Concord United Sermons

Discovering Your Purpose | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Joshua sums up his purpose by saying “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua has been a spy, a patient assistant officer in the wilderness, a conquering commander, and now he will oversee the creation of a nation. In each era of his life, however, his purpose is the same:  to serve the Lord with all he can control. Even after all the ways Joshua has led the Hebrew people, he recognizes he does not have the power to force them to serve the Lord. The only thing Joshua can control is that he and his household serve the Lord.

 

What can you control and what do you need to release to God so that you can live our your life’s purpose?

 

The name “Jesus” is a Greek translation of the Hebrew name Joshua. Just as Joshua led the Hebrew people into the promised land, Jesus leads us into the promised land of abundant and eternal life.

 

How can you follow where Jesus is leading?

Discovering Your Purpose | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Joshua sums up his purpose by saying “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua has been a spy, a patient assistant officer in the wilderness, a conquering commander, and now he will oversee the creation of a nation. In each era of his life, however, his purpose is the same:  to serve the Lord with all he can control. Even after all the ways Joshua has led the Hebrew people, he recognizes he does not have the power to force them to serve the Lord. The only thing Joshua can control is that he and his household serve the Lord.

 

What can you control and what do you need to release to God so that you can live our your life’s purpose?

 

The name “Jesus” is a Greek translation of the Hebrew name Joshua. Just as Joshua led the Hebrew people into the promised land, Jesus leads us into the promised land of abundant and eternal life.

 

How can you follow where Jesus is leading?

Scripture - Joshua 24:14-15

Producing Your Life Plan | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Joshua defeated the city of Jericho by following a plan for the battle given to him by God. God has given us a plan to help us live victoriously in our lives. God’s plan includes weekly worship (Sabbath), daily scripture reading & prayer, tithing & generous giving, serving others, and sharing Christ by telling our story and inviting others into relationship with God & the church. Moreover, sometimes in our individual lives it is through following God’s plan for us that we ultimately discover God’s purpose.

As you being the new year, what are the priorities (or prior commitments) you want to put in place to help you faithfully follow God’s plan and discover your purpose? What do you need to do for your physical health (treating your body as a temple), relational health, spiritual health, emotional health? Do you have a plan for making your priorities a reality?

Scripture - Joshua 6 – selected verses

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