Emmaus Road Church | Fort Collins, Colorado

Sermon Notes: bit.ly/3kJG59j

The freedom of personal choice is not the same as freedom given in service of a purpose or goal. There is a difference between freedom from something and freedom for something. Central to the story of God is that God desires both kinds of freedom for humanity.

May we know that our inclination toward freedom has always been God-given and may we be sure to define our freedom according to the example of Christ and the freedom offered in Christ. 

Sermon Scripture: John 11:38-44 (NRSV)

As we consider the resurrection of Lazarus this week, may this quote guide us us.

Our human drive for beauty, for transcendent meaning, turns out to be more than we ever expected. It is God-given: a signpost, designed to lead us back to his presence. Ah, we sigh, be it ends in darkness and horror, with the dust of death covering over the beauty in thick, choking layers of ugliness. Yes, says John, but see what the creator God now does. He makes a way through death and out the other side into new creation, new beauty, and life."

-N.T. Wright, Broken Signposts (pg. 110)

Sermon Scripture: John 15:1-8 (NRSV)

In our world, religion is often seen as an old idea, and unnecessary weight to carry. Spirituality, on the other hand, frees us from that weight while also allowing us to pursue the deep questions of life.

How might the scriptures help us make sense of all of this?

Sermon Scripture: John 2:17-22 (NRSV)

The concept of love has captured the imagination of artists and communicators for generations. From love found and lost, find my one true love, to the love of family and friendship; love is everywhere in our movies, books, and art. Underneath all the messages about love, there is one common denominator - we all want love!

We know that love matters. But love is also difficult. Love can easily be corrupted or cheapened.

To help us make sense of this broken signpost, let's turn to John 2:17-22.

Sermon Scripture: John 18:33-40; John 19:13-16a (NRSV)

Broken signposts are the things in the world that point us in a direction or give us a hint of how things should be and how things should work, but ultimately are difficult to fully grasp or don't work as they should. 

This week, we will explore the theme of justice.

Sermon Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11 (NRSV)

When God commands rest, he liberates the Hebrew people from the pressure of endless production. God releases them from basing value on productivity. He demonstrates that the well-being of creation does not depend on endless work. Instead, God calls them to rhythms of rest so that they can focus on relationship with God and others. God invites them into a relationship based on covenant instead of commodity.

Play connects us to the present moment. It allows us to let go of the hurts and disappointments of the past. It enables us to release the worries and anxieties of the future. When we play, what matters is only the present moment. 

Both become vital tools in enabling us to Resist Rage in our culture.

Sermon Scripture: Mark 11:15-19 (NRSV) 

Whenever you talk about rage or the call for Christians to be peacemakers, there is one episode in the life of Jesus that inevitably comes up - Jesus tossing tables in the temple. This story is told in all four gospels, so it clearly is significant. 

So, Jesus did get angry. But, as the witness of the Gospels shows us, Jesus got angry about matters of injustice! Jesus got angry - usually with religious leaders and systems - when those systems weren't embodying God's shalom in the way there were supposed to! If our anger leads us to hold a grudge, refuse forgiveness, lose our temper, or bring harm to others, there is little use for it.

But, if our anger causes us to fight for the rights of the oppressed, or seek to correct injustice, then anger can be a generative force for good in the world.

Sermon Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16 (NRSV)

Learning from the Apostle Paul’s exchange with the church in Emphasis, we are given an instructions manual-like description of the basic requirements of Christian living and how to do so. We are to follow the example of Jesus, act peacefully, and to actively maintain and establish good relationships with others.

Sounds simple enough right? Join us as we investigate the challenges and graces God provides to us as we live as peacemakers.

Sermon Scripture: 4:31-32

God the Creator is drawing together a community of any who will place their faith in Christ as the world's true King. This new community is unified through the work of the Spirit and is to embody a new type of humanity.

While this community is unified in principle through Christ and the Spirit, the community must work to be unified in practice by putting off the old humanity and putting on the new humanity.

Practically speaking, we are to put away all bitterness, anger, and rage and put on kindness that imitates God.