First Lutheran Church
  • About
    • About
    • New ?
    • Staff
    • Beliefs
    • History
  • This Week
    • This Week @ FLC
    • Worship Online
    • YouTube
    • Bulletin
    • Communion
  • News & Events
    • News & Events
    • Newsletter
    • ENews
  • Ministries Online
    • Ministries Online
    • Worship Online
    • Volunteer
  • Give
    • Pledge
    • Why Give?
    • Give Online

How can I follow a God who would let Christians do such bad things? June 7th

6/7/2015

0 Comments

 
Do the acts of some people who are (or claim to be) Christians invalidate the ministry and claims of Jesus? Christianity can be given a bad wrap, especially when what seems to be focused on in the news is how Christianity or those associated with it, stumble, get caught in a scandal, or do something horrible and claim to be "led by God." This session we look at some of the incredible contributions followers of Jesus have made to world history.

You've seen the news feed scrolling on the bottom of your television..."Famous pastor admits to cheating on wife and stealing money from church- will face charges..." We've also probably been part of a conversation which starts with "I'm so tired of these hypocritical Christians!" And the response of "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven," can be trampled under foot by those who want nothing to do with easy answers to hard conversations. There is a history of Christians and the terrible things throughout all of history: The Crusades, The Spanish Inquisition, the killing of Native Americans, and slavery. So our question becomes, "Why would God let Christians do such terrible things?"

Read More
0 Comments

Does God endorse violence? May 31st

6/1/2015

0 Comments

 
Have you ever wondered about the story of Noah and the Ark? In Sunday School often times we'll read the story about the animals coming in two by two and Noah's family being on the ark, but the flood waters overtake the entire world, all of the other animals, people and life. Most of the time we are reminded by the rainbow of God's promise to never flood the earth again. 

We will see cartoons or coloring pages with the Ark and a rainbow, focusing on the promise, sometimes forgetting about the flood and destruction God brought on the earth, as the Bible says. 

Not to mention the killing of the first born in Exodus or swallowing up the Egyptian army in the Red Sea, or in 1 Samuel 15, the prophet Samuel commanding Saul on behalf of God saying, "Go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them."

So what ever happened to the "love your neighbor" thing?

If we only had the story of Noah for context, what would you say about the character of God? Vengeful? Judgmental? Violent? If we only had the story of Noah for context, these would be true. But the problem with just taking one story or verse of the Bible and drawing a conclusion, as we have discussed in the past, doesn't do the entire work of God in scripture justice. We need to remember all of the story to learn more about the character of God.

Read More
0 Comments

    What is this?

    Each week we will post one or more blogs related to our ministries for High School youth and families. Check back often and leave a comment!

    Archives

    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All
    Can I Ask That
    Can I Ask That 2
    CLOSE
    Faith 5
    Family Connection
    Family Cue
    Hunger Games
    I Am
    In The Present
    Judgment Call
    LENT
    Parent Cue
    Practicing Sabbath
    The Comparison Trap
    WIRED

    RSS Feed

First Lutheran Church


1000 3rd Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA  |  319.365.1494  |  info@firstlutherancr.org  |  A congregation of the ELCA

Office Hours: Mon. -Thurs. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ;  Fri. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

About
This Week
COVID-19/News
Connect 
Give
© 2020 First Lutheran Church; and God.
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • About
    • About
    • New ?
    • Staff
    • Beliefs
    • History
  • This Week
    • This Week @ FLC
    • Worship Online
    • YouTube
    • Bulletin
    • Communion
  • News & Events
    • News & Events
    • Newsletter
    • ENews
  • Ministries Online
    • Ministries Online
    • Worship Online
    • Volunteer
  • Give
    • Pledge
    • Why Give?
    • Give Online