Cape Elizabeth Church of the Nazarene - Weekly Sermon Podcast

Mark 5:1-20
The story of Jesus healing the man with an unclean spirit reminds us that the grace of God follows us to wherever we’ve been cornered and offers help both now and forever more. This story is ours as well, and contains our mission; because God has loved us, we are not cast out from His love and grace but instead, we are sent out to tell others what God has done for us.

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:1-15
In today’s reading from 2 Corinthians, Paul talks about two different kinds of dwellings; the first is an “earthly tent” where we live in this world. The other is a dwelling built by God. While it can be read that this second home refers to God’s eternity, Paul’s expectation is that the home of God can be made real in the here and now, while we are in this earthly tent. We should live in the expectation and fullness of what God has promised and is doing in our lives.

“Jesus, Prophet of Grace”
Text: Mark 4:26-41
We continue studying the Gospel of Mark. This passage, which echoes the Old Testament prophets Ezekiel and Jonah, reveals the prophetic power of Jesus Christ. The fullness of God’s message has been found in Jesus Christ; he is the embodiment and the fulfillment of God’s prophecies. Whatever the world might bring to stall the welcoming of people to the grace of God can be overcome by Jesus.

Text: Mark 4:1-25
We return to our study of the gospel of Mark by hearing one of Jesus’ first parables – the parable of the sower. The sowing work is the spreading of God’s grace throughout the world. It is not limited to one particular area or just where we think it should be spread. Jesus has shown himself capable to overcome the powers of the world and invites everyone to follow him and develop roots.

Isaiah 6:1-8
We welcome Maine District Pastor (and one of our congregation’s newest members) Amanda Lawton to the pulpit this week as she shares the story of her calling.

“The Holy Spirit Brings Forgiveness”
Text: Mark 3:20-35
Today is Pentecost, when the Church celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit. While the traditional Pentecost scripture comes from the second chapter of Acts, since we have been going through the gospel of Mark this year, today’s reading comes from Mark. It is the second time in this gospel where the Holy Spirit is mentioned, and it is a passage of scripture all about what the Holy Spirit is doing and wants to do in His church and among His people.

“Counted Among the Disciples”
Text: Mark 3:1-19
Following our “Why We Worship” series, we return to our study of the Gospel of Mark. In this passage, Jesus appoints His disciples. Mark describes them as having three purposes; “to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons.” God continues to invite us to be involved in the work of what Jesus is about, and so we are to have these same purposes. A life of discipleship living is one that is done as a reflection of the grace and love that Jesus poured out on us and allows Him to continually shape and form who we are.

“Why We Worship: Communion”
Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
We end our short series on “Why We Worship” by discussing Communion. In his letter to the church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul emphasizes the importantance of Communion and the need to take it with genuineness. We celebrate this sacrament each week in our service; it serves as the culmination of the Good News to remember that no matter how broken we feel, God meets us with His broken body. The bread and the juice represent how far God has gone for each of us, and that He is continuing to redeem, to restore, and to adpot us into His family.

“Why We Worship: Scripture”
Sermon Text: Acts 3 : 11-26
We continue our mini sermon series on the worship practices of our local congregation at the Cape Elizabeth Church of the Nazarene. In today’s passage, Peter intentionally makes the point that the healing of a man unable to walk was not anything done in His own name, but in the name of Jesus. He does not support his statement by making contemporary references to a man that the audience would have known (which he could have done), but instead references Scripture when describing who Jesus is. We are a church that also focuses on the Scriptures because we recognize it is always pointing to Jesus and what He wants to do in our lives. Scripture informs everything about what we do, from the prayers we pray to the songs we sing.

“Why We Worship: Gifts of Praise & Prayer”
Text: 1 Chronicles 16:23-34
Worship is the practice of drawing near to God. Today, we begin a short series called “Why We Worship,” where we talk about who we are at the Cape Elizabeth Church of the Nazarene and why we worship the way we do. Everything in worship for us is meant to be expressive of our desire to praise and honor God, but it is also an invitation to newness – an invitation to see what else is God going to do in our lives. This week, we focus on our worship through music, which directs and points us to a mood of celebration; and prayer, which invites God to work and move in our lives.