Isaiah 64:1-9 and Mark 13:24-37 | December 3, 2023 | First Sunday of Advent | Dennis Sanders, preaching

Learn more about First Christian: ⁠⁠https://fccsaintpaul.org/⁠⁠

Listen to the sermon podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fccstpaul

Chapters:

00:00:00 Running Out of Time

00:00:06 Isaiah 64:1-9 - A Cry for God's Intervention

00:00:30 Crying out for God's Presence

00:02:07 Prophetic Words of the Coming of the Son of Man

00:03:14 Being Alert and Prepared for the Unknown Arrival

00:03:59 Identifying Your Needs

00:04:16 A Local Mechanic with a Nostalgic Flair

00:06:09 Memories of Red Owl and Farmer Jack Chains

00:07:11 Nostalgia and Reminiscing about the Past

00:08:18 Nostalgia: Innocent and Painful

00:09:28 The Rise and Fall of Flint, Michigan

00:10:13 The Grieving Exiles of Israel

00:11:03 Desperate Plea for Divine Intervention

00:11:18 Advent: Reflecting on Jesus' First and Second Coming

00:12:19 The World's Injustice and Sin: A Reminder in Advent

00:13:36 Jesus' Second Coming: A Frightening yet Hopeful Picture

00:14:47 Living in the In-Between Time

00:15:45 Yearning for God's Kingdom of Justice and Hope

00:16:21 The Tricky Nature of Nostalgia and Longing

00:16:47 The Hope of Christ's Return

00:17:32 Caring for Neighbors with Advent Hope

Matthew 25:31-46 | Christ the King Sunday | November 26, 2023 | Dennis Sanders, preaching

Learn more about First Christian: ⁠⁠https://fccsaintpaul.org/⁠⁠

Listen to the sermon podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fccstpaul

Video Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: In Our Time

00:00:07 Introduction and Reading from Ephesians

00:01:32 Transition to Reading from the Gospel of Matthew

00:04:08 Childhood Memories of A Christmas Carol

00:04:53 A Tale of Redemption and Repentance

00:05:42 Endless Retellings of A Christmas Carol

00:05:50 The Fascination Behind the Story of Change

00:06:20 The Tale of Warning: Consequences for How We Treat Others

00:07:07 Interpreting Jesus' Story: Helping the Least of These

00:07:33 Mainline Protestantism's Alignment with Social Justice

00:08:31 Contextualizing the Parable before Jesus' Arrest

00:08:53 Context: Parables in Matthew Chapter 25

00:09:39 Misunderstanding God's Role as a Holy Accountant

00:10:27 Jesus Dethroned as King by Human Efforts

00:11:22 Sheep and Goats: A Parable of Similarity

00:12:12 Sheep and Goats Unaware of Their True Nature

00:12:31 The Importance of Caring for the Least of These

00:13:22 Doing Good Deeds out of Love and Gratitude

00:14:01 Sheep and Goats: Our Identity in Christ

00:14:49 Living in the Time of Christ's Reign

00:15:59 Using our Time to Care for Others

00:17:08 Reflecting on Christ's First and Second Arrival

00:17:54 Shaped as a Holy and Righteous People

| 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and Matthew 25:14-30 | November 19, 2023 | Dennis Sanders, preaching

"Christians believe, as that old song goes, that Jesus is the answer for the world today.

Jesus matters. And because Jesus matters, then as Christians, we want to "double our investment."

We want to give it away. We want to tell people who might feel unloved that Jesus loves them.

We want to go into our communities and feed the hungry and provide homes to those without homes in the name of Jesus."

Learn more about First Christian: ⁠⁠https://fccsaintpaul.org/⁠⁠

Listen to the sermon podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fccstpaul

Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: This Treasure | First Christian Church St. Paul

00:00:06 Exploring 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and Matthew 25:14-30

00:00:27 The Day of the Lord and Believers in Light

00:01:25 Encouragement and Salvation through Christ

00:02:24 Settlement of Accounts and Rewards for Faithfulness

00:03:14 Parable of the Talents and the Unfaithful Servant

00:04:53 Introduction: Port Franks, a small town in southwestern Ontario

00:06:04 The Diocese's predicament with the church property

00:07:11 New approach: Offering coffee and doughnuts to the community

00:07:46 The First Meeting Filled with Anger and Resentment

00:08:44 Starting Over with Limited Resources and a Vision

00:10:39 From Miserable Anglicans to a Growing Congregation

00:11:34 Jesus Christ: A Treasure of Incomparable Value

00:13:02 The Focal Point: The Third Servant's Perspective

00:14:03 The Third Servant's Fear, Laziness, and Abdication

00:15:08 The Significance of Local Congregations

00:15:39 Finding Hope in Small Acts of Faith

00:16:26 Doubling Our Investment: Sharing Jesus with Others

00:17:18 Advent: Waiting for Christ's Arrival

00:17:40 Sharing the Message and Inviting Others

| Amos 5:18-24 and Matthew 25:1-13 | November 12, 2023 | Michael LeBuhn, preaching

"What is our purpose? What is our reason for being? For these bridesmaids, they were to light the way. The light that they held was their purpose...some of them had ensured that the light would be protected, that the light would be preserved. And some of them did not."

Learn more about First Christian: ⁠⁠https://fccsaintpaul.org/⁠⁠

Listen to the sermon podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fccstpaul

Video Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: What Is Our Purpose? | First Christian St. Paul

00:00:06 The Day of the Lord: Darkness, Not Light

00:01:20 Introduction to the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

00:02:18 The Arrival of the Bridegroom and the Closed Door

00:02:57 Confusion and Strangeness of the Parable

00:04:37 The Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids

00:06:20 The Setting and Significance of the Mount of Olives

00:09:20 Pondering the Purpose of Existence

00:09:33 Different Perspectives: Why We Go to Church

00:10:57 The Purpose of Lighting the Way

00:12:11 The Good Samaritan Study and the Influence of Time

00:14:35 The Impact of Urgency on Helping Behavior

00:15:23 Flying in Blackhawk helicopters in Iraq

00:16:18 The news of a prisoner of war on the helicopter

00:17:24 Encounter with a prisoner with a burlap sack over his head

00:17:37 The Arrival of a Bound Prisoner

00:18:44 A Selfless Act of Kindness

00:19:43 Manuel's Wisdom and Preserving His Light

00:20:44 The Light we Preserve: Justice and Righteousness

“More Equal Than Others” | Matthew 23:1-12 and Micah 3:5-12 | November 5, 2023 | Dennis Sanders, preaching

"He [Jesus] calls on the disciples and the crowd that is listening to follow a very different way.

Jesus says, the greatest among you will be your servant.

If you want to be exalted, don't stand out, but stand down.

Don't wear fancy clothing, but instead, be humble and serve others."

Learn more about First Christian: ⁠⁠https://fccsaintpaul.org/⁠⁠

Listen to the sermon podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fccstpaul

Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: More Equal Than Others | First Christian St. Paul

00:00:06 Introducing the Biblical Texts: Micah and Matthew

00:00:30 False Prophets Leading Astray

00:01:49 Jesus' Teaching on Hypocrisy and Humility

00:03:08 Animal Farm: A Tale of Communism and Power Struggles

00:04:22 The Revolt and New Society at the Farm

00:05:38 Napoleon's Takeover and the Vanishing Utopia

00:06:31 Changing Rules of Animalism

00:07:21 Animal Farm as a Metaphor for Human Nature and Religion

00:08:33 Following the Teachings of Moses with a Caveat

00:09:35 The Pharisees' Showy Display and Desire to be Seen

00:10:47 Jesus Calls for a Different Way: Humility and Service

00:11:19 Actions Speak Louder than Words in Living Out Faith

00:12:43 Jesus' Light Burden Contrasts the Pharisees' Heavy Burden

00:13:09 Jesus' Way: Grace and Humility vs. Pharisees' Rules

00:13:27 Living in Gratitude and Faith

00:14:48 From Politics to Charity: Perfumo's Redemption Story

00:15:44 Perfumo: A Life Modeled after Jesus

Matthew 22:15-22 | Twenty First Sunday After Pentecost | October 22, 2023 | Dennis Sanders, preaching

What is our ultimate loyalty? There is the rub. Jesus challenged his questioners when he made them reveal their true loyalties, and it wasn't God. And we have to search our own hearts and minds to know when have we put something else as our ultimate allegiance and our ultimate loyalty.

Learn more about First Christian: ⁠⁠https://fccsaintpaul.org/⁠⁠

Listen to the sermon podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fccstpaul

Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: Are We Who We Say We Are? | First Christian St. Paul

00:00:06 Pharisees Plot to Entrap Jesus

00:01:09 Amazement and Departure of the Pharisees

00:01:36 The Challenge of Stewardship Sermons

00:02:37 Jesus' Unconventional Approach to Giving

00:03:31 The Clash of Religious Groups

00:04:23 Jesus' Response to Hypocritical Questioning

00:05:46 The Hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Herodians Exposed

00:07:09 Jesus' Call for Authenticity and Loyalty

00:08:07 Divided Loyalties: Examining Our Own Compromises

00:08:38 The Challenge of Loyalty and Allegiance

00:09:20 Stewardship: Using God's Gifts for His Glory

00:09:53 Using our resources to glorify God

00:10:33 Authenticity: Living a Holy Life

00:11:44 Similarities between us and religious leaders

00:11:54 Tax as a Secondary Issue: What Really Matters to God

00:12:41 Giving Everything to God: The Ultimate Sacrifice

00:13:25 The Significance of Stewardship: More Than Just Money

00:14:34 The concept of giving to Caesar and to God.

Isaiah 25:1-9 and Matthew 22:1-14 | Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost | October 15, 2023 | Dennis Sanders, preaching

Learn more about First Christian: ⁠⁠https://fccsaintpaul.org/⁠⁠

Listen to the sermon podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fccstpaul

First Christian Church of St. Paul is a small, open and affirming, and multicultural church located near St. Paul, MN in Roseville. We are a local expression of the ⁠⁠Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)⁠⁠. Visit us for worship in person on Sundays at Roseville Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: Dressed for the Occasion | First Christian Church - St. Paul

00:00:07 Isaiah's Prophetic Vision of God's Wondrous Deeds

00:02:11 The Parable of the Wedding Banquet in Matthew

00:04:02 Father's Impeccable Style: Always Dressed to Impress

00:04:53 An Abundance of Suits: Memories of Father's Wardrobe

00:05:20 Fashion Mishaps and Nostalgic Shirts

00:06:31 Dressing up for Church: A Symbol of Faith

00:07:28 Dressing up: Response to Situation or Cultural Expectations?

00:08:43 Does Dressing Up and Comporting Ourselves Matter?

00:09:00 The Controversial Actions of Representative Lauren Boebert

00:09:25 The Parable of the Great Banquet: Two Meanings Explored

00:10:18 A Profound Truth: Embracing Those Initially Left Out

00:10:32 Unexpected Guest at the Wedding Party

00:11:57 Welcoming LGBTQ Community in the Church

00:12:31 Following Jesus: Acting and Being Different

00:13:27 Inclusion vs. Transformation: What Happens After Being Welcomed

00:14:14 A Holy Place: Rosa Parks and the Henry Ford Museum

00:15:15 Act Accordingly: Being Welcomed at God's Table

00:16:46 To Earn This: Living a Life of Gratitude

00:18:01 Assurance from his wife and the banquet of God's table

Philippians 3:4b-14 and Matthew 21:33-46 | Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost | October 8, 2023 | Dennis Sanders, preaching

Learn more about First Christian: ⁠⁠https://fccsaintpaul.org/⁠⁠

Listen to the sermon podcast:

First Christian Church of St. Paul is a small, open and affirming, and multicultural church located near St. Paul, MN in Roseville. We are a local expression of the ⁠⁠Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)⁠⁠. Visit us for worship in person on Sundays at Roseville Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon | October 8, 2023 | First Christian Church of St. Paul

00:00:06 Introduction and Scripture readings from Philippians and Matthew

00:01:32 Paul's Desire to Know Christ and Attain Resurrection

00:03:15 Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God's transfer.

00:04:24 David Brooks Questions Trump's Popularity

00:05:11 Different Perspectives on Anti-Trump Forces

00:07:21 Brooks' Provocative Question Sparks Backlash

00:07:53 The Problem with the Other Side

00:08:26 The Temptation to Deny Our Role as Tenants

00:10:04 Consequences Await the Greedy Tenants

00:10:12 The Concept of Original Sin and Self-Reflection

00:11:07 Our Desire to Be the Star of Our Own Story

00:11:21 Ignoring God and Self-Reflection

00:12:42 Righteousness in Christ, not Accomplishments

00:13:32 The Landlord's Generous Offer of Redemption

00:14:00 The Vineyard as a Symbol for God's Creation

00:14:44 Reflecting on How We Are Living in God's Vineyard

00:15:09 Embracing Forgiveness in Worship

00:16:27 The Unseen Hurts: Recognizing the Need for Forgiveness

00:16:40 Acknowledging Our Flaws: Sometimes I'm the Villain

00:17:25 Embracing Humility: Not the Star of the Story

Matthew 21:23-32 and Philippians 2:1-13 | Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost | October 1, 2023 | Dennis Sanders, preaching

Learn more about First Christian: ⁠⁠https://fccsaintpaul.org/⁠⁠

Listen to the sermon podcast:

First Christian Church of St. Paul is a small, open and affirming, and multicultural church located near St. Paul, MN in Roseville. We are a local expression of the ⁠⁠Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)⁠⁠. Visit us for worship in person on Sundays at Roseville Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: The Fruit of A Servant

00:00:06 Encouragement, Love, and Humility in Christ

00:01:15 Exalting Jesus as Lord

00:02:44 The Parable of Two Sons and Doing God's Will

00:03:51 The Inspiring Story of Dan Price: CEO of Gravity Payments

00:04:36 Speaking Out Against Income Inequality

00:04:52 Price: A Champion for Equality Turns Dark

00:06:31 Dan Price: Online Persona vs. Real Life Actions

00:07:16 Words vs. Deeds: The Importance of Integrity

00:07:50 Two Siblings and the Father's Request

00:08:32 The Parable's Meaning: Religious Leaders vs. Tax Collectors and Prostitutes

00:09:33 The Deception of the Righteous, True Repentance of the Sinners

00:10:19 The Complexity of Being Sinner and Saint

00:11:00 The Power of Repentance

00:11:23 Seeking the Glory of God

00:11:52 The Will of God and Living like Jesus

00:12:40 Dying to Self and Living for God and Others

00:13:00 The Question: When did the fruit of the Spirit become optional?

00:13:47 Justice, mercy, and humility as Christian virtues

00:14:27 World Communion Sunday: Reflecting on Jesus as a Servant King

00:15:09 Recognizing the Servanthood of Christ in Our World

00:16:08 Unveiling the True Nature of Dan Price

Jonah 3:10—4:11 and Matthew 20:1-16 | Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost | September 24, 2023 | Dennis Sanders, preaching

The story of Frank Grimes is a cautionary tale for all of us. See the grace and love of God in our lives.

Learn more about First Christian: ⁠⁠https://fccsaintpaul.org/⁠⁠

Listen to the sermon podcast:

First Christian Church of St. Paul is a small, open and affirming, and multicultural church located near St. Paul, MN in Roseville. We are a local expression of the ⁠⁠Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)⁠⁠. Visit us for worship in person on Sundays at Roseville Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: Grace Is Not Fair

00:00:06 Jonah's Displeasure and Prayer to God

00:01:20 Jonah's Happiness and God's Response

00:02:41 The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

00:03:51 The First Workers' Expectations

00:05:03 The Simpsons: A Subversive Animated Show

00:06:56 Frank Grimes' Jealousy and Obsession with Homer

00:09:39 Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard: Unfair Wages

00:12:43 The Landowner's Bemusement and Jesus' Love

00:13:34 Fairness and Labor Relations: An Introduction

00:15:00 The Disconnect Between Labor Relations and God's Economy

00:16:06 The Story of Jonah: A Simpsons-Like Tale

00:16:17 Jonah's Resistance to God's Mercy and Grace

00:17:34 Jonah's Anger and God's Lesson on Priorities

00:17:45 Jonah's Blindness to God's Goodness

00:18:46 Finding instances of forgiveness in the world.

00:19:44 Frank Grimes: A Tale of Ungratefulness and Jealousy

00:20:48 Everyone Deserves God's Love