Year: 2022
Gospel Reverb – Making Everything New w/ Julie Frantz
Place-sharing Testimonials & Panel
Listen to Anthony Mullins as he shares how he experienced Christ through place-sharing. Listen to Elizabeth Mullins as she talks about how she has experienced place-sharing and how we can place-share in our circles. Tune in as Cara Garrity talks with Elizabeth Mullins, Tamar Gray, and Dishon Mills. Together they discuss how place-sharing has been transformational in their respective lives. Click here to check out this GCI Buzz to see an overview of Place-sharing. Click here to see the Place-sharing ABCs Read the article
Sermon for January 29, 2023 – Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Psalm 15:1-5 • Micah 6:1-8 • 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 • Matthew 5:1-12 This week’s theme is the kingdom of heaven. The call to worship Psalm reflects on what is required to be in the presence of God. The Old Testament reading from Micah speaks of doing God’s will that involves justice, mercy, and humility. The text in Corinthians records Paul’s statement of the cross where God’s foolishness conquers man’s wisdom. In the Gospel reading from Matthew, we have Jesus’ teachings on the blessings of the kingdom of heaven. Rejoice and Be Glad Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV) Today our epiphany will come, not from a story about Jesus, but by his words spoken to us. You have probably heard these words many times. They are the words known as... Read the article
Sermon for January 22, 2023 – Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Psalm 27:1, 4-9 • Isaiah 9:1-4 • I Corinthians 1:10-18 • Matthew 4:12-23 The theme for this week is not us and them, but all of us. Our call to worship in Psalm 27 presents the inclusive full range of a Christian’s experience, including the high points of faith and the low points of lament and doubt. Isaiah 9 focuses on our release from oppression, whether it comes from within us or without, by our Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace. In Matthew 4, Jesus calls Simon Peter and his brother Andrew to become fishers of people, snagging hurting hearts with the good news of God’s love and acceptance of all people. Our sermon text is 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 which addresses the problem of tribalism and how we can solve it. The... Read the article
Sermon for January 15, 2023 – Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Psalm 40:1-11 • Isaiah 49:1-7 • 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 • John 1:29-42 This week’s theme is a call to faithfulness. The call to worship Psalm expresses thanksgiving to God for his faithful deliverance. The Old Testament reading from Isaiah recounts the calling of the servant to be a light to the nations. The text in Corinthians records Paul’s introductory remarks to a letter calling a wayward church back to faithful obedience. In the Gospel reading from John, we have Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist who bears witness to Jesus as the Lamb of God, which calls others to follow him. Faithful to the End 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (NRSVUE) Today, for the Second Sunday of Epiphany, we have the opportunity to read someone else’s mail. It... Read the article
Sermon for January 8, 2023 – Baptism of Our Lord
Psalm 29:1-11 • Isaiah 42:1-9 • Acts 10:34-43 • Matthew 3:13-17 This Sunday, we celebrate the baptism of the Lord, remembering the day that Jesus was baptized on our behalf. It is the first Sunday after Epiphany and serves as a bookend — along with Transfiguration Sunday — to the Epiphany season. Jesus’ baptism revealed something very important about him and about human beings. Christ lived a sinless life, so he did not need to be cleansed of his sins through baptism. Yet, he submitted to the sacrament so that we, in him, could be free from sin. Therefore, the theme for this week is Jesus is our righteousness. The passage in Psalms speaks about the power of God, especially his power to defeat evil (symbolized by the waters or... Read the article
Sermon for January 1, 2023 – New Year’s Day
Psalm 8:1-9 • Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 • Revelations 21:1-6a • Matthew 25:31-46 This week’s theme is God is our glorious and benevolent king. In our call to worship Psalm, we are reminded of God’s majesty and how he has crowned us with honor and glory. The writer of Ecclesiastes acknowledges that God has done everything for us from beginning to end. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus talks about coming in his glory, reigning over the nations. And in the book of Revelation, we see God making all things new as he dwells with us, taking his rightful place on the throne. All Things Made New Revelations 21:1-6a NRSVUE Did you know that there are people who will go to a bookstore, pick up a book that looks interesting, and proceed to read... Read the article
Church Hack – QR Codes
QR Codes can help streamline the process of both giving and receiving information. In this month’s Church Hack, we will share a few examples of how churches can benefit from QR Codes, including ways to enhance neighborhood engagement, portions of your worship gathering, and many other aspects of your church life. They are a cost-effective way to help keep your church connected and engaged. https://resources.gci.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022-CH11-QR-Codes.pdf Read the article
The Blessing of a Helpless Baby
Even before he could say a word, Jesus was transforming lives. This month, Christians from around the world will be celebrating Advent and Christmas. As believers, we rejoice in the coming of our Lord and Savior, marveling at the humble arrival of the King of Kings. Jesus not only came to earth as one of us, but he arrived as a helpless baby. It goes against all human logic for God to lower himself in that way. Yet, Jesus became one of us in every way to open the door for us to be like him. During this time of year, we have an opportunity to meditate on the fact that, by the Spirit, Jesus had a profound impact on those around him without being able to talk. It was not only Christ’s ministry that changed lives, but it was also his... Read the article
