Concord United Sermons

Claiming God’s Promises | Rev. Wil Cantrell

As the Hebrew people neared the promised land they sent spies to scout the land. The spies reported that it was a beautiful fertile land flowing with milk and honey. The majority of the spies reported back that the people of the land were too big, strong, and numerous for them to defeat. A small minority report was given by two spies (including Joshua). They believed the people should enter the land and that God would deliver the land into their possession. The people did  not listen to the minority report and because of their lack of faith wandered in the wilderness for another 40 years before they entered the promised land.

Scripture - Numbers 14:1-10

Claiming God’s Promises | Rev. Brooke Hartman

As the Hebrew people neared the promised land they sent spies to scout the land. The spies reported that it was a beautiful fertile land flowing with milk and honey. The majority of the spies reported back that the people of the land were too big, strong, and numerous for them to defeat. A small minority report was given by two spies (including Joshua). They believed the people should enter the land and that God would deliver the land into their possession. The people did  not listen to the minority report and because of their lack of faith wandered in the wilderness for another 40 years before they entered the promised land.

Scripture - Numbers 14:1-10

A Place of Return - Persia | Rev. Mike Stallings

:  We often see the Wise Men joining the rest of the traditional nativity scene characters in the Christmas story, yet the wise men arrive likely when Jesus was no longer a baby but a child.  The Wise Men went to worship the King of the Jews.  They are an interesting piece to our story.  In them we find a place of returning, but returning a different way.  Thanks to a warning in a dream, the magi return a different way in order to not have to speak to Herod again.  In their returning a different way, we seek to return from our journey of Advent and Christmas a different way too.  We seek to enter the new year transformed by the birth of our Savior, longing for what God longs for, waiting as a spiritual practice, finding the extravagant amongst the simple, living from a position of humility, and sharing how our Savior changes us.  This is how we return.

Scripture - Matthew 2:1-12

A Place of Saving – The Manger | Rev. Wil Cantrell

We remain at the manger, the place of Jesus’ birth.  For here is where we find our Savior.  In the midst of what seems like humble beginnings is the story of our God who transforms and saves.  We kneel at the manger as people knowing we cannot save ourselves despite our best efforts, seeking for more than this world can give, and finding the miracle that salvation comes through the birth of the baby born in simple beginnings, yet is evidence of the extravagance of our God’s love for us.  Our God has come to be with us, who will show the depths of his love for us through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.  We come to the place of saving. 

Scripture - Luke 2:1-20

A Place of Saving – The Manger | Rev. Brooke Hartman

We remain at the manger, the place of Jesus’ birth.  For here is where we find our Savior.  In the midst of what seems like humble beginnings is the story of our God who transforms and saves.  We kneel at the manger as people knowing we cannot save ourselves despite our best efforts, seeking for more than this world can give, and finding the miracle that salvation comes through the birth of the baby born in simple beginnings, yet is evidence of the extravagance of our God’s love for us.  Our God has come to be with us, who will show the depths of his love for us through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.  We come to the place of saving. 

Scripture - Luke 2:1-20

A Place of Humility - Bethlehem | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Predictably we find ourselves in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus.  We find in Bethlehem a place of humility.  Jesus was not born in a palace but a manger.  The witnesses of Jesus’ birth were not powerful rulers but shepherds going about their daily tasks.  An event that we have made into extravagant was really a place of humble beginnings.  We journey to Bethlehem to acknowledge the importance of Jesus’ lineage within the line of King David, as well as the power of our Savior born, in a place of humble beginnings witnessed by everyday folks - the place of humility. 

Scripture - Luke 2:1-20

A Place of Humility - Bethlehem | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Predictably we find ourselves in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus.  We find in Bethlehem a place of humility.  Jesus was not born in a palace but a manger.  The witnesses of Jesus’ birth were not powerful rulers but shepherds going about their daily tasks.  An event that we have made into extravagant was really a place of humble beginnings.  We journey to Bethlehem to acknowledge the importance of Jesus’ lineage within the line of King David, as well as the power of our Savior born, in a place of humble beginnings witnessed by everyday folks - the place of humility. 

Scripture - Luke 2:1-20

A Place of Simplicity - Nazareth | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Our next stop is Nazareth.  At the time of Jesus’ birth, Nazareth was place of little significance and the home of a most unassuming mother to birth Jesus.  Mary herself almost seems insignificant until God transforms her story and ours as well.  Within simplicity, we find the story of our God coming to be with us through Jesus Christ, an incarnational act.  The simplicity of Nazareth and Mary show us how there is significance in where we are and who we are. 

Scripture - Luke 1:26-38, 46-50

A Place of Simplicity - Nazareth | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Our next stop is Nazareth.  At the time of Jesus’ birth, Nazareth was place of little significance and the home of a most unassuming mother to birth Jesus.  Mary herself almost seems insignificant until God transforms her story and ours as well.  Within simplicity, we find the story of our God coming to be with us through Jesus Christ, an incarnational act.  The simplicity of Nazareth and Mary show us how there is significance in where we are and who we are. 

Scripture - Luke 1:26-38, 46-50

A Place of Waiting - Jerusalem | Rev. Brooke Hartman

We do not like to wait.  We find ways to bypass traffic.  We buy our way to the lightening lanes.  We complain about taking longer to get where we want to go.  Waiting is a crucial part of Advent and of God’s people.  Jerusalem, specifically the Temple, is where we find the opportunity of waiting through Zechariah and Elizabeth.  Waiting is actually a spiritual practice that provides an opportunity to receive rather than get.  So, we wait. 

Scripture - Luke 1:5-17