HillsidePA Sermons Shelley Lee

We have begin a new sermon series called "Restoration". Just as every snowflake and star is different, so God's work in each of us produces a unique individual with a distinctive purpose and story. Today we are going to hear one of those stories. Tom Eaton will share what God has done and continues to do in his life through a lot of adversity.

"'Didn't I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?' Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed." -John 21:15-19We know what failure looks like. It's easy to relate to Peter's denial of Jesus. We've all failed. It seemed like a final failure, too--Jesus died without a chance for Peter to even ask for forgiveness. After the resurrection, Jesus invited Peter to breakfast. Peter might have expected to hear "I told you that you would fail." Instead, listen this morning to what Jesus really said.

"Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?"When we are offended, we fell just in being angry, righteous in resentment and entitled to revenge. It is an empowering and energizing experience that is the heartbeat of half the movies made in Hollywood and many daydreams of ordinary people. Surrendering such an attractive and natural dream is the last thing we want to do. Yet, Jesus insists on it. He requires it. He commands it. But how can we let it go?

"Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her"This passage is not an endorsement of adultery--It is rather a condemnation of prejudice. Prejudice is "pre-judging" people because we have decided already that they are guilty and need not be treated according to the Golden Rule. Jesus does not argue that she is innocent, but he treats her as a human being whose worth is not limited to her behavior. Listen again to the words of James MacDonald on the cover of the bulletin. "If you are wrong in the way you are right, you are wrong even if you are right."

The first in a series about forgiving others.

Revelations 20:11 -14; Daniel 7:9-14The book of Revelations is filled with judgment. Each of the repeating cycles (seals, trumpets, signs, and bowls) expand on the consequences of rebellion against God and the practice of evil. In this chapter we come to the end of the age and the final judgment. "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life" (Revelations 20:11-12)