Concord United Sermons

A persistent experience for many, across the generations, is loneliness, even being lonely in the midst of crowds.  We long to belong, to have connection.  We are created for connection to God and others.  The church is Jesus’ idea, formed in the early days of Christianity as a means to glorify God and share the good news of Jesus Christ.  Within this mission and structure, connection to God and others occurs.  Through being part of something bigger than ourselves, the church, the assembly of those seeking and following, not simply an institution, we find the connection to God and others.  Community is something bigger than.

Scripture - Acts 2:42-47

Doubt is that looming feeling of uncertainty, where we question the realness of others, life, and God.  Hope is future-focused related to our expectations, while faith is our present beliefs and reliance and trust in.  We experience doubt about God, the church, the government, relationships, and even ourselves.  Our dependence and trust are in ourselves, because we wonder who or what can be trusted. Faith is the antidote, the unseen belief in something bigger than us and this world.  Belief in a God who came to be with us.  The exclamation of “help me overcome my unbelief” applies to us today.  Our focus becomes trusting the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding.  Faith is something bigger than.

Scripture - Mark 9:21-24, Proverbs 3:5

Doubt is that looming feeling of uncertainty, where we question the realness of others, life, and God.  Hope is future-focused related to our expectations, while faith is our present beliefs and reliance and trust in.  We experience doubt about God, the church, the government, relationships, and even ourselves.  Our dependence and trust are in ourselves, because we wonder who or what can be trusted. Faith is the antidote, the unseen belief in something bigger than us and this world.  Belief in a God who came to be with us.  The exclamation of “help me overcome my unbelief” applies to us today.  Our focus becomes trusting the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding.  Faith is something bigger than.

Scripture - Mark 9:21-24, Proverbs 3:5

Examples exist around us of hopelessness, broadly in the despair of our world and specifically within our own lives.  We begin to lose hope.  Hope is the expectation of what is possible in the future.  We reflect on the past year, or years, identifying the highs and lows, the joy and grief, and the moments of hope and hopelessness.  The Psalms provide examples of hopelessness, despair, disappointment, and of where we find our hope.  Our hope is in God.  Our hope is in the steadfast love of God.  God is the hope of something bigger.  Within the words of the book of Romans, we are reminded that nothing separates us from the love of God.  Hope is something bigger than. 

Scripture - Psalms 33:20-22; Romans 8:24-27, 35-39

Examples exist around us of hopelessness, broadly in the despair of our world and specifically within our own lives.  We begin to lose hope.  Hope is the expectation of what is possible in the future.  We reflect on the past year, or years, identifying the highs and lows, the joy and grief, and the moments of hope and hopelessness.  The Psalms provide examples of hopelessness, despair, disappointment, and of where we find our hope.  Our hope is in God.  Our hope is in the steadfast love of God.  God is the hope of something bigger.  Within the words of the book of Romans, we are reminded that nothing separates us from the love of God.  Hope is something bigger than. 

Scripture - Psalms 33:20-22; Romans 8:24-27, 35-39

Even in his early years, those who encountered Jesus sensed that they were in presence of a power unlike anything they had experienced before. When we encounter Jesus today, we too must choose how we will respond to His power and wisdom.

Scripture - Luke 2:21-52

The birth of Christ was both a local and cosmic event. Jesus was born to specific family from a specific culture in a specific place to change the world through a singularly influential life. He was also the Almighty God who had come back to redeem His creation.

Scripture - Luke 2:1-7, John 1:1-5,14-18

The birth of Christ was both a local and cosmic event. Jesus was born to specific family from a specific culture in a specific place to change the world through a singularly influential life. He was also the Almighty God who had come back to redeem His creation.

Scripture - Luke 2:1-7, John 1:1-5,14-18

The shepherds proclaimed the good news told to them by the angels—that Jesus would be their Savior, even though He was only an infant. Mary treasured their words in her heart to guide her in the future. When Scrooge sees Christmas future, he witnesses grief for the Cratchit family and his own lonely death if he doesn’t change his ways. Thankfully, Scrooge changes his ways, and his future turns out far better than he could have ever imagined. When we choose to follow Christ, we open ourselves to the blessings of the future God has in store for us rather than the devastation of a selfish life spent living for our own momentary pleasure.

Scripture - Luke 2:8–20

The shepherds proclaimed the good news told to them by the angels—that Jesus would be their Savior, even though He was only an infant. Mary treasured their words in her heart to guide her in the future. When Scrooge sees Christmas future, he witnesses grief for the Cratchit family and his own lonely death if he doesn’t change his ways. Thankfully, Scrooge changes his ways, and his future turns out far better than he could have ever imagined. When we choose to follow Christ, we open ourselves to the blessings of the future God has in store for us rather than the devastation of a selfish life spent living for our own momentary pleasure.

Scripture - Luke 2:8–20