05/19/19   --   Meute “What’s New? Who’s New?” Acts 11: 1-18: Revelation 21: 1-6; John 13: 31-35 Pearl: The gospel continually expands and transforms whatever it touches. Function: To motivate listeners to expect to be continually changed, made new, and transformed by the gospel. The inclusion of the Gentiles (all non-Jews) was a profoundly difficult adjustment for the followers of Jesus after he was raised and departed from them. If it wasn’t for the Holy Spirit moving in them … [Read more...]

Communion; Mother’s Day                                                                05/12/19—Highland—Meute “This Sister of Yours Was Dead and Is Alive Again” Psalm 23; Acts 9: 36-43 Pearl: You and God can raise the dead. Function: To encourage worshippers who are suicidal to hang on to those who love them and to motivate all worshippers to inquire with others if they are thinking of ending their lives as an act of loving concern. “Take my hand, stay Joanne; Heaven’s not ready … [Read more...]

2nd Easter                                                                                                                      04/28/19 “A Determined Obedience” Psalm 150; Acts 5: 27-32; John 20: 19-31 Pearl: Our faithful witness for Christ goes deeper than words. Function: To motivate worshippers to persevere in their witness for the Lord by going beyond words to a lifestyle and way of relating with those outside of our groups remembering that we should see Christ in every other … [Read more...]

Easter                                                                                      04/21/19—Highland—Meute “Easter Is Your Invitation” Matthew 28: 1-10 Pearl: There are innumerable entry points into relationship with Jesus and the reality of Easter. Function: Sermon will provide several entry points from human experience into the reality of Easter and to set up the Cantata “Come, Touch the Robe” which will be the pinnacle of the message and Easter experience of … [Read more...]

Palm Sunday “To Fulfill the Prophecy” Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29; Philippians 2: 5-11; Matthew 21: 1-11; 27: 11-54 Pearl: The Lord and King of the universe is in your midst as foretold. Function: To invite worshippers to enter the pageantry of Palm Sunday and in so doing assent to the nature of our Sovereign’s reign of service to others.   “Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey” (Matt. 21:5). “THIS TOOK PLACE TO FULFILL WHAT HAD BEEN SPOKEN THROUGH … [Read more...]

5th Lent/Communion                                                                           04/07/19—Highland—Meute “Living Life At-the-Ready” Psalm 90: 1-12; 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11; Matthew 24: 3-8, 36-44; 25: 1-13 Pearl: Expecting the return of the King, Christ-followers prepare by seeing to things as they will be, now. Function: To motivate worshippers to wisely attend to kingdom priorities now day to day so that Christ will be pleased at the Great Day of Return. Are you … [Read more...]

4th Lent                                                                                                03/31/19—Highland—Meute “Church: A Community of Reconciliation” Genesis 50: 15-21; Psalm 103: 1-13; Romans 13: 8-14; Matthew 18: 15-35 Pearl: Christ followers work for reconciliation of all things. Function: To motivate worshippers to take whatever steps possible to restore relationships within the church due to the awareness of how much we are forgiven. Who is not moved by the … [Read more...]

3rd Lent                                                                                               03/24/19—Highland—Meute “Seeding Faith” Isaiah 55: 10-13; Psalm 119: 105-112; Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23 Pearl: Parables are an example of how our Lord lures our faith and commitment along. Function: Encourage and enchant worshippers by the many-layered and many-faceted dimensions of the kingdom among us to woo us along in our discipleship. How do you like riddles? Let’s begin with a … [Read more...]

2nd Lent                                                                                               03/17/19—Highland—Meute “Blessed and Sent” Genesis 17: 1-8; Exodus 19: 2-8a; Matthew 10: 5-42 (selected verses)   Pearl: We are agents of the awesome, powerful gospel of Jesus Christ. Function: To motivate worshippers to share the blessings of the gospel by speaking and relieving. God’s work of salvation history began as described in Genesis and Exodus with God showering … [Read more...]

1st Lent                                                                                    03/10/19—Highland—Meute “The Blessed” Micah 6: 1-8; Matthew 5: 1-12 Pearl: The wide girth of blessedness intended by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Function: To correct the common notions about the Beatitudes and to proclaim that Jesus meant that “God’s world” was for everyone, no matter whom, even the “hopeless blessables” to borrow a phrase from Dallas Willard (The Divine Conspiracy). How … [Read more...]