On Sundays in October at 8:10am and 10:30am, our Christian Civics sermon series will explore what scripture teaches about living faithfully in community with others. From remembering that everyone matters to God to resisting the “golden calves” that compete for our allegiance, we’ll consider our responsibilities to the wider community and what it means to seek justice and care for those who are vulnerable. We’ll also look at Jesus’ teaching about our obligations in civic life and his call to love, honor, and respect our neighbors – even those with whom we disagree. Together, we’ll ask what it looks like to put our faith into practice as followers of Jesus in today’s world.
October 4 – World Communion Sunday: Everyone Matters to God
October 11 – Golden Calves Lead Us Astray (Exodus 32:1-5 & Matthew 6:24) While Moses is compiling the law up on the mountain, the people have gotten a taste of it with the Ten Commandments, and they decide they want a new god—a party god, a golden god.
You see the way God ordered civic life, calling us to provide Sabbath for workers and immigrants (Exodus 20), not oppress immigrants (Exodus 22-23), treat immigrants like citizens (Leviticus 19), and ensure justice for the vulnerable (Deuteronomy). Jesus tells us clearly that we cannot serve both God and wealth.
There is a lot of Christian nationalism or Americanism that forgets our duty to care for others, and part of this duty was inscribed in the law. Jesus does not endorse capitalism or socialism but calls us to take care of people.
October 18 – Giving Back Caesar’s Coins (Matthew 22:16-22) Jesus tells us that we have certain responsibilities even to Caesar, such as paying our taxes. Isaiah 1 thunders doom upon the nation, but what has God so fired up? Is it that the people are not worshiping properly or are proclaiming some kind of heterodoxy? No! The national sin is forgetting to do good, seek justice, help the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow, stop taking bribes, and stop showing preference for the powerful.
October 25 – Loving (Honoring, Respecting) All Our Neighbors (Matthew 22:34-40) The Greatest Commandment: treating our neighbors as we long to be treated. Who is our neighbor? What does it mean to do right by our opponents?
Hunter shared: The October 25 theme makes me think about the story of the Good Samaritan, which starts with someone asking Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” It also brings to mind the story of the rich young ruler, who asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Perhaps these could be helpful for that week!