Sermons on Suffering
Smyrna – Suffering Well | Revelation 2:8-11
Sermon Revelation 2:8-11 | Letters From Jesus: Smyrna – Suffering Well To the Church in Smyrna 8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do…
Facing Our Limits | Mark 4:35-41
Jesus led His disciples into a storm. What can we learn from this as we face storms in our own life? Listen as Pastor Ron continues our series in Mark. Watch Here Discussion Questions 1. What do you think is the main lesson in this story? 2. Does it seem right that Jesus chided the disciples? 3. Why can/cannot fear and faith co-exist? 4. Did the disciples have reason(s) not to fear? Do we when faced with our limits in…
Does God Care? | Malachi 2:17 – 3:6
Our view of justice may not always align with God’s justice. Listen to this message as Pastor Ron continues his series in Malachi. Watch here Discussion Questions 1. Are there ways and times when we “project” our attitudes and viewpoint upon God? How can we avoid this? 2. Do we sometimes confuse satisfaction with justice? 3. How do we know from this passage that God’s love for us precedes His exacting justice for breaking covenant with Him?
Joy | Luke 2:8-14, Isaiah 53:1-6
On the third Sunday of Advent, Alex DiBisceglie shared with us a message about the joy that we can experience with God. Discussion Questions Icebreaker: What is one of your favorite Christmas traditions? 1. How does culture define joy? 2. What are some obstacles that prevent us from experiencing joy? 3. What are some ways the Suffering Servant joy helps you transcend sorrow in your life? 4. What does it mean that Jesus bears our griefs and carries our sorrows?
Sacrifice | Luke 9:1-6, 10-27
Do we live lives marked by sacrifice? Pastor Ron challenges us with this message on sacrifice. Watch Here Discussion Questions 1. Do you think sacrifice is the distinguishing mark between a “believer” and a “disciple”? 2. What does “sacrificial living” involve for you? 3. Why does Jesus say take up your cross daily?
Jesus’ Achievements | Hebrews 2:5-18
Pastor Ron shared this message reminding us of Jesus’ achievements and how that relates to our faith journey. Discussion Questions 1. What are some signs of drifting? 2. What does “being careful” look like for you? 3. How does Jesus help us in our suffering?
The Highest Court | Acts 25:1-22 (When we face injustice)
Have you ever faced injustice? Have you ever been treated unfairly? Maybe a boss mistreated you at work, or a family member or friend did not treat you right. Maybe you can think of a family member or friend who has experienced injustice. My dad told me the story of how he was let go from his job for something he had not done, and it was painful for him. Maybe you’ve faced something similar. As we look at the…
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel | Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:78 (Christmas Eve Homily)
O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. I tried to lead our college and young adults group to sing this song last weekend, and while the words were beautiful, my rendition was pretty awful. Part of the reason for that is because there’s a bunch of different verses, and I wasn’t always sure which one to sing.…
Those Who Hope In The Lord Will Renew Their Strength | Isaiah 40:27-31
Terry Shanahan shared a message of hope and renewal in the midst of challenges and suffering as we continue our series on rest, renewal and grace while Pastor Jonathan is away on sabbatical. Terry is the Northeast Regional Pastor for the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.
Three-Part Testimony | Acts 21:27-22:22 (Jerusalem riot & Paul’s speech)
This morning, I got up thinking about the first time I ever shared my testimony, my story of coming to faith in Christ. In college, I took a spring-break missions trip down to Chinle, Arizona, to the Indian reservation to run a program for kids. I think we must have talked about sharing our testimonies because, on the drive down, I spent time writing my testimony. I wanted to share it, but I didn’t volunteer myself. But a few days…
Freak Accidents | Acts 20:1-12 (Eutychus’s fall)
*Content Warning! The audio version (and maybe the written version) of this message, may be highly troublesome to those who have experienced disabilities and/or seizures. I have done my best to make the written manuscript easier to read. – Pastor Jonathan Today I’m talking about freak accidents. I am going to tell a true story of sudden death, a tragedy that hit me personally. Our Elders and Deacons recently did a mental health training through Harbor Christian Counseling in Boston…
An Upside-Down Church | Acts 17:1-9
My wife and I watched the Broadway Musical Hamilton last summer on Disney+. All the songs are brilliant, but I was reminded of one of them as I thought about today’s sermon. Have you heard the one about the battle of Yorktown? Washington is trying to defeat General Cornwallis, and he sends Lafayette and Alexander Hamilton to capture two key positions. In the musical, as they’re going into battle, they sing about what they’re trying to accomplish. They’re trying to…
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