Freedom is a wonderful thing. But just what is it and what does it mean for Christians? Well, according to Paul, it is not about doing what you want, when you want. To be free is to radically identify with others as you serve them. It gives a whole new take on being free.
The world says, "what I do is my business." Paul, and Jesus before him, seem to think different. Does it matter? Yes is does.
We all want to belong somewhere to someone. But to whom? And how? And what do our choices mean? Drawing on Paul's letter to the Corinthians Rev. Williams helps us remember that there is only one source of true belonging, and that is Jesus.
We like things to be orderly; to know the cause and the effect. But sometimes life doesn't work that way, especially in matters of faith. The apostle Paul helps us see that what we think is wise is really foolish, and what we value as strength is often weak. And no, it doesn't always make sense.
The women couldn't believe it. The men wouldn't believe it. But in the end the only thing they could do was shout it. Jesus is alive! Let the pigeons loose!
The King of all Creation was riding by, but all the Pharisees could see was their own fear. That is what fear does. It blinds us to the blessings and opportunities that God has placed before us. How can we deal with such fear? The answer might be simpler than you think.
Doubt can grind us down. Doubt about our abilities. Doubt about those around us. Doubt about God. Like a millstone grinding wheat, doubt grinds down our faith. But we can remove that millstone. We can succeed. How? By trusting in God and simply trying.
Nothing sucks the joy of living out of our lives faster or more completely than shame. But we don't have to live with it. We can remove the shadows from our lives, and the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery just might hold the key to our freedom.
How often have we tried and failed? How often do we refuse to try because we failed before? How many feel like they are losers because losing is all they can remember? The fact is that failure does not define us. God love us despite our past failures, and God still has a plan for our lives.
Nothing feeds guilt and diminishes the joy of our life faster than misplaced anger. It destroys relationships and damages the community around us. Fortunately, there is a cure which Rev. Williams explores.
So many things get in the way of our enjoying life, sucking the joy from our days. Some of them actually shorten our lives. Rev. Williams begins our Lenten journey by looking at one of the most dangerous things we cling to--guilt, and shows us a way out.
When we think about gifts that are eternal, we often think of things like love, service, kindness, and generosity. But how often do we think of courage? Rev. Williams helps us see that courage may be more important than we thought and vital to our understanding of eternal blessings.
You can't take gold, silver, or diamonds into heaven, but you can take love. Why? Because it rewrites the DNA of our souls and changes who we are.
The old saying is true, isn't it? You can't take it with you when you leave this earth. But what if there were things you could take with you into the next life? Well, there are such things. Rev. Williams explores the first, the Eternal Gift of Service, in this message.
What really happens during Communion? Why do we even do it? And why is it so important? It's all about remembering and what we do with the memories.
Jesus said we should turn the other cheek. Scouts are taught to "Do a Good Turn Daily". Dr. King taught that the only way to true equality and reconciliation is through non-violent resistance. But does any of that make sense in the world we live in? Indeed it does.
There are hundreds of "Christian" denominations, and each has a different view of what it means to be a true disciple. And yet God calls us to work together. How can we bridge our differences and travel this difficult road together? The answer is simpler than you might think.
Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, various other religions; Christians live and work and play with them daily. How should we respond to them in matters of faith? Should we separate ourselves or engage them? What does it mean to claim Jesus as Lord in an ever-shrinking, multicultural world?
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