Compassion That Organizes (Part 4) - June 14, 2026

A Big Table - June 21, 2026

As we continue our Honest Conversations this week, we will shift our focus to Jesus’s parable of the great banquet. In this simple story of a man who invited the poor and lame to his banquet after the invited guests backed out, we will hear important instructions on how to offer hospitality and welcome to others. As Jesus reminds us, those who are considered unimportant or invisible today are the very ones who will be welcomed into God’s Great Banquet in the kingdom to come. We will learn more about Jesus’s instructions on being a good host, and we’ll explore how this parable connects to our Land of Plenty journey, where we imagine a ministry that includes “the least of these.” We look forward to worshipping with you. Hope you will join us, in person on online! First Christian Church of Lawrenceville is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia in Gwinnett County. Find out more by going to our website at https://lawrencevillechristianchurch.org/

Compassion That Organizes (Part 4) - June 14, 2026

This week we’ll gather around Mark 6: 30–40, Mark’s brief but powerful introduction to the feeding of the five thousand. Unlike the other gospels, Mark begins with weary disciples returning from mission and a tired Jesus seeking rest. Yet when the crowd arrives, Jesus is “moved with compassion”, not just to feel something, but to do something. As Barbara Brown Taylor reminds us, “Jesus doesn’t just feel compassion; he does compassion.” Mark shows us a Savior whose compassion organizes people, gathers them, teaches them, and prepares them to share in the work of feeding one another. It’s a story about abundance, yes, but also about partnership, shared responsibility, and the miracle that happens when everyone brings what they have. This connects beautifully with our Land of Plenty journey, where we imagine ministry that grows through collaboration with our neighbors and community partners. Mark’s telling reminds us that God’s abundance often emerges through many hands working together. Join us this Sunday as we explore how Mark’s vision of compassion can shape our life together and how God continues to multiply what we offer when we offer it in community. We look forward to worshiping with you. Hope you will join us, in person on online! First Christian Church of Lawrenceville is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia in Gwinnett County. Find out more by going to our website at https://lawrencevillechristianchurch.org/

A New Passover - June 7, 2026

This Sunday, we return to our sermon series on feeding the hungry, where we are examining the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 in the different gospels. Our focus this week is on the story in the gospel of John. This story has a lot in common with the versions found in the other gospels, but also some unique parts. Did you know that this is the only feeding story that gives credit to a young boy for providing the bread and fish that fed thousands of people? Did you remember that John’s version placed the feeding miracle in Galilee close to Passover — at a time when devout Jews would be traveling to Jerusalem for the festival? Why would John include these kinds of details, and why are they not in of other versions of the story? And what does this story tell us about the nature of God and Jesus, and about our responsibility to help ensure that everyone has the food they need? As we continue our Honest Conversation discussions in Sunday school, we will dig into this story and its meaning for our faith and our congregation. Hope you will join us, in person on online! First Christian Church of Lawrenceville is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia in Gwinnett County. Find out more by going to our website at https://lawrencevillechristianchurch.org/

Feeding the Hungry: Part 2 - May 24, 2026

This Sunday, we continue our four‑week journey into the question at the heart of our “Land of Plenty” conversations: How do we ensure that everyone has the food they need to live and thrive? Last week, we began by listening to Matthew’s account of Jesus feeding a hungry crowd, a story that reminded us of God’s deep compassion and God’s desire that all people be cared for. This week, we turn to Luke 9:10–17, a version of the feeding story that highlights something different. In Luke’s telling, Jesus places the responsibility for feeding the crowd directly in his disciples’ hands. When they suggest sending the people away to find food elsewhere, Jesus responds with a challenge that still echoes across the centuries: “You give them something to eat.” In this second sermon of our series, we will explore what it means to hear those words today. Luke shows us a Jesus who not only cares about hungry people but also calls his followers to participate in the work of feeding, organizing, and sharing, trusting that God can do more with our offerings than we imagine. As we continue our honest conversations about food insecurity, access, stewardship, and community, Luke invites us to consider how God might be asking us to take part in the miracle. Join us as we listen again to Jesus’ call, reflect on our role as his disciples, and continue discerning how our congregation can help ensure that all our neighbors have enough. Come ready to think, to pray, and to imagine what God can do through us. We look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday, in person or online. First Christian Church of Lawrenceville is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia in Gwinnett County. Find out more by going to our website at https://lawrencevillechristianchurch.org/

Feeding the Hungry: Part 1 - May 17, 2026

Before we begin talking about how to ensure that everyone has the food they need, it’s important to ground ourselves in scripture. We will take a look at Matthew’s account of Jesus feeding a large crowd with a small amount of food (interestingly enough, the second time Jesus fed a crowd in Matthew’s gospel). We will take a look at the dialogues around the feeding miracle, and we will explore the parallels between this scripture and our upcoming Honest Conversation about ensuring that everyone has enough to eat. Over the next several weeks, we will explore the different versions of this story in a sermon series that parallels our conversation. We look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday, in person or online. First Christian Church of Lawrenceville is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia in Gwinnett County. Find out more by going to our website at https://lawrencevillechristianchurch.org/