Christ Lutheran Church Harrisburg: Recent Episodes
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Humanity has a tendency to wrangle over words. Which means Good News gets twisted and becomes mediocre at best. People get put into a hierarchy and voices get silenced. But Good News is not any of that. Good News sets people free, makes room for them, sees humanity in one another, and more. Good News isn't there for when everything is going well. It's for real life. The sermon is based on 2 Timothy 2:8-15.
The algorithms want your attention. So they feed your anger, frustration, and despair. The Gospel reminds us that we are not alone to face what the world offers. Our reading from 2 Timothy is a letter of encouragement for people facing difficulty - not the supposed persecution of people who are losing long held power, but rather the kind of hardship that drains life from people.
Life doesn't come with a manual of how things are supposed to go. And while that may be frustrating at times, it is also a blessing. Because if there was a manual, then we'd be judged on how well we stuck to it. Instead God gives grace freely and in unfair ways. The sermon is based on 1 Timothy 1:12-17.
God isn't loud. God is often hidden, but very present and active. The book of Esther shows us what living faithfully means in a practical sense. And on this weekend of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it also reminds us that the Good News is not that America is great or doomed. Instead, the Good News is that God acts and the people society walks past survive. The reading comes from Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, 29-32.
In Ruth 2 we hear about Ruth gleaning in the field. And Boaz goes beyond the requirements of the law. Gleaning isn't just a way to provide for the poor and marginalized. Gleaning also raises a question as to why there are poor among the community in the first place and what are we called to do in light of that reality. The sermon is in response to Ruth 2:1-23
We're starting a sermon series on the book of Ruth. Ruth's story is full of difficulties and blessings. And through it all, Ruth remains faithful. Given our own circumstances of difficulties, the book of Ruth offers us Good News. The sermon is based on Ruth 1:1-22.
The story of Pentecost is familiar to Christians. The Spirit comes in ways that cannot be ignored. Some respond with excuses. Maybe it's fear, maybe it's not wanting to deal with a new reality. Others respond by asking an honest question - what does this mean? When the Spirit shows up, new life shows up. New opportunities show up. The sermon is based on Acts 2:1-21.
This past weekend, two gatherings of Christians came together. One focused on dominion and domination, using religion to impose upon others. The other focused on the question of how we love our neighbor. Paul's letter to the church in Philippi reminds us that the Lord we serve emptied himself to love others, not dominate them. The sermon is based on Philippians 2:1-13.
In the first creation account, God creates and notices that creation is good. We are a part of that creation. And while the world tries to force messages upon us that tell us otherwise, Genesis reassures us of an eternal truth - you have value, you have worth, and you matter. The sermon is based on Genesis 1:1-2:4a.
The message of Revelation is ultimately this - that no matter how terrible things get, God is with us, God will restore, and God will heal. This message is just as important now as it was when Revelation was written. The sermon is based on Revelation 21:1-6 and 22:1-5.
John takes us into the pit of Revelation 13, the low point of the letter. There are beasts, a dragon, the mark, 666. It's all there. The point is not to scare, but to name the reality for what it is, and to show that all these things are full of lies and will fall. They cannot stand. All empires fall. And we should rejoice when they do. They don't fall by using their methods. Instead, the Lamb who was slain brings them to an end. The sermon is based on Revelation 13:1-18.
Empires exert control. But the faithful worshippers of God are part of the multitude. Revelation presents monsters that tear the faithful apart. What are the beasts of today? And what are we called to as we face them? The sermon is based on Revelation 7:9-17.
Revelation 5 gives a glimpse of what worship of God is about. It includes all of creation without exclusion. It shows God's power over the powers of this world. It flips the script on what strength and might and power are. And sometimes we get glimpses of that in worship here on earth. The sermon is based on Revelation 5:1-13.
Revelation 4 brings us to the throne room of God, where we see worship. It's also a courtroom where empire will be put on trial. John gives a vision of that. Imagine what it might sound like to put the empires of today's world on trial. That's what happened in the sermon. The sermon is based on Revelation 4:1-11.
The book of Revelation is one of the most misunderstood and misused books of Scripture - more often used to scare people, rather than offer them good news. It is good news. It shows empire for what it is, and that God rejects it and offers something better. The sermon is based on Revelation 1:4-8.
"The days are surely coming, says the Lord" is an invitation to a better world and way of living. It's not something we trigger or force God's hand into. God speaks these words and acts. What might the days that are surely coming be? Check out the Pastor Matthew's sermon on parts on Jeremiah 31 and 33.
What does Hope look like in the midst of a siege? It often looks crazy. Jeremiah does an act of prophetic theater in the absurd to emphasize God's promise - buying land while Babylon sieges Jerusalem before it falls. We are under siege - just in a different way. How is God calling on us to have crazy faith? At Christ Lutheran it looks like repairing the bell tower and expanding the dental clinic. Pastor Matthew's sermon is based on Jeremiah 32:1-15.
The faithful are in exile in America in 2025. It can be hard to be hopeful. We may want it to return to what was. But that's never been God's way. We are to live life and know that we are not abandoned. Jeremiah 29 is a letter written to those in exile. A message from God that still applies today.
Kings and the powerful have a long history of trying to use God's word for their own purposes or silencing it when it conflicts with their power. But they never prevail. God's word endures and liberates and sets people free. Pastor Matthew's sermon is based on parts of Jeremiah 36.
Divisions and separations define the world and often the church. Paul had a different idea about that based on everything that Jesus was about. The world and our churches still struggle with this. Our differences don't separate us, but instead help us to see a wider image of God. The sermon is based on Galatians 3:1-9, 23-29.
Grace is not fair. Thanks be to God! Paul addresses grace and works in his letter to the church in Galatia. The core of what he writes about is still relevant today. Do we earn our way to God, or does God come to us because of who God is? The sermon is based on Galatians 1:13-17, 2:11-21.
Membership has its privileges, as the saying goes. But there are two ways to look at that. One making faith something exclusive with the incentive to keep people out. And another where we have the privilege of inviting people to see how God is at work in the world and participate in what the Spirit is up to. The sermon is based on Acts 15:1-18.
Leviathan, that ancient description of chaos, evil, cruelty, and more shows up throughout Scripture and human history. It causes damage, destruction, and death. But it doesn't get the last word. Even in the stoning of Stephen that we hear about in Acts 7, death doesn't get the final say. Shalom does. We aren't called to take on the methods of Leviathan and we can't defeat it. only God can. And we are called to follow in Jesus' footsteps with his methods. The sermon is based on Acts 6 and 7.
Tyrants tell stories in order to maintain control through fear. They have done this for a long, long time. The resurrection of Jesus is a story that does the opposite - offers hope and new opportunities, setting people free. Pastor Matthew's sermon is based on Luke 24:13-35.
The world can feel like Jesus is still in the tomb. But the tomb and the world can't contain him and hold him hostage. Resurrection isn't about going back in time. It's about moving forward in a new way. And it's not just something that happened to Jesus 2000 years ago. We see it today in our communities. Resurrection gives us hope and healing here and now. Pastor Matthew's sermon is based on Luke 24:1-12.
The crowd had expectations about Jesus. They knew what they wanted. So do we. But Jesus doesn't live into those expectations. He offers something else. Something better. Pastor Matthew's sermon is based on the Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem in Luke 19.
The Narrative Lectionary gives us three stories about people who can and can't see Jesus for who he is. Jesus gives us a lens to see him. He encounters us and transforms us. The sermon is based on Luke 18:31-19:10.
The Narrative Lectionary takes us to Luke 15:1-32 where we hear Jesus offer three parables. But who is his audience? Is it the tax collectors and sinners? Is it the Pharisees and the scribes? What if it's both? He proclaims good news for both groups and for us.
Will empathy bring about the downfall of civilization like some argue? Or will it bring healing? Keeping love of humanity in the abstract is in stark contrast with Jesus' telling of the parable of the Good Samaritan. He shows that love is real, it is put into action, and it impacts real people. Pastor Matthew's sermon is based on Luke 10:25-42.
Transfiguration Sunday ends the season of Epiphany, where we get to see more fully who Jesus is and what he is about. His glory shines bright on those that are around him. And in so doing, we are called to shine his light to the world. Pastor Matthew's sermon is based on Luke 9:28-45.
The Pharisee and his guests didn't want to see the woman who came in. Just Jesus see her. He hears her. He reminds her that she is not alone. He provides hope. And he sends her out renewed and restored. And he does that for us as well, especially when the world wants to erase people. Jesus invites us to see and hear people, to know they are not alone. To offer hope, and to send us out. Pastor Matthew's Sermon is based on Luke 7:36-50.
Jesus defies expectations. And that's good news. While so many are expecting Jesus to cozy up with those in power, to find him in place of wealth and might, we can always find him on the margins of society with the poor and outcast - healing, restoring life, bringing good news. Pastor Matthew's sermon is based on Luke 7:18-35.
Words can be helpful and healing, or they can cause harm. A Tweet this past week made unfounded claims that will have a negative impact on people. Speeches by leaders in the past have brought healing and new life. In our Gospel reading, Jesus brings healing and new life through the word, in literal ways. How has Jesus spoken into our lives and communities with healing, hope, and new life? How is Jesus calling on us to use words to bring healing and new life around us? The sermon is based on Luke 7:1-17.
Does humanity exist to serve law and order, or do these things exist to serve humanity? Humanity has struggled with this forever. Religious groups have been so concerned with upholding the law, that they are willing to kill in order to maintain a preferred order. Jesus rejected the ends justify the means. He extends grace, even when it upsets the established order. The sermon is based on Luke 6:1-16.
Jesus calls his first disciples, fishermen. They stunk. But it wasn't because of their odor. It was the ways of the society around them that stunk on them. He calls on them to fish for people. That goes beyond inviting people to church. We're called to cast a net of love on people. The Gospel smells different - like the aroma of mercy. The sermon is based on Luke 5:1-11.
Jesus preached an unpopular sermon. The crowd wanted to throw him off a cliff. Why? Because he had the audacity to declare that their barriers, boundaries and such were not what God was about. The message still applies today. Jesus calls us to break down barriers in our time and place as well. The sermon is based on Luke 4:14-30.
Jonah is a parable about a resistant prophet who doesn't want what's best for this enemies. He tries running away. Nothing works. But in spite of it all, Jonah is faithful. He knows that God is merciful. Sometimes we are Jonah, sometimes we are the people of Nineveh, and sometimes we are the king of Nineveh. Pastor Matthew's Sermon is based on Jonah 1:1-17; 3:1-10; 4:1-11.
1 Kings 17 talks about Elijah and the widow. There is abundance in the midst of suffering. And we shouldn't ignore the cause of the suffering - King Ahab's moral bankruptcy. Terrible leadership causes everyone to suffer. But God provides. The sermon is based on 1 Kings 17:1-24.
The Temple couldn't be built without foreign help and resources. And Solomon pleads with God to hear the prayer of the foreigner. God has always been tearing down barriers and walls that separate humanity from God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a prime example of that faithfulness. Pastor Matthew's Sermon is based on 1 Kings 5:1-5; 8:27-30, 41-43.
God reminds David of who is in charge, and it's not David. Humility is an essential leadership quality we are told about in 2 Samuel 7:1-17. But that message is just for David. It's for all of us. We encounter humility all the time. Just look around. Pastor Matthew's Sermon talks about humility in leadership and in life.
Do you struggle with prayer? Hannah's story in 1 Samuel offers us some guidance in the midst of struggle. Prayers from the margins of society upend the meaning of greatness, strength, and might. The sermon is based on 1 Samuel 1:9-11, 19-20; 2:1:10.
When we feel lost and uncertain, how comforting is it to have something tangible that can make us feel safe? Our politics, economics, relationship, and so much of our lives are uncertain. And there are golden calves that offer a sense of control and safety. But they aren't God. Golden calves help us ignore the reality of the chaos and provide us a false sense of security. God walks with us in the uncertainty and provides a way forward. The sermon is based on Exodus 32:1-4
The world can feel overwhelming. So much of what goes on is designed to make us give up. But hope raises us up and sets people free. The sermon is based on Exodus 12:1-13; 13:1-8.
In Genesis 15:1-16 we hear about God making a promise to Abram. Abram struggles with that promise. There are decades in which he doesn't hear from God. That's just like life. So often we can't see how things will turn out, but God is faithful and walks with us and keeps God's promises.
The second creation account and the accompanying story of the Fall are well known by many. And the story sets up the rest of Scripture to tell of blessings and curses in so many ways. It is an attempt to explain to people how we get to where we are. Look around - see the blessings and the curses of today in your life, your community, and the world. The sermon is based on Genesis 2:4b-7, 15-17; 3:1-8.
People have been lamenting and crying to God with the question "How long, oh Lord?" It is the cry of people oppressed. It is the cry of people who have suffered. It is the cry of humanity exhausted by cruelty. Daniel 12 doesn't give us an answer so much as reminds us that nothing can stop God, not even death. The sermon is based on Daniel 12.
Over the weekend, we witnessed two different kingdoms on display in Harrisburg. The kingdom based on fear, anger, division, and hatred was at one end of the city. The kingdom of God based on seeing the image of God in others, service, care, and love was at the other end. Daniel 7 shares visions of terrible beasts that represent cruel kingdoms that all fall and shares about God's kingdom which lasts for ever. We got a glimpse of this over the weekend.
Oppressive systems hold everyone in bondage. They use violence. They are cruel. Because at their core, they are weak and collapse from their rotten foundation. But God's Kingdom has a different foundation that shares life to many. We see it the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den and in the Civil Rights marches of 1965 in Alabama. The sermon is based on Daniel 6:6-27.
Fear, threats of violence, actual violence - these are the tools of empires and shallow men. Our reading from Daniel 3:1-30 shows us that God doesn't abandon the faithful, is with them in the worst of situations, and that ultimately, the ways of violence do not work.
God takes the long view with creation. The long view is the loving view. The long view isn't stopped by set backs or obstacles. The long view presents a vision of what is to be. God invites us into the long view. The sermon is based on Daniel 2:24-49.
What do you see? What do you witness? What are you showing? God shows up in a variety of ways and shows us what love is. The sermon is based on 1 John 5:9-13.
Love is bigger than we think. The sermon is based on 1 John 5:1-6. The author talks about love, but also addresses where that love comes from that allows us to conquer the world. We don't conquer the way the world does. Instead we love, which transforms the world.
The world is throwing around a whole lot cruelty, violence, division, and hatred. If ever there was a time for love, it would be now. While we want to respond to what the world is offering in a similar way, Jesus calls us to respond differently. Now is the time for us to live into this calling of love. The sermon is based on 1 John 4:7-21.
There are so many terrible things in the world. It can overwhelm us. And we ask, "What can we do?" 1 John 3:16-24 offers some advice.
Who are the real Christians? What are the marks of a "real" Christian? Humanity is obsessed with dividing people. God brings us together. That's good news. The sermon is based on 1 John 3:1-7.
How do I pray? Teach me God! Jesus gives us the Lord's Prayer as an example. But what is prayer? And how do we do it. The sermon is based on Matthew 6:9-13.
God invites us! We are invited to praise God, to remember what God has done and what God will do, and how God never forgets us, even in the midst of hardship. Come and celebrate! The sermon is based on Psalm 66.
Come on Jesus, just tell us what the Kingdom of Heaven is. That's not how it works. Maybe that's because we wouldn't know if we walked into it. Instead we get glimpses of it. How do you encounter the Kingdom of Heaven? The sermon is based on Matthew 13:44-50.
How do we read the Bible? There are helpful and unhelpful ways. It helps to start with knowing some things about the Bible. Just after 21:30 into the podcast I offer a direct example of reading Scripture in light of shootings around the church. The sermon is based on 2 Timothy 3:10-17.
The Holy Spirit gives us gifts and draws us together. We are given unique gifts to build up the body of Christ, to serve, to love, to live - in community. It's a miracle. The sermon is based on Acts 2:1-4 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-13.
What is Love? We can talk about it. We can think about it. We can experience it. We can share in it. What is the greatest? The sermon is based on 1 Corinthians 13.
Peter and John heal a man lame from birth. And when healed, he becomes a part of the community. But it is far more than just physical healing that happens. Christ is still active in healing in a multitude of ways today. We experience this healing at Christ Lutheran Church and we witness it to the ends of the earth. The sermon is based on Acts 3:1-10.
Humanity has great imagination for destruction, but limited in what God is capable of doing to improve creation and life. We are called to witness to God's acts, which are much better. The sermon is based on Acts 1:1-14.
Early Easter morning, the women come to the tomb. They bring their expectations. They enter the tomb where their expectations die, because Jesus is risen and unleashed on the world. He can't be contained. What's he going to change? The sermon is based on Mark 16:1-8.
There's a couple of parades in town. One seeks to maintain order and control through the threat of violence. The other seeks to free people, but not in a way they expect. Which parade are you going to? The sermon is based on Mark 11:1-11.
There have been many predictions about Jesus coming back. All have been focused on death and destruction. All have been wrong. Instead of predicting when Jesus is coming back and how destructive that will be, Jesus calls us to active faith that will restore and bring hope. The sermon is based on Mark 13:1-8, 24-37.
The sermon is based on Mark 12:28-44. Jesus confronts a big scam that was going on. Appearances looked one way, but behind the curtain, Jesus shows what's really going on. And he offers a better way. Where do we see this same thing in our lives and society today?
Conflict is a part of life. Jesus doesn't make it all go away. He meets us in the conflict and offers an alternative, and reassures us that we are not alone. The sermon is based on Mark 12:1-17.
Scripture is told through the perspective of the outcast, the poor, the conquered. God's glory is often at odds with human ideas of glory. This is why it is Good News to the poor. Today's sermon is based on Mark 10:32-52.
In Mark 10:17-31, a man comes running up to Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Can we buy God's love? Can we earn our way to God? No. And that's Good News. It's not about what we can or can't do. It's about what Jesus has already done and continues to do. We are loved in spite of our faults.
Jesus asked the question - who do you say I am? Lots of people have an answer for that. There's white Jesus, woke Jesus, Republican Jesus, Democrat Jesus, capitalist Jesus, socialist Jesus, and more. All of these answers are like Peter in that they don't like Jesus' answer to who he is and what he must do, and what it means to follow. And while we are often like Peter, Jesus is faithful, loves us anyway, and does what needs to be done. The sermon is based on Mark 8:27-9:8.
Mark 6:1-29 tells us three stories that are filled with rejection, fear, and violence. These are the ways of empire and the world. We should expect that Jesus' way will be rejected, not received with open arms. And in spite of the rejection, fear, and violence, there is hope. It's what moves us forward.
Mark's Gospel tells a story within a story. One story interrupts the other one. And isn't that how life works too? Yet Jesus shows up, heals, and carries on regardless. The sermon is based on Mark 5:21-43.
Jesus is confronted by a demon possessed man who is weighed down by a Legion of demons. What are the demons that possess and bind society and humanity? Jesus sets the man free and he goes and proclaims Good News to others. How does Jesus set society free from its demons? The sermon is based on Mark 5:1-20.
The Gospel of Mark slows things down for Chapter 4 as we explore several parables. In these parables we hear about seeds being sown - that the Kingdom of God looks a bit unexpected. The sermon is based off of Mark 4:1-34
The Gospels tell us of the beginning of the Good News. And that includes transformation for our lives, our relationships, and our world. It's just the beginning. The sermon is based on Mark 1:1-20.
The world wants a Caesar, a king, a strong man. God gives us a Savior instead. The Christmas Eve sermon is based on Luke 2:1-20.
God is in the in-between times - the times of already, but not yet. We spend a lot of our life in those times. Our sermon from Sunday was based on Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10-13, which is about Israel's in-between time: in-between empires, in-between the destruction of the first temple and the building of the second temple, in-between joy and weeping.
Advent is the journey to the coming of Christ. A time of preparation. And that can be disconcerting because we aren't in control. This sermon is based on Isaiah 40:1-11.
Jeremiah declares God's promise to restore. His message is one of preparation. This is the hope of Advent. The sermon is based on Jeremiah 33:10-11, 14-18.
Have you ever found something that you either forgot was there, or had been hidden and you didn't know about? Finding it can be transformative. The sermon is the power of the Word and how it can transform people. The sermon is based off of 2 Kings 22:1-10, 14-20; 23:1-3.
There's lots of terrible news in the world and it can really affect us and make the world feel heavy. But God is with us in the midst of it all offering a better way. And promises life. The sermon is based off of Isaiah 5:1-7 and 11:1-5.
God's grace doesn't rely on humanity or human effort. That's good news because otherwise we'd be in big trouble. Humanity seems more intent on doing the opposite of what God calls us to, rather than following God. The sermon is based on Hosea 11:1-9.
In yesterday's sermon I asked the question - what is a god? There are plenty of things in the world that people make into gods - the things that get worshipped and listened to and form our identity. But these false gods are always lacking and never give us what we really need. Only God can do that.
The sermon is based off of 1 Kings 18:17-39.
How does the world go on? It seems like there are always power struggles, division, destruction. It's a miracle anything works at all. And that is Good News because it means God is the one who makes things go forward. And in that there is hope.
Today we look at 1 Kings 12:1-17, 25-29. Learn more by going to www.christharrisburg.org.
We would like it if God would make everything all nice and neat and orderly, but that's not what God promises. Instead, God promises to show up in the midst of the mess of reality to be with us and tell us how much God loves us. Today we look at 2 Samuel 5:1-5 and 6:1-5, as well as Psalm 150. Learn more by going to www.christharrisburg.org.
Who are you? That's the question we dive into in this week's sermon as we look at Exodus 1:8-14; 3:1-15. And more importantly, who is God? There is good news because of who God is, no matter how difficult life is. Learn more by going to www.christharrisburg.org.
This week’s sermon is based on Genesis 32:3-32, which is the story about Jacob coming back to his homeland and in preparation of meeting Esau again. It is also where Jacob wrestles God. You can learn more about and support Christ Lutheran Church and the health ministries of the church by going to christharrisburg.org.
This week’s sermon is based on Genesis 18:1-15 and 21:1-7. You can learn more about and support Christ Lutheran Church and the health ministries of the church by going to christharrisburg.org.
This week’s sermon is based on Genesis 2:4b-25. You can learn more about and support Christ Lutheran Church and the health ministries of the church by going to christharrisburg.org.
This week’s sermon is based on Matthew 16:21-28. You can learn more about and support Christ Lutheran Church and the health ministries of the church by going to christharrisburg.org.
This week’s sermon is based on Isaiah 51:1-6. You can learn more about and support Christ Lutheran Church and the health ministries of the church by going to christharrisburg.org.
This week’s sermon is based on Matthew 15:10-28. You can learn more about and support Christ Lutheran Church and the health ministries of the church by going to christharrisburg.org.
This week’s sermon is based on Matthew 14:22-33. You can learn more about and support Christ Lutheran Church and the health ministries of the church by going to christharrisburg.org.
This week’s sermon is based on Matthew 14:13-21. You can learn more about and support Christ Lutheran Church and the health ministries of the church by going to christharrisburg.org.
This week’s sermon is based on Romans 8:26-39. You can learn more about and support Christ Lutheran Church and the health ministries of the church by going to christharrisburg.org.
This week's sermon is based on Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43. You can learn more about and support Christ Lutheran Church and the health ministries of the church by going to christharrisburg.org.
The Gospel and Sermon are on portions of Matthew 13. You can learn more by going to www.christharrisburg.org.
Drew Stockstill, in his final sermon at Christ Lutheran Church, reminds us the importance of a simple gospel truth: We are not alone. God is with us.
Follow Drew on Facebook to find out where he will be preaching next, as a Navy Chaplain, and how to listen to new sermons.
Hardships and disappointments are a part of life, but they don't have to keep us from seeing what God can bring out of them. Jesus walks with us along the way.
We're still celebrating Easter, and yet, sometimes the news seems too good to believe. Fortunately, Jesus makes himself accessible to us all and accommodates our weaknesses.
In this Easter sermon, we notice that even while there is great joy around the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is still fear present. Fear is a part of our lives, but when we live with the hope of the resurrection that fear does no hold us back and does not keep us from joy in the Lord. He is risen.
When there is turmoil in our communities, in our lives, what does it mean to follow Jesus? A sermon and a question for Palm Sunday.
Grief can be one of the greatest struggles in faith. But Jesus shows us that grief and faith can exist together, and grief demands to be felt.
Jesus is baptized in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. It's not just for him, it's for us.
The final Sunday of Advent we turn toward the one at the center of the Christmas story, Mary, the mother of Jesus, who bore God into the world.
The man Mary called the father of Jesus quietly yet boldly takes center stage in this week's sermon.
We begin our Advent Sermon Series called, The Cast of Christmas with Zechariah, father of John the Baptizer, and husband of Elizabeth.
Each week we will take a closer look at key members of the Christmas story.
Jesus calls together an extraordinarily diverse and even disparate people and it's kind of funny when you think about it.
A sermon on Luke 18:9-17.
As we conclude our series on suicide prevention we hear how God can and does use us to bring hope and light to others.
There is no place God isn't willing to God with and for us. Ezekiel teaches us that God restores life to a valley filled with dry bones. Have hope. Don't give up. Share your hope with others. If you are thinking about suicide, please call 988.
We begin a three-part sermon series on Suicide Prevention Awareness called Faith. Hope. Life. God's wonders are known, even in the dark. There is no darkness too dark for the Lord and no one should suffer alone.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal ideation, call or text the new Suicide & Crisis Hotline 988 or visit www.988lifeline.org.
We conclude our series on Fruit of the Spirit with gentleness and self-control. Jesus models these for us in his own ministry.
We learn faithfulness from God who is always faithful. God's faithfulness allows us to be strong, courageous, and full of grace.
The Greek word for generosity is also the word for goodness. God is good and generous and blesses us with the gift to be generous as well.
We begin a new sermon series on the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. This week we start with love.
As the nation celebrates Independence Day, as a church we celebrate that we are called into Interdependence, on God and each other.
In this sermon in our Expeditionary Church series God reveals the vision for just how diverse and inclusive the plan for the church is, from Acts 11:1-18.
Tabitha was one of the first Christians in the world, and her model of service and strength teaches us still what it is to be a follower of the way of Jesus.
We begin a new sermon series called "The Expeditionary Church," where we find guidance for being the church today from the first church. We begin with the story of Saul and his dramatic transformation.
Palm Sunday we conclude our sermon series on the senses with the sounds that surround Holy Week. Listen... for the word of the Lord.
This Lent we explore the glory of the Lord in creation that we can perceive with our senses. This week we look at the way God uses touch to reach us, heal us, and hold us.
For a people who fear, for a people at war, for a people losing hope, Revelation finally comes as, "good news of great joy for all people," "for such a time as this."
John's vision reveals a seven headed dragon. But also the mighty power of God. Hear the good news!
What happens when we pray? John reveals a poetic image of how God receives and responds to prayer.
Revelation shows us that it is in and through worship that Christ confronts and conquers evil and all that causes pain and suffering in the world.
In the context of heavenly worship, the Lamb of God comes forward in creating as tsunami of praise and song. Join us to hear what caused heaven and earth to unite in worship.
Part 2 of the "Revealed," sermon series on the Book of Revelation, explores the role of worship services in our lives and in the Kingdom of Heaven.
It was gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, seated behind Dr. King during his famous speech at the March on Washington in August of 1963, who said, "Tell them about the dream, Martin."
We begin our sermon series on the Book of Revelation, hearing about John's dream. Like Dr. King, this dream is a vision of hope and courage for a community in need.
Joy is the appropriate response to the good news that God has come to us in Christ Jesus. The beloved Carol, "Joy to the World," helps us give language and joy to our response of praise.
In this sermon we listen to the good news the angel came to share. The audio in the recording has a pitch error.
Part 2 of our Advent sermon series, "Sing All Ye Citizens: Living the Carols," looks at the Christmas carol, "Angels we Have Heard on High," and ask what is the role of singing in praising God and sharing good news. When, where, and why do you sing?
In this new Advent sermon series we look to Carols of the season to give us hope and inspiration. We begin with, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." It is a 6th century hymn that epitomizes the Advent Season. The hymn is an apocalyptic prayer asking God to come into our broken world to bring healing and hope. In Christmas we remember if God has done it before, come to us in Christ Jesus, God will again, and that hopeful expectation is Advent.
As we conclude our sermon series on Ruth, we see how God has been at work all along preparing a place for Ruth in the family of God and the history of the people of God. It is a lesson for us, that God's plan for the Kingdom celebrates people of different cultures and histories and welcomes all. There is a place for you here.
Business coach, Charles Feltman defines trust as, “Choosing to risk making something you value vulnerable to another person’s actions.” God has entrusted a great deal to God's people, and every day we too risk what we value to others. Ruth teaches us something about trust -- trust in others and trust in God. Boaz also teaches us who to live into the trust God has in us.
You are worth the love of God, and through you God shows love to others. "God's work, our hands." In Part 2 of our series on the book of Ruth, we see how God is embodied in Boaz and Ruth and how today follower's of Jesus are his body in the world.
We begin a series on the book of Ruth with chapter one where we learn of the love and loss of a family. In seeing how they care for each other, we learn about God and we learn about ourselves. There is a place for Ruth in the Bible, and there is a place for you here as well.
Bartimaeus was blind but it was not a weakness, it was a pathway to demonstrate his faith, claim his voice, and receive the blessing of Christ. What if we all leaned into our vulnerabilities rather than ran from them?
From the "Speaking of Heaven" series, on Mark 10:46-52.
Preacher: Rev. Drew Stockstill
God is at work especially in these times of social distancing, bringing us together and drawing in those who have for too long known well the pain of social distancing.
This sermon on the Transfiguration of the Lord asks what it means to see the glory of God.
What’s the point of church? The answer is clear and consistent throughout scripture. What do you think?
Sermon on Luke 12:49-56 and Hebrews 11:29-12:2Jesus said, "I’ve come to disrupt and confront!” What does it mean for the pioneer and perfecter of our faith to have mission like that?
Part 2 of Summer Sermon Series on Joy. Note: reference to Hurricane Katrina at 17:45 should be Hurricane Harvey.
Who likes surprises? In this sermon by Rev. Drew Stockstill on Luke 5:1-11, Jesus surprises Simon Peter and his life is forever changed.
A Sermon for Reign of Christ inspired by one given by Dr. David Bartlett and in his honor.