May 3                     (Fifth Sunday of Easter)

Text:                      John 15:1-8

Title:                      You Can Start Over:  “To Grow It Has To Die”

Theme:                  Jesus reminds us that if we are to grow that we must remain connected to him. He compares this connection to grape vines, stating that “He is the vine and we are the branches.”  But he also reminds us that “pruning”, cutting of dead vines, is a necessary requirement for healthy growth. Sometimes to start over, something in our life has to be cut away; something has to die.

 

April 26                  (Fourth Sunday of Easter)

Text:                      1John 3:14-21

Title:                      You Can Start Over: “Because”

Theme:                  Love is central to the Christian faith. Loving others is also central to the Christian faith. In this text we are reminded “why” we love others. It’s not because God makes them easier for us to love. It’s because Jesus laid down his life for us. But mostly it’s because this same Jesus now lives in us.

 

April 19                  (Third Sunday of Easter)

Text:                      Luke 24:36-49

Title:                      You Can Start Over:  “Too Good to be True?”

Theme:                  In this text the disciples meet Jesus face to face but they still have trouble believing. Why? Well, because this was beyond their wildest hopes and expectations. If Jesus is truly alive than anything is possible! We should understand this sentiment becausethe idea that we can start over, for many of us, just sounds too good to be true.

 

April 12                  (Third Sunday in Lent)

Text:                      John 20:19-31

Title:                      Take Up Your Cross:  “Believe It or Not”

Theme:                  Thomas is the patron saint of all doubters. But in order to develop an honest belief you sometimes need to doubt. This story reminds us that doubt is not an enemy of faith. Even if you have doubts, you can start over.   

April 12                  (Third Sunday in Lent)

Text:                      John 20:19-31

Title:                      Take Up Your Cross:  “Believe It or Not”

Theme:                  Thomas is the patron saint of all doubters. But in order to develop an honest belief you sometimes need to doubt. This story reminds us that doubt is not an enemy of faith. Even if you have doubts, you can start over.   

April 5                   (Easter Sunday)

Text:                     John 20:1-18

Title:                     You Can Start Over:  “Dawn of the Living”

Theme:                  Oftentimes we hear people make the statement, “He ruined his life”. The truth of the resurrection is that no matter how much we may have “ruined our life” that Jesus has given us a new dawn. The resurrection is not just something that happened to Jesus but it is something that happened to all of Jesus followers. We can start over!

 

April 5                   (Easter Sunday)

Text:                     John 20:1-18

Title:                     You Can Start Over:  “Dawn of the Living”

Theme:                  Oftentimes we hear people make the statement, “He ruined his life”. The truth of the resurrection is that no matter how much we may have “ruined our life” that Jesus has given us a new dawn. The resurrection is not just something that happened to Jesus but it is something that happened to all of Jesus followers. We can start over!

 

March 29                (Passion/Palm Sunday)

Text:                     Mark 15:16-21

Title:                     Take Up Your Cross:  “We Bear His Cross ”

Theme:                  Just like Simon of Cyrene, each one of us may be asked to shoulder the cross of           Christ. This is our calling, to take up our cross, his cross, and follow.

 

March 29                (Passion/Palm Sunday)

Text:                     Mark 15:16-21

Title:                     Take Up Your Cross:  “We Bear His Cross ”

Theme:                  Just like Simon of Cyrene, each one of us may be asked to shoulder the cross of           Christ. This is our calling, to take up our cross, his cross, and follow.

 

March 22                (Fifth Sunday in Lent)

Text:                     John 12:20-33

Title:                      Take Up Your Cross:  “Peculiar Glory”

Theme:                  In this text Jesus describes his imminent death as his “glory”. We have a vastly different definition of glory. Taking up our cross is the understanding that it is often in the valley of the shadow of death where Jesus reveals his glory to us, and where we find our glory.