Sun, 19 March 2023
As we continue our journey towards Easter, we see Jesus feeding a crowd of people in the most miraculous of ways. In this sermon, we explore how Jesus enters into — and meets — the needs of those who come to him. Key Verses: John 6:1-15
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Thu, 16 March 2023
As John continues to reveal Jesus to his readers, we see his fourth sign: In His fourth sign, Jesus heals a man who has been lame for 38 years. He also speaks to the Pharisees about how He is the Son of God. In today’s sermon we’re going to look at the full sign of Jesus and how this sign can point us to what our hope is in and the pursuit of holiness. Scriptures: John 5:1-15 |
Mon, 6 March 2023
In His third sign recorded in the book of John, Jesus heals a government official’s son. In this sermon, we explore themes of faith, salvation, and the hope that Jesus offers us. Key Verses: John 4:46-54 |
Mon, 27 February 2023
As John continues to reveal Jesus to his readers, we see his second sign: Jesus clears the Temple. In this sermon, we look at what real religion is, how it goes wrong, and how we can experience it again (and again). Key Verses: John 2:12-25
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Mon, 20 February 2023
As we prepare our hearts for Easter, we are looking at John’s gospel — specifically the “signs” of Jesus that point to his ultimate resurrection. In this sermon, we see in his first sign of turning water into wine that Jesus comes to transform our everyday lives in powerful ways. Key Verses: John 2:1-11
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Mon, 13 February 2023
As we finish our series on holy rhythms, we turn towards the importance of serving others. In this sermon, we look at the call to serve others, the gift of serving others, and how we can do it. Key Verses: Matthew 20:25-28 |
Sun, 5 February 2023
God loves us with such a deep and unending love that it has the power to transform everything about us, including how we give love back to him and to other people. In this sermon, we look at the nature of God’s love, how that can change our own hearts, and how we can give our love as a response to how we have been changed. Key Verses: 1 John 3:11,16-19
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Sun, 29 January 2023
If we hope to make any real progress in our spiritual growth, we have to take the practice of solitude seriously. In this sermon, we look at why we need to practice being alone with God, what happens when we are alone with God, and how we can do it. Key Verses: Genesis 32:22-31 |
Mon, 23 January 2023
To establish a Holy Rhythm with God's Word, we are encouraged to read the Bible for ourselves while depending on the Holy Spirit to seek what our hearts would never find on their own. Discovering ancient and true wisdom, a divine origin for ourselves and the universe, and the unsurpassed grace we encounter within its pages. Key Verses: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 |
Sun, 8 January 2023
How do we become the people that we want to most become, and that God wants us to become, as well? In this sermon, we begin our series on spiritual growth by looking at God’s plan for real, lasting growth in our lives. Key Verses: 2 Peter 1:3-11
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Sun, 1 January 2023
At Christmas, we spend time remembering, celebrating, and reflecting on the truth that Jesus is King and was born to live a life with us. Far too quickly, we lose sight of the impact that that truth should have on our daily lives. The truth of Jesus’ birth is an invitation for us to be able to worship at the feet of Jesus daily. How do we do this, though? Today we are going to spend time looking at the immediate response to Jesus’ birth and how that should influence how we respond to worshipping Christ. Key Verses: Matthew 2:1-12
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Mon, 19 December 2022
As we continue to explore Jesus’ mission in this Christmas season, we see that he came to give sight to the blind. In this sermon, we will look at how all of us suffer from spiritually blindness, what causes our blindness, and what it would mean for us to see, and how we can do it. Key Verses: John 9:1-11 |
Sun, 11 December 2022
Jesus the King is sent to proclaim that captives will be released and the oppressed will be set free. In his encounter with the paralyzed man in Mark 2, we see Jesus announce his authority to deal with the sins of our hearts and offer forgiveness that brings freedom to our lives. Key Verses: Luke 4:18-19, Mark 2:1-12 |
Tue, 6 December 2022
As we begin our Christmas series, we see that a part of Jesus’ kingly mission is to bring good news to poor people. In this sermon, we see reality of our poverty, the need for our poverty, and the hidden blessings of our poverty. Key Verses: Mark 10:17:31 |
Sun, 27 November 2022
The church is something we probably carry a lot of complicated feelings, questions, and opinions about. For many of us the church has lost its impact, value, and purpose in our lives. The truth is: without the church, we cannot experience all that God has for our Christian life. Today let’s look at what the church is, God’s purpose for the church, and how we can begin to fall back in love with the church. Key Verses: Ephesians 2:20-22
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Sun, 20 November 2022
As we come to the end of Paul’s letter, we see a tenderness in his words as he gives his final instructions. In this sermon, we’ll look at what it means to live faithfully with the people around us as we continue to wait for God’s return. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
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Sun, 13 November 2022
Paul calls believers to live ready and alert for the return of the Lord. The day itself will be unexpected and unavoidable, but as believers, we are encouraged to prioritize and order our lives in anticipation of Christ’s return. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 |
Mon, 7 November 2022
If Jesus really did rise from the dead, then everything we know about this life, death, and the future is now different. In this sermon, we will explore how Jesus’ resurrection gives us comfort, strength, and hope for our lives today. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 |
Sun, 30 October 2022
Paul tells us that there is a way to live that even those who don’t agree with our beliefs will respect. In this sermon, we look at how a life based on love changes our lives and the lives of those around us. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 |
Sun, 16 October 2022
Paul is calling the Thessalonians and each of us today to something important, he is calling us to an overflowing love for others. Paul lived his ministry this way and we see it in his words and actions with the Thessalonians. What does this look like for us though? How can we begin to live lives with love at the center and overflowing in all we say and do? Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 |
Sun, 9 October 2022
In this section of Paul’s letter, he thanks God for how His Word has worked in and through the Thessalonian church. As a result of their acceptance of Paul’s message, they have chosen to please God rather than please people and to remain steadfast in the face of suffering and persecution. This sermon takes a closer look at how the Word of God can also work in and through us. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 |
Mon, 3 October 2022
Paul was not just interested in preaching to the Thessalonians — he wanted to be in a relationship with them. In this sermon we see how Paul reflects on his relationship with the people in this church, and the costs he was willing to pay to make it happen. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-16
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Mon, 26 September 2022
We are waiting for God to act in our lives, it can often become a time of disorientation. What does it mean to succeed, or to fail? In this sermon, we look at what real success and failure are from God’s perspective, and how he can use both to further his plans and purposes in our lives. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6
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Mon, 19 September 2022
Once we experience the assurances of our sinfulness, our need for mercy, and the provision of God’s great love, what do we do next? In this sermon, we see that growing in Christ often means a turning away from the things we think we need to be happy, to find peace, to feel important and instead serving God with clear, free hearts. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 |
Sun, 11 September 2022
How do we know when we meet the real, true, and living God? As we begin our new series on the letter 1 Thessalonians, we see how God promises us an assurance, through his Holy Spirit, of his presence in our lives. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7 |
Mon, 5 September 2022
Anxious, angry, fearful, anguished, embittered. These are adjectives that may be used to describe a lot of us right now. We live in a fearful, divisive, and difficult time. What do we do with all of these feelings and burdens? Jesus calls us to look to Him, to who He is to begin to find peace. Jesus defines Himself with the adjectives gentle and lowly, and if it’s true, then the peace He offers is possible. Today let’s look at how Jesus was gentle and lowly and how we might find these characteristics defining our lives as well. Key Verses: Matthew 11:28-30 |
Mon, 29 August 2022
As Joseph’s story comes to a close, his brothers are worried that his forgiveness will run out now that their father has died. In this sermon, we look at why Joseph’s brothers struggled to accept the forgiveness that Joseph had already given them so that we can learn more about what it means for us to accept the forgiveness God offers us. Key Verses: Genesis 50:14-21 |
Mon, 22 August 2022
When people hurt us, we have a hard, but great, opportunity to practice forgiveness. In this sermon, we’ll look at the importance of forgiveness and how we can offer it to those around us. Key Verses: Genesis 45:1-15
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Mon, 15 August 2022
As Joseph moved out of prison and into Pharaoh’s inner circle, he has two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. Within these two names, we see two vital aspects of how Joseph healed from his past pains, and how we can, too. Key Verses: Genesis 41:50-52 |
Mon, 8 August 2022
After spending a long time under suffering and unfairly imprisoned, Joseph now emerges to a new reality of freedom. But he is different. In this sermon, we see how Joseph was transformed into a useful servant for God’s redemptive plans, and how we can experience this same transformation, as well. Key Verses: Genesis 41:8-40 |
Sun, 31 July 2022
God continues to be actively involved in every aspect of Joseph's life, from the successful years to the devastating turn that takes him to prison. Joseph is giving us an ideal demonstration of what it looks like to be comforted by the sovereign presence of God. We likewise can trust that God is good and, at the same time, absolutely in control of all creation. Key Verses: Genesis 39:19-23 |
Mon, 25 July 2022
The Life of Joseph is one that points us back to the reality of our lives. One of the undeniable truths we see in life is that we face many tests. We face daily tests of choosing what is right and what is wrong. Do we give in to our temptations or overcome to live in integrity. Today we look at the cost of integrity and the reward of unity it offers us all. Key Verses: Genesis 39:7-18 |
Mon, 18 July 2022
In the eleven years Joseph serves in Potiphar's house, he experiences success in spectacular ways. Alongside God's sovereign presence, Joseph works in a way that brings God's blessing to those around him. In our lives today, we discover God is more interested in our character than any possessions we gain through our work. Key Verses: Genesis 39:1-6a |
Sun, 10 July 2022
The story of Joseph is one we can all relate to, but not for the reasons we like to think. The story of Joseph reminds us of the reality of evil that we all face, the reality of evil that dwells within us. Joseph’s brothers commit evil against their brother Joseph. What we learn through their actions is that this evil is something we all share in common, but what is the reality of evil within us and how can we experience a greater reality? Key Verses: Genesis 37:18-36 |
Sun, 3 July 2022
At the beginning of Joseph's life story, we see the importance of a strong character that must align with Joseph's unique and undeniable gifts. He is thrust into an incredible journey due to his father's favoritism and his brothers' jealousy, yet despite these obstacles, his strong gift of faithfulness shines through. Key Verses: Genesis 37:1-17 |
Sun, 19 June 2022
Prayer is our means of acknowledging and embracing the presence of God. Prayer is our way of actively giving ourselves to God every time we practice it, but why don’t we give ourselves to prayer as a daily habit? What might happen if we did? In this sermon we look at why we are called to devote ourselves to prayer and how we can do so regularly. Key Verses: Colossians 4:2
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Sun, 12 June 2022
When we think about ourselves, it is sometimes hard to know if we are seeing things as we really are. In this sermon, we explore how to face God in his light, ourselves in our sin, and the mercy he gives to us through Jesus. Key Verses: 1 John 1:5-10
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Mon, 6 June 2022
Christianity is not just about right beliefs or right behaviors, but something else — an opportunity to experience the presence of God. In this sermon we look at this great presence, why we need it, and how to cultivate the kind of life that is open to it. Key Verses: Exodus 33:12-13
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Mon, 30 May 2022
Psalm 121 is a Psalm that answers a question we all ask at some point in our lives: “Where can I go for help?” God is faithful to provide us access to the help that we need most through the gift that He offers freely to us- Himself.
Key Verses: Psalm 121:1-8 |
Mon, 23 May 2022
How do we live with the people around us? In this sermon, we look at how love can lead us to relate to others, especially to those who hurt us. Key Verses: Romans 12:14-21 |
Mon, 16 May 2022
One of the most important ways that God wants to transform us is in how we love. In this sermon, we look at the what God means by “love” and how we can practically love the people in our lives. Key Verses: Romans 12:9-13 |
Mon, 9 May 2022
Once we admit our humble position in life, now what? In this sermon, we see that out of humility comes the freedom to depend on others and their gifts, while also freely use our gifts to help those around us, as well. Key Verses: Romans 12:4-8 |
Mon, 2 May 2022
Discerning God’s will for my life begins with an honest evaluation of my thinking. Humbly and rightly thinking of myself, in a way that allows me to serve others first, is the foundation upon which we can then use the gifts he graciously gives us. Key Verses: Romans 12:1-3 |
Mon, 25 April 2022
At the center of the Christian life lies the promise that we can become new creations. In this sermon, we begin our series on growth by looking at how God transforms us through his mercy. Key Verses: Romans 12:1-2 |
Mon, 18 April 2022
Easter is about many things, but most importantly it is about love. In this sermon, we will look at one of the most glorious prayers of the Bible and see how we can receive the experience each of needs — the experience of God’s love for us. Key Verses: Ephesians 3:16-19 Key Words: Easter, love, Jesus, cross, resurrection, spiritual growth, prayer, acceptance, hope
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Sun, 10 April 2022
As we look towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. In the letter to Laodicea, we see that any attempt to live a self-sufficient life will ultimately exclude us from experiencing Jesus as he was meant to be experienced — as Lord, Savior, and Friend. Key Verses: Revelation 3:14-22 Key Words: obedience, riches, wealth, dependence, friendship
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Mon, 4 April 2022
As we look ahead towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. In the letter to Philadelphia, we discover that Jesus sees the faithful obedience of those with little strength. Jesus gives the promise to bring stability and security to a church amid cultural upheaval and persecution.
Key Verses: Revelation 3:7-13 Key Words: obedience, strength, church, holy, true |
Sun, 27 March 2022
As we look ahead towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. In the letter to Sardis, we see how we can be physically alive, but spiritually dead, and how God can save us from this reality. Key Verses: Revelation 3:1-6 Key Words: obedience, godliness, spiritual strength |
Mon, 21 March 2022
As we look ahead towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. In the letter to Thyatira, we explore the importance of living a holy life, for the duration of our lives. Key Verses: Revelation 2:18-29 Key Words: holy living, endurance, purity, compromise, obedience, discipleship, grace |
Tue, 15 March 2022
As we look ahead towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at seven letters to seven churches in the book of Revelation. In this first letter to the church in Pergamum, we see how living for what is true brings us closer to Jesus, and further from lies and the things that never satisfy.
Key Verses: Revelation 2:12-17 Key Words: Revelation, Lent, truth, authority |
Mon, 7 March 2022
As we look ahead towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at seven letters to seven churches in the book of Revelation. In this second letter to the church in Ephesus, we find a message of hope to those who are suffering. Key Verses: Revelation 2:8-11 Key Words: Revelation, Lent, suffering, hope |
Mon, 28 February 2022
As we look ahead towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at seven letters to seven churches in the book of Revelation. In this first letter to the church in Ephesus, we see how it is possible to do the right things in our lives, but still miss out on what is most important: love. Key Verses: Revelation 2:1-7 Key Words: Revelation, Lent, right living, love
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Mon, 21 February 2022
One day this world will end — and then what comes next? In this sermon, we look at what happens after God judges the world and brings and end to evil and how that can shape our lives today. Key Verses: Revelation 21:1-7 Key Words: end of the world, new heavens, new earth, heaven, afterlife |
Mon, 14 February 2022
In Revelation, we discover that judgment becomes a necessary part of The Greater Story. The promised judgment will reveal the moral qualities of God and encourage us to trust him wholly. We are trusting him to banish every form of evil from eternity and begin the process to make all things new. Key Verses: Revelation 20:11-15 Key Words: Greater Story, Revelation, Judgment, Trust |
Sun, 6 February 2022
How do we keep our relationship with God alive when life is full of hardships? In this sermon, we look at how we can grow in our abilities to endure our lives, with God’s great love and help. Key Verses: Romans 5:1-5 Key Words: suffering, pain, endurance, patience, hope, salvation, |
Sun, 30 January 2022
How do we cooperate with God’s story of redemption in our lives? In this sermon, we look at God’s sustaining work on our behalf, our continuing work with God’s help, and the promised mystery of how we grow. Key Verses: Romans 6:4,12-14
Key Words: justification, sanctification, growth, spiritual formation, Romans |
Sun, 23 January 2022
Despite our sinfulness, God still blesses his people. In this sermon, we look at what God’s blessing actually means, why we need it, and how we can access it in our lives today, because of Jesus. Key Verses: Genesis 12:1-5 Key Words: blessing, grace, mercy, faithful living, growth
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Sun, 9 January 2022
The Bible is first and foremost a story about God and his great and patient love for his people. In this sermon, we explore how this story begins, what went wrong, and why we need to continue to look towards it in our lives today. Key Verses: Genesis 1:1-3, 31 Key Words: creation, fall, salvation, redemption, story, meaning, purpose |
Sun, 2 January 2022
Life is a run. We run through life being led by so many different things that we think will give us what we ultimately want, but end up tired, dirstracted, and lost. Life is a run, but it was meant to be walked with God. How do we get back to the place of walking with God, and what can happen to our souls when we walk with God? Key Verses: Psalm 23 Key Words: walk, religion, Christianity, psalm 23, shepherd, sheep, soul |
Sun, 19 December 2021
God promises to give us light in the midst of our darkness and freedom in the midst of our slavery. In this sermon, we see how we need God’s light and freedom, and how God brings them into our lives through Jesus. Key Verses: Isaiah 9:2-7 Key Words: light, freedom, hope, waiting, Christmas, Advent, grace |
Sun, 12 December 2021
As we celebrate Christmas, we are looking at the ancient promises about Jesus in the book of Isaiah. In this sermon, we discover the hope we have in the active presence of Immanuel and how that reshapes our thinking, attitudes, and heart. Isaiah shows us that true believers of the promised Messiah can wait expectantly with transcendent hope. Key Verses: Isaiah 8:11-17 Key Words: hope, advent, patience, salvation, Christmas, Jesus |
Sun, 5 December 2021
As we celebrate Christmas, we are looking at the ancient promises about Jesus in the book of Isaiah. In this sermon, we see how God promised he would be with us, especially in uncertain times, and this promise can be sign of his work in our lives today. Key Verses: Isaiah 7:10-14 Key Words: salvation, advent, Christmas, hope, faithfulness, grace |
Sun, 28 November 2021
Over the first 5 chapters of Galatians, Paul has clearly shown that the gospel cannot be earned by any work or keeping of the law, contrary to what the false teachers were leading people to believe. In chapter 6, he wraps up his letter by sharing some practical implications of believing the true gospel. Key Verses: Galatians 6:1-18 Key Words: Jesus, gospel, law of Christ, communion, eternal life, bearing burdens, reaping and sowing, Galatians |
Sun, 21 November 2021
How do we really change? In this sermon, we see that real growth does not come from fear of being punished or pride from being good, but rather from something powerfully growing inside of us — the fruit of the Spirit. Key Verses: Galatians 5:22-35 Key Words: fruit of the spirit, growth, change, love, |
Sun, 14 November 2021
How do we become better people? In this sermon, Paul shows us where true growth comes from, why it’s so difficult, and how we can make real progress in our lives today. Key Verses: Galatians 5:16-26 Key Words: new life, sanctification, growth, change, Holy Spirit |
Mon, 8 November 2021
Paul encourages his readers to remain centered on God’s great freedom and to avoid a return to their old way of living. In this sermon, we look at why we need to hear this encouragement still today, and how we can honor God’s gift of freedom through a new way of living. Key Verses: Galatians 5:1-15 Key Words: grace, resilience, gospel, justification, freedom |
Mon, 1 November 2021
Paul admonishes his readers to “become like him.” What does he mean? In this sermon, we see how connects his experience of freedom with two famous Old Testament stories, and how we can experience the same sense of freedom today. Key Verses: Galatians 4:8-31 Key Words: freedom, Abraham, promise, weakness, strength, hope |
Sun, 24 October 2021
We all have a family and for some those feelings we have toward our families are good, warm, happy, but for some they are heavy, difficult, and troubling. For all of us though our families are a mixture of both. Families are complicated. The family of God can feel complicated too, but Paul in Galatians 4:1-7 likens salvation to being part of the family of God through adoption, so how do go from being in God’s family to being part of His family? Key Verses: Galatians 4:1-7 Key Words: rules, law, obedience, faith, justification, grace, submission, salvation, freedom, sacrifice, intimacy, Holy Spirit, family |
Sun, 17 October 2021
If God promises to forgives us and love us, no matter what do, then what was the point of all of the rules — or the “law” — in the Old Testament? In this sermon, we look at why God gave his people the law, what it tells us about ourselves, and how it fits into God’s grace today. Key Verses: Galatians 3:15-29 Key Words: rules, law, obedience, Abraham, faith, justification, grace |
Sun, 10 October 2021
Paul continues his relentless appeal for the Galatians to fully believe that God will do all He has promised. Paul clarifies the issues at stake for the Galatians as they attempt the unthinkable: attempting to finish the Christian journey by their flesh rather than by the Spirit. Key Verses: Galatians 3:1-14 Key Words: faith, personal experience, theology, promise, Abraham |
Sun, 3 October 2021
After confronting Peter about his hypocrisy, Paul explains — again — the power of God’s free gift of grace. In this sermon, we explore Paul’s experience with grace, his theology of grace, and his life through grace. Key Verses: Galatians 2:11-21 Key Words: grace, power, growth, hypocrisy, new life |
Sun, 26 September 2021
What does it mean to be inside of God’s saving love? In this sermon, we continue to explore this question with Paul. He shows us that God’s salvation both frees us and binds us to a new way of living. Key Verses: Galatians 2:1-10 Key Words: freedom, salvation, gospel, courage, calling, compassion |
Mon, 20 September 2021
Paul received a revelation that literally changed his life. In this sermon, we look at what this revelation was, why he needed it, and how we can get this same revelation today. Key Verses: Galatians 1:10-24 Key Words: grace, freedom, revelation, solitude, silence |
Sun, 12 September 2021
As we begin our series on the book of Galatians, we hear Paul clearly tell us one thing: faith in Jesus is the only thing we need to be saved. In this sermon, we explore what Paul means by this startling claim and how it can encourage our hearts today. Key Verses: Galatians 1:1-9 Key Words: freedom, gospel, salvation, transformation, change, hope |
Sun, 5 September 2021
Do you ever feel like you are spending most of your time and energy just holding on for dear life? Hebrews 4:14-16 gives direct instructions to the followers of Jesus about what we are to hold on to and how we can persevere in it. This sermon looks at the hope that we have available to us as we live out the two separate (but related) challenges from this passage- let us hold fast our confession and let us draw near to the throne of grace. Key Verses: Hebrews 4:14-16 Key Words: Jesus, community, perseverance, grace, prayer, high priest, hope
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Sun, 29 August 2021
As the story of Esther ends, we see evil destroyed and peace instituted. In this sermon, we see how the Esther’s ending of peace points to the greater ending we all long for — when God will right every wrong and restore everything that is broken. Key Verses: Esther 10: 1-3 Key Words: peace, hope, future, heaven, goodness |
Sun, 22 August 2021
As the story of the Jews in the book of Esther continues, we see a spontaneous celebration of relief, commemorating a month of reversals. They begin to see their survival of life together during extraordinary circumstances worthy of being celebrated as a joyous gift. We also are challenged to live a life of celebration for what God has done in our lives. Letting moments of celebration bring us renewed focus and joy for the everyday parts of our lives. Key Verses: Esther 9:20-22 Key Words: celebration, joy, community, perspective |
Sun, 15 August 2021
One of the most important aspects of life with God is the art of perseverance. In this sermon, we look at the nature of our often difficult lives and how to persevere through them, with hope. Key Verses: Esther 8:3-8 Key Words: hope, endurance, perseverance, long-suffering, joy, grace
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Sun, 8 August 2021
As we follow the story of Esther, we repeatedly see how God calls his followers to obedience. In this sermon, we explore why obedience matters and how it can lead to blessings in our lives. Key Verses: Esther 6:1-11 Key Words: obedience, surrender, spiritual growth, blessings, feelings
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Sun, 1 August 2021
It is impossible to separate life with the living God and surrender. In this sermon, we see how Esther surrendered to God’s invitation for her life, and how her surrender brought her real freedom and power. Key Verses: Esther 4:12-17 Key Words: Esther, surrender, obedience, holiness, sacrifice |
Sun, 25 July 2021
In chapter 4 of Esther, we begin to see how Mordecai and Esther will respond to the impending genocide of the Jewish people. Their conversations and actions reveal a reliance upon the sovereignty of God that is drastically different from the self-reliance that the King and Haman have shown in the earlier chapters of the book. Key Verses: Esther 4:4-14 Key Words: sovereignty, humility, prayer, hope, Mordecai, Esther
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Sun, 18 July 2021
In chapter 3 of Esther, the main action begins to happen, as a sinister plot to destroy the entire nation of captive Jews becomes a reality. The beginnings of this planned genocide start in the angry heart of one who chooses authority and vanity over vulnerability and restraint. Our everyday anger is easily reflected in the brutal nature of Haman, our villain in the story of Esther. Key Verses: Esther 3:1-6 Key Words: anger, intimacy, selfishness, restraint |
Sun, 11 July 2021
The book of Esther provides us a glimpse of both God’s providential and sovereign hand over the Jews and the willingness of a heroic woman like Esther to participate in his grand plan. Looking at the beginning of this epic story, we see our own lives in the response of the King to his limits of power over his own family and kingdom. Key Verses: Esther 1:1-12 Key Words: power, pride, anger, revenge, humility |
Tue, 6 July 2021
Jesus invites people to follow Him even when their imperfections and failures keep them from following perfectly. In this sermon, we look at two interactions between Jesus and Peter to gain a deeper understanding of Jesus’ motivation for inviting people to follow Him and what that means for us. Key Verses: John 21:1-21 |
Sun, 27 June 2021
Before Jesus returns to heaven, he promises to send the Holy Spirit to help us continue in our faith. In this sermon, we look at how the Holy Spirit helps us believe in God’s work and promises, and how we can create space to experience this help in our everyday lives. Key Verses: Romans 5:1-5 Key Words: the Holy Spirit, promises of God, belief, |
Sun, 20 June 2021
When we step into life on God’s terms, he calls us to live differently — but not entirely. In this sermon, we explore how a Christian faith leaves us, in many ways, the same as everyone else, while at the same also leaving us profoundly different than those around us. Key Verses: John 2:1-11 Key Words: difference, grace, mercy, spiritual identity, spiritual formation |
Mon, 14 June 2021
Praising God fulfills the purpose for which we were put on this earth, and yet it can be really challenging at times. In this sermon, we look at the last chapter in the book of Psalms to gain a deeper understanding of what praising the Lord looks like and how it can enrich our lives. Key Verses: Psalm 150 Key Words: praise, hallelujah, God’s character, worship |
Sun, 6 June 2021
One of the marks of real spiritual growth is an increasing awareness of our weaknesses. In this sermon, we look at the reality of our weaknesses, why God allows them in our lives, and how he calls us to live with them. Key Verses: Ezekiel 34:11-16 Key Words: weakness, spiritual growth, grace, compassion |
Sun, 30 May 2021
There is nothing that poses more of a threat to the good life that Jesus offers us than pride. In this sermon, we look at a conversation between Jesus and two of his disciples and learn about humility from the One Who embodies it fully. Key Verses: Mark 10:35-45 Key Words: humility, Jesus, serving others, greatness |
Sun, 23 May 2021
Jesus tells us to “strive" to enter into life with him. In this sermon, we look at the role of effort in our spiritual growth — what it does, what it doesn’t do, and how we can know if we are on the right track when we do it. Key Verses: Luke 13:22-30 Key Words: growth, effort, trying, spiritual formation, grace |
Sun, 16 May 2021
Compassion is the fruit of genuine empathy whereby we attempt to alleviate the suffering of those around us. We can only create this community of compassion because of the mercy and love shown to us in the person of Jesus. He is our great gift of compassion and, simultaneously, our most outstanding example. Key Verses: Luke 7:11-17 Key Words: compassion, kingdom, empathy, judgmental, community |
Sun, 9 May 2021
Jesus makes us a remarkable promise: we can experience great joy in him. In this sermon, we look at the importance of joy and how it can come to us through our everyday lives. Key Verses: John 15-1-11 Key Words: joy, hope, happiness, growth |
Mon, 3 May 2021
Jesus tells us that part of living a good life must include radical generosity. In this sermon, we see how living a generous life means more than just giving away our money, and how being generous opens us up to receive the Kingdom of God. Key Verses: Mark 10:17-31 Key Words: giving, generosity, freedom, spiritual growth, wealth |
Sun, 25 April 2021
Jesus tells us that it’s literally impossible to live our lives with God unless we practice regular forgiveness. In this sermon, we look at why God calls us to forgive those who hurt us, and how it’s possible to actually do it. Key Verses: Matthew 18:21-35 Key Words: forgiveness, mercy, grace, justice, relationships, freedom |
Sun, 18 April 2021
When Jesus invites us into a “good” life, he invites us into a life filled with faith. In this sermon we see what true faith in God is, and how it can grow in our lives today. Key Verses: Mark 4:35-41 Key Words: faith, fear, Jesus, storms, peace |
Sun, 11 April 2021
What does it mean to live a good life? In this sermon, we see how Jesus tells us that a good life begins with a surrender to his kingdom plans and ways. Key Verses: Matthew 6:25-33 |
Mon, 5 April 2021
In one of the most famous stories of the Bible, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. In this sermon, we see how we can join Jesus and the power of his resurrection, too. Key Verses: John 11:17-27
Key Words: resurrection, easter, Lazarus, waiting, power, hope |
Mon, 29 March 2021
We see in exceptional vividness the slowly changing life of the man born blind and instantly healed by Jesus. Beginning with only a limited understanding of Jesus he is led through questions and controversy to eventually outright rejection by those who are supposed to help. Finally, he is found by the good shepherd and his life is forever changed into one of belief. Key Verses: John 9:1-41 Key Words: darkness, light, blindness, sight, salvation, belief
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Sun, 21 March 2021
God’s power to change our lives comes at just the right time. In this sermon, we explore how an invalid who had suffered for thirty-eight years found healing grace when he met Jesus — and how we can do the same. Key Verses: John 5:1-8 Key Words: healing, power, grace, conversion, change
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Sun, 14 March 2021
Conversion is the heart of the Christian faith. But it is often varied in how it happens. In this sermon, we look at a hurting woman’s surprising conversion at a well and how Jesus can do the same thing in us today. Key Verses: John 4: 7-15 Key Words: conversion, salvation, woman at the well, hope
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