Finished Business

November 13, 2022 – Two weeks ago we remembered how faith is seeing God’s unfinished business, God’s business that’s not finished… yet. But what does God’s finished business looks like? And what do we do when visions of God’s finished business come paired with visions of violence?

Mary Liechty reads the sermon on behalf of Pastor Monica.

Scripture: Micah 4:1-4 (CEB)

Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Finished Business
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Cross-Eyed

August 7, 2022 – When things are right in your face, you go cross-eyed trying to see them clearly. Jesus’s request to “not worry” invites us to focus on what’s a little further away—without erasing or downplaying the worries right in front of us.

Mary Liechty reads the sermon on behalf of Pastor Monica.

The Lord of the Rings video.

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Cross-Eyed
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Jesus Geography: The Road Between Jericho & Jerusalem

July 31, 2022 – We conclude our Jesus Geography series by walking the less-than-safe road between Jericho and Jerusalem. As we walk, we’ll find ourselves in the company of two unexpected disciples who embody the centrality of giving and receiving mercy.

Mary Liechty reads the sermon on behalf of Pastor Monica.

Scripture: Luke 10:29-37, Mark 10:46-48 (CEB)

Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Jesus Geography: The Road Between Jericho & Jerusalem
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Jesus Geography: A House

July 24, 2022 – Jesus spent A LOT of time in people’s houses. What difference does it make that Jesus was in someone’s home when he launched some of his broadest and most systemic critiques of society at large? Why is it important that Jesus both taught and healed in homes?

Carla Schmid reads the sermon on behalf of Pastor Monica.

Scripture: Mark 1:29–34; 2:15–17; 3:20–21, 31–35

Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Jesus Geography: A House
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Jesus Geography: Caesarea Philippi

July 3, 2022 – The Bible is sparse enough on details that when you find one, you should probably ask why it was important enough to be preserved for thousands of years. So how about those place names we so easily skip over? Does the place make a difference in what Jesus said and did? This week we begin a new series called “Jesus Geography” by following Jesus to Caesarea Philippi.

Todd Grotenhuis reads the sermon on behalf of Pastor Monica.

Scripture: Mark 8:27–9:1 IBT

Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Jesus Geography: Caesarea Philippi
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Freedom That Steps on Toes

June 19, 2022 – As we recognize Juneteenth, we’ll eavesdrop on one of Jesus’s sermons. His hometown crowd turned from enamored fans into a murderous mob—what on earth happened?

Scripture: Luke 4:16-30 (CEB)

Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Freedom That Steps on Toes
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Stabbing Swords & Wise Tongues

May 22, 2022 – “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words—they just might stab me!” How we wield our words is one of the most common topics in Proverbs. Interpersonal speech and speech that describes systemic dysfunction hurt… but is the alternative silence? How do we heal?

Scripture: Proverbs 12:18

Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Stabbing Swords & Wise Tongues
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What if Folly Looks Like Me?

May 15, 2022 – While Proverbs gifts us with images of Wisdom as the female divine, it also contains troubling portraits of Folly personified as female, as well. In Proverbs 7, Folly is a lascivious woman who seduces an unwary young man. What do we do when we see ourselves reflected in negative stereotypes like these scenes? The invitation of Scripture is towards holding the potentialities and liabilities of its contents in conversation.

Scripture: Proverbs 7:1–27

Speaker: Dr. Susannah Larry, AMBS

Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
What if Folly Looks Like Me?
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Seeking God’s Ways: From Certainty to Openness

April 17, 2022 – Two thousand years before COVID-19, Jesus was already social distancing, even from his best friends like Mary! As we celebrate Easter, we move from embracing the certainty of Jesus’s death to the openness—and open-endedness—Jesus’s resurrection ushers in. This week we conclude our series “Seeking God’s Ways” with the theme “From Certainty to Openness.”

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Seeking God's Ways: From Certainty to Openness
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Seeking God’s Ways: From Power Over to Power With

April 10, 2022 – “Finally some peace and quiet!” or so goes the phrase. This time, though, peace isn’t quiet. In fact, it’s loud and disruptive! Come along for Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week leading up to Easter, as we explore the theme “From Power Over to Power With.”

Scripture: Luke 19:29-42

Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Sermons from First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis
Seeking God's Ways: From Power Over to Power With
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