Iowa City Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Tom Steele
This podcast is the collection of the weekly sermons and teachings from Iowa City Church. We know that life can be confusing and sometimes, just plain hard. We believe that the best way to live life comes from following Jesus. These podcasts are designed to be a resource to help you on that journey, we hope you find them helpful!
In this sermon we wrap up our study of how God provides key resources to help develop fresh faith. This last resource is consistently overlooked, yet it's vital in developing something new in our faith journey. The resource? People. And not just any person, but the specific people God puts in each of our paths. As much as we want to think of faith as personal, it's not. Faith doesn't grow in isolation, but through the relationships God divinely orchestrates in our lives. Throughout Scripture and our own journeys, we see how God places the right people at the right time to encourage, challenge, and sharpen our walk with Jesus. Whether it’s a mentor who speaks truth, a friend who models Christ-like love, or even a stranger who offers timely encouragement, these relationships are not accidental—they are purposeful. God uses these divine connections to teach us, stretch us, and strengthen our trust in Him. As we recognize and embrace the people God brings into our lives, we begin to see His hand at work in deeper ways, and our faith grows as a result. To discover what God is calling you to do so that your faith can grow, check out episode number five of New: Growing Fresh Faith.
One of the most important aspects of serving God in ministry is that is provides an essential platform for faith in Him to grow. This happens because ministry moves belief into action, allowing Christians to experience God’s work firsthand. As followers of Jesus step out of their comfort zones to serve others, they learn to rely more deeply on the Holy Spirit for strength, wisdom, and guidance. Ministry also exposes believers to real-life challenges and opportunities to love, forgive, and lead like Christ, refining their character and deepening their dependence on God. Through service, Christians not only bless others but are themselves shaped and strengthened in their walk with Christ. To discover what God is calling you to do so that you faith can grow, give a listen to part four of New, Growing Fresh Faith.
One of the most important elements of developing fresh faith always leads back to discipline--no one likes to admit it, yet we all know it's true. Discipline is required for there to be any type of growth in our lives; fresh finances, improved physical wellness, emotional or relational health...all of them are dependent upon discipline. As much as we want our faith to be this spontaneous, passionate, organic thing...it just isn't. Faith is developed with spiritual disciplines. A spiritual discipline is a behavior modification that you intentionally incorporate into your life to better connect with God. What spiritual disciplines do you currently utilize? Spiritual disciplines are essential for a growing faith in God because they create intentional habits that draw believers closer to Him and deepen their relationship with Christ. Through practices like prayer, Scripture reading, worship, and fasting, individuals cultivate spiritual awareness, strengthen their trust in God, and align their lives with His will. These disciplines help shape character, provide spiritual stability, and foster a deeper dependence on God's presence and guidance, especially during seasons of challenge or doubt. In nurturing these habits, believers grow in maturity and faithfulness, becoming more rooted in God’s truth and love. To discover what Jesus says about spiritual disciplines and how they can be a blessing in your life check out episode three of our New series.
For something to grow it's essential for there to be space. Whether it's plants in a garden or buying a toddler new clothes, we always know that we need to make space for growth. For there to be fresh growth in our faith we need to make space for God! However the question then pops up: What is God going to do with that space we create for Him? Jesus helps answer that question with this instruction- "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." ~ John 15:7 God's Word needs to fill that space in our lives for our faith to grow. Biblical teaching is essential for deepening one’s Christian faith because it provides the foundational truths and guidance necessary for spiritual growth and maturity. Through Scripture, believers gain a clearer understanding of God's character, His promises, and His will for their lives. It equips them to discern truth from error, strengthens their relationship with Christ, and inspires them to live out their faith with conviction and purpose. By regularly engaging with biblical teaching, Christians are not only reminded of God's faithfulness throughout history but are also encouraged to trust Him more fully in their own daily walk.
If you haven't noticed, there's a lot of "new" connected to our church right now; new building, new faces, new life changes, and new ministries. With all this new in the air, how's your faith? Is it time for some fresh faith? Here's the thing about faith, it doesn't just grow on it's own...it needs some help to grow. One of the most unlikely, but reasonable "faith rejuvenators" is the work of creating space. For many of us, our lives are so busy we've literally crowded God out of most areas of our lives. So, for there to be fresh faith, we need to make space for God. When we intentionally make space for God in our lives, we open ourselves to His presence and invite Him to work in our lives. In that space, God often reveals His character, reminding us of His faithfulness, mercy, and love. As we listen and respond to Him, our trust in His promises grows stronger. Even small moments of connection with God can plant seeds of faith that deepen over time, helping us to see beyond our circumstances and rely on His guidance and provision. Here's the truth: If you make space for God, He will fill that space with the resources you need for your faith to grow.
We all have those "to-do-lists" that have been slowly building over the years. The lists typically range from mowing the lawn, cleaning out the garage to finally preparing for retirement. Usually on that list there's a category specifically centered around our faith journey; pursuing a relationship with God and being obedient to what He asks you to do. Here's the big issue with any to-do-list: When is it going to happen? Have you been feeling a tug on your heart or a sense that it's time to start working on the spiritual to-do-list? Don't wait! That stirring is often the gentle invitation of Jesus, calling you to step closer, to trust deeper, and to begin a life-changing journey with Him. Delaying that step might feel safer or more convenient, but the truth is, there's no perfect time—only the present moment. The peace, purpose, and transformation that come from walking with Jesus are available to you right now. Why wait another day to experience the fullness of what God has for you?
Taking the next step in your faith might look different for everyone—maybe it's saying yes to Jesus for the first time, getting baptized, joining a community of believers, or simply recommitting your life to God. Whatever it is, don’t let fear or uncertainty hold you back. Jesus isn’t asking for perfection; He’s inviting you into a relationship. Every step you take toward Him opens your life to more love, grace, and clarity than you’ve ever known. The journey begins with a simple “yes”—and that yes could change everything. To figure out what your next step might be, don't wait for when..take listen to what Jesus has to say about being ready.
Researchers at the Institute for Business and Home Safety in Richburg, South Carolina, built two identical 1,300-square-foot houses inside a $40 million laboratory. They wanted to see how these homes would hold up against a hurricane. The first house was constructed to standard building codes—nothing fancy, just the usual. The second house, though, had reinforcement straps connecting every level—from the foundation all the way to the roof. Then they flipped on the giant fans, blasting winds up to 110 miles per hour, the strength of a Category 3 hurricane. In the first two tests, lasting less than ten minutes, both houses stood firm. However, in the third test, when the winds roared for over ten minutes, the conventional house began to tremble. Before long, it collapsed into a heap. The reinforced house? It took some cosmetic scratches, but it stood tall. Tim Reingold, an engineer on the project, boiled it down to one question: “Which house would you rather be living in?” Here's what's interesting. As Jesus wraps up his sermon on the mount, he makes a similar analogy, but instead of just building a house, he wants his listeners to think about what foundation they are building their lives upon. Why does Jesus conclude his sermon in this way? It matters, because according to Jesus--storms are coming! To learn more about what Jesus teaches about how to prepare for the storms of life, check out the conclusion of our series on The Sermon on the Mount.
One of the most quoted verses of the Bible comes from The Sermon on the Mount, and honestly it's not even the entire verse--it's just the first three words: "Do not judge". For context, this is all of verses one and two: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." ~ Matthew 7:1-2 What are we supposed to do with this complex teaching from Jesus? How can we not judge people? Isn't it unwise to not judge? What does Jesus mean by judgement? There's a lot going on in these two verses! So how are we as followers of Jesus supposed to follow these instructions? Here's what we know regarding Jesus' teaching on judging: it calls for introspection, grace, and careful discernment in how we deal with others' shortcomings. To dive more into the text, check out episode nine of The Sermon on the Mount series.
What's worth worrying about? That is an increasingly important question in our culture. Over the last two decades anxiety disorders have risen by 1200%. That is a pandemic of epic proportions! It's affecting the youngest of children to all demographics of adults. The current estimate is that one in five adults will suffer from some type of anxiety disorder this year. If this would describe how you are feeling right now, please seek help. If it's talking with someone at church please don't hesitate to ask. If it's a counselor, seek one out. If it's a physician, please take a moment to schedule a physical. There are a lot of different reasons one may be experiencing anxiety. With that being said, the basis for a lot of anxiety problems is spiritual: misplaced priorities and trust issues. Not surprisingly, Jesus had some really important teachings about anxiety, misplaced priorities and trust issues...instructions that could really make a difference in your life! To discover what he had to say, check out sermon number eight in our Sermon on the Mount series.
Everyone likes Jesus' teachings about love, mercy and prayer. However once he starts getting to the difficult ones about our enemies ("turn to them the other cheek" and "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you") we all find ourselves pushing back. How are we supposed to live out these difficult teachings, and what is the point? How can our turning the other cheek really make any difference to our enemies except they get another free shot at our face? To discover Jesus' vision for why loving our enemies is so important, check out the latest on The Sermon on the Mount.
We've all had this experience where you go to the medical clinic with some type of physical problem. You take a few minutes to describe the symptoms and maybe even suggest some type of self-diagnosis--only to have the doctor begin to ask seemingly unrelated questions. Even poking around in an area where there are no apparent problems. What the doctor knows that you obviously don't know, is that the true problem often lies some place else. The same can be said with our pursuit of righteousness. We may think that to be righteous we must keep the rules and generally be a good person. However, according to Jesus, that's like putting a Band-Aid on a person suffering a heart attack; it doesn't get to the source of the problem! In this sermon we will move into a very challenging section of The Sermon on the Mount where Jesus exposes people and their assumed "righteousness". Instead, Jesus like any good physician, goes to the source of the problem...the heart.
A lot of us, myself included, feel decent about who we are morally. Our reasoning? Well, at least we haven't murdered anyone. Let's be honest, murder is right up there at the top of the list of "The Worst Crimes to Commit". However, Jesus says, "Not so fast!" Here are his exact words: "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell." ~ Matthew 5:22 What is Jesus even talking about? How can my disdain for another person actually be equated to murder, and what am I supposed to do about it? To learn more about what Jesus is describing in this section of The Sermon on the Mount, check out episode #3. We hope you find it helpful!
People wear uniforms for a variety of reasons; identity, sense of belonging, and professionalism. For example when you see a person in a small white truck, blue pants and jacket roll through the neighborhood, you know your mail or package is about to be delivered. What is the uniform of a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven? In the Beatitudes, Jesus welcomed in rag tag bunch of nobodies into God's Kingdom. The truth is they weren't much to look at...they were a pathetic, powerless bunch. Yet Jesus invites them into the Kingdom and in Matthew 5:13-16 he describes what their uniform looks like: Salt & Light. What is Jesus even talking about? More importantly, how are we supposed to "wear that uniform" in our world today? To learn more about what Jesus is describing in this section of The Sermon on the Mount, give a listen to part two of The Sermon on the Mount.
The Sermon on the Mount. The greatest sermon ever given. It is also the most quoted. In it we find the epitome of Jesus’ teaching—radical, sensible, spiritual, and almost vicious in its demolition of hypocrisy. It flies in the face of every culture it enters. It pierces every heart that hears it. We attempt to analyze it as if using a microscope, only to find that we, not the text, are under examination! In this sermon we begin a 12 week journey through Matthew, chapter 5-7. In this study we will realize that not only does Jesus know us better then we know ourselves, he offers a better option of what true life can look like...even if it appears to be backwards, and upside down! Take a few minutes and check it out, we hope you find it to be helpful!
Jesus called people to follow him. Not just believe he exists or like some of the things he taught--he literally said, "Follow me." One of his followers, the apostle Peter, reiterates this command: "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." ~ 1 Peter 2:21 In this series we have focused on the different places Jesus went that we likewise should go, as his followers. One place Jesus went regularly was to secluded places to pray to his Father. Another place Jesus went was to the broken & lost. The gospels are full of examples of Jesus engaging those far from God. In this sermon we wrap up this series by looking at how Jesus used a majority of his time intentionally pulling away from the crowds so he could relationally pour his life into a few people. Jesus prioritized disciple making. In this teaching we will discover why disciple making is so hard, and then focus on two manageable steps you can take to begin following the simple pattern of Jesus.
We all remember the game of our childhood, Follow the Leader. However, if you missed out (or have forgotten) here are the basics. You first choose a leader and have the other players line up behind them. The leader moves around, and the other players mimic their actions. Players who don't follow are out of the game. The last player standing becomes the new leader and the game starts again. Now, while one might consider this simply a child's game, the truth is we never really stop playing Follow the Leader. All humans have this innate part of our nature which seeks to follow someone; whether it's for validation, a sense of belonging or simply to find purpose. We are always seeking to align ourselves with others who we deem as being knowledgeable, influential or successful. When a person becomes a Christian, they are pledging their allegiance, not to a religion or to a church, but to a person...Jesus; the one who lived, died, and rose again. To be a Christian is to follow a leader, King Jesus. In part two of this series, look at another place Jesus went on a regular basis: To the lost and broken. The question we need to ask ourselves is simple, "Do we follow our leader to those places too?"
Being a Christian isn't complicated. It may not be easy, but it's not complicated. A Christian simply does the things Jesus did. In this new sermon series to start 2025 we will focus in on four places Jesus went on a regular basis. As his disciples we want to replicate these four rhythms into our weekly routines so that we can become more like Jesus. To kick off this series, one of our elders, Jerry Anthony will be examining how Jesus made a regular habit of going to secluded places to pray to his Heavenly Father. To to learn more about how this can dramatically impact your relationship with Jesus check out part one of Following The Way.
In recent years our culture has really tapped into the power of testimony. Groups and assemblies of storytellers sharing wisdom gleaned from personal experiences have been cropping up in the US and Canada. Listeners are motivated, inspired, and guided. Confessional style storytelling of average people has been popularized by a non-profit called The Moth. They stage over 500 shows per year across the US. The Moth Radio Hour was launched in 2009 and is now on 500 public radio stations and has one million weekly listeners. The Moth’s weekly podcast is downloaded over 73 million times annually. Executive Director Sarah Haberman told Forbes that “no matter where you’re from and whatever your background, your story has the power to unite people, to break down walls—even when you can’t be in the same room. That pursuit feels urgent right now.” Author Richard Wagamese wrote: “All that we are is story. ... It is what we arrive with. It is all we leave behind. We are not the things we accumulate. We are not the things we deem important. We are story.”
The apostle Paul in Acts chapter 26 has this monumental task of sharing the the good news of Jesus with a very influential audience: Governor Festus and King Agrippa II. There were probably a number of different strategies Paul considered while waiting to address these dignitaries. However, despite impressive education and vast knowledge of Scripture, Paul chose to simply tell his story. Is this a lesson we should consider when it comes to sharing the gospel? Your story, whether you realize it or not, is compelling. Think of how many times you have been convinced to do something simply based off of someone's personal experience. This is why one of the most powerful resources you have in sharing the good news about Jesus is your story of faith. Here's why: Your story opens hearts so God’s story can change hearts. To learn more give a listen to part 15 of our series, To The Ends of the Earth.
Everyone knows that a letter carrier has one job—deliver the mail. Apparently a Brooklyn mailman spent a decade avoiding his job by intentionally hoarding over 40,000 pieces of mail over a ten-year period. In September 2014, Joseph Brucato admitted hiding over a ton of mail (2,500 pounds to be exact) meant for customers in Flatbush since 2005, according to a Brooklyn federal court complaint.
A postal supervisor became suspicious that Brucato was up to something weird when he noticed his personal car was stuffed with undelivered letters. Investigators pressed Brucato about the letter cache, and he admitted hoarding priority, first-class, and regular mail that had once been headed for Brooklyn businesses and residents in Flatbush. It took five postal agents five hours to remove the massive stash of purloined letters from his apartment. If convicted, Brucato faces up to five years in prison.
In Acts 17 the apostle Paul strolls into the great city of Athens, the epicenter of culture, philosophy and art even during the Roman empire. Athens wasn't going to be an easy city to share the good news about Jesus. A plethora of idols and altars adorned the city and the talk of the town always focused on the latest and greatest philosophy's of the day. Needless to say, it was a tough crowd. Yet it didn't deter Paul, he had a message of hope to deliver...and deliver he did! (Acts 17:22-34) The same goes for anyone who carries the name Christian. A disciple of Jesus is in many ways a "mail carrier" of the gospel; delivering good news to the ends of the earth. This means, as followers of Christ we have a very important decision to make: Will we hoard the mail or will we deliver it? In this sermon you will discover the apostle Paul's strategy for sharing the gospel with the people of Athens. In so doing, you can learn how you too can utilize this method of delivering the good news in our everyday lives.
Visitors to a museum in Rome might be struck by four partially finished sculptures. These were figures Michelangelo originally intended to use on the tomb of Pope Julius, but midway through the project he decided not to use them and ceased work on them. There is a hand protruding here, a torso of a man there, a leg, part of a head, but none are finished.
Nearly everyone who sees these works senses the turmoil, the struggle embodied in these figures. It is as though they are crying to break free from the prison of the marble to become what they were intended to be.
Author Theodore Roder looked on these four figures that Michelangelo called "The Captives" and wrote, "When I looked at those partial figures, they stirred up in me a deep longing to be completed—an ache to be set free from that which distorts and disguises, imprisons and inhibits my humanness, my wholeness. But as with those statues, I cannot liberate myself. For that I need the hand of another."
The message of the gospel tells us that through King Jesus, "the hand of another" has reached in to set us free and shape us for a life of purpose. In Acts chapter 16 we see this lived out as the apostle Paul and his team make their way into Europe on their second missionary journey. On this adventure they encounter three specific individuals looking for freedom, and through the message of the gospel they find it. In this sermon we will discover how we too can be "unshackled" from our burdens and set free to participate in the mission of the Kingdom.
Acts chapter 15 is probably the most pivotal section in a book loaded with monumental moments. Tension builds as the Jewish Christians wrestle with what is essential for salvation, as multitudes of Gentiles pour into the Jesus movement. Is circumcision required? What about the food laws? Does the Sabbath still need to be honored? This obviously doesn't seem like a big deal to us because we are many years removed from this controversy. However it is still incredibly relevant, because as Christians we still have this tendency of adding on extra requirements for salvation; church attendance, being a good person, and various other religious and cultural traditions. The lesson we all need to learn, and strive to pursue, comes from the apostle Peter as he stands among the church leaders in Jerusalem and gives this powerful charge: "Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." ~ Acts 15:10-11 Despite this radical message of grace, we still find ways of binding up grace and adding burdens for people seeking new life in Jesus...including ourselves. In this sermon episode we will explore some of those burdens and discover that now, more then ever, we need to live out this message of unbounded grace.
At the height of Jesus' ministry in Galilee there was this particular scene when the crowds were approaching him (and the disciples), in what looked like a "sea of wheat". In that moment, Jesus says these words: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." ~ Matthew 9:37-38 The disciples of course are thinking of the scores of Jewish people surging to see the Messiah. Little did they know, in just a few years, they would be experiencing a tidal wave of Samaritan and Gentile crowds who were hungry to experience the good news about Jesus! The problem: 12 apostles can only go so far. Thankfully, these disciples of Jesus knew how to make more disciples, so that as the doors of opportunity opened for Gentiles to hear the gospel, they were well equipped to scale the movement...and here we are! The harvest was plentiful and the workers responded. Here's a question worth pondering: Is the harvest still plentiful? To learn more, check out the next part of our sermon series, To The Ends of the Earth.
The first part of the book of Acts begins with Jesus' final command to his disciples. Here's a refresher if you've forgotten. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ~ Acts 1:8 Was Jesus serious? I know, it's a strange question but hear me out. To command his disciples to be on the mission of making disciples from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth means they are going to need to be prepared to face adversity and challenges, but it also means they must go and engage people who are very different then they are. Was Jesus serious? This will be the ongoing tension throughout the book of Acts as the disciples grapple with Jesus' command to be witnesses to all people, even those who are outsiders. This issue is significant, and one we will explore this Sunday in Acts chapter 10. However, it also presses us to consider the same command Jesus gave you and I. If I'm a follower of Jesus, then I'm on the same mission--not only because King Jesus told to me to, but because at some point someone shared the Gospel with me (an outsider) and it changed my life! To continue this important dialogue check out part ten of To The Ends of the Earth.
Jesus tells this story about how God is like a shepherd looking for his lost sheep. "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ~ Luke 15:4-6 In this story Jesus is teaching us a valuable lesson about God: lost people matter to him. It doesn't matter who they are or what they have done, he is intent on pursuing them! The disciples of Acts chapter 8 & 9 must put this lesson into action as they are challenged by the Holy Spirit to pursue two "lost sheep". What can we learn from these events as we journey with Jesus on this same mission? To be a part of the conversation, check out part nine of To the Ends of the Earth.
Giant redwoods are the most massive individual trees on earth. The redwood can grow to 270 feet tall and 25 feet in diameter. You might think that something that huge must have an incredible root system that goes down deep in order to stand that tall. This is not the case at all. The redwood tree has no tap root and remarkably shallow roots—only five or ten feet deep.
It seems to violate the laws of physics that they can stay upright for hundreds – even thousand – of years. That is, until you know one more fact: the redwoods grow in thick groves because their shallow roots are intertwined, and over time, fused together. They start out as individuals and become one with others as they mature and grow.
So, beneath the surface of these incredible statuesque trees are roots like an army of men who have their arms interlocked and supporting each other. They are preventing the adversaries of life from knocking each other down.
In our divisive culture, the image of unity as displayed by the redwood trees seems like a mirage. However, this is exactly what the church is supposed to be! A group of diverse people, standing together as one--an image unlike anything our culture can muster. Yet, more often then not the church fails to live up to this standard of unity. What divides our culture seems to find its way into the church and splinters Jesus followers into different groups. How can we overcome our differences and live as one? Acts chapter six tells of a potential situation which threatens to tear the church in Jerusalem apart. Jesus' followers obediently follow his teachings and the problem is solved, the differences are healed and the church multiplies! To learn how to utilize these principles in your life and in our church give a listen to part 8 of...To The Ends of the Earth.
The book of Acts introduces us to the birth of what we often refer to as the church. This fledgling community of Jesus followers are modeling God's Kingdom through their love, generosity, fellowship and disciple-making; the residents of Jerusalem are taking notice! Then seemingly out of nowhere a very disappointing event happens, very similar to that moment when your brand new vehicle gets a scratch. The new, shiny, clean looking church gets it's first blemish--and it's a bad one. In Acts chapter five a husband and wife want to be very generous like everyone else in the community, so they sell their land and tell everyone that they gave the proceeds to the church. The truth is, they didn't give what they said they gave, and the fallout is very troubling. What lessons can we learn for today, as we strive to live as Jesus followers in his church? On Sunday, guest preacher Jared Nassiff will use the events of Acts chapter five to remind us that following Jesus leads us to a life of authenticity and freedom; the type of community we all long for. To learn more, check out part seven of To The Ends of the Earth.
Acts chapter four begins with a very tense moment. Two key leaders of this still relatively small group of Jesus followers have been arrested by the governing Temple officials. There is a sudden pause in the enthusiasm for following Jesus as Peter and John now have to stand in front of the power brokers of the city. In this pivotal moment for the first disciples, we pay close attention to their response, but also their courageous decision to press forward with the mission they have been given. These examples help teach us a valuable lesson about how we are to respond when life becomes difficult because of our allegiance to King Jesus. In this teaching, one of our elders, Jerry Anthony will continue our sermon series To The Ends of the Earth by pointing out where each of these Christians found their courage to carry on in the face of adversity.
When Jesus told his disciples they were to be his witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), do you think he was serious? Do you think he believed such a mission could be accomplished? Of course he was serious...and most certainly he knew the ends of the earth was a reachable goal! The early disciples believed he was serious too, and as Acts chapter three opens we see two apostles employ a strategy to make Jesus famous. What can we learn from their strategy? Are there some tools we can use to help us carry on the mission of being a witnesses to the ends of the earth? In this episode we will dive into the text and discover how we can each employ some of these same strategies into our everyday lives.
When one begins a new job, class or project there is this understanding that to be successful one must develop a rhythm, or routine to discipline oneself so as to accomplish the task. For example you show up to work on time, turn in your assignments when they are due, or make sure and follow the step by step directions. Simple, right? Not always as many of us can attest. Sometimes we just lack discipline. However, sometimes we just don't know what to do. We need someone to show us the way. For a disciple of Jesus what is the routine, or rhythm one must devote themselves to? Luke, the author of the book of Acts, concludes chapter two with an emphasis on four rhythms the early disciples devoted themselves...and the results were stunning! Is it possible that we could find similar results if we committed ourselves to a similar routine? To consider what this might look like in your life listen to part four of To The Ends of the Earth.
Here's the challenge: How do you convince someone to do something? Now, I'm not including parents, coaches, or bosses--you have certain advantages you can leverage. For this challenge I want you to focus in on how to convince your peers; co-workers, friends and family members to do a specific something (the actual something is up to you). After some research, here's a potential strategy one could use:
- Use clear language. ...
- Base your argument on facts or your experience. ...
- Match the other person's voice and body language with your own. ...
- Express your opinion reluctantly and use persuasive words. ...
- Get your timing right and be persistent. ...
- Pay genuine compliments. ...
- Be honest and energetic.
Now we need to put this to the test. I'm sure there's a project or two that needs to get done and someone needs to persuade another someone to do it!
Now consider this challenge: How do you convince someone to follow Jesus? As we pick up with part three of our Acts sermon series, we find the apostle Peter taking center stage and addressing the gathered crowd. In his sermon, he provides a series of convincing reasons why Jesus is worthy of giving one's allegiance to. Considering our mission is to be witnesses of Jesus to those around us, we can probably learn a thing or two from the apostle Peter on how to convince someone to follow Jesus. To learn Peter's strategy for sharing the Gospel make sure and listen to part three of To The Ends of the Earth.
For a lot of Christians, there is this desire to want to be in a deeper relationship with God and experience the power of the Holy Spirit. The usual way most people approach this goal is through more in depth Bible study, a new book by a Christian author, more spiritual experiences through worship, or a more stringent pursuit of spiritual disciplines. All of these are good, and helpful, however they all are missing one crucial element: Risk. To really experience the Holy Spirit working in your life one must step outside of their comfort zone, do something that you can't do on your own...something risky, even scary! Maybe share your faith with a friend, step up your level of generosity, be willing to serve in a way you don't feel equipped to do. What is something risky the Holy Spirit is leading you to do? What we see consistently throughout the book of Acts is the Holy Spirit engaging in the lives of people to empower them for a mission outside of their comfort zones. In this sermon we will explore Acts chapter two as the Holy Spirit is poured out on the early Jesus followers. What we will discover can help you to radically experience not only a closeness with God, but the power of the Holy Spirit as well.
Most of us at some point in life (usually in a season of chaos) stop and ask the question: What on earth am I here for? There are a lot of different places to try and find the answer to that question. With today's technology one could use artificial intelligence like ChatGPT, there's always the old reliable Google and of course the trusted public library. However, even in that vast collection of data and knowledge, how can one know what is true? As one opens the book of Acts, Jesus engages his apostles with a mission, a life purpose that would take them from Jerusalem, Samaria to the ends of the earth. Is it possible that that same purpose is ours as well? To learn more take a few minutes and give a listen to part one of To The Ends of the Earth.
Greed. It's a difficult stronghold to overcome because the truth is, greed is hard to see in the mirror. It's really easy to see in other, but for ourselves...not so much. However, recent studies from over last decade, substantiate this claim: “Zogby recently conducted a large benchmark poll in which respondents identified "greed/materialism" as the number one "most urgent problem in American culture." "Poverty/economic justice" finished in second place. In a 2014 Vanity Fair poll, 78 percent of Americans disagreed with the famous Gordon Gekko quote "Greed is good." Only 19 percent agreed. A recent poll of Economist readers asked "What is the deadliest sin?" and, greed ranked number one. But, surprisingly, although everyone thinks greed is a terrible problem, most people don't think they are greedy. The BBC conducted a poll on the seven deadly sins (anger, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride and sloth), greed was last on the list in answer to two questions: Which sin have you ever committed? and Which sin have you committed in the past month? Plenty of Brits copped to being lazy, proud, envious and angry. But greedy? Seventh out of seven, last on the list. Tim Keller, argues "even though it is clear that the world is filled with greed and materialism, almost no one thinks it is true of them … Greed hides itself from the victim."
The fact is, to a certain degree, we all struggle with greed; no matter how little or much money one may have. What makes greed so dangerous is that it can be a stronghold which keeps us from growing as a disciple of Jesus--which is why he talked so much about it. Even more then the topics of hell and judgement, Jesus had more to say about money and possessions...and it wasn't because he wanted more money and possessions! Jesus taught on this topic so much because he knew it was the greatest obstacles in living as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Check out part four of our sermon series, Mindset, and discover how Jesus instructs us on how to think differently about our money and possessions.
So, you’re trying to sleep, and it’s well after bedtime. But you’re tossing and turning and unable to get comfy. You notice you’re replaying the same scenario in your head. Some vision of tomorrow, of what might happen, how a hope could be dashed. If you’ve had this experience, you’re far from alone.
Researcher Lucas LaFreniere, Ph.D. said, “This is what breaks my heart about worry. It makes you miserable in the present moment to try and prevent misery in the future. For chronic worriers, this process leads them to be continually distressed all their lives in order to avoid later events that never happen. Worry sucks the joy out of the ‘here and now.’”
In his study on worry, participants were asked to record their worries and how they caused distress and interfered with their lives. Each night at 10 pm, they reported how much time they spent thinking on each specific worry throughout the day. Then, 20 days after that period, they reviewed each entry and reported whether any of the worries had become true.
The good news is, LaFreniere’s study found that in his survey of worrisome people, 91.4 percent of their worries never actually happened.
Worrying caused only more misery and did nothing to help the worriers handle whatever they had been worrying about. So how can we change the way we think about worry? This is mainly because the hotly anticipated events never transpired. Remember what Jesus said: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-34).
Funny thing, Jesus actually has a lot to say about worry. Take this teaching for example:
“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” ~ Matthew 6:27 On Sunday Gabe Solis will be sharing a practical teaching the apostle Paul gives about how we can take Jesus' instruction and apply it to how we think about worry. To be a part of the conversation, give a listen to part three of Mindset.
A recent CBS news story asked this very important question: Why is everyone so angry? The story states: "According to a poll taken just before the pandemic, 84% of people think Americans are angrier than a generation before and 42% admitted that they themselves were angrier.
But what makes us so angry?
We asked online and logged more than 200 answers. Money was number one, with 32 responses mentioning the cost of living and the gap between the haves and have nots.
There were 30 votes for lousy politicians and a broken political system. Twenty-three blamed social media trolls and the peddling of unrealistic perfection.
Fourteen mentioned being overworked and underpaid. There were also votes for COVID, bad weather, traffic, and the media.
So, we know what's happening in the world, but what's happening in our brains? Why do we get angry and snap?"
It's easy to see that there are a lot of reasons why people get angry, but people from the beginning, have had to deal with things which cause anger. Could the issue be we just don't handle anger very well? This is a problem in which Christians struggle as well. Anyone who follows Jesus has had to face the harsh reality that more often then not, anger and it's consequences just don't magically go away. So what are we missing? How can we better respond when the rage begins to rise?
The foundation of this sermon series is that through Jesus we have a better way to handle issues like anger. Throughout the apostle Paul's ministry, one of his consistent teachings to believers is that they must not conform but be transformed. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind," ~ Romans 12:2 The key is learning how to renew our minds, or simply put: change the way we think about emotions like anger. In part two of Mindset we will study one of the apostle Paul's teachings from his Ephesian letter specifically addressing anger. In this section of scripture we can begin to not only think differently about anger, but find freedom from it's control. We hope you find it to be helpful!
As some point, every single one of us believed something to be true only to later discover that it was completely false. A classic example would be [spoiler alert] the existence of Santa Claus. For many people when they were younger, they believed with all their heart in this existence of Santa. Their entire understanding of Christmas was based upon the jolly elf delivering presents to every child in the world in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer. However at some point the crushing truth came out that mom and dad were playing the role of St. Nick (even eating the cookies). This crushing reality triggered an entire re-wiring of your young mind; you literally changed the way you think about Christmas!
As people put their faith in King Jesus, the way they view the world begins to radically change; views on people, relationships, money, politics, meaning and purpose...it all begins to change. The problem is sometimes we get hung up on certain ways of thinking that don't want to change, we call those barriers strongholds. A stronghold could be something like bitterness, control, jealousy, fear or anger. These strongholds are real and legitimate roadblocks to keeping us from living the life Jesus offers. In this new sermon series we are going to study the apostle Paul's teaching on how to breakthrough these strongholds in our lives and thus change the way we think. Here's what he teaches: "For though we live in the world we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." ~ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Check out this first sermon in this summer long journey of learning how to demolish a variety of different strongholds we all struggle with in our everyday lives.
The book of Revelation (notice there is no "s" on the end) is one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible. It is not a book that describes how the world is going to end nor is it written scare people (though there are some scary images). Revelation is a book written to give hope and encouragement to Christians who were facing hardship and persecution in first century Asia Minor. The main message of the book is to remain faithful to King Jesus and don't compromise no matter what the cost. The reason this message is often lost on most readers is because it was written in a unique, yet common style of writing called Apocalyptic literature. The genre is described this way by Tim Mackie from Bible Project: "Apocalyptic literature is a prophet's symbolic dreams and visions that reveal God's Heavenly perspective on history and current events so that the present could be viewed in light of history's final outcome." With this definition in hand, what we have in the book of Revelation is God's "Big Picture" plan of how history, and real time events are working to lead to the realization of God's Kingdom coming to fulfillment in a New Heaven and a New Earth.
At the center of God's plan to bring about this fulfillment is Jesus. In Revelation there are three distinct images of Jesus given: a high priest, a slain lamb, and a king on a white horse. These three descriptions are essential in reminding the readers as to who Jesus is, the roles that he plays in our lives and why he is worthy of our allegiance and worship.
Give a listen to the conclusion of our Big Picture sermon series by taking a closer look at who Jesus is and why devoting our lives to him leads us to the destination our hearts desire.
One can't have a discussion regarding The Big Picture of the Bible without talking about God's Kingdom. From Genesis to Revelation, God's Kingdom pops up (though subtle at times) everywhere. Then, when Jesus arrives on the scene it literally becomes his main preaching point through out his ministry: "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" ~ Mark 1:15 This gospel message from Jesus was a call for people to leave their old kingdoms and join God's Kingdom. Jesus pushes this idea even further when he says our prayers should include a request that God's Kingdom would advance on earth. We are to pray: "your kingdom come your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." ~ Matthew 6:10 The Kingdom of God was a big deal to Jesus. The question we must answer is this: Is the Kingdom of God a big deal for us?
We all are a part of a kingdom, be it our personal kingdoms, the kingdom of politics, or any kingdom of power in the world today. The problem with these kingdoms is that while they seemingly appear to offers us something, in reality they take, divide, and ultimately use...only to cast us away. On the other hand, Jesus tells us that in God's Kingdom the last are first, that those who mourn will be comforted, that those who are meek will inherit the earth, and that those who are peacemakers will be called children of God. What a dramatically different description then what we see in the kingdoms of our world. In this latest installment of the Big Picture we discover why it is worth pledging our allegiance God's Kingdom.
A woman in Sunderland, England nearly leapt to her death in 2018 from Wearmouth Bridge, very well known as a place where people come to end their lives. She now returns to that site regularly to post messages encouraging others who are having a rough time to get help.
Paige Hunter, now 21, says that when she was a teenager suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, she found herself standing at the edge of the bridge, thinking about ending it all. That’s when a pair of Good Samaritans approached Hunter, telling her “You are worth so much more than this.”
That not only stopped her from jumping, but changed her life. The next day, Hunter wrote those eight words that were told to her on several pieces of paper and posted them all over the bridge where she had her epiphany. That’s where her campaign, Notes of Hope, began.
Since then, Hunter said she’s left over 1,000 laminated, handwritten messages on the Wearmouth Bridge encouraging others struggling with mental health issues to seek help. She’s received lots of feedback and thinks she’s saved dozens of lives through her efforts—and even improved her own. Hunter said, “It’s definitely therapeutic for me to write these messages.”
25-year-old Callum Doggrell said his life was saved by Hunter’s efforts. “I was going through a really rough patch, and I was at a point in my life where I didn’t want to be here anymore,” he said. That was in early 2019. He thought about his one-year-old son and other loved ones and decided to push past his trouble and carry on. He and Hunter are now in contact.
We can't talk about The Big Picture of the Bible without spending some time with it's most famous verse: "16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~ John 3:16 We learn that God so loves his creation that he is willing to give his son to save people and generously provide them with eternal life. In a truly stunning move, God demonstrates the value of people; they are worth the sacrifice of his son. This amazing news means everything to those who believe in Jesus. To find ourselves in a place of despair and hopelessness only to discover there is a savior who can change the narrative forever! It reminds me of Paige Hunter's story and how words of hope can change everything. Paige took those words of hope and found a mission to help others. What about followers of Jesus? Do we not carry the same type of mission? There is a shift that occurs when a person chooses to follow Jesus. Before following Jesus we live as if the world revolves around us. However, in following Jesus we move into second place...the place where King Jesus and his mission takes first place in our lives. If our savior humbled himself to save us, shouldn't that be our posture as well? Check out part eight of The Big Picture and learn how to live a life of "second place" and take up the mission of Jesus.
The fine-tuning of the universe is shown in the precise strengths of four basic forces. Gravity is the best known of these forces, and the weakest, with a relative strength of 1. Next comes the weak nuclear force that holds neutrons together inside an atom. It is 1034 times stronger than gravity but works only at subatomic distances. Electromagnetism is 1,000 times stronger than the weak nuclear force. The strong nuclear force—which keeps protons together in the nucleus of an atom—is 100 times stronger yet. If even one of these forces had a slightly different strength, the life-sustaining universe we know would be impossible.
If gravity were slightly stronger, all stars would be large, like the ones that produce iron and other heavier elements, but they would burn out too rapidly for the development of life. On the other hand, if gravity were weaker, the stars would endure, but none would produce the heavier elements necessary to form planets.
The weak nuclear force controls the decay of neutrons. If it were stronger, neutrons would decay more rapidly, and there would be nothing in the universe but hydrogen. However, if this force were weaker, all the hydrogen would turn into helium and other elements.
The electromagnetic force binds atoms to one another to form molecules. If it were either weaker or stronger, no chemical bonds would form, so no life could exist.
Finally, the strong nuclear force overcomes the electromagnetic force and allows the atomic nucleus to exist. Like the weak nuclear force, changing it would produce a universe with only hydrogen or with no hydrogen.
In sum, without planets, hydrogen, and chemical bonds, there would be no life as we know it. Besides these four factors, there are at least twenty-five others that require pinpoint precision to produce a universe that contains life. Getting each of them exactly right suggests the presence of an Intelligent Designer.
Source: Charles Edward White, "God by the Numbers," Christianity Today (March 2006)
Every day we go about our lives, moving from one project to the next, not even stopping to marvel at how fortunate we are to even exist. To pause and consider that every little detail, from gravity to electromagnetic force, is precisely fine tuned for us to live and move about on this planet is truly remarkable. It's even more remarkable when you realize who made it happen. The apostle Paul writes: "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities,; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." ~ Colossians 1:16-17 If Christ Jesus is the one who created gravity, and if he is the one who rules over all powers and authorities, and if in him all things hold together, what could he do with your life of chaos? To consider what a life with Jesus at the center looks like, check out part seven of the Big Picture!
Listen to guest preacher David McCoy continue with part six of our sermon series, The Big Picture.
Evan Osgood, the student ministry pastor from Antioch Christian Church continues our sermon series in part five of The Big Picture.
In middle school there was a very sophisticated way to determine if someone wanted to be boyfriend/girlfriend: We sent a note. Not just any old note mind you. The note was usually discreetly carried by an entrusted friend who would deliver the precious cargo while avoiding the scanning eyes of the teacher. The note simply read: Do you like me? Below were a series of boxes. One box indicated YES. Another box was NO. A third box was, MAYBE. Your job was to mark the appropriate box, get the message back to the trusted carrier, and depending on the box you marked, either make someone's day or break their heart. Millions of pre-teen relationships were formed in this somewhat risky, yet safer way of asking the universal question: Do you want a relationship with me?
God's design for all of creation was for it to live in perfect community. We were made for relationship with God and with every other human. However, because of the rebellion against God's design, humans now live in this broken world where they were made for relationship, yet so uncertain if God or other people will even accept them. Therapist, Edie Weinstein puts it this way: “I have sat with clients of all ages who have expressed feeling like an outsider who doesn’t quite fit in, a square peg in a round hole, so different from others that they may have come from another planet. Some are adults, some children and teens and what they have in common is a longing to belong.” We all have a longing to belong and the good news of the Bible is that God wants you to belong in his human family! In part four of The Big Picture we will discover how we can know that God "marked the YES box" and the impact that invitation can have on our lives and our relationships with others. To learn more, give a listen to part four of The Big Picture!
There’s a well-known story about a famous violinist who took his $3.5 million Stradivarius onto a platform of a Washington DC subway and started playing music. He was dressed in a T-shirt and a ball cap. Joshua Bell was accustomed to playing for packed concert halls and getting paid $1,000 a minute. During his 43-minute solo concert in the subway a total of 1097 people passed by. But only seven people stopped to listen. He earned $32 in change.
J.T. Tillman, a computer specialist, was one of the people who walked by. He said, “I didn’t think nothing of it, just a guy trying to make a couple of bucks.” Tillman would’ve given him some cash, but he spent all his money on the lotto. When he was told that he stiffed one of the best musicians in the world, he asked, “Is he ever going to play around here again?” The reporter said, “Yeah, but you’re going to have to pay a lot to hear him.”
Exactly one person recognized Joshua Bell. Her name was Stacy. She positioned herself 10 feet away from Bell, front row, center. She had a huge grin on her face. She said, “It was the most astonishing thing I’ve ever seen in Washington. Joshua Bell was standing there playing at rush-hour, and people were not stopping, and not even looking, and some more flipping quarters at him! Quarters! I was thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, what kind of a city do I live in that this could happen?’”
In Genesis chapter three we read about this event often referred to as The Fall. A perfect garden paradise called Eden, two humans made in the image of God caring for the beautiful space and living in a everyday relationship with God. Everything is running according to design until a spiritual being, taking on the appearance of a snake, tempts the couple with a crafty half truth, and in a moments notice everything is thrown into disarray! The story of the Bible is about how God works to bring goodness back to from chaos. The good news of Scripture tells us that God invades the fallen world as Jesus of Nazareth. His job is to atone for the sin, but there's also another very important job as well: show people what it means to be human. Jesus is the perfect human and he models for us what it looks like to live as imagers of God here on earth. What does any of this have to do with one of the greatest violin players in the world going unnoticed in a subway? Every day, Christians ignore the beautiful transformation that King Jesus gives us. The apostle Paul writes: "take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God's likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth." ~ Ephesians 422-24 CSB Everyday we go about our busy lives, looking like everyone else...all the while ignoring the beautiful example King Jesus provides us about how to live as God's people. To learn more give a listen to part three of The Big Picture.
My wife Suzi loves puzzles and is a master at putting them together. Me on the other hand, when I look at a pile of jigsaw puzzle pieces, immediately thinks, "Chaos!" This is why I'm so amazed at how Suzi opens a puzzle box, and immediately employs her meticulous strategy, and within a handful of hours, has assembled a beautiful picture...with every piece in it's place! The Bible opens with these words: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." ~ Genesis 1:1-2 Two important truths we discover from these verses. 1) God created. There is an author, creator, architect, and designer. This is an important truth and must not be dismissed. To not be able to assign origin and design to someone or something can cause a person to feel untethered, anxious. To know where we come from and why we are here is essential in living a live of clarity and purpose. The good news of the Bible tells us that God is the Creator. 2) Chaos. The words, "formless and empty" convey the idea of chaos; just like a heaping pile of jigsaw puzzle pieces. Yet, God takes the chaos and begins to bring order, structure, meaning and purpose to all of creation. All of us have had moments in our lives where it felt like we were living in complete chaos; be it our finances, relationships, emotions, or our thinking. The good news of the Bible tells us that the Creator can bring something good from our chaos.
To learn how these truths apply to your life, make sure and listen to part two of The Big Picture.
So many of us do it: You get into bed, turn off the lights, and look at your phone to check social media one more time. Before you know it, you've spent hours incessantly scrolling through X, Tik-tok or Reels...a bottomless doom-and-gloom of negative information, thoughtless antics and cheap entertainment.
This habit has become known as doomscrolling--the act of consuming an endless procession of negative or meaningless online content. According to a recent survey from the Pew Research Center, 66% of Americans feel worn out by the amount of news available. Other articles have found connections between doomscrolling and mental health issues like depression and anxiety, not to mention the impact on quality sleep.
Recently, Dictionary.com named doomscrolling one of its “New Words We Created Because of Coronavirus.” There’s something else in the etymology, though. Particularly in the word doom. The act of doomscrolling, then, is to roll toward annihilation. Kind of an eerie word if you look at it that way. The bigger point in all of this lies in the simple truth: You become what you consume. The result of doomscrolling over time is a hunger for good news. News that satisfies, brings hope, give life, provides joy, and is true. In this new sermon series, we begin a journey of good news. In The Big Picture series, we will discover the singular good news message of the Bible and how we can track it every part of scripture. This series is going to provide us with a great opportunity to better grasp the grand narrative of the Bible. Give a listen to part one of the Big Picture, and join the conversation!
We've all had those moments when we've been misunderstood. Maybe because of appearance, language barrier or simply using the wrong word, there can be confusion about what is really going on. When it comes to Christianity, I have found that there is a huge misunderstanding about what it's all about. Over the years I've had people say, "Well, I could never be a Christian because I find parts of the Bible offensive." In my ministry I've had people be offended about what the Bible says about money, women, creation, marriage, sexual ethics and many other things. My response typically goes something like this: I think every part of the Bible is important, one of the jobs of the Bible is to be offensive, to challenge us to be different. However just for a moment, put the ethical teaching aside: If Jesus was raised from the dead, you're going to have to deal with everything in the Bible. If Jesus wasn't raised from the dead, you are free to ignore the Bible completely. To understand Christianity one must start with the bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Everything about the Christian faith is built upon this historical event...and if it is true you must change the way you live. Check out the conclusion of our journey through the Gospel of Mark and discover how Mark's unique ending is an open ended challenge to respond to King Jesus!
On Saturday, May 6th 2023 the coronation of King Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as king and queen of the United Kingdom and the Common wealth realms took place at Westminster Abbey, London. The coronation itself is an intricate service lasting just over two hours and follows a traditional template that has stayed much the same for more than 1,00 years. For example there is great symbolism in the royal scepters that are used, the intricate details of the throne and the crowns. Every part of the coronation is marking the transition of Charles from prince to king. If you are interested in all of the details, the BBC ran this helpful article to bring everyone up to speed on the significance of the event.
What does King Charles' coronation have to do with Jesus of Nazareth? Actually, a whole lot more then what you would think. Answer these questions: When did Jesus become king? When was Jesus recognized as being the King of the Jews? When was he robed in a royal garment? When was he crowned and lead through the streets of Jerusalem? When was he lifted up a recognized as being God's son? According to Mark's gospel this all took place on the day Jesus was crucified...a crucifixion that was actually a coronation. When we consider the cross of Jesus we typically think of Jesus' atoning death for the forgiveness of sins, and we should because that is what happened. However, many other significant things are happening as well, one of which is his glorification, where he is lifted up and recognized as the Christ, the son of the living God. In this episode we will ponder what the coronation of King Jesus on the cross means for us, his followers.
One of the hardest places to be angry with a person is at the supper table. It's nearly impossible to share a meal with someone with whom you are at odds with. Either you won't enjoy the food you are eating or you will be forced to leave the table and eat somewhere else. The flip side of this is when you are in a healthy relationship with another, sharing a meal is the best place to be; the conversation flows freely, the laughter is effortless and even the food tastes better! Here's the truth: To share a meal with someone you are at odds with requires reconciliation. For the Christian, we often describe our connection with God as a relationship. When we pledge our allegiance to God through baptism, we enter into a covenant relationship. There are moments when the relationship is amazing and transformative. Unfortunately there are times when the relationship is at odds and not because of God, but because of mine and your rebellious nature. Here's the problem, when we are at odds with God what are we to do? The guilt can be overwhelming, the shame paralyzing and the embarrassment distancing. We wonder if God will take us back? We blame ourselves for repeating the same offense again and again. We become convinced that this time, God's patience with us has finally run out. Here's what you need to know: Jesus knew this would happen. He knew that we would break our covenant relationship with him, and that we would need a way to reconcile the relationship. Ironically, he invites us to a meal table, a spiritual meal table designed specifically to bring about restoration and reconciliation. We call that meal, The Lord's Supper.
"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” ~ Mark 14:22-25 Unfortunately, for many Christians, The Lord's Supper (Communion) has simply become a memorial service, much like how we celebrate Memorial Day or Independence Day. The reality is that Jesus instituted this meal to be so much more then remembering. It's about participating in the work of the cross, it's about confessing our sin, and allowing Jesus to restore our relationship. Simply put, The Lord's Supper is multifaceted in what it does in our lives and in our church family. To learn more about how The Lord's Supper is so transformative in our lives as disciples of Jesus, make sure and listen to part ten of Come, Follow, Me...where you will be invited to have a seat at the table. Maybe it's been a while for you. Maybe you're feeling disconnected from God. The best place to start is to accept Jesus' invitation and take a seat at the table.
The story is told of a man who was on a business trip and stayed in a hotel that had a bug problem. There were bugs all over his room. He complained about this to the management and later wrote a letter of complaint to the main office of the hotel chain. Sometime later he received a letter signed by the President of the company. It said:
“We are humiliated that a man of your integrity, a man of your reputation, a man of your importance in the community should have had this experience in one of our hotels. We are deeply sorry.”
This made the man feel somewhat better about the situation until, as he was folding the letter to put it away, he noticed a little piece of paper at the bottom of the envelope, obviously not supposed to have been included. It was in the President’s handwriting and it read: “Send this guy the ‘bug letter.’”
Unfortunately, this is the way we sometimes treat other people. We send them the ”bug letter,” the form letter. We give them the tired, old cliches: We ask them: “How are you?” when we don’t really care. We say “have a nice day," or "I'm so sorry,” when really we couldn’t care less. When Jesus was asked which of the commandments was the most important he replied with two. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." ~ Mark 12:30-31 According to Jesus the only way to truly love God requires us to love people as we love ourselves. Now, there is a lot going on in this text but the bottom line is simple: a disciple of Jesus loves God by loving people. That's easy enough to remember and say, yet actually loving someone is much harder to do. True love requires something of us...it requires us to truly care about others, even if they are our enemy. Each day we come into contact with people who will have one thing in common: they're struggling with something. They will tell us about loved ones who are sick, loved ones who have died, loved ones who have problems. They will share with us their sufferings, their heartaches, their fears. Perhaps Mark Twain was right when he said, “You should never tell people your problems because 80 percent of them won’t care, and the other 20 percent will think you deserve them!” Let us not send them the “bug letter.” Let us listen carefully and mean it when we say we care. Jesus never sent anyone a “bug letter.” We shouldn’t either. To better understand what this would look like in your life, check out part nine of our sermon series through the Gospel of Mark.
I'm not very familiar with figs or fig trees. My only connection might be that I enjoy a Fig Newton every once in a while, that's about it. However, a fig tree becomes a central point of emphasis for what Jesus teaches in chapter 11 of Mark's gospel. Jesus and his disciples are heading into Jerusalem, and Jesus is hungry. Up ahead he sees a fig tree, mature and full of leaves. Even though it's a little early for the fig harvest he's hoping to score some figs. However, when he gets to the tree he discovers there is no sign of fruit, not even a little bud. Here is what he says: "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." ~ Mark 11:14 Jesus then proceeds with his disciples up into the grand and majestic Temple, the place which represented the presence of God amongst his people, and what does Jesus find? He finds corruption, injustice, and in his own words "a den of robbers". He then cleans house and leaves the Temple. The next morning as Jesus and his disciples make their way back into the city here is what they saw: "they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" ~ Mark 11:20-21
What's the point Jesus is trying to make? Don't just appear to be faithful to God (the leaves of the fig tree/the beautiful Temple). True faithfulness to God produces fruit not corruption. As Jesus says: "Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." ~ Matthew 7:20 What does this teaching mean for those who are disciples of Jesus? You can look the part of a disciple with your "leaves": going to church, giving money, reading the Bible, having theological knowledge, and being a morally good person. However, if there is no "fruit" what good are you to the Kingdom of God? These are strong words by Jesus and ones we must wrestle with on our journey of following him. To learn more about what the "fruit" of a disciple is and how to develop it, check out episode eight of Come, Follow, Me.
"Father Damien was a priest who became famous for his willingness to serve lepers. He moved to Kalawao—a village on the island of Molokai, in Hawaii, that had been quarantined to serve as a leper colony. For 16 years, he lived in their midst. He learned to speak their language. He bandaged their wounds, embraced the bodies no one else would touch, preached to hearts that would otherwise have been left alone. He organized schools, bands, and choirs. He built homes so that the lepers could have shelter. He built 2,000 coffins by hand so that, when they died, they could be buried with dignity. Slowly, it was said, Kalawao became a place to live rather than a place to die, for Father Damien offered hope.
Father Damien was not careful about keeping his distance. He did nothing to separate himself from his people. He dipped his fingers in the poi bowl along with the patients. He shared his pipe. He did not always wash his hands after bandaging open sores. He got close. For this, the people loved him.
Then one day he stood up and began his sermon with two words: "We lepers…."
Now he wasn't just helping them. Now he was one of them. From this day forward, he wasn't just on their island; he was in their skin. First he had chosen to live as they lived; now he would die as they died. Now they were in it together.
One day God came to Earth and began his message: "We lepers…." Now he wasn't just helping us. Now he was one of us. Now he was in our skin. Now we were in it together." ~ John Ortberg, God Is Closer Than You Think
Why did Father Damian give his life in service to the people on the island of Kalawao? He did so because that was the example set for him...and all Christians by Jesus himself.
"For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." ~ Mark 10:45 More then any word Jesus spoke, it was his actions of serving that have most impacted each of us. It was Francis of Assisi who said, "Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." When each of us begins to model the actions of King Jesus in our neighborhoods, our lives and our neighborhoods, literally begin to change. Also, there is one more biblical truth you need to be reminded of: Jesus lives in your neighborhood; he lives in the form of that person who needs to be helped by you, who needs to be served by you. Jesus is the lonely kid who just needs somebody to play catch with him. Jesus is the elderly widow who is dying of loneliness. Jesus is that young couple who would give anything for a person with a healthy marriage to come over and encourage them and say, "You know what? You can make it through this. It's okay. We'll help you." Jesus said:
"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me." ~ Matthew 25:40 Jesus Christ is in your neighborhood, and he's waiting for you to reach out and serve him. He's waiting for you to choose to be a servant, not to serve just when it's convenient, but to serve because you are his disciple. To learn more about what this looks like in your life, give a listen to part seven of Come, Follow, Me.
In August of 2003, the Church of the Holy Cross in New York City was broken into twice. In the first break-in, thieves made away with a metal moneybox that had been resting next to a votive candle rack. Three weeks later, vandals escaped with something much more valuable: they unbolted a 4-foot long, 200-pound plaster Jesus from a meditation area, taking the statue of Christ, but leaving behind his wooden cross on the wall. The church caretaker, David St. James, confessed his bewilderment at this: "They just decided, 'We're going to leave the cross and take Jesus.' We don't know why they took just him. We figure if you want the crucifix, you take the whole crucifix." In other words, David St. James was saying, "If you want Jesus, you take his cross, too."
It only makes sense if you want Jesus, the cross is a part of the deal; that's one of the many reasons why Jesus is so amazing! For the Christian, the cross of Christ represents love, grace and forgiveness. You take Jesus and his cross. But what about your cross? If you follow Jesus, you have a cross as well...at least that's what Jesus says. "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." ~ Mark 8:34 There are a lot of people who are fans of Jesus; they agree with some of the things he says, they appreciate the love and forgiveness...they even wear a "Jesus Is My Homeboy" t-shirt! However being a disciple of Jesus isn't about agreement or fandom...it's about self denial, allegiance and loyalty. Here's why this matters according to Jesus: "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it." ~ Mark 8:35 Intuitively we think that by preserving our lives we save them, yet according to Jesus by surrendering our lives, our passions and even our desires over to the cross (our own cross) we will find life. So the question we all have to wrestle with is this: Will I take Jesus, his cross and my cross too? To better understand what this looks like in your life, make sure and listen to part six of Come, Follow, Me.
In part five of Come, Follow, Me we discover how Jesus intentionally coaches his disciples so that they can be prepared to carry on the Kingdom Mission.
In a few months we will see tractors working the soil in the fields surrounding Iowa City. We will also observe countless people tilling the soil in their backyards, prepping the ground for the huge gardens they are about to plant. Here is what the farmer and the gardener both know well: the dirt matters. One doesn't just throw some seeds onto any type of soil. The ground needs to be a rich, dark, black...well aerated with enough moisture. Using rocky or weedy soil is not going to produce the crop anyone wants and if the ground is like concrete--well you can forget about it! Here's the thing, we all intuitively know this to be true however, we don't often realize that it applies to our lives as well. Our ability to follow and grow in Jesus is directly related to the kind of "soil" we are. This basic truth is the basis of Jesus' parable of the soils found in Mark 4:1-12.
How does one prepare their "soil" to best grow the instructions Jesus wants to implant into our lives? Jesus actually gives us the key. It's found at the beginning of his parable of the soils. "He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: "Listen!" ~ Mark 4:2-3 Our ability to grow as disciples of Jesus lies in our ability to listen to Jesus. A lot of people heard the words of Jesus, but very few people actually listened to Jesus. Here's the question, do you hear Jesus or do you listen to him? Why does any of this even matter? It matters because what you become in the Kingdom of God is directly related to your ability to listen to Jesus. Simply put, your life could potentially take a completely different trajectory if you learn how to listen to Jesus! To learn more, give a listen to part four of Come, Follow, Me.
Imagine the mystery and delight of not just hearing, but seeing the story of Jesus for the first time, almost as an eyewitness.
That's what happened to a tribe in the jungles of East Asia when missionaries showed them the Jesus film. Not only had these people never heard of Jesus, they had never seen a motion picture. Then, on one unforgettable evening, they saw it all—the gospel in their own language, visible and real.
Imagine again how it felt to see this good man, Jesus, who healed the sick and was adored by children, held without trial and beaten by jeering soldiers. As they watched this, the people came unglued. They stood up and began to shout at the cruel men on the screen, demanding that this outrage stop.
When nothing happened, they attacked the missionary running the projector. Perhaps he was responsible for this injustice! He was forced to stop the film and explain that the story wasn't over yet; there was more. So they settled back onto the ground, holding their emotions in tenuous check.
Then came the crucifixion. Again, the people could not hold back. They began to weep and wail with such loud grief that, once again, the film had to be stopped. The missionary again tried to calm them, explaining that the story still wasn't over; there was more. So they composed themselves and sat down to see what happened next.
Then came the resurrection. Pandemonium broke out this time, but for a different reason. The gathering had spontaneously erupted into a party. The noise now was of jubilation, and it was deafening. The people were dancing and slapping each other on the back. Christ is risen, indeed!
Again the missionary had to shut off the projector; this time he didn't tell them to calm down and wait for what was next. All that was supposed to happen—in the story and in their lives—was happening. (Source: Ben Patterson, "Resurrection and Pandemonium," Leadership Journal)
Can you imagine experiencing Jesus for the very first time in such a unique and powerful way? This is Mark's goal as he writes his account of Jesus of Nazareth; he wants his readers to be introduced to Jesus in such a way that their lives are changed forever. This is one of the reasons Mark's Gospel is short, action-packed and focused on answering this one question: Who is Jesus? Mark knows that if his readers learn that Jesus is King, it will provide them with someone to lead them through life. Mark also know that if his readers understand that Jesus is God's Son, they will be able to find forgiveness and relationship with God. These are just two examples of how Mark strives to answer the question: Who is Jesus? Do you know Jesus? To see Jesus with fresh eyes, give a listen to part three of Come, Follow, Me.
In the late 1600s and early 1700s a half-literate Italian craftsman named Antonio Stradivari designed and made a series of beautiful musical instruments. Today, those violins, named after the Latinized form of his name, Stradivarius, are considered priceless. In 2010, a Stradivarius was purchased for $3.6 million. It is believed there are only around five hundred of them still in existence, some of which have been submitted to the most intense scientific examination in an attempt to reproduce their extraordinary sound quality. But no one has been able to replicate Stradivari's craftsmanship.
Today we do know that Stradivari used spruce for the top, willow for the internal blocks and linings, and maple for the back, ribs, and neck. He also treated the wood with several types of minerals, including potassium borate, sodium and potassium silicate, as well as a handmade varnish that appears to have been composed of gum arabic, honey, and egg white.
But the genius craftsman never once recorded his technique for posterity. Instead, he passed on his knowledge to a number of his apprentices through what one scholar called "elbow learning." The apprentices of the great Stradivari didn't learn their craft from books or manuals but by sitting at his elbow and feeling the wood as he felt it to assess its length, its balance, and its timbre right there in their fingertips. All the learning happened at his elbow, and all the knowledge was contained in his fingers.
As Jesus begins his ministry of announcing the good news about the Kingdom of God, the very first thing that he does is find some apprentices, you would know them as disciples. Here is how he invites one third of his disciples into their apprenticeship.
"Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." ~ Mark 1:17 We learn a lot from Jesus' strategy for growing the Kingdom; it's more then just announcing good news. The Kingdom strategy for expansion is about finding apprentices/disciples and inviting them to engage in some "elbow learning". Who showed you how to be a Christian? Was it a parent or family member? A friend? Or was it a book you read, a class you took or a video you watched? What is clearly missing when it comes to living as a follower of Jesus is good, old fashioned, Stradivarian, "elbow learning". To discover more about Jesus' strategy for making "elbow learning" disciples, check out the lastest sermon from, Come, Follow, Me.
On June 23, 2018, 12 members of the Wild Boars youth soccer team and their coach entered caves in Northern Thailand. Things drastically changed when torrential rains caused flooding that trapped them all in the Than Luang Nang Non cave system. Hundreds of rescuers from around the world teamed up to save the boys and their coach. It took nine days for the divers to find the team and it took another eight days to rescue them all. In total, the boys and their coach were trapped for 17 days in a flooded cave with little food and water. There are a number of books, movies and television series depicting the dramatic events of the Tham Luang Cave Rescue. Now imagine you are one of those boys, trapped with your teammates for nine days, in a flooded dark cave, not sure anyone even knows where you are...not sure if you will ever be found! When suddenly a diver bursts through the water with a flash light to let you know that they are going to rescue you. Good news? Absolutely! However, it's only good news if you need to be rescued. If you were to say those same words to the person pumping gas across from you and the gas station, they would think you were weird! Sometimes good news may not appear to be good news, especially if we don't think it's relevant to our circumstances.
In this sermon we begin a twelve week journey through the Gospel of Mark. Here's the opening line from Mark's book:
"The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God" ~ Mark 1:1 Good news? Well, I guess it depends. Do you need to be rescued? Do you need a King? Do you want God to personally intervene in your life through the person of Jesus? If the answer is "Yes" well, according to Mark you've come to the right place! However, if the answer is "No" you've still come to the right place. Mark is going to make a powerful case as to why Jesus is the King you have been looking for and the Savior your soul desperately needs. Maybe by taking an open minded look at who Jesus is, you will discover that he is the good news you have been looking for. To be a part of this journey, take a few minutes and listen to this sermon. Enjoy!
Kintsukuroi (golden repair) is the Japanese art of repairing damaged pottery with gold or silver lacquer. If you take a few minutes and search the internet you will find countless examples of kintsukuroi. In fact, if you want to give it a try, simply drop your favorite coffee cup and then order a kintsukuroi kit. In no time your coffee stained mug will be turned into a piece of coffee drinking art! However, kintsukuroi is more then just an art form, it's also a way of thinking about life. As a philosophy, kintsukuroi celebrates imperfection as an integral part of our story. The artists believe that when something has suffered damage and has a history, it becomes more beautiful. As we enter into a New Year, how are you feeling about a new you? We all have these broken pieces in our lives and every New Year just reminds us that nothing is really going to change. Others of you may currently be feeling like a shattered plate spread all across the dining room floor. The last thing on your mind is being made new, especially when you can't even pull yourself together? Does kintsukuroi even happen for people with broken lives?
The apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth, a collection of Christians feeling this sense of brokenness, and he states this fact:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 Allegiance to Jesus puts us back together...makes us new! It's not our strength, discipline or hard work which puts us together, it's the power of God working in our lives. A few verses earlier the apostle writes:
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." ~ 2 Corinthians 4:7 It appears God has his own form of kintsukuroi, where He takes the broken pieces of our lives and uses the power of Jesus to make us new again. If you would like to learn more about how this can happen in your life, give a listen to New Year. New You?
Give a listen to one of our elders, Jerry Anthony bring a close to 2023 and challenges us for how we can follow Jesus' instruction about bearing fruit in 2024.
We all want to forget the year 2020, especially those spring months when the COVID virus and the fear of the unknown began to move around the globe. However, in the midst of that pandemic we learned where people go to find peace. The Bible. During the hardest moments of 2020, Bible searches soared online and a record number of people turned to Scripture for passages addressing fear, healing, and justice. The YouVersion Bible app saw searches increase by 80%, totaling nearly 600 million worldwide. YouVersion found Bobby Gruenewald said, "Through every hardship, people continue to seek God and turn to the Bible for strength, peace, and hope. While 2020 is a year so many say they'd like to forget, we see it as a year to remember how God used the Bible app to help so many people who were searching for answers." Overall, the app tracked 43.6 billion chapters of the Bible read in 2020, with half a billion verses shared, its highest on record. So for many people, reading Scripture is a way that they find peace in their moments of stress and anxiety. What do you do to find peace?
Finding peace is something that a lot of people, maybe even you, are trying to find. The unfortunate reality is we end up pursuing a lot of unhealthy comforts which in the end don't bring peace, and instead hook us into habits that hurt. This is one of the reason why Scripture admonishes us to practice discipline, and self control in our pursuit of finding the peace that only Jesus can give. This is why this Christmas season we are practicing some of the disciplines of advent. Advent challenges us to make space for Jesus in our lives by preparing for his coming through worship, prayer, fasting, Scripture reading and acts of generosity. On Sunday we will continue with part two of our advent sermon series by discovering how we can find true peace in our lives when we make room for Jesus in our chaotic lives. To join us on the journey give a listen to part two of Make Room.
During the month of December we all make room for Christmas. We make room for a tree and decorations. We make room in our schedules for buying and wrapping presents. We make room for parties and family get togethers. We make room for Christmas cards and delicious treats. However, this question does need to be asked: Is anyone, making room for Jesus? As much as we should enjoy all the extra events of Christmas, the truth is none of what we invest all of our time on ultimately gives us the hope our souls desperately crave. The Christmas trees die and shed their needles, food is eaten, gifts are broken or forgotten, decorations come down and the bills begin to arrive only to bring on the "blues" of January. That is unless you have made room for Jesus.
With this sermon we are going to embark on an Advent Christmas series designed specifically to help you make room for Jesus. If we aren't intentional with how we use our time and resources, it doesn't take long for the important things in life to be quickly forgotten. So what's the plan? Advent. If you aren't familiar with the concept of Advent, the term comes from the Latin word, adventus---which means coming. It's been used by the church over the centuries as a discipline to prepare for the coming of King Jesus; both his first coming and his second coming (click here if you want to learn more) For the month of December we are going to practice some of the disciplines of Advent by worshiping together, working through a Bible reading plan together, practicing prayer and fasting...all with the expressed goal of making room for more of Jesus in our lives. To be a part of the journey, get started by listening to part one of Make Room.
In doing research for this sermon series I came across a fascinating article studying the connection between gratitude and altruism. It appears God actually wired people with a neural connection between being thankfulness and generosity. In Mind & Body magazine, Christina Karns writes in detail about the research being done in tracing the mental link between gratitude and altruism (Why a Grateful Brain Is a Giving One) Here's a summary of the article:
"In a sense, gratitude seems to prepare the brain for generosity. Counting blessings is quite different than counting your cash, because gratitude, just as philosophers and psychologists predict, points us toward moral behaviors, reciprocity, and pay-it-forward motivations. Apparently, our brain literally makes us feel richer when others do well. Perhaps this is why researchers have observed that grateful people give more.
Gratitude might be good for us—but it is good for others as well."
As we stop and consider the implications of this research it doesn't take long to see this connection between gratitude and generosity popping up all over the Bible. Probably the one that immediately stood out to me was Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, giving thanks to his Father in Heaven and then proceeding to give himself generously as a sacrifice on the cross. Why should any of this matter to us? It matters because Black Friday and Cyber Monday are often more important to us then being generous. Our culture focuses more on getting and hoarding then generosity. To break this cycle and become generous, all we have to do is look to God and science to see that it starts with developing a grateful heart. On Sunday we will wrap up this series by looking at a specific incident in the book of Exodus where Israel demonstrates this connection between gratitude and generosity. To be a part of the conversation give a listen to part three of Thanks & Giving.
I recently came across an article about Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision, as he reflected on his visit to a church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti a year after the devastating earthquake. The church's building consisted of a tent made from white tarps and duct tape, pitched in the midst of a sprawling camp for thousands of people still homeless from the earthquake. This is how he described the church and the lesson he learned in Haiti: In the front row sat six amputees ranging in age from 6 to 60. They were clapping and smiling as they sang song after song and lifted their prayers to God. The worship was full of hope … [and] with thanksgiving to the Lord. No one was singing louder or praying more fervently than Demosi Louphine, a 32-year-old unemployed single mother of two. During the earthquake, a collapsed building crushed her right arm and left leg. After four days both limbs had to be amputated. She was leading the choir, leading prayers, standing on her prosthesis and lifting her one hand high in praise to God .… Following the service, I met Demosi's two daughters, ages eight and ten. The three of them now live in a tent five feet tall and perhaps eight feet wide. Despite losing her job, her home, and two limbs, she is deeply grateful because God spared her life on January 12th last year … "He brought me back like Lazarus, giving me the gift of life," says Demosi … [who] believes she survived the devastating quake for two reasons: to raise her girls and to serve her Lord for a few more years.
I find Demosi's response of gratitude to God remarkable! How can a woman who lives in those conditions not to mention the loss of her limbs find a reason to thank God? In my context, I find myself lacking gratitude because my WiFi isn't working and the coffee ran out. How pathetic in comparison! The truth is while most of us would think that we are in a better position then Demosi, it's actually Demosi who has something to teach all of us: How to be thankful no matter what the circumstances. In this episode, we will study a section of the apostle Paul's Thessalonian letter (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24), which teaches us how to develop a discipline of giving thanks in all circumstances.
I recently learned of a study about gratitude called the "Count Your Blessings" study conducted by the psychologist Bob Emmons. Some of you will remember, like me, the old gospel hymn "Count Your Blessings''. The main theme of the song was very simplistic, yet memorable:
When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
Turns out those lyrics are cutting-edge science. In his "Count Your Blessings" study Emmons had participants do the simplest thing: At the end of each day take a moment to count your blessings by writing them down in a journal. And you know what happened? At the end of the study the participants who engaged in this simple practice of thanksgiving where healthier—emotionally and physically—than the control group. Simply counting your blessings made people healthier and happier. That's the cheapest therapy you're ever going to find.
Not only does a routine of gratitude improve our health and make us happier, according to Jesus it helps grow our faith (Luke 17:11-19). So the benefits of giving thanks are clear, yet for many, it's the discipline of gratitude that is lacking. For example prayer, as a practice, is a constant posture of thankfulness. Prayer is the mindful discipline to act out of an experience of blessing rather than scarcity. So count your blessings. Name them, one by one. Give a listen to part one of Thanks & Giving and learn how to develop a basic routine of giving thanks that we can utilize everyday and in so doing improve our mental health and more importantly, deepen our relationship with Jesus!
On the morning of October 2, 2006, a troubled milkman named Charles Carl Roberts barricaded himself inside the West Nickel Mine Amish School, ultimately murdering five young girls and wounding six others. Roberts committed suicide when police arrived on the scene. It was a dark day for the Amish community of West Nickel Mines, but it was also a dark day for Marie Roberts—the wife of the gunman—and her two young children.
But on the following Saturday, Marie experienced something truly countercultural while attending her husband's funeral. That day, she and her children watched as Amish families—about half of the 75 mourners present—came and stood alongside them in the midst of their own blinding grief. Despite the crime the man had perpetrated, the Amish came to mourn Charles Carl Roberts—a husband and daddy.
Bruce Porter, a fire department chaplain who attended the service, described what moved him most about the gesture: "It's the love, the forgiveness, the heartfelt forgiveness they have toward the family. I broke down and cried seeing it displayed." He added that Marie Roberts was also touched. "She was absolutely, deeply moved by the love shown."
What causes the Amish to live such radically countercultural lives? It's their deep conviction about who God is and how he wants them to live their lives. Now, while I am not suggesting we turn in our cars for horses and buggy's, I am suggesting that we need to allow our convictions about God to direct how we live our lives...even if it means we are different. In this sermon we are going to wrap up this series by examining the events of Daniel chapter six. In it we will discover how we should live when we find ourselves living in a culture that looks a lot like Babylon.
To be devoted to King Jesus means that his Kingdom and it's ethics, values and mission are likewise, our ethics, values and mission. That's all fine and good until those Kingdom ethics, values and mission come in conflict with those of the culture or more specifically, those of the crowd. It's in that tension where we are torn between allegiance to the King or conformity to the crowd...and more often then not we have found ourselves "saluting". None of us what to just go along with the crowd, but it's hard! On Sunday we are going to study Daniel chapter three and learn some really important lessons about how we can stand firm in our convictions, even if it means standing alone. To learn how to stand alone with boldness, give a listen to part three of Life In Babylon.
As Jesus opens The Sermon on the Mount, his first metaphor to describe what it means to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God is that of salt. A Kingdom Citizen is to be like salt? "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." ~ Matthew 5:13 In Jesus' day salt had two main purposes: 1. Preservative. In a world with no refrigeration, salt was a valuable commodity in preserving food. Much the same way, Kingdom Citizens are preserving influencers of culture by pointing people to God and modeling for their neighbors in word and deed the Gospel. 2. Flavor Enhancer. Salt has always been used to improve the flavor of food. In a similar way, Christians influence culture by enhancing it with Kingdom values and ethics, such as demonstrating how to love neighbors, forgive enemies, serve the marginalized and work for justice. By living in such a way, a culture can literally be changed...enhanced. Here is why being "salt" matters. According to Jesus, these roles are not optional. If you are devoted to the Kingdom of God, you ARE salt and influencing culture is what you do.
Being "salt" in our culture is incredibly difficult. Often, we find ourselves living in this tension of alignment: Am I going to be devoted to the culture of Babylon or am I going to be a representative of Kingdom Culture? Daniel chapter two provides a very helpful example of how we can leverage our influence and boldly represent God and His Kingdom. Simply put, how we can be "salt" while living in Babylon.
To learn more about how this can work for you, make sure and listen to part two of Life in Babylon.
The Old Testament book of Daniel opens with Jerusalem falling at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar's army and Daniel and his friends taken off to Babylon to live in exile. Much of the book then describes what it looks like to live as exiles in a foreign land; how they remain true to their convictions about God in a culture that doesn't do the same. So what is the application for you and me as we follow Jesus? The apostle Peter suggests that as Christians we aren't that much different then Daniel and his friends: "Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul." ~ 1 Peter 2:11
Do you feel like a foreigner in the current culture? Have you ever felt like an exile in your neighborhood? These are important questions to wrestle with. If your allegiance is to King Jesus, then we will undoubtedly feel a tension at times with how the culture operates and how those around us live. Maybe the most important question is this: Do I live more like Jesus or more like the culture? I found this observation made by John Stott regarding how Christians are to be different: "I recently returned from India where I heard of a little Hindu girl brought up in a strict Hindu family, who had come across Christians. Somebody asked her one day what she thought a Christian was. She thought for a few moments and replied, "Well as far as I can see, a Christian is somebody who is different from everybody else." Would that it was true."
To be a Christian means you are okay with being different. Unfortunately that is not always the case. There is this strong pull within all of us to "fit in" to be like everyone else. Yet, we all agree, there are times when to be like everyone else is simply wrong and calls us to live in direct opposition to how Jesus wants us to live our lives. The truth is, it's hard to live in Babylon...and that is what this new series is going to explore. The good news is that the book of Daniel reveals to us how God provides the resources and direction we need to live counter cultural lives. One of those resources is the community of Christians who are on the same journey; there other people living in Babylon who are trying to pursue the same Kingdom culture as you. To begin this journey of living in Babylon, we have to make a determination right away. We have to hold true to our convictions about how God wants us to live our lives and then determine to be different. Here is why that matters: People who hold to their convictions and determine to be different change culture. Consider these words from Thomas J. Watson Jr. "Strangely, the expounders of many of the great new ideas of history were frequently considered on the lunatic fringe for some or all of their lives. If one stands up and is counted, from time to time one may get knocked down. But remember this: a man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good."
To learn more about how to live in Babylon, make sure and check out episode one of Life in Babylon.
If a tree had a mission, what would it be? Take carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen? Provide relaxing shade in the scorching hot days of summer? Paint their leaves stunning colors in the fall for everyone to enjoy? Provide material for that beautiful coffee table in your living room? These are all wonderful benefits of a tree, however you couldn't, with confidence say that any of those things is a tree's primary mission. So what is a tree's mission? One word: multiplication. Every tree has this singular mission of reproducing, not just one tree, but literally hundreds of other trees. Even before a tree is completely mature and full grown it is sending out acorns, helicopter seeds, walnuts and apples to spread seeds with the hope that some of them find a place to germinate and begin to put roots down into the ground. It's not just trees that posses this mission, every single living organism God created was wired with the mission of multiplication.
Is it possible that the mission of the Christian is the same? No, this isn't a call for bigger families and more mini-vans! (Though there is obviously nothing wrong with that.) It's really a challenge for each Christian to consider what the true mission of a Jesus follower is really all about. For the typical Christian, the main mission they focus on is maturity. Again, nothing wrong with maturity! It's good to grow in knowledge of Scripture, develop spiritual disciplines and find ministries in which one can serve. However that's not the mission. Jesus gave his people a co-mission, to go and make disciples; to multiply. His disciples took this mission seriously and you and I are eternally grateful that they did! However, it wasn't just their mission...it's ours as well. As the apostle Paul wraps up his letter to the church in Colossae he invites them to participate with him in the mission of multiplication. Here's the powerful truth we are going to unpack on Sunday: As you live on mission, the more you will mature. For a lot of Christians, they have found that their faith has plateaued or even begun to stagnate. Could it be that what is missing isn't another Bible study but a commitment to the mission of multiplication? To learn more and discover the apostle Paul's strategy for how to live a life on mission, make sure and listen to the conclusion of the sermon series, Rooted.
A life rooted in Jesus provides each person with the opportunity to take off their old life and put on something brand new. This question always follows: How is a person supposed to live this new life in a family? Families and marriages can be difficult places to live in unity and peace because of brokenness, hurts, and past mistakes. Nothing is going to challenge a new life in Jesus more than living in a family! However this is a really an important question to answer because our culture is desperately longing for the answer. Here is an example of what I'm talking about. Author and professor, John Christman wrote a film review of the film L'enfant (child), a movie focused on the importance of the family in society. He writes:
Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne are two of the most well respected and awarded European filmmakers over the past 20 years. One reviewer claims their films "grapple with a society that has lost touch with its moral underpinnings … [especially] how today's youth navigate this world without role models and moral direction." As Luc Dardenne once said, "We put [young adults] in a situation and ask the question: How are these people, who are now alone and without help from the past, going to find their way to be fully human?"
For instance, their film L'enfant (The Child) focuses on two young parents and their newborn son, Jimmy. Sadly, Jimmy is born into a moral vacuum. His mother, Sonia, spends most of her time walking the streets with her drifter boyfriend Bruno, who has no idea how to be a father. It's hard to tell who is "L'enfant,"—is it Jimmy or his mother and father?
It's a beautiful and heartbreaking film, but Luc Dardenne claims that it has a powerful and prophetic message. "When you go back in time," he said, "[the film] is the story of the father and mother; and the future is the story of our children and their children. The day that we are unable to be fathers and mothers, then humanity is finished."
The apostle Paul in writing Colossians teaches Jesus' supremacy over all of creation, this includes marriage and the family. In rooting ones life in Jesus, people are tapping into the best way to live life. In fact, Paul teaches Christians that Jesus himself models what it looks like to best live in a marriage and family. To learn more about how a life devoted to Jesus can change your family situation, give a listen to part five of our Rooted sermon series.
We all love new things. There is something about buying it, unwrapping it and using it for the first time. There is one thing that we want to be new, but just really don't know how to go making it happen: the person in the mirror. There are all sorts of things about us that we want to be new; whether it's physical appearance or personality traits or maybe something that is broken in our lives.
Because we want a fresh start we pursue self-help books, social media influencers and podcasters to find the secret bullet in creating a new you. Consider this: What if there was a solution? The best part, it's right there available to all of us we've just never really considered it. This reminds me of the story about John Helinski.
A homeless man with no ID walked into a shelter, and then left with enough money to buy permanent housing and get back on his feet. John Helinski was homeless and nameless for three years. Suddenly, he's set to buy his own place and collect a nice pension. Thanks to a determined caseworker and police officer, they were able to track down the man's social security number and birth certificate. This led to the discovery of a bank account where the former homeless man's social security had been getting deposited into and collecting interest. "I guess I'm exhilarated, excited, you know," he said. Homeless to homeowner in a few days!
For John Helinski, it took a determined caseworker and police officer to help connect him to a new life that was right there, literally waiting for him. Is the same thing possible for you?
For you and me it's Jesus. When most Christians think about following Jesus they focus only on the love of Jesus, forgiveness of sin and the hope of Heaven, all good things! However, Jesus also provides a new life; a new way to live as a human here on earth and for eternity. This is a big deal and it often gets overlooked, and yet we all long for that fresh start. So how does pledging my life to Jesus give me a new life?
In part four of our Rooted sermon series, we will study how the apostle Paul lays out three essentials in experiencing the new life Jesus provides. To be a part of the conversation, give a listen to part four of Rooted.
No one likes to struggle, and suffering---we could all do without. Or could we? Most often it is the struggle of life that tests the rootedness of our faith. Pastor and author Charles Haddon Spurgeon writes:
"We cannot be established except by suffering. It is of no use our hoping that we shall be well-rooted if no March winds have passed over us. The young oak cannot be expected to strike its roots so deep as the old one. Those old gnarlings on the roots, and those strange twistings of the branches, all tell of many storms that have swept over the aged tree. But they are also indicators of the depths into which the roots have dived."
The depth of the roots are indicators of the storms of life. How do you handle the storms of life? When storms hit, do the roots of your faith go deeper into Christ or do you feel yourself slowly being pulled away? Jesus, in his parable about the soils, talks about how the seed of gospel lands in some soil and begins to quickly germinate but then this happens:
"But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had not root." ~ Matthew 13:6
Pressure, opposition, struggle, and suffering are all realities of following Jesus. For some, these pressures uproot their lives and everything about their faith falls apart. Yet for others the roots of their faith go even deeper and they literally grow stronger through the circumstances. How can we, the face of "March winds" and not only remain rooted, but grow stronger as well?
This is one of the focuses of New Testament book of Colossians. The apostle Paul is writing to Christian who are feeling the pressure to uproot their lives from Christ and find another option; like returning to Judaism or choosing one of the pagan cultural gods. This is why he writes these urgent words:
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." ~ Colossians 2:6-7
On Sunday we will study all of what Paul writes in chapter two and discover the strategy he teaches to help all of us remain rooted in King Jesus. To be a part of the conversation, give a listen to part three of Rooted.
Pastor and author, Kevin DeYoung wrote these words analyzing the question: Who is Jesus?
"The greatness of God is most clearly displayed in his Son. And the glory of the gospel is only made evident in his Son. That's why Jesus' question to his disciples [in Matthew 16] is so important: "Who do you say that I am?"
The question is doubly crucial in our day, because [no one is as popular in the U.S. as Jesus]—and not every Jesus is the real Jesus. …
There's the Republican Jesus—who is against tax increases and activist judges, for family values and owning firearms.
There's Democrat Jesus—who is against Wall Street and Wal-Mart, for reducing our carbon footprint and printing money.
There's Therapist Jesus—who helps us cope with life's problems, heals our past, tells us how valuable we are and not to be so hard on ourselves.
There's Starbucks Jesus—who drinks fair trade coffee, loves spiritual conversations, drives a hybrid, and goes to film festivals.
There's Open-minded Jesus—who loves everyone all the time no matter what (except for people who are not as open-minded as you).
There's Touchdown Jesus—who helps athletes fun faster and jump higher than non-Christians and determines the outcomes of Super Bowls.
There's Martyr Jesus—a good man who died a cruel death so we can feel sorry for him.
There's Gentle Jesus—who was meek and mild, with high cheek bones, flowing hair, and walks around barefoot, wearing a sash (while looking very German).
There's Hippie Jesus—who teaches everyone to give peace a chance, imagines a world without religion, and helps us remember that "all you need is love."
There's Yuppie Jesus—who encourages us to reach our full potential, reach for the stars, and buy a boat.
There's Spirituality Jesus—who hates religion, churches, pastors, priests, and doctrine, and would rather have people out in nature, finding "the god within" while listening to ambiguously spiritual music.
There's Platitude Jesus—good for Christmas specials, greeting cards, and bad sermons, inspiring people to believe in themselves.
There's Revolutionary Jesus—who teaches us to rebel against the status quo, stick it to the man, and blame things on "the system."
There's Guru Jesus—a wise, inspirational teacher who believes in you and helps you find your center.
There's Boyfriend Jesus—who wraps his arms around us as we sing about his intoxicating love in our secret place.
There's Good Example Jesus—who shows you how to help people, change the planet, and become a better you.
And then there's Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Not just another prophet. Not just another Rabbi. Not just another wonder-worker. He was the one they had been waiting for: the Son of David and Abraham's chosen seed; the one to deliver us from captivity; the goal of the Mosaic law; Yahweh in the flesh; the one to establish God's reign and rule; the one to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, freedom to the prisoners and proclaim Good News to the poor; the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.
This Jesus was the Creator come to earth and the beginning of a New Creation. He embodied the covenant, fulfilled the commandments, and reversed the curse. This Jesus is the Christ that God spoke of to the Serpent; the Christ prefigured to Noah in the flood; the Christ promised to Abraham; the Christ prophesied through Balaam before the Moabites; the Christ guaranteed to Moses before he died; the Christ promised to David when he was king; the Christ revealed to Isaiah as a Suffering Servant; the Christ predicted through the Prophets and prepared for through John the Baptist.
This Christ is not a reflection of the current mood or the projection of our own desires. He is our Lord and God. He is the Father's Son, Savior of the world, and substitute for our sins—more loving, more holy, and more wonderfully terrifying than we ever thought possible." ~ DeYoung
How would you answer the question, "Who is Jesus?"
The apostle Paul, as he opens the Colossian letter, urges his readers to "root" their lives completely in Jesus. The Christians he was writing to were facing pressure to leave behind Jesus because he wasn't enough. In response to these pressures, Paul lists out, in impressive fashion, why Jesus is worth following. This is a question we all have to answer regarding our faith; whether it's believing in Jesus for the first time or are continuing a long journey of obedience to him. Give a listen to this sermon and strive to answer these two questions: Who is Jesus? Does he deserve my complete devotion?
Science writer Hope Jahren shares an interesting fact about plants, especially how a tiny seed starts to put down roots—the most essential thing for a plant's survival. She writes,
No risk is more terrifying than that taken by the first root. A lucky root will eventually find water, but its first job is to anchor … Once the first root is extended, the plant will never again enjoy any hope of relocating to a place less cold, less dry, less dangerous. Indeed, it will face frost, drought, and greedy jaws without any possibility of flight.
She calls taking root a big "gamble," but if the seed takes root it can go down twelve, thirty, forty meters. The results are powerful. The tree's roots can "swell and split bedrock, and move gallons of water daily for years, much more efficiently than any pump yet invented by man." If the root takes root, then the plant becomes all but indestructible: "Tear apart everything above ground—everything—and most plants can still grow rebelliously back from just one intact root. More than once. More than twice."
Where we put the "roots of our lives" is one of the greatest indicators as to what our lives ultimately become. The apostle Paul stresses the importance of "rooting our lives" in Jesus and what happens when we do so, he writes:
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." ~ Colossians 2:6-7
To better understand what it means to be "rooted in Jesus" make sure and join us for a brand new sermon series through the letter of Colossians. To learn how this all works, give a listen to part one of, Rooted.
In the book of John, we read about Jesus' mission in this world. We are shown the greatness of His power, as well as how He lived and interacted with those around Him. Through the reading and studying of John's Gospel, we get insight into who Jesus is through the statements that He made about Himself. He said "I AM the bread of life..." "I AM the light of the world..." "I AM the door..." "I AM the good shepherd..." "I AM the way, the truth, and the life..." "I AM the true vine..." "I AM the resurrection...." These statements of Jesus, found in the book of John, are called the "I AM" statements, and they recall the Lord God's self-identification in Exodus 3:14.
Check out the first sermon in the insightful, seven week sermon series called "I AM: Jesus in his own words," we will explore these "I AM" statements found in John's Gospel. In this series will observe and discuss the power, richness, and depth of each statement as well as consider how we, as followers of Jesus, can apply these statements in our lives today.
Nothing has caused more stress over the last decade then the ambitious person scrolling through social media only to stumble across an "easy" looking do-it-yourself project. Here's how it typically goes down:
1. Ambitious person sees how "easy" the highly edited DIY video appears.
2. Person thinks, "I can do that!"
3. Said person must convince spouse or close friend to help them, with again the promise, "It will be easy!"
4. Coerced person, along with ambitious person go to the nearest "DIY Headquarters" (Menards, Lowes, and Michaels)
5. Dynamic duo goes home, loaded with supplies, tools and briming with confidence.
6. Project ensues.
7. Project continues...then hits a snag. [enthusiasm wanes]
8. Discussion breaks out on how the project should be accomplished because someone isn't doing it correctly.
9. Disillusionment sets in with coerced person. The joy leaves the ambitious person because the project isn't easy.
10. Project is abandoned because person was scrolling through social media and found another "easy" DIY project!
Does this DIY formula sound familiar? Here's the thing, we can also apply this formula to our faith journey. We become inspired about what God can do in our lives or we envision something that God is calling us to; ministry, sharing our faith, reading through the Bible, or learning how to pray.
This then leads us to quickly buy a "How to Pray" book, or select a Read Through The Bible plan and begin the journey, only to find that it's a lot harder then we had envisioned...or we just fail. In those moments of disappointment or failure we have a tendency to give up or even worse, feel guilty or assume that we have in some way let God down.
If this describes your spiritual journey you need to know this important truth: You are not alone. This happens to everyone who has made a decision to put God at the center of their live. What you need to know is that not only does God understand, he also provides some very timely instructions on how you can break through the disappointment. To learn more, give a listen to part two of The Book of Haggai.
What is the goal of life? To accumulate the most money. This is what one can learn from reading the obituary of Reuben Klamer, the creator of the board game, The Game of Life, who died September 14, 2021, at 99.
When The Game of Life was introduced, in 1960, the purpose was to earn the most wealth. The way you got there was simple enough—by going to college, getting a job, buying insurance, saving for retirement. That was “indicative of what sold in that era,” a former Hasbro VP said.
Over time, designers realized that the game didn’t reflect consumers’ changing views of #lifegoals. So they gave it a big update in 2007, allowing players to score points for virtuous deeds like saving an endangered species, opening a health-food chain, and recycling. And instead of starting the game at point A and finishing at point Z, there is no fixed path: You decide how you want to spend your time.
One question that popped up is: If the popular view of what matters in life changed so much in less than 50 years, who’s to say it won’t shift again in the next 50? How will you win life in 2057?
But as Jill Lepore wrote in The New Yorker, the redesign teams always had a hard time addressing the fundamental criticism of the game — that the only way to reward a player for virtuous acts was with money: “Save an Endangered Species: Collect $200,000. Solution to Pollution: $250,000. Open Health-Food Chain: $100,000.”
And so, the company’s 2007 overhaul, the Game of Life: Twists & Turns, was almost existential. Instead of putting players on a fixed path, it provided multiple ways to start out in life — but nowhere to finish. “This is actually the game’s selling point; it has no goal,” Ms. Lepore wrote. “Life is … aimless.”
Hasbro, whether they realize it or not, is teaching us all a very important lesson about the purpose of life and God's role in discovering purpose. According to their research, when God is not a part of the equation, "Life is...aimless." However, according to Scripture, with God at the center of our lives, we discover meaning and purpose.
On Sunday we are going to begin a new sermon series in the Old Testament book of Haggai where this exact issue is addressed. The Jewish people are returning from exile and starting to rebuild their lives; make a fresh start. The problem is, their priorities are turned upside down and they need help putting God back at the center.
If it feels like your life is turned "upside down" give a listen to part one of The Book of Haggai.
For the last few weeks we have talked about building the church. Not the actual building, but the church...the people. We've addressed the importance of connecting ourselves to King Jesus, as well as living out his values in our everyday lives. However, there is third and final imperative he gave his followers: Make disciples.
This is a skill that's kind of been lost by the church, however we see this discipline being practiced all over our culture in different professions. For example, it takes over a decade for a person to become a doctor. The process includes a lot of testing for sure, but it also requires supervised practice. It's one thing to have knowledge, but it's a totally different thing to apply it in a real life setting.
The same is true of the Christian faith. The church excels in the area of information and knowledge. Where it falls short is in the area of taking that information and providing the hands on assistance needed to learn how to live it out the knowledge in everyday life. I think this is why often times people carry the name "Christian" yet their lives looks nothing like Jesus.
So how do we go about change our strategy? How can we have a great impact that scales to reach more people? I would suggest looking to the dandelion. Why would we look to that pesky weed as a model for how to carry out the mission of Jesus? One dandelion can change an entire field of grass in a relatively short period of time. You see the dandelion isn't just focused on adding one dandelion, it's purpose is multiplication. It want's to send out hundreds and hundreds of seed parachutes that are focused on sending out hundreds and hundreds of their own seed parachutes to fill the fields with their beautiful yellow flowers!
Here's how this translates to the mission Jesus wants his church to carry out. Our current model is, come to church and worship and listen to a message about Jesus. This is important and helpful to the lives of Christians, for sure. Community worship is important for unity and building relationships and being encouraged. However, it's not the best model for making disciples. You see this model focuses on simple addition; adding people here or there.
However, what if the community worship service was instead a "dandelion" moment where as the service concludes, the attenders were launched to go model and disciple other people. All of a sudden the focus shifts from addition to multiplication! In this final sermon in this series learn how you can get on mission with Jesus.
The church is not a building, but a people. Nothing reminds me more of this truth then losing our church building almost a year ago. In looking back over the last few months it's obvious to see that a church's building really shapes and defines the church people. When the building is taken away, it feels like you literally lose your identity.
While a church building is a powerful tool and hub for ministry, it should never shape the identity of the people of Jesus. Countless churches around the world who thrive without the luxury of a building remind us of this truth. Around the world the church grows, often times underground and in secret locations. What have they learned that can help us in this season of not having a building? What is it that shapes and defines the church?
According to Scripture it's the values & mission of Jesus which define and shape the church. While a majority of Christians could come up with the mission of Jesus, when it comes to identifying the values of Jesus, well...that might be a different story.
Values are the beliefs that motivate people to act in a certain way. They serve as a guide for how the church is to live as a community and carry out the mission of Jesus. So what are the values of the church? What are the core beliefs that motivate us to live together as the family of God?
The apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Rome devoted a section of the letter to laying out the values of the church and how they should be lived out in community. On Sunday we will work through Romans 12 and better understand how those same values can be lived out in our church today.
Here's the goal behind living out the values of Jesus in our church: When we value what Jesus values, his church thrives! To be a part of the conversation, make sure and listen to part three of Upon This Rock.
We all have those moments where we aren't certain of something important. For example, as we drive away from our homes to go on vacation there is the mental (or real) check list we go over: Did we close the garage door? Is the thermostat turned down? Did we remember to lock the front door? We didn't forget the....? As we ask these questions there is a brief moment of panic or worry, until someone says, "I locked the door, turned down the thermostat and shut the garage door," and immediately there is relief. What was uncertain, is made certain. A similar thing happens regarding our faith in Jesus. Often times a relationship with Jesus can feel ambiguous, disconnected. Then when things turn bad or we hit a rough stretch of mistakes, sin, and remorse, there is this feeling of uncertainty. We even question our relationship with Jesus. "Did I go too far?" "I Jesus really there?" "Am I really in a relationship with Jesus?" "Is Jesus really going to be with me, no matter what?" If you have been a Christian for any length of time, or maybe you've been thinking about becoming a follower of Jesus, these thoughts have occurred to everyone...maybe even recently. So how are we to respond when there is a sense of uncertainty regarding our relationship with Jesus?
Jesus knew this would be an issue and he gave us two sacraments to practice which connect us to him and provide us certainty. We call these sacraments baptism and communion. First off, what's a sacrament? A sacrament is a visible symbol of the reality of God. Pastor and author Mark Moore describes it this way: "A symbol is a picture of something else. A sacrament is when the symbolic act on earth coincides with what is actually taking place in heaven." ~ Mark Moore This is exactly why Jesus taught his followers to practice baptism and communion. These actions are more then just symbols, they are spiritual moments where we are directly connected to Jesus. For example, in baptism we are literally clothing ourselves in Jesus. "You were all baptized into Christ, and so you were all clothed in Christ." ~ Galatians 3:26-29 Thus, baptism gives us a real, tangible moment where we mark the time where we committed our lives to Jesus. This is so helpful, especially when life get tough. Our baptism reminds us that we went all in with Jesus. Likewise, partaking in communion reminds us of our commitment, and it provides us with a clear and tangible way to renew our commitment on a weekly basis. Here's what the apostle Paul says happens when we share in communion. "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation the body of Christ?" ~ 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 According to Paul, when we take The Lord's Supper we are participating in the work of the cross, it's as if we are transported to Golgotha and we stand as witnesses to Jesus dying for our sins! What a powerful moment! Here's the point: Taking communion reminds us our sins are forgiven, and we live in the love and grace of King Jesus. We've all had those moments where we are uncertain of something important, however our relationship with Jesus shouldn't be one of those moments. To learn more about how this can work in your life give a listen to part two of Upon This Rock.
The building design process for our new church building is moving towards its final stages. Contractors have been interviewed, finishing details need to be decided, and a budget needs to be worked out and agreed upon. The reality of a new church building is slowly starting to take shape. We are still on target for breaking ground later this summer if everything continues to go as planned. However, as many of you know, breaking ground on a building project is but one small step. In fact, for the first few months of construction it will look as if very little progress is being made; a lot of dirt has to be moved and leveled, and most importantly the foundation has to be established. The success of our new building project rests on the engineering and workmanship of building the foundation. It's kind of humorous to think that something you don't even see is probably the most important part of the building.
So what about building a church? Not a building, but the people. The church is always, first and foremost about people. What if I told you that a very similar process needs to happen if we are going to build the church: we must first focus on the foundation. It's really easy to lose track of why the church exist. We all can become focused on buildings, programs, traditions, or ministries, and completely lose track of why the church even exists. In this brand new sermon series which starts on Sunday, we are going to make sure our spiritual foundation is being established while our building foundation is being constructed. In the coming weeks we are going to drill down into the foundational essentials Jesus told us to build the church upon, and here's the amazing side benefit: these same essentials can change your life as well! To be a part of this new sermon series, give a listen to episode one, Built To Last.
Ira Glass, host and producer of the radio and television series This American Life once interviewed an Orthodox Jew by the name of Meyer Silber. A portion of the interview uncovered an uncomfortable reality about our anxiety regarding God. Here's a part of the conversation. Ira: Do you obey the commandments [of the Jewish Law] out of fear that something bad will happen to you if you don't? Meyer: I would say that I do, to be honest. Ira: What's the bad thing that would happen? Meyer: I guess maybe it's a fear of not knowing. The fear of not belonging, sort of like abandonment. That maybe with my abandonment of God, God would abandon me, and I would be alone, and I would be responsible for myself. [Whereas] if I can go and do the things that God wants, God is with me. Meyer's words perfectly articulate a feeling of anxiety that many people, including a large number of Christians, have regarding their relationship with God. There is this constant underlying fear that God doesn't really have our back and that we have to manipulate Him to bless us. This feeling is called spiritual anxiety.
Here's the good news: Jesus wants to help move us from spiritual anxiety to spiritual freedom. Listen to a few words he shares with people who are dealing with spiritual anxiety: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." ~ Matthew 11:28-29 Those last few words are full of so much hope, "you will find rest for your souls". Where does so much of our anxiety reside? It resides deep in our souls, especially when we wrestle with our relationship with God. In this sermon we are going to learn from Jesus how we can move from a spiritual system of anxiety and live free in a place of grace and love. Take a few minutes and give it a listen, I know you will find it to be helpful!
Anxiety. Not only do we all deal with it, but it can take on many different forms. For example there's the new anxiety that comes from the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO). The term refers to the sometimes energizing, sometimes terrifying anxiety that you are missing out on something absolutely amazing. It could be a party, a new movie, a special relationship, or a delicious romantic dinner; something awesome is happening and you are not a part of it. FOMO is an age-old problem that has exploded culturally thanks to real-time updates on social media. In the New York Times, Jenna Wortham wrote about a friend who works in advertising who told her that she was feeling fine about her life--until she opened her social media account. The friend said, "Then I'm thinking, I am 28, with three roommates, and oh, it looks like they have a precious baby and a mortgage. And then I wanted to die." Wortham claims that social media updates can make our simple everyday pleasures pale in comparison with the fun things we could or should be doing. Anxiety can pop up in the strangest of ways! Another area where anxiety is increasing rapidly is with Generation Z (people born since the late 1990's). Researcher Joseph E. Davis claims that we can trace some of the anxiety to what he calls "absurdly ambitious" goals for academics, sports, or their future career. Davis points to a 2019 survey that asked 3,000 American adolescents, most age 14-17, about their aspirations for adulthood. How important, for instance, was it to them to become, "powerful and influential" as an adult? 21% indicated "absolutely essential," and another 27% as "very important." (Source: Joseph E. Davis, "The Deeper Roots of Youth Anxiety" Institute for Family Studies)
What these current examples of anxiety reveal is that much of our anxiety isn't from outside sources, it's literally self perceived or self generated. We don't think we measure up to the identity we've created for ourselves, and most importantly, we are aware of the flaws or brokenness we struggle with everyday. No one knows our flaws more then we do, we literally see them everyday in the mirror. Sometimes we literally hate ourselves because of all our perceived or real shortcomings. This kind of anxiety is very real, at it happens even to Christians. So what are we to do when this happens in our lives? One word: Remember. Remember what God says about you. Remember where your identity comes from. Most importantly, remember where your strength comes from. Here is how the apostle Paul states it: "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." ~2 Corinthians 12:9-10 To learn more about how God provides us with the resources to deal with our anxiety make sure and to part two of Anxious for Nothing.
All of us experience anxiety, and for many people it is a daily struggle. In 2018, Medical News Today reported that anxiety disorders affect nearly one in five people. For children and teens, the CDC has found an increase in anxiety diagnoses. It’s important that we talk openly about struggles with anxiety—something we will all experience—without making others feel shame about it. Anxiety is not necessarily caused by a lack of faith in God, a subpar prayer life, or lack of Bible reading. Certainly, God’s Word speaks to our anxious thoughts, and our sin can cause anxiety, but we ought not feel shame or be shamed because of the anxiety we experience. Life is scary and unpredictable, and so much lies beyond our control. Learning to see God in the midst of the chaos and lean into our relationship with him is key to finding our way through our anxious thoughts.
Thankfully, the Bible isn’t silent about this. On Sunday we will begin a four-week series designed to help all of us face the anxieties of life with the truth of Scripture along with the spiritual and practical applications it provides us for our everyday lives. To be a part of this journey give a listen to part one of Anxious for Nothing.
Everything about the Christian faith rests on one miraculous event, the bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth from the death of crucifixion. The apostle Paul puts it very bluntly in his letter to the church in Corinth as to why the resurrection is so important. He writes: "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." ~ 1 Corinthians 15:17-19 The words futile and pitied, quickly grab my attention. I don't want to base my life on something that is pointless or vain, and I most certainly don't want people to pity me because I believe a fairy tale! Yet, to trust in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead means I must believe something that is supernatural. There are cemeteries of proof that regularly remind me that dead people don't physically come back to life. How can a reasonable human being believe such a miracle?
The truth no one wants to admit is every worldview is based upon the supernatural. For example, an atheist believes that matter came from nothing. For this to happen, there needs to be some type of supernatural intervention to form the matter because we all know that something doesn't come from nothing. This is why every human being needs to learn to choose their miracles well! What about the resurrection of Jesus, is that a believable miracle? In other words, is there enough trustworthy evidence to support his rising from the dead or do we need to believe it with blind faith? To be a part of the conversation, give a listen to part ten of Asking for a Friend, I know you'll find it to be helpful!
It's confusing, hard, and it literally makes no sense. How can God be one, yet three distinct persons; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit? Since the doctrine of the Trinity is so difficult to comprehend, many people, maybe even you, don't even give it a thought. Instead we tend to leave it to theologians and scholars with beards and wire rimmed glasses, sitting in wood paneled rooms with lots of dusty books! This is unfortunate, because the doctrine of the Trinity reveals to us who God is, and that really matters. It matters because who God is not only defines our relationship with him, it literally shapes who we are. Theologian and pastor A.W. Tozer put it this way: "What comes to our minds when we think about God is the most important things about us." ~ A.W. Tozer Simply put, the mystery and wonder of The Trinity of God shapes everything about us. This is why it is worth the effort to study what the Bible says about the Trinity.
Think about it this way. What is your Christian life like? What is the condition of your faith? In the end, it will all depend on what you think God is like. Who God is drives everything about us and our relationship with God. Take 30 minutes and listen to the latest sermon in our series, Asking For A Friend, as we try and unpack the basics of the Trinity, and discover how the identity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit forms and shapes us in new and amazing ways.
This is a very common question, and at first glance it kind of makes sense. If all religions help people be morally good, then it would only make sense that they all lead to the same place in regards to the after-life. The problem with this idea is that it's a very offensive position to every religion. You see, every religion is based upon absolute beliefs that are unique to each religion. For example, the God of the Koran is very different then the God of the Bible. The purpose of humans is starkly different in Buddhism then how the Bible describes our people. A quick, intellectually honest, examination of other religions will reveal these profound differences. What this means is that we need to constantly be deepening our faith, and understanding how the truths of the Bible build a strong foundation for our lives. It also means that it's helpful to understand what other religions believe so that we can better realize why Jesus is truly the best; better then any other person, religion or philosophy!
To learn more about this challenging question we've invited Dr. Daniel McCoy from Renew.org to address it. Daniel is the editorial director for Renew.org as well as an online adjunct instructor for Ozark Christian College. He has a bachelor’s in theology (Ozark Christian College), master of arts in apologetics (Veritas International University), and PhD in theology (North-West University, South Africa). His books include the Popular Handbook of World Religions (general editor), Real Life Theology: Fuel for Effective and Faithful Disciple Making (co-general editor), Mirage: 5 Things People Want From God That Don't Exist, and The Atheist's Fatal Flaw (co-authored with Norman Geisler). Ask you can see, Daniel has the credentials to speak well on this topic. Take a few minutes and listen to part eight of Asking For A Friend, you will be glad you did.
Hell. It makes us all uncomfortable, so much so that we tend to make light of it by joking about its existence. We can thank Gary Larson, the creator of The Far Side Cartoons (do a quick Google search and enjoy a chuckle), for providing us with some of the most humorous depictions. Humor makes hell less scary. For me personally, I was surprised by how much the Saturday morning Looney Toons cartoons influenced my depictions of hell. It was always underground, with fire, and some person in a red suit with horns running around chasing Bugs Bunny with a pitchfork. Again, it made hell palatable. Little did I know, Looney Toons grabbed their ideas from fourteenth century Italian author Dante and his epic work, Inferno. This poem depicts Dante's journey through the nine concentric circles of torment in hell. This has been the standard for how many people, maybe even you think about hell. Unfortunately most of it is not how the Bible describes hell. What does the Bible say about hell? Even more specifically, what does Jesus teach on hell? On Sunday we are going to examine how the Scripture depicts hell. We will focus on these three themes: - What we know about hell. - Why hell is necessary. - How to ensure you don't go there. As uncomfortable as it may be to wrestle with this topic, it is one we need to push into and understand. Here is the good news: Our loving God provided a way for no one to ever experience hell. To learn more, make sure and listen to part seven of Asking For A Friend.
It used to be that the one topic you weren't really supposed to talk about in public was sex. I think most of us agree, that's not the case anymore--it's everywhere. Do you know what has replaced sex as the off limits topic to be discussed in public? Death. It's the uncomfortable "elephant in the room" kind of thing. Everyone knows it's there, and they have ideas, theories and concepts most certainly...yet it still makes people uncomfortable think about and here's why: What you believe about eternity determines how you live today. For example, if one ceases to exist when they die, why does it matter how they choose to live their lives? However, if this theory is true, a very empty and hopeless feeling begins to settle in. What's the point of living? There are also numerous theories such as reincarnation, turning into energy, becoming one with the universe, or even becoming an angel. Trust me, there are a lot of ideas and theories floating around the internet regarding life after death. What can we believe? What do we know is true? Here's some good news: The Bible as a lot to say about life after death! Not only do we find clarity, but even more so, we find hope! The apostle Paul puts it this way:
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
If you want to know more about what the Bible teaches us about life after death make sure and give a listen to part six of Asking For A Friend!
When we talk about the Christian faith there are core doctrines which are agreed upon by all Christians. For example, faith in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection. One can't be a Christian without believing these truths. There are also practices which the worldwide church has participated in for over two thousand years. Community worship, prayer, communion (Eucharist) and baptism. The major differences in these practices lie in why, and how they are to be practiced. However, no Christian Church disagrees with their importance. When it comes to baptism, every church, denomination or Christian tradition acknowledges the essential role baptism plays in the life of a follower of Jesus. In fact it was Jesus who taught us to "go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them" (Matthew 28:19). If Jesus commands us to designate a disciple of his with baptism...that's what we are going to do. The big questions then are, "Why, exactly?" - "How should it be done?" - "When?" In this sermon we strive to answer those questions, not with Church tradition or denominational creeds, but with what the Bible teaches. If any of these questions have been swirling around your mind or if you have a friend who has wrestled with these issues give a listen to part five of Asking For A Friend.
The challenge of evil and suffering is more than a theoretical or philosophical problem--it's personal. We literally feel this question. Our eyes have watched in disbelief as war footage unfolds on our screens. We shake our heads as people are pulled out of earthquake rubble. We wipe away tears from our eyes as we slowly shuffle away from the hospice house. We bury our face in our hands as we learn of a close friend or family member destroying their lives through addictive substances. Whether we say it audibly or mull it over in our minds, we are usually thinking the same thing: God, why did you allow this to happen? The tension comes from the fact that the Bible repeatedly tells us that God is good...not only good, but he loves the world! So when these horrible things happen, it feels like there are two seismically different realities that are unreconcilable! Maybe that describes you and your struggle to trust God. Maybe it describes a friend or family member who has given up on God because of a horrible tragedy, a tragedy that God could have, and should have prevented. In part four of Asking For A Friend, we are going to dive into answering this difficult question. What we are going to discover is that the Bible does not avoid this question, as some religions and atheists do. It faces it head on and provides the most glorious answer of any idea ever proposed to the problem of evil. To be a part of the discussion, listen to part four of Asking For A Friend.
Imagine that you were able to live your life in such a way that you could do whatever you wanted to do, whenever you wanted to do it, and you would never get caught or face an consequences for your actions? Think about it, you could cheat on your taxes, steal from your employer, sleep with whoever you wanted, and never worry about getting caught. If you could live this way, would you? A majority of people would all agree that being moral is essential for a society to exist and for there to be clarity on what is right and wrong. However, this raises a dilemma: What is moral or immoral? Who or what is the source of morality? As a Christian, I believe that the Bible provides us with the standard for morality. However, current culture would argue that the Bible is too antiquated and out of touch for our modern and sophisticated society. Especially when we look at the rapid advances in technology. Is this true? Is the Bible still a reliable source for morality? Or is it too old-fashioned? If not the Bible, who is in charge of defining right and wrong, good and evil? If you have struggled with this question or you have a friend who is asking this question, make sure and check out part three of our sermon series, Asking For A Friend.
"Science is fact. Religion is faith. I prefer facts." ~ Sheldon Cooper
Christianity--even faith in general--is portrayed in our current culture as being naïve, simplistic, and incompatible with human reason. Faith is given one isolated space in society, where as science is supposed to oversee all areas of life. This creates an obvious problem for Christians, especially younger Christians and those involved in the field of science. There is this tension to choose between one or the other because, according to the narrative, the two are not compatible. Does one really have to choose between faith in God and science? This Sunday we are going to dive head long into this critical question and discover that a person doesn't have to choose between faith and science...in fact it's the exact opposite! Faith and science accomplish amazing things when they work in collaboration with each other. If this is a challenge you wrestle with or you have a friend who has been struggling with the same issue, make sure and check out part two of our sermon series, Asking For A Friend.
Many atheists or skeptics doubt that God exists because they struggle to accept the legitimacy of the Bible. They see the Bible as outdated, irrelevant, and mythological. This is a huge problem if you are a Christian! The Christian faith requires belief in the Bible as the word of God. As followers of Jesus, we use Scripture to understand God and his character, realize our purpose, and learn about the plan of salvation. The Bible is a big deal. However, because it is old or ancient, it is natural to ask legitimate questions like: Can we trust it? Is it reliable? Does it tell us the truth? Or is it a collection of outdated texts that has little to no value with our modern and sophisticated world? Questioning the legitimacy of the Bible is nothing new, it was happening even in Jesus' day. On Sunday we are going to take up the challenge and answer this age old question. Whether you have your doubts or you have a friend who has been asking similar questions, make sure and give a listen to Can I Trust the Bible?
I love the story of Peter in the Bible. One minute he's a pillar of faith (Matthew 14:25-33 and Matthew 16:13-16) and next minute he's in the basement of betrayal (Luke 22:54-62). Maybe that’s why it is so easy for you and I to identify with him. Because we've all blown it at one point in time with our relationship with God and others and restoration seems impossible. That’s why I love the last chapter of John’s gospel that contains a breakfast conversation between Jesus and Peter. The breakfast conversation in John 21 follows the darkest chapter in Peter’s life. He had just denied he knew Jesus three times. He is wishing he could start over...to take it all back...the guilt and shame was hanging over him. It's in John 21, where we see the love of Jesus to not only restore Peter but to put him back on mission.
If you've blown it (P.S. we all have, so you're in good company) and you feel like things are hopeless, know that God's love for you is everlasting and he is eager to restore the relationship. If yo uwould like to learn more, take a few minutes and listen to Begin Again.
If someone asked me what one thing they could do to improve their physical health, I would reply with this question: "Are you drinking enough water?" The human body is comprised of around 60% water. 75% of the human brain is made up of water. If you are looking to get your day off to a great start, simply drink a glass of water! Here are some of the benefits of drinking water: 1. Hydration helps us maximize our physical performance. 2. Drinking plenty of water improves energy levels and brain function. 3. Water helps prevent headaches. 4. Drinking plenty of water can aid in weight loss. 5. Water improves digestion. 6. Consuming adequate water helps us regulate our body temperature. 7. Hydration helps our joints and is a way of preventing kidney stones. There are obviously many other benefits to consuming eight glasses of water each day, but that really isn't the issue is it? You still have to make the decision and take action on drinking water, because if you are serious about living an optimal, healthy life, water is essential.
If someone asked me what one thing they could do to improve their spiritual life, I would reply with this question: "Are your praying everyday?" You see, just as water is essential to living our best physical lives, a daily discipline of prayer is essential to replenishing and powering our souls. When you make it a priority to pray everyday here are some of the amazing benefits: 1. Prayer develops and strengthens our relationship with God. 2. Praying helps us make right decisions. 3. Helps us avoid or overcome temptations. 4. Miracles happen through prayer. 5. We invite God into our daily lives when we pray. 6. Regular prayer helps us deal with anxiety and stress. 7. We become more confident and bold when we pray. This is but a small sampling of what can happen in our souls when we take the time each day to pray. We could continue by looking at the impact our prayers have on our families, church, and communities...the list is really endless. Just as water is essential for living an optimal physical life, so is daily prayer in living an optimal spiritual life. Do you want to change? Is your soul dry and in need or restoration? Do you feel empty spiritually? Here's a truth you need to understand: Every spiritual transformation starts with prayer. This is exactly why we take 21 days to focus on the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. If there is going to be spiritual growth in our lives and in our church, it's going to come through a daily dedication to prayer. If you are looking to find transformation of your soul, it will only happen when you are dedicated to a faithful routine of prayer. To learn more about how this can work in your life, take a few minutes to listen to part three of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.
One year at Boy Scout camp, the emphasis for our troop was to get all of the merit badges pertaining to water. We were in the pool or on the lake most of the week. One of the merit badges we were trying to accomplish was canoeing. Our instructor took us to a nearby lake where we unloaded the canoes and geared up for an afternoon on the water. That day was incredibly windy, and it didn't take long for us to reach the other side of the lake. Honestly, there wasn't a lot of paddling going on, mostly just steering and riding the gusts of wind. The problem came when it was time to head back to the other side of the lake. It was nearly impossible to paddle our canoes against the wind. We would dig in the water with all of our might, making little progress...only to have the wind push us back when we took a break. It felt a lot like Sisyphus of Greek mythology, rolling the boulder up the hill only for it to roll back to the bottom. The wind was making it impossible to return to the other side of the lake. Being resourceful Boy Scouts, we did the only thing we could think to do, we drifted back to shore a decided to earn our hiking merit badge by walking back along the shoreline with the canoes in tow! The lesson we learned that day was simple: Paddling into the wind is nearly impossible.
The life of a Christian often feels like paddling a canoe into the wind. There is this sense we get that everything is against us; culture, peers, maybe family or friends--not mention our own short comings, guilt and brokenness. It can seem like an insurmountable task, and our efforts seem puny or pathetic "against the wind". A sad reminder that we aren't strong enough. But isn't that the point? We aren't strong enough to navigate this faith journey on our own! God will supply us with the power we need to overcome. How does one learn how to rely less upon their strength and more upon God's? Spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among followers of Jesus. In most cases, spiritual disciplines force us to relinquish our strength and become more dependent upon God's power and strength for our lives. Case in point is fasting. According to Richard Foster "fasting is the voluntary denial of an otherwise normal function for the sake of intense spiritual activity." Less of me. More of God.
In this sermon we are going to take a look at how Jesus incorporated fasting into his life to help keep him on mission and allow the strength of his Father to power his life and work. Check it out!
All Christians know they need to be better at something pertaining to their faith in God. The list if fairly common; more godly man or woman, better husband, wife or parent. Read the Bible more and pray. Become more involved in ministry. Courage to share ones faith. Do these sound familiar? If so many Christians feel this way, what is it going to take to make the change? Enter spiritual disciplines; practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among followers of Jesus. Actions like dedicated prayer, Scripture reading and solitude. Fasting, worship and generosity. They sound ominous, maybe even a bit overwhelming. Maybe instead of looking at these spiritual disciplines as barriers, what if we looked at them differently. What if we viewed spiritual disciplines as the practices we engage in to make sure "the big rocks" of our faith journey go in first? As a church family, we are going to spend the next few weeks united together in the practice of three specific spiritual disciplines, Scripture Reading, Prayer, and Fasting. It is our goal that we will deepen our faith and dependance upon God, not only individually, but as a church family as well. To learn more check out part one of 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting.
On January 13 of 2018, the residents of Hawaii received a text message from the Emergency Alert System. The alert read: “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER” This alert was issued over the television, radio and cellphones in the state of Hawaii. Because of the escalating tensions with North Korea, many people had great reason to believe what they were hearing. For 38 minutes, the people on the island began to prepare for the end. It was chaos. The PGA Hawaii Open just so happened to be taking place. One of the reporters from the Golf Channel quickly shifted gears from golf commentary to doomsday event. He began to describe how the golfers were dealing with the impending missile strike; some hid in the bathtubs, others got in cars and headed for the mountains. One common action made by all were phone calls, telling people that they loved them and scrambling to get things in order as the end approached. For 38 minutes people realized that everything on their Someday List wasn’t going to be accomplished because they were running out of time. After 38 minutes it was discovered that the text message alert wasn't true--there were no inbound ballistic missiles. Here's question to ponder. Was this false alarm fortunate or unfortunate? It would be fascinating to learn if this false alarm was pivotal in key life change decisions. Did people just go back to normal or did they start to intentionally take care of their Someday List? Here's the uncomfortable truth: we are all running out of time. Whether it’s 38 minutes, one month, one year or 50 years…from where we are right now to someday…we are running out of time. We all have a Someday List; that list of New Years Resolutions or goals we set out to accomplish someday. They range from getting healthy, to living debt free, to sharing our faith with our friend. All good goals. All worthy steps in living a new life. The only problem is, they are slated to be accomplished...someday. A consistent theme throughout Scripture is: Be prepared. Here's an example from Jesus. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” ~ Matthew 24:42-44 Life is all about the unexpected. We don't know when the emergency text is going to arrive or the dreaded phone call or the grave message from the doctor. Much like the residents of Hawaii four years ago, we have been given an Emergency Warning Message. We had better get to that Someday List, today! Answer this question: What do you need to do today, so that you will be ready when someday comes? To help answer that question, give a listen to this practical sermon to help you prepare.
A decade ago, The New York Times ran a moving article about a professor whose son died from a drug overdose. There's a lot to mull over in this article, including issues of ADHD, drug use, and the nature of boys in school. But the author Ted Gup reflects on a move in American psychiatry to include some forms of grief as a form of mental illness (according to the D.S.M.). In his article titled Diagnosis: Human, Gup writes this insightful paragraph: ‘Ours is an age in which the airwaves and media are one large drug emporium that claims to fix everything from sleep to sex. I fear that being human is itself fast becoming a condition. It's as if we are trying to contain grief, and the absolute pain of a loss like mine. We have become increasingly … uncomfortable with the messiness of our own humanity, aging and, ultimately, mortality. Challenge and hardship have become pathologized and monetized. Instead of enhancing our coping skills, we undermine them and seek shortcuts where there are none.’ For the last few weeks in this sermon series, The Gift Exchange, we have focused on the feelings of worry and hurt. On Sunday we will talk about how God wants to help us with our emotion of grief. One of the unfortunate realities of our culture, as highlighted in Gup's article, is that "we have become increasingly uncomfortable with the messiness of our own humanity." Feelings, emotions are a real part of being human. God literally created us with these emotions, in fact the Bible describes God as likewise expressing these same emotions. The problem is that avoiding or ignoring them has caused many people, maybe even you, to seek out unhealthy, even harmful ways of dealing with hurts, worry, and grief. So what is the solution? Is it possible that the one who created us has healthy and helpful ways of not only coping with our grief and hurt...but also supply healing and restoration?
Scripture is full of real people, just like you and me who have dealt with emotions like worry, hurt and grief. Take David for example. He dealt with the deaths of his best friend, his mentor, a son, and a child just to name a few. He's very open about his hurt and grief, but listen to what he he does with his grief:
"Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me. Help me, O Lord.” You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!" ~ Psalm 30:10-12 David took his emotion and grief and presented it to God (Hear me, Lord), and in return God provided him with joy. On Sunday, we will unpack more of Psalm 30 and discover how we can give our grief to God in exchange for his gift of joy. If you want to learn more, please give a listen to the conclusion of The Gift Exchange.
One of my favorite television shows to watch is the reality series on the History channel called, Alone. It's a survival show where 10 contestants are dropped off individually in a remote wilderness area. There is no contact with each other, and very little with the producers of the show. The goal of the contest is simple: Whoever lasts the longest by themselves wins. One of the most interesting aspects of the show is that there are people who have the physical stamina and survival skills to last a long time, but more often then not, a contestant reaches a point where being alone does them in--and they tap out. It's hard to be alone. There are definitely moments when we all need some solitude, but long term aloneness is not good (Genesis 2:18). Problems are magnified, self doubt increases and hurts are amplified. In a recent Washington Post article entitled, Americans are choosing to be alone. Here’s why we should reverse that, author Bryce Ward reveals concerning trends in how much time Americans are spending by themselves. Ward states: "It is too soon to know the long-term consequences of this shift, but it seems safe to assume that the decline of our social lives is a worrisome development. Spending less time with friends is not a best practice by most standards, and it might contribute to other troubling social trends — isolation, worsening mental health (particularly among adolescents), rising aggressive behavior and violent crime." Simply put, there are a lot of lonely, hurting people in our community, probably right in your neighborhood...maybe even you. So, what's the solution?
God cares about our hurts, brokenness and our loneliness. He wants to help and come alongside us to bring comfort. One of the ways he does this is through the Holy Spirit (more about this on Sunday). Another way he does this is through people. Listen to how the apostle Paul describes God's comforting presence: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 God not only spiritually supplies comfort, but he works through the presence of his people to bring comfort to others. I can't think of a more perfect time and season for the people of God to bring the comfort of God to a lonely and hurting world. Church this is our time! Who can you share the comfort of God with? Who can you invest in and share time with this week? Not only will they feel like they belong, but they will experience the comfort of God. To learn more give a listen to part two of The Gift Exchange.
What's your mission? Good question. In our current culture there are a plethora of missions to choose from. For instance, you could make a crazy amount of money, and retire at 45 to live the good life. Maybe your mission is to find the right person to live the happily-ever-after life. Your mission could focus on making a name for yourself--becoming famous, or maybe your mission is to settle down a raise a family. As you know, this list could go on and on!
So, once again, what is your mission?
To live as a citizen of the Kingdom of God, we are given a mission. When Jesus called his first disciples, he gave them a specific vision of what they would become if they followed him. Here is the mission:
“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” ~ Matthew 4:19
The call from Jesus is to follow him so that he can train them for the mission of "fishing for people". Obviously, there is a lot to unpack there, but one can't deny that the mission isn't evident. Following Jesus is to lead to a mission of "fishing for people."
To learn more about this mission and listen to part four of Kingdom Come.
Election days typically wrap up as ballots are tabulated (for most states!) and results are determined. This usually means that before the clock strikes midnight, candidates usually know their fate. To the person who is defeated, there is a gracious concession speech to deliver. To the victor however, there is a speech of good news.
This good news is a doubling down on all of the promises that were made on the campaign trail; things will change, life will become easier, broken things will be fixed, and there's a bright and glorious future ahead.
Most of us have heard these good news promises, only to find ourselves let down, or disappointed. But isn't that kind of how life is in general when it comes to people? People are notorious for making good news promises, only to fail on delivery. It happens with bosses, co-workers, business associates and neighbors.
Shockingly, it even happens in our closest of relationships. Think of how many times we've had spouses, friends or family members make big promises of how things are going to get better...only to find the relationship stuck in the same old rut! So much for good news!
Where can we go to find someone who not only provides us with good news, but also delivers on their promise?
Read how the author of the Gospel of Mark describes the beginning of Jesus' ministry campaign:
"After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” ~ Mark 1:14-15
In some ways, it sounds like your typical politician. "Follow me, I have good news for you!" Is that what Jesus is trying to do? Lure in a crowd to secure their support?
It gets even more interesting as you look at the message Jesus delivers. Read these words Jesus speaks as his ministry begins:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” ~ Luke 4:18-19
Those are some pretty audacious claims! Resources for the poor, freedom to the oppressed, and sight for the blind! Jesus grabbed the attention of many on the campaign trail...but did he deliver?
Or were those words just empty promises to garner a vote. Enticing words to tickle the ears of the crowd? Or were they genuine "good news" promises he kept?
Check out episode three of Kingdom Come and take a look at this "Good News" from Jesus and see if it's not only real, but how it can help change the direction of our lives now--and into eternity.
Election anxiety is a growing issue. The USA Today ran this story recently: Stressed about the midterms? You're not alone. How to stay calm.
Here is an excerpt from the story:
"It seems to have only gotten worse, too. "Research suggests that election anxiety increased between 2016 and 2020," says Marsha Brown, a licensed psychologist. "With growing fear for the future of human rights, health care, the economy and other life issues, it seems election anxiety may have risen again since the previous election cycle."
If we are honest, there is little indication that the political divide is going to slow down, which means anxiety and fear will only continue to increase. How are Christians supposed to navigate the divide, and deal with the anxiety? Jesus provides this anecdote to worry and division: Pursue The Kingdom of God.
Here is what he teaches:
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." ~ Matthew 6:33
His point is simple, worry dissipates and unity is realized as we allow the Kingdom of God to invade our hearts.
Every kingdom needs a king, a boss, a leader to follow. Who's the king of God's Kingdom? The apostles and other New Testament writers are consistent in declaring this one unified message: Jesus is King!
Take for example the opening of Mark's account about Jesus:
"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." ~ Mark 1:1
Mark is telling you up front that everything he is about to write is good news because it is declaring that Jesus is the Christ (Christ means King), the Son of God.
Let me simplify it a bit. Christianity, is a declaration that there is a new King and a new Kingdom...would you like to be a part?
Here is why this is such a powerful statement. I am not a very good king of my own life. I need King Jesus to lead me. So do you--and so does our troubled world. Under Jesus' kingship, we are finally free to cast off our misguided self rule--our pathetic attempt to live life apart from God, and take up the new life offered to us.
What is the result of making Jesus King of our lives? We learn to reject inappropriate desires, handle wealth and it's trappings, forgive our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, turn the other cheek, practice open-handed generosity, care for the downcast, and much more.
If you want to learn more about the rule and reign of King Jesus, and the transformation it can bring to your life, make sure and give a listen to part two of Kingdom Come.
Tis the season for countless political adds, "Vote for Me" mailers filling mailboxes, and hundreds of candidate yard signs intermingled with Halloween decorations overrunning neighborhood lawns! Yes, this is that moment when we as citizens of the United States of America get to exercise our privilege to vote for the candidates of our choice.
However, as many of you know and experience, there is a divisiveness which seems to be ever growing in our country between political parties. We see it every day through broadcast TV, social media, and conversations we have with our neighbors. It even finds it's way into the church, which naturally raises a couple of questions for the Christian when it comes to politics.
1. How am I to follow Jesus, and remain united with fellow Christians who vote for the other political party? One of the things I love about our church is the political diversity we have--yet, I know that it can be dangerous as well. Even more so, how can we carry out our mission of making disciples in a community that possesses some very strong political ideologies?
2. How can we better manage the emotional aftermath of a election? This has happened more often then you would realize over the years. When one party or candidate wins, there is elation and joy for some...and for others there is literal fear, anxiety and depression. How can we follow Jesus, and better manage our emotions regarding election outcomes?
Thankfully, as usual, Jesus provides us a way forward. In The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has a whole section on worry. In fact he lists all of the big things people worry about: money, food, clothing and shelter. Then he provides the antidote for worry. Here it is:
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." ~ Matthew 6:33
We all have "kingdoms" we manage. We have our family kingdom, our career kingdom, our property kingdom, the kingdom of our country or government and many more. There is nothing wrong with managing and investing in these kingdoms. In fact, that is why humans were created, to rule and reign as God's image bearers (Genesis 1:28) in this world.
According to Jesus the problems of worry happen when we invest completely in our "kingdoms" and forget that above all, is the Kingdom of God. What Jesus teaches is for his followers to seek first the Kingdom of God and live the life of a Kingdom citizen. When this is done, worry dissipates, and the ability to manage our other kingdoms is provided for.
For many people, maybe even you, this idea of living in God's Kingdom now, is a foreign concept. However, as you read through the Bible it permeates the teachings of Jesus and the apostles as they instruct Christians on how to live as new humans in a world where kingdoms war and worry persists.
If you want to learn more about the Kingdom of God, and how pursuing it helps us overcoming division and worry, make sure and give a listen to part one of, On Earth As It Is In Heaven. Enjoy!
According to an article in The New Yorker by Tim Lu we've entered an age of Never-Lost Land, "where no one and nothing gets lost." Lu writes, "Thanks to G.P.S, Bluetooth, and the Internet, it is, day by day, becoming harder both to become lost and to lose things." Sure, it's a relief, Lu argues, but have we lost something in the process of never losing anything."
Think about it for a moment. In today's world, we can know with precision our physical location on planet earth. We can determine with relative ease, the location of our keys, car, cell phone and family members. Yet all the while feel totally and completely lost when it comes to life.
Lu ends the article by saying, "It is something of the paradox of technological progress that, in our efforts to become invulnerable, we usually gain new, unexpected vulnerabilities, leaving us in vaguely the same condition after all."
It is truly fascinating that in all of our progress with technology, medicine, science, and sophistication we find ourselves culturally dealing with the same age old problems of: purpose, meaning, brokenness, value, and lostness.
The good news continues to rest in the comforting stories of Jesus as found in Luke 15. There we learn that God not only cares about people who are lost, but will spare no expense in bringing them home. When they are home, he adopts them into his family...giving them purpose, meaning and life.
Maybe most importantly, when lost people are found a party is thrown to celebrate with joy. Think about that for a moment. The culture of Heaven is wired to party when a lost person comes home!
Here are a few questions I want you to answer:
- If you are a child of God, do you care about lost people like your Heavenly Father does?
- When you see someone who is lost, do you have empathy and try to help or do you have disdain and mutter about that person?
- When a lost son or daughter comes home are you full of joy or ambivalent?
Give a listen to this sermon as we use Scripture to answer those questions and learn how we can be people who have a heart like our Heavenly Father.
Sometimes you are lost, but you don't realize it. A few weeks ago while I was hiking Mount Elbert in Colorado, I heard a story about a hiker who became lost while climbing Elbert, but didn't realize he was lost.
Here's what happened. This hiker started his journey by himself, right on schedule. However, he failed to return at the time he told his friends and family he would return. Naturally, his friends and family began to worry and contacted the Leadville Search & Rescue team to find him.
One of the first things the S&R team did was call this hiker's cell phone. Unfortunately, every time they tried to call him, the hiker rejected their phone call! After numerous attempts, the S&R team sent out search parties hoping to locate the lost hiker.
This search and rescue process went throughout the night, turning up no evidence of the lost hiker. Surprisingly, the next day, this lost hiker shows up at his camp...almost 24 hours late! When asked by the S&R team why he didn't answer their calls, the man replied,
"I didn't recognize the phone numbers, so I declined them."
The next day, the Search & Rescue team released this statement: If you ever find yourself lost, and an unknown number is calling you, please answer it.
Some people don't even know they are lost. They are so oblivious to the reality of their location, they literally reject God's call. Why would they respond? In their minds, they don't need help because...they aren't lost.
In Luke 15, Jesus must help a group of well meaning religious people understand that they are lost. The problem is, that even though Jesus tells them they are lost, they don't believe him. He even goes into great detail describing how much God wants to help lost people come home. Unfortunately, they decline his "phone call".
What about you? Are you lost? Is God calling you, trying to get your attention? To learn more give a listen to this sermon podcast, we know that you will find it to be helpful.
Theologian and New Testament scholar NT Wright tells this story of the time he was the campus chaplain at Worcester College in Oxford, England.
As chaplain he would make it a point to meet all the students each year. In introducing himself, a number of the students would say they probably wouldn’t be seeing much of each other because they, the student, didn’t believe in God.
Wright had a stock reply. He would ask, “Oh, and what god don’t you believe in?”
The student would give a puzzled look. So Wright would say, “Describe this god that you don’t believe in.”
So the student would describe a god who was distant and uninvolved in the goings on of earth, and who was ultimately angry and upset with people.
Wright would listen, nodding his head. And when the student was done, Wright would reply, “I’m not surprised you don’t believe in god…I don’t believe in that god either."
This simple interaction opened up a number of opportunities for NT Wright to talk about how Scripture actually describes God, and it's shockingly different then what social media, memes and TikTok describe!
How would you describe God? Unfortunately, a lot of people hold to untrue images and descriptions of God. Jesus faced this situation with a group of religious leaders.
To help reshape their view of God, he told them three paradigm changing stories about the character of God. The third story Jesus told was about a son who "spit in his Father's face" took his money and ran away, only to have his life fall apart. His life became a total wreck.
If you were the father of that son, what would you do if he wanted to come home? In this story Jesus reveals how God would respond...and it's shocking! According to Jesus, there is no evil or sin God won't forgive. What a scandalous thought!
Is that the God you know? If you want to learn more about who God is, give a listen to part two of Lost & Found.
A lot of people think they know God, but unfortunately their understanding comes more from pop culture, social media and Tik Tok. What Scripture reveals about God is so different, even shocking!
In Luke 15 Jesus experiences a similar situation. He is confronted by a group of "good guys" who are upset with Jesus because he is eating with a group of "bad guys". Their understanding of God ment that it wasn't a good thing to associate with "bad guys". Jesus tells three stories to better describe the character of God to these people and to us. Give a listen as we unpack the first two of Jesus' stories.
Unfortuantely about half way through the recording we had a slight malfunction which caused a three minute gap in the recording.
A popular comedian once said, “If money talks, all it ever says to me is good-bye!” Can you relate? With an uncertain economy looming and rising prices on just about every commodity, it probably feels like we hardly get a chance to know our paychecks before they pack their bags!
If your money could talk what would it say? What would it say about your life? Your values? Your faith?
Have you ever heard of The Ring Lady? When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, one rich young woman did not flee like most residents. She stayed behind collecting as much jewelry as she could carry rather than escape by boat. Her rings went on her fingers, she didn’t have time to pick up a bag but rushed into the street clutching her pearls and rubies, gold brooches and earrings.
Poisonous fumes overcame her, she fell and died and remained under the ashes until in 1981 archaeologists found “The Ring Lady” preserved with her hands still laden with the jewels that cost her everything to hold onto.
Whether you realize it or not, what you are holding on to tells a story about what is valuable in your life, it tells a story of your faith.
As James begins to wrap up his letter, he addresses a serious issue for the Christians he is writing to: How they are using their money is revealing their lack of faith in God. He writes these scathing words:
"You have lived luxuriously on the earth and have indulged yourselves. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter." James 5:5
The way they were using their money revealed how little faith they had in God. Instead, they were using their money in a way that demonstrated that their trust wasn't in God, but themselves. James points out the foolishness of this choice because judgement was quickly approaching, and everything would be gone. Sobering thoughts, yes?
Instead of quickly dismissing this teaching because you aren't rich, maybe take a moment and consider what your money management is saying about your faith in God. If your money could talk, what would it say?
If you want to learn a practical plan for how to grow your faith with your money, make sure and check out part nine of All Day, Every Day...we know you will find it to be very helpful!
Have you heard of the Tikker wristwatch? It's a basic wristwatch, the difference is that this watch counts down your life so you can make every second count? You answer a basic questionnaire and they deliver to you a watch that is essentially a countdown clock to when you are predicted to die. The effect is sobering, a sort of incessant grim reaper reminding you time is running out.
Tikker's inventor is a 45-year-old Swede named Fredrik Colting. He says he invented the gadget not as a morbid novelty item, but as an earnest attempt to change his own thinking. Colting, a former gravedigger, said, "The occurrence of death is no surprise to anyone, but in our modern society we rarely talk about it. I think that if we were more aware of our own expiration I'm sure we'd make better choices while we are alive." That's why he calls Tikker "the happiness watch." It's his belief that watching your life slip away will remind you to savor life while you have it.
On one hand, this may feel very depressing. Daily being reminded of our expiration date can't possibly be a source of joy. However, maybe Mr. Colting is on to something. Maybe if we realize we only have so much time left, we would actually choose to use it differently.
However, this raises an even more important question: What is the best way to use those seconds? Take a moment and consider how you would answer that question.
James points out in his letter, that there is a war of wills when it comes to how to best live out those few seconds each person is given. One option is to arrogantly choose to do what we want to do. You could phrase it this way: "My kingdom come, my will be done."
Or there is a second option. Here is how James frames it:
"If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." ~ James 4:15
Most Christians want to do God's will. The problem is, they aren't for sure what it is and are even more confused about how to live it out in their everyday life.
Do you want to learn how to take the rest of your time on earth and live it according to God's will? Make sure and check out part eight of our sermon series, All Day, Every Day...we know that you will find it to be very helpful!
In 1152 a war started between the countries of France and England, all because King Louis VII shaved his beard and refused to grow it back. Sadly this conflict, referred to as 'The War of Whiskers' raged for 301 years until peace was finally declared after the Battle of Rouen in 1453.
As one studies the countless wars and battles fought down through the ages, it doesn't take long to discover that many were instigated because of a trivial incident; a king was offended, a monarch wanted more of something, or a ruler was simply bored.
Sometimes it's kind of entertaining to poke fun at all these out of touch monarchs who stir up conflict over petty matters, until we stop and realize that our latest argument with our spouse was about where to park the car at Target! It's actually quite impressive when you stop to consider all of the trivial things people fight about.
Take a minute and consider what areas of your life are you experiencing conflict. Are you having some issues within your marriage or family? Do you sense conflict in the culture around you? Are you personally feeling conflicted about decisions or choices...or maybe even past regrets? Here's a big one to consider: Is there conflict between you and God? Are you upset about something God has or hasn't done?
If you answered, "Yes" to any or all of these scenarios, the next question is important: Where can I find peace when conflict abounds?
One of the most overlooked traits of a Christian is that of a peacemaker. Jesus said that Kingdom-citizens are peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). His brother James uses this same description in his letter:
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." ~ James 3:17-18
Does the word "peacemaker" describe you well? For most Christians, peacemaker is not in their vocabulary. Neither is living at peace in a world of conflict. It's safe to say that Christians, struggle with conflict in most every area of their lives, in fact maybe that describes you right now.
In part seven of our series through the book of James, the author not only addresses the myriad of conflicts we face, he also provides a helpful pathway to a life of peace. Do you want to learn more? Check out our worship service this Sunday and discover how to live in peace even when conflict abounds.
Did you know that the average person spends 1/5 of their lifetime talking? That is A LOT OF WORDS!
If all the words we spoke in a day were printed, on average we would fill a 50 page book EVERYDAY.
In his book, James has spent considerable time focused on our words. He challenged us to be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" James 1:19.
But it is very to do just the opposite - "to be slow to listen, quick to speak and quick to become angry."
We've all said things to people we care about that we wished we could take back. We wish we could take them back because we know that our words have the power to influence us positively or negatively..
Take a moment and ponder these two questions:
What has someone said to you that has encouraged you?
What has someone said to you that hurt or discouraged you?
Every single day, as you go about your business, you are influencing people with your words. Jesus says that our tongue is a reflect of our heart:
"A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things our of the good stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the
heart is full of. " ~ Luke 6:45 Join us this as we seek out God's wisdom on taming our tongue and transforming our heart.
When we all were growing up as children, we wanted to impress our friends, kind of show off to demonstrate our importance. Some times that would include making big claims that may or may not have been true. For instance:
"I rode my bicycle with no hands for five blocks!"
As a friend, what is the most appropriate response to such a claim? "Prove it!"
Prove it. Give me proof that you really did this incredible feat.
Another phrase we use in this age of information is "fact check." Quite literally as we watch news or listen to a communicator, we can use our devices to fact check the reliability of what is being communicated to us. It's a helpful tool when trying to filter through what is true and what is not true.
Take a moment and ponder this question: If someone asked you if you were a Christian and you said "yes", would they ask you to, "Prove it"? Or if they "fact checked you", would they find enough evidence to prove you were a Christian?
Every single day, as you go about your business, you are leaving evidence in your wake as to whether or not you are a Christian. James puts it this way:
"For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." ~ James 2:26
What's his point? Your faithfulness to Jesus is measurable. The character of our lives, the convictions with which we live, the generosity and service we show are all evidence of true faith in Jesus.
So, as you do a quick analysis of evidence, how do you think you are doing? It's a tough question to answer, isn't it? If you feel like you aren't measuring up, there's good news! We can always go back to the starting point to discover our motivation for why we decided to follow Jesus in the first place. Answer this question: Who is Jesus to you?
Now that you've answered that question, join us for part five of All Day, Every Day and we will unpack how to live out a faith that works.
There is a popular reality TV show that is garnering a lot of attention called, 'Real or Cake?' The premise of the show is quite simple, top notch pastry chefs make incredible cake masterpieces which look like regular everyday objects; shoes, plants or doorknobs...use your imagination! In many cases, the only way to tell the difference is to cut into it and take a bite!
It is really quite amazing how these cake artists can literally take such ordinary items and turn them into pastry works of art. In most cases, just by looking at a picture of the ordinary object and the cake imposter, a person can't really tell a difference, they are that good! However, this raises a great question about authenticity. If people can fake cake that well, how can we know if something is real or counterfeit? Money, clothing, shoes, cars, etc. can all be faked.
Now take a moment and ponder this question: How do you know if your faith is real or fake?
It's a good question, isn't it? Or here is another question: How am I doing on my faith journey?
One of the driving motivations for James in writing this letter is to challenge Christians to take their faith in Jesus seriously. To take one's faith seriously, there needs to be tests and measurements of progress. So throughout his letter James provides these different ways Christians can measure or test their faith journey. A perfect example of this is in the opening section of chapter two. Here's the first verse:
"My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism." ~ James 2:1
Throughout the rest of the chapter, James will lay out an argument as to why our treatment of people is directly connected to our faith in Jesus. Now, before you dismiss this test as irrelevant to your life because you treat people well, please stop and consider this question: Do you show favoritism?
To help you answer that question and to learn how to treat all people equally, make sure and join us for part four of All Day, Every Day...it's going to be good!
The Trust Fall. A simple, yet profound exercise in testing a person's faith in another. This test requires one person to face a certain direction, looking straight ahead, not looking behind them. A second person then stands directly behind the first person and tells that person to blindly fall backwards. There is always a moment of uncertainty for the first person as they slowly fall, wondering if this second person will catch them.
To up the ante, have a person stand on a chair or table, and then have a group of four or five people stand underneath them, promising to catch them. Then ask the person on the table to fall backwards! It doesn't take long to see who is trusting and who is not (or who is a bit crazy!).
Every day as we go about our lives, we are playing a form of "Trust Fall". As followers of Jesus, we know that Jesus has some very specific things to say about how to live life; he instructs on money, possessions, sexual ethics, anger, how we treat people, serving other, forgiving enemies...and many other things. The problem is that what Jesus teaches is often counter intuitive to how culture teaches us to live. So there is this moment of tension. This moment of trust. Will I do what Jesus instructs or will I do what everyone else is doing?
In this sermon we will continue with part three of our study of James. In chapter one, verse twenty-two says this:
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." ~ James 1:22
Just like The Trust Fall exercise reveals our level of faith, so do these simple yet powerful words from James. If you want to deepen your faith in Jesus, you do what he says. Do you want to learn more? Make sure and join us for another step in our series, All Day, Every Day.
No one likes taking tests. If you do, you're an anomaly (and might need prayer)! The average person doesn't like taking any tests: driving tests, heart tests, COVID tests, or ACT tests. The truth is, there are some folks, maybe even you, who suffer from extreme anxiety whenever the possibility of taking a test arises.
However, even though there is a certain amount of disdain for testing, we all agree that testing is essential. For example, you are getting ready for a major surgery. You can approach your operation with confidence if you know that your surgeon has passed all of their tests. Oh, and not just passed, but was an "A" student. If we have a choice, we want an "A" student cutting us open and not a "C" student!
Let's say you are getting on an airplane for a big trip. As you board the plane you want your pilot to be in the top of his or her class. You want to have confidence that they passed all the testing and didn't skip one requirement. It's not very comforting to think that your pilot got an "A" in take offs, but got a "D" in landings! We not only care about tests, but all agree they are essential. We just don't like to take tests when it comes to our everyday, personal lives.
God cares about you, more then you care about you. God is all in, on your maturity and character development. As the saying goes, God cares more about your character then your comfort. Most of us, unfortunately, flip the order around.
However, with character development comes...testing. In fact James says:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." ~ James 1:2-3
James says, "trials of many kinds"; there are a variety of obstacles, hardships and tests we will face on our journey of following Jesus. Yet, they are there for a reason. According to James, those tests move us towards maturity.
Most Christians don't have a maturity plan laid out for their lives. Thankfully God does! He will take whatever obstacle comes our way and provide us with the skill and resources to not only make our way through it, but in so doing--mature.
So how can a Christian embrace the hardships of life and mature in faith? That's the question we will answer this episdoe of All Day, Every Day. Don't miss it!
If you've ever gone white water rafting, you know it can be a very intimidating experience, especially the first time. A raging Rocky Mountain river is no joke! It's fast, cold and dangerous. The only way to navigate such a place is with a guide.
The rafting guides are expertly trained in their craft. They have spent countless hours on the river. Many of them could coast through the many rapids, rocks and rip currents in their sleep. In fact, they have fun names for these dangerous places. It's almost like they are meeting an old friend when they enter into "Twisted Sister" rapids! However, one is very thankful that the guides know the rapids so well. With expert precision they tell the adventurous passengers when to paddle, how many times to paddle and in what direction.
Most importantly, in case of an emergency or someone going overboard, these guides are expert lifesavers...moving with precision to make a life saving grab in the blink of an eye! What few people realize is that before anyone can be a rafting guide, they must travel the watery path with only a life jacket and wet suit! Simply put, these guides know their stuff and are more then capable of getting their passengers safely through the treacherous course.
Life is a lot like a raging river! It's full of ups and downs and harrowing twists and turns. There are stretches of calm water, however, that's not the norm. Unsuspectingly around the corner one finds the crazy rapids of financial stress, relational conflict or just disappointment slamming people into rocks or pulling them under the waves. How is one supposed to navigate life well with such turbulence? We need a guide; someone who has gone before us. One who knows the way well.
In this sermon we begin a journey through the New Testament book of James. In it James will point out that there is a way to live life well, all day and everyday...even if it feels like "raging white water". However to begin the journey of a life well live, we have to answer one important question: Who will be our guide?
Do you want to learn more? Make sure and join us on this very helpful, yet challenging journey of becoming like Jesus in every aspect of our lives.
Two years ago I was able to travel to Israel and visit a number of significant places we read about in the Bible. On my last day in Jerusalem, our group visited the Garden Tomb site (pictured below). It's the place which best matches the description given to us in John's gospel as to where the body of Jesus was buried.
When we first arrived, I was surprised by two things; the number of people in attendance, and secondly, the diversity of those people. There were people from every continent on earth gathered as one group near the Garden Tomb. At one point I was able to hear multiple languages singing worship songs to Jesus, it was truly a small glimpse of Heaven!
Why were we all there? We wanted to see the empty tomb of Jesus (and I can verify, it was empty)! My brothers and sisters from every corner of the planet and myself know this simple truth: Our faith in Jesus is built entirely upon his resurrection from the dead. I could walk away from the Garden Tomb with added boldness, courage and devotion because my savior lives!
Why does this matter? There continues to be a growing wave of skepticism regarding the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Smart, intelligent, and sophisticated influencers continue to share their skepticism as to why it's silly to believe that dead people rise from the dead. This then raises a very relevant question, which many people, maybe even you, wrestles with: Can a reasonable, rationale person believe that Jesus rose from the dead?
In this sermon we will talk about how history provides us with ample evidence to believe that Jesus of Nazareth not only died on a cross, but rose from the dead! And because of these facts, our lives can be transformed forever.
Have you ever had one of those days when you just aren't feeling it? You need to go to the gym, but the flannel sheets feel so much better, so you snuggle down and hit snooze. It's time to go to work, but you're just not feeling it, so you call in sick. Or maybe it's Sunday morning. You should go to the worship service at church, but it's cold and rainy, and you're feeling a bit down...so because you're not feeling it you stay at home.
Listen, we've all had those moments when we just aren't "feeling it." However, there is something significant we need to realize when we skip out on life, just because we aren't "feeling it": We miss out on experiencing God's blessing!
Just take a moment and think about those moments when you did something you didn't feel like doing, only to be pleasantly surprised or even shocked about how God worked. Instead of hitting snooze, you go to the gym and crush a PR you never thought you could hit. Instead of calling in sick, you go to work and make a connection which leads to a promotion. Or instead of skipping worship service, you attend and are reminded of how much God has blessed you! To experience God's blessing, often times we have to do things we don't feel like doing.
For the last 14 weeks we have been studying the Psalms of Ascent; learning how to take faithful steps of obedience on our long journey of following Jesus. The last psalm (Psalm 134) kind of seems a bit off at first glance. One would expect the conclusion to be this huge, big, grandiose worship song (you know, like the Hallelujah Chorus) but it's not. It's different.
However, at a second glance, Psalm 134 is the perfect conclusion to a long pilgrimage of tired worshippers who aren't "feeling it". They are ready to check into the Marriott and ice their feet and prepare to "feel it" the next day. Yet, they ignore their feelings, and tell their muscles to go...and in a shocking turn of events they are not only reminded of God's blessings, they experience his blessings as well!
Do you want to learn more about how to overcome your feelings and continue your journey of becoming like Jesus? Make sure and to part 15 of Long Obedience in the Same Direction, we know that you will find it to be very helpful!
In January I was visiting my son Alex in Colorado. Being the adventurous type, he wanted to take me on a hike in the mountains. Of course, who was I to turn down a fun alpine excursion? It happened to be snowing a bit, but after a few miles of driving we found a trail to ascend.
Everything started off wonderfully, it was like walking in a Narnian winter wonderland...however things quickly began to change as this flatlander started to breathe in the oxygen thin air. Each step became more and more labor intense. It got to the point where I had to intentionally tell my legs to keep moving. I was ready to tap out!
Do you know what kept me going? Alex and his encouragement and slight deception (I heard, "Just a little bit further" for at least an hour) kept me trudging along, putting one foot in front of the other. I pressed on until we finally reached the summit, where I was able to behold a picturesque scene of a beautiful valley and meadow, with massive snow flakes falling in the air!
Here's the important truth: I never would have accomplished that adventure on my own. I needed a partner, a companion to help me reach the destination. Life is best lived, together.
On this journey of following Jesus, it's fascinating how we make it about our personal, individualistic, relationship with Jesus. We give people space and let them figure out and wrestle with their faith because we don't want to interfere or be a bother. However, to be a disciple of Jesus not only implies, but requires us to walk the journey with someone else. Why is that? We follow Jesus better together. We overcome obstacles better together. We reach our destination better together.
This shouldn't surprise us! The Bible is full of examples of how we best experience God together in community. On Sunday, we will take a look at one of those in examples in Psalm 133, where the psalmist simply says:
"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!" ~ Psalm 133:1
Such goods words for a time such as this. A time when more things divide and separate us. A season where we isolate ourselves in front of screens. A period of history where more people then ever are struggling with isolation and loneliness. How can we overcome the divisions, the isolation and experience the blessings of living as a united people pursuing Jesus?
To learn more, make sure and listen as we continue with part 14 of Long Obedience in the Same Direction, we know that you will find it to be very helpful!
Sometimes teachers ask their students to do difficult, strange, even unorthodox things. In the cult classic movie Karate Kid (and current reboot, Cobra Kai) we meet a gangly NJ teenager named Daniel LaRusso, transplanted to Southern California. He's trying to fit it, but of course there are the bullies, in this case a dojo of karate thugs who constantly harass Daniel. Along comes the apartment complex custodian Mr. Miyagi, who also just happens to be a karate master. Mr. Miyagi befriends Daniel and agrees to train the eager teenager.
In his first few days of "training" Daniel sands a deck, paints a fence and waxes cars. For obvious reasons, he becomes angry with his teacher for his lack of teaching...only to find out that in those manual labor jobs he has in fact been learning karate.
From that point forward Daniel learns to trust and be obedient to his sensei's unorthodox, sometimes even unreasonable teaching methods. It doesn't make sense, but because it's Mr. Miyagi, he does it. (To see what happens you need to watch the movie!) As we read through the Bible, God asks his people to do difficult, even unreasonable things (circumcision anyone?) He doesn't do it because he's mean or angry, he does it because he cares about his people.
The same is true of Jesus. He legitimately asks his followers to do preposterous things; loving their enemies, selling their possessions, hating their families, and even taking up their crosses to follow him! Is Jesus just being mean? Is he trying to put people in their place? Or is it simply the fact that Jesus cares about what his followers become? He wants to transform his followers into a new kind of people. However, for there to be transformation there must first be obedience.
In Psalm 132 there is a pivotal verse (vs 12) which points the reader to the importance of obedience and how it shapes our story as God's people. If you want to learn how obedience can shape your story, give a listen to this sermon as we continue with part 13 of Long Obedience in the Same Direction, we know that you will find it to be very helpful!
One of the hardest things to see in a mirror...is yourself. Oh, you can see the light rays reflecting back your image, but it's incredibly difficult to see the real you. Here's why: humans typically have an over inflated view of themselves. In a fascinating Washington Post article, author Nitin Nohria writes about how You're Not As Virtuous As You Think.
"Moral overconfidence is in line with what studies find to be our generally inflated view of ourselves. We rate ourselves as above average drivers, investors and employees, even though math dictates that can't be true for all of us. We also tend to believe we are less likely than the typical person to exhibit negative qualities and to experience negative life events: to get divorced, become depressed or have a heart attack."
Why does any of this matter in regards to our Christian faith? The truth is, you are more then likely inflating your success in regards to your discipleship journey. Is that hard to hear? Probably, no one likes to be told the truth. However, there is an attitude we can all take which not only helps us hear the truth, but also positions us to grow in our faith. What is this attitude? Humility.
Humility. The ability to put aside pride and ego...and listen to the truth. Humility, having the guts to admit you're wrong and want to change. Humility, a desire to put the needs of others above ahead of yours. Humility can literally change your life, yet it's so hard to implement.
"Ego builds a cardboard fortress that humility must, every day tear down." ~ Frederica Mathewes, The Jesus Prayer
How can we begin to "tear down our cardboard fortress" and continue the journey of true life change? Psalm 131 zeros in on the importance of humility, but also the powerful result of practicing it in our lives. If you're ready to take another step towards humility, make sure and listen to part 12 of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
Sometimes on this journey of following Jesus, we get stuck in cycles of hurt, habits and hang ups. It can happen as we battle our habitual sin which feels like we can never break free from. It happens when we have a close family member who just continues to make bad decision after bad decision and it hurts us every time. It happens when we simply feel like a failure in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. It's as if our life seems like it's stuck in a deep pit of despair.
If you've ever been in that pit, or maybe if you find yourself in that pit right now, you know how debilitating it can be to your discipleship journey. There is a sense of resignation, that life will always be this way...that things will never change.
When you're stuck in a pit, the one thing that can help get you through another day is hope---hope that things will finally change. Hope that someone is going to reach down and pull you up out of the pit!
Human beings can live for forty days without food, four days without water, and four minutes without air. But humans cannot live for four seconds without hope. It is quite amazing what people are able to endure when they have just a little bit of hope.
Psalm 130 is all about hope, written to a people who found themselves in a pit of despair. If you need a dose of hope and want to learn more, make sure and listen to this sermon as we continue with part 11 of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
Humans are notorious for not finishing what we started. For example, how are those New Year's resolutions going? Exactly, we don't want to talk about it! Yet, it begs this question: Why is it so hard to finish the things we start? Think of all the projects that are waiting for your attention: the stamp collection, scrap books, sewing projects or the car you've been meaning to restore. There's the guitar in the corner of your room or the tread mill you now use to dry your clothes. The list could go on and on! If it's starting to get personal, don't take it that way...all humans do it. We are good at starting things, it's just the finish that's so hard. However, here's the hard truth we all need to acknowledge: It's not how you start, it's how you finish.
The Christian faith falls into the same discussion. In some regards, it could be said that starting the journey of following Jesus is the easy part. When we recognize our need for a savior and Jesus is the one who loved us and died for our sins, who doesn't want that kind of savior? The hard part is staying faithful to Jesus over the long haul, especially when we begin to face obstacles, struggles and worst of all persecution. We've all had those moment when we questioned our decision to follow Jesus, those moments when it was just too hard, too frustrating or too painful because of the opposition. Maybe that is the place you find yourself right now. So how do we persevere and actually finish the journey well, especially when things get hard? If there was ever a people group who understood the struggle of opposition and persecution it was Israel. Psalm 129 focuses in on the journey of being God's people and facing severe persecution, here's a powerful metaphor for the affliction they faced:
"Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long." ~ Psalm 129:3 That's an image that's easy to understand...and feel! So what can we learn from this psalm to help us persevere in our relationship with Jesus? How can we not only have a strong start to our journey of following Jesus, but also endure to finish well? To learn more, listen to part 10 of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
How do you pursue happiness? This is a big deal that needs to be figured out because evidently, one of our purposes in life is to pursue and find happiness. It’s such a big deal that Thomas Jefferson, the main author of the Declaration of Independence embedded it into this revolutionary document. If you have forgotten, this is what is says:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
So do you think Jefferson was just randomly grabbing three things to throw in at the end? According to his statement, he believed that these three rights came from God, going as far as saying it's "self-evident" (obvious) that God gives us the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
How does one pursue happiness? Well, in our culture there are a number of seemingly legitimate options. One really doesn't need to list them or describe them because most of you have given them a test drive or you're on a particular happiness path right now. The better question might be, how's it going? Experiencing happiness?
Here's one other question to consider: Is it possible to pursue God and find happiness?
In this series we have been talking about the journey of discipleship; following Jesus, being transformed by Jesus and on mission with Jesus. We've talked about the ups and downs, the commitment, and obedience, but there's an elephant in the room that needs to be addressed; does following Jesus make one happy?
In this episode we will take a look at Psalm 128 and see if a life committed to pursuing the LORD actually makes people happy. Do you want to learn more? Make sure and listen to this sermon as we take another step on our journey of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
Would you consider yourself a "DIY" expert? Do you love watching all the fixer upper episodes on HGTV? I have to admit that I'm not a "DIY" expert, I'm a "can someone help me" expert when it comes to home improvement projects.
In this sermon, we will take a look at Psalm 127, as we continue the journey toward Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
We will look at how God desires us to weave him into the fabric of our homes, communities, work and children. Discipleship isn't design to just happen on Sunday mornings.
There is the temptation for us to try to just work harder and spend more time to pursue success, both personal and professionally...but without God actively involved it will be in vain.
Do you want to learn more about how to weave God into every area of your life? Check out part eight of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
Humans are "wired" to experience joy. What exactly is joy you ask? Joy is the emotion evoked by well being, success, good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. So take a moment and consider this: When was last time you experienced joy?
In 2018 a report came out stating that the life expectancy of Americans dropped for the second year in a row. In a surprising statement from Dr. Steven Woolf, a co-author of this report, there were two causes for this drop: the opioid crisis and despair. Simply put, Americans weren't finding much joy in living.
We were created for joy, yet most people weren't finding it. One of the reasons is because so many folks have become dependent on supplementing with "cheap joy".
"Cheap joy" can be found in a number of places, for example there is joy found in purchasing that item you have been dreaming about, and it's all fine and good until the credit card bill comes the following month. There is joy found in having a favorite sports team that wins the big game...only to have them lose every game the next seasons. There is joy found in beginning a new relationship with someone who "checks all the boxes", until they turn out to be a jerk!
If our only source of joy can be so fickle, no wonder people find themselves constantly dealing with hurts, habits and hang ups! So where do we find our joy? Is it possible that the one who created us, can also supply us with joy?
In Psalm 126, the psalmist focuses in on the ebb and flow of joy as God's people pursue him. Sometimes the joy is overwhelming, like a dream. In other seasons, the joy is absent, like walking through a desert. Following God is literally like a roller coaster, but here's the strange paradox of joy: it's best experienced after a season of struggle.
So here is what we learn, no matter what season of life you find yourself in, trust in the Lord...and the joy will come.
"The LORD had done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." ~ Psalm 126:3 Do you want to learn more about how this can work in your life? Give a listen to part seven of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
In 1887, Anthony Showalter's hymn, "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" was first published. This steadfast song has a familiar and comforting line in the chorus:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms
The main idea is that when we put our faith in Jesus, we are safe and secure. It's an interesting lyric considering all of the Christians who have been martyred because they follow Jesus. It actually seems a bit misleading, unless we are talking about a different type of "security."
Every Christian has had a misstep in their lives; a moment of failure, sin or doubt. In those moments there is a thought: "Have I messed up so bad that God's done with me?" Or maybe a more theological way of saying it is this: "How do I know my faith is secure?"
If you have ever watched a rock climber, there are definitely moments where your heartbeats a bit faster. You see how precarious their situation is; how one misstep or slip could cost them their lives. This is why climbers are hooked into a safety rope. As they make their way up the rock face, they will stop and hook into a crack or crevice...or manually drill a bolt into the rock. They do this so if they do make a mistake, they won't fall very far--they are safe and secure from all alarms.
In Psalm 125, the psalmist is reminding God's people that in the ups and downs of their journey with God, they are safe and secure. Here is what he writes:
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. Do you want to learn more about the security God provides? Make sure and listen to this sermon as we take another step on our journey of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
No matter how well you prepare and plan for a road trip, you still can't stop the hazards of the road. Unpredicted thunderstorms, road construction, pot holes, bad drivers and flat tires are all a harsh reminder that life happens. That's such an odd phrase, "Life happens." What does that even mean? It simply means that life is composed of good times and bad times and we all intuitively know it. So, if life happens is a thing, that means you better have road side assistance!
A life devoted to following Jesus is much the same. There will be days that are relatively free of difficult circumstances--and then there will be days where that is all you experience. If we are paying attention, Jesus even said as much:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ~ John 16:33
An immediate question arises from Jesus' poignant statement; "What is the point of following Jesus if it guarantees trouble? That's a fair question indeed. So what is the answer? Maybe the answer comes by first acknowledging that every road in life will have trouble (life happens). So by deciding to follow Jesus we are choosing the path where roadside assistance is provided. Simply put: When life happens, Jesus will help you.
In Psalm 124 we find King David writing a song about how God has helped his people in the past. David does this because when the hazards of life spring upon people, they typically want to give up in despair as opposed to remembering the past; all of the times when God faithfully helped. Remembering how God has helped us in the past gives us the hope we need to live with confidence that God will help us when the next "flat tire" comes along.
Do you want to learn more about how you can learn to trust God and experience his help? Make sure and listen in as we take another step on our journey of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
If you live in America, you probably consider yourself free. In many ways, you are correct. When compared with other political regimes around the world, the protected rights you have in this country are unlike any other country on the planet.
However, technically you're not free. You see, everyone has a master. So you may be free to do whatever you want today, yet at some point your master is going to come calling, whether it's your boss at work, the pile of bills on your table, or the IRS from that "free" country you live in. Everyone has a master.
Maybe your master is the TV show you binge, or the food you crave, or the caffeine/sugar you must consume. You will do whatever it takes to have it, whether it means rearranging your schedule or spending money you don't have.
There are some masters you serve that are destructive. They may not feel that way initially, however once hooked they have a way of enslaving you; alcohol, a wide variety of drugs, pornography, even abusive relationships. Here's the point: We all have masters. We need to choose our masters well. Psalm 123 is a Psalm that reflects back on all of the masters Israel has had in their past; Pharaoh, Assyria, and Babylon just to name a few. These masters oppressed God's people, were arrogant and contemptuous towards them. Yet, despite their struggle, they chose to "lift up their eyes" to the Lord. In other words, they chose to seek and serve Him, why? They chose to serve God because he was merciful towards them.
How are we to break free from our "masters"? We must choose everyday to serve God and live in the mercy He provides. Do you want to learn more? Give a listen to part four on our journey of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
A young, strapping lad decided he wanted to be a lumber jack. His first day on the job he gets up early, grabs his axe and heads to the job site before the other men, to get a head start. His first day on the job he amazingly fells twenty trees!
The next day we wants to do even more, so he gets up even earlier and heads out to improve his output. However, this day is much different. He only drops fifteen trees. He's not sure what went wrong.
On the third day, the young lumber jack is determined to get back to his first day achievement and he throws every ounce of strength into his task. Yet, he still comes up short...but by a lot! He is only able to chop down ten trees. The disappointment overwhelms him and he is ready to quite.
A grizzled old veteran sees the disappointment on the young jack's face and he pulls him aside for a teaching moment. The old veteran says;
"Youngster, while you're out here bright and early whacking away at these here trees, the rest of us are in the workshop sharpening our axes. It's really hard to get much done if our tools aren't sharp!"
From that day forward, the young lumber jack made sure his axe was razor sharp before he went to work.
A lot of folks, maybe even you, head off into a new work week full of hopes, goals and dreams only to find your efforts squashed by Wednesday. Others of you may have thought that your faith journey of following Jesus would look a lot different by now. You work so hard, you do your best, but you just seem to come up short.
Question. Are you sharpening your faith? To achieve our hopes and dreams, to grow in our relationship with Jesus we need to be intentional about sharpening our faith. According to Psalm 122, this happens when we worship together as God's people.
There are a lot of reasons, and excuses people give for not coming to Sunday morning worship services. It's unfortunate because they are missing out on an essential discipline in living life to the fullest. In this episode, we will talk about how weekly community worship sharpens our lives and our faith. Don't miss out on part three of Long Obedience in the Same Direction!
Have you ever been on a trip and have a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. The next thing that you’re probably thinking is where am I going to find help all the way out here.
We have to ask for help a lot of times throughout our life. Parenting kids, dealing with finances, dealing with loss and navigating difficulties in our relationships with others.
We also need help as we journey in our relationship with Jesus.
Our biggest struggle is that sometimes we become disappointed, worried about the dangers and distracted that we don’t seek out the one who is ready to help.
In this sermon we will continue our long journey in the same direction, by examining where the Psalmist gets his help from as we study Psalm 121.
We love things that are hand crafted and skillfully designed; built to last. Our favorite foods are slow roasted and aged to perfection. The best things in life take time.
The journey of becoming like Jesus is the same; slow aged, hand crafted, skillfully designed and built to last. A life of faithful faith takes time. It's unfortunate, but some think that a faithful Christian life can be quickly replicated much like the meal one cooks in the microwave.
As Jesus himself pointed out in the parable of the sower, seed that falls on rocky soil springs up rapidly...but quickly withers when the hot sun comes out, because there are no roots. Developing roots, takes time. So, here's the truth: If you want to go where God is leading you in 2022, you need to commit to a long journey of obedience to Jesus.
In Jesus' day, a faithful Jew would strive to take three trips to Jerusalem to visit the temple; the Feast of Passover in the spring, the Feast of Pentecost in the early summer, and the Feast of Tabernacles in the autumn.
To appreciate this journey of worship, one must understand the topography of Israel. Whenever someone traveled to Jerusalem they literally traveled up. The city, and specifically the Temple was one of the highest points in the land. So to help them on their journey up to the Temple they had a series of Psalms they would sing called The Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134). These psalms not only gave them something to sing while they traveled, but each psalm reminded them of their journey of faithfully following God.
In this brand new series for 2022 we are using these 15 psalms of ascent. Each week we will focus on one truth we need to be obedient to on our journey of becoming like Jesus. Do you want to learn more? Give a listen as we begin a journey of long obedience in the same direction.
The early church often referred to Jesus as "The Good Shepherd". They saw Jesus in the beautiful and powerful words of Psalm 23. It's not hard to argue with their observation! We are like sheep who seem to continually find ourselves in trouble...we need a good shepherd to save us.
In this sermon podcast, our guest preacher Alex Steele will walk through this favorite Psalm to remind us that following Jesus is the best way to live life, even when we walk through the "valley of the shadow of death." You don't want to miss out on this helpful teaching!
Imagine for one moment that a VIP is coming to visit you, in your home! You have one day to prepare, what do you do? Cleaning, organizing, and maybe even some redecorating. Why all the effort? Simply put, when someone of worth stops for a visit, we want to honor them.
For almost as long as the Church has been around, it has been celebrating advent. Advent comes from the Latin word, adventus and it simply means coming. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Christians would focus on different spiritual disciplines to prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus.
One of the disciplines they would practice is that of worship. For most Christians in the United States, worship has a very narrow definition; a song we sing during a corporate worship service. The experience of worship is then usually connected to how the song service makes us feel. Unfortunately, this is a very narrow understanding of worship.
Worship as described in Scripture has a much broader definition. For example, one of the most frequent descriptions for worship is to bow down. If something is worthy of worship, we bow down or prostrate ourselves in humility and reverence to it. We don't see that very often during our worship services!
So what's the point? If we want to experience our best Christmas ever, it's going to start with a broader practice of worship.
In this sermon we will study a beautiful worship song written by Jesus' mother Mary. We can learn a lot from her example. She's preparing for the arrival of Jesus, and to get ready, she worships! If you are want to have the best Christmas ever, it's time to prepare...it's time to worship. Do you want to learn more about how to broaden your spiritual discipline of worship? Don't miss out on part one of Advent ~ Preparing for Christmas.
What do successful athletes, musicians, authors, entrepreneurs, and leaders have in common? The are disciplined. They have strong, clear principles that they follow, and they discipline themselves to stay on "on course" to reach their desired destinations.
It's interesting how when Christians talk about discipline, it's almost perceived as being a dirty word. "Oh, we are saved by grace...so just believe in your heart." One kind of gets the sense that following Jesus is a random thought or feeling as opposed to a person one must discipline themselves to pursue!
Let's not kid ourselves, being devoted to Jesus and living as his disciple is the most difficult thing a person will ever do! The adventure of becoming like Jesus requires people to literally "swim against" the powerful current of the American culture. Following Jesus takes practice and hard work!
To help us on this daunting task, Jesus has gifted us spiritual disciplines; habits, practices and experiences that are designed to develop, grow and strengthen one's faith and dependence on God. Some of these spiritual disciplines include, prayer, generosity, service, fasting, and solitude. These disciplines, when practiced on a regular basis, provide the practice and exercise needed to develop people's faith.
The apostle Paul when coaching Timothy makes this same comparison between physical and spiritual disciplines. He writes:
"Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." ~ 1 Timothy 4:7-8
In this sermon we will continue our study of the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting by looking at what Jesus teaches about how to practice fasting. The goal of this sermon will be to help each person to develop a plan that works best for their life situation. If you are looking to deepen your dependence upon Jesus, and strengthen your faith, don't miss part four of Less of Me ~ More of Him!
Theologian, author and pastor Dallas Willard makes this thought provoking statement:
"It is left unexplained how it is possible that one can rely on Christ for the next life without doing so for this one, trust him for one's eternal destiny without trusting him for 'the things that related to Christian life.' Is this really possible? Surely it is not! Not within one life." ~ Dallas Willard
All Christians trust Jesus to carry them into eternity. Why don't we trust him when it comes to living our everyday lives? The Gospels are full of teachings, instructions and examples from Jesus himself on how to live life to the full. A couple prime examples would be the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. For the typical Christian prayer is something done before meals, at church or when life feels like it's falling apart. Fasting? Fasting is viewed as ancient, archaic, and really having no relevance to the life of the Christian in the modern world.
Here's the problem with that line of thinking: Jesus instructs us to pray and to fast. So we circle back to Dallas Willard's statement. How can we trust Jesus with out eternity but not our everyday lives?
In this sermon we are going to continue to "unfurl the sails" of our lives by studying what Jesus and Scripture teaches us about fasting. You will be surprised how this ancient spiritual discipline has a very real application to our everyday rhythm of following Jesus. Do you want to learn more? Make sure and join us this Sunday as we continue with part three of Less of Me ~ More of Him.
Have you ever been on a sailing boat? Not only are they amazing, they're extremely complex vessels. They have their own set of directions; aft, bow, port, starboard, leeward and windward. Even operating the ship comes with a wide vocabulary of terms; boom, rudder, tacking and jibing...just to name a few. Let's just say that a landlubber isn't boarding a sailboat and soloing around the world!
Not only is there a unique set of terms, it requires practice and hard work. Take a few minutes and watch a YouTube instructional video on the ins and outs of operating the sailing gear--it's not easy. However, when it's mastered, there's nothing quite like harnessing the ocean winds to fly across the waves!
Last episode we discussed how the spiritual discipline of prayer is like "raising the sails" or our lives to grab hold of the power of God available to guide and direct our lives. In the same way as a landlubber needs a lot of practice and hard work before he or she can master sailing, the discipline of prayer requires practice, determination and grit. Simply put, the practice of prayer requires practice!
In this sermon we will revisit the model prayer; a templet provided by Jesus to his disciples. He did this so that they would have a plan to practice, and in so doing develop strong prayer "muscles". Do you want to learn more? Make sure and listen to part two of Less of Me ~ More of Him.
We've all seen a sailboat. It's such a common part of culture that even children's books talk about sailboats. However, there was a time when there were no sailboats. Before the technology of sails, people were left to either ride the currents or power their boats with oars or paddles. Talk about exhausting work!
Then one day someone invented a way to catch the power of wind. Using a mast, rigging and massive tarps, sailors were able to harness a power source that was readily available on the open seas. With this amazing innovation, global travel became possible and the world began to change.
Is there teaching point for the Christian to learn from? Is there an invisible power, readily available to every follower of Christ? Lastly, is there a way to capture this power to help direct the lives of people?
The answer to all those questions is a resounding, "Yes!" On Sunday we will begin a brand new sermon series specifically targeted at learning to " raise our sails". Jesus on multiple occasions talked about how prayer and fasting were ways in which we can connect to God in a powerful and meaningful way. What Jesus stressed more then anything was that our Heavenly Father wants to provide his people with wisdom, direction and power. However, according to Jesus, the problem is that people didn't take the time to ask.
Do you want to "raise the sails" in your life? Make sure and listen to this new sermon series, Less of Me ~ More of Him.
Think of someone you do not like. A person who is difficult to be around. Or maybe someone who is simply an enemy. Do you have someone pictured in your mind?
Now think about this: God loves them. Not only does God love them, he wants what is best for them.
How does that make you feel? It most certainly stirs up a lot of emotions; betrayal, hurt, anger and probably a myriad of others.
So what are we to do with these feelings? How are we to respond?
Two of Jesus' most difficult teachings are these: love your enemies & forgive those who sin against you.
Why would Jesus even teach these things? He teaches them because at the very center of the Gospel is this powerful truth: Jesus loved and forgave his enemies. If we are to be faithful followers of Jesus, we need to not only embrace his example, but we need to live it out in our own lives and for our enemies.
At the conclusion of Jonah, there rests a powerful teaching as to why we are to forgive our enemies. You see when we extend grace and forgiveness to our enemies, it changes us, it changes them, and most importantly, it connects us to God.
Do you want to learn how? Join us for the challenging conclusion of Jonah, the story of you.
Isn't interesting how we all love justice, until we find ourselves on the "hot seat". When someone commits a horrendous wrong, we often want them prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. When we find ourselves in a similar situation we plead for grace.
A great example of this is in our driving. When someone is driving too slow, we get frustrated and blurt out as we race around them,
"Speed up you slow poke!"
However, if someone flies by our vehicle we mutter under our breathe,
"What a manic! They're going to kill someone!"
Isn't it amazing how our true selves are exposed while we are behind the wheel? Humans, we're a funny hypocritical bunch, is there a solution to this problem?
There is this beautiful word that can give us all hope: repentance. The Hebrew word for repentance that is used in Jonah chapter three means this: to walk down a road only to discover it's the wrong way, and then turn around and go in the right direction. Simple. Clear. Healing.
However here is the rub for all of us: when confronted with the truth, are we willing to humble ourselves and admit that we are wrong...or will we continue to stubbornly travel in the wrong direction? Join us for part four of Jonah, the story of you, and learn how to listen to the truth and then have the courage to change.
On June 11, 2021, veteran lobster diver Michael Packard found himself completely inside a humpback whale. Here's a few excerpts from the Cape Cod Times story:
"In something truly biblical, Packard was swallowed whole by a humpback whale.
*“All of a sudden, I felt this huge shove and the next thing I knew it was completely black,” Packard recalled Friday afternoon following his release from Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis.
Initially, Packard thought he was inside a great white shark, but he couldn’t feel any teeth and he hadn’t suffered any obvious wounds. It quickly dawned on him that he had been swallowed by a whale.*
“I was completely inside; it was completely black,” Packard said. “I thought to myself, ‘there’s no way I’m getting out of here. I’m done, I’m dead.’ All I could think of was my boys — they’re 12 and 15 years old.”
What an amazing story! The one line we all can relate to was the last quote from Michael Packard, "All I could think of was my boys."
Here's an important takeaway for all of us when it comes to the struggles of life: In our darkest, most difficult moments, our focus quickly shifts to what is most valuable in life.
For Jonah to awaken to what was most valuable in life, God sent a giant fish to swallow him! For many this would be labeled a tragedy, or vengeance, or punishment. In Jonah's case, this great fish is an act of mercy. God could have let Jonah sink to the bottom of the sea and perish. However, God, who is rich in mercy, commands a fish to consume Jonah. How is that mercy? Here's a definition of mercy: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
God showed compassion by sending a fish. Sometimes, our darkest valleys, or most difficult struggles is God's way of showing mercy. Do you want to learn more? Give a listen to part three of Jonah ~ The Story of You.
We all do weird things while we sleep. Some of us snore. Some, talk in our sleep. Some are violent sleepers, throwing the covers all over the place. Some of you may even be sleep walkers. Sleepwalking is a very strange phenomena, yet somewhat common.
Sleepwalking occurs when you get up from bed and walk around even though you are still asleep. It can also involve a series of other complex actions. Before walking, you might sit up in bed and look around in a confused manner. At other times, you may bolt from the bed and walk or run away. You may be frantic to escape from a threat that you dreamed or imagined.
You might talk or shout as you are walking. Your eyes are usually open and have a confused, “glassy” look to them. You might begin doing routine daily actions that are not normally done at night.
Sometimes, sleepwalking involves actions that are crude, strange, or in the wrong place. This might include using a trash can as a toilet, moving furniture around, or climbing out of a window. It can also result in hostile and violent behavior although this is rare.
In rare cases, a patient will get in the car and drive away. He or she might even go for a very long distance. Adults might dream or hallucinate while they sleepwalk. Some people will eat. Here’s what’s so crazy about sleepwalking, you can potentially do all of this activity and yet not remember one single thing. Completely oblivious to what just happened.
As we study the book of Jonah, what we discover is that believers in God can find themselves "spiritually sleepwalking"; going through religious routines, acting strangely, but completely oblivious to what God is doing all around them. On first glance, most would say, "Well, that's not happening in my life! I'm not sleep walking spiritually."
However, if you are "sleepwalking" you wouldn't even know...would you? Here's the truth: Most Christians are "spiritually sleepwalking" regarding some part of their lives.
On Sunday we will discover how God's grace "crashes our slumber" and awakens us to the life he wants to give! Do you want to learn more? Give a listen to part two of Jonah ~ The Story of You.
When I first started youth ministry there was a family in the church who had three young kids. The middle child was named Danny and he was about four years old. Danny was one of those kids who did the exact opposite of what his parents asked; stop was go, be quite was yell, and clean up was make a mess. We all know the type!
One day after church, we were walking along a very busy street with Danny and his family when Danny took off down the street racing towards a busy intersection. Danny's parents yelled, "Stop!" Right on cue, Danny ran even faster!
In that scenario, we must stop and ask a question: Who knows what's best for Danny? Who knows the best way for Danny to live life?
Here's the truth, obedience is hard! Whether it's our parents, or God it always feels like someone is trying to "rain on our parade" and ruin our life. But what if we don't know what's best for our life? What if we are literally running from life into destruction? Here is a truth we all must consider - Obedience to God leads to life.
In this sermon we begin a journey into the Old Testament book of Jonah. It's unfortunate that so many people skim over Jonah because they simply think it's all about a a dude being swallowed by a big fish. The truth is Jonah is about finding life! The reason we are going to focus so intently on this overlooked Old Testament book is because what we will discover is that Jonah's story is really our story. And that just like Jonah, many of us are running from life because we don't want to do what God is calling us to do.
Do you want to learn more? Or maybe you want to find out what happened to Danny as he raced toward the intersection? Give a listen to this teaching as we discover how God wants to bring life into your story!
Here is a summary of a book written by Michael Easter called, The Comfort Crisis:
"In many ways, we’re more comfortable than ever before. But could our sheltered, temperature-controlled, overfed, underchallenged lives actually be the leading cause of many our most urgent physical and mental health issues? In this gripping investigation, award-winning journalist Michael Easter seeks out off-the-grid visionaries, disruptive genius researchers, and mind-body conditioning trailblazers who are unlocking the life-enhancing secrets of a counterintuitive solution: discomfort."
Discomfort. It's a word no one likes to think about, let alone embrace. Yet, discomfort is essential in the life of a disciple of Jesus. Here's a simple verse from the gospel of Mark which shows why discomfort is part of following Jesus.
"And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ~ Mark 1:17
A disciple is one who is devoted to following Jesus, being transformed by Jesus, and on mission with Jesus. The being transformed by Jesus is rarely, if every a comfortable process. In fact, if one studies the gospels and reads about Jesus transforming his disciples, the most pivotal moments are times of discomfort; times when he took them into storms.
So what does this mean for us? Is it possible that we've become too comfortable as Christians? We've gone to great lengths to makes things so easy and accessible, but is is possible that all of these comforts have kept us from transformation? To grow as a disciple of Jesus means we have to walk into uncomfortable places...maybe even a storm. You see Jesus is an off-the-grid visionary, a disruptive genius researcher, and a mind-body conditioning trailblazer who can unlock the life-enhancing secret to life...by following him wherever he leads--even into a storm!
In this sermon we will take a look at two "storms" Jesus leads his disciples into, so they can understand what it means live life on mission with Jesus. Don't miss out on this very thought provoking and challenging teaching!
In North America, we have this amazing and unique animal that is found found nowhere else in the world, it's the bison (not buffalo). If you have a few minutes, do some research on these amazing creatures! One of the things that quickly stands out when you look at a bison is it's body appears to be disproportionate. The bison's head, neck and shoulders are so massive, thick with muscle. However, to look at their hind quarters it appears there is hardly anything there. They look like a body builder that skipped leg day! Why do you think God created them with such fascinating characteristics? Here are a few reasons why:
"Bison are naturally hardy. The modern bison, and the grasses native to the North American ecosystem, evolved in tandem over eons. The American bison is at home in a wide variety of climates across the continent. The biological makeup of the animal equips it to thrive in winter storms and summer heat. While bison are similar in some ways to cattle, there are significant differences. For example, bison will turn into a snow storm rather than drifting with the wind because they instinctively know that walking into the storm will get them out of the weather quicker. Their massive heads serve as a type of snowplow; by swinging their head to and fro, the animal can sweep away deep snow to find forage below."
Did you catch that part about walking into the storm? Bison are built to take things head on! They instinctively know that when a storm comes, the best strategy is to walk right into it. It makes one wonder, maybe followers of Jesus can learn a thing or two from the bison.
The human default position is to always move towards comfort and safety. The problem is that the "storms of life" are always headed our way; financial, health, family or work related issues always have a way of getting into the "weather pattern" and disrupting our lives. We can't run and hide.
On top of life's regular "storms", following Jesus adds in another "wave of storms". Jesus makes it very clear that "in this world you will have trouble". So as a Christian, what do you do when the clouds start to gather on the horizon?
In Matthew's gospel, Jesus leads his disciples into two frightening storms to teach them that when he is with them they don't have to hide or flee for cover. Instead, he wants them to know that because he is God, they can walk with confidence...into the storm. Do you want to learn more? Then check out this sermon, we know that you will find it to be very helpful!
Nothing empowers a marathon runner more than seeing the finish line on the horizon. Nothing energizes people in their work like seeing the final pieces of the project fall into place. There is nothing that stokes the fire of perseverance more then seeing the physical transformation beginning to take place in the mirror. When we have a picture of our destination set before us, it creates an extra level of motivation to stick with the program and not give up.
Following Jesus is hard. One needs the power of the Holy Spirit, grit and a community of people walking in the same direction; this is a journey that no one can take alone. There is also one other essential ingredient when it comes to being motivated in our life of faith: A Clear Picture of Our Destination.
Throughout the Bible there are these glimpses of a "new heaven and new earth" (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13). The idea that one day, God is going to make all things new and unite heaven and earth in this amazing unified relationship. This is such a helpful picture of the future, and if we are honest, much better then the way current culture depicts going to heaven. Think about it, what do most people picture when they think of going to heaven? Clouds, pearly gates, floating spirits, harps and a lot of singing...some people might consider that, the other place!
Instead, what the Bible teaches is a real tangible earth, with trees, streams and a city. Most importantly Jesus is there along with all those who have remained faithful. Do you know what's not there? Read what the author of Revelation writes:
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." ~ Revelation 21:4
Sounds amazing doesn't it? Do you want to learn more? Looking for some motivation to remain faithful? Give a listen to this sermon, it might be exactly what you need to keep on keeping on!
Life is hard. There is no way around it. To live in a broken world where we are confronted with selfishness, greed, evil and immorality, not only in culture, but in ourselves will inevitably lead to a life that is hard.
So if life is hard, then following Jesus must be easy, right? Actually, it's not the case. Following Jesus might be even harder. Why would that be? Think about it for a moment. Not only do you have to live in a world that is hard, but you are choosing to live a lifestyle that is literally counter-cultural; following Jesus means you have to "swim upstream". This then begs the question: "Why would anyone follow Jesus?" Ultimately that is THE question everyone needs to answer! Jesus is worth following because he is the King. He has conquered, sin and death, and makes the claim that following him is eternal life (John 10:10).
There is never a promise in Scripture which guarantees a life of ease and comfort. However, Scripture is full of resources and tools that God provides his people to aide in the journey of following after him. One of those resources is the overlooked skill of Grit.
What is grit? Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. It's the ability to stick with a difficult task not for weeks or months, but for years. Grit empowers you to live life "like it's a marathon, not a sprint." It very well might be your most important factor in finding success in life, and in following Jesus well.
How does one develop grit? Give a listen to this sermon as we explore core verse 51 (Hebrews 12:1-2) and discover straightforward plan to imbed grit into your journey of following Jesus.
Every Christian knows they should read the Bible more. Even people who do not profess faith in Jesus Christ acknowledge that reading the Bible would be a helpful endeavor. Here is some interesting information which supports what most people believe about reading Scripture.
"The positive impact of Scripture on individuals, families, and society has been proved time and again. One study involving one hundred thousand people over eight years showed dramatic results. This research (by Arnold Cole and Pamela Caudill Ovwigho of the Center for Bible Engagement) showed that those who engage the Bible four or more times a week experienced far less destructive behavior: 62 percent less drunkenness, 59 percent less pornography use, 59 percent less sexual sin, and 45 percent less gambling. These results were not from guilt manipulation but were rather the mark of personal transformation. The positive message of Scripture allowed individuals to reduce bitterness by 40 percent, destructive thoughts by 32 percent, isolation by 32 percent, inability to forgive by 31 percent, and loneliness by 30 percent.
Bible engagement improves your self-esteem, family structure, and social interactions. It's 'the single most powerful predictor of spiritual growth.' So if you want to know the Bible better---you'll be better for it." ~ Mark Moore, Core 52
So the numbers back up what Christians know and most people feel: Reading the Bible is good for you! However, this question remains, "Why don't people do it?"
In this sermon, we will open up chapter three of 2 Timothy, and read what the apostle Paul teaches about the importance of Scripture and why people should be motivated to read it! Are you looking to make some big changes in your life? This sermon might be a good place to start.
Mentoring is a crucial part of the Christian faith. "Jethro mentored Moses, who had to face Pharaoh. Moses, in turn mentored Joshua, who led the conquest of the promise land. Eli mentored Samuel, who then guided Saul and David, the first kings of Israel. Elijah mentored Elisha, who confronted wayward kings. Mordecai mentored Esther, who intervened with King Xerxes, saving her nation from extinction. Jesus mentored his twelve apostles. Barnabas mentored Paul, who paid it forward to Timothy, Titus, and many others. Mentoring was so important to Paul's ministry that in his final letter to young Timothy he pleaded with him to continue the tradition." ~ Mark Moore (Core 52)
The reason the Christian faith continues to thrive to this day is because men and women have taken the responsibility of mentoring seriously. So what about you?
In this sermon we will dive into the apostle Paul's teaching from 2 Timothy 2:2 as to why mentoring plays such a vital role in the lives of all Christians. To help teach us, we are honored to have one of our own, Alex Steele teach from this text. Give a listen to this practical teaching from someone who knows first hand about the importance of mentorship. We know you will find it to be helpful!
So, you’re trying to sleep, and it’s well after bedtime. But you’re tossing and turning and unable to get comfy. You notice you’re replaying the same scenario in your head. Some vision of tomorrow, of what might happen, how a hope could be dashed. If you’ve had this experience, you’re far from alone.
Researcher Lucas LaFreniere, Ph.D. said, “This is what breaks my heart about worry. It makes you miserable in the present moment to try and prevent misery in the future. For chronic worriers, this process leads them to be continually distressed all their lives in order to avoid later events that never happen. Worry sucks the joy out of the ‘here and now.’”
In his study on worry, participants were asked to record their worries and how they caused distress and interfered with their lives. Each night at 10 pm, they reported how much time they spent thinking on each specific worry throughout the day. Then, 20 days after that period, they reviewed each entry and reported whether any of the worries had become true.
The good news is, LaFreniere’s study found that in his survey of worrisome people, 91.4 percent of their worries never actually happened.
Worrying caused only more misery and did nothing to help the worriers handle whatever they had been worrying about. This is mainly because the hotly anticipated events never transpired. We are then reminded that Jesus did in fact know what he was talking about when he said:
“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” ~ Matthew 6:27
So Jesus teaches an important truth on worry, however this question arises at the practical level: How can one not let worry gain control of their life?
In Philippians chapter four, the apostle Paul addresses this topic at the conclusion of his letter to a stressed out group of Christians. In this helpful section, Paul lays out a plan to not only help Christians manage worry, but ultimately discover God's peace. Do you want to learn more? Give a listen as we dive into some of the most relevant teaching for living in a world of worry, we know that you will find it to be very helpful!
"To say Jesus was humble hardly does him justice. He descended from heaven to earth to be born in a barn and killed on a cross. Paul used a particularly aggressive Greek word kenoo ("to empty " or "to abase") to capture the essence of Jesus's self-abnegation. Jesus "did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:6-7). This extraordinary sentence is breathtaking." ~ Mark Moore
For those who follow Jesus, he is the greatest person who ever walked the planet. This is not even up for debate. However, how many of his followers choose to walk the same pathway to success? How many truly believe that humility is the best way to live life; whether in the home, classroom, market place or government?
In Philippians chapter two, the apostle Paul builds his entire letter upon a poem written about Jesus and his humility. He then uses Jesus' humility as the one trait that will help all followers of Jesus not only model his life, but also be successful in life. In a world where the chaos of selfishness reigns, maybe it's worth considering that Jesus' upside down approach to life is indeed the best way to live life!
Do you want to learn more? Give a listen to this sermon as we unpack this unconventional teaching of humility and try to apply it to our own lives...we know that you will find it to be very helpful!
Jesus prayed a very specific prayer in John 17. In this prayer, Jesus specifically prayed for his followers to be united, just as he was united with the Father in carrying out his mission. Here is where it get's interesting: Jesus says that the world will experience him when his followers are one.
Is it possible that our lack of unity is what is ultimately holding the Church back from accomplishing her mission? If so, what can be done to turn things around? To learn what the apostle Paul has to say about how Christians can live in unity, give a listen to part two of The One Thing.
"Every religion has its own answer to this question: What do we have to do to be saved? Some encourage sacrifice; others, service; others, rituals of purification or meditation. What all have in common is some human effort to achieve favor with God. This may include knocking on doors with pamphlets, giving away wealth, self-flagellation, or confession and restitution. The common thread, however, is human effort to reach God's height. Christianity alone moves in the opposite direction. Rather than us climbing upward, Christianity asserts that God moved downward." ~ Mark Moore
So, what is this action of God moving toward humanity called? It's called grace, and it's the one thing that we need to focus on before we talk about anything else.
In this podcast we are excited to have author and speaker Daniel McCoy with us to help launch our new sermon series, One Thing and teach to our church family about God's grace. Daniel is the editor of Renew.org and has been a guest teacher with us over the past year. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to deepen your understanding of Scripture and find rest in God's amazing grace...we know that you will find it to be helpful!
In the game of Jenga, each participant takes a turn pushing out a wooden block until one player finally removes that one piece which causes the entire tower to collapse. This fun and engaging game is also a metaphor for life, systems and organizations; "when the one essential building block is removed, everything falls apart."
This applies to the Christian faith as well. There is one key "Jenga block" which supports everything in Christianity, and if it were to be removed, everything would collapse. Do you know what it is? It's the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Here's how the apostle Paul describes how essential the resurrection is:
"And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." ~ 1 Corinthians 15:14
According to Paul, if Jesus is still dead, your faith is useless. That's a really big deal! Every person needs to take the time and explore the evidence as to why we can believe with confidence that Jesus has been resurrected from the dead (Paul provides evidence in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8) So, if the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is true, how does that impact the way we live our lives?
What it means is if your life is built upon the resurrection of Jesus, no matter how many other blocks are removed, the "Jenga tower" of your life will never topple! If your entire life system is built upon an immovable truth like the resurrection of Jesus, no matter what force you face or obstacle that is thrown against you, your faith will still stand because Jesus is alive! The lyrics of the old Bill and Gloria Gaither gospel song still ring true: "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow"
Do you want to learn more about how the resurrection helps us face tomorrow? Check out the conclusion of our sermon series, Beyond Belief, we know you will find it to be helpful!
When was the last time you had to make a big decision and wanted to know what God would want you to do? I remember almost 5 years to the date, we felt it was God’s Will to move to Iowa City. We have truly been blessed through that decision.
Getting married, where to go to college, an important career move, finances these are all huge decisions that we might face in our life? And many times we want to know what God’s Will is in those decisions.
So here is the big question: CAN YOU AND I KNOW GOD’S WILL?
You might be surprised by that answer….but yes we can know what God’s Will.
In this sermon, we will travel through scripture to see what God‘s will is and some barriers that keep us from knowing and experiencing God‘s will in our own life.
If you’re in the midst of asking tough questions and making difficult decisions you need to give a listen to part three of Beyond Belief.
Everyone wants to change. You know it's true. Even as you read these words, you are thinking of those things you wish you could change. Entrepreneurs know this as well. One can't even begin to count the plethora of books, programs, and life coaches devoted to Self-Help, Health & Wellness, and Life Transformation.
Christians want to change as well. Be honest, one of the reasons you put your faith in Jesus was because you wanted a new life, and isn't that the promise?
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17
Amazing promise isn't it? So are you experiencing this new transformed life or do you feel stuck in a rut of the same ole same ole?
As much as we wish there was a "fairy god mother to sprinkle some pixy dust" to change us into a princess or prince, we know that's not how transformation works. Any type of change is hard. God's creation reminds us that transformation is a process and is difficult, yet in the end it's good! Just look at the journey of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Not only is it a long process, but one of the most critical stages of the transformation is the struggle of exiting the cocoon. It is the battle to leave their claustrophobic home that actually cleans, and strengthens the butterfly to be ready to survive and thrive in this wild and crazy world!
The transformation of Christian has a similar pathway. In Romans chapter 12, the apostle Paul lays out a plan for all Jesus followers to experience radical transformation. It's not an easy plan, but it is good! To learn more, check out part two of Beyond Belief.
Guilt. It's a feeling you get when you did something wrong, or perceived you did something wrong. Guilt can feel like a weight upon one's shoulders or a tightness in the chest. Sometimes guilt is helpful, much like when nerve endings tell a person to move their hand away from the fire, likewise guilt tells us to stop...we have "crossed a line." Guilt becomes a bad thing when we don't know how to resolve it, remove it or stop doing whatever makes us feel guilty.
Shame. It's similar to guilt, but it's more then a feeling, it's an identity. Shame is a sense that your whole self is wrong, and it may or may not be related to a specific behavior or event. Nevertheless, shame becomes a label we wear or that we are known by; the thief, the cheater, the failure, or the addict. Much like guilt, we feel the weight of shame, the heaviness of wearing an identity we would do anything to shake, and that's part of the problem. In trying to lose the shame, we often find ourselves in an even worse situation then when we started. So the question is this: What is a person supposed to do with the weight of guilt and shame?
In this new sermon series called Beyond Belief, we will take a look at how faith in Jesus not only frees us from guilt and shame, but provides us with the freedom to live a new life with a new identity. Do you want to know more? Give a listen and discover how the apostle Paul teaches these truths from Romans chapter 7 and 8.
God loves all the people of the world, and why wouldn't He? All humans are created in His image. God's "fingerprints" are found all over humans. The apostle Paul says,
"From one man he (God) made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth." ~ Acts 17:26
The people and ethnicities of the world are God's plan, it is what he designed. Not only do we know this is how designed it from the beginning, we also get a snap shot of how it is all going to look in the end. John, the author of The Revelation describes this image of those standing before Jesus (the Lamb) at the conclusion of time.
"*After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.*” ~ Revelation 7:9-10
So whether one starts at the beginning of Creation or goes to the end of the story, there is this consistent theme in which God not only loves every tribe, nation, tongue, and ethnicity, but He has redeemed them to spend eternity with Him. The Bible is very clear in describing God's intention regarding all people.
The disconnect seems to happen, when God's people don't represent His character, especially when it comes to loving all ethnicities. Why is that? Simply put, it's always been about sin. Sin leads to pride, jealousy, discrimination, and injustice. So what is the solution?
A deeper understanding at to what the gospel is really all about. Most people simply think that the gospel is this: Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, and then being resurrected, and if we believe in him we will go to Heaven when we die.
That is a part of the gospel, for sure. However the gospel is even better then that! The gospel is that God's Kingdom has come, and through his atoning death and resurrection, King Jesus has reconciled us back into his Kingdom. To be clear, this isn't a future Kingdom, but his Kingdom...now.
This Good News means that through faith in Jesus, we are not only reconciled into God's Kingdom, but we are also reconciled back to each other...we are reconciled into God's Family!
The mission we have as God's Kingdom People, is to not only help reconcile people back to God, but to also reconcile people back together! Do you want to learn more? Give a listen to the conclusion of this series Outside In and take a look at how the early Jesus followers wrestled with, and then carried out this amazing mission of reconciliation. You do not want to miss this!
When a young man gets down on his knee and extends a box containing a ring to a young lady, it's very clear what is happening. A marriage proposal is taking place. If the young lady says "Yes", it will be very evident to all that this young couple is now engaged to be married; the relationship has been defined.
Months later, this same couple will walk down an aisle and stand in front of an officiant and declare vows to love and cherish each other, in sickness and in health...until death do them apart. Once the vows are said and the rings are in place, the minister will declare: "I know pronounce you husband and wife!" No doubt remains, the relationship has been clearly defined, the couple is now married.
Defining our relationships matter, especially when it comes to defining our relationship with Jesus. For a lot of people their relationship with Jesus can be a bit ambiguous; especially when things aren't going so well. Their can be feelings of doubt and uncertainty about where they stand in their relationship with Jesus.
Baptism provides a clear pathway for one to define their relationship with Jesus. The reason we know this to be true is because Jesus himself said so. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them..." (Matthew 28:19) According to Jesus a relationship with him is called "being a disciple" and the initiation into this relationship is through baptism.
As the book of Acts opens there is a large crowd of people convicted about Jesus and desperately wanting to define their relationship with him. To learn more about what happens and how it can impact your life and the lives of people you know, don't miss out on part three of Outside In.
Think back to the last time you were in an airport...(I know it might have been a while thanks to Covid). As you entered the terminal you were greeted with giant screens letting you know the arrival and departure of flights throughout the day. These boards helped guide us to where we need to be.
Arrival and Departures are also important for us to think about when it comes to Jesus.
We spend a lot of time around Christmas thinking about Jesus' arrival on earth. His arrival on earth ushered in our opportunity to have our sin forgiven and our relationship with God the Father restored. We should be eternally grateful for his arrival, but...
But often we don't spend time on how important his departure was to our life and faith as well. You can read about his departure in Luke 24 and Acts 1. As humble as his arrival was his departure gives followers of Jesus hope and a calling moving forward.
Give a listen to our worship minister Nick Ehlts will be sharing the importance of the Ascension and why it should matter to us today.
Without question, there are things about our lives we want to change. Bad habits we want to stop and good habits we want to begin. There are spiritual disciplines we want to engage in, as well as discipleship steps we know we need to take. The problem is we often feel like we don't have what it takes to accomplish those changes, so we end up staying where we are. Maybe the best way to describe the situation where many Christians find themselves is the word, "stuck".
Thankfully God understands and more than anything, he wants to help you become unstuck. This is why God gave the gift of the Holy Spirit. It's through the power of the Holy Spirit in which we are able to not only make key changes in our lives, but also engage in life changing Kingdom work!
Unfortunately there's a problem. For many people and maybe even you, the power of the Holy Spirit is something they have never really experienced. So what gives? Is there something that we aren't doing right? Do we have a problem that even the Holy Spirit can't fix?
Give a listen as we a brand new sermon series through the book of Acts. In the opening verses we find Jesus teaching his disciples about how the Holy Spirit is going to empower their lives to not only change, but to live a life on mission. Do you want to learn more? Don't miss part one of Outside In, we know that you will find it to be very helpful!
We're saved by the grace of God. End of story. It is not by our effort, intellect or by works or even our worthiness. It is a free gift. God gave us this free gift through our faith in Jesus.
I think you and I need to hear this: God loves you so much, he pursues and fights for you. It cost him everything to save us. He'll stop at nothing to keep us in his loving arms.
But we all know people who have been followers of Jesus who have walked way from Him. In this sermon, we will look at the amazing gift of eternal life we have through Jesus and see how he pursue us and how we can remain in him as we go through our daily lives.
Broccoli is good for you. It's a good source of fiber, protein, and contains iron, potassium, calcium as well as vitamins A, C, E, K and B. Needless to say, it would be wise to include broccoli as a regular staple in one's diet. Here's the problem; broccoli doesn't taste good! So, to get people to eat broccoli, there was a very smart mom who had the brilliant idea of covering broccoli in cheese. All of a sudden, broccoli becomes much more palatable, almost enjoyable. However, here's the question, are people eating broccoli because of the health benefits of broccoli or because the broccoli has become the utensil used to deliver the cheese to one's mouth?
What does cheese covered broccoli have to do with communion? Think of it this way: Jesus is good for you. Literally life changing. However, Jesus teaches things and calls his followers to do things that don't "taste good." What people often do to get others to follow Jesus is to "cover him and his teachings with cheese"...to make him or his teachings more palatable. What about you? Do you really want Jesus or do you prefer the "cheese"?
This is the tension that Jesus creates between himself and the massive crowd that surrounds him looking for a free meal as described in John chapter 6. It's in this moment Jesus not only calls them out, but openly invites the people to consume him...and only him. This is a pivotal moment not only for the crowd but for us today. It challenges us to reevaluate our relationship with Jesus and determine our willingness to follow him. So what does any of this have to do with communion!? Make sure and check out part four of our sermon series, The Gospel of John and find out, we know that you will find it to be helpful!
Churches often debate the proper form of worship. Should a priest preside? What style of music? Which instruments should be included...and not included? Does the stage matter? What elements should worship include; prayer, Scripture reading, music, and preaching? Do we really need a fog machine and all those lights? When is the best time to worship? These are all basic and common questions, but they don't get at the heart of the issue.
For Jesus, the real question is not about the style of worship but about the heart of the worshipper. Real worship comes from the Spirit and Truth. In the gospel of John, the Spirit is the Holy Spirit and Jesus is identified as the embodiment of Truth. In this new understanding of worship a person worships the Father, as experienced through Jesus, and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
So, how does this all work in everyday life? What does it look like and does it really matter? In this podcast, we will continue with our sermons series on the Gospel of John and explore the impact of worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth. We know you will find it to be very helpful in changing your approach to worship.
There are thousands, probably even millions of people in the world who think their life is too messed up for them to be loved and redeemed by God. At an emotional level, they don't feel like God could love them. Here is how the conversation usually goes with someone in this category: I have gone too far. My life is too messed up. I have been too sinful. God would never want me. God couldn't possibly love me.
All of us can relate to those types of feelings, we've all had to wrestle with those feelings of not being worthy of love and redemption. But what's the problem here? Our feelings and emotions are not truth. So how can we breakthrough the powerful grip of not feeling good enough...to find ourselves back in a love relationship with God?
There are some strategic key words the apostle John uses as he writes about who Jesus is. One of those words is "truth". When it feels like our emotions have caused our lives to run amuck he would suggest that we should look for and hold on to what is true. According to John, what is true about God and how he views all people is found in the most famous and powerful verse in the entire Bible, John 3:16. "God so loved that word..."
Give a listen to this sermon as we continue with our series on the Gospel of John and unpack the powerful truth of John 3:16 and discover that no matter who you are or what you have done, God loves you!
The Incarnation. It's the extraordinary claim that the God of the universe put on skin and became human. If you have been raised in the church, it's just a truth that you have always believed. However, if you haven't been a Christian since childhood, it can be an outrageous claim to believe. Think about it for a moment. How can the Creator God of the universe fit into a frail and fragile human body?
As crazy as it sounds, the New Testament authors believe in the incarnation, and they provide an abundance of evidence as to why we can believe it as well. But the incarnation is more then just a miraculous event, it reveals two powerful insights: 1. It gives us a "window" to look at who God is. 2. It provides us with a clear path for living life.
In this brand new sermon series focused on the Gospel of John, we will take a deep dive into these theological truths about Jesus and how they impact our every day lives. Don't miss out...it's going to be very helpful!
Everyone wants to be great. Think of it this way. No one ever sets out determined to be a poor student, bad parent or an unreliable employee. We desire to be great! Here's the real struggle: What is greatness? What makes someone a great business owner? What makes someone a great spouse? Or this, what makes someone a great Christian? As you can see, true greatness is not only hard to define...it's nearly impossible to achieve, unless we stop and consider what Jesus has to say about greatness.
In the New Testament book of Mark we read about two instances where Jesus specifically tackled this issue of greatness. Not only does Jesus define what greatness is, he provides the perfect pathway to achieve that greatness. Do you want to learn more? Make sure and catch the conclusion of our sermon series, Guide to Greatness...we know that you will find it to be helpful!
Easter is not about brightly colored eggs, wearing a new Easter outfit, or enjoying a big meal with family or friends, although it could include all of these things. Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Over the last year, death has been in the headlines more than ever before. Death seems so cruel, so harsh and devastating to all of us.
That is the same place we find the disciples of Jesus after his crucifixion. They were struggling, fearful and lost as to what to do next. The death of Jesus crushed them and left them searching for hope in a seemly hopeless situation.
But hope sprang forth on that first Easter morning, death was defeated and hope of a life eternal was ushered in by Jesus.
Today if you are feeling hopeless listen to the words of Jesus from John 11:25
Jesus said to her "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live."
Is it possible to radically change our lives by simply taking one day to rest? Most people would scoff at the notion. However, Jesus thinks differently. In the Core 52 verse for week 29 Jesus says these words:
"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." ~ Mark 2:27-29
What exactly is Jesus even talking about? What is the Sabbath and how does that have any impact on a person's success in life?
Here's why the words Jesus says about the Sabbath matter. Most people go about life saying: "If only I had more time!" However, according to Jesus the problem isn't about having enough time. The problem is a lack of clearer priorities on how to live life.
In this sermon podcast we will continue with part three of Guide to Greatness. In it we will discover how following Jesus not only gives us clearer priorities, but also provides us with rest. Don't miss out on this teaching...you will find it to be very helpful!
Guest preacher Daniel McCoy continues with part two of our sermon series, Guide to Greatness. In this sermon Daniel uses Jesus' own words to describe the kind of faith this is required to follow him. Check it out, we know that you will find it to be helpful...enjoy!
News. It seems to have been front and center over the past few years. Why is that? Well, it really comes down to a couple of things: 1. Is it trustworthy? When one picks up a newspaper (what's that?) or listens to a news program, one always has to consider the source and their agenda. It seems as if everyone is trying to spin the information in a certain way. So the controversy is really this: Is the news fake or true? 2. News always seems negative. Maybe sensational is a better way to say it. It's almost as if the sharing of news has become a form of entertainment...and the negative, tragic and disastrous news often gets the most publicity.
So why does any of this matter? It matters because negative, untrustworthy news creates feelings of cynicism, division, anger and depression. Here's a quick test you can take to see if this is true. After reading or watching the latest news do you feel: a) Uplifted, encouraged, hopeful? b) Angry, frustrated, depressed? You see, good news matters!
This is why Mark opens his book about Jesus with this sentence, the Core52 verse for week 27:
"The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God," ~ Mark 1:1
Mark knows that in a world of lies, half truths, and spin doctors, people need news they can trust. But not just truthful news...but good news! Why good news? Good news is crucial because it gives hope. Hope that things can change. Hope that there is a solution to the problems we face. Hope that there truly is a better way to live life. Hope for an eternal future. Good news matters.
What about you? Do you need some hope? Make sure and check out the launch of our brand new sermon series, Guide to Greatness, we know that you will find it helpful!
Why is it important to have a mission? When one figures out their mission, so many other pieces of life fall into place. For example, if you lock down a life mission, you have essentially set up boundaries about what you will and won't accept in your life. It provides you with a great tool to make decisions, avoid distractions, and most importantly...live a life of purpose. Having a clear mission can actually be life changing. So the million dollar question is this: What is your mission?
When a Christian understands their mission, again the same thing happens...all the pieces of life begin to fall into place: resources are prioritized, prayers are focused, time is well managed, and distractions are more easily discarded. Why is this? Because when one knows their mission, everything else becomes more clear, more focused.
In this sermon we will study a "bottom line" statement Jesus gave his disciples that actually became their mission. However, it wasn't only their mission, it is our mission as well! When we embrace this mission, all the other pieces of our life will begin to fall into place, we can begin to live our lives with clarity. To learn more, check out the conclusion of The Bottom Line, we know that you will find it helpful!
How often do you go through your day and contemplate the impact of the spiritual forces of evil upon your life? Well, if you are like most people, your answer is probably zero. As we scan the headlines, or watch the news ticker on the bottom of the screen, we learn everyday about horrible atrocities taking place in our world; murders, abuse, genocide, and sex slavery. We shake our heads in disgust, and then point the blame at a government, regime or person. But what if there is something more sinister and evil going on?
Jesus specifically states that there are spiritual forces at work all around; unseen enemies of God's plan in the world. The apostle Paul even declares that the battle a Christian fights isn't against humans, but against "the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." The "heavenly realms" refers to the unseen, the spiritual space all around people. What both Jesus and the apostle Paul are teaching is that the unseen is real, dangerous...and most importantly something people need to defend themselves against!
In this sermon we will not only try to better understand what is going on "behind the scenes" but also learn a defensive strategy we can deploy to defend ourselves against the spiritual forces of evil. Don't miss out on part three of The Bottom Line, it is going to be very helpful!
What if everything around us--the people, the stars overhead, the ground beneath our feet, even our bodies and minds--were an elaborate illusion? What if our world were simply a hyper-realistic simulation, with all of us merely characters in some kind of sophisticated video game? Sounds crazy doesn't it? Well, for a growing number of people it's not crazy. For them, it's a legitimate option called the Simulated Universe Theory, and it continues to gain traction for people trying to piece together humanity's origins and ultimately who or what is in control of the universe.
Why does this matter? It matters because humans want to know that they matter. People want to know where they came from, why they are here, and do they have control or influence over the universe. And, if humans have no control...then who or what does?
If you are reading this, more then likely, you believe that God is the creator and sustainer of the universe, and your purpose and meaning come from Him. These are the truths the Bible reveals to us. However, even these truths raise a number of questions: How much has God determined my life? Do I have free will? How do my daily decisions impact my eternal destiny?
Thankfully, the Bible, and more specifically, Jesus has a lot to say on this subject. Check out part two of The Bottom Line as we try and get to the bottom of what is God's plan.
Everyone is a on a life quest. Intuitively we all know that life is more then just breathing in oxygen. Life is what you do with your time. It's about experiences, moments, and accomplishments. So how would you describe a "good life"? There has to be a "good life"...right? If you were to go to a funeral, more often then not, you will hear this phrase being said: "Well, they lived a good life." Evidently, someone must have an idea as to what a good life is!
So what is it? What is this good life, and more importantly, are you living it? Is a good life a life devoted to accumulating things, from money to accolades to accomplishments? Is a good life, focused on reaching a certain level of comfort and security? Is a good life the relationships you have with people and the moments you get to share? Since you only get one life, this ultimately might be the most important question! So who really knows?
This question of life and its purpose comes up often in Jesus' ministry. In one particular instance, Jesus' disciples actually disagreed with how Jesus was choosing to live his life, and in a shocking response, Jesus says these bold words:
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." ~ Matthew 16:24-25
Jesus is claiming that anyone who chooses to follow him has found the best way to live life. However, to have this life, it will cost a person everything. There's a lot to wrestle with in these words of Jesus. Do believe him? Are you willing to pay that steep of a price?
If you need help figuring out answers to those questions, take 30 minutes and give a listen to the launch of a new sermon series entitled, The Bottom Line. We know that you will find it to be helpful on your journey of finding and following Jesus--and living life!
Everyone has their routine. For some, their alarm clock doesn't even need to go off because their routine is so locked in they just wake up automatically. Sometimes our routine can be so regular and predictable that it might be better described as a rut. You could sleep walk through most parts of your day because it's so predictable.
Would you describe your faith in a similar fashion? Is it on cruise control? Is it predictable? In a rut? Listen, you are not alone! It is incredibly easy to settle into a faith routine that's comfortable, stable and routine. Pray, read your Bible, go to church, give...wash and repeat. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a routine of connecting with God, however, that's not what faith in God is all about. So what does it take to break out of a religious rut and live an authentic faith?
In The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses this issue of getting stuck in a religious rut. The Pharisees were exceptional at living out the routine of following God, the problem was, their faith was missing something...it wasn't authentic. To help transform their faith Jesus gives this simple, yet profound teaching, something we often refer to as The Golden Rule. Here is what he said:
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." ~ Matthew 7:12
Do you want to know how this teaching moves us to an authentic faith? Check out the conclusion of Apex, we know that you will find it to be helpful on your journey of finding and following Jesus.
A few years ago there was a Lexus car commercial for that was built upon this one sentence: "Whoever said money can't buy happiness isn't spending it right." [Then a Lexus goes driving off into the sunset.] Do you agree or disagree? Not about whether or not a Lexus is a fun car to drive, but the statement. Is it true that money can bring happiness, if we just figure out how to spend it right? While you ponder, consider this, Jesus would agree with the statement. Surprised?
In Acts 20:35 we find this quotation of Jesus: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." The word blessed can also be understood as happy. So to Jesus' point, a person is more happy if they give stuff away, then to receive stuff. Is this true? Take a quick test to find out. Think back to Christmas. What did you enjoy more, opening gifts or watching people open the gifts you gave them? The majority of people find great joy in watching other people open the gifts we give. So what that means is...Jesus is right! A person can find happiness if they just learn how to spend and invest their money well.
In this sermon you will discover that Jesus taught a Kingdom of Heaven Investment Strategy that not only brings happiness now, but also gains interest to be enjoyed into eternity! Do you want to learn more? Listen to part four of Apex, we know that you will find it to be very helpful!
"Why pray?" Have you ever asked yourself that question? Everyone has had a moment or two where they spent weeks and weeks praying intently about something very important only to have the pray go unanswered. The typical response to an unanswered prayer usually goes something like this: "I must have sinned so God wasn't going to answered my prayer." Or, "I must be praying incorrectly, and God isn't going to answer my prayer until I figure it out." Prayer can be so confusing! So here's the struggle: We know we should pray and even pray more, but how?
Thankfully, you're not alone! In fact you are in really good company when it comes to the struggle of praying well. One of the most asked questions by the disciples of Jesus was this: Please teach us to pray?
If Jesus' disciples struggled with prayer, we are going to struggle with prayer...it's inevitable. However, Jesus provides some very helpful and straightforward teaching on prayer and why it is an essential for those who want to follow him. Do you want to learn more? Take a few minutes and listen to part three of our sermon series, Apex. We know that you will find it to be very helpful!
Every year, most people chart out a course for the New Year. There are goals to be set, resolutions to write down and of course changes that need to be made. Why do people do this? Is it just the thing to do? There's no rule or law that says we need to set goals or make changes...so why do we do it?
We do it because there is something inside of us that says: You can be better.
Deep in our hearts we know that we need to be better at being good. Not surprisingly there is an almost universal pull in all humans to strive to be better at being good. A quick internet search will reveal a plethora of articles, studies, and theories on not only the desire to be good, but also strategies on how to be better at being good. People genuinely want to be better at being good!
Here is a question worth considering: Can a person really become better at being good?
Most people fall short of reaching goals and resolutions because their focus is primarily on changing actions. The same can be said for our efforts to be a good person. All of the action and energy is put on changing behaviors. What if there was a different strategy, one that focused on motives?
As Jesus begins his ministry his focus is on helping people live a new life, a life of righteousness. However, instead of giving new disciplines, rules and laws to help change people's behaviors he reveals a new approach. This approach is focused not on actions but motives. Jesus knew that for people to be better at being good they didn't need more laws, they needed better motives and to help provide those motives he had to get into people's hearts.
Do you want to know more about what Jesus has to say about changing your motives? Check out part two of our sermon series, Apex. We know that you will find it to be very helpful!
Everyone wants to be happy. All of humanity is on this journey of trying to find the right path to true happiness. The pursuit of happiness is nothing new, it's been going on for millennia. In fact every religion, philosophy or wise sage has tried to direct people to the right pathway of happiness. If one was to sum up all different happiness pathways that have been suggested, they could be gathered together in these four categories: family, wealth, health and security.
If one does well in those four areas, hypothetically, they should be happy. So what do you think, does that sound like the right recipe for happiness? Whether it's right or not, it does describe how a lot of people are trying to find happiness. Do you know what else it describes? It feels kind of like the four pillars of the "American Dream". How's the "American Dream" going right now? Not well. With rising rates of depression, addiction, overdoses and suicide attempts the pursuit of happiness this culture offers is just not looking to be the best option. So what are the other options? Is it possible there is a pathway to happiness people are overlooking?
As Jesus opens his ministry in the rural region of Galilee, he walks up a small mount and teaches his disciples what it means to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God. In this monumental sermon Jesus begins by teaching them what it looks like to live a blessed life. Interestingly, the word "blessed" can also be translated fortunate or happy. There it it! Jesus is providing a new and very unlikely pathway to happiness! Do you want to learn more about this unlikely pathway? Give a listen to our brand new sermon series, Apex. We know you'll find it to be helpful!
Everyone all agrees, 2020 was not a good year. As much as we want to blame the struggles of the past year on a Covid-19 virus, it wasn't the virus that made 2020 so challenging--it was people. More specifically, it was the pride, arrogance and stubbornness of people that made the past year so challenging. Think about it. Pride kept nations from cooperating. Arrogance separated experts from collaboration. Stubbornness shut up people's ears from learning and understanding neighbors. Think of how differently the past year could have been if we all would have approached it with an attitude of humility.
Here's the hope: A better year awaits if we choose an attitude of humility. The amazing thing is, this truth is found throughout the Bible, and is personified in the person of Jesus. To learn how you can hit reset and live out an attitude of humility, listen to the conclusion of our sermon series, Hidden Hope. We know you'll find it to be helpful!
As one reads through the Old Testament it might seem like there are is a long list of terms and conditions to have a relationship with God...especially if you are reading through the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy. In these books, God was setting up a covenant relationship with his people. The problem is, they couldn't keep the covenant. So what is the solution? Give a listen to part three of our sermon series, Hidden Hope and discover God's plan to provide people with a new and better covenant relationship.
One of the most difficult times for people, each and every year, is Christmas. To make matters worse, 2020 has provided people with a pandemic, a divisive culture, and a contentious election! Add to this the simple fact that for most people, Christmas will be far from normal this year. For some people, maybe even you, your days are not going to be merry and bright, because Christmas...even life itself...just plain hurts.
For many folks, depression, grief, sadness, brokenness, and guilt hover in the background on even the most ordinary of days. But there's nothing quite like the Christmas season to ratchet up the pressure to act like everything is alright (when it's not), and then wrap it in lights and tinsel to broadcast it in a heavily filtered Instagram pic for all to see! You may feel more compelled than ever to feel good, and more guilt than ever to admit that you don't. Why is this? What is a person to do?
The Bible actually provides us with a couple of reasons why we struggle with hurts, depression, guilt, and even shame...and why we all have intense pressure to hide it. However, the Bible also provides us with a hope---a gift, that when opened, leads people on a pathway to healing and restoration. In this teaching we will explore the promises found in the book of Isaiah, and discover that God has provided for each of us an amazing gift--if we are willing to open it! Do you want to know more? Give a listen as we continue with our sermon series, Hidden Hope. We know you'll find it to be helpful!
A good life, it's what so many people want. A good family. A good education. Good friendships. A good job, so one can make good money. A good house, in a good neighborhood, in a good city. Here's the problem. If a good life is what so many people want, then how is one able to find and live this good life? There are so many ideas, paths and philosophys...so which one is the right one? Surely in a world with so much information, technology, and intelligent people, being able to find and live a good life should be rather simple. Yet, so many fail to ever figure it out.
Here's the truth about living a good life. It has nothing to do with IQ, degrees, or access to information. To live a good life, one needs to develop the skill of wisdom. Wisdom is the discipline of learning how to live life; be it with money, neighbors, work, our spouse, or family. This skill of wisdom guides us on the path of living life well in every area of existence. Here's the problem: Most people are not willing to take the time to develop the skill of wisdom. What about you?
In this sermon we will dive into the book of Proverbs and discover that God has provided us with the resources and the tools to develop the skill of wisdom...if we really want to learn how to be good at life. Do you want to know more? Give a listen to the launch our brand new sermon series, Hidden Hope. We know you'll find it to be helpful!
To be human means to face rejection. Everyone has to deal with it at some point in their lives. Whether it's our peer group, circle of friends, family, co-workers, spouse, or even just random people in public, rejection is real and it hurts. Dr. Guy Winch writes this about the pain of rejection:
"MRI studies show that the same areas of the brain become activated when we experience rejection as when we experience physical pain." Did you catch that? Rejection has this way of piggybacking on physical pain pathways in the brain! Essentially, it may be easier to deal with the pain of a broken arm as opposed to the pain of a broken relationship!
So is there a way to overcome rejection and move forward with life? Thankfully the Bible has a lot to say about rejection, and how to overcome it...especially in the book of Psalms. To learn more, give a listen to the conclusion of our sermon series, Singing the Sacred. We know it will be helpful!
Whether it's that second piece of pumpkin pie, a past relationship, or a nagging regret, sometimes it's just hard to let go. One of the biggest reasons why it's hard to let go is because each person believes they are strong enough to fix the problem they are facing.
"I can stop drinking whenever I want."
"If I finally give in, then he will come back to me."
"If I buy this present for them, then they will like me."
These are just a few of the lies we tell ourselves about our strength and control. Do any of them sound familiar? Here's the real problem: You're not strong enough. It's true. You can't control, manipulate or fix all the problems in your life. However, there is some really good news. If we learn to let go of whatever issue we are trying to fix, we will discover that God is strong enough, and he will provide for us the next step we need to take. Do you want to learn more? Give a listen to part four of our sermon series, Singing the Sacred. We know it will be helpful!
When it comes to our relationships, one of the most important things you can do is define the relationship. Is it a good friend or acquaintance? Is it a close friend or a boyfriend/girlfriend? Another, often overlooked relationship we need to define is our relationship with God. In fact, take a few seconds now and consider how you would define your relationship with God?
Psalm 23 is probably the most popular psalm in the Bible. It also points us to a very clear way to transform our lives: Simply define our relationship with God. Give a listen to part three of our sermon series, Singing the Sacred, and discover how to apply this wisdom psalm to our lives...and in so doing begin to live a more fulfilling life.
Life has a way of turning our lives upside down, and one of our first responses it to panic. If only there was a simple "air bubble trick" we could apply to these situation! The good news is, there is something we all can do. In fact, God provides us with a number of these little "tricks" which help give us clarity and confidence as to what our next step should be. One of those helpful "tricks" is found in the very center of your Bible--Psalm 2. Give a listen to part two of our sermon series, Singing the Sacred, and learn how to apply this powerful Psalm to your life...especially when your life becomes turned upside down!
The pursuit of happiness. It always make the top ten list of what people want out of life, and honestly, who can argue, happiness is a good thing! So why do so many people struggle to find happiness? It's not the longing for happiness that is the problem. The problem is that we pursue so many unhealthy ways to find true happiness. The question then is this: What is the best way to find true happiness? Give a listen to Finding Happiness, and discover God does provide a pathway to happiness. We hope you find it helpful!
What if your greatest desire was to be a person after God's own heart? It's a desire that impacts a our everyday life, it influences all of our other desires, and most importantly it transcends time...into eternity. Want to know more? Give a listen to this sermon as we take a deep dive into the life of King David and discover why he is described as being, "a man after God's own heart." In doing so, you may find that living a life after God's own heart is your greatest desire as well!
A lot of people, maybe even you, put God in a box. We put God in a box for the same reason we put all of our stuff in boxes: we want to contain, control and manage him. How can we have a relationship with a God that we always want to put in a box? The answer is simple, you can't. And there is another issue that will arise, especially if it feels like your life is falling apart, or if you have reached a dead-end--if your god is in a box that you can move around, control and manage, your god is too small. Give a listen to part three of this series, an discover how to put your faith in a BIG God.
Its happened to everyone--God calls, asks or nudges you to do something. The invitation could be anything from entering into a covenant relationship with him to a simple act of showing generosity to a neighbor...the list is really endless. God's call can come in a wide variety of ways, situations and times. However, the bigger question is this: How did you respond?
You probably responded like 99.9% of humans. "God are you sure about that?" "God, why me? Isn't there someone better?" If you want to learn how God can help you respond to his invitation, give a listen to part two of Set Apart. We hope you find it helpful!
Holy. It's a word we use in our culture to describe smoke, cows and other things. However, when we use it to describe people, it's almost a derogatory term: "You think you are all holier than thou?!" It's almost as if no one wants to claim holiness! Being holy is reserved for the really religious, morally upstanding folks, and not for regular people. This is a problem. God is described as holy, that's easy to understand, but here's where the problem begins: God calls his people to be holy. We are to be holy, but how? What are we to do? Give a listen to part one of Set Apart to learn more. We hope you find it helpful!
As we read through the Bible we see God taking a posture of patience, and a desire to work with people, despite their poor choices. The best example of this is this the nomadic, shepherd named Abram. Now, for certain, Abram is far from a perfect. He makes huge mistakes, and even pushes God's patience on more than one occasion. However, despite his flaws and mistakes, God enters into a covenant relationship with him, not because of his perfection, but because of God's goodness and Abram's faithfulness.
"Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." ~ Genesis 15:6
God wants a relationship with you, the only qualification he is looking for is your faithfulness! Do you want to learn more? Give a listen to this sermon podcast, we know you will find it helpful. Enjoy!
We live in a fallen world. As much as we would love to simply put all the blame on the biblical story of Adam and Eve, the reality is this: What tripped up Adam and Eve continues to ensnare every human being. No, not a talking snake! Something even crazier; the idea that God is holding out on people. The insane notion that God doesn't want what's best for mankind. So humans beings more often then not, take the more desirable...easier path, believing that they alone know what is best. Sound familiar? Give a listen to part four of Beginnings and learn how God helps us break through the haze. We hope you find it helpful!
Everyday we receive messages telling us what we are worth. Commercials, advertising, social media...the list is endless! These messages are trying to tell us what we need to have, be or look like to be considered valuable. Whether we realize it or not, we internalize this information so that the next time we look in the mirror we tell ourselves this message: "I don't measure up, I'm not valuable."
Never before has there been such an identity crisis as the one we face today! The good news is this; there is a way to break the cycle...and to do so, we have to go back to the beginning. Our core verse for this Sunday is Genesis 1:26
"Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness" Every single human is valuable because they are created in the image of God, to represent him and rule and manage his creation. Our value isn't determined by Fifth Avenue, Hollywood or Washington. Our value is given to us by the Creator of the universe and because his fingerprints are all over us, his heart is completely devoted to loving us. Do you want to learn more? Give a listen to Our True Identity, as we continue with part two of our sermon series, Beginnings.
In this sermon we our Core 52 Spiritual Growth Campaign with probably the most important verse in the Bible: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." ~ Genesis 1:1
In this verse we discover why we are here on this planet, and also better understand our purpose. Want to know more? Give a listen to Creation, we hope you find it helpful.
Need a Core52 book? You can buy one here: Core52, Mark Moore
Over the last five months of this Covid-19 pandemic, most, if not all of us, have had to deal with this feeling of being lost! Should I visit my grandparents? Is going back to work something I should do? Church is important, but should I go? Is life ever going to be normal again? To make matters even worse, there are so many confusing sources of information telling you what to do, but sometimes it feels like all the information contradicts itself. We find ourselves throwing up our hands and wondering, "Who can I trust?"
God cares about you, more then you care about you, and He wants to get you to the other side of your pandemic. Will you trust him? To learn more, give a listen to the conclusion of this series, we hope you find it helpful!
While pandemics cause panic, God's pathway provides purpose. On Sunday, as we continue with part three of our series, we will discover that God actually uses pandemics as a way to provide his people with purpose. In the midst of chaos and confusion, God chooses his people and gives them a purpose. Do you want to know more? Check out part three of Pathway Through a Pandemic, we know you will find it helpful!
Waiting is so hard! Especially when it feels like each day is two steps forward and one step back. Here's the simple truth: most of us are not very good at waiting...especially in the middle of a pandemic. When we refuse to wait, we typically end up making poor choices or decisions. How many of our predicaments are a direct result of our impatience? Probably too many to count!
Here's the good news: God cares about you, more then you care about you! He knows what you need before you even ask. However, there is one thing that he asks of you as you learn to trust him. He sometimes asks you to wait. A relationship with God requires us to learn how to wait on him. Oh, and there's one more important truth you need to be aware of when it comes to waiting on God: Our Heavenly Father is rarely early, but he's never late! Do you want to learn more about what waiting on God looks like? Give a listen to part two of Pathway Through a Pandemic...we hope you find it helpful!
Give a listen to the launch of the sermon series, Pathway Through a Pandemic. As we live through this Covid-19 pandemic, we need to understand that it's not the first time God's people have faced pandemics, testing or persecution! Our good God wants us to trust him and follow his path through the "pandemic wilderness". Don't miss out on this practical series designed to help you chart your journey through an uncertain future. We hope you find it help!
If there is one phrase that sums up the last 5 months it's "Things aren't going the way they're supposed to go". Sickness, millions unemployed, quarantine, social injustice, anxiety, fear, panic & uncertainty seem to be front and center in the news every day. So what are we supposed to do when things aren't going the way they're supposed to? Give a listen to Chris Coker as he wraps up our sermon series, Reverse the Curse by reminding us that Jesus needs to be our focus when things aren't going the way they are supposed to. We hope you find it helpful!
Romans 8:28 says, "... that we know that in all things God works for good." The words “we know” don’t mean we hope, or we’re optimistic, or we wish. They mean absolute, unshakable confidence. As the world around us seems to be stopping, and as the curse of a broken, fallen world seems to be growing, how can we as followers of Jesus KNOW that in ALL things God works for good?
Give a listen as guest teacher, Daniel McCoy continues our series, Reverse the Curse. Daniel is a husband, father, author, speaker, and the editorial director of the Renew Network. He will be teaching us how God is always at work, even when the "curse" seems to be at it's worst. We hope you find it helpful, enjoy!
Do you know what the dust in your home is typically comprised of? Well, with a little research one will discover that the typical household dust is comprised of the following: small amounts of plant pollen, human and animal hairs, textile fibers, paper fibers, minerals from soil, human skins cells, burnt meteorite particles, and many other materials which may be found in the local environment (Also, there are some dust mites that like to eat dead skin cells.) So here is what we know, the dust in your home is essentially particles from the environment that you live in. Which tells us that pretty much everything in our environment is slowly (very slowly) turning into dust.
Here is a simple truth we often forget: Eventually, everything turns to dust. The curse of sin has put humans and all of creation on the pathway of dust to dust. If this is truly the case, then it can make one wonder--"What's the point?" Discover God's purpose for us in part four of Reverse the Curse. We hope you find it helpful. Enjoy!
Nothing ruins a beautiful walk in the woods more then stumbling through a thorn bush--they scratch, tear and poke, sometimes taking all of the joy out of the experience! The same could be said about the amazing look of a freshly planted garden, with all of its dark, rich dirt all in a nice artistic rows...only to have it covered with quickly growing weeds and thistles. It seems like it's a constant battle to keep the thorns and thistles from overrunning the garden--again, stealing our joy! What gives?
This simple truth we often forget is this: life is hard. There is no way around it. As much as we work for perfection, stability and comfort, something will always break, wear out or fall apart. Why is this? When we travel back to the beginning of humanity, Adam and Eve decided they wanted to venture out on their own, they didn't need God and the relationship he provided...and God gave them what they wanted: A world of "thorns & thistles."
The amazing thing is that God is so good, and he never gives up on people! He went right to work to help people live in a world of "thorns & thistles" AND is preparing a day when the hurts and brokenness of life won't steal our joy anymore. Want to learn more? Give a listen to part three of Reverse the Curse. Enjoy!
Two things that are not very hard to find right now are: conflict and confusion. The perfect storm of conflict almost always brews from a crisis...and living in a crisis has been our norm for almost four months! What typically happens in the midst of a crisis is blame needs to be handed out to the perpetrator of the crisis, or at least someone who appears to be escalating the crisis. We do this in pandemics, business and in almost all of our relationships. When problems arise, it's time to play the blame game--and what ensues next is conflict! So what's the solution? Thankfully, God sent to us the curse reverser to provide for us a healthy and helpful way of dealing with the curse of conflict and confusion. Want to know more? Make sure and check out part two of our summer sermon series, Reverse the Curse.
One of our first responses when we do something wrong is we either hide, or try and hide what we have done. Why do we do this? One word: Shame. The feeling of shame is one of the curses of sin. Because of our shame, we all try to hide our lives behind our image, acting a certain way, our career or through relationships. The ways we hide is endless!
So how can we break the curse of shame? Well, the Good News is, God sent us a curse reverser, Jesus. Check out this sermon podcast and discover how faith in Jesus can remove our shame and helps us live life!
When was the last time you took a good look at a dandelion? Oh, you probably see them all the time right now, but when did you look at it closely? It's really an amazing plant, with a fascinating system of multiplication! Have you ever looked closely at those tiny seeds attached to those feathery parachutes? It's really an amazing multiplication design! As many of us know, it doesn't take long for dandelion plants to literally overwhelm a yard...but isn't that the point?
Honestly, the church can learn a lot from a dandelion plant. Most churches use a simple addition strategy; add a person here, then add a person there. While it can slowly work, it doesn't have near the impact of multiplication! Multiplication is what Jesus intended for his church.
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus instructs his disciples to use a "dandelion" type strategy for impacting the world through multiplication; disciples making disciples who make disciples. What if, in this season of pandemic, the church paid attention to Jesus' instructions, and began to live like dandelions? What would our neighborhoods look like? What would our community look like? One thing is certain, there would be no mistaking the fact that the church has left the building!
We all have a variety of ideas, images, and memories about what the church is; some good and some not so good. So, how did Jesus view the church? Pastors Tom Steele (Iowa City Church) and Travis Roehm (The Bridge Christian Community - Dubuque, Iowa) discuss in depth Matthew 16:15-19 and talk about what the means for us today as we look at the church.
Some days, it feel like we are losing. No school, empty streets, closed playgrounds and silent church buildings. Maybe it's even more personal. The loss of a job, relationship, or a way of life has pulled you down. No matter how you look at it, a loss is still a loss. However, what if there is more going on than what meets the eye? What if God is reminding us that we are "keeping score" with the wrong things? Is it possible that God is providing us a season where we can have a refresher about what life is all about? Maybe most importantly he is providing us an opportunity to learn what it looks like to "win" in life and as a church!
This sermon is the launch of a new series designed to remind us about what it means to be the church...even when the church isn't meeting in a building! It's easy to have the sense that the church is losing, but in fact just the opposite is happening! The church has left the building and is meeting around Johnson County. The church is being generous and loving it's neighbors...and most importantly the church is making Jesus famous! In this series we will study the words of Jesus and what he says about his church and how we can begin to measure success. We hope you find it helpful, enjoy!
Everyday we are reminded about how many people have died, how many people could die, how many people are sick, and how many people could become sick. Every time we turn on the news, the scales tip in favor of the bad news...so much more then good news. Maybe the news for you is bad; you've lost your job, you are sick, or have a loved one who is sick---or even worse. If this is you, please know this: You are loved. You are prayed for. You are not alone. No matter where you find yourself today, whether hurt, despair, confusion or just plain weariness, we all long for some hope.
In this sermon Pastor Tom Steele and his brother Paul (Pastor at Bethlehem Free Methodist Church in Austin, Minnesota) will talk about how the resurrection of Jesus can give you hope. Hope in your relationships. Hope in your everyday work. And hope to even overcome the fear of death. Isn't hope something you really need? Take a few minutes and give it a listen. We hope you find it helpful!
One of the things that social distancing is teaching us is that it's weird to not be around people. Listen, even some introverts wouldn't mind being in contact with at least one other person! Which brings about an interesting thought: What is a follower of Jesus supposed to do when they are stuck in isolation? Aside from day to day activities and carrying out their regular responsibilities. How is a Christian supposed to be carrying out the work of Jesus when they are social distancing or stuck in isolation?
The apostle Paul's letter to the Christians in Colossae actually concludes with two ways people can still be engaged in Kingdom work, even in isolation...and remember, Paul would know! He writes the Colossian letter while sitting in Rome under house arrest. Give a listen to the close of this Rooted series as we take a look at some practical ways people can have a significant Kingdom impact, even in isolation.
We are all finding new normals in this life with COVID-19 and isolation. There are a lot of good things that are happening. However, there are increasing stresses and fears...and they are impacting our relationships; marriages, parenting and friends. How can a life committed to Jesus us help us find peace in the chaos? Give a listen to this sermon and see what the apostle Paul has to say. We hope you find it helpful!
What is the best way to live life as a human? How do we get that information? The apostle Paul in his Colossian letter lands on this truth: A life rooted in Jesus provides us with everything that we need to live as new humans. Want to know more? Give a listen to part four of Rooted. We hope you find it helpful!
Once your faith is rooted in Jesus, there are always pressures which try to uproot what has been established. In this sermon we will examine what the apostle Paul says about outside pressures which threaten to uproot our faith, and one simple strategy to help us keep our lives rooted in Jesus. Thanks for listening, we hope you find it helpful!
Quick! Your washer is broken. What do you do? Your car breaks down. Where do you find the right mechanic? Naturally, in this day and age you search the internet. What do you look for? Ratings, recommendations, and of course--stars. You research, analyze, then cross your fingers hoping you picked the right one. So, when it comes to life...you know, really living life, how do you pick the right way to live life? This is a big deal, you only get one life and you most certainly don't want to mess that up! What is the best way to live life, and how do you know? In his Colossians letter, the apostle Paul is going to make a bold claim: a life rooted in Jesus is the best way to live life. Give a listen to this message and discover why the apostle Paul is making such a claim, and figure out if he just might be on to something!
Has anyone ever said, "You have an accent?" Usually, our first response to such a statement is: "I do?" The reality is, we are so immersed in our culture, we have no idea that we possess something that is unique to us or our community. This is exactly what happens to each of us when we move to a new state, region or country. If we stay long enough, we begin to "put down roots" and the culture begins to rub off on us...changing us. So, where are you putting your "roots" right now? More then just a location--think your life. Where are you putting the roots of your life? Here's why this matters: Where you put your roots, shapes what you will become. Give a listen to the listen to the launch of this brand new six part sermon series through the New Testament letter of Colossians. In it, we will focus on what a life rooted in Jesus looks like...and why it truly is the best way to live life!
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." ~ Colossians 2:6-7
This is the concluding sermon in the Prepared series. The focus for this teaching deals with--people. We can be prepared intellectually with information, and talking points. We can be prepared emotionally with prayer, and faith. But it can be hard to prepare for people. People can be difficult, confusing, negative...even a bit violent. So, what is a follower of Jesus supposed to do? What is the best way to respond? Well the apostle Paul experienced a very hostile environment--on numerous occasions, and he has some helpful teaching for us to apply to our everyday lives. We hope you find it helpful, enjoy!
"How can God be good when there is so much pain in the world?" It's a fair question. It's also a question that can come up when someone realizes that you are a Christian. The truth is, it is incredibly difficult to watch the news or lose a loved one to cancer and not struggle with how a good God could allow such painful things to go on. So, what's the best way to answer the question? Or, maybe you have never wrestled with a logical response to the pain and evil question. Give a listen to this podcast as we not only tackle the "Pain Problem", but also provide two basic responses you can prepared with when asked the question...and being prepared is what the life of a Christian is all about.
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." ~ 1 Peter 3:15
If you're a follower of Jesus, it's happened, and if it hasn't happened---it will. A friend, co-worker, or neighbor will find out that you are a Christian and they will say, "You don't believe the Bible do you?" What are you supposed to say? Is their an appropriate way to respond? The clock is ticking, and the pressure is mounting! Give a listen to part three of our Prepared series and discover a simple formula you can share verbally or even draw on a napkin, that will explain why you trust the Bible.
Have you ever found yourself frozen...speechless in a tense or awkward situation about your faith? To be a Christian means there will be times when someone questions you about attending church, or the reliability of the Bible or even why you believe what you believe. Then the crickets start to chirp...what is the right thing to say? Better yet, what is the right thing to say without embarrassing yourself and your entire Christian faith?! In part two of Prepared, we are going to study some very clear instructions that the apostle Peter shared with Christians in the first century (this problem isn't new) regarding the persecution they were receiving. We will discover that there is one simple, yet powerful response every follower of Jesus can say when their faith is under pressure! Don't miss out, we know that you are going to find it to be very helpful!
We've all been there. Somebody makes a derogatory comment about faith, the Bible, or Christianity or they make very divisive political statements. If you have never had this happen, then you most certainly have experienced it on social media. You know you should say something. There is pressure to respond. But what? What do you say when there's little time and even less interest? In this five part series, we are going to prepare to respond quickly, and respectfully to questions about politics, faith, the Bible and Christianity. With the election season in full swing...maybe politics is a good place to start! Give a listen, we hope you find it helpful!
This sermon is the concluding teaching in the series, Today, Not Someday. The wrap up this teaching will focus in on the biggest obstacle we all have in making big changes in our lives: The Person in the Mirror. Yes, YOU are the biggest obstacle in making changes, and accomplishing all of the items on your "Someday List"! More then we realize it's our fears, inadequacies, and failures which paralyze us and keep us from making the needed changes in our lives. So, what can we do about our self doubt? Jesus teaches us a lot about who we are and what we are cable of doing, if we keep our focus on him. Take a few minutes and give it a listen, we hope you find it helpful! Enjoy!
What stands out in your life as your one single biggest regret? It's a highly personal question that we're not often asked. It's also one that many of us would struggle to answer. So, take a moment and think...what is your biggest regret? In 2016, students from Strayer University set up a chalkboard on a sidewalk near Petrosino Square in New York City. They wrote on the top of the board, "Write Your Biggest Regret." It wasn't long before the chalkboard was filled to overflowing with written regrets: "Burning bridges." "Not being a good husband." "Not saying, I love you." "Not being a better friend." "Not having kids before my Dad passed away." "Not getting my MBA." "Not applying to MED school." [You can watch the video here] As humans, we live with a lot of regrets. So, is it possible to live a life with no regrets? Is there a way to move away from our list of "someday" and instead begin to do those things today? Not surprisingly, Jesus has a lot to say about how to live life, and most importantly, how to live a life without regrets. Give a listen to this podcast as we unpack the specifics of what Jesus says to one of his potential disciples, while they were sitting on a pile of fish--in a boat. We hope you find it helpful!
We all think we have more time then what we really do. Because of this we all have a "Someday List"; those tasks, jobs or responsibilities that need to be taken care of...someday. They are important, but just not important now--so, we put them on our "Someday List," determined that we will do them, some----day. What's on your list? Most certainly there are lifestyle changes that need to be made. Possibly financial? What about relational improvements that need to happen? Are there faith decisions you have placed on your "Someday List"? Decisions to deepen your relationship with God? Bible Study? Ministry? Baptism? So, when is the right time to tackle your "Someday List"? On Sunday, we will discover why Jesus said that today is the best day to take care of the "Someday List", and one vital step to help you get started.
As we conclude 2019, we need the light of God’s Word to guide us along the way. No one knows what is in store for 2020, but we can seek God daily in our lives so that he can light our way and keep us safe from the pitfalls that come in our life. Our prayer for you is echoed in the verse below: "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" Psalms 119:105