Extravagant Mercy

Listen to Pastor Steve’s Sermon.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Isaiah 43:16-21
John 12:1-8

God's Work, Our Gift

The story commonly called the “Prodigal Son” is misnamed, so thinks Pastor Steve. The heart of the story is the father’s generosity, from birthing to bequeathing, from giving to forgiveness and restoration, the whole salvation story is about the father’s generosity, not the foolishness of both the sons. God loves us even more than this generous father loved these sons.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Psalm 32
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Second Chance Love

Pastor Steve emphasized that what we trust in and rely on becomes our God. If our heart is not firmly rooted in Christ, we begin to trust and rely on other things. He said that our congregation at TUC consists of people from various denominations, but our hearts are the same because Jesus is who we follow. Our denominations don’t separate us and we will celebrate our 150th anniversary this year!

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Psalm 32
Luke 13:1-9

We Have the Same Hearts

Pastor Steve emphasized that what we trust in and rely on becomes our God. If our heart is not firmly rooted in Christ, we begin to trust and rely on other things. He said that our congregation at TUC consists of people from various denominations, but our hearts are the same because Jesus is who we follow. Our denominations don’t separate us and we will celebrate our 150th anniversary this year!

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17-4:1

The Treasure in our Hearts

Today, on the first Sunday of Lent, Pastor Steve spoke from and asked us how we get scripture into our heart. He reminded us that when Jesus was being tempted by the devil for 40 days, he was able to respond because of knowing God’s word and having it hidden in his heart. Pastor Steve emphasized the importance of being careful about what we put into our heart because out of it is the wellspring of life. He said that one way of getting scripture deep into our heart is through songs.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Luke 4:1-13

Out of Our Prayer Together

Pastor Steve brought to our attention that the book of Luke emphasizes that while Jesus was on a mountain, praying with Peter, John and James, he was transfigured. Pastor Steve said that out of praying together comes amazing acts of God. He said that just as Taize involves praying and singing together, we at TUC dance with the Spirit of God and with one another

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Psalm 133:1-3
Luke 9:28-36

The Sending God

Pastor Steve spoke from Genesis 43:3-11,15 and said that though Joseph’s brothers intended to harm him by selling him to Egyptian traders, “God intended it for good.” Joseph realized, while in prison, that he had the gift of interpreting dreams and when he was reunited with his brothers, he declared that God had sent him to preserve and provide. Pastor Steve asked us where we can be sent as apostles of love, forgiveness and justice. He said that our prayer at TUC is that we will all say together, “Here we are Lord, send us!

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50
Genesis 43:3-11,15

Roots and Streams

Pastor Steve spoke from Jeremiah 17:5-10 and said that just as the people of Judah had turned away from God and were fearing the approaching Babylonians, we unintentionally do the same thing when we turn a gift from the Lord, such as a job, into an idol. He said that putting our trust in anything but God, breaks our covenant with Him. Our trust needs to be in God and we need to take time to listen to Him.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Psalm 1:1-6
Jeremiah 17:5-10

The Touch of God

Pastor Steve asked us to imagine how we could connect with one another without talking face to face or online. He said that giving a Holy kiss to people can be done through serving them, by sending notes or having food delivered, etc. He said that one way in which Jesus kisses us is through Holy Communion. He challenged us to think of various ways, this week, for us to touch Jesus and for Jesus to touch us.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Luke 5:1-11
Isaiah 6:1-13

Prophecy and Disappointment

Pastor Hector asked us if we feel entitled to receive Jesus’ blessings, like the people in Nazareth did, or if we share Jesus’ concern for others. He said, “Let us not be like the people of Nazareth, let us follow Jesus’ footsteps and be prophetic.” He said that, though, we may be rejected, God is with us and we need to speak the truth and give hope to the oppressed and marginalized.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Luke 4:21-30

Interconnectivity

Pastor Steve emphasized that we, as Christians, are are all interconnected and form the body of Christ. He said that we each, including babies and children, have been given a gift from God with which to serve Him. Pastor Steve said that there’s no room in the church for excluding people and gossip. He said that we, as Christians, are the body of Christ and are given this body to dance and go out in the streets to proclaim God’s love. “The body of Christ is meant to be sent into the world.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Luke 4:14-21
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a.

Extravagance

Pastor Steve brought to our attention that when Jesus turned water into wine, it was extravagant. He did it with zeal. Pastor Steve said that in the same way, we should serve the Lord with zeal! He said that God has given each of us a gift and we should be zealous in using it to further His kingdom. “We need to serve the Lord by turning our gifts into the finest wine.”

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11

Your Will be Done

The first thing Jesus did after growing up was to submit to baptism, which symbolized his death and resurrection. Pastor Steve said that we, as followers of Christ, die to our old ways, receive new life in Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit, but we continue every day to let go of things that are not of the Lord. He reminded us that there’s always room to grow and that we should celebrate and remember our baptism.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Isaiah 43:1-7
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22