Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost |Matthew 18:21-35 | September 17, 2023 |Dennis Sanders, preaching

Forgiveness is at the heart of God's character. It is God who came in the form of a human being to live among us and die for us, canceling the debt that we have as we have sinned against God, and showing how God has forgiven us. How do we respond? How do we show gratitude for what God has done?

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

Listen to the sermon podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fccstpaul/episodes/To-Forgive-e29ifkv

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: To Forgive

00:00:06 Welcoming the Weak in Faith

00:01:57 Being Accountable before the Judgment Seat of God

00:02:03 The Parable of Forgiveness

00:02:54 The Unforgiving Slave's Actions and Consequences

00:03:45 The Consequences of Unforgiveness

00:04:06 Introduction to Contemporary Christian Music

00:05:19 Steve Taylor: A Unique Voice in Christian Music

00:07:01 "To Forgive": Inspired by Pope John Paul II's Forgiveness

00:08:00 The Challenge of Forgiveness

00:10:16 Rise of Shame Honor Culture and Diminishing Forgiveness

00:11:07 Peter's Question: How Often Should I Forgive?

00:11:40 A Nonsensical Debt Owed by the First Servant

00:12:07 The King's Amazing Act of Forgiveness

00:13:14 The servant's forgiven debt and bright future

00:14:24 Introducing the Worship Series: Be Still and Know

00:15:51 Reflection on Forgiveness: Implications for Church and World

00:16:28 Forgiveness as a Catalyst for Reconciliation

00:17:14 Forgetting to Unblock New Relationships through Forgiveness

00:17:52 Assignment: Recognizing God's Forgiveness in Our World

00:18:43 Steve Taylor's Song: The Man Who Forgave

#sermons #inclusivechurch #preaching

Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost |Romans 13:1-14 | September 10, 2023 |Dennis Sanders, preaching

Romans 13 can be misunderstood to justify oppression, but it's about love. Love fulfills the law, and we must support governing authorities that show love and justice while resisting those who don't. 🤝 Love is the ultimate law.

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

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: Love Is the Law

00:00:06 Submitting to Governing Authorities and Incurring Judgment

00:01:34 Fulfilling the Law through Love and Respect

00:02:50 Decline in Church Attendance and its Impact on Society

00:04:17 Departing Church Community Leads to Political Entrenchment

00:05:20 The Fourth Turning: Understanding Upheaval and Crisis

00:06:20 Understanding the Cyclical Nature of History

00:07:13 The Characteristics of the Fourth Turning Winter

00:07:48 Crisis in Churches and Institutions

00:09:03 Making God the Center of the Church's Story

00:10:32 Apartheid System Justified with Misinterpreted Bible Passage

00:11:23 The True Message of Love in Romans 13

00:11:48 Loving One Another and Fulfilling the Law

00:13:00 Government and Love: When to Respect and When Not to

00:14:15 Discerning the Times and Loving in the Present Age

00:14:48 Christ's Actions: Revealing the Failure of Oppressive Powers

00:15:13 Desmond Tutu's Empowering Message in Apartheid-Era South Africa

00:16:24 Challenging Times and Foreboding Crisis Ahead

00:16:57 Speculating the Future of the 2024 Presidential Election

00:17:47 A Call to Action: How Should We Respond?

00:18:14 Love as the Answer: Acting with Love

00:19:09 Love as a Theme Song

Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost |Matthew 16:21-28 | September 3, 2023 |Robert Hamilton, preaching

Guest Preacher Rob Hamilton expresses gratitude for the grace that sustains us through trials and tribulations, we look forward to the journey ahead with hope and trust in God's constant presence. He concludes with a reference to a song that encapsulates the transformative journey of moving forward with grace and hope.

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

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: I'm Moving On

00:00:06 Jesus Foretells His Suffering and Resurrection

00:01:26 Taking up the Cross and Following Jesus

00:02:59 A Prayer for Strength in Trying Times

00:04:09 Becoming the Body of Christ in the World

00:04:29 Three Functions of Confession

00:06:18 Confession and Identity: Manipulation and Corruption

00:06:51 Reflecting on the Balancing Act of Pararelationships

00:07:44 The Serenity Prayer and the Human Condition

00:09:31 Exploring Sin, Revelation, and Our Relationship with God

00:11:19 Choosing Approaches: When to Go Opposite

00:13:05 Embracing Our Limitedness and Unlimitedness

00:13:59 Jesus Gives Peter Power of the Church

00:15:16 The Human Desire to Control the Narrative

00:15:40 Putting our Minds on the Wrong Things

00:17:14 Acting in the World with Discipline and Reflection

00:17:56 Embracing Our Limited and Unlimited Nature

00:18:59 Engaging the World as it is, Growing into God's Kingdom

00:20:47 Reflecting on Our Encounter with God, Embracing Change

Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost |Matthew 16:13-20 and 1 Corinthians 1:10-19 | August 27, 2023 |Robert Hamilton, preaching

In this sermon, Robert Hamilton explores biblical passages on Peter's confession of Jesus as the Messiah and urges unity among listeners. We delve into the concept of being presidential, reflect on political divisions, and caution against letting others define our religious or cultural identities. The importance of revelation, building meaningful relationships, and prioritizing the greater good are emphasized. The podcast concludes with a reminder of the significance of authenticity and genuine living in faith.

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

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 Sundays at Roseville Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: No True Scotsman

00:00:07 Reading from Matthew: Disciples' Confession of Jesus as Messiah

00:02:16 End of Matthew reading, transitioning to 1 Corinthians: Unity in the Church

00:04:48 A Prayer for Guidance and Wisdom

00:06:42 Exploring the Meaning of Being Presidential

00:06:48 The Changing Definition of Being Presidential

00:08:18 The Presidential Quality Beyond the Oath

00:09:28 Surrendering at the Jail: Unpresidential or Symbolic?

00:11:30 The True Scotsman Fallacy and Defining Identity

00:13:59 The Power of Adding "Real" to Descriptive Labels

00:16:38 Challenging the Concept of Royal Blue

00:19:07 Jesus Reveals True Wisdom

00:22:20 The Starbelly Sneetches: A Lesson in Acceptance

00:25:36 Former President's Perplexing Answer on War and Civil War

00:27:08 The Concept of Presidential Service and Serving the Greater Union

00:27:36 The Foundational Confession of Christian Faith

00:28:57 The Hope and Promise of a Coming Kingdom

00:29:04 The Power of a King Lies in His Rule

00:29:26 The importance of authenticity in our lives

00:30:33 The Wisdom of Seeing Leaders as Limited Human Beings

00:32:08 Balancing the Divine and Human Nature of Leaders

Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost |Matthew 15:10-28 | August 20, 2023 |Robert Hamilton, preaching

Rev. Robert Hamilton preaches on the importance of confession and living our beliefs by looking at the story of the Canaanite woman who demonstrates unwavering faith and humility to receive help from Jesus. By living our confession, we find strength and guidance in difficult times.

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

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 Sundays at Roseville Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: The Lived Confession

00:00:07 Sunday Service Begins with Scripture Reading

00:00:32 The Power of Words to Defile

00:01:30 Peter's Request for Parable Explanation

00:02:55 A Canaanite Woman's Plea for Healing

00:03:59 Faith Rewarded: Healing of the Canaanite Woman's Daughter

00:05:25 Exploring the Concept of Confession

00:06:55 Living a Lived Confession

00:08:19 Living Our Confession: The Power of Confession

00:09:11 Confessing Jesus as the Messiah: The Canaanite Woman's Request

00:09:56 Uncomfortable with Jesus' Response to the Woman

00:10:52 Working within the Presented Worldview

00:11:07 Challenging the notion of identity with dog and pancakes

00:12:18 Holding a confession in the face of discomfort and conflict

00:12:47 The Value of a Confession: Introduction and Overview

00:13:47 Encountered Confession: Exploring Statements of Faith

00:15:15 The Importance of Beliefs

00:15:43 The Power of Doctrines and Confessions in the Church

00:16:41 The Express Confession: A Vision for the Future

00:17:01 The Power of Confession: Important Tasks Explored

00:18:22 An Unearned Covenant and a Story of Hope

00:19:33 Finding Hope in the Covenant of Baptism

00:19:48 Embracing God's Grace through Christ

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost |Matthew 14:22-33 | August 13, 2023 |Dennis Sanders, preaching

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

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 Sundays at Roseville Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: We Are All in the Same Boat | First Christian Church St. Paul, MN

00:00:08 Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14

00:00:17 Jesus Prays Alone on the Mountain

00:01:12 Peter Walks on Water, Doubts, and is Saved

00:01:42 The Word of God: A Universal Message for All

00:02:12 Fascination with weather events and tornadoes

00:03:08 EF5 tornado in Joplin, Missouri and its devastating effects

00:04:12 Gripping footage of Fast Trip gas station during the tornado

00:06:00 Emotional moments and prayers during the storm

00:07:06 The passage connects to the experience of the storm

00:07:57 Jesus Appears in the Midst of the Storm

00:09:03 Peter's Act of Walking on Water and Being Saved

00:10:11 The Terrifying Sea and the Importance of Trust

00:11:01 Gas Station Incident: Trusting in God and Each Other

00:11:20 Jesus Helps Us in Life's Storms

00:12:29 God Never Loses Sight of Us in the Storm

00:13:26 Battling Storms: Challenges in Our Lives and World

00:14:11 Finding Solace and Support in Faith Amidst Storms

00:15:01 Facing Rough Times: Trusting in God's Presence

00:16:08 Finding Strength in Chaos: Relying on God's Guidance

00:16:27 Finding Rest and Support in the Midst of Storms

Tenth Sunday After Pentecost |Matthew 14:13-21 | August 6, 2023 |Dennis Sanders, preaching

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

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 Sundays at Roseville Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM.

Chapters:

00:00:00 sermonvideo080623

00:00:07 Jesus Withdraws to a Deserted Place

00:01:52 David Brooks' Provocative Op-ed: Are We the Bad Guys?

00:03:46 Challenging the Narrative: A Different Picture of American Culture

00:04:43 The Disconnect: Building Systems that Serve Ourselves

00:05:20 Trump as a Warrior Against the Educated Class

00:06:41 Changes in Society and Working Class Families

00:07:37 The Sin of Power and Apathy Revealed

00:09:10 Disciples' Apathy Revealed

00:10:17 Jesus Places Responsibility on the Disciples

00:11:30 Jesus Challenges the Disciples to Provide for the People

00:11:40 Jesus Provides Food for the Hungry

00:12:24 The Table: A Gathering of Hunger

00:13:17 Feeding the Hungry: Physical and Emotional Needs

00:13:59 Shut Out and Vulnerable: Prey for Demigods

00:14:15 Religion as a Luxury Good

00:15:21 Religion as an Enclave for the Privileged

00:15:49 Surprising Support for Trump: Non-Churchgoers Rally Behind Him

00:16:34 Jesus' Compassion and Feeding of the Crowds

00:17:24 The Tendency to Send People Away Instead of Helping

00:17:33 Praying for Forgiveness and Gratitude

Ninth Sunday After Pentecost |Romans 8:26-39 | July 30, 2023 | Michael LeBuhn, preaching

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

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 Sundays at Roseville Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM.

Eighth Sunday After Pentecost |Romans 8:12-25 and Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 | July 23, 2023 | Dennis Sanders, preaching

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

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 Sundays at Roseville Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM.

#sermons #podcasts #preaching

Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: The Urge to Purge | First Christian Church St. Paul, MN

00:00:06 Romans 8:12-25: Living by the Spirit of God

00:01:15 Creation Longs for Freedom and Glory

00:04:36 Politics: From Fascinating to Conformist

00:05:37 The Performative Nature of Politics Today

00:06:36 John Stennis: Last of the Southern Democrats

00:08:02 Silvio Conte: The Liberal Republican

00:10:40 The Divisiveness of Viewing the Other Party as Threats

00:10:57 The Parable: Being Pure vs Being Compromised

00:11:58 Tainted Crop: Battling Weeds in the Yard

00:13:06 Harvest Time: Separating Weeds from Plants

00:13:19 The Desire for Order and Separation

00:14:22 The Temptation of Purity and God's Will

00:15:29 The Rise of Cancel Culture and Discarding Differences

00:15:34 The Farmer's Wisdom on Good and Evil

00:17:13 The End of History: Judgment or Grace?

00:18:21 An Alternative Perspective on Justice and Redemption

00:19:21 Hell as a Courtesy for Those Who Reject Forgiveness

00:19:50 The Drive to Purify: Winners and Losers

00:20:50 God's Focus: Grace and Salvation

00:21:14 The Graceful God we Worship

Sixth Sunday After Pentecost |Romans 7:15-25 and Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 | July 9, 2023 | Dennis Sanders, preaching

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

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 Sundays at Roseville Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM.

#sermons #podcasts #preaching

Chapters:

00:00:00 Sermon: Overburdened | First Christian Church St. Paul, MN

00:00:06 Reflections on the Struggle with Sin

00:01:13 The Inner Battle: Law of God vs Law of Sin

00:02:26 Jesus' Gratitude and Revelation from the Father

00:03:27 A Cartoon Lover's Confession: Avatar, The Last Airbender

00:04:12 Introduction to the World of Avatar: The Last Airbender

00:06:15 Overcoming Pain and Burdens in Avatar: The Last Airbender

00:06:55 The Burdens Pastors Carry in the Aftermath of the Pandemic

00:07:54 Declining Mental and Emotional Health Statistics

00:08:39 Personal Challenges and Burdens

00:10:27 Burdens and Complaints: Seeing God's Actions Differently

00:12:28 Jesus' Message for All: The Humble and the Jerks

00:13:18 Jesus' Offer: A Lighter Burden for Everyone

00:13:36 Escaping Burdens: Sex, Drugs, Food

00:14:41 False Gods in Isolation: Burdens in Disguise

00:15:29 Finding Lighter Burdens Through Jesus and the Church

00:17:05 Finding Relief in Faith

00:17:29 Burden Lifted by Trusting in Jesus

00:18:16 Extending Compassion: Easing Others' Burdens