Watermark Fort Worth: Recent Episodes
Watermark Fort Worth
This podcast is produced by Watermark Fort Worth, a local church in Fort Worth, Texas. We exists to be and call all people to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Luke 22:54-62
In Peter’s story of denial, we see a few themes:
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Peter’s pride and confidence in himself often led to rash decisions
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His proximity to Jesus was key - when he “stayed at a distance” or “looked at the wind and waves,” we see Peter struggle to follow Jesus
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In his fear and shame, Peter grew more aggressive
But Jesus did not condemn his friend:
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Jesus looked upon Peter with love (v 61)
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Jesus’ eyes and words provided conviction but not condemnation
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Peter wept and grieved over his denial - the beginning of repentance
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Ultimately, Jesus restores and commissions Peter around a similar, charcoal fire (Jn 21)
Luke 22:39-46
As Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion approached, He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Anticipating the suffering to come, He sought the Father in His agony with prayers for strength and for the salvation of the lost to be accomplished to God’s glory. In the Garden, Jesus submitted to the Father’s will and triumphed over the devil’s temptation not to drink the cup of wrath.
This sermon focuses on aligning our hearts with Jesus during the election season by following five principles: preserving unity within the church, pursuing God’s kingdom through prayer, living out Christ-like character, proclaiming the gospel, and engaging faithfully in politics.
Luke 22:24-38
In this passage, Jesus teaches His disciples about true greatness. While the world views greatness as having others serve you and being recognized for your service, Jesus reveals that true greatness in the Kingdom of God is humbly serving others without seeking recognition. Jesus modeled this through His own service to His disciples, and even though the disciples repeatedly failed, Jesus commended their faith. Jesus continues to serve His disciples today, praying for them and forming them through their failures.
Luke 21:5-24
Impressive, dazzling, magnificent, an architectural wonder — these are just a few ways Herod’s Temple has been described by historians. It was massive, and it symbolized power, strength, and immense wealth. In Luke’s account, as the Galileans are marveling at the beauty and artistry as well as the magnitude of the Temple, Jesus turns again to his followers with an “upside-down kingdom” prophecy: this symbol of worldly power and dominance would be destroyed. And, as prominent and awe-inspiring as the Temple was, Jesus did not hesitate to claim that He was greater.
Perhaps the Temple, with all of its symbolic power and greatness, began to mean more to the people than God meant to them. Perhaps their awe at its splendor and its security of power meant more to the people than their trust in God. What do you think Jesus was doing in predicting the destruction of Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem? How do you see earlier accounts in Luke building up to this prophecy?
Today, we had the privilege of having Jean Baptiste from Mustard Seed Church in Burundi, deliver our message on Luke 20:27-44. Following a series of questions asked of Jesus by the religious leaders, Jesus is asked one last question. They give Jesus a question concerning marriage in the resurrection (afterlife). Again, Jesus confounds them with His answer and verse 40 tells us that they no longer dared to ask Him any questions. Jesus then turns the tables on them and asking them a question. Jesus challenges us by His responses and questions to live a Kingdom lifestyle in honor of our True King.
This week, we continue our journey through Luke with Part 4: The Journey to the Cross. As we arrive at Luke 20:19-26, we are in the midst of the rising tension between Jesus and the religious leaders. In a highly charged political climate, they are looking for an opportunity to trap Jesus with His own words, so that they might bring him up on charges before the Romans. In this passage, we see Jesus answer their questions with the wisest of responses, reminding us that He is indeed the rightful authority and ruler of all.
Luke 20:1-18
Jesus, acting like someone who thinks he is in charge, has entered Jerusalem triumphantly, thrown traders out of the Temple, and disrupted the Temple’s authority structure where the High Priest is the most senior figure and the religious leaders hold the power.* Who does Jesus think he is to come into these spaces? With what authority can he command and shake up these things?
This is just what the religious leaders, teachers, and elders ask as recorded by Luke. They were accustomed to doling out authority, and they certainly had not authorized this man from Galilee.
Jesus doesn’t skirt around the question, but answers through the storied event of his baptism by John. At his baptism, authority was given to Jesus with the descent of the dove and the voice from heaven (Mark 1:9-11).
Then Jesus follows his reply with a parable that distinguishes a new way of authority from an old way. He teaches, quite directly, that those who think they have authority are merely entrusted custodians of this vineyard. Ancient hearers, like us today, would clearly grasp that it is the landowner with the power and authority.* The tenants know this too, but here they act as if they are the ones with power. Is the landowner too naive, too benevolent? Why is he counting on the kindness of his tenants when their behavior has already proven poor? Why doesn’t the landowner come sooner to fix the scenario, restore justice, and judge the tenants?
Through Luke’s account, AJ teaches that Jesus is patient and merciful with us. Jesus has all power and authority, and Jesus uses all power and authority to lay his life down for the ultimate victory.
*Referenced:
N.T. Wright, Luke: For Everyone, 233-239.
Craig Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 2nd ed., 231-232.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem marks a significant moment in His ministry. The sermon focuses on remembering what Jesus has done, worshipping Him as King, and following His example of obedience, humility, and eternal perspective. As Jesus approaches His crucifixion, we are reminded of His kingship, the fulfillment of prophecies, and the importance of living in a way that honors Him.
Luke 19:1-10
Zacchaeus was drawn to Jesus. What about Jesus do you think compelled Zacchaeus to climb a tree just to get a view of this man?
Three of Luke’s regular themes: the “problem of riches and what to do about it, Jesus identifying among sinners, and faith that recognizes Jesus as Lord and results in new life”* are found in this story! Do any of these three themes resonate with you and your community? What does Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus teach us about the Kingdom of God?
We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 18: 31-43. This passage allows us to explore the contrast between spiritual blindness and physical blindness as we see the disciples, the crowd and the blind beggar’s response to Jesus.
AJ Neely continues this week’s sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 16:14-31. In this passage, Jesus speaks to the pharisees (and us) on the heart issues of money, marriage, divorce, The Law and Prophets, heaven and hell, and the resurrection of the dead. AJ expresses the significance of all these things through the sermon and ties them all together to drive home the heart of this message. With all the major contrasts involved, there is a Tale of Two Cities, or better yet, a “Tale of Two Futures” of what lies ahead. There is a future for those who believe and a future for those who do not.
Tyler Briggs continues this week’s sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 15:25-32. Today, we focus on the older brother and his self-righteousness. Tyler starts off sharing a personal check engine light story that ultimately ended the life of his car. Because the situation was ignored and not repaired, the simple repair turned catastrophic. Much to the same accord, a self-righteous heart screams “check engine” (heart) and requires immediate attention. It is God’s kindness that leads us ALL to repentance, and we ought to rejoice and celebrate for ALL, who were once dead and are now alive in Christ.
Tyler Briggs continues this week’s sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 15:11-24. Today’s biblical text shares the story of the prodigal son, and Tyler starts off by summarizing the younger son’s initial belief: His life of sin would be better than life with his father. Another way to state this initial belief is that his preferred life choices with total freedom from any other authoritative rule other than his own is the best kind of life to live. (Or, is it?) What does life look like on our own apart from God? What does life look like with true repentance and faith? In today’s sermon, we learn the loving arms of God embrace every prodigal that returns to Him.
We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 15:1-10. In this passage, Jesus illustrates His heart for the lost through the telling of two parables where we see the glorious beauty of the love of God. This passage beckons us to find our rest and peace not in our love for God, but rather in the unchangeable, unfathomable depth of the love that God has for us.
Parker Haines continues this week’s sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 14:25-35. Parker reminds us of our journey through Luke thus far and how Jesus fixed His eyes on the cross and the fulfillment of His earthly ministry. Jesus’ tone becomes one of warning, and He describes what it really means and looks like to follow Him. In the life of believers, God’s warnings are a means of grace to us.
As the world measures greatness in terms of power, position, and possessions, this week's sermon (a part of our current series: The Gospel of Luke Part III: A Journey through Galilee) reveals to us the true measure of greatness as exhorted and exemplified by Jesus Christ. Sacrificial service, not status, emerges as the path to true significance and satisfaction within the Kingdom of God. As we love one another, we more fully realize the blessing of our union with Christ and His Church.
Here again, on our Journey through Galilee, we encounter Jesus flipping the script on what really matters in his incorruptible Kingdom. While staunch observers of the law flaunt their righteousness before others and test the LORD himself on the law, Jesus shakes up the status quo, confronts pius superiority, and gently teaches upside-down Kingdom ethics. In Luke 14:1-14, we get yet another meal-time illustration on our way to the culminating table scenes of the Lord’s Supper and the road to Emmaus (spoiler alert). What could Jesus be showing us with all of this table talk?
We continue this week's sermon series, The Gospel of Luke Part III: A journey Through Galilee, in Luke 13:22-35. In this passage, Jesus encounters a man who asks "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" Jesus does not directly answer the question, but instead, His response causes the one who questions to consider not just if "few will be saved", but to consider "if you will be saved." Jesus then gives us live application points to consider.
Drew Zeiler continues this week’s sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 13:10-21. Drew highlights a significant truth in this message: Jesus provides liberty. Jesus, the most significant person ever to walk this earth, impacts everything and everyone. The healing of this woman on the Sabbath, His response to His adversaries, and the teaching of the Kingdom of God afterwards all serve as evidence of His notorious impact on our broken and fallen world. His life-giving liberty, what that looks like in life, and our future hope are the focus of this sermon.
We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 13:1-9, with this passage where Jesus teaches that all tragedies in life remind us that we face an even greater tragedy of eternal separation from God if we do not repent of our sin and turn to Him.
Tyler Briggs continues this week’s sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 12:49-59. Tyler poses the question, “Why did Jesus come?” In the first few minutes, we discover multiple answers to this question from biblical texts in these ways: Jesus came to give abundant life, to serve and give His life as a ransom, to be King, bear witness to the truth, and to cause those of the truth to listen to His voice. In today’s sermon, we learn that Jesus also came to bring and bear judgment for sins. His actions and follow-through commitment with these things are born of love and have eternal significance for us all.
“With great power comes great responsibility.” –Uncle Ben to Spiderman. Also, Jesus: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.”
You are a parent. You leave your teenage kids home for the weekend. You return home to a strong odor, a broken lamp, trash everywhere, a pile of dishes, and a hungry dog. While you were away, you entrusted your home and responsibilities to your people and it was abused and squandered.
Or– upon your return home, you’re greeted by a happy, healthy dog, trash cans emptied and brought back in from the curb, the smell of warm bread in the oven, happy siblings, and warm candlelight.
Once again Jesus has used a parable (a metaphorical story), that connects with the people he is among, to help teach them about the Kingdom of God. They are about to witness his death and endure his absence for a time. Jesus wants to equip them to be ready, to be watchful for God’s movement, and to be attentive to the work of the Kingdom in their waiting.
What’s more is that the hypothetical story above, of teenagers caring for the home while the owners are away, only begins to depict the abuses incurred by vulnerable people in Jesus’ example in Luke 12:41-48. Here, Jesus teaches that his leaders have a great responsibility, that abuses will be punished, and that our role in stewardship matters in this life and the next.
Tyler Briggs continues this week’s sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 12:35-40. The return of Christ is certain, and we, as faithful children of God, must be expectant and ready for this magnificent event. Tyler provides an example of a tuning fork and how it is used to properly measure and set pitch in the musical key of C. Comparatively-speaking, our lives need to be set in tune with the assured return of Jesus Christ.
We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 12:22-34. Elder Jarod Cox expounds upon the central theme of this passage: do not worry. If we’re honest with ourselves and each other, there are many things that occupy our hearts and minds and tempt us towards worry and anxiousness. We must remind each other of these precious truths: God’s provision is sufficient, He knows exactly what we need, and He cares for us more than we realize or think. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 12:13-21, with this passage where Jesus tells a parable to highlight the foolishness of greed and the wisdom of being rich toward God.
We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 12:1-12. John Baptiste, the Pastor of Mustard Seed Community Church in Africa, helps us realize that we are deeply significant to God. As such, Jesus wants us to have open eyes and a pure heart, so we can be free from hypocrisy and the fear of man and to live significant and worthy lives unto Him.
As the world measures greatness in terms of power, position, and possessions, this week’s sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee reveals to us the true measure of greatness as exhorted and exemplified by Jesus Christ. Sacrificial service, not status, emerges as the path to true significance and satisfaction within the kingdom of God. As we love one another, we more fully realize the blessing of our union
with Christ and His Church.
We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 11:37-44. Parker Haines covers the interactions between Jesus and the Pharisees in this week’s text. Jesus confronts, highlights, and shows the Pharisees’ what truly matters in genuine faith. Outward appearances and actions are not always motivated by a sincere heart in faith, and God, The Omniscient, knows all things.
We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 11:33-36. The text teaches us how we are to respond to the light and how it impacts life as a whole. Not only is this light necessary for you and me, it is necessary for everyone we come into contact with each day. Let us recall the old song, “This little light of mine,” and put it into practice. Tyler leads off with a great story in this way and shares how we can use the light to light the way both for ourselves and others.
We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 11:29-32, with this passage where Jesus confronts the religious leaders about their insistence on signs and their motivations behind that ask. Using the example of Jonah, the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba, Jesus points to His own death and resurrection as the ultimate sign, requiring a response of belief and repentance.
We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 11:27-28. The text teaches us the glorious subject of obedience. Obedience requires submission to someone else, and we are blessed by obeying God. All too often, many unwittingly resist and rebel this blessing of God to their own detriment, and this choice isn’t free from consequence. Genuine Christianity isn’t about rules but relationship. Salvation and the abundant life are so much more than just making it to heaven and involve joyful obedience.
As you collect the day’s mail from your mailbox and mindlessly thumb through the envelopes you notice something quite different among the anticipated bills and throw-away coupons: your name and address in brushed handwriting and a familiar name in the return address. Happy curiosity, a friend has thought of you and written to you personally. Further, you open the note to find an invitation to be together with that person. Joy and connection characterize an invitation. Such an exchange honors personhood and relationship. Additionally, invitations are meant to elicit a response. Through Luke 11:23-26, Steve teaches that Jesus is presenting himself as an invitation to each of us. And such a magnificent invitation necessitates a response.
As Jesus continues to reveal more of His divine power through His teachings and miracles, in this week’s sermon in our series The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee we see Him dismantle irrational disbelief through rational apologetic arguments. The very incarnation of our triune God demonstrates, through word and deed, that He came to destroy the works of that other trinity – the world, the flesh, and Satan himself. Praise be to God that He is victorious!
We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee, with the Lord’s Prayer post teachings from Christ (Perseverance and Promises in Prayer). The two short parables presented in the text teach us about what God is like and that we can trust Him. God is eager and able to meet the longings of our hearts. In all that we seek, God is to be our total joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction.
As you read the Lord's Prayer, is there a rekindling of how you once learned to pray? Are these new ideas for you and your prayers? Perhaps these words continuously give structure to your own prayers, guiding your heart when you sit to talk with God. Jesus, as a dear Rabbi to his followers, answers their question with a model of prayer that guides his disciples to name and revere the one true God, to ask for God’s glorious redemptive work here and now, while teaching how to depend on Jesus in the day-to-day tasks he gives each one of us. He is not only the Good Father and Creator of All, he is our LORD who provides and is trustworthy. Turning to him in prayer is our blessed gift.
We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee, with the passage on Mary & Martha. The overarching theme today teaches us about the most necessary thing in life for a healthy heart. While conventional and worldly wisdom point towards the physical aspects of what helps to keep a heart healthy (diet, exercise, sleep, limited exposure to smoke and alcohol, etc.), they often leave out the key ingredient. While these physical aspects are worthy pursuits, there is a greater spiritual pursuit that remedies our hearts above all other things. Luke 10:38-42 helps us to see three different types of hearts, and the primary pursuit for a truly healthy heart. Everything else is secondary.
This week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee, Exacting Discipleship, Newley continues telling the story of Jesus’ transition from the years of teaching about the Kingdom of God, healing, and performing miracles to Jesus setting his way towards Jerusalem and talking with others along the way. In Luke 9:57-62, there is an emphasis placed on discipleship, the cost, and what it looks like to follow Him.
As consumer-Christianity continues to mar the modern church, this week’s sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part II: A Journey through Galilee calls us to a deep devotion to our Savior that will compel us to love the lost. Ultimately, we have not only been saved as God’s people, but saved for God’s mission as a kingdom of priests and preachers.
As our culture continues its fascination of evil and the occult and folly within the spiritual realm, this week’s sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part II: A Journey through Galilee demonstrates Christ power and authority over the spiritual realm as He exorcises a man of thousands of demons. Likewise, we are to humbly depend on Christ to defend us and deliver us from the enemy’s lies, accusations, and temptations.
As many cultural Christians continue to attend church out of social obligation, this week’s sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part II: A Journey through Galilee graciously confronts any sense of apathy towards Jesus and misplaced affections for the world. The “Parable of the Four Soils” reveals how the condition of our heart directly affects the implanting of God’s Word and its subsequent impact in our lives. Unless we remain receptive to God and His truth, our souls will wither and we will forego the life, growth, and fruitfulness that Christ alone offers.
To echo Benjamin Franklin, "In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes." This week our sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part II: A Journey through Galilee reveals how Jesus confronts and overcomes this tragic reality as He resurrects the widow of Nain’s only son. By the grace of God and to the glory of God, death is not the end but merely the beginning for all who believe in Jesus Christ, our compassionate savior and king.
As The Gospel of Luke, Part I: The Arrival of the King begins, we set our hearts and minds on Luke’s orderly account of the birth, life, teachings, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, the aim of this series is to set forth the truth, love, and glory of Christ, in order that the skeptic might be satisfied, the sinner might be saved, and the saved might be sanctified.
As we continue our series The Coming King, the Exodus era shows us that God is constantly at work providing for His people and giving them all that they need. However, Israel’s discontentment robs them of the joy of God’s faithful provision for them. As we look at a story involving a plague of snakes we see that we too are like Israel; A people in need of Salvation, a people who can to quickly become discontent in God’s provision, and a people that must cling to the promise that we are not yet home.
Conflict within the local church is our constant opportunity to serve others, grow ourselves and Glorify God. The sermon equips the local church to understand why we must engage in conflict resolution, when we must engage in conflict resolution, how to prepare for conflict resolution, and how to initiate and receive hard conversations.
The local church is to be marked by authenticity as a response to the gospel. Believers should share their brokenness to point themselves and others to Jesus.
The local church is to be devoted to prayer as an outworking of our love for God, an expression of our love for others, and an act of dependence on God. This sermon briefly reflects on why the church is to be devoted to prayer and then explores how the church can be devoted to prayer.
The local church must remain rooted in Scripture because it is where we see God, receive His life-giving word, learn of His guidance for life, and find His protection from false teaching.
It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that the church is able to become more like Jesus, experience unity in Jesus, and boldly witness of the gospel of Jesus!
The gospel is not only how we enter into a relationship with God but much more. The Gospel is the crux of the local church in that we are reconciled to God and have eternal life, the gospel is how we grow in our faith in Christ and how we experience the love of christ through our relationships with others. To rediscover the local church we must be grounded in the gospel.
The belt, the breastplate, and the boots of God’s armor prepare us to do battle with our adversary, the devil, who seeks to disrupt our relationship with God and destroy us.
Spiritual warfare is real and yet not as mysterious as we often believe. This sermon from today’s passage helps us understand every Christian's call to fight, understand our enemy the devil, and understand our means and assurance of victory.
We have the greatest potential to be an ambassador for Christ when we are at work. Both the quality of our work and how we relate to others in the workplace send a message about Jesus. Today’s passage informs us how being transformed by the gospel and empowered by the Holy Spirit enables us to put God’s glory on display in the workplace.
God has commanded children to obey and honor their parents in the Lord, and for parents to train up their children in the ways of the Lord. This God designed relationship is sometimes hard to navigate in our current culture, but God’s Word guides us in how to accomplish the benefits that the Christian Family can bring to each other and to the world.
The institution of marriage was designed by God. He has given us Christ as our perfect example to follow in our distinct roles as wives and husbands.
Understanding Christ’s headship of and love for the Church, captures our affections and provides definition to our love for one another through which we experience harmony in all of our relationships within the church.
The evidence of a Spirit filled church is joy, gratitude, and harmony. God teaches us in this passage how to be filled with the Spirit and experience the fullness of the life that can be in Christ.
God, in His kindness as a good Father, has given us instruction on how we are to live as His people so that it will go well with us and glorify Him. In this passage God teaches us how to live as wise people.
Spiritual sleepwalking is the path to forfeiting the vitality of life that Jesus gives. Today’s passage is a divine invitation to wake up from your spiritual sleep and walk as the child of Light that you are in the Lord.
There can be no higher calling than to imitate God. Paul shows us that because of God’s great love for us, we now turn to imitate His love.
How do we walk in a manner worthy of the calling and what happens when we fall short? God’s Word gives us specific examples of how we are to live with each other; Reminds us of who He is and who we are; and how we can forgive each other in the same way he has forgiven us.
Have you ever thought how amazing it would be to experience the fullness of God? In Ephesians 3, Paul prays that the church would be strengthened in their inner being and experience the love of God in a way that it would allow the church to be filled with the fullness of God. By His glory and for His glory, He will see it accomplished.
Consistent and sincere prayer has maybe never been more neglected in the Christian life, but it has never been more necessary. In today’s passage we learn why.
In today’s passage, we are going to see encouragement come from a dying man in a prison cell that will strengthen our faith. What we are told about God through this passage has the power to give you boldness to live faithfully for God and to remind you to draw near to Him for strength in whatever you’re facing. It’s a reminder, that nothing will stop God from accomplishing what He has purposed.
In today’s passage, we will see how through Jesus Christ, the church is unified not only as the redeemed but also as citizens of the same kingdom, members of the same family, and connected parts of the same temple.
Paul shows the division and hostility between Jew and Gentile and points to Jesus as our means for horizontal reconciliation with one another, because of our vertical reconciliation through Jesus.
In today’s passage, we are going to see that the whole of our salvation is a result of 1) God’s work for us 2) God’s work in us and 3) God’s work through us. The only place left for Christian boasting, is to boast in Jesus Christ, for all He has done.
This is a message depicting the Christian's journey from spiritual death to being made alive in Christ. This message clarifies the gospel and how we should respond.
In today’s sermon, we study Ephesians 1:11-14 which focuses on our inheritance in Christ. Understanding our inheritance in Christ helps us do three things. First, we are able to see our present troubles in this world with clarity. Second, we receive a glimpse of heaven where we will receive our inheritance in full. Third, we see more clearly the glory of God.
In Ephesians 1:3-14 there is a clear message that it is God who saves. In these verses we see the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit all play a role in accomplishing our salvation. In verses 7-10, we get a closer look at the role that Christ plays, namely through our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins and uniting all things to God in heaven and earth.
The Father choosing His church is an act of God that should humble us and cause us to praise Him.
Ephesians is a letter that focuses on what God did through the historical work of Jesus Christ and is still doing through His Spirit today. He is building His new society, the church, in the midst of a dead world. Ephesians is a message to remind us of the wealth of spiritual blessings we have in Christ and how to use those blessings to grow into Christ and be a Christian in a broken world for the glory of God and our good.
In Deuteronomy 6:1-9, God lays out his design for training up a child in the fear of the Lord. Drew Zeiler walks through what parents’ roles are in the discipleship of their kids, how they are to model faith in Christ, and what the greater church body’s role is in partnering with parents to raise up the next generation of disciples.
In Genesis 12:1-4, God calls Abraham to leave all former allegiances to follow and receive Himself. This is the same type of call that God makes of us today. Answering it leads us to satisfaction in Christ, while neglecting it leads us to a life of wandering.
The Story of Babel stands as a towering reminder that while man persists in rebellion against God, God moves toward mankind in grace.
In Genesis 6-9, the often familiar story of Noah’s ark shows us that man’s sin has reached new heights of depravity. This deeply grieves God’s heart because the world is full of violence, abuse, and sexual sin. Because God is just, He must punish man’s sin, but God is also patient with man. And although His patience expires, God provides a way of salvation for mankind through Noah and for us through Jesus Christ.
The story of Cain and Abel is a story about the necessity of faith, the grace of God, the progression of evil, and God’s faithfulness to fulfill His plan for redemption. As we examine this story, we will see how the elements of faith, grace, and the progression of evil are at work in our lives and in our world today.
Genesis 3 is both the historical account of the fall and the archetypal account of every person’s fall since. This morning, we will examine how “the fall” continues to play out in each of our lives and the devastating consequences that result. We will also see the grace of God in the midst of our sin and the glorious plan of redemption available to us all.
This week we talk through the origin, the temptation, and the depravity of sin in the Bible.
How God’s design for marriage mirrors His image, serve as a means of provision, and is meant to point us to Christ. Along with the cultural lies that seek to undermine His good design, practical actions steps for the believer and hope for the future!
A look at God’s original & good design for work. The effects that sin & our culture has had on our work. How Christians can engage in work in ways that honor God!
We live in a non stop culture where we constantly seem to be pulled in every direction, is there ever time for a break? This week we will talk about Rest; what it is, our desperate need for it, and how it fits into our everyday life.
Ever since the fall the unity and harmony that God intended for the humans to experience with Himself and one another has been disrupted. The sin of racism has plagued our relationships ever since. This week will examine the one solution that God has provided that accomplishes reconciliation for us and empowers to pursue the unity and harmony that was meant for us.
Human life is the pinnacle of creation. It is miraculous, beautiful, and to be valued above all the rest of creation. As such, there is no more deceptive, destructive, grievous evil against the image of God in existence today than abortion. In today’s sermon we will examine the beauty of God’s creation of human of life so that we may all the more comprehend the evil of abortion and how to respond to it.
One problem with our culture today is not that we have to high a view of sex, but too low. The lies of the culture lead us to settle for a view of sex and sexuality that is based on selfishness and fleeting physical pleasure. Today, we will look at how the Image of God and the design of God inform our sexuality and restore us back to God’s Good Design for sex and sexuality.
Breaking free from our wounds begins by being honest with God, it continues through our honesty with one another, and is used by God to help others to break free.
The ultimate prize of the Christian life is intimacy with God. It is through pursuing this intimacy with God every day that a Christian is able to experience everyday freedom from the power and pain of sin.
There is not just freedom in receiving the forgiveness of the Father, but learning to be a people who forgive others.
Breaking free begins with trusting God and continues with confession for the purpose of healing. But if you stop there, the freedom you find will only be temporary. So in today’s sermon we are looking at the next practical thing you must do to find lasting freedom…change.
The truth is we all have hurts, habits, and hang ups that deep down we hold on to and bury for a variety of different reasons. God desires for us to experience freedom from the power and pain of these sins in our lives. His plan for freedom includes confession and with confession come the benefits of healing, mercy, and fellowship.
When you begin a relationship with Jesus by receiving Him as Savior the penalty of your sin is paid but the power and pain cause by it is still very present. As we kick off this new series we will examine the decision every person must make if they want to break free from the power and pain of sin.
Easter is the celebration of the historical fact that Jesus rose from the grave after finishing the work of making a way of salvation on the cross. This Easter Sunday we will examine how Jesus is the bridge through which sinful people can be reconciled back into fellowship with a holy God.
The biblical church will be full of awe in Christ. However, far too many people have settled for an awful version of the church and Christianity. This morning we will renew our sense of awe in the glory of God and in what His church has always been meant to be.
What is the greatest threat to your spiritual life? Worship. The human heart is an idol factory and we are incredibly prone to be lead away from God by worshipping idols. This week we close out the 1 John series by examining what idols are, why we should guard ourselves from them, and how to actually do that so that we don’t lose the joy that only God can give.
1 John 5:18-20 gives us a number of assurances for those who are in Christ. John recaps a number of his major themes he has written to his audience, that includes assurance of victory, assurance that we belong to God, and assurance of eternal life.
Perhaps the greatest privilege of being God’s child is the blessing of communion with Him prayer. This week we look at not only our confidence to come before God in prayer but also the assurance we can have that certain prayers will be answered.
It is only in the fullness of assurance of eternal life can that you can really know that all is well between you and God. In this week’s passage we will examine the clear evidence for assurance of life in Christ as well as the results of that assurance. The central aim of this passage is for you to fully enjoy the life in Christ that is made available through the gospel.
When hardship enters our life it often causes us to ask questions. Is God good? How do I respond? Here John helps us to know we have fellowship with God & how it is our faith overcomes the world.
John wants us to have fellowship with God which will produce fullness of joy. In this passage he gives us the ultimate test to determine whether we have true fellowship with God, the test of love!
Not everything that claims to be Christian is actually true Christianity. The amount of “Christian” content available for consumption has never greater and therefore the need to be discerning has never been more important. Why? Because ingesting false teaching will complicate your life, possibly eternally. Therefore we must test everything with the Scriptures to see if the things you hear or see are True. In this week’s study of 1 John 4:1-7, we will examine the scriptural tests to determine if something is a true work of Holy Spirit or a counterfeit.
In the Christian experience there are times when we do not feel like we can come confidently before God. The causes of this feeling vary, but the trouble of it is always the same. It takes away what God came to provide, intimate access and fellowship with Him. This passage equips us to deal with doubt God’s way so that our fellowship with Him can be restored and along with it…joy.
The church’s witness for Jesus Christ rises and falls with Christian practice of loving one another while living in a world that hates them. This week’s passage in 1 John 3:11-18 will explore the true child of God’s relationship to love and hate as well as provide an exhortation to ensure that our love moves beyond sentiment to sacrificial action for the good of others, especially those in the family of God.
The seeker sensitive movement in the American evangelical church has preached a water down gospel and produced a plethora of cultural Christians. This has both damaged the witness of Jesus Christ and also robbed many from finding true life in Christ. This week’s passage examines the problem and origin of sin, the work of Christ, and what sin and righteousness reveal about the true nature of a person. The application of the passage will lead some to recognize their need to respond to the true gospel and will spur on all true children of God to pursue progressive growth in righteousness.
There is perhaps not greater benefit of the gospel than that we become children of God through our faith in Jesus Christ. This not an elementary truth, but the climax of the gospel in bringing us into an intimate relationship with the Father where we will enjoy the glory today of being His children and the future of glory of becoming like Him. All of the unhappiness we experience in life comes from a failure to put our present conditions in the context of this glorious truth.
Within the heart of 1 John as a letter urging us to increase our intimacy with God, John give us a warning to be on guard to spot lies around us, and when necessary, spot the liar. Are you ready and mature enough in your study of truth to spot the lie and the liar?
Click to see the video illustration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2BZNowCXws
When we reduce the person and work of Jesus to a baby who was born and a man who died on the cross we miss out on the remainder of the work of our divine rescuer. This Christmas Eve, we will look at not only what Jesus came to do on earth, but also what He continues to do as our risen Savior.
As we look back at 2020 and remember all that has happened we are reminded of all the unrest, trouble, and brokenness that is in our world; and not just in our world but in and all around us. We are desperately in need of one to come and make things right, to make things whole, to bring peace.
John tells us not to love the world because the things of the world or not from the Father. When we love the things of the world it separates us from fellowship from the Father. Is it possible to love God and live for the things of the world?
There is one thing that has stood as the mark of true Christianity for 2000 years…love. This week we study 1 John 2:7-11 where the see the effect of love, the source of love, the definition of love, and the threat to love. We pray that the message of 1 John 2:7-11 would change us all so that we truly shine like lights in a dark world.
John 1:5-2:2 tells us how to rightly view God, what wrecks our fellowship with Him, and how Christ restores it.
Have you ever wondered if you could really know if the Christian faith is real? Or if you could really have fellowship with a God that you can’t see? Or can you really have joy in a world such as this? As we kick off our series in 1 John, we will find the answer to these questions and more.
Join us as we walk through 2 Timothy 4:5-22 and learn how to Finish Well in Life's Most Honorable Cause.
Where do you turn for truth? What do you align your life with? God’s word is our “Plumb line,” perfectly upright & true! 2 Timothy 3:14-4:4 calls us to align with God’s word, Apply God’s word & then Preach God’s word!
It is getting more and more difficult for people who follow Jesus. The church often reflects the world in character, persecution is increasing, and many pastors have entered ministry for the wrong reasons. This week in 2 Timothy 3:1-1, we will see how we are called to respond in these difficult times.
This week, as we continue our series in 2 Timothy, we look at God’s instructions for being a useful carrier of His good news.
We are all seeking approval. The joy that we will find in life will come down to whether or not we gained the approval of the right person.
Paul reminds Timothy that faithfulness comes with a cost. When your faith is the cause for you to endure suffering, remember Jesus’ example.
We are all devoted to something. 2 Timothy 2:1-7 gives us clear instruction on where our devotion belongs in response to receiving the gospel.
We have been entrusted to pass on a treasure that has the ability to ensure salvation for ourselves and for all those who hear us. This week look at the charge to guard this treasure in 2 Timothy 1:12-18.
This week we kick off a new series with a study of 2 Timothy. In this book we will find the mission of the church is to courageously pass on the gospel that has been entrusted to us according to the power that God has given us.
This week we wrap our Retold series by taking a look at 1 Samuel 3 where God speaks to Samuel. Through this story we examine how to hear God speak and what it means to listen to Him.
God calls us to be his children and then tells us to walk in a manner worthy of that calling. But what happens when we are disobedient and turn from faithfully following Him in all areas of our life? Join us as we walk through the story of Jonah to be reminded that God is faithful even when we are not.
This incredible story highlights how God writes all of our stories with providence, hope and sovereignty! Do you feel like your story might be a mess? Daniel 6 will encourage you that there is hope because of the God who writes our story!
We continue our series RETOLD as Josh Thames walks us through the story of the Fiery Furnace.
In our last week of our series "Crisis Mode", Tyler Briggs discusses the top five things we have learned in this present crisis.
This week Josh Thames reminds us of the virus within all of us, our sin nature. But we have hope and freedom in the truth of the gospel.
How should we approach gathering together in public after weeks of sheltering at home? God’s word has something to say about this and it has more to do with our manners than our methods.
Sometimes we don’t realize how much we need something until we are to go without it. The shelter in place orders from COVID-19 have made us realize more than ever that we need to be connected to other people in order to thrive. This week we dive into the importance of staying connected to one another in times of crisis.
There has never been a better opportunity to a make a difference in people’s lives than right now. Campus Pastor Tyler Briggs teaches us how to get started in the weeks message.
This week, Campus Pastor Tyler Briggs talks about how to make the most of your time during the COVID 19 crisis.
Catch our first Wednesday evening service from Campus Pastor Tyler Briggs. In the midst of COVID-19, how can we have peace in crisis?
In this week's message, Campus Pastor, Tyler Briggs, takes a look a 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 which guides us to find comfort that moves us outside the comfort of our homes to come alongside others.
Can you get anything you want if you pray with enough faith and persistence? We answer that question and more in this weeks sermon as we look at Matthew 7:7-11.
This Sunday we looked at what Jesus meant when he said, “judge not,” and it’s not what it seems at face value. In this message we answered three questions: What does it mean to judge not? How do you judge rightly? And when is it time to move on?
This week FW campus pastor, Tyler Briggs, walks us through Jesus’ teaching on how to experience freedom from worry and anxiety.
What do you believe about God the Father? What is your attitude when praying to Him? As we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount,” Tyler Briggs teaches us about the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6.
Have you and your community group experienced the freedom and fruitfulness that comes from discussing how each of you are stewarding God’s resources? Have you ever won any awards in life? What was your motivation for winning them? As we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount,” Tyler Briggs kicks off Matthew chapter 6, asking all of us to answer the question: Are you living to get worship or to give worship?