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God's Promises to God's People
September 11-November 20, 2016
November 20, 2016 - Thanksgiving Sunday
"The Strength of Angels"
Scripture: Genesis 18, John 15, Mark 1, Matthew 3
What does Scripture say about angels and how are they a help to us in a conflicted world?
Peace to all! Pastor Seth
November 13, 2016
"Burning Lips: The Pain of Speaking"
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8
So the election happened...
How are you going to talk to your family members and friends who think differently from you?
What are we going to do in a country that is so divided, exactly in half - with a small percentage who don't play the game and vote 3rd party - over the last several elections, we no longer know how to communicate with one another. Isaiah and Jesus may be able to help.
PDF and Audio available. Click on the links!
Peace to all! Pastor Seth
"Burning Lips: The Pain of Speaking"
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8
So the election happened...
How are you going to talk to your family members and friends who think differently from you?
What are we going to do in a country that is so divided, exactly in half - with a small percentage who don't play the game and vote 3rd party - over the last several elections, we no longer know how to communicate with one another. Isaiah and Jesus may be able to help.
PDF and Audio available. Click on the links!
Peace to all! Pastor Seth
November 6, 2016
"Throwing Shade: The Inevitability of God's Promises"
Scripture: Jonah 1, 3
We move into the Prophets and what they have to say about God's promises, and also how they respond to them. Jonah has always been my favorite prophet because he shows that we can be called to do the bidding of God, we can even carry it out, and still not be aligned with the will of God. Jonah has a lot of issues to work out on the hill outside Ninevah, which is where our message takes place today.
PDF above, audio below.
Peace! Pastor Seth
"Throwing Shade: The Inevitability of God's Promises"
Scripture: Jonah 1, 3
We move into the Prophets and what they have to say about God's promises, and also how they respond to them. Jonah has always been my favorite prophet because he shows that we can be called to do the bidding of God, we can even carry it out, and still not be aligned with the will of God. Jonah has a lot of issues to work out on the hill outside Ninevah, which is where our message takes place today.
PDF above, audio below.
Peace! Pastor Seth
October 23, 2016 - Narrative Lectionary 6, Year 3
"The Promise to David: Eternal Kingdoms, Temporary Empires"
Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-17
The promise to David comes after the people of Israel have decided, much to the horror of God's prophet Samuel, they need a king. Now God has to work through the humanly established powers and principalities in order to achieve freedom, peace, and hope. This is what the 'throne of David' seeks to do - establish heavenly ways on earth in spite of human ways.
PDF outline above; audio below.
Peace! Pastor Seth
"The Promise to David: Eternal Kingdoms, Temporary Empires"
Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-17
The promise to David comes after the people of Israel have decided, much to the horror of God's prophet Samuel, they need a king. Now God has to work through the humanly established powers and principalities in order to achieve freedom, peace, and hope. This is what the 'throne of David' seeks to do - establish heavenly ways on earth in spite of human ways.
PDF outline above; audio below.
Peace! Pastor Seth
October 16, 2016 - Narrative Lectionary 5, Year 3
"The Golden Calf: The Promise of Mercy in Failure"
Scripture: Exodus 32:1-14
God changing God's mind is a strange concept, indeed. But I think it only makes sense if we understand God as merciful, slow to anger, and full of steadfast love for God's people. That is what Moses reminds God of in their discussion about the Golden Calf that the Hebrew people have built when Moses doesn't return from the mountain soon enough. Broken covenants are the result of false idols; smashing and destroying false idols allows us the opportunity to remember and participate again in those covenants God has given us.
No PDF this week. Audio below.
Peace to all! Pastor Seth
"The Golden Calf: The Promise of Mercy in Failure"
Scripture: Exodus 32:1-14
God changing God's mind is a strange concept, indeed. But I think it only makes sense if we understand God as merciful, slow to anger, and full of steadfast love for God's people. That is what Moses reminds God of in their discussion about the Golden Calf that the Hebrew people have built when Moses doesn't return from the mountain soon enough. Broken covenants are the result of false idols; smashing and destroying false idols allows us the opportunity to remember and participate again in those covenants God has given us.
No PDF this week. Audio below.
Peace to all! Pastor Seth
October 9, 2016 - Narrative Lectionary 4, Year 3
"The Promise of Passover; The Costs of Following God"
Scripture: Exodus 12:1-13; Exodus 13:1-8
Today, we learn about Passover, the freeing of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is a core and foundational text to understanding of all of Scripture. As with all acts of freedom, however, there are always costs. We talk about some of those costs.
Audio is below and a link to the mind-map above.
Enjoy! Pastor Seth
"The Promise of Passover; The Costs of Following God"
Scripture: Exodus 12:1-13; Exodus 13:1-8
Today, we learn about Passover, the freeing of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is a core and foundational text to understanding of all of Scripture. As with all acts of freedom, however, there are always costs. We talk about some of those costs.
Audio is below and a link to the mind-map above.
Enjoy! Pastor Seth
September 25, 2016 - Narrative Lectionary 3, Year 3
"The Warp and Weft of God's Work"
Scripture: Genesis 37:3-8, 17b-22, 26-34; 50:15-21
Joseph is kind of a jerk, but God presses him into higher concerns and positions. We are likewise called to be 'weavers' of God's forgiveness and love in our relationships and in the world.
The audio and PDF are both linked this week.
Enjoy! Pastor Seth
September 18, 2016 - Narrative Lectionary 2, Year 3
"Reckoned As Descendants of Abraham"
Scripture: Genesis 15:1-6
Abraham's act of faith and trust in God is what makes an otherwise questionable individual right with God. We try to tie the promises of Abraham through the Cross of Christ to our faith and fellowship by the power of the Holy Spirit. One of the difficulties we run into as American Christians is that we blind ourselves with the light of our own practices, and we blot out the stars above. I have linked an article here and a video about 'light pollution' below.
Because I forgot my recording device, there is no audio, but the PDF is linked above. Peace to all! Pastor Seth
"Reckoned As Descendants of Abraham"
Scripture: Genesis 15:1-6
Abraham's act of faith and trust in God is what makes an otherwise questionable individual right with God. We try to tie the promises of Abraham through the Cross of Christ to our faith and fellowship by the power of the Holy Spirit. One of the difficulties we run into as American Christians is that we blind ourselves with the light of our own practices, and we blot out the stars above. I have linked an article here and a video about 'light pollution' below.
Because I forgot my recording device, there is no audio, but the PDF is linked above. Peace to all! Pastor Seth
September 11, 2016 - Narrative Lectionary 1, Year 3
"God Walks, We Hide: Sin, Shame, and Forgiveness"
Scripture: Genesis 2:4b - 7, 15-17, 3:1-8
This week, we begin a new lectionary - the Narrative Lectionary.
This year follows the Promises of God through all of Scripture. We begin in the Garden of Eden this week and learn about shame as the great sin of the Garden, not disobedience.
The audio is below and the PDF is linked in the title above.
I have also posted the TEDtalks I mention in the sermon.
Peace to all! Pastor Seth
"God Walks, We Hide: Sin, Shame, and Forgiveness"
Scripture: Genesis 2:4b - 7, 15-17, 3:1-8
This week, we begin a new lectionary - the Narrative Lectionary.
This year follows the Promises of God through all of Scripture. We begin in the Garden of Eden this week and learn about shame as the great sin of the Garden, not disobedience.
The audio is below and the PDF is linked in the title above.
I have also posted the TEDtalks I mention in the sermon.
Peace to all! Pastor Seth