus’ resurrection body, which resembles our earthly bodies but does not decay and is not bound by the laws of physics.

Scripture - John 17:1-5 & John 11:21-27

We Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins | Rev. Mike Stallings

The belief in sin sets Christians apart. Rather than seeing humanity’s main problem as ignorance, hate, or immaturity, Christians recognize the main problem of humanity as turning away from the one true God. The belief in sin also recognizes that humanity cannot save itself because humanity cannot bestow upon itself forgiveness only God can do that. In Christ, we see the depth of God’s love and the lengths to which God will go to offer forgiveness to us.

Scripture - Romans 3:23 & Matthew 1:21