Summer Baggage: Unloading Unnecessary Weight


This series unpacks some of the heaviest baggage we carry and invites us to leave it at the side of the road for a greater sense of peace, freedom, and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Many, though not all, have been vaccinated from the coronavirus. Our community is re-opening. Events are again taking place. Still, an emotional weight remains. In the Bible, we learn that our bag-gage is often filled with unmet expectations, ungrieved losses, and unexpressed feelings. The Bible also shares story after story of people who have released the burdens to Christ and experienced healing and freedom.

Pastor Mike Brown
Summer Baggage: Unloading Unnecessary Weight

Getting Rid of Blame (Jesus and Paul)

John 8:2-11

Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

Pastor Mike Brown
July 18, 2021
Pastor Mike Brown
Summer Baggage: Unloading Unnecessary Weight

Setting Aside Bitterness (Jesus and Peter)

Matthew 18:15-22

“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

Pastor Mike Brown
July 11, 2021
Pastor Mike Brown
Summer Baggage: Unloading Unnecessary Weight

Letting Go of Betrayal (Esau and Jacob)

Matthew 5:21-24

“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to Gehenna. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 

Pastor Mike Brown
July 04, 2021
Pastor Mike Brown
Summer Baggage: Unloading Unnecessary Weight

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