Concord United Sermons

Thomas was a skeptical follower of Christ. He heard the stories of Jesus’ resurrection, but had trouble believing until he could see for himself. At the time Thomas expressed his doubt, he was the only disciple who had not yet seen the Risen Christ. In this manner, Thomas is an example for all of us. There will be times when we have not yet experienced what we are told and believe about God to be...

The good thief can be described as spiritually fallen. He believes in God. He knows he has messed up in the worst sort of way, and he hopes against hope that God might give him another chance. Jesus encounters him with grace beyond our wildest imagining. Just like in the life of the good thief, sometimes the consequences of our misguided actions cannot be undone, however, God may still be full of...

The good thief can be described as spiritually fallen. He believes in God. He knows he has messed up in the worst sort of way, and he hopes against hope that God might give him another chance. Jesus encounters him with grace beyond our wildest imagining. Just like in the life of the good thief, sometimes the consequences of our misguided actions cannot be undone, however, God may still be full of...

Zacchaeus was spiritually curious, so much so, he was willing to climb a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus and to open up his home for a banquet when Jesus requested dinner. He wanted to know what Jesus was teaching about God, even though his neighbors despised him and felt he wasn’t the kind of person God would be interested in helping. When Jesus encountered Zacchaeus, he sought to spend time wit...

Zacchaeus was spiritually curious, so much so, he was willing to climb a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus and to open up his home for a banquet when Jesus requested dinner. He wanted to know what Jesus was teaching about God, even though his neighbors despised him and felt he wasn’t the kind of person God would be interested in helping. When Jesus encountered Zacchaeus, he sought to spend time wit...

The Rich Young Ruler is someone we might think of as culturally religious. He has done everything his religious culture has asked of him, and he thinks that should be enough to win God’s approval. Jesus challenges him to place God first above everything else. Rather than making God one priority (perhaps even his first priority) among many, Jesus invites him to let God be God and order all his prio...

The Rich Young Ruler is someone we might think of as culturally religious. He has done everything his religious culture has asked of him, and he thinks that should be enough to win God’s approval. Jesus challenges him to place God first above everything else. Rather than making God one priority (perhaps even his first priority) among many, Jesus invites him to let God be God and order all his prio...

The woman at the well is a Samaritan who believes differently about God than the Jewish people. Jesus engages in a deep conversation about theological truth and her personal journey. He begins by engaging her in a conversation about her beliefs and practices, and then shifts to sharing how God is present in her life and in the world. As a result she helps lead many Samaritans to faith in Christ. F...

The woman at the well is a Samaritan who believes differently about God than the Jewish people. Jesus engages in a deep conversation about theological truth and her personal journey. He begins by engaging her in a conversation about her beliefs and practices, and then shifts to sharing how God is present in her life and in the world. As a result she helps lead many Samaritans to faith in Christ. F...

Nicodemus is someone we might consider a curious skeptic. As a Pharisee, he is interested in the spiritual realm and explicitly believes in God. He is intrigued by Jesus, but he just can’t quite accept some of Jesus’ difficult teachings about the degree to which a person must surrender and be transformed to follow God. Jesus engages Nicodemus in a deep, respectful conversation about how Jesus’ tea...

Nicodemus is someone we might consider a curious skeptic. As a Pharisee, he is interested in the spiritual realm and explicitly believes in God. He is intrigued by Jesus, but he just can’t quite accept some of Jesus’ difficult teachings about the degree to which a person must surrender and be transformed to follow God. Jesus engages Nicodemus in a deep, respectful conversation about how Jesus’ tea...

Jesus sends out his disciples to share the good news about God. He informs them that “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Still, today Jesus sends out his followers. And the good news about God still changes lives and transforms communities. The biggest challenge facing the spread of the Gospel is not the Gospel’s lack of power – if has more than enough, it is the lack of people r...

Jesus sends out his disciples to share the good news about God. He informs them that “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Still, today Jesus sends out his followers. And the good news about God still changes lives and transforms communities. The biggest challenge facing the spread of the Gospel is not the Gospel’s lack of power – if has more than enough, it is the lack of people r...

Love is a word with many implications, from the trivial to the significant. The same is true for hate.  We use the words loosely to describe our feelings towards things and people.  We love and we hate.  There is healing and damage within both, yet there is a love bigger than our human attempts.  It is the love that undergirds our hope, faith, community, purpose, grace, and forgiveness.  The love...

Love is a word with many implications, from the trivial to the significant. The same is true for hate.  We use the words loosely to describe our feelings towards things and people.  We love and we hate.  There is healing and damage within both, yet there is a love bigger than our human attempts.  It is the love that undergirds our hope, faith, community, purpose, grace, and forgiveness.  The love...

Harms are committed every day, both unknowingly and intentionally.  These harms cut deep into our souls, and we carry them.  The question of forgiveness looms below the surface and stares directly into our souls. Peter asks the question that we might wonder as well, a question about forgiveness that Jesus’ answer leaves us uncomfortable.  Forgiveness is not a question, but an action rooted in some...

Harms are committed every day, both unknowingly and intentionally.  These harms cut deep into our souls, and we carry them.  The question of forgiveness looms below the surface and stares directly into our souls. Peter asks the question that we might wonder as well, a question about forgiveness that Jesus’ answer leaves us uncomfortable.  Forgiveness is not a question, but an action rooted in some...

In a world that seems to thrive on division, judgment, and even hate, we become overwhelmed.  Demonization, weaponization, and tribalism seem to rule the day.  We are all in need of the gift bigger than all this - grace.  Grace is the thing we all so desperately need and want, yet it is so difficult to give it.  Grace is the gift we do not deserve and comes from God.  Seeing ourselves and each oth...

In a world that seems to thrive on division, judgment, and even hate, we become overwhelmed.  Demonization, weaponization, and tribalism seem to rule the day.  We are all in need of the gift bigger than all this - grace.  Grace is the thing we all so desperately need and want, yet it is so difficult to give it.  Grace is the gift we do not deserve and comes from God.  Seeing ourselves and each oth...

There are times within our lives when our purpose is undeniable and success is attainable.  There are other times when our purpose seems fleeting at best.  Jesus shows us that our purpose is in something bigger than ourselves, serving others.  No matter our age or stage in life, serving others gives our lives purpose and meaning.  We are to do as Jesus has done.  God calls all to serve. There is a...

A persistent experience for many, across the generations, is loneliness, even being lonely in the midst of crowds.  We long to belong, to have connection.  We are created for connection to God and others.  The church is Jesus’ idea, formed in the early days of Christianity as a means to glorify God and share the good news of Jesus Christ.  Within this mission and structure, connection to God and o...

A persistent experience for many, across the generations, is loneliness, even being lonely in the midst of crowds.  We long to belong, to have connection.  We are created for connection to God and others.  The church is Jesus’ idea, formed in the early days of Christianity as a means to glorify God and share the good news of Jesus Christ.  Within this mission and structure, connection to God and o...

Doubt is that looming feeling of uncertainty, where we question the realness of others, life, and God.  Hope is future-focused related to our expectations, while faith is our present beliefs and reliance and trust in.  We experience doubt about God, the church, the government, relationships, and even ourselves.  Our dependence and trust are in ourselves, because we wonder who or what can be truste...

Doubt is that looming feeling of uncertainty, where we question the realness of others, life, and God.  Hope is future-focused related to our expectations, while faith is our present beliefs and reliance and trust in.  We experience doubt about God, the church, the government, relationships, and even ourselves.  Our dependence and trust are in ourselves, because we wonder who or what can be truste...

Examples exist around us of hopelessness, broadly in the despair of our world and specifically within our own lives.  We begin to lose hope.  Hope is the expectation of what is possible in the future.  We reflect on the past year, or years, identifying the highs and lows, the joy and grief, and the moments of hope and hopelessness.  The Psalms provide examples of hopelessness, despair, disappointm...