Just Sitting Here Thinking

Wednesday night presentation on the history of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel.

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Lesson on Isaiah, the beautiful language of prophecy, and the hope of the world to study war no more. 

How the in-fighting between the Northern and Southern kingdom weakened the people while Assyria was growing stronger. 

Challenging the people of Judah with the ways in which they were not following God's commandments. 

Worshiping God means we treat each other better. When the people are suffering in great need and poverty, God wants justice to roll like a mighty stream, righteousness like a mighty river.

The prosperity of the church grows while hunger and poverty grows faster. "I despise your feasts." Until we meet the needs of our fellow people, we are not honoring God at all. 

The role of a prophet, not to predict the future, but to point out to the people the coming consequences of our current actions. Calling out hypocrisy and the ways in which we are warned that we shall reap what we sow.

God's covenant with the people through Moses promises to protect the people in exchange for following the commandments.

From the teachings of Amos and Hosea to the days of Isaiah, "the sermon remains the same."

Why the greatest commandment is still to "Love one another."

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The challenges of the prophets Amos and Hosea, and their messages to the people from God. What did God mean then, and what the message mean today?

Condemning the people's raising of personal riches while neglecting the poor in their community. Resisting hypocrisy and practicing a life of love toward each other. Caring for others is essential for serving God.

The purpose of worship and the true message of what it means to be Christian, not just what feels good.

God wants us to feel better by becoming better people, not to shame us into submission.

The image of a God of wrath not grace comes from the Old Testament relationship with God.

God's will vs. our freedom to act, blaming God vs. taking personal responsibility. The importance of free will and the choices we make make us responsible for the world we make out of God's creation. 

We are the sowers in the field, and the harvest and depends on what we sow in the name of God.

"Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." (Amos 5:24)

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Urgent lesson for Independence Day on the religious groups crossing the Atlantic Ocean to worship freely, the faith of the individual founders such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, George Washington.

How the separation of church and state preserves religious liberty, and how the danger of ignoring the history of religion in America leads one group to suppress the freedom of others to worship and causes denominations to fight each other for sovereignty.

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In honor of Independence Day, we return to this timely discussion on the history of the church from the Holy Roman Empire to the Reformation, and the foundation of religious freedom in the American colonies up to today. (with Q&A)

The origins of Christian Nationalism in Rome through the 1600s, when Europeans fled to the American continent in order to escape persecution by national churches. Why a state religion historically always oppresses believers and is the opposite to true freedom of worship, and why it is fundamentally against the teachings of Christ. 

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For Easter, we revisit this lesson on St. Mark's account of Jesus' resurrection and the history of its translation and revision. The importance of the three women who discovered the empty tomb and the enigma of Joseph of Arimathea.

The closeness of Mark and Peter, and ending the story with the Great Commission: the message to spread the Good News, heal the sick and poor of spirit, and to be the power of Christ in the world.

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An inspiring sermon on embracing risk over our fear of failure. The importance of striving for what is out of reach.

Shying away from our talents out of insecurity, while our talents are gifts given from God for a unique purpose to serve God.

How failure can be healthy, to be used and overcome but never accepted. Where we find ourselves in circumstances compared to what we envision for ourselves.

The need for the church to take risks to expand its mission and its vision of God's plan.

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Sermon on the invitation of Christ and the excuses we make to avoid the call, the lure of material attachments and our passions for other pursuits ahead of God.

The false expectations we place on God and ourselves. And how we can find the greatest joy by unlocking the barriers between us and following Jesus.

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Sermon for World Communion Sunday on behaving like Christ toward one another in a culture where we often condone dishonesty, unkindness, and aggression. Remaining steadfast in the core of Jesus' teachings of peace, love, and giving, while fighting the false gods of nationalism and greed. Trusting God to guide us and living with an eye always on Christ's example.

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