This recording is of a follow-up discussioin / Q & A session after the previous Sunday's sermon on the Church being seen as bigots. The discussion focused on the issue of homosexuality and the Church's response. Pete Lines spoke of his previous experience and ministry ministering among the homosexual community.

Those Outside of Christianity in the U.S. see Christians as anti-gay. This is the strongest perception they have of Christians - and it is very negative. It is more than a disagreement over an issue. Christians are seen as hating homosexuals, out to destroy them through preaching or politics.It is time for a different approach that shows the Love of Christ.

The research findings contained in unChristian by Kinnaman & Lyons is painful. Yet we need to face the reality of how our communities perceive us. God loves those outside the Church - and we are sent to them as Christ's ambassadors.Look at the six criticisms - and hear the intro to this sermon series.

Thomas missed Jesus' first appearance to the Disciples. He missed every appearance for a week. He was left with doubts, questions, uncertainty - the experiences of the other disciples weren't his experiences!Jesus came to him - met him where he was, with his doubts - and gave Thomas what he needed to believe. Jesus is willilng to do that with any of us!

We've all heard his name - and we know what he did. But beyond ordering Jesus' crucifixion, what do you know about Pilate?This sermon looks at the time Pilate spent with Jesus - how he was affected by Jesus - and the final question Pilate faced:Who is Jesus?It is the central question for every human!

Part of worship is coming together with other believers as a community - the Family of God.Worship is not an individual sport - it is a team sport! Yet we each meet with God. The best of both worlds.Why do we greet each other? Why do we have announcements? Because we are a Community - a Family!

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were some of Jesus' closest friends. They had been through much together. During His final week, he stayed with them each night.Imagine who hard it was for them to watch Him that week.We look in this sermon at what they would tell us - what they learned as Jesus chose to go to the Cross and die.