Good people of faith will come to different conclusions in the voting booth. With this year’s election just days away, Pastor Mia tackles the topics of humility, immigration, and border control.

Many Americans agree the current immigration system is not working well, but the desired changes differ vastly among us. Some want tighter immigration controls and others a more generous immigration system. So how do we reconcile those differences to find peace across the divide?

Humility and humor are tools that can help us make connections. Remembering that our common commitment to Christ is bigger than our political ideologies is helpful too. The compassion that transforms the world is always about real people, not ideals.

You can only hold hardline positions if you have no lived experience. Therefore, we need to know the stories of real people. Nurturing your compassion with their accounts and the words of Scripture is faithful and responsible. As we head to the polls, we must remember the Christian teaching “Do unto others” applies during election seasons.

Jesus' teaching to "Do Unto Others" applies at all times, even election season. This week Pastor Mia dives into the issue of abortion from a compassion perspective.

As we delve into this series, we confront the challenges of living out Jesus' teachings in today's polarized political climate. We are called to view voting as an expression of faith, addressing today's issues from a Christian perspective. The goal is not to dictate political choices but to guide us in positioning ourselves as Christians in political decision-making, emphasizing love and compassion. This sermon highlights the importance of recognizing Jesus as our Savior, not any political candidate. This perspective shifts our approach to citizenship and voting, moving from anxiety to trust in God's sovereignty. We are encouraged to apply Christ's teachings consistently, even in politics, and to strive to be Christ followers . Compassion, a non-optional aspect of our faith, is emphasized as a transformative force in the world, urging us to do good without expecting anything in return.

Sin matters, because sin makes us slaves. Faith, on the other hand, opens the door to freedom.

When people are asked to define sin, the answers include disobedience, naughtiness, and sex. Those answers aren’t how people in Jesus’s time described sin. They had a clear understanding of sin that we don’t. Back then everyone knew that sin was anything that distanced you from God.

By living spiritual lives, we can grow in right relationship with God. Even so, sin still happens. We treat God as irrelevant, We become selfish. We lash out at others. And that’s where Jesus changes everything. Pastor Mia tells us that when Jesus pulls us into right relationship with God, he’s also freeing us for better lives.

Prophets and ancient writers called forgiveness a mark of the people of God. This week, Pastor Mia talks about what forgiveness is and isn't. Forgiveness is tricky and it's necessary.

Forgiveness is an intentional decision to let go of resentment and anger. Being outraged is okay. The way you handle your feelings is what matters. When you've been wronged, do you retaliate or move on?

For abuse victims the idea of forgiveness can be a twisted, loaded concept. When they've been told, "If you were a good Christian, you would forgive," without any repentance, they are really being told to pretend the abuse didn't happen and even allow it to continue. That is not forgiveness. It's actually cooperation with evil.

Forgiveness and reconciliation are two different things. Reconciliation happens when the wrongdoer takes responsibility and makes amends. Forgivess is foregoing retaliation while holding the wrongdoer accountable. Ulitmately, we forgive not because of the wrongdoer's action or inaction, but because Jesus has forgiven each of us.

When we do something wrong, many of us handle the unpleasant consequences with the anxiety of avoidance rather than the misery of confession. The fear of the unknown can override our thinking and morality. The disciple Peter let that happen.

Peter betrayed Jesus three times following Jesus' arrest. Then heavy guilt settled in. After the resurrection, Peter evaded Jesus until a moment of reconciliation at the end of a fishing trip. That’s when Peter understood that Christ’s love outweighed his sin.

Peter went on to become the head of the church. It was his failing as a disciple that made him a good Christian leader. This week, Pastor Mia shows us that because God promised compassion, failure can be a springboard to success.

Have you ever thought that fear is the opposite of faith? Healthy fear alerts us to danger and keeps us safe. However, fear can also be damaging when it causes us to override morality and ethics. Even when we want to do the right thing, fear gets in the way. Faith, on the other hand, isn’t believing in God’s existence. It’s trusting in God’s capacity and power. Once we understand that God is the Lord of this universe, fear changes to faith. When we move our source of safety from our limited strength and power to our trust in God, doors open. In this week’s message, Pastor Mia shows what you’ll find on the other side.

David and Goliath have a lot to teach us about fear and anxiety and faith. Learn from their example and the testimony of others on how to approach anxiety, letting it serve you but not overwhelm you. Guest preacher: Rev. Lura Kidner-Miesen.