September Sermons

“He went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah, the prophet, was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found where this was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled today!” 

Acts 4:32-37 (NLT) “All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. No needy people were among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. For instance, there was Joseph, the apostle nicknamed Barnabas (“Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.”

• Jubilee offered a chance for individuals and families who had lost their land due to debt or misfortune to reclaim their ancestral property, restoring their dignity and social status.

• The return of land provided a means for the deprived to rebuild their livelihoods, ensuring access to resources needed for sustenance and economic stability.

• Families returning to their land could reintegrate into their communities, fostering social cohesion and a sense of belonging.

• Jubilee reinforced the idea of divine justice and mercy, reminding the people that the land ultimately belonged to God and that they were stewards of His creation.

• The Jubilee system would balance the deep-rooted social hierarchies, prompting those in power to reevaluate their roles and responsibilities toward the less fortunate.

• It called the wealthy to consider their responsibilities toward their neighbors, emphasizing the importance of compassion and generosity within the community.

 "God declares, I can’t stand your religious meetings. I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans, and goals. I’m sick of your fundraising schemes, public relations, and image-making. I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want. I want you to be like a river, flowing with justice, and like a stream with fairness.”

• Rethink Institutional Focus
• Authentic Worship Requires Awareness of Others
• Challenge Established Norms
• Embrace Community
• Live Out the Jubilee Spirit
• Transformative Worship