Concord United Sermons

Serving Others Within the Walls | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Disciples serve the church. Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another as he had loved them. The implication for the Church is that disciples show their love for each other by serving each other. The church is where disciples are equipped to go out into the community to let their light shine. Disciples shine their light within the walls of the church by facilitating worship in leadership and support roles, by teaching all ages about Jesus and his love, and carrying out administrative functions that keep the church resourced for ministry

Romans 12:1 

Serving Others Within the Walls | Rev. Larry Trotter

Disciples serve the church. Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another as he had loved them. The implication for the Church is that disciples show their love for each other by serving each other. The church is where disciples are equipped to go out into the community to let their light shine. Disciples shine their light within the walls of the church by facilitating worship in leadership and support roles, by teaching all ages about Jesus and his love, and carrying out administrative functions that keep the church resourced for ministry.  

Romans 12:1 

Serving Others Beyond the Walls | Rev. Larry Trotter

Disciples serve the community. It is the core impulse of everyone who follows Jesus. If we follow his footsteps we find his presence in the needs of others. Jesus moved across socio-economic, religious, and cultural boundaries to relieve suffering and provide pathways to wholeness. In the process, he revealed kingdom values of compassion and unconditional love that provided a doorway into a new way of living for those who felt trapped by difficult circumstances. Disciples live with a strong sense of purpose as they serve others with the love of Christ within them.  

Matthew 25:35-40 

Serving Others Beyond the Walls | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Disciples serve the community. It is the core impulse of everyone who follows Jesus. If we follow his footsteps we find his presence in the needs of others. Jesus moved across socio-economic, religious, and cultural boundaries to relieve suffering and provide pathways to wholeness. In the process, he revealed kingdom values of compassion and unconditional love that provided a doorway into a new way of living for those who felt trapped by difficult circumstances. Disciples live with a strong sense of purpose as they serve others with the love of Christ within them.  

Matthew 25:35-40 

Sharing Christ as the Church | Rev. Brooke Hartman

In many ways, the Church is the presence of Christ in the world, and as such, has both the mandate and the power to point people toward his transforming love. Through the proclamation of God’s Word and welcoming acts of mercy and justice, persons are able to see that the story of God’s grace and the story of their need intersect. Each church becomes a kingdom outpost where kingdom values of acceptance, unconditional love, and resurrection are proclaimed and demonstrated through ministry and mission. 

Matthew 28:19-20  

 

Sharing Christ as the Church | Rev. Wil Cantrell

In many ways, the Church is the presence of Christ in the world, and as such, has both the mandate and the power to point people toward his transforming love. Through the proclamation of God’s Word and welcoming acts of mercy and justice, persons are able to see that the story of God’s grace and the story of their need intersect. Each church becomes a kingdom outpost where kingdom values of acceptance, unconditional love, and resurrection are proclaimed and demonstrated through ministry and mission.  

Matthew 28:19-20 

Sharing Christ Through Relationships | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Jesus was a powerful preacher and teacher, using examples for everyday life to convey deeper truths about the coming kingdom. But he also modeled the power of relationships as a way to draw people into his message of grace and hope. The story of the Samaritan woman at the well is archetypal as a way to enter into someone’s life and invite them into a new life in Christ. He models deep intuition, active listening, and a non-judgmental response. Disciples live a life of deeper meaning when relationships take on an eternal dimension. 

Scripture - John 4:1-42)

Sharing Christ Through Relationships | Rev. Larry Trotter

Jesus was a powerful preacher and teacher, using examples for everyday life to convey deeper truths about the coming kingdom. But he also modeled the power of relationships as a way to draw people into his message of grace and hope. The story of the Samaritan woman at the well is archetypal as a way to enter into someone’s life and invite them into a new life in Christ. He models deep intuition, active listening, and a non-judgmental response. Disciples live a life of deeper meaning when relationships take on an eternal dimension. 

Scripture - John 4:1-42

What Do We Do When God Seems Absent? | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Scriptures: Matthew 5:43-45; Psalm 130 

The passage from Matthew tells us that Jesus presumed that there was evil and suffering in the world – “God makes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust”. God’s provision is present even while acknowledging that the world isn’t perfect. What Jesus tells us to do when people are hurting us, and God seems far away is to react with love. Psalm 130 reminds us that the proper response for people of faith is to continue reaching out to God in the midst of suffering even though it seems we’re in the deepest depths. What we do when experiencing personal suffering is hold to whatever slim thread of faith there is, continue to communicate with God, and to respond with whatever love we can muster. More importantly, when times are good, when God seems close, our responsibility is to be Christ to those who aren’t seeing Christ. We are to be light in darkness, agents of peace for someone’s turmoil, and to point to Christ by being his hands and feet when we see chaos and suffering happening to others. 

 

What Do We Do When God Seems Absent? | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Scriptures: Matthew 5:43-45; Psalm 130 

The passage from Matthew tells us that Jesus presumed that there was evil and suffering in the world – “God makes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust”. God’s provision is present even while acknowledging that the world isn’t perfect. What Jesus tells us to do when people are hurting us, and God seems far away is to react with love. Psalm 130 reminds us that the proper response for people of faith is to continue reaching out to God in the midst of suffering even though it seems we’re in the deepest depths. What we do when experiencing personal suffering is hold to whatever slim thread of faith there is, continue to communicate with God, and to respond with whatever love we can muster. More importantly, when times are good, when God seems close, our responsibility is to be Christ to those who aren’t seeing Christ. We are to be light in darkness, agents of peace for someone’s turmoil, and to point to Christ by being his hands and feet when we see chaos and suffering happening to others.