Peace Seymour Weekly Messages

We Are Scared (Palm Sunday) - Matthew 14:22-33 Pain / Promise: We are scared / Jesus comforts us

There is much to be afraid of and fear in this world. We fear the storms and waves of this world. We know that while we have trust in Jesus, there is no promise that we will not suffer in this world. There is pain, suffering, and things that can happen to us that we fear. We often rely on ourselves to save us, but our own bravery or ability is not what saves us. In fact it is not enough to save us from the storms and waves of life. Jesus alone saves us. He saves us from sin, death, the devil, and all that we fear in this world. Just as Jesus was with the disciples and watching out for them, we know he is always with us, even if our worst fears come to fruition. We do not have to fear, because Jesus has saved us from this world, he is with us, and he brings us comfort and peace when we fear, and takes our hand to save us from this world.

We Are Guilty - John 7:53-8:11 Pain / Promise: We are ashamed / Jesus removes our guilt

We are guilty of sin. We feel the burden of our wrongdoing and choices in life. We have to bear the consequences of our actions that include our actions that have hurt us, hurt others, and the punishment for those actions. We feel not only guilt, but also shame over who we are and what we have done. We feel unlovable, ashamed, and we know we are guilty. Though we are guilty, Jesus removes our guilt. He forgives and removes our sin. He takes away our shame by embracing us in our shame in his humiliation in the world and on the cross. He loves us even though we are unlovable, and his love makes us lovable. He creates what is lovely in us, and he frees us from our past that we may go and sin no more, but rejoice in what he has done for us, by taking our shame and guilt away from us.

We Hurt - Matthew 9:18-26 Pain / Promise: We hurt / Jesus heals

There are many hurts and sicknesses we deal with in this world. There is acute, surprising, unforeseen hurts and injuries that we encounter. There are also chronic diseases, nagging hurts that won't go away, and life changing events we don't know how to come back from. Life is difficult, it's rough on us, the world is broken and people and things can hurt us. Jesus heals all our hurts. Jesus came not only to save us, but to heal all the hurts and damage that this world inflicts on us. Just as he healed both the young girl who had died, and the old woman who suffered for many years, he heals us from our hurts, both now, miraculously and through those he has called to heal on earth, and ultimately when he comes to remove all our pain and hurts.

We Are Lost - Mark 5:1-15 Pain / Promise: We are lost / Jesus finds us and gives us purpose

It's easy to become lost in this world. Whether we intentionally stray from God, seeking to run from him, or we find ourselves slowly drifting and tempted from him, we all can feel lost. When the things we hope give us purpose and freedom are taken from us, that is when we are lost. We seek other things to rescue us, strengthen us, give us freedom, give us what we desire, but these all fall flat at some point. Jesus was sent to seek and save the lost. He finds and saves the man suffering from demon possession in Gentile country. He finds and saves you by sending his Holy Spirit to you, and saving you from your sin and giving you true salvation and freedom in him. Not only that, but just as he did for the man, he gives you purpose, by sending you out that by his Holy Spirit, he may use you to seek and save the lost with his Gospel promises.

We Are Broken - Luke 7:11-17 Pain / Promise: We are broken / Jesus restores

In our world, there is much brokenness. Much is damaged, destroyed, hurt, and killed. Things that can go wrong, often do go wrong. We have worries, fears, and worst case scenarios that often become realized. When they do, we wonder, what next? What are we to do? How do we recover? What's our next step? What now? We do not need to fear what will come next. We know that our God has come, that Jesus has come, to restore all that is broken. To fix what is wrong. To mend all that has been destroyed by sin, death, and the devil. We have hope that what is broken will be restored, just as the widow's son was brought back to life, and the widow back into a hopeful future. We know that Jesus has come, to bring us a hope for our future in him, that all things will be restored.

We Are Alone - Samuel 9:1-11 Pain / Promise: We are alone / Jesus welcomes us to the table

We can often feel as though we are alone. We are broken people, unlovable, outside the love and affections of others, our friends, family, and even God's love. We despair that we are on our own, attempting to make it through life without the love, support, and help of others. Yet in the church, in God's family, we are never alone. Rather we are invited to the table, that is, to God's table. We are adopted and made a member of God's family. While we were once enemies of God, afraid and hiding from him, we are forgiven, embraced, made at peace with God, and invited to a spot forever at his table, in his kingdom forever. In Mephibosheth's story, we see ourselves, and the love of the King, our heavenly father.

We Are Dust (Ash Wednesday) - Job 42:1-6 Pain / Promise: We are dust / Jesus forgives

Our lives are full of pain. We can easily become bitter about this. Where is God? Why won't he act? What did I do to deserve this? Why am I being punished? We feel a sense of injustice, just as Job did. We feel abandoned by God even. As if he has left us and is nowhere to be found. We do deserve suffering in this world, because we have brought sin into it. Yet, we know that God does not punish us for our sins, but forgives us when we repent of our sin and turn back to him. God grants us forgiveness and restores us to himself just as he restored Job's health, wealth, and gave him a family again. We know God does not always bless us with earthly gifts, but that he blesses us with forgiveness, and a bright future with him! He raises us from dust to a restored life!

Who We Are - People of Hope - Acts 2:42-47 Core Value: Growing Together

We often think that faith is a personal, static thing. Once we get confirmed, we can coast in our church life and community for the rest of our lives. We know all the stuff we need to, we've 'arrived' or 'graduated' church, and now we simply punch our 'church card' once a week (or month, or year). Yet, we are called to grow not only in faith and knowledge of God and his word, but in our practice and love for one another, but few among us do so. The church is more than just a club or group. It's a living, breathing, God ordained community where God's presence is found and the Holy Spirit nurtures and strengthens our faith in the gifts of God's word and sacrament and the community of believers itself! When we come to this place, we are blessed by God's forgiveness, his presence and promises, the community of followers of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who forms us to love and serve each other.

Who We Are - People on a Mission - Peter 3:8-17 Core Value: Outreach Oriented

We often desire to prove and argue our faith with others. This can be a great practice and skill as people learn about our faith. Yet in our world and culture today, people cannot be argued into faith. Many have tried and failed to use 'traditional apologetics' to prove that Jesus lived, died, rose again, and is coming back soon. Still, many disbelieve, make excuses to not believe, and they simply reject Jesus' word. Trusting that it's the work of the Holy Spirit to convert and not our own, we ought to seek a 'new apologetic' in a post-modern world where rationalism and modernism alone often do not bring people to faith. We are called to remember Christ's suffering and death. He lived and died for our sins and gives us the gift of life in him as the door to eternal life! We also see how he loved and suffered for us, and calls us to bear our crosses, even as he bore the cross for us. The 'new apologetic' and best defense for the faith that we have, is to live like our faith does matter. To have hope. To trust in Jesus' promises. To suffer with and for others. To show hospitality and Christ-like love. To live as Peter calls us to, as those whose lives have been transformed by the life-changing love of Jesus. To reach out to others by living the life that Jesus calls us to.

Who We Are - People of Truth - Cor. 10:23-11:1 Core Value: Modern-Casual Worship

Style, practice, and form of worship often is given too much emphasis in our world today. We church shop, have preferences, and pick apart good and salutary worship, both in a 'contemporary' and 'traditional' style. Rather than seek what is best for the community and for those in worship, we argue, debate, and resent those who practice the faith a certain way. All things are lawful for us as people of faith. Yet, not all things are helpful. We are called to simply proclaim the good news of Jesus to those who need to hear it in our community and culture, and give the gifts that build up while promoting spiritual practices that build up. We are called first to be faithful, and we know that the Spirit uses the church and his word to guide us into faithfulness. Our motivation in our worship, and in our lives, is not a personal preference or a mandate to articulate the Gospel a certain way, but a thoughtful, prayerfully considered expression of the glory of God shown to us in Jesus Christ.