Concord United Sermons

Even Them | Rev. Wil Cantrell

We tend to stay near those who act like us, look like us, and talk like us.  The interaction between Peter and Cornelius shows us how to share Christ with those beyond who we are used to sharing with.  Sharing the Gospel with Gentiles was without a doubt outside the norm for Jews.  Peter experiences a dream, then is called to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile.  Peter takes action that models for us sharing Christ with those beyond those that we are used to spending time with.  Peter takes actions by going to Cornelius home, talking with him, and entering into his home (Acts 10:23-32).  Peter acknowledges that with God there is no partiality, rather faith is the common factor not nationality (Acts 10:34-35).  Peter proclaims the central truth of Jesus being “lord of all”, (Acts 10:36-43).  Peter also acknowledges the role of the Holy Spirit in conversions, (Acts 10:44-48).  We use the example of Peter with the Gentiles to guide our next steps in sharing the good news of Jesus:  taking action, acknowledging God’s lack of partiality, the central truth about Jesus, and the role of the Holy Spirit.  Turning the world upside down requires us seeing beyond ourselves. 

When our Comfort Zone Becomes our Danger Zone | Rev. Wil Cantrell

When our Comfort Zone Becomes our Danger Zone | Rev. Larry Trotter

The Power of Words | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Our current culture rewards and takes pride in speaking our opinions.  Leaders of the early church were challenged for what they were speaking, yet this was not about their opinions, rather what they had seen and heard about Jesus.  Peter and John, who were leaders of the early church, were threatened for speaking boldly about Jesus.  They responded that “we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard” about Jesus, (Acts 4:20).  Our words today, as the early church, need to be rooted in the truth of Jesus (grace, love), bathed in prayer, and spoken with a boldness that comes through the Holy Spirit.  Turning the world upside down includes speaking boldly.

Scripture - Acts 4:5-31

The Power of Words | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Our current culture rewards and takes pride in speaking our opinions.  Leaders of the early church were challenged for what they were speaking, yet this was not about their opinions, rather what they had seen and heard about Jesus.  Peter and John, who were leaders of the early church, were threatened for speaking boldly about Jesus.  They responded that “we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard” about Jesus, (Acts 4:20).  Our words today, as the early church, need to be rooted in the truth of Jesus (grace, love), bathed in prayer, and spoken with a boldness that comes through the Holy Spirit.  Turning the world upside down includes speaking boldly.

Scripture - Acts 4:5-31

Uncommon Vision | Rev. Larry Trotter

We continue as a people transformed by Easter, the resurrection of Jesus, by observing the early church as it transitioned into living out the commands of Jesus.  The early church responded to Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension and the arrival of the Holy Spirit by taking next steps through the teachings of the apostles, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayers, mutual care, and goodwill of all.  In our own times, these same practices provide a blueprint to turning the world upside down:  connection, serving, praising, and seeing “all” as God’s beloved children. 

Scripture - Acts 2:42-47

Uncommon Vision | Rev. Wil Cantrell

We continue as a people transformed by Easter, the resurrection of Jesus, by observing the early church as it transitioned into living out the commands of Jesus.  The early church responded to Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension and the arrival of the Holy Spirit by taking next steps through the teachings of the apostles, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayers, mutual care, and goodwill of all.  In our own times, these same practices provide a blueprint to turning the world upside down:  connection, serving, praising, and seeing “all” as God’s beloved children. 

Scripture -Acts 2:42-47

Face to Face with Glory | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Humans can’t conceive the full glory of God. When Jesus’ predicted his death and resurrection, no one could comprehend the meaning. When the women found the empty tomb and saw the angels, they were “perplexed”. When the disciples heard about it, they couldn’t believe it. Jesus died and rose again, not so that we could be saved in theory, but so that we could be brought face to face with glory and grace of God. When we encounter God for ourselves, our proper response is to worship even if we don’t yet understand. Easter is God’s ultimate act of reaching out so that we can come face to face His glory and Easter is God’s promise that He will never stop reaching out.

Scripture - Luke 24:1-12

Face to Face with Glory | Rev. Larry Trotter

Humans can’t conceive the full glory of God. When Jesus’ predicted his death and resurrection, no one could comprehend the meaning. When the women found the empty tomb and saw the angels, they were “perplexed”. When the disciples heard about it, they couldn’t believe it. Jesus died and rose again, not so that we could be saved in theory, but so that we could be brought face to face with glory and grace of God. When we encounter God for ourselves, our proper response is to worship even if we don’t yet understand. Easter is God’s ultimate act of reaching out so that we can come face to face His glory and Easter is God’s promise that He will never stop reaching out.

Scripture - Luke 24:1-12

Facing Suffering | Rev. Larry Trotter

Crucifixion was a cruel act of physical abuse and psychological humiliation. It began with beatings and insults and ending with Jesus being stripped of clothes, nailed to a cross, and left to die. Even as Jesus faces this suffering, he does so for the greater purposes of saving others. From the cross, he tells a repentant criminal “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus shows us that even our suffering is a chance to glorifying God if we ask ourselves, “How can my faithfulness in the midst of suffering bless others?”

Scripture - Luke 22:63-65