Concord United Sermons

The Power of Wisdom | Rev. Larry Trotter

Solomon was David’s son who was anointed king as a teenager. God came to Solomon  in a dream and said he would give him whatever he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom. Pleased with the request, God gave him great wisdom. The Holy Spirit continues to provide insight and wisdom to those who seek God’s perspective on issues great and small. God’s wisdom makes life better for us and for those we may influence. 

1 Kings 3:5-12; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 

The Power of Wisdom | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Solomon was David’s son who was anointed king as a teenager. God came to Solomon  in a dream and said he would give him whatever he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom. Pleased with the request, God gave him great wisdom. The Holy Spirit continues to provide insight and wisdom to those who seek God’s perspective on issues great and small. God’s wisdom makes life better for us and for those we may influence. 

1 Kings 3:5-12; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 

The Power that Connects | Rev.Mike Stallings

The Holy Spirit is often understood as the way God connects with his people. The Holy Spirit speaks and acts in real time, impacting and empowering people in way that transcends human capability. The story of creation is God’s first encounter with the earth and begins a creative rhythm that continues to this very moment. In the OT, God empowered people on an as-needed basis to accomplish his will. Through faith in Christ, all are connected with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.  

Scripture -Genesis 1:1-2; Acts 2:38-39 

The Power that Connects | Rev. Wil Cantrell

The Holy Spirit is often understood as the way God connects with his people. The Holy Spirit speaks and acts in real time, impacting and empowering people in way that transcends human capability. The story of creation is God’s first encounter with the earth and begins a creative rhythm that continues to this very moment. In the OT, God empowered people on an as-needed basis to accomplish his will. Through faith in Christ, all are connected with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture - Genesis 1:1-2; Acts 2:38-39

Because he is Lord | Rev. Wil Cantrell

The story of the Magi visiting Jesus reminds us who we seek and who we worship.  The Magi who came from the East were not Jews, rather Gentiles, who sought to worship the King of the Jews.  They followed the star to find the child.  They bowed down, worshipped him, and gave him gifts.  Just as the Magi sought and worshiped, who is it we seek and worship.  The concept of lord is not widely used in our culture, yet is very much a part of our God who does not give up is.  “Lord” is mentioned over 600 times in the New Testament to describe Jesus.  A lord has authority over a person’s life.  There is much that contends for authority over our lives.  The one who came to be with us, our King, Savior, Emmanuel, and Light, is also our Lord, our authority, the one for whom we seek and worship.  As we enter a new year, may we seek and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by serving others, growing in faith, and sharing Christ.  May we choose this year, one day at a time, to seek and worship as the Magi, declaring that Jesus is our Lord through, offering up all of us to the God who never gives up.     

Because his story is ours to share – The Story Continues - Rev.Wil Cantrell

We have spent Advent focusing on the God who does not give up on us.  Jesus who is our King, Savior, Emmanuel, and Light.  Today, we use the shepherd’s response to the news of Jesus’ birth as a model for what we do with what we have heard.  The shepherd’s talk to each other about what they have seen, then they go to see.  How can we go and see the babe wrapped in the manger?  They find the babe wrapped in the manger and they spread the word about what they had been told (“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” 2:11).  They returned, giving praise and glory to God for what they have seen and been told.  How do we return giving praise and glory to God for what we have been told and seen?  How do we leave Christmas Eve with such good news and go and tell what we have seen? 

Scripture:  Luke 2:1-20

Because his story is ours to share – The Story Continues - Rev. Larry Trotter

We have spent Advent focusing on the God who does not give up on us.  Jesus who is our King, Savior, Emmanuel, and Light.  Today, we use the shepherd’s response to the news of Jesus’ birth as a model for what we do with what we have heard.  The shepherd’s talk to each other about what they have seen, then they go to see.  How can we go and see the babe wrapped in the manger?  They find the babe wrapped in the manger and they spread the word about what they had been told (“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” 2:11).  They returned, giving praise and glory to God for what they have seen and been told.  How do we return giving praise and glory to God for what we have been told and seen?  How do we leave Christmas Eve with such good news and go and tell what we have seen? 

Scripture:  Luke 2:1-20   

Because he is the Light of the World – Seeing Light in the Darkness - Rev. Larry Trotter

Our lives and our world can seem very dark.  The constant bombardment of information and news through 24 hour news cycles and social media leave us wondering where is hope.  Our God who does not give up on us is the light in the darkness, as described by John’s telling of the Christmas story in John 1:1-5, 10-14.  The contrast of darkness and light is found throughout scripture, including in Genesis 1:1-5 in the creation story and in the conclusion of scripture in Revelation 22:5.  The story of light and darkness are evident in our own stories and in our world.  Darkness feels heavy, lonely, and hopeless, while light provides hope and joy.  Our God who does not give up on us through Jesus reminds us that in the midst of the darkness, the light (God) overcomes then and now.

Scripture: John 1:1-5, 10-14 

 

Because he is the Light of the World – Seeing Light in the Darkness - Rev. Wil Cantrell

Our lives and our world can seem very dark.  The constant bombardment of information and news through 24 hour news cycles and social media leave us wondering where is hope.  Our God who does not give up on us is the light in the darkness, as described by John’s telling of the Christmas story in John 1:1-5, 10-14.  The contrast of darkness and light is found throughout scripture, including in Genesis 1:1-5 in the creation story and in the conclusion of scripture in Revelation 22:5.  The story of light and darkness are evident in our own stories and in our world.  Darkness feels heavy, lonely, and hopeless, while light provides hope and joy.  Our God who does not give up on us through Jesus reminds us that in the midst of the darkness, the light (God) overcomes then and now.   

Scripture: John 1:1-5, 10-14 

Because he is Emmanuel – One of us | Rev. Larry Trotter

God attempted to intervene with his people as evidenced throughout the Old Testament.  There were 400 years silence from God between the Old and New Testaments that was broken with God coming to be with us through Jesus Christ – God incarnate.  The words of Isaiah 7:13-17 were spoken prophetically as a promise from God for the Israelites that would sustain multiple generations.  The author of Matthew references Isaiah 7:14 as he tells the story of how our God never gives up.  Our God came to be with us through Jesus Christ to a young mother trusting an unbelievable promise and a faithful husband protecting her on a dangerous journey.  The significance of God coming to be with us through Jesus Christ is as important now as it was then.  God with us was one of us but far more than that.  God came to us fully human and fully divine.  The story of God coming to be with us is rooted in God’s unconditional love and amazing grace for us.  Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:20 bookend Jesus time on earth, reminding us that our God who does not give up on us, continues to be with us.  Today, in the midst of all that challenges us, our God is with us.  Not only that, but we get to share about our God who came to be with us.  We get to share God’s love and grace to a world desperate for a God who does not give up.   

Scripture:  Matthew 1:22-25; Isaiah 7:13-17