Sonoma Avenue Sermons: Recent Episodes
Sonoma Avenue Church of Christ: Santa Rosa, CA
After all of the planning and scheming, Jesus found himself in the custody of the Jewish authorities. It was time for them to present their case against him. There was just one problem: There was no case. In his Gospel, John does not tell us about how Jesus went before the Sanhedrin and was accused of claiming to be God. John gives us a conversation between Jesus and one man, Annas, the power behind the High priest. The conversation does not go as Annas planned.
Jesus was experiencing the longest two days of his life. He had spent all evening in a room with his closest friends, trying to prepare them for his coming death. When Jesus had said all he could, he and his disciples went to a garden, where a group of Jewish authorities and Roman soldiers would soon arrive to arrest him. They were going to show Jesus who was really in charge of God's people, but things did not go as planned. Join us as we take a look at the arrest of Jesus and learn a valuable lesson about the world we live in today.
Anyone who knows the story of the arrest, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus knows what happened in the garden to kick this cycle off. Jesus went by himself to pray that God would come up with a different plan. He didn't want to go through the suffering of the cross, but he would if God willed it. His sweat turned to drops of blood. An angel appeared to give him comfort and strength. This is an impactful story that speak to all that Jesus had to endure. That is why it is in all of the gospels...except for John. John gives us a completely different account of Jesus' prayer before his arrest. In his account, Jesus does not pray for an alternative ending, he instead prays that God would be glorified, that the disciples would be blessed, and that future believers would be one. It could not be more different than it is. Why did John give us this account? Why did Jesus pray these prayers? Join us as we explore Jesus' final moments with his disciples before his arrest.
Joy and sorrow are two emotions that don't seem like they can exist in the same space. Sorrow surely takes away the power of joy; joy must cancel our sorrow. And yet, Jesus said this is not the case. The lives of the disciples were about to be wrecked by the cross. Sorrow does not begin to cover what they will feel when Jesus is led off to die. They will mourn. They will despair. But this sorrow, despair, mourning and pain will not last because the cross is not the end, but rather a bridge to a new life. Join us as we explore the place where joy and sorrow meet.
The Long night of Jesus' arrest continues in John 16. Things were going to be rough for the disciples in the coming days. Even post-resurrection things were not going to be easy. Jesus had already promised the Spirit, but he was not done telling them about all that the Spirit would do. Join us as we continue to explore why the Spirit is such a crucial part of God's plan.
On the night of Jesus' arrest, he told his disciples things they needed to know. He encouraged them, reminded them what it means to follow him, told them to love each other, and promised the Holy Spirit as a helper and guide. He also told them that they would be hated. Join us as we explore how the world sees God, and how God sees them in return.
Jesus knew that he would be leaving the disciples. The cross, his resurrection and ascension were just around the corner and his followers were not ready. What would they do when Jesus was no longer there to guide them? How would these followers, who have struggled to understand what was going on, be the mouthpiece for Christianity. God had a plan. He gave his disciples something that would be just like the presence of Jesus in their lives. This tool would tell the truth, teaching, reminding the disciples of all that Jesus had said and done. It was made just for them. Join us as we explore the most under appreciated part of God's plan to save the world: the Holy Spirit.
It is Thursday of the last week, and Jesus had just had dinner with his disciples. He knows that the cross is just around the corner, but the disciples do not. Jesus wants them to stay strong in spite of the chaos that is on their way so he told them some important things that could be an anchor for them in the storm. Join us as we listen in on what Jesus really wanted his disciples to know.
Every four years we have a presidential election. Every four years we collective decide that people can say, do, accuse and insinuate to their heart's content. Friendships have been broken, families have hurt one another, neighbors have fought agains one another. It is an ugly time. What concerns me the most is that Jesus has been put into the middle of this mess. We have spoken for him, declared his intentions, and determined who he approves of and who he doesn't. How would Jesus respond to our use of his name? What would he tell us to do when we disagree with those around us? The answer is not surprising.
Is betrayal, denial and failure a necessary part of the gospel story? Join us as we look at encounters between Jesus and two very different disciples: Judas and Peter.
What would Jesus do? We have asked that question so many times that it became a catch phrase within the Christian community. There are a lot of ways that we cannot be like Jesus. We can't heal the sick, give sight to the blind, or tell the lame to walk. We can tell the lame to walk but it would not have the desired effect. Jesus is the almighty son of God, and we are far from that. But, there is a way we can be just like Jesus. Join us as we look at what Jesus considered to be the most important thing for us to do if we want to be like him.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the last week of his life, he was ushered in as king. Shouts of Hosanna rang out from everyone there to celebrate Jesus and his great power. Jesus knew that those people crowning him as king, didn't know what was coming. They did not know about the cross and the resurrection. Jesus tried to explain it to them, but God was doing something so outrageous that the world had no idea of how it would change in one week's time.
Throughout the gospel of John we have seen those who encountered Jesus wrestle with who he is. While some big things are still yet to happen in the second half of the gospel, it is small moment at the beginning of chapter twelve that sets the stage. One person saw Jesus for who he was. One person, through great sacrifice and humility, fully acknowledged Jesus and anointed him as the lamb of God.
In John chapter eleven, Jesus found himself in a weird place. He had just found out that his friend Lazarus was sick. He knew Lazarus would die and that he would raise Lazarus from the dead. He told his disciples, but they didn't think he could do anything about the situation. It was the same with Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus. So there Jesus was, surrounded by people who loved him and believed in him, but they did not know what he was capable of. Join us as we look at an incredible story of life and death, doubt and faith.
Many of the people that encountered Jesus during his time on earth, could not decide what to do with him. Was the messiah or was he demon possessed? He was surrounded by those who loved him and by those who wanted him to disappear. Jesus wanted everyone to understand that he was not here to hurt people or to lead them away from their God. Instead, he was one who was sent by God to take care of, protect the people. He is the very best of shepherds.
Jesus performs a lot of miracles throughout the gospels, but few are as amazing as the healing of the blind man in John chapter nine. It is dramatic in nature, and puts the man in the center of an argument between Jesus and the religious leaders. Join us as we explore what it meant for Jesus to heal a man born blind, and how it sets the table for a major confrontation.
Jesus was a divisive figure as he walked this earth teaching, healing and challenging the people of God. While we may look back and think that everyone should have understood and believed in Jesus, the most common reaction to his interaction in John is confusion. Through his words, Jesus would not let those around him walk a middle ground. There was no middle ground. He was either the Messiah, or a threat to God. Join us as we dig into what made these interactions so challenging.
While the teachings of Jesus in the gospels are powerful, we learn just as much by studying the interactions he had with those he encountered. We read about Jesus telling others about the love of God, but we see the truth of God's love in how Jesus extended it to the rejected, unloved, used and judged. Join us as we study one of the most dramatic displays of love in the gospels; a true demonstration of how God loves better than his creation.
Jesus' interactions with people in the Gospel of John follow a pattern. What most often happens is that Jesus does or says something that the religious leaders don't like and it leads to a confrontation. What is the confrontation usually about? It involves the religious leaders arguing with the Son of God on God's behalf. That's right. They are protecting their God from Jesus. Join us as we investigate why this happens so frequently.
Join us as we celebrate mothers, and the Family that God has given us in the church. By looking at the story of Ruth and Naomi, we see how sometimes our most meaningful family relationships that we have don't come from the family we were born into.
While Jesus was an excellent communicator, the message he preached was not an easy one to understand. Trying to explain the things of God to people who have a limited point of view is challenging. When Jesus talked about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, things went from challenging to downright weird. Join us as we explore what it means for Jesus to be the "bread of life".
Jesus had power unlike anything the world has ever seen. Those who followed him expected him to use his power in certain ways, to benefit certain people. Those expectation came from the way that people normally use power in this world. What they found was that Jesus used his power in very unexpected ways. Join us as we explore some of the amazing works of Jesus.
John follows the conversation between the teacher Nicodemus and Jesus from chapter three, with another conversation between Jesus and an unnamed Samaritan woman in chapter four. While the two conversations may seem unrelated, they are tied together by the words that Jesus spoke. If you want to know what John 3:16 means, chapter four gives you the answer.
In John three we get to eavesdrop on a one-of-a-kind conversation between Jesus and one of Israel's teachers. Nicodemus wanted to know what God was doing through Jesus. Jesus needed to let him know that his ideas about God needed to change if he was going to catch on. Join us as we look at this crucial conversation.
I have a strange easter message for you. The story of Jesus' death and resurrection do not make sense. There are so many elements to the story that violate what we know to be true in this world. This might seem like bad news for those who believe in Jesus. It is just the opposite. Join us as we talk about the completely nonsensical story of Jesus changes the world.
While John might be slowly introducing his readers to the power of Jesus in his gospel, the same cannot be said about the way John communicates the authority of Jesus. John already told us in chapter one that Jesus is the word, present from Creation, the son of God. When Jesus entered the temple in chapter two, he had some thoughts about what was going on in his father's house. Join us as we explore the day when Jesus scared the snot out of everyone in the temple.
John slowly rolls out the power of Jesus in his gospel. We got a glimpse of what Jesus could do when he called Nathaniel to be his disciple. But, what is next? What can this son of god do? The sky is the limit right? While this is true the first miracle we get is one that takes place in a nothing town, at a wedding of people we never hear about. Most of the people at the wedding did not even know that a miracle occurred. So why does John's proof of Jesus' power start like this? John us as we explore what happened when Jesus turned water into wine.
Jesus had an effect on everyone that he met. Anger, fear, wonder, love, and all of the reactions in between were products of an encounter with Jesus. Some wanted to get rid of him, while others left everything behind to follow him. Why would someone do this? Join us as we explore the call to follow Jesus.
John the baptist plays a crucial role in John's account of the life of Jesus, but not in the same way as he does in the other gospels. In John, JTB is the crucial first witness to the person of Jesus. He exists to do one thing: point the way to Jesus.
The Gospel of John was written so that those who read it would come to understand who Jesus is and believe in him. John, in a departure from the opening of the other gospels, did not mix words. Jesus was not just a man born in Nazareth. He was not just a teacher, healer, or prophet. He was so much more than you can imagine.
Churches all over the country have seen a lot of change over the past few years. Where does our church fit into this big picture? As we look forward to what we want to accomplish, what do we hold on to? What keeps us grounded? Join us as we explore where our future lies.
Join us as we look back at some of the good things that God has done here at Sonoma Avenue.
Jesus told a story about a father and his son. The son approached the father and demanded his inheritance, even though his father had not yet died. His father gave it to him. The son squandered his father's money and ended up destitute. We know this story. We understand the rules. We know how the son ended up amongst the pigs. We know what the reaction of the father should be. We hurt for him. We are angry for him. But that is not who the father is, and the story ends in a way that it shouldn't. Join us as we explore what makes the father in this story different from all other fathers.
Even though we do not know much about Jesus when he was a child, the question of what he was like is a fascinating one. There is only one story, told by Luke, which give us any kind of insight. It's not much. But Luke believed it was important to tell. Let's take a look at what happened when Jesus went to the temple at the age of twelve.
The coming of Jesus the messiah is an unbelievable story right from the start. How do you convince someone that something so amazing is true? Luke faced this problem when he set out to write an account of the beginning of Jesus' life. He pulled on the best resources he could: eyewitness testimony from trusted sources to show that Jesus really is the Messiah.
I want more joy in my life. Advent tells us that the greatest joy is available to us at any time. It is not dependent upon things going right or life being perfect. It is always there, steadfast and waiting for us. You can have joy no matter what is going on in your life. Join us as we explore the joy that Jesus brought to the world.
I am pretty sure that we would all like for there to be more peace in the world, and yet peace seems to be something we continually pursue without ever capturing. It makes me wonder: "What are we asking for when we ask for peace?" God provides peace. Jesus is the bringer of peace. We have heard that over and again. But how does it work?
The Hope that we have in Jesus is a greater hope than we can have in anything in this world. But what makes it different? Join us as we begin the season of Advent by exploring how Jesus brought a new kind of hope to the world.
Corinth was a messy church, but what was the solution to many of their problems? The answer is a simple one: Love. Join us as we wrap up our series on the messiest of churches.
What is it that holds us together? How are we all joined under one purpose, and yet so different? Why can't I do the same things that someone else does? Is that person a better Christian than me? Am I a better Christian than someone else? Join us as we study 1 Corinthians 12 and take a look at the most common cause of fragmentation within the Body of Jesus.
We love being right about things. Being wrong... not so much. The stakes are high within the church when people disagree on an issue. What is the right way to handle those disagreements? Paul has some thoughts.
This week, we continue to explore the underlying issues that lead to the Church in Corinth being so dysfunctional. What happens when the practices of the world around us come into direct conflict with the values of Jesus? What happens when our sense of self preservation conflicts with the values of Jesus? It's complicated but let's take a look.
We live in a world that has rules. We all live by these rules everyday. We follow a God whose rules are different than the rules of the world. In Corinth, we see how difficult it is to live the life that God has called his people to. They were not very good at it. In fact, they “adapted” God’s rules so that they could still live as Corinthians with a Jesus flavor. Paul told them clearly that they could not continue to live that way and call themselves Christians. There was only one thing that could help them change course. Would they use it?
The Corinthian church had several extraordinary problems. That is how it looks on the surface. Join us as we dig deeper and see that one of their core problems was one that has been around since creation. Who knows better? God or us?
The church in Corinth was a complicated community, but by no means were they unique in their complications. In fact you can trace some of their tendencies back through many of the phases of God's relationship with his people. This week we take a look at one episode from the Exodus which explains why people, across human history, similarly respond to adversity.
The Israelites were released from slavery by the Egyptians! That whole chapter is over...right? There was still one more lesson that needed to be taught: to Egypt, the Israelites, and the world. There is one God and he can do the impossible
The time has come for the people of God to leave the shackles of slavery behind, and begin their journey into freedom. But liberation is not something that just happens. Yes, God is setting them free, but they must first commit themselves to him in order to gain that freedom. Do they have the faith to believe that this is really going to happen?
The Exodus story has taken us down a long and complicated road on the way to freedom for God's people. One by one, the plagues came upon Egypt and each time, Pharaoh failed to let the people of God go. The tenth plague is the one that broke his will. Gods people were free at a terrible cost: the lives of all of the firstborn children in Egypt. What do we do with this story? It is a story of freedom, victory, sacrifice and great loss. Join us as we discuss one of the most significant and hard to swallow events in the Exodus story.
God sent the plagues upon Egypt for a very specific reason. The world needed to know that he is God. The road to deliverance is not an easy one. There are all kinds of things that can get in the way. Even so they cannot stop God and his plans for his people.
In the Exodus story, we see that God needed to make a statement. He wanted the world to know that he is God. He wanted Pharaoh to let his people go because he is God. He wanted the Hebrew people to follow him into the wilderness because he is God. But what was the best way to show them who he is? If frogs, gnats and flies came to mind, then you and God are on the same page.
Moses went to Pharaoh to demand that the people of God be freed from their slavery. Pharaoh said no. Moses had done as much as he could. It was time for God to step in. God's first intervention in this dynamic is at times weird, unexpected and terrifying. But God has a message for Pharaoh and his people. There may be other "gods" but there is no one like me.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. This saying has been around forever. Why is it a part of our cultural lexicon? Because it is hard to try again. Trying again means that you were not successful the first time. Moses went to Pharaoh to demand that he let the Hebrew people go, and things got worse! Moses had done what God told him to do, and the result was more labor, fewer supplies. What is Moses supposed to do when things did not work out the way that they should have?
The parable of the sower is one of the most well known teachings of Jesus. It is also the parable that has some of the most detailed explanations from Jesus himself. The sower, seeds, soil and all of the things that can happen through the growth cycle give life to what spiritual growth sometimes looks like. You think you know what it is all about? Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Christians are often characterized as being judgmental. We come by it honestly. We feel a pressure to recognize sin and deal with it, or else. We are especially good at identifying sin in others. The parable of the weeds, and the parable of the nets, give us some insight into what our role is when it comes to judging, and how hard we should work to separate ourselves from the world.
Is the kingdom of Heaven in danger of being overcome? Does God need us to defend him? If so, what is the best way to defend him. These questions and more are being asked in every corner of our country. Depending on who you listen to, you may believe that the kingdom is on the verge of being eradicated. The parable of the Mustard seed and the yeast tell us a different story, if we are ready to hear it
Jesus had much to say about the way he wanted the world to look, and he often painted word pictures for using Parables. Matthew chapter thirteen has several parables about the kingdom of heaven. Join us as we take a look at two parables which tell us about how great the kingdom is.
Things often go wrong. When they do, who is responsible? More accurately who is to blame? When Moses approached Pharaoh to demand that his people be let go, things did not go as Moses thought they would. The more people that got involved, the more blame there was to go around. Following God is challenging and at times frustrating. Regardless, we cannot forget who God is and what he is capable of.
Moses is headed to Egypt! He heard God's plan and (reluctantly) agreed to go and demand that Pharaoh let the Hebrew people go. This is the good part right? Where Moses steps out and God delivers? Not exactly. The road to Egypt is complicated and on the way, Moses needs to learn more about who God is, or else...
What do you do when you meet a fiery bush that is not burning in the wilderness and it speaks to you? You speak to it of course. God chose a strange way to introduce himself to Moses, but there was a method to the strangeness. God needed Moses to do a very important job with his help. The only problem was that as much as Moses didn't trust himself, he did not yet know if he could trust God. Join us for part two of this discussion
What do you do when you meet a fiery bush that is not burning in the wilderness and it speaks to you? You speak to it of course. God chose a strange way to introduce himself to Moses, but there was a method to the strangeness. God needed Moses to do a very important job with his help. The only problem was that as much as Moses didn't trust himself, he did not yet know if he could trust God.
Moses is the most important person, in one of the most significant stories in the Bible. God chose him to be his representative when he delivered his people Egyptian slavery. How did Moses become the person that God chose? In order to understand why God chose him, we have to look at the events that made him who he was.
The exodus story is well known within our culture. There have been movies made depicting the dramatic and miraculous story. The name itself has a life of its own, becoming a metaphor for deliverance and freedom. As well as we may know the story, we cannot truly understand it if we do not understand how the story starts. Join us as we look at Exodus chapter one and ask ourselves, "Who are these people that God is going to deliver?".
There were several events that happened in the days after Jesus was resurrected. What was Jesus doing? Why did he do the things he did? What was he trying to teach his followers? Join us as we examine these questions and more.
Today we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the kickoff to his last week in Jerusalem before the Crucifixion. The event is significant but also complicated. Who was there? Why were they there? These are a few of the questions we address in our exploration of Palm Sunday.
As we come to the close of the Joseph story, we can marvel over all that has happened with his life. But in the end, it may not even Be Joseph's story.
As we near the conclusion of Joseph's story, we are reminded of the tension between the kingdom that God wanted to create and the kingdom of the world. The two come head to head in the lives of Joseph and his family. Which kingdom will win out?
This week, everything comes full circle in the life of Joseph. He revealed his identity to his brothers, and sent for his father to return. More importantly Joseph show that he understands what God was doing in his life. It can be tough to figure out the relationship between our will and God's will, but the Joseph story helps.
We had a difficult week in our Santa Rosa Schools. Violence broke out on the Montgomery High School Campus and a student lost his life. Other schools faced threats of violence and weapons on campus. In this sermon I talk about my feelings, as a parent of a student at a school where something so awful happened. More importantly I give some thoughts on how I think a follower of Jesus should respond to such moments of crisis.
Sometimes, we are so familiar with a biblical story that we overlook what is really going on within the story. Joseph has had a difficult road to the top, and when his brothers showed up in need, he struggled with how to handle the situation. Even Biblical heroes struggles with their emotions and thoughts. But perhaps in these moments, we can learn something about ourselves and God.
Joseph has greatly risen to a position of unimaginable power because of the presence of God in his life. He has a family, a home, influence; he was the savior of Egypt. There was just one more problem he had to over come...his brothers.
The road from dream to reality was a long and difficult one for Joseph. He had to wait on God, unsure when the future God envisioned would come to pass. And then one day, everything changed...
Sometimes when we read the bible, or sense of timing is off. It may seem to us that things happen quickly, one even moving directly to the next. In the life of Joseph, time was not his friend. He spent a good portion of his life as a slave and in prison. Even though God was with him, this was not the life that Joseph expected or wanted. How will he ever get to the place God showed him in his dreams?
We often believe that God's blessing will make things better for us; that having God on our side means that our life will be more smooth and victory is the name of the game. But what if God blesses us as a way to bless other people? The Story of Joseph gives us new insight into what it means to be blessed by God
Sibling rivalry is a part of life, but it can also create wounds that last. Joseph was loved more than his brothers. His father made sure that everyone knew it. This led his brothers, through years of bitterness, to make a life-changing decision. The thing they did not know is that God had a plan, a dream for his people and nothing was going to keep him from making that happen.
Joseph's story is built on a shaky foundation. His father, Jacob was chosen and changed by God. But the family he built was filled with anger, resentment, and hurt. It is these strong emotions that put the Joseph story in motion. But as always, this story is not about Joseph and his family. It is about the God who is always working and moving in the middle of our biggest messes.
The story of Jesus coming to earth is a love story. It tells of how God loves his people, and of his great desire to be their God. It is a messy love story, full of ups and downs, but God made sure to write the ending he wanted. The story is yours and mine.
I want there to be Joy in my life, but at times it feels like Joy is difficult for me to grasp. By changing my understanding of how the Joy we have in Jesus works, I open myself to new possibilities, new joy.
We often believe that Peace comes from a lack of conflict, or everything in life being lined up for us. But what if the path to real peace is not found in things going right, but in a recognition of how wrong things really are?
Hope is an essential part of our life with God. The hope we have in him is different from any other hope we could have. What is it that makes it so special?
As we come to the conclusion of our series on the life of Jacob, we have to wonder when his life will stop being messy. The conclusion? It will always be messy. What does that tell us about the way that God works in our lives?
It is finally time for Jacob to return home and come face to face with Esau. How messy will this reunion be? You might be surprised.
Jacob's life has been filled with conflict. He experienced conflict with his brother, his father, his uncle, his wives, his cousins and just about everyone else he came into contact with. When God told him to go home, Jacob had to face the conflict that dominated his life. He had to return to the home of his family, where his brother had been in charge through all of the years he was gone. This is the climax we have all been waiting for, or so we thought. The real, defining conflict happened on the way home.
What does victory look like when God is on our side? It may not look much like we want it to, but that doesn't mean that God is not fighting on our behalf.
We have expectations for what makes a good love story. As with everything else in Jacob's life, love ended up being a big mess and created more chaos than you can shake a stick at. Where was God in the middle of all of this? Right in the middle of all of it, of course.
Jacob had a hard time becoming the man God needed him to be. It wasn't until a pit stop in the wilderness that his eyes were opened to the promises that God had for him. Jacob was not the best man, but God always keeps his promises. Join us as we consider the wilderness and what it means for God to be a promise keeper.
What kind of people does God want to work with? The answer might surprise you. Join us as we take a look at one of the messiest families in the Bible and God used them to create a nation.
From the very beginning, Jacob was a child of conflict. What was God's role in creating or allowing that conflict? Why was it a necessary element to Jacob's spiritual growth? Why was Esau so hairy? So many questions. Join us as we take a look at the birth of Jacob and Esau
The life of Jacob was anything but clean and tidy. It was messy. While it would be easy for to blame him for this, a deeper look shows us that those who came before Jacob also had messy lives. Join us as we take a look at what benefit the mess can be to us becoming who God wants us to be.
It might seem like the story of the Exodus is about God using Moses to do great things. While this is certainly true, God also spoke through others who helped guide Moses on the way. Jethro was one of those people.
Moses was the big hero of the Exodus story as God worked through him to deliver the Israelites from the Egyptians. But did you know that without the actions of five brave women, Moses never would have been... well, Moses.
As we come to the end of our study of the book of Romans, let's take a look at the message Paul wants to leave with the church.
Sometimes we can make being loved by God so complicated. The Gospel is not complicated and it is the story we need to tell.
What is the point of being spiritually strong? I will give you a hint. The benefit is not for you, but for others.
We tend to think that when it comes to spiritual issues, one answer is right and a differing answer is wrong. But what if there is more than one right answer? How can you tell what is right, and what do you do with the differences?
What it is that gives life to our faith? It couldn't be love...could it? What if love really is the answer for everything?
Paul has taught us in Romans 12 how we are to put him, others and the community before ourselves. What is the key to making this happen?
What is the greatest danger to the church living out the Christian life? Paul had a warning for the Roman Church about the one thing that would derail the Christian life.
What is it that motivates us to live a changed life through Christ? Is it fear, or is it something else?
Sometimes we have small view of God, where we only view His work through the lens of what He is doing in us. God is bigger than that.
Where is God when we suffer? And what does it mean when Paul says all things work for the good of those who love God? Join us as we continue to explore Romans 8.
Where is God when we suffer? And what does it mean when Paul says all things work for the good of those who love God? Join us as we continue to explore Romans 8.
This week we dig into Romans chapter 8 and explore the kind of victorious life that Paul wrote about. The sound is a little funky on this recording but it is still serviceable.
This week we dig into Romans chapter 8 and explore the kind of victorious life that Paul wrote about. The sound is a little funky on this recording but it is still serviceable.
We live a victorious life in Jesus, free from the control of sin. Yet, we continue to struggle with the influence of sin in our lives. What to do with the feelings of failure we may have.
We live a victorious life in Jesus, free from the control of sin. Yet, we continue to struggle with the influence of sin in our lives. What to do with the feelings of failure we may have.
Does the thought of the return of Jesus bring you peace or anxiety? Let's talk about it.
Does the thought of the return of Jesus bring you peace or anxiety? Let's talk about it.
Are you willing to love people the same way Jesus did? What if that person is your enemy. The story of Ananias teaches us something important about being part of what God is doing in the world.
Are you willing to love people the same way Jesus did? What if that person is your enemy. The story of Ananias teaches us something important about being part of what God is doing in the world.
Did the followers of Jesus know what they were doing after the day of Pentecost? Not really. But the Spirit helped them figure it out. The result was pretty special.
Did the followers of Jesus know what they were doing after the day of Pentecost? Not really. But the Spirit helped them figure it out. The result was pretty special.
This morning we begin the study of the Holy Spirit and why it so critical to our relationship with God yet is so often overlooked
This morning we begin the study of the Holy Spirit and why it so critical to our relationship with God yet is so often overlooked
This morning we begin the study of the Holy Spirit and why it so critical to our relationship with God yet is so often overlooked
This morning we begin the study of the Holy Spirit and why it so crucial to our relationship with God yet is so often overlooked
This morning we begin the study of the Holy Spirit and why it so critical to our relationship with God yet is so often overlooked
This morning we begin the study of the Holy Spirit and why it so critical to our relationship with God yet is so often overlooked
This morning we begin the study of the Holy Spirit and why it so critical to our relationship with God yet is so often overlooked
This morning we begin the study of the Holy Spirit and why it so critical to our relationship with God yet is so often overlooked
The importance of proclaiming the gospel as seen through the prayers of Paul in Ephesians.
The importance of proclaiming the gospel as seen through the prayers of Paul in Ephesians.
The story we are a part of is about God and we are adopted as His family to be a part of the story.
The story we are a part of is about God and we are adopted as His family to be a part of the story.
An exploration of the principle characters in the book of Revelation: God, Jesus, and Satan.
An exploration of the principle characters in the book of Revelation: God, Jesus, and Satan.
Even in a dysfunctional church God provides everything that is needed for that church to change to reflect Jesus.
Even in a dysfunctional church God provides everything that is needed for that church to change to reflect Jesus.
If Jesus was not capable of changing something, where would we be? The love of God in Jesus changes everything.
If Jesus was not capable of changing something, where would we be? The love of God in Jesus changes everything.
Jesus is the main character of our story. In today's message Jesus confronts the darkest hour of His earthly life.
Jesus is the main character of our story. In today's message Jesus confronts the darkest hour of His earthly life.
The teachings of Jesus are life changing. There are things in all our lives that block those teachings from taking root.
The teachings of Jesus are life changing. There are things in all our lives that block those teachings from taking root.
Why is it so important that Jesus have all the power and authority of God? Why do we need him to be just this kind of savior?
Why is it so important that Jesus have all the power and authority of God? Why do we need him to be just this kind of savior?
Jesus knows what we really need and we see that played out in three different stories from the gospels.
Jesus knows what we really need and we see that played out in three different stories from the gospels.
Jesus enters the world. Some people recognize Him and others don't. What's the difference?
Jesus enters the world. Some people recognize Him and others don't. What's the difference?
We review The Story from the Old Testament as we prepare to jump into the New Testament.
We review The Story from the Old Testament as we prepare to jump into the New Testament.
Today’s message shows through Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman how our four values support our vision of Jesus changing everything.
Today’s message shows through Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman how our four values support our vision of Jesus changing everything.
Jesus last words on the cross are not his last words. God redeems what is the worst part of us and he is more than capable of doing that. Listen to the impact that the resurrection has had on one life.
Jesus last words on the cross are not his last words. God redeems what is the worst part of us and he is more than capable of doing that. Listen to the impact that the resurrection has had on one life.
As we head toward crucifixion and resurrection what are we paying attention to? Are we following the Jesus who is or the Jesus we want?
As we head toward crucifixion and resurrection what are we paying attention to? Are we following the Jesus who is or the Jesus we want?
If you were God, how would you be feeling during the time of the Judges? How would you respond? Today's message takes a look at the book of Ruth in the overall context of God's story.
If you were God, how would you be feeling during the time of the Judges? How would you respond? Today's message takes a look at the book of Ruth in the overall context of God's story.
The cry of God's heart is to be known. God continues to pursue us even though we repeatedly do not choose Him. Our desire to be known and loved comes from God. Today we see how God reveals Himself to the Israelites.
The cry of God's heart is to be known. God continues to pursue us even though we repeatedly do not choose Him. Our desire to be known and loved comes from God. Today we see how God reveals Himself to the Israelites.
God created people to be in relationship with him and we keep moving away. How will God address this issue? Whatever God does, it will flow out of God's desire to give.
God created people to be in relationship with him and we keep moving away. How will God address this issue? Whatever God does, it will flow out of God's desire to give.
How do you read the Bible? Are you open to learning something new? Creation is a picture of a loving God who does everything on purpose.
How do you read the Bible? Are you open to learning something new? Creation is a picture of a loving God who does everything on purpose.
An introduction to The Story. How do trees in the Bible inform our story. We are part of a bigger story. God is redeeming the world and we are a part of that.
An introduction to The Story. How do trees in the Bible inform our story. We are part of a bigger story. God is redeeming the world and we are a part of that.
The fifth Sunday of Advent and the subject is Jesus Christ. What does it mean for us to live in anticipation of God's return? What does it mean to be ready?
The fifth Sunday of Advent and the subject is Jesus Christ. What does it mean for us to live in anticipation of God's return? What does it mean to be ready?
Is there someone who cares for me more than others? Everyone needs love. Love in this world is not a sure thing. How does a Christian worldview answer this question?
Is there someone who cares for me more than others? Everyone needs love. Love in this world is not a sure thing. How does a Christian worldview answer this question?
This message explores how ideas impact us. In it we learn about critical questions and the worldviews that attempt to answer those questions.
This message explores how ideas impact us. In it we learn about critical questions and the worldviews that attempt to answer those questions.
What makes the world think that love is the primary thing? How do we move from the conditional love of the world to the unconditional love of God? We explore these question in the final series from 1 John.
What makes the world think that love is the primary thing? How do we move from the conditional love of the world to the unconditional love of God? We explore these question in the final series from 1 John.
Part 4 of the series on First John. John wants us to understand that Christians should stand out from the culture around them. John wants us to be like Jesus. The key to being like Jesus is that we will love like Jesus loves. The love of God is revolutionary, radical, and life changing.
Part 4 of the series on First John. John wants us to understand that Christians should stand out from the culture around them. John wants us to be like Jesus. The key to being like Jesus is that we will love like Jesus loves. The love of God is revolutionary, radical, and life changing.
If we become God's people then we become people who do God things and these are good things.
If we become God's people then we become people who do God things and these are good things.