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Click on "Sermon Title" for PDF.
05/17/2015 - Seventh Sunday of Easter - ASCENSION SUNDAY
"Symbols of the Church: Living 'AS IF' Faith Mattered"
Scripture: Acts 1:15-26; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19
This is the last Sunday in our Symbols series. Next Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Today, we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus Christ, which is one of the great mysteries of the faith - along with Jesus' Baptism, the Transfiguration, and the Resurrection. The "As If" perspective is where we began our discussion of symbols at the beginning of Lent. The PDF for today's sermon is linked above. Audio is below. Peace to All!
"Symbols of the Church: Living 'AS IF' Faith Mattered"
Scripture: Acts 1:15-26; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19
This is the last Sunday in our Symbols series. Next Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Today, we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus Christ, which is one of the great mysteries of the faith - along with Jesus' Baptism, the Transfiguration, and the Resurrection. The "As If" perspective is where we began our discussion of symbols at the beginning of Lent. The PDF for today's sermon is linked above. Audio is below. Peace to All!
05/10/2015 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter
"Symbols of the Church: Preaching - Why So Many Words?"
Scripture: Acts 10:44-48; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17
The post-modern era in which we live sees little value to the sermon, but, strange though it is, the act of preaching is built on thousands of years of foundation. Using language as human beings is such a strange thing, and preaching is a part of that unusual behavior, but language is woven into the very fabric of reality, if one assumes a God-centered view of things.
We explore the contours and meanings of using language to try to understand that which cannot be spoken.
I used a mind-map today. The image is above; audio is linked below.
Peace to all!
"Symbols of the Church: Preaching - Why So Many Words?"
Scripture: Acts 10:44-48; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17
The post-modern era in which we live sees little value to the sermon, but, strange though it is, the act of preaching is built on thousands of years of foundation. Using language as human beings is such a strange thing, and preaching is a part of that unusual behavior, but language is woven into the very fabric of reality, if one assumes a God-centered view of things.
We explore the contours and meanings of using language to try to understand that which cannot be spoken.
I used a mind-map today. The image is above; audio is linked below.
Peace to all!
05/03/2015 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter
"Symbols of the Church: The Table"
Scripture: Acts 8:26-40; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8
We talked about the table where we share the Lord's Supper today and its meaning for us as a Congregational church. At the table of the Lord, we weave ourselves into the vine of Christ. We learn love there, and we remember the source of our lives in the sharing that happens at the table.
No PDF this week. Audio here:
"Symbols of the Church: The Table"
Scripture: Acts 8:26-40; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8
We talked about the table where we share the Lord's Supper today and its meaning for us as a Congregational church. At the table of the Lord, we weave ourselves into the vine of Christ. We learn love there, and we remember the source of our lives in the sharing that happens at the table.
No PDF this week. Audio here:
04/26/2015 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter
"Symbols of the Church: Pastors, Ministry, and Callings"
Scripture: Acts 4:5-12; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, celebrating one of Jesus' 7 "I AM" statements, where he says, "I am the Good Shepherd...". We talked about the relationship between pastors and the congregation, between the symbol and the role, and our experience with them. I believe having a deeper understanding of these symbols deepens our ability to be the Church together.
No PDF this week. Audio only.
"Symbols of the Church: Pastors, Ministry, and Callings"
Scripture: Acts 4:5-12; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, celebrating one of Jesus' 7 "I AM" statements, where he says, "I am the Good Shepherd...". We talked about the relationship between pastors and the congregation, between the symbol and the role, and our experience with them. I believe having a deeper understanding of these symbols deepens our ability to be the Church together.
No PDF this week. Audio only.
04/19/2015 -- Third Sunday of Easter
"Embodying the Faith" - Rev. Seth Jones
This week, we had the great privilege of celebrating a baptism during our worship service. This is the message I shared following the baptism. No PDF; just audio.
"Embodying the Faith" - Rev. Seth Jones
This week, we had the great privilege of celebrating a baptism during our worship service. This is the message I shared following the baptism. No PDF; just audio.
04/12/2015 - Second Sunday of Easter
"Symbols of the Church: The Gathered Community" -- Rev. Seth Jones
Scripture: Acts 4:32-35; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31
Easter lasts 50 days, until Pentecost. So during the Easter season the church discovers what it means to live in the presence of the Resurrected Christ. We do that as a gathered community in Jesus' name. Some churches unify around a creed, some around a liturgy, some around a covenant. All Christian churches unify around Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected.
We look at what that means today. No written sermon, but I did post the mind-map I used. Audio is below. Peace to all!
"Symbols of the Church: The Gathered Community" -- Rev. Seth Jones
Scripture: Acts 4:32-35; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31
Easter lasts 50 days, until Pentecost. So during the Easter season the church discovers what it means to live in the presence of the Resurrected Christ. We do that as a gathered community in Jesus' name. Some churches unify around a creed, some around a liturgy, some around a covenant. All Christian churches unify around Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected.
We look at what that means today. No written sermon, but I did post the mind-map I used. Audio is below. Peace to all!
04/05/2015 - EASTER SUNDAY
The Cross as the Doorway to the Resurrection
Scripture: Isaiah 25:6-9; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11; Mark 16:1-8
Easter Sunday, the celebration of Christ's Resurrection, is the biggest day of the Christian year. At the same time, every Sunday is a celebration of Jesus' resurrection and what it means for each of us. But in order to get there, there is a lot we go through. We cannot simply go from celebration to celebration.
God is at work in the troubles, difficulties and despair of the world, and that is where we must begin to learn what the resurrection is all about - for Jesus and for us.
The entire Easter service is recorded below. The PDF of the sermon is above.
Peace and grace of the Risen Son to all of you!
Pastor Seth
The Cross as the Doorway to the Resurrection
Scripture: Isaiah 25:6-9; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11; Mark 16:1-8
Easter Sunday, the celebration of Christ's Resurrection, is the biggest day of the Christian year. At the same time, every Sunday is a celebration of Jesus' resurrection and what it means for each of us. But in order to get there, there is a lot we go through. We cannot simply go from celebration to celebration.
God is at work in the troubles, difficulties and despair of the world, and that is where we must begin to learn what the resurrection is all about - for Jesus and for us.
The entire Easter service is recorded below. The PDF of the sermon is above.
Peace and grace of the Risen Son to all of you!
Pastor Seth
03/29/15 -- Palm Sunday
Believing in the Light: Creeds and Covenants as Symbols
Scripture: Zechariah 9:9-12; Philippians 2:5-11; John 12:12-43
Free churches like our Congregational Church are formed around a group of like-minded Christ-followers promising to one another and to God. This is what a covenant is...sort of. It is also more than a promise. Hopefully, by thinking symbolically about what we are doing as a community of faith, we will begin to think differently about our commitments. This Palm Sunday, we explore the creeds and covenants of the Christian tradition.
Believing in the Light: Creeds and Covenants as Symbols
Scripture: Zechariah 9:9-12; Philippians 2:5-11; John 12:12-43
Free churches like our Congregational Church are formed around a group of like-minded Christ-followers promising to one another and to God. This is what a covenant is...sort of. It is also more than a promise. Hopefully, by thinking symbolically about what we are doing as a community of faith, we will begin to think differently about our commitments. This Palm Sunday, we explore the creeds and covenants of the Christian tradition.
03/22/15 -- Fifth Sunday of Lent
The Symbols of the Church: A Baptism Like Christ - Living Waters
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Mark 10:35-45
Water is the building block of life, and it is the conduit of God's grace to the world. These are connected intentionally and we learn why when we begin to understand our baptism. Hopefully, we get a little closer to that understanding today.
Peace and grace to all!
The Symbols of the Church: A Baptism Like Christ - Living Waters
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Mark 10:35-45
Water is the building block of life, and it is the conduit of God's grace to the world. These are connected intentionally and we learn why when we begin to understand our baptism. Hopefully, we get a little closer to that understanding today.
Peace and grace to all!
03/15/15 - Fourth Sunday of Lent
The Symbols of the Church: The Form of Prayer
Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21
We don't normally think of the things we do regularly as symbolic, but everything about prayer - what we do with our bodies, what we say, speaking or being silent - has a symbolic element and, for those who know we pray, the act exists as a symbol of one's ability to communicate with God.
I have attached my notes for the sermon as a PDF. The audio is below.
Peace and blessings to all!
The Symbols of the Church: The Form of Prayer
Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21
We don't normally think of the things we do regularly as symbolic, but everything about prayer - what we do with our bodies, what we say, speaking or being silent - has a symbolic element and, for those who know we pray, the act exists as a symbol of one's ability to communicate with God.
I have attached my notes for the sermon as a PDF. The audio is below.
Peace and blessings to all!
03/08/2015 - Third Sunday of Lent
The Symbols of the Church: The Pulpit and The Word
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22
The pulpit is an interesting development in the Christian tradition. It is never mentioned in the New Testament. The symbolism of it, however, points us to Scripture - The Word of God. And the Word, of course, is embodied in Jesus Christ. Word encompasses much more than Scripture, but certainly includes it. We talk about it below. No PDF this week.
Peace and blessings to all!
The Symbols of the Church: The Pulpit and The Word
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22
The pulpit is an interesting development in the Christian tradition. It is never mentioned in the New Testament. The symbolism of it, however, points us to Scripture - The Word of God. And the Word, of course, is embodied in Jesus Christ. Word encompasses much more than Scripture, but certainly includes it. We talk about it below. No PDF this week.
Peace and blessings to all!
03/01/2015 - Second Sunday of Lent
The Symbols of the Church: The Bread, The Cup and The Life
Scripture: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 5:1-11; Mark 8:27-38
The Bread and the Cup represent one of the two sacraments of the Protestant church, the Lord's Supper - the other being baptism. Today we look behind the active symbols of the bread and the cup, the body and blood, of Jesus Christ.
The PDF is of the mind-map I used for the sermon.
Audio is below.
Peace to all!
Pastor Seth
The Symbols of the Church: The Bread, The Cup and The Life
Scripture: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 5:1-11; Mark 8:27-38
The Bread and the Cup represent one of the two sacraments of the Protestant church, the Lord's Supper - the other being baptism. Today we look behind the active symbols of the bread and the cup, the body and blood, of Jesus Christ.
The PDF is of the mind-map I used for the sermon.
Audio is below.
Peace to all!
Pastor Seth
02/22/2015 - First Sunday of Lent
The Symbols of the Church: AS IF!
Scripture: Psalm 25; James 1:12-18; Mark 1:9-15
We begin a series today on the Symbols of the Church. In our faith life, we encounter many symbols - most of them are 'active', meaning they do something. Baptism does something to us when we experience it or see it happen; the Lord's Supper does something to us when we partake in the bread and the cup; worship does something when we gather.
There is no PDF, only audio this week.
Peace and blessings to all!
Pastor Seth
The Symbols of the Church: AS IF!
Scripture: Psalm 25; James 1:12-18; Mark 1:9-15
We begin a series today on the Symbols of the Church. In our faith life, we encounter many symbols - most of them are 'active', meaning they do something. Baptism does something to us when we experience it or see it happen; the Lord's Supper does something to us when we partake in the bread and the cup; worship does something when we gather.
There is no PDF, only audio this week.
Peace and blessings to all!
Pastor Seth