Chelten - a church of hope: Recent Episodes
Chelten - a church of hope
Discussion Questions
- Where in your life do you most feel the reality of hevel: fleetingness, frustration, or futility?
- Are there habits or heart-postures that keep you from enjoying God’s good gifts—like food, laughter, family, work, or rest?
- How can you practice joy as obedience this week? What "ordinary" gift do you need to receive with gratitude?
Discussion Questions
- How would you explain what the "Fear of the Lord" is?
- Which aspect of the Fear of the Lord (Reverential Awe, Loving Delight, Humble Obedience) do you most often neglect? Pause and ask the Lord to grow you in this area.
- What is the connection between listening and obedience?
- What are some ways that we try to manipulate God to bring about another “end?”
Discussion Questions
- Give a few stories from your life of injustice, rivalry, isolation, or fickle popularity.
- What are some ways to offset the vanity of the four examples above?
- How does the gospel give you hope to counteract the effects of life’s vanity?
Discussion Questions
- What season of life are you currently in? How are you resisting or receiving that season?
- What longing in your heart points to your deeper desire for eternity?
- What practices help you live joyfully and gratefully in the present, even while waiting for God to make all things right?
Sermon Title: Seek the Giver, Enjoy His Gifts
Sermon Passage: Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26
Speaker: Jon Shepherd
Sermon Title: What's the Point? Ecclesiastes and the Gospel
Sermon Passage: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
Speaker: Jin Lee
Discussion Questions
- What do you currently “glory” in, and how might God be inviting you to see evangelism or discipleship as a joyful offering to Him?
- Are there ways you're serving others that feel more like a duty than a delight? What might help shift your heart to see it as a joyful opportunity?
- What is one simple way you could embody the gospel in your relationships this week, through either words or actions?
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever tried to change someone’s mind about a secondary matter? If so, what was your attitude?
- How can you encourage someone that you naturally want to avoid?
- Why does remembering how Christ welcomes you influence how you welcome someone else?
Discussion Questions
- In what secondary areas of faith do you see stronger and weaker believers?
- If you consider yourself a "stronger" believer over one of those matters, what is your priority: enjoying your freedom, or giving it up to serve another Christian?
- How can you look like Jesus by laying aside your freedom for another believer this week?
Discussion Questions
- Where are you most tempted to believe Jesus is absent when He might actually be near?
- What would change if you stopped looking inward to find your purpose and started looking at the Risen Jesus?
- When has doubt led you closer to God instead of farther away?
Discussion Questions
- What does it mean that “whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life?” (John 12:25)
- What is the path to glory according to Jesus? And how does that compare to our personal and cultural paths to glory?
- This week, how might you follow Jesus into a death like his?
Discussion Questions
- What are some disputable matters in our church today that can lead to division?
- What experiences, beliefs, or habits from your upbringing or past church background influence the way you respond to gray areas or non-essential issues in your spiritual life today?
- Have you ever held a strong conviction or belief and expressed it in a way that ended up hurting someone or causing division, even though you believed you were right? What happened, and what did you learn from it?
Discussion Questions
- Why does Paul say that we “owe” love to others?
- How can you show love to someone that needs it this week?
- How does understanding the present time motivate you to live holy?
Discussion Questions
- How much does your attitude toward governing authorities match God’s command in Romans 13:1-7?
- Is your view too high or too low of God-ordained authorities?
- Is your first instinct to criticize or pray for your governing authorities?
- How can you actively give respect and honor to those in positions of authority?
Discussion Questions
- How do you struggle with giving or receiving loving correction, and what might help you grow in this area?
- Why is it often harder to rejoice with others than to weep with them, and how can you cultivate a heart that truly celebrates others?
- How does this passage challenge your attitude toward those who oppose or mistreat you, and what practical steps can you take to respond in a Christlike way?
Discussion Questions
- How does Romans 12:1-2 define true worship? What are the implications for every single area and moment of your life?
- How does Paul connect the theology of Romans 1-11 with practical living in Romans 12-16?
- Where are you most tempted to be conformed to a godless worldview? Ask the Lord to reveal the subtle ways you are being conformed.
- How can you actively renew your mind and participate in your transformation?
Who is the All Israel in Romans 11 and When and How Will They Be Saved
Discussion Questions
- How does Romans 11:25-27 fit into Paul's argument in chapter 11, chapters 9-11, and the book of Romans as a whole?
- To whom does Paul refer when he speaks of all Israel in v. 26?
- How and when will Israel be saved?
- In what ways is all the promise of all Israel being saved connected to the second coming of Christ.
Discussion Questions
- Why is there so much in the Bible about Israel, the Jewish people?
- How is God’s faithfulness to the Jews a reflection of his promises to you?
- How are some ways that you would you talk about Jesus to a Jewish person?
Discussion Questions
- Paul says the Israelites had “zeal without knowledge” (Romans 10:2). How can religious fervor sometimes blind people to the gospel?
- Why do you think salvation by faith alone is often so difficult for people to accept?
- Romans 10:14-15 emphasizes the necessity of preaching the gospel. What does that look like practically for you?
Discussion Questions
- Paul was deeply grieved for those who rejected Christ. Who in your life do you feel this kind of burden for, and how does this passage challenge or encourage your prayers for them?
- How does the doctrine of election humble us and challenge our sense of fairness?
- Romans 9 emphasizes that salvation is based on God’s mercy, not our merit. How does this shape your view of salvation and evangelism?
Discussion Questions
- How would you retell the Gospel from Romans 1-8 to someone else?
- Where is faith in Jesus bringing about glad obedience to his commands in your life? Encourage someone else by telling them where you see this happening in their lives.
- How does remembering who you are (“dead to sin and alive to God”), lead to greater obedience from the heart?
- In what ways is the Gospel for both believers and unbelievers?
Discussion Questions
- How can you practice being fully present with those around you this week—in your family, workplace, or community?
- In what ways has God "salted" (gifted) you uniquely to preserve, enhance, and bring life to your sphere of influence? How can you use those gifts intentionally?
- How can your community group or close friends collaborate to declare and display Christ in both words and actions?
Discussion Questions
- In your life, what role has sharing a meal with someone played in building and strengthening relationships?
- Why do you think sharing a meal with someone creates the opportunity for deep connection?
- How will you plan to intentionally share meals to make connections with old friends and new friends in 2025?
Discussion Questions
- Who has been your spiritual friend(s) and in what ways have they changed your life?
- Who has been your spiritual friend(s) and in what ways have you helped change their life?
- Who might God want you to reach out to be a friend?
Discussion Questions
- How can you set your mind on things above and make worship part of your daily life?
- How can you foster a spirit of unity and thankfulness in your interactions with fellow believers?
- How is God calling you to share the gospel and live out your faith in your community this week?
Discussion Questions
- How has God shown you his love this past year?
- How can you perfect God's love to you by showing that love to someone else this week?
- What people in your life do you find hard to love? How does the love of God in Christ help you in your weakness?
Discussion Questions
- How does Romans 8:31-39 help you trust that God's plan is greater than your sins, failures, and uncertainties?
- What barriers prevent you from fully believing in God’s love for you?
- In what ways does the Holy Spirit reassure you of God’s love, and how can you grow in recognizing His work in your life?
Discussion Questions
- Where are you experiencing suffering in your life? How does this passage (Rom 8:26-30) help you to wait patiently for the redemption of all things?
- When have you experienced feeling too weak or confused to pray with words? How does the Holy Spirit’s intercession (8:26-27) encourage you?
- Where in your life is God’s promise that “all things work together for good” (8:28) difficult to believe?
- What aspect of the “chain of salvation” (8:29-30) is most difficult to understand or believe? Which are you most grateful for today?
Discussion Questions
- How does the truth of being able to call God "Abba, Father" impact the way you approach Him in prayer and daily life?
- What areas of your life might God be using as discipline to draw you closer to Him and make you more like Christ?
- In what ways can you point others to the hope found in Christ, even as the world groans under brokenness?
Discussion Questions
- When you feel like God condemns you, what should you think and say out loud?
- What do you see in your life that shows that God’s Spirit has been changing you?
- What can you do to develop a mindset that reflects God?
Discussion Questions
- Where do you see evidence of your own struggle with sin, and how do you lean on Christ in those moments?
- What does it mean for you to "live in the victory already won"? How does this change your perspective on daily battles?
- How can recognizing your "wretchedness" lead to deeper gratitude and dependence on Christ?
Discussion Questions
- What are some “masters” you’ve been tempted to follow besides God? How have they impacted your life?
- What does it mean to you to be “free in Christ”? How does that change how you see yourself?
- What is one way you can “present yourself as a slave to righteousness” this week?
Discussion Questions
- What does it mean that Christians have “died to sin?”
- How is baptism a personalized retelling of the Gospel story?
- Are there any sins that you have grown tolerant toward?
- In an area of sin that you struggle against, what would it look like to offer your body to righteousness?
Discussion Questions
- Sin's effects are so deep. Identify 3 ways you see it in your life.
- Think back to when you first received God’s free gift of Christ. Why is it good to do that?
- How can knowing your spiritual genealogy help you share the good news with someone?
Discussion Questions
- How has surrendering to Jesus in the past brought unexpected joy and hope, and where might God be calling you to surrender now?
- In what ways can suffering strip away distractions and help you focus on the hope that only God can give? Can you provide a real-life example?
- How can your experiences of peace with God and the peace of God help you share the hope of Jesus with those who struggle with doubt and fear?
Discussion Questions
- What religious traditions or practices do you tend to rely on for a sense of spiritual validation, and how does embracing faith alone challenge and transform those habits?
- Abraham’s faith wavered at times, but he ultimately held fast to God’s promises. How can you use his example to strengthen your faith during moments of doubt or uncertainty?
- How can you help others recognize that their true worth comes from God’s forgiveness, especially when they are struggling with feelings of unworthiness?
Discussion Questions
- Explain in one minute how someone can be made right with God.
- Do you tend to forget that God is just (and that sin is a horrific offense to his holiness) or that he is the one who justifies (and that through faith in Christ you are actually righteous)?
- How does the Gospel of Christ destroy pride? What area of pride needs to be put to death in your life?
Discussion Questions
- In what ways have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life, even when you were unfaithful?
- How does recognizing our inability to earn or deserve God's favor change the way we approach our relationship with Him?
- How can the truth that God's plan is unshakable, bring you comfort during difficult times?
Discussion Questions
- What marks you as a Christian? Are you trusting in that more than Christ?
- Why do you think it’s easy to justify yourself when you feel the need to?
- How can you help a friend understand the difference between self-justification and Christ-justification?
Discussion Questions
- When do you most often find yourself judging others, and what does this reveal about your own heart?
- How can we resist the temptation to feel morally superior to others, and how does grace help us in this?
- In what areas of your life have you misunderstood God's patience, and how is his kindness calling you to repentance?
Discussion Questions
- Do you see the truths of these verses in your own life before coming to Christ? And do you see fragments of this in your life now?
- Where are you tempted to choose the creation over the Creator?
- How will you intentionally honor and give thanks to God this week?
Discussion Questions
- In what areas of your life do you feel divided from others, and how can the gospel bring unity?
- How does the gospel challenge the idea that our value comes from what we accomplish? In what ways does the truth of God's grace offer freedom from performance-based living?
- How can you live out the gospel as a present power shaping your daily life, not just a past event?
Discussion Questions
- What are your Pinterest fails? Where do you fail to look like Jesus in your life?
- How are you looking more like Jesus today than you did yesterday? Last week? Last year?
- How can you look like Jesus this week?
Discussion Questions
- How can you intentionally seek the welfare of the city or community where God has placed you?
- What opportunities for spiritual multiplication might you be overlooking in your current life?
- How do fears or feelings of inadequacy hinder you from sharing the gospel or making disciples in the context where God has called you?
Discussion Questions
- What fears, lies or idols keep you from living a more generous life?
- Meditate on God’s generosity toward you. Share that with someone else.
- How can you “test God” (Malachi 3:10) in the area of generosity?
Discussion Questions
- Is there a chasm between your current view of work and the biblical perspective we learned today, and what needs to change to bridge that gap?
- Reflect on a time when you found joy and fulfillment in your work. What factors contributed to that experience, and how can you cultivate those factors in your current situation?
- Discuss how you can help others see the value and dignity in their work, regardless of the nature of their job. How can you encourage and support those around you in their vocational callings?
Discussion Questions
- What group at Chelten would you call your community?
- Who could you seek out to be a friend who is not one now?
- How can you spend quality time with a friend this week?
Discussion Questions
- Reflect on a time when you have seen singleness used for the benefit of the community or church. How did it impact you?
- What are some common misconceptions about singleness in the church today?
- How can the church create an environment that affirms and celebrates the goodness of singleness?
Sermon Title: Conquering Marriage Conflicts
Sermon Passages: Gen 3:14-19; Col 3:18-19
Speaker: Bill Krewson
Discussion Questions
- In what ways can you and your spouse better embody the concept of "one flesh" in your relationship?
- How can you prioritize friendship and companionship in your marriage to reflect the biblical ideal, and what steps can you take to ensure your spouse is your closest friend and confidant?
- How does mutual submission play a role in your marriage, and how can you practice it more humbly?
Discussion Questions
- Paul emphasizes that physical oneness should be accompanied by whole-life oneness. How can this principle shape your approach to relationships and marriage?
- Discuss how different generations within the church might view sex and sexuality. How can we foster healthy conversations about godly sexuality across generational lines?
- Paul calls us to glorify God with our bodies. What are some ways you can honor God with your physical health and actions? Are there areas where you struggle to do this?
Discussion Questions
- What messages do you regularly hear regarding gender and identity? Where do they align with God's good design and where do they distort it?
- In what areas are you tempted to rely on yourself as the ultimate source of authority, knowledge, and trustworthiness instead of God?
- What does it look like to walk in continual repentance?
- Personally and as a church, how can our posture towards fellow sinners match that of Christ's posture while not compromising our position?
Discussion Questions
- What emotions rise in you when you think about dying?
- What plans should you make to die well?
- How can Jesus’ own death and resurrection give you hope?
Discussion Questions
- How does acknowledging and accepting your limitations impact your relationship with God and your dependence on Him?
- How does the idea of extending grace to yourself challenge or encourage you, and in what ways can you be more gracious to yourself when you fall short of your own expectations?
- How does spiritual rest catalyze other forms of rest (physical, emotional, mental), and how does your spiritual state influence your overall well-being?
Discussion Questions
- Which one of these four ways of interacting with God (Over God – Under God – From God – For God) are you most tempted to live from? and how do you experience them in your life?
- How does “Life With God” transform each of these approaches?
- What does it look like to prioritize your relationship with God through the regular rhythms of your life?
Discussion Questions
- What does it mean to you personally to be created in the image of God? How does this shape your self-worth and identity?
- In what ways can recognizing the divine likeness in others change the way we treat them? In other words, how can we cultivate a community that truly respects and reflects the image of God in every individual, regardless of their background or status?
- How does the understanding that all humans are made in God's image shape our approach to evangelism and missions?
Discussion Questions
- As you pray about decisions you face, are you more desirous of God giving you wisdom so you can make the decision or of God's showing you which decision to make? Why do you think this is?
- What is your reaction to the idea that you don't have to find God's will for your life where God's will refers to a specific prescribed path that you must discover so you can obey
- When it comes to decision making, we tend to err on the side of presumptuousness or paralysis. Which are you more inclined to and how might this teaching help correct that?
- Do you ever grow impatient waiting for Christ’s return? To what area of faithfulness is God calling you as you wait?
- How can you grow to rest in the person of Jesus when you don’t know the details of his plans?
- What hope does the promise of future resurrection bring you now? And where do you see glimmers of it today?
Discussion Questions
- How can we discern when to focus on detailed understanding versus the broader message in biblical texts?
- Discuss examples from history or current events that show the cyclical nature of kingdoms rising and falling, both on a broader scale and personally.
- Why is it challenging to see evil prosper when we yearn for good to prevail? How can we maintain our sense of justice and hope in our personal lives during these times?
Discussion Questions
- How does knowing you are loved by God change your perspective during uncertain times?
- Reflect on a time you faced a conflict with deeper spiritual implications. How did you respond, what was the outcome, and why is awareness of these spiritual battles important for Christians?
- Discuss how understanding God’s sovereignty over history, as demonstrated through prophecies in Daniel, can provide comfort during current global or personal crises.
Discussion Questions
- How does knowing that God deeply loves you motivate you to pray?
- When prophecy about the future confuses you, how can you have hope in God’s promises?
- How should you react when you hold beliefs about the Bible that other Christians see differently?
Discussion Questions• • •
- Have you experienced someone interceding in prayer for you, and if so, how did it affect your situation or your heart regarding the circumstances you were facing?
- Daniel's prayer was deeply rooted in the promises and character of God as revealed in Scripture. How can we more effectively incorporate Scripture into our own prayer lives?
- How does interceding for broader communal or societal issues challenge or change us personally?
"Identifying with Christ"Romans 6:1–11
• • •Discussion Questions
- Where did you personally connect with something shared in one of the baptism testimonies?
- What does it look like for you to publicly identify with Christ through your words and actions in the places you live? Work? Play?
- Where are you tempted to shrink back?
- How does the Gospel enable and empower you to be a bold witness for Christ?
Discussion Questions
- How does leaning on the sovereignty of Jesus help you in your suffering?
- Do you find yourself getting sucked into the idea that you need more control? How can you look like Jesus in those moments?
- Do we recognize our pride for what it really is? How have you excused your own pride in the past? What does it look like to surrender your pride to Jesus this week?
- How has God both humbled and exalted you recently?
Discussion Questions
- Reflect on a time of failed hope and its impact on you. How does this align with the idea that we are "hope-shaped creatures"?
- What narrative do you often find yourself sharing about your life? Is it a success story, a discovery story, a self-martyr story, or a story of hope and grace?
- What are some ways you can demonstrate and live out the hope of resurrection through your love for others?
Sermon Title: True Greatness
Sermon Passage: Daniel 7:13-14; Mark 10:32-45
Speaker: Jon Shepherd
Sermon Title: All Nations Under the Son of Man
Sermon Passage: Daniel 7:1-18
Speaker: Bill Krewson
Discussion QuestionsHow does remembering gratitude in your prayer life impact your perspective and resilience during challenging times?What does Daniel's testimony tell us about the importance of our conduct and testimony in our workplaces and communities?How does understanding Christ's presence, love, and sacrifice for us change the way we face our own "lions' dens"?
Sermon Title: Divine Hand in a World of Delusion and Defiance
Sermon Passage: Daniel 5:13-31
Speaker: Jin Lee
Discussion Questions
• • •
- How is pride connected to all other sin?
- What areas of life are you tempted to believe and live as if you have control over?
- When has God humbled you? How did you respond?
- How does life with Jesus free us from the pride and the need for control?
Discussion Questions
- How can we effectively communicate the unique claims of Christianity while also respecting differing perspectives?
- How does the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego challenge our understanding of suffering and deliverance?
- How do we reconcile the reality that God may not always deliver us from earthly suffering with the promise of ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ?
Daniel 2:31-45 • • •
Discussion Questions
- In what direction are your emotions taking you now: anger, fear, joy, peace?
- How can you specifically pray for our nation, its leaders, and the coming election?
- What are you doing to build God’s kingdom that will outlast all nations?
Discussion Questions
- How can we learn from Daniel's refusal to compromise on certain issues and identify the non-negotiable aspects of our lives, avoiding both rigidity and legalism?
- Considering Daniel's wisdom in engaging with culture while maintaining his distinct identity, how can we cultivate spiritual discernment to navigate the complexities of cultural engagement in our present-day context?
- When making decisions about education, career, social interactions, and friendships, how can we apply the principles seen in Daniel's life? What biblical guidelines can guide us in making wise and faithful decisions in these areas?
Discussion Questions
- How can we honor and value the contributions of those who may feel unnoticed or less significant? Share examples of how the church, as a body, can ensure that every member feels valued.
- Discuss the historical impact of Christians serving others. How can the church today continue this legacy of impactful service beyond its walls?
- How can your church community prioritize love over individual preferences and gifts?
Discussion Questions
- How can you cultivate the gifts and talents God has given you in order to better serve others?
- As you interact with others this week, how can you help them identify and cultivate their gifts?
- How does fear keep you from using your spiritual gifts and talents? Now preach the gospel to that fear.
Discussion Questions
- Describe how you have been impacted by someone's spiritual gift.
- How would you describe your own spiritual gift?
- Think of three of your Christian friends. Now try to identify their spiritual gifts.
- Reflect on your spiritual journey. How have you seen your spiritual gifts and fruit develop over time?
- How might someone confuse their talents or natural abilities with spiritual gifts? How can this confusion impact their service within the church or their spiritual growth?
- Reflecting on the discussion of spiritual gifts as enablement for service, why is it crucial to recognize their purpose in the context of building up others and serving the body of Christ?
Discussion Questions
- How has the favor of God transformed your relationship with him?
- How has the favor of God transformed your relationship with others?
- How has Jesus blessed you to be a blessing for someone else in 2024?
ReadIsaiah 11:1-10 Romans 15:8-12
• • •
Discussion Questions
- What “tree" of false hope has been cut down?
- How has Jesus, "the Branch,” brought you hope when you needed it?
Discussion Questions
- "Waiting is a wall that reveals the heart." What anxieties or strengths have been revealed within you during your current season of waiting?
- Imagine the day Jesus' promise of light is fully realized. What emotions do you anticipate experiencing, and what might these emotions reveal about you?
- Think of someone in your life who is currently struggling with uncertainty or despair. How can you share your story of hope with them in a way that feels authentic and encouraging?
Discussion Questions
- What are some unexpected ways you have been comforted in times of difficulty or pain?
- How can we cultivate patience and trust in God's timing, even when it seems slow or uncertain?
- What's your perspective on God working through individuals deemed unworthy or flawed? How can we overcome our judgments and prejudices against them?
Discussion Questions
- Where is your life out of control?
- Where are you feeling disappointed, fearful, or anxious?
- What does it look like for you to trust in God in the middle of this situation?
- What created thing or person are you tempted to put your functional hope in?
- How does Immanuel (“God with us”) bring you greater hope than anyone or anything else?
Discussion QuestionsRead Acts 28:17–31
• • •
- Can you summarize the gospel in a few sentences?
- How do you feel when someone rejects Jesus? What should be your response?
- When you think about what excites Christians, is it the gospel or something else?
Discussion Questions
- How have you personally witnessed the power of a shared mission within the church, fostering a sense of belonging and friendships that surpass individual differences?
- When faced with conflicts similar to those Paul experienced among his friends, how can we maintain unity and love despite disagreements?
- Reflect on the notion that friendships are not chance occurrences but are ordained by God. How does this perspective influence the way we value and nurture friendships?
Discussion QuestionsRead Acts 17:11–32
• • •
- How can we balance living out the gospel versus explicitly proclaiming it? What situations might call for a more explicit proclamation of the gospel message?
- Have you or others you know felt a pressure to create or adopt a "single, one-size-fits-all gospel presentation that should be used everywhere"? What is the appeal of this? What are the risks?
- Consider a recent conversation you had about your faith. What elements of Paul's approach could you have applied in that conversation?
Discussion QuestionsRead Acts 16:12–34
• • •
- Can you summarize your own conversion in three minutes?
- Name at least two people whom you can pray for their conversion (and do it).
- Name at least one person with whom you can talk about the gospel (and do it).
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever asked yourself the question, "Can I really change?" What prompted this question in your life, and what are some areas in which you've desired change or personal growth?
- The story of Saul's conversion illustrates the idea that when you have no way out of your blindness, God pursues you. Have you ever felt pursued by God? What was that experience like for you?
- How does God's choice of Ananias, an ordinary believer, to play a pivotal role in Saul's conversion teach us about God's use of everyday individuals for His purposes?"
Discussion Questions
- What is necessary to be saved? What is the gospel?
- Having been saved by faith in Jesus, how should a Christian think about obedience?
- What have you seen be added to the gospel and how would you respond to that teaching?
Discussion QuestionsRead Acts 7:54–8:8
• • •
- How do you personally make sense of suffering in the world, and how has your understanding evolved over time?
- Have you personally witnessed or experienced situations where suffering led to a positive outcome or growth in faith? If so, please share those experiences.
- In what ways does your highest love and source of tranquility influence the way you respond to suffering and adversity?
Discussion QuestionsRead Acts Acts 6:1–7• • •
- Think about two ways that someone has served you either physically or spiritually. How was your life changed?
- What way of serving others brings you the most joy?
- Identify someone or some way that you can serve this week.
Discussion Questions
- Is prayer typically your initial response in challenging situations, or do you tend to react differently? If so, why?
- Can you recall any specific instances in your life where prayer resulted in a significant transformation of both your heart and your circumstances?
- How can we nurture a culture of prayer within our church community and within our personal lives, whether it be during moments of crisis, joy, or thanksgiving?
Discussion Questions
- Since what we talk the most about reflects what we love the most, what are the deepest desires of your heart?
- What have you “seen and heard” God doing in your life?
- How often do you boldly speak of the goodness of God in everyday conversations?
- What are some of the barriers that prevent you from speaking boldly about Jesus?
- What regular rhythms can you build into your life to spend time with Jesus?
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever experienced a moment when the message of the gospel deeply convicted your heart? What was that experience like, and how did it impact you?
- The early Christian community was marked by sacrificial generosity and frequent gatherings. How can we practice radical unselfishness and prioritize regular fellowship in our church community today?
- How can you actively contribute to building a more unified and loving Christian community within your church or fellowship?
Discussion Questions
- Reflect on the foundation of the church as described in Acts 1:1–2. How does the fact that the church is about what Jesus has done, rather than what we have done, both humble and embolden you?
- Share a personal story of how being part of a church community has changed your life or the lives of those around you. What makes the people of the church beautiful to you?
- Discuss the concept of the church as a movement of people rather than just an institution. What does it mean to be part of this movement in your local context and beyond?
Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-34
Discussion Questions
- In what ways do you improperly view the body and blood of Christ?
- In what ways can you properly view the body and blood of Christ?
- If you have a child (or children), how can you guide them to participate in the Lord’s Supper?
- How does James 5:19-20 serve as a fitting wrap-up for the whole book?
- Reflect on a time where someone helped turn you back to truth when you were wandering. What did they do that was helpful? What was not helpful?
- Who are you in a relationship with where you mutually turn one another back to truth?
Sermon Passage: James 5:13-18 Questions:
- Do you actually believe that God can heal a sickness if it’s his will?
- Name some Christians to whom you are close enough to confess a sin and ask for prayer.
- What specific changes will you make so that you will pray more intentionally for others?
Discussion Questions
- How does the metaphor of a farmer waiting for the rains resonate with your own experiences of waiting and hoping in your life?
- How might impatience expose a deficiency in trusting God's timing and sovereignty, and what steps can you take to nurture a stronger sense of trust and patience within your relationship with God?
- How does the hope of Christ's second coming influence your perspective on suffering and waiting in this world?
"Possessed by Possessions: Riches, Greed, and the Call to True Wisdom" Read James 5:1–6
• • •
Discussion Questions
- Why is it challenging to openly discuss struggles with money and greed, and how can we foster a safe environment for these discussions in our community?
- How does our obsession with money and possessions affect our relationships, and how can we maintain healthy, loving relationships with others?
- How can the anticipation of eternity shape our perspective on money and wealth in our present life?
Discussion questions: Reflect on your own life. How can you cultivate a life that reflects wisdom in your actions and cultivates humility? Consider the life of Jesus. How do His life and actions demonstrate the embodiment of wisdom? Reflect on the relationships in your life. How can you actively promote peace and harmony in your relationships and community?
Discussion Questions:
What are some signs of an empty faith lacking genuine manifestation in one's life? How does James connect mercy with true faith? How can we become more intentional about practicing acts of mercy to genuinely care for others? What can we learn from the stories of Abraham and Rabab about putting our faith into practice, even when faced with challenging circumstances and uncertainties?
Every one of us has experienced rejection. And every one of us, in some way, has rejected someone else. As pastor Jin reflects on the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, many rejecters emerge. But only one is rejected. With unwavering love and forgiveness, his response to rejection transforms us rejecters into acceptors and absorbs our rejection with acceptance.
As followers of Christ, deep in our souls, we want to represent our savior well, to be faithful witnesses. But that’s not so easy, is it? All of us experience trials and moments of weakness when our words and actions deny ever knowing Jesus. In this sermon pastor Shep explains how Jesus’ faithfulness during his trial and moment of voluntary weakness procured for us power to exchange faithlessness with joyful, submissive obedience to the Spirit.
Does your response to failure, you own and others, make you feel like, well, a failure? In this sermon Jake Fairfield, Chelten’s Director of Youth and Young Adults, explores how understanding and embracing Jesus’ response to our failure empowers and frees us to respond the same way to ourselves and to others.
As enamored as they are with it, many people resign themselves to the notion that love is probably nothing more than a byproduct of evolution, a social utility void of any intrinsic value or deeper meaning. In this sermon pastor Jin emphatically proposes the polar opposite.
The Temple in Jerusalem was a magnificent building and Jesus’ disciples were quite taken with it. So, when Jesus told them that one day not one of the temple’s stones would be left standing the disciples were shocked and asked Jesus when will this happen and what will be the signs? As pastor Shep examines Jesus’ complicated answer it becomes apparent that he is more interested in how knowledge of these future events will affect the way his followers chose to live their lives now, in the present.
In this sermon pastor Jin examines the hearts of two people who would say they love God with all their heart, soul and mind. But the response of one and the actions of the other reveal that there’s a noticeable difference in the lives of people who merely love theology and people who wholly love God.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONSWhen would God’s authority overrule human authority in your life and in our society?Name two ways that your view of your eternal future with God should impact your life now.How do you tend to separate your earthly priorities from your heavenly one?
In this message pastor Jin takes us back to the very first Easter Sunday morning and the very first people to encounter our risen Lord. Seeing him transformed their lives. Seeing him transforms our lives, too.
In this Palm Sunday sermon pastor Shep reminds us that while this week in history began with celebration, it ended in death. There is no resurrection without death. It was true for Jesus. And, as we read through John 12, it looks like it’s true for us, too.
It was quite a scene. Jesus just stormed into the temple and started flipping merchants’ tables over like he owned the place. Ultimately, the temple authorities wanted to know one thing, what right did Jesus have to do such a thing? In this sermon pastor Bill explores Jesus' answer and what it means for us today.
The story Mark tells in this passage may seem random, disjointed and may seem to portray Jesus as a bit vindictive. But, as pastor Jin walks us through these verses you’ll see that this is not really the case. Jesus has something very important to communicate with his disciples, and to us, about faith, spiritual life, bearing spiritual fruit and being consistent.
Ecstatic their long-expected promised warrior king was right there before their very eyes, the crowd roared with cheers of hope as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. But the salvation they wanted from him was not the salvation Jesus came to bring. In this sermon pastor Jin explores Jesus’ character, our expectations of him, how we respond to unmet expectations and why getting what we need is eternally better than getting what we want.
In Mark 10 we find a group of Pharisees attempting to draw Jesus into a debate on divorce and trap him in his words. Jesus responds with a definition of marriage that lays bare the Pharisees’ motives and drills down, through the muck of legalism, to the core of what marriage is really all about. Here’s pastor Bill to lead us through the passage.
In our you-can-be-anything-you-want-to-be America, achieving independence (of all sorts) has risen to a similar messianic level. But in Mark 9 it’s not a declaration of independence that impresses Jesus, quite the opposite. Listen as pastor Shep walks us through a life-changing story with power to change yours. You can depend on it.
When Jesus asked his disciple, Peter, “Who do you say I am?,” Peter answered correctly, “You’re the Messiah, the Son of God.” But when Jesus begins to describe the reality of what being the Messiah entails, the enormous chasm between Peter’s expectations and Jesus’ reality becomes shockingly obvious, and very confrontational. In this sermon pastor Jin talks with us about unmet expectations, reality and the hope this passage gives about bridging the gap between the two.
As Christians we long for that day in our future when we’ll see Jesus face to face and be totally transformed in the divine image. That future hope is also a present reality, since God began transforming us the moment he opened our eyes to see the his glory in Christ Jesus. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explains the prospect, process and practice of spiritual transformation.
In our culture of busyness, where productivity is king, we’re tempted to relegate the rest our bodies, souls and minds crave as discretionary spending. But is it? In this sermon pastor Jin walks us through this well-known psalm to explore what God has to say to us about rest.
As believers in and followers of Christ we are God’s possession. We bear the name of Christ. In this sermon pastor Shep fleshes out what bearing THE name means for us personally in our relationships with God, and what it means for us corporately in our relationships with people we rub shoulders with every day.
On this first Sunday of 2023 guest speaker Jerome David turns to God’s words of encouragement, challenge, and promise to Joshua to remind us that we, too, have every reason to move out into the new year full of faith.
In this Christmas morning sermon pastor Jin reminds us that a second and ultimate Christmas is coming. It will usher in the greatest homecoming mankind has ever seen and will be marked by endless worship, joy and peace.
Jesus. Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace—a despised, rejected, unattractive man of suffering familiar with pain. In this sermon pastor Jin explores how the hope this paradoxical, suffering savior brings to our up-and-down lives uncovers a reason for the season we may not have considered.
Isaiah prophesied that God would bring justice to Israel, and the rest of the world, through his anointed servant—the Messiah. Hundreds of years later Jesus claimed, and Christians believe, he fulfilled that prophecy. But, if Jesus came to bring justice, where is it today? What is it? And what does all this mean for us? Here’s pastor Bill with some answers.
Don’t expect life to be easier because you’re a Christian. Jesus tells us to expect trouble and suffering. He also tells us to take heart. Continuing our journey through Isaiah 40 pastor Shep challenges us to re-examine our relationship with suffering and explores why and how we can take heart.
This sermon from pastor Jin is the first in our Advent series on the theme of hope. In chapters eight and nine Isaiah delivers great news of hope to people living in very dark times. The news wasn’t just for them. It’s for us, too—a light is shining in our darkness. The question is, do we see it? Or are we looking for hope in all the wrong places?
As followers of Jesus we grow like trees, slowly, little by little under the watchful care of a very loving and patient God. In this sermon pastor Shep shows how Mark’s account of Jesus healing two men, in two very different ways, illustrates God’s love and patience, and encourages us to trust him as he works in our lives.
Do you ever feel frustrated because you just can’t measure up? Do you ever feel frustrated because someone else just can’t measure up? In this sermon pastor Jin turns to Mark 7 to uncover the cure for our deflated and inflated egos, and to show us where we find confidence without conceit and humility without poor self-esteem.
Right after witnessing Jesus feed a hillside crowd of over 5000 people with just a few loaves of bread and fish, his disciples witness him perform an equally shocking miracle amidst a stormy sea. In this sermon pastor Bill unpacks this story to show why seeing Jesus in the middle of our storms is much more important than his ending them.
If asked, “do you believe Jesus was raised from the dead?” most of us Christians would answer, “yes,” without hesitation. But, functional belief often lags behind convictional belief. For some reason it’s easier to believe in Jesus' power to calm a storm his disciples experienced 2000 years ago than it is to believe in his power to calm the ones we experience in our lives today. In this sermon pastor Jin talks with us about what hinders our faith, why we worry so much and how we can experience freedom from it.
If asked, “do you believe Jesus was raised from the dead?” most of us Christians would answer, “yes,” without hesitation. But, functional belief often lags behind convictional belief. For some reason it’s easier to believe in Jesus' power to calm a storm his disciples experienced 2000 years ago than it is to believe in his power to calm the ones we experience in our lives today. In this sermon pastor Jin talks with us about what hinders our faith, why we worry so much and how we can experience freedom from it.
The gospel has power to change anyone, but not everyone who hears the gospel changes. Some believe with gusto but later reject Jesus. Some return. Those who continue to believe in Jesus experience seasons of strong faith and abundant fruit, but also seasons of weak faith and scarce fruit. Why is this? In this sermon pastor Bill unearths some answers from Jesus’ familiar parable about planting, seeds and soil.
The gospel has power to change anyone, but not everyone who hears the gospel changes. Some believe with gusto but later reject Jesus. Some return. Those who continue to believe in Jesus experience seasons of strong faith and abundant fruit, but also seasons of weak faith and scarce fruit. Why is this? In this sermon pastor Bill unearths some answers from Jesus’ familiar parable about planting, seeds and soil.
Throughout his Gospel, Mark asks his readers this question, “How will you respond to King Jesus?” The crowds tried to use him. His family tried to control him. And, the religious leaders rejected Jesus, attributing his works to Satan. In this sermon pastor Shep asks this same question of us as he fleshes out the effect our responses have on our relationship with God and the people in our lives.
Throughout his Gospel, Mark asks his readers this question, “How will you respond to King Jesus?” The crowds tried to use him. His family tried to control him. And, the religious leaders rejected Jesus, attributing his works to Satan. In this sermon pastor Shep asks this same question of us as he fleshes out the effect our responses have on our relationship with God and the people in our lives.
A common complaint opponents of Christianity make is that Christians think they are better than other people, that they are legalistic and spiritually snobbish. Ironically and sadly, Jesus voiced this same complaint against the spiritual leaders of his day. In this sermon pastor Jin talks frankly with us about our bent toward religiosity, misunderstanding Jesus’ mission, and how by realigning ourselves to the gospel we can realize true sabbath rest.
The people listening to Jesus at this Capernaum synagogue sat amazed because he taught with such complete authority. Within minutes Jesus’ authority sprang dramatically from words to action with the first of three miracles in the span of just two days. In this sermon pastor Bill illustrates why Jesus’s authority displayed in three miracles 2000 years ago is such amazingly good news for us today.
John Mark begins his gospel by announcing the good of Jesus the Messiah. In the pages that follow we come to understand just how seismic, life-changing and world-altering this news was, and still is. In this introductory sermon in our series on the Book of Mark, pastor Jin begins unpacking this incredibly good news by answering three questions: who is Jesus, why did he come and how do we respond? We invite you to begin this journey together with us as we explore our calling to follow Jesus.
What is work to you? Is it a necessary evil or does it have more meaning to you than that? Is it true that if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life? Would you describe your work as a calling? Is our need to work a result of the fall and sin, or is it God’s plan A? For something that we do for 40 plus hours a week, it would sure be good to know. Here’s pastor Jin to shed some light on the topic.
In this sermon Director of Youth and Young Adults, Jake Fairfield, states that we are all just one advertisement, phone call, medical diagnosis or social media scroll away from discontentment. Are we that contentment insecure? What about you, does the needle on your contentment gauge point closer to empty or to full? Jake makes another interesting statement; in the gospel, God says that all he has is ours. If that’s true, our contentment should be out of this world—literally. Is your curiosity piqued? Press play!
Planning. We love it. We hate it. We’re indifferent to it. Some of us have big plans. Others appear to have no plan. We wonder, “What’s God's plan?” How do my plans fit into his plans? Can my plans mess up his? Let’s hear what pastor Jin has planned for us in this sermon on planning, which did not go as planned.
The words we speak to each other have tremendous power to build. They also have tremendous power to destroy. And, we lack no opportunity to do either; humans speak 20,000 words per day! In this sermon pastor Bill speaks to us about what God’s Written Word has to say about the words we say, and how the Word that became flesh provides our only true hope for change.
Does it seem to you that your passion and zeal for life is slipping away? Is hope waning? Do you feel like you should be able to just snap out of it, but can’t? If you answered “yes,” or know someone who would, know that you are very much not alone. In this sermon pastor Jin takes an honest look at what it means to have a crushed spirit, what causes it, how it affects us and where we can find hope in the midst of it.
In the Bible we read about God’s anger. A number of times Jesus was moved to anger. What’s the difference between God’s anger and ours? Why does our anger seem to always end with us doing something we regret? In this sermon guest speaker, Dr. Ed Welsh, engages us in an honest conversation about understanding what anger is, where and how to see it in our lives, and how the life of Jesus and his ministry to us promises hope for change.
God created us with the ability to imagine a world outside of reality. Satan tapped into this ability when he tempted Adam and Eve. Rejecting God’s wisdom, they followed their own path of folly led by Satan whose initial jealousy of God led him astray. In this sermon Pastor Bill walks us through select Proverbs and other scripture passages that warn us of the dangers of jealousy, how to resist it with gospel power.
God gave humanity the good gift of sexuality even before sin entered the world. Yet how is it that a gift capable of bringing us such pleasure and intimacy can also imprison us in such shame, silence, darkness and isolation? In this honest conversation on sexuality and lust, Pastor Shep walks us through 23 verses in Proverbs 5 to uncover some answers and the hope found in Christ for sexual sinners and sufferers.
Dinner invitations from people with the power and influence to make a positive difference in your life are eagerly accepted with great anticipation. In this sermon, pastor JIn informs you of two actual dinner invitations you have received from two powerful ladies in high places that will change your life forever. You must choose one or the other. Which one will you choose? How will you choose? The consequences of your decision will be life or death.
If you’ve ever played hide and seek with toddlers you’ll know that they’re not very good at hiding. They can’t wait. Excitement overtakes them and they pop out of their hiding spots before you get there. For toddlers it’s more of a game of seek and seek. Lady wisdom is not very good at hide and seek either, for the same reason. And, that’s really, really good news for us. In this sermon pastor Shep explains why.
In this sermon pastor Jin turns from the topic of wisdom to present three types of fools. Simple fools are open to everything, gullible, naïve, out of touch and unwilling to look beyond their conformational biases. Sluggard fools may actually be extremely busy, but they’re lazy when it comes to aim and purpose. Peacemakers diffuse tension. Not good-for-nothing and trouble making fools, they stir up conflict wherever they go. As Jin walks us through the passages in Proverbs, we may feel the foolishness meter pointing ever so slightly in our direction. What’s the antidote? How can we change? Listen and find out.
What’s worth more than money? Solomon taught that wisdom is more profitable than wealth. Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs that reveals divine wisdom as the goldmine that we need. In this sermon Pastor Bill takes a closer look at why wisdom is so valuable.
Each day we must make a multitude of decisions. Some are binary—black and white, right or wrong. But, oh, those tricky, complex, gray ones. They require wisdom from outside of ourselves. In this introductory sermon to our series on the book of Proverbs pastor Jin gives us a birds-eye view of the morality, mystery and mastery of biblical wisdom.
As inflation in the U.S. surges to a 40-year high, so does our level of worry and anxiety. Worrying is natural, but not helpful. Why do we do it? Is it possible not to? In this video pastor Shep shows how a conversation Jesus had with disciples answers these questions and uncovers the possibility of maintaining a generous life during lean times.
Through generosity God gives us the privilege of participating with him in the building of his kingdom. But sometimes generosity is hard to muster and greediness gets in the way. Why? What’s hindering us from being the generous people God intends us to be? In this sermon pastor Jin walks us through some answers.
The phrase, “it’s more blessed to give than to receive,” is well known and often quoted. But is it true? American culture seems to be marked more by reciprocity than it is generosity. Not so in the Kingdom of God. In this sermon pastor Bill explores what it means for followers of Christ to be financially generous and what motivates them to be so.
This sermon given by pastor Jin is the first in a series titled, “Blank Check – a generous life.” In this series our pastors explore how generous lives, flowing from God-renewed hearts, affect how we spend our money, our time and how we serve. Starting at the root, Jin turns to Luke 18 to draw out three essential truths; generosity requires a humble heart, pervades every aspect of our lives and can only be realized as God exchanges cold hearts of stone with fleshy new ones beating in step with his Spirit.
In this Easter Sunday sermon pastor Jin explores with us answers to three very important questions people have been asking for centuries. The word “gospel” means good news, not good advice. What exactly is this good news that Christians so cherish? Is Jesus’ resurrection real? If so, how does the reality of Jesus’ resurrection change our lives? Listen and find out.
High school sweethearts arrive to their proms in limos. Newlyweds ride to their receptions in cars superfluously decorated with wedding slogans and clanking tins cans dragging behind. Royals arrive in fancy horse-drawn carriages. Presidents arrive in motorcades of large black SUVs and the pope has his pope mobile. The King of kings and Lord of lords rode in to Jerusalem on the back of a stinky donkey. In today’s sermon pastor Shep answers two questions. In light his vehicle of choice, what kind of a king is Jesus, and what are the implications for us?
Pastor Jin gave this final sermon of our Micah series during a service in which 15 people from our congregation were baptised. What better time for Jin to walk us through the gospel, the good news that through Jesus’ death and resurrection God cast our sins into the deepest sea. Who is like our God? No one!
Who is a God Like You? | Micah 7:14-20
Two messages emerge from the book of Micah that cause us to scratch our heads and marvel, “who is a God like you?” One message has to do with what God truly hates. The other has to do with what he truly loves. In this sermon pastor Bill shows how, together, these two messages join to form the one truly best message we will ever hear.
Have you ever experienced a stage in your life when you felt like lamenting, “Darkness is my only friend?” Maybe you’re in such a space right now. How does God want us to respond in times like these? In this sermon pastor Jin walks us through Micah 7 and some Psalms of lament to uncover what biblical lament is, what it isn’t, and how intimately Jesus understands just what we’re going through.
As a defendant, imagine how you’d feel walking into a courtroom knowing that the plaintiff is both judge and jury. This is the case for Israel in Micah 6. As plaintiff, judge and jury God presents his verdict. To be consistent with his justice God must hold us accountable for our sins without being inconsistent with his mercy. In this sermon pastor Shep unravels this seemingly irreconcilable conundrum to reveal a dazzling hope that takes sin seriously and throws shame out the window.
“Lord, just show me what you want me to do.” All of us have asked God this same question many times. According to Micah 6, God has shown us. He wants us mortals to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with him. In this sermon pastor Jin explores how we can discern what this means for us by listening to God, by remembering what he has done and by worshipping him holistically.
As difficult circumstances and relationships drag on in our lives a multitude of voices clamor for our attention, offering answers and promising hope. In this sermon pastor Bill encourages us to resist giving our allegiance to worldly chatter and place our faith in the very same hope Micah promised centuries ago. We must live our promised future inside the struggles of the present. We live in the “until.”
It’s not a question of if we will face struggles in our lives, but when. Periods of brokenness are a part of life. Working through Micah 4 and examining the life of Jacob, pastor Jin explores how God often restores us from brokenness by walking with us through it.
For three chapters Micah has confronted Judah’s and Israel’s leaders with their idolatry, greed and injustice. Now in chapter four, after calling them to self-examination, humility and repentance, the prophet promises a future filled with hope and restoration, not just for Israel but for all nations. In this sermon Pastor Shep unpacks what all of this means for us and how we can live the life of our promised future in the ruins of our present.
Micah’s called out the political and religious leaders for not treating their people justly. Sound familiar? Justice is certainly a hot topic these days. But just what is it? Is my definition of justice the same as yours? In this sermon pastor Jin shows us how biblical justice is able to encompass and reconcile our diverse and complex views to reveal not only what it means to be truly just, but how Jesus’ death and resurrection produces hope for justice to be truly realized.
How much is enough for you in terms of money, or things? Are you content with what you have or do you find you always want just a little more? In this sermon pastor Bill addresses Israel’s idol of greed—our idol of greed. Not willing to co-exist with idols, God graciously guides our lives so that our greed for things other than himself will be bankrupt and our lives increasingly shine with generosity.
God’s warning to the people of Jerusalem and Samaria through Micah was simple. “LOOK! The Lord is coming.” For too long they had allowed idols to coexist with God in their hearts and lives. Now, judgment was at hand. But the people are not left without hope. Micah reminds them that God is slow to anger, loving and compassionate to those who repent.
In this first sermon of the series, pastor Jin challenges us to identity the idols we allow to coexist with God in our own lives; encourages us to repent of our sins and weep for the sins of others; and reminds us of our ultimate hope for restoration, Christ alone.
Spiritual Friendship | The Book of Proverbs (selected verses)
In our very busy and individualistic culture, friendship often takes a back seat to productivity and tyranny of the urgent. During the COVID pandemic relationships with our friends has become even more tenuous. In this very timely sermon pastor Jin takes us to a handful of verses in the Book of Proverbs to show us just how important friendships are to our spiritual formation and why we need to work at cultivating them.
Everywhere we turn we are bombarded with narratives that compete for our attention. In this sermon Pastor Bill encourages us to take and read the only source that can inform and transform us in 2022 - the God-breathed Scripture.
In the heart of every human that has ever lived, and is yet to live, there resides a deep longing to love and to be loved. In fact, Jesus commands it. What? Is loving on command even possible? Isn’t love something you feel? How can you love someone you don’t like, or someone you—hate? In this sermon pastor Jin takes us on a journey to discover just what Christian love is, what it isn’t and how we can love others well.
Our Longing for Joy | John 16:20-24
In his gospel John writes often about the joy that we have as believers and followers of Christ. Why is it, then, that many of us find joy so elusive and in such short supply? What is Christian joy, anyway? And, how do we get it? In this sermon pastor Jin takes us John 16 to find answers.
During this Christmas season we often see and hear the phrase, “Peace on Earth." Nations strive for it. Individuals long to experience it. But what exactly did those angels mean? What is, and where is, this “peace” they proclaimed on that starry night in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago? In this sermon Pastor Bill takes us back to this familiar passage to understand the real meaning of God’s peace that comes through Jesus Christ.
We humans are chronically discontent, always longing for something greater to come. Why is that? In this sermon series our pastors explore the traditional Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, love and faith to peel back the layers of our discontent and uncover the true object of our longing.
In this sermon pastor Jin explores the theme of hope by examining three realities: the troubles of our hearts, the promise of home and the pathway there.
After giving the Ephesians an array of instructions for Christian living Paul makes a sober turn from domestic affairs to darker, cosmic, ones. He knows their real struggle is not against human enemies, but spiritual ones. In this sermon pastor Jin leads us through a serious, but balanced review of the important topic of spiritual warfare—and the armor and weaponry God graciously equips us with us as believers.
Subversive Submission | Ephesians 5:21-6:9
Paul writes that as believers we must submit to each other out of reverence to Christ. In this sermon pastor Bill unpacks what that means for us relationally in our marriages, in our families and in our work. Mutual submission puts the needs of others ahead of our own.
Living wisely | Ephesians 5:3-20
How can we live wisely as followers of Christ? What does it mean for us to put off our old selves and put on our new ones? In this sermon pastor Jin explores our metamorphosis as believers from lives of ruthless and aggressive self-seeking to ones marked by self-donation as we become our true redeemed selves.
Recounting the amazing things God has done for us and to us, the first three chapters of Ephesians tell us who we are as believers in Christ. We are richly blessed and eternally secure. As we continue our move into chapter four, Pastor Bill sketches the ways that our new identity changes how we live. We cannot receive God’s affirmation without robust obedience to God’s commands. His ways point us to the new creation already planted in our hearts by grace.
God gave each of us spiritual gifts. But we mustn’t mistake spiritual gifting for spiritual maturity. Discover why as pastor Jin implores us to saturate our lives with the gospel, reminds us of the unity that we have in the Spirit, and challenges us to use our diverse gifs for the benefit of others. After all, church is not just for ourselves!
As the apostle pivots his letter from the precepts of who we are in Christ to the practice of growing in maturity to his likeness, Paul pauses to pray for his readers. Guest speaker, Dr. John Currie unpacks this essential and moving prayer to reveal three things we need in order to pivot: passion for maturity, power for maturity and to know the path to maturity.
Diverse groups of people with opposing views will readily lay aside their differences and rally together around a greater, deeply-held, passion. Shared passions tear down walls of division. But when shared passions fail, when they wain, we quickly rebuild the walls. In this sermon Pastor Shep speaks to us about a shared passion that will not fail, or wain. The dividing wall is down for good. And if God broke down the wall, who are we to try and rebuild it?
You know how weight-loss commercials and ads include those before and after images? Well, in chapter two the author of Ephesians gives us just that, a before-Christ image and an after-Christ image. The “before” image shows us as dead in our sin; dead in a secular culture that blurs right and wrong and dead in a pervasive self-centeredness that pollutes even the good we do with a curve inward. As appalling as our before-Christ image is, our after-Christ image is beautiful beyond description. God gave us dead people life. Now Christ lives in us, straightening, sometimes painfully, our curve inward. Such remarkable grace leads us to faith, and faith leads us to good works driven by love, not fear.