All Sermons

Sabbath: Faithful Rest

August 18, 2019

God commanded rest. Moses reminds the people of the need for rest, according to God’s command, but also for the sake of the community. In this new land they are going into, things are going to be different. It’s not like in Egypt where they had to work constantly, at the expense of their bodies of the sake of the empire. The land suffered, the animals were used up, and the people were made to be miserable. No – in this new place there will be rest for weary bodies, but also for families, animals, servants, visitors, even those from foreign lands. They all get to be at rest together. The day of rest commanded by God was for the sake of the community, that all would come together to be renewed, to reflect on God’s goodness, and to be reminded of the deliverance God had given them in this new land.

Word of Trust: Jesus is Faithful

August 11, 2019

It’s easy to see why being stuck in the past can be depressing and cause anxiety. If we’re constantly wondering where we went wrong, holding onto old hurts, or fighting against some past version of ourselves and winding around past events we can’t change, we will despair. Faith frees us from the pain of the past, centers us in the good news of our Savior, and reframes the universe – toward God’s promises for us in Jesus.

Word of Boldness: Jesus Hears Us

July 28, 2019

I was never the risk-taker. I’ve never been the guy riding motorcycles or pulling daring stunts. Although, when I was a kid in South Florida, we used to sneak onto a nearby golf course. It was a part of a local senior living community, so if the security guards saw us, they’d chase us down and escort us off the premises. We weren’t trying to cause trouble. We were good kids. It was summer time, and we had nowhere to be. If the clubhouse was open, we might go in to play a game of pool. Maybe we’d pick up a stray golf ball along the way, but what we were really after – was a dip in the canal.

Word of Salvation: Jesus for Us

July 21, 2019

The author of Hebrews writes to explain that because Jesus knows us, is one of us, and is for us, He is the one able to liberate us from the pain and suffering we live in every day. “[Jesus became] like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17). Karoline Lewis writes that “Through Jesus’ death, death itself, even the fear of death, will be destroyed.” Death itself destroyed. What then do we have? Life. Abundant life.

Word of Glory: Jesus is Greater

July 14, 2019

Through all those teachers, parents, pastors, grandparents, and friends, God was speaking. God spoke directly Abraham, to Noah, to Moses and through Aaron, through silence, and even a donkey, through prophets like Jonah, Jeremiah, Micah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and others. God is still speaking, and like so many before us, we fail to listen. We can get discouraged and shut our ears and our hearts. We struggle to focus on anything but our own feelings, the pain we see in the world, or the hatred and division in our communities. We distract ourselves by any means necessary in order to survive. We can’t see Jesus. Here in this place, we get to meet Him every week.

The Heart of the City

June 30, 2019

After Jesus called his followers, he went into the cities. What did he do? He taught and shared the good news of God’s love and promises. He healed people and he fed them. He showed compassion. He commissioned others and sent them into the towns to do the same work. “The harvest is plentiful!” This is good news! There’s so much we learn and gain when we care for others and serve right here in our city. We do it because Jesus is the one who has served all of us. All that we do, we do because of Jesus.