Concord United Sermons

Saved by Grace | Rev. Brooke Hartman

We can be saved only by grace, God’s unmerited forgiveness and blessing given to us in the midst of our sinfulness. This grace cannot be earned, but must be requested and received. To illustrate grace, Jesus used the example of the prodigal son, who wronged his Father, wasted his resources, and yet knew enough of his Father’s love to return and beg for forgiveness and provision – which the Father joyfully provides.  

Scripture - Ephesians 2:4-9, Luke 15:11-32  

Saved by Grace | Rev. Wil Cantrell

We can be saved only by grace, God’s unmerited forgiveness and blessing given to us in the midst of our sinfulness. This grace cannot be earned, but must be requested and received. To illustrate grace, Jesus used the example of the prodigal son, who wronged his Father, wasted his resources, and yet knew enough of his Father’s love to return and beg for forgiveness and provision – which the Father joyfully provides.  

 

Scripture - Ephesians 2:4-9, Luke 15:11-32  

Saved From Sin | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Before his birth, Jesus is prophesied to be the one who will save the people from their sins. Ephesians 2 & Romans 6 describe sin as causing death. All sin ultimately causes us to make ourselves god rather following the One True God. Under the power of sin, we follow our own desires and relegate God to a deity we seek only when doing so can help us achieve our goals and objectives. In this way, sin causes estrangement from God by our deviation from the life God designed us for. To be saved is to have our estrangement with God overcome and our relationship with God rightly restored by the gracious work of Christ, so that we can once again see God for who God is and experience ourselves as God’s children and servants.

Scripture - Ephesians 2:4-9, Matthew 1:21, Romans 6:23  

Saved From Sin | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Before his birth, Jesus is prophesied to be the one who will save the people from their sins. Ephesians 2 & Romans 6 describe sin as causing death. All sin ultimately causes us to make ourselves god rather following the One True God. Under the power of sin, we follow our own desires and relegate God to a deity we seek only when doing so can help us achieve our goals and objectives. In this way, sin causes estrangement from God by our deviation from the life God designed us for. To be saved is to have our estrangement with God overcome and our relationship with God rightly restored by the gracious work of Christ, so that we can once again see God for who God is and experience ourselves as God’s children and servants.

Scripture -Ephesians 2:4-9, Matthew 1:21, Romans 6:23 

The Risen Christ & Thomas: Talking with Skeptical Christians | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Thomas was a skeptical follower of Christ. He heard the stories of Jesus’ resurrection, but had trouble believing until he could see for himself. At the time Thomas expressed his doubt, he was the only disciple who had not yet seen the Risen Christ. In this manner, Thomas is an example for all of us. There will be times when we have not yet experienced what we are told and believe about God to be true. In those moments, we might consider ourselves Skeptical Christians. Jesus challenges Thomas and us in those moments to believe. Thomas experiences Christ by placing himself around those who have already experienced him. When someone a fellow Christian is experiencing skepticism, our job is to encourage them to cling close to those who have experienced Christ, to share our experience (strength and hope), and wait for Christ to appear in His time in His way.   

Scripture - John 20:19-29

The Risen Christ & Thomas: Talking with Skeptical Christians | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Thomas was a skeptical follower of Christ. He heard the stories of Jesus’ resurrection, but had trouble believing until he could see for himself. At the time Thomas expressed his doubt, he was the only disciple who had not yet seen the Risen Christ. In this manner, Thomas is an example for all of us. There will be times when we have not yet experienced what we are told and believe about God to be true. In those moments, we might consider ourselves Skeptical Christians. Jesus challenges Thomas and us in those moments to believe. Thomas experiences Christ by placing himself around those who have already experienced him. When someone a fellow Christian is experiencing skepticism, our job is to encourage them to cling close to those who have experienced Christ, to share our experience (strength and hope), and wait for Christ to appear in His time in His way.   

Scripture - John 20:19-29

The Good Thief: Talking with the Spiritually Fallen | Rev. Brooke Hartman

The good thief can be described as spiritually fallen. He believes in God. He knows he has messed up in the worst sort of way, and he hopes against hope that God might give him another chance. Jesus encounters him with grace beyond our wildest imagining. Just like in the life of the good thief, sometimes the consequences of our misguided actions cannot be undone, however, God may still be full of far more grace than we could ever ask for or imagine. Our job in conversations with the spiritual fallen is to listen to the depth of their story with compassion rather than condemnation, and then to invite them to consider the amazing grace of God – a grace that does not overlook our sin but rather redeems the willing in spite of our sin through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Scripture - Luke 23:39-43

The Good Thief: Talking with the Spiritually Fallen | Rev. Wil Cantrell

The good thief can be described as spiritually fallen. He believes in God. He knows he has messed up in the worst sort of way, and he hopes against hope that God might give him another chance. Jesus encounters him with grace beyond our wildest imagining. Just like in the life of the good thief, sometimes the consequences of our misguided actions cannot be undone, however, God may still be full of far more grace than we could ever ask for or imagine. Our job in conversations with the spiritual fallen is to listen to the depth of their story with compassion rather than condemnation, and then to invite them to consider the amazing grace of God – a grace that does not overlook our sin but rather redeems the willing in spite of our sin through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Scripture - Luke 23:39-43

Zacchaeus: Talking with the Spiritually Curious | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Zacchaeus was spiritually curious, so much so, he was willing to climb a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus and to open up his home for a banquet when Jesus requested dinner. He wanted to know what Jesus was teaching about God, even though his neighbors despised him and felt he wasn’t the kind of person God would be interested in helping. When Jesus encountered Zacchaeus, he sought to spend time with him, and through Jesus’ presence Zacchaeus found a new and better way to live. Zacchaeus couldn’t see Jesus on his own. He needed to climb a tree. When we encounter spiritually curious people, many of whom are what we might call non-practicing Christians, our job is to be their tree. To relate to them, listen to them, and to offer the ways to see and experience Jesus.  

Scripture - Luke 19:1-9

Zacchaeus: Talking with the Spiritually Curious | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Zacchaeus was spiritually curious, so much so, he was willing to climb a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus and to open up his home for a banquet when Jesus requested dinner. He wanted to know what Jesus was teaching about God, even though his neighbors despised him and felt he wasn’t the kind of person God would be interested in helping. When Jesus encountered Zacchaeus, he sought to spend time with him, and through Jesus’ presence Zacchaeus found a new and better way to live. Zacchaeus couldn’t see Jesus on his own. He needed to climb a tree. When we encounter spiritually curious people, many of whom are what we might call non-practicing Christians, our job is to be their tree. To relate to them, listen to them, and to offer the ways to see and experience Jesus.  

Scripture - Luke 19:1-9