Fall 2020 Sermon Series - Sep. 13 - Oct. 21

"What is the Promise:  A Series on Grace and Our Purpose?"

Week 1:  Sep. 13

Text:  Gen. 2:4b-7, 15-17;  3:1-8

Promise/Grace:  God desires us so much that God's loving creation of us and the world is the promise that takes priority over everything else

Purpose/Calling:  God created us to serve the creation by caring for its health and future;  our first purpose in life is to be servants of others and the world in whichever ways we carry out our lives 

 

Week 2:  Sep. 20

Text:  Gen. 15:1-6

Promise/Grace:  God gives faith to us to trust God and be aligned with Him

Purpose/Calling:  Having an intentional prayer life in which we seek God's blessing and direction

 

Week 3:  Sep. 27

Text:  Gen. 37:3-8, 17b-22, 26-34;  50:15-21

Promise/Grace:  Only God can provide forgiveness;  humans do not want to do this naturally.  With forgiveness, there is always a way forward

Purpose/Calling:  "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us;"  being a forgiver, not holding grudges, not being vengeful

 

Week 4:  Oct. 4

Text:  Exodus 12:1-13;  13:1-8

Promise/Grace:  God provides a beginning for a way out of oppression for those who love God

Purpose/Calling:  Desire to see others' oppression and work to lift it

 

Week 5:  Oct. 11

Text:  Exodus 32:1-14

Promise/Grace:  God's mercy is greater than God's wrath;  this is a good, healthy God, not a demanding, narcissistic god

Purpose/Calling:  Our mercy should always be greater than our wrath

 

Week 6:  Oct. 18

Text:  I Samuel 1:9-11, 19-20;  2:1-11

Promise/Grace:  God is willing to let us see that we can converse with God with our deepest feelings;  God stoops to be in our real, daily lives

Purpose/Calling:  We should approach God regularly and with utter awe and hopeful seriousness