Jason Bowman: Recent Episodes
Jason Bowman
This is a different kind of sermon where Fr. Jason offers various examples of kinds of prayers and then encourages us to write out our own to practice and grow more comfortable with a myriad of forms of prayer. So, grab a piece of paper and something to write with and when he says, "Your turn," pause the sermon and practice.
How do we deal with unfulfilled expectations, especially when we have put a lot of effort into something only for it not to produce the fruit we thought the effort deserved? We look this morning at steps to dealing with this frustrating experience from Isaiah 5:1-7.
How is it that Paul says he can find contentment NO MATTER what his circumstances are? That sounds at best far fetched and at worst simply impossible and ridiculous. Yet, Paul's own life demonstrates its truth even as he shares with us how he does it.
Paul charges the Philippians to have true peace, not pretend, not denial, but honest to goodness true and lasting peace. Explore with us how we can all have true peace.
The Apostle Paul will do anything to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Why? How far will he go? What does that mean for us?
We all make decisions regularly, and we all have a certain grid by which we see the world. Sometimes we do not pay much attention to the "why" or to the underlying reasons we are making certain decisions. Paul also has a grid that we are encouraged to adopt as how we make our decisions.
Even when things are at their worst and we can see no way out, God can and does still work. Even when things are really hard, we can find joy if we will recognize in faith that God is still working.
How do we handle criticism and attacks against us and Christianity? In this last study in Acts, Paul is on trial, and we learn valuable lessons from his approach.
What price will you pay to do what is right? What do you do what is right? How do you tell what is right? James and Paul must work through something hard, but they do it well and for the right reasons.
Lydia modals 4 essential characteristics of following God that also help us see how to raise our kids. Is there a formula to raising kids that assures us they will know Jesus? Listen and find out.
What happens when there is disagreement in the church. How can we help be part of the solution instead of the problem?
In this sermon we look at the Kingdom of God vs. the kingdoms of this world in light of the power of prayer. We also explore some of the reasons regular prayer is a struggle.
What kind of faith did God use to build the church? What can we learn about life changing faith from Paul and Barnabas?
As the early church grew, the questions came up about who was welcome in the Kingdom of God. In this story, the early church learns whether or not even the Samaritans can enter the Kingdom.
Now that Christ has ascended into heaven, what comes next? What was the mission of the early church and do we continue that mission today?
In the Resurrection, Jesus rewrites the rules of faithfulness. Being faithful is important, but insufficient without the right faith. In the Resurrection, Jesus invites us to a right kind of faith.
On Palm Sunday, the disciples of Jesus are rightly rejoicing in Him and treating him like the long awaited messiah. But, when things go south over the next week, they all step away from Jesus. Our response in good times does not necessarily indicate the true depth of our commitment in the way that our response in difficult times does.
The prodigal story ends with the Older Brother. In this portion of the story we are challenged and encouraged as we deal with self-rightousness, resentment and a view of the world that can rob of joy and celebration.
When we rebel, how do we come back home? What is God looking for when we turn away from him and turn to sin? We learn the surprising and beautiful truth about our relationship with God as we study the father in this amazing parable.
This week we look at the "Son" within the story of the prodigal. What was the demand he made? Why did he make it? What is the father's reaction and why? Come explore afresh this beloved story.
When life not only feels out of the control, but we recognize that we truly cannot control so many aspects of our world, what then? In this message, Heather helps us see how Jesus responded to an out of control world by holding on to God's Vision for life.
How do we resist temptation? How did Jesus do it and what can we learn from that? The root causes of temptation as well as a long term solution are explored in this message.
This week we study the mission of Jesus. What was he all about? Why was he here? How does that relate to us?
When the world feels like it is falling apart, how can we really trust Christ? As John begins his gospel, we learn some important truths about Christ that can help us to more fully put our trust in him when times are really hard.
We finish our series on Matthew's genealogy by exploring some last big themes in the lives of Jesus' ancestors including 4 women who would typically not be in a genealogical list.
We continue a series that explores the ancestry of Jesus Christ and learns valuable lessons from their lives.
This first sermon in the series explores the first five names in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus. There is a lot to learn by delving into the lives of these Old Testament figures.
Faith is hard sometimes, but also essential. It is at the core of our relationship with God. Listen as we explore aspects of faith that can help us to be more faithful.
John the Baptist calls those who come out to be baptized to truly understand what it is they are doing and to live lives that bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
There are a number of misunderstandings about the nature of salvation that more often than not play out in how live as opposed to what we say we believe. This message looks at three of these misunderstandings as well as the truth that comes from this passage of Luke.
As we begin the season of Advent, we focus first on Christ's Second Coming. Luke describes the return of Jesus as something that no one will be able to deny and as the full redemption of God's people.
As Ecclesiastes closes, we come to the final conclusion for the entire journey of Qoheleth. What is the verdict on life under the sun? What are we called to that can have lasting significance?
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Qoheleth observes that through his experimentation of life that anything we can accomplish or own under the sun will ultimately not be enough. We will never gain from it. But he does give another way. Today we look at the difference between living our of "gain" and out of "gift" and how that changes everything.
We all desire to know how things will turn out. What if I make this decision instead of this one? We all go through seasons where we wonder what God is up to and why He seems silent. How do we handle these moments in our lives?
Qoheleth experiments with wisdom and pleasure to find meaning in life under the sun only to come up empty. What can we learn from his journey as we continue our study of Ecclesiastes?
A 5 part study in the book of Ecclesiastes to find true meaning in a life that can at times feel meaningless.
We are made in God's Image to steward what He has created. How are we doing taking care of those things that God cares about?
How important is stewardship? What is God wanting from us? What should our lives look as we live in between Christ's first and second coming?
Our creation in the image of God lays the ultimate foundation for all stewardship. In this sermon we explore how fundamental stewardship is to our very design as human beings.
God's Word is not just a list a rules and regulations. God's Word is God teaching His people in order to revive them, guide them and give them the only true satisfaction and happiness possible in this world.
What lay at the very heart of what the church is? Jesus says only once, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples" - what is it that all men will know us by?
God calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is so important that Jesus calls it the second great commandment that all the law and prophets depend upon. Join us and learn what it takes to live this out.
From Living to Legacy
How can our lives be more than mere living? How can we leave a legacy that not only outlasts us, but is remembered into eternity? What does Jesus teach us about the most important thing in life and in eternity?
With Mercy ends our series in Romans with a call to join God in God's work. Instead of asking God to bless our work, we see Paul witnessing where God is working and then planning his life around that. Will we do the same?
Romans 15:1-13 brings the main part of Romans to a close before Paul begins to describe his next mission journey and seek help from the Roman church. In this final section we see the main point of the entire epistle brought to the forefront.
God calls us to treat one another in ways that we never harm another's relationship with God, we never live out our own faith in such a way as to bring disgrace upon Christ or ourselves and we never take our personal relationship with God and try to force that upon someone else.
How are we to view one another when we have so many different religious/denominational backgrounds? What is God looking for in our interactions with each other?
Sometimes it feels as though we are walking around in darkness. It is hard to know what to do. But God does not want it that way. In Christ we have the answer. In this message Toby helps us see that heaven's light is illuminating the world for us and because of that we can live differently.
Paul exhorts the church to "Own nothing to anyone" in Romans 13. What can we learn about debt and God's view of debt? In this passage we actually to seek out a certain kind of debt: to love one another. Why? Learn the truth about debt.
What is our relationship to the governing authorities? What does God call us to? Paul says we are to be in subjection. What does that mean for us?
God calls us to bless those who are persecuting us? How in the world can we do this? Why would we do this? What is the point?
Jesus offers the path to a life of real and lasting significance that we will not find anywhere else.
To make our lives truly count we must hear the words of Jesus. He lays out what stands in the way of having truly significant and lasting lives.
If you want your life to really make a difference, to really be special, listen to the words of Jesus. He lays out for everyone willing to listen how to make our lives truly and eternally count.
Too often we miss seeing the world the way it really. While the material world is real, so it the spiritual. The only way to truly see life as God has made it, is to see through the lens of the Resurrection.
We continue our look at what we do when God seems silent and life is overwhelming us. How do we find God?
Sometimes in midst of life, God seems hidden, distant. What do we do in those times? How do we find God when we feel like we need him the most, but all we are experiencing is silence?
Generosity marks the lives of those who follow Christ. Without generosity, a profession of Christian belief rings hollow. God's generosity of giving his only son sets the standard for a life of serving Christ.