Concord United Sermons

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 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 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 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

The Rich Young Ruler is someone we might think of as culturally religious. He has done everything his religious culture has asked of him, and he thinks that should be enough to win God’s approval. Jesus challenges him to place God first above everything else. Rather than making God one priority (perhaps even his first priority) among many, Jesus invites him to let God be God and order all his priorities. Sometimes we encounter Cultural Christians (Elon Musk recently described himself as one) who believe Christianity has a positive influence, but who have not ever fully surrendered their lives to Christ or experienced the supernatural presence of the Holy Spirit. Our job is listen and appreciate where, they are coming from and invite them to surrender fully to Christ and seek guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

Scripture - Luke 18:18-30

The Rich Young Ruler is someone we might think of as culturally religious. He has done everything his religious culture has asked of him, and he thinks that should be enough to win God’s approval. Jesus challenges him to place God first above everything else. Rather than making God one priority (perhaps even his first priority) among many, Jesus invites him to let God be God and order all his priorities. Sometimes we encounter Cultural Christians (Elon Musk recently described himself as one) who believe Christianity has a positive influence, but who have not ever fully surrendered their lives to Christ or experienced the supernatural presence of the Holy Spirit. Our job is listen and appreciate where, they are coming from and invite them to surrender fully to Christ and seek guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

Scripture - Luke 18:18-30

The woman at the well is a Samaritan who believes differently about God than the Jewish people. Jesus engages in a deep conversation about theological truth and her personal journey. He begins by engaging her in a conversation about her beliefs and practices, and then shifts to sharing how God is present in her life and in the world. As a result she helps lead many Samaritans to faith in Christ. Following Jesus’ example, our conversations with those our other religions should start with genuine curiosity about their beliefs and practices. As they share we should listen for a way in which they already believe something true about God. (For example, “I see you believe in concrete right and wrong. Me too.”) And then be ready to share how Christ affects the way you approach that issue. (Ex. How do you discern what is universal right and wrong and what is cultural preference? For me, Jesus’ example and teachings are the measuring stick for universal right and wrong.) Remember, your job in these conversations is to invite others to take the next step on a spiritual journey guided by the Holy Spirit towards Christ, not to close the deal for Christ.

Scripture - John 4:4-42

The woman at the well is a Samaritan who believes differently about God than the Jewish people. Jesus engages in a deep conversation about theological truth and her personal journey. He begins by engaging her in a conversation about her beliefs and practices, and then shifts to sharing how God is present in her life and in the world. As a result she helps lead many Samaritans to faith in Christ. Following Jesus’ example, our conversations with those our other religions should start with genuine curiosity about their beliefs and practices. As they share we should listen for a way in which they already believe something true about God. (For example, “I see you believe in concrete right and wrong. Me too.”) And then be ready to share how Christ affects the way you approach that issue. (Ex. How do you discern what is universal right and wrong and what is cultural preference? For me, Jesus’ example and teachings are the measuring stick for universal right and wrong.) Remember, your job in these conversations is to invite others to take the next step on a spiritual journey guided by the Holy Spirit towards Christ, not to close the deal for Christ.

Scripture - John 4:4-42

Nicodemus is someone we might consider a curious skeptic. As a Pharisee, he is interested in the spiritual realm and explicitly believes in God. He is intrigued by Jesus, but he just can’t quite accept some of Jesus’ difficult teachings about the degree to which a person must surrender and be transformed to follow God. Jesus engages Nicodemus in a deep, respectful conversation about how Jesus’ teachings are line with much of what Nicodemus already believes and challenges Nicodemus to move to a deeper understanding and expression of faith. Sometime later, Nicodemus becomes a follower of Christ because of the spiritual journey begun in this conversation. When we talk to Curious Skeptics, we often encounter people who believe in the possibility of spiritual truth, but what they have heard about the Christian God does not yet entirely fit with their lived experience. Our job is to engage them in deep, respectful conversations in which we seek to understand how they see the world and challenge them to look for Christ’s presence within it. 

Scripture - John 3:1-21

Nicodemus is someone we might consider a curious skeptic. As a Pharisee, he is interested in the spiritual realm and explicitly believes in God. He is intrigued by Jesus, but he just can’t quite accept some of Jesus’ difficult teachings about the degree to which a person must surrender and be transformed to follow God. Jesus engages Nicodemus in a deep, respectful conversation about how Jesus’ teachings are line with much of what Nicodemus already believes and challenges Nicodemus to move to a deeper understanding and expression of faith. Sometime later, Nicodemus becomes a follower of Christ because of the spiritual journey begun in this conversation. When we talk to Curious Skeptics, we often encounter people who believe in the possibility of spiritual truth, but what they have heard about the Christian God does not yet entirely fit with their lived experience. Our job is to engage them in deep, respectful conversations in which we seek to understand how they see the world and challenge them to look for Christ’s presence within it. 

Scripture -John 3:1-21