November Sermons

Matthew 5:46-48 (CEV) “If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? Even tax collectors love their friends. If you greet only your friends, what's so great about that? Don't even unbelievers do that? But you must always act like your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:46-48 (MSG) “If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you greet those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. "In a word, what I'm saying is, grow up. You are kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

The mission of our church is “We use our resources, tangible and intangible, to minimize human suffering and enhance human well-being. This is godliness to us.”

• Living life as God’s usher reminds me that I have a Godward responsibility to live toward others.
• Living life as God’s usher, I acknowledge and notice that I have been blessed with the resources needed to do good.

“I want to appreciate you without judging. Join you without invading. Invite you without demanding. Leave you without guilt.”-Virginia Satir.

“Create inclusion - with simple mindfulness that others might have a different reality from your own.” - Patti Digh

“Be kind, for everyone you meet may be fighting a hard battle.” - Plato

“You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.”- Indira Gandhi

“I would rather be a tiny flame than a great darkness.” - Unknown

“On another day of worship, Jesus went into a synagogue to teach. A man whose right hand was withered/paralyzed was there. The Scribes and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of worship so that they could find a way to accuse him of doing something wrong. But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So, he told the man with the withered/paralyzed hand, “Get up, and stand in the center of the synagogue!” The man got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you what is the right thing to do on a day of worship: to do good or evil, to give a person his health or to destroy it?” He looked around at them and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man did so, and his hand returned to its normal state.

The mission of our church is “We use our resources, tangible and intangible, to minimize human suffering and enhance human well-being. This is godliness to us.”

• Jesus had an eye for details, as revealed in how he dealt with people…
• Jesus treated everyone with dignity and respected people’s privacy…
• Jesus respected the marginalized, social outcasts, and misfits…
• Jesus rarely used prefabricated notions and remedies. He lived in the moment of a person’s circumstances…
• Jesus healed people but did not create dependencies…
• Jesus did not heal people to gain followers or be famous; he healed and helped people because they needed it… 
• Jesus does more than improve physical circumstances. He gives them a sense of identity and purpose and shows us how valuable everyone is in God’s eyes…

The healing of the man’s withered hand symbolizes God’s power to restore what is broken in and with our lives.

Regardless of how shriveled or damaged aspects of our lives may seem, we can trust in God’s ability to restore them.

“On another day of worship, Jesus went into a synagogue to teach. A man whose right hand was withered/paralyzed was there. The Scribes and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of worship so that they could find a way to accuse him of doing something wrong. But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So, he told the man with the withered/paralyzed hand, “Get up, and stand in the center of the synagogue!” The man got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you what is the right thing to do on a day of worship: to do good or evil, to give a person his health or to destroy it?” He looked around at them and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man did so, and his hand returned to its normal state.

The mission of our church is “We use our resources, tangible and intangible, to minimize human suffering and enhance human well-being. This is godliness to us.”

“You come to the end of this story and find that all the stories you have ever lived, each and every one of them, has been a preparation for this moment.” C.S. Lewis

“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” J.K. Rowling

“Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” Richard Branson

“We must allow life to accurately reflect the will and sovereignty of God. It allows the way of life and society to be if a compassionate God were in charge...” Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer

• Jesus had an eye for details, as revealed in how he dealt with people…
• Jesus treated everyone with dignity and respected people’s privacy…
• Jesus respected the marginalized, social outcasts, and misfits…
• Jesus rarely used prefabricated notions and remedies. He lived in the moment of a person’s circumstances…
• Jesus healed people but did not create dependencies…
• Jesus did not heal people to gain followers or be famous; he healed and helped people because they needed it… 
• Jesus does more than improve physical circumstances. He gives them a sense of identity and purpose and shows us how valuable everyone is in God’s eyes…

The healing of the man’s withered hand symbolizes God’s power to restore what is broken in and with our lives.

Regardless of how shriveled or damaged aspects of our lives may seem, we can trust in God’s ability to restore them.

“On another day of worship, Jesus went into a synagogue to teach. A man whose right hand was withered/paralyzed was there. The Scribes and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of worship so that they could find a way to accuse him of doing something wrong. But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So, he told the man with the withered/paralyzed hand, “Get up, and stand in the center of the synagogue!” The man got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you what is the right thing to do on a day of worship: to do good or evil, to give a person his health or to destroy it?” He looked around at them and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man did so, and his hand returned to its normal state.

The mission of our church is “We use our resources, tangible and intangible, to minimize human suffering and enhance human well-being. This is godliness to us.”

Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds by John Fugelsang.

Christian nationalism is the 21st-century version of the Scribe and Pharisees, which is also an umbrella term for:

·       Some fanatics use faith as a cover for power and control.

·       The spiritual bullies are convinced that they get to be as cruel and judgmental as they want because they already know for a fact they’re right about the Bible.

·       Pious politicians who brag they’ve accepted Jesus as their savior, while actually only accepting him as their mascot.

·       The Strapped Bro-Dudes for Jesus, worshiping a jacked-up, gun-toting, butt-kicking Alpha male Jesus, who doesn’t actually appear in the Jesus parts of the Bible.

·       “The Christian supremacists, who always believe violence is morally acceptable if it’s their side doing it.

·       The Holy Haters, convinced that God despises the same people they do, including LGBTQ people, immigrants, academics, Muslims, Jews, the poor, foreigners in general, environmentalists, science believers, people who support women’s reproductive rights, people who think gun safety laws could maybe help save a few lives, racial minorities, liberals, organized labor, feminists, atheists, and/ or anyone else they think God put here by accident.”

·       They fight for legislation that neglects the poor and vulnerable, defunding social welfare programs and criminalizing homelessness.

·       They prioritize tax cuts for the wealthy, exacerbating poverty and inequality, but never alleviating suffering.

·       They weaponize scripture they themselves don’t follow against people they dislike.

·       They preach nationalism over global compassion.

·       Anyone who disagrees with them they consider to be “enemies of God.”

The planet does not need more “successful people”. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds. Dali Lama

 Your job isn’t to judge. Your job isn’t to determine whether someone deserves something or decide who is right or wrong. Your job is to lift the fallen, restore the broken, and heal the hurting.  Joel Osteen

“We must allow life to accurately reflect the will and sovereignty of God. It allows the way of life and society to be if a compassionate God were in charge...” Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer

• Jesus had an eye for details, as revealed in how he dealt with people…
• Jesus treated everyone with dignity and respected people’s privacy…
• Jesus respected the marginalized, social outcasts, and misfits…
• Jesus rarely used prefabricated notions and remedies. He lived in the moment of a person’s circumstances…
• Jesus healed people but did not create dependencies…
• Jesus did not heal people to gain followers or be famous; he healed and helped people because they needed it… 
• Jesus does more than improve physical circumstances. He gives them a sense of identity and purpose and shows us how valuable everyone is in God’s eyes…

The healing of the man’s withered hand symbolizes God’s power to restore what is broken in and with our lives.

Regardless of how shriveled or damaged aspects of our lives may seem, we can trust in God’s ability to restore them.

“When the Son of Man/Jesus came, he ate and drank, and everyone said, Look at this man! He is a glutton and wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and other outcasts...”

The mission of our church is “We use our resources, tangible and intangible, to minimize human suffering and enhance human well-being. This is godliness to us.”

The religious leaders of Jesus' time created barriers that excluded many. In contrast, Jesus broke these barriers, illustrating that God’s love is inclusive.

By befriending those who were often shunned, Jesus reflected God’s heart, a heart that seeks to restore and love unconditionally. Our relationships should mirror this divine love.

Jesus challenged the cultural norms of His time. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to confront our biases and prejudices, allowing His example to shape our hearts.

Jesus defied cultural expectations by associating with those deemed "unclean," demonstrating that holiness is not maintained through avoidance but through love.

Jesus’ interactions with women elevated their status in a patriarchal society, recognizing their worth and potential. This behavior was considered unethical and immoral.

Jesus broke down ethnic barriers, illustrating that God’s grace extends beyond any community.

Jesus performed healings on the Sabbath Day, a religious and cultural no-no. He showcased compassion over rigid tradition, prioritizing human need.

Jesus frequently critiqued religious and political authorities, questioning their interpretations of faith and morality.

There is no pattern of how Jesus engaged and interacted with people. It was based on a case-by-case and one-on-one situation…

Here is what I am certain of based upon studying the life of Jesus. Jesus preferred gracious behavior more than correct belief...

I prefer a congregation of kind, compassionate, and generous atheists over a congregation of hateful, indifferent, and self-righteous Christians…

Leave people alone when it comes to trying to control their paths. Instead,