06/03/18 “An Appeal for Softer Hearts” Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18; Mark 2: 23 -- 3:6 Pearl: Addressing human need matters more than enforcing the law. Function: To motivate worshippers to open their hearts and their minds to prioritize meeting human needs over adhering to religious rules. Robin Hood was a character from English folklore whose claim to fame was that he stole from the rich in order to give to the poor. Legend has it that he was a noble. That means that he knew … [Read more...]

Trinity Sunday                                                                                  Highland—Meute “Lively Gathering Spirit” Romans 8: 12-17; John 3: 1-17   Pearl: God’s gathering, cultivating, uniting Spirit Function: To move worshippers to embrace the nature of the Holy Spirit of God which continually gathers and draws people into God’s family and way.   Many years ago I conducted the funeral services for a family whose adult son had died. I didn’t … [Read more...]

05/13/18—Highland—Meute Evangelism: “Sent Out of Our Comfort Zones” Isaiah 66: 10-14; Luke 10: 1-17 Pearl: Sent out of comfort zones by the message and with the message of the kingdom of God. Function: To nudge worshippers to bold steps on behalf of the Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Every follower of Jesus Christ is sent into the “harvest fields” as representatives of the gospel, good news message of the kingdom of God. You all have a … [Read more...]

05/06/18—Highland—Meute “Evangelism: “Breaking Down Barriers” Genesis 33: 1-11; Acts 11: 1-18 Pearl: The gospel of Jesus Christ is way ahead of us. Function: To convince worshippers that the gospel of Jesus Christ ought to expand us and change our minds and hearts a little or a lot each and every day. Think of one of the most memorable ways that the Spirit of God changed your mind about something. I am sorry if you cannot think of anything. God is the same yesterday, … [Read more...]

04/29/18—Highland—Meute Evangelism: “Radical Hospitality” Isaiah 58: 6-9b; Matthew 25: 31-46 Pearl: Expanding the table to carry out the gospel mandate. Function: To motivate listeners to open their eyes, hearts, and church to those often passed by, ignored, and avoided as an outworking of our core mission of “sharing Christ’s love.” Is your vision for people expanding or contracting? Do you see people for who they are on the outside or do you see deeper than what is on the … [Read more...]

04/22/18—Highland—Meute Evangelism: “Sharing Our Stories” Exodus 15: 1-18; Acts 22: 1-21 Pearl: Familiarize yourself with your stories of God. Function: To task listeners to review their many experiences of the aliveness of God so as to have them at hand for holy conversation with others. Stories move us. We love to read them and hear them. We love to watch them on television and in the movies. We “consume” stories. The sermons that I preach that have stories in them are … [Read more...]

04/15/18—Highland—Meute Evangelism: “Having Holy Conversations” Psalm 22: 25-31; Acts 8: 26-39 Pearl: Seeking opportunities for deeper level conversations (“Go Deeper”) Function: To motivate listeners to intentionally steer conversations to deeper levels where it is much more natural to include spiritual insights and God’s Spirit will be at work. When you get into a swimming pool do you prefer to stick a toe in and gradually work your way gently through the shallows of the pool as … [Read more...]

04/08/18—Highland—Meute Evangelism: “Walking Together on the Journey of Faith” Ecclesiastes 4: 7-12; I Corinthians 9: 19-27; Luke 24: 13-35 Pearl: The life of faith is to be “with” others. Function: To encourage believers to share their spiritual thoughts and passions with others who are also on the journey and Jesus will reveal his will and way.   Cleopas and the other disciple of Jesus were walking together on the road to Emmaus. It was good that they were together … [Read more...]