Series Introduction
Jesus demonstrated a remarkable passion for people. Read the accounts of his life and you will discover he never lorded it over people nor did he ever cower in fear, even from those who ultimately condemned and executed him. In this series we will continue our Jesus Adventure by watching Jesus interact with people from all walks of life. We will discover his ability to enter into the lives of others and experience a transformation that will change our families, workplaces, neighborhoods and community.
To Make Disciples
Sunday, June 7 – “Go therefore and make disciples.” It’s called the Great Commission and it has been the rally cry of the church since Jesus first spoke it 2000+ years ago. But what exactly does that mean and how exactly are we supposed to do that in this day and age? What is a “disciple” and how in the world do “make” one? COVID-19 has caused us to rethink so many things in our lives. As we begin this new sermon series called “Sent” we have an opportunity to take a fresh look at this ancient command.
To A Harvest
Sunday, June 14 – In Jesus the work of making all things new has begun. Starting with our hearts, which by faith in his birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension and coming again in glory, are transformed to fear, love, and trust in God above all things. Now Jesus sends us out into a world that is full of all kinds of people. Some are broken and hurting and in desperate need of good news. Some are looking for mighty acts of power to convince them that Jesus is worth their time. And some are dead set against him and oppose those who believe in him. Jesus sees it as a harvest, an ingathering of his most precious creation. He pours out his compassion for them all through us. We are sent to that harvest.
To Be Fearless
Sunday, June 21 – Matthew 10 is called by Bible scholars Jesus’ missionary discourse. For forty-two verses Jesus speaks openly and candidly about what it means to be Sent into the world to proclaim that in him the rule and reign of God has come near to those who believe. Jesus pulls no punches as he describes the challenge of following him. Though his words are daunting, the courage he provides is even greater. Three times he says “fear not” (v. 26, 28, and 31). Everyday we are empowered to live the Jesus’ Adventure with fearless faith that reveals itself in our words, our actions, and our attitudes.
To Be Faithful
Sunday, June 28 – When Jesus was born the angels sang, “Peace on earth” (Luke 2:14). But that peace comes at a price, the price of Jesus’ innocent suffering, death, and resurrection. And so that longed for “peace on earth” comes only through faith in Jesus. Once again Jesus would not have us be naive. The call to follow Jesus will be rejected and resisted to the point of possibly separating even our closest relationships: mother, father, son, and daughter. Jesus challenges us to be faithful and choose him above every other relationship in our lives with the promise that we will receive the ultimate reward: life, real life, eternal life, the life we are longing for.
With a New Yoke
Sunday, July 5 – A yoke is a device that allows you to harness the energy of two animals for the purpose of pulling a load. Jesus uses that metaphor to give us relief from the load of life we are called to carry. Jesus’ yoke is “easy” because it binds us to him, to his perfect life, death, and resurrection for the forgiveness of all our sins and the certainty of eternal life. As we live the Jesus’ Adventure, our lives yoked to him, we find rest for our souls. As Paul exclaims in our Epistle “who will rescue me from the body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25).
To Sow
Sunday, July 12 – A parable is a story, an analogy, a word-picture taken from everyday life to convey a secret about how the Kingdom, the rule and reign of God through Jesus, works in our world. Sent to scatter the word like seeds upon the ground we do so liberally and generously without concern about where the seed falls. God’s word about Jesus is sometimes rejected completely, other times received, but then dies away. Oh, but when it takes root and grows it produces amazing lives of bold confidence and humble service. Rejoice! We are sent to sow. All the rest is in God’s hands.
To Live with the Weeds
Sunday, July 19 – A parable is a story, an analogy, a word-picture taken from everyday life to convey a secret about how the Kingdom, the rule and reign of God through Jesus, works in our world. In today’s lesson Jesus uses the image of a field with weeds growing in amongst the wheat that was sown. In this story the good seed are those who have heard and believed that the rule and reign of God has come near and is ours by faith in Jesus and the weeds are those who do not. The world is far from perfect and the temptation is to go around yanking out the weeds, judging who is a true believer and who is not. Jesus would have us known that weeding is God’s business not ours.
To Reveal a Priceless Treasure
Sunday, July 26 – A parable is a story, an analogy, a word-picture taken from everyday life to convey a secret about how the Kingdom, the rule and reign of God through Jesus, works in our world. Four short illustrations with one primary point: the Good News about Jesus is so precious that it is worth everything you have. To have it is to experience a life forever. To have it is to have a storehouse full of resources to make a difference in this world.