Sermons
In John 5 Jesus asks a blind man a startling question: “Do you want to be healed?”
Still more startling is what Jesus does not ask the man: “What do you believe?”
Is it possible that God operates on his own terms and not ours? Is it possible that Jesus touches whomever he pleases regardless of whether we deem them worthy?
In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus begins to confront us with a shocking high bar for morality. This morning he makes this bold claim: “I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Is Jesus just being dramatic? A killjoy? What heart conditions does he have in mind, and how do we pursue the purity of heart to which Jesus calls us?
In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus begins to confront us with a shocking high bar for morality. He begins this morning by equating anger with murder.
Is Jesus just being dramatic when he says anger and murder carry the same consequences? Or is he unearthing deeper matters of the heart?
When Jesus’ disciples asked how they could “get ahead” in God’s kingdom, they didn’t expect him to respond, “Be like a child.”
This year during our annual Children’s Day celebration we reflect briefly on what childlike faith means. It is simple, dependent, and trusting.
Jesus loved to use everyday illustrations to illustrate profound truths. This morning we look at two famous statements: “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.”
What does it mean that we are salt and light? What does “salty” faith look like? And how can we be a light in a dark world?
We all want to be blessed in life, but what does it mean to be #blessed? Does it mean a great vacation, or a brand new car? Is being blessed the same as being successful?
Our desire to be blessed is natural – God himself planted that desire in us. In fact, Jesus tells us exactly what the blessed life looks like. It may not be quite what you expect.
We all want to be blessed in life, but what does it mean to be #blessed? Does it mean a great vacation, or a brand new car? Is being blessed the same as being successful?
Our desire to be blessed is natural – God himself planted that desire in us. In fact, Jesus tells us exactly what the blessed life looks like. It may not be quite what you expect.
After Jesus is raised from the dead John gives four quick sketches of some of Jesus’ closest followers. Eventually they all believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, but in very different ways. Yet Jesus meets each of them right where they are. He doesn’t demand that they reach up to him; he reaches down to them. As you listen to the four sketches, which is most like you?
“Into thy hands I commit my Spirit,” Jesus says in Luke 23; and in John 19, “It is finished.” These are Jesus’ very last words before he dies in each respective gospel.
The more we understand the context in which the words were said—especially in light of the temple curtain which was torn in two—the more we see how Jesus’ death is significant for our lives. This is no mere academic exercise; Jesus’ death means the forgiveness of all our sins and a radically new life for the Christian.
“I thirst,” Jesus said as he neared his final breath. It would be easy to overlook these two words, but they are loaded with significance. What does Jesus’ thirst mean, both for him on the cross, and for us today? Jesus, the living water of God, poured out living water into our souls, emptied himself, and took upon himself the eternal thirst of hell on our behalf, so that we might never be thirsty again.
One of the most haunting cries in all of Scripture: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” As Jesus hangs there and laments the loss of the presence of God, we can’t help but ask: Did God really forsake Jesus? And if so, does that mean he might forsake me? This morning we hear Jesus’ heart-rending cry and learn why Jesus’ great anguish leads to our great assurance.
As he hangs on the cross Jesus tells his mother, somewhat cryptically, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and then immediately to John, his disciple, “Here is your mother.” In saying this he emphasized that his followers—the church—are family. We are not like family; we are family. How does the crucifixion make that possible, and how do we live as family with one another?
“Today you will be with me in paradise,” Jesus promised one of the two criminals who was crucified beside him. This famous promise gives great comfort to Christians, but it also raises questions.
Can God really forgive a death row inmate at the last possible second? Are there crimes or people that God will not forgive? What limits does God’s mercy have?
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Jesus’ famous cry from Luke 23 is well known, but what is Jesus really asking for? Whom is he asking God to forgive? What does forgiveness look like? Does God actually forgive them? And does God forgive us?
God’s delights most in his own glory, and God is glorified when we know him. This morning we conclude our series in John 17 by addressing one of the most prominent themes in Jesus’ prayer for his disciples: unity.
Why is it important for Jesus’ followers to be unified? Where does unity come from? And what is the goal of unity? Listen to hear more!
God’s delights most in his own glory, and God is glorified when we know him. But how do we know God, and not just about him?
The primary way we know God is through his Word – both the scriptures and the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. This morning we examine the results and promises that God makes when we commit to keeping his word.
The greatest joy we can know is to know God. What does knowing God look like? And how do we know God?
As we continue studying Jesus’ prayer in John 17, we see that God doesn’t only want us to know about him; he wants us to know him personally.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism begins this way: “What is the chief end of man?”
”To glorify God and enjoy him forever.”
We might also ask, “What is the chief end of God?”
This morning we explore God’s deepest desire, and we see how God’s passion for his own glory is our greatest good.
With so many different voices shouting their view of sexuality to us, and with cultural understandings of sex constantly changing, how do we know what to believe about sex?
This morning we conclude our series in Proverbs by studying God’s good design for sex. Sex is a gift from God, intended to be enjoyed within the boundary of marriage. While many people think this makes God sounds like a killjoy, he doesn’t intend for this to suffocate our joy, but to maximize our joy! Listen more:
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Conflict is inevitable. We don’t like it, but we also can’t avoid it. So how do we manage conflict in a healthy way?
The book of Proverbs offers us a lot of guidance. Listen as we learn how to address conflict wisely, and how our conflict-management can honor God!
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