Sermons by Rebecca Messman
These Truths: Endowed by Their Creator: New Birth of Freedom
Romans 7:15-25a I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells within me. For I know that the good does not dwell within me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do the…
These Truths: Endowed By Their Creator
Genesis 1:24-27 (The Message)God spoke: “Earth, generate life! Every sort and kind:cattle and reptiles and wild animals—all kinds.”And there it was:wild animals of every kind,Cattle of all kinds, every sort of reptile and bug.God saw that it was good.God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image,make them reflecting our nature,So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,the birds in the air, the cattle,And, yes, Earth itself,and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”God…
Go Forth: Render to No One Evil for Evil
Romans 12:9-21 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those…
Walk this Way: Go Forth In Peace
John 17:1-11After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that…
Walk this Way: Little Altars Everywhere
Acts 17:22–32 Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely spiritual you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven…
Walk this Way: We Know the Way Enough
John 14:1-14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way…
Walk this Way: Well Shepherded
Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.He leads me in right pathsfor his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me. You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy…
The Good News Is…Alive in the World
Matthew 28:1–10After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the…
The Good News Is…Inspiring Us to Act
Mark 11:1-11When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this: ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’…
The Good News Is…Rooted in Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness
John 8:2-11Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and, making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you…
The Good News Is…Together, the Impossible is Possible
Mark 6:32-44And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said,…
The Good News Is…Great Love for God and Neighbor
Luke 7:36-50One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and when he went into the Pharisee’s house he reclined to dine. And a woman in the city who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair, kissing his feet and anointing them…