Dec 4, 2016
A New American Dream
By: Pastor Penny
Series: (All)
December 4, 2016. People flock to find a leader. Why did people stream from all over to hear John the Baptist? Did his stark message of repentance represent an alternative reality for them, a new hope? Today Pastor Penny wonders whether it's time for us as Americans to not just repent, but to bear fruit too. A new American dream, a kingdom of God, is unfolding right now in our lives. How can we work with God to make it a reality on earth?
*** [Keywords: Bernie Sanders Charles Dew Chicken Coop Church Donald Trump Grantsburg WI Hail Mary full of grapes Holy Redeemer Howard be thy name John the Baptist Our father Martin in heaven Pastor Penny Pharisees Roman government Romans Sadducees The Making of a Racist Wisconsin alternative reality animal skin clothes baptism bear fruit children of God confess confession conservatives country end of life options flock healthcare historian holy fishes income tax kingdom of God leader leaders liberals lifestyle mental health issues new American dream new hope new laws oppressed peaceable kingdom poor racism recovering addicts repent repentance stark message tour unfolding unjust wild wilderness willing to change]
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- Dec 4, 2016A New American Dream
Dec 4, 2016A New American DreamBy: Pastor PennySeries: (All)December 4, 2016. People flock to find a leader. Why did people stream from all over to hear John the Baptist? Did his stark message of repentance represent an alternative reality for them, a new hope? Today Pastor Penny wonders whether it's time for us as Americans to not just repent, but to bear fruit too. A new American dream, a kingdom of God, is unfolding right now in our lives. How can we work with God to make it a reality on earth? *** [Keywords: Bernie Sanders Charles Dew Chicken Coop Church Donald Trump Grantsburg WI Hail Mary full of grapes Holy Redeemer Howard be thy name John the Baptist Our father Martin in heaven Pastor Penny Pharisees Roman government Romans Sadducees The Making of a Racist Wisconsin alternative reality animal skin clothes baptism bear fruit children of God confess confession conservatives country end of life options flock healthcare historian holy fishes income tax kingdom of God leader leaders liberals lifestyle mental health issues new American dream new hope new laws oppressed peaceable kingdom poor racism recovering addicts repent repentance stark message tour unfolding unjust wild wilderness willing to change]
- Nov 27, 2016Watching and Waiting
Nov 27, 2016Watching and WaitingBy: Pastor KeithSeries: (All)November 27, 2016. During this holiday shopping season, it can be difficult for us to wait for the hot sale. Waiting is hard. Christians have been waiting for the return of Jesus for a long time, even though we've always thought it would be any day now. In the gospel we are commanded to keep watch, for we do not know the hour of Jesus' return. If we do not keep watch, if we allow ourselves to become distracted, we might miss the voice of Jesus even if he calls us by name. In Pastor Keith's sermon today, he asks how can we do this? How can we live in the mean time, and still be ready for the end time? *** [Keywords: Abraham Abram Barabbas Black Friday Egyptians God sightings Hagar King Saul Martin Luther Matthew 24:37-44 Noah Romans Second Coming Side x Side Creative Syrians Thanksgiving asleep community distracted distraction end time impatient instant gratification keep watch mean time one taken one not pairs of people patience remarriage return sale shopping side by side unexpected hour waiting watchful watching]
- Nov 20, 2016Paradise
Nov 20, 2016
ParadiseBy: Pastor PennySeries: (All)November 20, 2016. If he were alive today, could Jesus have been elected president? In his own time, he was running to be the son of God, the Messiah. The religious leaders of the day saw him as a threat to their power, so they demanded his crucifixion. But the thief being crucified alongside him saw what he was. Jesus said he would be with him that day in paradise. In her sermon, Pastor Penny talks about the nature of paradise. Is it a place? How do we know? *** [Keywords: Gandhi India Jesus reigns Jewish Martin Luther King, Jr. Messiah Remember me when you come into your kingdom Today you will be with me in paradise action assassinated be there becoming right with God blinded campaign commander in chief crucified crucifixion defame opponents die by the sword elected end of the story face of God king king of love live by the sword mocking no formal leadership out of control pacifist paradise power president presidential material religious leaders salvation savior show up son of God spoiler take part thief threat undermined unpopular] - Nov 13, 2016If the Temple Begins to Crumble
Nov 13, 2016If the Temple Begins to CrumbleBy: Pastor PennySeries: (All)November 13, 2016. The election of 2016 is behind us. Some of us are exhilarated and our hearts are warm. Others of us have nothing but despair and anxiety for the future. Today Pastor Penny talks about the temples in our lives, the investments we make that can be vulnerable to destruction, and the advice Jesus has for us in times like these. He is our real temple, the rock on which we stand. In Jesus we are transformed and freed from being servants of hatred. *** [Keywords: Cathedral Basilica Jerusalem Jews KKK Ku Klux Klan Lincoln Memorial Lincoln, Nebraska Madrid National Cathedral Notre Dame Rome St. Peter's Basilica Westminster Abbey addiction aftermath animosity anxiety buildings church country crumble death despair destruction disease don't check out edifaces election exhilarated family festivals freed future gun control heartwarming immigration invested investments love political rabbi rebellion rock sacred holidays servants servants of hatred success temple transformed values volunteer vulnerable]
- Nov 6, 2016Blessed to Be a Blessing
Nov 6, 2016Blessed to Be a BlessingBy: Pastor KeithSeries: (All)November 6, 2016. Pastor Keith preaches on the Beatitudes from Luke 6:20-22, in which Jesus tells us both who is blessed and what is expected of them. God's blessings are meant to be shared and given away, not hoarded. So how can we do this? How can we share our blessings with others when we live in such a divided world? *** [Keywords: A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members African Americans Beatitudes Donald Trump Gandhi Golden Rule Hillary Clinton His representative Jewish Keith Wharton Luke 6:20-22 Roman soldiers SNL Saturday Night Live TV show Times Square Webster Rock Hill Ministries blessed to be a blessing blessings bumper sticker called into relationship candidates country debates defamed demons divided world do to others as you would have them do to you earthly income election excluded family gentile gift given away grocery store hated healed hoarding hungry leaders materially merciful mercy misunderstood not earned but received not hoarded parents poor prosperity gospel rancor reconciliation reputation reviled reward is great in Heaven shared skit spiritually support understand one another vote weep]
- Oct 30, 2016Free in Christ
Oct 30, 2016Free in ChristBy: Pastor PennySeries: (All)October 30, 2016. What does it mean to be free in Christ? Today Pastor Penny talks about the ways Christ's freedom shows itself in life. He can free us from peer pressure, from anger, or from perfectionism. He shows us that our successes and failures do not define us. So who are we, really? Martin Luther says we are both sinners and saints. But by God's grace, the saint is who becomes our new identity. *** [Keywords: Americans Claire God's grace I have called you by name; you are mine I know whose I am If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed Isaiah 43:1 John 8:36 Land of the free and home of the brave Martin Luther Martin Luther King, Jr. Reformation anger ballgame blog bullying clothes we can take off confirmation dreamt essays failures free at last free in Christ freedom girls new identity new school old Negro spiritual peer pressure perfectionism prejudice saints shoplifting sinners successes ugliest student]
- Oct 23, 2016An Empty Cup
Oct 23, 2016An Empty CupBy: Pastor PennySeries: (All)October 23, 2016. After illustrating with a skit the Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector in Luke 18:10-14, Pastor Penny talks about our need to come to God with an empty cup. The Pharisee in the story came seeking God's favor, his cup already full of what he thought was his virtue. But the tax collector came with his head down and acknowledged his sins. Is there something of the Pharisee in us? In our highly polarized society, how can we find common ground with our brothers and sisters? How can we come to God with an empty cup? *** [Keywords: Dianne Deck Luke 18:10-14 Pharisee Tax Collector Tom Palazzolo Twin Cities accomplishments beg for mercy beverage brothers burden chaplain common ground common sense confession cup already full diluted domestic violence simulation effective government empty cup fear firearms training fly by night offer forgiveness gun head down highly polarized society homeless industrious integrity justification justified mug narrow minded product racist remorse richness seeking God's favor self made self sufficient selfishness sinner sisters skit thin trigger virtues wedge]
- Oct 16, 2016Persistence and Earnestness
Oct 16, 2016Persistence and EarnestnessBy: Pastor KeithSeries: (All)October 16, 2016. Pastor Keith preaches on the Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge, from Luke 18:3-8. Throughout his ministry, Jesus lifted up those not worthy in the eyes of society: lepers, tax collectors, children, widows. For us, working for advocacy and a more just world is difficult. It can take daily prayer, and persistence like that of the widow in the story. Like Jesus, we know we won't escape all pain, but we also know that our earnestness can get God's attention and make all the difference. *** [Keywords: Argentina Buenos Aires Kingdom of God Luke 18:3-8 Pharisee Plaza de Mayo Roman culture advocacy authorities children dictator disappearance discipline earnestness economic support elected fairness husband impossible for mortals just world justice leper persistence possible for God prayer partner praying protests rallies regular prayer sit-ins tax collector two way street unjust judge where is my child widow women worthy]
- Oct 9, 2016Being Grateful
Oct 9, 2016Being GratefulBy: Pastor PennySeries: (All)October 9, 2016. How do we have a thankful heart? Pastor Penny preaches on Luke 17:11-19, in which Jesus heals ten people with leprosy, but only one, a Samaritan, returns to thank him. Would we be one of the nine, or the one? Do we feel a sense of entitlement because we're Christians? How can we learn to be more grateful? *** [Keywords: A. J. Jacobs ALS Babylonians Constitution Declaration of Independence Hansen's disease Jerusalem Jews Judaism Luke 17:11-19 Miranda rights Mount Gerizim Samaritan The Year of Living Biblically Torah bear arms behavioral disability cancer chosen people cruel deserved earned endowed by their Creator entitlement gift half breeds hate healing leprosy mental illness mercy right to life rights rules shunned skin thanked thankful heart thankfulness unclean]
- Oct 2, 2016Legacy of Care
Oct 2, 2016Legacy of CareBy: Pastor PennySeries: (All)October 2, 2016. Today Pastor Penny talks about the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. He was eccentric and impractical, but after spending time in prison he had a spiritual conversion, giving away all his possessions and preaching repentance. Is it possible that in our society today, we have too many possessions taking up our time and energy? Taking away from our families, our communities, and our world? How can we face our failures and have the power and courage to live a life of care, for others and for creation? How can we leave a legacy of care? *** [Keywords: Gospel of Matthew Italy Rome Saint Francis of Assisi Siena St. Peter's Cathedral addictive clothes compromise dangerous eccentric food guns impractical isolated joyful legacy of care leprosy lethal life of care lighten the load luggage military money party line polarities poor possessions prison public transportation reverence sharing shelter sister death smaller houses spiritual conversion up movie upgrade cell phone values womanizer]