Lawrenceville Christian Church

Lawrenceville Christian Church

Listen to audio sermons from Lawrenceville Christian Church featuring Rev. Diane Bales and Rev. Teresa Bensch. Lawrenceville Christian Church is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia in Gwinnett County. Find out more at lawrencevillechristianchurch.org

  1. Jul 7

    The Easy Yoke - July 5, 2026

    As you know, Teresa and I usually preach from the Revised Common Lectionary, which gives us a sequence of scriptures for the different seasons of the church year. Some of the lectionary scriptures are familiar stories that are enjoyable to retell and connect to our lives of faith. At other times, the lectionary pushes us out of our comfort zone and into passages that are perplexing, or hard to understand. That's definitely the case this week. The gospel reading from Matthew begins with Jesus addressing a crowd who have been criticizing both him and John the Baptist. He uses the image of children to shine a light on the failings of Jewish society. In a prayer to God, he reminds all who are listening that those who understand God are not the leaders or the powerful or the well-educated, but the lowly and innocent who trust in God. And then he closes his preaching with a passage of comfort: "Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest... for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." That last passage has been misunderstood over the ages. It's not a promise of an easy Christian life. As we know, living out our faith an be difficult, especially when others fail to understand or challenge our reasons for following the example of Jesus. Instead, Jesus is promising that those who follow him will be freed from onerous work that they are not well-suited for, and instead will find meaningful work that fulfills them. So how does this connect to our lives today? It's a promise of God's grace, and also a call to find ways to use our own skills and interests and passions to create a world where God's kingdom is realized and God's grace is extended to everyone. We will dig into this confusing and challenging passage, and see how it can guide us as a church. Hope you will join us in person this Sunday. First Christian Church of Lawrenceville is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia in Gwinnett County. Find out more by going to our website at https://lawrencevillechristianchurch....

  2. Jun 16

    Compassion That Organizes (Part 4) - June 14, 2026

    This week we’ll gather around Mark 6: 30–40, Mark’s brief but powerful introduction to the feeding of the five thousand. Unlike the other gospels, Mark begins with weary disciples returning from mission and a tired Jesus seeking rest. Yet when the crowd arrives, Jesus is “moved with compassion”, not just to feel something, but to do something. As Barbara Brown Taylor reminds us, “Jesus doesn’t just feel compassion; he does compassion.” Mark shows us a Savior whose compassion organizes people, gathers them, teaches them, and prepares them to share in the work of feeding one another. It’s a story about abundance, yes, but also about partnership, shared responsibility, and the miracle that happens when everyone brings what they have. This connects beautifully with our Land of Plenty journey, where we imagine ministry that grows through collaboration with our neighbors and community partners. Mark’s telling reminds us that God’s abundance often emerges through many hands working together. Join us this Sunday as we explore how Mark’s vision of compassion can shape our life together and how God continues to multiply what we offer when we offer it in community. We look forward to worshiping with you. Hope you will join us, in person on online! First Christian Church of Lawrenceville is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia in Gwinnett County. Find out more by going to our website at https://lawrencevillechristianchurch.org/

  3. May 26

    Feeding the Hungry: Part 2 - May 24, 2026

    This Sunday, we continue our four‑week journey into the question at the heart of our “Land of Plenty” conversations: How do we ensure that everyone has the food they need to live and thrive? Last week, we began by listening to Matthew’s account of Jesus feeding a hungry crowd, a story that reminded us of God’s deep compassion and God’s desire that all people be cared for. This week, we turn to Luke 9:10–17, a version of the feeding story that highlights something different. In Luke’s telling, Jesus places the responsibility for feeding the crowd directly in his disciples’ hands. When they suggest sending the people away to find food elsewhere, Jesus responds with a challenge that still echoes across the centuries: “You give them something to eat.” In this second sermon of our series, we will explore what it means to hear those words today. Luke shows us a Jesus who not only cares about hungry people but also calls his followers to participate in the work of feeding, organizing, and sharing, trusting that God can do more with our offerings than we imagine. As we continue our honest conversations about food insecurity, access, stewardship, and community, Luke invites us to consider how God might be asking us to take part in the miracle. Join us as we listen again to Jesus’ call, reflect on our role as his disciples, and continue discerning how our congregation can help ensure that all our neighbors have enough. Come ready to think, to pray, and to imagine what God can do through us. We look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday, in person or online. First Christian Church of Lawrenceville is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia in Gwinnett County. Find out more by going to our website at https://lawrencevillechristianchurch.org/

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Listen to audio sermons from Lawrenceville Christian Church featuring Rev. Diane Bales and Rev. Teresa Bensch. Lawrenceville Christian Church is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia in Gwinnett County. Find out more at lawrencevillechristianchurch.org