Anderson Sermons

To forgive is to release the debt and to bestow blessing in its place. Through Jesus Christ, God has forgiven the debt of our sin which we could never repay, and blessed us with life everlasting. When we forgive others, we imitate God, the gracious forgiver.

What does it mean to be a good neighbor, not only to those who live on our streets, but also to those who live in our local community? Is it worth the effort for us as followers of Jesus to alter the patterns of our lives to connect with our neighbors? Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan timelessly answers those questions for us.

We were made for relationships because we were made in the image of a relational God. And the first relationship God designed for us was marriage - one man and one woman becoming one together as they follow God and love one another. It's not always easy, but when oneness begins to grow, the world sees a beautiful representation of the Triune God - Father, Son and Spirit.

If you want relationships that will help you know Jesus better and become more like Him, then there is no better place to be than the Church! The Church is God's family, united with one another in Jesus; in other words, we are the Church. The Church needs you and you need the Church. We each have a unique role to play as we seek to love one another and to reflect Jesus to the rest of the world.

We all want good relationships. We all need good relationships. We were all designed in God's image for deep and lasting relationships, but none of our relationships work perfectly, and in fact some of our relationships are downright disastrous. However, within the Trinity we have a model for the relationships we desire and need, and in the loving, sacrificial work of the Son of God we have the power to experience love from God, love for God, and love for one another.

Fear is a natural response to threatening, risk-filled situations. And as we follow Jesus, such situations are inevitable! We don't have a choice in the matter. However, we do choose whether or not we give in to our fears, or by faith learn to increasingly trust in the Lord. In other words, we get to choose where we focus our attention and energy - on the obstacles or on the opportunities. And we get to choose which voices we listen to - the voices of discouragement or the voice of our Redeemer who is all powerful.

God gave Israel a rhythm for worship - daily, weekly, annually and generationally - because all of life is intended for worship. We get out of rhythm when we listen to another song - life is food, or houses, or career, or sex, etc. We get back in rhythm when we consciously, actively seek to praise God through all that we say, do, think and feel because He is worthy of our entire lives.

There are many forms of idolatry, and we are all prone to one, or more, or many. Our chosen idols promise life but deliver death every time. So why are we so foolish? Because we believe the idols' lies and we want a god we can control, one who will give us what we want when we want it; in other words, a god in our own image. In God's grace, He both exposes our foolishness, forgives us and restores us when we crush our golden calves and turn from the lie to the One True God.

Something deep inside us instinctively resists rules. Rules feel inherently restrictive. But God's rules are not arbitrary or capricious. God's rules are rooted in His deep love for us, and His desire for relationship with us. His rules are for our good and lead to best life possible and our greatest freedom, but we can joyfully obey only through His enablement - not through our own determination but through the power of His indwelling Spirit.

God has delivered, and continues to deliver, His people from sin, slavery and death. Build habits of remembrance for all that God has done for you!