August 27, 2023 - Matthew 16:13-20

-

 Living Stones: Our Role in Building the Church

This Sunday I’ll be preaching on Matthew 16:13-20 and the critical importance of the church being built upon the solid rock of faith in Christ. When Jesus asked his disciples “Who do you say that I am?”, Simon Peter confessed “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” This powerful truth - that Jesus is the Christ - serves as the bedrock of our faith and the foundation of the church.

In the sermon, we’ll explore three implications of this passage: 1) Peter’s confession as the cornerstone of belief upon which the church is established, 2) the role and purpose of the gathered community of faith as the body of Christ, and 3) our shared calling as living stones to build up the church. Just as a physical building requires a firm foundation to stand strong, so too the church needs the stability of Christ as our center.

As you read and reflect on this passage this week, here are some questions to consider:

·        How has your life been anchored by the foundation of faith in Christ? What does it mean to you that the church is built upon the rock of Jesus' identity?

·        How have you experienced our church living out its calling to embody the love, justice, and witness of Christ? Where is God inviting you to use your gifts to build up the body?

I look forward to exploring these ideas further together during worship on Sunday. Please join me in seeking the Spirit's guidance as we reflect on Christ our sure foundation and the mission with which we've been entrusted.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

December 10, 2023 - Luke 2:4-5

-
  T he Bethlehemites This Sunday I'll be preaching from Luke 2:4-5, the familiar passage about Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem where she gave birth to Jesus. As we enter the Advent season, my message focuses on the tragic irony that this small town was too preoccupied to notice the monumental miracle happening right in their midst. The locals were bustling about, profiting off the influx of visitors there to register for the census. Yet they completely missed the birth of the long-awaited Messiah. In our consumer-driven December rush today, we can easily grow distracted just like the Bethlehemites. I want to challenge us not to gloss over the Advent themes of waiting, longing, and making room for Jesus. My prayer is that we'll set aside the extra busyness to reflect on the quiet yet powerful way Christ entered our world. As you read Luke's account this week, consider these questions: ·         What things tend to crowd out your awaren...
Read more

A Tale of Two Confessors - October 27, 2024

-
This Sunday is Reformation Sunday.  In my sermon we’ll explore one of Jesus’ most powerful parables in Luke 18:9-14, often referred to as the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. In this story, Jesus contrasts two men praying in the temple: one who boasts of his righteousness and another who humbly asks for mercy. Through this parable, Jesus challenges us to examine our own hearts, asking whether we trust in our own goodness or rely fully on God’s grace. We'll look at how this message, though spoken thousands of years ago, speaks directly to our modern tendency to divide ourselves into categories, just as the Pharisee did. As we prepare for worship, I invite you to reflect on the ways we sometimes fall into self-righteousness or, on the other hand, isolate ourselves through feelings of unworthiness.  How do we let these mindsets affect our relationship with God and others?  What might it look like to approach God with true humility, trusting not in ourselves but...
Read more

May 28, 2023 - Acts 2:1-21

-
  The Divine Tornado This coming Sunday, Pentecost, marks the culmination of our post-Easter sermon series focusing on evangelism and change within the modern church. We'll be delving into Acts 2:1-21, a transformative narrative highlighting the Holy Spirit's powerful and disruptive force during the birth of Christ’s church over 2,000 years ago. As we prepare for this sermon, I invite you to ponder these questions: Have you experienced a spiritual disruption that startled you? How did you respond? In what ways has the Holy Spirit encouraged you to change? These reflections will prepare us to explore the often-uncomfortable dynamics of spiritual growth and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. As we approach Pentecost, let's anticipate the potential divine tornado and be open to it. Spiritual growth often involves stepping out of our comfort zones. So, this Sunday, let's together brace ourselves for a transformative encounter with the Holy Spirit, a force that cha...
Read more