Sermons from LifeJourney Church: Recent Episodes
Rev. Jeff Miner
Bridging the gap between evangelical and progressive theology, LifeJourney considers themselves a congregation of thoughtfully different Jesus followers, with a radically inclusive welcome to everyone—especially the most marginalized. Subscribe to this weekly Sunday sermon podcast and discover a generous theology routed in spiritual principles of the Bible. Rev. Jeff Miner, co-author of The Children Are Free: Reexamining the Biblical Evidence of Same-sex Relationships, leads listeners through discovering their own truths for living out a vibrant spiritual journey!
This Sunday Pastor Jeff resumes our sermon series entitled “Called Together,” as we continue exploring various questions about what it means to be church together. We’ve already explored why you need us, and why we need you. Now this week we’ll explore why the world needs us. Given the way many churches are these days, lots of people might say that church is the last thing the world needs more of! Sadly, there’s a lot of truth to that. But what if churches lived up the fullness of Jesus’ vision? What would that look like? And how can we be that? Join us on Sunday for a thought-provoking sermon.
Life is constantly challenging us to the core of our being. We experience weakness, despair, darkness, and trouble all around. Sometimes the journey can feel pretty grim. What then? How do we, as people of faith, find joy, hope, and strength when the world around us presses against us? This Sunday we’ll explore a Bible passage that addresses those urgent questions.
We’re in the midst of a sermon series entitled “Called Together,” looking at our life together in spiritual community from several different angles. Last Sunday we talked about why you need us. This week we’ll talk about why we need you. Did you know that, according to the Bible, you have several spiritual superpowers that we desperately need in order to thrive as a spiritual community? Join us on Sunday to discover you’re superpowers!
On Sunday Pastor Jeff will launch a new sermon series about the vital importance of living in community, especially spiritual community. What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks? Why did Jesus place so much emphasis on this? In short, why is community so critical to my personal wellbeing?
This Sunday we wrap up our sermon series called “Seven Biblical Promises That Anchor Our Sanity and Support Our Serenity” by exploring the Bible’s penultimate promise – the promise of life in heaven. What will be it be like? What will we do there? Who will be there? Join us for a thoughtful, inspiring time together.
This Sunday we will explore one of the Bible’s most unusual promises, as we continue our sermon series called “Seven Biblical Promises That Anchor Our Sanity and Support Our Serenity.” Although this week’s promise is a bit intimidating, we’ve got to understand it, and apply it, if we want to experience abundant life.
This Sunday we resume our sermon series called “Seven Biblical Promises That Anchor Our Sanity and Support Our Serenity” by focusing on a promise that will put us in the right frame of mind as we launch into a brand new year.
Join us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus in a Christmas concert featuring our Christmas Choir, Praise Team, Soloists, and Band Ensemble!
When in your life have you been really confused and unsure what to do? Life is such a mystery. There’s so much we don’t know, but really need to know to make good choices that are life giving and take us where God wants us to get. So this Sunday we’ll explore a portion of the Christmas story that illustrates God’s promise of divine guidance and how to access that promise.
This Sunday Pastor Jeff resumes our sermon series called “Seven Biblical Promises That Anchor Our Sanity and Support Our Serenity” by exploring a life-changing, uplifting promise that emerges from a little known fact embedded in the Biblical Christmas story. Join us as we learn, grow, and celebrate the season of Christmas!
We are painfully aware of our weakness. Often we feel like mere pawns in the game of life, whipped about by circumstances far more powerful than us. Yet the Bible has this crazy notion that God’s power is made perfect through our weakness. What does that even mean? And how can we access that power in our weakness? Those are the questions we’ll tackle in Week 2 of our new sermon series entitled, “Seven Biblical Promises That Anchor Our Sanity and Support Our Serenity.”
Life is crazy, constantly knocking us around, full of melt down moments. Have you ever known somebody who seemed to float above it all? No matter what happened, their serenity was unperturbed. How did they do it? Because their life is anchored in certain great spiritual truths. What are those truths? And how can we internalize them? Those are the questions we'll explore a new sermon series called “Seven Biblical Promises That Anchor Our Sanity and Support Our Serenity.” This Sunday we’ll focus on a promise that can help us enormously when we experience bitter defeat.
This Sunday we wrap up our sermon series on “Life’s Three Greatest Temptations . . . according to the Bible.” This week we’ll explore the third great temptation – a temptation that, more than any other, has the power to undermine the quality of your life.
We’re in the midst of a brief sermon series called “Life’s Three Greatest Temptations . . . according to the Bible.” This week we’ll look at the second great temptation. This second temptation destroys more spiritual journeys than any other temptation known to humanity. We all need to know what it is and equip ourselves to resist it.
This Sunday we launch a new sermon series entitled, “Life’s Three Greatest Temptations . . . according to the Bible.” Spoiler alert. They’re not what you think! This Sunday we’ll dive into the first of those three great temptations. Join us for a series that will challenge us to think deeply about the forces that most often pull us off course in life.
In this fall season, everywhere we look we see dried up leaves fallen to the ground. Are there places in your personal life that feel like dried up leaves. The Biblical term for that feeling is “dry bones.” This Sunday we’ll study a passage of scripture that tells us how to stir up those dry-bone places within us and come alive again.
On Sunday we’ll conclude our “Dinner With Jesus” sermon series by studying the most famous meal in the history of the world – the Last Supper. Every Sunday across the globe Christians have reenacted the Last Supper for thousands of years. Jesus himself told us to do so. Why? What are we missing? What’s the practical significance of this sacred ritual? Join us on Sunday as we dig deep to find answers.
On Sunday we’ll resume our “Dinner With Jesus” sermon series, studying a Gospel story about a time Jesus shattered expectations by sharing a meal with someone who’d been spiritually shunned and hated away from God. Others were scandalized that Jesus went, but the result was miraculous. Join us on Sunday as we learn all about the power of grace to miraculously heal wounded souls.
This Sunday we’ll celebrate the 34th Anniversary of the founding of our church, followed by our Annual Church Picnic. In Sunday’s sermon, we’ll explore what we are called to be and do together, as a congregation, and why our work together is such an important part of the impact each of our lives will have on the world. in the sermon, Pastor Jeff will share an important prophecy about our future together.
We don’t often think of Jesus being angry, but the Gospels record at least three instances when it happened. We’ll study one of those instances this Sunday, as we continue our “Dinner With Jesus” sermon series. What was it that made Jesus so angry? And what can we learn from that?
This Sunday we resume our sermon series called “Dinner With Jesus.” We’ll study one of Jesus’ most famous meals – the meal where he fed 5,000 people! – and draw three critical life lessons from what he said and did at that meal.
Here are two of life’s most important question. Why am I here? What’s my purpose? Those are the questions we’ll tackle this Sunday, as we take a deep dive into a passage of Scripture that gives us an amazing, beautiful answer.
Do you have a posse? In other words, are you part of a group of people who hang together and look out for each other? Did you know that Jesus taught that each of us should have a posse? Join us on Sunday as we discover who we should be hanging with and standing together with. It’s not what you think. What Jesus suggests will surprise you.
This Sunday we’ll launch a new sermon series called “Dinner With Jesus.” Jesus seems to have loved nothing more than making conversation with people over dinner. In this new series we’ll explore six of those pivotal dinner conversations, imagining that we’re there and grappling with what Jesus words mean for us to, starting this week with a conversation that occurred when an uninvited guest showed up at the home of Simon the Pharisee.
This Sunday we’ll wrap up our summer study of Jennie Allen’s New York Times bestselling book, “Get Out Of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts.” The central idea of Jennie’s book is that we need to train our brains to think more like Jesus. So we’ve been studying seven core truths that anchored the mind of Christ. This Sunday we’ll tackle the seventh great truth – which is, by far, the most important of the seven. Can you guess what it is? Are you living that truth? Join us on Sunday to find out.
You’ve heard it all before – in the Bible, in articles, and in news stories: an attitude of gratitude is critical to our wellbeing even when we think there’s not much to be grateful for. But why? Why is gratitude so important, and how can we get better at it? We’ll explore those questions this Sunday, as we move into the last couple weeks of our study of Jennie Allen’s New York Times bestselling book, “Get Out Of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts.”
Humility is a huge Biblical concept, but what does it really mean – and how do we balance that with the idea that each one of us is an awesome creation of God? And while we’re at it, why is humility so essential to our quality of life? We’ll grapple with those questions this Sunday, as we tackle the 12th chapter of Jennie Allen’s New York Times bestselling book, “Get Out Of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts.”
All the demands of life, coupled with losses and disappointments, can easily cause us to shut off, shut down, and end up mindlessly going through the motions of life – numb and listless. What can keep us fresh, give us hope, and renew our spirit? That will be our topic on Sunday as we continue our study of Jennie Allen’s New York Times bestselling book, “Get Out Of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts.”
What are your top three fears right now? How goes your battle with fear? Who’s winning? The most often repeated statement in the Bible is, “Fear not.” Sounds good, but how? How can we win the battle with fear? That will be our topic on Sunday as we continue our study of Jennie Allen’s New York Times bestselling book, “Get Out Of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts.”
This Sunday we’ll continue our sermon series exploring Biblical principles that empower us to conquer toxic thoughts and distorted thinking. Our series is based on Jennie Allen’s New York Times bestselling book “Get Out Of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts.” This week we’ll focus on a second critical Biblical truth that can help us learn to think more like Jesus. Don’t be a victim of your negative thoughts. We can overcome!
On Sunday we’ll continue our study of Jennie Allen’s New York Times bestselling book, “Get Out Of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts.” This week we’ll dig deep into the single biggest lie Satan tells us and explore the countervailing truth that can set us free from that lie. Your life will be so much deeper, richer, and more fulfilling if you embrace the truth we’ll discuss this Sunday!
This week’s sermon title kinda says it all. This Sunday we will discuss one key thought – one core Biblical idea – that has the power to destroy toxic thinking and replace it with life-giving Christ-like perspectives. If you want to live into the fullness of all God meant you to be, join us on Sunday as we continue our study of Jennie Allen’s New York Times bestselling book, “Get Out Of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts.”
This Sunday we will launch a new sermon series based on a New York Times bestseller called, “Get Out Of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts.” It’s written by Christian author, Jennie Allen, from a biblical perspective. Guided by the scriptures and Allen’s insights, we're going to explore toxic thinking and how to shift it. We'll talk about what it means to "take every thought captive to Christ," II Corinthians 10:5, and how we can "be transformed by the renewing of our minds." Romans 12:2. Join us this Sunday as we begin to take charge of our brains!
Join us for Pride Weekend Worship! During the sermon time on Sunday, some of our trans congregants will share their personal experiences and other important information. Taking time to understand those whose life experiences differ from ours is a critical part of what Jesus meant when he said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Let’s practice our faith by opening our hearts to listen deeply and learn a lot!
Have you ever wondered what makes the difference between those who go to heaven and those who don’t? This week we’ll study a fascinating parable of Jesus that goes right to the heart of the matter. It turns out, it’s a whole lot simpler and more subtle than you may have been told. Let’s focus deeply on what Jesus said about the matter.
The Sunday we’ll dig deep into a famous Bible verse about God being the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the one who was, and is, and is to come. As we do so, we’ll wrestle with: (a) what it means to say that God exists outside of time, and (b) what it means to say that Jesus is the God of my past, the God of my present, and the God of my future. All this may sound theoretical, but it actually has profound real-life application.
The Sunday we’re going to discuss an amazing fact about the life of Jesus that you’ve probably never considered before. Yet this single fact offers us incredible insight into what it means to live a full, vibrant life following in the footsteps of Jesus. Are you ready for a thought-provoking conversation?
This Sunday – Mother’s Day – we’ll wrap up on our sermon series on six of the “baddest” people in the Bible by studying the “baddest” mother in the Bible. Granted, it’s an odd topic for Mother’s Day! But it will lead to a fascinating conversation about what makes a really good mother – and what we can learn from that for each one of us. Mothers, Grandmothers, and others who are in motherly roles, be sure to join us on Sunday as we honor and celebrate you! As the Bible says, “Her children shall rise up and call her blessed!” Proverbs 31:28.
For the fifth installment in our study of “The Baddest People in the Bible,” we will study one of the most intriguing and mysterious characters in the entire Bible – the Antichrist. We’ll explore various theories about who he is and how he operates, then discuss what important lessons we can learn from his negative example.
The fourth character in our study of “The Baddest People in the Bible” is Judas Iscariot. Have you ever wondered what drove Judas to betray Jesus? Spoiler Alert: it wasn’t just about 30 pieces of silver. Judas’ motivation ran much deeper. Uncovering his motive will reveal a profoundly important life lesson for each of us.
The next character in our study of “The Baddest People in the Bible” is Satan himself. We’ll begin by wrestling with whether thoughtful 21st century people of faith believe in Satan and, if so, why? Then we’ll explore what powerful lessons we can learn from Satan’s profoundly negative example.
Last we launched a new sermon series called “The Baddest People in the Bible,” recognizing that we can learn a lot from the mistakes of others. There’s nothing like a powerful negative example to cause us to say, “I don’t want to be like that!” The Bible character we study this week will surprise you – not someone you’d expect to be on the list of baddest people. But they earned it, and there’s so much we can learn from their failures.
We often learn the most from our own mistakes and the mistakes of others. There’s nothing like a powerful negative example to cause us to say, “I don’t want to be like that!” So this week we begin a new sermon series called “The Baddest People in the Bible.” The cast of ghouls we study will include Judas, Satan, the Anti-Christ, Jephthah, the worst Mom in the entire Bible, and a surprise person you’d never expect to be on this list. Join us Sunday as we get started with two powerful lessons we can learn from Jephthah.
Easter is not just about what happens to us when we die. It’s about how we live! This Sunday we’ll study John 20:19-25, which is one of the most overlooked, yet important resurrection stories in the Bible. Embedded within it is the secret for how to live with resurrection power. Join us for Easter, as we remind ourselves of the single most important event in the history of the world – the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
This Sunday, Palm Sunday, we will compare and contrast the different ways people responded when Jesus offered of himself as King on that fateful day when he rode into Jerusalem. In the process, we’ll hold a mirror up to ourselves and consider how we are responding to that same offer in our lives today. On Palm Sunday, God is calling the question – and each of us has to decide.
This Sunday we wrap up our intensive study of The Lord's Prayer. In that prayer, Jesus identifies THE FOUR MOST IMPORTANT THINGS we can ever pray. This week we’ll focus on the fourth prayer -- "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." That way of praying seems counterintuitive. Does God ever "lead us into temptation"? What does this critical part of The Lord's Prayer really mean?
Last week we began a deep dive into Jesus’ most famous prayer – The Lord’s Prayer. In that prayer, Jesus identifies THE FOUR MOST IMPORTANT THINGS we can ever pray. Do you know what they are? This week we’ll study two of those four critical prayers. If you want to make the most of life, you need to know what they are and pray them regularly.
Prayer is puzzling subject. How does it work? Am I doing it right? What should I say? Why are some prayers answered and not others? Over the next three weeks, we’re going to do a deep dive into Jesus’ most famous prayer – The Lord’s Prayer – to see what we can learn from it. Join us this Sunday as we focus on THE NUMBER 1 THING Jesus says we should pray for. Do you know what that is?
As we celebrate Black History Month, we are excited to welcome LaShawnda Crowe Storm to share her thoughts about how to prepare ourselves and center ourselves to do justice in the world in the same way Jesus did. LaShawnda leads the Lynch Quilts Project, a community-based effort to examine the history of racial violence through the textile tradition of quilting. She is an award-winning artist who frequently speaks about art as a vehicle for dialogue, change, and healing.
This week we conclude our sermon series about “New Life In Christ,” i.e., being born again. Our focus in this last installment will be on the afterlife and how being born again affects that. If you’ve ever wondered what will heaven really be like? Or, how could a loving God create a place like hell? Don’t miss this Sunday’s sermon. You’ll learn a lot and just might be surprised!
Life is chalked full of disasters – moral failure, job loss, divorce, injustice, bankruptcy, serious illness, death of a dream, death of a loved one. Nothing can be harder on us – or our faith – than when disaster strikes. So this Sunday we will consider what happens with faith meets disaster. How can/should faith make a powerful difference when disaster strikes? This is the second installment in our new sermon series exploring what it means to live by faith on a practical, operational level.
The Bible tells us, time and time again, that we should live by faith. But what does that mean? What does it look like at an operational level in our everyday lives to live by faith. This Sunday we will begin a new sermons series exploring those questions. Over the next two months we’re going to learn some really powerful, practical lessons about faith – and in the process, grow the power of our lives!
This week we conclude our sermon series on the Parables of Jesus by studying a story Jesus told about his second coming – when it will be, how it will happen, and how we should live in light of that. You’ll be surprised at how much practical wisdom this parable offers for how we should live our everyday lives in the here and now.
A bright sunny day lifts our mood. A dark stormy day has the opposite effect. The weather that surrounds us affects us profoundly. Our understanding of who God is, and how God feels about us, can have the same effect. It becomes the atmosphere that surrounds us and colors how we feel about all of life. This week we’ll explore a parable of Jesus that has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of who God is and how God feels about us. Join us for worship this Sunday and be encouraged!
Jesus came to earth to inaugurate a new world order and, with that, to call each of us to an entirely new, other-worldly way of being. Jesus wants us to replace the world’s natural organizing principle with something radically different. Do you know what that is? Have you embraced it? Join us Sunday as we explore this radical new organizing principle in one of Jesus’ most important parables. WARNING: This is not for the faint of heart!
Life can be hard. Often it feels like a million different challenges (large and small) are pressing hard against us, and we wonder how we’ll ever find the wherewithal to make it through. This week we’ll explore a parable where Jesus offers his best advice for responding to life’s constant challenges, as we come to the fifth installment in our series “The Parables of Jesus: Eight Critical Life Lessons.”
In your mind’s eye, what does “the good life” look like? What are the essential ingredients that make life meaningful? This week Jesus is going to tell us what he thinks about that, as we come to the fourth installment in our sermon series called “The Parables of Jesus: Eight Critical Life Lessons.”
Who has hurt you most in life? And how is that affecting you? In your life right now, who do you struggle to forgive? Forgiveness sounds good, but is hard to do – really hard. This week we’ll study a parable where Jesus shares insights that can help us get a lot better at forgiving others and liberating ourselves from the burden of bitterness.
If you need more power in your life, join us this Sunday as we continue our study of the parables of Jesus. This week we’ll delve into the Parable of the Mustard Seed and learn a critical lesson about how the power of God works in our personal lives and in the world. If you want to live a life that matters, you need to hear this sermon!
You’re probably thinking, “What kind of a title is that for a sermon? What do weeds have to do with spiritual life?” Join us Sunday to find out, as we launch a new sermon series called “The Parables of Jesus: 8 Critical Life Lessons.” This week we’ll learn an awesome lesson from a parable Jesus told about weeds. Hint: The parable offers insight into how we should respond to life’s many imperfections.
Conversations about race and racism are at the heart of American culture today. Just this past week, the Supreme Court issued a major decision prohibiting affirmative action. This Sunday we’ll wrap up our sermon series on the Bible & Justice by grappling with the challenges of racism. We’ll look at the big picture story of the Bible – what theologians call the meta-narrative – and find within it guidance for how we, as followers of Jesus, should respond to the scourge of racism.
When you were a kid, what did “rich” mean to you? Do you consider yourself rich? By any objective measure, compared to the rest of the world, most of us are in the top 10% of wealth in the world. This Sunday we’ll take a look at God’s passion for the poor and explore how God wants us to respond to poverty, individually and collectively. We can’t save everybody; so how much is enough? This will be the fourth installment in our sermon series called “The Bible and Justice.”
We live in a land of plenty, which makes our nation a magnet for immigrants. Jesus said, “To whom much is given, of them shall much be required.” But we can’t save the whole world, so how much is enough? That’s the question we’ll wrestle with this Sunday, as we come to the third installment in our sermon series called “The Bible and Justice.” Immigration is one of the most fraught political issues in our nation right now. So let’s make sure we know what the Bible does – and doesn’t – say about the subject.
This Sunday, for the second installment in our sermon series called “The Bible & Justice: What Love Looks Like in Public,” we will be challenged to think deeply about what Jesus would want us to do – individually and as a congregation – to respond to the huge surge in hate being directed at transgender people. During part of the sermon, Pastor Jeff will interview with three people deeply affected by anti-trans hate. Their insight and stories will move you.
This Sunday Pastor Jeff begins a new sermon series called “The Bible & Justice: What Love Looks Like in Public.” The goal of this series is NOT for one person (Pastor Jeff) to tell everybody what their detailed policy positions should be, but rather to identify core biblical values relevant to contemporary justice issues (like immigration, being transgender, poverty, race, and more), and challenge each of us to prayerfully develop positions consistent with biblical values. We’ll get started this Sunday by wrestling with questions like: What does it mean to be a church that welcomes both liberal and conservative? Do we all have to think alike? How can we be a church that highly values BOTH justice and diversity? Join us as we go deep into what the Bible says about the relationship between social justice and faith.
How well are you doing taking care of your health? I know, I know, most of us don’t want to think about it. Most of us feel a real tension between the challenge to caring for our bodies and the desire to enjoy life fully. Should I eat that luscious piece of chocolate cheese cake or skip dessert? Should I go for a walk or watch another TV show? Should I work extra hours this week or slow down and relax a bit? This Sunday Pastor Jeff will walk us through some biblical principles that might help us find a little bit better balance while still enjoying life in its fullness.
God is Everywhere. Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:20 that “I will be with you always.” That’s God’s love language – Quality Time (Presence), Words of Affirmation, and Gifts (Blessings). When we first enter into that relationship, we are excited when love is anew. But as time lingers, events happen that swing our emotions to and fro, and like any relationship, we let it get stale. We don’t work on it. We fall out of love. We forget that there is effort on our part. On Sunday, Pastor David will talk about not just falling in love with God, but staying there, so that we not only grow in our relationship with God, but we love others and ourselves better. Resurrection Power! Love is part of the power. Join us Sunday and let’s resurrect our love for God, self, and others!
Do you realize how much influence you have? Who you are and what you do can make all the difference to the people around you. Sunday is Mother’s Day, which is a great opportunity to remind ourselves of the power of our influence on the people around us – and the power of the people around us to influence us, especially our parents. Mothers and Grandmothers, be sure to be present on Sunday so we can celebrate you!
The Bible has SO MUCH to say about the importance of showing mercy. On Sunday, Pastor Jeff will walk us through a deep dive on the subject. We’ll explore three key questions: What is mercy? Why is it so important? And how can I expand my capacity to show mercy? Join us Sunday, and let’s grow our faith together!
As we continue our sermon series called “Living With Resurrection Power,” this week we will look at a resurrection story that tells us how we can harness God’s power in our lives? The answer is going to surprise you. Don’t live an underpowered life! Join us Sunday, and let’s learn together!
Did you know that you have a Secret Superpower? Do you know what it is? Are you actively using it? These are the questions we’ll explore on Sunday, as we continue our sermon series called “Living With Resurrection Power!” Don’t live an underpowered life! Let’s learn together!
Last Sunday we began a new sermon series called “Living With Resurrection Power!” Each week for four weeks we are exploring a different spiritual principle that’s critical to our ability to live with resurrection power. This week we’ll explore Principle No. 2. Don’t live an underpowered life! Let’s learn these principles and apply them!
The Bible says that all who believe in Jesus have access the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. But how do we make that real in our lives? On Sunday, we launch a four-week sermon series called Living With Resurrection Power! Don’t miss any Sunday in April as we explore four resurrection principles that could change your life forever! This week we’ll begin with the most important foundational principle.
Join us for our Palm Sunday celebration, which marks the beginning of the most eventful week on the Christian calendar. This Sunday we will study Luke’s account of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, drawing power life lessons from three key actors in the Palm Parade.
Have you ever heard the famous quote that says, “Preach the gospel at all times and, if necessary, use words.” But is it really enough to live the gospel without ever speaking to people about it? And if we are supposed to speak up, how can we do so in a way that doesn’t turn people off? Those are some of the questions we’ll wrestle with in this week’s sermon.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “spiritual warfare.” And you’ve heard about evil spirits, fallen angels, and demons. What should thoughtful people of faith believe about such things? Sunday’s scripture story from the book of Daniel will challenge us to wrestle with these questions, and Pastor Jeff will share how he makes sense of it all.
You remember that iconic scene in the iconic ET movie, right? ET is far from home and lonely – an alien in an alien land. He’s desperate to phone home. We resonate with ET’s experience because we sometimes feel like him – like we too are aliens on planet earth disconnected from our Source. Sunday’s scripture story from the book of Daniel is about how we can reconnect to our Source.
This Sunday Pastor Jeff resumes our sermon series on the Old Testament book of Daniel, as we explore a vivid story about a king who went mad and lost his throne, only to recover it again. Why should we care? Because there’s so much we learn from that king’s experience about how to find our own path in life.
You've heard people say it before, "Just leave it in God's hands." But that's easier said than done. This Sunday we'll grapple with how we can do better at genuinely leaving our fears and worries in God's hands. Sunday's service will also include extra special music as we celebrate Black History Month. Don't miss this special celebration Sunday!
This Sunday, as we continue our sermon series on the Old Testament book of Daniel, we come to one of the most famous stories in the Bible – the Fiery Furnace – where three young people living in exile faced the most harrowing experience of their lives and, in the process, learned a transformational lesson that is powerfully relevant to all of us.
This Sunday, as we continue our new sermon series on the Old Testament book of Daniel, we’ll explore an intriguing story about a strange dream King Nebuchadnezzar had and, in the process, learn something really important about how to access God’s guidance in our lives. Do you have questions? Do you face important decisions? Then this sermon is for you.
This Sunday Pastor Jeff launches a new sermon series based on the Old Testament book of Daniel. Daniel contains some of the most colorful stories found anywhere in the Bible, each of them very relevant to our lives today. This Sunday we’ll start with a story that challenges to think deeply about our sense of identity and how that impacts our everyday life.
Jesus had a dream – a dream about what churches in his movement would look like. Do you know where his dream is found in the Bible and what it entails? This Sunday we’ll explore Jesus’ dream and grapple with whether we have the courage to fully live into it, step by step, collectively together. Spoiler alert: the dream is really beautiful and really challenging.
Relationships are really hard. Not just spousal relationships, but also relationships with children, parents, siblings, friends, coworkers, etc. This Sunday we’re going to talk about some Biblical principles for growing the strength and quality of our relationships, as Pastor Jeff continues a series of four January sermons on the theme of "Taking My Life to the Next Level." Start the New Year off right with God at the center. Join us for worship on Sunday!
What is your greatest personal weakness? That’s what we’re going to talk about this Sunday, as Pastor Jeff continues a series of four January sermons on the theme of "Taking My Life to the Next Level." Each one of us struggles with one or more personal issues that hold us back in life. Jeff will share some scriptural principles that can help us make progress with those stubborn personal issues. Start the New Year off right with God at the center. Join us for worship on Sunday!
On Sunday Pastor Jeff will share the first of four January sermons on the theme of "Taking My Life to the Next Level." We'll begin this week by exploring how we can take our spiritual life to the next level. Each of us will be invited to consider, "How am I doing spiritually?" and, "What might be the next critical step in my personal spiritual development?" Start the New Year off right with God at the center. Join us for worship on Sunday!
This Sunday we launch a New Year’s sermon series called “Take Your Life to the Next Level.” We’ll begin by exploring two key questions: What do I need to let go of from my past? What’s something new God wants me to embrace as I move forward into the New Year? Join us on Sunday to start off the New Year on the right foot.
This Sunday we launch a New Year’s sermon series called “Take Your Life to the Next Level.” We’ll begin by exploring two key questions: What do I need to let go of from my past? What’s something new God wants me to embrace as I move forward into the New Year? Join us on Sunday to start off the New Year on the right foot.
This Sunday we’ll explore another often overlooked portion of the biblical Christmas story that’s filled with thought-provoking signs and omens that help us better understand the heart of Jesus and nature of his earthly ministry. If COVID interrupted your worship attendance pattern, Christmas is a great time to get back in the swing Come home for Christmas!
This Sunday Pastor Jeff will begin a brief Christmas Sermon Series. We’ll get started by looking at a part of the biblical Christmas story that’s almost always overlooked, yet incredibly relevant to our lives today. If COVID interrupted your worship attendance pattern, Christmas is a great time to get back in the swing. Come home for Christmas!
The season of waiting for Jesus' birth (Advent) begins this Sunday. Advent reminds us that we too in our time are waiting for Jesus, i.e., his Second Coming. So this Sunday we'll talk about what it means to wait for Jesus and how we can prepare ourselves for his coming. On Sunday you'll get to hear Robert Ferguson's first sermon since he became our new Pastor of Justice and Outreach. Get ready to be blessed!
What are you thankful for? As we move into this Thanksgiving Season, it’s time for each of us to ponder that question. This week’s Scripture passage – Psalm 16 – is going to challenge us to celebrate the goodness of God in three very unlikely places in our life. Join us Sunday to tune your heart for Thanksgiving!
Have you ever wondered about that? As we continue in our sermon series on Psalms, this Sunday we’re going to delve into a song (i.e., psalm) that describes the suffering of the poor. As we do so, we’ll grapple with the meaning of the Hebrew term for “poor” (hint: it’s not what you think), how God feels about the poor, and how we should respond.
We are surrounded by the dazzling wonder of God’s creation. Everywhere we look, we see amazing beauty and complexity. No wonder the Bible says that “God so loved the world. . . .” John 3:16. But what are the implications of all this for us humans? As the highest and most powerful creatures in God’s earthly ecosystem, what does the Bible say about how we should interact with creation? That’s what we’ll explore this Sunday, as we dig deep into the teachings of Psalm 8.
When have you felt most overwhelmed in your life? What threatens to overwhelm you right now? This Sunday we will study two psalms written by King David when he felt overwhelmed. In them, we will discover three powerful practical things we can do in times of distress to hold ourselves together and cultivate serenity.
The Bible contains a lot of prophecies about the future that have given rise to various theories about what the future holds. Have you ever wondered what you should believe about “end times”? Clearly earth is a mess, but where’s it all headed? Will it eventually end? If so, when and how? This Sunday we will dig into a psalm that grapples with those kinds of questions, as we continue our sermon series on the book of Psalms.
Maybe you’ve heard the term “prosperity gospel” or “prosperity preachers.” Some preachers emphatically teach that “God wants you to have the best of everything – health and wealth and all good things.” Is that true? This Sunday Pastor Jeff will guide us in a study of what the Bible says about prosperity and how to get it, as we continue in our new sermon series on the book of Psalms.
This Sunday we begin a new sermon series called “Songs of Our Heart.” In this series, we’ll study the songs sung by our ancestors in faith in the Old Testament book of Psalms and discover that their hopes, dreams, fears, and anxieties are very similar to ours. From them, we will learn how to better navigate life through the eyes of faith. On Sunday, we’ll begin with a psalm that lays out the Bible’s foundational principle for having a healthy sense of self.
Are you facing some challenges? Do you need some inspiration and encouragement? This Sunday Pastor Jeff will talk to us about three spiritual principles that can empower us to triumph over adversity in our lives.
This Sunday is the finale of our sermon series on “Who Killed Jesus?” In this series, we’ve been trying determine who bears ultimate responsibility for Jesus’ death, This week we’ll examine the final suspect – a surprise witness who, it turns out, is ultimately responsible for Jesus’ death. Can you guess who that surprise witness will be? Join us on Sunday as we finally solve the mystery.
This Sunday we continue our sermon series on “Who Killed Jesus?” Our goal is to determine who bears ultimate responsibility for Jesus’ death, As we examine the various suspects, we’ve been thinking deeply and learning a lot. Although it sounds counterintuitive, this Sunday we’re going to explore Jesus’ role in his own death by asking: Did Jesus believe his death was inevitable and necessary? Did he somehow cooperate in his own death? If so, why? And why should I care?
This Sunday Pastor Jeff resumes our sermon series on “Who Killed Jesus?” The goal in this series is to determine who bears ultimate responsibility for Jesus’ death. So far we’ve considered three rather obvious suspects: Pontius Pilate, Judas Iscariot, and Jerusalem’s institutional religious leaders. Now our investigation takes an unexpected turn with a fourth suspect who will startle you -- and challenge us to think much more deeply about the meaning of Jesus’ death.
The Bible teaches us that prayer is the absolute anchor of a deeply spiritual life. But most of us struggle with prayer. On Sunday we’re going to identify the three greatest obstacles to prayer and explore practical solutions, so each of us can experience the power of prayer. Join us on this holiday weekend for an incredible, creative, innovative worship service for all ages, from the youngest to the oldest.
Sin and Grace – those are two key words that Christians throw around a lot. The word “sin” has been used as a club to beat us over the head, so we tend to want to avoid it. The word “grace” sounds nice, but seems vague. This week we’re going to tackle both words, exploring what they really mean, how they work together, and how a healthy understanding of both can be genuinely life giving.
This Sunday we’ll celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the founding of our church! Jeff’s sermon will delve into the sorry state of the church in the world today and what we at LifeJourney are called to be and do about it. You’ll hear some examples of how God is using our church – at home and abroad – that will knock your socks off! Join us for a big celebration that will also include awarding membership pins and dedicating our new nursery.
Sometimes life backs us into a corner and forces us to make difficult choices that demand great courage and sacrifice. How courageous are you? What makes the difference between people who rise to an occasion and those who don’t? These are some of the questions we’ll discuss on Sunday, as we continue exploring who bears ultimate responsibility for the death of Jesus. This week we’ll focus on Suspect #3 – Pontius Pilate.
Have you ever been disappointed in God? On Sunday we continue a new sermon series exploring who bears ultimate responsibility for the death of Jesus. This week we’ll look at Suspect #2 – Judas Iscariot. Judas’ story is fascinating and teaches us a VERY important lesson about how we should (and shouldn’t) react when we find ourselves disappointed with God.
This Sunday Pastor Jeff begins a new sermon series that explores who bears ultimate responsibility for the death of Jesus. Many different people had a motive to remove Jesus from the scene, including some who will really surprise you. There will be unexpected plot twists. We will look at the case against each suspect, then you (the jury) will decide. In the process, we’ll learn a lot about Jesus, the people around him, ourselves, God, and history. Each week will have a powerful practical lesson we can carry away.
Jesus affirmatively and emphatically commanded us to observe Holy Communion. No practice is more central to the Christian faith than Holy Communion. But why? This Sunday we’re going to talk about the meaning of Communion, why it’s so important, what we’re supposed to get from it, and how it can become a transformational part of our daily spiritual rhythm.
Fretting is not good for us. The Bible tells us to “fret not.” But we do it anyway because it feels like others are disrupting our peace. Or we want life to go a certain way. Or it’s more important to be what we think is “right” than to be free. All of which leads to anxiety, troubling thoughts, and even rage. This Sunday we will explore what it means to “love what is” based on a book entitled “Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life.” Discover the freedom Jesus wants for all of us!
For the religious right, transgender people are one of the biggest “issues” right now. Many churches rail against them. Not LifeJourney. We believe transgender people are a beautiful part of the diversity of God’s creation. Join us on Sunday as we explore the Biblical case for spiritual equality for trans and nonbinary people.
Most churches refuse to treat women, gays, and transgender people as full, equal partners in ministry. LifeJourney Church is different! If someone asked you why, could you make the Biblical case for equality? Last week we explored the Biblical case for women. This week we explore the Biblical case for gay people.
Most churches refuse to treat women, gays, and transgender people as full, equal partners in ministry. LifeJourney Church is different! If someone asked you why, could you make the Biblical case for equality? Join us for a new sermon series that will equip you!
Samson is one of the most puzzling “heroes” in the Bible. He was full of flaws, yet also chosen and called by God. As we explore Samson’s story, we’ll wrestle with this big question: Can you have faith and not be faithful?
Again and again the Bible tells us to forgive. We tend to think forgiving is for the benefit of the offending person and find ourselves thinking, “Why should I let them off the hook? They’re not even sorry.” Actually, forgiving is not about the offender. It’s about our own quality of life and our impact on the world. This week we’ll conclude our Life of Jacob sermon series by exploring an amazing story that illustrates the dramatic benefits of forgiving others.
This Sunday we’ll resume our Life of Jacob sermon series and grapple with one of the most intriguing stories in the Bible – an instance where Jacob wrestled with “the Angel of the Lord.” It’s a thought provoking story that raises deep questions about prayer and how God works in our world.
Make sure you join us for worship this Sunday for an incredible, creative, innovative service for all ages, from the youngest to the oldest. Memorial Day weekend is a time to remember heroes who’ve gone before us. So this Sunday we’ll explore the Biblical concept of “the great cloud of witnesses” who surround us and cheer us on. Instead of one long sermon, Pastor Jeff and Pastor Tandy will share several short, interactive lessons woven together with songs and activities meant to bring our remembrances alive. This is special worship experience is something you won’t want to miss!
It’s often said that the things we do – good and bad – have a way of coming back to us. Is that really true? If so, why then do bad things sometimes happen to good people – and vice versa? Does God ever make exceptions to the principle of “sowing and reaping?” If so, when and how? These are some of the deep questions we’ll explore in the fifth installment in our study of the Life of Jacob.
If you need a word of encouragement, if you’re ever tempted to think you mess up too much for God to use you, if you need an extra dose of God’s grace, you need to hear this Sunday’s sermon – the fourth installment in our sermon series on the Life of Jacob.
On Sunday, we’ll study a third thought-provoking story from the Life of Jacob. It’s a perfect story for Mother’s Day because it will challenge us to consider: How have the words of your mother, father, and other key influencers shaped you? And how are your own words now shaping those around you and even yourself? Because the truth is, words have POWER.
That’s the term stock traders use when they buy a stock with the intention of turning around and selling it rapidly to make a quick profit. Life constantly tempts us to “sell short,” instead of investing in the long term. We make decisions that feel good in the moment, but come back to bite us. This Sunday we’ll look at a Bible story from the life of Jacob that challenges us to think deeply about what brings genuine long-term satisfaction. The insights of this story could change your life.
Each of us is on a journey. God put us here in a particular life context and set us in motion. The challenge is to make sense of our journey and turn it into something beautiful. For guidance, this Sunday we’ll begin a new sermon series on the turbulent, magnificent life of Jacob, as recorded in the book of Genesis. We’ll begin with a sermon called “Family Dynamics,” after which you’ll never see your family of origin quite the same again. J
Jesus’ resurrection is the most spectacular event in the history of time. This Sunday we’ll talk about the meaning of the resurrection and identify the secret ingredient that catalyzes resurrection power in our personal lives. Join us for our Easter Worship!
It’s one of the most celebrated days on the Christian calendar – full of pomp and ceremony, palm branches and pretend parades. But why? Why should I care? You could spend your whole life in church and never understand the personal significance of Palm Sunday. This Sunday we’ll fix that.
Life is mysterious. We feel compelled to try to figure it out. Why am I here? Where am I going? Why is this happening to me? This week we’ll seek some answers in the story of the turbulent life of Jacob, as recorded in the book of Genesis.
It’s one of our greatest anxieties. When I stand before God, how will I be evaluated? Even right now as God looks down on my life, how does God feel about how I’m doing? This Sunday Pastor Jeff will invite us to explore three Bible verses that are critical to understanding how God evaluates us. Hint: You’re probably going to be surprised.
Many Christians over the years perpetuate the negative message that we are not good enough. Even though they say, ”Jesus came to save us,” there is this beat down that’s pervasive. But, they also say, “This Jesus is only for certain people and not your kind (________fill in the blank.)” And the message sticks, and we internalize it. “I am just not good enough. I have heard it too much from different directions, including myself. Do I really have a place in God’s Kingdom? Does God love me? Even I don’t love me.” The New Testament is full of parables about the Kingdom of God. We hear many explanations about the seeds, weeds, fields, and treasure, but what does that really mean for me now? Join us on Sunday for a different perspective you may have never heard. And you may leave, saying to yourself, “Can’t spell Awesome without ME!”
The Bible is full of miracles. In our own time, we often hear stories of miracles. What should we make of all this? Should we believe in miracles? And if so, how do we get them? Join us on Sunday for the conclusion of our sermon series on Second Corinthians and grapple with what the Bible says about miracles.
You’ve heard about the “the power of positive thinking.” There’s a lot of truth in that. But the reverse is also true. Negative thinking can be just as powerful in destructive ways. This week we’ll explore a passage in Second Corinthians that offers insights into how we can overcome the power of negative thinking. None of us is exempt. We all need it.
Deep in their belly, ships have flood walls. If a ship springs a leak, doors can be closed that contain the flood waters to a compartment, minimizing damage. Often we live our faith like that – compartmentalizing our lives, letting God into certain areas, but not others. This Sunday we’ll explore an example of what it looks like to open the floodgates to God, as Pastor Jeff resumes our sermon series on Second Corinthians.
This week our new Family Life Pastor, Rev. Tandy Adams, will tell us a little bit about herself, then talk to us about the Biblical concept of “imago dei” and what that means for our everyday lives. Learn something important, even as we get acquainted with our newest pastor!
How do you feel when someone offers criticism? How do you feel when you’re the one who needs to share criticism? Criticism is almost always painful, even when justified and graciously delivered, so it’s easy to tune it out or avoid giving it. Yet constructive criticism is essential to our growth. This Sunday we’ll explore a Scripture that offers great insight for giving and receiving criticism.
Imagine Jesus walking up to you and saying, "I need your help. Will you partner with me?" What would it look like? What would it entail? Actually, partnering with God is less about what we do than how we do it. This week we'll explore what that means, as we continue our study of Second Corinthians.
As we continue our intensive study of the book of Second Corinthians, this Sunday we come to a passage that challenges us to reimagine life from an eternal perspective. What does that mean? How does it change things? Why is it so important to my current quality of life? Those are the questions we’ll explore this Sunday.
Some of us grew up in religious circles that were harsh and judgmental – good riddance. Having seen how ugly that is, we could easily go to the opposite extreme – anything goes. But that has its own problems. So how does a New Testament believer living in an age of grace find the right balance between harsh judgmentalism, on the one hand, and anything goes, on the other? That’s our question for Sunday as we continue our study of Second Corinthians.
Are people watching you? If so, what do they see? What does it really mean to “be a witness” in this world? How can we allow more of Jesus to shine through us? That’s what we’ll explore on Sunday, as we continue our study of the New Testament book of Second Corinthians.
On Sunday we launch a new sermon series on the New Testament book of Second Corinthians. Second Corinthians is all about everyday challenges we face in life and faith, starting with the challenge posed by all of life’s hardship. When it feels like life is crushing us, how should we respond? That’s our subject this Sunday.
As another New Year begins, wouldn’t it be great to hear a personal word from God – a message tailored just for you – saying exactly what you most need to hear right now? On Sunday, we’ll explore three critical things God might want to say to each of us right now. Odds are you really need to hear at least one of these three messages from God. Don’t miss it!
It’s what we all want. For ourselves, others, and the world. This Sunday we wrap up our sermon series on a famous Christmas prophecy describing who Jesus would be. Our focus this week will be on the claim that Jesus is the “Prince of Peace.” We’ll explore three core spiritual principles that can make the Peace of Christ real in our lives.
Each Sunday in December we're talking about the incredible gift of Jesus in our lives, guided by Isaiah's famous four-part Christmas prophecy. This coming Sunday we'll explore the daring claim that Jesus was "God with us" -- and why that matters in our everyday lives. Our special music this week will be presented by Soul-to-Soul, a neo soul gospel ensemble. They're awesome!
This Sunday Pastor Jeff begins a four-week series based on a famous Christmas prophecy found in Isaiah 9:6. There Isaiah identifies four amazing ways the gift of Jesus can lift and transform our lives. This week we’ll unwrap and explore the first incredible gift. It’s something you really need, but might not ever think to ask for.