Concord United Sermons

This is Our Hope | Rev. Brooke Hartman

There are times in our lives when we seem to be wrestling with God.  Our conflict is not necessarily with others but with God. The wrestling is exhausting and often results in an eventual moment of realizing that we have come face to face with God.  Jacob illustrates this in Genesis 32, wrestling with and acknowledging the depths of coming face to face with God.  Our hope is our God. 

Scripture - Genesis 32:22-32

This is Our Problem | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Genesis reads as a classic drama with conflict, deceit, resentment, and much more.  Often this conflict takes place within family relationships.  Conflict between humans was not God’s original intent, yet our humanity finds itself in what feels like perpetual conflict with others.  We become focused on our ways, our opinions, and our entitlements.  We see this play out multiple times in our origin story and in our lives today.  Brothers Esau and Jacob illustrate this dynamic in Genesis 25, 27.  Our conflicts result in lost time, lost relationships, and generations affected by our focus on self. 

Scripture - Genesis 25:21-34; 27:1-41

This is Our Problem | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Genesis reads as a classic drama with conflict, deceit, resentment, and much more.  Often this conflict takes place within family relationships.  Conflict between humans was not God’s original intent, yet our humanity finds itself in what feels like perpetual conflict with others.  We become focused on our ways, our opinions, and our entitlements.  We see this play out multiple times in our origin story and in our lives today.  Brothers Esau and Jacob illustrate this dynamic in Genesis 25, 27.  Our conflicts result in lost time, lost relationships, and generations affected by our focus on self. 

Scripture - Genesis 25:21-34; 27:1-41

This is Our Backstory | Rev. Wil Cantrell

We begin, in the beginning.  Our origin story begins with the creation of the heavens and the earth, creating humans in God’s image, and humans choosing self as opposed to God’s will.  The story of creation and Adam and Eve might be familiar, yet how do we see our origin story in our lives today.  Often times we begin with our sinful nature, yet our beginning is as part of God’s creation.  We are made in God’s image.  The next part of our origin story is the role sin played in the beginning and in our own lives today.  What are the ways that we choose to be God rather than live as God intended us?  This is our backstory. 

Scripture - Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 2:5-9, 15-18: Genesis 3:1-12

This is Our Backstory | Rev. Brooke Hartman

We begin, in the beginning.  Our origin story begins with the creation of the heavens and the earth, creating humans in God’s image, and humans choosing self as opposed to God’s will.  The story of creation and Adam and Eve might be familiar, yet how do we see our origin story in our lives today.  Often times we begin with our sinful nature, yet our beginning is as part of God’s creation.  We are made in God’s image.  The next part of our origin story is the role sin played in the beginning and in our own lives today.  What are the ways that we choose to be God rather than live as God intended us?  This is our backstory. 

Scripture - Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 2:5-9, 15-18: Genesis 3:1-12

First Things First | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Matthew 6 closes with reflections on what it means to overcome anxiety by trusting God. Jesus sums up this section and the entire chapter by saying, “Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added unto you.” This is the point of prayer and giving: to help us seek first the kingdom and to learn to trust that everything else will need God will provide. In life we basically have two options, we can try to acquire and hoard away enough power and resources to hopefully help us if something bad comes our way. Or we can live a life of joyful generosity with our compassion and our resources b/c we have learned to trust God to provide for us. If we want a life of joyful generosity, we must learn to follow Jesus’ teachings on prayer and giving.  

Scripture - Matthew 6:25-34

First Things First | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Matthew 6 closes with reflections on what it means to overcome anxiety by trusting God. Jesus sums up this section and the entire chapter by saying, “Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added unto you.” This is the point of prayer and giving: to help us seek first the kingdom and to learn to trust that everything else will need God will provide. In life we basically have two options, we can try to acquire and hoard away enough power and resources to hopefully help us if something bad comes our way. Or we can live a life of joyful generosity with our compassion and our resources b/c we have learned to trust God to provide for us. If we want a life of joyful generosity, we must learn to follow Jesus’ teachings on prayer and giving.  

Scripture - Matthew 6:25-34

Mastering Money | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Scripture - Matthew 6:24  

Mastering Money | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Scripture - Matthew 6:24  

The Treasure Principle | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Jesus teaches that if you don’t put your treasure where your heart is then your heart will go where your treasure is. A helpful exercise is to list on a piece of paper, what’s most important to you on one and on the other side list where you spend most of your money. If the two sides don’t align, eventually your heart will align itself with how you are spending your resources – and in some cases this can causes your heart to grow cold and jaded. God’s plan for us is to give our first 10% to God and then use the rest to provide for our families as well as for other charitable needs that arise as we are able. Even if you aren’t able to tithe yet, you can help put your treasure where your heart is by practicing First Fruits Giving. First Fruits Giving is prayerfully consider what God is calling you to give in the coming year and making sure you give that first each month rather than waiting to see if you have enough left over at the end of the month to give anything to God.  

Scripture - Matthew 6:19-21