13 Homilies Your Community Needs to Hear - Part III

In this four-part blog series, I am sharing 13 homilies or teachings people need to hear regularly for their personal spiritual health and growth as well as for the communal health of the parish.

So far we covered:

• One: God loves you.
• Two: Everyone you meet matters to God.
• Three: We need Christian community.
• Four: Preach on prayer basics.
• Five: Faith and finances are connected.
• Six: Give to your place of worship as an act of worship.

Here are seven through nine:

Seven: We need Christian community for our spiritual health and growth.

One of the great lies and misconceptions of our generation is that we don’t need the Church or a community for a healthy relationship with God. People think they can commune with God in nature or in their own time and that is enough for a healthy spiritual life. At the same time and not surprisingly, many people experience great feelings of loneliness and isolation. More people feel alone, and as a Church we have the answer of Christian community and fellowship. Small groups present the best way to deliver Community and fellowship. One or two times a year, present on our need for community and use that opportunity to invite members of the parish into small groups.

Eight: Breakdown the real “F” word.

Sorry to be cheeky, but I have always wanted to do a series by that title. Father Michael as always wisely said no. Each week in the creed, we confess, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins.” We pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us." Forgiveness is core to our faith and vital for our spiritual growth and mental health. Despite this fact, most people don’t understand forgiveness and don’t know how to do it. Forgiveness simply means canceling a debt. It is not saying something didn’t matter and pretending it didn’t happen or someone doesn’t owe you. It did matter. Someone does owe you, but you decide to cancel the debt just as Jesus canceled yours. It’s simple but certainly not easy.

Many people suffer as the result of their lack of knowledge and unforgiveness. My wife runs our healing prayer team. When praying for someone’s healing, she always asks if there is someone they need to forgive. Unforgiveness blocks the healing God wants to do in our souls and sometimes the healing he wants to bring to our bodies.

This Fall will present a great opportunity to preach on forgiveness. The second weekend in September, the Gospel is on the parable of the unforgiving servant. In my opinion, this is Jesus’ most powerful teaching on the importance of forgiveness.

Nine: You were made to serve. God wants to use you to serve in and outside the Church.

Serving is vital to becoming more like Christ. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) Not only does serving make us more like Christ, but there are good works God had in mind for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the good works he prepared for us in advance that we should walk in them.” These are good works we were created to do that flow out of our gifts and abilities.

We often blame people for not stepping up to serve, but many times people don’t serve because they are not sure they have anything to offer. They feel unworthy. When you read the call of the prophets and saints in Scripture, they often respond with fear and knowledge of their inadequacy.

Once a year, invite people to serve in the Church and use their gifts to build his kingdom. Remind them that he has gifted them in some way and that they will find meaning and purpose as they use their talents for God’s glory.

If you are looking for some creative ways to present messages, consider our content library. You can find it at rebuiltparish.com/content.

Rooting for you,
Tom