Sermon Scripture: John 18:33-38  (NRSV)   All of us are subject to some kind of power structure. While this may make us uncomfortable, power structures often serve good purposes. It is also true, however, that power can corrupt. Unchecked power and authority often leads parties, institutions, and persons to seek after their own good rather than the good of others.   What the world needs is a group of people who bear witness to this Christ-like power. We are to be that people!    May we commit ourselves to the task of not just understanding the broken signposts, but answering the invitation to bear witness to how they are redefined on the cross.

Emmaus Road Sermons

Broken Signposts Part 8: Power

Sermon Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-16 (NRSV)   As Pastor Daniel leads us this week, we take a peak the Broken Signpost of rest. Culture is constantly shaping our faith, often numbing us to the beautiful hope it holds. As we consider how the faith to which we are called flows counter to our culture, we discover the freedom promised to those who swim against the flow.    Hear the good news! Because God loves us, we lack for nothing; because God forgives us, we have everything we need; because God surrounds us with sisters and brothers, we do not journey alone.

Broken Signposts Part 7: Rest

Sermon Scripture: John 18:33-38 (NRSV) Of all the broken signposts, we would expect truth to be the least broken. But, our relationship with truth isn't quite as straight forward as we might expect.  As with all the signposts, once we have understood truth in light of Christ, we are invited to bear witness to this in the world. We are invited to be ambassadors of truth - not by defending it - but by embodying new creation, faithfully pointing people to Jesus, and showing that self-giving love is the most powerful force in the world. To be people of truth is not, primarily, to clearly articulate doctrine; but to love well. 

Broken Signposts Part 6: Truth

Sermon Notes: bit.ly/3kJG59j Sermon Scripture: John 8:31-36 (NRSV) The freedom of personal choice is not the same as freedom given in service of a purpose or goal. There is a difference between freedom from something and freedom for something. Central to the story of God is that God desires both kinds of freedom for humanity. May we know that our inclination toward freedom has always been God-given and may we be sure to define our freedom according to the example of Christ and the freedom offered in Christ. 

Broken Signposts Part 5: Freedom

Sermon Scripture: John 11:38-44 (NRSV)   As we consider the resurrection of Lazarus this week, may this quote guide us us.   Our human drive for beauty, for transcendent meaning, turns out to be more than we ever expected. It is God-given: a signpost, designed to lead us back to his presence. Ah, we sigh, be it ends in darkness and horror, with the dust of death covering over the beauty in thick, choking layers of ugliness. Yes, says John, but see what the creator God now does. He makes a way through death and out the other side into new creation, new beauty, and life." -N.T. Wright, Broken Signposts (pg. 110)

Broken Signposts Part 4: Beauty

Sermon Scripture: John 15:1-8 (NRSV) In our world, religion is often seen as an old idea, and unnecessary weight to carry. Spirituality, on the other hand, frees us from that weight while also allowing us to pursue the deep questions of life. How might the scriptures help us make sense of all of this?

Broken Signposts Part 3: Spirituality

Sermon Scripture: John 2:17-22 (NRSV) The concept of love has captured the imagination of artists and communicators for generations. From love found and lost, find my one true love, to the love of family and friendship; love is everywhere in our movies, books, and art. Underneath all the messages about love, there is one common denominator - we all want love! We know that love matters. But love is also difficult. Love can easily be corrupted or cheapened. To help us make sense of this broken signpost, let's turn to John 2:17-22.

Broken Signposts Part 2: Love

Sermon Scripture: John 18:33-40; John 19:13-16a (NRSV) Broken signposts are the things in the world that point us in a direction or give us a hint of how things should be and how things should work, but ultimately are difficult to fully grasp or don't work as they should.  This week, we will explore the theme of justice.

Broken Signposts Part 1: Justice

Sermon Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11 (NRSV)   When God commands rest, he liberates the Hebrew people from the pressure of endless production. God releases them from basing value on productivity. He demonstrates that the well-being of creation does not depend on endless work. Instead, God calls them to rhythms of rest so that they can focus on relationship with God and others. God invites them into a relationship based on covenant instead of commodity.   Play connects us to the present moment. It allows us to let go of the hurts and disappointments of the past. It enables us to release the worries and anxieties of the future. When we play, what matters is only the present moment.    Both become vital tools in enabling us to Resist Rage in our culture.

Resisting Rage Part 7: Sabbath & Play

Sermon Scripture: Mark 11:15-19 (NRSV)    Whenever you talk about rage or the call for Christians to be peacemakers, there is one episode in the life of Jesus that inevitably comes up - Jesus tossing tables in the temple. This story is told in all four gospels, so it clearly is significant.    So, Jesus did get angry. But, as the witness of the Gospels shows us, Jesus got angry about matters of injustice! Jesus got angry - usually with religious leaders and systems - when those systems weren't embodying God's shalom in the way there were supposed to! If our anger leads us to hold a grudge, refuse forgiveness, lose our temper, or bring harm to others, there is little use for it.   But, if our anger causes us to fight for the rights of the oppressed, or seek to correct injustice, then anger can be a generative force for good in the world.

Resisting Rage Part 6: The Place for Righteous Anger

Sermon Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16 (NRSV)   Learning from the Apostle Paul’s exchange with the church in Emphasis, we are given an instructions manual-like description of the basic requirements of Christian living and how to do so. We are to follow the example of Jesus, act peacefully, and to actively maintain and establish good relationships with others.   Sounds simple enough right? Join us as we investigate the challenges and graces God provides to us as we live as peacemakers.

Resisting Rage Part 5: Living As Peacemakers

Sermon Scripture: 4:31-32   God the Creator is drawing together a community of any who will place their faith in Christ as the world's true King. This new community is unified through the work of the Spirit and is to embody a new type of humanity.   While this community is unified in principle through Christ and the Spirit, the community must work to be unified in practice by putting off the old humanity and putting on the new humanity.   Practically speaking, we are to put away all bitterness, anger, and rage and put on kindness that imitates God.

Resisting Rage Part 4: Breaking the Cycle of Outrage

Sermon Scripture: John 6   Please join us as Pastor Rick Edwards leads us on a discovery of John 6, The Feeding of the Five Thousand

Resisting Rage Part 3: Feeding the Five Thousand

Sermon Scripture: Matthew 23:1-15   If we are to resist the rage that is so common in our culture, we must recognize how gently and patiently God deals with us. Following right after that, though, we are called to extend that same gentleness and patience to others. Key to the Christian witness in the world today is to resist rage and not add to the collective sense of angst and anger.   Jesus deals gently with people, but there is one exception. Jesus was pretty harsh toward the scribes and the pharisees (see Mt. 23:1-15).   Their role was to study the scriptures and determine the heart of God. However, instead of allowing themselves to be formed and shaped by their study, they presumed themselves to be superior to others based on their knowledge. They used the scriptural text to hold power over people in order to elevate themselves.   If we are to resist rage and allow ourselves to be a shelter from the storm, we must allow the Spirit of God to remove any pharisee tendencies in us.

Resisting Rage Part 2: Resisting the Pharisee

Sermon Scripture: John 1:43-51   Consider for a moment the story of Philip and Nathanael in John 1. Philip had become a follower of Jesus believed that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. This meant a change in Philip’s worldview, political convictions, and social interactions.   Philip goes to Nathanael and says, "I've found the Messiah!" But Nathanael cynically responds, "Nothing good can come out of Nazareth.”   Philip offered Nathanael an invitation to "come and see." Despite seeming like they are worlds apart, these two go on a path of discovery together. Already we can learn something from this invitation; don’t be afraid of new information! Explore. Read the article. Find out for yourself.

Resisting Rage Part 1: The Gentleness of God

Emmaus Road Church is a church in Fort Collins, CO that gathers to be formed as followers of Jesus through faith practices, community, and liturgy. We invite you to join us each Sunday at 10:00am.

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Emmaus Road Sermons

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