Current Sermons - Faith Community: Recent Episodes
Mark Slomka, Vince and Lorissa Medrano
We are a community made up of people like you who want to grow spiritually. We do this by creating opportunities to build genuine friendships in a context of worship, serving opportunities, and small groups. We endeavor to encourage one another to grow in our faith, trust, and surrender to Jesus as we embrace His call to us: "to follow well... love well... and serve well."
Speaker: Pastor Vince Medrano
Childlike Faith | Comedic Relief. Rhoda and the Doubting Prayer Warriors Vince Medrano
Speaker: Pastor Lorissa Medrano
Childlike Faith | A Faith of Your Own Pastor Lorissa Medrano
Guest Speaker: Mark Slomka
Childlike Faith | How to Protect Your Identity in an Identity Theft World Mark Slomka
God has placed us in the neighborhoods that we are in. How are we intentionally showing our neighbors his love?
The fasting God was looking for wasn't merely the abstaining from food but the sharing of our food.
When we come to the Lord's table, he shows us what it looks like to be present with others because of how He has been present with us.
The word companion literally translates to "common bread." The early church was built around their practice of opening their tables to one another and by extension learning how to share their lives with one another, particularly with people who weren't like themselves.
Gratitude helps us to remember that we are sustained by the Lord. The provision that he has given us is the Lord’s love made delicious.
The promise to us from God is that we won’t have to scratch at the soil for our food anymore. God is going to provide us with abundance. God is the Gardner again.
When we choose the way of Jesus, we choose to map our lives onto His life. The story is now yours to live out as His apprentice.
The purpose of our suffering is to transform us into the masterpiece God has envisioned in His perfect will so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Our lives can become very full very quickly. The Lord is inviting us to slow down. God knows that slowing down helps us to establish healthy rhythms and reprioritize what is supposed to be important.
Having clarifying conversations and agreed-upon expectations can benefit the overall growth and health of relationships in the body of Christ.
Everything has to start with us being people who are empowered by the Holy Spirit. With this empowerment, we will be able to impact the community around us.
Multiple groups and people intersected in Jesus' story as Luke shares how each one's encounters with the Lord leave us with takeaways for our own lives.
Jesus uses this story to call us to live a life where our actions match up with our beliefs.
Jesus uses these two parables to show us that he hears our cries for both justice and justification.
Jesus uses these two parables to invite us to share his heart and rejoice with him when one of his children comes home.
Jesus strategically uses the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast to show that Jesus is interacting with ALL people.
You were created with a unique fingerprint to make an impression on this world only you can make - and the context for the mark you will leave is relationship! The greatest temptation we will face is to live a divided life.
In the parable of gthe Good Samaritan and the story of Mary at Jesus' feet we see two unexpected people being full participants in the Kingdom mission of Jesus.
The immoral woman pouring all she has at the feet of Jesus challenges us to consider our own love for Jesus.
When we see acts of healing and freedom, we rejoice and celebrate because we are reminded that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
If we realize that the gospel is for outsiders then who we are called to care for radically changes.
In our years of waiting on God, we don't experience the grace of his formation because we have so many things to distract us. From ancient to new ways, we must discover that God is a God who keeps his promises. We can trust him in the process.
Luke elevates the stories of women, outcasts, and even enemies to show readers that Jesus is for everyone.
Sometimes we stand in front of a fulfilled promise or a long hoped for dream come true and we stand in amazement. It’s such a point of joy that we aren’t fully sure that it is in fact reality.
Palm Sunday shows us that Jesus navigates two mountains: God is merciful and God is just.
The grace of God breaks the yoke hanging over us – persuades us away from the place of rivalry to the place of reconciliation. Under the yoke of Jesus we learn that being his disciple means the ability to love others. We become capable of dealing with the bitterness, pain, brokenness, and hostility that exists within us. In the name of Jesus we are able to break free from the places of unhealth that reside within.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
There’s two meanings at play when Jesus teaches us to welcome God’s Kingdom like a child.
-
You have to welcome Jesus like you would welcome a child.
-
To welcome God’s Kingdom is to have the humble and welcoming spirit that a child does.
referenced video [for the birds] here
More than Sabbath and the Daily Office being something we do, we are to be a people who embody rest.
The biblical process of grief always leads to resurrection of some sort over time. Our development is a process. Patience is important as we learn to walk through our grief and loss with God.
When we are at the wall of our faith journey, will we be willing to surrender control when we can't see God?
We are a people that live out the patterns of our past. However, we have hope in Jesus that those patterns can be broken. Or if they are healthy, we can further live into those patterns.
The Lord's love gives us confidence to dive deep into the sea of our souls with him that he may show us who we are.
We want to strive to be emotionally healthy disciples. We want to be people who slow down to be with Jesus, go beneath the surface of our lives to be deeply transformed by Jesus, and offer our lives as a gift to the world for Jesus.
Jesus has given all for us, his focus and affection is fully on us, and we’re learning to embrace Him… to lay down what was and learn more and more to be led by Him.
Paul commends two men to the Philippian church who are not just messengers of the Gospel but shining examples of it.
Behind our views is our imagination. As we get to know someone we gain greater understanding of what informs their imagination. Philippians 2:14-18 is filled with incredible insight into the way Paul views the world and how that prioritizes how the church is meant to live.
We aren’t going back to what was because we have a desire to embrace the new thing that God desires to do.
Let's be honest - this past year and a half has revealed the fault lines that run between us. In the midst of so much division and potential for division is unity even possible?
Speaker: Vince Medrano
If heaven is where we live then that changes how we live. As we live as citizens of heaven together, we’re demonstrating to the world a new way of being human. We’re attesting to the new environment and reality that Jesus has made us alive to.
Philippians 1:27-30
Speaker: Serene Neddenriep
Pentecost Sunday is known as the launch of the Church. It's God's 'endgame', where He not only dwells next to humanity but completely fills us with His presence.
Acts 2:1-4
Speaker: Vince Medrano
We desire for our lives to have significance and value. But we often think that means changing what we’re doing. What if all of our passions and areas of labor and activity weren’t eliminated but came alive in our passion for Jesus?
Philippians 1:12-26
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
We are to be a people marked by our overflowing love for one another.
Philippians 1:9-11
Speaker: Vince Medrano
Christian community and fellowship is built upon us extending to each other what we’re receiving from Jesus. The experience of God’s generosity toward us is so powerful that it is also shaping in us an active and participatory posture toward others.
Philippians 1:3-8
Speaker: Vince Medrano
This week we spent time getting to know the people at the start of the Philippian Church. As we get to know our new friends it will help us to understand the themes brought up in the Book of Philippians
Philippians 1:1-2, Acts 16:6-40
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
This week we launch our new series in the book of Philippians. This letter is written to a community that lives in a city which is an outpost of the Roman empire but the apostle Paul writes to encourage them to see themselves as an outpost of Heaven.
Philippians 1:1-9
Speaker: Vince Medrano
The early church was a community of incredible resiliency who had a steadfast hope in the face of trials.
1 Peter 1:3-9
Speaker: Mark Slomka
Today we explore Jesus’ comparing the Kingdom of God to being like a mustard seed and yeast and how seeing the Kingdom this way will encourage us in how we see the world.
Luke 13
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
Today we get practical and talk about tangible ways we can be faithfully present in our neighborhoods.
Genesis 12:1-7
Speaker: Vince Medrano
Jesus is in town and the neighborhood is flocking to the house he’s staying at. Jesus is faithfully present to his neighbors and the community is made better because of Him.
Mark 2:1-17
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
Today we kick off our new Sermon Series ‘A Faithful Presence’
God is Faithfully Present with Humanity.
Revelation 21:1-7
Speaker: Vince Medrano
A worn down, discouraged and disoriented crew of disciples find rest and restoration in Jesus.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
At Jesus’ arrest we see that even when humanity is looking to control Jesus - sees him as a threat and seeks to do away with Him - Jesus steps toward humanity.
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
As disciples together: we follow Jesus into His Kingdom to become like Jesus in order to do what Jesus does.
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
We spent time as a community sharing stories of God’s faithfulness expressed to us in 2020.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
The Apostle Matthew tells a beautiful story and in so doing teaches us that though Jesus will change everything about our lives - He is a good shepherd and worthy of us laying everything down before Him.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
All advent long we are looking at stories of waiting. This week we explore Luke 2 and the story of Anna - a woman who waited for God daily.
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
All advent long we are looking at stories of waiting. This week we explore Luke 2 and the story of Simeon
Speaker: Mark Slomka
All advent long we are looking at stories of waiting. This week we explore Luke 1 and the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah
Speaker: Mark Slomka
When we start talking about God and the narrative flow of His redemptive history, then that impregnates any discussion of a genealogy with the gracious, loving-kindness of God.
It’s more than a historical discussion, it’s a historical record of God’s grace.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
Jesus has united us with God and with others.
Scripture: John 17:20-26
Speaker: Vince Medrano
“If you really want to get to know someone, listen to them pray” Michael Card
Scripture: John 17:1-19
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Scripture: John 16:16-33
Speaker: Vince Medrano
Jesus knows that our challenge will be to stray away from him being our center. The Spirit will be at work within us - guiding us back to Jesus. Constantly encouraging us to abide in Jesus.
Scripture: John 15:18-27
Speaker: Mark Slomka
Jesus makes four promises in his ‘last will & testament’
Scripture: John 14:15-31
Speaker: Vince Medrano
We love out of our fullness, not out of our strength
Scripture: John 13:31-38
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
In washing the disciples feet Jesus gives us an astounding example of humility. As followers of Christ we seek to live with the same humility demonstrated by Jesus.
Scripture: John 13:1-30
Speaker: Mark Slomka
We desire to see Jesus and Jesus desires to be seen. So, how do we see Jesus?
Scripture: John 12:20-50
Speaker: Serene Neddenriep
The opening of John 12 tells the story of Mary pouring about perfume on the feet of Jesus: teaching us that true worship is costly.
Scripture: John 12:1-13
Speakers: Vince Medrano
Standing outside his good friends’ tomb the primary emotion that Jesus is described as feeling is anger.
Scripture: John 11
Speakers: Lorissa and Vince Medrano
Pastors Lorissa and Vince discuss hearing the voice of God.
JOHN 10.
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
Our good shepherd. Jesus uses three metaphors to compare his leadership to the leadership of the religious leaders: shepherd of the sheep, the door of the sheep and the good shepherd.
JOHN 10.1-21
Speaker: Vince Medrano
John 9 is the story of a progressing illumination. Specifically you’ll see the growing realization of who Jesus is in the life of a man who was once blind.
Jesus desires for us to live in the light. For us to have a growing brightness… constantly in the work of being drawn out of darkness and into light. How better tell that story than to anchor it in the story of Jesus working in the life of a man who was born blind. This man becomes like another story of a pilgrims progress.
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
We were made for a life of freedom and we continually choose what makes for death and slavery. We want to make our own choices but choice in and of itself does not equal freedom.
Scriptures: John 8:31-59
Speaker: Vince Medrano
To walk with the one who is the light of the world is for the cross to be our defining way of life.
Scriptures: John 8:12-30
Speaker: Mark Slomka
Jesus’ interaction with the woman caught in adultery shows us the Lord’s heart for us as we navigate shame
Scriptures: John 8:1-11
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
Jesus’ brothers overfamiliarity blinded them to the truth of Who was actually in front of them.
Scriptures: John 7
The arrival of Jesus can startle us. His call to us though is to not be afraid because the revelation of his glory is for our benefit.
Speaker: Mark Slomka
Will we follow Jesus for who he is not simply for what he does? Will we follow Jesus when he tests our faith? Will we follow Jesus and follow hospitality? Will we follow Jesus when he doesn’t behave like the King he is?
Scriptures: John 6:1-15
Speaker: Rose Males
As we hear the words of Jesus Christ in John 5:16-47, we have to wrestle with the question of how we continue, both personally and communally, to respond negatively to the words and works of Jesus.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
In John 5 we encounter a man who is without hope. He sits next to what he wants but it evades him day after day. Jesus shows up to present a greater way.
We also interact with a group of people who have defined what rest and worship of God looks like but by going with their interpretation they overlook the healing that God is longing to do. Jesus shows up to present a greater way.
Scriptures: John 5:1-15
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
Don’t just be satisfied with the miracle without pressing into the mystery of who Jesus is.
Scriptures: John 4:43-54
Speaker: Vince Medrano
When Jesus sits with the woman at the well in John 4 he does a deep work of healing in the many levels of relationships of her life.
Scriptures: John 4:1-42
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
Jesus is the central figure of the story. The invitation is for us to see ourselves as participants in God’s grand story.
Today’s Scriptures: John 3:22-36
Speaker: Serene Neddenriep
When Jesus clears the Temple He brings it back to its original purpose; a place where people are invited to encounter the presence of God.
Today’s Scriptures: John 2:12-25
Speaker: Mark Slomka
The Wedding at Cana is an introduction to the generous characteristic of God’s Kingdom. It’s also a reminder that God’s ways are often not like ours.
Today’s Scriptures: John 2:1-11
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
When the soon to be disciples first encountered Jesus they were asked ‘what are you seeking?’ and instructed to ‘come and see’ - words that shape all who follow Jesus.
Today’s Scriptures: John 1:35-51
Speaker: Vince Medrano
Three stories of the resurrection in the Bible show us the same thing: the disciples are at a loss and Jesus shows up. He shows up, he teaches and he sustains.
Today’s Scriptures: John 20, Luke 24, John 21
Referenced article: If Easter is Only a Symbol…
Speaker: Vince Medrano
When Jesus rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday the crowds shout Hosanna. Hosanna is a word of joy and it’s a word that is connected to Israel’s remembering God’s provision during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.
Today’s Scriptures: Psalm 118:14,25-26, Matthew 21:8-9