The Moody Church Sunday Morning Podcast

The Unknown God

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 09:00:00 CDT

Chasing money, pleasure, or power promises abundant life—but leaves us empty and restless. In Acts 17, Paul reveals the risen Jesus as the true God who satisfies, saves, and will judge the world. Acts 17:16-34 The Idols We Live For • We search for abundant life apart from God. The God Who is There • God’s self-disclosure is everywhere. The One We Can’t Avoid • Jesus is the Risen One we all must face. Takeaway: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

The World Turned Upside Down

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 09:00:00 CDT

We want advocacy, not authority. But Jesus the risen Lord demands allegiance, surrender, and obedience. Acts 17:1–15 Jesus the Messiah • We want the crown without the cross. • Will you trust and follow? Jesus the King • We want advocacy without authority. • Will you kneel and yield? Jesus the Word • We want selectivity, not surrender. • Will you listen and obey? Takeaway: Will you let Jesus turn your world upside down?

The Most High God

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 09:00:00 CDT

Who truly holds the power? The risen Christ, who frees captives and transforms lives. Acts 16:16–40 A Theological Contest • Who is the Most High God? • What is the way of salvation? A Trial of Powers • Jesus is Lord of all. A Triumph of the Gospel • Jesus is Savior of all. Takeaway: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

When God Calls

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 09:00:00 CDT

When God shuts doors, are you left lost—or are you being led? Acts 16 shows how open hands, open doors, and open hearts point to God’s call. Acts 16:6–15 The Instrument Principle • God uses those with open hands. • Will I trust God and put my “yes” on the table? The Invitation Principle • God leads us through open doors. • Will I step out in faith and answer the call? The Interest Principle • God focuses us on open hearts. • Will I lean in where the Lord is working? The Influence Principle • God changes our world as we open up. • Will I leverage my sphere of influence for Jesus?

Choosing Battles Wisely

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 09:00:00 CDT

When should Christians disagree, and when should they let go? Acts 15–16 shows how gospel clarity and gospel charity together strengthen the church and advance the mission. Acts 15:36–16:5 Paul and Barnabas • Godly people will still have real disagreements. Timothy and the Jews • Godly people choose to pick their battles wisely. Conflict and the Gospel • Gospel Perspective: Theological triage helps us discern what to die for, defend, discuss, or defer. • Gospel Posture: The Gospel gives us humility and courage. • Gospel Priority: "What is best for the Gospel?" Takeaway: “In essentials, unity, in non-essentials, liberty, in all things, charity.” —Rupertus Meldenius

The First Council

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 09:00:00 CDT

Is Jesus enough? Acts 15 reveals how grace, not law, welcomes outsiders and transforms hearts by faith alone in Christ alone.Acts 15:1–35 Jesus is the only and all-sufficient grounds of our salvation. The Controversy• Adding to the Gospel:Jesus + Circumcision + Law-keeping = Salvation The Consensus• Drawing out the implications of the Gospel:Grace + Spirit + Word=Love The Clarification• Transforming hearts by the Gospel:Grace + Spirit + Word=Love of God and Others Takeaway: Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Stepping Out For Jesus

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 09:00:00 CDT

Acts 14:1–28 Following Jesus means facing conflict and cost. Acts 14 reveals how God brings lasting fruit through bold faith and shared mission. Five truths that prepare us to step out for Jesus:1: Face the Battle2: Let God Fight3: Keep Your Head4: Bear the Cross5: Share the Load Takeaway: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9

The Gospel Dilemma

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 09:00:00 CDT

Acts 13:13–52 Why do some people refuse Jesus’ offer of salvation? Acts 13 exposes how pride resists grace—and how humility leads to life. Jesus: Our Hero • Jesus is the Hero of our history. Jesus: Our Hope • Jesus is the Hope of our hearts. Jesus: Our Humbler • Jesus is the Humbler of our hubris. Takeaway: The Gospel Dilemma: The consolation we require comes through the confrontation we resist.

Missional Motivations

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 09:00:00 CDT

Acts 13:1–12 Why are Christians compelled to live on mission? Jesus sends us into a dark world where the truth of Christ brings salvation and freedom. Personal Burden • We go because we love the lost. Divine Commission • We go because we’re sent by Jesus. Spiritual Darkness • We go because souls are in danger. Liberating Truth • We go because Jesus is Savior for all. Takeaway: How will I join Jesus on mission in my world?

You Become Like What You Worship

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 09:00:00 CDT

You Become Like What Your Worship” Pastor Stephen Farish December 28, 2025 Psalm 115:4-8; 2 Corinthians 3:161. Two definitions a. worship: the right response of the human heart to God’s revelation of himself, which response involves loving God with all we have and all we are by, among other things, seeing, delighting in, treasuring, and obeying the Lord b. idolatry: loving any person, thing, idea, or status more than we love (worship) God2. Psalm 115:4-8: Those who worship idols become like them (cf. Psalm 135:15-18). a. idols of the heart (Ezekiel 14:1-5) b. four questions to ask yourself to discern the idols of your heart (Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters (Dutton, 2009), pp. 167-170) i. About what do I daydream? ii. Where do I spend my money? iii. How do I respond when I am frustrated? iv. What are the emotions I find hard to control? c. “the expulsive power of a new affection” (Thomas Chalmers, 1815)3. 2 Corinthians 3:16: Those who worship Jesus Christ become like him. a. how this dynamic works in Christian souls b. the bottom line: we desperately need the grace of God to stop making mud pies in a slum and start enjoying a holiday by the sea (C.S. Lewis, “The Weight of Glory,” sermon preached June 8, 1942)

Simeon’s Nunc Dimittis

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Luke 2:25–35 What sustains faith when we're waiting on God? Beholding Jesus turns uncertainty into hope and transforms even death's departure into peace. Awaiting • Living by faith means learning to wait. Beholding • Living by faith means trusting in the middle. Entrusting • Living by faith means surrendering in hope. Takeaway: Our lives are in His hands.

Zechariah’s Benedictus

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Like Zechariah, we wrestle with disbelief though God's working in the quiet. Then Christ appears as our long-awaited Redeemer, King, and Peace. A New Exodus • Jesus is our Redeemer. A New Warrior • Jesus is our King. A New Freedom • Jesus is our Deliverer. A New Covenant • Jesus is our Savior. A New Hope • Jesus is our Peace. Takeaway: Jesus is our Everything!

100th Anniversary of the Sanctuary: What Mean These Stones?

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Joshua 4:21–22

Mary’s Magnificat

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Luke 1:46–55 When the proud prevail and hope feels thin, Mary sings of a God who sees the humble. Her Magnificat shows how His mercy and justice upends the world. God’s Delight • Our God honors the humble. God’s Strength • Our God fights for the feeble. God’s Justice • Our God reckons the wreckage. God’s Faithfulness • Our God keeps His covenants. Takeaway: God is glorified as we delight ourselves in Him.

Trusting in the Dark

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Acts 12:1–24 When darkness overwhelms and evil seems to win, Acts 12 shows us God is sovereign in the shadows. Trusting Him in the night is the very path He uses to deliver. Trust God’s Sovereignty • In the dark, our God is still King. Trust God’s Goodness • In the dark, our God still loves us. Trust God’s Wisdom • In the dark, our God still knows best. Trust God’s Justice • In the dark, our God is still working. Trust God’s Victory • In the dark, our God is still winning. Takeaway: In the dark, our God is still trustworthy.

We are Farmers

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Mark 4:1–20 1. The Parable 2. The Parable Explained 3. The Part Left Unsaid: How Did the Good Soil Get Good? 4. How to Farm

Unlikely Christians

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Acts 11:19–30; 12:25–13:3 What happens when the Gospel reaches the least expected? Unlikely people become world changers through Christ. Unlikely DiversityThe Gospel embraces the unlikely. Unlikely UnityThe Gospel unites the unlikely. Unlikely MinistryThe Gospel pursues the unlikely. Takeaway: The Gospel is for every unlikely one of us.• “People sensed in their hearts that Jesus did not mock their respect for the sacred nor their clamor for an invincible Savior, and so they beat their sacred drums for him until the stars skipped and danced in the skies. After that dance, the stars weren’t little anymore. Christianity helped Africans to become renewed Africans, not re-made Europeans.” —Lamin Sanneh, Whose Religion is Christianity?

All in the Family

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Acts 10:1–11:18 Who can be in God's family? Anyone saved by Jesus and sealed by His Spirit is welcomed by grace. The SetupGod is setting up a meeting between Cornelius and Peter, proactively dismantling Old Covenant barriers. The SurpriseThe Gentiles are sealed by the Spirit in the New Covenant through Jesus, without becoming Jewish. The SortingIn the New Covenant, Jews and Gentiles alike come directly to the Father, through Jesus alone, by the Spirit. Takeaway: “Ever welcome to this house of God are strangers and the poor.”

Work in Progress

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Acts 9:32–43 We’re all works in progress living in a world under construction—yet Jesus is still working, healing, and bringing resurrection hope. Expansion∙ Jesus’ work is reaching further Extension∙ Jesus’ work is multiplying wider Expectation∙ Jesus’ work is pointing higher Takeaway: “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1:6

Faith Over Fear

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 09:00:00 CDT

1 Kings 18:30–39 Though fear grips tight, faith can take root. What threatens to undo us can become the ground where trust in God grows strong. Elijah’s experience with fear provides several lessons for the church today on how to endure anxieties and setbacks. Discover how our Father in heaven responds to our emotional vulnerability. 1. Fear is normal. 2. Fear interrupts faith. 3. Fear cannot revoke your calling. Takeaway: Fear is the opportunity to experience God’s comfort, restoration, and guidance. Spiritual strength is grounded in unwavering dependence upon God.

The Power of the Gospel

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Acts 9:1–31 In a striking reversal, the persecutor became the persecuted, displaying the Gospel’s power. Only the risen Christ could turn an enemy into an ambassador. Saul’s Conversion • The Gospel confronts and consoles. Saul’s Community • The Gospel changes and challenges. Saul’s Commission • The Gospel compels and confounds. Takeaways: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” –Romans 1:16a

An Unexpected Journey

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Acts 8:26–40 Ever feel too broken or unworthy for God? In Jesus, the outsider is embraced, the cut-off are welcomed, and joy overflows. A Divine Appointment• God is going out of His way in pursuit of the Ethiopian Eunuch through Philip. A Spiritual Pilgrimage• This Ethiopian Eunuch's longing for hope is riddled with pain. A Gospel Breakthrough• In Jesus, this Ethiopian Eunuch is fully welcomed. Takeaways:• The Gospel is for you.• Jesus is our way in.• “What prevents me from being baptized?”

The Lord of the Church

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Acts 8:1–25 When chaos scatters God’s people, does evil win? In Jesus’ hands, persecution spreads the Gospel, reconciles people, and cultivates humility. The Redeemer• Persecution in Jesus’ hands becomes Gospel-propulsion. The Healer• Estrangement in Jesus’ hands becomes Gospel-reconciliation. The Teacher• Ego in Jesus’ hands becomes Gospel-humility. Takeaways: Put it all in Jesus’ hands

The First Martyr

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 09:00:00 CDT

In the darkest persecution, Jesus stands with those who stand for Him. Stephen's witness and martyrdom revealed God’s glory, sparking unstoppable faith. THE FIRST MARTYRActs 6:8–7:60 Stephen's ChargesBlasphemy against Moses, God, Temple, and Law. His DefenseThe real blasphemy is rejection of Jesus Messiah. His WitnessStephen sees and shines Jesus as his final testimony. Takeaways:Standing for Jesus has never been easy. Jesus stands with the ones who stand for Him. Our greatest sermon is our Christlikeness. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. To live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Growing Pains

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] What if conflict strengthened the church? The early church’s growing pains led to Spirit-filled unity that empowered diverse leaders and multiplied impact.The ProblemThe Problem: Distortion & Distraction The SolutionThe Solution: Integrity & Intentionality The ResultThe Results: Mutuality & Multiplication Takeaway: The more we become what we believe, the more the world beholds the Gospel’s beauty.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

God’s Ways And Our Prayers

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 09:00:00 CDT

A Weird Prologue The story begins with the sons of the prophets, a humble community serving the Lord. When a borrowed iron axe head falls into the Jordan, Elisha miraculously makes it float. Though small and strange, this miracle shows that God cares deeply for the problems of ordinary people—even when those problems don’t affect history. God delights to bless and intervene, no matter how insignificant our crises may seem. A Blind King The king of Syria repeatedly tries to ambush Israel’s king, but Elisha warns him each time. Frustrated, the Syrian king suspects betrayal, until he learns that Elisha, God’s prophet, reveals his plans. Blind to reality, the king foolishly attempts to capture Elisha. His blindness highlights not physical sight but a failure to grasp God’s power and sovereignty. A Blind Servant and a Blind Army Elisha’s servant panics when they are surrounded by the Syrian army. But Elisha prays, and God opens the servant’s eyes to see an unseen angelic host of fiery chariots all around. Elisha then prays for the enemy to be struck with blindness, leading them into Samaria. This demonstrates that God’s power invades the ordinary through prayer and that true sight requires faith. Another Blind King The king of Israel, Jehoram, is eager to kill the captured Syrians. But Elisha commands him instead to feed them and send them home. Though Jehoram sees his enemies delivered to him, he is blind to the deeper truth—that YHWH alone is worthy to be obeyed and feared. By showing mercy rather than slaughter, Israel gains peace, revealing God’s heart for nations and His ways that are better than ours. Application: God cares for you. He cared about a lost axe head, about kings, armies, and even enemies. Nothing is too small or insignificant for His notice. God is capable. Whether crises are small or international in scale, both are equally manageable for Him. This world is a lot stranger than we think. Like Elisha’s servant, we are often blind to the unseen spiritual reality around us. Our prayer life should reflect all 3 of these realities. Pray as though God cares, as though He is capable, and as though His solutions may be unexpected or unusual. Takeaway: God’s power invades the world of the ordinary because of the prayers of His people.

Be Encouraged

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Be encouraged you have access to God. Believers are commanded to rejoice always. Joy is deeper than happiness and is not dependent on circumstances but rooted in remembering what we have in Christ. In Him we have acceptance, adoption, forgiveness, hope, grace, salvation, love, and the sealing of the Spirit. Remembering these truths fuels rejoicing and brings encouragement.Be encouraged you have access to God. Prayer is ongoing communication with God and an awareness of His presence and dependence on Him. We are told to pray without ceasing, trusting that God always hears and answers, even when the answer is “no.” Through the Holy Spirit we are taught, strengthened, and guided. Prayer is like spiritual breathing, sustaining our relationship with God.Be encouraged in everything. God calls us to give thanks in all circumstances. Even in trials and hardships, we can trust His sovereignty and power. Every situation is used for our sanctification, shaping us to serve and share. Nothing is too great for God; while we may ask Him to remove mountains, He promises to walk with us as we climb them.Takeaway: Saved to serve and share. When saved, believers are summoned to serve and share Christ. Service unites the body of Christ and flows from the meaning, purpose, and joy found in Him. We must stop living between “if” and “when” and embrace the truth of the gospel today. Whether we know Him, need restoration, or have yet to believe, the call is the same: be encouraged, Jesus died for you, loves you, and offers reconciliation with God.

Jesus and the Agony of an Unanswered Prayer

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Jesus and the Agony of an Unanswered PrayerMark 14:32–42Pastor Erwin Lutzer Four Questions That Beg for an Answer1. What was the Cup?2. Who Gave Him the Cup?3. What was Jesus’ Request?4. What was Jesus’ Response? Five Lessons for our own prayer life1. Today’s prayerless Christians are tomorrow’s backsliders2. Unanswered Prayers are not unheard prayers3. Our “cup” must be accepted from the hands of God4. Our Redemption was founded on an unanswered prayer5. Jesus was abandoned so we will always be welcomed

The Path To Joy: Confession, Forgiveness, and Purpose

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 09:00:00 CDT

How well are you sleeping these days? Pain is God’s wake-up call to the soul (Psalm 32:1-4)Sin damages us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. David describes how unconfessed sin drained his strength and joy. Pain, though often normalized in our culture, is God’s loving pressure to alert us that we’ve strayed from His truth and need to return to Him. Confession is the doorway to forgiveness (Psalm 32:5)Confession means fully acknowledging our sin without excuses or blame-shifting. David resolved to stop hiding and honestly admit his wrongs to God. This wholehearted honesty opens the door to God’s mercy and releases us from guilt’s grip. Forgiveness lifts the burden of guilt and brings the joy of salvation (Psalm 32:6-7)When we confess, God removes the threat of judgment and becomes our refuge. His forgiveness doesn’t necessarily change our circumstances, but it turns groaning into praise and shelters us in times of trouble. Salvation is the heart of our worship and the motivation of our mission (Psalm 32:8-11)The forgiven are called to guide others toward God, urging them not to resist His leading. Experiencing His steadfast love should compel us to worship joyfully and to lead our families, communities, and the world in trusting Him. Silence is not an option for those who have been delivered. Conclusion: How well are you sleeping these days? Why don’t you do something about it?

Your Sanctification

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Sanctification: For YouSanctification—becoming more like Christ—is God’s will for every believer. It's not about earning salvation but about growing in holiness because we've been saved. This growth, empowered by the Holy Spirit, includes developing self-control, especially in the area of sexual purity. Paul calls believers to abstain from all sexual immorality and to live in holiness and honor. Temptation often looks good, but trusting God's voice over our desires is key. Self-control reflects faith and prepares us for eternity. Though we stumble, sanctification is a lifelong process that doesn't undo our justification. Believers fall into three groups: the complacent, the discouraged, and the gospel-centered. Each is reminded that God is patient, just, and faithful to complete the work He began. Sanctification: For OthersSanctification is not just personal—it’s missional. Paul lists six areas where our growth in holiness impacts others:Holy Sexuality – Purity honors others and strengthens our witness. Love – Without genuine love, even right actions ring hollow. Live Quietly – Avoid stirring up controversy; be peaceful. Mind Your Own Affairs – Speak truth with humility and grace. Walk Properly – Work hard and live dependently on God, not others. Grieve Well – Believers grieve with hope, pointing others to the promise of resurrection. Sanctification: For the LordChrist is returning, and we will be with Him forever. This coming reality is the reason we pursue sanctification. God's commands are not burdens—they are preparation for eternal joy with Jesus. Every act of obedience trains us to love Him more than this world. Ultimately, the question is: What is your life preparing you for? Earthly success is fleeting, but sanctification shapes us for eternity with Christ. Living for Him now reflects the hope of being with Him forever.

Unstoppable Life

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]The Book of Acts reveals how the life of Jesus is unstoppable, advancing through His people despite every form of opposition. Acts 5:17–42 answers the question of how Jesus works through us to change the world, showing a divine partnership between God’s power and our participation. This passage presents four key ingredients that demonstrate how we join Jesus on His mission. 1. Unexpected PowerThrough weakness, God reveals His strengthIn Acts 5, the apostles are imprisoned by jealous religious leaders for boldly preaching about Jesus. But during the night, an angel miraculously releases them and instructs them to return to the temple and keep proclaiming the message. Despite their weakness and powerlessness, God demonstrates His strength by freeing them and continuing His work through them. The apostles’ imprisonment becomes the stage for God’s unexpected and undeniable power. - Through weakness, God reveals His strength 2. Undaunted WitnessThrough obedience, God displays His supremacyWhen brought before the Sanhedrin, the apostles refuse to back down. They boldly declare that they must obey God rather than men and proclaim Jesus as the crucified and exalted Savior. Their courageous witness, empowered by the Holy Spirit, confronts their accusers with both truth and invitation. Despite pressure and threats, their obedience becomes a testimony to God's supreme authority and unmatched worth. 3. Unfading EnduranceThrough perseverance, God proves His purposesThe council is enraged and wants to kill the apostles, but Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, advises caution. He points to past failed movements and argues that if this movement is from God, it cannot be stopped. His words prove prophetic, as the gospel spreads across the world, showing the endurance of God’s purposes through His people. The apostles keep showing up—faithfully living, proclaiming, and enduring—and through them, God proves the lasting truth of His mission. 4. Unquenchable JoyThrough suffering, God unveils His worthinessAfter being beaten and warned not to speak in Jesus’ name, the apostles leave rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for Him. Their suffering doesn’t discourage them—it deepens their joy. It proves the authenticity of their faith, draws them closer to God, strengthens their character, and displays Jesus as their highest treasure. Their joy in suffering highlights the incomparable worth of Christ, who is more valuable than comfort, safety, or reputation. Takeaway: Through our weakness, obedience, perseverance, and suffering, the unstoppable life of Jesus continues to transform the world. We each have a role to play in bringing this life to others.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

A Severe Mercy

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]The early church was growing rapidly, marked by unity, generosity, and powerful witness. But as momentum built, a new threat emerged, not from external persecution, but from within the community itself. Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit revealed a spiritual attack designed to corrupt the church from the inside. This passage confronts us with sobering questions about holiness, sin, and the seriousness with which God protects His people. What is going on here?The early church is under spiritual attack from within.As the church grew rapidly in unity and generosity, Satan shifted his tactics from external persecution to internal sabotage. While believers were sacrificially caring for one another, Ananias and Sapphira conspired to lie about their offering. Motivated by pride and a desire for recognition, they pretended to give the full amount from a land sale while secretly keeping part back. Their deceit wasn’t just a personal sin, it was a direct lie to the Holy Spirit and a threat to the spiritual health of the entire community. God responded immediately by striking them dead, exposing their hypocrisy and protecting the church from the internal decay of duplicity and pride. Why is it such a big deal?God is purifying His church through a severe mercy.This moment is a big deal because it reveals both the holiness of God and the deadliness of sin. God is utterly holy and will not be mocked or approached with pretense. Like in other moments at the start of major redemptive eras, such as with Nadab and Abihu, Achan, and Uzzah, God acts decisively to set a precedent. His swift judgment shows that He is serious about sin, especially in the formative days of His church. At the same time, the sin of Ananias and Sapphira was far more than a minor misstep. It was deliberate, deceptive, satanic, and corrosive. If left unchecked, it would have poisoned the church’s unity, witness, and trust. In His severe mercy, God cut off this threat before it could metastasize. Though He judged them physically, it may be that He preserved their souls, protecting both them and the church through a hard but merciful act. How should we respond?God is holier than we realize.God’s holiness is awe-inspiring and demands our reverence. He is not tame or to be taken lightly. We must approach Him with sincerity, obedience, and humility, recognizing His glory and our unworthiness apart from Christ.Sin is deadlier than we realize.Sin is not just personal weakness, it is spiritual poison. It dulls our conscience, spreads like cancer, and endangers not only ourselves but our communities. God’s patience with our sin should not be mistaken for approval; it’s a call to repentance.Mercy is greater than we realize.The fact that we are not judged instantly for our sin is evidence of God’s incredible mercy. Jesus absorbed the full wrath of God on the cross so we wouldn’t have to. Even the judgment on Ananias and Sapphira points to mercy, God’s grace in preserving the church and possibly their souls. We must never take that mercy for granted.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Boldness For Jesus

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Boldness For JesusActs 4:1–31Pastor Philip Miller In our secular, pluralistic culture, there is constant pressure to keep our faith private and stay silent about Jesus. But this goes against His commission to make disciples of all nations, we are called to boldly share the Good News. True boldness for Jesus must be gracious, loving, and rooted in a desire to speak the truth with humility and courage. Saving NameJesus is the only Name that saves.Peter and John boldly proclaimed that Jesus is the only Name that saves. Even when arrested and brought before the same powerful leaders who condemned Jesus, they declared that the crippled man was healed by Jesus Christ of Nazareth, crucified and risen. Peter explained that Jesus is the Cornerstone, rejected by people but essential for salvation, because there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. They found courage knowing that Jesus alone perfectly bridges the infinite gap between sinful humanity and a holy God. Supreme AuthorityGod is the only Authority that matters.When ordered by the authorities to stop speaking about Jesus, Peter and John refused, appealing to God’s supreme authority. They recognized that they answered to the One who made heaven and earth, who rules over every earthly power. Knowing they had been with Jesus and were commissioned by the Highest Authority gave them confidence to keep speaking, no matter who told them to stay silent. Spiritual PowerThe Spirit is the only Power we need.After being released, the believers gathered to pray, not for safety or less opposition, but for continued boldness. They trusted the Holy Spirit to empower them to keep proclaiming the Gospel, even as threats increased. God answered by shaking the place they met and filling them with the Spirit, enabling them to continue to speak the Word of God with boldness. They knew that the Spirit’s power, not human strength, was the source of their courage. Takeaway: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Signs Of The Times

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Signs Of The TimesActs 3:1–26Pastor Philip Miller At the end of Acts 2, the early church is growing rapidly through the Apostles’ preaching and miraculous signs. Acts 3 zooms in on one specific miracle, a lame man healed at the temple gate, which serves as a powerful sign meant to point beyond itself. Like a road sign to a scenic view, this healing directs our attention to deeper spiritual truths about Jesus and His Kingdom. Our SituationOur need is deeper than we know.A man, lame from birth, begged daily at the temple gate, showing how our visible struggles often point to deeper spiritual needs. Like him, we seek temporary fixes—money, relationships, success—thinking they’ll make us whole, but our true problem lies deeper. Jesus knows our real need and offers not just relief, but restoration and life. His miracles are signs pointing beyond physical healing to the complete renewal He promises in God’s Kingdom. Our SaviorOur Jesus is greater than we realize.The healed man’s joyful leaping drew a crowd, and Peter made it clear that Jesus—not human power—had performed the miracle. Jesus is the Holy and Righteous One, crucified but raised by God. Faith in His name brings healing and salvation. Jesus gives grace, the gift of faith, and blessings far beyond what we ask. Even those who once rejected Him can receive mercy. He alone deserves the glory because He saves completely and abundantly. Our SolutionOur time is shorter than we think.Peter urged the people to repent, reminding them that even though they acted in ignorance, they were still responsible. Jesus’ suffering fulfilled God’s promises through the prophets. Repentance brings forgiveness of sins, spiritual refreshment, and hope for the full restoration Jesus will bring when He returns. Jesus fulfills all of God’s covenant promises, and He alone offers true salvation. Time is short, so people must turn to Him now before the opportunity passes. Takeaway: Repent and believe.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

My God My God Why Have You Forsaken Me

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?Mark 15:33-39Rev. Stephen E. Farish Mark 15:33-39 reports the supreme moment of all redemptive history, when Jesus Christ the Son of God on the cross bore the sins of sinners and thereby satisfied the righteous wrath of God the Father against those sins. However, we naturally ask what in the world was happening in the spiritual realms when Jesus uttered the last words we would expect to hear from the mouth of the Son of God: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The answer to this question is that God in that moment, out of his immense and steadfast love, was delivering his people from his eternal judgment through the sin-bearing and wrath-bearing sacrifice of Jesus the Son of God on the cross. And the equally glorious reality is that God, through the cross, was not only delivering sinners from his wrath, but he was delivering us to nothing less than to himself! A. Three words of caution concerning our understanding of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross1. A caution from the doctrine of the Trinity2. A caution from the doctrine of the union of a fully human and a fully divine nature in Jesus3. A caution from the infinite love for and delight of the Father in the Son B. Three hints at the meaning of the cry of forsakenness in v. 341. A hint from the Garden of Gethsemane prayer (Mark 14:36; cf. Jeremiah 25:15-16)2. a hint from the descent of darkness from noon to 3:00 p.m. (v. 33; cf. Amos 5:18; 8:9-10)3. a hint from the cry itself (v. 34; cf. Psalm 22:1) C. Two applications of Jesus’ suffering of forsakenness1. to the lives of unbelievers, from v. 39 (cf. Mark 1:1)2. to the lives of believers, from v. 38 (cf. 1 Peter 3:18)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Together On The Journey

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Together On The JourneyActs 2:42-47Pastor Philip Miller In the early centuries of the Roman Empire, Christians faced intense persecution for refusing to worship the emperor or other gods, leading to widespread suspicion and marginalization. Yet, Christianity grew rapidly because it offered a radically different kind of community—one centered on a personal relationship with God and open to all people, regardless of background. This new identity in Christ created a multi-racial, forgiving, caring, life-affirming, and covenant-keeping society that stood in stark contrast to Roman norms and attracted many. The earliest Christian community, as seen in Acts 2, embodied this transformative way of life, one that continues to shape lives and communities today through worship, community, service, and mission. The Journey of a LifetimeKnow God through WorshipGod created people to know Him personally and be in relationship with Him. Through worship, individuals respond to God's greatness with reverence, gratitude, and surrender. Worship includes gathering regularly with others to hear God's Word, pray, and praise Him. Feed Your Soul through CommunityFollowing Jesus is not a solo journey. Community provides encouragement, accountability, and spiritual growth. Small groups, classes, and relationships rooted in faith help individuals grow stronger and remain connected. Grow in Love through ServiceLoving others through service reflects the heart of Jesus. Using time, talents, and spiritual gifts to serve in the church and beyond builds up the body of Christ and strengthens personal faith. Change Your World through MissionEvery follower of Jesus is called to live on mission, sharing the gospel and meeting needs locally and globally. This includes acts of compassion, speaking truth, and living out faith in everyday life to reflect Christ’s love to the world. Takeaway: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Peter’s Sermon

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:14–41 takes place on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit is poured out and thousands witness supernatural signs. As a result of this message, 3,000 people respond and are baptized, marking the birth of the Church and the beginning of a new era in God’s redemptive plan. Explanation: The Last Days are herePeter explains that the events at Pentecost fulfill Joel’s prophecy about the “last days,” a time marked by the outpouring of the Spirit, divine revelations, and signs in the heavens. This period stretches from Jesus’ ascension to His return, and it is a time for people to call on the name of the Lord and be saved. The Spirit is now available to all—young and old, men and women, servants and free—signifying the inclusive nature of God’s new covenant. Exposition: The Messiah has comePeter proclaims that Jesus of Nazareth was attested by God through miracles and wonders, yet was crucified according to God’s sovereign plan. He was raised from the dead, fulfilling Psalm 16, which foretells that God’s “Holy One” would not see decay. Jesus is the promised Messiah, David’s greater Son, whose resurrection confirms His identity and mission. Exaltation: The King is ascendedJesus is not only risen but also exalted at the right hand of God, having received and now pouring out the Holy Spirit. Psalm 110 affirms His royal authority as the Lord whom David called “my Lord,” who will reign until all enemies are defeated. God has made this same Jesus, who was crucified, both Lord and Christ—the exalted King of all. Exhortation: The promise is on offerConvicted by the truth, the people ask what they must do, and Peter urges them to repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for all—those present, their descendants, and everyone whom the Lord calls. Salvation is a gift of grace, and the invitation remains open to all who respond in faith. Takeaway: “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”This is the core message of Peter’s sermon: salvation is available to all through Jesus Christ. In these last days, all who call on His name will be saved.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Spirit of Wind and Fire

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]At Pentecost, God fulfilled His promise by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in and empower His people. Through wind and fire, the Spirit’s arrival signaled the beginning of a New Covenant, a New Creation, a New Temple, and a New Mission. This moment marks the launch of the Church, now filled with God's presence to carry the Gospel to all nations. 1. New CovenantGod is closer than the air we breathe.At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came with wind and fire, echoing Mt. Sinai when God gave the Law with fire and trembling. Pentecost commemorated the giving of the Old Covenant. Now, God chooses this very day to establish the New Covenant by sending the Spirit. No longer is God's law written on stone tablets. It is now written on our hearts. The Spirit indwells believers, sealing and guiding them from within. Jesus has not left us as orphans. He has come to us through the Spirit. God is closer than the air we breathe. 2. New CreationGod is recreating us from the inside out.The sound of the mighty rushing wind recalls Genesis 2, when God breathed life into Adam, and John 20, when Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit brings a new kind of life. We are born again by the Spirit and made into new creations in Christ. The same Spirit that hovered over the waters of creation and raised Jesus from the dead is now alive in us. He is renewing us daily into the likeness of Christ. We are a new creation in Christ by the Spirit for the glory of the Father. 3. New TempleGod has taken up residence in us.In Scripture, fire often signals God’s presence. At Pentecost, fire appeared over each believer. This mirrors the Shekinah glory that filled the tabernacle and the temple. In the past, God's glory left the temple due to Israel's rebellion. It returned in the person of Jesus. Now that Jesus has ascended, the fire falls again, but not on a building. It rests on the people of God. The Spirit's fire marks us as God's new temple. We are now the dwelling place of God. We are His address on earth. 4. New MissionGod empowers us to make disciples of all nations.At Pentecost, the Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in many languages. Devout Jews from every nation heard the Gospel in their own native tongues. This was not just a miracle of communication. It was a sign that the Gospel is for all peoples. No longer do the nations come to a temple in one city. Now, the people of God go out to every nation. We are a mobilized and missionary temple. The Spirit empowers us to carry the message of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Takeaway: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” —Zechariah 4:6We cannot fulfill the mission in our own strength. We need the Spirit not only for salvation but also for mission. To go and be the Church, we must walk in the Spirit’s power each step of the way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Losing Well – Winning The World

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Losing Well - Winning The World1 Peter 3:8-16Dr. John Dickson Today, we had the privilege of welcoming special guest, Dr. John Dickson, who led us through 1 Peter 3:8-16. Christians face growing skepticism in today’s culture, but instead of reacting with fear, compromise, or silence, we are called to respond with confident humility. True strength comes from honoring Christ and engaging others with gentleness, respect, and grace.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Waiting On God

Sun, 25 May 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Waiting On GodActs 1:12–26Pastor Philip Miller Waiting can be one of the most difficult challenges in life, especially when it feels uncertain or open-ended. Yet, Scripture shows us that God often uses seasons of waiting to prepare His people for greater purposes. In Acts 1:12–26, the disciples model what it looks like to wait well. Their example reveals that waiting on God is not passive but active, intentional, and formative.Five Proactive Responses for Seasons of Waiting: 1. Obey What God’s RevealedThe disciples returned to Jerusalem and waited, just as Jesus instructed. Even though they didn’t know how long the wait would be, they followed His clear command. In our own seasons of waiting, obedience to what God has already revealed is the first step in active trust. 2. Gather with God’s PeopleRather than isolating, the disciples waited together in unity—with the women, Mary, and Jesus’ brothers. They chose community because they needed one another. Seasons of waiting call for deeper connection with the body of Christ, where we find encouragement, strength, and joy. 3. Pray with God’s ChildrenWhile waiting, the disciples devoted themselves to prayer—fervent, committed, and collective. They acknowledged their need for God’s empowering grace. In times of waiting, prayer aligns our hearts with God’s and deepens our dependence on Him. 4. Search out God’s WordPeter searched the Scriptures to understand Judas’ betrayal and to guide the next step. God's Word grounded them in truth and purpose. In disorienting seasons, Scripture reminds us that God is sovereign and that His redemptive plan is still unfolding. 5. Trust for God’s LeadingWhen it came time to replace Judas, the disciples prayed and entrusted the decision to God, casting lots with full confidence in His sovereignty. Though we no longer cast lots, we are still called to trust the Lord’s leadership rather than rushing ahead or falling behind. Takeaway: “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10Waiting on God is both difficult and transformative. It’s in the stillness that we learn to trust, obey, and grow. Rather than resisting the waiting, lean into it—knowing that God is working even in the silence and preparing you for what’s next.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Pivot

Sun, 18 May 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]The Pivot Acts 1:1–11 Pastor Philip MillerFrom Then to NowThe mission continues.Luke opens Acts as a sequel to his Gospel, showing that Jesus’ work didn’t end with His ascension—it continues through His Spirit-empowered Church. The transition from Jesus’ earthly ministry to the activity of His followers marks a shift from “then” to “now.” What Jesus began in His person, He now carries on through His people. The risen and ascended Christ remains active, advancing His mission in the world through the Church.From One to ManyThe mission multiplies.Though Jesus physically leaves, He prepares His disciples for the mission ahead by promising the Holy Spirit. Once dependent on one man, the mission will now be carried out by many Spirit-filled believers. Jesus’ departure multiplies His impact—no longer confined to one location, the Gospel will spread through countless voices across the world. Ordinary, flawed individuals will become bold witnesses by the Spirit’s power.From Us to ThemThe mission reconciles.The disciples expect a national restoration for Israel, but Jesus redirects their focus to a global mission. The Good News is not just for “us” (Israel), but for “them”—including Samaritans, Gentiles, and even enemies. This pivot challenges deep-rooted prejudices, calling for a diverse, Spirit-united family in Christ. God's plan is to reconcile all peoples to Himself through Jesus, creating one new, multiethnic people.From Near to FarThe mission radiates.Jesus commissions His disciples to begin in Jerusalem and expand outward—Judea, Samaria, and ultimately the ends of the earth. This movement reflects the structure of Acts and God's design to reach all nations. The Gospel is meant to radiate geographically and culturally, with no boundary too far or people too distant. Until Christ returns, the Church is called to go, scatter, and proclaim peace everywhere. Takeaway: Will we join Jesus on mission?The Church doesn’t just have a mission—it is the mission. As followers of Jesus, we are part of God’s unstoppable Gospel movement, empowered by His Spirit to carry His message to a broken world. The story of Acts is still being written in our time through ordinary people who surrender to Jesus’ call. The question is: will we join Him on mission?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Never The Same Again

Sun, 11 May 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]1. Game-Changing ResurrectionJesus appears to His disciples, bodily raised and glorified. He invites them to see, touch, and watch Him eat—proving He is no ghost. His resurrection marks the beginning of God’s new creation. - Jesus is the first fruits of the new creation. 2. Game-Changing HermeneuticJesus shows that all Scripture points to Him—His suffering, resurrection, and the mission to proclaim forgiveness to all nations. - The Bible is all about Christ’s Gospel mission. 3. Game-Changing EmpowermentJesus promises the Holy Spirit to empower His followers for mission. As He ascends, the disciples worship with joy, awaiting the Spirit’s arrival. - The Spirit indwells this new community for mission. Takeaway: Jesus changes everything.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Putting the Pieces Together

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Around the holidays, our family does a large jigsaw puzzle together—a chaotic mess that slowly turns into a beautiful picture. In Luke 24:13–35, two disciples are walking the road to Emmaus, trying to make sense of the recent events in Jerusalem: Jesus’ death and the strange news of His missing body. These followers are heartbroken and confused, struggling with six “scattered pieces” of their experience:The Scattered PiecesMighty Prophet Condemned and Crucified Hoped for Redeemer Hopeless Reality Women’s Testimony Incomplete Evidence The Big PictureThe necessity of every disparate piece. The Bible is a mosaic revealing Jesus. The CenterpieceJesus is the centerpiece who brings it all together. Takeaway: Could it be that Jesus is the centerpiece you’re looking for?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Believing The Unbelievable

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] Sunday, April 5, AD 33, marked the most pivotal day in history: the resurrection of Jesus. The Gospel of Luke has taken the church through Jesus' life, teachings, miracles, and crucifixion. Now, in Luke 23:50–24:12, the focus shifts to the resurrection — an event that initially startled and confused everyone, yet eventually transformed the early disciples from skeptics into bold proclaimers. The central question posed: how do people come to believe the unbelievable? 1. Examine the EvidenceThere’s reason to believe Search Online: Resurrection + Gary Habermas, Lee Strobel, N. T. Wright, Sean McDowell, William Lane CraigThe women and Peter demonstrate the first step — examining the evidence. They find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Peter inspects the grave clothes and leaves marveling. These are not gullible people; they’re skeptical but thoughtful, seeking truth. Modern historical consensus affirms several facts: Jesus lived, was crucified, buried in Joseph’s tomb, the tomb was empty, and the disciples believed they encountered the risen Jesus — even to the point of death. No compelling alternative theory explains the radical transformation and spread of Christianity, making resurrection the most reasonable explanation. 2. Explore the PropheciesThere’s wonder to beholdThe angels remind the women of Jesus’ own prophetic words about His death and resurrection. Luke records three prior predictions by Jesus, and these weren’t isolated — they aligned with hundreds of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Christ, many of which were written centuries before. From His lineage, birth, and ministry to His betrayal, crucifixion, and burial, the fulfillment of these prophecies points to divine orchestration. The resurrection wasn’t spontaneous but the climax of a divine plan. Exploring prophecy reveals a divine Author behind history. 3. Encounter the WitnessesThere’s adventure to beginThough the disciples initially dismissed the women’s report, Peter investigates. That women discovered the tomb — a detail unlikely to be fabricated due to cultural bias — adds credibility. Luke names these witnesses for verification. The Gospels and Luke’s own purpose statement (Luke 1:1–4) show the importance of firsthand testimony. The New Testament documents serve as eyewitness accounts of the resurrection, inviting readers to encounter the witnesses through Scripture. Takeaway: The Resurrection Changes Everything If the resurrection is true, then life has meaning, purpose, and eternal significance. Jesus offers forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and eternal life. The resurrection confronts everyone with a choice: believe or dismiss. But given the evidence, prophecy, and eyewitnesses, the resurrection demands investigation. Because if it’s true — it changes everything. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Weight Of The Cross

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] The Weight Of The Cross Luke 23:26–49 Pastor Philip MillerIn a world driven by entertainment and ease, we tend to avoid heavy, sobering realities. Good Friday confronts us with the horror and agony of Jesus’ crucifixion—an event many would rather skip in favor of Easter’s joy. Yet, the cross holds profound goodness, glory, and triumph. Luke 23 draws us into this weighty moment, calling us not to look away but to see the suffering of Jesus as our salvation. His cross is not only His burden—it’s ours too, because His sacrifice was made for us.Cosmic Treason:Death is hanging over all As Jesus stumbles under the weight of the cross, Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry it, unknowingly participating in God's greater redemption. Jesus warns the mourning women of Jerusalem not to weep for Him, but for themselves, as judgment is coming due to Israel’s rejection of the Messiah. This rejection is not just national—it is humanity’s rejection of its Creator. The crucifixion is not merely unjust; it is cosmic treason against God. Enemy Love:Forgiveness is offered for all Despite brutal treatment and mocking, Jesus responds with compassion: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” While others mock His identity as King and Savior, Jesus shows true divine love, interceding even for His enemies. His prayer for forgiveness holds back divine judgment and extends mercy to all. Gracious Salvation:Hope is available to all One criminal mocks Jesus, but the other, recognizing Jesus’ innocence, asks to be remembered in His kingdom. Jesus assures him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” This demonstrates that salvation is by grace through faith, not through deeds or religious performance. Hope is available to all who call on Jesus. Childlike Trust:Jesus is the substitute for all As darkness falls and the temple curtain tears, Jesus entrusts His spirit to the Father with childlike faith. This act of trust marks the completion of His mission. The centurion, witnessing it all, declares Jesus’ innocence. Nature itself responds to His death, affirming that the Innocent One died for the guilty. Jesus is the substitute for all.Takeaway: Jesus’ gave Himself for us all Jesus’ death on the cross was in our place and for our sake. He bore our sin and gave us His righteousness. The cross is heavy, not just because of its suffering, but because it carries the weight of our redemption. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Innocent One

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Power in the Dark In our darkest hours—when we feel alone, frightened, and powerless—Jesus shows us another way. Join us in Luke 22:47–71 as we witness Jesus in His darkest hour. Though betrayed, denied, and condemned, He remains calm, courageous, and utterly in control. The BetrayalJudas betrays Jesus with a kiss. Yet Jesus, fully aware, steps forward, protects His disciples, heals His enemy, and confronts the powers of darkness. The DenialPeter denies Jesus three times. But Jesus, knowing all of Peter’s failures, still loves, prays for, and later restores him. The Omniscient One is denied, but never vindictive. The CouncilIn a sham trial, Jesus refuses to play their game. Instead, He boldly proclaims Himself the Son of Man, seated at the right hand of God. Condemned, but never vanquished. Takeaway:It might look like the powers of darkness are winning.But it is King Jesus who wields Power in the Dark. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

On The Eve of Danger

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]In this passage, the tension is building as Jesus' predictions of his arrest, suffering, death, and resurrection are becoming imminent. His disciples are beginning to realize the seriousness of the situation—they are on the eve of danger, unprepared for the trials ahead. Jesus, knowing they are not ready, seeks to prepare them for what’s coming, focusing not on external threats but on internal dangers of the heart. He warns them about four specific dangers within themselves that they must confront, dangers that are also present in all of us. I. The Danger of Entitlement (Luke 22:24-30)We overindulge our ego. The disciples argue over who is the greatest. Jesus redefines greatness: true leaders serve others.Takeaway: Get serving! II. The Danger of Delusion (Luke 22:31-34)We overestimate our strength. Jesus warns Peter that Satan desires to sift him. Peter insists he will never fail, but Jesus predicts his denial.Takeaway: Get real! III. The Danger of Naïveté (Luke 22:35-38)We overvalue our success. The disciples assume their past experiences will continue without hardship. Jesus warns them to prepare for opposition.Takeaway: Get ready! IV. The Danger of Denial (Luke 22:39-46)We overlook our peril. Jesus prays in agony, fully aware of the suffering ahead. The disciples sleep instead of praying, unprepared for the coming trial.Takeaway: Get strength! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Last Supper

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Have you ever felt like everything was falling apart, only to realize later that those difficult moments were actually setting the stage for something greater? As we approach the Easter season, I'm reminded of how Jesus faced His darkest hour with unwavering courage and purpose. Let's explore how His actions during the Last Supper can inspire us to find triumph even in our most challenging times. The Gathering Darkness As we look at Luke 22:1-23, we see the plot against Jesus thickening. The religious leaders are scheming, Judas is betraying, and the shadow of the cross looms large. Yet, in this moment of impending tragedy, Jesus demonstrates an astounding level of control and foresight. "Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people" (Luke 22:1-2). The irony is palpable. During a festival celebrating God's deliverance of His people, the religious leaders are plotting to kill the very One who came to bring ultimate deliverance. Jesus' Masterful Command Despite the evil brewing around Him, Jesus remains in complete control. He gives His disciples oddly specific instructions about preparing for the Passover meal: "He replied, 'As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, "The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?" He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there'" (Luke 22:10-12). This level of detail shows us that Jesus "knows exactly what's going on. He's in full command of the situation." Nothing takes Him by surprise. He sees it all – "the upper room, the Garden of Gethsemane, the hill of Calvary, the empty tomb." Jesus is "masterfully in command of His own destiny." A Meal of Deep Significance As Jesus reclines at the table with His disciples, He infuses the traditional Passover meal with new, profound meaning: "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you'" (Luke 22:19-20). In this moment, Jesus is "serving up His own life" for His followers. He's establishing a new covenant, fulfilling ancient promises, and preparing to become the ultimate Passover Lamb. Triumph in Tragedy Even as Jesus faces betrayal and death, we see triumph emerging:Jesus allows evil to play into His own hands, using it for ultimate good. He demonstrates His divine foreknowledge and sovereignty over all events. Jesus willingly offers Himself as the sacrifice that will bring redemption to the world.As He says in John 10:18, "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again." Finding Our Triumph So how can we apply these truths to our own lives when we face dark times?Trust in God's bigger picture: Like Jesus, we can face difficulties knowing that God can work all things for good (Romans 8:28). Remember who we are in Christ: The Lord's Supper reminds us that we are covered by Jesus' sacrifice and united with Him. Look forward with hope: Our current struggles are temporary. We have a future glory to anticipate (2 Corinthians 4:17). Serve others sacrificially: Jesus' example challenges us to love and serve, even in difficult circumstances. Commune with Christ: Draw strength from your relationship with Jesus, especially in times of trial.Remember, "If we share in His sufferings, we know we shall also share in His glories." Whatever tragedy you might be facing, know that in Christ, triumph is possible. Fix your eyes on Jesus, who turned the tragedy of the cross into the triumph of our salvation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Last Days

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 09:00:00 CDT

What if you could know the future? In Luke 21, Jesus reveals what is to come—both the destruction of Jerusalem and His ultimate return. This sermon explores His prophetic words, showing how history confirms His truth and how His promises shape how we live today. The Destruction of Jerusalem – Jesus foretells the fall of the Temple, which occurred in 70 AD, warning His followers to remain faithful through persecution. The Coming of the Son of Man – The chaos of the world is not the end; it points to Jesus’ return in power and glory. The Posture of Faithful Awaiting – Jesus calls us to be spiritually prepared as we await His return. Takeaways Watch Yourselves – Do not be weighed down by sin or the distractions of life. Stay Awake – Remain spiritually alert and ready for Christ’s return. Pray Hard – Seek God’s strength to endure trials and temptation. Stand Firm – Endure faithfully and boldly witness for Christ. Listen Well – Stay grounded in God’s Word, the only truth that endures. Knowing the future changes how we live today. Are you ready? Watch, be encouraged, and trust in the One whose words will never pass away.

The One We Really Need

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Friends, we've been diving deep into Luke, and today I want to unpack what we really, really need in this life. We're looking at three key things: a greater son, a better goodness, and a deeper offering. You see, many in Jesus' day were fixated on a Messiah who'd simply kick out the Romans and restore Israel's glory days. They wanted David 2.0. But Jesus, through a clever little Bible study on Psalm 110, exposes their blind spot. He shows them that Messiah isn't just David's son, but also David's Lord! This means Messiah has to be both son of David AND Son of God! We need a savior who's not just a political liberator, but one who conquers sin, Satan, and even death itself! And it's not enough to just look the part, like those scribes with their fancy robes and long prayers. Jesus warns us about those who prioritize outward appearances over genuine heart transformation. We need a righteousness that surpasses mere performance, a goodness that flows from a heart made new by God's Spirit. Finally, Jesus points us to a poor widow who, despite her meager offering of two tiny coins, gives more than the wealthy folks tossing in their surplus. Why? Because God doesn't count our gifts, He weighs them. He sees the heart behind the offering. This widow, in her poverty, gave her all – a beautiful picture of surrendered delight. Friends, Jesus is the one we really need. He's the greater son who offers true salvation, the source of lasting goodness that transforms us from the inside out, and the one who empowers us to live lives of surrendered delight, holding nothing back from our loving God.

Protected by a Good God

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 09:00:00 CDT

In a world rife with threats and anxieties, Psalm 17 offers a beacon of hope, reminding us that our refuge lies in the steadfast love of our good God. David's heartfelt plea in this psalm reveals the stark contrast between the menacing nature of his adversaries and the unwavering protection of the Lord. David paints a chilling portrait of his enemies: their hearts are closed to pity, their mouths spew arrogance, their eyes are fixed on his downfall, and their leader lurks like a ravenous lion. Yet, amidst this palpable fear, David finds solace in the Lord's promise of refuge. He describes God's attentiveness as an incline ear, his unwavering support as an outstretched right hand, his constant watchfulness as the pupil of his eye, and his unwavering protection as the shadow of his wings. The illustration of a mother hen shielding her chicks from a raging fire serves as a poignant reminder of God's sacrificial love. Just as the hen willingly endured the flames to protect her young, so too does our God shield us from harm, even at great personal cost. This image underscores the depth of God's love and the security we find in his embrace. David's confidence stems not from a belief in his own righteousness or a guarantee of earthly victory, but from the unwavering assurance of God's presence. He finds solace in the knowledge that even in the face of adversity, he will behold God's face and find satisfaction in his likeness. This psalm extends an invitation to draw near to God, to find refuge in his presence, and to rest in the knowledge that he is our protector and our portion. No matter how daunting the threats we face, we can find solace in the unwavering love and protection of our good God. Just as David found strength in the Lord's presence, so too can we face our fears with courage, knowing that our God is with us, his ear inclined to our prayers, his hand outstretched in support, his eye watching over us, and his wings offering us refuge.

Politics, Religion, and the Meaning of Life

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 09:00:00 CDT

You know, they say there's two subjects you don't bring up in polite conversation: politics and religion. Convictions run deep, tempers can run hot, and it usually ends up in an argument. Well, today we dove into how the religious leaders tried to trap Jesus with these very topics, attempting to undermine His authority. But Jesus, calm, clever, and collected, brilliantly outmaneuvered them, remaining laser-focused on what truly matters. First, they challenged Jesus on paying taxes to Caesar, hoping to paint Him as a political rebel or a Roman sympathizer. With the simple question, "Whose image is on this coin?", Jesus highlighted their dependence on a system ruled by Caesar while emphasizing God's ultimate claim on their lives. "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God's." Give Caesar your money, fine, but give God your everything. You bear His image. Next, the Sadducees, those who deny the resurrection, presented a convoluted scenario about a woman with seven husbands, aiming to expose the supposed absurdity of resurrection life. Jesus cut through their smokescreen, reminding them that earthly marriage points to the ultimate covenant love of God. In the resurrection, we will all belong to God, experiencing a love that transcends our earthly understanding. He then challenged their skepticism by pointing to God's self-revelation to Moses, "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," the God not of the dead, but of the living! These traps reveal how easily we get distracted by political fights and religious debates, losing sight of the bigger picture. Jesus reminds us to keep the main thing the main thing: the ultimacy of God, the eternality of souls, and the supremacy of hope. We were created by and for God, destined for eternal life in His presence. This is the hope we cling to, the truth that should shape our lives. So, friends, let's not be co-opted into someone else's lesser agenda. Let's not get derailed by divisive debates or political maneuvering. Instead, let's fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who stayed the course to the cross and beyond. Let's live as gospel people, centered on the unshakeable truth of God's love and the glorious hope of resurrection life. Let's keep the main thing the main thing!

Rescuing Religion

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Friends, this passage from Luke 19 and 20 paints a powerful picture of Jesus rescuing true religion. It's a sad truth that religion can be twisted and corrupted by those seeking profit and power, just like those TV preachers with their private jets and mansions, discrediting authentic faith. This isn't a new problem; it's an age-old one. Jesus himself confronted these hypocrites, these "broods of vipers," head-on. He saw what they were doing to the temple, turning the court of the Gentiles, meant for prayer and seeking God, into a marketplace. They were exploiting people, lining their pockets with exorbitant fees for temple taxes and animal sacrifices. Jesus, in his righteous anger, drove them out, reclaiming the temple as a house of prayer. This act of cleansing was a powerful statement. Jesus wasn't just tidying up; he was fulfilling prophecy, coming as the refiner’s fire to purify the priesthood and restore righteous offerings. He was taking back what was meant to be a place for all nations to encounter God's love. But the religious leaders weren't about to let him disrupt their lucrative system. They challenged his authority, demanding to know who gave him the right to act. Jesus, ever wise, outmaneuvered them with a question of his own about John the Baptist, leaving them trapped between admitting their hypocrisy and facing the wrath of the people. Then Jesus tells the parable of the vineyard. A man entrusts his vineyard to tenants, expecting a share of the fruit. But the tenants, consumed by greed, abuse and kill the messengers sent by the owner, even his own beloved son, hoping to claim the vineyard for themselves. This story wasn't random; it was a direct confrontation with the religious leaders. They were the tenants, entrusted with God's people and the temple, but they had turned it into a self-serving enterprise. Jesus was the beloved son, rejected and soon to be killed. He was warning them, offering them a final chance to repent. This parable reveals the heart of the problem: these leaders had lost sight of true religion. They had traded covenant love for personal gain, turning God's house into a den of robbers. Jesus, in contrast, embodies true religion. He empties himself for our sake, laying down his authority and ultimately his life as a ransom for many. He gives himself away in self-sacrificing love, the very opposite of the tenants’ greed. He is the cornerstone, the foundation of true faith, and everything rests upon him. So, friends, what about us? We live in a world filled with counterfeit religious leaders, those who exploit and abuse for their own gain. But these counterfeits point to the genuine article, the real deal: Jesus. He is the faithful heir, the true cornerstone. He offers us a firm foundation, a life built on something that will never crumble. Will we let him rescue our religion? Will we turn away from the distortions and embrace the authentic faith he offers? Will we build our lives on Jesus, the cornerstone that will never let us down? He is the heart of it all.

The King Arrives

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Over the last 10 chapters of Luke, we've journeyed with Jesus to Jerusalem, and now, in Luke 19, He arrives. This marks the beginning of Passion Week, His final week before crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus’ entry, riding a colt, fulfills Zechariah’s prophecy and mirrors Solomon's coronation, signifying Jesus as the rightful heir and King. This act, seemingly humble, declares peace and shalom, contrasting with the image of a conquering king on a warhorse. It signals the arrival of true peace, not just for Israel, but for all nations. The disciples’ joyous cries of “Blessed is the King” echo the angels’ announcement in Luke 2, further emphasizing Jesus’ messianic identity. The Pharisees, threatened by Jesus’ claim to kingship, demand He silence His disciples. Their fear stems from a pragmatic agreement with Rome: maintain order and retain religious authority. Jesus’ popularity and kingship challenge this delicate balance, risking Roman intervention. This highlights a core struggle many have with Jesus: accepting Him as King requires total allegiance, disrupting our own authority and self-rule. We often prefer Jesus as teacher or advisor, roles that don't demand surrender. Yet, true life and flourishing come only through bowing to His Kingship. Jesus’ response to the Pharisees – “if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” – underscores that all creation recognizes and submits to God's rule. We, often blinded by our own desires, rebel, choosing self-inflicted misery over flourishing under His reign. Jesus’ weeping over Jerusalem reveals His compassion. He grieves not out of anger, but from a deep love for His people, foreseeing the consequences of their rejection. This compassion culminates in His sacrifice on the cross, dying for those who rejected Him, offering forgiveness and shalom they don't deserve. This act of ultimate love demonstrates Jesus’ unique kingship. Unlike earthly rulers who demand submission and take, Jesus gives everything, even His life, so we might willingly kneel in worship. His authority is exercised through love, His power wielded in service, and His rule expressed by sacrifice. This radical kingship extends an offer of abundant life and forgiveness even to those who crucified Him, as Peter proclaims in Acts 2. Therefore, friends, let us not be like the Pharisees, clinging to self-rule and rejecting the King who offers true shalom. Jesus’ weeping reminds us of His deep love and the cost of our rebellion. Let us choose flourishing under His reign, embracing His authority and experiencing the abundant life He offers. This is the path to true peace, the shalom that only the King can bring. Let us willingly kneel before Him in worship and discover the joy of living under His loving and transformative rule.

The King’s Business

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Friends, for the last 10 chapters of Luke, we've journeyed with Jesus toward Jerusalem, where he'll lay down his life—crucified, buried, and resurrected. At the end of Luke 19, just before his triumphal entry, Jesus tells a parable based on a historical event: the scramble for Herod the Great's throne after his death in 4 B.C. His son, Archelaus, raced to Rome for Caesar's approval, facing opposition from his brother and Jewish leaders. Jesus uses this familiar story to teach his disciples, tweaking details to avoid political controversy while still making his point clear. This parable, found in Luke 19:11-27, tells of a nobleman going to a far country to receive a kingdom and then returning. He entrusts his servants with minas, instructing them to engage in business until he comes back. Upon his return, he assesses their stewardship. Some multiplied their minas, receiving authority over cities. One servant, however, hid his mina, fearing the nobleman's harshness. This servant's mina was taken and given to the one who had earned the most. Jesus uses this to illustrate the importance of faithful stewardship during his absence. Jesus is doing three things in this parable: calibrating expectations, clarifying allegiances, and compelling investments. He's reminding his disciples that the kingdom won't appear immediately as they expect. Like Archelaus, Jesus will depart and return. He's also clarifying allegiances, asking where our loyalties lie. Are we with him or against him? True loyalty is demonstrated before he returns in power, not afterward. Finally, he's compelling investments. The minas represent the time, talent, and treasure God entrusts to us. How we steward these resources reveals our faithfulness and readiness for greater responsibilities in the kingdom to come. The parable's ending leaves us with a question: what about the other seven servants? Jesus brilliantly places us within the story, challenging us to consider our own stewardship. Are we antagonists, bold loyalists, private loyalists, secretly doubtful, or faithful servants? And if faithful, how are we investing what God has given us? This life is the proving ground for future assignments in God's kingdom. We are called to get on with the King's business. So, friends, who are you living for? Is this life about you or about the kingdom? King Jesus has departed and will return. Get on the kingdom timeline. Decide where your loyalties lie. Invest wisely in the King's business. Remember C.T. Studd's words: "Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last." Don't waste this precious life. Invest it for the sake of the kingdom. Surrender to God's will and say, "Here I am, Lord, send me."

The Joy of a Changed Life

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Friends, today we dove into Luke 19, exploring Zacchaeus's encounter with Jesus—a case study in gospel transformation, a journey from greediness to generosity. Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector and a rich man, was in spiritual peril, trapped by his wealth. His name, ironically meaning "pure" or "clear," contrasted sharply with his corrupt practices. Like the rich man building bigger barns or the rich young ruler clinging to his possessions, Zacchaeus was in danger of losing everything for his love of money. Yet, something remarkable happened. He humbled himself, climbing a tree in desperation to see Jesus, breaking social conventions and risking public ridicule. This act of humility foreshadowed the transformation to come. Jesus, seeing Zacchaeus, invited himself over, extending grace to this unlikely recipient. Zacchaeus's response was astonishing: he gave away half his wealth to the poor and pledged fourfold restitution to anyone he'd defrauded. This radical generosity wasn't about earning salvation; it was the fruit of salvation already received. Like the tax collector in Jesus's parable, Zacchaeus recognized his sinfulness and received God's mercy. This transformed his relationship with money. He no longer sought significance, security, or satisfaction in wealth; Jesus had become his treasure. He let go of earthly riches to grab hold of the true riches found in Christ. This transformation happened through the gospel. Jesus declared, "Today salvation has come to this house." This salvation preceded Zacchaeus's generosity, demonstrating that grace, not works, is the source of true change. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and Zacchaeus, the bullseye of God's grace, exemplified this truth. No one is beyond God's reach. Grace transforms. Paul's words in 2 Corinthians illuminate this further: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." Meditating on Christ's sacrifice—leaving heavenly riches to become poor for us—motivates us to make him our treasure. And when Jesus is our treasure, radical generosity naturally follows. So, where do we go from here? We can cultivate generosity by climbing the ladder of giving. Start with an initial gift, a step of faith. Then, move towards intentional, disciplined giving, aiming for the biblical standard of 10%. From there, consider missional giving, going above and beyond out of love for God and others. Finally, embrace legacy generosity, making giving a part of your life's story. God wants to be your greatest treasure, freeing you from the grip of material possessions and offering an abundant life in His kingdom. He offers significance, security, and satisfaction that can never be taken away. Let the gospel transform your heart, leading to a life of radical generosity, a life that testifies to the joy of a changed life, a life that even an atheist can't deny. Let's pray that God loosens our grip on worldly things and fills our hearts with the magnitude of His treasure.

Eyes Wide Open

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Friends, in Luke 18, Jesus reveals to his disciples his impending suffering and death in Jerusalem. They struggle to grasp this, blinded by their expectations of a glorious Messiah. Yet, Jesus, nearing Jericho, encounters a blind beggar who recognizes him as the Son of David. This juxtaposition is key: the disciples' blindness to Jesus' true identity and mission is contrasted with the blind man's clear-sighted faith. Jesus heals the man, demonstrating his messianic power and foreshadowing the deeper spiritual sight he offers. This miracle serves as a divine calling card, echoing Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah opening the eyes of the blind. It's a powerful reminder that Jesus is both the glorious king and the suffering servant. The disciples' struggle to accept Jesus' suffering mirrors our own difficulty in understanding pain. We crave immediate glory and healing, questioning why the cross is necessary. But Jesus' path to redemption leads through suffering. He enters into the darkness to bring us light, mirroring the ancient story of Job. Job, facing immense suffering, found hope in his Redeemer, envisioning him standing on the ash heap of his pain. This image of the Redeemer amidst suffering resonates deeply with Jesus' own journey to the cross. Job's eventual restoration foreshadows the ultimate redemption offered through Christ. Just as Job's hope rested on seeing his Redeemer, our hope lies in fixing our eyes on Jesus. He is both the messianic healer, restoring physical sight, and the suffering servant, enduring the cross for our redemption. He is the lion and the lamb, the crucified and risen Lord. We cannot have the crown without the cross, the resurrection without the crucifixion. Jesus' willingness to enter into our darkness and suffering is the very essence of his redemptive work. This truth has profound practical implications for us. In a broken and hurting world, we will inevitably face suffering. How can we endure? By fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Redeemer, who stands with us on our own ash heaps of pain. He has conquered death itself, transforming it from an executioner into a gardener. Because of Jesus, even death becomes a pathway to greater life. So, friends, let us live with eyes wide open, embracing the full spectrum of who Jesus is: the glorious king, the suffering servant, and the risen Redeemer. Let us face the darkness of this world with unwavering hope, knowing that the light of Christ will never be overcome. He is with us always, offering us his light and life, even in the midst of our deepest pain. May we fix our eyes on him, the author and perfecter of our faith, and follow him wherever he leads.

How Good Is Good Enough

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 09:00:00 CDT

Friends, this passage about the rich young ruler is brilliant! Jesus masterfully draws out the depths of this man's heart with three deft moves: deconstructing religion, diagnosing disease, and detailing hope. This rich young ruler, seemingly the perfect disciple candidate, approaches Jesus with a question: "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" But Jesus immediately challenges his assumptions about "goodness" and earning salvation through works. He exposes the ruler's belief that eternal life can be inherited by doing, that doing is within his power, and that God's standard is within reach. This is the problem with religion – it can never bridge the gap between our efforts and God's holy standard. Jesus then diagnoses the rich young ruler's disease: idolatry. He commands him to sell all his possessions and follow Him, a personalized prescription targeting the ruler's love of wealth above God. This command wasn't a blanket requirement for discipleship, but a specific remedy for this man's heart ailment. Like Peter laying down his nets and Nicodemus his status, the rich young ruler was called to surrender his idol. The core issue is always the same: will we give God our full allegiance, making Him our ultimate treasure? Sadly, the ruler's wealth had him, and he walked away grieved. This reminds us that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and we cannot serve both God and money. But there's hope! What's impossible for us is possible with God. Even the rich young ruler, with all his advantages, couldn't save himself. We are all dead in our transgressions, needing the impossible intervention of God. Jesus specializes in raising dead things to life! His grace begins where we fail, and our hopelessness is the birthplace of His hope. Imagine if the ruler had approached Jesus with humility, acknowledging his inability to keep the commandments and begging for mercy. He would have experienced grace through faith, making Jesus his treasure. This leads us to the heart of the matter: Jesus is worth everything we must give up. Peter's example of leaving everything to follow Jesus, and Jesus' promise of abundant return, underscores this truth. Coming to Jesus always involves confronting our idols, laying down something to grasp hold of Him. For Paul, it was his religious pedigree and accomplishments, which he counted as rubbish compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. He understood that true righteousness comes through faith, not works. So, friends, what idols are captivating your heart? What must you lay down to truly grasp hold of Jesus? Does your relationship with wealth reflect that Jesus is your greatest treasure? Following Jesus requires radical obedience and faith, surrendering everything to make Him first in our lives. This is hard, and we can't do it on our own. We need God to change our hearts, and that's precisely what Jesus does. He lived the perfect life we couldn't, offering Himself as a sacrifice so we could have His righteousness. Let's give our all to Him, holding nothing back, and experience the abundant life He promises.

Never A Nuisance

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 09:00:00 CDT

We often hesitate to approach God with our needs because we've learned not to bother important people. But that's a mistake! Jesus assures us that we are never a nuisance to God. He longs to hear our prayers and bless us. In Luke 18, Jesus teaches us that pining for justice, pleading for mercy, and pestering for attention never bother God. He tells the parable of a persistent widow who finally receives justice from an unjust judge, highlighting God's willingness to answer our cries for justice. He then contrasts a self-righteous Pharisee with a humble tax collector, emphasizing that God delights in our pleas for mercy, not our boasts of righteousness. Finally, Jesus welcomes little children, who naturally pester and interrupt, showing us that God cherishes our childlike faith and desire to spend time with Him. Just like the widow who wouldn't give up, we should persistently bring our requests to God, trusting in His goodness and justice. Like the tax collector, we should approach God with humility, acknowledging our need for His mercy. And like little children, we should come to God with open hearts, eager to share our lives and receive His love. God is not bothered by our needs, but rather, He is honored when we entrust them to Him. He delights in our vulnerability and welcomes our persistent prayers. Let us, therefore, approach His throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we are always welcome in His presence. Remember, God wants to waste time with you! He desires your presence and delights in your company. Don't let the busyness of life or the fear of being a nuisance keep you from experiencing the joy of His presence.

What Is Faith?

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Let's talk about the word "faith." It's one of those words that has evolved over time. Today, we often use "faith" interchangeably with "belief," but the Bible paints a much richer picture. The book of Hebrews, particularly chapter 11, gives us a powerful glimpse into what real, Biblical faith looks like. We see it in Abel, who offered a sincere sacrifice to God, even though it cost him his life. Enoch walked with God for 365 years – talk about an unremarkable life of faithfulness! And Noah? He built that ark for a hundred years, enduring scorn and mockery because he feared God more than men. Then there's Abraham, who left everything he knew, risking it all to follow God's call, even though he had no idea where he was going. These examples highlight some core truths about saving faith. It's not about blind belief or hoping for the best. It's about a deep trust in God's character and promises, a trust that compels us to act, even when it's hard, even when it doesn't make sense. It's about seeking God's pleasure above all else, living as strangers and exiles in this world, our eyes fixed on the eternal city He is preparing for us. Remember, friends, true faith isn't passive. It's not just a head thing; it's a life thing. It's belief made visible. It's about taking God at His Word and allowing that Word to shape our thoughts, our actions, and ultimately, our very lives. So, as we embark on this new year, let's ask ourselves: What does it look like for us to live as people of faith in our homes, our workplaces, our communities? How can we demonstrate that our faith is more than just a word we use on Sundays? Let's be like those heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, living lives that boldly proclaim, "My God is worthy of it all!"

Jesus: The King

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 09:00:00 CDT

In our study of the threefold office of Christ this Advent season, we've been exploring how Jesus ministers to us as Prophet, Priest, and King. These three distinct roles, often held by separate individuals in the Old Testament, are beautifully united and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Today, we're focusing on Jesus as King. The Old Testament's history with kings is intriguing. There was a time when Israel had no king at all. From the days of Abraham, through Moses and Joshua, and into the period of the Judges, God's people lived without a human monarch. They had God's law to guide them, priests as mediators, and warrior-leaders called Judges. God Himself was their King, providing for them and guiding them. However, in the 11th century BC, the elders of Israel approached the aging priest Samuel with a request: "Give us a king like all the other nations." They desired a visible, human ruler, even though God had always been their true King. This request deeply saddened Samuel, and God revealed to him that the people were rejecting Him as their King. They wanted to be like everyone else, forsaking their unique identity as God's chosen people. God instructed Samuel to grant their request but not before warning them about the potential burdens of having a human king. Samuel cautioned that a king would demand their sons for his chariots and armies, their daughters to serve in his palace, and the best of their fields, vineyards, and olive orchards. He warned that a king would take a tenth of their grain and flocks, and even their servants would be subject to his command. Samuel declared, "He will take, take, take…and you shall be his slaves." He cautioned that in their desire to be like other nations, they were turning away from their unique identity as God's chosen people, and ultimately, they would cry out because of the king they had chosen. This portion of scripture reminds us that our desire for earthly things can often lead us away from God's best. When we chase after what the world values, we risk rejecting God's rightful place in our lives. Just as Israel yearned for a king, we too can be tempted to seek fulfillment and security in things that ultimately cannot satisfy. Let us remember that Jesus is our true and eternal King, the one who laid down His life for us and offers us true freedom and purpose. He is the King who serves, who loves without condition, and who offers us a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Jesus: The Priest

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 09:00:00 CDT

This Advent season, we're exploring the threefold office of Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King. Last time, we saw Jesus as the ultimate Prophet, God's final Word. Now, we turn our attention to Jesus, our High Priest. The priesthood isn't merely an Old Testament concept. It's rooted in Eden, where Adam was entrusted with priestly duties, mediating between God and creation. Tragically, he failed, leading to humanity's expulsion from God's presence. The tabernacle and later the temple, with their intricate rituals and sacrifices, were God's way of restoring a taste of Eden, allowing for His presence to dwell among His people. However, the Old Testament priesthood faced inherent limitations. The priests themselves were sinful, requiring atonement. Animal sacrifices, while symbolic, couldn't truly atone for the cosmic treason of sin. Access to God's presence was restricted to once a year, and the priests' finite lives limited their intercession for the people. Enter Jesus, our Great High Priest. Prophesied in Zechariah and Psalm 110, He unites the offices of Priest and King. Chosen by God, He offered the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice – His own life – tearing the curtain separating us from God's presence. He is a priest forever, not in the order of Aaron, bound by lineage and earthly limitations, but in the order of Melchizedek, a mysterious figure who foreshadowed Christ's eternal priesthood. What does this mean for us? Through Jesus, we have constant access to God's grace. His sacrifice has cleansed us, enabling us to approach God with confidence and boldness. No longer bound by fear or limited access, we can draw near to the throne of grace, receiving mercy and finding grace in our time of need. And because Jesus ever lives, His intercession for us is eternal, securing our salvation and ensuring that we are never separated from the Father's love. This is the hope we cling to, the hope that transforms our lives and compels us to worship the One who has made us new.

Jesus: The Prophet

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 09:00:00 CDT

This Advent season, we're diving deep into the threefold office of Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King. These roles, distinct in the Old Testament, find their ultimate unity in Jesus, our Savior. We began today by exploring Jesus as Prophet. Why did we need a prophet? Because God's Word is life itself! It's the source of creation, the sustenance of our souls, and the light that guides our path. However, humanity found itself trapped in an echo chamber of its own making, desperately needing an intervention. Enter the prophets of old, like Moses and Isaiah, who spoke God's truth into the darkness, revealing His wonders, will, and wisdom. Yet, Jesus stands apart. He doesn't merely deliver God's Word; He is the Word made flesh. John the Baptist, that pivotal prophet, prepared the way for the Messiah, who would usher in the fullness of God's revelation. Jesus speaks with an authority unlike any other, not as a mere messenger, but as the very source of truth. But don't mistake this for a departure from the Old Testament. Jesus fulfills it! He is the culmination of God's progressive revelation, the living embodiment of the law and the prophets. Just as the Father commanded, "Listen to him," we too must open our hearts to the life-giving words of Jesus, our Prophet. In a world saturated with fleeting opinions and deceptive narratives, we find ourselves yearning for a truth that anchors the soul. Jesus, the Word made flesh, is that unwavering truth. He is not merely a prophet who speaks God's Word; He *is* the Word of God, alive and eternal. His words are spirit and life, offering us wisdom that guides, promises that sustain, and a hope that doesn't disappoint. Let us, therefore, cling to Jesus, the Prophet, for in Him we discover the very Word of Life.

Kingdom Come

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 09:00:00 CDT

In this passage, we're diving deep into the heart of God's grand story, a drama unfolding across history with us right in the middle of it. Just like an actor needs to know their place in a movie's plot, we need to understand where we fit in God's timeline. The Pharisees were obsessed with when the kingdom of God was coming, but Jesus, in his typical way, flipped the script. He told them the Kingdom wasn't coming in a way they expected – it was already here, present but not yet fully realized. This is the "already not yet" kingdom. We see glimpses of it now, but the fullness awaits us. Think of all of history like a play in six acts: Creation, the Fall, Israel, Jesus' redemption, the Church Age (that's us!), and finally, the grand finale – renewal when God makes all things new. We're living between the advents – the first coming of Jesus and the second. This time, this "age between," is crucial. So, how should we act, knowing all this? We need to live with an awareness of the "already" – the Kingdom present in our midst – and the "not yet" – the future glory that awaits. We must be like those who are ready, not caught off guard like the people in Noah's day or Lot's. Let's ask God to give us wisdom, to help us understand our place in His grand narrative. Let's live each day with purpose, knowing our role in this incredible story He's writing.

Discipleship of the Heart

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 09:00:00 CDT

In Luke 17:1-19, Jesus calls his disciples–and us–to have hearts that are growing in four things: vigilance, sincerity, humility, and gratitude. These traits represent a roadmap for cultivating a heart that is truly free. First, we are called to vigilance, recognizing that temptations to sin are sure to come. We must be alert, stopping sin in its tracks through confession, repentance, and forgiveness. Secondly, Jesus calls us to sincerity, living with a deep dependence on Him and extending forgiveness to others, just as God, through Christ, has forgiven us. Thirdly, we are called to humility, serving one another with the understanding that we are all servants of God. Finally, we are called to gratitude, recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God. None of this comes naturally. It requires a discipleship of the heart, a conscious choice to follow the way of Jesus and cultivate these traits in our lives. As we follow the way of Jesus and learn this heart of vigilance, sincerity, humility, and gratitude, we experience the freedom and transformation that He longs to work in us.

The Reckoning

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 09:00:00 CDT

All right friends, we're diving into a tough but important passage today. It's a story about the twists of fate and the crux of our choices. We're going to see how God, in His love and justice, sets things right in the end. So, open your minds and hearts, and let's learn from the wisdom of Jesus. The Twist The story of the rich man and Lazarus isn't just about wealth and poverty; it's about a radical reversal, a twist of fate. The rich man, living in luxury, ignored the suffering Lazarus. But in the afterlife, their positions are reversed. This speaks to God's justice, His promise to make things right. It's a powerful reminder: Don't waste your life chasing fleeting pleasures while neglecting your soul. True wealth lies in eternity.Takeaway: Don't waste your life! The Name Now, notice how the rich man remains nameless, while Lazarus is given an identity. This is significant. The rich man lived for his wealth, making it his identity. But when his wealth vanished in death, so did he. Lazarus, however, held onto something more. This teaches us that our choices shape who we become. In the end, becoming will turn to being. So, don't waste your trust on things that fade; invest in what lasts.Takeaway: Don't waste your trust! The Crux Finally, we come to the crux of the matter. The rich man, even in torment, clings to his old ways, asking for favors instead of forgiveness. He had a lifetime to choose differently but clung to his self-centered desires. This is a sobering reminder that we get what we ask for. If we spend our lives chasing comfort and ignoring God, we shouldn't be surprised by the outcome. Don't waste your chance. Choose wisely, choose love, choose God.Takeaway: Don't waste your chance!

Eternal Perspective

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Today, we're diving deep into the heart of what it means to truly live, and it all boils down to one powerful principle: Living in Light of Eternity. You see, it's easy to get caught up in the here and now, but Jesus calls us to a higher perspective, one that recognizes that our choices today have implications that stretch far beyond our earthly existence. Principle: Living in Light of EternityLife is a Stewardship that Echoes into Eternity. Everything we have—our time, talents, possessions—they're all gifts from God, entrusted to us for a season. The question is, how will we manage them? Will we hoard them for ourselves, or will we use them to build up treasures in heaven? Jesus, in Luke 16, gives us four powerful case studies to illustrate this principle:Wealth: It's not about how much we have, but how we use it. Are we faithful with what God has given us, using it to bless others and advance His kingdom? Status: The world chases after titles and accolades, but true significance comes from seeking God's approval, not man's. Freedom: We have the freedom to choose our own path, but true freedom is found in surrendering to God's will, even when it's difficult. Marriage: In a culture that treats marriage as disposable, we're called to reflect God's covenant love, a love that is lasting, sacrificial, and a beautiful picture of Christ and the Church.Every decision we make, big or small, should be filtered through this lens of eternity. That's why the question we must constantly ask ourselves is this: "In ten thousand years, how will I view this choice?" This question has the power to shift our perspective, realign our priorities, and lead us to a life of true significance.

Pursuing Love

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Friends, we've all felt lost at some point, haven't we? Like that feeling in Disney World when you think you've lost your parents. It's a terrifying feeling. But what if I told you that feeling of being lost is something we all experience spiritually? You see, we were created for a relationship with God, our Father. But sin, like a powerful current, can pull us away, leaving us feeling lost and afraid. In Luke chapter 15, Jesus, through three powerful parables, reassures us of God's relentless love. He tells us about a shepherd who leaves his ninety-nine sheep to find the one lost sheep, a woman who diligently searches for her lost coin, and a father who welcomes home his lost son with open arms. Each story highlights the immense joy experienced when something lost is found. Notice how Jesus intentionally narrows the focus in these parables. We go from a ratio of 99 to 1, then 9 to 1, and finally 1 to 1. He wants us to understand that each one of us is precious to God, so much so that He leaves the ninety-nine to find the one. He rejoices over each lost soul that returns to Him. These parables aren't just stories; they are a glimpse into the heart of God. They remind us that no matter how far we stray, no matter how lost we may feel, our Father is always searching for us, ready to welcome us home with a love that knows no bounds. He yearns for us to turn back to Him, to experience the joy of being found. So, let us run to Him, knowing that His arms are always open wide.

The Cost of Discipleship

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 09:00:00 CDT

The path of discipleship is not for the faint of heart. It demands everything, a complete surrender to Jesus. It's like a king going to war, he's got to count the cost, assess his strength, before engaging a more powerful enemy. Are you willing to lay down your all, to make peace with the King of Kings? The truth is, many are invited to the feast of God's kingdom, but they find themselves preoccupied with the things of this world. They'd rather chase after fields and oxen than partake in the banquet of God's grace. But let me assure you, true blessing lies in answering the call of discipleship, no matter the cost. Now, some might balk at this, thinking it all sounds too difficult. But remember, we're not saved by our own efforts, by our ability to perfectly renounce everything. Salvation is a gift, received by grace, through faith in Jesus. It's in our surrender, in acknowledging our weakness, that we find true strength in Him. This radical surrender, this "dying to self," is at the heart of the Christian life. We die to sin, to control, to comfort, and in that death, we find new life in Christ. It's a paradox, but it's the truth. We lay down our lives, and in that surrender, we discover the abundant life Jesus promised. So, my friends, I urge you, don't be like the lukewarm salt, good for nothing. Stand out, be different, embrace the cost of discipleship. Let the world see the transforming power of Christ in you. This is a call to action, a call to full surrender, a call to truly live as followers of Jesus. Let's choose this day whom we will serve. Let's choose Jesus, no turning back.

The Glory Of Justification By Faith Alone

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 09:00:00 CDT

The Protestant Reformation of the 1500s is particularly fascinating. It's surprising how some historians miss the theological depth of the Reformation, seeing it merely as a political struggle. But the reformers stood on two theological pillars: the Bible as the supreme authority and justification by faith alone. In Romans, Paul addresses our universal problem: we are all sinners, standing before God in filthy clothes, much like Joshua in Zechariah's vision. Satan accuses us, but Jesus commands, "Take off the dirty clothes," symbolizing the forgiveness of sins. We are then clothed in a spotless robe, representing the righteousness credited to us through justification. This is God's work, a gift of grace, not something we earn. Justification by faith alone means that through faith in Jesus, God declares us righteous. This doctrine was pivotal for Martin Luther, leading to his spiritual rebirth and the Protestant Reformation. Luther realized that righteousness before God was not his own but credited to him by God's grace. This brought him peace and assurance of salvation, as Romans 8:1 assures us there is no condemnation for those in Christ. The applications of this doctrine are profound. We have peace with God and assurance of salvation, knowing we stand before Him as beloved children. This is the essence of the gospel: God is the end of our soul's quest, the one who satisfies us completely. As we sing of Jesus' all-sufficient merit, may we rejoice in the grace given to us through faith in Him alone, to the glory of God alone.

Missives of Mercy

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 09:00:00 CDT

In 1972, Francis Schaeffer, a renowned Christian philosopher, wrote He is There and He is Not Silent, arguing that God is actively revealing Himself in countless ways. His presence is evident in the cosmos, from the starry night sky to the laughter of a child. As Psalm 19:1-2 declares, the heavens are proclaiming God's glory. Schaeffer and the Bible remind us that the universe echoes with God's voice, speaking through creation, scripture, and most profoundly, through Jesus Christ. The question is, are we listening? In Luke 13, Jesus addresses the tragedies of His time, like the Galileans killed by Pilate and the collapse of the tower in Siloam. These events serve as a reminder that God is speaking through history. Jesus teaches that these tragedies are not necessarily due to the victims' sins but are part of the world's brokenness since the fall of Adam and Eve. He emphasizes the need for repentance, warning that unless we repent, we too will perish. Understanding and interpreting the signs of the times involves recognizing our need for God's mercy and grace. This recognition leads to repentance, a step towards justification by faith, as we acknowledge our dependence on God's grace for salvation. Jesus calls us to live in light of what God is doing in history, urging us to pay attention to His voice. The challenge is to interpret the events around you as opportunities to draw closer to God and live in light of His ongoing work. Listen actively to God's revelations and respond with faith and repentance, aligning your life with His purposes.

The Once and Future King

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Pop quizzes in school are dreaded because they reveal whether you're prepared. Similarly, the Bible tells us an ultimate "pop quiz" is coming: the return of Jesus, the King of kings. We can't afford to be unprepared. Luke 12:35-59 outlines how to be ready for His return:Be Alert: Like servants waiting for their master, we must stay vigilant because Jesus will return when we least expect it. Be Faithful: Jesus challenges us to be faithful stewards, ready for His return, and to avoid neglecting or abusing our responsibilities. Be Loyal: Our loyalty to Jesus must surpass even family ties. His message will divide, but we must choose Him. Be Prepared: Just as we anticipate weather changes, we must live in light of Jesus' return. It's essential to settle accounts with Him before it’s too late.Takeaway: Live in Light of the Return of the King If you don’t know Jesus, now is the time to embrace Him as Savior. If you do, it’s time to take discipleship seriously—be alert, faithful, loyal, and prepared. Jesus is coming back, and the ultimate "pop quiz" could happen at any time.

All Things Together for Good

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 09:00:00 CDT

What exactly is the promise of Romans 8:28 (the translation question)?Romans 8:28 promises that God works all things together for the good of His people. Different translations emphasize either "all things work together for good" or "God causes all things to work together for good," but both affirm that God is actively involved. He is the one orchestrating all events for the good of His people. To whom does God make the stunning promise of Romans 8:28?To “those who love God” - These are believers whose love for God is a result of His prior love for them, expressed in saving faith. To “those who are called according to his purpose” - This refers to those whom God has called to salvation. Their calling is rooted in God’s eternal plan, ensuring that their salvation depends on His purpose, not their effort. What has to be true of God for Romans 8:28 to be a gloriously true promise?God must be wisely omniscient.He knows all things and directs them with perfect wisdom.God must be omnipotently sovereign.He has the power to control all things and work them for good.God must be lovingly good.His goodness ensures that even suffering and pain are used for His people's ultimate good. What is the “good” God works for his people through “all things”?The "good" in Romans 8:28 refers to being conformed to the image of Christ. This is God’s ultimate goal for believers: to shape us into the likeness of His Son, using everything in our lives, even hardships. What are just two of the “all things” God works together for the good of his people?Daily difficulties and lifetime calamitiesGod uses trials, like sickness or loss, to refine our character and make us more like Christ. The sin of other people against us Like Joseph’s story in Genesis 50:20, God can take even the wrongs done to us and use them for good, just as He did through the cross.

Money-Grubbers, Worry-Warts, and Treasure-Seekers

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Everyone needs a "why"—a reason to get up, a purpose for life. It leads to big questions: What is life all about? Why are we here? How do we live meaningfully? For followers of Jesus, these questions are central to the journey of discipleship. In Luke 12, Jesus tackles these existential questions through parables and analogies, focusing on what truly matters in life. 1. Money-GrubbersThere’s no life in amassing stuff.In Luke 12:13-21, Jesus addresses a man's desire for wealth by warning against greed. Through the parable of the rich fool, He highlights the futility of storing up possessions for oneself, as life is not measured by abundance. The rich man’s wealth couldn’t secure his life, and he wasn’t "rich toward God." Jesus reminds us that true life isn't found in amassing material things.2. Worry-WartsThere’s no life in fretful survival.In Luke 12:22-28, Jesus tells His followers not to worry about their basic needs, like food or clothing. He uses ravens and lilies to show that God provides for His creation, and humans, being more valuable, can trust God for their needs. Worrying doesn’t add to life; instead, it reflects a lack of faith in God’s care.3. Treasure-SeekersThere’s abundant life in our Father’s kingdom.In Luke 12:29-34, Jesus urges His followers to seek God's kingdom first, promising that their needs will be met. Instead of chasing material things, they are to store up treasure in heaven by living generously. True abundance is found in seeking God, where life and security are eternal.Takeaway: Am I seeking first my Father’s kingdom? Are you focused on accumulating wealth, worrying over survival, or seeking the eternal riches of God's kingdom? Jesus invites us to trust in God's provision and live for His kingdom, where true treasure lies.

Dangerous Religion

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 09:00:00 CDT

A lot of us are disenchanted with religion. There’s so much hypocrisy and abuse and scandal. No wonder so many people are checking out of organized religion, even if they still find Jesus to be compelling. Here at the end of Luke 11 and into 12 Jesus himself railed against the dangers of religion. It turns out that God isn’t actually interested in religion after all. He’s always been after a relationship with his children. If you find yourself disenchanted with religion, I want to invite you to hear what Jesus has to say. I think you’ll find that Jesus is even more upset with the dangers of religion than you are, and that his call is far more compelling than you might imagine. 1. The Danger of HypocrisyGod desires integrated lives.The Pharisees focused on outward rituals while their hearts were far from God. God wants our inner devotion and outward actions to be in harmony, avoiding the pretense of righteousness without true transformation.2. The Danger of ElitismGod desires earnest pursuit.Elitism fosters spiritual superiority, but God desires that all people seek Him sincerely. The kingdom is open to anyone with a humble heart, not just the "spiritually elite."3. The Danger of CoercionGod desires faithful dependency.Coercion forces compliance, but God seeks willing trust. True faith grows from a place of dependence on God’s goodness, not human pressure.Takeaway: God desires a genuine relationship with us, not empty religious practices.

Mistaking Jesus

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Who is Jesus? This is the most important question anyone can ask. Is He a deceiver, a lunatic, a prophet, a teacher, or the Son of God? These questions have been asked for centuries. In the Gospels, people wrestled with who Jesus was—healing the sick, calming storms, and teaching with authority. Yet, they reached different conclusions. In Luke 11, we see groups who Mistook Jesus, thinking they had Him figured out, but they were wrong. Their mistaken responses are still seen today. Let’s learn from their mistakes and avoid Mistaking Jesus. Dismissing without DiscernmentJesus desires, deserves, and demands our attention.Liberation without LordshipJesus desires, deserves, and demands our surrender.Fandom without FollowingJesus desires, deserves, and demands our obedience.Signs without SeekingJesus desires, deserves, and demands our trust.Revelation without ReceivingJesus desires, deserves, and demands our welcome.Takeaway: What will you do with Jesus? C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity: “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

The Life You’ve Always Wanted

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 09:00:00 CDT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” Luke 9:23–25 Know God through Worship• We find ourselves, not within, but in worship. Feed Your Soul through Community• We find fulfillment, not in autonomy, but in community. Grow in Love through Service• We find meaning, not in success, but in service. Change Your World through Mission• We find purpose, not in monuments, but in mission. Takeaway: Jesus is inviting you on The Journey of a Lifetime…How will you choose to respond?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Preparation: Four Lessons We Learn About Fasting

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Matthew 4:1–11 is a foundation to illustrate how Jesus prepared for his mission through fasting and resisting temptation. Context of Matthew 4:The passage follows Jesus' baptism, where He identifies with humanity despite having no need for repentance. Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted, which demonstrates both His humanity and divine nature.4 Lessons we learn about fasting:Obedience: Jesus' immediate obedience to God's direction, despite the harsh conditions, underscores the importance of responding promptly to God’s commands. Empty to Be Filled: Fasting, as demonstrated by Jesus, is not just abstaining from food but an intentional act to gain spiritual strength and perspective. The Sufficiency of the Word: Jesus relies on Scripture to resist temptation, highlighting the importance of using God’s Word as a defense against sin. Desperation vs. Preparation: Jesus’ example shows us not to fast out of desperation but to fast during preparation as well

Behold Christ

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 09:00:00 CDT

The Ends God’s Justice Will Cover the Earth:Christ's reign extends justice across the earth. Brings fairness and righteousness to all creation.God’s People Will Be Liberated:Christ liberates God's people from spiritual blindness and bondage.God’s Glory Will Be Celebrated:Christ's reign leads to the celebration of God's glory. The renewed creation worships and honors God.The Means Behold THE Servant:Jesus Christ is the true servant in Isaiah 42. Recognize and behold Him as sent by God.The Bruised Reed He Will Not Break:Christ is gentle and compassionate. He cares for the weak and vulnerable.The Smoking Wick He Will Not Quench:Christ is patient and restorative. Christ is patient and restorative.Why It MattersThese truths assure believers of God's ultimate purposes. Christ's reign calls for alignment with God's will. Trust in Christ's work to bring about a renewed creation.

God’s Promises For Bruised People

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Now, in life, hard things will happen. We live in a fallen world marked by sin and selfishness. When you are on the ropes, God is faithful and His heart cares for people dealing with the consequences of their own sin and rebellion. When things go from bad to worse, how should we respond? Will You Double Down?When we devote ourselves to idols—something less than God—we become less human. We shrivel up and turn inwards on ourselves as we become sad self-centered shells of wasted human potential. But if we worship the triune God of the Bible—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—we will become more like Him, overflowing in peace, love, and joy, and will become more truly human than we ever thought possible. When trouble comes, will we pursue something other than God in the hopes that it will save us? Will We Believe the Promises of God?The Promise of Deliverance: If God loved you enough to send Jesus to die for you when you were his enemy, will he forget about that later and not keep you when you have been adopted into his family as his true child? The Promise to Overcome any Obstacles: In God’s hands, even bruised and broken people can have victory over the scariest of circumstances. The mountains themselves would be like grain if they stood in his way. This is a promise to overcome any obstacle, especially your own doubts. The Promis to Supply all your Needs: If God supplies all your needs, you need never fear poverty, not because you won’t be poor, but because your poverty has no impact on God’s ability to feed you. Will We Put Our Fears and Doubts to the Test?God is simultaneously inviting the reader to question themselves and question God. He isn’t speaking words of condemnation to the nations but graciously, patiently inviting them to look at the data! Who is most trustworthy? Have you been hit enough times to consider that God might be better qualified to be in charge of your life than you are? Is there anyone or anything else out there that has a stronger claim on your allegiance than He does? Is there someone else you would rather follow? If you have doubts about the Bible, about Jesus, about the church, God can stand up to the test!

The Best Bad News You Have Ever Received

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 09:00:00 CDT

The SymptomsA world under wrath (Romans 1:18) A people in chaos and pain (1:24, 1:26, 1:28-31) A world condemned to die (1:32)The Illness and Its ProgressionRejection of the Truth and the darkens of hearts (Romans 1:21-23) Embracing of the Lie and the worship creation (Romans 1:25)The CureA timely provision (Romans 5:6) An act of love (Romans 5:8) An effective rescue from the wrath of God (Romans 5:9)Takeaways:God cares first about the heart. He will change the rest. Our call is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Tell them the truth. Believe God and worship Him.

Teach Us To Pray

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 09:00:00 CDT

One of the greatest privileges we have as a child of God Is the fact that we can come to God in prayer anytime, anywhere, with anything. In Christ and by the Spirit we have total, unrestricted access to the Father. But, so many of us don’t know where to start. Fortunately, we’re not the first humans to be unsure when it comes to prayer. In this passage, Jesus’ disciples come to Him with a simple and yet bold request: “Lord, teach us to pray.” What We Pray In prayer, we acknowledge our deep dependency on God. Jesus is teaching us to offer prayers that reflect our utter helplessness and total reliance upon God. We Pray as a child looking to his Father, Longing for His glory to heal the world And for His rule to set all to rights. We pray Looking to Him as our Portion and Provider, The Forgiver of our sin-riddled souls and Our Protector and Keeper in the face of whatever trials might come our way. How We Pray In prayer, we acknowledge our daring desperation. You only call a friend at 2am when you’re desperate And you’ll only pray when you realize your life desperately depends on God. Jesus is teaching us to pray With Daring Desperation, Knowing that without Him, we utterly fall apart. Why We Pray In prayer, we acknowledge our Father’s devoted delight. The Father loves to give the Holy Spirit those who ask him! He’s not stingy, He’s lavish. He’s not reluctant, He’s eager. He’s not bothered, He’s delighted. He’s not disengaged, He’s devoted. Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” The Father loves to give the Holy Spirit those who ask him! Takeaway: Ask, seek, and knock. To pray is the great privilege of those who are children of God by grace through faith in Christ. We have an audience with the Father! We enjoy communion with the Son! We experience fellowship with the Spirit! And so, in deep dependency upon our God, with daring desperation because our life depends on it, and in light of our Father’s devoted delight “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) Our Father in heaven,Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.Your will be done on earth,as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,and forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom,and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Getting Love Right

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 09:00:00 CDT

]One of the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry is His use of parables, short and powerful stories jam-packed with spiritual insights and timeless lessons. 2,000 years later, we’re still unpacking these brilliant tales. Today we get the privilege of diving into one of the most famous of all Jesus’ parables: The Good Samaritan. Like many of Jesus’ stories... this Parable of the Good Samaritan is given in a very specific setting. Jesus isn’t telling a random story; it’s a story with intent. Jesus is speaking into real life with these parables. In the case of The Good Samaritan, this story is purposefully sandwiched between two events: A Lawyer’s Question and Two Sisters at Odds. The Good Samaritan is the link that connects everything. The LawyerAn expert in the Old Testament Law has come to test Jesus. He asks Jesus, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” The answer is to love God and love your neighbor.Keep Love Before YouGod desires, deserves, and demands our loving allegiance—heart, soul, body, and mind. Our love for our neighbor should be radical, boundless, holistic and demanding. The NeighborIn response to the lawyer’s question, Jesus tells a story to illustrate exactly who a neighbor is. What kind of love does God require? To do what that Good Samaritan did. When he found a person in need, a person who could have been anyone, of any nationality, any race, any socio-economic background, any political class, any moral condition, he poured himself out in self-sacrificing compassion, care, and self-giving love. Be a loving neighbor of all. Don’t do what the Priest and Levite did. They divorced their Love of God from their Love of Neighbor. They made it their careers to be all about the Love of God, but when they met a man in desperate need, they failed to love their neighbor as themselves. And in doing so, they failed to Love God as well, for it is He who made that man in His own image. Jesus is teaching us to:Keep Love TogetherWe cannot separate these commandments:To Love our God Love our NeighborWe cannot delude ourselves into thinking we love our God while we neglect the love of our neighbor.Here’s the real litmus test of my love for God: How am being a loving neighbor to those around me? Not just the people in my tribe, my group, my family, or my allies. But how am I loving those people? The Love of God and the Love of Neighbor always go together. They are inseparable because they are one: the Vertical and the Horizonal, it is a cross-shaped love. For upon the cross we behold the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor united in perfect fullness and harmony, and that is our pattern. The SistersThe scene shifts to the house of Mary and Martha, where Martha is hustling and bustling about, taking care of everyone, pulling together a huge meal, and making sure everyone’s glasses are filled. Meanwhile, her sister Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet, drinking in His every word. Martha gets annoyed at Mary who is doing nothing when Martha’s so obviously frazzled. Do you see why this story comes on the heels of the previous accounts? Remember, all of this began with a question about what God requires of us in the Law of Love? He requires us to Love our God and Love our Neighbor. If the Priest and the Levite show us what it looks like when we try to Love God while failing to Love our Neighbor, Martha shows us what it looks like when we try to Love our Neighbor and end up failing to Love our God. Martha was so distracted with serving others, even doing things on behalf of Jesus, that she forgot to cultivate Love for Jesus. On the other hand, Mary chose the good portion. Mary chose Jesus. Mary put the Love of God first. Keep Love in Order: We will never love our neighbor sufficiently, unless we love our God supremely.We love, because He first loved us. His love is bestowed upon us freely by grace. His love then summons our love in response. His love then compels our love for others. His love supplies and sustains our love for others Takeaway: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Multiplying the Mission

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 09:00:00 CDT

God is a missional God. The Father sends the Son to redeem the world. And Jesus sends us, His disciples, to the ends of the earth with the message of salvation by grace through faith in Him. We are commissioned by Jesus to show and share the love of God wherever we go. All of us are sent out on mission by Jesus, and there are valuable lessons we need in this passage... 1. The PlanJesus appoints 72 disciples, puts them into 36 pairs, and sends them out on mission into the towns and villages ahead of Him.This mission requires dependency. Go as Ambassadors of Kingdom Peace.2. The StakesAs the 72 disciples go as ambassadors of kingdom peace, what’s on the line?With great light comes great responsibility. Go with a Message of Eternal Consequence.3. The JoyFrom the weight of woes, now we turn to see the joys of blessing.Your name is written in heaven as a free gift of grace from your Father though the Son by the Spirit. Go in the Beloved Security of Divine Intimacy.Takeaway: Go and Join Jesus on a Mission in Your World.

Pitfalls on the Path

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Have you ever come down from grand moment in life? You’re on this high and then you come down. Back to reality and it’s business as usual. It can be quite disorienting! That’s similar to what’s happening with Jesus in Luke 9. He goes from glory on the mountaintop and then back down to this broken world. As this chapter closes, Luke narrates a raft of discipleship failures in rapid succession. You see, Jesus will soon depart. And the disciples are going to be the ones who will carry on this Gospel movement to the ends of the earth. But they’ve got a whole lot to learn from Jesus. And they say the best way to learn is to learn from other peoples’ mistakes. So as the disciples get mired inthese pitfalls along the path, let’s lean in and learn from their mistakes. Because we need to learn the same lessons that Jesus is teaching them. So let’s join up with the twelve on the road with Jesus. There are 6 Pitfalls on the path that can mire us as we seek to follow Jesus… Pitfall #1 – Self-Reliance (Luke 9:37-42)Stay Prayerful Pitfall #2 – Popular Approval (9:43-45)Stay Faithful Pitfall #3 – Prideful Ambition (9:46-48)Stay Humble Pitfall #4 – Jealous Comparison (9:49-50)Stay Focused Pitfall #5 – Abusive Power (9:51-56)Stay Gracious Pitfall #6 – Rival Allegiance (9:57-62)Stay Committed Takeaway: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23Stay prayerful, faithful, humble, focused, gracious, committed.

Glory on the Mountain

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 09:00:00 CDT

“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th’ incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel.” - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Charles Wesley In the incarnation, Jesus is God incognito. He is undercover, veiled, and among us in secret. Until Luke 9:28-36, when the veil is lifted and His glory is revealed. 1) The GloryJesus is Gloriously TransfiguredMoses and Elijah appear on the mountain and see Jesus for who he really is. 2) The TentsThe Kingdom is Gloriously TangiblePeter asks to put up tents for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. But he had forgotten that Jesus’ path to the crown must first pass through the cross. 3) The CloudThe Father Gloriously Testifies“This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” Peter followed Jesus through the cross to the crown! Takeaway: Jesus is our Transfiguring GloryYou will be glorious in Christ! C.S. Lewis once preached a sermon called “The Weight of Glory”:“...There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”

The Royal Road

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Chapter 9 of the Gospel of Luke forms a hinge in the narrative. Up to this point, the key question has been, “Who is this Jesus?” And in Luke 9, that question begins to be answered and we see His glorious identity be revealed. From this point on, Jesus is moving inexorably toward Jerusalem and to the crucifixion that awaits him there. So here we are, On the Road with Jesus. Up to Jerusalem, to the cross, and to glory. And He says to each one of us, “Come, follow me.”A Glorious Confession A Sobering Clarification A Dangerous Calling A Glorious ConfessionJesus is the long-awaited Davidic King A Sobering ClarificationJesus’ path to the crown runs through the crossThe Royal Road passes through suffering on the way to glory. Jesus is the One who shall wear the crown because He is the One who bore the cross. A Dangerous CallingJesus bids us follow Him through suffering into gloryYou must learn to die to yourself, in order to truly live. There’s no glory without suffering. Takeaway: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. Though none go with me, still I will follow. The world behind me, the cross before me. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.

Our Mission in this Moment

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 09:00:00 CDT

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:19-21). 1. Fear is the Opposite of Faith (John 20:19a).“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews”2. Peace is the Christian Response (John 20:19b).Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).3. The Cross Is Our Hope and Motivation (John 20:20).“When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's” (Romans 14:8).4. We Go Because Jesus Came to Us (John 20:21).Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:19-21). And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

Finding Our Place in the Story

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 09:00:00 CDT

As we wake up in this universe, we find ourselves in the midst of a story that is already unfolding. But what is the story about? And how do we find our place in the story? The Bible tells us we’re living in God’s story. It’s the story of a God who is on a mission to glorify His name by redeeming all people. It is a story that began at the dawn of creation and will continue until the renewal of all things. When we discover God’s Story and realize what the Story is all about, we can find our place in the story. 6 Acts Creation, Fall, Israel, Redemption, Church, Renewal Act I – CreationGenesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” From the very beginning, God’s heart beats for the entire world.Act II – FallGenesis 3:15 This Promised Seed will reverse the curse and restore all that has been lost. God’s heart still beats for all His lost children, scattered amongst the nations.Act III – IsraelGenesis 12:1-3 God is creating a people for Himself. Israel may not have embraced God’s missionary call wholeheartedly, but His heart beats nonetheless for the peoples of all nations.Act IV – RedemptionJohn 3:16-17 Jesus is the lamb who takes away the sins, not just of Israel, but of the world!Act V – ChurchMatthew 28:18–20 The Church is to be a missionary movement, going into all the world to share and show the Good News of Jesus.Act VI – RenewalRevelation 5:9-10, 12-13 God’s mission is to glorify His name by redeeming all people for Himself from every nation, tribe, language, people, and tongue who will come alive in joyous relationship with Him through the redemption of His beloved Son by the power of His Spirit.Takeaway: What is your place in the story?

Believe

Sun, 26 May 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Reputations are fragile things...you can spend a lifetime crafting a good reputation only to see it shattered by a moment of weakness, a lapse in judgment, and by sin. What do we do with our past? Are we always under the cloud, the indictment of our past actions? Today, in John chapter 4, we have the privileges of pursuing what we hear from God and hopefully gain a kingdom perspective regarding reputations. The context: The shortest distance to return to Galilee would be to go through the territory known as Samaria. But here’s the rub. The Jews and the Samaritans do not like each other. Jesus did not go through Samaria to save time, Jesus did not go through Samaria to save steps; Jesus went to Samaria to save a Samaritan woman. Takeaways:Who is Jesus to you? What does Jesus say to you, about you? Why share the Gospel?

Who are you listening to?

Sun, 19 May 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Listening to God. Barriers to hearing from God. Be transformed by the Word. Takeaway: Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to become angry.

The Training of the Twelve

Sun, 12 May 2024 09:00:00 CDT

In the Book of Acts—which is the second part of Dr. Luke’s two-volume set of historical works—we find Jesus’ core disciples, the Apostles, turning the world upside down. They’re boldly preaching and going to the ends of the earth to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus! But that’s not where they began. Before Jesus showed up, the twelve disciples were just ordinary people. But what we’re seeing, in these Gospel accounts, is Jesus training up His twelve disciples. And we too have been sent out by Jesus to change our world! But every mission requires training. Today, we get to listen in on Jesus’ Masterclass as He prepares His disciples for their mission. There’s so much we can learn from The Training of the Twelve. This is Jesus’ Masterclass where he gives three crucial lessons:A Lesson in Dependency A Lesson in Vulnerability A Lesson in Inadequacy 1. A Lesson in DependencyWhen you step out into the unknown, I will take care of you. When we live on mission, Christ is our provision.2. A Lesson in VulnerabilityWhen you face the fires of hostility, I will be there with you. When we live on mission, we are never alone.3. A Lesson in InadequacyWhen you come to the end of yourself, I will be more than enough for you. When we live on mission, Jesus is always enough. We may not be Apostles, but we are all of us sent out by Jesus. Mathew 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” There’s no greater adventure in life than to be on mission with Jesus. And so, brothers and sisters, remember, you are loved, more than you know - now let’s... Takeaway: “Go and Be the Church!”

In the Care of Jesus

Sun, 05 May 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Have you ever noticed that the heroes we most admire—in the books we read and in the films we watch—always combine the paradoxical traits of grit and grace? And the paradox of those traits is important. It’s easy to be strong and grow hard and calloused. It’s easy to be sensitive and grow soft and battered. In other words, choosing one side of the paradox is the usual course of things. But to put both sides of the paradox together, therein lies true heroism. In chapter eight of the Gospel of Luke, we find Jesus embodying this kind of paradoxical heroism. Not only is He mighty and strong, but He is also tender and compassionate, full of mercy and care. Let's walk slowly through these three stories, each of them in the care of Jesus.A Distraught Father A Desperate Woman A Devastated Child 1. A Distraught Father (Luke 8:40–42)Jesus hears our heart’s cry. Our Triune God is quick to respond to our heart’s cries with deep compassion. Won’t you bring your heart’s cry to Jesus? 2. A Desperate Woman (Luke 8:42–48)Jesus knows our deep pain. Just as Jairus is concerned with his daughter, Jesus always has time for his daughters. Won’t you bring your deep pain to Jesus? 3. A Devastated Child (Luke 8:48–56)Jesus wipes away our tears. As Jesus healed the women and raised this young girl, we’re getting a sneak preview of what Jesus will do for all who believe in Him when He returns and makes the world new again. Won’t you bring your tears to Jesus? Takeaway: Jesus is making everything sad come untrue.Jesus is the Hero we yearn for. He heals a precious daughter of a secret wound that is draining away her life and tenderly lifts a little girl from the clutches of death. He’s the Hero all our other heroes are pointing to.

The Commander

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 09:00:00 CDT

You know that moment in a superhero movie where all of a sudden the hero’s true identity is revealed, usually to a close friend? As an audience member, in that moment it’s like you’re in on the secret. In the Gospel of Luke, we’ve seen Jesus revealing bits and pieces of who He is. Everyone’s asking, “Who is this Jesus?” But today marks a pivotal moment in the story because the hero’s true identity begins to be unveiled. Jesus is with His closest friends and decides to let them in on the secret of His cosmic power. Jesus is lifting the veil, revealing His true identity, and we get to be part of the inner circle. 1. The Uncontrollable StormJesus is the Commander of nature At His Word, the wind and waves respond. 2. The Unassailable CaptiveJesus is the Commander of the supernatural. Satan and his demons submit to Jesus. 3. The Untamable LordJesus is the Commander of all. Jesus is doing the work of God himself. Takeaway: Jesus commands our attention This is more than a mere man, a prophet, or even the Messiah. Jesus is the Commander of all. He’s not safe, but He’s good. He’s the King.

Take Care Then How You Hear

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 09:00:00 CDT

It's human nature to not hear as well as we think we do. Even though our ears are open, we’re not very good at listening. In our marriages, parenting, friendships, or with colleagues; If we could just learn to listen well, it would transform our relationships. If that’s true when it comes to our human relationships, just imagine how true it must be when it comes to our relationship with God! In this passage, Jesus is going to teach us how to listen to the Word of God using parables. He’s showing us that the Word of God is like:A Seed in the Soil A Light in the House A Bond in the Family 1. A Seed in the SoilGod is the sower, His Word is the seed that brings life, and our hearts are the soil.Hold fast to the Word. 2. A Light in the HouseGod’s Word is like a lamp that shines upon our lives, exposing everything.Open up to the Light. 3. A Bond in the FamilyWhen we choose to listen to the Word of God, we show ourselves to be children of God and members of His family.Be part of the Family. Takeaway: Take care then how you hear.God’s Word is like a Seed in the Soil: What kind of soil are you? God’s Word is like a Light in the House: How are you responding to the light? God’s Word is like a Bond in the Family: Whose family do you belong to? “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Grace Awakening

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 09:00:00 CDT

When three people from totally different worlds collide together in one space, you never know what’s going to happen! Well, something like that is happening at the end of Luke 7. A Pharisee, Jesus, and a Sinner all end up at the same dinner. Who knows what’s going to happen? Whatever it is, it’s going to be crazy. Throughout this passage, let's look at each of the main characters in turn...The Sinner The Pharisee The ForgiverAnd together we’ll discover The Grace Awakening. 1.The SinnerWhen Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus over to his home, a sinful woman walked in, fell at Jesus’ feet, and washed them in perfume ointment and her tears. God eagerly welcomes every repentant sinner. No one is beyond the forgiveness of God! 2. The PhariseeFor Simon, it was a risk to his religious moralism to invite Jesus over for dinner because of his reputation of eating with sinners and tax collectors. God is never impressed by our religious moralism. There is no one righteous, no not one. 3. The ForgiverThe most shocking part of the story is when Jesus forgives the sinful women when they all know only God can forgive sins! God saves sinners by grace through faith in Jesus. Jesus is the only hope for sinners like us. Takeaway: We are far more sinful than we ever dared realize, and yet in Christ, we are far more loved than we ever dared hope.

Disappointment with God

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 09:00:00 CDT

In these early days of His ministry, Jesus has been disclosing more and more of His authority and power. He’s cast out demons, forgiven sins, and most recently he’s raised the dead. Everyone is asking the question: Who is this Jesus? Some consider Him a healer; others think He’s a great prophet. Still, others wonder if He’s the Messiah who would restore the Kingdom and make all things new. And just when it seems like there can be no doubt of who this Jesus is, doubt arises from the most unlikely source, John the Baptist. John the Baptist began to wonder out loud if Jesus really was the Messiah. What gives rise to this doubt is stemming from John the Baptist’s Disappointment with God. John had all these expectations and Jesus wasn’t delivering on them. Disappointment with God is something many of us can relate to. In this passage we find three scenarios in which disappointment with God so often arises.When Hope is Deferred When Prayers go Unanswered When Desires are Frustrated When Hope is DeferredWhy doesn’t God fix everything right now? Would you dare to believe I have purpose in this pause? Why God doesn’t just fix everything right now: because He doesn’t want any to perish and He longs for all to reach repentance. When Prayers go UnansweredWhy isn’t God intervening in my situation? Would you dare to trust my goodness in this grief? When God says “no” to His children, He always does so from love. When Desires are Frustrated The topic shifts from John’s disappointment with God to the Pharisee’s disappointment with God.Why can’t God just play by our rules? We want a customized God, made in our own image. Would you dare to hold onto My character in this confusion? Takeaway: Would you dare to let God be God?

The Day You Get Your Life Back

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 09:00:00 CDT

1,991 years ago, a Galilean carpenter turned Rabbi, who’d been crucified and buried for three days, arose and walked out of his tomb alive! In a moment that changed history forever, Jesus revealed His death-defying life for all the world to see! Let’s go back 3 years before that Resurrection morning to the early days of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus has performed miraculous signs. Everyone marveled at His authority and power; they’d never seen anything like it! And now, Jesus is about to reveal His astonishing authority over death and His power of resurrection life! And for some, this was the day they got their lives back! In this passage we discover Jesus as...The Rescuer The Restorer The Resurrection The Rescuer:Jesus banished death to rescue life.He simply speaks and death flees! Jesus is the Word made flesh. His word is life. The Centurion and his servant got their lives back. The Restorer:Jesus plundered death to restore life.He reached down into death and reclaimed this young man’s life! This was the day the young man and his mother got their life back! The Resurrection:Jesus surrendered to death to resurrect life.Jesus is the eternal life incarnate. When we finally come to the end of ourselves, that’s when Jesus shows up. Takeaway: This could be the day you get your life back!

The Good Person

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 09:00:00 CDT

What is a good person? It’s quite an important question. Have you ever felt like you knew someone who seemed like such a good person and then one day, it all came crashing down?Have you ever wondered if you are a good person?Consider these 4 parables that Jesus preaches in the Sermon of the Plain:The Blind Leading the Blind The Speck and the Log The Fruit and the Tree The House Built on a RockIn each of these 4 parables, Jesus offers a critique and a calling, as he teaches us what it means to be a good person.The Blind Leading the BlindCritique: You’re helplessly lost in the dark.You can’t see to save yourself.Calling: I’m here to lead you into the light.If you want to become a good person, you need to step into the light. Jesus is here to lead you into the light.The Speck and the LogCritique: You’re obsessed with the problems of others.A symptom of our spiritual blindness is easily identifying the sins of others while remaining oblivious to our own sins.Calling: I’ll teach you to be responsible for yourself.Take the log out of your own eye, and then you’ll see clearly enough to help others. Because the biggest problem in your life isn’t somebody else, it’s you.The Fruit and the TreeCritique: You’re attempting behavior modification.Behavior flows from being. No amount of behavior modification will change the badness that’s in your heart.Calling: I’m offering you heart transformation.I’m calling you to come to me because I can give you a new heart. If you want to become a good person, you’ll need a good heart.The House Built on a RockCritique: You’re in for a catastrophic wipeoutA storm will come along that’ll expose your lack of foundation, and that “good person” image will collapse.Calling: I’m giving you the blueprint for an enduring lifeTakeaway: Come to me. Hear my words. Do them. And live!

The Good Way

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 09:00:00 CDT

When comparing Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain in Luke with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, we get the same core message. But in Luke, Jesus is much more efficient and to the point. This means in Luke, we’re getting the core of Jesus’ central message. There are 3 major elements:The Blessings and WoesWhat is the good life?The Ethics of LoveWhat is the good way?The Closing ParablesWhat is a good person?Today, our focus is on that middle section - Jesus’ Ethics of Love: What is the good way? We will be following three key phrases that build into one complete sentence: Love your enemies as your Father does, with overflowing mercy.Love Your EnemiesBy loving your enemies you are:Embracing the Kingdom of Heaven. Breaking the cycle of violence. Reclaiming your agency. Opening up a window of grace.The good way overcomes evil with good.As Your Father DoesThe good way to love your enemies is to love even when it’s not reciprocal. We were once God’s enemies, but Jesus laid down his life for us. The good way follows in our Father’s footsteps.With Overflowing MercyIn God’s mercy, he moved toward us, His enemies, with forgiveness and generosity. Mercy is:Eager to forgive. Triumphant over judgment. Full of lavish grace.The good way unites in the hope of redemption.Takeaway: As an apprentice of the good way of Jesus, who will you extend love to this week? Love Your Enemies as your father does, with Overflowing Mercy. This is the good way of Jesus.

The Good Life

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Jesus has been causing quite a stir up in Galilee. Many are drawing near in astonishment and faith. While others are recoiling back in skepticism and disbelief. Jesus’ own followers are starting to feel the heat. They’ve left everything and followed Him. Now the Pharisees are starting to question where their loyalties lie. Of course, we know the answer. Because in Luke 6:12-16, we read that Jesus called his disciples to Himself and chose twelve of them to join His inner circle as Apostles. They’ve decided to go “all in” with Jesus. And with these words, Jesus begins what scholars call “The Sermon on the Plain.” It bears many similarities to the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew. In both sermons, Jesus begins the same, “Makarios!” Which means blessed, happy, well-off, and favored. It’s the Good Life! In these opening verses, Jesus is answering three crucial questions:Who has the Good Life? What is the Good Life? Where is the Good Life? 1. Who has the Good Life?The good life belongs to the most unlikely people. Despite poverty, hunger, or exclusion, the Good Life belongs to those who seek Christ. 2. What is the Good Life?The good life is citizenship in the kingdom of God. Jesus shows us what the Good Life is by pairing these couplets of “Blessings” and “Woes” in this passage. You can be a loser in the kingdoms of men, but if you belong to the kingdom of God, you’re a winner. 3. Where is the Good Life?The good life is found in the presence of Jesus. Rejections shall fade in His embrace. Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus! You can have all this world, give me Jesus! Takeaway: Which Good Life are you living for?Are we living for the Good Life here and now? Or are we living for the real Good Life that begins now and comes in fullness in the age to come? Matthew 6:18–33 says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 31 Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” “Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth 'thrown in': aim at Earth and you will get neither.” - C.S. Lewis

Why are we here? Moses, God and the Meaning of Life Scripture

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 09:00:00 CDT

A Personal God The God of History The God of Liberation A Holy GodTakeaway: God – not nature – is the ultimate foundation of our existence. And, as he has shown us in history, he is on our side.

The Lord of the Sabbath

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 09:00:00 CDT

“No one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.” With those words, recorded here at the heart of Luke 5 & 6, Jesus is setting the stage for what He’s doing as His ministry begins. Like wine ripening in the leather wineskins, Jesus is going to stretch everyone’s confined expectations to make way for the expansive kingdom that is already breaking into the world in Himself. In this passage, Jesus will bring the Pharisees to their breaking point, as he wields with increasing boldness, His miracle-working power. The Cleanser (5:12-16)Jesus cleanses by becoming unclean.Jesus stretched out his hand and touched the untouchable man full of leprosy. He exchanges his cleanliness to take on the man’s uncleanliness.The Forgiver (5:17-26)Jesus forgives by becoming unforgivable.The Pharisees will never forgive Jesus for what He did for the paralyzed man. This charge of blasphemy will follow Jesus to the cross. The paralyzed man was guilty and helpless, but Jesus exchanged places with him.The Protector (6:1-5)Jesus protects by becoming unprotected.Jesus’ disciples were under attack for violating the Sabbath. But when Jesus declared himself to be the Lord of the Sabbath, the Pharisees came after him. To protect the disciples, Jesus switched places with them and took on the attacks from the Pharisees.The Restorer (6:6-11)Jesus restores by becoming unrestorable.After restoring the man's withered hand, Jesus became unrestorable in the Pharisee’s minds.Takeaway: Jesus is our substitute in every wayJesus’ actions in this passage foreshadow the cross…The Cleanser who removed the leprosy of our sin, by taking it all upon Himself. The Forgiver who made atonement for sin, by becoming sin for us. The Protector who stood between us and the accuser and offered His life in our place. The Restorer who brought life, by enduring death for us. For on the cross Jesus died in our place and for our sake, bearing all our sin and shame, and rose again to make us right forever with God. He is our substitute in every way.

The Call of Discipleship

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 09:00:00 CDT

As we come to chapters 5 & 6, we find Dr. Luke brings together two themes like a zipper. Jesus is beginning his ministry, and many are drawn to him and choosing to become one of his followers. Yet on the other side, many are skeptical of him, especially the Scribes and the Pharisees. Dr. Luke is zippering these two themes together, going back and forth between the Disciples who are drawing near and the Pharisees who are keeping their distance. For today, we will focus our attention on the call of discipleship. The Command of JesusJesus’ Authority is BroadHe knew where the fish were, and they caught a large number (5:6a).Jesus’ Vision is WideThe fishermen caught so many fish they needed two boats (5:6b–7).Jesus’ Ministry is StretchingJust as the fishing nets were stretching, so will we be stretched in ministry (5:8–11).Jesus’ Call is TransformingThese fishermen will no longer be catching fish, but men.The Companions of JesusJesus’ Authority is BroadJesus commanded the attention of the tax-collector, Levi (5:29, 6:12–16).Jesus’ Vision is WideJesus wants to see all people reconciled to Himself (5:30–39).Jesus’ Ministry is StretchingJesus’ twelve disciples felt the change and stretching of Jesus’ ministry (6:13).Jesus’ Call is TransformingIt all began with a simple call to follow Jesus (5:27b, 5:10b).The Commission of JesusJesus’ Authority is BroadHe is the Lord and Master of all of life (Matthew 28:18–20).Jesus’ Vision is WideHe wants all people to come and follow Him (19b–20).Jesus’ Ministry is StretchingThis monumental task will bring Jesus’ disciples to their breaking point, but He knows what He’s doing (20b).Jesus’ Call is TransformingBecause He is with us, what was impossible on our own is now ours to receive.Takeaways:Will I follow Jesus’ Authority? Will I embrace Jesus’ Vision? Will I stretch toward Jesus’ Ministry? Will I surrender to Jesus’ Calling?

The Word of His Power

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 09:00:00 CDT

One of the best descriptions of Jesus is found in Hebrews 1:3, "He is the radiance of the glory of God, the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power." Jesus is the glory of God up close and personal. If you want to know what God is like look at Jesus! When God speaks and brings all creation into existence, that Word is Jesus. Through Him, all things were made and by Him, all things are sustained. When Jesus speaks stuff happens. This passage shows Jesus, the incarnate Word of God, wielding the word of His power with astonishing authority as He's, dispatching demons, and mending maladies. Astonishing AuthorityWhat gave Jesus' teaching such astonishing authority? His Approach, His Content, and His Person. At the King's word, souls stir.When the incarnate Word of God opens up the inspired word of God, soul's stir and come to life. Dispatching DemonsThe demon in this passage wants Jesus to be quiet and leave town. It's a challenge to Jesus' authority.At the word of Jesus, the evil spirit flees the scene.At the King's word, darkness trembles. Mending MaladiesJesus lays His hands on the sick to bring them healing.In both creation and re-creation God uses the hands-on approach.At the King's word, renewal begins. Takeaway: If God is for us, who can stand against us?The One who upholds the universe by the word of His power has given us His word that He will never leave us, nor will He ever forsake us. He promises to be with us always and to the very end. And if God is for us, who can stand against us?

The Homecoming

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 09:00:00 CDT

In The Lord of The Rings, when Frodo, Sam, Pippen, and Mary return to the Shire, they come home changed. When they left, they were a ragtag bunch of mischievous friends, but now they’re heroes. However, the other hobbits of The Shire don’t know about their adventures. So, as these four friends arrive home in all their regalia, their old neighbors are left staring. In Luke 4, at His own homecoming, something a bit like that happens to Jesus. He comes back to Nazareth and He’s changed. The Father endorsed Him from Heaven and the Spirit descended upon Him. And now Jesus returns North to Galilee in the power of the Spirit to begin His ministry and His old neighbors don’t know what to do with Him. This is Jesus’ homecoming where He reveals to his childhood friends and neighbors, just who He is, and why He’s come. Luke 4:16–21 | The Prophecy - The days of renewal are here in Jesus. Jesus is teaching about the prophecies from the book of Isaiah in the synagogue. Jesus proclaims that those prophecies have been fulfilled. He is the Servant of the Lord and He is bringing the days of renewal. Luke 4:22–24 | The Prejudice - The days of humbling are here in Jesus The people spoke well of Jesus and marveled at what he was saying, but they couldn’t get over who was saying it. They ask him to perform a miracle like he’s done elsewhere. But he simply replies that no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. Instead of humbling their hearts, they begin to resist Jesus’ teaching even more. Luke 4:25–30 | The Peril - The days of decision are here in Jesus Jesus references the stories of Elijah and Elisha to make the point that Israel rejects the Lord's prophets. When you reject God’s mercies and the renewal of all things, great peril will come before you. Jesus’ warning makes the people livid, and they want to throw him off of a cliff. But Jesus slips away. No one can take his life from him. Jesus has come, and with Him, are the days of renewal. But they will only be ours if we humbly receive Him. Takeaway: What will you do with Jesus? C. S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him:I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

A Savior Like None Other

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 09:00:00 CDT

When being interviewed for a job, people are always asking about the same things: your background, your credentials, your qualifications, and your experience. They’re trying to see if there’s a fit between the job and what you have to offer. You’ve got to get the right person in the right assignment if you want to have the right outcomes. In 1st century Israel, there was one position in particular that so many longed to see filled, the Messiah. Then one day, Jesus of Nazareth stepped out onto the stage of history as the Savior of the World. Luke is going to show us that Jesus stands alone, uniquely prepared, to be a Savior like none other. Luke gives us three accounts concerning Jesus. His Baptism, His Genealogy, and His Temptation. Let’s consider each of these accounts as we discover Jesus to be the Son of God, the Son of Man, and the Son of Righteousness. 1) Son of God - Luke 3:21–22 In His Baptism – We see Jesus is divine.Jesus’ baptism brings hope to all of creation.2) Son of Man - Luke 3:23–38 In His Genealogy – We see Jesus is human.Son of David - heir of the throne. Son of Abraham - heir of the promise. Son of Adam - heir of humanity.3) Son of Righteousness - Luke 4:1–13 In His Temptations – We see Jesus is perfect.Jesus is the true and better Israel, Adam, and humanity.Takeaway: Jesus is our only, all-sufficient Savior!

A Voice in the Wilderness

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Dr. Luke has been weaving together the stories of these two remarkable boys—John and Jesus—born six months apart, both of whom will be integral in this new chapter of redemption that God is writing in salvation history. God is clearly on the move, and these two boys will be central to His saving work as it breaks through! The last we heard of John was in Luke 1:80, “And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.” But today we’re going to see him rising into the height of his ministry. John the Baptist will prepare the way of the Lord, crying out as a voice in the wilderness. John’s call, in this passage, is to the “why”, “what”, and the “how” of repentance. The “Why” of Repentance Repentance is a call to rethink the way you’re living, to turn around, and head in a whole new direction. Repentance feels like death, but it is the only way to life. The “What” of Repentance (3:3-6) There are four major life-patterns that John is calling people to turn away from.Cultural Religiosity (3:7-9) In John’s day, like ours, people hid behind their religious cultural heritage and failed to love God for themselves.When the Lord shows up, He will separate those who truly know him and are bearing good fruit, from those who are fruitlessly going along with the religious cultural flow.Disintegrated Faith (3:10-14) Repentance is about getting right with God, but the fruit of repentance is about living right with others. Loving God rightly means loving others rightly.Hypocritical Fakery (3:15-17) Jesus will baptize, not with water but the Holy Spirit and fire.The Lord is separating the valuable and genuine from what is worthless and false. Jesus can see through all the fakery, and He’ll sort it out perfectly on the day of judgment.Defiant Indulgence (3:19-20) John called Herod out for his Defiant Indulgence. Herod figured that the rules didn’t apply to him because he was in power.Repentance is turning away from ourselves, and turning instead toward God. The “How” of Repentance Whenever we feel the weight of conviction, we’re faced with a choice. To yield in tenderness or to become defensive. Repentance means surrendering to the Lord and walking in faithful obedience. That’s why we need Jesus. Jesus took the fire; he felt the purging and rose again to clothe us in his righteousness forever. Takeaway: Repentance is good news, if you and I will receive it.

Lost in Jerusalem

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Imagine Dr. Luke sitting down to interview Mary about her son, Jesus. Of all the key witnesses he’d interviewed, his conversation with Mary must have been the most precious. She may have said, “Let me tell you when I first realized that He knew exactly who He was. He was 12 years old, just a boy, and we accidentally lost Jesus. We left him behind for 3 whole days in Jerusalem.” When Mary and Joseph finally found him, Jesus responded, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” With these words Jesus is showing us His belonging, believing, beholding, and becoming. Belonging - Jesus is running to His home Believing - Jesus is seeking out His refuge Beholding - Jesus is embracing His delight Becoming - Jesus is defaulting to His habits Takeaways:When I’m lost, where do I run for home? When I’m scared, where’s my safe space? When I’m at leisure, where do I seek joy? When I’m pressured, what are my default habits? Under pressure, we default not to our instincts, but to our habits. Jesus’ spiritual muscle memory sent him running to His Father. What would it look like to build the kind of spiritual muscle memory, those spiritual habits, that will serve us well the next time the pressure mounts and crises hits? Remember, the only way you and I get to run to God as our Father is because of Jesus. Jesus isn’t just our example to follow, He’s our Savior who makes us children of God.

Light and Glory

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 09:00:00 CDT

What kind of story are we living in? Is life a comedic story? Or is it a tragic story? We call those who see life as a comedy, optimists. Their cheery outlook drives innovation, entertainment, and hopefulness. As for those who see life as a tragic story, we call them pessimists. They are honest about the pain and struggle life has to offer. But there’s a third kind of story… a redemptive story. Redemptive stories see the brokenness of the world for what it is, but the light always breaks through. The Bible characters we meet today, Simeon and Anna, see life as a redemptive story. These two aged saints have spent their whole lives awaiting the redemption of God… 1) The Sign of Redemption 2:22-24 As Mary and Joseph redeem their firstborn son and present Jesus to the Lord. They are acknowledging they’re living in God’s redemptive story. God has redeemed… we owe Him our everything!2) The Hope of Redemption 2:25-33 Simon and Anna were waiting for the consolation of Israel. They were anticipating her redemption and longing for her salvation. God will redeem… we look to Him for everything! 3) The Cost of Redemption 2:34-40 The redemption of Israel can only come through the suffering of the Servant of the Lord, Jesus. God is redeeming… we’re receiving His Everything! Takeaway: Redemption is here, and His name is Jesus! This is not a feel-good comedy, neither is this a depressive tragedy. This is a redemptive story. It’s the story we live in, by grace through faith. It’s a story worth trusting in, hoping upon, and waiting for. It’s the story of Jesus. Our Light, our Glory, and our Redeemer! Luke 2:22-40

Freedom and Joy

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 09:00:00 CDT

Two gifts from the Lord that are available to every follower of Jesus no matter what they are going through. These two gifts are essential in helping us face the pain of living in a broken and fallen world and fight the temptations that it brings. And without them, we are far weaker and more vulnerable than we should be. Those two gifts are FREEDOM and JOY. Joy is a choice; it’s a state of being more than an emotion. The foundation of joy is the promise or assurance of future happiness. Freedom is not doing whatever you want, but instead it’s repentance of your sin. Freedom and joy are possible when we embrace the truths of a passage like Psalm 19. In this psalm we see three actions or responses that are essential to living in freedom and joy.1: Be Amazed by God's Glory (1-6)Psalm 19 tells us that God’s glory is so great that His creation never ceases to proclaim it; it is on display every day, every night, all over the world, and to everyone without fail.2: Be Captivated by God's Laws (7-11)David is doing much more simply telling us that God’s laws are good and that we’re better off following them than not. You can hear the delight in his voice over the beauty and goodness and rightness of God’s laws.3: Be Ruthless with Sin (12-14)After considering the inexhaustible glory of God in creation, and the perfection and desirability of God’s laws, the psalmist asks three things of the Lord:To be declared innocent from hidden faults For God’s help to conquer willful sins That his words and thoughts, with God’s help, would be pleasing to the LordDo not underestimate your ability to minimize or justify your sin. Takeaway: The Lord is offering you freedom and joy because of Jesus Christ through the gospel. Psalm 19

The Upending Begins

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In the business world, most of the time companies are competing in an established market, each trying to marginally outdo the others. But every so often, a market disruptor breaks in. Instead of competing in the existing market space, disruptors redefine the space altogether. Disruptors break in and upend everything, changing the world as we know it forever. 2,000 years ago, the ultimate disruptor broke in and upended the world forever. The Son of God entered into space and time as a baby born in Bethlehem. In that moment, the Kingdom of Heaven broke into this weary world. In this sermon, we’ll explore three themes: Jesus' coming is… 1) Upending Power There’s a Power behind the power. Real power is when the power-brokers unknowingly do your bidding, and they think it’s all their idea! That’s precisely what we see happening with Caesar’s decree. It might look like Caesar is large and in charge, but behind his power there’s a greater Power that is working all things together for His glory and the good of His people, and No one can thwart the redemptive plans of our God. This is such good news for those of us who often feel so powerless. How good it is to know that our God is on His throne, and no one can thwart His redemptive plans for our lives. 2) Upending Nobility There’s a nobility beyond the nobles. God lifted up these lowly shepherds and crowned them with honor. God bypasses the cultural elites, the nobles, and instead elevates these poor, lowly, nobodies and brings them into the fullness of His joy. He ennobles them by His gracious invitation, for to be chosen by God is a nobility beyond anything this world can offer. This is such good news for those of us who often feel so overlooked. How good it is to know that our God sees us all, that He invites us—the lowest, the least, and the left-behind—to share in His joy. 3) Upending Honor There’s an honor beneath the honored. It is the beauty of Jesus that transfigures this manger—a filthy, mundane, trough fit only for barnyard animals becomes a cradle for the newborn King! Most people think honor is something you amass, acquire, and build toward. But Jesus shows us that’s all wrong. According to Jesus, the road to honor runs not up but down. Resurrection comes through the cross. Glory comes through a manger. This is such good news for those of us who often feel so damaged. How good it is to know that our God is a Redeemer! His grace transfigures wherever it falls! Takeaway: This great upending is good news of great joy for all people.Luke 2:1–21

The Song of Silence

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 09:00:00 CDT

What do you do when God sets you aside for a season? When you can’t do normal, but have to learn to wait on Him? There’s lots of circumstances God can use to set us aside: career interruptions; health challenges; romantic breakups; job searches; and family crises. In today’s passage, Zechariah’s season of being set aside finally ends. God enables him to speak again, and we realize, now that he’s back in the game, that he made good use of his time on the bench. We’ll see three ways from Zechariah’s story how we can respond when God sets us aside for a season. 1) Check Your Heart God sets us aside to get our attention. During Zechariah’s many months unable to speak, we see that he spent that time doing some serious heart work. He reflected on his failures and lack of faith. So, when we see Zechariah emphatically pronouncing the name of his son, John, we see this moment full of faith and obedience. God had got his attention. When God sets you aside, check your heart. 2) Engage the Word After nearly a year of silence, Zechariah’s first words pour out blessing upon God in a beautifully crafted poem, the Benedictus. And what’s amazing about this poem is that there are nearly 100 allusions to the Old Testament. Which tell us what Zechariah has been doing all this time: he’s been pouring himself into the Scriptures. He’s been meditating on the promises of God. God sets us aside to fill our attention. Sometimes God slows us down to fill our attention with what truly matters. We’re so busy doing, doing, doing, that we don’t give God the attention He deserves. When God sets us aside, we should engage the Word. 3) Look Unto Jesus Zechariah’s just gotten his voice back after a lifetime of waiting for his prayers to be answered. He’s just welcomed his little son into the world, and yet, it’s clear what has captured his heart, because his song is almost entirely about Jesus. God sets us aside to focus our attention. Sometimes we can lose focus on what really matters in life, and we start living for all the wrong stuff. And God loves us enough to set us aside for a season, to refocus our attention on what really matters, so that we might learn to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Takeaway: God sets us aside to get us back in the game. He puts us on the bench, not because He’s done with us, but because He’s getting us ready for the next play. Won’t you trust Him? Luke 1:57–80

The World Turned Upside-Down

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 09:00:00 CDT

Sometimes in a movie, the scenes cut back and forth between two different characters in what appears to be two distinct plotlines…only for their storylines to suddenly merge unexpectedly. Something like that is happening in our text this morning. We’ve met Zechariah and Elizabeth, and rejoiced with them when the angel Gabriel told them God had answered their prayer, and they would conceive a child in their old age. We watched as Elizabeth withdrew from public eye, keeping her pregnancy quiet for the first 5 months, secretly cherishing this miraculous life in her womb. Then the screen faded, and a new scene came into focus—a young Galilean virgin named Mary, engaged and awaiting her wedding day, also encountered the angel, Gabriel.We shared in her astonishment when he told her that God had chosen her to bear the Savior, the King, the Son of God… Jesus into the world. And we marveled as Mary agreed, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” But just before Mary gave her consent to this noble calling, Gabriel mentioned a detail that seemed a bit out of place—her barren relative, Elizabeth, will bear a son. And so, within days of Gabriel’s announcement, Mary packs her bags and heads South to see the one person on earth who will be sure to understand her. She goes to see Elizabeth, as these two ladies’ stories merge into a common plotline. Three startling surprises from this story: 1) An Unexpected Witness The first witness of the incarnation is a pre-born baby, John the Baptist, who leaps in Elizabeth’s womb. As Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and prophecies the words of blessing to Mary. And here’s what’s amazing…That means Elizabeth knew Mary was pregnant before she did!And the preborn baby John knew even before Elizabeth did! Isn’t that remarkable?!? God would choose an in-utero pre-born baby as the first witness to the coming of Messiah. 2) An Unlikely Pedigree Elizabeth’s blessing of Mary is touching because she knows the magnitude of what is taking place. And then Mary, overwhelmed with joy as she realizes she’s pregnant with the Son of God… bursts out with this beautiful poem we know as “The Magnificat.” It’s the first ever Christmas carol! You see, God could have chosen anyone. He could have picked a young woman from any number of wealthy, affluent, well-connected, and upwardly mobile Jewish families. But He didn’t. He chose Mary; a nobody from nowhere. The first choice for the incarnation is a peasant girl. Why would He do that? Because God takes the overlooked, the devalued, the discarded, and crowns them with glory! 3) An Unparalleled Kingdom Mary’s poem now expands from what God has done for her, to what God is doing more broadly in the world. The first sign of the incarnation is a grand inversion. God is in the business of turning the world upside-down! The moment Jesus shows up, the world starts turning upside-down. Or should we say, right-side-up?Takeaway: Jesus’ Kingdom is turning the world upside-down. That’s what grace does; it turns the world upside-down. See, you might think that the plotline of your life is over here… totally distinct from the plotline of Jesus’ life. But at the cross your storylines suddenly merge unexpectedly. Because Jesus is on the cross for you. He’s offering grace to you. He’s looking upon your humble estate, and saying, “Come to me. Trust in me. And I will raise you to royal rank. I will give you the right to become children of God! Sons and Daughters of the King!” Grace is when your storylines merge and become one… “aha… I get it… brilliant.” Jesus’ Kingdom is turning the world upside-down: Has He turned your world upside-down? Luke 1:39–56

Conceiving Hope

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 09:00:00 CDT

Dr. Luke is documenting for us the life and times of Jesus. But it’s interesting that he doesn’t start with Jesus. Instead, his gospel begins with a scene in the Temple, as an aged priest lights the incense, and an angel named Gabriel appears to him announcing that he and his wife of many childless years are miraculously about to become parents. It was a moment that would change Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s lives forever, as they were chosen to bring this little boy John into the world. He will grow up to be known as John the Baptist, the forerunner of Messiah, prophesied from of old, the one who would come and prepare the way of the Lord. And it is with this miraculous pregnancy that Dr. Luke begins his history. As we left off last time, Elizabeth has been keeping her pregnancy to herself in restful seclusion for the first 5 months. And now, the scene shifts. Instead of the Temple in Jerusalem, this scene opens upon the small village of Nazareth. Instead of southern Judea, we’re up north in Galilee. Instead of an aged man, we see a teenaged girl. Instead of a robed priest, she’s a country peasant. And yet, despite all the differences, the angel is the same. Gabriel has been sent with another message. Three insights from Luke 1:26–38: 1) A Life-Altering Salutation God’s plans are massively disruptive. That’s exactly where Mary’s at in this moment. In one hand, she holds the life of her dreams. In the other, the life of God’s calling. And she’s there in the middle, pulled and stretched, because God’s plans are massively disruptive. And you know the disruption—the cost, the tears, the letting go of your dreams and plans and expectations—that comes with saying “yes” to God’s call on your life. 2) A World-Changing Sovereign It’s true that God is disrupting Mary’s plans and dreams, but it’s because He has a plan and dream of His own. For this is no ordinary child. This child will be unlike anyone who has ever been born. His salvation will outshine Joshua. His kingship will outstrip David. His holiness will outmatch all the sons of Adam. For He will be the Son of God in the flesh; Heaven come to earth. You see, God’s plans are gloriously redemptive. Like the message of Gabriel to Mary, God is asking each of us: “will you trust me with your life?” Will we trust that in these massive disruptions, God is actually doing something gloriously redemptive? That He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him? 3) A History-Making Sacrifice Mary laid down her plans, her dreams, and her life, trusting God with her everything. And that sacrificial decision changed Mary’s life, and all of history, forever. God’s plans are voluntarily transformative. Friends, God intends to bring deep, lasting transformation into our lives; to work glorious redemption through massive disruption. As He calls us to lay down our tiny dreams to say “yes” to His abundant purposes in our lives, but He will only do so with our permission. 3 Questions:Am I willing to let God massively disrupt my life? Am I yielding to God’s glorious redemption through me? Am I volunteering myself for God’s transforming work? Takeaway: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”Luke 1:26–38

Breaking the Silence

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In the Gospel of Luke, we encounter a King like no other. Most kings make it about themselves. They wield power, authority, and strength for their own benefit. But not Jesus. Jesus is the King who came to serve. He laid down all His rights and privileges in love to rescue us. From His place of glory, He came all the way down to the fringes of this broken world to redeem the very people everyone else had given up on. You see, Jesus knew the secret to the upside-down kingdom: that in giving ourselves away, we actually get ourselves back. Jesus is the Servant King who shows us the way to real abundant life. And He beckons us to come and follow Him! This sermon begins a new series in the 3rd Gospel in the New Testament: the “Good News” of Jesus, recorded for us by Luke. Luke is documenting for us the backstory of the coming of John the Baptist. The first prophet in Israel since Malachi, some 450 years ago. But now God is breaking the silence. He is once again on the move. His salvation is awakening. And in this first chapter, Luke wants us to see three things. God’s salvation is: 1) Historical Dr. Luke is acting as a first-century investigative journalist, documenting the life of Jesus from eyewitness testimony and original source material. The Gospels are a compilation of eyewitness testimony; there’s a real historical portrayal. God’s salvation is trustworthy. We can discover it! Have you ever seriously considered the veracity of the gospel accounts of Jesus? The stakes couldn’t be higher. If Jesus really is the son of God who died and rose again, nothing could be of more importance! 2) Prophetic What’s happening in these verses, without fanfare or hype, is that God is being faithful to His covenant promises. God’s salvation is fulfillment. We can believe it! 3) Redemptive Not only is the coming of John the Baptist of national significance for the people of God; the fulfillment of prophecy signaling the coming of the Messiah, as the Lord Himself draws near; it is also a tender moment of personal redemption.Because Jesus comes to bring redemption. Through the cross and resurrection of Jesus, all who believe in Him experience a measure of redemption now, which is pointing to the fullness of redemption that is to come when Jesus returns to make all things new. God’s salvation is transforming. We can experience it! Takeaway: God’s salvation is awakening. God is breaking the silence. In the quiet and the stillness. Salvation is drawing near. He is coming, and His name is Jesus. Luke 1:1–25 Resources Mentioned:The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel Can We Trust the Gospels? by Peter Williams Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard Bauckham

Stop It!

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 09:00:00 CDT

The troubles of this world can be heavy to bear. The future is uncertain, and the present is filled with difficulty and pain. How are we supposed to navigate this all by ourselves? In this sermon from John 14, Pastor McCarthy shares with us a simple message: Stop It! Stop running on the treadmill of life to nowhere and trust in Jesus to be the way, the truth, and the light. The key verse in this passage is verse 1: “Let not your heart be troubled.” Why shouldn’t we be troubled? Because Jesus said, I AM: The Way The Truth The Light Do you know Him? John 14:1–6

Awaiting the Dawn

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 09:00:00 CDT

This final sermon from the book of Malachi is about hope. Hope is something we can’t live without. Hope gives us reason to endure. Hope lifts our eyes beyond the shadows to the dawning of the light. And as the Book of Malachi draws to a close, it ends with a wonderous vision of hope. There’s been a lot of tough love in this book. God doesn’t pull His punches as He disciplines His beloved children. But His final word is full of tender mercies; He leaves hope ringing in their ears. Because hope breathes courage into our timid souls. 1) The Sun of Hope In the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord, four things will happen: Evil will be vanquished forever; the earth will be banned, purged with fire; then upon the scorched ashes of the world that was, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings; and the righteous shall inherit the earth, set loose like bounding calves into the wide world of the New Creation. One day the darkness will be way to the dawn. This really is what the story of the Bible is all about. The Bible helps us see the profound depths of the darkness, because it also holds out resplendent heights of hope for the dawning of the light. The Bible helps us see the darkness of the crucifixion in resurrection light. And one day, the darkness will give way to the dawn. And healing shall come to all creation with the rising of the Sun of Hope. 2) The Soil of Hope What difference does it make when this hope falls upon the soil of your life? When this hope rains down and sinks in how does it change us? Endurance grows in the soil watered with hope. Hope helps us look back to remember Whose we are. Hope helps us look ahead to all that God has promised us. Hope helps us look beyond to the glories that await us. 3) The Seed of Hope All throughout the Bible, God is sowing this seed of hope of the world one day set to rights. These promises are sown in hope all over the Scriptures. But the greatest seed of hope is found in Jesus Himself. Because in Jesus’ death and resurrection, we get a preview of what will one day happen to us and to all of creation. Jesus is a microcosm of new creation hope. He’s a mini cosmos: Jesus is the firstborn of all creation; and he’s the firstborn from the dead. Takeaway: “Behold, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

Faltering Faith

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon, we explore the 6th and final dispute between God and the people of Israel. Previously, God was pouring out His heart in an appeal to the people to “test me in this” so that He would pour our His blessing on them, and to “return to me, and I will return to you.” But how will the people respond? In this passage from Malachi 3:13–18, the people respond in two very different ways. One group turned to one another and said it’s time we take God at His word, and repent and return to Him. The other groups turned to one another and said, what’s the point? These people doubled down on their faltering faith. This passage serves as a reminder to Israel and us that God hears our words, God discerns our hearts, and God remembers our deeds. 1) God Hears Our Words When it comes to God, nothing escapes His notice. We need a God of final justice far more than we realize. First, because the justice of God gives life meaning. And second, because the final justice of God is the grounds for non-violence. 2) God Discerns our Hearts When it comes to God, true motives are laid bare. God discerns the hearts of those filled with resentful obligation, and the hearts of those who fear and esteem His name. 3) God Remembers Our Deeds When it comes to God, all shall be brought to account. Takeaway: History has an arc, and it bends towards Jesus. One day, we will stand before Him and the books will be open. In that day, will you find your name written in the Book of Life? Malachi 3:13–18

God’s Perspective and Our Anxiety

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 09:00:00 CDT

We live in anxious times; it’s a world of worry out there. Are you struggling to sleep at night due to anxiety? Are you fearful of what may happen in the future? Psalm 127:1–2 is a beautiful reminder of how God’s beloved children can find peace from a world full of worry. In this sermon, we’ll discover that our ability to experience the peace of Christ in our lives is dependent on our ability to trust Him in all circumstances. 5 Practical takeaways for God’s beloved: how do we allow God to keep and build our lives on solid foundations? Communion with God. Time in God’s Word. Community with God’s people. Seek God’s perspective. Rest in God’s sovereignty. True rest in an anxious world is seeing the very real possibility of our worst fears right around the corner and know that the God who calls you His beloved is sovereign over it all. Psalm 127:1–2

Robbing God

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 09:00:00 CDT

What does the Bible say about money and possession? There are approximately 2,350 passages about those topics in Scripture. By contrast, faith and prayer receive about 500 passages each. So, the Bible talks about money and possessions more than twice as much as the topics of faith and prayer combined. Now, why would that be? In this sermon, we’re going to see why God invests so much time and energy teaching us how to have a spiritually healthy relationship with our money and our possessions. And to do so, we’ll turn to Malachi 3, to one of the classic passages on money in all the Bible. In Malachi 3:6–12, the Lord and the people go back and forth with one another in dispute. It’s quite clear in this passage that the people of God are spiritually unwell. So, we’ll approach this passage like a physician in three parts. 1) The Symptoms What are the presenting symptoms of this spiritual malady? The people were being stingy in their tithes and contributions when they come to the temple for worship. Instead of wholehearted, joyous generosity toward God, they’re withholding and tight-fisted. And God says, “you’re robbing me!” What does God mean by tithes and contributions? Under the law, the people of Israel were required to bring north of 40% of their annual income to the Lord. (Note: if you strip away portions there were meant as a tax for the nation of Israel, the law required at a minimum 10% tithe of their annual income, 2% for the priests, and 14% for the Sabbath year, plus the value of the sacrifices. Combined, this contribution comes to around 26% of their annual income.) So, when the Israelites fell on hard times, they became stingy with God. And God says, “You’re robbing me!” Why? Because everything belongs to God; it’s all from His hand. And so, our gifts to Him are a bit ironic, because it’s all His to begin with. As much as our wealth feels like it belongs to us, the reality is God gave it—and so much more—to us. Stinginess robs God of glory, and us of grace. When we gorge ourselves on our wealth, making it all about us, we’re robbing God of glory, we’re robbing our neighbors of good, and we’re robbing ourselves of grace. Instead of the joy of partnering with God in the mending and flourishing of this world, we cave in upon ourselves, and make it all about us. In robbing God, it turns out, we’re also robbing ourselves. 2) The Disease Their stinginess toward God was symptomatic of an underlying disease: they’ve turned aside from the Lord, their hearts have wandered, their devotions has drifted, and their love has grown cold. The reason their treasure wasn’t in the Lord’s temple is because their hearts weren’t there either. Our money always shows us our hearts. Our hearts and our treasure are intertwined. 3) The Prescription Gods says to Israel that if they bring the full tithe to the storehouse (temple), He will pour out a list of blessings on them. Now, these blessings are clearly flowing out of the covenant God made with the people of Israel through Moses, where covenant obedience meant covenant blessings, and covenant disobedience meant covenant curse. We can’t claim these promises directly for ourselves or for our nation today. But, here’s a principle here we shouldn’t miss: God always blesses obedience. Not only does our treasure reveal our hearts, but our treasure also leads our hearts as well. When we invest our money into something, we begin to care about it. Our hearts follow our treasure. Do you want to grow to love God more and more? To love your neighbor as yourself? This passage tells us… Lead your heart with faith-filled, joyous, proportionate, lavish generosity. What’s a good baseline? 10% of your income is a great place to start, because it’s just high enough to make you confront your idols and self-worship. It’s just enough to get your heart moving in the right direction. Takeaway: “Return to me, and I will return to you.” Malachi 3:6–12

Relinquishing Righteousness

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 09:00:00 CDT

One the of hardest moments for those of us who are trying to live God’s way comes when those who couldn’t care less about God’s way end up coming out ahead in life. What’s the point in righteous living, if the unrighteous are the ones getting ahead in life? That’s exactly where God’s people were in Malachi’s day. They’d come back from exile with fervor and resolve to dedicate themselves to living for God. But things didn’t turn out like they’d hoped. It seemed like the ungodly nations around them were prospering, and God kept letting them get away with it! And so, they began to give up hope that living God’s way was worth it. Why lead a godly life, when the ungodly seem to be the ones getting ahead? It’s not just God’s people in Malachi’s day who need an answer to this question. We need to hear God’s voice on this issue as well. In this sermon from Malachi 2:17–3:5, we’ll explore three main points: 1) Wearisome Waiting Today’s mercies do not negate tomorrow’s justice. Just because we are bearing with patience the sins of this world… doesn’t mean justice will never come. Justice is calling and His name is Jesus. For the God of justice shall come to His own. And the great and awesome day of the Lord will be at hand. And when He shows up, His will be a purifying presence. 2) Purifying Presence Messiah will purify the heart of covenant worship. When the Lord comes, He shall purify His temple, the priesthood, and the offerings. No more defiled sacrifices. No more faithless priests. No more corrupt worship. This is why when Jesus cleanses the temple in Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 2 it is a massively big deal. Jesus walks into the temple like he owns the place and starts setting things to rights. He comes suddenly to his temple! Like a refiner’s fire…blazing and consuming. Like a fullers’ soap…caustic and cleansing. He comes to purify the heart of covenant worship. It was all foretold right here in Malachi! And on the heels of his Purifying Presence will come His jarring justice. 3) Jarring Justice In Jesus, God ended evil without ending us. And Malachi is hinting at the day when… The Lord will end injustice without ending us. God found a way to purge the dross of our injustice and keep us for Himself as gold. In Jesus, God found a way to scourge the stain of our sin and keep us for Himself as a garment clean and whole. Takeaway: Our only hope to stand in Christ alone.Malachi 2:17–3:6

Abandoning Covenants

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 09:00:00 CDT

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment in all the Law and the Prophets was, He gave a two-fold answer: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, AND love your neighbor as yourself.” Because if we love God rightly, we will love our neighbor; and a failure to love our neighbor is a failure to love God. This answer sums up the Law and the Prophets. And one of those Old Testament prophets was Malachi, whose book we’ve been studying in this series. Thus far we’ve seen how Malachi has called out God’s people for their failure to love God (the vertical axis). In Malachi 2:10–16, Malachi is going to turn his attention to the horizonal axis—about the relationship we have to one another—because the Israelites failed to love one another well. And in this 3rd of 6 disputes in the book, Malachi’s focus is on how the men of Israel failed to be faithful to their wives. They were faithless toward God and faithless toward their wives. This sermon has three parts: 1) Faithless Betrayal The Israelites were breaking faith with their wives and God. Not only were they abandoning their covenant with their wife as they divorced, but they were also abandoning their covenant with God as they welcomed idolatry into their homes, and they were trashing their own marriage covenants and the covenant of God Himself. But the problem ran even deeper than their faithless betrayal. All of this is arising from their fragmented hearts. 2) Fragmented Hearts Our spiritual lives cannot be compartmentalized. God insists on our integrity, our wholeness. All of life is under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Nothing is outside His domain. He wants our whole heart, not just a piece of it. He wants our full devotion. 3) Full Devotion God calls us to wholehearted covenant-love. Because there’s nothing God loves to do more than to take all the broken fragments of our lives and start making us whole, so that we can begin to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves. But there is a catch. To be whole, we must give Him our whole selves. Takeaway: We will never be whole until we are wholly His. It will not do to give God only a part of our selves. Jesus gave His whole self for you. Won’t you give your whole self to Him? Malachi 2:10–16

Misleading Ministers

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 09:00:00 CDT

The slide into spiritual disintegration doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a steady slide over time. Have you ever wondered how the priests and teachers of the law got so far off spiritually that they couldn’t even see their Messiah, the Son of God, when He was standing right there in front of them? The spiritual decay of the priesthood went back centuries. Even as far back as the Book of Malachi, over 400 years before Jesus, the spiritual rot was already deep and widespread. And so, God had sent prophet after prophet to call them back to repentance, only to be ignored time and time again. So now, in His mercy, God sends Malachi to give them one final warning with language designed to shock them and call them back from the edge of spiritual decay and disaster. This sermon looks at the second half of the second dispute in the book of Malachi. It divides the discourse neatly into three sections: 1) The Curse The priests are in danger of losing their ministry. If they don’t course correct, all the blessings they enjoy in ministry will be taken away,just like the offal that’s taken away outside the city and cursed in the fire. Because there is nothing in their worship that is pleasing to the Lord. 2) The Covenant The priests have corrupted the essence of their calling. They neglected their walk with God. They distorted the teaching of the Word. They are calloused in their prayers of intercession. They corrupted the sacrificial offerings. The very heart of their priestly ministry was compromised. And now, like a prosecuting attorney, God will bring the charge. 3) The Charge The priests have led the people astray with platitudes. They told people what they wanted to hear, and in so doing, feared people more than they feared God. The priests thought they were being loving by sparing people’s feelings with their sugar-coated half-truths. But it only led them away from God’s life and peace, and there’s ultimately nothing loving about that. And so, God said that He would make the priests despised and abased before all the people of Israel. Takeaway: We need the truth, the whole truth, and nothing by the truth…so help us God! The truth is, we owe God everything. He made us. He gave us life, breath, and everything else. We owe our all to Him. But we have failed to worship Him as we ought. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We’ve all failed to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We’ve all failed to love our neighbor as ourselves. But God, in his great mercy, sent his Son Jesus. The bad news of our sin makes way for the good news of our salvation! Tough love gives us the bad news we’d prefer to ignore. Tender mercies give us the good news we find it hard to believe! Malach 2:1–9

Withholding in Worship

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 09:00:00 CDT

The Book of Malachi is full of warnings that seem harsh at first but are actually filled with loving-concern to pull God’s people back from the edge of danger. Because although the people of Israel had come back from the exile eager to rededicate themselves to God, it wasn’t long before their fervor began to fade. They tired of waiting on God’s promises and fell into a kind of spiritual rut. They were doing the right religious things, but their hearts weren’t in it anymore. Can you relate? The Book of Malachi is shouting to us today: “Get back! There’s danger lurking right in front of you. You may not see it, but it’s there. Get back to safety, while you can.” In this passage, we see Malachi calling the people of God back from the precipice of withholding themselves in worship. There are three elements that we find in this passage: 1) Cavalier Worship At the beginning of the discourse, the Heavenly Father says, “Do you not owe me both honor and fear?” Now the word for “honor” here carries the idea of weightiness, heaviness, and glory. It indicates that God deserves to be the heavyweight in our lives, the One who matters above all. And the word for “fear” here carries the idea, not of cowering, but of reverential awe and trembling adoration. God deserves our reverential awe, the One before whom we tremble. The people of Israel neither honored nor feared God in worship as they should. They withheld their best worship from God, and their hearts were not in it. We dishonor God when we withhold our first and best. If you are concerned about your heart’s orientation to worship, ask this: is worship and delight or a drudgery? 2) Cursed Religion Cavalier worship leads to cursed religion. That sounds like overly strong language, but it’s God’s language in this passage. Why? God will receive the worship that is due His name. All peoples everywhere shall worship before Him. People from every nation, tribe, people, language, and tongue shall sing out my praise. And the warning from Malachi to Israel is clear: if Israel doesn’t return to a heart of worship, God will to the Gentiles and the nations who will worship Him. 400 years after Malachi wrote these words, that’s exactly what happened. In all the cavalier worship resulting in cursed religion, Israel had forgotten God’s compelling greatness. The potential consequences are enormous. 3) Compelling Greatness Israel forgot who they were and who God is. And all through this passage, God is reminding them of His compelling greatness in five images: Father, Master, Ruler, Commander, and Great King. All these images are designed to encourage Israel to: come back to the honor of the great name of the LORD. Takeaway: How will I give God my first and best? God gave us His first and best when He gave us Jesus. In view of that mercy, how can we not offer ourselves as living sacrifices? Malachi 1:6–14

Doubting God’s Love

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 09:00:00 CDT

The central theme of the book Malachi is found in 3:7, “Return to Me and I will return to you.” As people whose hearts are prone to wander, whose religion can become performance, we need the message of Malachi to comprehend God’s tough love and tender mercies for our doubting hearts. There are six disputes outlined in the book. In this sermon, we’ll explore the first dispute between Israel and God. And in these opening verses from Malachi 1, we find three things: 1) Weighty Concerns Malachi—whose Hebrew name means “my messenger”—begins his prophecy with these words: The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. Now the word translated as “oracle” here is literally in Hebrew the word for “burden.” These are weighty words from a heart heavy with care for a people whose souls weigh upon him. Malachi feels the weight of his responsibility. His concern for his people lies heavy upon his heart. The care of souls is a heavy burden. Aren’t you grateful for those who have loved you enough to burden themselves with the care of your soul? Aren’t you thankful for people who love you enough to speak heavy truths into your life? We desperately need people like Malachi who will faithfully bring the burden of the word of the Lord to the people whose souls weigh heavily upon their hearts. 2) Wary Hearts The people of Israel express frustration at the promises of God. They feel like the fulfillment of God’s promises are taking forever. They are doubting God’s love. They’re skeptical that He’s really for them. And so, they’re holding back in self-protection, wary of entrusting their hearts to God. Our hearts grow wary in the waiting. When the life we dreamed of fails to materialize, when God’s promises seem slow in coming true, and when hope feels out of reach, it’s easy to grow wary and doubt God’s goodness, power, and love. Have you ever been there? Sometimes things can seem so dark and confusing and hopeless that we begin to wonder if God really does love us after all. 3) Wonderous LoveMalachi had a weighty concern for the wary hearts of the people of Israel. Which is why he felt compelled to remind them of God’s wonderous love for them. God is forever faithful to His chosen ones. Friends, it’s hard to see it, but God’s love for you is bigger than your cancer diagnosis, God’s love for you is greater than your job loss, God’s love for you is wider than your relational disappointments, and God’s love for you is deeper than your financial losses. It’s bigger than anything! And if we focus on all our disappointed dreams, like Israel did, we’ll end up feeling miserably unloved, falsely assuming God only loves us if everything in life goes our way. But if instead we focus on His graces along the way, in the good times and the bad, His goodness and mercy following us all the days of our lives, faithfully bearing us into the glories He’s preparing for us in His redemptive love, it’s worth it in the end, because through it all, we’re getting more of Him! In life we can dwell on the gaps or the graces. If we dwell on the gaps, we’ll begin to doubt His love. If we dwell on the graces, we’ll learn to trust His love. Takeaway: Remember, you are loved, more than you know! Malachi 1:1–5

Soul Music

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 09:00:00 CDT

Why should we read the Psalms? Music enhances worship, and music helps us memorize the eternal truths of God. Psalm 103 teaches us how to praise in all seasons and for all reasons. When it comes to the issue of praise, authentic praise requires our all, not lip service. In this sermon, we explore five reasons why should we praise God:God heals our disease God forgives our sin God redeems our lives God crowns us with love God satisfies our souls with good. Takeaway: Above all, we praise God because He is holy! Psalm 103

Rebuilding Broken Trust

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 09:00:00 CDT

Do you struggle with honest doubts about the Christian faith? Have you ever wondered what's the payoff for living a life of faith compared to the secular world? In this sermon, we explore Asaph's doubts from Psalm 73. Asaph was a musician who almost lost his faith; we would say he almost “deconstructed.” But he came out the other side spiritually stronger. Asaph gives three reasons for his doubts, but also explains three mistakes he had made when entertaining those doubts. 1) Asaph explains his doubts (v. 1–15). Three doubts Asaph had:The wicked are wealthier than he was. The wicked are healthier than he was. The wicked seems to enjoy life more than he did. 2) Asaph was kept from "deconstructing" when he realized his mistakes (v. 16–28). Three mistakes Asaph made:He had overestimated the wealth of the ungodly. He had underestimated his own wealth. He had been swept away by how he felt, not by what he knew to be true. Takeaway: Come to God with your doubts; think life through to the very end. The only thing that really matters is what matters forever. Psalm 73

I Am Who I Am

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 09:00:00 CDT

If you want to properly study what it means to be a Christian, you need to study God. As Charles Spurgeon once preached in 1855, “The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy which can ever engage the attention of a child of God is the name, the nature, the Person, the work, the doings and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father.” And so, in this sermon, we contemplate our great God from Exodus 3:13–15. In this passage, we find a dialogue between Moses and God that reveals some amazing attributes about who God is and what our response should be to Him. 1) What was God trying to communicate about Himself to Moses (and us) when He described Himself as "I AM WHO I AM" and "I AM"?The Lord was communicating that He is The Lord was communicating that He is The Lord was communicating that He is The Lord was communicating that He is 2) What are three implications of this massive reality that God is "I AM WHO I AM" and "I AM"?Jesus Christ is the I AM come to Earth in human flesh (John 8:58–59). Because God is the I AM, He alone has the power to save sinners from their sin and its consequences. Because God is the I AM, He alone is able to satisfy the deepest longings of your heart and soul. Takeaway: God loves you so much that he made you for the highest good in the universe: to know, worship, praise, and delight in Him, your great I AM, infinite in goodness and greatness. Exodus 3:13–15

Own It! The Pathway to Becoming a Faithful Servant

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 09:00:00 CDT

When something doesn’t work out the way we expect, we ask, “what went wrong?” In the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25:14–30, we consider what went wrong with the servant who squandered their single talent, and how they could go from being a wicked and slothful server to a good and faithful servant. In this parable, we find Jesus describing a man going away and leaving his property to be managed by his servants. Jesus tells us that each servant received according to their ability. The first received 5 talents, the second 2 talents, and the third 1 talent. When the master returned, he called the servants and asked for a report of how they managed what his property. The servant with 5 talents, made 5 more talents. The servant with 2 likewise made 2 more talent. But the servant with one talent only manage to bring forward a dusty talent that he hid in the ground. While the first two are welcomed into the joy of their master, the third is kicked out into darkness and despair. So, what happened? What should the 1-talent servant have done differently? “He should just own it!” 1)Own the Relationship with the Master Acknowledge that Jesus is the Master. He is a loving and gracious Savior, but also a just a powerful Master. As servants of the Master, we must acknowledge both aspects of His nature. To fully experience Jesus, you need to own your relationship with Jesus as Master and Savior. 2) Own the Revelation of the MasterThe faithful servant acts on the knowledge of the will of the master. What is a talent? It’s not ability or skill; it’s a measure of weight. In the New Testament, the talent was the largest named quantity of money, worth about twenty year’s wages. In the context of the parable, Jesus is equating the revelation of God with the talent. What we do with that knowledge is of incredible consequence. 3) Own the Returns for the Master The faithful servant looks for growth and applies what he has received. The Master holds the servant responsible for what he knows and what he does with the knowledge. What does the Master expect? To grow it and to invest it. Every person will be responsible for what they did with the amount of revelation they received. We will have to give an account for what we did with Jesus. Takeaway: What kind of servant are you? Have you owned the treasure of the Gospel that has been deposited in you? Matthew 23:14–30

Standing Firm

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 09:00:00 CDT

As Paul wraps up his letter to the Ephesians, he gives one final charge to stand firm in the faith. And to do so, he uses the imagery of a Roman soldier armed for battle as an analogy of spiritual armament. In this sermon, we’ll explore what the Armor of God is all about. 1) The Reason for the Armor We need the Armor of God because we are embroiled in a spiritual battle. The Bible tells us supernatural evil does exist, and his operations are far more subtle than we might expect. The evil one, Satan, is the father of lies, and he uses lies to leave a mark on our soul. Satan lies to over-inflate or deflate us. And both lies serve the same purpose: to drive us away from God. The only way we can stand firm against the lies of the devil are with the Armor of God. But how does the armor work? 2) The Function of the Armor We are armored with Gospel identity. We have truth as your base layer protection against the lies of the evil one. Remember the truth of the Gospel: we are far more sinful that we ever dared realize, yet in Christ Jesus, we are far more loved than we ever dared hope. The truth of the Gospel is our base layer of humble courage, our foundational protection against the lies of Satan. 3) The Source of the Armor We are clad in the armament of God’s own character. The forces of darkness cannot touch us because we are covered by the flawless character of God Himself. The Divine Warrior has clad His people in His own armor. Which means, Satan has no power over you. Christ disarmed Himself before the enemy, that He might arm us forever against the enemy.Rather than keeping the armor for Himself, so that evil couldn’t touch Him, Jesus shed his armor and hung naked on the cross, allowing evil to pierce him through so that we might be forever protected by His flawless character from the schemes and lies of the evil one. Takeaway: Stand firm in your Gospel identity.All of this Armor is already yours in Christ. So, act like yourself. Stand firm in your Gospel identity. Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Ephesians 6:10–24

The Gospel at Work and Home

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 09:00:00 CDT

The Gospel shapes all of life. The Gospel doesn’t just matter on Sundays, the Gospel matters ALL days. It saturates and permeates and consecrates every facet of our lives. And to illustrate how the Gospel shapes all of life, Paul then goes to the heart of where most people do life: at work and at home. And Paul says, let me show you how the Gospel radically transforms those everyday relationships! In Ephesians 6:1–9, we’ll explore eight principals for these relationships, two for each party in our text: supervisors and employees, and parents and children. 1) The Gospel at Work: Supervisors and EmployeesPrinciple #1 for Supervisors: Leadership is about service. If you’re in management, a landlord, an owner, or a boss, as a follower of Jesus you’re there to serve. Remember, Jesus made Himself the servant of all when He washed His disciples’ feet. Leadership is NOT about privilege. It’s about service. And no matter how high you go, no matter how big your office, no matter what circles you run in, you always have a Boss: Jesus is your Master.Principle #2 for Supervisors: You both report to Jesus.There’s no partiality with Him who is both their Master and yours who is in heaven. On the heavenly org-chart, supervisors and employees are both direct-reports of Jesus. For supervisors, work is a place to live out our discipleship of Jesus as we become more like Him! Principle #3 for Employees: Christ dignifies all work.Whatever you do, it’s worth doing because it’s for Jesus. You may not think your job is all that meaningful, but Jesus values it. He sees the effort, creativity, and care you put into it. He sees what goes unnoticed, and He’ll reward you for every faithful investment.Principle #4 for Employees: Your boss is not your Boss.Paul says “obey” our boss not because our masters are good, or nice, or easy to get along with, or compensate us well. He says “obey” because, ultimately, we’re working for Christ. For employees, work is a place to live out our discipleship of Jesus as we become more like Him! 2) The Gospel at Home: Parents and ChildrenPrinciple #5 for Parents: Your children need nurture.Your children are real people with real desires and real hopes and real dreams and real needs and real emotions. To nurture them, you must know them to adapt to their own individual needs. Your Heavenly Father nurtures and cares for you as His beloved child—that’s how you’re to care for your own children as well. Principle #6 for Parents: Your children need training.If you’re to “bring them up” – raise them to be mature adults and disciples of Jesus – it’s not enough to nurture and love on your children. They must be trained, instructed, and admonished. But how do you do that in a way that doesn’t provoke them to constant anger? Love them in their main love language. Discipline in their secondary love languages. For parents, home is a place to live out our discipleship of Jesus as we become more like Him! Principle #7 for Children: Learn obedience at home.Your obedience to your parents is a part of your discipleship to Jesus. As you learn to obey your parents, God is softening you to His own instruction. And as your obedience muscle grows, it will help you thrive in your walk with Christ. Principle #8 for Children: Choose to give honor.We grow out of the command to obey our parents as we become adults, but we never out-grow the command to honor them. In love, Christ honored us when we didn’t deserve it. Now He calls us to honor one another. For children, home is a place to live out our discipleship of Jesus as we become more like Him! Takeaway: Your relationship with God changes all your other relationships.For Believers, work and home are the places we live out our discipleship of Jesus as we become more like Him! Because our relationship with God changes all our other relationships. Ephesians 6:1–9

How To Be The Church

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 3: 1–18, we explore Paul’s admonition to the church in Corinth to “be the church.” Paul’s intention is to push back against growing disunity and immaturity taking place within the congregation. A church is a people, not a building, but there are good churches and bad churches. Many of us don’t exactly know why a church is a good church or bad church. We lack the language to identify what the intangible quality is that we intuitively know is off. In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he is writing to a church that he planted, but whose leaders started to think that they’ve outgrown the Gospel foundation Paul laid. The Corinthian leaders were convinced that they had found a higher wisdom, a more spiritual & practical way to live. And yet, because they were abandoning the Gospel, they were abandoning the only thing that can hold a bunch of sinners together: their unity. The church at Corinth was beginning to look like the world outside the church.And if the inside of the church looks, thinks, acts like the world outside, the church is going to develop the same soul crushing problems as the outside world. If the church stops being the church, it becomes irrelevant. What does Paul suggest that a church need to stay true to the Gospel and remain relevant? 1) Personal Maturity: The only way we can handle the “good stuff.” Personal maturity is important to be able to enjoy the gift of the church. But Paul wants the Corinthian church that their maturity isn’t developing because they are divided. 2) United by Humility: The only way we can go from “me” to “we.” Humility is critical to the unity of the church if we are ever going to go from “me” to “we.” If the members of the church aren’t united in humility, the church won’t hold together. 3) Corporate Mission to Be the Temple: The only way we can truly “be the church.” If we are to properly build a church, Paul is telling us that we must recognize we have a shared mission. All of us together, when we are assembled, are meant to be God’s temple! We have a shared mission to BE THE CHURCH, to be the place where God’s love is felt more powerfully, where God’s truth is proclaimed, where broken people can come and find true rest, where people tossed about by the storms of this world can find true peace, purpose, and joy. If we are holding on to reasons to divide from one another, we don’t stand a chance at accomplishing this mission. We must be reconciled to one another. Takeaway: If the church stops being the church, it becomes irrelevant. 1 Corinthians 3:1–18

Sacred Marriage

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In chapter 5 of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul has been exploring the implications of the Gospel for every facet of our Christian lives, he lays out the Christian understanding of marriage. The Christian understanding of marriage is radically different from the understanding of marriage found in both traditional and modern cultures. In Traditional Culture (most of world history, and much of the global population still today) marriage is primarily understood through the lens of societal stability. In Modern Culture (here in the West), marriage is primarily understood through the lens of personal fulfillment. But the Christian understanding of marriage is radically different from both Traditional and Modern understandings of marriage because it blazes its own unique trail. And there’s no better place to see that in that in Ephesians 5:22-33. 1) The Shape of Christian Marriage: Patterned after Christ’s Covenant Devotion This passage is the most extensive treatment about marriage in the Bible, and what’s remarkable is how little here is actually about human marriage. Of the 215 words here in English, only 100 are about human marriage. The majority of this passage is about Jesus Christ and His covenant love for his bride, the Church. The commands to husbands and wives are patterned after Christ and the Church. Paul is saying that marriage points beyond the earthly and physical to the cosmic and spiritual. Marriage is designed to be a mirror that reflects the covenant devotion of Christ Himself. Or better yet, marriage is intended to be a window through which we can glimpse the love of God. From the very beginning, the unity-in-diversity and self-giving union of marriage was designed to reflect the unity-in-diversity and self-giving union of the Triune God. Theologians describe the interior life of the Triune God with the word perichoresis – the dance of mutual indwelling, self-giving love. The two-in-one dance of human marriage reflects the Three-in-One dance of the Triune God. And finally, marriage reflects the overflow of Christ’s redeeming covenant love for His bride, the Church. Paul is telling us that for Christians, the primary lens through which we understand marriage isn’t societal stability or personal fulfillment (those are valid but secondary lenses). The primary lens is theological: marriage is about God and the Gospel. 2) The Calling of Christian Marriage: Imitation of Christ through Love and Submission In light of this soaring theological vision for marriage, Paul now gives husbands and wives some specific callings, woven all throughout the text. Paul starts with instructions for the husbands. Husbands, God has given you a position of leadership… but it is not for your benefit. You have been given leadership so that you might be first to serve and sacrifice for your wife. Husbands, you will be the first one to stand before God and answer for how you led your wife in loving, sacrificial self-giving. For wives the calling is to respectfully submit in self-giving love. Respectfully submit in self-giving love just like Jesus submitted Himself to the Father and submitted his own needs to yours, putting you first, in His sacrificial love. Lay down your life in love for him. In many ways, love and submission are two sides of the same coin. Love says, “You go first.” Submission says, “I’ll go last.” A Christian marriage is one in which both husband and wife everyday seek to outdo one another in sacrificial love. 3) The Purpose of Christian Marriage: Growing in Holiness to Reveal Christ Spiritual transformation that lies at the very heart of this passage on marriage. Marriage is a vehicle of Christ’s transforming work. It is a pressure-cooker in which Christ is preparing us for Himself. Marriage is less about happiness and more about holiness. Jesus is in the business of making us like Himself, in order that he might present us to himself as his bride in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing that we might be holy and without blemish. And in Christian marriage you’ve got to catch that vision! Christian marriage is less about happiness and more about holiness. It’s about shining the Gospel love of Christ to each other and to the world. It’s about helping each other get ready to marry Jesus. Takeaway: These fragile and momentary marriages are pointing to the ultimate everlasting Marriage.Marriage isn’t for everyone. Singleness isn’t for everyone. But standing before Jesus, radiant and in splendor is for every one of God’s children. The Bible upholds the value of both singleness and marriage as a means of showcasing the love of Christ as we grow in holiness by the Spirit until the day we fall into His everlasting arms. As marriage displays the covenant-nature of His love, singleness displays the all-sufficiency of His love. Ephesians 5:22-33

Children of Light

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 09:00:00 CDT

There’s tremendous power in the quiet, organic, incremental, growth of the life of God planted in us. When the seed of the Gospel is planted within us, as the Father redeems us in the Son by the power of the Spirit, the new life of God starts growing within us. And we may not notice the growth as it’s happening, because we’re too close it, but over time we may begin to see some of it. The change that God intends to bring into our lives isn’t superficial: it goes down deep to the very heart of who we are, and it stretches wide to encompass all that we are. It is the complete and utter transformation of our entire being into becoming like Christ in every way. Which means everything must change. That’s exactly what the Apostle Paul has been calling us to in the second half of Ephesians. And in Ephesians 5:1–21, Paul shows us just how comprehensive this life-transformation is. God intends to transform every dimension of our being. In this passage, we have 3-dimensional transformation: 1) Upward: Be Imitators of God If you want to imitate God, you must walk in love, give yourself away, sacrifice for others, and offer your life unto God’s good pleasure. But how? How can self-centered, self-absorbed, self-obsessed, self-protective people like us find the power to imitate God in following Jesus? The Father in our pattern, the Son is our path, and the Spirit is our power. All three members of the One Triune God are essential in our transformation. 2) Outward: Be Children of Light If we are imitating God as His beloved children, following the way of Jesus through the filling of the Spirit, that upward transformation should result in an outward transformation as well. This outward transformation affects our spiritual orientation to money, sex, and power. The way the world pursues money, sex, and power is incompatible with your new life as beloved children of God. As imitators of God and children of the light, our relationship with money, sex, and power are being radically transformed into radical generosity, holy sexuality, and sacrificial service. 3) Inward: Filled with the Spirit Our upward transformation as children of God ought to lead to an outward transformation as children of light. But how? This process occurs through the inward transformation that comes from being filled with the Spirit. The will of the Lord is that we be filled with the Spirit, that we be under the Spirit’s influence. Instead of being enslaved to our inordinate desires, running endlessly after money, sex, and power, we now follow the desires of the Spirit. We are transformed under the influence of the Spirit. But you having the Spirit isn’t the same as the Spirit having you. To be filled by the Spirit is to come under His transforming influence. It means handing over your whole self and holding nothing back. Takeaway: The key to Spirit-filled living is found in surrender. The deep, comprehensive, transformational change we need is beyond our doing. Only God can change us. Our job is to stay in position: be filled with the Spirit, so we can be imitators of God, and then live as children of light. Ephesians 5:1–21

Is God the Supreme Treasure of Your Soul?

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus tells two short parables the church historically calls “The Parable of the Treasure Hidden in the Field” and “The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value.” This sermon explores three questions about the parables: 1) What is the kingdom of heaven? The Kingdom of Heaven in the same way exists everywhere God’s rule exists. In the broad sense, of course, God rules the whole universe, so in that broad sense, the whole universe is His Kingdom. However, in the narrower sense Jesus intends in Matthew 13, God mainly rules in the hearts of those who are his people by His grace through Jesus Christ the Son. At this point in history, God’s Kingdom is mainly His sovereign rule in the hearts of his people. The Scriptures promise that one day Jesus will rule visibly on earth, but for now God’s Kingdom is His mainly invisible rule in the hearts of Jesus’ disciples. 2) Why is the kingdom of heaven of inestimable value? The content of eternal life is not mainly living forever; the content of eternal life is knowing God, that is, seeing and knowing and enjoying God forever. Jesus meant in these two parables that God is the treasure hidden in the field; God is the pearl of great value! As the fourth-century church leader Gregory of Nyssa so wonderfully put it: [God] is the one who distributes the inheritance, he himself is the good inheritance. He is the good portion and the giver of the portion. He is the one who makes riches and is himself the riches. He shows you the treasure and is himself your treasure. 3) Why should we give up everything to gain the kingdom of heaven? Jesus does not mean anyone can buy his or her way into the Kingdom of Heaven. In that sense, of course, we give up nothing to gain the Kingdom, because it was Jesus who did everything necessary to give us the Kingdom. Instead, Jesus had two things in mind. For one, giving up everything to gain the Kingdom means giving up all efforts to try and make yourself right with God by means of good works, even religious good works. Second, giving up everything means not only surrendering every effort to make myself right with God but also surrendering the rule of my life. Takeaway: By the grace of the Holy Spirit, go hard after God, pursuing Him for all that He is for you in Jesus Christ. Do it because God is the Treasure hidden in the field; He is the pearl of great value! Matthew 13:44-46

New Life

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 09:00:00 CDT

“In God’s family, we choose to live differently.” That’s pretty much what Paul is saying in Ephesians 4. Now that we’re alive as sons and daughters of God, now that we’re members of His family, the house rules have changed. This new family doesn’t live like other families do. It’s all different.1) The Old: Paul describes the old self—this Gentile lifestyle—as “corrupt through deceitful desires.” It’s a desire-driven way of life, living to gratify our appetites. But notice, those desires are deceitful, because they never deliver what they promise. And they are corrupting—they twist and dehumanize us the more we give into them. Paul says that kind of living messes up our thinking, calling it the “futility of mind.” Paul is describing what moral philosophers call “Akrasia.” What the heart desires, the will embraces, the mind rationalizes, and the conscience justifies. Paul’s whole point is that we cannot keep living the way we used to.2) The New: Paul uses two images to describe our new way of living: a classroom and a wardrobe. Your new self is created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.It’s God’s own signature style. It’s a look that He created and wears Himself. And He’s clothing you in His own image and likeness. You are His sons and daughters after all, part of the family. So, it’s fitting that you would dress the part. And at the heart of this “putting off” and “putting on” is to “be renewed in the spirit of your minds” We are to put off the old self and put on the new self, as we actively receive the ongoing Spirit-led renewal of our minds. Paul is describing spiritual transformation, not behavior modification. As we open ourselves up to the Spirit, following His lead, obeying His call, surrendering to Jis will, we are putting off the old self and putting on the new self. When we keep in step with the Spirit, those old gentile rags just don’t fit right, and our new godly threads start to become increasingly comfortable. We feel more at home in them day by day. as we grow into the people we were always meant to be. We have a whole new life to live into.3) The Change: Paul now gives 5 examples of what this Spirit-led renewal looks like as we put off the old and put on the new.Put off lying and instead put on truth. Put off sinful, festering, sustained anger, and instead put on daily reconciliation. Put off stealing, and instead put on honest work. Put off corrupting talk—caustic words that tear down—and put on instead constructive, edifying, situationally wise speech. Put off bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, malice, and relational ugliness—and put on kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. What does it mean to be imitators of God? “Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” We have the Father to imitate, and the Son to follow, and the Spirit urging us to new life. We have everything we need for life and godliness.Takeaway: In God’s family, we choose to live differently.Ephesians 4:17–5:2

Together We Grow

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 09:00:00 CDT

The second half of Ephesians is about how God means us to live now that we are His children. Who we are shapes what we do. This passage from Ephesians 4:1–16 is about growing up. It’s about who we’ll be when we’re all grown up in Christ, and it shows us how we’ll get from here to there. This sermon centers on three themes: 1) Unity The hinge of the letter to the Ephesians is this: “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” You’ve been called into God’s salvation and family as His sons and daughters, so live like it! Let your identity become your living. Let your being shape your behaving. Let who you are flow into what you do. Act like the person you already are in Jesus Christ. Now, what would that look like? Four traits to pursue as members the family of God: humility, gentleness, patience, and loving forbearance. We are united in Christ’s body. We aren’t called to create this unity because God has already done that. But we are called to maintain unity. What does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called? It means living out the very character of Christ with and toward one another, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It means unity. 2) Diversity The unity of the body of Christ isn’t uniformity. Uniformity means everyone is exactly alike. But in the body of Christ, everyone is different. And yet, we’re all united in Christ. There’s unity-in-diversity. We are diverse in Christ’s gifting. You are a uniquely gifted conduit of Christ’s grace for those around you. When you show up, grace pours out. We’ll never be all that Christ wants us to be unless you’re present. 3) Maturity The reason Christ is giving all these gifted people to His church as pipelines of His grace is in order that we might grow to full maturity, so that together we might become like Christ. We are maturing in Christ’s fullness. God has the audacious aim of making us like Jesus in every way. And if that is the case, we have a lot of transformation to undergo. To grow in maturity in the fullness of Christ, we must learn to “speak the truth in love” with one another.Takeaway: God grows us by grace through one another. So, what does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called? It means eagerly maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It means eagerly contributing our diverse gifting for the building up of the body of Christ. It means speaking the truth in love with one another that we might mature in the fullness of Christ. Unity through diversity unto maturity. Ephesians 4:1–16

Your Response to the Great Commission and Great Commandment

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 09:00:00 CDT

During Missions Week 2023, guest speaker Rev. Michael Allen challenged us with two passages from Matthew 22:35–39 and Matthew 28:16–20. Pastor Michael Allen currently serves as the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Together Chicago, an organization that catalyzes faith, business, community, and government leaders to inspire hope and affect peace and justice in Chicago communities. Together Chicago (TC) seeks to reduce gun violence and increase thriving communities in our city through five key areas: economic development, educational achievement, violence reduction, gospel justice, and faith-community mobilization. Originally from Jamaica, Pastor Allen immigrated to the USA in 1977 and earned a BA in Biblical Studies and an MDiv with a focus in urban ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Previously, he pastored at The Moody Church (1997-2002), Sagemont Church in Texas (2002-2005), and most recently as the Senior Pastor at Uptown Baptist Church in Chicago (2005-2020). He and his wife Marilza have been blessed with four children.

Missio Dei & Me

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 09:00:00 CDT

For many, the deepest WHY of missions is lacking. The early church understood that EVERYTHING spirals out of our understanding of God—the triune God of the Bible. “...As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you. And with that, he breathed [on them] and said, Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:19–22) As Missio Dei is the expression of God Himself, so Missio Dei is the essential expression of faith in the life of the believer. Historically, what does the phrase Missio Dei describe? 1) Missio Dei is grounded in the Holy Trinity: The Father sends the Son and the Spirit into the world. 2) The triune God’s mission is our mission. He has come, we are called. 3) Missio Dei is a deeply personal invitation: It is the essential expression of faith in the life of the believer. Missio Dei is the intimate, existential divine calling; we are free to say yes or no. Yet obedience to our Lord in self-giving is essential to our being filled with God’s Life. In the end, understanding who God is will define WHY you and I exist, WHO we are as persons, and HOW we may most be fulfilled individually and in relationship to other persons, and above all else to our Creator. John 20:19–22

The Power of Prayer

Sun, 28 May 2023 09:00:00 CDT

The Apostle Paul has been leading us through a grand celebration of the Gospel: in Christ, by grace and through faith, we have been reconciled with God and with one another. We are alive as God’s sons and daughters. We are unified as God’s family, Jews and Gentiles together in this multi-ethnic family of God. All of this is—as Paul puts it in Ephesians 3:11-12—through “Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” And now, having celebrated our bold, confident, access to God through Christ, Paul decides to show us the way as he launches into one of the most powerful prayers recorded in all the Bible. In this sermon, we look at three key points about the power of prayer. 1) The Basis of Prayer: There are two images at the start of the prayer. First, “I bow my knees” is throne room imagery. Second, what’s interesting is Paul says we are bowing before the Father, which is family imagery. This imagery reiterates that now, in Jesus, the blessings of God’s promise to all the nations has come true: God brings salvation to Jews and Gentiles together as one new family by grace through faith in Christ. Our Father loves His multi-ethnic family. So come to Him like you’re wanted, because you are! 2) The Grace of Prayer: In the middle of the prayer, Paul articulates three prayer requests drawing on the imagery of hospitality, botany, and maturation. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are cultivating their abiding life in us. God gives us Himself, to make us like Himself, so he can give us even more of Himself, so we become just like Him! 3) The Confidence of Prayer: How do we know we’re not just wasting our breath? How can we have confidence in our prayers? Our triune God is our hope, now and forever.The Father’s grace. The Spirit’s power. The Son’s love. Our God is doing it all, to the praise of His glory! Takeaway: Pray like your life depends on it—because it does! Prayer is our lifeline to God and our abundant life in Him. Only the Father, Son, and Spirit can take us, this multi-ethnic family, and cultivate their abiding life in us so that we become glorious children of God. Ephesians 3:14-21

The Wonder of the Gospel

Sun, 21 May 2023 09:00:00 CDT

The Apostle Paul is writing the letter to the Ephesians from a Roman prison because the Jews in Jerusalem accused him of fraternizing with Gentiles. And here in Ephesians 3:1-13, Paul tells us it’s worth it! All the sufferings for the Gospel, all the hardship, pain, loss, and imprisonment, every bit of it is worthwhile…because of the wonder of the Gospel. The Gospel story is worth it all! How can this be? We’ll explore three ways that this passage encourages us that the wonder of the Gospel makes it all worthwhile. 1) Spirit’s Mysterious Revelation: The Gospel is God’s plot twist. It’s the mystery hidden in plain sight that one day, in Jesus Christ, the true Son of Abraham, all the families of the earth would be blessed: Gentiles and Jews alike, one new family in Jesus, by grace and through faith. No one saw that coming! 2) Christ’s Unsearchable Riches: What God planned in secret from the dawn of creation and kept hidden until just the right moment, when in Jesus Christ God brought all the loose ends of history together in the greatest “aha” moment of all time! The French call it the dénouement, the part of a story when everything finally makes sense, and all the loose ends are tied off and the plot comes to resolution. The Gospel is God’s dénouement. All the mystery and questions and loose ends come together in perfect resolution as Jesus Christ takes the stage and the Good News is proclaimed to the nations! The hope of Israel, the light to the Gentiles, was always Jesus all along. 3) God’s Cosmic Purpose: There’s a cascade of revelation in this passage. The Spirit revealed this Gospel to Paul the good news that in Christ the Gentiles are included in God’s people. Paul revealed that Good News to the Ephesians of as he preached to them the unsearchable riches of Christ. And as Ephesian Jews and Gentiles believed that Good News and placed their trust in Jesus, this multi-ethnic church came into being. And now through the church God is revealing, making known his manifold wisdom “to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” Now, who are these rulers and authorities? God is making His manifold wisdom known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places—the supernatural cosmic powers (angels and demons)—through His church. The Gospel is God’s triumph.Now here’s what’s amazing: this passage is like a grand crescendo, ending with the cosmic triumph of God before the hosts of heaven. But where does it start? With the Spirit’s revelation of the Gospel to “the very least of all the saints.” God’s cosmic triumph comes through the least of all the saints. God took an ordinary sinner saved by grace to preach the Gospel of Jesus, to form His multi-ethnic church, and to narrate God’s cosmic triumph in the universe!Takeaway: We are enacting God’s wonderous Gospel story!You’ve been invited into the greatest story the world has ever known. You get to be a part of this Good News!Ephesians 3:1-13

One In Christ

Sun, 14 May 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon from Ephesians 2:11-22, we’re going to see the glorious truth of what that salvation means for our relationships with one another. Salvation works on both a vertical and a horizontal axis (like a cross). Salvation reconciles us with God, and it reconciles us with one another. Salvation isn’t just about “I and me…” It’s about “us and we.” Three key points from this passage:1) AlienationThe Gentiles were strangers to God’s covenant blessings, despised by God’s covenant people. In other words, the Jews were “in,” the Gentiles were “out.” Paul says that at one time, those fleshly distinctives mattered, but no longer. 2) Reconciliation Because of what Christ has done, those fleshly distinctions no longer matter. In the wonder of God’s grace, the Gentiles have been welcomed into the new covenant that is in Jesus’ blood! In Christ, God has reconciled Jews and Gentiles to Himself and with one another. 3) Incorporation The same grace that reconciles us with God also reconciles us with one another. And this reconciliation is far more than a ceasefire, it’s a cessation of hostilities, and the beginning of a interdependent and loving multi-ethnic family. We are the Temple of God’s Holy Spirit! And as this multi-ethnic temple is being built up, joined together, Jews and Gentiles are incorporated together. As one Temple, we display the glory of God! God’s glory is revealed through His multi-ethnic church. Takeaway: God has adopted us; now we must adopt one another.Friends, Jesus paid an infinite price to make us family! Don’t let human tribalism destroy the family that God has brought together. God has adopted us; now we must adopt one another. We must learn to love God’s family beyond our natural tribal boundaries. Ephesians 2:11-22

Alive By Grace

Sun, 07 May 2023 09:00:00 CDT

A few years back a friend of mine in Washington State had a near death experience. In God’s mercy, he survived. And I asked him how it had changed his perspective, and this is what he told me: “When you’re a dead man, and God gives you your life back, it means He’s got a purpose for you.” And that’s what Ephesians 2:1-10 is all about: we were dead, but God made us alive, which gives our lives new purpose. 1) Dead The Bible offers a robust understanding for the origin of sin and evil. It arises from three things: human choices, cultural influences, and supernatural oppression. All three are simultaneously at work in a way that doesn’t negate the others.Spiritual death is ravaging our lives, our families, our neighborhoods, our cities, our nation, and out world. And all that brokenness arises from human choice, cultural influences, and supernatural oppression. We need a solution that addresses all three sources of evil at once. But we can’t do it on our own. Apart from grace, we are hopelessly dead. 2) Alive Only God can provide the solution we need: when we were hopelessly dead, God made us alive together with Christ. In God’s mercy, love, and grace, He made us alive together—Jews and Gentiles—with Christ, one new man in Him. And not only that, He raised us to newness of life and seated us in the Heavenly places. Because of grace, we are gloriously alive. 3) Purpose For what purpose has God shown us his mercy, love, and grace in making us alive together with Christ? God made us alive by grace, in order that he might show us more grace! We’re saved by grace and for grace. Grace is the means of our salvation; and grace is the end of our salvation. God’s purpose all along was to make you a new creation in Christ Jesus. And as a new creation we are to walk in newness of life in the good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Through grace, we have transforming purpose.Takeaway: Grace grows godliness. Friends, God has purposed that you will one day stand before Him holy, blameless, and glorious. You will one day see Jesus face-to-face and be transformed into His glorious likeness. Even now, your Father has prepared good works that you might walk in them. And every step of the way is by grace. Ephesians 2:1-10

Our True Selves

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 09:00:00 CDT

Did you know that as a follower of Jesus Christ you have a secret identity? By grace, through faith, in Jesus, you are a son or daughter of God! You are royalty incognito. You are an eternal being hidden in time. You are a Titan in this everyday world. You say, “But I don’t feel or look very much like a Titan…” We think that Titans are supposed to be mighty, skillful, beautiful, and glorious. But, we feel like none of that’s true of us in the moment. Oh, but one day it will be! When we see Jesus face-to-face, we shall be transformed into His likeness: splendid, beautiful, radiant, and glorious. We’ve been given a secret identity! Sons and Daughters of God! To the praise of His glory! How is this even possible? How can it ever come to pass? How do we know our secret identity isn’t just wishful thinking? In Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul shares three ways we can be confident that this secret identity will one day be revealed in glory: 1) Prayer Our growth is grace. Our growth is dependent on the living God who gives generously to His children when they call upon Him in prayer. So, we must pray. We ask, we seek, and we knock, for without grace, there is no growth. 2) Perspectives Our future is glorious. We need the Spirit to reveal the glories of our Father and what those glories mean for us, His sons and daughters. We have so much to look forward to, it’s that eternal perspective that we need to keep in mind. 3) Power Our destiny is grounded. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, and seated Him at the Father’s right hand, and enthroned Him above all, and exalted Him before all, and subjected all things to Him, beginning with the Church and ending with the universe; that same immeasurably great power, God is working toward us who believe. This means that our destiny is grounded. The immeasurably great power of God that defeated sin, that same resurrection power is working your glorious future as well. So, we too have resurrection, ascension, enthronement, and exaltation! Takeaway: We will be our true selves. One day, our secret identity will be revealed for all to see. And we will finally be our true selves: Children of God. Ephesians 1:15-23

To the Praise of His Glory

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 09:00:00 CDT

To be alive in Christ is nothing short of a miracle! And it didn’t just happen; there was a purpose, a plan, and a promise. In fact, as the Apostle Paul is about to tell us in Ephesians 1 all three Persons of the One Triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit—have been collaborating from eternity past to eternity future on this very project of Salvation which is now ours by grace through faith in Christ. It took all of Heaven to work this miracle to make us alive in Christ! And as the Apostle Paul begins his letter to the church in Ephesus, he breaks forth in one of the most beautiful and transcendent choruses of worship to the Triune God who has saved us and made us alive in Christ. And it’s all to the praise of His glory! Paul begins Ephesians 1 with a prayer of blessing that will saturate their minds with the truth of the Gospel and stir up their hearts in the worship of God. In so doing, Paul reminds them (and us) of three things: that we are chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed by the Spirit. 1) Chosen by the Father The Father has chosen you for adoption. He chose you! He picked you! He wanted you! And in making you His son, He’s called you “Beloved.” He’s drawn you to Himself. He’s destined you to be well-pleasing in His sight. You are His from before the dawn of time until beyond the ending of the world and every moment in-between. You are His forever and always. 2) Redeemed by the Son The Son has redeemed you for union. God’s plan all along was to unite you to Christ. So that His life might become your own, and that you might come alive in Him. 3) Sealed by the Spirit The Spirit has sealed you for inheritance. You are branded as God’s very own. You bear His image and likeness. You are adopted as a son. You are sealed by the Spirit.Takeaway: Our Salvation is to the praise of His glory. All God’s saving work is for your good and His glory. Before time began God knew you, loved you, and chose you. He set His affections upon you, and purposed that you would be his child, that you would be with Him, holy and blameless. It’s why He sent you Jesus as your Substitute, your Redeemer, your Savior, your Lord, and your King. It’s why He sealed you with the Spirit—to be his very own possession—as a guarantee of all the glory to come, so that in the end He might share all that He is and all that He has with you. It’s the procurement of your good to the praise of His glory! Ephesians 1:3-14

The Word of His Grace

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 09:00:00 CDT

The letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians is all about what it means to be “Alive in Christ.”Have you ever wondered what it would take to come truly alive? To be alive in Christ is to be abundantly alive forevermore. In this series through Ephesians, we’ll be exploring this topic in detail. The Book of Ephesians begins with a salutation that’s typical of 1st century correspondence. The author, Paul, is identified as writing to the church of Ephesus, the recipients. Paul starts the letter with a greeting: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” And that’s how the letter simply begins. But before we get any further into the letter, we need to first understand a bit of the setting and context of this letter. These are real people, corresponding in the real world, in light of real challenges. 1) Splendid Beginning: The Ephesian church began with Gospel power and transformed lives. They had transitioned from death to life, from darkness to light, from magic arts to following Jesus. Their conversion was dramatic, radical, and decisive. The truth of the Gospel had won their minds, and the love of Jesus had won their hearts. 2) Sobering Warning: The Ephesian church was in danger of losing the truth of the Gospel and the Love of their lives. Paul warns that the church is going to come under attack from fierce wolves from without and from twisted teachers from within who will lead people astray. He implores them to be alert and to pay attention to the direction of the flock. How are they to do this? By holding fast to “the word of his grace.” And so, Paul writes a letter that will turn out to be their sustaining grace. 3) Sustaining Grace: The Ephesian church must hold fast to the truth of the Gospel with all their heart as if their lives depend on it. What’s their secret weapon? The Word of His grace in action: “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” Friends, this is our secret weapon, our only weapon; this is our only and all sufficient guide for faith and godliness. Takeaway: God’s Word is grace. The Scriptures are the nutrients you need to grow healthy, strong, and tall in Christ. The Bible is your secret weapon against false teaching, growing cultural pressures, and with suffering coming for you. Read it. Meditate upon it. Study it. Wrestle with it. Memorize it. Surrender to it. Abide in it. Live in it. Those nutrients will ensure your flourishing. So, take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It’s your only weapon after all. Ephesians 1:1-2

When Jesus Calls Your Name

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 09:00:00 CDT

The resurrection changes everything. But for many people, the resurrection is just a fact until we get the call with the goodness that changes our lives. In this Easter Sunday sermon, we explore 3 vignettes of people when they first discovered the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. The resurrection had already taken place, but these are the three moments when they found out it was real, and it would change their lives forever. 1) Mary’s Encounter: She suffered from severe demonic possession for many years. And it was Jesus who set her free. No one understood her like Jesus; He understood her trauma and pain. He was the one person in the whole world who’d seen her at her worst and lover her just the same. So, when He was crucified and buried, her lifeline to freedom and healing was severed. On resurrection morning, she was weeping and felt alone. But on that morning, she found the tomb empty, and when she met the resurrected Lord, something deep changed inside, and a joy welled up inside her that she couldn’t stop talking about. The resurrection turns sorrow into joy. If the resurrection can turn a Friday crucifixion into the glory of Easter morning, just imagine what Jesus’ resurrection can do for you, your sorrows, your story, and your life? 2) Thomas’ Encounter: Thomas was one of Jesus’ 12 disciples. He had a lot of hopes and dreams of what Jesus might be and do, like restoring Israel to the glory days as her Messiah and King. But all of that came crashing down when Jesus was crucified. On Friday, Thomas’ dreams had died. After the resurrection, Jesus had come and appeared to his disciples in person and shown Himself to them, but Thomas wasn’t there that day. And when the others told him Jesus was alive, he didn’t believe them. But then Jesus shows Himself to Thomas and shows the nail holes and the scars. And, just like that, Thomas goes from someone too afraid to hope to making the boldest statement of worship contained in the Gospel of John: “My Lord and my God!” The resurrection turns fear into faith. If the resurrection can turn Thomas’ fearful skepticism into worshipful faith, if the resurrection can turn the fear of death into the wonder of eternal life, just imagine what Jesus’ resurrection can do for you, for your fears, for your future, and for your life? 3) Peter’s Encounter: Peter was another of Jesus’ disciples. And on the night before Jesus was betrayed, arrested and crucified he’d made some bold pronouncements. He’d told Jesus that he’d never disown Him, that he’d stand by His side no matter what, that he’d die for Jesus. But when the chips were down, Peter faltered. He denied Jesus three times. And Peter, realizing how badly he’d failed, went out into the night and wept bitterly. Then on resurrection Sunday, Jesus restored Peter, saying “you once thought you were strong enough to die for me, and you discovered your own weakness. Follow me, and I will give you the unflinching courage to both live and die for me.” The resurrection turns shame into courage. If the resurrection can turn Peter’s cowardly shame into bold courage, if the resurrection can turn the shame of sin into the forgiveness, freedom, and courage, just imagine what Jesus’ resurrection can do for you, for your shame, for your sin, and for your life? Takeaway: The resurrection is only a fact until Jesus calls your name. The resurrection is full of the life-changing power of Jesus. But it’s only a fact until Jesus calls your name. And when you hear His voice, and realize He’s come for you, and you turn to Him, it’ll change your life. Is His Holy Spirit stirring in your heart? Do you yearn to be alive in Christ this day? John 20-21

Living as a Child of God

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 09:00:00 CDT

Throughout this series, we’ve seen how our orphan hearts tend to look to everything but God for the significance, security, and satisfaction we long for deep down. We’ve seen how we look to people, power, and possessions to know who we are. And, how they all end up letting us down. But the good news is that we don’t have to live like orphans in this universe, always fending for ourselves. Jesus has made the way back home to our Father. He died in our place and for our sake. He exchanged identities with us. And He rose again so that we can come home to the Father by grace through faith in Christ. Which means we can now live, not as orphans, but as children of God. Our truest, fullest, deepest, thickest, most durable and robust identity is simply to be: A child of God. And as we wrap up the series, we’ll explore a few final insights on living as a Child of God.1) The Worship of Identity: Every single one of us has a sense of identity, a sense of self in this wide world. Now, what’s interesting is that those 3 deep identity needs engage our hearts in distinct ways: We tend to serve whatever promises significance. We tend to trust whatever promises security. We tend to love whatever promises satisfaction And just look at those words: serve, trust, and love. Those are words of devotion. Where we find our identity, we give our devotion: our service, trust, and love. This means that there’s a deep connection between identity and worship. Identity formation is an act of worship; essentially, we are what we worship. We can’t form our identity without doing theology because identity formation is an act of worship. The only question is: Who are you worshipping, and as a result, who are you becoming?2) The Weight of Identity:Throughout this series, we’ve been talking about the three primary strategies we use to get our deep identity needs met: people, power, and possessions. There are internal and external dimensions to each one of these methods. This distinction between internal vs external helps us understand some of the differences between traditional, community-oriented cultures and late-modern, individualistic cultures. In traditional, community-oriented cultures, the focus is on the external. If you want significance in the community, if you want security in the tribe/nation, if you want satisfaction in life, then live into the expectations of your family and people group and you will receive honor, prestige, and leadership in the community, and have a happy and fulfilling life. But notice it’s mostly external validation. In late Modern, individualistic cultures, it’s just the opposite… the focus is on the internal. If you want significance, value yourself. If you want security, trust yourself. If you want satisfaction, treat yourself. In traditional, community-oriented cultures, the question is, “Who do I need to be for my community?” In late Modern, individualistic cultures, the question is, “Who do I need to be for me?” And in the West over the last century, we’ve been experiencing a decisive shift from external strategies to internal strategies. The reason is simple: if you build your identity externally, you’re vulnerable. A creation-based identity is vulnerable. So, it’s not without reason that people have been shifting to an internal strategy for their identity, because it’s so much easier. But the problem is this: A self-created identity is crushing. This idea of forgetting what others think and just pleasing yourself sounds good on paper, but in reality, our own opinion just doesn’t carry enough weight. All the self-acceptance, self-approval, and self-applause comes up short. We can’t escape our need for outside validation. A creation-based identity is vulnerable. We’re orphans worshipping the creation, and it leaves us vulnerable. A self-created identity is crushing. We’re orphans worshipping ourselves, and its crushing in the end. What kind of identity is life-giving?3) The Wonder of Identity:A Christ-graced identity is abundantly life-giving.When you are a child of God, you are adopted into God’s family forever. Which means that you are significant, secure, and satisfied.Takeaway: In Christ, we become ourselves.To be “in Christ” is to be a child of God. And the more we become like Jesus, the more we become ourselves, the selves we were always meant to be.Romans 8:14-17 Download Identity Traps Verses: https://www.moodychurch.org/id-verses

Solomon’s Trap—Seeking Satisfaction Through Possessions

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon, we look at the 9th and final identity trap: Solomon aimed for satisfaction through possessions. King Solomon was one of three great kings who ruled over Israel. King Solomon’s story is a fascinating and cautionary tale. The story begins fairly well and things seem to be going so great, but then Solomon kind of goes off the deep end and everything starts to fall apart. It’s only at the end of his life, when Solomon looks back on all his mistakes, that he begins to see life clearly. They say, “It’s good to learn from your own mistakes, it’s better to learn from the mistakes of others.” Solomon made some big mistakes, so there’s a lot we can learn from him. We’ll look at his life in three parts: 1) Solomon’s Ascent: In the beginning, Solomon looked to the Lord for the good life. Solomon became King when he was just 20 years old, and he loved the Lord. He walked in the statutes of David his father, following his example and counsel. There was on only one small problem: Solomon sacrificed and made offerings to the Lord, not at the Tabernacle, but at the high places, like the pagan neighboring kings did. Solomon is worshipping the right God, but he’s doing so in the wrong way. Solomon knew his limitations. He knew how much he needed God. And so, he asked for divine wisdom to lead his people into a good and prosperous future. If he was to be a good king, Solomon knew he needed his Good God to be with him every step of the way. Solomon began in humble dependence on God’s grace. 2) Solomon’s Demise: In the middle, Solomon ran after satisfaction through possessions. Under Solomon’s wise leadership, Israel grew in peace and prosperity. And as the treasury’s resources grew, Solomon began building. He began by building a glorious temple for the Lord in Jerusalem. It took 7 years to build. He then built himself a glorious palace, which took 13 years to build. Solomon’s wealth and prosperity continue to compound. All of his wildest dreams have come true! But he doesn’t see the danger in it all. Instead of looking to the Lord for the good life, as he had in the beginning, Solomon is now looking for happiness in all the stuff this life can offer. He’s gaining the whole world and losing his soul. Solomon had asked God for wisdom to govern his people. But Solomon had forgotten to apply that wisdom to the governance of himself. And everything he’d built began to crumble. 3) Solomon’s Wisdom: In the end, Solomon realized God alone can satisfy. The book of Ecclesiastes is written from Solomon’s perspective at the end of his life, looking back over the collapse of his dreams. Having ascended to the pinnacle of wealth and prosperity, and having it all crumble away, he realized that it’s all empty vanity. Like trying to chase down the wind, happiness was elusive. As soon as he reached it, it slipped between his fingers and was gone. All his years of endless searching led him back home to the One he was made for, to the Satisfier of his soul, to his Heavenly Father who loves to give good gifts to his beloved children. Takeaway: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Kings and Ecclesiastes

Naomi—Seeking Satisfaction Through Power

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon, we look at Naomi’s identity trap: looking for satisfaction through power. We meet Naomi in the Old Testament book of Ruth. Ruth is Naomi’s daughter-in-law. Usually, when we study this book, we’re focused in on the beautiful love story that takes place between Ruth and Boaz. And Naomi is sort of off on the sidelines like a supporting actor. But, you could argue that it’s the other way around, that Naomi is in fact the main character and Ruth and Boaz are the supporting act. After all, the story begins with Naomi and ends with Naomi, and the marriage of Ruth and Boaz is really a subplot in the greater story of God’s loving-kindness in Naomi’s life. This is the story of how an orphan-hearted widow learned to live as a beloved child of God. 1) Naomi: Bitter Naomi is desperate for satisfaction, as her broken heart gives up on people and turns instead to power.She is bitter and burnt, because everyone she’s ever trusted has let her down. Without a husband, without sons and a male heir at all, Naomi’s world is falling apart. So, from now on, she’s determined to trust no one but herself. 2) Naomi: Bent Naomi is grasping for satisfaction through power. Instead of waiting on God’s redemption—or Boaz, or Ruth for that matter— Naomi tries to power her way to the happy ending she so desperately wants. She’s manipulating to get her needs met. She’s done waiting, and so she’s taking control of her situation. Her orphan heart is bent on caring for itself. 3) Naomi: Blessed Naomi receives satisfaction as she learns to trust the loving-kindness of her God. In God’s time, and in God’s way, He brought redemption to Naomi as she learned to trust God her Father in childlike faith. Naomi learned that when everything is beyond her control, everything safely rests in God’s loving hands. Takeaway: Real satisfaction comes by the grace of our Father. The happiness our souls long for can never be ours through power and control. If we grasp for it, it just slips through our fingers. But our Heavenly Father loves to give good gifts to His children: “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” “Ask and it shall be given to you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened to you.” Because real satisfaction comes by the grace of our Father, we can “be still and know that I am God.” Ruth 1-4 Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/ZORXGgQYVbI

Samaritan’s Trap—Seeking Satisfaction Through People

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon, we turn the corner to our desire for satisfaction and how that too so often leads us into the trap of looking to people, power, or possessions instead of the ultimate satisfaction that is ours in Jesus. Our story is taking from John 4, where a find a pivotal conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman at a well. We’ll focus in on this woman’s identity trap and how it is that Jesus frees her to find true satisfaction.1) Her Trap We find three clues to her identity trap scattered throughout this chapter. First, she’s drawing water at the wrong time of day. Second, the conversation she has with Jesus is about satisfaction, and imagery used is related to water. And third, Jesus calls out her string of broken marriages and relationships. The Samaritan woman is seeking satisfaction through people. She’s living like an orphan, looking for love in all the wrong places. 2) Her Thirst Jesus tells her that He can offer an endless supply of living water. And when she asks for it, Jesus tells her to call her husband, because her soul is a broken cistern that’s thirsty. The Samaritan woman is dissatisfied and dismissed. The string of broken relationships has no doubt left her feeling dissatisfied, with an aching heart that wonders if real love is actually out there at all. 3) Her Transformation Jesus’ last comment was so personal, so perceptive…How could he have known her romantic history? It’s nothing short of prophetic! In this moment, Jesus gets super-personal with her.He tells her:” I know the real you, now you shall know the real me. The One you’re longing for…I who speak to you am He!” The Samaritan woman is learning to look to Jesus for the lasting satisfaction her soul longs for. Jesus so loved this woman that He met her at the well, in the heat of the day, when she was shunned by others, and gently unearthed her soul’s broken cisterns in order to offer her Himself as the deeply satisfying living waters her soul was desperate for. What she could never find in matches, men, or marriages was now hers in the Messiah. Takeaway: God alone can truly satisfy. The satisfaction our souls long for is found in God alone. And Jesus is calling us to turn from the broken cisterns our orphan hearts have hewn out for ourselves, and to become like little children, drinking deeply of the soul-nourishing, life-giving fountain of our Father’s presence available to us in Jesus, who, on the cross, cried out “I thirst” in order that we might never thirst again. John 4: 5-19, 25-42

Naaman—Seeking Security Through Possessions

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon, we explore Naaman’s security trap—seeking security through possessions. As we follow along in 2 Kings 5, we’ll discover a new and better identity as a child of God. 1) Naaman’s Hardship Naaman’s story is somewhere in the middle 60 years of Elisha’s ministry. Naaman means “gracious.” He is the commander of the Syrian army, a war hero, and held in high favor by his king. In fact, Naaman had everything you could possibly want in life, exempt one thing: he was a leper. While he possessed a great deal in life and used it to secure himself against life’s vulnerabilities, there was one thing he did not possess: his own health. But through an Israeli slave girl, Naaman learns of a prophet with the gift of healing. So, he brings his extensive wealth with him in the hopes of buying restoration. Naaman is seeking security through possessions. 2) Naaman’s Humbling When Naaman arrives in Israel, he is vexed by the prophet Elisha, who doesn’t treat him as expected. Naaman is told to wash seven times in the dirty Jordan River. Naaman wanted something money couldn’t buy, and to his dismay, he learns that possessions cannot secure his health. Naaman’s illness ran more than skin deep. On the outside he was leprous, but inside a far deadlier disease had taken hold—his heart was infected with pride. Naaman came in search of healing, but his need for healing ran far deeper than he realized. And God so loved Naaman that He chose to heal not just his body but his soul as well. 3) Naaman’s Healing Naaman is faced with a choice: to hold onto his pride and ride off unhealed; or, to swallow his pride, climb down from his chariot, take off his military raiment, set aside his possessions, and in nakedness enter the waters like a helpless child with nothing to offer and everything to receive. Naaman’s healing ultimately came through humility. In losing his pride, he gained his purity. In contrition, he was cleansed. When he stood naked before God, vulnerable and exposed without all his adornments of wealth and privilege and accomplishments. When he went into the water with empty hands with nothing to his name, it was then that the Lord healed him and made him whole. Notice: the inner healing came before the outer healing. His pride died when he in faith entered the waters, letting go of everything but the promise of God. And the healing that began in his soul was then mirrored on his skin. Only then is Naaman reborn! Naaman finds security as he learns to receive grace with open hands.The man whose name means “gracious” learned what grace is all about: that when it comes to God, we bring nothing but our empty, dirty hands. And in His grace, He cleanses and fills our hands with his abundant gifts of life!Takeaway: Ultimate security comes by the grace of our Father. To be possessed by Jesus is better than all the possessions of earth. To be secure in Him is, in the end, the only security that matters. 2 Kings 5

Gideon—Seeking Security Through Power

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon, we look back over 3 millennia to the story of Gideon and his identity trap—seeking security through power. 1) Gideon’s Test Gideon was a tribal warrior leader-judge. His story takes place between 1179-1154 BC and is recorded in the Book of Judges chapter 6. The context of the story is clear in the opening: the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They were disloyal and broke the covenant, and so God disciplined them through the oppression of the Midianites. Before the might and strength of the Midianites, the Israelites found themselves powerless and diminished. Yet even in disciplining them, God, in His great love, calls the people of Israel back and restores them through a rescue He is orchestrating. Enter Gideon, whose name means “hacker.” We find him threshing wheat in a winepress, hiding from the Midianites. An angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and informs him that the Lord chose him to rescue Israel. But Gideon is scared and feels powerless. He is looking for a security blanked; it’s not enough for Gideon to take God at His word, he wants a sign of tangible confirmation. You see, Gideon’s insecurity comes from control impulses, always asking God to prove Himself over and over. That sense of control makes Gideon feel safe. Gideon is looking for security through power. Deep down, Gideon is afraid and insecure. And he wishes more than anything that he could be strong and mighty and valiant, because then things would be different. Then he’d have power and he’d be secure. And all these “tests” are efforts to gain a semblance of control when everything in life seems so very insecure. Gideon struggles to trust the promises of God. He’s functionally living like an orphan. 2) Gideon’s Trust God is patient with Gideon and provides Gideon with the security blankets he needs by participating in a series of tests. So, with his fleece in hand, and 32,000 soldiers at his side, Gideon was starting to see some glimmers of hope. Maybe they could pull this off after all! But God had a different idea in mind: His whole aim was to whittle down Gideon’s army so that He alone would get the glory. God draws our Gideons insecurity through powerlessness. 3) Gideon’s Triumph God fought the battle with Midian by using dreams to fill the Midianites hearts with doom and destroy their morale. When Gideon learns that God is fighting the battle for him, he finally believes and trusts God with his fears. He knows his security lies in the power of the Lord who fights for His children. Gideon discovered real security in the power of God. He learned that “the battle belongs to the Lord.” Takeaway: True security is found in our Father’s care. In Jesus, we have a Heavenly Father who is watching over our lives with loving-care and protection. If you are in Jesus Christ today, sin will not hold you, Satan cannot keep you, and death will not defeat you. You are secure forever in the undying love of God! You are safe always in Christ for all time and eternity! You are kept by the Spirit, sealed for incomparable glory! Judges 6-8 Questions about this sermon can be emailed to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org . If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe and give us a like! For more info about connecting with The Moody Church, visit https://www.moodychurch.org/im-new.

Esther—Seeking Security Through People

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon, we go back 2,500 years to the Medo-Persian Empire to discover Esther’s identity trap—seeking security through people. Through the story, we’ll see how God loves her out of her orphan-hearted identity and into the true security of living as a child of God. Esther’s Secret: The story begins with King Xerxes casting his queen, Vashti, aside and seeking a new queen. In the process, Xerxes uses power to exploit and use women for his own purposes. And Esther is caught in the rounding up or young women into the king’s harem as he looks for a new queen. As she enters the palace and makes her way to the top of the system, Mordecai instructs her not to reveal her Jewish background. Mordecai is not trusting God, nor is he behaving life a faithful Israelite or protecting Esther. He’s using Esther to get ahead in Persian society. And Esther just wants to be safe, so she goes along with his plan. Esther’s identity is formed around finding security through people. She’ll be whomever she needs to be to make the king happy and know the security of his protection. Esther ultimately pleases the king and becomes the Queen of Persia. Now she’s under the protection of the most powerful man on the planet. But Esther’s problem is that whenever we try to be whomever we need to be to fit in, we’re looking for security in the wrong place, and we become orphaned from the true King of the universe. Esther’s Peril: As the story continues, Haman the Agagite enters the scene and demands that all under him pay homage. When Mordecai refuses, trouble starts. Haman notices that a Jew is refusing to bow to him, and so he schemes to make a decree that all the Jews are to be killed in a state-wide genocide in 11 months. So, Mordecai pleads with Esther to intervene on his—and the Jewish people’s—behalf. Esther realizes that if she reveals Jewish identity, her security may be shattered. Esther’s orphaned-hearted identity strategy leaves her insecure and vulnerable. Where can she turn? Esther’s Courage: Esther realizes she needs protection beyond what the king can offer, and so calls a fast, seeking the protection of her God. She schemes a way to gain the ear of the king and to put Haman’s genocidal edict on the line. She finally owns her Jewish heritage, and in so doing, steps into the crosshairs to be annihilated along with her own people. Esther’s courage reveals she’s found a greater security through a better Protector. Her willingness to put herself at risk before the king means she’s looking for her security elsewhere. She’s begun to take refuge in God, seeking His protection, and identifying herself as a child of the covenant-keeping God. And God ultimately comes through for Esther and for His people. Takeaway: The security our souls seek is found in the protection of our Father. Esther 1-7 Questions for Living The Message can be emailed to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org

Bigger Prayer, Bigger God

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 09:00:00 CDT

The Book of Ephesians is about God's plan for the fullness of time to unite all things throughout eternity. God’s plan is the biggest logistic undertaking of all time. Against that backdrop, we get a prayer report from Paul in Ephesians 3 about the way he prays for the church. Paul's primary point is this: To grasp the breadth of the love of Christ, you need to view it alongside all the saints. You cannot get a the full view of Christ's love as an individual. Because both Jew and Gentile are now united in Christ, together we can approach the throve of God's grace to get a glimpse of His awesome love for us. Takeaway: how can we be filled with all the "fullness of God"? We need to have unity with the church to grasp the love of God. Ephesians 3:14-21 Speaker Bio: Dr. Peter Williams is the Principal of Tyndale House, Cambridge and an Affiliated Lecturer at the University of Cambridge. He earned his M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. at Cambridge University studying ancient languages related to the Bible. He originally planned to become a Bible translator, but after seeing how many students of the Bible did not recognize its authority, Dr. Williams decided to change his professional direction and become an evangelical scholar in order to advance confessional scholarship. Dr. Williams is also Chair of the International Greek New Testament Project and a member of the Translation Committee of the English Standard Version of the Bible.

Zacchaeus—Seeking Significance Through Possessions

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon, we look at Zacchaeus’ identity trap—seeking significance through power. 1) Zacchaeus: Lost Zacchaeus was one of the “bad guys” in the Bible because he was a chief tax collector and he was notoriously rich. Everyone knew him to be one of the wealthiest people in Jericho, and they hated him for it. And that really was the identity trap of the tax-collectors. Wealth was what they lived for. They sold out their own people. They cheated and defrauded. They lived with scorn every day. Zacchaeus built his identity around gaining influence through possessions. But wealth was their fast-track to the kind of wealth and affluence that put them on the map. People might impugn their character, but they were impressed by the wealth. The tax-collectors made that trade all day long, and Zacchaeus most of all. 2) Zacchaeus: Found Why would a rich man climb a tree to see Jesus? Think about it… Zacchaeus is wealthy and dignified, a senior leader in the world of finance. If he wanted to learn more about Jesus, he had plenty of contacts. He could have sent one of his many servants. Why is he going personally? Something is driving Zacchaeus to throw caution to the wind here. Whatever it is, it is very personal for him, and it’s worth risking his status. He’s risking the significance he’s built up through wealth and status just to see Jesus, to know who this Jesus is. Even though he has “everything,” Zacchaeus is still searching for more. And so, Zacchaeus, with a deep soul-ache, desperately, recklessness, humbly, climbs a tree in hopes of catching a glimpse of the One who just might be able to give to him the significance his soul is longing for. Of all the people in town, Jesus singles out Zacchaeus, the outcast, the scorned, the despised, the guilty, and invites himself to stay as a guest in his home. Does Zacchaeus deserve this? No. It’s grace. It’s all grace. Grace has found Zacchaeus. 3) Zacchaeus: Free After Jesus visits his home, Zacchaeus gives away half of his wealth to the poor, and pledges to repay those he cheated, not just with interest, but fourfold! He lets go of his great possessions and grabs ahold of Jesus. He calls Jesus, “Lord.” Instead of being mastered by his possessions, he is freed by the Master. Zacchaeus’ liberality is evidence that he’s found a greater treasure and a richer significance. Zacchaeus discovered his significance wasn’t in what belonged to him, but in the One to whom he belonged. Takeaway: The significance our souls desperately need is found in being treasured by our Father. Luke 19:1-10 Questions about this sermon can be emailed to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org.

God’s Promised Rest

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 09:00:00 CDT

We often use Bible verses out of context to find rest for our weary souls. Can you relate to that? In this sermon, we look at a passage that has much to say about finding the spiritual rest we long for. How do we enter God’s promised rest from Hebrews 4? We React in Worship: Worship of the living God gives rest to our souls. We Rest in His Work: That which we trust in will be the source of our rest. We Repent in Watchfulness: Everyone’s deeds will one day be exposed, so your response to God is what’s most important. Takeaway: God’s Word is living, conquering, and exposing so that we might see our need and draw near to His throne of grace. Hebrews 4:11–13Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.

Jacob—Seeking Significance Through Power

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon, we look at Jacob’s identity trap: seeking significance through power. Jacob was the grandson of Abraham, and the father of Joseph. His story gives us a powerful look at the deep identity transformation God wants to bring into each one of our lives. We’ll look at three parts to Jacob’s story: Jacob’s Upbringing: Jacob’s identity is built around gaining significance through power. He wants to be recognized as the leader of the family, successful and prosperous, favored with the blessing of God. And he pursues this by scheming, controlling, and manipulating others. Jacob grabs significance by the throat and makes sure he gets it, no matter what. He won’t leave it up to chance, and he won’t leave it up to God. He wants to power his way into significance. We see this play out in the story of Esau when Jacobs steals his inheritance and manipulates Isaac into Esau’s birthright. Jacob’s Sojourning: Having enraged Esau, Jacob flees and seeks refuge in the family of Laban. It is in the care of Laban that Jacob gets a taste of his own medicine: the schemer becomes the scammed. Jacob finds himself insignificant and powerless in the face of Laban’s manipulation and scheming. And it is here that his strategy for identity begins to unravel, because building significance through power only works until someone more powerful comes along. After 20 years living with Laban, God calls Jacob back to the land of his fathers. Jacob’s Homecoming: At the age of 97, Jacob heads back to Canaan, where tensions mount again with Esau. And in desperation Jacob cries out to God for help for the first time in his life. A wrestling match ensues between Jacob and God, and they wrestle all night, not because Jacob is strong, but because God is wearing him down. God wrestles Jacob to the end of himself. And God wounds Jacob’s body to mend his soul; God wrenches his hip to bring Jacob to the end of himself, to bring him to a place of weakness, of brokenness, of powerlessness. Then, God give Jacob a new name, Israel, which means “God striver.” The name is an invitation: will Jacob keep striving with God, grasping for power, or will he finally surrender and trust God to strive powerfully on his behalf? Jacob ultimately limps into his transformed identity as he now finds significance in surrendering to God. God comes through for Jacob. God strives for Israel. And the miraculous takes place: Esau welcomes Jacob with open arms. Takeaway: The significance our souls desperately need is found in surrendering ourselves to our Father. Do you realize that in Jesus Christ your Heavenly Father has crowned you with glory and honor; seated you with Christ in the Heavenly places; and adopted you his forever Son or Daughter with an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade? You don’t have to scheme, or manipulate, or strive, or endeavor, or grasp after these blessings. In fact, if you do so, they will never be yours, for these blessings can only be received as gifts by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The true significance our souls long for comes not through power, but through frailty; not through control, but through surrender; not through strength, but through weakness. True significance comes through childlike trust. Genesis 25-32 Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/mIbPplr1SKA

Joseph—Seeking Significance Through People

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 09:00:00 CDT

Following Jesus is basically learning to live out our new identity in Christ. But it’s difficult because we’ve spent so much of our lives living from our orphan identities. To live from our new identity as children of God requires intention and practice. We must unlearn the heart-habits of orphanhood and embrace the heart-habits of childlikeness. To help us do this, we’re going to look at different Bible characters throughout this series, one for each of the 9 identity traps, and their journey of identity transformation from living as orphans to living as children of God. In this sermon, we look at Joseph’s identity trap: seeking significance through people. Joseph was the great-grandson of Abraham. His is an amazing story, because not only is God bringing salvation to His people through Joseph’s life-story, He is also bringing about deep transformation in Joseph’s identity along the way. The story has three key points: Joseph’s Dream: Joseph’s identity is built around gaining significance through people. Joseph wants to be great and to be recognized as such, especially by his own family. That’s Joseph’s dream. His orphan-hearted identity is to gain significance through people. Joseph’s Nightmare: If your identity is built around gaining significance through the recognition of people, what would be your greatest fear? Rejection and abandonment by other people. And when we pursue significance through this means, that’s exactly what happens. Joseph’s sense of significance is dashed as people reject, betray, abandon, dishonor, and forget him. Through each of the hard moments in his life, God is showing Joseph that people will never be able the give him the significance he longs for. Joseph’s Awakening: Joseph’s forgiveness reveals his transformed identity as he now finds his significance in relationship to God. Joseph realizes that if he has the approval of God, he can face the rejection of humanity, even from his family. Joseph learned to live as a child of God graced with significance from on high. Takeaway: The significance our souls desperately need is conferred by our Father. Human approval, recognition, popularity, honor‑—these are all cheap imitations of the real significance you and I were made for. In Jesus Christ, we have been graced with a significance that is weighty and durable and thick, because we have been adopted as children of God. We are sons and daughters of the King. Genesis 30-50 Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/QdcmsUNpWA8

Mapping Our Hearts

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 09:00:00 CDT

Who are you? How would you answer this question? In the coming weeks, we’ll explore the stories of nine different characters in the Bible, who each tried to build their identities in all the wrong places, and then discovered the kind of wholeness that only God can give. And in considering their lives, we’ll discover the identity traps we fall into, and the identity Christ offers us that changes everything. In this sermon, we explore a biblical and theological framework for understanding our identity and mapping our own hearts. Identity is, at its core, a sense of self. It distinguishes us from the people around us. It gives clarity to our place in this world. And it turns out that a sense of self is meaningful when it meets three, deep-seated, underlying needs: Significance Security Satisfaction Now, this is where theology comes in, because the Bible tells us that we were created in the image and likeness of God. We were created to know God as our Father, and to know ourselves as His sons and daughters. In other words, we were made to find our identity as children of God. And as children of God, we were made: To find our significance in His esteem. To find our security in His care. To find our satisfaction in His pleasure. That’s the identity we were made for: to live as a child beloved by the Father. But, we are sinners by nature and by choice; our sins have separated us from God. So instead of children… we find ourselves orphans. We wake up in the universe estranged from the God were meant to call “Father.” We wake up as orphans. Our orphan hearts start trying to find identity elsewhere. Consequently, there are three primary strategies we employ to get our identity needs met apart from God. We look to find our identity through: People Power Possessions Our Orphan hearts try to build an identity seeking Significance, Security, and Satisfaction from the creation instead of the Creator! To use the language of Romans 1: we’ve exchanged the glory of the immortal God for created things. In essence, that’s what idolatry is. Whenever we look to anything other than God for our ultimate significance, security, and satisfaction. Whatever that is becomes our functional god, and we serve and sacrifice and offer up whatever it takes to get our deep identity needs met. It’s idolatry. The lie of Satan is that we’re better off fending for ourselves, getting our deep identity needs for significance, security, and satisfaction met through people, power, or possessions. Anywhere other than our Heavenly Father. And so we go out into the world trying to get our deep identity needs met. We pursue people, not so much to love them, but so that we can get our needs met. We acquire power, not so much to serve others, but so that we can secure ourselves. We amass possessions, not so much to share generously, but so we can enjoy ourselves. The whole of our identity starts caving inward when we live as orphans. We go into the world needy, consuming, taking. It’s less about what we can give, and it’s more about what we can get. Because as an orphan, I’ve got to find my own identity; I’ve got to get my own significance, my own security, and my own satisfaction. Because we are estranged from God through sin, by default we learn to build our identity and cope through life as orphans. And so most of us, one of these three deep identity needs becomes dominant. We all need significance, security, and satisfaction, but one tends to loom large in our hearts. And then we tend to learn toward People, Power, or Possessions as our primary strategy to get that identity need met. But then, in the mercy and grace of God, He sent us Jesus to take all our broken, sinful identities upon himself, to give us his own righteous identity instead, and to fill us with the Holy Spirit. Do you realize what this means? By the mercy of the Father, in the grace of Jesus, and by power of the Spirit, you can begin to live as Children once more! Which means we can live from the deep resources of our Good Father as His beloved children: He gives us the Significance of his honor. He gives us the Security of his love. He gives us the Satisfaction of his joy. And having received His nourishment for our deep identity needs, we move out into the world in strength. We can approach people in love. We can use power to serve. We can hold possessions with generosity. Every day this choice is before us: Who am I? Am I an orphan that has to fend for himself, using people, power, and possessions to meet my deep identity needs? Or am I a child of God? By grace through faith resting in the deep Significance, utter Security, and profound Satisfaction that are mine in Christ… such that I’m filled up to pour myself out for the sake of others! How do we do this? We get close to our Father, so we remember who He is, so we remember who we are, so we can remember to act like ourselves. Romans 8:14-17 Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/UwUNqFQWrH4 Questions about this sermon can be emailed to: livingthemessage@moodychurch.org

Restore What The Locusts Have Eaten

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 09:00:00 CDT

The Book of Joel was written to the people of Judah and Jerusalem as a warning, but its truths are just as applicable to us today as they were thousands of years ago. The historical context of the book is Judah's pattern of revival and decline, and in these passages Judah is falling into the same apostasy that plagued Israel. The prophet Joel cries out to people for a deep, sincere, and authentic commitment to God. In these passages, Joel brings a basic message of wholehearted return to God with a promise of a second chance. Joel gives three warnings we should heed today: Sin The Consequences of Sin The Solution for Sin Takeaway: what is it that God wants you do to to return to Him? Joel 1:1-12

The Incarnate King

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Have you ever experienced a kind of whiplash after Christmas? All the wonder, joy, peace on earth, goodwill toward men, all is cheery and bright…and then January hits. Bills come due. Reality sets in. Christmas often seems like a feel-good season that’s disconnected from the troubles of the real life. A mass-marketed departure from reality. We pretend like everything’s great, even though we know it’s not. Modern Christmas can feel so commercialized, pretend, filtered. But you can’t say that of the very first Christmas. In this sermon we dive deep into a very raw series of events that took place in the days of Jesus’ infancy. There’s nothing commercialized, pretend, or filtered about these events. The Bible tells us Jesus was born not into a pretend world of Christmas cheer but a rough, hostile, and broken world. He’s a real Savior for the real troubles of a real world. In this passage from Matthew 2:13-23, we find Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fleeing in the night. It’s going to teach us three things about the King who is come. Jesus the Refugee: Jesus is a new Redeemer for a new Exodus. Takeaway: Jesus know what it means to be a stranger. Jesus the Exile: Jesus is a new Hope for a new Exile. Takeaway: Jesus knows what it means to be oppressed. Jesus the Nazarene: Jesus is a new King for a new Kingdom. Takeaway: Jesus knows what it means to be despised. There’s nothing commercialized, or pretend, or filtered about this first Christmas. Jesus is a real Savior for the real troubles of a real world. Christmas is about a God who climbs into the darkest, most agonizing brutalities of this sin-cursed, Satan-dominated, death-oppressed world, and takes it all upon Himself only to burst forth in resurrection power. God is calling us: “come follow me…from humiliation to glory…from the cross to the crown…from death into resurrection life.” “I came all the way down… to join you where you are…Now come all the way up… and join me where I am!” Merry Christmas, everybody. The King is come! Matthew 2:12-23

The Honored King

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Who has Jesus come for? The angel told Joseph: “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” His name means “The Lord saves,” because He will save his people from their sins. But who are “his people?” Who is it that Jesus has come to save? Now, from our vantage point the answer seems obvious: Jesus came for all people! But when Jesus first showed up, it wasn’t quite so obvious. After all, Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One of Israel, a Jewish Savior for the Jewish people. And of course, Jesus did come for Israel. But more than that, Jesus is the hope of all the world! It’s interesting that Matthew has already hinted at the fact that Jesus has come, not just for Israel, but for the entire world. Matthew goes out of his way in the genealogy from chapter 1 to show us not only that God can work scandals to His glory but also that God is including Gentiles (non-Jewish people) in His redemptive plan. And just so we don’t miss the point that Jesus came for all people, this passage in Matthew 2 with the three Wise Men, the Magi, emphasizes that Jesus is the Savior of the world. From the story of the Magi, we learn three things: The Magi: God makes Himself knowable. Are you listening? The Quest: God makes Himself findable. Are you seeking? The Offering: God makes Himself receivable. Are you welcoming? Who has Jesus come for? He’s come for you. Matthew 2:1-12 Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/gZd4b5uwuBE Questions about this sermon can be emailed to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org.

The Rightful King

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 09:00:00 CDT

There’s so much joy and merriment at Christmastime. After all, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!And yet, for many of us, Christmastime also carries a deep underlying ache. Empty chairs. Broken hearts. Dashed hopes. Because despite what the fairy tales told us, not all our dreams came true, and “happily ever after’s” seem cheaply foreign to the stories we live in. And amidst all the romantic idealism of Christmas cheer, we just can’t shake the reality of life’s shattered dreams, can we? It’s helpful to remember that the very first Christmas wasn’t brimming with romantic idealism and cheery sentimentality. In fact, it all begins with shattered dreams. Mary and Joseph had dreams of how their lives would go. Everything was going according to plan. All their dreams were coming true, until that very first Christmas, when their lives were upended, their plans were canceled, and their dreams were shattered. What do you do when your dreams are shattered? When your past feels devastating? Your present feels confusing? And your future feels bewildering? In this passage, we get a front-row seat to watch Joseph navigate this moment when all his dreams were shattered at Christmas. We can learn what to do when our dreams are shattered from watching Joseph do three things: Hope in God’s Redemption: God’s redemption comes through messes. He starts with an irretrievable mess and brings redemptive hope. And so, the takeaway for Joseph—and us—is to give God our mess. When your dreams are shattered, hope in God’s redemption. Trust in God’s Wisdom: God’s guidance comes through His Word. It’s easy to lose your bearings and get caught up in emotion and anxiety when your dreams are shattered. And in these moments, the takeaway for Joseph—and us— is to give God your trust. When your dreams are shattered, trust in God’s wisdom. Rest in God’s Provision: God’s peace comes through surrender. When we let go of our anxiety and surrender to God, that is always the way to peace. So, the takeaway for Joseph—and us—is to give God your unknowns. If you will let go of the outcomes you can’t control, if you will give God your future that seems so bewildering, God will give you a peace that surpasses all understanding. God promises even now that He is working all things together for your eternal good and His everlasting glory! Matthew 1:18-25 Living The Message episode: https://youtu.be/ksVAKgr6TM0

The Awaited King

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Advent means “arrival” and it’s full of awaiting. In the Old Testament era, the people of God were awaiting the advent of their Messiah, the Anointed One, who would fulfill all of God’s covenant promises to His people. And two thousand years ago, a baby was born in Bethlehem, Jesus the Son of God, who is called the Christ, the Messiah, and the Hope of all the World. He died on a cross, was buried, raised, and ascended to the right hand of God the Father, from whence He shall return to set all things to rights. And so too, in the New Testament era, the people of God are awaiting the advent of our Lord and Savior, the crucified and risen Son of God, the return of the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who shall reign forever and ever! So here we are, in the days between the advents. We are both rejoicing in The King who has come, and longing for The King who is coming. In this four-part sermon series, we will be digging into Matthew’s biographical account of the coming of Jesus the King. Matthew begins with an extensive genealogy, documenting Jesus’ ancestral pedigree. This is one of those passages we might be tempted to just skip over when we come to it. But in many ways, this genealogy sets the table for just who Jesus is and what He’s come to do. Like the opening act of a great play or movie, the beginning foreshadows the end. Why is it so important that we understand Jesus’ connection with Abraham, David, and the Exile? It’s all about who Jesus is and what He’s come to do. This sermon considers each of these three anchor-points in turn under the headings: The Promised Seed: Jesus come to reverse the curse and unleash blessing. All that was forfeited by Adam and Eve, Jesus comes to reclaim. All that was promised to Abraham, Jesus comes to fulfill. This is “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of Abraham.” The Royal Heir: Jesus comes to restore the throne and ascend in glory. All that was forfeited by Solomon, Jesus comes to reclaim. All that was promised to David, Jesus comes to fulfill. This is “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David.” The Redeeming Servant: Jesus comes to end the exile and begin a new covenant. All that was lost in the Exile, Jesus comes to reclaim. All that was promised in the Servant, Jesus comes to fulfill. This is “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of the Exile.” Takeaway: Jesus is the Hero we’ve all been waiting for. Don’t you see, he’s our substitute in every way? In this genealogy, Matthew is foreshadowing who Jesus is and what He’s come to do. Jesus is Abraham’s “Promised Seed” come to reverse the curse and unleash blessing. Jesus is David’s “Royal Heir” come to restore the throne and ascend in glory. Jesus is Israel’s “Redeeming Servant” come to end the exile and begin a new covenant. He’s the Hero we’ve all been waiting for, and His name is Jesus. Matthew 1:1-17

The Scandal of Grace

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Today we come to the fourth and final chapter in the Book of Jonah. It all began when God called Jonah to go preach to Nineveh, and Jonah flatly disobeyed, heading nearly 3,000 miles in the opposite direction aboard a ship to Tarshish. And just when he thought he’d gotten away, God hurled a great storm to stop him in his tracks. Jonah told the sailors to throw him into the sea as a sacrifice to appease the wrath of God. But in His mercy, God rescued Jonah from the watery grave with a great fish that swallowed him whole. And after three days, Jonah finally repents and calls upon the mercy of God. In response, God has the fish vomit Jonah up on the shore and recommissions him to go preach to Nineveh. And this time, Jonah obeys. He cries out judgment against Nineveh and the whole city responds in repentance, crying out to God for mercy. Chapter three ends with this beautiful crescendo: “When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” What a magnificent moment! A marvelous display of God’s mercy! Repentance has come to the city! So, when we turn the page to chapter four, we’re expecting triumph. But in fact, what we find is quite the opposite. Instead of applause, we find anger. Instead of rejoicing, there’s rejection. Instead of gratitude, we get griping. It’s a shocking ending—one of the most shocking in all the Bible—that once again highlights God’s unrelenting grace for undeserving people. The Indignation of Jonah: Jonah finds God’s grace to be scandalous. Jonah is made because God is acting like Himself, and Jonah can’t stand who God is! At his core, Jonah wants a God of karma not grace. See, Jonah hasn’t yet fully realized that God’s salvation is always by grace alone. Jonah doesn’t yet realize that all his righteousness is but filthy rags before a holy God, and that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Takeaway: Grace is our only hope. The Instruction of the Plant: God gives Jonah space for heart examination. Takeaway: Self-righteousness is deadly. The Intention of God: God invites Jonah to share His heart for the city. Takeaway: Should we not pity this great city? Like Jonah, we have been called to this great city. And at times this city might feel like it’s full of enemies: Political enemies. Economic enemies. Moral enemies. How do we share God’s heart for this great city? Don’t run the other way. Don’t call down condemnation. Don’t make it “Us vs. Them”. Do serve with sacrificial love. Do speak grace and truth. Do prioritize mission. The most important thing we’re called to in this life is to join in the mission of God to redeem this lost world one soul at a time. We’re ambassadors for Christ, sent to this great city, and we must keep our focus. Because God is unrelenting in His grace for undeserving people. Jonah 4:1-11

The God of Second Chances

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Sometimes people get the impression that in the Old Testament God is full of wrath, whereas in the New Testament He is full of love, compassion, and mercy. It’s understandable why that impression could be formed. After all, the Old Testament contains major moments of judgment like the Flood, the Plagues, and the Exile, and the New Testament contains the epicenter of grace as Jesus lays down His life for our forgiveness. But what we tend to forget is that while the cross does mean mercy and grace and forgiveness for us, for Jesus it meant judgment, wrath, and condemnation. The reason the New Testament feels less full of judgment is because Jesus took the judgment we deserved. The reason it feels like there’s less wrath is that Jesus bore the wrath instead of us. The reason there’s no condemnation is because Jesus was condemned in our place. The New Testament has its fair share of judgment, wrath, and condemnation, it’s just that Jesus has paid it all! And not only that, but the Old Testament has far more mercy and grace and compassion than we often realize. Jonah 3 is simply dripping with the love, forgiveness, and kindness of our God. And the God of compassion who sent Jonah to a city filled with undeserving people, that they might be saved by His unrelenting grace, is the same God of compassion who, seven centuries later, sent Jesus to a world filled with undeserving people, that we too might be saved by His unrelenting grace. See, in both Old and New Testaments we find the same heartbeat and enduring character of a God who is forever and always unrelenting in His grace for undeserving people. This passage from Jonah 3:1-10 helps us see afresh three things about God: Empowering Love: God gives second chances. We are new too far gone for grace. Sovereign Rule: God is sovereign over all. And, God moves heaven and earth to reach us. Proactive Mercy: God is eager to forgive. Whatever you’ve done, whoever you’ve become, all is forgiven, please come home. Jonah 3:1-10 Questions about the sermon can be submitted to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org.

A Goose, a Swan, and a Reformation

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 09:00:00 CDT

The most important question you can ask: Is certainty of salvation possible? In this sermon, Dr. Erwin Lutzer shares the great lessons from the heroes of the Reformation that continue to encourage us as believers today. The Story of the Goose: John Hus (1373-1415)Opposed abuses The authority of the Bible alone The priesthood of all believers His martyrdom The Story of the Swan: Martin Luther (1483-1546)His search for salvation His great discovery in the Book of Romans His stand at the Diet of Worms The Broadening Influence of LutherGeneva America England Takeaways:The authority of Scripture alone The priesthood of the believer The assurance of salvation through the righteousness of Christ

Grace Beneath The Waves

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Alan Redpath (former Senior Pastor of The Moody Church from ‘53-‘62) famously said: “When God wants to do an impossible task, he takes an impossible man and crushes him.” Pastor Redpath understood that certain kinds of traits that tend to get you ahead in life, like driven-ness, strength of will, self-confidence, and ambition. But, these things are spiritual liabilities until they’ve been tempered, chastened, and humbled. Just as coal must be crushed to become a diamond, and gold must be purified in the fire, there is a brokenness we must learn if we’re ever to be useful to God. And that’s exactly what’s happening to Jonah. God crushes Jonah to temper him so that he can be useful. In this sermon, we join Jonah as he finally comes to the end of himself and the beginning of his usefulness in ministry. There are four significant moments for Jonah’s redemption from this passage: Recognition: Jonah perceives the Lord’s discipline and begins to realize that God loves him enough to stop him in his tracks and bring him to the end of himself. Remembrance: Jonah remembers the Lord’s covenant. In the moment of Jonah’s greatest distress, when all hope seems lost, and he comes to the end of himself, it is God’s Word that comes to mind. Repentance: Jonah returns to the Lord’s steadfast love. He lays down his idols and returns to the hope of steadfast love. Redemption: Jonah glories in the Lord’s salvation. The only thing Jonah contributed to his salvation was his sin and rebellion and distress. Every ounce of his salvation belongs to the Lord and the Lord alone! Takeaways:There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us. Salvation belongs to the Lord! Jonah 2:1-10 Sermon questions can be submitted to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org.

The Lord Of The Storm

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 09:00:00 CDT

When we run and hide from God, when we conceal our secret sins, God comes looking for us. Because God never gives up on those He loves. In this passage, Jonah tried to run from God. So, God sent a ferocious storm and a giant fish to bring Jonah back; because God loved Jonah. This sermon explores three things about the relentless pursuit of “The Lord of the Storm.” The Chance of Discovery: God brings Jonah’s rebellion into the light through the storm He sent. If God loved Jonah less, He’d let him go. But in His mercy and grace, God brings Jonah’s rebellion into the light. Takeaway: Confession is grace. God is bringing our rebellion into the light because He loves us too much to let us self-destruct. Confession is our first step toward healing. The Sentence of Death: All Jonah must do is repent and cry out for mercy for God to respond. But Jonah doesn’t do that, and in his stubbornness continues to run from God. So, God makes Jonah own the deadliness of his sin. Takeaway: Conviction is grace. Have you ever been overwhelmed with conviction over the deadliness of your sin? That’s grace; because it is under the weight of conviction that we cry out for mercy, and it is the kindness of the Lord that leads us to repentance, which leads to life. Confession and conviction feel like death, but they are grace that leads to life. The Depths of Mercy: God’s mercy knows no depths, and there’s fathomless grace beneath the waves. So, God sends the fish and intends for Jonah to stay there until he has a change of heart. With this fish, God rescues Jonah from the watery grave. Instead of instant death, Jonah gets more time, a chance to repent, to cry out for mercy, and to discover that God is gracious and merciful. Takeaway: Continuation is grace. Another day, another chance to repent, to cry out for mercy, and to discover God’s unrelenting grace for undeserving people. God is unrelenting in His grace for undeserving people. Even when we run and hide in our stubbornness and pride, God always comes looking for us. Because God never gives up on those He loves. His grace is relentless. Jonah 1:7-17 Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/zJi6G-8i7vc

Paul’s Heart For His People

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 09:00:00 CDT

If you've ever felt discouraged in sharing the Gospel with people who don't seem interested, Dr. Mitch Glaser's message from Romans offers three points of encouragement from Paul's letter to the Romans:Paul’s Broken Heart for the Salvation of the Jewish People (Romans 9:1-3) Paul’s Prayer for the Salvation of the Jewish People (Romans 10:1-2) Paul’s Hope for the Salvation of the Jewish People (Romans 11:1-3) Takeaway: God chose the Jewish people to bless the Gentiles (Genesis 12:3) and the Gentiles to bless the Jewish people through the proclamation of the Gospel (Romans 11:11).

Running From God

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 09:00:00 CDT

The story of Jonah is first and foremost about God. It’s a story that shows us God’s unrelenting grace for undeserving people. And, it’s a story for people like us, people who run from God and need second chances. The story of Jonah shows us a God whose love never stops and never quits, who is always and forever pursuing and redeeming us. In this sermon, we’ll explore three themes from the story: Uncomfortable Call: God sends Jonah to pursue his worst enemies. It’s an uncomfortable call for Jonah. And while we expect that God’s prophet would answer that call, Jonah instead chooses to run. Unexpected Flight: Jonah won’t give his enemies a second chance for three reasons. His autonomy was threatened. His identity was threatened. Hi prejudice was threatened. Like Jonah, we are far too often prone to this kind of disposition. We also tend to run from God. Unrelenting Grace: Jonah ran from God, but God runs after Jonah. If God loved Jonah less, He would have let him go. But the fact that God pursues Jonah with the storm proves how much God loves Jonah. This demonstrates how God is unrelenting in His grace for undeserving people. Takeaways:Running from God is normal…and nuts. God may send a storm to wake you up. God will never stop pursuing you. Jonah 1:1-6 Questions about this sermon can be emailed to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org

Change Your World Through Mission

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Everybody wants to change their world. And while there are lots of beneficial ways we can help make our world a better place, if you want to change your world in a way that matters for eternity, there’s no better way to change your world than to join Jesus in His mission of redeeming the entire world! How do we join Jesus on mission in our world? In this sermon, we’ll see how the Gospel gives us three things to change our world: New Motivation: The Gospel gives us a new motivation to live for King Jesus. New Perspective: The Gospel changes how we see the world as we look to the New Creation. New Assignment: The Gospel gives us a new assignment as ambassadors on mission. Takeaway: Change Your World Through Mission Do you want to change your world in a way that matters for eternity? God is, in Christ, reconciling all things to Himself, bringing in the New Creation where King Jesus will make all things new when He returns. And we have the privilege and responsibility of being ambassadors of that coming reality. Everywhere we go, wherever we live, work, learn or play, we go as representatives of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 To learn more about The Journey of a Lifetime, visit https://www.moodychurch.org/journey Questions about the sermon can be sent to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org

Grow In Love Through Service

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 09:00:00 CDT

How do we become a person of love? In this sermon, we’ll explore how Jesus is inviting us on a transformational journey to become people of love like Himself. On this transformational journey, there’s a pattern to follow, a power to change, and progress to be made. Pattern: Jesus is our model of self-giving love. To follow Jesus is to become like Him. It is His pattern that we are to follow. Power: How are we to become people of love like Jesus? You need a new heart, a clean heart. On the cross, Jesus cleanses our hearts so that the Holy Spirit might come indwell us and transform us from the inside out. The Holy Spirit is transforming us into people of love. Progress: Becoming a person of love won’t happen in an instant. But the new life must push its way through the compacted soil of years of selfish habits and self-absorbed living. Our selfishness has become a bit of a lifestyle, and we have much relearning to do. We are called to work out what God is working in us, because progress comes through practice. So, in service we practice giving ourselves away in love. Takeaway: Grow in love through service. Serving doesn’t just help others, serving changes us. Serving is the laboratory in which God transforms us into people of love. John 13:1-15 Living The Message episode: https://youtu.be/3jMyXAPcgHA

Feed Your Soul Through Community

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Each of us is more than just a body; we're also a soul. And as our bodies need calories for nourishment, our souls need nourishment as well to live and thrive. What can satisfy our soul’s hunger? In this passage from John 15:4-13, we’ll explore Jesus’ invitation to feed our souls through community. The Soul’s Design: Our souls were made for an abiding connection with the abundant, pulsating, and vibrant life of God Himself. Jesus came to die for our since and rise again to make us right with God, so that we might have an abiding connection with God through Jesus. The Soul’s Health: Our souls thrive in the indwelling presence of Christ as His word, love, obedience, and joy become our own. A healthy soul I sone that is tethered to Christ. The Soul’s Communion: Our souls are enfolded in living communion with our Triune God and His forever family. Following Jesus isn’t a solo sport, it’s a team effort. To have a soul-connection with God, is to have a soul connection with God’s family. And to abide in the love of God is to love those that God loves. And the only way to do that is in community. Takeaway: Feed your soul through community. We need each other deeply at the soul level. There are truths about God you will never see unless others show them to you. There are dimensions to the love of God you will never realize unless you open your heart to others. There are aspects of obedience to Jesus that you cannot live out unless you live your faith around others. There are divine joys you will miss out on unless you enter into relationship with others. Community is where we gather to feast our souls upon the Word and love of our God. And when it comes to meals, the very best ones are shared. John 15:4-13

Know God Through Worship

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Abundant life! A life rich in meaning, full of purpose, thick with substance, durable and flourishing—that’s the kind of life we all want. It’s the kind of life that deep down we know we were made for. And it’s the kind of life Jesus is offering those who will follow Him. When Jesus says, “Come, follow me!”, He’s inviting you on the four-stage Journey of a Lifetime to know God, feed your soul, grow in love, and change your world. It’s a spiritual journey of abundant life—the life you and I were made for—and it all starts when we respond to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him. In this sermon, taken from Luke 15:1-2 and 11-32, we focus on the first stage in the journey and what it means to know God through worship. The story Jesus tells in this passage is nothing short of brilliant. Jesus shows us three things:The Purpose of Our Lives: We are made to come alive in joyous relationship with God. The Problem We All Have: Through both irreligion and religion, we estrange ourselves from God. The Pursuit We Can’t Live Without: God relentlessly pursues His lost sons and daughters in redeeming love. Takeaways: Know God through Worship. You were made to Know God, to rejoice in His presence, to bask in his love, to delight in His goodness, and to come alive in worship of Him! And Jesus came from Heaven to Earth to make God known to you and to make it possible for you to know God and worship Him in joy forever. Isn’t it time you said “yes” to gathering regularly for worship? Luke 15:1-2 & 11-32 Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/P2bRDes-jJc

The Moment and the Mission

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 09:00:00 CDT

The moment we are in does not pause the mission we are on. As we look back on where we’ve come from and consider the times we are living in, this passage from John 20:19-21 gives us four powerful reminders of how to live on mission for Jesus. Fear is always the opposite of faith. Peace is always the Christian response. The cross is always our hope and motivation. We go confidently because Jesus sends us. Our response to the call of Jesus should be: "Here I am, send me." John 20:19-21

In His Presence

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 09:00:00 CDT

How would you respond if you saw the risen Jesus face-to-face three days following the crucifixion? The disciples were notably disturbed, fearful, and shamed in this passage from John 20. Yet Jesus’ response to them was something that reverberates thousands of years later for believers today: "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." In this passage, we learn that in Jesus' presence we have four priceless things:Peace Power Perspective Purpose Are you living your life like Jesus is dead? Are you feeling demoralized, or stuck? The resurrection gives you the chance to live in His presence with all the promises therein. Because when you’re in His presence it changes everything. How will you live in light of this? John 20:19-23

A Song Of Confession — Psalm 51

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 09:00:00 CDT

How do we make peace with God when our sin has damaged that relationship? In this passage from Psalm 51, written by King David, we explore five steps to the spiritual practice of confession: The Review The Repercussions The Roots The RequestsDavid asks God for a CLEAN heart. David asks God for a NEW heart. David asks God for a MISSIONAL heart.The Responsiveness Psalm 51

Return To The Lord With All Your Heart

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 09:00:00 CDT

What does it look like to return to the Lord with all your heart? In this passage from Joel 2:12-17, the context is that God had sent a great famine on the people of Israel, and they were in perilous conditions. And in that context, God, in His mercy, sends His prophet with one word: Repent! This passage teaches us what it looks like to repent and turn to the Lord. The nature of true repentance (vv. 12-13a) The incentive for repentance (v. 13b) The submissiveness of repentance (v. 14) The urgency of repentance (vv. 15-17a) The reason for repentance (v. 17b)

Built For Life

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Life is learned, and we’re all learning how to live from someone. And at the end of the day, we will live our lives in one of three ways: by Default (replicating familial patterns), by Drift (doing what everyone else is doing), or by Design (building your life with intention). In this sermon, we explore two philosophies of life, one religious and one secular, and compare these to a third way, the Way of Jesus. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism: God set up the world to work best for those who live rightly; so, if you want a whole and happy life now and Heaven when you die, be good. The problem is if you try to build your life on this philosophy, it simply can’t support the weight of your life. It won’t be able to handle the pressures that come your way, and in the end, it’ll collapse. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism is sinking sand. Expressive Individualism: Life is about finding our deepest, inner self and expressing it authentically in the face of all expectations; so, if you want a whole and happy life, be yourself. The problem is if you try to build your life on yourself, it simply can’t support the weight of your own life. It won’t be able to handle the pressures that come your way, and in the end, it’ll collapse. Expressive Individualism is sinking sand. Gospel-Centered Life in Jesus: We are made for abundant life with God, a relationship we lost because of our sin, but one that Jesus gave Himself to restore; so, if you want a whole and happy life with God now and forever, believe in Jesus. If I’m building my life on what I do, or if I’m building my life on who I am, at the end of the day, my life is built on myself. And I’ll never be enough because it’s a life built on sand. But if I build my life on whose I am, at the end of the day my life is built on Jesus. And He is always enough, so it’s a life built on The Rock. Takeaway: On whom is your life built?

The Two Ways

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 09:00:00 CDT

The Bible often uses an analogy comparing two ways, two paths that people can take in their spiritual journey. In the Garden of Eden, God presents Adam and Eve with two ways, and two trees, one that’s fruit is life and the other that’s death. At the end of Deuteronomy, Moses presents Israel with two ways, “See, I have set before you life and death, good and evil.” Then Joshua, having led the people into the land of promise, presented them with two ways, to serve either foreign gods or the true living God: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” In the Proverbs we are again presented with the two ways: the way of folly and the way of wisdom. You see, God is always bringing His people to the proverbial fork in the road, the moment of decision, the parting of the ways. And in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus once again presents us with The Two Ways. In this passage from Matthew 7:13-29, we’ll organize our thoughts around three questions: What are the two ways? The Way of the Pharisees versus The Way of Jesus. The wide, easy, and popular gate that leads to destruction is the Way of the Scribes and Pharisees. The Scribes & Pharisees are the wolves in sheep’s clothing. They’re the diseased tree with the bad fruit. They’re the ones with the religious resumes that will never enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. But the narrow, hard, and unpopular gate that leads to life is the Way of Jesus. He’s the authentic sheep, the true prophet of God who you can trust and follow. He’s the good tree with life-giving fruit. And on judgement day you will be known to Him and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And if you build your life on His Word, the house of your life will stand through the storms of life. What tells them apart? Religious Moralism versus the Gospel of Jesus. Do you see how different this is? When the storms of life come and beat against the life of a Religious Moralist their world collapses. The Religious Moralist can’t handle much pain and suffering in life. In contrast, when the storm comes, a Gospel Person drives the pylons of their foundation even deeper into the Rock which holds them fast. The hardships of life serve to anchor and tether us increasingly to the person of Jesus, who is our only hope in life. What is at stake? Impermanent Life versus Indestructible Life. One way looks broad and easy, but it ends in destruction. You get eaten alive; the fruit is rotten; there’s no Kingdom of Heaven; and the storms of life will wipe you out. The other way looks hard and narrow, but it leads to life. Jesus is a guide you can follow; the fruit is life-giving; the Kingdom of Heaven opens wide; and the storms of life serve to secure your soul. Takeaways:Which gate will you choose? Which guide will you follow? Which fruit will you eat? Which righteousness will you pursue? Which foundation will you build? Matthew 7:13-29 Got questions about the sermon? We address those during our weekly podcast, Living The Message. Email questions to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org.

The Law of Love

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 09:00:00 CDT

One of the foundational questions of moral philosophy down through the ages is: “What is a virtuous life?” When Jesus speaks about what a life of virtue looks like in the Sermon on the Mount, He’s not doing so in a vacuum. He’s joining an ongoing conversation in His Greco-Roman and Jewish milieu. And the clearest example of this dialogue is in Jesus’ articulation of what we now call “The Golden Rule.” In this passage from Matthew 7:12, Jesus is the first person in world history to make love the central, unifying virtue. This is a watershed moment that continues to shape us today. Not only does Jesus give us unparalleled moral clarity with His ethic of love, He also provides us an unprecedented power to live into that ethic. Let’s explore how Jesus ties the Sermon on the Mount together front-to-back with rhetorical genius. The Way of Love: Scholars of the Gospels have long observed that Jesus’ virtue of love both unfolds and deepens over the course of His teaching ministry; and it all begins with His teaching of The Golden Rule: treat others as you would want to be treated. In contrast to earlier concepts of virtue, Jesus’ ethic is one of loving service, empathy, compassion, and grace. A few years later, Jesus expands on the The Golden Rule with Matthew 22:37-40; love God, love others. Then, at the end of His ministry, Jesus went further in John 13:24-35; love others as I have loved you. With these revelations, Jesus’s virtue of love is unfolding and deepening: treat others the way you wish to be treated; love others as yourself; and love one another just as I have loved you. So, what is a virtuous life, the ethic of all ethics, the commandment of all commandments? The true ethic is a life of love like Jesus. The Life of Love: It’s one thing for Jesus to give us this unparalleled moral clarity in His ethic of love. It’s another thing to empower people to actually live into it. Notice that the timing of when Jesus gives the New Commandment in John 13 is the night before He goes to the cross. In other words, the New Commandment isn’t given in isolation, it’s surrounded on every side by the New Covenant inaugurating the work of Jesus and the promised indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In other words, it is only through the redemption of Christ and the indwelling of the Spirit that we can begin to follow Jesus in His way of love. When we walk with the Spirit in Jesus’ way of love for others, the righteous requirements of the law of God are fulfilled in us. It is the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, that empowers us to live a life of love like Jesus. The Heart of Righteousness: By grace, through faith in Christ, and by the Holy Spirit we now have the heart of righteousness. And this new heart of righteousness grants us access to the abundant life of the Kingdom of Heaven.Takeaway: In Christ and by His Spirit, our Father is loving us into loveliness.Matthew 7:12 Living The Message episode available here: https://youtu.be/XQ6OyjinzqY Got sermon questions? Questions for Living The Message can be emailed to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org.

What Does God Require?

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 09:00:00 CDT

What does God want from us? It’s a confusing and frustrating question, but we can find a helpful answer in Micah 6:1-8 where God gives Israel a clear answer. Three things the Lord requires: do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God. So, what does this answer mean? Do Justice: In the original Hebrew, the term is “misphat”, meaning justice. Justice is advocacy, generosity, and action. The early church was famous for all three of these: advocacy for racial and gender equality, generosity in their provision for the poor, and action in rescuing babies from infanticide and women from pagan temple prostitution. Many scholars point out that the early church grew at an astonishing rate in part because of how the people of God reflected the beautiful heart of God in justice through these actions, and people couldn’t resist this beauty. Love Kindness: The English translates this requirement as kindness, but the Hebrew word, “chesed,” can be translated as steadfast love. But perhaps the best approximation of this term between the English and Hebrew is “compassionate loyalty.” Walk Humbly: True justice (misphat) and kindness (chesed) manifest themselves in true humility before God. True humility is only possible through a humble intimate walk with God, otherwise it becomes self-righteousness and false humility. So, what does God require? He requires all of you because Jesus gave us all of Himself. He requires not just your liturgy, but your life. Not just your works, but your heart. Not just your intentions, but your pride. Takeaways:Do Justice: Where do you see your world broken? Love Kindness: How is your heart breaking for the world? Walk Humbly: What would my God have me do? Micah 6:1-8

A Heart For Others

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 09:00:00 CDT

The passage from Matthew 7:1-12 is notoriously difficult to understand due to its complex thematic interconnections. What seems like a random collection of Jesus’ wisdom is actually a message about how we are to treat others. Jesus is identifying two radically different ways of treating others, which flows through two radically different hearts: a self-righteous heart like the Pharisees, and a kingdom-heart made alive by God’s grace. What kind of heart treats others rightly? The Heart of Unhelpfulness: A self-righteous heart is helpless with others. Condemnation flows from a heart of self-righteousness, and self-righteousness never helps anybody. If we’re condemning, blaming, shaming, and ostracizing others, there’s something much bigger than a speck of sin in our eye; we’re blinded by the log of self-righteousness. And self-righteous people shouldn’t try to help others deal with harmful stuff in their life. The Heart of Helpfulness: Jesus describes another approach: to ask, seek, and knock on the doors of others. If someone is bothering you, what if you ask for their help? What if you seek them out to build a relationship? What if you knock on the door of their life? You see, souls open from the inside. You can’t force entry into another person’s soul. The only way to speak into another person’s life is if they willingly allow you in. That’s the approach that God takes with us. Scripture teaches us how to live well in relationship with others, and to treat others the way you’d like to be treated. And the only way that is possible is with the new heart of the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus is offering us by grace through the Holy Spirit. A heart that has received the grace of God, is equipped to extend the grace of God. That’s why a righteousness-graced heart is so helpful with others, because a heart that receives grace knows how to extend grace. The Heart of Helplessness: The irony is that that most helpful heart is the one that realizes its helplessness. Only a helpless heart can help other helpless hearts. Takeaway: Grace floods out of a heart that is flooded by grace. You want a heart for others? Let the grace of God flood into your life and wash all the self-righteous entitlement and ego away until there’s nothing left but a poor, abject sinner beating his breast crying out to God, “Have mercy upon me, a sinner!” And in your helplessness, you’ll discover how supremely helpful you are to the helpless hearts around you. For in your gentle, lowly, and humble heart, others will sense the presence of Christ in your story of amazing grace. Matthew 7:1-12 Living The Message episode: https://youtu.be/L7tLS5Tk1Gg

Freedom From Worry

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Jesus hates worry and what it does to people. Worry is like a venom, stealing our life. The antidote is to remember that we exist in a God-created, God-sustained, God-filled, God-watched, God-loved, and God-kept universe. For those of us who worry, Jesus is inviting us into the abundant life of the Kingdom of Heaven that is “at hand” in His presence. We can be free from worry knowing that our life is perfectly safe in the hands of your loving Father, both now and forever. In this passage from Matthew 6:24-34, Jesus gives us six antidotes to a life of worry:You are a God-breathed soul in a God-crafted body. You are priceless image-bearer in a God-sustained universe. Your life and times are perfectly safe in the hands of Almighty God. You are an immortal being designed to be clothed in radiance in the presence of God. You are a beloved child known by a good Father. There is a life beyond worry in the Kingdom of our Father, one day at a time. Takeaway: There is freedom from worry in childlike faith. With God as our Heavenly Father, nothing irredeemable can happen to us. Matthew 6:24-34 Living The Message episode: https://youtu.be/Negy3SOqbZU

Treasures In Heaven

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 09:00:00 CDT

In Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven is breaking into reality, establishing a beachhead of the new creation. And Jesus is inviting us to follow Him into this cosmic disruption. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, to get in on the ground floor of the greatest Kingdom the world will ever know. Here's our choice: Will we keep on investing our time and energy and resources in the Kingdom of Earth? Or, will we see this breakthrough for what it is, will we understand the opportunity, will we get in early and invest in the Kingdom of Heaven? In this passage from Matthew 6:19-24, we find three deep insights into what it means to invest in the Kingdom of Heaven.The Two Treasures: Our treasure is our trajectory. If the treasure of our life is an earthly one, the trajectory of our souls is heart-wrenching, because we'll always feel at risk of losing it all. But if our treasure is in heaven, our trajectory is different, because our future is incorruptible. A heart tied to heavenly treasures can weather any storm. Choose wisely, because our treasure is your trajectory. The Two Eyes: Our beholding is our becoming. What we see and savor, shapes the character of our inner life far more than we realize. We can’t help that we are designed for worship, but we get to choose what we worship. And what we worship will either devour us or fulfill our deepest longings. The Two Masters: Our loyalty is our lifestyle. Whatever we worship in life will win our allegiance, because our loyalty is our lifestyle. We serve what we seek; we live for what we long for. God is the only master who gives us our life back when we serve Him. Takeaway: What are you living for? Only what’s done for Christ will last. Matthew 6:19-24 Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/fvZprHKq8eQ

When You Fast

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 09:00:00 CDT

In some ways, The Lord’s Prayer is a bit of an aside to the main point Jesus is making. If you will recall, Jesus has been calling out the Scribes and Pharisees for their religious hypocrisy. To drive the point home, Jesus gives three examples of spiritual practices: giving, praying, and fasting. These practices are supposed to be all about loving the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. But we can twist these practices into being about us. Then it’s not the love of God or neighbor that’s motivating us, but the love of ourselves. Jesus is saying: “Beware. Be wary. Be warned. Don’t fall into the trap of religious hypocrisy.” But notice He doesn’t say that those spiritual practices don’t matter. He says, “when you give, when you pray, when you fast.” Just because these practices can be misused doesn’t mean they don’t have a proper use. He wants us to follow Him as He gives us a new heart towards these spiritual practices. So, in this passage about fasting, we’re going to see that fasting is a cultural blind spot, a biblical paradigm, and a helpful practice that we ought to embrace: Culture Blindspot: Fasting is historically practiced, and far more common around the world than in the US. Biblical Paradigm: Fasting is biblically expected. Fasting honors our creative design as physical and spiritual beings. In the beginning of Genesis, the devil used food to tempt us, and from that point on our bodies have ruled us and our appetites. Jesus is showing us what it means to be live from spiritual sustenance that God provides. Saying “no” to pressing physical appetites enables us to say “yes” to deeper spiritual nourishment. Helpful Practice: Fasting is spiritually beneficial for three reasons: it helps us attend to our soul; it helps us starve the flesh; and helps us feast on God. Fasting isn’t about saying “no” to the physical but saying “yes” to the spiritual. Far too often we live as if the physical is all there is. Fasting reminds us that we are more real than just our bodies. The Holy Spirit’s job is to develop new desires and teach you to walk in Him. Fasting teaches us to be led by the Spirit and not by the flesh. Fasting isn’t about appetite suppression, it is about cultivating our appetites for the things of God, where we feast on the things of the Lord. Takeaway: Fasting is feasting on God. Just do it! Matthew 6:16-18 Living The Message episode: https://youtu.be/c_yemjdnl6M

It’s Time

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 09:00:00 CDT

People feel a longing for Jesus to come again. But since we don’t know the time and date of that return, what should we do in the meantime? As we wait for the return of Christ, we are to be the people of God, empowered by the spirit of God, to testify to the son of God, carrying on the mission of God. Are you living that way? Acts 1:1-11

Kingdom, Power, and Glory

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 09:00:00 CDT

The final phrase, or benediction, of The Lord’s Prayer is a grand crescendo in what has been a rather sobering prayer for mercy amidst a dark and battered world. It feels like all of a sudden light pierces the darkness as the speaker proclaims the forever kingdom, power, and glory of God. It’s a phrase that reminds us of what is true, good, real, and beautiful; that no matter how dark things get down here, there is light a beauty forever beyond its reach. When The Lord’s Prayer was recited in the liturgy in church services, they ended with this final benediction, even though the phrase wasn’t included in the oldest original manuscripts recording Jesus’ words. It was added later by the early Church. Nevertheless, the phrase remains biblical, familiar, and ancient, so it’s important for us to study it, and it’s appropriate for us to pray with it. The benediction provides three things: Frame: Our stories are most meaningful when connected with God’s overarching story. Everything about us is framed by the grandeur of God. Scope: Cosmic reconciliation of all things and all peoples for all eternity. When we pray the benediction, we are praying for all things to be made new. Goal: The cosmos set to rights with the King in His rightful place. And the amazing thing is that God invites us to join with Him in the work of answering this prayer. This is our greatest calling, as emissaries of God’s kingdom, power, and glory which even now are spreading throughout the world as people come to trust in Jesus. Takeaway: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20) There is light and high beauty that no darkness can touch. This is the end of our prayers, our hopes, our commissions: “For yours in the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen” Matthew 6:13 Living The Message episodes: https://youtu.be/gELbmjNKXPo

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Sun, 29 May 2022 09:00:00 CDT

All of us prefer to avoid tests in life, because these are moments of accountability when we’re exposed for who we really are. The danger of tests is that we’ll come to realize we’re not all that we ought to be, that we’re frail and faltering beings. In this sermon, we explore the phrase in the Lord’s Prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” and learn how Jesus shows us teaching us to prepare for life’s tests. When it comes to the tests of life, this prayer helps us in four ways: Calibrate Reality: Jesus is giving this prayer to his disciples as a kind of template to teach them how to pray. This pray for protection from and preservation through life’s tests is the grace we all need on a daily basis. Life is full of tests that we cannot avoid, so we must expect them. By giving us this prayer, Jesus is preparing us to face life’s test as an ordinary part of what it means to follow Him. This prayer helps us calibrate reality so that the tests of life don’t catch us off guard. Define the Enemy: Our greatest enemy is not pain, it’s evil. Notice in the prayer that Jesus says deliver us from evil, not from pain. And so, this prayer helps us define the enemy, which is evil within us and all around us. To face such evil within and without, we need God’s preserving grace. Run to our Father: When the tests of life come, and evil rears its head, we should run to the Father. If we are children of God, these tests of life are not punitive, they’re purifying. This distinction is vital for us to understand. God is 100% for us, not against us. His goal is to conform us to the image of Christ, making us grow in resemblance of our Father. And so, this prayer helps us to depend on His grace, to yield to His delivering power and presence as we follow Him. Look unto Jesus: Not only is Jesus giving us an example in this prayer, but He’s also giving us an example with His own life. If our Heavenly Father brought Jesus through the ultimate test, delivering Him from evil through the cross into resurrection glory, then He can bring us, His adopted sons and daughters, through our tests into glory as well. Because Jesus is victorious, we can follow Him with confidence. Jesus says, “come follow me.” He invites us to walk with Him through the fire, through the cross, through the tests of life, because there’s glory on the other side. There is no greater source of courage during the tests of life than to look unto Jesus. If He walked through the fire for us, then we can walk into the fire for Him. Jesus took up the cross for us, so we can take up our cross for Him. Matthew 6:13 Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/qg-IvwxUeL4

The Wonderful Wisdom of God

Sun, 22 May 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Have you ever questioned God’s intentions for your life? Do you wish that God was doing something different through the course of events that you experience? God can seem to answer our prayers in ways that are unexpected and complex. In this sermon, we’ll be reminded of three important truths that we can hold on to when we question God’s intentions for our lives:God’s Wisdom is Unfathomable and Glorious: You don’t have to understand God’s wisdom to praise Him for it. God’s Wisdom is Perplexing and Precious: We are most confused about God’s wisdom when His will for our lives is different than our will for our lives. “When you can’t trust His hand, trust His heart.” God’s purpose is to make us more like Jesus; that’s a purpose we can trust. God’s Wisdom is Worthy of Trust and Imitation: “The fear (respect) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” God is inviting each of us to a deeper relationship with him. The question is: are you wise enough to pursue Him? Romans 11:33-36

Forgive Us Our Debts

Sun, 15 May 2022 09:00:00 CDT

“Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive.” – C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity It’s not hard to see that our world needs to be a more forgiving place. Our families need to be more forgiving places. Our churches need to be more forgiving places. And, of course, it’s easy to spot unforgiveness in others. It’s much harder when it’s our turn to forgive. The reality is that we need to be more forgiving people. We have too much anger in our hearts. We have too many wounds we’re nursing. We have too many grudges we’re holding inside. Unforgiveness always rises from a place of hurt. Because hurt people hurt people. And those hurt people then hurt more people, who in turn hurt still more people. On and on it goes until the world looks like our front-page news. But what if forgiveness can turn the world upside-down? What if forgiveness is at the very heart of the life of the Kingdom of Heaven? What if forgiveness is a defining mark of those who follow the Way of Jesus? In this sermon, we look at three upside-down characteristics about forgiveness: The Gravity of Forgiveness: There is a vital connection between the forgiveness we receive and the forgiveness we extend. To put it succinctly, unforgiving people are unforgiven people. The Symmetry of Forgiveness: There’s a connection between the forgiveness we receive from God and the forgiveness we extend to others. This connection isn’t one of causation, but of coordination. Causation is a relationship of cause and effect. But of course, you cannot earn forgiveness by what you do. The connection between the forgiveness we receive from God and the forgiveness we extend to others cannot be one of causation, because that would be a denial of the gospel and a contradiction of the overwhelming teaching of Scripture. Instead, the relationship is one of coordination, where receiving and extending forgiveness go together. There’s a symmetry to forgiveness; those who receive forgiveness naturally tend to extend forgiveness to others. In other words, forgiven people forgive people. The Trajectory of Forgiveness: We are forgiven so that we might become forgiving. God is making us likely Himself; gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, rich in mercy. To become like Him, the first thing we need to receive is God’s forgiveness. What does that mean? Forgiveness is not a feeling; forgiveness is not forgetting; forgiveness is not excusing; forgiveness is not reckless trust; and forgiveness is not anti-justice. At its core, forgiveness is the decision to pay the debt yourself and be done with it. And the most amazing thing is that that’s what Jesus did for us; He paid the price of our forgiveness. Takeaway: Forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. When we forgive others, there’s three important things to stay away from: don’t dwell on it, don’t weaponize it, and don’t gossip about it. Where do you need to receive your father’s forgiveness? Where do you need to extend your Father’s forgiveness? Matthew 6:12 Living the Message episode available here: https://youtu.be/FlumV8X6qqY

Our Daily Bread

Sun, 08 May 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Far too often we treat prayer like a cosmic 911 service. Some emergency happens, and suddenly, we become praying people. On a daily basis, we try not to bother God with the little stuff, thinking that we can handle most circumstances on our own. Most of the time, life feels manageable. We rationalize that we are smart, industrious, hard-working; and with time and money, we can make most of our problems go away. We feel self-reliant, independent, and free. That sounds a lot like America – “Freedom is independence!” But it doesn’t sound much like Jesus. In this passage, Jesus is going to open our eyes to what real freedom looks like. And he’s going to do it with a simple prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.” There are five characteristics of this prayer that recalibrates our soul orientation to God: Surrendered Prayer: Everything up unto the midpoint of this prayer has been God entranced, and it is only after these Godward prayers have been offered that Jesus then adds a prayer for daily bread. Jesus trains our focus on God first and then teaches us to bring prayers for our own needs second. Do you see what’s happening here? Jesus is recalibrating our souls. We instinctively see our needs first. and when we’re in pain or distress, we naturally become a bit self-absorbed. Jesus is teaching us to lift our eyes, to see our needs in light of the bigger picture, to understand the plot line of our stories within the arc of a grander narrative, and then to bring our daily needs before our Father. This all reframes our perspective and helps us to remember the glorious purposes of God. There is immense freedom when we begin to see our needs in light of eternity. We should come to our Father with open hands, surrendered to His glorious purposes in our lives. Communal Prayer: Notice that this prayer is in the plural: “our daily bread.” Jesus is teaching us to pray, not only for our own needs, but also for the needs of our neighbors. There is immense freedom when we begin to see our needs alongside the needs of others. And so, we come to our Father with loving hearts, lifting up each other’s needs in prayer. Earnest Prayer: At the heart of this request is the most basic of human needs, a daily ration of food. Jesus is teaching us to bring our daily needs before our Father; and at the same time to remember to rest in God’s provision and promise. Jesus is inviting us to rest, to cease striving, to cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. Holistic Prayer: God’s Old Testament provision of bread (mana) for the Israelites in the wilderness wasn’t ultimately about bread. The bread was an illustration of a deeper reality. Just as they were utterly dependent on God for their physical sustenance, they were likewise utterly dependent on God for their spiritual sustenance as well. Jesus is teaching us to bring our daily needs before the Father, and at the same time to remember that man shall not live by bread alone. There is immense freedom when we embrace our created design and entrust our needs, physical and spiritual, into our Father’s care. This orientation doesn’t negate or diminish what we’re going through, but it does put our life circumstances into an eternal perspective. Trustful Prayer: This is a simple prayer of child-like faith. Jesus is teaching us that this universe is a perfectly safe place to be when God is your Father. There’s no scarcity in His Kingdom; He knows what you need before you ask; and He loves to give good gifts to his children. So, when we ask Him for daily bread, we can remember that we are the beloved child of a good Father. There is immense freedom when we pray as beloved children of God secure in the provision and promise of our good Father. Don’t you see how this prayer turns the world upside down? We think life and freedom is found in being, self-reliant, self-sufficient, and self-secured. We believe freedom is independence. But this perspective leaves us lonely, anxious, and scared. Jesus is giving us a better way. Takeaway: Freedom is in dependence. Jesus is teaching us how to live in real freedom as beloved children of God, learning to pray to Him. Matthew 6:11 Living the Message episode available here: https://youtu.be/hkBzsrL9uM8

Your Kingdom Come

Sun, 01 May 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Jesus knows what it’s like to live within this broken world, and He knows how to pray His way through it. In this passage from the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus is going to teach us how to pray our way through the brokenness of this life. This sermon focuses on Matthew 6:10: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We explore four key questions: What is the Kingdom? The Kingdom of God is the “reign of God.” Wherever God reigns as King, there His Kingdom is. Or another way to think about it: God’s Kingdom is the realm over which He has say, and the sphere in which His will is carried out. Wherever the will of God is done, there his Kingdom is. So, when we pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we’re asking that the reign of God would be established right here and right now, that the range of His effective will would extend and envelope this world, and that God would bring the rule of Heaven to earth and make everything right again. So, if we are being taught to pray “your kingdom come,” in a sense, the kingdom must be missing. Where has it gone? The Kingdom has been hijacked by rebels. This world, designed for beauty under the Kingdom Rule of God, was hijacked by Satan and has fallen under his dominion. And we’re part of the rebellion. Every time we disregard what God says and choose to do what we want instead, and we ratify the rebellion. We desperately need God’s Kingdom, but when will it come? When will it come? In one sense, it never really left, because the Kingdom is forever. What this means is that the Kingdom has come, the Kingdom is coming now, and the Kingdom is yet to come, all at the same time. In other words, the Kingdom of God has always been here, has come already in Jesus, is coming even now, and it yet to come. And all of it is on God’s timetable. Why pray for it? If God’s going to do what God’s going to do, and the Kingdom won’t come until Jesus returns, and we can’t hurry him along, then why should we pray for God’s Kingdom to come? When we do this, we’re praying on 3 levels: your kingdom come in me, your kingdom come through me, and your kingdom come take over. Takeaway: “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!”Wherever You are revered as Holy, the world becomes whole. Whenever you are acknowledged as King, everything finds its rightful place. Whoever surrenders to your will finds abundant life and freedom. Matthew 6:10 Living the Message episode available here: https://youtu.be/hceIr7c3BqY Questions about the sermon can be emailed to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org.

Our Father In Heaven

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 09:00:00 CDT

For many of us, prayer raises more questions than answers. Does it even work? Am I doing it right? Am I using the right words? How can I know God is even listening? Jesus’ early followers had similar questions about prayer, but they saw something different in Jesus. Jesus prayed with a confidence, closeness, and comfort that His disciples found mesmerizing. So, they asked Jesus to teach them to pray like He prayed. They wanted to know what He knew. And so in Luke 11 and here in Matthew 6, Jesus gave his disciples what we now call The Lord’s Prayer. It is a prayer that turns the world upside down, and it might turn our lives upside down too…if only we will let it. In this sermon, we’re focusing on the first sentence which contains three key phrases: Our Father… in heaven… hallowed be your name. Our Father: In this phrase, Jesus is saying that you can come to God in the same way that He does, as a beloved son or daughter. You can come to God like a little child, running into her daddy’s arm. Because in Jesus, orphans become children of God. In the Heavens: This phrase It speaks to both God’s transcendence (high and exalted) and immanence (pervasive and close). The Heavens are where God resides, where Angels serve, and where Saints adore. But earthly, unclean, sinners – we belong here, and dare not venture into the heavenlies. And yet Jesus is saying we have access to “Our Father in the Heavens,” because in Jesus, sinners become saints. Here’s the Gospel reality: if Jesus is your Savior and Lord, your great high priest who has passed through the heavens, then you are raised up with him and are seated with Him in the heavenly places, and you now have the same access Jesus has to the throne room of heaven! Jesus is teaching us: “In me… in my Kingdom… you are Saints seated in the heavenlies.” Hallowed be Your Name: To hallow, means to sanctify, to treat as holy, sacred, and set apart. To hallow a name is to esteem a person’s honor, upholding the credit that is due their name. So, when we pray “Hallowed be Your Name” we are praying that God would be believed, obeyed, feared, and glorified by everyone everywhere as He rightfully deserves. In Jewish tradition, the priests were the ones responsible for ensuring that God’s name was hallowed; they were the stewards of the holiness of God. But in Jesus, commoners like us become priests. Here’s the Gospel reality: If Jesus is your Lamb that was slain, you are priest in the Kingdom of God. You are sanctified, holy, and set apart for the purpose to hallow the name of God. Takeaways: Your Father delights in hearing your voice. Has it ever occurred to you that God actually wants to hear from you? Matthew 6:9-13 Watch the Living the Message episode about this sermon: https://youtu.be/cQtxKBwjBEA Questions about the sermon can be emailed to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org.

He Is Risen!

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 09:00:00 CDT

He is Risen! He is Risen! He is Risen! Easter Sunday marks the turning of the tide. The power of sin is shattered; the chains of Satan are broken; the dominion of death is conquered, for the Son of God has risen with power and is alive forevermore! In this sermon, we go back to that very resurrection morning and discover how Jesus’ resurrection changes everything. A Historical Seismic Shift: All the gospel accounts portray Jesus’ disciples on resurrection morning as being in utter shock. They were NOT expecting this. And it utterly changed the course of their lives and the course of human history. The resurrection of Jesus sent a seismic shock wave across human history, shifting the world. A Philosophical Seismic Shift: The resurrection of Jesus broke the philosophical mold of both Greco-Roman and Jewish thought. But today, we don’t live in Greco-Roman or Jewish philosophical categories; we live in a secular philosophical framework. The secular philosophical story goes something like this: We exist because of random chance and the survival of the fittest. And because life has no inherent meaning, it’s up to you to devise your own happiness, because you only live once. But in the end, death conquers us all, and in time, we will all be forgotten. But if the resurrection is true, everything changes. If the resurrection is true, death isn’t the end at all, because There’s life and love and high beauty beyond. If the resurrection is true, we’re not just flesh and bone. We are souls destined to live forever. If the resurrection is true, we exist, not by chance, but because the eternally loving God created us in His image to be enfolded in his love forever. If the resurrection is true… then life is full of rich meaning and purpose, and we can ultimately be made new. A Spiritual Seismic Shift: The resurrection of Jesus sends seismic shock waves across our spiritual reality. If the resurrection is true, there’s nothing more important in life than what we do with Jesus. If Jesus’ resurrection is real, nothing else matters. And if it is not real, then nothing else matters. Takeaways: Has Jesus shifted your world? One of the ways you know you’ve encountered the living Jesus is the landscape of your life looks very different as a result. You find your affections changing, your desires altering, and your priorities shifting. Instead of looking to Jesus as an advisor, you start following him as Lord. It’s a whole new kind of life with Jesus at the center. And it turns out to be life as it was always meant to be. Matthew 28:1-10

Hosanna in the Highest!

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Each of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – allocate approximately 1/3rd of their biographies to the final week of Jesus’ life. It’s as if everything shifts into slow motion, every definitive moment captured, each dialogue carefully conveyed, every detail meticulously preserved. Because this is the week that changed all of history! The gospel writers want us to see it, feel it, experience it, and attend to it. So, in this sermon we’re going to walk with Jesus through this final week that changed history. The author of this passage wants us to be struck by how it sets up and previews what is about to unfold in this final week of Jesus’ life. There are little hints of what is to come, thematic seeds planted here that will grow to fruition as the week develops, a revelation of who this Jesus truly is, and the storm he will face that is brewing on the horizon. In the Triumphal Entry, Jesus is revealed to be three things that foreshadow what is to come throughout the rest of Holy Week: Sovereign Lord: Jesus rides into Jerusalem as the Sovereign of Creation and the Lord of History. Jesus is going into Holy Week with His eyes wide open. As the divine Son of God, He has foresight, not only into the generalities of what will take place, but also the particulars as well: the details of where to find the colt, that he will be spit upon, and the exact timetable of his resurrection. He knows everything that awaits him: the suffering, the agony, the rejection, the humiliation, the shame, and the death. And yet He rides on, boldly, courageously, and resolutely. Blessed King: Jesus rides into Jerusalem as the Anointed King and the Humble Messiah. Everything in this scene is dripping with Messianic Hope: the descent from the Mount of Olives associated with the King’s coming; the mighty works of God that had occurred in their midst, like healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, and raising the dead; and the waiving of Palm branches. These are all details associated with the return of the king and the coming of the kingdom. Rejected Savior: Jesus rides into Jerusalem as the Rejected Savior and the Suffering Servant. As the multitudes worship Jesus as King and Messiah, some of the Pharisees take offense. And we see the seeds of the rejection that Jesus will face at the hands of the religious leaders in the week to come. It’s a foreshadowing of the King’s Cross. What began with joyous fanfare and praise and excitement on Sunday…will end in brutal rejection and betrayal and hostility on Friday. A donkey now bears him as king, but soon the king will bear a cross. He will be the Rejected Savior. Takeaways:Jesus chose this week for you. Jesus is a king worth following Is Jesus your King? Luke 19:28-40

The Right Side Of History

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 09:00:00 CDT

No one wants to be on the wrong side of history. As it was in the days of Jesus, so it is today. Our passage for this sermon takes place at a time when it seemed to some that the right side of history was about to be revealed. The people of Jesus’ day believed that Jesus was about to ride into Jerusalem on a white horse and overturn the existing ruling order; they didn’t understand Jesus and His mission. But then Jesus tells a parable about a king, his servants, and investments of minas with a message that surprised the audience: there is no such thing as safety and neutrality when it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven. Takeaways: The King is coming back, and so...Our greatest need is not fruitfulness, it is faithfulness. Our greatest call is not awareness, it is readiness. Our greatest problem is not sin, it is God. In the end, history will be divided into two sides. Which side will you be on? Luke 19:11–27

Pray Then Like This

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 09:00:00 CDT

It is common to feel frustrated about prayer that doesn’t seem to work as we intended. We can feel like God isn’t answering in the way we want, or we don’t feel heard, so we just gave up. But what if you’re using prayer the wrong way? In this sermon we learn about how to pray God’s way, the way that it’s designed to work. We explore two ways of praying that never work, and one way that always will. Looking to Others: Prayer that uses God to look good will never work. We can do this by using prayer to gain status in the social order, to find our place in the world, or to look good in the eyes of others. Imagine how God feels by prayers like this. He doesn’t want to be used so that we can look good; He wants us to authentically desire His presence. Looking to Ourselves: Prayer that uses God to get His stuff will never work. We can repetitiously plead with God hoping that He will give us what we want; we can use all the flattery and well-oiled phrases, but in the end we’re just bargaining to get our needs met. We’re trying to control our situation in the world through prayer, and our eyes are focused only on our needs, wants, goals, and priorities. These kinds of prayers treat God like a vending machine in the sky. In practice, we’re saying we don’t really want God, we just want His stuff. God doesn’t desire these kinds of prayers. Looking to Our Father: Prayer that pursues our Father with childlike trust, intimacy, and surrender will always be answered. Jesus says that prayer works when it is used as it was intended, to seek a trustful intimacy and surrender with God. Do you see how radically different this is from both religious and irreligious prayer? Instead of showing off to impress others and fit in, or trying to convince God to do what we want, gospel prayer is about trustful intimacy with God. Prayer never works when it’s about our agenda. Prayer is designed to draw us close to our Heavenly Father, in child-like trust and surrender. Takeaways: Three ideas to orient your heart to God in prayer.Pray when no one is looking. Pray to “waste” time with God. Pray as adopted heirs of our Father. Matthew 6:5-13 Watch Living the Message episode here: https://youtu.be/J2rix47MwRQ

Religious Hypocrisy

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 09:00:00 CDT

There’s probably nothing sicker than religious hypocrisy--people who claim to be tight with God, but then turn out to be total fakes. We hear it all the time: “the church is full of hypocrites.” If religious hypocrisy makes you mad, you’re in good company, because Jesus couldn’t stand it either. In fact, a lot of people don’t realize that Jesus was very first person in recorded history to call out religious people as hypocrites.In the passage for this sermon, Jesus is going to show us three things about hypocrisy: The Profile of Hypocrisy: Hypocrisy is when goodness becomes virtue signaling. In this definition, hypocrites are not being good for God’s sake or even goodness’ sake, but they are being good for their own sake. For them, it’s about image and brand management, playing to the audience. This is the kind of righteousness that parades itself in order to be seen by others. The Tyranny of Applause: Jesus says that those who live for the applause of others have received their reward. He’s saying that the human applause may make us feel like we’re gaining the whole world, but in reality we’re losing our souls. Because human applause is tyranny for three reasons: it’s inauthentic, it’s addicting, and it’s idolatrous. We can do all the right things for all the wrong reasons. When we live for the approval of others, we will die of rejection from God. Ultimately, we need more than a good image; we need a new heart. The Freedom of Secrecy: Jesus isn’t giving us a new law, He’s offering us a new heart of undistracted, loving affection for God and God alone. This is the heart of a child delighting in the smile of our Heavenly Father. All the smiles of earth can never compare to the smile of Heaven. And if we have the smile of our Father, we can face the frowns of men. Takeaway: will you live for an audience of One? That’s what Jesus is saying: come to me… I will give you a heart that dares to live for an audience of One, with eyes only for your Father! See His smile… and it’ll be enough. So how do we live this out this week? Do something Jesus-like… and keep it quiet. Allow the quiet smile of Heaven to eclipse the thunderous applause of men, and trust that your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 5:48-6:18 Watch Living The Message episode about this sermon here: https://youtu.be/C46xbSSlLc0

The Song of the Sea

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon with guest speaker Dr. James Hamilton, we explore the connection between the Old Testament foundation for baptism in Exodus 15 and the New Testament foundation for Peter saying that the flood corresponds to baptism. The chiastic structure of the song in Exodus informs us about Moses' intent for the Israelites thousands of years ago and help us relate this passage to our faith today. 15:1–2 I will sing to Yahweh15:3–4 Yahweh Conqueror . . . Pharaoh . . . into the sea15:5–10 The Deep/Floods Covered Egypt15:11–12 Who Is Like You?15:13–17 New Exodus Conquest of a New Eden15:18–19 Yahweh King . . . Pharaoh . . . into the sea15:20–21 Sing to Yahweh Takeaway: worship looks back to look forward. Exodus 15:1-21

Loving Enemies

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 09:00:00 CDT

If you were a 1st century Jew living in Capernaum, life under Roman military occupation was difficult. Talk of revolt and uprising were everywhere. Some had even claimed to be the chosen one to lead Israel to freedom from Roman rule, until they and their followers were crucified. Emotions were running high, like a tinder box waiting to ignite. Then rumors of a rabbi from Nazareth speaking with authority and healing the sick presented a counter-narrative to the sentiments among the people. His ideas were so counter-culture that everyone had to pause and take note. In this passage, we come to one of Jesus’ most radical teachings about loving our enemies. Two thousand years ago it would’ve sounded like heresy to a Jew. But Jesus wants to turn our world upside-down if we would let Him with open hands. The sermon outline explores three main ideas: The Power of Non-Retaliation: The Old Testament taught that if someone harms you, it is only fair and just that they suffer the same in turn. The objective was to avoid endless cycles of escalating violence and revenge; and for the most part it established the rule of law, a process for justice, and a punishment that fit the crime. The way of Jesus was much different, it was the way of non-retaliation when someone offended you. This nuanced teaching stopped the cycle of violence, reclaimed a person’s agency, honored the image of God in others, and opened a window of grace towards an offender. When non-retaliation opens of a window of grace for another person’s soul, they’re forced to do something about it. This way allows the offended to act redemptively towards an enemy. This is the kind of heart that Jesus wants to give us. The Redemption of Enemy-Love: The Pharisees taught a pattern of reciprocal love—do unto others as they do to you. The problem is that you need a righteousness that exceed that standard. Jesus says that if you have an enemy, He can give you a heart to love them, a hear that prays for a persecutor for their good. The way of Jesus, the way of the Kingdom of Heaven, is a supernatural enemy-love. Jesus is saying that when we follow Him, and take our eyes off ourselves, our rights, and our wounds, and choose instead to do what is best for our enemy’s soul, this reveals a heart that is “at home” in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Beauty of a God-ward Heart: This heart that Jesus is describing is beautiful because it’s a heart just like God’s. God loves His enemies, and when you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, you’re imitating your Father in Heaven. The way of Jesus is overcoming evil with good. To do that, we need to drink deeply of the God’s love, and pour ourselves out in love for others, including our enemies. Takeaway: “Take up your cross and follow me.” -Jesus Matthew 5:38-48

Manipulation on the Lips

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 09:00:00 CDT

It’s one thing to understand the symptoms; it’s another to get the diagnosis right. Effectiveness of the prescription depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis. So, when it comes to the brokenness of humanity, the symptoms are easily identified, but it’s the diagnosis that’s difficult. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day (Scribes and Pharisees) diagnosed our problem as largely behavioral (we all have bad, sinful habits). According to them, the key is to break those habits and learn to do good instead. So, the religious leaders prescribed long lists of do’s and don’ts, all in service of reforming behavior. What most religion teaches is to work hard at being good by keeping the rules. But Jesus has a different diagnosis: the problem isn’t just in our behavior, it’s in our hearts. And we can modify our behavior all we want, but unless our hearts are transformed on the inside, we’re never going to be truly right. Jesus’ prescription is for new heart: He says to “repent, follow me, I will give you a new heart and an abundant life in the Kingdom of Heaven” In this sermon, we approach the seemingly odd topic of swearing oaths. Here, Jesus said He can take your heart that swears oaths and give you a heart that simply says “yes” or “no”. It’s an odd topical shift in the Sermon on the Mount, so let’s look closely at what is going on: The Symptoms: The reason why we take vows or swear at all, is because we have a problem with utilizing untrustworthy manipulation and exploitation. Jesus says that all our vows and oaths are symptomatic of a far deeper problem. The Diagnosis: We all have hearts diseased with a disintegrated and coercive self-interest. Put simply, the reason people swear oaths is because their hearts lack integrity. Little white lies, polite untruths, exaggeration, spin, and flattery are all evidence of the problem. Jesus is warning us that the words we use are telling because they reveal our hearts. When our hearts are full of integrity, our yesses mean yes, and our no’s mean no. But when integrity is lacking, five evils unfold: it destroys community, disintegrates identity, desecrates others, decimates credibility, and leads to delusions thinking. The Prescription: It’s important to remember that Jesus isn’t laying down a new law, he’s illustrating a new heart that is available to us in the Kingdom of Heaven… the kind of heart he’s offering to us if we will come and follow Him. We need the integrity of a childlike heart. When you have a childlike heart, you can say: “In Jesus Christ, I am not an Orphan… I’m a Child of God. I’m not on my own. I don’t have to fend for myself. Because my Father is watching over me, I know at every moment of every day He is with me, He is for me, He is life to me. And I don’t need to manipulate and coerce others to get my needs met, I don’t need to use oaths to get my way, I can simply say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’” God is making His children into the kind of people who do not need oaths to be believed because we’re becoming people of integrity, like God himself. Takeaway: Jesus offers to make you whole.The first step to integrity is admitting we have none. Next is understanding that Jesus is the true integrity we lack. Then the Spirit can lead us in the way of Jesus, into the integrity of a childlike heart. Matthew 5:33-37 Watch Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/6Ej1HJQL02I

Divorce on the Mind

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Throughout this series, we’ve been working our way through Jesus’ illustrations of what that kind of perfect righteousness flowing from the goodness of a heart like God’s looks like. The kind of heart only Jesus can give us. In this sermon, we come to the 3rd illustration of a heart made right in the Kingdom of Heaven, and again Jesus isn’t pulling any punches. The example of divorce demonstrates an underlying hardness of our hearts. In a world full of miserable marriages, brutal betrayals, devastating divorces, and alarming abandonments, Jesus has a better Way. And it all starts with a new heart. Three key points in our outline: The Details of the Divorces Debate: The Old Testament grounds for divorce were adultery (Deuteronomy 24) and abusive abandonment (Exodus 21). Both of these texts form the backdrop of the New Testament’s teaching about divorce. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus interacts exclusively with Deuteronomy 24, which offers only one ground for divorce based on sexual immorality/adultery. The Hardness of Human Hearts: Jesus is saying that divorce runs contrary to God’s intentions. It is only because of Israel’s hard heartedness that God made allowance for divorce (not a commandment). God never intended it to be this way. Our hard hearts search for loopholes to find a way out. Something has gone terribly wrong when our hard hearts search for loopholes to find a way out of our marriages. This is symptomatic of our hearts curving inward in selfishness. Jesus is here to give us new hearts and a new way. The Loyalty of Lasting Love: Marriage is designed for happiness and holiness. Too often we only focus on the happiness aspect of marriage. We forget that marriage is also a furnace designed to forge Christlikeness within you. Ultimately, Jesus offers us a heart of covenant faithfulness and love. Takeaway: Don’t journey alone. We need godly counsel to walk with us through these things and apply the Scriptures with the wisdom of God. Matthew 5:31-32

Lust in the Eyes

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Our culture can’t make up its mind about sex. We either strip it down until it has no significance, or we load it up with the weight of the sky. It’s nothing or everything, the culture can’t decide. The problem is the following. The more we try to pretend sex is nothing, the more damaged we become; the more we try to make sex out to be everything, the more disillusioned we become. In our cultural moment, sex has become a runaway train of over-amped desires careening off the rails. This is the way of the Kingdom of the Earth. But what if there was a better way? What if our disordered hearts could be set right? What if sex could be beautiful again? What if hearts dominated by lust could become hearts dominated by love? In this sermon from Matthew 5:27-30, we’ll explore three points: The Monstrosity of Lust: The 7th commandment forbids adultery. But when Jesus references this commandment in the Sermon on the Mount, He pits himself not against the Old Testament law but against the Pharisees’ teaching about the law. The Pharisees preached a surface level righteousness, but Jesus spoke about a righteousness that goes deeper than that: if your heart is righteousness like God’s, you won’t even let lust gain traction in your heart. Jesus is talking about the predatory objectification and selfish engorgement of the “lustful look.” It’s not the first look that Jesus is concerned with, it’s the second look, the deliberate look. When we look with lustful intent, it’s just the opposite of how God designed our sexuality to work as an act of radical self-donation; the giving of oneself for the enjoyment of another in the security of conventional love. Sex is designed to forge covenant bonds of self-giving love for life. But in lust, we twist inward into something that’s all about us; this is our sexuality caving in upon us. Jesus says cultivated lust in our hearts is monstrous; to you, to them, and to everyone. The Severity of the Situation: To reinforce the point, Jesus uses strong language (cut off your hand) to tell us that lust in our hearts is a matter of eternal life and death. His point is to shock us into realizing a profound point: the only way to truly overcome lust, to root out the spiritual rot, is to receive a new heart. How do we do that? The Heart of New Affections: The righteousness we need is a goodness of heart like God Himself, full of loving self-giving and covenant faithfulness. But our hearts are not like that naturally; Jesus is our only hope. He is the only one who can establish the New Covenant of the Spirit. Jesus teaches us to live, not as an Orphan who has to fend for themselves to make sure their spiritual needs are met, but as a Child of God with a Father who knows how to provide for our deep spiritual needs. Our hearts show us what’s real. The Orphan Heart goes into the world empty, starving for its deep spiritual needs to be met. Lust is one of the ways we try to quench that deep spiritual thirst. Lust shows us our Orphan Heart. It shows us that we’re looking to human beings to meet the deep soul needs that only God can satisfy. In the same way, love shows us our heart as a Child of God. It shows us that we are looking to Him to meet our deep soul needs. We are not on our own, and we don’t need to fend for ourselves. We can drink deeply of the spiritual resources the love of God provides. Only then do we find spiritual security, significance, and satisfaction our hearts long for. Takeaway: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” -Psalm 51:10

Anger in the Heart

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 09:00:00 CDT

The world is full of anger. Sometimes our anger gets big and explosive, and everyone pays when it detonates. Other times our anger gets small, simmering and smoldering. Low-grade anger carried around in our bodies spills out like acid on those around us. And it’s so easy to be angry these days with pandemic restrictions, political hot-button issues, geopolitical tensions, and tragic injustice. No wonder so many people are so very angry over so many issues so much of the time. But what if there was another way? What if the anger that dominates us could be arrested? What if anger could be diffused in our hearts before it ever gathers strength? What if Jesus can set us free from the bondage of a heart enslaved by anger? What if in the Kingdom of Heaven our angry hearts could truly become hearts of peace? In this sermon, we look at three themes about anger from Matthew 5:20-26: The Heart of Righteousness: Jesus teaches that righteousness is about more than just what we do on the outside, it’s about who we are on the inside. To help us understand what this inner heart righteousness really looks like, Jesus gives us a series of illustrations in Matthew 5, the first of which is about anger. His intent is to teach us the difference between behavior modification and heart transformation. The Old Testament commandment was “don’t murder.” But Jesus says simply following that commandment misses the point; if your heart is righteous like God’s, you won’t even let anger take root. Murder is the symptom; anger is the disease that the righteousness of God wants to heal. The Deadliness of Anger: If you look carefully at the passage, there’s a 3-fold death spiral: anger, contempt, and vilification. Cultivated anger, the type that is sustained and fed, is different from healthy anger. When healthy anger is nursed and fed, it turns into contempt and ultimately vilification of its source. Unchecked anger is dehumanizing and desecrating of another. Murder desecrates the image of God in another person; but unchecked anger can do the same thing without committing murder. Jesus is saying that a heart that cultivates anger has no place in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Mending of the Kingdom: In contrast to the death-spiral of anger, there’s a healing-spiral: compassion, reconciliation, and peace. Jesus illustrates this in two ways, first with our “brothers” and then with our “enemies.” First, He says that in the Kingdom of Heaven harmonious relationships take priority over worship; we should stop everything and take initiative to mend a broken relationship with another believer, even if we are not the one with anger in our heart. The heart alive in the Kingdom of Heaven is so burdened with compassion by the death-spiral of anger ravaging another brother’s heart, that it is willing to do whatever it takes to set them free. Second, Jesus says the righteous heart of the Kingdom seizes the opportunity to keep anger from spiraling out of control in a situation. This kind of heart sees the image of God in both their brothers and in enemies. You see, Jesus is offering us a new kind of heart. It’s the difference between the heart of an orphan and the heart of a child. The Heart of an Orphan is prone to fearful anger and prideful unforgiveness, but the Heart of a Child rests secure in the Father’s love and forgiveness and gladly extends that love and forgiveness to others. Takeaway: How’s your heart?Who needs your forgiveness? Who needs your apology? Who needs your peace? Matthew 5:20-26 Living The Message episode available here: https://youtu.be/vwQadVcNB6g

The Truly Righteous

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Every speech has a central thesis, a big idea around which everything else is organized. In this passage, we come to the central thesis of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. This is the blazing center, the beating heart of the upside-down Way of Jesus. In these 111 words (in Greek) we find the big idea that turned the world on its head. This sermon address three organizing questions: Why is Jesus explaining Himself? Jesus came not to “abolish” or “relax” the righteous requirements of God, but that they might be “fulfilled” and “accomplished.” And to drive His point home, Jesus affirms the enduring importance of the Law of God with two definitive statements: the Word of God stands forever and all of it will be accomplished; and, because the Kingdom of Heaven is “at hand” in Jesus’ coming, the righteous requirements of the Law and Prophets are upheld. So what must we do to become righteous? What is the righteousness God requires? If our righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, what kind of righteousness is required? To be truly right before God, we need real goodness on the inside, flowing outwardly into all our relationships so that the people around us are drawn into a life of devotion toward God and justice toward one another. This kind of true righteousness springs from our hearts and permeates all of life. The problem is that this in unattainable on our own. We can try our hardest to be righteous, but unless our hearts are made right, all our efforts are just sin management. Our behavior is the symptom, but our hearts are the problem. Is there any hope? How do we become truly righteous? Jesus says: change your thinking and whole way of living, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, on offer, in Me. You see, Jesus came, not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them in Himself. The righteous requirements of God were fully met in Jesus. He is the righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, and His righteousness is freely offered to all who will trust in Him. All we need to do is come to Jesus. The salvation Jesus offers us provides justification, sanctification, and glorification. By grace through faith in Christ, we are the righteousness of God in Him, we are becoming the righteousness of God by the Spirit, and we will truly be like God in glory. Takeaway: God intends to make us like Himself. God is in the business of taking ordinary, sinful, hopeless people and turning us into glorious sons and daughters of God. The righteousness of God is our past, present, and future by grace, through faith, in Christ. Matthew 5:17-20

Salt and Light

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 09:00:00 CDT

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” Some of you will recognize that line from the 2014 commencement address Admiral William McRaven gave at the University of Texas which went viral a few years back and was later made into a book. Admiral McRaven was reminding those graduates of the power of the little things: our choices, our habits, our influence. Every one of us is entrusted with a sphere of influence. And the choices we make, the habits we form, and the influence we wield help shape and mold our little corner of the world for better or worse. It’s the little things that end up changing our world. Jesus makes much the same point in his Sermon on the Mount: “If you want to change the world, start off by being Salt and Light.” In this sermon from Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus is teaching us how to change our world. To do that, we need to understand three things: The Overlap of the Kingdoms: Every moment of every day is an opportunity to be with Jesus and live in the reality and resources of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Dynamics of Salt and Light: Salt is a preservative and a seasoning. Jesus is saying that his followers, when they live in the reality and resources of the Kingdom of Heaven, have a preservative influence on a decaying world around them. Light is a deterrent and a beacon. Jesus is saying that his followers, when they live in the reality and resources of the Kingdom of Heaven, are like light that drives the darkness away. So, Jesus is telling us that if you want to change the world, start off by being salt and light. But, in order to be both salt and light, we must avoid two errors: syncretism (when we try to fit in with the world) and separatism (when we try to hide from the world around us). The correct balance is to embrace holy presence. The Calling of Holy Presence: Jesus calls us to be a people holy unto the Lord who are also fully present in this lost world. We are called to be fully engaged residents of the kingdom of earth, while maintaining a holy life of citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven. But living in this way requires tension. We all tend to lean either towards syncretism or separatism. As you consider which way you lean, ask yourself: Where is God calling me to radical holiness? Where is God calling me to radical presence? Takeaway: Go and be the church! Matthew 5:13-16 Watch the Living The Message episode here: https://youtu.be/f2L6sOwcQBc

The Blessed Ones Part 2

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Words shape the course of history. Two thousand years ago a young Jewish carpenter-turned-Rabbi turned the world upside down with His Sermon on the Mount and He began in the most unexpected way. He announced the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven we’re coming upon the least, the last, and the left behind. As we consider these “blessed”, these “beatitudes” of Jesus from Matthew 5:3-12, we’ll focus our attention on three themes:The Upside-Down Kingdom: The Kingdom of Heaven is turning the world on its head. In Jesus’ Kingdom, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. And so, the Kingdom is “at hand” in Jesus for the least, the last, and the left behind. Anyone desperate enough to cast all their hopes on Jesus are welcome in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Paradox of Blessedness: Blessedness is getting more of God in life’s valleys. What if blessedness in the Kingdom of God is most readily found not when we are feeling strong, but when we know we are weak? The Inverted Way of Life: If you’re feeling disoriented by the Jesus’ teaching, that’s exactly what He is trying to do. Jesus is saying that you must change your whole way of thinking about life and reality, because the Upside-Down Kingdom is here. Three takeaways to help us consider what Jesus is saying:What if the moments we often interpret as cursedness, are in fact an invitation into blessedness? What if the greatest blessedness we could ever ask for is simply to have a greater portion of God? What if the way up is down? Matthew 5:3-12 Living the Message episode available here: https://youtu.be/6E0SPkLNBY8

The Blessed Ones

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 09:00:00 CDT

The Sermon on the Mount is the central, essential message of Jesus. It contains His most brilliant, incisive, and challenging teachings. If you want to know what Jesus is all about, look no further than the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount is, at its core, about a Kingdom. A Kingdom that turns the world, and our lives, upside-down. But let me warn you: to follow the upside-down Way of Jesus means going against the flow. It’s an inverted way to live. It’s cross-grain to almost everything else. Because this broken-down world is like a turtle flipped on its back that can’t tell which end is up; and Jesus is in the business of setting it right-side-up. To live in the upside-down Kingdom of Heaven is actually to discover the right-side up Way of life! The Sermon on the Mount begins in Matthew 5:3-12. In this passage, we’ll see three things:Unexpected Kingdom: The Kingdom of Heaven is “at hand” in Jesus. Unusual Blessing: The favor of God is bestowed upon the least likely. Unparalleled Offer: The blessed life of God is on offer in Jesus. Takeaway: Jesus invites ever one of us, “Follow me.” Matthew 5:3-12

The Heart Enthralling “Beauty” of the Lord

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 09:00:00 CDT

As we enter the new year, what’s the most important thing we can fix our attention on? The highest priority of God’s people for 2022 is to passionately pursue the presence of God in our lives. In this sermon, special guest Stephen Farish focuses our attention on the beauty of God in this passage from Psalm 27. Three questions about the beauty of the Lord from verse 4:What is the beauty of the Lord, and what does it look like? Where do we see the beauty of the Lord most clearly revealed? What is the right response by human beings to the Lord’s revelation of His “beauty” in Jesus Christ? Psalm 27:1-6

Great Light

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 09:00:00 CDT

The story of Jesus’ coming is full of curious surprises. Nothing is routine in this story! With every turn comes another twist, a reinforcement that this is no ordinary child. And the events we’re about to examine today are no exception. Every first-century Jewish couple, upon having a child, were to go to the temple to offer a sacrifice for purification, and, in the case of a firstborn son, to pay the price of his redemption. But when Mary and Joseph show up at the temple for what they must have assumed would be a routine, straightforward process, they were met with yet another curious surprise. Two curious surprises, actually: two individuals named Simeon and Anna. And although they’d never met them before, these two were waiting for their arrival. In this curious and surprising account, we’re going to catch 3 glimpses of the redemption God: The Portrayal of Redemption: God deserves the firstborn. Every time a firstborn son was born into a Jewish family, they would go to the temple and be reminded: Not only that everything they had was a gift of grace that ultimately belonged to God, but that God had given their firstborn son’s life back twice; once, through the blood of a lamb, and again, through the payment of the price of redemption. So, it is for this “redemption of the firstborn” that Mary and Joseph come and present Jesus in the temple. All of this is a portrayal of God’s redemption. The Prospect of Redemption: God rescues His firstborn. That’s what Simeon and Anna were waiting for! They were waiting for the ONE who would redeem God’s firstborn son, Israel. They were waiting for Messiah. Jesus is the Savior who will surely redeem God’s firstborn son, Israel. But more than that, He’s the lamb who takes away the sin of the world! The Prophecy of Redemption: God gives His firstborn. God gives up his firstborn Son for us; to redeem us, to save us. and to rescue us. Takeaway: God gave us His Son to redeem many sons for glory. Who would ever have thought that the God, to whom we owe everything, in grace, would give up everything for us? That He would give up his firstborn Son to bring many sons and daughters to glory? Luke 2:21-38 Living The Message episodes: https://youtu.be/vPaGNOG2XU8

Great Joy

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In the first-century Greco-Roman world of the New Testament was a highly stratified and class conscious one. At the top was Caesar and the political ruling class, followed by landed estate owners and decorated military leaders. Roman citizens outclassed non-Romans, and on and on down the ladder. Then, of course, on the lowest rung were slaves. It is into this highly stratified world that Jesus is born. And in our passage today, Luke goes out of his way to make sure we don’t miss the lowly origins of Jesus. This is not the story we would have expected. Who would ever have thought that when the King of Heaven came to town He’d move in on wrong side of the tracks? But He shows up this way on purpose to reveal Himself to the world and to us. In these familiar verses of the Christmas story, we will see three things: The Lord’s Sovereignty: Luke wants us to see that although Caesar Augustus might be calling the shots on earth, the Lord reigns over all, including the affairs of mankind. Nothing can thwart the advent of God’s redemptive plan. The Lord’s Extravagancy: Luke wants us to see that that Lord comes for all, the lowest and highest, the richest and the poorest, and everyone in between. How extravagant of God that He invites us all! The Lord’s Modesty: Luke wants us to see in the manger that the Lord humbles before all. Jesus is the Lord exalted above all because He humbled Himself before all. Jesus was laid in a manger because He came to be devoured; He was born to be swallowed up by death; He came to be the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. Takeaway: Jesus is good news of great joy for all people. Anyone, anywhere, at anytime can come to Jesus and find life. You don’t need to have it all together because all are welcome at His manger. Luke 2:1-20 Watch the Living the Message episode here: https://youtu.be/ZGwji-a2m38

Great Things

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 09:00:00 CDT

When things get personal, everything changes. It’s one thing to see someone on a screen. It’s quite another to encounter them in real life when things become personal, tangible, and real. That’s what’s happened with Mary. All those years reading her Bible, and now it was happening to her! God chose her to bear a baby boy who will be the Savior of the World, the King of Israel, the Son of God. The Biblical stories of God’s saving intervention went from an abstract, distant, history to being personal, tangible, and real. In this passage from Luke 1:39-56, Mary’s song of praise, called the “Magnificat,” is the first Christmas carol that overflows from her heart. This beautiful song shows us the kind of heart God wants to bring to life in each of us this Christmas as we pause and let the wonder in. Heart of Faith: Mary’s heart is filled with faith because she realizes and becomes sure that God holds true to His Word. How about you? Heart of Joy: Mary’s heart is filled with joy because she understands that God blesses unlikely people. How about you? Heart of Hope: Mary’s heart is filled with hope because God is setting the world to rights. Jesus’ coming means that world is being turned upside-down, or should we say right-side-up. How about you? Takeaway: When it’s personal, everything changes. The reason Mary’s heart is filled with faith, joy, and hope, overflowing in this chorus of wonder, awe, and praise Is because God became personal to her. Has there ever been a moment when the Lord God became personal to you? God wants to fill your heart with faith, joy, and hope this Christmas. And that happens when we allow God to get personal with us. And the only way that happens is when we come to him like Mary, humble, lowly, and hungry. It’s the only way He can bless us. It’s the only way we can have Him. For most of us, it’s our pride, might, and riches that get in the way, so we’re faithless, joyless, and hopeless. But if you’ll come humbly, you will receive mercy; come lowly, and you will be lifted up; come hungry, and you will be filled. May this be the Christmas when it all becomes personal to you and your heart is filled with faith, joy, and hope. Luke 1:39-56 Watch Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/yVVaxJjrlAY

Great Expectations

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Every year, Christmas tends to rush us by. With all the shopping and events and family commitments and the long lists of to-do list, the frantic pace often leaves us barely catching our breath. That’s why Advent is so good for our hearts. If you didn’t grow up celebrating Advent, it’s a time for us to slow down and reflect and prepare our hearts for the significance of the “coming” of Jesus. That’s what Advent means: Coming. This Advent we’ll be walking through four vignettes from the Gospel of Luke that surround Jesus’ coming in a series are entitled “The Greatness of Christmas.” Throughout the series, we’ll explore four vignettes, four opportunities to pause, and let the wonder in as we reflect on “The Greatness of Christmas.” In this sermon, we look at the Angelic Announcement to Mary when she learns that she would be the mother of Jesus. The angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary gives three clues to who this child will be:The Savior of the World: Jesus will the savior who will lay down his life on a cross and rise again to give us eternal life. The King of Israel: Jesus will be the Messiah, the one who would inherit the promises and covenants made with the house of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and who would fulfill the covenant made with Israel’s greatest king, David. In other words, Jesus will be the King of Israel. The Son of God: Jesus will be called Holy and will be uniquely set apart from all other children and every other birth, because he will be the Son of God. This means that Jesus is God incarnate, God come to dwell among us. He will be called Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Takeaways: There are three questions for us to pause and wonder in…What must God be like that He would choose such confinement? What must God be like that He would slip in incognito? What must God be like that He would arrive amidst scandal? Luke 1:26-38

The Basics of Giving

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In many ways, the Book of Philippians is kind of a thank you note from the Apostle Paul. Because of Paul’s financial hardships under house arrest in Rome, the Philippian believers pooled their resources and sent him a gift to sustain him. Epaphroditus was their courier entrusted with the gift. Now Epaphroditus is headed back to Philippi with this letter in hand we now know as Philippians. So, this letter is a kind of thank you note. Except, Paul never actually says “thank you.” In fact, it’s one of the worst thank you notes ever. But as we explore this passage, we’ll see that Paul is giving us the inside scoop on how we can be truly rich. Those who are truly rich value three things: The Freedom of Contentment: The truly rich choose to live with open hands. In Christ, we have far greater resources than money can ever provide. The Power of Generosity: The truly rich know it is more blessed to give than to receive. Those blessings come both now (giving changes us) and later (storing up Heavenly treasure). The Treasures of Eternity: The truly rich prize the eternal value of God’s Word and God’s people. There is no greater return in investment than to invest in God’s Word and God’s people. No other investment is as secure, of higher significance, or yields greater satisfaction. Takeaway: Where you treasure is, there will your heart be also. Where is your heart? Philippians 4:10-23

The Basics of Peace

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In the fourth and final chapter of Philippians, we come to several well-known, popular “coffee cup” verses. The problem with “coffee cup” verses is that they are divorced from their context and setting. And this is often a recipe for misapplication. These verses from Philippians 4:1-9 might at first glance appear disconnected and disjointed, but there’s a cohesive flow of thought running through these verses; once you see the connection, you can’t unsee it. Everything here is thematically linked together. This passage opens with Paul’s entreaty that these women find a way to make peace with one another, and then his two paragraphs of commands which follow are each capped off by a promise of God’s peace which will be theirs if they follow the commands. Do you see the theme that’s connecting all this? Peace within the family of God. Satan loves to sow discord and disunity into the church. He’s not creative, but he’s effective. So how can we move towards peace with our Christian brothers and sisters? Paul gives us 3 keys to peace-filled relationships: Remembering our Family: When we’re wounded, we tend to cave-in on ourselves. We become self-absorbed. Paul is counteracting that sinful tendency towards self-absorption by reminding us that we are children of God. There is gospel connection that binds us to one another. Because in Christ, we are bound together as forever family. When we realize this, we can set aside squabbles within the larger context of the saving work of Christ which echoes into eternity. Requesting of our Father: The Lord is our Joy, our life, our everything. So don’t let personal conflict steal your joy. Your joy comes from drawing deeply of the resources that are yours in Christ and pursuing him every day of your lives. In conflict, not only do we become self-absorbed, but we tend to become self-reliant, assuming that it is our responsibility to get what we want. Anxiety is symptomatic of self-reliance. Paul counteracts the sinful tendency to self-reliance and anxiety by encouraging us to pray in God-reliance which leads to peace. In Christ, we entrust our heart’s desires to God. Refocusing our Framework: When we’re in conflict, we tend to villainize the other person. We tend to think about the things that justify our poor treatment of them. Paul counteracts this sinful tendency towards self-justification by refocusing the framework. Instead of reducing someone to the sum-total of their failures, look for glimpses of Christ in them. In Christ, we attend to God’s good work in one another. Takeaway: Brothers and sisters, let us agree in the Lord.Who do you need to apologize to? Who do you need to forgive? With whom do you need to make peace? Philippians 4:1-9

The Basics of Maturity

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Who do you want to be when you grow up? It’s not just a question for children, it’s a question for all of us. Because, if God has given us new birth by grace through faith in Jesus’ life substituted for ours on the cross, and if God has then filled us with his Holy Spirit who is teaching us to walk in His ways, and if every moment of every day is an opportunity to be with Jesus and learn from Him how to live so that we are transformed increasingly into the image and likeness of Jesus, then we are all in fact still growing up. We all have a whole lot of maturing ahead of us if we are to become gloriously like Jesus forever. In this passage, the Apostle Paul explores spiritual maturity with 3 vital insights: The Pursuit of Maturity: Spiritual maturity is not a destination, but a pursuit. This side of glory, we will never fully arrive, because we’re a work in progress. This is the process of being progressively conformed to the image of Christ. The Pattern of Maturity: Spiritual maturity is less taught and more caught. Imitation is the key to maturation. Be ever careful who you keep your eyes on. We become what we behold. This is why Paul warns against those who we shouldn’t imitate. The Prospect of Maturity: Spiritual maturity is living here, while belonging there. We reside as citizens on earth, but we belong as citizens of Heaven. The way of Jesus is to be in the world, but not of the world. Jesus showed us the way through the Incarnation when He embodied both presence and holiness at once. This is the call to live as fully engaged citizens of earth, whose real, true, ultimate home and allegiance belong to our citizenship in Heaven. We are to be in the world but not of the world. Takeaway: stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. Philippians 3:12-4:1

God, the Cross, and You

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 09:00:00 CDT

On reformation Sunday, Pastor Lutzer returns to the pulpit for a special message from Romans 3. How can we be right with God? Our corruption before God is seen by what we seek (v. 11), what we say (v.13), where we go (v.15), and what we see (v.18). Only God can solve our dilemma: we are saved by God, from the wrath of God, for the glory of God. The cross, like a prism, reveals God’s incredible attributes to us:It magnifies the justice of God It magnifies the grace of God It magnifies the glory of God The bottom line: God purchased us at high cost for Himself, saving even the worst of sinners. Romans 3:19-26

The Basics of Identity

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 09:00:00 CDT

One of the most important questions of life is: Who am I? We all wonder who we are at the core of our being. So much hinges on how we answer this questions: our sense of self, our identity, our being, all inform how we behave, which in turns forms who we are becoming. In this passage from Philippians, Paul is going to take us back to the basics of our identity. There are three basic identity formation strategies we can employ to attempt to gain a sense of self, and Paul is going to walk us through each of them: Affirmation—Looking to Others: In this paradigm, we find our sense of self in the approval of others. This approach results in number problems, such as anxiety, exhaustion, and instability. Paul speaks to a better approach: your identity and joyous life is found, not in the approval of anyone else, in Christ alone. Achievement—Looking to Self: In this paradigm, we find our sense of self in succeeding on our own terms. This approach also has a number of problems, like fragility, inflated self-esteem, and crushing pressure. Another fallacy with self-expressed identity, common to the modern church, is that we try to find our sense of self in being true to ourselves. The result is often insecurity, instability, and dissatisfaction. Abiding—Looking to Christ: In this final paradigm, our identity and joyous life is found—not in looking to others or to ourselves—in looking at to Christ alone. For Paul, he’s no longer resting on his own righteousness, his own standing, his own identity, because Christ’s identity has become Paul’s own past, present, and future reality. On the cross, Jesus exchanged identities with us; He took our sinful identity and gave us His own righteous identity in exchange. The result? We can now be affirmed and approved by the ONE person in all the universe whose opinion matters most! Takeaway: Is your identity durable? Is it solid, unshakable, lasting, glorious, everlasting? C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity Your real, new self (which is Christ’s and also yours, and yours just because it is His)…It will come when you are looking for Him. Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes, every day and death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fibre of your being and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in that long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else… Philippians 3:1-11 To watch the Living The Message conversation about this sermon, visit : https://youtu.be/d1b5q4hZdYA

The Basics of Community

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon we come to one of those sections of the Bible that we might be tempted to skip over. At the end of Chapter 2 in Philippians, Paul takes 12 verses to describe his travel plans along with the travel itineraries of two other individuals: Timothy and Epaphroditus. Why should we care? By the end of this message, you’ll be glad you didn’t skip over this section! Timothy and Epaphroditus are sent to Philippi by Paul to serve on 3 different levels: Emissaries: In the first century world, news traveled by means of couriers sent from place to place with letters in hand. So at the first and most basic level, Timothy and Epaphroditus serve as couriers on the Via Appia and Via Egnata, because they are reliable and trustworthy men who Paul can count on to get the job done. Encouragers: These are no emotionally uninvolved postmen, simply conveying unknown letters from stranger to stranger. No, these are brothers in Christ who care dearly for one another and for their respective communities. So, these men were sent not only as letter carriers, but to embody the love and affection that binds Paul and the Philippian believers together in Christian friendship. In essence, these men are representatives of spiritual affection and friendship. That is a model for what the church needs today: embodied encouragement shared through being together in worship, community, and service. We’re better together! Exemplaries: Finally, Paul sends Timothy because he there is no other equal who cares for the Philippians like Paul. Timothy exemplifies the genuine concern for the welfare of others, the embodiment of Christlike love and others-centered humility. In essence, Timothy is embodying what Paul is exhorting in the book of Philippians! We too are called to be imitators of Christ. But sometimes that seems like a lofty or intangible goal. Which is why God gives us people like Timothy and Epaphroditus and Paul, to show us what Christlikeness looks like in real, everyday life. We learn by imitation, by patterning ourselves after others and following in their example. Takeaways: Who am I imitating? Who is imitating me? The person you will become is directly linked with the heroes you admire and the friendships that you cultivate.Philippians 2:19-30 To watch the Living The Message conversation about this sermon, visit https://youtu.be/EL5sGixFSRM.

The Basics of Service

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Who is the greatest person you’ve had the privilege of knowing? Not the most glamorous, but the greatest. You see, there’s a difference between glamor and greatness. Glamor impresses from a distance; greatness impacts up close. Glamor is on the outside; greatness is on the inside. Glamor draws attention to itself; greatness focuses attention on others. All the marketing in our society emphasizes glamor as the ideal for us to pursue. But at a funeral, we talk about something very different as an indicator of life’s significance. We don’t talk about glamor, we talk about the ideals of greatness: friendship, tenderness, selflessness, sacrifice, generosity, care, faithfulness, love. And all those things have one thing in common: humility. Here’s what’s amazing: this kind of true greatness we so admire in others is the very thing God intends to grow in us by His Spirit, conforming us to the image of Christ, that we might share in His glory and joy forever! God intends to make us people of true greatness, people who are servant-hearted and humble just like Jesus. That kind of greatness is the theme of Philippians 2:1-18. In this passage, we explore 4 key themes about God’s view of greatness: The Priority of Greatness: God desires a united family filled with humble love. Can you imagine how wonderful it would be if our church lived like that? It would be a taste of heaven! The Model of True Greatness: Jesus calls each of us through the cross to glory. There is so much in us that needs to die in order that the true greatness of the life of Christ might come alive in us. But how do we do this? The Secret of True Greatness: The key to transformation lies in obedient surrender. We obey, but not in self-effort; it’s in active dependency and surrender to the Holy Spirit of God who is working in us. We surrender, but not passively, because we surrender to the leading and desires of the Spirit, yielding to His direction. The Beauty of True Greatness: Becoming truly great like Jesus means going against the flow. If we’re going to become truly great like Jesus, it’s going to mean going against the flow. Takeaways: True greatness means becoming a servant of all. Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. – Mark 10:42-45 Philippians 2:1-18

Will God Ever Abandon Us?

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Are we sure of God’s love for us? God wants us to be certain of His love for us. In this sermon, special guest Dr. Ray Ortlund, Jr., walks us through a life changing passage in Romans 8. Here, the apostle Paul asks four questions about the personal and powerful love of God for the underserving.If God is for us, who can be against us? Will God give us all things? Who will condemn those whom God has chosen? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? The gospel question for us is this: are you willing to be loved endlessly by almighty God above? This has nothing to do with our performance. In fact, God does not limit his love for failures like us. God loves you personally, limitlessly, and powerfully, so that you’ll love Him too. Romans 8:31-39

The Basics of Life

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Can you see the Apostle Paul in your minds’ eye? He’s under house arrest in Rome and manacled to an Imperial Guard. He’d appealed to Caesar, but now he’s wasting away, stuck in an endless line of bureaucratic delays. He has no idea how Caesar will rule on his case. He might be set free, or he might be executed. His very life hangs in the balance. And yet, in this passage from Philippians 1:18-30, look at how joyous Paul is in the middle of so many life and ministry setbacks. He’s so resilient, vibrant, courageous, steadfast, and undaunted! And it’s not because he’s ignoring reality. He says, “I very well may die here.” He’s utterly realistic about his suffering, and yet over-flowingly joyful. This man knows how to live! What’s his secret? In this sermon, we will learn that to live a live worthy of the gospel means that Christ becomes our: Reason for Rejoicing: We delight in the glory of Christ which has become our greatest joy in life and eternity. Purpose in Living: We invest in the mission of Christ which has become our greatest endeavor in life and eternity. Meaning in Suffering: To live for Christ means we will suffer for Him. For those who are children of God in Christ, suffering is not punitive but purifying. We endure in the grace of Christ who has become our greatest treasure in life and eternity. Takeaway: When Christ is our reason for rejoicing, our purpose in living, and our meaning in suffering, then as the Apostle Paul put it, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:18b-30 To listen to Living the Message podcast answering questions about this sermon, subscribe at: https://www.moodychurch.org/podcast/

The Basics of the Gospel

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In 1961, at the start of training camp, Vince Lombardi walked into the locker room of the Green Bay Packers and spoke what would become one of the most iconic lines in sports history: “Gentlemen, this is a football!” He was reminding them of the fundamentals. He was going back to basics. It’s easy to forget the basics, to neglect the core disciplines of a winning team. Lombardi knew no amount of trick plays or player talent would matter if they didn’t master the basics of the game. And the same thing is true of our Christian lives. If we want to be joyously in love with Jesus, overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit, growing together as the family of God, we must be engaged in the bases of life with Jesus. It’s time to get Back to Basics. And to help us do that, I know of no better place to turn than to the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, because it’s all about getting back to basics of following hard after Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit and the interdependencies of life in the family of God. For followers of Jesus, the Gospel, the Good News that God is reconciling all things to himself (including us!) through His Son, Jesus. The Good News that changes everything. In these verses, we'll discover 4 fruits of the Gospel in our lives: Our Gospel Family: The gospel enfolds us into uncommon unity. One of the ways you know the gospel is at work is that it brings together people who would never otherwise hang out with one another. Will we allow the gospel to redefine our social circle? Our Gospel Charity: The gospel infuses in us unexpected affections. The gospel of grace forges deep connections between members of the body of Christ. It teaches us to love one another with the love of Christ himself. Will we allow the gospel to realign our hearts’ affections? Our Gospel Destiny: The gospel is ushering us to unforeseen glories. The Gospel has bound us together as a family, and given us the affection of Christ for one another, so that the love of Christ might abound in our lives and sweeping us along toward this common destiny of being conformed to the image of Christ to the glory and praise of God! Will we allow the gospel to refocus our dreams? Our Gospel Priority: The gospel empowers us for unselfish mission. The gospel teaches us to gladly serve and sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. Will we allow the gospel to reprioritize our lives? It is the good news of Jesus that changes everything. Philippians 1:1-18

Psalm 42

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Music has a way of connecting to our emotions in wonderful ways. Some music helps us rejoice or relax, and other music is deeply therapeutic. Psalm 42 is a therapeutic song, written from the perspective of someone who is desperate for spiritual healing, desperate to be delivered from their spiritual depression. When our souls are desperate for God, what should we do? Maybe you’ve felt like this in your spiritual life: your prayers feel like they’re bouncing off a glass ceiling, your Bible reading feels like wasted time, you’re craving some experience of God, but right now you’re dry and empty. It may not be you today but at some point we all face moments like this, and statistically right now it’s those around you, your family, friends and neighbors. Whether it’s you or someone you're called to love, the way toward soul-sustaining water, is found in Jesus. Water for desperate souls is found in...the community of Jesus the promises of Jesus the cry of Jesus the hope of Jesus Psalm 42

Psalm 34

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon, we explore one of the Psalms of King David that was written while he was fleeing from Saul. David faced intense fears when he penned this song; and yet, the prose explodes with praise and adoration for God. When you face difficulties or fear, do you put your praise on pause? Five lessons from Psalm 34:When faith fails, don’t put your praise on pause. For David, praise is an intentional act in all circumstances. Praise is continual, intentional, and it is anchored in genuine humility. When faith fails, fear festers. But, it is when we face the hardships that the attributes of God become transforming from theoretical to personal. When faith fails, we are prone to speaking disgraceful things. So ask yourself, “Am I speaking words of affirmation and grace into the lives of those around me.?” If it doesn’t edify others and honor God, don’t say it. When faith fails, the impacts of sin ripples beyond the individual. So, when a brother or sister in Christ is in sin, we must do all that we can to restore them to fellowship with God and the body of Christ. When faith fails, seek peace with Christ. Stop running and cry out to Jesus. Psalm 34

Psalm 15

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Who can dwell with God? God has very high standards for who can live with Him. And that is what we are going to consider from Psalm 15. In this short psalm, author King David asks the Lord: “What kind of person may live with you and be in Your holy presence?” David describes the person who can dwell with the Lord in six couplets or pairs of statements in this Psalm. The One Whose Character is Blameless: The Hebrew word for “blameless” means “whole” or “sound.” It does not mean sinless. Instead, it refers to a person whose character is upright in all areas and who is fully committed to obeying the Lord. Not someone who seems honorable in public but when alone is a very different person. Simply put, they do what is right. When they are faced with a choice between doing what pleases the Lord and doing what pleases themselves, the kind of person they are, the desires they have cultivated, the thoughts they allow themselves to entertain… compel this person to choose to do what is right—to do what pleases the Lord—even when it is costly or painful. The One Who Speaks the Truth: The person who can live with the Lord speaks truth on the one hand and does not slander anyone on the other. Their speech is always truthful yet never slanderous. Again, the idea goes deeper than simple behavior and speaks of the character of the person. A person who speaks the truth is a trustworthy person. We might say they are a “straight-shooter” – you can trust what they say. All of us know people we don’t trust. We may love them, but we don’t trust them. But when the person who pleases the Lord speaks, they are completely trusted because they speak “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” The second part of the couplet says that they do not slander people. Slanderous statements are often wrong and ignorant, but they may be true statements which are intended to harm or damage someone by sharing them with others inappropriately. When you slander someone, when you gossip about them, it says far more about you than it does them. It reveals what is in your heart: an arrogant, judgmental, and unloving spirit. There is a strong pull to justify slander because the person we are speaking about has hurt us or is so cocky it makes us sick or is a hypocrite who we want to expose. But the kind of person who pleases the Lord and can dwell with Him does not slander anyone. The One Who Loves Others: At first glance, this requirement of this verse doesn’t seem very demanding. But keep in mind that the Lord defines “neighbor” as broader than those you live near and perhaps rarely even see much less know. The kind of man or woman who meets the qualifications to live in God’s presence treats everyone—whether known to them personally or not—as those who have been made in the image of God and thus worthy of respect. They do not see others superficially, judging them by their appearance or status but instead by who God has made them to be. Therefore, they have a godly love for them that shows up in how they treat them. They seek to protect rather than destroy their reputations. They look for ways to help them improve their lives and character rather than tearing them down. They refuse to harm them in any way: physically, emotionally, or spiritually. In short, they do them no evil. The One Who Shares God’s Values: The requirement here is a choosing of allegiances. Are you on God’s side or on the side of His enemies? The second part of the couplet in verse 4 is that they “honor those who fear the Lord.” Perhaps the question to ask is, “Do you see people as they are or do you judge primarily by appearances?” If our allegiance is wholeheartedly with the Lord, then we will honor those who fear Him. The One Who Lives with Integrity: The person described here has a deep sense of integrity whose commitment to holiness is greater than his commitment to temporal self-interest. How you respond reveals the kind of person you are. It reveals what is most important to you. The kind of person who can live with God honors the Lord by honoring the vows that he or she makes. The One Who Does Not Love Money: The prohibition here is against putting money ahead of people. It’s a temptation that leads to all kinds of sins including and usury, bribery, theft, and even stinginess. How does the man who desires to live with God handle his financial relationships with others? With justice and compassion - the way God wants him or her to. Takeaways:The truth of Psalm 15 is that it is possible to dwell with the Lord. He could have shut out sinner likes us but He didn’t. Instead, God delights in it and makes it possible. Being in the presence of the Lord is the greatest thing that you and I can ever imagine or experience. Psalm 15

The Redeemer

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 09:00:00 CDT

How do you pick up the pieces when you've blown it so very badly? Peter was devastated by his thrice denial of Jesus. Even after Jesus was raised from the dead, and Peter had met him twice in the flesh, Peter was still thinking, “What must He think of me!?” For those of us who know what it is to fail the ones we love, we can understand how desperately Peter wanted to open up to Jesus; and yet he couldn’t just bring it up. Jesus, in His mercy and kindness, brings it up for Peter. For those of us who have failed and let down those we love, this passage from John 21 is for us. We’ll discover three things: The Danger of Relapse: Jesus never gives up on failures like us. Peter may have given up on himself, but Jesus never gave up on Peter. There is always more mercy in Christ than sin in us. The Grace of Repentance: Repentance is the tough grace that sets us free. It’s a tough grace that presses our hearts to repentance. We instinctively resist opening at every turn, but repentance is the only way to be free, it’s the only way to heal. Peter had denied Jesus three times, and so three times Jesus asks penetrating questions. Jesus presses deeper, exposing the deadliness of Peter’s self-confidence, and helping him confess out loud how very inadequate he really was. As Peter admits to the inadequacy of his own love for Christ, he is set free from a life of egotistical self-reliance. Peter, who used to think he had to prove himself to be somebody, discovers that the only thing that really matters in the end, is to be loved by Jesus. The Beauty of Redemption: Brokenness is a prerequisite for usefulness. When Peter felt strongest, he was least useful. But when Peter felt weakest, he was greatly useful. Our greatest ministry is often rooted in our deepest wounds. God takes our misery and turns it into our ministry…because He is the Great Redeemer. Jesus takes each one of us as we are—underserving, inadequate, broken, and sinful—and in His mercy He redeems us, transforms us, and empowers us to be useful for His eternal glory and our everlasting joy. In the grace of God, we need not hid from our brokenness, for it is a prerequisite for our usefulness to God. Takeaway: In the love of Jesus there is abundant hope for our stories. No matter what you’ve done, no matter what you’ve become, no matter what’s been done to you, Jesus never gives up on failures like us. There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us. John 21:1-25

The Lord

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Breakthrough is the moment when everything changes. The old categories are shattered, and a whole new paradigm is born. And the greatest breakthrough in all of history is when Jesus rose from the dead. It shatters the old categories and gives birth to a whole new paradigm. In this passage form John 20:19-31, we explore a 4-dimensional breakthrough from Jesus’ resurrection.Breakthrough Resurrection: Jesus’ resurrected body broke through all the disciples’ categories. Neither Greco-Roman nor Jewish thought had categories for the kind of resurrection we see here in Jesus. This is important for two reasons. First, it explains their incredulity—the disciples were totally unprepared for this, and it took them a while to adjust. Second, it explains why they couldn’t have made up this story, because they didn’t have a frame of reference for this type of event. Will you allow Jesus to break your categories? We all have our categories for how a god ought to be, and we’ll believe when he fits our preconceived ideas. Of course, then we usually end up with a god who looks strikingly like ourselves and affirms the life we are already living. But Jesus breaks through our reductionistic categories. In fact, breaking our categories is the only what you know we’re encountering the real, living God, and not just some figment of our imaginations. Breakthrough Blessings: Because the resurrected Jesus is alive forevermore, His blessings in this passage are breakthrough blessings greater and more powerful than any He had previously given. There are four blessings: peace, sending, spirit, and authority. The point of all these breakthrough blessings is that Jesus’ mission will go on through his disciples by the Holy Spirit. This mission continues today in all those who believe. We are Jesus’ ambassadors, emissaries, and representatives. Will you join Jesus on mission in the world? Breakthrough Confession: Thomas did not at first believe in the resurrection. In fact, his initial reticence earned him the name Doubting Thomas. But when Jesus shows up in the flesh, Doubting Thomas becomes Believing Thomas when he confesses “My Lord and my God!” This confession is like a theological earthquake; it’s the highest Christological confession in the Gospel of John. And it wasn’t just an academic confession, it was deeply personal. Jesus is risen as the Divine Lord of all. Doubting is not the opposite of faith, because doubting may actually be where faith begins. Will you invite Jesus into your doubts? Have you ever prayed your doubts and asked God to help? Breakthrough Opportunity: Jesus blesses those who will come to believe, but who unlike Thomas, will not have the benefit of seeing the resurrected Jesus first-hand. Jesus offers life in Himself to all who will believe. Will you dare to believe in Jesus? John 20:19-31

The Raised

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Cognitive dissonance is the influx of intellectual disequilibrium. In other words, when your tidy framework of reality is suddenly unsettled by unexpected facts, your “mind is blown.” And suddenly, you see the world very differently. Resurrection morning created massive cognitive dissonance for the followers of Jesus. They never saw it coming! Not only did they not see it coming, but at first, they couldn’t believe their eyes. Curiosity is key when cognitive dissonance occurs. John highlights three curious moments from resurrection morning; he wants us to meditate on them so that we might understand the significance of our resurrected Jesus. The Conscientious Guest: Jesus thoughtfully tidied up after Himself on resurrection morning. Remember, this is a borrowed tomb. When it was time for Jesus to be resurrected, he tidies up the place as He leaves. How thoughtful is that!? John realizes that Jesus is conscientious. The Mistaken Gardener: Mary is the first one to visit the tomb on Easter Sunday. What we often forget is that Mary had a life of trauma, of severe demonic possession. Jesus was her lifeline to freedom, healing, and safety. So, when He died, her world was shattered. When she arrives at the empty tomb, her trauma is triggered all over again, because the body of Jesus is gone. And as her panic and anxiety take hold, Jesus comes to meet her, but she doesn’t recognize Him at first. Jesus called her name, and everything changed. When Jesus called her by name, the fear began to ebb, the anxiety calmed, the sadness was undone. And the man she thought was the gardener turned out to be her rescuer, healer, teacher, and Lord all along. The Ascending Lord: When Mary realizes that Jesus is alive in the flesh, she is overjoyed and wants to grab hold of Him forever. But Jesus tells her not to cling to Him. Why? Because Jesus is in the middle of cosmic redemption. The resurrection isn’t the end, but the beginning of a new creation. There’s still work to be done! Jesus must ascend to the Father where He will rule until His enemies have been made His footstool. When He shall return again, in that day justice will reign, peace will abide, and glory will cover the earth. It will be a New Heaven and a New Earth, and in the Garden City of God, heaven will come down to earth. So, when Mary mistook Jesus as the gardener, she wasn’t entirely wrong. Jesus is the Gardener, the caretaker of the New Creation. Just as Adam was the Gardener and Caretaker of the old creation, now Jesus is the Gardener and Caretaker of the New Creation. Takeaways:Jesus is making all things new. The resurrection isn’t just a nice thing that happened a long time ago; its’ the pattern and promise of what will one day happen to all things. Jesus is in the business of bring redemption to the cosmos, of making all things new. Jesus is tidying up the universe. Everything that is sin-cursed will one day be tidied up in redemption and put in its proper place forever. And Jesus wants to begin that redemptive work in your life today. Jesus is calling your name. When Jesus calls your name, everything changes. Is this resurrection life yours? John 20:1-18

The Buried

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Everyone enjoys a good plot twist. Whether in a novel or a film, that moment when everything you thought you knew is suddenly undone, and realization dawns mingled with disbelief. Those are the best endings. In many ways, the death and resurrection of Jesus is the greatest twist ending of them all. Talk about a plot twist! Nobody saw that coming. And no doubt after the resurrection the disciples thought: “No way! Are you kidding me? How did we miss the clues?!?" In his Gospel, John is careful to point out the clues and the signs that were there all along. With the benefit of hindsight, John helps us see the things he missed the first time around, the hints of the twist ending that was to come. The Piercing Distinction: The standard protocol for Roman crucifixion turns out very differently in Jesus' crucifixion. All of this happens to fulfill the prophecies of Scripture. John wanted us to the see the clues—through these seemingly random breaks in protocol, the Father distinguished the uniqueness of His Son. All these deviations singled out Jesus as different: the One not like any others, the One fulfilling Scripture, the One who was special. It’s as if the Father was saying, “You might want to keep your eye on this One, because He’s just getting started.” The Perplexing Loyalties: As Jesus was lifted up, He drew all people to Himself, including Joseph and Nicodemus, whose faith now comes to light. Joseph and Nicodemus saw something in Jesus' death as He was lifted up, looking on the One who was pierced. They mourned and they believed, and they received the grace and mercy of God right then and there. Think about it—they must have believed at some level that the story wasn’t over. Why else would they throw everything away in loyalty to Jesus? If Jesus was dead and gone forever, there would be no point in honoring Him, no point in throwing their lot in with Him ... unless they believed that Jesus really is the Christ, and that this story wasn’t over. It may be that these two individuals, of all people, began to wonder if God might just have a trick up His sleeve. The Paradoxical Tomb: The first Adam laid as dust in the first garden, awaiting the breath of God in creation. Now the second Adam was laid in the dust of another garden, and when God breathed resurrection life into His body, it meant not resuscitation of the old but re-creation of the new. In other words, a new humanity, a new order of things, and a new creation! Isn’t it interesting that in the beginning there’s a garden; at the end of time, in the new heavens and new earth, there's a garden in the city of God; and in the middle of the story there’s also a garden, the one in which Jesus was buried. Don’t you see? Jesus’ death and resurrection is the hinge-point of history! As He died, He brought the old creation to an end, and as He rose, He ushered in a new creation. To use the logic of the Apostle Paul: Because Christ died, we died; because Christ lives, we live. Takeaway: The Christian life is one of dying and rising with Christ. This is WHO we are, WHERE we’re headed, and HOW we live. Following Jesus means embracing the rhythm of dying and rising with Christ. In the end, life has a plot twist. It's the moment when everything we thought we knew is suddenly undone, and for the first time we begin to see the world as it really is. Isn’t this what Jesus calls us to? John 19:31-42

The Crucified

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In this passage from our study in the Gospel of John, we come to the crucifixion of Jesus. We may want to look the other way, to not face the harsh reality of an innocent man nailed to a cross, to not bear the weight of the torture and agony and injustice of this moment, because it may it’s just too personal. We were made to love and serve God, but we hijacked our life, and stiff-armed God, and insisted on living according to our own rules. If anyone deserves to be punished… it’s not Jesus. If anyone deserves to be condemned… it’s not Him. If anyone deserves to die… it’s us. This is our story: Jesus died for us. In this sermon, we’ll look at three portraits of Jesus: The Crucified King: On the cross, the King is lifted up for all to see. John wants us to discern the hidden hand of God, moving in spite of all this chaos and injustice and evil, fulfilling his purposes in it all. As Jesus takes his place with guilty sinners, he is numbered with the transgressors. As Jesus is lifted up as King for all to see, so that all people might be drawn to Him. The Fleeced Protector: In His loss, Jesus protects the ones He loves. I’m amazed at Jesus’ empathy and compassion in the midst of the height of his excruciating pain. Pain tends to turn us inward. But look at Jesus! He’s being mocked and tortured and rejected and violated and tormented. And in empathy and compassion, He is thinking of those He loves. Jesus always looks past his own pain in the protection of the ones He loves. The Parched Savior: By His thirst, Jesus quenches ours. Jesus became thirsty on the cross to give us living water so that we might never thirst again! Through Jesus’ sacrifice, He is able to proclaim, “it is finished.” What is He saying? Everything He had come to do, He completed it all; finally, fully, and forever. Takeaway: Jesus died for you. Has that reality come home for you? “Jesus died,” that’s just a historical fact. But if you say, “Jesus died… for you,” That’s when it gets personal. It’s all in the pronouns. Has Jesus become your Crucified King? Is He your Fleeced Protector? Is He your Parched Savior? Has that reality come home in you? Do you rest in His finished work? Do you really believe “it is finished?” That nothing you do adds or subtracts from the final, full, and finished work of Christ? Nothing in your past, present, or future can alter who you are in Christ, because you are forever loved by Jesus. And “it is finished!” John 19:16-30

The Condemned

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Jesus gets it. He gets how hard life is. He gets how heartbreaking it can be. He gets how violating and brutal and unjust people are sometimes. We all need a God who gets it, because when life’s cruelties break into your life, you don’t need a god who’s aloof and pampered and insulated. You need a God who gets it, who understands how it feels, who can sympathize with you, and who will weep with you. And friends, Jesus has been there. He gets it. In this passage, John is going to walk us through Jesus’ Roman trial. Now, as we make our way through this passage, notice two things in particular: First, John’s depiction of the cruel suffering and injustice Jesus faced. Some of us can relate to that. Second, John’s use of irony throughout this account. Things are not as they seem. As we walk through the passage, this sermon explores six striking ironies: Disingenuous Fulfillment: Through the religious leaders’ hypocrisy, God’s will is achieved. They unwittingly advance the will of God, that Jesus would be lifted up and draw all people to Himself, just as He said He would. Discounted King: Pilate missed the ultimate reality standing before him. The true king, the highest truth, the ultimate reason for the universe was standing right in front of him, and he missed seeing Jesus. Instead, Pilate throws up his hands and walks out. Demanded Substitute: This exchange depicts precisely what Jesus offers—substitutionary payment for our sins in our place. This irony is, what they demanded, Jesus voluntarily offers. Defamed Innocent: By stripping Jesus’ honor they ensured His glory. They intended to shame Him into oblivion, but all they ended up doing was move Jesus closer to His glory. Disregarded Lord: The religious leaders stand in judgement of the true Judge of all the earth. Destined Lamb: In a redemptive twist, Jesus is the true Passover Lamb. Passover commemorated how God redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt through the blood of a lamb. And now all these years later, a true and greater Passover is taking place. God redeems not only Israel but also the entire world from slavery to sin by the blood of a true and greater Lamb. And here’s the irony: all of their murderous plotting against Jesus played into the greatest redemption the world has ever seen. Takeaways:What they intended for evil, God intended for good. Nothing irredeemable can happen to us. If God can take religious hypocrisy, trumped up charges, abusive power, political intrigue, and vindictive mobs, and work a redemptive twist through all of it to bring salvation to the world…imagine what he’s up to right now in our lives! John 18:28-19:16

The Betrayed

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In today’s passage, we will see John’s account of the betrayal, arrest, and preliminary interrogation of Jesus. We’ll explore three lenses: The Sequence of the Storm: This is the quick overview of the narrative leading up to the crucifixion.Betrayal and Arrest (Mt 26:47-56; Mk 14:43-52; Lk 22:47-53; Jn 18:2-12): All 4 gospels report on this event. Interrogation of Annas (Jn 18:19-23): John alone preserves this interrogation for us. Sanhedrin Trial (Mt 26:57-68; Mk 14:53-65; Lk 22:54-71): The Sanhedrin was the ruling body in charge of Jewish internal affairs. Pilate’s Questioning (Mt 27:11-14; Mk 15:2-5; Lk 23:2-5; Jn 18:28-38a): Pilate doesn’t want to condemn an innocent man, but if he lets Jesus go free, he’ll upset the Jewish leaders and possibly disturb the peace during a major holiday. Interrogation by Herod (Lk 23:6-12): Only Luke reports this interrogation by Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. Pilate attempted to toss this political hot potato into Herod’s lap, but Herod tosses it right back. Pilate’s Verdict (Mt 27:15-31; Mk 15:15-19; Lk 23:24-25; Jn 18:38b-19:16): All four gospels record Pilate’s various attempts to avoid sentencing Jesus, but how, in the end, he caves to the political pressure and authorizes Jesus’ crucifixion.The Betrayal in the Night: So that’s the sequence of events leading up to the betrayal of Jesus and the interrogation. Continuing the narrative, Jesus and his disciples leave the upper room, make their way through the city, and arrive at the garden of Gethsemane. Because Jesus frequented this spot, Judas anticipates they would head there after supper. Judas shows up with a band of soldiers looking for Jesus, and when they find Jesus, He responds “I am He.” In shocked panic the soldiers wheel around, reel back, bump into each other, trip over themselves, and fall to the ground. In Greek, it’s “ego eimi”. In most cases, it is translated “I am he.” But it can also be translated simply as “I AM.” It’s possible that the reason the soldiers stumble and fall here is because Jesus is flexing – just a little. He’s showing just a hint of his true nature. He’s revealing just an ounce of His true power. He’s giving just a glimpse of his true glory. Jesus is exercising just enough strength to show us that he’s in full command of the situation, but not so much strength as to overpower His opponents, because He voluntarily surrenders. And as Jesus gives Himself up, He ensures the disciples’ safety. The soldiers then take Jesus to Annas, the former high priest. And during that interrogation, Peter denies Jesus three times. The Hero in the Shadows: In many ways, Peter attempted to be the hero of this story. But Peter’s confidence was misplaced. He trusted in himself, in his own strength, and in his own commitment. Peter thought salvation would come as he stood side-by-side in battle alongside Jesus. But he didn’t yet understand the Way of Jesus, that salvation would come not through conquest but through surrender; that glory would come through shame, and that life would come through death. And in doing so, Peter joined the long line of those who know what it means to have great intentions only to fall flat on our faces. Peter’s professed intensions fall terribly flat. We all have a gap. Some of us see it, others don’t, but it’s there. On this night, Peter came face-to-face with the gap. He couldn’t run, hide, or deny. And the other gospels tell us, he went out into the night and wept bitterly. Peter thought he would be the hero of this story, that he would be the one to stand up for Jesus, but then he discovered the gap. As it turns out, Peter needed a Hero to rescue him, Peter needed someone to stand up for him. Jesus is the Hero of this story. Throughout it all, he exhibits unimaginable courage, doesn’t he? Jesus’ understated courage heroically prevails. Don’t you see? Jesus offers himself up for them. He is arrested, that they might be let go. He is bound, that they might be free. He is condemned, that they might be pardoned. He is crucified, that they might live. Don’t you see? This is a picture of the Gospel. “Take me. Let them go!” Takeaways: Jesus faced the darkness alone, that we might go free. When Jesus gave himself up to protect his disciples that night, it was a beautiful picture of what the cross is all about: Jesus died in our place for our sake to bear all our sin and shame. He stood in the gap, to cover our gaps. He drank the cup of judgement to the dregs for us and rose again on the third day in order that we might go free. This is the Gospel: “Take me. Let them go!” John 18:1-27

The Priest

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In this passage we come to what is arguably the pinnacle of John’s Gospel. It’s Jesus’ last night, and in the next hours, He will be betrayed by Judas Iscariot from His inner circle. He will be put on trial, condemned, and crucified the following day. And Jesus, knowing all that awaits Him, has been pouring out His heart to the disciples. He shows them His love by washing their feet. He shares a meal with them at the last supper. He’s intimating to them that His hour has come and that He will return to the Father by way of the cross. And now in chapter 17, Jesus offers a final prayer known as “The High Priestly Prayer”. In this prayer we find what is most important to Jesus. In Jesus’ final prayer, we find four main points: A Final Request: In the face of shame, Jesus asks for the renewal of glory. He is about to face the greatest possible shame in the presence of men on earth, and so He asks for the greatest possible honor in the presence of God: that He would be raised in glory to what is rightfully His. It is the glory of the Father to glorify the Son, and it is the Son’s glory to glorify the Father. A Final Report: The Father sent Jesus into the world on a mission, and here Jesus is submitting His final report. In a sense, Jesus’ mission was for the whole world, but it was also particularly focused on those the Father gave to the Son. It is to these people in particular, the ones given by the Father to the Son, that Jesus has manifested the Father’s name. So in this prayer, Jesus is focused on His disciples, and His heart is focused on those who believe. Their belief in Jesus brings Him glory, for their reception of Jesus means that His mission has been successful. So here at the finish line, Jesus is acknowledging that He has completed the mission. A Final Intercession: In this high priestly prayer, Jesus prays a final three-fold intercession on the disciples' behalf. First, to fortify them by putting the Father’s name on them, which signifies protection, providence, and preciousness. Jesus asks the Father to keep them strong, to keep them resilient, and to keep them faithful. Second, to sanctify them to keep them pure and distinct as sons and daughters of the King. This implies that as the disciples are sanctified in the truth of the Word, they will become holy, righteous, and pure. Because they have a mission ahead of them: to be sent out into the world to bear God’s name and Word into the world. Third, to unify them as one family, under one faith, in one Lord, and one baptism, despite their diverse backgrounds. Our unity is our witness to the world. We must never allow the world to divide what Jesus Christ has unified. We cannot live in the love of the Father and live in disunity with our brothers and sisters. A Final Desire: This is Christ's desire—that we would be with Him and see Him as He really is. To see Jesus in His glory is to come alive forever, to be transformed into the sons and daughters of God that we really are. Here in the end, Jesus’ deepest desire is for perichoresis, the divine dance of eternal loving embrace with the Triune God. Takeaways: Our true, real, good, and beautiful life is found in intimate rapture with divine glory as we are forever enfolded in the perichoretic love of our Triune God. This is what you were made for. This is what your soul aches for. This is what we’re looking for in all the wrong places. This is the deepest meaning of the universe. We forever come alive in the eternal life of God. Do you know this life? Do you live this life?

The Overcomer

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 09:00:00 CDT

How do we know that everything will be alright in the end? In many ways, that’s the very question that was haunting the minds of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus had told them to prepare for battle, that the persecution that was coming for him would come for them also. They no doubt felt like underdogs. Have you ever felt like an underdog? Maybe you are facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, harsh realities, painful setbacks, and crushing sadness. You’re asking Jesus: "How do I know that it will all be right in the end?" Jesus addresses that honest, deep, and heartfelt question in our passage from John 16:16-33. Because Jesus overcomes, we too will overcome. Jesus is the overcomer in three spheres:Redemptive History: Jesus overcomes sorrow with joy. This is true for Jesus, this is true for the disciples, and it is also true for us. Because redemption is not just something God did one time for Jesus; redemption is the story of history. Our God is a redeeming God. He takes what is broken and makes it whole, what is marred and makes it beautiful, what is sorrowful and turns it to joy. Jesus is in the business of overcoming sorry with joy. Divine Reconciliation: Jesus overcomes estrangement with reunion. We were made for relationship with God. But our sin separates us from God and we experience estrangement. But God, in His great love for us, sent His Son to do whatever it took to bring us home. On the cross Jesus died in our place and for our sake, bearing all our sin and shame, covering us with his perfect life, so that we might be reconciled to God. Reunited with him. Jesus overcomes our sin, shame, and separation. He becomes our Substitute and Savior so that we might become children of God. We can then cry out “Abba Father.” Jesus is in the business of overcoming estrangement with reunion. Personal Transformation: What on earth do you do with your own undeniable failure? How will you ever find peace? Jesus overcomes faithlessness with faithfulness. The disciples who fled from Jesus due to their fear, weakness, and faithlessness experienced personal transformation through Jesus. The faithless became faithful because of the faithfulness of Jesus, who did not abandon those who abandoned Him, who did not fail those who failed Him, but who overcame evil with good. We too can overcome fear, weakness, and faithlessness because Jesus overcame those things. Takeaway: whatever we face, since Jesus is with us, will be all right in the end.Jesus is working redemption in all history. Jesus has reconciled us to the Father. Jesus is transforming us by his faithfulness. John 16:16-33

The Helper

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In this passage, we are in the early hours before the crucifixion. Betrayal, arrest, whipping, and crucifixion awaits Jesus, and He knows it. But he mustn’t fixate on the tidal wave of agony that is about to break up on Him; instead, he focuses on preparing His disciples for the battle ahead. As American Christians with sizable religious freedoms, we often read past verses like this rather quickly. But you know who doesn’t read past them? The vast majority of our brothers and sisters around the world and throughout history. And who knows? Those of us in America may just need these words sooner than we realize. Perhaps Jesus is preparing us for battle too. Jesus is preparing his disciples for the suffering, persecution, and hostility they will face in this world. Because followers of Jesus are not like the world, the world views us with suspicion. Because we’re different, we’re distinct. We’ll look at three points to prepare us for what’s coming: Distinct Allegiance: Christians who are filled with the Holy Spirit and bear Christ’s presence in the world have a polarizing effect of both attraction and repulsion. Jesus’ followers shouldn’t be shocked when they experience the same hatred their Leader did. Why does the world hate us? Because this world is not our true home; Jesus has chosen us out of the world. In other words, we’re citizens of Heaven. We follow the way of Jesus and His Kingdom. Jesus is telling us that we will encounter hostility from the world, because we bear the name of Jesus in the world, not because we’re obnoxious. If we’re encountering hostility because we’re winsomely shining the light of Christ to the world, that’s to be expected. But if we’re encountering hostility because we’re tactless and obnoxious, that is nothing to be proud of. Distinct Witness: We embody the convicting presence of God. When we go out into the world… we never go alone. We bear the presence of God into the world, and wherever God goes, people are convicted of sin, righteousness, and judgment. It’s not our job to convict of sin, righteousness and judgment; the Holy Spirit does that. Our job is to share the good news that Jesus died for our sin, that He offers us his righteousness, and that He has already won the judgment and his victory can be ours if we will believe in Him. Distinct Bearing: We suffer in the glorious strength of the Spirit. All that the Father has is Jesus’, and all that is Jesus’ is ours through the Spirit. And here’s what’s amazing: it was Jesus’ Hour of suffering that most convicted the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; and it will be our tour of suffering that convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment as well. As we suffer in the glorious strength of the Spirit, we embody the convicting presence of God in the world and proclaim our ultimate allegiance to the way Jesus and his Kingdom. Our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world tell us that a suffering church is an unstoppable church. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Persecution breeds perseverance, hostility unleashes holiness, and crucifixion is the only way to resurrection. What if suffering like Jesus grants us access to the depths of all that God is for us? What if suffering like Jesus is our greatest witness to the world? Takeaway: Stand strong in the Lord. As we suffer in the glorious strength of the Spirit, we embody the convicting presence of God in the world and proclaim our ultimate allegiance to the way Jesus and his Kingdom. John 15:18-16:15 Click here for Sermon Q&A

Supernatural Strength

Sun, 30 May 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Our natural default is to try to do things on our own. But when trouble comes, whether it's relationships, temptation, anxiety, or sin, we realize that we aren't strong enough to do it on our own. The spiritual strength we need is found in our Savior. We need His strength for our weakness. Three keys to spiritual strength:Rely on the Holy Spirit: To be empowered by the Spirit means that Christ dwells in our hearts. We must fully rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to renew our inner self. How do we know if we are relying on the Holy Spirit? We should check the desires and motivations of our heart. Are you faithful to God in the small things? Are you consistent in practicing spiritual disciplines? How do you go about making a difficult decision? Are your future goals something you can accomplish on your own or only with God’s help? Know the Love of Jesus: Love is the foundation of all that we are in Jesus. Great strength is found in the security of Jesus’ love. Do you know how much He loves you? You cannot be a spiritually mature person if you don’t grow in the knowledge of how much you are loved by God. Recognize God’s Abundant Power: God loves to use ordinary people to show His extraordinary power. Takeaway: God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. Where do you need God’s power in your life today? Ephesians 3:14-21

The Vine

Sun, 23 May 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In John 15, Jesus taught His disciples (and through them, us) that the secret to a fruitful life is abiding in Him. At the heart of this discourse is an extended metaphor (vv. 1-8) which Jesus then expounds upon in vv. 9-17. The Vine: “I am the true vine” is the 7th and final “I AM” statement in John. The vine is used as a symbol for God’s covenant people, Israel. And whenever this comparison is made, the emphasis is always on Israel’s failure to produce the fruit that God desired. Now we have Jesus applying this metaphor to Himself. Jesus is saying that He is the “true” vine, and the fruit Israel failed to bear He will bear in Himself when He is crucified. He provides true access to the living, pulsating, abundant life of God. When we try to find life in anything else, it never really satisfies. The Vinedresser: God the Father is caring and tending for the vine through pruning. If Jesus is the vine, and His disciples are the branches, He’s letting them know that a cutting is coming. They will feel the Vinedresser’s knife. The question is, will they abide and become even more alive and fruitful? Or will they fall away, wither, and die? The Father’s pruning cuts away what’s dead and fruitless and cultivates what’s alive and fruitful. The Branches: The secret to a fruitful life is abiding in Jesus. Everything hinges on the strength of our connection with Him. That’s what makes us alive! That’s what makes us fruitful! Apart from Him we wither and die; not only is there no fruit, but there is no life either. The abundant, self-giving love of the Father for the Son now overflows from Jesus into us. He invites us to make our home in His love, to settle down and abide in it. So His love for us becomes the most real thing about us. How do we abide in the love of Jesus? To abide is to dependently welcome Christ’s life into ourselves so that His Word, love, obedience, peace, and joy become our very own. The Fruit: If we abide in Christ, if His life is flowing in and through us, we will bear much fruit. All kinds of people claim to be followers of Jesus, but it is the fruit that will prove them out in the end. Note: Bearing fruit does not cause us to be disciples; bearing fruit characterizes us as disciples. Fruit naturally and necessarily flows from a life-giving connection with the Vine. What fruit does Jesus have in mind here? To love one another as Jesus loved us. Only Jesus’ life in us can produce the abiding Christlike fruit of loving obedience, joyous self-sacrifice, and faithful mission. The Sap: If the branches draw their life-nutrients from the vine, what carries them along? That’s the role of the sap. If the sap enables the nutrients to flow from the vine into the branches, what is it that enables Christ’s life to flow into ours? Prayer is the sap. In prayer, we open ourselves up to the abundant life of God for us, in us, and through us. Takeaway: Jesus is Life. Do you know His life? Are you abiding in His life? Is His life bearing fruit in yours? John 15:1-17 Sermon Q&A click here.

The Dance

Sun, 16 May 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In John's account of Jesus’ last night before the cross, we encounter some of the most tender words in all the Scriptures. In the Upper Room, Jesus poured out His heart to His disciples, teaching them (and through them, us) how to live in the love of God, because living in the love of God is everything. John 14:15-31 is notoriously difficult to outline, because Jesus keeps circling back time and again to the same central theme as He invites us to live deeply in the love of God. Pastor Philip approached the passage from three angles: Our Love of God: What does it mean to really love God? Our love of Jesus naturally and necessarily flows into an obedience to His law. This fundamentally boils down to loving God and loving people. So if you really love Jesus, you’ll grow in love for one another. But that’s not always an easy thing to do. We desperately need direction, wholeness, and courage from Jesus to do that well. We cannot do it on our own, which brings us to the next point. God’s Love of Us: The only way we’ll ever be able to obey Christ’s law of love is through the enabling work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit enables through us what the Son commands of us so that Father delights in us. You want to know how hard love is? It takes all three persons of the Triune God to form us into people of love. The Life of Love: There’s an important progression here: Love God -> Obey God -> Love People -> God’s Presence. Here’s the logic: to love Jesus is to obey Jesus; to obey Jesus is to love one another; as we live in loving obedience, Jesus asks the Father to send the Spirit; God’s indwelling Spirit is His presence in us. Perichoresis is the Divine dance of eternal loving embrace, each person of the Triune Godhead lovingly self-giving unto the others, and welcoming and receiving one another into themselves with unrestrained, overflowing intimacy, delight, and everlasting joy! Do you realize what this means? To be united to Jesus by faith is to be “in Christ” and to have “Christ in us.” And if we share a perichoretic relationship with Jesus, and Jesus has a perichoretic relationship with the Father and the Spirit, then to be in Christ means we also have the Spirit and the Father in Him. The Triune God is inviting us to share in the Dance. Takeaway: will you have this Dance? John 14:15-31 Sermon Q&A click here.

The Way

Sun, 09 May 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In this passage from John 14:1-14, we find the disciples troubled by news that Jesus is leaving. How could they ever go on without Jesus? But as Jesus shows them, his departure means more of the love of God, not less. Jesus offers us four things as He departs: A Loving Home: Our true home is to abide in love with God forever. What makes Heaven, heaven, is not the location but who is there--God. It’s not about where you are, it’s who you’re with. A Loving Path: In the 6th “I AM” statement in Scripture, Jesus calls Himself “The Way.” If you want to know the way to God the Father, look no further than in the person of Jesus. The way to God seems narrow, but it’s about a love relationship with the Father through the mutual opening of hearts to one another. God has opened wide the door of His heart in Jesus. Jesus is the only way to the Father’s heart. A Loving God: The Triune God exists as a community of eternally-loving, self-donative, and mutually-indwelling persons too one to be many and too many to be one. What theologians call perichoresis is the ultimate meaning of the universe. This is a dance of eternal loving embrace, each person of the Godhead lovingly self-giving unto the others, and welcoming and receiving one another into themselves with unrestrained, overflowing intimacy, delight, and everlasting joy. The triune, perichoretic love is what everything is all about. A Loving Power: Because we are united with Christ, He works through us. Jesus is preparing a place for us to dwell deeply in love with the Triune God forever, and in the meantime, He’s inviting us to live in union with him so that His presence and power flow into us, transforming us, and then flow through us into the world around us. Jesus’ love transforms us so He can give us all we want. Jesus’ departure means more of the love of God, not less. He offers us a Loving Home, by means of a Loving Path, into a relationship with a Loving God, with a Loving Power that transforms first us and then the world. Three Takeaway Questions for Self-Reflection: Am I believing in the love of God? Am I abiding in the love of God? Am I transforming in the love of God? If your answer to any of those questions worries you, please contact us at the link to discuss it further: www.moodychurch.org/connect. John 14:1-14 Sermon Q&A click here.

The Mission Remains Incomplete

Sun, 02 May 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In this passage from Acts 1, we find the last recorded words of Jesus before His ascension. These words should be the heartbeat for Christians in fulfilling the task given to the Church. Dr. Greenway challenges us to rethink our mission and missions if we are going to be found faithful in 2021. Why is the Great Commission, from verse 8, reiterated five times throughout the gospels? Jesus knew how easy it is for us to become distracted and diverted from what is a priority for the Christian Church today. Jesus directly challenges the mentality that “missions is for someone else.” If we are to “be the church,” we must realize that we are all called to bring the good news of the gospel to others. Failure to do so is nothing short of sin. Acts 1:1-11

The Problem of Victory: Peace, Expediency, and the Christian Life

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 09:00:00 CDT

How can we possibly believe in the extravagant claims of Christianity when so much of everyday life appears to tell a different story? How can we speak of victory when truth, beauty, life, and justice seem to be so scare? In this sermon by special guest Dr. Michael Thate, we explore the story of Jesus before Pontius Pilate and the religious leaders. In this scene, we see several examples of how to live victoriously in the face of darkness. We'll find that our daily struggles can be viewed through a new lens because our victory in Christ is secure. John 18:33–19:11

The Troubled

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 09:00:00 CDT

When a film director wants the audience to focus on the magnitude of what’s happening in a scene, they will often bring the shot in close and slow everything down. That’s kind of what John is doing for us in chapters 13-17. Jesus is in the upper room with His disciples just hours before His crucifixion. John wants us to focus on the magnitude of what’s happening, and to see everything. By doing so, we're able to reflect on three astonishing realities: Jesus' Full Awareness: In this account, it's easy to notice just how fully aware and in command Jesus appears. He knew He was going to be betrayed and crucified; He sees the pain that's coming and faces it head-on. This is astonishing courage. Have you ever stopped to think that Jesus really knows how painful and broken this world really is? Jesus' Family Resemblance: At the very heart of this passage is Jesus' commandment to the disciples to love one another. There's nothing new about this command ... but what is new is how Jesus defines it: "just as I have loved you." This models the love we are to have as selfless, sacrificial service. Jesus serves His disciples in love; the disciples are to serve one another in love; and this example cascades down to all people. It is also reflective of Trinitarian love: the Son serves the Father in love, the Father serves the Son in love, and in doing so they glorify one another. This loving service that Jesus commands of His disciples shows the "family resemblance" in how the Father and Son love one another. Loving, selfless service flows from the heart of God through Jesus into His children so that all people everywhere might know that we belong to the Family of God. Even knowing our weakness, Jesus commands us what He then works in us. Jesus is loving us into loveliness. Jesus' Faithful Pursuit: Isn’t it astonishing how Jesus pursues His disciples faithfully in love? Even though many of them flee, deny, and betray Him, there's not a hint of anger or distance on Jesus' part. Instead, He draws close to them, washes their feet, shares a meal, opens His heart. Jesus relentlessly pursues those who betray Him. Even when we fail, Jesus will never give up on us. John 13:14-38 Sermon Q&A click here.

The Servant

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In this passage from John 13:1-17, we see a profound demonstration of Jesus' servant heart. This scene takes place during Jesus’ last meal with the disciples. It's Thursday evening of Holy Week, just hours before his crucifixion the following day. As the story unfolds, Jesus washes the disciple's feet. It’s moving and touching to us today, but in first-century Palestine it was, shocking, radical, and scandalous. The story shows us three characteristics at the very heart of Jesus:The Humbling Servant: Jesus knows that the Father has given all things into His hands, and that he's the greatest person in the room. But what does he do? He takes off his garments, wraps a towel around his waist, and washes feet. He willingly, voluntarily, and humbly takes on the role of the lowliest slave. The humility demonstrated by Jesus is humbling for us. The Cleansing Redeemer: There are dimensions to this foot washing that Peter can't accept. So, Jesus shifts his response to Peter from physical cleansing to spiritual cleansing. Jesus is making this point: we don't just need physical cleansing, we need spiritual cleansing. The Transforming Example: Jesus is calling us to be like Him. To become humble servants. To become slaves of all. To clean refuse off the feet of the undeserving. To pursue the unlovely. To love our enemies. To lay down our lives in loving service, humble sacrifice, and selflessness care. But how are we supposed to do this? We must give up our pride, and realize that served people serve people. Takeaways:If you’re searching for Jesus, you’ll find Him at your feet. All will kneel before Jesus, because Jesus knelt before all. We serve because He first served us. Jesus' love is teaching us how to kneel. We love because He first loved us; we forgive because He forgave us; we serve because He served us. John 13:1-17 Sermon Q&A click here

The Resurrection

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 09:00:00 CDT

On Easter we traditionally look at one of the Gospel accounts of that glorious morning when the disciples discovered the empty tomb and realized that Jesus had risen from the dead. But this Easter we break with tradition. In this sermon we explore at an event that took place just a couple weeks prior to Jesus’ own resurrection when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. It’s a story that shows us the three significant points about the resurrection of Jesus and its relevance for us today: the resurrection near, there, and here:The Resurrection Near: Jesus is the key to resurrection life. This is an audacious claim; Jesus doesn’t say that he has the keys to resurrection life, but that his is the resurrection life. Either he’s raving mad or he’s lying through his teeth; or, he is exactly who he claimed to be. The Resurrection and the Life come near to us in the person of Jesus. The Resurrection There: Jesus is the key to resurrection life beyond death. When most of us think of death, we either deny it or sentimentalize it. But the Bible treats death differently. Scripture says that death is the enemy, that it is unnatural, and that (incredibly) death is defeated. Jesus Christ went to the cross to die for the sins of the world, to defeat Satan, and put death to death forever. The Bible tells us that one day God will renew this universe and death shall be no more. The Resurrection Here: Jesus is the key to resurrection life here and now. He claims to offer the kind of life that eve death cannot touch. But the problem we all have is that we are disconnected from God, choosing to do life our own way. The result is that we are dying inside. Jesus, God’s own Son, came and took our death on the cross; he died in our place and for our sake, bearing all of our sign and shame. And because he rose from the dead, we can be right with God. Through this sacrifice, Jesus become the resurrection life that will flood into us now and forever. Takeaways: Is the resurrection life real to you? If you can’t answer that question affirmatively, you can make a choice today to accept eternal life. It’s simple: admit that you’re a sinner, believe that Jesus has done everything to make you right with God, and commit your life to Him as your Savior and Lord. John 11:20-28, 32-44

The Hour

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 09:00:00 CDT

As we begin Holy Week, this passage in John gives us four vivid portraits of Jesus. The last moments of Jesus’ public ministry recorded for us in the Gospel of John. These four portraits are unmistakably vivid so that everyone may know just who this Jesus really is. The King of Israel: Our 1st Portrait of Jesus comes from the out-of-town crowds who traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. We see Jesus riding into town on a donkey. What on earth is Jesus doing here? Kings don’t ride adolescent donkeys. Donkeys are service animals for grunt work, bearing burdens, hauling refuse. Kings don’t ride donkeys! Jesus rode this young donkey to make a statement, and to fulfill a prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. Because Jesus is the King of Israel! But he did not come as the people expected. This King comes not to crush his enemies, but to be crushed by them; not to mow them down, but that they might mow him down; not to strike, but to be struck; not to pierce, but to be pierced. The Savior of the World: Our 2nd portrait is made by some God-fearing Greeks who were in Jerusalem for the feast, and they want to see Jesus. Now, this may seem to us to be nothing more than the trappings of celebrity with fans to please. But there’s something in this moment that signals to Jesus… it’s time. What triggered this realization in Jesus that it was time? It may be the fact that the nations were seeking him, and it was in being lifted up that Jesus would draw all men to himself! The Jews have given their “Hosannas” and now the Greeks ask to see Jesus. It’s time for glory through death. Jesus says his dying is what unleashes life. The Son of Glory: Our 3rd portrait is by God the Father. With suffering and death staring him in the face, Jesus is moved in prayer. He is deeply troubled because of the weight of the cross ahead; and yet he exhibits such incredible resolve. The Father adds His thunderous endorsement to the mix: the Jews called him King of Israel; the Greeks sought out this Savior of the World; now God the Father endorses the Son of Glory. The Word of Life: Our 4th portrait is self-made by Jesus himself. This is his final public appeal, a final offer of light and life. Jesus says: “I am here as light…won’t you come to the light?” When Jesus speaks it brings accountability. Before we were ignorant. But now we know that we’re responsible. Jesus’ word carries the weight of the Father’s authority as well. Jesus is the living Word of God and therefore speaks God’s living Word. The Word can bring judgement, or that Word can bring eternal life. Takeaways: Jesus says, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”Jesus + Nothing = Everything Everything – Jesus = Nothing John 12:12-50 Sermon Q&A Click Here

The Anointed

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 09:00:00 CDT

One of the scariest realities in the Gospels is how close you can be to Jesus and miss him entirely. Chapter after chapter, we see that Jesus was right there with the Pharisees, but they missed Him. He was calling, but they didn't hear Him. He was shining in glory, but they didn't see Him. These stories are a warning. You can be moral. You can be religious. You can go to religious gatherings. You can give to the poor. You can do good. You can be well thought of. You can hang around authentic disciples, listen to the finest sermons, and even hold a leadership position. You can be that close to Jesus and still miss Him entirely. His glory can be right there in front of you, and you don’t even see it. On the other hand, there’s Mary, who, as we’ll see in this passage from John, in loving abandon, lavishly anointed Jesus’ feet with a priceless perfume in adoration, gratitude, awe, and worship of Jesus. Everyone can meet the same Jesus, but there can be wildly different responses. Mary truly encountered the glory of Jesus and it deeply changed her. In contrast, the others did not because their encounter was a superficial exposure and not a true encounter. What makes the difference? The critical question for us is: Have we truly encountered Jesus’ glory, or is it just a superficial exposure? In this sermon, we explore three signs we’ve truly encountered Jesus:The Stirring of Our Affections The Shattering of Our Idols The Satisfying of Our Souls Takeaways:“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” (The Westminster Catechism) Are you willing to count everything as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ our Lord? Is Jesus your resurrection and your life? Mary understood that the only way we live, is if the Lamb of God dies. If we’re to be resurrected, Jesus must be crucified. So, if Jesus gave up everything for us, how can we hold back anything from him? John 11:54—12:11 Sermon Q&A click here.

The Life

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 09:00:00 CDT

This passage is one of the most gripping and glorious scenes in the Bible as Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead. This story ends in glorious clarity of Jesus’ powerful love, but it begins with cloudy gloom and disorienting confusion. This story opens and Lazarus is gravely ill, and so they call for Jesus. They expect Jesus to drop everything and come save his friend. But that’s not what Jesus does, and they are disoriented. Have you ever been there? Have you ever prayed your guts out only to find yourself disappointed with God? What do we do when God doesn’t make sense? Ten anchors for the soul when God doesn’t make sense. God is working always for His glory and our good. God will sometimes lovingly disappoint us. Jesus gladly risks his life for his friends. Nothing is beyond hope in the hands of Jesus. Jesus is life from beyond the walls of the world. God weeps with us. Doubt is a natural companion to grief. God’s ways are not our ways. Resurrection is just a cry away. God is authoring a redemptive twist. Takeaway: When you can’t trust His hand, trust His heart. John 11:1-53 Sermon Q&A click here.

The Divine

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Many of us like Jesus—who he was, what he did, how he loved others—but we struggle with his claims of deity. These are edgy claims that catch everyone off guard. What are we to do with Jesus’ unexpected, extraordinary claims? In this passage from John 10, we find four dimensions of the unexpected that reveal the heart of Jesus:Unexpected Feast: The setting of the story begins at the Feast of Dedication, or Hanukkah, and themes of this feast are themes of confrontation: blasphemy, consecration, light, and worship. These are the very points of contention in the conversation that Jesus has in the story with the Pharisees. The irony is that it is the Pharisees who are in fact blaspheming, because by refusing to acknowledge God’s own son revealed before their eyes, they are blaspheming Jesus. Unexpected Clarity: The unexpected feast leads to unexpected clarity. Responding to requests for clarity about his words, Jesus identifies two pillars of his witness—his words and his works. Jesus then makes an unmistakable claim to deity. The people asked for a plain claim to be the Messiah, the chosen one of Israel, but instead Jesus claims to be divine. Unexpected Nuance: The unexpected claims of Jesus lead to unexpected nuance. Jesus challenges the religious leaders to think critically about who he really is and what his words really mean. It would be one thing if Jesus had nothing to back up his claims, but his works show that he is from God. Moreover, he claims that the Father is in him, and he in the Father. Jesus is claiming not equivalence (meaning the same person), but equality with God. If Jesus were to claim that he was the Father, that would be heresy. The one true God eternally exists as three co-equal, co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And these three are one God. This is the doctrine of the Trinity. These are three persons in one essence: equal, but not equivalent. So deep is the loving union of this eternal community of persons that they mutually indwell one another while maintaining their distinctions. Unexpected Mercy: The unexpected nuance leads to an unexpected mercy. Jesus knows that what he is saying is hard to believe, so he asks them to believe his works. Jesus looks his assassins in the eyes and gives them this merciful invitation to start with a small amount of faith to know him. This is such a clear example of how Jesus patiently pursues hostile hearts. None of us believes as we ought; yet Jesus is so patient with us. Takeaways:Jesus didn’t stutter—either he is, as he claims, the Lord or heaven, or he is a liar and lunatic. Jesus deserves our worship as the Son of God. Jesus welcomes you where you are, even the parts of you that are skeptical and hesitant. When our faith feels weak, all we must say is, “Lord, I believe…help my unbelief.” John 10:22-42 Click here for sermon Q&A.

The Shepherd

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 09:00:00 CDT

One of the unique features of the Gospel of John is the attention he gives to the seven “I AM” statements Jesus uttered. In each of these seven statements, Jesus is recorded as saying the phrase ego eimi – “I AM”. This is the Greek translation of the Hebrew YHWH, meaning “I AM Who I AM” from Exodus 3:14. These are purposeful statements hinting at Jesus’ deity. In this passage from John 10, Jesus gives us two more “I AM” statements: “I am the Door of the sheep,” and “I am the Good Shepherd.” What on earth does He mean? Pastor Philip explored three insights into Jesus as our Good Shepherd: 1) The Shepherd’s Provision: In this analogy, Jesus is the Shepherd and we are the sheep. This may seem unflattering, because sheep are notoriously vulnerable animals. But the point for us today is that sheep need a shepherd to thrive, and we need a Shepherd to thrive as well. A Shepherd provides three important things for us: significance, security, and satisfaction. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who offers the good life, now and forever, in Himself. Jesus is offering a life beyond scarcity, worry, stress, and even death. A life abounding with significance, security, and satisfaction. That’s the Shepherd’s Provision. 2) The Shepherd’s Position: Jesus calls Himself “the Good Shepherd;” in the original Greek, it means “I am the Shepherd…the Good One.” He is drawing attention to the difference between a good and bad of shepherd. The religious leaders claimed to be the shepherds of Israel, but Jesus is saying that they have shown themselves to be bad shepherds. In this comparison, a good shepherd has legitimacy, leadership, and loyalty. Jesus is claiming that He is the real, true Good Shepherd whose flock is from every nation, tribe, people, language and tongue. How will the Good Shepherd bring that about? 3) The Shepherd’s Passion: The final proof that Jesus is the Good Shepherd is found in the fact that He lays his life down for the sheep. The death of Jesus is sacrificial, substitutionary, voluntary, authoritative, and lovely. The Father loves the Son for His passion, and it’s the reason the sheep follow the Shepherd. If He laid down his life for us, won’t we follow Him anywhere when He calls us? We’re all like sheep without a shepherd, and there are bad shepherds all around us who want to steal our lives. Who can we really trust? The Good Shepherd offers the good life: a life of significance, security, and satisfaction. We can trust that Jesus is the Good Shepherd because He is legitimate, He is our leader, and He is loyal to the end. If Jesus loved you enough to die for you, He’ll never do you any harm. John 10:1-21 Click here for sermon Q&A.

The Blinding

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 09:00:00 CDT

The book of John is a curated collection (events, interactions, and dialogue) written so that the you may believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that by believing you may have Life in His name. In John 9, the author is again curating the story so that we would more clearly see the person of Jesus. We see four refractions of Jesus as the Light of the World. Each of these refractions shed light on who Jesus is and who we are as well. The Parable of the Light: The story begins with a man born blind, and the disciples ask if his condition is a result of personal sin. Jesus responds by saying “I am the light of the world…” So, we have a man who can’t see any light in this world, and Jesus about to enact a kind of miraculous parable to illustrate what it means that He is the "Light of the World," and how some eyes will be opened while other eyes are closed. The Polarization of the Light: The people cannot believe their eyes that the man is healed, and the healing creates polarized views of who Jesus is. While the Light is shining, some eyes are opened and some are intentionally shut, because the light of Jesus is polarizing. The Piercing of the Light: Jesus opened the blind man's eyes to the light, and now his eyes are also being opened spiritually to who Jesus is. Despite opposition from the Pharisees, the man who was healed stands up for Jesus, saying "I was blind, but now I see." The man claims that Jesus has to be from God, because only God alone can open the eyes of a blind man. Here’s the irony: this man sees things with perfect clarity, but it is the Pharisees' eyes that are clouded. The clearer the light shines, the more piercing it is, revealing what’s really going on in the Pharisees’ hearts. The Paradox of the Light: On the one hand, no one has ever seen Jesus with more clarity than this man does. He goes from total blindness to crystal clarity in just a few hours. And at the very same time, processing the very same information, in the very same place, the religious leaders have never been so blind as to who Jesus is. They actively resist the light. And here’s what’s amazing: the blind man everyone assumed was furthest from God, ends up closest; and the religious leaders everyone assumed were closest to God, end up furthest away. The Light does that; it draws some close and others it drives away. There is no greater blindness than that which insists it can see. Takeaway: Jesus’ light is blinding to some and beautiful to others. It all comes down to whether we’re willing to admit our blindness or not. That’s why sinners draw near, and the self-righteous stand far off. So how about you? What will you do with the Light? John 9:1-41 Click here for sermon Q&A.

The I Am

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In this passage from the end of John 8, we catch a glimpse of Jesus' amazing glory. There are three glorious offers he gives us, but each has a tough reality that we must face. Because when the Son breaks through, we’re either drawn to his beauty or blinded by the light, there really no room in between. Jesus offers Freedom to those who admit their bondage. There are two groups of people here; those who admit they’re slaves to sin, who look to Jesus to set them free; and those who insist they’re actually free, when they’re really not. Sin always looks like freedom until it’s too late. Sin always enslaves us in the end. Jesus offers freedom, but there’s a catch: freedom only comes when we admit our bondage. So we must ask ourselves: do we really want to be free? Jesus offer a Father to those who own their devilry. In all of this, Jesus is making an appeal. He's saying: "You’re living in enslavement to sin, and you’re under the power of the devil. But I’m here that you might have life! I’m here to set you free! I’m here that you might no longer be slaves… but sons! I’m here to bring you home, that my Father might indeed be your Father!" But the catch is, that if you want God as your Father, you have to admit your sinful heart. Jesus offers Forever to those who honor His deity. Again, there are two groups of people. Those who believe (the disciples are there) and honor Jesus as “my Lord and my God” as Thomas will do, and those with stones in their hands. Jesus takes away the middle ground; you can either crucify Him as a liar and lunatic, or your can worship Him as Lord and live forever. Takeaways: We are far worse off than we think, Jesus is far better than we realize, and there is far more at stake then we imagine. As human beings apart from grace, we’re in a desperate world of hurt. Jesus alone can be our Savior, because he alone is I AM. Do you want to be free? Do you want God as your Father? Do you want to live forever? Jesus offers us all of this, if only we would admit our sin and worship Him. John 8:31-59 Click here for sermon Q&A.

When Faith Meets Fear

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Fear is a regular emotion in our lives. When God often leads us into fearful situations, and we feel overwhelmed, how should we respond? In this story from Genesis 32 about Jacob and Esau, we see three biblical ways we are to respond to fear. Rely on God: In the midst of our fear, don’t forget that God is faithful. The test of our dependance on God is seen our practice of prayer. Realign Your Perspective: Our natural tendency towards self-preservation builds walls between ourselves and other. Instead of self-preservation, the gospel calls us to self-denial. Respond to His Voice: Are we listening to our own voice, the voice of the world, or are we listening to the voice of God and living out of the inner transformation that he has done in our lives? Genesis 32

The Light

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon, we explore Jesus' second "I Am" statement: "I am the light of the world." This important metaphor helps us unpack Jesus' true identity. Light is a theme that runs clear across the pages of Scripture, from very beginning to very end. It’s within this biblical narrative, this arc of light, that we begin to see the brilliance of what Jesus is doing here in John 8. The passage is broken down in three parts: 1) A Dazzling Claim: In the ancient world, light was a much bigger deal than now. Without lights, the darkness wasn’t just inconvenient, it was deadly dangerous. Light equals warmth, protection, guidance, and hope. Light is life. So when Jesus says “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life, ” He is saying, essentially, “I am life itself.” If you want life – true, real, abundant LIFE – follow Him. Jesus is the new glory cloud blazing the way of life. He presents himself as the light, the fiery glory cloud come to lead the whole world into life, and yet the Pharisees are looking for a way to snuff Him out. Jesus says the reason they can’t see the light is that they’re blinded to both who He is and who the Father is. 2) A Piercing Danger: So, what if you don’t believe in the fiery cloud? What if you’re trying to catch it in a contradiction? What if it’s standing right in front of you and you’re so blinded you can’t even see it? Well then, when it departs, all hope is lost. Jesus proclaims a warning to those who don't want to see Him for who He is: the glory cloud is about to depart, follow while you can. But they again misunderstand Him. So Jesus must clarify for them again that He is the "I AM" of Scripture, and unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins. This is a piercing warning. 3) A Blazing Proof: Whenever Jesus uses this language of being “lifted up” He is always referring to the cross, when He will be lifted up and will draw all people to Himself. And here’s the irony: they, the Pharisees, will be the ones to do it. “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM.” (John 8:28) Here, Jesus is saying that His glory will shine in unmistakable radiance when they kill Him. Then His glory will be revealed for all the world to see. What's our takeaway from this message? Bad things grow in the dark. It's time to let the light in.Come to the light Walk in the light Share the light John 8:12-30 Click here for sermon Q&A.

The Forgiver

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Few stories of Jesus are more iconic, gripping, or tender than that of the woman caught in adultery. It’s a story that’s brutally honest, a story of undeniable humanity, a story brimming with redemptive hope, and a story that reveals the forgiveness and love of Jesus in an unforgettable way. In this sermon, we explore three key points. 1) A Clever Trap: The scribes and Pharisees thought they had Jesus cornered in a trap, but Jesus knew that something was amiss. Would He choose to cruelly uphold the law or compassionately break the law? 2) A Brilliant Escape: Jesus didn't take the bait, but instead turned the spotlight of conviction upon the accusers' own sinfulness. Jesus didn't pretend that the woman was innocent, and He didn't deny the Law of Moses, yet He compassionately stood up for her against their corrupt and unjust motives. 3) A Transforming Love: In His response to the woman, Jesus demonstrated six liberating moves.Jesus separated the sin from the sinner. Jesus called out her sin without condemnation. Jesus saw her at her worst and loved her anyway. Jesus loved her exactly as she was, and too much to leave her as she was. Jesus loved her with both truth and grace. Jesus loved her into loveliness. Jesus loved her in her unloveliness. And in His love for her, He made her lovely. He loved her into loveliness. But how is this possible? If the wages of sin is death, how can Jesus give life? If the law condemns, how can Jesus accept? If judgment is due, how can mercy triumph? How can Jesus be both just and justifier? Don’t you see? Stones should be thrown, but it was His body that was broken. Judgment should fall, but it would fall across His back. Condemnation should come, but He would carry out the sentence. The wages of sin is death, but it was He who would suffer and die. Takeaways:Have you received Jesus’ love? Admit, believe, and commit. Are you abiding in Jesus’ love? Rest in it. Abide in it. Root down into it. We can’t change any other way. How can you extend Jesus’ love? Having received this transforming love (grace and truth), we now are called to extend it to others. John 7:53-8:11 Click here for sermon Q&A.

The Galilean

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 09:00:00 CDT

The most interesting people tend to have both consistency and creativity wedded together. This dynamic pairing is embodied by Jesus. In this sermon, we explore six unexpected glimpses of Jesus' personality:Unexpected Timing (vs. 1–13)Jesus is operating on His Father’s timetable. Jesus arrives precisely when He means to, not a moment too late or too soon.Unexpected Intentions (vs. 14–24)Jesus’ teaching is from His Father. Jesus’ motive is His Father’s glory. Jesus’ work is accomplishing His Father’s will.3) Unexpected Origins (vs. 25–29)Jesus comes from the Father.Unexpected Destiny (vs. 30–36)Jesus will return to the Father.Unexpected Offering (vs. 37–39)Jesus offers fulfillment of the Spirit in himself.Unexpected Division (vs. 40–52)Jesus is pushing them to the brink of a decision. Takeaway: What will you do with this Jesus? John 7:1-52 To watch the sermon Q&A, click here.

The Bread

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 09:00:00 CDT

This week we come to the first of the seven "I Am" statements of Jesus in the Book of John. In each of these analogies, Jesus is revealing to us something profound about himself. In this sermon, we look at Jesus' statement that "I am the bread of life." This logic of this statement is broken down this way: Bread=Life, Jesus=Bread, and so Jesus =Life. He is essentially saying, without me there is no life at all. As we work our way through this passage, we'll see eight (8) insights into this "Life" that Jesus offers us in himself.Life in Jesus is spiritual and eternal (vs. 22–27) Life in Jesus comes by grace through faith in Christ (vs. 28–35a) Life in Jesus offers lasting satisfaction (v. 35b) Life in Jesus is as durable as he is faithful (vs. 36–40) Life in Jesus requires a divinely transformed heart (vs. 41–46) Life in Jesus is death-defying and eternal (vs. 47–51) Life in Jesus is offered in his all-consuming sacrifice (vs. 52–59) Life in Jesus is humbling (vs. 60–71) These eight points lead us to an important conclusion: life is found in Jesus alone. The only way we receive the fullness of the life of Jesus is when we bring him the emptiness of our ourselves. And that’s why so many people turned aside and no longer followed Jesus: His teaching was too humbling, too invasive, too revealing, too penetrating, and too difficult to swallow. But Peter had it right when he said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Is Jesus your life? Come, look, believe, and live. John 6:22-71

The Prophet

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 09:00:00 CDT

Like all interesting people, Jesus has layers. If we are truly to see Jesus, we need to know all of him. How do we really know Jesus? In this sermon, we'll look at three different layers to Jesus. When we know Jesus, that is ultimately how we know ourselves. Level 1: The Miracle WorkerJesus displays his power in many ways. Not only is Jesus turning water into wine: he is breaking fevers at a distance and reversing decades of infirmity. Jesus commands authority over all creation; He multiplies bread and fish; He walks upon the seas; and even time and space shift under His influence. Jesus is a miracle worker… but he is so much more than that. Level 2: The Coming ProphetThe people who met Jesus realize that He is more than just of miracle worker. Here is a Prophet like Moses, supernaturally empowered by God, speaking the words of God from the Mountain, and providing bread for the children of Israel in the wilderness. And the disciples see these comparisons even more clearly, because Jesus also crosses the sea, and leads his followers to safety. Jesus is the true and greater Moses, the Prophet foretold who will finish the task Moses never got to complete; he will himself bring us into the Land of Promise. The people see Jesus for who He is, and they push for him to be King. But Jesus refuses, because there was another level to who Jesus is. Level 3: The Throneless KingWhy did Jesus refuse the throne? The answer lies in Jesus’ deepest identity and purpose. Jesus refused the throne because it would have short-circuited the cross, and the cross was the reason He came. You see, we need more than a Miracle Worker. We need more than The Coming Prophet. We need The Throneless King. Takeaway: at what level are you embracing Jesus? John 6:1-21 Click here for the sermon Q&A.

The Promise Fulfiller

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Over the five weeks of Advent, we studied God’s Word and looked at the ways that Moses was Holding Out Hope for the coming of Jesus. At Christmas we celebrated the fact that Jesus became flesh to reveal the Father, to become a faithful High Priest, to put away sin and destroy the works of the devil, to give us an example of a holy life, and to confirm and fulfill the promises of God. We've seen Jesus as the Curse Breaker, the Covenant Keeper, the Law Meditator, and the Sin Atoner. This past Sunday, Pastor Larry McCarthy looked at Jesus as the Promise Fulfiller -- a title that should instill hope. Pastor McCarthy led us through Joshua 1:1-5 and noted four points in this passage that are ultimately fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah: There is a promised inheritance There is a divinely appointed Leader There are gifts of grace received by faith There will be great conflict along the way Joshua 1:1-5

The Sin Atoner

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 09:00:00 CDT

John the Baptist announced Jesus to the world by saying, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." In many ways, this is THE story of the Bible, the one that makes sense of all the other stories, and connects, undergirds, and unifies them. In this sermon spanning seven passages from Genesis to Revelation, we explore how this story resonates across all of Scripture. Seven themes:The Missing Lamb (Genesis 22) The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) The Sacrificial Lambs (Exodus 29) The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) The Lamb of God – Jesus (John 1) The Lamb on the Throne (Revelation 5) Scripture is clear: Jesus is "The Sin Atoner." He has secured an eternal redemption. He has put away sin by the sacrifice of himself by means of his own blood. The Takeaway: "It is Finished!" Jesus has done everything to make us right with God through his death and resurrection on our behalf. There is nothing we can add to or subtract from his final, full, finished work. It is done. It is finished. Do you believe that? Sometimes we don’t believe because we think we don’t need forgiveness. We rationalize our relative goodness in relation to others. But we'd be wrong. We all desperately need forgiveness. Sometimes we don’t believe because we think we’re beyond the reach of forgiveness. But God has already seen you at your worst, and He loves you anyway. No one is beyond the reach of forgiveness. Sometimes we don’t believe because we think we’ve worn out God’s forgiveness by doing stupid things over and over again. But remember, Jesus has appeared once-for-all time to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. His atonement covers us past, present, and future. Won’t you believe this? Jesus has done everything to make us right with God through his death and resurrection on our behalf. There is nothing we can add to or subtract from his final, full, finished work. It is done. It is finished! Won’t you behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world? Genesis 22, Exodus 12, Exodus 29, Leviticus 16, Isaiah 53, Revelation 5 Click here for the sermon Q&A.

The Law Mediator

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Of all the prophets in all the Old Testament, Moses held the particular distinction of being the Mediator of the Law. God chose Moses to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, and he did so with many miraculous signs that God displayed through him. But Moses was held in highest esteem for his role in bringing down from Mt. Sinai the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. Moses held the role of Law Mediator until the coming of the one who could truly and perfectly uphold the law—Jesus. In this sermon, we were able to see that Moses was in fact pointing forward to Jesus, the coming Messiah. In the Old Testament, Moses stood as mediator of the law, the go-between from God to man. Moses brought the Israelites God's law, and they were to follow it because they were His people. God's law brought five unique contributions:The law disclosed God's character The law clarifies the standard The law reveals our sinfulness The law provides for atonement The law guides in righteousness There was a lot of goodness and grace in the law that God mediated through Moses. So throughout Israel’s history, the people looked to Moses as the greatest Prophet they’d ever known. But Moses himself had prophesied: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen.” (Deuteronomy 18:15). And so the people waited for the prophesied mediator to arrive. Centuries later, that prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus, who became the New Mediator of the Law. So let’s consider those five contributions of the law and how Jesus fulfills them:Jesus fully discloses God's character Jesus fully clarifies the standard Jesus fully reveals our sinfulness Jesus fully provides atonement Jesus fully guides in righteousness Jesus is making us into a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come. In other words, the New Covenant promises are coming true in Jesus. Takeaway: “The command 'Be ye perfect' is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command.” – C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Deuteronomy 30:15–20, Matthew 5:17–20 Click here for the Q&A from the sermon.

The Covenant Keeper

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 09:00:00 CDT

At the end of John 5, Jesus told the religious leaders that they would be held accountable by Moses for “he wrote of me...But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” So for Advent this year, we’re looking at five ways Moses was Holding Out Hope for Jesus’s arrival. This week we saw Jesus as “The Covenant Keeper,” and we went back 4,000 years to the Ancient Near East where God appeared to a man named Abram and entered into a covenant with him that changed the course of human history. This sermon answered three questions:Who makes the covenant? God is the guarantor of the covenant. These are His pledges, His promises, His guarantees. God takes full responsibility for the fulfillment of these covenant promises. Who keeps the covenant? Jesus alone is truly worthy of the covenant. It was a covenant guaranteed by God, that must be upheld by a worthy man. Jesus -- fully God and fully man -- is the only one worthy of keeping the covenant. Jesus upholds God’s guarantee, and He fulfills man’s obligation. Who inherits the covenant? Jesus and those who are “in Him” are beneficiaries of the covenant. We are secure in the covenant love of God forever. Genesis 12, Genesis 15, Galatians 3, Romans 9 Click here for sermon Q&A.

Jesus The Curse Breaker

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Our spiritual condition is one of being born under the curse of sin. How did that happen, and is there a way out? In this sermon, we explore our spiritual curse and our hope for a cure:The origin of the curse The effect of the curse The end of the curse Galatians 3:1-14

The Protégé

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Jesus was a force for disruption during his ministry. At Passover he cleared the temple, sent livestock and moneychangers running, and acted like he owned the place. He started baptizing in the Judean countryside, becoming even more popular than John the Baptist. Jesus healed an invalid at pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, and the religious leaders said you can’t heal on the Sabbath. It drove the religious leaders crazy. They asked, "Who does he think he is!?" In response, Jesus gives his first extended discourse in John 5:18-47. Jesus tells us just who he thinks he is…and holds nothing back. This sermon explores the resume of Jesus—experiences, qualifications, and references—that forms that basis for the extravagant claims of deity that he made during His ministry. Is Jesus really the Messiah, the Son of God? After exploring these claims and Jesus' response, the resounding answer is YES! Our take-aways are two-fold:Jesus is the only one really able to help us. He can, with a word, make us alive again. Jesus is the resurrection and the life that we all need. If Jesus is for us, we have much to be thankful for. If we have heard Jesus’ word, and believed on his name, we will never face him as a judge. We have passed from death to life, and nothing can ever take that away from us. John 5:18-47 Click here for the sermon Q&A.

The Audacious

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 09:00:00 CDT

If you hang around Jesus long enough, you'll realize that He isn't interested in a popularity contest. He's not a politician, and He doesn't play by their games. It’s one of the things that enraged the religious leaders. No matter how much pressure they put on Him, He wouldn’t back down. In fact, this passage has a shocking ending: “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him…” What pushed them over the edge? These four shocking elements:The intractability of the disease The controversy of the Sabbath The superficiality of the healing The audacity of the Son The intractability of the disease: Jesus comes upon a man with a disease by the pool of Bethesda. The man asks not for healing, but to be brought to the healing pool. And instead of bringing him to the healing, Jesus brings the healing to him. Jesus commands him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” Not only does the man stand, he hoists his bed and walks. Jesus is once more wielding the power of the Messianic Age, because in Jesus the Kingdom of God is at hand. You'd think this was something to be celebrated by the religious leaders, but the opposite happens. The controversy of the Sabbath: The religious leaders' response to the healing of Jesus missed the forest for the trees. In their zeal for obedience to the law of God, they were oblivious to the Son of God in their midst. But what's also shocking is how quickly the man who was healed walked away from Jesus. The superficiality of the healing: What could be worse than decades of misery as an invalid? Sitting feet away from the healing you need, but knowing you’re powerless to reach it on your own? Day after day, having your hopes dashed again and again; what could possibly be worse than that? Just this: if the man's sin runs unchecked, a worse fate awaits. His physical ailments were just the tip of the iceberg. He thought his biggest problem in life was his crippled limbs. But Jesus showed him the deeper problem, the real disease that lies within each of us. Sin cripples our souls, and if it’s not dealt with, it will cripple us for eternity, far from the presence of Jesus, who is the only one who can truly heal us. By calling out this man's sin, Jesus invited him to deal with the deeper disease and illness within. Unfortunately, he wasn’t ready to go receive Jesus' offer. So he closed off, ran away, and turned Jesus in. The audacity of the Son: The religious leaders accused Jesus of working on the Sabbath. Jesus could have responded a number of ways, but He said something shocking: “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” In essence He said that God the Father works on the Sabbath, and so Jesus does too. He said that the exceptions that apply to God also apply to Him. Jesus ultimately claimed the prerogatives of Deity for Himself. Not only was He the Messiah, He was claiming to be the Son of God, with all the rights and privileges thereof. What's our takeaway? Jesus is our Healer, our Sabbath, and our God. The reason so many of us find ourselves sitting by the pool, so close to -- and yet so far away from -- the healing we desperately need, is because we cannot bring ourselves to look to Jesus and in surrender, vulnerability, and desperation say: “I have no one to help me; I can’t get there on my own; would you help me, Jesus?” Jesus has never left that prayer unanswered. John 5:1-18 Click here for the sermon Q&A.

The Boundless

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Jesus is always surprising us. He doesn’t fit neatly into our preconceived human categories – He's always challenging our assumptions, realigning our expectations, and defying our limitations. Just when we think we have Him all figured out, He comes along and blows the doors off our limited understanding. That’s one of the ways we know we’re encountering the living and divine Jesus. If Jesus is God in the flesh, He should surprise us. We know we’ve created god in our own image when he begins to look suspiciously like us and when he no longer surprises our souls. But with Jesus, we never have that problem. In this passage from John 4:43-54, Jesus gives us four surprises. 1) Surprising Rebuke: When Jesus enters Galilee, the crowd welcomes Him in an odd way. Then an official asks Jesus to heal his son. Jesus’ response: unless you [plural] see signs and wonders, you will not believe. Jesus is not a circus performer, and the crowd exhibits no real faith or belief. There’s a huge difference between pursuing Jesus to get Him, and pursuing Jesus to get His stuff. The rebuke is a warning about how to approach Jesus in a real way. 2) Surprising Faith: The official understands the rebuke, and exhibits real faith and real honor. He believes Jesus and heads home, expecting to find his son healed. He didn’t believe in just the signs and wonders, he believed and trusted in the words of Jesus. That's a surprising faith that Jesus rewards. 3) Surprising Healing: When the official arrives home, he finds his son healed. Jesus didn’t need to show up in person to heal, because He could heal the boy supernaturally from afar. 4) Surprising Healer: The story teaches us that Jesus is wielding the power of the messianic age. So when Jesus heals, it’s more than just a demonstration of power; it’s a sign pointing to His identity as Messiah come to usher in the Kingdom of God. Jesus is ultimately exercising authority as the Son of God. He is demonstrating His omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence. How should we respond to all of this? Here are our three big takeaways.Jesus is near: No matter where you go, Jesus is near and always with you. Jesus is wise: He knows everything there is to know about us. Jesus is able: There is no problem in our lives that Jesus cannot overcome. When we recognize who Jesus is and what He offers us, our response should be to admit our need for Him, believe in His name, and commit our lives to Him. John 4:43-54 Click here for the sermon Q&A.

The Satisfier

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 09:00:00 CDT

In this passage, Jesus has a conversation with the woman at the well. She’s a Samaritan woman from nowhere - overlooked, shamed, insignificant, on the margins of society. Most would assume in her time that she’s on the margins of God’s blessings. But as He so often does, Jesus is about to turn those assumptions on their heads. And in a tender and personalized way, He brings the Gospel to this irreligious woman. Through this story, we find three glimpses fo Jesus as the one who ultimately satisfies: 1) Jesus is the seeker of the lost, and we're never beyond His reach. No matter what we’ve done. No matter who we’ve become. No matter what’s been done to us. Jesus loves us and is pursuing us. There’s no barrier he won’t break through, no chasm he won’t cross over, no distance he won’t reach; there’s no place we can wander where Jesus will not pursue us in His love. 2) Jesus is the satisfier of the soul, and we're never beyond his redemption. There’s a connection between satisfaction and worship. Satisfaction is the long drink at the fountain; worship is the “ahh, that's good” that follows. We see in this Samaritan woman a glimpse of ourselves. All have a soul-thirst that only God can satisfy, but we seek to quench it in all the wrong ways. But like the woman at the well, we’ve forsaken the fountain of living waters, and we find ourselves with messy stories and shameful pasts. But Jesus tells us that we're never beyond redemption. 3) Jesus is the savior of the world, and He brings the hope of salvation to all nations. We're never beyond reconciliation with God through what Jesus has done for us. This is the gospel message, and it's available to all people, everywhere. Won't you come to the waters, so that your soul may live? John 4:1-42 Click here to watch the Q&A from the sermon.

The Preeminent

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Do you know how it feels to be upstaged by someone? John the Baptist knew the feeling. For at time, he was the big shot, the prophetic voice calling out in the wilderness. But then one day Jesus showed up, and people began flocking to Jesus and not to John. And for John that was just fine, because he recognized that Jesus deserved center stage. In this message, we see four reasons why Jesus deserves center stage and why we're better off with Him at the center of our lives. Jesus sees more than we ever could. We get lost in the maze of life; the longer we insist on going our own way, the longer we stay stuck and lost. The sooner we yield to Jesus, the sooner we’ll find our way. And that’s what it means to put Jesus at the center, to let His perspective outrank our own instincts. Jesus deserves center stage by virtue of His position from above. Jesus knows more than we ever could. He is an expert witness, a master of ultimate cosmic reality. His knowledge is comprehensive; His wisdom is supreme; His statements are trustworthy and true. But when we go our own way, do our own thing, or trust our own instincts, we end up learning the hard way. Jesus deserves center stage by virtue of His expertise. We’re better off when He’s at the center because His wisdom is life-giving. Jesus has more than we ever could. He’s infinitely well connected, infinitely well resourced, infinitely able to execute. We are constantly limited by our resources. We amass all we can, but it’s never enough. We give our best, but come up short. We mean well, but fail to execute. We’re always bumping up against our limitations. But what if you put Jesus at the center? What if you could rest, knowing that He was enough for you in every way? Jesus deserves center stage by virtue of His resources, and He shares his infinite inheritance with us and give us the right to become children of God! We’re better off when He’s at the center because whatever Jesus asks the Father freely gives. Jesus fundamentally matters more. He is the most consequential person in the history of the universe. There is a gravitas, a substance, a weightiness to Jesus that we simply do not have. By ourselves, we simply do not have enough mass to stabilize our own orbit. But what if there was another way? The secret to really truly living? We must let our ego die, let go of our control, let ourselves be displaced, and put Jesus at the center. Jesus must increase, we must decrease. John 3:22-36

The Regenerator

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 09:00:00 CDT

What does it mean to be born again? Let’s set aside all the cultural clutter of what we think it means and try to hear Jesus afresh. Because as we’ll see, to be born again into this new birth, to be regenerated by God, is at the very heart of why Jesus came. In this passage, we see an existential conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus about the pathway to eternal life. As we explore this concept of New Birth, we’re going to answer six questions: Who needs it? From the most religious and moral to the very least, we all must be born again. If Nicodemus needs to be born again, we all do. What is it? To be born again is to have a brand-new recreated spiritual life. Jesus is telling Nicodemus that to see the Kingdom, to enter into it, you need this new life. Your resumé won’t get you in. You need to be born again. Who does it? New birth is the work of the Spirit alone and it is totally beyond our control. Jesus is telling Nicodemus that the one thing you need is the one thing you have no control over. After all, babies don’t give birth to themselves. Someone else does it. Through the pain, agony, and suffering of another a new life is born. We cannot save ourselves; someone else must do it for us. How does it come? We are born again as we look in faith to Christ alone. You don’t have to run, crawl, or reach out. All you have to do is look to Jesus in faith and you will be saved. Why do we need it? New birth in Jesus is the only antidote for the venom coursing through our veins. Jesus is saying that everyone has been bitten by the deadly sting of sin, including Nicodemus. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and the wages of that sin is death. You see, we usually divide the world into good and bad people. Good people get salvation; bad people get condemnation. Jesus turns this concept upside down by saying that everyone needs to be born again regardless of their works. What is in the way, and why doesn’t everyone just look to Jesus for salvation? To be born again, the only thing we need is nothing, but it’s the one thing most of us don’t have. Jesus is calling Nicodemus to lay his resumé down, because there's nothing he -- or we! -- can do to save ourselves. We have to look for salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Takeaway: Look to Christ and Christ alone! Your religious resumé cannot save you. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. To watch the Q&A from this sermon, click here.

The Purifier

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 09:00:00 CDT

What is God like? It’s interesting that when God chose to reveal himself most fully, finally – unmistakably – with crystal clarity, He didn’t drop a systematic theology from Heaven, or a lot of core doctrines to memorize. No, that approach is too abstract, too impersonal. Nor did He launch a political campaign, with fundraisers and marketing to get the word out. No, that would be too self-promoting, too pushy. When God wanted to reveal Himself to mankind, He sent his Son Jesus, in a manner of revelation that was inconspicuous and incognito. The refrain was "come and see" who Jesus is, what He is doing, and all that He has to offer. We have to get close, and we will discover who He is over time. In this passage from John 2, we see three glimpses of who Jesus is and how we relate to Him. In the story about Jesus' first miracle, John portrays Jesus as the true and greater Bridegroom whose faithfulness is everlasting and whose wine never runs out. When Jesus cleanses the market in the temple, John is portraying Jesus as the true and greater High Priest whose holiness is unto the Lord and whose zeal enables a worship that is wholly acceptable to Him. Finally, when Jesus foreshadows His death, John is portraying Jesus as the true and greater Temple who embodies God’s presence on earth and who enables access into His Holiness. These three glimpses point to the ultimate reality of who Jesus is and what He has done for us: Jesus substitutes Himself for us in every way. How?Jesus drank the bitter cup of God’s wrath that we might forever drink the joyous cup of God’s salvation. Jesus took on the shame we deserve that we might receive the honor He deserves. Jesus was defiled so He might purify us with His blood. Jesus was destroyed that we might be raised up. Jesus was alienated from His Father that we might be brought near. All three of these signs point to God's ultimate plan for the redemption of humanity and the final days. Some saw these signs and believed. Do you? John 2:1-25 To watch the Q&A from this sermon, click here.

The Rabbi

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Neuroscience tells us we’re constantly imitating others. When we observe someone else doing something, our neurons fire a sequence in our brain that is the exact sequence used when we then do the very same action ourselves. In seeing it, our brain experiences it, and then we do it ourselves. We are constantly mirroring what we see, and we tend to mirror each other’s posture. This is especially true of people we admire or see regularly. Whether we realize it or not, we’re all mirroring, patterning, and imitating… we’re all following someone. Or to use the Bible’s language, we’re all disciples of someone. We don’t get to choose if we want to be disciples, we can’t help it, but we do get to choose who we’ll be disciples of. Whoever gets our admiration, attention, affections, that’s who we’ll mirror, pattern, imitate, and follow. In this passage, we glean three reasons why Jesus is someone worth following. 1) Jesus knows life. Jesus’ life is one of wholeness, completeness. He brings together in unity traits we rarely see in combination. In other words, Jesus embodies what it means to be truly, fully human. He knows how to live life, abundant life. And here’s the good news: Jesus offers us apprenticeship in living. 2) Jesus knows us, even better than we know ourselves. Do you realize that Jesus knows you all the way down? Even the part of you that you don’t know? He knows you completely, and loves you utterly. To be known completely and loved utterly is nothing short of transformation. And that's exactly what Jesus offers us, a transformation in our identity. He knows you completely, He loves you utterly, and He forgives you entirely. 3) Jesus know heaven. He is the nexus between heaven and earth. He’s the ladder between heaven and earth. He’s the one who brings heaven down to earth. He’s the way, the truth, and the abundant life. Because Jesus truly knows heaven, He offers us eternity in Himself. Won't you come and see? No one knows life like Jesus, no one knows us like Jesus, and no one knows heaven like Jesus. Jesus will have you as you are. Come and see! John 1:35-51 To watch the Q&A from this sermon, click here.

The Lamb

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 09:00:00 CDT

In this series, we’re asking what it means to find our identity in being loved by Jesus. But before we can know His love we must first know Him. Last week we focused on who Jesus is; this week we focus on why Jesus came. The passage (John 1:19-34) highlights the person and ministry of John the Baptist, who proclaims about Jesus, "This is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit!" The contrast between John and Jesus in this portion of Scripture is clear: John’s baptism is just washing you on the outside, while Jesus will wash you on the inside; John is calling you to turn from self-righteous religion to God, while Jesus calls you from spiritual deadness into eternal life; John urges you to keep the Old Covenant, while Jesus ushers you into the New Covenant. In the story we see this dawning of the New Covenant beautifully portrayed as the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus during His baptism by John. What we were unable to do under the Old Covenant, the Spirit now makes possible under the New Covenant. But how will this deep heart-transforming change take place? How do we enter into this Spirit, into this New Covenant? The New Covenant is realized because Jesus is God’s own Passover Lamb. We are delivered from death because of the blood of a sacrificial Lamb. We are alive because of the blood of the Lamb, who died in our place and for our sake. How does Jesus take away the sin of the world? He doesn’t remove sinners, He removes the sin. In so doing He gives us a new heart and a new Spirit. He accomplishes our redemption by laying His life down for us on the cross, substituting His life in exchange for ours. Takeaway: Jesus alone can do the deep, inner transforming work we most desperately long for. John 1:19-34 To watch the Q&A from this sermon, click here.

The Logos

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Jesus loves me, this I know... What if that’s actually the key to an identity so free, so abundantly full of life, so solid and lasting that all other identities fade into insignificance? For John, his most defining, grounding, and meaningful identity was found in the simple fact that he was and always would be loved by Jesus. In the end, nothing else mattered. All his accomplishments, connections, titles, writings, and even his very life faded in comparison to the blazing reality that he was loved by Jesus. That's the kind of love that changed John forever. What if the secret to finding ourselves is to be deeply and profoundly loved by Jesus? This series is an invitation to, like John, experience the identity-transforming, life-giving love of Jesus; to discover this Jesus who turned John’s world upside-down and right-side-up. We all want to be pursued, wanted, and loved. Do you realize that the God of the universe loves you; He desires you; He rejoices over you; He is reaching out to you and for you. He’d move heaven and earth to be near you. In fact, He already has. He sent his Logos, not in the abstract, but in the flesh. The "Ultimate Cosmic Reality" and "Agent of Divine Life" has taken up residence among us, making glory, grace, and truth accessible to each one of us. Won't you come and see Jesus? John 1:1-18 To listen to the Q&A of this sermon, click here.

Be The Church

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 09:00:00 CDT

What does it mean to be the church in the midst of a pandemic? How do we be the church when there’s not a church we can be? In our minds, particularly in the west, we often confuse people and place, or “ecclesia” (Greek) and “kirche” (German), when it comes to thinking about church. As designed by Jesus in scripture, the church is a people, not a place. The people of God have two important missions: The Great Commission, to go and make disciples of all nations; and The Great Commandment, to love God and to love people. So, Jesus’ design for His church is to make disciples who love God and love others. When we look throughout scripture, there is a pattern of both gathering and scattering. We gather to imbibe God’s word together, and we scatter for impact through our outreach. These aren't competing elements; God uses both of these to build His church. And who knows? Maybe this current scattering is the beginning of an explosion of gospel progress and this is God’s way of pushing us out of the nest. Acts 2:42–47 To listen to the Q&A from this service, click here.

Sovereign Stories

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 09:00:00 CDT

If you read the Bible, you will find numerous stories where in God’s goodness despair is turned to deliverance, misery is turned to majesty, brokenness is turned to beauty, and grief is turned to glory. These stories are not here to stoke our wishful thinking. These stories show us, in compressed form, the redemption God is weaving into our stories as well. The same God who was working all along to bring redemption into Ruth and Naomi’s stories, is the same God who is right now working redemption in your story and mine. The problem is, we’re often too close to the action and so we usually don’t see it. God is weaving an intricate tapestry of redemption. Boaz and Ruth had no idea what their stories would one day mean, how redemption would turn out to be the story of the universe in Jesus. Naomi had no idea her loss and grief and bitterness could be turned to such joy, not only for her, but for the world. And yet, without their knowing, or their permission, God’s mercies were operating in the shadows. God is doing the same for our stories today. Ruth 4:13-22 To watch the Q&A from this sermon, click here.

Redeeming Love

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 09:00:00 CDT

The Bible is a masterpiece with a central message, from beginning to end, about Jesus and the redemption that He brings to humanity. And this is true of the Old Testament story of Ruth, as well, as it foreshadows the redeeming love of Jesus. As the story unfold, we see five aspects of Boaz’s redemption of Ruth that foreshadow Jesus. We learn that Boaz's redemption is a voluntary redemption (John 10:18), a covenantal redemption (Matthew 26:27–29), a substitutionary redemption (2 Corinthians 5:21), a sacrificial redemption (Mark 10:45), and a transformative redemption (1 Corinthians 15:21–22). All of these acts point our hearts to the redemption that’s ultimately found in Jesus. Ruth 4:1-12 To watch the Q&A from this sermon, click here.

Providence in Waiting

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Sometimes doing the right thing is the last thing we want to do. Anyone can do the right thing when there’s no pressure. But doing the right thing when the pressure’s on, that takes character. In this passage, we find four bold moves of obedience that change the trajectory of potentially tragic circumstances for Boaz, Ruth, and Naomis towards goodness. We see these characters do the right thing even when it's tough.Ruth does the right thing in asking Boaz for marriage, even when it raised the stakes of being rejected. Boaz does the right thing in honoring Ruth as a daughter, even when temptation was so readily available. They both do the right thing in honoring this next-of-kin, even when it threatened their hope and happiness. All three do the right thing in waiting on God, even when being still and surrendered is hard. Ruth 3:8-18 To watch the Q&A from this sermon, click here.

Manipulating Grace

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Hope is a beautiful thing. It gives us a reason to get up in the morning, to press through all the anguish and the sorrow of this life to something beyond, something bright, fresh, redeeming. Hope carries us through the darkness to the dawn. Our story continues with Naomi having a sightline to redemptive hope from God. But she becomes frustrated in waiting for it all to play out and tries move along God's plan. What do we do when we have a line of sight to the redemption of God, and yet God has us waiting? It's so easy in this moment to take matters into our own hands to to forgo God's perfect timing. In this sermon, we find three warnings against manipulating the timeline of God's grace:1) We can pursue the right thing at the wrong time. Takeaway: Wait upon God’s perfect timing.2) We can pursue the right thing in the wrong way. Takeaway: Submit to God’s perfect will.3) We can pursue the right thing with the wrong heart. Takeaway: Rest in God’s perfect sufficiency. Ruth 3:1–8 To watch the Q&A with Pastor Philip about this sermon, click here.

Glimmers of Hope

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Grief is the price of love. To love deeply is to grieve deeply when love is bereft. And if you’ve ever grieved deeply, you know how hard it is to avoid becoming bitter. Where does our hope come from, and will there be mercies along our journey? That’s where our story about Naomi and Ruth picks up. In this sermon, we find four wonders—glimmers of hope—about how God leads us in mercies through the darkness. We learn that grief is only a chapter, mercies are everywhere, God is right here with us, and God’s kindness has just begun. Ruth 2:17–23

A Faith At Which Jesus Marvels

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 09:00:00 CDT

In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Farish shares with us the qualities of a faith at which Jesus marvels.

The Necessity of Courage

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Every Christian experiences fear during our lifetime. If we are to overcome our fears, we need courage. How can we have biblical courage to face our fears? In this message, Pastor Bill shares three points about the necessity of courage in the life of the Christian. Courage is acting out of confidence in God, not out of fear of your circumstances. In our walk with the Lord, we learn that obedience to God requires courage. Numbers 13-14, Deuteronomy 1, Joshua 14

Merciful Justice

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 09:00:00 CDT

One of the things that makes grief and loss so difficult is the sense of helplessness. We often feel so powerless, and nothing we can say or do that will make any difference. It's easy to fall into a victim mentality, to feel helpless, disempowered, angry, and bitter. The story of Ruth grapples with all of these emotions. In this passage, Pastor Philip shows three powerful realities that Ruth experienced that helped her move forward even as she was grieving:1) The Power of Agency: In grief, we can’t wait until inspiration strikes, and we can’t wait until everything’s in order. All we can do is the next right thing, and move forward one step at a time.2) The Power of Providence: We live in the care of our Father, not the chaos of chance. We need to learn to trust the unseen hand of God.3) The Power of Justice: We are conduits of mercy, not merely consumers. Our best course of action is to let mercies flow freely. Takeaway: Through the events of our lives, we'll find that God is shepherding us into a life of proactive dependence. Ruth 2:1-17

Fellowship in Sufferings

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Grief is messy and leads us through a painful journey. The way out of the darkness is often found through the faithful love of someone in our lives who walks with us towards the dawn. In Ruth’s story, that kind of love is called "Hesed". It means loving selflessness, enduring faithfulness, and forbearing graciousness. God provides hesed love for Ruth in the story, and He offers it to all of us too. But here's where it gets real: Hesed is not just the kind of love God extends to us, it is also the kind of love God calls us to extend to one another. We incarnate hesed for one another, because Jesus incarnated hesed for us. Ruth 1:6-22

Running to Reality

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 09:00:00 CDT

When our world is shattered, how do we pick up the pieces and get back to normal? When we’ve lost something and are grieving, our capacity for restoration depends on finding God’s mercies in the dark times. We have to face grief square in the face and invite God into that darkness if we are going to be able to find the dawn again. In this sermon, our new Senior Pastor Philip Miller shows us three realities we need to run to if we are to successfully walk grief in the presence of God:1) We need to acknowledge that life is full of grief, and so we need to learn to lament with God.2) Our instincts are often dangerous, so we need to lean in closer to God.3) Sometimes going backwards is the only way forward, so we need to let our pride die. Ruth 1:1–6

Healthy Church Members

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 09:00:00 CDT

As we prepare for the arrival of our new senior pastor, we reflect on our individual roles in creating a healthy church. In this sermon, we explore what it means for a person to love the Lord with all their heart and soul. The outpouring of that reality is a church member who contributes to building up that local body of Christ. The qualities of a healthy church member are that they are present in worship, present with the church, and present in the missions. Psalm 84

In Times of Trouble

Sun, 31 May 2020 09:00:00 CDT

What does spirit inspired patience look like during times of suffering? James provides us with three examples in this passage. In times of trouble, the people of God are not to be idle, but to speak truth and seek justice while we wait for the Lord to move and work according to His will. Patient endurance will sustain itself when rested on the conviction that times of trouble are not random, but that God has some purpose behind them. James 5:1-12

Watch Your Mouth

Sun, 03 May 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Words have great power for good or for evil. How should we harness this powerful tool to be used for the good of others? In this sermon, we learn that words have great power, words show our great need, and words reveal our hearts. May the words that we use be those that honor God and speak life into the people around us. James 3:1-12

Three Lessons from Palm Sunday

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 09:00:00 CDT

On Palm Sunday, as Christians across the United States begin Holy Week celebrations in their homes, Pastor Michael Best shares with us three insights from Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem. How does this story help to center on our minds on the truth of the gospel at a time when many of us are feeling confused and afraid? Three lessons from this moment in Jesus' ministry offer us great hope: Jesus is always in control, Jesus is worthy of our praise, and Jesus is motivated by love. Matthew 21:1–5, Mark 11:4–10, Luke 19:39–44

The Three Invitations of Jesus

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 09:00:00 CDT

In this season of fear and uncertainty, could it be that Jesus is inviting us to go deeper into life with Him? This passage contains three invitations from Jesus: come be with Me; come together and become like Me; and come join Me in the work I am doing. In this moment when the world seems crazy and everything is stripped away, do you hear His call to go deeper and will you draw near in discipleship of Jesus? Mark 3:13–19

What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 09:00:00 CDT

As Christians all over the world adjust to the COVID-19 outbreak, many are asking: what should I do when I don't know what to do? In this sermon, Pastor Lutzer offers important lessons from the Old Testament and New Testament about how followers of Jesus should respond to challenging circumstances. We should: pray, not panic; praise, not flee; and proclaim the name of the Lord in all things. 2 Chronicles 20:1-23

Don’t Be Deceived

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 09:00:00 CDT

When we experience temptation and trials, how should we respond? It's easy to be deceived about the origin of trials and the path forward to victory. This passage calls us to refocus our minds on what God is teaching us through these experiences. It illuminates three truths that lead to an indomitable spirit in the face of trials. James 1:12-18

How To Handle Temptation

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 09:00:00 CDT

Suffering and trials are a part of life. What are we to do? In this sermon, we learn three keys to overcoming trials: keep our eyes on the prize, never blame God, and purify our desires. For those who overcome, they will receive the crown of life as their reward. James 1:12-15

Your True Status

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 09:00:00 CDT

It's easy to rank ourselves in comparison to others and this world. But this passage in James critiques this common mentality by showing us that our true status is of a heavenly perspective. How God views us is far more important than any personal or financial status we have on earth. James 1:9-11

Restoration

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 09:00:00 CDT

In our series on the story of salvation, we’ve walked through the major questions that every religion needs to answer: how did the universe get here; what has gone wrong with the universe; and how does what went wrong get made right? The final question we approach in this sermon is: how is it all going to come to an end? This glorious passage from Revelation depicts the “eternal state” in which God will forever restore all things that are supremely good and true and beautiful through His creation of a new heaven and a new earth. What will God restore in the eternal state? Revelation 21:1-8

Redemption

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 09:00:00 CDT

What is redemption and why is it necessary? The storyline of the Bible makes it clear that we're all guilty of falling short of God's standard (sin). The consequence for sin is death, both physical and spiritual. But there's hope! Redemption means acquittal, an atonement for fault or guilt. Redemption is the means by which salvation is accomplished, and it all happened through what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary. Because Jesus redeems those who believe in His name, we can come into the presence of God by grace and worship Him. Have you been redeemed? Ephesians 1:3-14

The Fall

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 09:00:00 CDT

How could the great beauty of creation found in Genesis 1 so quickly turn to the ugliness of the fall in Genesis 3? The story of the fall is about believing the greatest lie ever told: that God could not be trusted. The seduction of this lie charted the course for sin to enter the world through Adam and Eve, and the results plague our world to this day. But amidst the rubble of this decision, we find that hope springs forth. Genesis 3

Creation

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 09:00:00 CDT

What does the creation narrative tell us about God’s overarching story of salvation? The story of creation tells us that nothing is here by chance, and that there is a God who decided to create and who cares for his creation. Three truths are evident from the text: all of creation reflects God’s glory; all humanity is made in the image of God; and all mankind originally had a perfect relationship with God. Genesis 1-2

The Good Shepherd

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 09:00:00 CDT

What does it mean that Jesus is the good shepherd? In this sermon, we explore what Jesus came to save us from and what He offers us. Satan seeks to destroy our eternal significance. Jesus came so that we can have life to the fullest. John 10:10

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Sun, 15 Dec 2019 09:00:00 CDT

The New Testament claims that Jesus’ arrival fulfilled all of the law and prophets from the Old Testament. What does this mean, and why is this important for our faith? In this sermon, we see how Jesus’ arrival on earth displays our need for a savior, demonstrates our need for Scripture, and declares our need for the Holy Spirit. Matthew 5:17

To Save Us All From Satan’s Power

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Sometimes we forget how evil the devil is—and when we do forget, it's easy to believe his lies. Satan speaks these lies to us to tempt us, deceive us, discourage us, and lead us to spiritual death. But Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and to offer us life to the fullest. 1 John 3:4-8

Am I God?

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 09:00:00 CDT

As we complete our series in Joseph, we take a look at how Joseph grieved for his father, Jacob. The end of the story teaches us about the sovereignty of God through three patterns of life, and how we can respond to each: grief, grace, and glory. Genesis 49:28-50:26

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Why do we struggle to see God's faithfulness in our lives? Near the end of Jacob's life, he reflected on the scope of his life by considering the overarching, sovereign plan of God. In this sermon we learn three characteristics of God's plan for our own lives: God's plan is full of surprises; God's plan is full of hope; and God's plan is full of His faithfulness. Even in the surprises of our life, don't miss God's sovereign hand over it all. Genesis 48-49:27

Portrait of Repentance

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 09:00:00 CDT

What is the evidence of true repentance? In this passage, we see Judah's heart repent from his sin against Joseph. It's not enough to be sorry or simply express regret; genuine repentance is a complete change of heart that acknowledges sin and sets off on a new path. We all have things in our lives from which we need to repent. The good news of the gospel is that, in humility, we can confess our sin and purpose in our heart to turn from it through the saving grace of Jesus. Genesis 44

True Change

Sun, 20 Oct 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Do people really change? In this passage, we find Joseph wondering if his older brothers have really changed from their past sinful behavior towards him. Through their story, we learn to sport four signs of true life change: changed people take full responsibility, demonstrate radical trust, see a different perspective, and show true repentance. Are we demonstrating true repentance in our daily lives? Genesis 43

Explaining the Trinity

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 09:00:00 CDT

The doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all of Christianity. How are we to explain the Trinity, and what are its implications? In this special presentation by Dr. Michael Reeves, Distinguished Scholar and President of the Union School of Theology at Oxford University, we learn that without the Trinity, the cross of Christ does not work, and true love cannot exist. Who God is shapes the salvation of the Gospel that God offers.

Transforming Glory

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Have you ever thought about the power of the things you look at? The things we fixate on will change us day by day. We become what we’re made to be by looking to Christ. It matters where we look. Our highest aspiration should be to revel in the light and glory of Christ, and to let His light shine through us. Do not settle for anything less than the glory of Christ; whatever it is you do, live and die for the glory of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 3:7-8

The Cost of Rejecting God’s Sovereignty

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 09:00:00 CDT

How should we interact with the sovereignty of God? Trusting that God is in control does not come naturally; it's a learned behavior built on experience. The life of Joseph exemplifies this. In this story about Joseph's brothers visiting Egypt, we learn that when we take our lives into our own hands, relying on our own ways, we will pay a price. There are consequences for rejecting God's sovereignty: we can choose to trust in God or live in fear; we can confess our sins or pay their price; and we can receive God's provision or take our chances. Genesis 42

Delightful Trust in the Sovereignty of God

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 09:00:00 CDT

How does God want us to respond when our faith is stretched to the limit? In this story, we find Joseph lifted out of the pit and into the position of second in command of Egypt. The sovereignty of God is the central message of the story of Joseph; it teaches us why we can trust God through our own challenges. There are three characteristics of God's sovereignty evident in this story: God's sovereignty is an exhaustive sovereignty, it is a promise-keeping sovereignty, and His sovereignty is always good for His people. Because of this, how are we to respond? God wants His people to respond with delightful trust in His sovereignty. Genesis 41

From Bad to Worse

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Sometimes our lives can feel like a series of unfortunate events. Joseph's life, at times, seemed to go from bad to worse. But through it all, God was working for his glorious purposes. Through Joseph's story, we see three things that God is doing through our suffering: God is cultivating our character, God is forming us to bring Him fame, and God is teaching us to trust. In the pits of life, God is preparing us for his purposes, and shaping us in ways we could never experience without that suffering in our lives. Genesis 40

God’s Plan Includes The Peaks And The Pits

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Does a loving God have a plan for our lives? When we understand how God reveals Himself, and when we taste and see that the Lord is good, it changes how we approach the ups and downs of life. Through the life of Joseph, we see the story of God's sovereignty played out. There are no accidents with God; a providential plan is in place and will come to fruition. And in this truth we can find peace.Genesis 37

Scripture Shoutouts

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 09:00:00 CDT

What makes a person's character worthy of public praise? As we close out our series in Colossians, we focus on Paul's closing greetings where he highlights the exemplary character of specific believers. Four characteristics are noteworthy of these individuals: they were generous in encouragement, dependable in comfort, steadfast in effort, and faithful in ministry. Does your Christian life look similar? Colossians 4:7-18

Praying With Power

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Prayer is a spiritual necessity if we want to grow in our faith. It's a powerful discipline that builds our intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe. So how should we pray? In this sermon, we learn that we must pray with persistence, perspective, and purpose. Colossians 4:2-4

Right Relationships

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 09:00:00 CDT

When you have a right relationship with God, how should that vertical relationship affect your horizontal work relationships? God provides us with work for many reasons, one of which is to place us in positions where we are able to encourage others to have a right relationship with God. How we conduct ourselves in the workplace as representatives of Christ makes a significant impact on the effectiveness of our witness. Colossians 3:22–4:1

God’s Script for the Family

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 09:00:00 CDT

God designed each of us with unique roles, and the family structure is no different. When we understand our roles and the motivation behind them, our families can reveal truths about God's nature and character. God's script for the family is not something meant to limit our individual contributions, but to allow us to truly flourish in our family relationships. Colossians 3:18-21

Evidence of Holiness

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Do you experience peace with Christ? In Paul's letter to the Colossians, he's imploring the reader to pursue holiness so that the peace of Christ may dwell in their hearts. In this sermon, we find that there are three evidences of holiness in our lives: the peace of Christ, the word of Christ, and the name of Christ. There is no passive pursuit of holiness; it requires intentionality and a life submitted to the Holy Spirit. Colossians 3:15-17

A Heavenly Mind for Right Earthly Living

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 09:00:00 CDT

How much thought have you given to setting your mind on heaven so that your life on earth is lived to the fullest? Our effectiveness for Christ in this world is tied to how much we tune our minds into the things of heaven. CS Lewis once wrote: "If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world are those who thought most of the next. It is precisely because Christians have ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this." In this sermon, we learn that the philosophy for right earthly living is to look up to heaven. Three practices help us to achieve this: we must constantly purge our lives of sinful behavior, we must consistently renew ourselves with the knowledge of Christ through His word, and we must view other believers as unified with us in Christ. Colossians 3:5-11

United to Christ

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Relationships often open doors to opportunities that otherwise wouldn't exist. It's who you know, or who you're united with, that matters. A person's relationship to Jesus grants access to God that would be impossible otherwise. The moment you place your faith in Christ and enter into that relationship, it fundamentally changes who you are. In this sermon, we unpack three implications of being united with Christ: complete surrender to Christ, full security in Christ, and continue hope in Christ. Colossians 3:1-4

False Fruit

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 09:00:00 CDT

If we want to grow spiritually, how should we fuel that growth? That's a worthy goal many of us have. Yet, in our desire for spiritual growth, we need to be be aware of the things that stunt growth; things that may appear good, but their consequences are damaging. In this sermon, we learn about four false fruits that stunt our growth: false wisdom, false worship, false humility, and false hope. Colossians 2:20-23

The Dangers of Legalism

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Why is legalism so dangerous to our spiritual health? Legalism is believing that we can earn or keep favor with God by what we do. It flows from the failure to be humbled, broken, amazed, and satisfied by the grace of God in Christ. In this sermon, we learn about three dangers of legalism to avoid: a judgmental spirit, an insistence on man-made rules, and a marginalization of Christ as our supreme focus. Colossians 2:16-19

The Change You Need

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 09:00:00 CDT

How do we make changes in our lives? Some habits and lifestyles are easier to change than others. But there are some things that are impossible for us to change to change on our own. Only Jesus can bring the change that we really need. In this sermon, we find 3 changes only Jesus can bring: from death to life, from debtor to forgiven, and from defeat to triumph. Colossians 2:13-15

Captivated By Christ

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 09:00:00 CDT

How do we overcome the temptation to put our hope in things that don't satisfy? When we look for fulfillment outside of Christ, we find emptiness. But if we are captivated with Jesus, we will find true satisfaction for our deepest desires. Colossians 2:8-12

Fan the Flame

Sun, 26 May 2019 09:00:00 CDT

How do we sustain and grow our love for God? What are the marks of a Christian who is grounded in their faith? In this passage, Pastor McCarthy shows us three markers that we are walking with Christ: grounded, growing, and grateful. Colossians 2:6-7

Where’s Your Evidence?

Sun, 19 May 2019 09:00:00 CDT

How can we be assured that our faith is genuine? In this passage, we find three evidences that the church truly knows Jesus. The church is to be united in love, to remain focused on Jesus, and to be firm in the faith. There is an assurance of God that only comes from being united in love to the people of God. The church is not an event we go to, but a family we belong to. Colossians 2:1-5

The Mission of Your Life

Sun, 05 May 2019 09:00:00 CDT

What's the mission of your life? How should you pursue it? If the mission of the church is to be the mission of our lives, we should rejoice in our sufferings, treasure the gospel, and work to strengthen the church. Colossians 1:24-29

Reconciled to God by Christ

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Who am I? What's my identity? These are, perhaps, some of the most important existential questions one can ask. This passage reminds us of the eternal identity that God offers us through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. While sin blocks us from receiving the benefit of being in God’s presence and makes us enemies with God, Christ's sacrifice gives us a new identity: we can be redeemed, reconciled, and holy. Colossians 1:21–23

The Greatest of All Time

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Why is Jesus considered the "greatest of all time"? In this passage, we find four reasons why: He is the God of all, He is Creator of all, He is Sustainer of all, and He is Lord of all. Colossians 1:15–20

Deliverance from Darkness

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Why should we be all in for Jesus? When we are "all in" it means we are fully committed; there are no halfways or half measures. In this passage, we find the motivation for us to be all in for Jesus: we are rescued by the Father, resettled into the Son, and redeemed by the Son. Colossians 1:13-14

A Prisoner’s Prayer: Prescription for Spiritual Growth

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 09:00:00 CDT

How should we go about pursuing spiritual growth? In this passage, we find Paul, enchained in Rome, praying for the spiritual maturity of believers in Colossi whom he had never met. His words teach us how to lead a life pleasing to the Lord. Colossians 1:9-12

Breaking Through Ceilings

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 09:00:00 CDT

When we feel stuck in our spiritual life, what should we do to break new ceilings? In this sermon, Dr. Mark Jobe, President of Moody Bible Institute, challenges us with four key characteristics of people that push through the spiritual status quo. People who break through spiritual ceilings are able to: discern the times and take action to seize the moment as led by the Holy Spirit; persist in creatively overcoming obstacles to bring people to Jesus; combine faith and action in a way that surprises people and pleases God; and they help meet a physical need that opens doors to spiritual transformation. The greatest danger to a historic church is the desire to maintain, to think that our best days are behind us. How can we as a congregation, individually and collectively, move forward spiritually in a way the breaks new ground? Luke 5:17-26

The Real Deal

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Everyone places their faith in something. Are you sure that what you put your faith in won't let you down? When we put our faith in the true gospel, we find an unshakable core that will transform our lives. Gospel integrity is critical. If the gospel isn't changing us, we are not following the real gospel; the result of the gospel in our lives should constantly be bearing fruit and increasing. Colossians 1:3-8

Can I Know God Personally?

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 09:00:00 CDT

If God exists, can I know Him? What would that relationship look like? In this sermon, Pastor Ed describes how we were created by God to know Him personally, but separated from God by sin. Yet God provided a way for us to be adopted by God into a personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus. By grace we can be changed from orphans into heirs of God. We can know God personally, but perhaps even more incredible, God knows us and cares for us. Various Passages Additional resources on this question are available at https://www.moodychurch.org/explore-god/can-i-know-god-personally/.

Is The Bible Reliable?

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Is the Bible filled with inaccuracies, or can it be trusted? Is it merely a guidebook, or the inspired Word of God? In this sermon, Pastor Erwin Lutzer addresses whether the Bible is a human book or a divine book. He argues that it is both human and divine, with dual authorship. Directly or indirectly the Bible claims divine inspiration about 1,500 times. Seven other witnesses attest that this claim is true: the testimony of consistency, history, prophecy, Christ, science, canon, and its power. The bottom line: the Bible is a special book with a special savior. Additional resources on this question are available at https://www.moodychurch.org/explore-god/is-jesus-really-god/.

Is Jesus Really God?

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Was Jesus just a good man, a respected teacher? Was he a lunatic? Or was he something far more? In this message, Pastor Bertsche lays out the case for Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Three reasons to believe Jesus is God: the clear teaching about Jesus in the Bible, the changed lives of Jesus’ followers, and the character and ministry of Jesus. Various Passages Additional resources on this question are available at https://www.moodychurch.org/explore-god/is-jesus-really-god/.

Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering?

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Why does God allow pain and suffering? In this sermon, we learn the reasons God allows suffering, the rewards He gives for those that endure, and the response we should have during difficult times. James 1:2-4 Additional resources on this question are available here.

Is There A God?

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 09:00:00 CDT

Is there evidence outside of the Bible that help us answer the question of the existence of God? Has science disproven God? The evidence supports a finely tuned intelligent design behind the universe that was geared towards life on our planet. Not only does this support the existence of God, but it also tells us that God cares about His creation. Pslam 19:1-6 | Psalm 30:4-5 More resources on this question are available at: https://www.moodychurch.org/explore-god/is-there-a-god/

The Path To Purpose

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 09:00:00 CDT

What’s the meaning of life? Why are we here? Everyone wrestles with these questions. In this passage, we hear from King Solomon, a revered man of wisdom. He cautions us to avoid the vanities of this world and to focus our pursuit of purpose on things of eternal significance. Ecclesiastes 1:1–16 More resources on this question are available at: https://www.moodychurch.org/explore-god/does-life-have-a-purpose/

Keep It Simple

Sun, 06 Jan 2019 09:00:00 CDT

At the start of a new year, don't get overwhelmed by all the possibilities for resolutions. This passage encourages us to keep it simple. As Christians, we have one goal: to love God and love others. Matthew 22:34–40

Learning to Lean

Sun, 30 Dec 2018 09:00:00 CDT

As we wrap up 2018 and begin a new year, it’s prudent to remind ourselves of the Biblical basics for ordering our plans in the new year. In this passage, we are provided with three steps to enable us to be wise. When we hold to these truths, God promises to guide us.Proverbs 3:5-6

The Prince of Peace

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Where do we find lasting peace? Does it even exist? People can spend a lifetime searching for peace in all of the wrong places. As we reflect on the final advent candle of the season, Christmas reminds us that there is ultimately no lasting peace apart from Jesus. Only in Jesus do we find peace that surpasses all understanding. Isaiah 9:1-7

All About That Baby

Sun, 16 Dec 2018 09:00:00 CDT

What's Christmas really about? Watch as our Children's Chorus shares the true meaning of Christmas.

The Hope Of The World

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Where does our hope come from? On this Sunday of Advent, we learn about the hope of world foretold in Isaiah 40, a great comforter, the glory of God revealed. As Christians, our hope is forever tied to the revelation of God's glory through His son, Jesus. With God's help, let's live in that hope, and share it joyfully with others. Isaiah 40:1-5

How To Protect The Church

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Our instinct is to protect the things we love. Do you love the church enough to protect it? In this passage, Paul discusses the need for Christians to take an active role in protecting the church from internal and external threats. As the bride of Christ, God will defend and protect His Church. But it's also our responsibility to join in that mission by conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. Acts 20:28–32

Achieving Gospel Unity

Sun, 18 Nov 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Diversity is something to be celebrated within the church, whether it's generational, ethnic, socio-economic, or preferential. But what happens when diversity in the congregation leads to disunity? When the church exhibits disunity, it dishonors Christ. In this passage, we find three keys to unity within the body of Christ: embracing God's grace, realizing our identity in Christ, and practicing sacrificial love. Acts 15:1-21

Even Them

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Human nature tends towards exclusion, a mindset of "us" and "them". This disposition existed in the time of the early church, where the gospel of Jesus first came to the Jews and was yet to be communicated to the gentiles (non-Jews). In this passage, we see Peter struggling with prejudice towards gentiles; but God miraculously revealed to him that the message of Jesus was meant for all people, even them. Acts 10:1-48

God Can Save Anyone

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Is anyone beyond saving? The gospel is the power of God to save anyone. In this passage, we see Paul converted from a persecutor of Christ's Church to its champion. If God can change the heart of Paul, He can change anyone. Paul's story illustrates three important lessons: God can save anyone, God can use anyone, and God desires to save everyone. Acts 9:1-22

Contagious Christianity

Sun, 28 Oct 2018 09:00:00 CDT

How did Christianity spread in the early church? In this passage in Acts, we see that for the church to grow, God's people must go. The message highlighted three essentials for our approach to evangelism: we must rely on the Spirit, we must discern the core needs and struggles in our listeners, and we must guide our conversations towards the Savior. Acts 8:26-39

Jesus Is Worth It

Sun, 21 Oct 2018 09:00:00 CDT

When push comes to shove, would you stand up for Jesus? Is He worth the cost you may have to bear, even to the point of death? In this passage, we see the martyrdom of Stephen. We learn three important points about how to respond to persecution: Jesus is the message, Jesus is the model, and Jesus is the motivation. Acts 6:8-7:60

The Unstoppable Church

Sun, 14 Oct 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Throughout the ages, the early church met incredible resistance and persecution, yet it prevailed. What was responsible for its success? In this passage, we learn how the modern church can maintain unshakable commitment to advancing the gospel, no matter the circumstances, all the while experiencing a joy that can only be found in God. If the Church was something built by man, it would've failed a long time ago. The Church will not fail because Jesus will not fail us. Acts 5:17-42

Prayer for Boldness

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Where does our boldness for Christ come from, and how do we get it? No true follower of Jesus wants to be a coward for their faith. While we may need to develop our courage over time, every true believer has a growing desire to boldly share the gospel. Boldness comes from yielding to the Holy Spirit, not giving in to our fear. In this passage, we find three keys to our our boldness: resting in the sovereignty of God, resolving to put the gospel first, and requesting God's help. Acts 4:23-31

Stop Flying Solo

Sun, 30 Sep 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Why do we need to commit to corporate worship in a local church? In this passage, we learn about the value of community to the early church. We see that we don’t need another sermon podcast or Spotify playlist, both common signs of modern church-goers. We need community; it's not just an optional thing for us, it’s essential if we are going to grow in our relationship with God. Solo Christianity leads to stagnant Christianity. Acts 2:42-47

The Spirit Empowered Church

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 09:00:00 CDT

What powerful gift did God give the church? In this passage, we see 4 ways that God empowers the church through the Holy Spirit to carry out His mission. The result is an unstoppable church fully equipped to build the Kingdom of God. Acts 2:1-41

Back To The Basics

Sun, 16 Sep 2018 09:00:00 CDT

How can our church be a catalyst for change in Chicago? In this new series, we’re getting back to the basics as we explore how our message, mission, and motivation can contribute to meaningful change in our city. As we seek to effectively represent Jesus, may the mission of our lives be the mission of the church. Acts 1:1-11

Healer, Master, and Savior

Sun, 02 Sep 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Human authority is an interesting thing, isn't it? It's easily attained and easily lost. Jesus' authority contrasts significantly with human authority. In this passage, we see a Savior with authority over sickness, over Satan, and ultimately over sin. When Jesus healed the sick man, the miracle validated Jesus as the Messiah, demonstrated God's love for us, proved God's opposition to sin, revealed Jesus' authority, and foreshadowed God's coming Kingdom. Matthew 8:14-17

Kingdom Warnings

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 09:00:00 CDT

What warning signs should we consider on our faith journey? In this passage, Jesus paints the picture of two gates -- one wide, one narrow -- on the road to eternity. He warns of false paths, false teachers, and false followers. Just because everyone is doing something doesn't make it right. Are you on the right path? Matthew 7:13-23

Don’t Stop Now

Sun, 29 Jul 2018 09:00:00 CDT

We are all pursuing the same thing: life to the fullest. Jesus speaks to this core human desire, describing the "race" of life as something that must be pursued with perseverance. What are the key Christian commitments that we need to have to experience life to the fullest? In this passage, we learn that in order to run the race well, we must never stop praying, trusting, and loving. Matthew 7: 7-12

The Dangers of a Critical Spirit

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 09:00:00 CDT

What are the dangers of a critical spirit? This passage reminds us of the hypocrisy and destructiveness of being judgmental of others. Although it is wise to discern good from evil, when we compare ourselves to others, we are far more likely to err on the side of sin. Being critical of others is destructive not only to our own hearts but also to our relationships with others. Matthew 7:1-6

Praying Like Jesus: Deliverance

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 09:00:00 CDT

How does our view of sin affect our prayer life? In this passage, we discover three affirmations we should make as we pray: we affirm that sin is evil, that we are vulnerable to sin, and that God desires to help us overcome the temptation of sin. Matthew 6:13

Praying Like Jesus: Submission

Sun, 20 May 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Do you ever feel like your payers aren't heard or answered? In this passage, Jesus teaches us to how pray so that we have assurance that God joyfully hears us. It all begins with submitting our will to the Father's. When we pray "your kingdom come", we are praying that God will be glorified through people coming to faith in Christ and that God's kingdom will come in fullness with the return of Christ. Matthew 6:10

Evangelism As A Mark Of Christian Maturity

Sun, 22 Apr 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Throughout history, evangelism was the lifeblood of the Church, a common element that grew Christendom rapidly. However, what was once normative has become incredible today as fewer and fewer Christians share their faith with others. Dr. Root encourages us to share our faith more regularly, pointing out that it's far easier than we realize. Why should we share our faith? Because there’s a level of spiritual intimacy that cannot be known without sharing your faith with others. Only then will we experience the full understanding of what we have in Christ. Philemon 6

Your Final Exam

Sun, 15 Apr 2018 09:00:00 CDT

We only get one shot at life. How will the Lord remember your legacy? Would you live your life differently if you know there would be a reckoning on your deeds? In this sermon, guest speaker Dr. Mark Hitchcock discusses the Judgement Seat of Christ and its impact on the rewards that believers will receive in heaven. Pastor Hitchcock challenges us to reflect on seven questions Jesus may ask of all believers at the end of the age. 2 Corinthians 5:9-11

Hope Changes Everything

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 09:00:00 CDT

On this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. To some, this is a foolish pursuit. Why should we put our hope in Him? What does He offer us that's secure and trustworthy? Don't check your brain or your heart at the door, because the message of Jesus fully satisfies both. In this passage, we find that Jesus offers us three things: Jesus offers us forgiveness, Jesus offers us new life, and Jesus offers us Himself, the greatest gift of all. When we put our hope in Jesus, it changes everything. Titus 2:11-14

The King Is Coming

Sun, 25 Mar 2018 09:00:00 CDT

Palm Sunday begins a week of anticipation that culminates on Easter Sunday. It reminds us that Jesus was the coming king foretold in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament. But what kind of King was he anticipated to be? In this passage, we learn three character prophecies that Jesus fulfilled: He is a righteous king, He is a humble king, and He is a king who brings peace. Zechariah 9:9-10

The Heart Test

Sun, 25 Feb 2018 09:00:00 CDT

We face an ongoing temptation to relax God’s laws when they seem too difficult to obey. In this passage, Jesus gives us two examples of how people can be guilty of this: adultery and divorce. Ultimately, we learn that the heart of the law reveals the heart of God, and our response to it reveals our heart towards God. Matthew 5:27-32

Debt’s Dangers

Sun, 21 Jan 2018 09:00:00 CDT

The statistics on debt in America are staggering. Not only are people finding themselves enslaved to the pursuit of money, but they are also experiencing a profound lack of contentment. How can we avoid the pitfalls that can entrap us financially and take our focus away from trusting God with our lives? How can eliminate our debt and experience ultimate freedom? In this message, we explore the path to financial freedom that leads through a content heart, a cautious spirit, and a correct view of money. Money cannot buy happiness. Our satisfaction and true contentment only comes through trusting God and acknowledging that He provides for all our needs.1 Timothy 6:6-10

The Lost Sons

Sun, 07 Jan 2018 09:00:00 CDT

We are loved far more by God than we ever realize. This passage in Luke about the Prodigal Son teaches us three incredible points about salvation and God's love for us: God's love is exceptional; God's love is extravagant; and God's love is enduring. When we wander, the moment we turn back to God, He will always take us back. It doesn't matter how long or how far we've wander. The same extravagant love of God that we see in the parable of the Prodigal Son is the same love given to us. You cannot lose God's love, and you cannot earn God's love; it's something that you can only receive.Luke 15-11-32

When All Seems Lost

Sun, 31 Dec 2017 09:00:00 CDT

Have you ever felt lost or abandoned? Scripture shows us that we are all helpless and lost because of sin. But God, in His great mercy, finds us in our sin and provides a way to take bring us back home. This passage in Luke shows us three incredible realities of God’s work for our salvation: God’s initiative to save us, humanity’s unbelievable value to its Creator, and heavenly rejoicing when we are found. You matter to God.Luke 15:1-10

The Story and Significance of the Reformation

Sun, 29 Oct 2017 09:00:00 CDT

Our culture is increasingly hostile toward Christianity. This isn’t new territory. Martin Luther saw how the gospel had been compromised within the Church 500 years ago. In response, he nailed his 95 Theses to the castle door in Wittenberg, thus sparking the Protestant Reformation. In this sermon, Pastor Lutzer lays out five monumental effects that Luther sparked during the Protestant Reformation that have left a lasting legacy on the Christian church today.Romans 1:16-17

The Gospel Goes Viral

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 09:00:00 CDT

There is a temptation in Christianity to be consumers of spiritual things rather than producers of spiritual fruit. How can we guard against being spiritually ineffective in our evangelism outreach to others? In this passage, we learn three keys to evangelism. The first key to evangelism is gospel proclamation; we need to remain excited about the good news we've found in our lives, and to cultivate that desire regularly. The second lesson is personal life transformation; our lives are the most powerful evangelism tool we have. The third key is a new orientation; as our lives are transformed by the gospel, our tendency should be to want to bring people along with us, to be bringers of people to Jesus. What's going to make the gospel go "viral" in our culture? Its people like us sharing it with others.Matthew 4:23-25

Homesick Christians

Sun, 03 Sep 2017 09:00:00 CDT

Do you ever feel like you were meant for another world, that you’re somehow out of place in this current one? As people of God, we are promised an eternal home in heaven, our great hope and future. Life is hard, but it’s worth living well. If we are homesick Christians longing for heaven, how should we live while still on earth? Jeremiah teaches us that Christians should have uncompromising integration, unwavering discernment, unyielding hope, and undivided surrender in our lifestyle. Jeremiah 29:1-14

Baptism: A Radical Act Of Obedience

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 09:00:00 CDT

In today’s Christian culture, baptism often appears optional. But what does scripture really teach about the importance of baptism? Jesus spoke about baptism in an unequivocal way: baptism is a radical act of obedience to the radical call of Christ to repent and hear the gospel. It is meant to be a public display of a believer’s conversion and obedience to Christ. The practice symbolizes the believer’s connection to the physical death and resurrection of Christ. A new life in Christ has begun, and the old has passed away; there can be no turning back. Romans 6:1-4

Do You Know Him?

Sun, 16 Jul 2017 09:00:00 CDT

Do you really know Jesus? Or do you just know a lot about Him? Many people have a lot of information about Jesus, but they don’t really know Jesus. They have the head knowledge, but not the heart. There are three attributes of people who really know Jesus. Luke 7:36-50

The Advantages of Singleness

Sun, 11 Jun 2017 09:00:00 CDT

The Bible calls singleness a “gift” and encourages singles to take advantage of its unique opportunities for your joy and the good of others. Some people are called to singleness, and embracing the freedoms of singleness can significantly contribute to the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 7:32-25

Giving That Pleases God

Sun, 21 May 2017 09:00:00 CDT

Why is God so concerned with our financial giving? It’s a matter of our priorities for the Kingdom of God, and where we find our security. Our giving is a form of worship to the Lord. There are five qualities of giving that pleases God: we are to give kindly, to give uniquely, to give continually, to give faithfully, and to give worshipfully. These qualities increase our contentment, joy, and love for others; and scripture promises rewards in Heaven if not blessings on earth. Philippians 4:14-18

Scatter

Sun, 30 Apr 2017 09:00:00 CDT

How can we be effective witnesses for Christ? The parable of the sower teaches us to be radical, reckless, relentless sowers of the gospel wherever we go. We are sent to scatter the gospel everywhere, at all times, and to everyone. We aren’t smart enough to know if a person is ready to receive the gospel, so we must sow courageously and relentlessly. Our role isn’t to be choosy in who we share with, but to have spiritual conversations with everyone. Luke 8:4-8 and Luke 9:23-24

Knowing Jesus: The Great Exaltation

Sun, 15 Jan 2017 09:00:00 CDT

How did God the Father respond to Jesus’ humility? Jesus’ name is often dragged through the mud in our sinful world. But what Satan intends for evil, God will ultimately glorify. The Father has an infinite delight in the Son, because the Son esteems the Father and chose to suffer the worst of deaths rather than forsake the Father’s assignment. The Father is the source of Jesus’ exaltation, giving the son a new name and conferring universal acknowledgment as Lord. Philippians 2:9-11

Living Worthy Lives

Sun, 27 Nov 2016 09:00:00 CDT

What does it mean to live a life worthy of the gospel? Because God has changed our lives, we are to live changed lives. In this passage, we see that there are three characteristics of lives worthy of Christ. First, we must stand united with other believers for the glory of God; we should have one spirit and mind, putting aside internal strife to achieve the common goals of the gospel. Second, we must strive tougher fearlessly to represent Christ. Third, we are to suffer graciously for the cause of Christ, whether that’s persecution or hardship. Suffering doesn’t need to be wasted, because God uses suffering to perfect us and to glorify Himself. Philippians 1:27-30