• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Raleigh Mennonite Church

As a Christian community, called to peacemaking and reconciliation, we affirm that people of any race, ethnic identity, gender, who are gay or straight, of any ability, age, or economic status, are welcome to full participation in our congregation.

  • New Here?
  • About Us
    • Visiting? Start Here!
    • Shaping Documents
    • How Do I Get There?
    • What about kids?
    • Who Are Mennonites?
    • Staff
  • Get Connected
    • Worship
    • Sunday School
    • Fellowship Groups
  • Ministries
    • Community Ministries
    • National & International Ministries
    • RMCers Engaged in the Community
  • Resources
    • Podcasts – Sermons and other events
    • RMC Calendar
    • Balm in Gilead – our year of anti-racism learning
    • RMC Blog posts
    • Bulletins
    • Church Life Documents
    • Older Recordings
  • Give
  • Contact Us

Search Raleigh Mennonite Church

An Impossible Pocket of Peace & Hope – Sept. 15, 2024

September 15, 2024

Scriptures: Isaiah 2:1-11, Matthew 5:1-12

Melissa continues her sermon series, Hope in a Time of Fear, focusing on the book of Isaiah. As we’re drawing closer to the election, what does hope look like for followers of Jesus?

The people who heard Jesus’ sermon on the mount may have been thinking about Isaiah’s words when they heard Jesus speak. They had been crushed beneath the heels of a Roman occupation. And here, at this moment, when all hope is lost, the word of God is born into the world.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

This is not the way it is in our world. The merciful are crushed by political pressures that announce being soft on crime. The pure in heart are taken advantage of and accused of being naïve. The poor face a crisis of debt and eviction. The meek are cast aside for faith and weapons. And yet, we hear in Isaiah:

They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not lift up nation, sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.

A seemingly impossible scenario to ever occur. But the impossible is where we as followers of Jesus make our home. Take heart. Have no fear. Jesus is Lord!

Melissa preaching at RMC on Sept. 15, with her hands tapping her chest, in front of a colorful purple and yellow star-shaped quilt.
Raleigh Mennonite Church
An Impossible Pocket of Peace & Hope - Sept. 15, 2024
Loading
00:00 / 15:45
Pandora Spotify iTunes
RSS Feed
Share
Link
Embed

Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 15:45 | Recorded on September 15, 2024

Subscribe: Pandora | Spotify | iTunes

Related

Tagged With: Beatitudes, Gospel of Matthew, hope, Hope in a Time of Fear, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, peace, Sermon on the Mount

About Stan Martin

Reader Interactions

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Footer

Mailing Address
& Meeting Location

121 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27603

Phone: 919-831-2969

Get in touch with us!

Anabaptist Accessiblity Seal and Progress Pride flag

 

 

Masks are no longer required at in-person services and events. But we are mask-friendly and fully supportive of visitors, members and service leaders who choose to wear masks for their own personal protection. Those who can’t attend in person still have the option of attending by Zoom. Please contact us if you'd like the Zoom connection information.

Subscribe to Our Sermon Podcast

Apple | Pandora | Spotify | Pocket Casts

Privacy policy:

Your data is secure with us. We will not share it with or sell it to third parties for marketing or promotional purposes.

Copyright © 2025 · Raleigh Mennonite Church · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design