Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church
October 1, 2023
“Committing to Obey”
Rev. Hardy Kim
Greetings!

We all want to be good people. We all want to make a positive impact in the world. But sometimes it feels pretty hard to turn that intention into action, doesn’t it?

It’s not that there are huge forces actively opposing our desire to do good – but there can often be factors that work against us. Sometimes the circumstances just aren’t right. Sometimes what we have to offer doesn’t seem to be what’s needed. Often, we are just plain confused about what will actually be helpful.

If we think about what our own experiences are like, maybe we can be a little more understanding of folks who came to Jesus with questions about how to really live in ways that please God. This Sunday, as we celebrate world communion and as we kick off our stewardship month, let’s look at a story where Jesus asks us to move beyond questions to commitment.

With hope,
Hardy


Please join us immediately following the Sunday service for our Coffee Hour (in-person in Trinity Court or online via Zoom).

Theme for Sunday

“The church confesses its faith when it bears a present witness to God’s grace in Jesus Christ. In every age, the church has expressed its witness in words and deeds as the need of the time required.”


The Confession of 1967, PC(USA)
Questions for Reflection
  • Have there ever been times you’ve tried to use your resources – time, talents, and treasure – to intentionally make a positive impact in the world? How did it work out?

  • If there was a time when it didn’t work out, what happened? What were some of the things that derailed your good intentions?
Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”