I'm following up my Easter sermon by exploring another avenue where we find ourselves confused and even away from God. On Easter Sunday, we explored how we often struggle to find our way to God because, when we go at it alone, we miss the help that God yearns to give us. It's only when we accept his help and guarantee that we can begin finding our way home.
Another way we struggle in finding our way home is to mistake our true home with our physical home, our pursuit of our own happiness with our pursuit of God's happiness . My sermon on April 19 will discuss how we have co-opted God's dream for the American Dream. In case you missed it in the bulletin, here is the promo for next week:
The American Dream has been exposed: The promise of home ownership and a good, stable job for those willing to work is far from the truth. The requirements of capital, emotional energy, and sacrifices in time and family have taken their toll. We've striven and worked and at the end of the day many of us find...nothing. At the root of this idolatry. We've sacrificed our relationship with God at the feet of our success only to find such a sacrifice hasn't gotten us anywhere.
But what if there is a better way? What if God desires to lighten our loads, bear our burdens, give us new priorities and values, and shape our lives around his dream instead of the American dream? "God has a dream?" you might ask. You bet he does! And it involves you and your happiness. Be with us next Sunday as we explore how God's Dream of new life and true freedom sets us free to live a life focused not on what we can build for ourselves, but what, with God's help, we can build with and for him.
2 Comments
4/13/2009 10:20:19 am
I love this for the obvious reasons, I hastily scratch down notes when you preach and now I can get a head start. Then I love this for the far-reaching reasons. There are those who will stumble upon your site who would not ordinarily get out of bed and make the effort to attend church on Sunday. They can get spiritually fed sitting at home in front of their computer. I will pray that God will add His blessings to your site as He has to your deliverance of His word. Each Sunday you seem to be more comfortable and enthusiastic as you share His good word. It shows.
Reply
4/14/2009 12:37:44 am
Thanks, Judy. I really appreciate your kinds words, and it's great having you and your family worship with us each Sunday. I probably won't do this every week, but on weeks where I have a lot to say I'm likely to create a handout. Take care!
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
This blog is for articles and book reviews. I post my sermons at my Sermons page, where you can listen to sermons online or download them in MP3 format.
Although I work for the Otisville Church of Christ in Otisville, Michigan, this blog represents my own thoughts and does not necessarily correspond to the views and workings of the Otisville Church of Christ. Categories
All
Archives
April 2019
![]() This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. |