Concord United Sermons

Why Worry About Relationships | Rev. Larry Trotter

We spend a lot of time worrying about relationships. Some of us worry every time someone isn’t pleased with us. Some of us worry even when everything seems to be going okay. Jesus always had people mad at him. People devoted to him. And everything in between. He taught us that when we really treat others as we want to be treated we can have peace no matter the external circumstances of the relationships. This means learning to put ourselves in their shoes and unlearning the ways we manipulate and use people.  

 

"Why Worry About Relationships" - Rev. Larry Trotter

Scripture - Matthew 7:12 

Why Worry About Money | Rev. Larry Trotter

Financial stress can destroy our health and relationships. Often we experience financial stress because we never understand the purpose of money and the way money works. If we don’t understand God’s rules for money, no matter how much we have will never be enough. When we come to see how God desires us to use our money, we find peace even if we don’t have great monetary wealth. Jesus teaches to: 1) Make money our servant not our master (Mt 6:19-24) and 2) to give generously to God without counting up everything we could have done with the money we gave away (Matthew 6:1-3).  

"Why Worry About Money" - Rev. Larry Trotter

Matthew 6:1-3, 19-21, 24

Why Worry About Money | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Financial stress can destroy our health and relationships. Often we experience financial stress because we never understand the purpose of money and the way money works. If we don’t understand God’s rules for money, no matter how much we have will never be enough. When we come to see how God desires us to use our money, we find peace even if we don’t have great monetary wealth. Jesus teaches to: 1) Make money our servant not our master (Mt 6:19-24) and 2) to give generously to God without counting up everything we could have done with the money we gave away (Matthew 6:1-3).  

 

"Why Worry About Money" - Rev. Wil Cantrell

Matthew 6:1-3, 19-21, 24

Why Worry About Time | Rev. Larry Trotter

"Why Worry About Time" - Rev. Larry Trotter

Psalm 90:12; Matthew 6:27

Why Worry About Time - Rev. Wil Cantrell

Why Worry About Time 

Psalm 90:12; Matthew 6:27

Why Worry About Problems | Rev. Larry Trotter

Worry is chronic low-grade stress. It comes from being unclear about our purpose and therefore constantly insecure about how to live life. Because we are unclear about our purpose we typically try to avoid pain and so we end up worrying a great deal about the possibility of pain and struggle. However, without pain we can’t grow. When we learn from Jesus the purpose of life (to love God and neighbor) our worry goes away. We also become resilient in the face of pain because we expect it and we recognize it as an invitation to mature spiritually and emotionally.  

"Why Worry About Problems" - Rev. Larry Trotter

Matthew 6:25-34 

Why Worry About Problems | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Worry is chronic low-grade stress. It comes from being unclear about our purpose and therefore constantly insecure about how to live life. Because we are unclear about our purpose we typically try to avoid pain and so we end up worrying a great deal about the possibility of pain and struggle. However, without pain we can’t grow. When we learn from Jesus the purpose of life (to love God and neighbor) our worry goes away. We also become resilient in the face of pain because we expect it and we recognize it as an invitation to mature spiritually and emotionally.  

"Why Worry About Problems" - Rev. Wil Cantrell

Scripture - Matthew 6:25-34 

 

When It’s Time to Make a Deal | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Jesus celebrates a dishonest manager who, upon learning of his impending dismissal, cut deals with his master’s business associate so he will have a job waiting on him after he his fired. Jesus’ celebration isn’t meant as condoning dishonest business practices. He is using this man as an example of someone who realizes their world is changing quickly and who uses their resources to prepare for the world to come.  In the same way, Jesus encourages us to use all we have gained from the rat race on earth to prepare ourselves for a very different reality that is coming in the Kingdom of Heaven.   

 

"When It’s Time to Make a Deal" - Rev. Wil Cantrell

Luke 16:1-13 

 

When It’s Time to Make a Deal | Rev. Larry Trotter

Jesus celebrates a dishonest manager who, upon learning of his impending dismissal, cut deals with his master’s business associate so he will have a job waiting on him after he his fired. Jesus’ celebration isn’t meant as condoning dishonest business practices. He is using this man as an example of someone who realizes their world is changing quickly and who uses their resources to prepare for the world to come.  In the same way, Jesus encourages us to use all we have gained from the rat race on earth to prepare ourselves for a very different reality that is coming in the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

"When It’s Time to Make a Deal" - Rev. Larry Trotter

Luke 16:1-13 

 

Dysfunctional Family Advice | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Jesus says that anyone who doesn’t hate mother or father can’t be his disciples. Once again, he isn’t speaking literally. He is saying that we need to give infinitely more allegiance to God than to our family. 

 

"Dysfunctional Family Advice" - Rev. Brooke Hartman

Luke 14:25-33