Sermons from August 2022
Jesus and Technology – Every Step Must Make Life Better
Every Step Must Make Life Better
Psalm 115:1-8
Technology & inventions should make life better. However, they can spoil as frequently as they can enrich. Jesus doesn’t focus on what man invents, but instead on the heart of man behind every invention. From out of the heart come the things that stain, scar, and defile (Mark 7:20-23). To what extent do our devices enrich our devotion to Christ & others? How much do they leave us distracted, isolated, & spoiled?
Crucified with Christ
Paul wrote that he had “been crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20), a well-known phrase describing the nature of his relationship with Jesus. Knowing Paul’s desire to be like Jesus and recognizing that it should occupy a similarly important place in our lives does not, by itself, bring clarity to that expectation. Therefore, we will consider Paul’s letter to the Philippians in which he offers insights into how his focus on Jesus shaped his life and explore how his transformation offers guidance for us.
Christlikeness and Suffering
Advertisements populate almost every space in our lives. Those ads often try to convince viewers to buy whatever goods or services they market by outlining how they will improve their lives. I have yet to see an advertisement that – in a non-humorous nor non-ironic way – sells its product by highlighting the persecution and suffering it will bring into peoples’ lives. However, that is the tactic Peter used to address the suffering experienced by his audience. We will therefore consider Peter’s message in 1 Peter and its connection to our effort to become increasingly Christlike people.
Jesus Shaped Ethics – Jesus and Sexuality
1 Corinthians 6:12-20–It seems that our culture talks about sex and sexuality all the time. Our culture’s apparent lack of shame finds counterbalance in the embarrassment that often accompanies discussions about the topic in the church. However, even a cursory reading of the Bible reveals that it also has a lot to say about sex and sexuality, indicating that it is an important topic that we should not avoid. So, we will use this morning’s lesson to consider a few…