Sermons on “God's Mercy”
Fiery Furnace – Josias Hansen
The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego has inspired countless martyrs to remain faithful to their convictions in the face of horrific persecution. Yet, the faithfulness of God must be seen as the central focus in this story. We can remain faithful, because we know that God will remain faithful to us through it all.
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The Flood – Abby LeMaire
Many Christians grew up hearing the story of Noah and the flood in a very sanitized, kid-friendly way. People have even pegged the narrative as a kid’s story! Yet, after digging deeper, it’s clear that the story’s violent portrayal of God requires some explanation. How does this story reveal the God we know in Christ Jesus?
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Why Have You Forsaken Me – Bonnie St. Jean
Bonnie looks into Jesus’ experience of abandonment on the cross to explore a more adequate atonement theory and a clearer picture of God the Father in relationship to the Son of God.
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Today You Will Be With Me in Paradise – Terri Churchill – Third Way
Terri helps us understand the significance of when Jesus assured one of the thieves on the cross that he would be with Jesus in paradise. While the first Adam caused humanity to lose paradise, we now are invited back to the garden through the second Adam (Jesus). This means that all our fears and suspicions that we’re not invited need to be met with God’s beautiful embrace of forgiveness and love.
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Father, Forgive Them – Josias Hansen
Josias expounds on Jesus’ powerful prayer from the cross for God to forgive those who abandoned, shamed, and tortured him. Within this short prayer, we can see the heart of God as being other-oriented, self-sacrificial, and enemy-loving. Furthermore, we discover that one of the most important dimensions of the atonement is that Jesus took on our sin and freed us from the kingdom of darkness which enslaves us to sin.
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A Very Loving Father and His Two Imperfect Sons – Kim Becker
By looking at the parable of the prodigal son, Kim shows that the kingdom of God is not structured around boundary lines that designate who’s in and who’s out. Instead, the kingdom is centered on Christ, and individuals are to be oriented not toward boundary lines, but toward Jesus. As these false boundary lines are erased, loving relationships can be experienced by individuals who may not have the same beliefs or lifestyle. This love is
reflective of God’s generous and forgiving nature portrayed in the parable through the father’s love for his two imperfect sons.
The Worker in the Vineyard – Terri Churchill
Terri looks at the parable of the worker in the vineyard and shows how our human concepts of fairness do not govern God’s kingdom. God governs his own kingdom. Yet, so often we compare ourselves to others and feel that we deserve more. This often creates disappointment, resentment toward God, and disdain toward others. Instead, God is asking us trust him, be thankful and be wiling to celebrate God’s generosity and the successes of others.
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Prayer and Lament Service
In the wake of violence and outrage taking place in our neighborhood and nation, Third Way held a prayer and lament service with a few special guests, including T.C. Ranzy, pastor of Words of Eternal Life Ministries.
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The Atonement – Bonnie St. Jean
Bonnie St. Jean shares a few of the more popular Atonement theories, and tells why she favors the Christus Victor model over the rest.
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A Fickle Humanity and a Faithful God – Chris Senkler
Chris Senkler shows how the people who praised “Hosanna” and hailed Jesus as the coming king may be the very ones who later shouted, “Crucify him!” Like them, we find ourselves to be deeply complex characters within the covenant story, characters whose unredeemed motives, desires, and passions all too often drive our behavior and actions.
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