Sermons - Milagro Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

And we can be that living invitation to other people when see they see how God has changed us, shaped us molded us, into who we are today – the way that God has spoken to our hearts and to our lives and changed us and challenged us. And this doesn’t mean that we have lives that are all figured out and that everything goes our way. That wouldn’t be much of a testimony to god’s grace and love. What we can demonstrate, as beloved children of god, is that even when things DONT go right, we can shared with each other our fears and our hopes and our needs and we know that we won’t be shunned or turned away, but to the contrary we will be enfolded in arms that will take care of us and engulfed by love and grace.

And we can be that living invitation to other people when see they see how God has changed us, shaped us molded us, into who we are today – the way that God has spoken to our hearts and to our lives and changed us and challenged us. And this doesn’t mean that we have lives that are all figured out and that everything goes our way. That wouldn’t be much of a testimony to god’s grace and love. What we can demonstrate, as beloved children of god, is that even when things DONT go right, we can shared with each other our fears and our hopes and our needs and we know that we won’t be shunned or turned away, but to the contrary we will be enfolded in arms that will take care of us and engulfed by love and grace.

And there’s one more thing that’s important about baptism. It’s God’s

naming and claiming of us.  When Jesus emerges from the water, the Spirit

of God descends and God says, “You is my son, the beloved, with whom I am

well pleased.”  God names and claims Jesus. And in so doing, God identifies

us, God names us, God claims us.

And there’s one more thing that’s important about baptism. It’s God’s

naming and claiming of us.  When Jesus emerges from the water, the Spirit

of God descends and God says, “You is my son, the beloved, with whom I am

well pleased.”  God names and claims Jesus. And in so doing, God identifies

us, God names us, God claims us.

So, looking Jesus, we see God. God includes the excluded, scapegoated and vilified; God cares more about the welfare of human beings than the fact that specific doctrines are adhered to; God forgives and frees, even forgiving and freeing those who we think should be punished for their transgressions. By watching Jesus, we can see that God prefers restorative and distributive justice rather than retributive and punitive justice; God values those that might otherwise be passed over; and, like us, God grieves. And because God grieves, God can also comfort.

So, looking Jesus, we see God. God includes the excluded, scapegoated and vilified; God cares more about the welfare of human beings than the fact that specific doctrines are adhered to; God forgives and frees, even forgiving and freeing those who we think should be punished for their transgressions. By watching Jesus, we can see that God prefers restorative and distributive justice rather than retributive and punitive justice; God values those that might otherwise be passed over; and, like us, God grieves. And because God grieves, God can also comfort.

Soon enough we will move on… by July there is no doubt that we will drive by some house in some neighborhood and question, “why on earth do they still have their Christmas lights up?”…When you put your decorations away, leave something out to remind you throughout the year that God is incarnate now – an angel from the tree, a bow. Perhaps we’ll drive by your house we’ll know why your lights are still up.

Soon enough we will move on… by July there is no doubt that we will drive by some house in some neighborhood and question, “why on earth do they still have their Christmas lights up?”…When you put your decorations away, leave something out to remind you throughout the year that God is incarnate now – an angel from the tree, a bow. Perhaps we’ll drive by your house we’ll know why your lights are still up.

We are looking for a home where we’ll be known, where we won’t have to do anything to earn love, but will be loved unconditionally.

We are looking for a home where we’ll be known, where we won’t have to do anything to earn love, but will be loved unconditionally.