Concord United Sermons

Lasting Freedom | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Galatians 5:1 reminds us that even after having experience the freedom found only in the grace of Jesus Christ, it is easy for us to drift back into a religion based on our obedience, or lack thereof, to God rather than on God’s faithfulness to us. Galatians 6 gives instructions for what to do when others within the church have strayed from true Christianity. We are told to “restore them gently” and be careful not to fall prey to temptation ourselves. The temptation when helping restore others is to view them judgmentally as if we have not and will not ever be led astray unwittingly by an idol. We must maintain the utmost humility when helping others and recognize that because we are “all sinners who fall short of the glory of God” that a day will most likely come when we will need someone to restore us gently, so that we can live in the lasting freedom of God’s grace.

Scripture - Galatians 5:1, Galatians 6:1-10

The Fruit of the Spirit | Rev. Wil Cantrell

In Galatians 5:16-26, Paul contrasts the desires of the flesh with the fruit of the spirit. What Paul calls “the desires of the flesh” are nothing more than what happens when we allow our animal instincts to run while and do not attempt to conform our instincts to the will of God. In the animal world these instincts are not immoral. This is simply the way the animals were created to live. However, God gave to humanity a morality based not on animal instincts, but on the image of God in which we were created. While no one person can fully judge the faith or fruit of another person, if our lives are exhibiting more of the fruit of the spirit and less of the destructive desires of the flesh it is an indication of the sincerity of our religion. If our lives are exhibiting more and more of the desires of the flesh and less and less fruit of the Spirit, it is an indication that we have turned away from true Christianity and replaced it with a selfish and idolatrous form of religion.

Scripture - Galatians 5:16-26

The Fruit of the Spirit | Rev. Brooke Hartman

In Galatians 5:16-26, Paul contrasts the desires of the flesh with the fruit of the spirit. What Paul calls “the desires of the flesh” are nothing more than what happens when we allow our animal instincts to run while and do not attempt to conform our instincts to the will of God. In the animal world these instincts are not immoral. This is simply the way the animals were created to live. However, God gave to humanity a morality based not on animal instincts, but on the image of God in which we were created. While no one person can fully judge the faith or fruit of another person, if our lives are exhibiting more of the fruit of the spirit and less of the destructive desires of the flesh it is an indication of the sincerity of our religion. If our lives are exhibiting more and more of the desires of the flesh and less and less fruit of the Spirit, it is an indication that we have turned away from true Christianity and replaced it with a selfish and idolatrous form of religion.

Scripture - Galatians 5:16-26

An Audience of One | Rev. Brooke Hartman

One of the major problems for our religion (and one of the major defects in many of our personalities) is the desire to please people rather than God. The Galatians are trying to please and pacify people by making requirements for Christianity (especially circumcision) above and beyond the requirements of Christ. Paul is not trying to please people, but is trying to please God by sharing the truth of the Gospel and pointing out the idolatrous practices of the Galatians. As Christian, we are called to love and care for people, but we must ultimately live our lives for an Audience of One seeking to please only God.

Scripture - Galatians 1:10-12

An Audience of One | Rev. Wil Cantrell

One of the major problems for our religion (and one of the major defects in many of our personalities) is the desire to please people rather than God. The Galatians are trying to please and pacify people by making requirements for Christianity (especially circumcision) above and beyond the requirements of Christ. Paul is not trying to please people, but is trying to please God by sharing the truth of the Gospel and pointing out the idolatrous practices of the Galatians. As Christian, we are called to love and care for people, but we must ultimately live our lives for an Audience of One seeking to please only God.

Scripture - Galatians 1:10-12

Uncorrupting Christianity | Rev. Wil Cantrell

Christianity is not corrupted by sin. Christianity is founded upon the conviction that sin abounds in each human heart and we are in constant need of the grace of Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and enable us to grow in faith. Christianity is corrupted by idolatry which equates participation in a cultural practice or attitude with right relationship with God. Such idolatry creates a religion wholly different than Christianity because the foundation of such idolatrous religion is obedience to a law, and often culturally conditioned, selectively applied interpretation of a law, rather than on a saving and sanctifying relationship with Jesus Christ. In 21^st Century America, those with more progressive views often make an idol out of a certain political ideas and on the right we make idols out of other political ideas, in East Tennessee we often make an idol out of Tennessee Volunteer athletics, and sometimes within the church we even make idols out of our favorite worship styles and sacramental practices. If we are to live in the saving grace and lasting freedom of Christ, we ensure our identities are based on the Rock of Ages, not the idols of our age. 

Scripture - Galatians 1:6-7, Galatians 3:1-4, 3:23-29

Uncorrupting Christianity | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Christianity is not corrupted by sin. Christianity is founded upon the conviction that sin abounds in each human heart and we are in constant need of the grace of Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and enable us to grow in faith. Christianity is corrupted by idolatry which equates participation in a cultural practice or attitude with right relationship with God. Such idolatry creates a religion wholly different than Christianity because the foundation of such idolatrous religion is obedience to a law, and often culturally conditioned, selectively applied interpretation of a law, rather than on a saving and sanctifying relationship with Jesus Christ. In 21^st Century America, those with more progressive views often make an idol out of a certain political ideas and on the right we make idols out of other political ideas, in East Tennessee we often make an idol out of Tennessee Volunteer athletics, and sometimes within the church we even make idols out of our favorite worship styles and sacramental practices. If we are to live in the saving grace and lasting freedom of Christ, we ensure our identities are based on the Rock of Ages, not the idols of our age. 

Scripture - Galatians 1:6-7, Galatians 3:1-4, 3:23-29

Walking and Talking with God | Rev. Brooke Hartman

From the beginning, God has walked with us.  Prayer is one of the tangible ways that God walks with us and we walk with God.  Prayer is the language that God gave us to communicate with our creator.  Walking with God includes Jesus.  Jesus states that he is the light of the world and whoever follows him "will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life".   Walking with God through prayer includes a variety of methods.  One such method is a prayer labyrinth, a path of walking with God.

Scripture - Genesis 17:1-8; John 8:12; 12:35-36

Walking and Talking with God | Rev. Wil Cantrell

From the beginning, God has walked with us.  Prayer is one of the tangible ways that God walks with us and we walk with God.  Prayer is the language that God gave us to communicate with our creator.  Walking with God includes Jesus.  Jesus states that he is the light of the world and whoever follows him "will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life".   Walking with God through prayer includes a variety of methods.  One such method is a prayer labyrinth, a path of walking with God.  

Scripture - Genesis 17:1-8; John 8:12; 12:35-36

He Never Failed Me Yet | Rev. Brooke Hartman

Life has its challenges for sure.  Sticking with the basics of following Jesus provides peace through God when everything around us seems to be chaotic.  Paul's words in Philippians brings us back to core ways to put into practice following Jesus.  

Scripture - Philippians 4:4-9