I Have a Question

A Village Church Sermon Series
May 8-July 10, 2022
Life raises questions. Sometimes it raises questions that require a response from our faith. The teaching of the faith raises questions as well. Sometimes it requires that we ponder how the faith relates to the demands of ordinary life. Each Sunday, we bring such questions to worship. Each Sunday from May 8-July 10, the sermons will speak to many of the questions you have raised. Does prayer work? Can we love our enemies? Why do bad things happen to good people? How do we deal with all the divisions in our world? Rev. Tom Are hopes that these messages will spur your own thinking about how you respond to questions such as these.
May 8
What are the Four Things? (What Do We Tell Our Children?)
May 15
Should We Be Talking About This in Church? (The Politics of Jesus)
May 22
Innocent Suffering: I Have No Answers, But I Do Have Responses
May 29
Love Will Win
June 5
Teach Us to Pray
June 12
Can Prayer Change God’s Mind?
June 19
Forgive Us as We Forgive
June 26
Forgive and Forget?
July 3
A Patriotism Informed by Citizenship
July 10
Love Your Enemies? What Good Will That Do?
Love Your Enemies? What Good Will That Do?
Rev. Tom Are - July 10, 2022
There is little that can disappoint us more than other people. People who are unjust and lack compassion. People who lie and take advantage of any weakness in another. People who just don’t get it. Don’t you just wanna smack ‘em?! Our scripture reading is Matthew 5:43-48.
A Patriotism Informed by Citizenship
​Rev. Tom Are - July 3, 2022
Half a year away the holiday we celebrate is Christmas. On that December night, we celebrate that God loved this world so much God chose to live in the world, to dwell with us. God’s love for this world is the foundational reason people of faith love where we live. The love of God is the basis for faithful patriotism. Our scripture reading is Mark 12:28-34.
Forgive and Forget?
Rev. Tom Are - June 26, 2022​
Philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” But what happens when the remembered past is painful? The pains of yesterday have a way of claiming power today. Or as William Faulkner once said, “The past isn’t dead. It’s not even past.” Memory is a powerful thing; it is also a risky thing. Sometimes we need to learn from the God who promises, “I will not remember your sins.” Our scripture reading is Isaiah 43:22-25.
Forgive Us as We Forgive
Rev. Tom Are - June 19, 2022
Forgiveness is as common to Christian faith as prayer, hymns or love. Every week we remind ourselves that God’s forgiveness knows no limit. That is good news, until we meet those whom we wish God would punish for their sin. Grace can be amazing; it can also be offensive. Our scripture reading is Matthew 18:21-35.
Can Prayer Change God’s Mind?
​Rev. Tom Are - June 12, 2022
Prayer meetings. Prayer chains. Prayer groups. Prayer requests. What happens in God because of these prayers? What happens in us? Today’s scripture reading is Luke 11:9-14.
Teach Us to Pray
Rev. Tom Are - June 5, 2022
Prayer is the most basic spiritual practice. And yet, even those who pray with discipline and regularity seldom feel competent at prayer. Today we take comfort from the disciples who, even though they were with Jesus in person, pleaded with him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Our scripture reading is Luke 11:1-4.
Love Will Win
Rev. Tom Are - May 29, 2022
As the story goes, there are weeds in the wheat field. Every life will know heartbreak and pain. No one escapes. The love of God offers no protection from the misery in the world. But the love of God does offer a way through, and love will win. Our scripture reading is Matthew 13:24-30.
Innocent Suffering: I Have No Answers, But I Do Have Responses
Rev. Tom Are - May 22, 2022
One of the most moving moments in Paul’s letters is recorded in the opening verses of Philippians. Paul is in prison. The Philippian Christians have sent word to encourage Paul, to let him know that they are praying for him. What they hear back from Paul is his own words of encouragement to them: God is at work even in this dismal situation of prison. Therefore, do not be afraid. Rev. Tom Are journeys with Paul who has left us these words of encouragement. Our scripture reading is Philippians 1:12-14.
Should We Be Talking About This in Church? (The Politics of Jesus)
​Rev.  Tom Are - May 15, 2022
Rev. Tom Are preaches about his own understanding of how Christian faith engages the larger community. How do we do that in a faithful manner? What should our attitude be towards politics? What are we supposed to talk about in church? Tom admits he doesn't have all the answers, but he shares with you how he thinks about this.
What Are the Four Things? (What Do We Tell Our Children?)
Rev. Tom Are - May 8, 2022
The Sunday we announced this new sermon series, during the sermon Tom mentioned “the four things"—four pieces of advice he shared with his children. Since he failed to share what that advice was, many of you inquired, “What are the four things?” Today we begin this new series with a word on the four things, and it happens to be a good choice for a Sunday when we celebrate both baptism and mothers. Our scripture reading is Deuteronomy 6:20-25.

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