Andover | First UMC Sermons

Ezra was a professional. He was someone who studied and longed to teach God's people God's ways. But when Ezra arrived in Jerusalem to begin a ministry of teaching, he was told of some problems. The solution was drastic and it wasn't one that even a drastic fix was going to actually fix.

Renovation projects come in all sizes. As Andover comes the close on our renovation project, we begin to look at a long period in the history of Israel and ask what can we learn and what can we avoid from our forebearers in the faith.

Wrapping up our series on other religions, we turn our attention to one of the world's oldest religions/ways of life - Buddhism. As we close this series, we also take time to meditate and be filled with an important truth!

Including some of the key terms we explore in this weeks sermon.

Karma

Dharma

Sangha

Enlightenment

Nirvana

Samsara

4 Noble Truths

1. The truth of suffering - it is constant

2. The truth of the cause of suffering - attachment (people, things, wants, etc)

3. The truth of the end of suffering - there is an end to suffering - insight or awareness

4. The truth of the path that frees us from suffering is the 8-Fold Path

8fold path

Right beliefs, right thoughts, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right meditating

It is one of the great religions in the world. It shares a similar history with Christianity and Judaism. It is often misrepresented and has caused much confusion in the world we currently live in. Islam is a religion that most all people have some opinion on, but what can we learn from Islam as a Chrsitian?

Coexist - Judaism by Andover | First UMC Lexington

Christmas...can it still do what it did so many years ago? 2000 years ago a baby was born and a light was thrust into the darkness. 2000 years ago a new song burst forth in the cries of an infant. What is the music - the sound - the light of Christmas now? Can Christmas Still Change the World?

Obedience is a normal word used during the season. But it's an important one. It's also something very different than a set of rules and regulations. What if Obedience was defined with a different idea? What if obedience led to rejoicing?

Patience - it's not a common virtue, but it is a call of the Disciple. It's also the call of Advent - of God's Story. This week we explore Patience and an unshakable hope that is a light in the darkness.

The Promise is of a hope - but is the hope of the season just a few spiritual goosebumps? Or is there something more and if there is more, what will bring that more?

Advent is New Years. It is a season of preparation. A time to celebrate that Jesus was born. It is a time to long for him to come once more. It is a season to be still. Even in the midst of the noise, may we find an opportunity to be still...and to wait...and to anticipate.