Worship

Sermon Series

Throw Alongside
A Sermon Series Based Upon the Parables of Jesus

June 21: Luke 15:11-32  - “The Prodigal Son” 
In one of the most moving stories in scripture, Jesus tells us about a Father with two sons. This is in a series of three parables he told in response being criticized for eating with "tax collectors and sinners". Some of us can relate to the young son who disobeyed the Father by deserting. Others of us may unknowingly be more like the eldest son who appeared loyal by staying home but still rejected the Father. Wherever we find ourselves, Jesus is calling us to treat others like a loving Father would treat his own son.

June 28: Matthew 22:1-14 -  “The Wedding Banquet”
This parable is a warning to anyone who is in danger of losing their soul because they are so preoccupied with gaining the things of this world that they do not believe they have time for grace---it’s about those who would sell the garment they are supposed to wear to the coming banquet in order to buy more things now.

July 5: Luke 16:19-31 - “The Rich Man and Lazarus” 
When we look at this parable we often read ourselves in the role of the Rich Man. We think Jesus wants us to learn that if we are rich, then we should be more generous than the Rich Man. While this is partially true, there is a bigger principle at stake: Lazarus was not as poor as he appears. Matter of fact, Jesus uses a clever bate-and-switch to emphasize that what others perceive as destitution and failure is often the fertile soil of a great life and true success.  Which character in the story can I identify with? Which one should I identify with? Who do I want to be when I grow up?

July 12: Matthew 20:1-16 - “The Laborers in the Vineyard”  The Kingdom of God is like a mother who loves all of her children according to their need, and loves them until they become who they were created to be.  The Kingdom is where rules and laws and handing out performance based rewards are set aside, and for some reason, unknown and unexplained to us the loving mother puts the first last, and the last first.

July 19:Luke 16:1-18 - “The Shrewd Manager”
The parable of the shrewd manager is all about the appropriate use of possessions.  The manager squandered away his master’s possessions and got himself fired.  But he understood the way things work here on earth enough to figure out a way to use possessions to guarantee that he could continue to live the kind of life he wanted.  Well, we too have been given management responsibility of our Master’s possessions.  Will we squander them?  Or do we understand the way things work with God enough to figure out how to use possessions to guarantee the kind of life we want to live eternally?

Weekly Devotions - June 28, 2009

Holy God, allow me to live always in the realization of the account that I must one day give. May I choose to surrender control to You that I might put on the robe of righteousness and know the joy of Your eternal Kingdom. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

Psalm 93

Monday: Mark 9:1-8
Tuesday: John 14:15-24
Wednesday: James 1:19-27
Thursday: Philippians 2:12-18
Friday: James 4:1-10
Saturday: Romans 6:15-23

Prayers for the church, for others, for self

The Lord’s Prayer

Worship Carry Out Archives

June 28, 2009
June 21, 2009
June 14, 2009
June 7, 2009
May 24, 2009
May 17, 2009
May 10, 2009
May 3, 2009