Concord United Sermons

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...

Even in his early years, those who encountered Jesus sensed that they were in presence of a power unlike anything they had experienced before. When we encounter Jesus today, we too must choose how we will respond to His power and wisdom. Scripture - Luke 2:21-52

The birth of Christ was both a local and cosmic event. Jesus was born to specific family from a specific culture in a specific place to change the world through a singularly influential life. He was also the Almighty God who had come back to redeem His creation. Scripture - Luke 2:1-7, John 1:1-5,14-18

The birth of Christ was both a local and cosmic event. Jesus was born to specific family from a specific culture in a specific place to change the world through a singularly influential life. He was also the Almighty God who had come back to redeem His creation. Scripture - Luke 2:1-7, John 1:1-5,14-18

The shepherds proclaimed the good news told to them by the angels—that Jesus would be their Savior, even though He was only an infant. Mary treasured their words in her heart to guide her in the future. When Scrooge sees Christmas future, he witnesses grief for the Cratchit family and his own lonely death if he doesn’t change his ways. Thankfully, Scrooge changes his ways, and his future turns out...

The shepherds proclaimed the good news told to them by the angels—that Jesus would be their Savior, even though He was only an infant. Mary treasured their words in her heart to guide her in the future. When Scrooge sees Christmas future, he witnesses grief for the Cratchit family and his own lonely death if he doesn’t change his ways. Thankfully, Scrooge changes his ways, and his future turns out...

With his engagement and plan for his life quickly collapsing due to Mary’s pregnancy—which he interpreted as infidelity—Joseph hears from God that Mary’s pregnancy is not the end of his family but the beginning of a new work of God to invite all of humanity into His family. When Scrooge views Christmas present, he sees the Cratchit family's struggles with poverty and the joy they experience in the...

With his engagement and plan for his life quickly collapsing due to Mary’s pregnancy—which he interpreted as infidelity—Joseph hears from God that Mary’s pregnancy is not the end of his family but the beginning of a new work of God to invite all of humanity into His family. When Scrooge views Christmas present, he sees the Cratchit family's struggles with poverty and the joy they experience in the...

After Mary's encounter with Gabriel and visit with Elizabeth, she sings a song remembering what God has done for her. In the story of the wise men, we see how God saved the Holy Family from Herod so Jesus could save the world from sin. In Scrooge's story, he remembers the joy and warmth of his early years, as well as how—rather than turning to God when life was hard—he allowed life’s struggles to...

After Mary's encounter with Gabriel and visit with Elizabeth, she sings a song remembering what God has done for her. In the story of the wise men, we see how God saved the Holy Family from Herod so Jesus could save the world from sin. In Scrooge's story, he remembers the joy and warmth of his early years, as well as how—rather than turning to God when life was hard—he allowed life’s struggles to...

Isaiah prophesied a Messiah hundreds of years before the coming of Christ. Yet the hope for a Messiah endured through the centuries, and when Jesus came, He transformed the world and human society to an almost unimaginable degree. To understand Christmas, it is important for us to remember how different our world was before Jesus came into it—and how different our lives were before Jesus transform...

Isaiah prophesied a Messiah hundreds of years before the coming of Christ. Yet the hope for a Messiah endured through the centuries, and when Jesus came, He transformed the world and human society to an almost unimaginable degree. To understand Christmas, it is important for us to remember how different our world was before Jesus came into it—and how different our lives were before Jesus transform...

Rev. Bill Kilday Scripture - John 1:1-5 RSV

Peter was instrumental in leading the early church.  His words preached at Pentecost gave meaning to what was transpiring.  His faithfulness in engaging with Cornelius, a Gentile, was a pivotal moment in church history, no longer a church of us, but of us and them.  Peter’s maturity as a follower of Jesus Christ is evident through scripture and is an example for us.  Peter is obedient and prayerfu...

Peter was instrumental in leading the early church.  His words preached at Pentecost gave meaning to what was transpiring.  His faithfulness in engaging with Cornelius, a Gentile, was a pivotal moment in church history, no longer a church of us, but of us and them.  Peter’s maturity as a follower of Jesus Christ is evident through scripture and is an example for us.  Peter is obedient and prayerfu...

After Jesus’ resurrection, he appears multiple times to the disciples.  One such time is on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  There, he and the disciples present fish again.  We see the connection in Jesus meeting the disciples on the shore at their jobs when he called them.  It is here that Jesus speaks with Peter, the one who denied Jesus three times.  A conversation about love and tending to J...

After Jesus’ resurrection, he appears multiple times to the disciples.  One such time is on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  There, he and the disciples present fish again.  We see the connection in Jesus meeting the disciples on the shore at their jobs when he called them.  It is here that Jesus speaks with Peter, the one who denied Jesus three times.  A conversation about love and tending to J...

Peter is there at the Last Supper, as are the other eleven disciples.  Jesus breaks the bread and takes the cup.  Jesus shares how they will all fall away that evening, the night of betrayal.  Peter confidently declares that he will not “fall away”.  Then Jesus speaks those famous words predicting that Peter will deny him three times before the rooster crows.  Peter says he will be faithful unto d...

Peter is there at the Last Supper, as are the other eleven disciples.  Jesus breaks the bread and takes the cup.  Jesus shares how they will all fall away that evening, the night of betrayal.  Peter confidently declares that he will not “fall away”.  Then Jesus speaks those famous words predicting that Peter will deny him three times before the rooster crows.  Peter says he will be faithful unto d...

Jesus often gathered with his disciples, instructing, particularly through asking questions.  One such question was when Jesus asked his disciples, “’ Who do people say that I am?”.  The disciples respond with examples of John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah.  Jesus takes the question to the next level, “’ Who do you say that I am?’”.  Peter answers, “’ You are the Messiah, the son of the living...

Jesus often gathered with his disciples, instructing, particularly through asking questions.  One such question was when Jesus asked his disciples, “’ Who do people say that I am?”.  The disciples respond with examples of John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah.  Jesus takes the question to the next level, “’ Who do you say that I am?’”.  Peter answers, “’ You are the Messiah, the son of the living...

After feeding 5,000, Jesus sends his disciples across the sea without him, retreating to a place of prayer.  The disciples incur a storm on the sea.  Jesus comes to them walking on water.  Their response is one of fear, yet Jesus instructs them to take courage and not be afraid.  Peter inserts himself by stating that if this is Jesus, he commands him to walk on water as well.  Jesus simply states,...

After feeding 5,000, Jesus sends his disciples across the sea without him, retreating to a place of prayer.  The disciples incur a storm on the sea.  Jesus comes to them walking on water.  Their response is one of fear, yet Jesus instructs them to take courage and not be afraid.  Peter inserts himself by stating that if this is Jesus, he commands him to walk on water as well.  Jesus simply states,...

In Luke’s account of Jesus calling Peter to follow him, Jesus meets Peter where he is, on his job fishing.  Actually, Peter has not had a good day on the job, having spent a long night with a fruitless catch.  There, Jesus comes to Peter and his friends.  There, Jesus guides Peter to try again.  Peter responds with reluctance, yet does as instructed, casting the nets again.  The result is a bounti...

:  In Luke’s account of Jesus calling Peter to follow him, Jesus meets Peter where he is, on his job fishing.  Actually, Peter has not had a good day on the job, having spent a long night with a fruitless catch.  There, Jesus comes to Peter and his friends.  There, Jesus guides Peter to try again.  Peter responds with reluctance, yet does as instructed, casting the nets again.  The result is a bou...