First Baptist Church of Salem, MA: Recent Episodes
First Baptist Church of Salem, MA
Here you will find the weekly sermons from Sunday services at First Baptist Church of Salem, MA.
“For Christ’s Kingdom and the flourishing of our city”
www.firstbaptistchurchsalem.com
What is true generosity? Listen in today to learn about how generosity is always more than simply material riches or money, but how it deeply reflects our heart.
As we come to the end of 1 Timothy, Paul gives Timothy a final commission to godliness. Listen in today as we learn the specifics of that commission and commit to it ourselves in our time.
Life is more than simply being godly. While this may sound completely contradictory to our whole sermon series, as we hear from Paul today in 1 Timothy 6, godliness must be combined with a deeper reality. Listen in today to discover the power of contentment.
As we finish the last of our three part series on biblical honor, today we look at how we are to honor our bosses. Why does God places such a high priority on authority, and honoring those who are “over us”? What does it mean for us today? How is it relevant? Listen in today to see how we can learn to honor in the way of Jesus.
As we continue our second part of our three part series on honor, this week we consider how to honor church leaders. What does it look like to be a healthy church where the leadership is honorable and the congregation is honoring? Listen in today for a pretty honest and vulnerable account of how this can look.
Honor is one of the highest aims of the Christian life and one of the greatest treasures of the Christian church. Listen in today as we hear about the place of honor specially reserved for widows in the life of the church.
Because Jesus has raised from the dead, everything is changed. But what can we do? What can we build? How does our doing and our building help break the curse of brokenness in our world? Listen in today and learn the motivating reality of being a builder for the Kingdom of God.
Because Jesus is raised from the dead, not only is the curse of sin and death broken, but we now as His followers today are used as curse=breakers alongside Him, through the Holy Spirit. Listen in today to the first part of a short 2-week series on how we can be reconcilers and builders with Jesus in our world that still has shards of the curse that are prevalent.
On Easter Sunday, the church celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The ancient curse of sin and death is forever defeated. Listen in today to learn why this is both a trusted and verifiable act of history, and what it means for our weary world.Video referred to in the sermon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4vvN5DGe50
What was the target of Jesus and his actions during Holy Week? Listen in today as we learn about Jesus as our "Curse Breaker" and how he came to un-do all the works of the ancient curse of sin.
Life on earth is simply a dress rehearsal for our true Life with God in eternity. Listen in today as we learn together how to train ourselves for godliness and why that can transform our lives in a deeply practical way.
How does thankfulness connect to a life of godliness? Listen in to 1 Timothy 4:1-5 and discover how we can cultivate a heart of thankfulness.
Mystery. It's a word that first seems to describe things we cannot know or understand. So what does "the mystery of godliness" mean then? Listen in today as we learn what it looks like for followers of Jesus to live a mysteriously beautiful life.
In our hectic and busy world, it's so easy to be inconvenienced by even little things. But Jesus was never inconvenienced. As we come together on this special "Hope Sunday" with Amirah, listen in to what James Hunt teaches us about how the great heart of Jesus meets any person, no matter the circumstances.
What do you aspire for most in life? What does God call all of us to, some of us, and the whole church to? Listen in today to learn more about God's beautiful design for the church.
In a noisy, busy, chaotic world, what kind of life are we to live? What is the life we all want to find? What does God even desire? Listen in today as we lean into those questions, and discover how some (at first glance) controversial statements actually pave the way to the discovery of true life itself.
How do your beliefs and your behavior relate? how important are they to relate? Listen in today to learn more about what a "good conscience" really is and why it is so crucial to our spiritual life.
We live in a "strong man" world. Most times it feels like, for us to succeed at all, we need to muscle up and grab life by the horns. But, in reality, this is the worst thing we should do. Listen in today to learn how acknowledging and leaning into our weaknesses might actually be the best thing for us.
In order to live, we must be healthy. But what does this mean? Listen in today as we learn about "healthy doctrine" from 1 Timothy and discern together how our sin and brokenness relaters toa life of true godliness.
We live in a world where many people want to believe in God or have a general interest in church or Jesus. However, sincere faith is perhaps harder to come by. So what is sincere faith and how do we cultivate it in our lives? Listen in today as we truly begin the road towards genuine godliness.
As we begin a new year, this is a time to decide anew what road we want to walk. Today we begin a new journey through the letter of 1 Timothy with the hopes of discovering together what a life of true godliness can look like in the modern world. Listen in as we begin the journey today with how Jesus is our Hope.
The end of the genealogy of Matthew 1 is Jesus. He is not only the center of the Christmas story, but also the Story of history itself. How so? What does a new beginning look like for us at the end of the genealogy?
Immanuel is one of the most important names in the Scriptures. It means "God With Us." But what does it mean for us? What does it teach us about who God really is?
Mary is so important to the Christmas story. But why? Have we misunderstood her? How is she to be understood, for all her importance and fame? Listen in today to hear how she magnifies the Lord.
One of the most famous names in the Bible has also one of the most mysterious stories in the Bible. What do we know about Joseph of Nazareth, the foster father of Jesus? And why is he important for us today?
Do you ever feel unknown? Like a nobody? Wondering when your real purpose will be revealed in this life? Listen in today as we learn about 9 unknown men from the genealogy of Jesus and the powerful truth they point us toward.
What is my purpose in life? How do I understand my purpose when I don't see tangible results? Listen in today as we learn about a relatively unstudied person in the Bible, Zerubbabel, and how he relates to our stories today.
All of us strive for something (or even many things) in life. These are our hopes and dreams put into action. But what do we do when what we strive for doesn't come about? Is it possible for our striving to be redeemed? Listen in today and learn about King Josiah's striving and how Jesus Christ redeems all of our striving.
How are we to understand the role of power in our world today? In the genealogy of Jesus, we see many powerful kings - some good and some bad. How does Jesus Christ redeem power and how does it affect how we engage in politics and elections today? Listen in today as we direct our gaze upon the Lamb on the eternal throne.
What do you long for most in your life? In your deepest heart? As you consider that question, what do you do with that longing? How do you actually live your life with that longing? Listen in today as we learn from the Scriptures about God's deepest heart longing for us and how it changes everything.
Are you wise or foolish? As we ponder this question honestly, we must realize that we are both! Listen in to today's sermon as we learn about the wisest man in the Bible, and how even he couldn't be his own redeemer. There must be something more to wisdom that we must discover.
We live in an insider/outsider world. How can the genealogy of Jesus Christ teach us anything about what it means to live in this kind of reality? Listen in today as we learn about outsiders in Jesus's time, and in todays time, and then what we can learn about the true "insider" life.
Do you feel weak or incapable sometimes in life? What hope can there be? Listen in today as Marcos teaches us from the remarkable story of Ruth and Boaz.
What did Judah do to deserve the Christ to come from his tribe and not one of the other 11? Listen in today to one of the wildest stories in the Scriptures, and what it teaches us about ourselves, and more importantly, the great grace of God.
Life is a journey. "Not all who wander are lost" is a quote we hear often today. But what does it mean to journey, to wander, to sojourn? Listen in today as we learn about one of the first people mentioned in Jesus's family tree - Abraham. What can we learn from his story?
Jesus's family tree is full of interesting people. But one thing they all share in common is that they are not perfect, not by any stretch of the imagination! As we step into the fall, we're going to be learning each week about how Jesus is the Redeemer of all broken people, starting with the ones in his own genealogy. Today though we begin simply with the simple fact - The Redeemer is the Christ, the Son of David and Abraham, and his name is Jesus because he saves his people from their sins.
Who is your master? All of us serve something or someone, or multiple somethings or someones. But Psalm 16 invites us to a deeper kind of apprenticeship than anything else in the world. Listen in as we learn what it means to live the Way of Jesus.
What are the things that make you want to dance? This may be an uncomfortable question for some of us. But when we think of it as a heart reality, does that make a difference? Listen in today as we learn about what made David dance, and how it's even better for us today.
Lament is one of the most used types of prayer in the Psalms. But it seems to be one of the least understood or practiced by modern people. Why is that the case? Listen in today as we learn more about the power of lament prayer and how it can help you through the hardest of times.
Why do we sometimes ask for things and other times choose not to ask? Listen in today as we learn about how prayer and specific asking can transform not just our prayers, but even our life itself.
How are we to understand the reality of depression in our personal lives, and in our world today? Listen in today as we walk with David through Psalm 143, where he wrestles with the reality of spiritual darkness, and how to be put back together again.
If you have been, currently are, or may be depressed in the future, this sermon is for you. Listen in today as Pastor Steven shares about his personal journey of depression and how the sorrows of life are not hindrances to a life of faithfulness to Jesus.
If you had to boil life down to one thing, what would it be? There's so many options - good & bad - but only one great option. Listen in today to David's (probably surprising) answer... beauty.
Are you a "fretter"? Someone who worries about many things? If so, you're not alone. Many of us walk through life worrying and fretting. Listen in today for a special sermon on why, through faith in Jesus Christ, we can leave our frets with the One who can give us peace.
Are you lonely? Do you wish you had close friendships? Do you struggle to know what to do to develop those close friendships? David in Psalm 25 expresses similar thoughts. Listen in today and learn with us how God draws near to the lonely and invites us into a model of friendship that can change our life.
If you think about your father, you know how special and valuable that relationship is. And if you are a father yourself, you know how imperfect of a father you are. So as we come to Psalm 68, it is so reassuring and comforting to read about the Father who never fails. Listen in today to hear about how God protects, comforts, and guides us like no other.
Life can be like a bog - a slimy, difficult pit that we fall into by accident. What happens when you find yourself in these circumstances? How do you escape? Listen in today as we learn about things like patience, prayer, mercy, and so much more.
What is the power of gratitude in your life? Who does God look upon, the high or the low? Listen in today and find God’s word for you today.
The summer is a time for the Psalms. 150 of the most beautiful poems, journal entries, reflections, songs, & prayers are found here. Today, we begin our journey with Psalm 19, which points us not just to beautiful things but the Beautiful One.
We all have to drink, both in order to stay alive and to live merrily. The only question is what we choose to drink. As we conclude this 6-week series "At the Table With Jesus", we find ourselves in a story without a physical Jesus and without a literal table. Yet, we discover something powerful being poured out and something deeply meaningful occurring in the lives of those drinking. For the onlookers, all they could say is, "Are these people drunk?" Listen in today and learn how the coming of the Holy Spirit changes everything.
All of us walk the road of suffering at times in our life. What do we need most in those times? A listening ear, an encouraging word, a table of food and drink. Listen in today as Mike Lilley teaches us about an amazing story of the resurrected Jesus appearing to two weary walkers, and how he brings the Story of all stories to life to them.
In this passage, Jesus has particular and pointed things to say to people who are suspicious of him, people who are in places of privilege, and to hosts of fancy parties. What is he speaking to you through these challenging words? Listen in today and see how Jesus's upside-down, inside-out comments resonate with your heart.
In this famous passage, the story shifts slightly from Jesus around a table to now Jesus out in a field with thousands of people. After a long day of teaching and learning, how will the day end? Jesus provides an amazing meal for every person. But what does this teach us for today? Listen in today to discover what Jesus is inviting us into and where true satisfaction is found.
In this story today we are introduced to two characters - a religious elite named Simon and an unnamed "sinful" woman. Who is welcome at Jesus's table? Who is the real host of this meal and who is received by the guest of honor? Listen in today as we have our assumptions challenged and as we learn how this applies to God's global heart.
There's no greater theme in the gospel of Luke than Jesus sitting around a table with other people. Listen in today to the first of 6 stories we'll walk through that detail how Jesus interacts with people over a shared meal. How does Jesus get to your table? Who would be at that table with you? What is Jesus's heart towards you and your friends?
Is there anything lasting in this world? And if there is a God, what is his real motivation? Listen in today to this Easter Sunday sermon, as we conclude our journey through the book of Ephesians.
What should we think about the unseen spiritual world? How should we properly consider the reality of spiritual warfare? For many of us, the mere idea of a spiritual battle brings fear. So listen in today as we consider how this text helps us to live fearlessly for the cause of Jesus in our city of Salem.Artwork mentioned - "The Release from Deception" (by Italian sculptor Francesco Queirolo in 1759)Book quoted from with regards to the armor of God in Ephesians 6:14-17 - "The Invisible War" (by Chip Ingram)Artwork mentioned - "The Release from Deception" (by Italian sculptor Francesco Queirolo in 1759)Book quoted from with regards to the armor of God in Ephesians 6:14-17 - "The Invisible War" (by Chip Ingram)
Where do you spend the vast majority of your non-sleeping time? Like most people, I imagine it's at home with your family and at your place of work. So how can we be used by God as lights in those places? Listen in today as we learn some about what the Scriptures tell us about marriage, parenting, and the workplace.
How are followers of Jesus to live in the modern world? When we come to faith in Jesus, some big decisions are put before us. Who are we to spend time with? What things are we to do? Not do? It can get overwhelming! Listen in today as we learn from Paul in Ephesians what it looks like to live wisely. He puts three beautiful images before us to help us - imitation, shining, singing.
To make exclusive truth claims is one of the more dangerous or scandalous things to do in the modern world. So how can Christians understand the role of truth in loving our neighbors? To acknowledge truth is really to begin a journey of being a life-long learner. But why are we then to share the truth and how are we to share the truth? Listen in today as we learn a bit about our world and discover the power of the truth of Jesus in public.
The unity of the church is perhaps the biggest theme of the book of Ephesians. But how it comes about is a bit surprising. Listen in today as we learn about how to grow into maturity as believers, and how genuine unity in the gospel with others is actually how true spiritual maturity comes about.
The love of God expressed in Ephesians 3:14-21 is BIG. In this extravagant prayer by Paul, we see that there is a measurelessness to God's love for us, and that not only makes us feel known and loved, but it should also spur us to pray similarly BIG prayers to God for others. Listen in today as we learn a few BIG prayers to pray for the city of Salem.
Why is serving so important to understanding the gospel? Listen in today as we hear about Paul's specific call to serve, how & why we all can serve, and then how we can serve the city of Salem together.
What changed when Jesus died on the cross? As we listen to Paul's teaching in Ephesians 2:11-22, we realize that everything has changed because now truly all people are invited into the story of redemption. Listen in today as we learn about the dividing wall that has been knocked down and what that means for you and me today.
Grace is what Christianity is all about. Why is it so important? What is grace? How does it change everything about how we love our neighbors around us? Listen in today and hear Paul's electric unveiling of the gospel of grace.
Perhaps the most tangible way we can spiritually love our city is by praying for other people. But how do we do that? What do we pray? Listen in today as we learn how the apostle Paul prayed for the people around him.
What does it mean to "love this city"? That's the question we're going to be asking & answering throughout this new series in the book of Ephesians. Today, we zoom in on the reality of the amazing spiritual blessings we have received through faith in Jesus and, more importantly, what the purpose of receiving them is. In short, we are blessed only so that we can be a blessing to others as well.
We live in a divided world, both on an individual level and as a larger society. Why is this the case? What can prevent it? These are important questions, but not the ones that the birth of Jesus ultimately answers. When God became human in the person of Jesus, he instead answered another question - how can peace come in the midst of division and restore beauty and unity to us? Listen in today to this Christmas Eve sermon and find the hope of peace for you.
The biggest overarching problem facing our world continually is the presence of evil. How do we live in a world of evil? What is the better story that can reshape the way we live forever, even in the face of evil around us? Listen in today as we hear the story of Herod the King from the birth of Jesus story, and hear the apostle Paul's strong assurance of what is yet to come.
In the Christmas story, the shepherds were terrified when the angels appeared to them announcing the birth of Jesus. Likewise, each of us can find ourselves full of fear throughout our lives. But as the angel told the shepherds to "Fear not" and that "peace on earth" was coming, so too is the peace of God offered to us. Listen in today as we learn more about how to face fear in our daily lives and find the peace of God to be everything we need.
What can possibly help resolve the rampant anxiety that nearly everyone in the world goes through? As we listen to the classic birth of Jesus story once again - today through the lens of Mary and Joseph - we will see that anxiety has always been part of the human story. But there also is an antidote that the Bible teaches us about. What does Jesus teach us about anxiety, and how does the peace of God profoundly work into our deepest selves to cure the anxious heart and mind?
Most everyone thinks world peace is a good thing. But what exactly is real peace for the world? As we walk into the Christmas season together we will learn the depths of the peace of God offered in the person of Jesus Christ. Today, listen to Jesus's challenging words on what he came to bring, and how it really is a profound peace like no other.
Perhaps the greatest surprise of the gospel of Jesus is the promise of the end of the story. What happens when we die? Does this life we're living now matter at all? Listen in as we investigate the greatest of surprises, the promise of glorification.
If the goal of the Christian life is to become more and more like Jesus, how do we do that, especially when life gets really hard? The New Testament leads us to a surprising recurring teaching - perseverance. Listen in today as we learn together how to persevere in life.
After believing in Jesus, you are changed immediately forever. But what is the goal and purpose of your life then going forward? Listen in today as we lean into the biblical theme of sanctification, and what every day for the rest of your life should be like.
When you dress up for Halloween, you get to walk around & take on that identity for a short time by wearing a costume. That concept gets us halfway to understanding the full totality of what it means to have union with Christ. Listen in today as we learn more about one of the greatest theological truths in the Scriptures and why it is life-changing for us today.
Adoption is not only a literal global need, but it is also the greatest spiritual need we have as humans as well. As we read the stories of Scripture we discover the theme of adoption pulsating off the pages, of how the God of creation did everything and spent everything to buy us back and make us part of his family. Listen in today as the most famous singular adoption story in the Bible is read, and how one of the greatest theological beauties is taught from the New Testament.
A courtroom can only be beautiful if you know you're going to walk out with a verdict of "innocent." In life in general, how do we know how we will be found on the final one day of judgement? Listen in to find one of the greatest surprises of all - how sinners become righteous and free forever.
Our first birth into this world is an utter miracle. But is that the greatest miracle in life? What do we do when we feel the great need, deep within us, to change. Listen in today as we listen to two voices from the Scriptures describe what change the heart can go through that radically changes everything.
What is the call of God? When does he call? Why does he call? Who does he call? Listen in today as we learn about the heart of God from the very beginning of the Bible, and hear the explicit call of Jesus Christ himself for us today.
When did God first know you? It is a very different answer than when we first came to know God. Listen in today to a powerful exposition of one famous verse about the prophet Jeremiah, and how it applies to us today.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not just the opposite of bad news, but it's the invitation to the GOOD news. What does that mean? Listen in today as we hear a famous Scripture from the prophet Isaiah read, and then learn how Jesus Christ fulfills it in beauty.
The power of stories cannot be overstated in our modern world. From Netflix to Harry Potter to children’s books, we are captivated by stories. What are the stories that have captured your heart and soul? This sermon begins a new series on the surprising Story of all stories, the one which brings hope to all people. Listen in today as we see how the Story of the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, beautifully intersects with each of our lives today and surprises us with grace upon grace.
It's hard to argue with the kind of life that Psalm 112 lays out for us. A life with a great family, good circumstances, a God-like character, and more. But how do we avoid the traps of life and actually take hold of a life like that? The answer is a surprising one.
Psalm 111 is a beautiful acrostic poem that recounts the great works of God in summary form. But how does the greatness of what God does relate to what we do in our everyday lives, and particularly our places of work? Listen in today as we learn a bit about the biblical theology of work itself and God's greatest work of all.
Which Psalm is quoted more in the New Testament than any other? Psalm 110. Listen in today as we try to discern why the early church quoted this Psalm of David so much and what is so important about it for us today and for all times.
What does Psalm 109 have to do with Jesus? Listen in today as we listen to David talking about how he is being accused wrongfully by others, and how we can resonate with that when we are under the accusations of others as well. And then hear how Jesus Christ of Nazareth handled his own accusations during his most trying moment, as he headed to the cross.
If missions is one of the greatest purposes of the church, what possibly could be more than missions? Listen in to Psalm 108 today, on this being one of our "Missions Emphasis Sundays", and hear how the worship of the Living Creator God is even our deeper calling in life. More than missions, our hearts, mouths, and perspective sings to the God who has a promise that sings through the ages.
What does the knowing the steadfast love of God actually do for you? Listen in today to a passionate sermon from Mike Lilley about the direct relevance and your great need for the love of God that's available to you free in Jesus.
Why in the world would you want to praise God? This is a command in the Scriptures, and a grand assumption when you walk into a church on a Sunday morning. But why? Why praise God? Listen in today as we learn about one of the most famous and oft-repeated phrases in the whole Bible - "give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His steadfast love endures forever."
What are the promises that you've heard, or that you've even promised to others? As we listen to Psalm 105 read in its entirety, we hear about the great promises of God, beginning all the way back in Genesis 12 with Abraham, and continuing on throughout history. What are the promises of God and what meaning do they have for you today? Listen in today to this message from Alan Vance on the promise of God.
Psalm 104 assumes that there is a Creator of the whole universe and everything we see around us. But even deeper, what kind of Creator is it? Listen in today as we learn not only about the assumption of a Creator, but about what kind of person He is, and how we fall into a few common traps that cause us to miss the goodness of who He is.
Would you honestly be willing to trade everything else in the world in exchange for God alone? As one of the more memorable Scriptures in the whole Bible, Psalm 84 gives us a glimpse of someone who longs for God in a way that should make us long for Him too. Listen in today as Marcos teaches us verse-by-verse through this wonderful text.
While all of us would like to be loved by everyone, unfortunately, it's pretty commonplace in our world today to feel pushback, opposition, and antagonism by someone or some group of people. The Bible has a lot to say about enemies, surprisingly. Listen in today as we hear one of the "Imprecatory Psalms" and learn how to pray when we feel encircled all around us, like Israel did many times. Instead of praying for destruction, what is Jesus's stunning suggestion?
What kind of world do we live in? Psalm 82 is one of the places in Scripture that gives us a peak behind the curtain, to see a world that is more than we usually imagine. But we also discover within this Psalm the profound worth that humans have to God and a potential for real and lasting justice beyond our deepest hopes.
The wilderness is a scary and dangerous place to be, and we all find ourselves in the wilderness in life at some point. But Psalm 81 gives us a beautiful hope to cling to - there's a Rock in the wilderness, and even deeper, there's honey in that Rock. Listen in today and learn afresh how the difficulties and tests of life that God leads us into actually can give us something sweet that we can't find anywhere else.*Sermon outline is derived from a sermon delivered by Timothy Keller on May 19, 2002. You can find that beautiful sermon by clicking this link -https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/honey-from-the-rock/
In times of tears and darkness, it is natural for humans to have soul-cries towards something or someone outside of ourselves who can restore us. Psalm 80 repeats this cry for "restoration" three times. What does this teach us about challenging times we go through, and does this even have something to teach us about where we place our ultimate hope? Listen in today and discover how Jesus Christ steps into that space we long to have filled.
The purpose of the church, or even religion itself, is often discussed in the modern world. As we listen to an admittedly "brutal Psalm" today in Psalm 79, what possible hope can we gather from Israel's defeat at the hands of Babylon in 586 BC? What we discover is a heartfelt reflection on something we admittedly misunderstand about God (his jealousy), something we love about what God can give (his forgiveness), and something we all cry for throughout the ages (his justice). But we learn something even more important - we learn about the community he is redeeming for the world and why it works still even today.
As we listen to the story of God's faithfulness over many generations read over us from Psalm 78, we find the encouragements to remember, believe, tell, follow. Listen in as we enter into Israel's history, and find its application to us today in the modern world as well.
Our culture of multitasking and transience keeps us from finding our truest and deepest delight. As we begin our journey into the Psalms again this spring/summer, we begin today with Psalm and learn how we can find utter delight. A book, a tree, and an assurance are our images to lasting delight.
After the disciples have seen Jesus resurrected two times already, now at this third appearance we finally begin to see why a risen Jesus matters in the world. Listen in today as we discover 5 key changes that take place only because Jesus is alive.
While the claim of the resurrection of Jesus is a supernatural and miraculous claim, there is tangible evidence for it - both for the fearful disciples hidden in a locked room on the evening of the first Easter, for doubting Thomas, and for modern people like us. Listen in today as we listen to the evidence, as we believe what Thomas saw with his eyes and touched with his hands, and receive from God His greatest gift - the gift of life itself.
What really is the true story behind the person of Jesus? This is the question 2 sad people were asking as they walked home from Jerusalem after Easter 2,000 years ago. Maybe this is one of your questions as well. Before believing in the great hope of the resurrection, our curiosity must lead us to answer this question. Listen in today as we hear this first story about how Jesus Himself comes to us and meets us in our deepest questions of life.
What is the true posture of victory? For this Resurrection Sunday sermon, listen in as we learn about how God's work of salvation and redemption is finished! What is Jesus's victory stance? He sat down on the throne of God.
“No one remembers who climbed Mount Everest the second time.” — Edmund HillaryAs we begin Holy Week and celebrate on Palm Sunday the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem before us, we focus in on the reality that Jesus is the true and only Pioneer of faith. What does that mean for us? Why is that important? How did Jesus live in the way we could never ourselves? Listen in today as we learn about the power of presence, freedom, and purpose that Jesus unlocks for us.
Faith is one of the most fundamental parts of Christianity. But in a world of multitasking, distraction, and competing ideas, having a singular-focus on Jesus Himself can be admittedly difficult. How do we "fix our eyes" on Jesus alone? Listen in today as we learn about how faith invites us to see a new world, to look around at one another without competing, and to run the marathon of faith and not merely short sprints. "Faith is that which is able to survive a mood." - G.K. Chesterton
What is the most important thing about you? As we arrive at the end of Jonah's epic story, we begin to finally see God reveal Jonah's deepest heart. What does Jonah care most about? Through the object lesson of a plant and worm, God not only reveals Jonah's heart, but ours as well. Along the way, we discover the most important thing about God too - that He loves humans more than we ever thought possible.
In all sincerity, how are you doing today? Is it well with your soul today? How would you answer God if that question was posed to you today? Listen in as Mike Lilley teaches us about how Jonah was doing after God showed great mercy on the city of Nineveh. Why was Jonah so angry? Is God neglecting justice for the sake of mercy? Listen in today to learn how God's deepest character and what makes Him uniquely able to be both just and merciful at once.
In this story from Jonah today, we see a stunning change happen in the city of Nineveh. Jonah gets a second change at obedience, the Word of God is delivered, and then repentance rolls throughout the city and the great compassion of God is seen. This is a great model for how change happens for us as well. Listen in today then and discover afresh how true changes settles deep into us.
Can you imagine what you would do if you were such a position as Jonah - literally caught in the belly of a "great fish"?! Jonah pours his heart out to God. Listen in today as we learn from Jonah's almost unbelievable experience, and how he can get to the place of saying, "Salvation belongs to the LORD!"
What does Jesus have to do with Jonah? As the runaway prophet gets thrown overboard and hits the water, eventually finding himself famously in the mouth of a great fish, we see the stormy sea between Joppa and Tarshish calmed and the foreign sailors saved. When confronted with troubles and problems of various kinds in our lives, what will calm our troubled souls? Listen in today as we learn about sacrifice, substation, and satisfaction - the heart of the Christian Gospel.
When the microphone gets passed to you, and the spotlight is on you to speak, what hope would you speak to someone in trouble? When Jonah finds himself in that place, we learn about where he finds his truest identity. Listen today as we see how insufficient Jonah's shallow faith is for the fearful sailors in the storm, and instead what kind of faith the world then and now needs from us. As we learn, it begins with not simply understanding “who” we are, but more so “Whose” we are.
When bad or stressful or stormy things happen to you in life, do you ever find yourself wanting to escape it or just sleep it off? Listen in this morning as we learn about Jonah's deep sleep during the midst of his storm, and contrast it with the sleep of peace that Jesus shows us from a similar story in the New Testament.
When storms come to us in life (pains, troubles, trials, etc.), often we are quick to ask "why?" But as we learn today from God's intervening storm in Jonah 1:4, there is something meaningful for us in the storms of life. Listen in today as we learn about God's character of perfect holiness and love, and how they meet us in grace in the storms of life, helping us to see Jesus clearly amidst the waves and wind.
"Is God really good?" When we scan the pages of Scripture, we find this to be a theme that is repeated in a diversity of ways, by a diversity of people throughout history. In this second sermon in the 11-week series in the book of Jonah, listen in as Mike Lilley traces Jonah's response to God's call. Why does Jonah choose to flee the opposite direction? His refusal to obey exposes his sin before God, bringing about great personal cost. But, more so, what does it show us about God Himself? Is He good? Is there any hope for us as people who are "prone to wander" and "prone to leave the God we love"?
As we begin a new 11-week series in the Old Testament story of Jonah, we ask ourselves, who is the book of Jonah actually all about? Listen in today as we learn from just the first 2 verses about the heart of the pursuing God, the reality of evil, and how God uses a prodigal, flawed prophet to not only bring Good News to an enemy city... but also to change the heart of the man himself.
Epiphany Sunday is the day on the church calendar we recognize the Magi's trip to visit Jesus after His birth. What can their journey teach us about our own spiritual journey? More specifically, how can their insistence on coming to worship Jesus instruct us about what true worship of Jesus is in today's modern times. Listen in today as we lean in to what the true purpose of the church (and our whole lives) really is.
As we begin a new year, 2023, do you want something deeper than another attempt at resolutions? Individual Christians for centuries have compiled a unique "rule of life" to help give intentionality, rhythm, and delight to their journey though life. Listen in today as we are encouraged from Psalm 16 and then walked through some practical ways to begin crafting your own "rule of life."Credit to Stephen Macchia and his helpful book "Crafting a Rule of Life"
What would you say is the opposite of peace in your life? Whatever you identify as your answer, the Bible promises that Jesus comes to bring not only the fulfillment and completion of that emptiness, but also of every incomplete reality in the world. Listen in today as we learn from the words of the prophet Jeremiah about God's vision for peace, even in the darkest of circumstances in our lives - plans for redemption, restoration, and reconciliation.
Nothing in our world is "everlasting" - not kings, not parents, not batteries, not milk! But the prophet Isaiah tells of a day when a Son is to be born who will be called "Everlasting Father." How are we are to understand how a son can be "Father" and how one born can also be called "Everlasting"? Listen in today as we learn from Jesus' words himself from John 17, and see the powerful relevance of Jesus today being "Everlasting Father."
There are times in life when we are so aware of our weakness that we just need something or someone strong to lean on. The prophet Isaiah tells us that the coming son Savior is the "Mighty God." Listen in today as we learn truly what it means that God is Mighty, learning from a magnificent vision of victory at the end of all things - Jesus as both the Lion and the Lamb.
We live in a time where having a counselor or therapist no longer comes with a social stigma. But still our brokenness, weariness, depression, and anxiety remains. For the season of Advent we turn in hope to the coming Son of God, who was born with titles unmistakably filled with meaning. Today we learn about how Jesus is the true and Wonderful Counselor of the world, and for you and me.
No one likes to be called a nobody. But the reality is that most of us live out our days on earth in relative anonymity to the wider world. Does our life have any lasting purpose then? If we’re not famous or popular, can we make a difference? Listen in today as we conclude our Fall series in the book of Colossians, and learn about obscure Christians who had an extraordinary role to play in God's unfolding drama of redemption.
We can all probably think of some of our favorite foods and meals we've had in life. Is it just the ingredients that make them special or rich, or is it more so about the seasoning that accompanies them? Listen in today as we apply that same logic to some of the core practices (or "ingredients") of the Kingdom of God, and learn from Paul what flavor-filled seasoning brings those practices to life.
What is real family in the Kingdom of God look like? At first glance, it may look totally strange or counter to what we see in our modern culture. But listen in today as Dr. Dan Darko (Professor of New Testament at Gordon College) teaches us more about what true mutuality can look like in all our relationships.
What is true life and where do we find it? Listen in today as we learn together from Colossians 3:1-17, and how Paul teaches us that our life is actually found somewhere totally else if we are "in Christ." Where is it? How do (or can?) we get access that life? The answer is found unexpectedly with an emphasis on what we choose to set our mind on, and if we are willing to fundamentally change.
Are you a superstitious person? Are you a rule-follower? Are either of those things important in the Kingdom of Jesus? Listen in today as the apostle Paul explains to us what the true substance ("real stuff") of the Kingdom of God is, and what are only shadows.
Is Christianity simply an insurance policy or instead a grand, eternal assurance? Listen in to this sermon from October 9 as we learn about the greatest assurances of the Kingdom of Jesus, things we can find full hope in only in the Gospel - community, truth, freedom.
Do your wounds, pains, sorrows have any purpose? Listen in to this sermon from October 2 as we learn what the ministry of the Kingdom of Jesus truly is - the ministry of hurting, hiding, and heralding.
"FOMO" ("fear of missing out") is a common way some people today live out their life. As you listen in to Alan Vance preaching on the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ from Colossians 1:21-23, consider if this good news is something you would fear to miss out on. Living for Christ's Kingdom offers us the greatest possibility for true life - because it alone offers us reconciliation to God.
There are so many authorities in life. How can we possibly put all the pieces together to know how to live in the one right way that life was meant to be lived? Listen in today to consider Jesus Christ as the true King of the true Kingdom.
What is it about kingdoms that draws us? Disney princesses, the British royal family, and towering castles... they are alluring and enduring in our imaginations. Listen in today as we begin a new series in the book of Colossians, and learn together about the one, true and lasting real Kingdom. What does it mean to live for this Kingdom in the here and now? Explore with us together this fall.
In our final sermon on the Psalms for the summer we come to a Psalm that promises us everything we ever wanted. How can that be true? Could something that magnificent actually be reality? Listen in as we learn about God's great desire for us to be fully dependent on Him and to find our deepest delight in Him.
Do you ever feel like God is sleeping in public? David felt that way in Psalm 44. Listen in with us today as we learn how God is completely in control and at rest simultaneously, loving us even when He seems asleep.
In a world of deep and growing connectivity, why does often feel like God is silent? Is He actually silent? Listen in today as we learn from David in Psalm 28 about how to pray when God feels distant and quiet.
It's easy to see that our world is broken. What then can give us hope in such shaky times? Listen in today as Alan Vance gives the hope of the coming True King from Psalm 72.
Have you ever compared your circumstances to somebody else, or wondered why some people seem to easily flourish and others don't? Psalm 49 invites us to investigate this as one of the great riddles of life. Listen in to this sermon from July 31 and learn our priceless value, the gift of our circumstances, and the everlasting reality of the soul.
Most of us don't own sheep, or even see sheep very often. How then is the image of God being our shepherd so meaningful for so many of us in the modern world? Listen in today as we hear how God humbly, lovingly, courageously shepherds our souls. Is He your shepherd?
There is no such thing as an anonymous person in the world. Listen in today from Psalm 139 to the powerful truth that we are known by God.
Where is God in a world of trouble, injustice, and pain? Listen in today to a special sermon from Jeremy Mueller, our partner missionary in Prague, Czech Republic as he teaches us from Psalm 10 and reminds us that God not only hears our prayers, but also our screams as well.
What is God's vision for the world? Just as fireworks on the 4th of July point to a vision for the country we live in, so too do we learn in Psalm 67 of God's greatest desire for the whole world. Listen in today, on this special Missions Sunday, and learn about God's vision of praise from and gladness for all peoples.
What do you go to in order to find true satisfaction in life? Explore with us today the realities of a wilderness soul, and how David looks beyond his physical situation to find deep and lasting satisfaction for his soul in God alone.
Why is actually going to a physical space on a Sunday morning a good thing to do? Psalm 92 is labeled as "A Song for the Sabbath" and gives us several reasons why worship is refreshing to us in a variety of ways. Listen in today to an ancient text that tells timeless truths about the power of refreshment that comes from worship on the Sabbath.
What do you run into in times of trouble? We all have places or things we run to to settle our nerves, to provide safety, and to escape. But what about for our deepest self, our soul? Listen in today to learn from Psalm 91 what God offers each of us as our refuge.
What makes you afraid? And more importantly, what do you do when you are afraid? Listen in today as we learn from David in his moment of deep fear. What we find in amidst his fears of the unknown and of feeling abandoned is a man full of trust in the Living and Delivering God. What we find is that fear is actually an invitation to the very presence of God.
Why is singing good for you? How can gratitude help you sleep? These are a few of the topics and questions addressed in this sermon on one of the most beautiful Scriptures in all of the Bible. But most importantly, this sermon from Psalm 100 address the ground for why worship even exists. The answer? Because God is good.
Is forgiveness needed? Is forgiveness connected to the rest of life? Is forgiveness even really that effective? Listen in today as we hear a first-hand account from David in Psalm 32 about the immense and eternal power of forgiveness.
A symphony is a cascade of beautiful, full music that seems to come at you from every direction. This is what the Psalms are for the people of God, and the central theme of the Psalms is praise. Listen in today as we begin our spring/summer series through the Psalms, "the symphony of praise." We begin today at the end, with the crescendo of the Psalms, Psalm 150.
Surprises are some of the best parts of the human experience. But what is it that causes the greatest surprise of all (the resurrection of Jesus Christ) to lose its luster over time for so many? Listen in to today's special Easter sermon that seeks to answer the question, how do we rediscover the wonder of the surprise of the resurrection of Jesus? May "Christ is Risen!" surprise anew throughout all the days of our life.
Video reference - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmNZGr9Udx8
Artwork reference - https://mikefrost.net/greatest-easter-painting-time/
Humans are all beauty-seeking creatures. We love sunsets, delicious foods, the smell of spring flowers and so much more. But what is true beauty? Listen today to a well-known parable of Jesus, where He unveils for us the pursuing love of the Father.
We are a tired and weary generation, burned-out from overwork and unrealized rest. We long universally for rest today. But what can truly bring what we long for most? Listen in today to a classic parable of Jesus about a tiny seed that grows, and for a surprising answer to what our soul longs for.
Authenticity is something we all are longing for. We all want to be the real, genuine version of ourself. But how can I be truly me, and not some phony, fake version of myself? In this stirring parable today, Jesus shows how true life is found. Once again, in a surprising twist, Jesus shows that it's not by accomplishing something that we find ourselves. Rather, it is by acknowledging what we can never be. Listen in to today's sermon to learn more about the way of humility that Jesus so beautifully reveals.
We live in what has been called "the lonely generation." Therefore, so many of us are longing for true community and a real experience of "life together" (as Dietrich Bonhoeffer so famously called it). Listen in this morning as we discover together what true community was always meant to be like, how it went wrong, and how the cross of Jesus Christ forms what our soul has always longed for - the true community, the church of Jesus Christ.
In a noisy world, we all are beginning to realize the profound place that silence should play in our lives. We need quiet, reflective moments to sustain us. But what is true silence? What does God want to teach about our longing for silence? Listen in today as we learn from Jesus the purpose of parables, and discover the true "sound of silence" that leads to a deep prayer life with the Living God who hears.
Are you curious? As we begin the season of Lent ( the 40 days of reflection on the cross between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday), we begin a new series looking at spirituality. In a world that celebrates spiritualities, what is true that we can cling to? How does the cross of Jesus Christ factor in? Is it good to be curious? Let's learn from an old parable of Jesus about treasure to find the answer.
As we finish our short sermon series on James 1, we're left with a memorable challenge from James. Listen in today as we learn together the only true ways to respond to God's Word when it comes to you. It has more to do with our feet than with our ears.
"Angry" is a word that could describe so much of our world today. Anger at others, anger at leaders, anger at circumstances, and yes even anger at God. But anger is something all of us will feel frequently throughout life. So how then are we to best deal with anger? Listen in today as we learn three radical counter-cultural truths that James reveals in 1:19-21. The surprising answer... gentleness.
What's one of the sneakiest ways that we have been deceived in the world today? By thinking that when good things happen, it's somehow because of something good we did. James steps in today and gives us a major, gracious corrective. He points us upward and inward, helping us to realize the transformative power that comes when seeing God as the gracious giver of every gift. Then he leaves us with one parting encouragement... pointing us outward to others. Listen in today to this anti-deception message on the power of the grace of God in the person of Jesus.
What's the difference between a trial and a temptation? Temptations often are personal. Today in James 1:13-15, we learn from Scripture why we can never scapegoat God when we are tempted. Though we are all tempted, the origin of temptation actually comes from an often unsuspecting source. But God Himself is also the often unsuspecting Giver of exactly what we need when temptations do come our way.
Many of us have come to believe that God is real. But, as Alan Vance says in today's sermon, many of us still question whether God is actually altogether good. This is especially the case when we experience trials in life. Listen in to today's sermon as Alan teaches us from James 1:12 what steadfastness looks like, how trials again have a deeper beautiful purpose for our lives, and finally what "the crown of life" really is.
Money is alluring. And there is a reason why Jesus (and the Bible in general) talks about money so much. In today's text in James, we allow ourselves to ask the question we often secretly dream - "what would I do if riches came my way?" In James 1:9-11, there is a word for both the "lowly" and the "rich", and both are avenues to a place of deep, grace-filled freedom. Listen in today as we learn together how and why a life of lowliness is one to be pursued.
"I don't know what to do!" How many times have you said or thought that? Feeling that we are lacking wisdom or not being sure what to do is a feeling all of us share in common. But the Bible lovingly trumpets a hopeful tune - that there is a God who is not only wise, but generous in dispensing it to a weary world lacking in wisdom. Listen in to today's sermon as we learn 3 beautiful character traits of God and then 3 gracious practical take-aways of what to do when we don't know what to do.
A new calendar year is a good time for reflection. Beginning today, we will spend 8 weeks looking at what (or Who) James invites us to reflect on in James Ch. 1. In today's intro sermon, we reflect on a harsh reality each of us know - trials of various kinds are a part of life. But James shocks us with a few surprise truths. Listen in as we discover together that what none of us want to go through (trials) is actually life’s most surprising path to where all of us want to arrive (joy).
Ever had an epiphany - when something was made known to you in a profound and clear way? Listen in today as we examine the greatest epiphany in the history of the world, when Jesus Christ made Himself known even to those who were searching the skies for wisdom. What they found when they searched the skies on this night would forever change their lives, and the angle from which they would view the world.
When Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem those many years ago, more than just a sentimental story was unfolding. As we learn from John 14:23, we see that when God put on flesh in the person of Jesus, Love itself was introduced to the world. Listen in today as we learn more about how the Love of God displayed fully in the Person of Jesus Christ invites us into our truest possible Home - Himself.
Where were you born? Your birthplace, in one way or another, comes to define you. This week, we dive into learning more about Jesus' birthplace - little & insignificant Bethlehem, the city of David. What does Bethlehem teach us about the heart of God? Listen in this week as we see together how God loves to uplift the "littles" of the world.
What are you nostalgic about? During the season of Christmas, nostalgia is a feeling many of us are experiencing. In today's sermon, we locate the place of nostalgia in our world today, and discover the one place where it can be truly met and fulfilled. To learn that, we go back to our first home - the Garden of Eden.
Today marks the beginning of Advent, the season of "Arrival" remembering Jesus' first coming at his birth and longing for his second coming. As we begin this new 4-week series, we tap into that "longing" today that each of us feels deep within - a longing for our true, eternal HOME. Listen in today as we connect the dots from the baby in the manger to the New Heavens and New Earth coming for those who trust in Jesus.
As we reach the end of our journey through the book of Acts, we now find Paul in Rome. Rome is not just a place for Paul in the first century, but it's also an image of the places where we live today too. What is Rome for us? How is the Church to live and exist in Rome? Listen in today as we learn together how the Church is to exist as an exile people, and to find our home in the hard places. Because that's what the Church is equipped for, and that's where the Gospel was made to go.
How do the way of politics and the Way of Jesus relate? In this sermon from November 14, Pastor Steven analyzes Paul's three interactions with three different politicians in Acts 24-26. How does Paul submit to the government? And ultimately how does he show the truer Way of Jesus? Listen in with us as we try learn together how to be faithful, submitting Christians in complicated political times.
Today is "International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians." Beautifully, our text in Acts leads us straight into Paul's reckoning with his own persecution - both his personal history being a persecutor of Christians and now being on the receiving end of persecution. What is persecution for a Christian? Why does it exist? What we learn from the Scriptures is that God more than just allows persecution of His followers - He actually also uses it for powerful purposes. And not just for Himself, but beautifully in personal ways for the people receiving persecution. Listen in to learn more of this mysterious, yet hard, blessing of God.
How do you make decisions? For Christians, how can you know what the "will of God" is? The Bible actually actually has a lot to say about both. Today's passage leads us to a healthy place of learning the craft of Holy Spirit "discernment." Listen in as we see how a disagreement between two parties actually turns into a beautiful portrait of how the church community works - leading others into truth, humility, and dependency on the Lord.
Are you a hugger? What's the difference between an awkward, uncomfortable bear hug and a true embrace? Listen in with us today as we see how God's grace given to us in the Gospel of Jesus is God's true embrace of us. Not even our fragility can keep God from opening His arms to us. Rather, dispensing His grace in full, God embraces us so we can embrace others with that same transformative grace.
In Acts 19, we see and learn something important about why the Church exists. In the challenging city of Ephesus, where witchcraft and magic arts was commonplace, we learn the importance of not just being a Christian, but of also being equipped to be a Christian. What does that bring? What does that require? What does that kind of equipping do? Listen with us today to learn about the power of the Holy Spirit in equipping believers - even making us able to give up other alluring spiritual forces.
What is Christian community? What is unique about the Church? As thousands from around the country and the world flood to our city during the month of October, what are they seeing about the reality of the Church? Listen in today as we hear from Alan Vance about the power of Christian community. And what's the secret to this unique community? The person of Jesus Christ.
Through the book of Acts, on his missionary journeys Paul encounters cultures of many varieties and with great diversity. Acts 17 is the climactic place where we wrestle with the question, "How does the Gospel relate to culture?" Join us today as we watch how Paul universally brings the Gospel with unique beauty into three different cultures - Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. How does Paul show us how to relate the Gospel to our culture of today?
Nothing good happens after 11pm, right? Well what then leads Paul, Silas, and Timothy to sing at midnight in the darkness of a jail cell in the city of Philippi? Listen in today as we take a journey in our heart to find where prayers and songs come from and what they do. Especially in the midnight hours of our life.
As we return to our ongoing series through the book of Acts, we zoom in today on a church meeting where conflict is occurring. Sound likes a lot of churches even in the modern day! But what we learn in today's sermon is that it is actually in the mundane of church governance where the glory of God shines glorious. Listen in as we see how the predominantly Jewish early Church brings in the new and large Gentile-believing community. They choose not to add on extra burdens, but to instead rely on the same grace they received themselves.
If there is a God and He is near to us and He desires to walk with us, how do we even do that? Psalm 1 shows us 3 ways NOT to walk with God. But it also gives us one beautiful picture of blessing for the person who "delights in the law of the Lord." Listen in for this finale of our 3-week sermon series "Walking With God" and learn with us from the ancients (today Micah, John, and Jesus) how we might practically walk with God in our modern world.
"Where is your God?" This is the adversarial cry in Psalm 42 that is repeated twice. In today's sermon, we learn from the ancient path in Genesis, Jeremiah, and Zephaniah that God is remarkably "WITH" us. Join us as we investigate the location of the God whom many in the world seemingly can't seem to find. The remarkable truth that we unpack is that, on the contrary, God has been the One pursuing us in love the whole time.
This is the first of a 3-week mini-series, as we take a brief pause from our walk-through the book of Acts and now zoom in on what it means to personally "walk with God." This is the common image used throughout the Scriptures to describe people who are close to the heart of God, pursuing Him and being in His presence. But it's also the story of people who are being pursued by the loving and gracious God of the Bible, Today's first sermon in the series answers the basic question, "Who is God?" and gets into why walking with Him is even a good or desirable thing. Join us on this 3-week journey as we learn to walk with God in the modern world, with tremendous help from the ancient path trod by many faithful men and women before us.
At the core of the Church's identity is the idea that it has been "sent out" into the world. This week's sermon focuses on the various "places" that make up how the Church is sent - the place of change, the place of sending, and the place of mission. Listen in as we discover together how the joy of a heart changed by Jesus explodes into the world, fueled by mission and released with grace and purpose.
What is a "Christian"? This may seem like a silly question to ask because it has an obvious answer. But as the first followers of Jesus Christ are identified by this title for the first time in Antioch in Acts 11, it's good for us to pause and think deeper about what this means. So join in today as we learn the 13 things that the text tells us "Christians" are. But more than simply memorizing those 13 things, we learn deeper today that "Christians" are nothing more or less than those who image Christ, and become little versions of Him in our world.
The story of Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10-11 is told 3 separate times throughout those chapters. Because it's told three times, it must mean we need to really listen well to what is being told through that story! This sermon is about a clarion call to the global Church for all times - "God shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34) and the Church is for Jews and Gentiles. Listen in as we learn about what makes the Church uncommon in world always, and how the Olympic Games and NBA Finals give us examples.
It's amazing how one person can make such an impact. In today's famous story, we learn about Saul of Tarsus' well-known conversion on the road to Damascus. But even deeper, we see the ever-extending grace of God at work in powerful ways. Join us today as we feel and experience the Pursuer God, relentlessly and extravagantly changing the course of history by transforming one man. And He uses His Church to do the good work!
After the martyrdom of Stephen in Acts 7, the Church is scattered away from Jerusalem and into the rest of the region because of intense persecution. At first glance, this seems to be problematic for the advance of the Gospel. But as we peer into Acts 8, quite to the contrary, we read two extraordinary stories: one with a magician and one with an Ethiopian - both of whom come to faith in Jesus through the obedience of Philip to the call of the Holy Spirit. In today's sermon, Alan Vance focuses on the story of the Ethiopian eunuch and the power of God's Word to change lives... at any point and in any place.
How can the Church be of use in the modern world? This is a question many have begun to ask in recent decades. With so many humanitarian aid agencies, NGOs, non-profits, and a rising spirit of volunteerism, what possibly can the Church add? In today's sermon, we look at how the early Church remarkably responded - in a posture of humility and with a passion for the Grand Story - to a rising need in their community. We learn about the origin of a vision for "deacons" and what their important role is in the life of the Church. What we see through these deacons - with the light shining ultimately on the bold & gracious person of Stephen, is that the Church exists as the ultimate Servant People, with the One Story that can bring lasting hope to the world.
The best definition and evidence of the of the Church is "grace." As we listen to a story today that causes fear in the early Church, we see that God takes seriously the genuineness of our actions done in His Name. But He also abundantly pours out His grace on His Church, empowering and changing them into a beautiful outpost of hope and care for our broken world. Listen in today as we explore the two evidences of grace, and the one lurking danger of grace in the story of Ananias and Sapphira.
There may be nothing more scary for the modern day Christian than the admonition to "share your faith" with others. But when we look at the early Church, particularly at John and Peter in Acts 4, we see a unique flavor of Gospel boldness. It's not a burden, but rather a belief. Listen in as we learn about how to unlock a boldness that is freeing, and not forced. The short answer? Genuine time with Jesus - the only way to true life.
In today's Scripture, a remarkable event occurs... and it's not the healing of a lame beggar! Rather, "in Jesus' Name" Peter and John bring this man and all the onlookers more than they expected. Listen in today as we see how the power of the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth brings about more than we ever could have dreamed or imagined... even more than eternity. "God is on the move!"
The earliest Church must have looked really strange in the Roman Empire. Selling their houses and meeting together every day? Giving generously to the poor and the outcasts? All this (and more) is what makes the Church unique in the world. Listen in today to learn more about how these earliest believers in Jesus uniquely came together to form a fellowship that would change the world forever.
The story of the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost is both astounding and confounding. What is happening in this unique story in history? Listen in today as we learn how God delights to use His Church for His purposes, by "resting" Himself on the Church.
As the earliest disciples await the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, a clear question emerges - "What now???" It is in this in-between passage - after Jesus' ascension and before the Holy Spirit's coming - that the Church begins to be organized. In this sermon, we learn that the Church can best and most freely witness to a watching world when it is organized under God's clear leading.
"God is on the move!" As we begin a new series in the book of Acts, we see two primary actors emerge: The Holy Spirit and the Church. These are God's two primary agents of action in spreading the gospel of Jesus all around. Today we look at the introduction, and see how the Church is empowered for a specific purpose. Join us on this journey through Acts as we come to understand what the Church is to be in the world today.
What does a Shepherd do with fish? Approaching John 21, we find a beautiful story of the resurrected Jesus encountering His disciples with a reminder and a vision for their lives. Join us for this wrap-up sermon on our month-long missions conference, "All for Jesus" as we see what God has in store for His church going forward into the future.
Jesus' famous encounter with the woman at the well in John 4 is a well known story. This week, Stephanie Clark (Executive Director of Amirah, Inc.) brings this timeless story to life in our modern day by teaching it through the lens of her work of rescuing women from the enslavement of human trafficking in New England. But it also an encouragement to each of us looking for true life and living water.
Are you thirsty?
What is a King? As Jesus' tomb is found empty, Mark 16 gives us a surprising look into Jesus being crowned as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Journey with us to discover with us how the resurrection of Jesus Christ crowns Him as the One True King.
Sacrifice. On the cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for humanity. The disgraced become the embraced. Listen in as we see those Jesus embraces while on the cross. Which does your soul identify with on this day?
Sorrow. A word we love to flee from. As we zoom into the Garden of Gethsemane experience of Jesus and His disciples after the Last Supper, we see what makes those around Jesus sorrowful. But then we see Jesus. Jesus is filled with sorrow in His soul. Join us as Jesus shows us the way of sorrow.
Many try to save the world, but only One uniquely can. What makes Jesus uniquely the Savior of the World? In this famous Palm Sunday passage, we walk with Jesus from Jericho, up to Bethany, Bethphage, and the Mount of Olives and ultimately into Jerusalem's temple, and discover how Jesus saves. We look at Jesus' burden, His method, His people, and finally His power.
Money, possession, stuff. Jesus loves to talk about these things, even when (especially when!) they're uncomfortable for modern listeners. When Jesus is confronted by a young man with many possessions, who is looking for eternal answers, Jesus lovingly and graciously chips away at his assumptions and gives him (and the disciples) a surprising answer. Join us as we look at the trick, threat, thrill and truth of treasure, and discover at the end that Jesus Himself really is the One and only Treasure.
Glory. What is it? Who is it? What happens when you're face-to-face with it? We've rounded the corner and have reached a climactic point in the first part of Mark's Gospel. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus shows the disciples something that will forever change them, their lives, and redemptive history forever. But while all this change takes place, Jesus does not change. He has always been who He shows them to be. How will you respond when you see Jesus this way?
This is the turning point in the gospel of Mark. Jesus begins to unveil to his disciples the identity of the one they've watched heal, teach, and forgive people. Jesus is "the Christ", the long-awaited Savior for the world. But what does His identity teach us, and, more so, what does it show those who take on His identity, "Christian"? Journey with us and Jesus to a place the world sees as a place for fools, losers, and outcasts. But Jesus all the while is paving a more redeeming, yet surprising, path.
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot
Being exposed is not easy. It can be uncomfortable, embarrassing, or bring shame. Therefore, most of us don't want to naturally go there ourselves. But there is something transcendently powerful about exposure as well. In Mark 7, Jesus begins to show us that there is one place where true, healthy, trusted exposure can take place - before Him. Jesus invites the Pharisees (and us today) to bring our hiddenness (no matter how ugly) before God and trust Him to restore us perfectly with what He alone can provide.
"What are you putting in your heart?"
What kind of packer are you? Light? Heavy? Unorganized? Rushed? In this sermon, introducing us to the season of Lent on the church calendar, Jesus foreshadows the Great Commission, by sending His first 12 disciples out on a mission journey. But what does He send them with? Without? What does He make sure they don't forget? Listen in and discern what Jesus makes sure we don't forget either.
"Jesus Loves You." What do you think when you hear that? This is such a common thing to hear now that unfortunately the power of this transformative reality has been oftentimes lost. In this sermon, we look at Jesus' radical encounter with a far-away person, and aim to re-discover again for our own soul "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." (Ephesians 3:18)
How do things grow? For some things, the answer is easy but for other's a profound mystery. In today's message, we look at how Jesus uses two parables to explain how God grows the Kingdom of God. What we discover is that the secret, mysterious, progressive, unlikely nature of God's Kingdom growth actually paints a beautiful reality for us - any faithful life (no matter how small or meager) is used by God to progress His redemptive plan and further His Kingdom.
The Parable of the Sower is a familiar parable of Jesus, and one of the only parables that is recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). But most of the time we focus almost exclusively on the four types of soil that the seeds fall on. In this sermon, we look at the One who is sowing the seeds. By identifying Jesus as The Sower, we see that not only is He a gracious, loving Sower, but also that we have distinct purposes as sub-sowers ourselves.
Family is at the core of life around the world. That's what makes Jesus' seeming rejection of his brothers and mother in Mark 3 so surprising and shocking. What is Jesus doing? Listen in as we see Jesus, our faithful and true Brother, begin building the new Family - the Church.
Most people would probably say that forgiveness is a noble and good thing. But, like most noble things, it’s also really hard to actually do. In Mark 2, a pretty extraordinary example of forgiveness occurs. A paralyzed man is brought (actually dropped down!) to Jesus. The man is clearly seeking to be healed, but Jesus first gives him something he wasn’t asking for. What’s really going on in this story? Jesus is unveiling to us a pathway to forgiveness. We learn that when we bring brokenness to Jesus, we receive a more beautiful and valuable mending than we ever could have dreamed.
Americans make and receive about 6 billion phone calls each day and constantly communicate with one another through a variety of different technology platforms. But we also live in a polarized world as a direct result of such communication. So in a world full of calls to allegiance, how is Jesus’ call unique? In Jesus’ 6 different encounters in Mark 1:16-45, we discover that Jesus’ call is in a league of its own. It is a Call uniquely to himself and his Kingdom.
Good News. We all long for it, especially coming off a year in 2020 unlike any other. Jesus comes proclaiming Good News when begins his public ministry (see Mark 1:1-15), but what is he talking about exactly? Are there “strings attached” to the Good News Jesus brings? And is the Good News he brought 2,000 years ago still relevant to us today? What we discover together in this sermon is that when we analyze Jesus’ words and watch his life, we see that he doesn’t just bring good news… he actually is the Good News himself.