Concord United Sermons

Where is God? | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Scriptures:  Psalm 13; John 11:1-6, 17-27; Job 2:11-13 

Why Do Bad Things Happen | Rev. Mike Stallings

There is no good answer to this question. Whatever answer we can come up with falls short of being helpful and can even be hurtful. To say that God had a plan for the Holocaust or for terrorists to fly planes into buildings makes it appear that God is a terrible planner, and diminishes the lives lost and the pain of survivors. Most of the time, human sin is the reason for pain and suffering. God gave humanity free will, and to quote a friend of mine, “God values free will so highly that God is willing to watch us hurt ourselves to protect it.” But sometimes, as in the tower of Siloam, things happen in nature that are beyond the body’s ability to withstand. The same natural laws (like gravity) that benefit us can also cause harm. Sometimes an errant cell will begin a series of divisions that manifest in cancer. It appears that there are no good answers for why such things happen. The only solace is that God ultimately holds our eternal life and security despite the mystery of tragedy in this physical life.   

Why Do Bad Things Happen? | Rev. Wil Cantrell

There is no good answer to this question. Whatever answer we can come up with falls short of being helpful and can even be hurtful. To say that God had a plan for the Holocaust or for terrorists to fly planes into buildings makes it appear that God is a terrible planner, and diminishes the lives lost and the pain of survivors. Most of the time, human sin is the reason for pain and suffering. God gave humanity free will, and to quote a friend of mine, “God values free will so highly that God is willing to watch us hurt ourselves to protect it.” But sometimes, as in the tower of Siloam, things happen in nature that are beyond the body’s ability to withstand. The same natural laws (like gravity) that benefit us can also cause harm. Sometimes an errant cell will begin a series of divisions that manifest in cancer. It appears that there are no good answers for why such things happen. The only solace is that God ultimately holds our eternal life and security despite the mystery of tragedy in this physical life.   

 

Why Rest? | Rev. Wil Cantrell

We answer the question, "Why Rest?" this week through readings about Sabbath. Our culture describes rest differently than God. Resting is in the beginning (Genesis), is a commandment (Exodus), and is way of remembering that God is our one true God (Exodus). How do we remember and rest in our one true God in ways that refill rather than feel like another thing we have to do? What are the benefits of remembering and resting?

 

Why Rest? - Rev. Wil Cantrell

Scripture: Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20:8-11

Why Rest? | Rev. Larry Trotter

We answer the question, "Why Rest?" this week through readings about Sabbath. Our culture describes rest differently than God. Resting is in the beginning (Genesis), is a commandment (Exodus), and is way of remembering that God is our one true God (Exodus). How do we remember and rest in our one true God in ways that refill rather than feel like another thing we have to do? What are the benefits of remembering and resting?

 

Why Rest? - Rev. Larry Trotter

Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20:8-11

Why Worry About Relationships - Rev. Brooke Hartman

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. Brooke Hartman

Scripture - Matthew 7:12 

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