This sermon is mostly about Jesus and church renewal.  We can look at how Jesus spread his message in his day and time, and figure out how to reset our churches now.  The disciples told stories, and told his disciples to stay away from those places where the message could not be accepted.  

Most of us fear rejection by our family and friends.  Even Jesus was rejected in his home town.  We are in good company.  The church today can see what happens when those in the community were unable to listen or to tell the story.  

Who's life can you learn more about today?  Who might feel rejected and not listened to in your congregation?  Who's stories are heard, and who's stories are missing?  

Listen to this sermon and explore with me concepts related to telling the story and listening to others. 

Sermon on Mark 6:1-13 preached at Trinity, Des Plaines, IL. 

Matthew 25: 31-46

If we're all kin, and Jesus is the king of the kin-dom of God, and Jesus rewards sheep, what are we supposed to do?

If the sheep are to visit those in prison, whom have you visited?
If the sheep are to care for the sick, whose health care have to advocated to keep?
If the sheep are to feed the hungry, how much money could you share with a Food Pantry?
If the sheep are to give the thirsty a drink, what clean water projects have you funded?  

Are you taking the Bible seriously?  Are you part of the Kin-dom of God where you understand yourself in Kinship with all of humanity?  Where can taking your faith seriously take you? 

The cross is hard.  Sometimes I don't want to take it up and follow Jesus.  Sometimes I don't want to lose my life and gain it.  Often, I don't even know what that means.  Listen for stories of people who did just that throughout history.  Sermon based on Matthew 16: 21-28.  Comment below with your thoughts.  Are you able to be a disciple of Jesus and take up a cross?  What will be hard about that, and how can work through those hard parts?  Let me know!  

Where do you find God?  Where can we find God?  What do weeds have to do with this?  I also comment on what and who church is for in this sermon.  Are you part of the community of God? Where do you need to grow?

On Sunday, we had our big installation party!  It is not too late to leave us a blessing or donation by looking at this blog post.  Bishop Wayne Miller preached the sermon above, and gave me permission to post it.  I gave a short message at the end of the service you can listen to in audio here.  The texts of the day were: Exodus 18:13-22, Ephesians 4:11-16, and Matthew 28: 16-20.