First Mennonite Church August 31, 2014 Making Hard Choices Text: Matthew 4:1-11 We live in an extremely divided society. And people are forced to choose sides. You have to either be Republican or Democrat, pro-choice or pro-life, tree hugger environmentalist or hardheaded denier, pro-Israel or pro-Muslim and so on. Besides these major social dividers … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church August 24, 2014 A Nation Like No Other Texts: Exodus 19:1-6; Numbers 23:9 The Exodus event, as we have been studying, has rich symbols and casts bright flashes of light on the Christian faith and life. Many elements within this great event transcend the life of Israel. Take for instance the institution … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church August 10, 2014 From the Fringes to the Whole Camp Text: Numbers 11: 1-15 You must have heard the story of Billy Sunday, the Chicago evangelist of the late 1880s and early 1900s. Billy Sunday was born into poverty in Iowa and spent some time in an orphanage. At the orphanage, Billy … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church July 27, 2014 Samuel: A Gift Received and A Gift Returned 1 Samuel 1: 1-28 (NIV) 1Samuel chapter 1 is a family drama. But beyond the immediate story of Elkanah, his two wives and their yearly trips to Shiloh, this story sets the stage for the larger story of Israel. (I will … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church July 6, 2014 The Great Deliverance (Exodus Series I) Exodus 12:29-42 (NIV) 29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church June 29, 2014 Jesus Says: The Difference Lies On The Foundation Matthew 7:13, 24-29 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church June 15, 2014 Jesus Says: Do Not Judge Text: Matthew 7: 1-6 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church June 8, 2014 Jesus says: Love Your Neighbor, But Also Love Your Enemy Text Matthew 5: 38-48 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church June 1, 2014 Jesus Says: Do Not Murder; Live Free of Hatred Text: Matthew 5:21-26 21“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church May 18, 2014 Jesus Said: You Will Be Persecuted Text: Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV) 5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom … [Read more…]