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06/19/2016 - "I Will Treasure Church Membership as a Gift"
Scripture: Psalm 28:6-9; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17; Luke 17:11-19
This is the last chapter of our book, "I Am A Church Member" by Thom Rainer.
The discussion was engaged and lively and we learned much about what it means to be a church member - what we can do better and what we are doing well.
Enjoy the audio of the discussion!
Peace to all! Pastor Seth
Scripture: Psalm 28:6-9; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17; Luke 17:11-19
This is the last chapter of our book, "I Am A Church Member" by Thom Rainer.
The discussion was engaged and lively and we learned much about what it means to be a church member - what we can do better and what we are doing well.
Enjoy the audio of the discussion!
Peace to all! Pastor Seth
06/12/2016 - "I Will Lead My Family to be Healthy Church Members"
Scripture: Job 1:1-15; Acts 16:13-15; John 17:6-8,1-18
The construction in the meetinghouse is complete and it looks really great, so we were upstairs to discuss the 5th chapter of "I Am A Church Member" by Thom Rainer. Today, we looked at what it means to be a church member in a family and how we communicate the faith to people outside the walls of the church. Enjoy the discussion!
Scripture: Job 1:1-15; Acts 16:13-15; John 17:6-8,1-18
The construction in the meetinghouse is complete and it looks really great, so we were upstairs to discuss the 5th chapter of "I Am A Church Member" by Thom Rainer. Today, we looked at what it means to be a church member in a family and how we communicate the faith to people outside the walls of the church. Enjoy the discussion!
05/29/2016 - "I Will Pray for My Church Leaders"
Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:6-16; Matthew 20:20-28
We were downstairs again this Sunday, and I believe the space makes for a more open discussion. The topic was an uncomfortable one for me, since the focus was on the minister and what it means to hold the leader(s) of a church in prayer. Regardless of my personal experience, we had an excellent discussion about "calling", authority and respect in our day and age, and our tradition.
Enjoy our discussion of the fourth chapter of "I Am A Church Member".
Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:6-16; Matthew 20:20-28
We were downstairs again this Sunday, and I believe the space makes for a more open discussion. The topic was an uncomfortable one for me, since the focus was on the minister and what it means to hold the leader(s) of a church in prayer. Regardless of my personal experience, we had an excellent discussion about "calling", authority and respect in our day and age, and our tradition.
Enjoy our discussion of the fourth chapter of "I Am A Church Member".
05/22/2016 - "I Will Not Let My Church Be About My Preferences and Desires"
Scripture: Psalm 25; 2 Chronicles 34:26-27; Philippians 2:1-5; Luke 9:46-48
This week, we met downstairs because of our construction project in the sanctuary. The space was different, the music was a little different, the whole organization was a little different. So it fit well that we were talking about 'preferences and desires' today. I didn't really like Rainer's approach in this 3rd chapter, so I re-framed the discussion to something a little more accessible to individualistic, Northeastern Congregationalists.
Enjoy our discussion of this third chapter!
Peace and blessings to all! Pastor Seth
Scripture: Psalm 25; 2 Chronicles 34:26-27; Philippians 2:1-5; Luke 9:46-48
This week, we met downstairs because of our construction project in the sanctuary. The space was different, the music was a little different, the whole organization was a little different. So it fit well that we were talking about 'preferences and desires' today. I didn't really like Rainer's approach in this 3rd chapter, so I re-framed the discussion to something a little more accessible to individualistic, Northeastern Congregationalists.
Enjoy our discussion of this third chapter!
Peace and blessings to all! Pastor Seth
05/15/2016 - "I Will Be a Unifying Church Member"
Scripture: Psalm 133; John 17:20-23
This week, we discuss what it means to be a unifying church member.
Since it is also Pentecost Sunday, it seems an appropriate topic, since Jesus' desire was the 'oneness' of all his followers. Further, this is what the Holy Spirit seeks to do with and for all of us.
So enjoy our discussion with one another of this second chapter.
Peace and grace! Pastor Seth
Scripture: Psalm 133; John 17:20-23
This week, we discuss what it means to be a unifying church member.
Since it is also Pentecost Sunday, it seems an appropriate topic, since Jesus' desire was the 'oneness' of all his followers. Further, this is what the Holy Spirit seeks to do with and for all of us.
So enjoy our discussion with one another of this second chapter.
Peace and grace! Pastor Seth
05/08/2016 - "I Will Be A Functioning Church Member"
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-30
This week, we started a new series following Thom Rainer's book "I Am A Church Member".
The format of the book allows us to open up the way we normally do things, and so we will have discussion sermons, rather than me preaching the whole time.
This first week, we talk about the Body of Christ and what that means for how we function as a church. Just like when you are building a house, all the functional details - plumbing, heating, electricity - are present in the finished product that people live in, so also in the church.
The big difference between building a house and being the church is that, once your house is built, there is a lot you do not have to think about, or be conscious of. Being the church is just the opposite. The more aware we become of our relationship with Christ, the more aware we become of the deep, functional parts of the community we have covenanted with on a daily basis.
So this week, there is no written sermon, and nor will there be for the next 6 week.
However, I have posted our discussion for your listening pleasure.
Enjoy! Pastor Seth
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-30
This week, we started a new series following Thom Rainer's book "I Am A Church Member".
The format of the book allows us to open up the way we normally do things, and so we will have discussion sermons, rather than me preaching the whole time.
This first week, we talk about the Body of Christ and what that means for how we function as a church. Just like when you are building a house, all the functional details - plumbing, heating, electricity - are present in the finished product that people live in, so also in the church.
The big difference between building a house and being the church is that, once your house is built, there is a lot you do not have to think about, or be conscious of. Being the church is just the opposite. The more aware we become of our relationship with Christ, the more aware we become of the deep, functional parts of the community we have covenanted with on a daily basis.
So this week, there is no written sermon, and nor will there be for the next 6 week.
However, I have posted our discussion for your listening pleasure.
Enjoy! Pastor Seth