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CURRENT SERMON SERIES
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Who Do People Say That I Am? 1.12.20-2.9.20The birth of Jesus comes with many claims regarding his identity. Who is this child? The Angelic choir called him the messiah. Gabriel called him God’s son. Some preferred the name Immanuel. All this and more to describe the child of manger straw. But how do we describe Jesus now? Jesus asked his own followers, “Who do you say that I am?” There’s not one answer to that question. Oh, it’s possible to answer it by quoting the creeds “his only son, our Lord.” But a survey of the Gospel writers reveals that each gospel writer speaks of Jesus differently. Over the next few weeks, we will listen to each Gospel writer’s response to the question, “Who do you say that I am?” We will end the series reflecting on how our understanding of who Jesus is influences our understanding of who we are to be.
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PREVIOUS SERMON SERIES
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I Won't Be Home for Christmas 12.1.19-12.24.19Advent is a season of waiting. The church is always in Advent, because we are always waiting on what God will do next, although it is only this time of year that we mark that posture of expectation. Why are we always waiting? Because we aren’t home yet. We, nor the world itself, are as God intends us to be. So, as a people who are always “on the way,” we continue the journey toward home. This series will rehearse some of the expressions of waiting (which can be another word for hope) that is part of this long tradition.
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A Thanksgiving List 11.24.19At a time when our nation seems more starkly divided and when too many Thanksgiving tables are filled with tension and arguments, the Apostle points the way to a celebration where all are truly welcome. We explore how God calls us to love one another at the Thanksgiving table and beyond.
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I Believe. Help My Unbelief. 11.3.19-11.17.19You hear this prayer every Sunday: We believe, help our unbelief. This is a series exploring this prayer. You know that Village welcomes questions. We trust that God is never intimidated by our wondering. Not only this, but we also confess that Christian faith invites us to trust that which is so large, so transformational, that it is never easily believed without at least a hint of unbelief.
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Prophets: God May Not Be Who You Think She Is 9.8.19-10.27.19
This is a study of the Prophets. Sometimes the Prophets critique those who do not trust in God, but usually, they are correcting (or reminding) people’s confused understandings of God. That’s something all of us suffer from at times. Our understanding of God is never stagnant, or at least it shouldn’t be. The prophets try, often unsuccessfully, to push God’s people toward greater faithfulness.
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People Like Us 6.16.19-8.18.19The Bible is filled with stories of people. Some of them are of amazing and inspiring folks. Others’ stories tell of folks in desperate need. Many tell of ordinary times. These people we discover in pages of sacred scripture are, however, people like us. They endeavored to live as God’s children amidst the realities of their place and time. Some of them provide inspiring examples of faith. Some walk paths we should avoid. Many were mixtures of belief and unbelief. This summer we will meet – or meet again – a collection of people who can serve as examples as we seek to live as God’s children amidst the realities of the world in our time and place.
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It Never Lasts 6.9.19We celebrate Pentecost on June 9, 2019. Some have called Pentecost the “birthday of the Church.” The story of Pentecost tells us there was quite a crowd gathered. Some had traveled many miles. Some had traveled across the pages of history to be there. When the Spirit of God moves, she doesn’t want to leave anyone out. Rev. Tom Are's sermon is titled, "It Never Lasts."
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Why Can't We Get Past This? 5.19.19-6.2.19In this series, Rev. Tom Are and Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka explore the pervasive and complex realities of racism in American Culture and The Church.
May 19 Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka Preaching: I Just See People May 26 Rev. Tom Are Preaching: It’s Not About You. It’s About Us. June 2 Revs. Tom Are and Rodger Nishioka: It’s Not Just About Us. It’s About Me. |
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Character is Always Chosen 3.17.19-4.21.19In these weeks that lead us, once again, to the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we will reflect on who we are called to be as we take our own journey toward the fullness of resurrection. “Who we are called to be” is the point of this sermon series. In his book, "The Road to Character," David Brooks says, “Most of us have clearer strategies for how to achieve career success than we do for how to develop a
profound character.” |
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I Wish the Preacher Would Talk About.......... Jan. 20-Feb. 24In December the church family was invited to share topics to be included in a sermon series. Hundreds of responses were received. Our sermons have been taken from the most frequently requested topics. Over the next few weeks we will speak of topics ranging from the suffering in the world, to heaven, to the "end times."
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Gospel Writers Tour of Homes - 12.2.18-12.24.18
Part of the power of the celebration of Christmas is found in tradition. You, no doubt, return to familiar observations of the season. There are decorations, foods and other traditions that we revisit year after year. It’s part of what makes it Christmas.
This Advent we will consider how each Gospel writer might celebrate this season. How might Matthew decorate his home, or what Carols would be most important to Luke? Each writer speaks of Jesus in a different way, so if we look closely we will find that each Gospel writer celebrates this season in his own way. So, let’s take a Gospel writers Tour of Homes this Advent. It will no doubt bring to sharper focus what will be important to celebrate in our homes this Christmas. |
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Getting Real - 11.11.18-11.25.18We, at Village, are good people. We really are. But we are not perfect. There would not be a one of us who has escaped feelings from time to time of guilt or disappointment. So, how do we deal with failure? How do we deal with burdens that can weigh heavy at times? In this sermon series we will explore the realities of sin, grace and what to do with a second chance, or third, or however many we might need.
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Living Toward God's Promised Day - 10.14.18-11.4.18William Faulkner once wrote, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” There is wisdom in these words, as our yesterdays show up in both predictable and unexpected ways. Nevertheless, the Christian faith provides a different way to look at our day. As Christians we are not primarily defined by our past, but by a future promised day. It is a day when God makes right that which we cannot heal. Of course, we only see glimpses of it in our lives, but it is a day that is trustworthy and true. This is why my last words to you each Sunday are “live toward God’s promised day.” For we are not defined by our yesterdays, not even our grand ones, but by a tomorrow we have yet to see.
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Prophet & Lost Statements: A Series on Jonah - 9.9.18-10.7.18Jonah was called by God to share a holy word in Nineveh. Nineveh was the last place that Jonah wanted to go. There were good reasons for that. But after a few days in a fish to think things over, Jonah agrees. He's still not happy about it. Some of the prophets were bothered that they had to speak words of judgment (Jeremiah and Isaiah would be among them). Jonah was worried that God might be gracious. So, this prophet tries to get lost.....but one thing that will not happen with a gracious God..... try as you might, you won't be lost.
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Summer Sermons - 6.3.18-9.2.18Rev. Tom Are is on sabbatical this summer. Four guest pastors will preach at Village Church in June and July: Rev. Anne Apple, Rev. Matt Gaventa, Rev. Sarah Wiles and Rev. Pen Peery. They are all wonderful preachers and friends of the church. Also preaching this summer are Village Church pastors Rev. Len Carrell, Rev. Dr. Brandon Frick, Rev. Hallie Hottle, Dr. Rodger Nishioka and Rev. Zach Walker.
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Curate Your Heart - 4.15.18-5.27.18Some have said we are defined by our work. Some have said we are what we eat. At the deepest level, we are what we love. We can love all manner of things. We love our families and we love vacation. We love our country and we can love good coffee. It seems that love just happens, that love is something into which we fall. But love is also chosen. It is important to ask ourselves if we love the right things. In this sermon series, we will explore how following the life of Christ is a practice of training our hearts to want what God wants, to love the right things. If we are what we love, then curating our hearts is important work.
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When Things Have Gone Wrong - 2.25.18-4.1.18The season of Lent is a slow walk to the cross. On one hand, the cross is shocking. On the other hand, it is expected. Things go wrong in everyone’s life. Life is not fair. No one escapes suffering. Power is often used in abusive fashion. The passion of Christ did not eliminate the brokenness in our world, but he did battle it every day. He showed us the healing difference that love can make in a world that always knows pain and disappointment. The life of Christ is not simplistic or Pollyanna, but it is hope when things have gone wrong.
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How Do You Know? - 1.21.18-2.11.18Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” It’s an important question, but there is another question to answer frst. How do you know the truth is genuinely true? How do you know that there are 300 sextillion stars in the universe or that you are made of atoms? How do you know that Columbus “discovered” America? How do you know that Jesus is Lord? How do you know that Muhammad is not? There is likely disagreement on any of these truth claims. In this series, we will consider not simply what it means to talk about the content of truth, but how we know the truth to be true.
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A Stranger Came to Town - 12.3.17-12.24.17This is a season of tradition. We read the same stories. We sing the same hymns. We light the purple candles. We kneel at the manger and we have learned the angels' songs by heart. We walk this same journey because the love that fashioned the universe and its billions of galaxies has chosen, in grace, to take on skin and walk where we walk. The Word became flesh.
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The Places Hope Takes You - 10.22.17-11.12.17Hope is a funny thing. It can be illusive, slipping through our fingers with the slightest disappointment. Hope can be surprisingly strong, showing up in the most challenging circumstances. From those who have gone before us in faith, we have seen that hope is not simply an attitude, it is a choice. Hope is not a wish for this or that, but hope is a power. When we lean into our hope, it can take us to places that we would not know otherwise.
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It Takes a Village - 9.10.17-10.15.17We sometimes assume that Jesus, by the time he was old enough to talk, was fully aware that he was the Christ and knew just how to live as God’s son in human history. But there are moments in the Gospel story when Jesus encountered others who seemed to teach him who he was or at least how to live as God’s son. It’s not too much to say that in some of these encounters Jesus learned how to be Jesus. There is not a one of us who comes to a life of faith and faithfulness without the mentoring of others. That seems to be true for Jesus as well. Perhaps we can learn from those who taught him.
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End of Summer Worship – 8.6.17-9.3.17We begin with Organ Dedication Sunday on Aug. 6, celebrating the completion of Opus 22, the Village Church on Mission pipe organ. Dr. Rodger Nishioka preaches Aug. 13. Rev. Len Carrell preaches Aug. 20. We will hear about our Village Youth summer mission trips on Youth Sunday, Aug. 29. And Rev. Jenny McDevitt preaches Labor Day Sunday, Sept. 3.
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Living Unafraid in a Frightening World – 4.30.17-7.30.17When Easter was over and the world got back to normal, some recognized there was a new normal now. The world today is a place of crosses. Bodies fail and hearts break, systems and structures crush the powerless. There is enough in this world to scare you to death. But Jesus is alive now—there is a new normal. Jesus is alive now, so we can live, even in this world, as a people who are living unafraid in a frightening world.
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The People You Meet Along the Way – 3.5.17-4.23.17Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem. It was a journey on foot and a journey of the heart. A cross awaited him. When you know the end is near your time is precious and you pay attention to the people around you. Jesus spoke with his followers, and a rich man. He noticed children and an impoverished woman. Jesus paid attention to them all. We will pay attention to them as well, and discover that there is a little bit of all of them in us. I suppose that means we are on the journey as well, at least the journey of the heart.
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I know that’s what it says, but that’s not what it means! - 1.1.17-2.26.17The Bible is a complicated book, written over hundreds of years in various context and diverse circumstances. And then, it is read 2,000 years later in a world and culture the Biblical writers could not have imagined. Given all of that, it’s easy to misunderstand the Bible. When it is misunderstood the good news can often sound like bad news for some folks. When it is misunderstood it can often make the Bible more difficult to trust. In this sermon series, we will take just a few passages that have often been confusing and see if there is a life-giving word for us.
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What are You Waiting For? - 11.27.16 - 12.25.16The Advent season is a season of waiting. We will wait in lines and we will wait in traffic. That’s part of the season. But the spiritual waiting that we do is different. The waiting we do as people of faith is determined by our hope. And waiting in line is passive, but Christian waiting is active. It takes all you have. So, what are you waiting for? For what do you hope?
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God’s Beloved World-It is Beautiful, but Broken - 10.30.16 - 11.20.16
This is God’s world. But the ways of this world are not as God intends. Anyone can see that and many complain about the way things are, but faith invites us to hold a new perspective. Even when broken, the world is beautiful. It’s not just the color of nature or the sounds that fill the air; it is the beauty of human compassion, genuine friendship, and humble service. The broken world is still beautiful. And this world is loved by God, so it should be loved by us. Such love is the currency of Christian living.
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Love Your Neighbor and Other Spiritual Truths - 9.11.16 - 10.23.16When Europe was falling apart in the 1940’s, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a little book called Life Together. It was an exploration of the fundamental “neighborly” or communal aspect of Christian faith. Sometimes we say that the love of Christ shows up in our hearts. A better way to say that is the love of Christ shows up in our relationships. We are part of many communities: family, church family, national community… the list goes on. Paying attention to this fundamental truth of Christian faith is what gives our faith energy and hope. But, because people are people, it is also why we need to time and again remind ourselves that Jesus calls us to love our neighbor.
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More than a Summer Picnic - 6.12.16 - 8.28.16Someone once said, in Luke’s Gospel Jesus seems to be at a meal, on his way to a meal, or on his way from a meal. The table is an important place. It is a place of story-telling. It is a place of community building. Sometimes the table is the place where we gain a glimpse of the promised day of God. When Jesus is at the table, grace is served and life is good. When Jesus is at the table, there is always enough and there is always room for others. This summer we will join Jesus at the tables of his ministry. There we will find not simply a summer picnic, but a feast!
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The Things to Say When It Matters Most - 5.1.16 - 6.5.16The First and Second Letters of Timothy are compiled as letters that the apostle Paul wrote when he knew his life was nearing its end. Timothy was a generation younger and Paul considered him a “son in the faith.” In these few words we find the apostle teaching, offering encouragement and at times he writes what can only be described as deep love. We will spend several weeks “listening in” as the apostle Paul, knowing his time in this life is drawing near, share “the things to say when it matters most.”
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Resurrection: It's More Than You Think - 4.3.16 - 4.24.16Easter Sunday is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a joyful and triumphant day. But resurrection is more than a day of jubilation. Resurrection is God’s holy and loving choice to raise Jesus from death. Resurrection is the promise of life after death—but it is more than that. Resurrection speaks to our fears and our ethics; it reorders priorities and provides the foundation for real hope. Resurrection is personal enough to whisper your name but it is also cosmic in scope. Throughout the month of April, when the lilies have faded and the egg hunts have passed, the pastors of Village Church will share with you what they think about resurrection, and how it shapes their lives.
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Treasure in Clay Jars - 2.14.16 - 3.27.16The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth that the Gospel Ministry is a “treasure we hold in clay jars.” This is a metaphor that resonates because we all know how fragile faith can be. We know how fragile Christians can be. One of the wonders of grace is that God continues to be found among the weak and fragile of faith. God’s treasure is carried in clay jars, meaning God’s beauty can show up in our brokenness. It’s good news. I hope you will join us to hear it.
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The House of God and Our Home - 1.3.16 - 2.7.16God is not tied to any particular place. It is true that God can be worshipped anywhere. But we have learned that it is important to have a place, a holy place where we worship. We, at Village, have a room that on one hand is like any room; and on another hand is like no other room. Join us in January as we consider what makes this room holy.
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This Little Light of Mine - 11.29.15 - 12.24.15John begins the Gospel this way: the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. It is an honest confession of the hope we witness in the one who rested in manger straw. He is light; but there is darkness as well. His light shines not only before us, but through us. Given the pervasiveness of what John would call darkness in the world, our light can seem pretty small. But this little light is enough. That is our honest confession of hope. This Advent series will offer reflections on the power of God’s light in our lives. If you are needing a little hope these days, you will want to be with us in worship.
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The Giver That Keeps on Giving – 10.11.15 - 11.22.15The Apostle Paul writes, “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus.” He writes this to the Corinthians, but he could have written it to us. But Jesus is not the only gift of God’s grace. So is God’s work of creation itself. Even the law, as well as the prophets, are expressions of God’s generosity. This sermon series will focus on God as The Giver That Keeps on Giving.
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Back to School – 9.6.15 - 10.4.15He said, “Come and follow me,” and they became disciples. The Greek word for “disciple” is mathetas, and it means “student, learner.” It is a good word for a sermon series called “Back to School.” Jesus would be their rabbi, which means “teacher”; and they would be his mathetas, his students. Therefore, one way to think of Christian faith is it’s a matter of going to school — or back to school.
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