July 30, 2017. We can often be overwhelmed by challenges right in front of us. But God has a way of taking something that looks hopeless and making it great. In her sermon today, Pastor Penny preaches on the Parable of the Pearl from Matthew 13. She says sometimes being obsessed with taking great risks is good, when it’s in service to the Kingdom of God.
*** [Keywords: 100 loaves of bread 1400 20 2017 50 pounds of flour American socialite Denver God can use our obsessions God could still use them God did it God gave them a new mission God uses all of us God-given Jesus is that merchant Jesus was obsessed with his mission Jesus’ life and death and resurrection Kingdom of God Margaret Brown Muny New York City Pastor Penny Holste Pat Keifert Saturday night Titanic Unsinkable Molly Brown actions had a risk all survivors all the fish angels another ship area bank loan basement beautiful building beautiful valley big enough for birds to be sheltered in it books bread brought their children build hospital buy a field buying house carpet was stained ceiling child care session child literacy congregation future congregation that was dying crayon drawings on walls crossroads crumbling dark damp place dealing one on one describe destitute different tendency difficult situation disbanded do good things do the judging docked drive end is life-giving end of age ever right to have obsession family members farmers feed 100 people few weeks fields fix it forced into boat fragile fulfill it gain access to things they needed gave up everything give them credit for good or bad good purposes grew mold half hour service hard to imagine have hope help other people help out high proportion of young children and single parents hit iceberg human rights ideas that are very good ideas we just can’t stand in their wills including his life insulation hanging in strips judgement juvenile court systems kind heart last group of parables leaven leavening lifeboats little pack of yeast little uncomfortable long marriage lot of trouble make it good make it great make it into something great merchant of pearls moral or immoral more dependable reason mostly elderly mountain of work much more complicated mustard plant mustard seed becomes shrub never done before new debt not at all obnoxious weed on that location one big net one pearl optimist overwhelmed by challenges right in front of us own repairs parents parents came passion patience pay off people who are tainted philanthropist play politically bigoted politician promoting race or gender really about Jesus realtor remained good friends rescue boats resuced right in front of you risky sell that building sells everything he owns sensed hunger for the Word separated sermon set up a fund sizing it up small and tainted small seed of possibility soup kitchens still had a mission strained studies church life and growth symbol for corruption take care of them take great risks take some risks take something hopeless take them in take what is small take what is tainted tendency to label people we don’t know personally third parable this country and elsewhere this is fun timely message times that we take great risks tragedy transform this place treasure hunter true character trustworthy or not use her wealth ushering everyone else very active person volunteer child care service we are tainted at times we are the pearl of great value we’re all saved what is that pearl whole new congregation born women and children women getting the vote youth]