Appleton Gospel Church: Recent Episodes
Appleton Gospel Church - David Parks
The images of Christ, called Faithful and True, on the white horse and white throne, are images of judgment. The beast, false prophet, and the devil himself will all be defeated, judged, and condemned along with the people who followed their evil ways. There are different views as to when and in what order this will happen, but when Christ returns, evil will finally be defeated, and justice will be done. Read More...
The return of Christ—envisioned by John as the wedding supper of the Lamb—will mark the start of the perfect, loving union of Christ and his bride, the church, going on forever. Idolatry is the battle for your heart. And the steady pull on our hearts toward misdirected worship is a real temptation in our current age. But the Wedding Supper of the Lamb will finally bring an end to the battle for your heart. Hallelujah! Read More...
(personified as a prostitute), he saw the eventual end of earthly kingdoms built on the seductive promise of political power and economic prosperity apart from God. Read More...
s judgments are both true and just. Blessed is the one who stays awake, beginning with the end in mind, for they will see the new Promised Land. Read More...
s vision of the eternal future, including both salvation and judgment, has very real implications for today. Live your life today in the truth that eternity is real. Read More...
s vision reveals the truth that the world is not neutral—spiritual forces compete for our worship and our allegiance. Read More...
s vision of the seven trumpets reveals the need for the church to be a faithful witness to a world that is lost without Christ. The church must carry on her prophetic work of sharing the gospel and making disciples of all nations. Read more...
t be that he is uncaring or unaware. So why does God delay his judgment? To save a great multitude of people from every nation, tribe, people, and language. Read more...
s throne room, he realized that the fundamental truth of reality is this: God deserves all our worship as both Creator and Savior. Read more...
What if Jesus wrote our church a letter? Revelation 3 records the last three messages from Jesus to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia. Jesus provided encouragement and warnings, but assured them that if they opened the door to him, it would be the defining moment of their lives. Read more...
What if Jesus wrote our church a letter? Revelation 2 records the first four messages from Jesus to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia. Jesus provided encouragement, especially regarding persecution, but also warned against the dangers of complacency and compromise. Read more...
s story ends with the wayward prophet hurling angry accusations against God. God responds with a patient explanation and appeal, revealing the stunning heart of God and the beautiful truth that our God is sovereign to save. Read more...
s plan all along. Why? The Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Read more...
After being thrown overboard, Jonah was at his rock bottom. Lost in the deep, he cried out to God for help. God provided a huge fish to give Jonah a second chance. Salvation still comes from the Lord, and his name is Jesus. Read more...
t outrun God. The Lord showed himself to be sovereign over the seas and the dry land—over all. The only proper response to the sovereignty of God is the fear of the Lord. Read more...
On the first Easter Sunday, several female disciples of Jesus were the first to discover the empty tomb. Later, Jesus appeared to two disciples who, in their disappointment and confusion, decided to give up and go home to Emmaus. But when they recognized Jesus, he turned their sadness into burning joy and purpose. Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Decide for yourself. Read more...
Hear the story of the arrest, condemnation, suffering, death, and burial of Jesus Christ, with little extra commentary. Good Friday was only good because of Easter Sunday. Can’t wait for Sunday. Read more...
The night before his death on the cross, Jesus shared a Passover meal with his disciples. A new personal relationship with God was now possible. Jesus established the Lord’s Supper for us to remember and proclaim the cross until his return. Read more...
The journey was almost done. But when Jesus finally rode into Jerusalem, it forced a confrontation. Some loudly hailed Jesus as the promised Messiah-King they had waited for. Others resisted or rejected his authority, trying to silence his disciples. How have you received Jesus into your life? Read more...
identity or mission before the cross and the empty tomb. But what should disciples of Jesus expect after these history-shaping events? Would the kingdom of God be immediately established? Not exactly. But until King Jesus returns, we must be faithful stewards of whatever he has given to us. Read more...
main mission in life? To be a great teacher, healer, prophet, priest, or king? Many people were confused about that in his day; many are still today. Despite the opinions and expectations of others, Jesus actually came to seek and to save the lost. Read more...
At the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus resolutely set his face toward Jerusalem as he made his journey to the cross. Jesus knew exactly who he was and what he had come to do. But others, even his disciples, were far from clear on that. However, there was one man who proved that faith sees what eyes cannot. Read more...
s complicated. There was good and bad, faithfulness and idolatry, rise and fall. One takeaway is that by staying rooted in obedience, we can prevent our hearts from drifting. What will our legacy be?? Read more...
What is the meaning of life? Seriously? Does anything bring lasting satisfaction? Good question! Many people feel there must be more to life. After many years as the king, Solomon wrote his most philosophical work reflecting on his experiences of pursuing wisdom, wealth, career accomplishments, and pleasure, and the seeming meaninglessness (hebel) of life. His conclusion is both helpful and hopeful in our modern age. Read more...
s word on marriage, took hundreds of foreign wives and concubines, and started worshipping the idols of his many wives. But there were devastating consequences for his unfaithfulness. If Solomon, with all his advantages in life, couldn’t stay faithful to God, is there any hope for us? Read more...
ll see. One thing is sure: when wealth becomes our security, it replaces God. Read more...
After hearing reports of King Solomon and his God, the Queen of Sheba came with hard questions to see the wisdom of God for herself. When the king answered her questions, she was overwhelmed and left praising God. How can we help the spiritual seekers in our lives today? There is much to learn from King Solomon here. Read more...
24 years into his reign, after completing the Temple and Palace building projects, the Lord appeared to King Solomon again. This time, instead of giving him the gift of wisdom, God gave him a stern but gracious warning: There is a path that leads to life, but there are many paths that lead away from life. Read more...
When the congregation of Israel gathered for the dedication of the temple, they couldn’t stop praising the Lord! They were filled with joy and gladness for all the good things the Lord had done. True worship flows from a heart of love, moved by the grace of God, and results in a new way of life that is pleasing to God. Read more...
s prayer at the dedication of the Temple strongly emphasized the need for the forgiveness of sins. Would God respond with mercy in their time of need? If God is good and faithful and is here, then we can trust that when we pray, he will hear us and save us—even from ourselves. Read more...
Jesus was born into a family with a very important history, including many prophecies or promises of God about a coming Messiah-King. The first Christmas is a story of one promise being fulfilled after another, after another. Seeing this pattern greatly helps our faith. What is a promise of God you need him to keep? Read more...
When King Solomon wrote Psalm 72, he wrote a prayer for the ideal king—one who administered justice wherever righteousness was lacking, and whose reign would bring peace (shalom). A good and godly king is a blessing to everyone. However, no earthly king (not even Solomon at his best) ever fulfilled this vision. No one, that is, until the Lord Jesus Christ. All hail the King! Read more...
s holy presence appeared. This strange phenomenon happens throughout the Bible, pointing to the good news that God keeps his promises by moving in with his people. Read more...
s house, we find ourselves asking a big question: What does this project say about what Solomon actually believes about God? Read more...
The Temple in Jerusalem was the signature building project of King Solomon's reign. But almost hidden in the middle of a passage full of details about the building's design is a reminder of a Bible-long theme that is such good news: The great big beating heart behind everything God does is his steadfast desire to dwell with his people. Read more...
Solomon prepared to build the temple by negotiating with the pagan King Hiram of Tyre for timber, skilled workers, and other materials. What did God think about this? This text reveals a (perhaps surprising) pattern of God using Jews and Gentiles to build his house; a pattern that continues today in Christ. Read more...
Ancient Israel experienced something of a golden age under King Solomon's rule. The people enjoyed abundant peace and prosperity as Solomon expanded his administration, wealth, and influence. Life was good. How should Christians think and respond...to the good times?? Read more...
The Song of Songs is King Solomon's poetic celebration of the romantic love and attraction that God intended for a healthy marriage. But how do love, marriage, and sexuality work in a broken world? Solomon's love song reminds us how marriage ought to be, but also points to the perfect love of God for his people. Read more...
Who should you date? What career should you pursue? Where should you live? When should you have kids? There are so many big decisions in life. How do we make all these decisions in a way that honors God and is good for us, even if we don’t have specific direction from him? Wisdom. We need wisdom. In his lifetime, King Solomon wrote thousands of proverbs to help children (and adults!) grow in wisdom. Read more...
At Gibeon, the Lord appeared to King Solomon and asked him what he wanted. (What would YOU ask for?) Solomon asked for wisdom to administer justice for God's people. God was so pleased with this that he graciously gave Solomon far more than he could ask or imagine. The grace of God is seen throughout the Bible because this is who God is. Read more...
After his father David's death, Solomon moved to establish his kingdom. Adonijah, Solomon's brother; Abiathar the priest; Joab the military commander; and Shimei all needed justice brought to bear on their actions. Would Solomon do what was easy or what was right? Would he overreact or judge justly? The King of God's kingdom reflects God's character. Read more...
Before his death, King David gave his son, Solomon, one last charge. What did he say in those final moments? David said to be strong and act like a man by being Biblically faithful. But would Solomon learn to be a righteous king? Can anyone be truly righteous? A right belief in God’s word leads to a right understanding of how to live in God’s world. Read more...
In response to Adonijah's attempted coup, King David acted quickly to ensure that Solomon was his successor. When David's plan worked, he responded in worship for God's faithfulness to keep his word. When faith is a battle and it's hard to believe, even when it seems as if the whole world is against you, don't forget this one simple truth: God never breaks his promises. Read more...
Before Solomon could take the throne, a new rival emerged—his own brother. Adonijah was the oldest living son of King David, so he would've been the normal choice. However, both the Lord and King David had chosen Solomon. Driven by pride, Adonijah ignored both God and his father. Would Solomon learn to be humble? Humility requires faith that God is God and you are not. Read more...
Roughly 3,000 years ago, King David was the most powerful and successful king of ancient Israel. David’s reign brought peace, prosperity, and plans to build the temple before handing the kingdom to his chosen son, Solomon. How would young Solomon handle living in the shadow of his great father’s legacy? Would he learn to be a wise and godly king? Could he overcome the plotting of his enemies, the dysfunction of his family, and the temptations of virtually unlimited wealth, fame, and women? What would be his legacy? Read more...
What exactly does spiritual growth look like? And what kinds of things help people grow in their faith? We love it when people become Christians, but this is only the beginning! The whole rest of the Christian life is about growing as a disciple of Jesus. The call to discipleship is a call to be with Jesus, learn the way of Jesus, and be transformed by Jesus. Read more...
The Great Commission of Jesus, given to his disciples after Jesus rose from the dead, means that every Christian has a mission. To do what exactly? To help people come to faith and grow in their faith! The story of Philip and the Ethiopian official is a great case study for how to help people come to faith in Jesus. Read more...
The unlikely victory of the Jews in Persia, brought about by the wisdom, humility, and courage of Esther and Mordecai, was commemorated by the Festival of Purim. However, the entire book of Esther raises a crucial question: Where is God in this story? Read more...
Will God allow evil and injustice to prevail? Will God allow his enemies to win and his people to lose? The dramatic reversal of the downfall of Haman and the rise of Mordecai prevented the annihilation of the Jews in Persia. But this victory points to the truth that ultimately, God will not allow evil and injustice to prevail because of the person and work of Jesus. Read more...
Queen Esther displayed great wisdom and courage in facing King Xerxes to intercede on behalf of the Jewish people. And in a dramatic reversal, her plan works! Haman falls into his own trap prepared for Mordecai and gets the justice he deserved. In Esther's story, and elsewhere in the Bible, God uses faithful people to accomplish his justice and rescue his people. Read more...
In response to Haman's evil plot, Esther demonstrated remarkable wisdom and courage in making her appeal to King Xerxes. Then, seemingly coincidentally, the king remembered that Mordecai had saved his life and decided to honor him, much to the embarrassment of Haman! Was this God's hidden hand at work? One thing is sure: God's providence is never late. Read more...
What do you do when your circumstances are messed up and you don't have enough control to fix it yourself? The big question is this: Are you ready to do the right thing, whatever the cost? While Mordecai lamented the king's edict, Esther demonstrated real courage by being willing to sacrifice herself to try to save her people. But would it be enough? Read more...
Bad leaders corrupt organizations. How? One way is by promoting all the wrong people. In Esther, this is when the plot thickens. When King Xerxes made Haman his second in command, Mordecai refused to bow to him. Haman's wounded pride led to a plot to kill and plunder all the Jewish people of Persia. Would they survive this existential threat? Read more...
What do you do when you aren't sure what would be right in a complicated situation, conversation, or decision? Chapter 2 is full of morally ambiguous situations for Esther and Mordecai — not a lot of black and white, but lots of gray. However, the history-making result was that Esther was crowned queen of Persia. God’s people need wisdom and courage to navigate the complexities of life in exile. Read more...
2,500 years ago, in the Kingdom of Persia, King Xerxes hosted an extravagant party as a lavish display of his power and wealth, but instead revealed his foolish pride and insecurity. He demanded that his wife, Queen Vashti, entertain his guests, but she refused and was deposed. This sets the stage for Esther to become the queen, but also points to the need for a better King. Read more...
Of course, we must be faithful as individual Christians. But what does a faithful church look like? A faithful church will pay close attention to how we treat one another, the attitudes we share, and the kind of people we’re becoming together in Christ. Isn’t this the kind of church you’d want to be part of? Read more...
The Day of the Lord is coming, along with the resurrection of the dead, judgment day, and the beginning of the age to come. But our destination ought to shape our journey. Our future ought to shape our present. The hope of our future in Christ ought to help us remain faithful, even to the end of the age. Read more...
The sad reality of this broken world is that every one of us will one day walk through the valley of the shadow of death. How will we face it? How should we mourn the death of other Christians? Will we be consumed with fear or despair? The good news is that if Jesus died and rose again, then there is hope even in death. Read more...
What could it look like to "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life"? Whether in the ancient client-patron relationships of first-century Thessalonica or the rush of modern life, the Apostle Paul reveals that there is a way to slow down while still being productive, respectable, and generous. This Christ-like way of life reflects Christian love out into a world of busyness. Read more...
What is God's will for your life? To be sanctified, or made holy, including in the area of our sexuality. Sexual immorality leads to all sorts of problems in life, marriage, parenting, and society. However, avoiding sexual immorality can be very challenging. But God not only calls us to live a holy life, but also gives us the Holy Spirit to heal us and help us remain faithful. Read more...
Despite persecution, Timothy brought the good news that the Thessalonian church stood firm in faith and love. This encouraged Paul to persevere despite his own hardships. Why stay faithful? It strengthens others! What does faithfulness look like? Faith in Christ and love for one another. Let’s be a church known for both. Read more...
It was tough being a Christian in Thessalonica. But this was nothing new. Jesus faced persecution, just like the prophets before him, the apostles after, and many Christians down through the years. Nevertheless, it can still be startling to realize that following Jesus doesn’t automatically make life easier. However, the truth of God's word and the company of God's people help us stay faithful — even in severe suffering. Read more...
When the Apostle Paul brought the gospel to Thessalonica, he was very careful to model a life aligned with his message. He demonstrated the kind of loving care found in a healthy family. This helped those early believers learn what it meant to be part of the church, and it helped sustain them, especially when times were tough. In life and ministry, the "how" matters. Read more...
When the Thessalonians became Christians, Paul says everyone heard how they turned to the true and living God from idols. But idolatry wasn't only an issue back then. Human beings continue to put things (even good things!) in the place of God. We must choose for ourselves this day whom we will serve. Read more...
Being a Christian in the Greek, first-century city of Thessalonica was tough. Thessalonica was a big and prosperous city, but it was full of idols. The Apostle Paul and the first Christians there faced fierce religious persecution and tremendous political pressure to conform. But despite their suffering, they remained faithful. Our culture is different today, but following Jesus can still be very costly. Will we be faithful to the end? Read more...
It is not hyperbole to say that the Easter story forever changed the course of human history. If false, then Christianity is meaningless. But if it is true — if the tomb is still empty, and if Jesus is risen and alive today — then it changes everything! This is our great gospel hope. Read more...
Palm Sunday is when Jesus entered Jerusalem as the King. He was humble, riding on the foal of a donkey. He restored prayer and worship in the temple, making it a place of healing. He will do the same for you if he becomes your Lord. All we can do is respond in joyful worship. "Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Read more...
How can we endure the difficult times when the light seems to have gone out of our lives? The cross changes our expectations, especially regarding suffering. But the cross also shows us that the path of suffering leads to glory when we totally surrender to our good and faithful Father. Read more...
When a mother sought honor for her sons, Jesus taught that greatness comes through serving others, not ruling over them. He came to serve and give His life on the cross as a ransom for many. Are we chasing worldly greatness, or are we following Jesus' example of servant-hearted love? Read more...
How often should I forgive someone who has sinned against me? Forgiveness can be very costly if you've really been hurt. But the forgiveness of sins is the purpose behind the cross and, therefore, is a primary value of the Christian life. Lent is a time to seek peace through the regular practice of repentance and forgiveness. Read more...
Spiritual Dependence (Values of the Cross): The way of Jesus is fundamentally different from the ways of the world. Why? Because the story of the cross produces unique values that transform our focus, conflicts, purpose, allegiance — everything! Lent is a season to reflect on these unique values. And prayer and fasting, two traditional practices of Lent, can be great tools to help us refocus on our spiritual dependence on God. Recorded on Mar 16, 2025, on Matthew 6:5-18 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Lenten sermon series, Values of the Cross. Christians are called to follow Jesus, but the way of Jesus is often completely upside down and backward compared to the ways of this world. Why is the way of Jesus so different? Join us during Lent for our sermon series, Values of the Cross, as we consider some of the unique values of the cross-shaped way of Jesus and how they transform every part of life. The cross changes everything!Sermon TranscriptIf you’ve been with us, you’ll know that last week, we finished a long series on Exodus in the Bible. And I just want to say thank you for your endurance. As always, if you missed any of those sermons, you can always go back and watch or listen online. But today, we get to start a six-week series for Lent called Values of the Cross from the gospel according to Matthew. And here’s the big idea for this series: Christians are called to follow Jesus, but the way of Jesus is often completely upside down and backward compared to the ways of this world. You might wonder, “Why is the way of Jesus so different?” Well, in our series, Values of the Cross, we’ll see that the unique story of the cross and the empty tomb produces unique values that lead to a totally unique way of life. So, as we learn to follow Jesus and his uniquely cross-shaped way, it can transform every part of life, including our focus, conflicts, purpose, expectations, allegiance, and our record. The cross changes everything! Today, we’ll consider how some of the classic practices of Lent, that of fasting and prayer, can help us change our focus. Sometimes, it feels like I’m a little pebble in a rushing river. The force of our culture in this broken world and its values/desires constantly rushes past and presses against me while I try to follow Jesus. Sometimes, even mature believers can get swept up in or pushed off course by the ways of the world. We can lose our focus. We can forget our complete and utter dependence on God. But Lent is a time to refocus, and prayer/fasting can be a way to remember our true spiritual dependence on God, to remember our values/way. If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Mt 6:5.Matthew 6:5–8 (NIV), “5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”This passage is found in the middle of Jesus’s famous Sermon on the Mount, where he lays out a vision for the kingdom of heaven and what life looks like for anyone who would follow after him. Matthew chapter 6 is all about traditional religious works such as almsgiving (giving to the poor), prayer, and fasting. We didn’t read it, but v. 1 is really the thesis statement for this section of teaching. There, Jesus said, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.” Be careful. Ok, so this is a warning for us. About what? It’s a warning not to do good works, religious works even, to be seen by others. If you do these things to be known as a good person,
The Glory of God (Exodus): After almost 30 weeks, our Journey to Freedom series on Exodus ends with a focus on the glory of God. From Moses’ radiant face to the glory cloud filling the Tabernacle, see how God’s beauty, grace, and goodness lead us to worship and reflect His light. Recorded on Mar 9, 2025, on Exodus 34-40 by Pastor David Parks. Read more...
New Stone Tablets (Exodus): Have you ever wondered what God is really like? When God remade his covenant with Israel, Moses asked to see his glory. The Lord allowed Moses to experience as much as he could bear, revealing multiple aspects of his good character. Yahweh is the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love, and so much more. God is great. God is good. Recorded on Mar 2, 2025, on Exodus 33-34 by Pastor David Parks. Read more...
The Tent of Meeting (Exodus): After the disaster of the golden calf, God put some distance between himself and his people. But Moses continued to meet with God and speak to him face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Moses asked God to go with them, and God agreed. Moses' friendship with God is a picture of the type of relationship that is possible with God in Christ. Recorded on Feb 23, 2025, on Exodus 33 by Pastor David Parks. Read more...
The Golden Calf (Exodus): The idolatry of the Golden Calf nearly destroyed Israel, showing why God cannot simply ignore our sins and how their consequences are worse than we might think. However, it also foreshadows the forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ. Recorded on Feb 16, 2025, on Exodus 32 by Pastor David Parks.
Sabbath Rest (Exodus): Many people struggle to find a healthy balance of work and rest. Is there a way to work hard for the glory of God without dying on the altar of productivity? In the story of creation, God modeled productive work and meaningful rest. The lesson of the Sabbath is that God clearly expected his people to adopt this same pattern as a sign of their relationship with him — a sign ultimately fulfilled by Christ. Recorded on Feb 9, 2025, on Exodus 31:12-18 and other selected verses by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptSo, we’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. And, we’ve said that Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. Exodus is a wonderful picture of the gospel and the Christian life — that God saved a people by his grace, freed them from captivity, and led them by his word and holy Presence in relationship to him as they made their way to the Promised Land. The Exodus is our story in Christ. As we said last week, the first half of Exodus is mostly narrative/story, while the second half includes mostly commands and instructions from God given through the prophet Moses while the people remained camped at Mount Sinai. So we’ve paused our typical expository preaching style for several topical sermons here in the second half of Exodus — sermons on the Law, Tabernacle, Priesthood, (today) Sabbath, and more. A topical sermon widens the scope from “What does this one passage say?” to “What does the whole Bible say about this topic?” Today, we’ll consider God’s desire for his people to rest in the practice of the Sabbath. The Hebrew word ‘Sabbath’ means to stop or cease working. Now, the Bible does not present work as part of the curse of sin. But one area that sin has certainly affected is our work. For example, in Ge 3, God said that childbearing would continue but would be painful. The ground would bear fruit but would also produce thorns and thistles. Christians today must learn God’s intention for our work and rest, how sin distorts these things, and how we might learn to honor God in our work and our rest. Now, I’ve always liked to work hard. I was the kid who pushed myself in school/sports/whatever. I spent countless hours practicing basketball after the team practice was done. Then, I’d shoot free throws until I made ten in a row. (To this day, I can hit a free throw more often than not.) Before I was a pastor, I worked in the business world, and I loved the meritocracy of sales. The harder I worked, the more money I could make. That seemed like a great deal to me. When God called me from the business world into vocational ministry, I threw myself into this with everything I had, and for years, my motto was this: “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” But, you know, as I got older (and a little wiser), I learned that if that’s your attitude toward your work — no matter what you do, whether your work is in your home or somewhere else, whether your work is paid or unpaid — if you’ll sleep when you’re dead, you’ll be dead sooner than later. This was just not a good way to live. But is there a better way? Is there a way to work hard and be productive in life and to the glory of God without dying on the altar of productivity? Is there a way to balance fruitful/productive work and enjoy meaningful rest? This is the lesson of the Sabbath,
The Priesthood (Exodus): Many people wrestle with the questions of purpose and significance, wondering, "Do I matter?" The ministry of the priests and Levites of ancient Israel might seem very disconnected from modern life. However, their ministry — representing the people to God and God and his will to the people — reveals a pattern that still applies today. As we follow Jesus, our Great High Priest, we are invited to join him in his priestly ministry. And what could be more significant than that? Recorded on Feb 2, 2025, on Exodus 28-30 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptSo, almost all year, we’ve been working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. And Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. Yahweh God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, led them through the desert wilderness by his word and his Presence, and brought them to Mount Sinai to enter into a covenant relationship with them. God had promised their ancestor, Abraham, to give them the land of Canaan, known as the Promised Land. However, as we saw, the Israelites struggled and grumbled through a series of battles and tests in the desert, but Yahweh proved faithful and good time and again. God's great, big beating heart behind this whole Exodus project was to have a real relationship with people — people who were separated from a holy God by their sin — but people who were still greatly loved and precious to God. Now, the first half of Exodus is mostly narrative/story, while the second half includes mostly commands and instructions from God given through the prophet Moses while the people remained camped at Mount Sinai. This is a real challenge from a preaching perspective. Our typical preaching style is expository, meaning the point of the text is the point of the sermon, and we work through one main passage to uncover that point and try to apply it to our lives. But, frankly, this style doesn’t work quite as well when you have three chapters of legal code or instructions on the materials of the Tabernacle. So we’ve included several topical sermons here in the second half of Exodus — sermons on the Law, Tabernacle, Priesthood, and Sabbath. Today, we’ll consider the significance of the role of the Priests in ancient Israel, how Jesus became our Great High Priest of the New Covenant, and also how this ancient priesthood relates to us today. “Does it?” you might wonder. Yes. Absolutely. As a pastor, I regularly meet with people who have spiritual questions or struggles. And one of the most frequent topics of conversation is something like, “What is God’s will for my life?” But oftentimes, as we dig into that question, it’s really a question of purpose and significance. The question under the question of “What is God’s will for my life?” is something like, “Do I matter?” Have you ever wrestled with a question like that? Would it make any difference if I was here or not? That can be a very uncomfortable question, especially if things in your life haven’t worked out how you thought they would/should. But as Christian people, we must resist looking at our circumstances to determine our significance. Significance often comes from purpose, and our purpose can only come from our Creator. But, as we’ll see today, we have incredible purpose/significance as we learn to be a kingdom of pries...
The Tabernacle (Exodus): The Tabernacle was more than a physical structure or a fancy tent. It was a reminder of the reality of God’s presence with his people and their relationship with him. This message resonates through the pages of scripture all the way to us today. The construction details, while tedious, were never meaningless. Every curtain, stake, and crossbar pointed to something far greater than itself. And in that perfect design, an invitation remains for us to draw near. Recorded on Jan 26, 2025, on Exodus 25-27 by Ted Selker.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.
The Covenant Confirmed (Exodus): Some people describe Christianity, saying, "It’s not a religion; it’s a relationship." But how can sinful people have a personal relationship with a holy God? In the covenant offered at Mount Sinai, God made a way where there was no way — so people might have peace and friendship with him. Today, in Christ, you don’t have to fear God's holiness or judgment. He is not a threat, and this is such good news. Recorded on Jan 19, 2025, on Exodus 24:1-18 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptWe’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. And Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. Yahweh God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, led them through the desert wilderness by his word and his Presence, and brought them to Mount Sinai to enter into a covenant relationship with them (as we’ll see today). But God had promised to give them their own land in Canaan, known as the Promised Land. The Israelites had struggled and grumbled thorough a series of tests and battles, but Yahweh proved faithful and good time and again. We saw that God's great, big beating heart behind this whole Exodus project was to have a real relationship with people — people who were separated from a holy God by their sin — but people who were still greatly loved and precious to God. Today, we’re going to see this covenant relationship confirmed at Mount Sinai in a ceremony that might seem strange to us but was normal for them. And in this ceremony, we start to see a little glimpse of what God wanted out of this relationship. Have you ever heard someone describe the Christian faith this way: It’s not a religion, it’s a relationship. Have you ever heard that? Maybe you’ve said that yourself. It’s not a religion, Christianity is not a list of do’s and don’ts, it’s a relationship. And I like that. It emphasizes God’s personal and relational nature and God’s desire for a relationship with the people that he saves. But have you ever stopped to ask the question, what exactly is it like to have a real relationship with a God? Well, I guess it depends, right? What kind of God are we talking about? Yahweh is a God, as we’ve seen, who is the Creator of all, who is limitless in power and knowledge, who speaks galaxies into existence, who easily defeated the most powerful kingdom on earth, and who is perfectly righteous and holy. Wouldn’t you rather have a slightly less powerful God who only wants us to just have fun all the time? (And, of course, fun as we define it.) That seems like a much more manageable god to have a relationship with. Or maybe a god only for us, for our family, tribe, or nation? Who judges/defeats our enemies but lets us do what we please without trying to change us or interfere with our lives? That sounds like a nice god to have around. Meanwhile, at certain points in the Exodus story, I’m sure the Israelites wondered if they could even handle a relationship with Yahweh. Could they even be near him? It’s not a religion; it’s a relationship. Well, today we’re going to consider the nature of this relationship and we’ll see that a relationship with this God, the only true and living God, is actually far better than we could ever imagine. If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 24:1.Exodus 24:1–4a (NIV),
The Law (Exodus): The Mosaic Law started with the Ten Commandments but added 600+ commands to guide and guard Israel as a nation. The Law regulated worship (loving God) and social responsibility (loving people). Given our distance from the cultural context in which it was given, the Law can be hard for us to relate to today. However, in Christ, we are still commanded to love God and love people. So, as we study the Mosaic Law, we can better understand God's heart of love for his people. Recorded on Jan 12, 2025, on Exodus 21-23 by Nathan Huber.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.
The Ten Commandments (Exodus): Every other religion says it’s what you do that saves you. But in the Exodus, Israel learned that Yahweh God was different. He rescues people by grace and then gives them a law to joyfully obey in a relationship with him. This law reflects God's heart for flourishing life, faithfulness, truth, and justice and was a law of love for God and neighbor. Recorded on Jan 5, 2025, on Exodus 20:1-21 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptSince September, with a little break for Christmas, we’ve been working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. As we’ve said, Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh God led them through the desert wilderness by his word and his own holy Presence as they made their way to the Promised Land of Canaan. The Israelites struggled and grumbled and had so much to learn, but Yahweh proved faithful and good. Before Christmas, we learned that God's great, big beating heart behind this whole Exodus project was to have a real relationship with people — people who were separated from a holy God by their sin — but people who were still greatly loved and precious to God. So at Mount Sinai, Yahweh God invited Israel into a covenant relationship. Out of all the peoples of the world, they would be for him a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Today, we’ll consider one of the most famous passages in the Bible: the Ten Commandments. Now, I preached a whole series on the Ten Commandments two years ago. If you’d like more teaching on this, you can always go back and watch or listen online if you’d like. But since we’re going to preach a sermon today and not a series, we have a lot of ground to cover, so let’s jump in. If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 20:1. One: Exodus 20:1–3 (NIV), “1 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord [Yahweh] your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.” When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was (out of the 600+ commands of the Mosaic Law), he quoted Dt 6, “Love the Lord [Yahweh] your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Dt 6:5). But he said the second is like it, to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18b). Jesus, and many other rabbis of his day, believed the whole of the Law could be summarized by these two commands: Love God and love people. As we work through the Ten Commandments, you’ll notice the first four commands are “vertical.” They’re about loving God. The remaining six are “horizontal.” They’re about loving people. Here, Yahweh says that the first thing to know about his world and his way is that there is only one God, the Creator, the Maker of the heavens and the earth, and everything in it. There was no pantheon of gods/goddesses like everyone else worshipped at the time. Those were human creations, idols. There is only one, and he will not share his glory with anyone/anything else. What use is it to sacrifice or give your life to something that isn’t real and has no power to do anything about your problems or fix this broken world?? In contrast, Yahweh had only ever given faithful, loyal love to Israel. He created them, revealed himself to them, saved them,
Until the King Returns (Christmas): The message of Christmas is that Jesus Christ was born, and with him came the birth of hope, life, and peace. But why is the world still so broken? Did Christmas fail? No. Today, we live in the tension of the Age of Redemption. Jesus has come; he has established his church and given us the Holy Spirit and the gospel — but there will still be darkness until the return of our King. Recorded on Dec 29, 2024, on Acts 1:1-11 by Pastor David Parks.Sermon TranscriptWe’ve been taking a little break from our Exodus series for Christmas. But fear not! We’ll jump back into Exodus next Sunday. During this Advent season, we’ve said that advent comes from the Latin for “arrival.” The ancient people of Israel had waited for generations for the coming of the promised Messianic King — a promise we believe was fulfilled in the incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ. But just as God’s people waited for the first advent of Christ, so today, we await the second advent in the return of Christ. In our little Christmas mini-series, Waiting for the King, we started last Sunday by focusing on the light of the promise of the first advent during a time of deep darkness. On Christmas Eve, we told the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus, a different kind of king. If you missed those sermons, you can always go back and watch or listen online if you’d like. Today, we’ll wrap up our Christmas series focusing on the hope of the promise of the second advent and the return of Christ our King. As we’ve seen, the light of the world has come. On those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned. Unto us a child was born, a son was given. Jesus Christ was born, and with him came the birth of hope, life, and peace. But there’s a tension with Christmas: there’s still so much darkness. There’s still so much corruption, violence, and injustice in the world. There’s still cancer and car accidents and tragedies of all kinds. If Jesus was the great hope of the world, the Son of God who would save people from their sins, why is the world still so broken? Did Christmas fail? And for followers of Jesus, how can we keep our hope as we live in this tension? If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Acts 1:1.Acts 1:1–3 (NIV), “1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” On Tuesday, we said that the book of Luke was the first of a two-part work in the Bible. Luke refers to that here when he mentions his “former book.” Acts is part two of this work. The book of Luke focuses on the life and ministry of Jesus — everything “until the day he was taken up to heaven,” as he says. Luke did a careful investigation into Christianity by interviewing eyewitnesses who were alive to hear and see what Jesus said and did. The book of Acts is all about what happened next. Luke dedicates both works to a man named Theophilus. We don’t know much about Theophilus, but he’s generally believed to be a patron or benefactor, funding Luke’s investigation. Now, money is never the point of ministry, but money enables ministry (like almost everything else in life). The Bible presents God as the one who ultimately provides for our needs in life and ministry. And sometimes God rains down bread from heaven (as he did during the Exodus). But usually, God provides through the hard work and generosity of his people, people like Theophilus. Anyways, Luke reports back on what he discovered in his investigation. He says that after his suffering — meaning, after the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for the sins of the world — Jesus appeared to eyewitnesses and gave many convincing proofs that ...
A Different Kind of King (Christmas): The birth of Jesus Christ was a very unusual birth for a king — the little town of Bethlehem, a manger for a bed, the announcement made to shepherds, and more. But Jesus would be a different kind of king. He came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. Christmas was the birth of hope, life, and peace. Recorded on Dec 22, 2024, on Isaiah 9:1-6 by Pastor David Parks.Sermon TranscriptGood afternoon, everyone, and a very Merry Christmas to you! I’m Pastor David, and whether you’re joining us in person or online today, I’d like to welcome you to Appleton Gospel Church. We are so glad that you’re here! As a church, our mission is “sharing good news” because we believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing with the power to change everything. If you’re visiting today and would like to connect with us or if you have a prayer request or need help in some way, please let us know after the service today or by filling out a connect card. We’d love to connect with you. All through this Advent season, a season that can be so chaotic and stressful, I’ve been encouraging you to try to slow down and focus on what really matters for Christmas. I hope our service today can help you do just that. Some of you might need to be reminded of the invitation of our Lord Jesus Christ when he said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30). Please join me in prayer as we continue… So, we’re taking a little break from our Exodus series for Christmas. During this Advent season, we’ve said that advent comes from the Latin for “arrival.” The ancient people of Israel had waited for generations for the coming of the promised Messianic King — a promise we believe was fulfilled in the incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ. But just as God’s people waited for the first advent of Christ, so today, we await the second advent in the return of Christ. So, in our little Christmas mini-series, Waiting for the King, we started this past Sunday by focusing on the light of the promise of the first advent during a time of deep darkness. Today, we’ll tell the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus. Then, this coming Sunday, we’ll focus on the hope of the promise of the second advent and the return of Christ. Every year, I’m reminded that the anticipation of Christmas is so powerful. When I was a kid, I looked forward to the presents, of course (toys, games, treats). As an adult, I still like toys, games, and treats but now I look forward more to spending time with family and friends. In our story today of the first Christmas, we’ll see that men and women were anticipating, they were looking forward to, something a little more serious. They looked forward to the birth of a Savior, the Messiah, the Chosen One God had promised to rescue and redeem his people. But when this child was born, when this son was given, one thing became clear: A king had arrived, but he would be a different kind of king — not like the typical kings of this broken world. He would be a king who had not come to be served, but he would serve and ultimately give his life for others so that we might have love and joy and peace, we might be forgiven and freed from captivity to sin, and we might have life everlasting in his good kingdom. Jesus is a different kind of King. This is what Christmas is all about. The birth of hope, life, and peace. The birth of a different kind of king. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to Luke 2:1. We’re going to read through the Christmas story, and we’ll unpack it as we go.Luke 2:1–7 (NIV), “1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quir...
Waiting for the King (Christmas): During an era of darkness, God promised the birth of a son who would become a king — but not just any king. He would bring joy and peace. He would be the light of the world. And he would reign over the kingdom of God forever and ever. Even in deep darkness, there was hope. Hosanna! Lord, save us! Recorded on Dec 22, 2024, on Isaiah 9:1-6 by Pastor David Parks.Sermon TranscriptSo, we’re taking a little break from our Exodus series for Christmas. During this Advent season, we’ve said that advent comes from the Latin for “arrival” and reminds us that the people of Israel had waited for generations for the coming of the promised Messianic King — a promise fulfilled in the incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ. But just as God’s people waited for the first advent of Christ, so today, we await the second advent in the return of Christ. In our Christmas mini-series, Waiting for the King, we’ll focus on the light of the promise of the first advent during a time of great darkness for the people of God. During our Candlelight Christmas Eve service on Tuesday at 4:30, we’ll tell the story of the birth of Jesus. Then, next week, we’ll focus on the hope of the promise of the second advent and the return of Christ. Salvation has come in Jesus' name. Love, joy, and peace have come in Jesus' name. But today, we’re still waiting for the King and his return, which will mark the end of this age and the beginning of the next. Now, I don’t know about you, but the darkness of this time of year really affects me. Yesterday was the winter solstice, which means it was the shortest and darkest day of the year. I had a great day yesterday, but when it’s dark out or if it’s grey and rainy, I can’t help but feel a little dark or grey and rainy. Have you ever felt that way? Or have you ever woken up and it was just this brilliantly bright sunny day, and you felt more hopeful about your day or week (or life)? It’s funny how that works. In the passage, we’re going to consider today, God’s people were in a time of darkness. It wasn’t just the winter solstice. Every day from now until June will get brighter and brighter for us. But they couldn’t just wait a few months for more sun and better weather. They were in a time of destruction and death. They were under attack from much stronger enemies. This was a time of exile. They need to be saved. But hope seemed to be all but gone. The faithful ones cried out, “Hosanna!” which means, “Lord save us!” They needed to be rescued yet again. They needed light in the darkness. But even though they had brought all this destruction and death on themselves, the Lord God Almighty is a gracious God, abounding in love. As we’ve seen over and over in the Exodus story, Yahweh is good and faithful, even when the people stumble and grumble and quarrel with God. Today, we’ll see the good promise of God for a people walking in darkness. And the promise centers on a child who would be born who would become a king. But who was this king, what would he do, and why is this still good news for us today? If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Isaiah 9:1.Isaiah 9:1–2 (NIV), “1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” During the time of King David, around 1000 BC, the kingdom of Israel was united and had peace. Unfortunately, that peace didn’t last long. After David and his son Solomon reigned, the kingdom split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. This lasted about 200 years until the Assyrian Empire conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC, and many people, especially in the northernmost tribal areas of Zebulun an...
The Covenant at Mount Sinai (Exodus): After rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh invited them into a covenant relationship at Mount Sinai. In one of the most crucial chapters in the Bible, we find that the great, big beating heart of God behind all his saving work is this: to have a real, intimate, and life-giving relationship with people — people who have been separated from a holy God by their sin — but people who are still greatly loved and are precious to God. Recorded on Dec 15, 2024, on Exodus 19 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptSince September, we’ve been working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh God led them through the desert wilderness by his word given through the prophet Moses and by his own holy Presence in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. The Israelites struggled and grumbled; it was tough, and the people barely trusted the God who had just rescued them from Egypt. But Yahweh proved faithful and good. Last week, we considered when Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, visited them at Rephidim. He heard everything Yahweh had done for the Israelites and had a conversion experience. But he also offered a suggestion about the leadership structure that probably saved Moses from being crushed under the burden of leading all these people. Well, today, after months of traveling through the desert wilderness, we finally get to Mount Sinai and discover the purpose of God behind this dramatic rescue of the Israelites from Egypt. Why did he do all this? What was God’s heart behind rescuing and redeeming a people for himself? Well, here, we find that the great, big beating heart of God behind all of creation and salvation is to have a real relationship with people — people who have been separated from a holy God by their sin — but people who are still greatly loved and are precious to God. This is the defining story of Israel, but this is also our story in Christ. So, if you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 19:1.Exodus 19:1–6 (NIV), “1 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” Everything in the Exodus story has led up to this point when Yahweh God invited the Israelites into a covenant relationship with him at Mount Sinai. And this is just so significant. Yahweh had promised he would do this for the family of Abraham and Sarah some 430 years earlier. He repeated the promise down through the generations of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Jethro and Moses (Exodus): Whether you have an official leadership role or title, everyone can influence someone for good. When Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, visited the Israelites, he realized Moses would be crushed without some serious help. He advised Moses to invite others to share the leadership burden with him. God’s people needed good and godly leaders to help them live lives that bring glory and honor to him. Recorded on Dec 8, 2024, on Exodus 18 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptSo, we’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh God led them through the desert wilderness by his word given through the prophet Moses and by his own holy Presence in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. But, we’ve seen that things didn’t get much easier for the Israelites on the other side of the famous parting of the Red Sea. The Israelites struggled and grumbled through a series of desert tests before being viciously attacked by the Amalekites at Rephidim. It was tough, and the people didn’t display a very impressive amount of faith in the God who had just rescued them from Egypt. But Yahweh proved faithful and good and provided what they needed despite their grumbling and quarreling. Today, we have one more stop to make, one more chapter in our story, before we get to the fireworks of Mount Sinai, the giving of the Law, and the establishment of the covenant between Yahweh and Israel. When Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, meets them, he offers a suggestion that would help Moses lead the people well and not be crushed by the burden. This chapter offers many leadership lessons. Now, whether you have an official leadership role or not, everyone can influence others for good. And this is what good leadership is all about. We need these lessons. So, if you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 18:1. We’ll read through this and unpack it as we go.Exodus 18:1–7 (NIV), “1 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her 3 and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”; 4 and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.” 5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God. 6 Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.” 7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent.” Moses doesn’t record when, but at some point between leaving Midian with his family and his time in Egypt during the Ten Plagues, he sent his wife Zipporah and their sons back to live in Midian with her father, Jethro. He doesn’t say why, and some have speculated that they were having trouble in their marriage. But it doesn’t say that. And once the Israelites reached Mount Sinai,
The Amalekites (Exodus): Battles, struggles, conflict, and strife are just part of the fabric of this broken world. As followers of Jesus, how do we fight our battles? When the Amalekites attacked the Israelites at Rephidim, the people, led by Joshua, had to fight. But the Lord brought the victory through the intercession of Moses, acting as a mediator. In our battles, we must trust our Mediator, lean on our friends, and find our victory in Yahweh Nissi (the Lord is my Banner). Recorded on Dec 1, 2024, on Exodus 17:8-16 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptSo, we’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh God led them through the desert wilderness by his word given through the prophet Moses and by his own holy Presence. For the last three weeks, we saw three tests in the desert on the way to Mount Sinai designed to teach the Israelites to listen to God, obey his word, and learn to follow his way (whether they understood it or not). But the Israelites didn’t pass any of the tests. In our text for today, the Israelites don’t just have a need; they’re in real danger when the Amalekites come and attack them. Have you ever felt like you were in a battle? Have you ever realized you needed God to save you? Battles, struggles, conflict, and strife are just part of the fabric of this broken world. Sometimes, there’s real violence, but sometimes, the battle is in your mind, heart, or relationships. Sometimes, the battle is physical, but often, it’s spiritual, too. As God’s people, as followers of Jesus, how do we fight? How do we win? Our text today offers many lessons on what to do on the day of battle. If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 17:8.Exodus 17:8–9 (NIV), “8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” It turns out there were more dangers in the world than Pharaoh and his army. Now, we know four things about the Amalekites: First, they descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother, so they were distant cousins of the Israelites. They should’ve been allies, not enemies. They should’ve helped Israel, not come to steal, kill, and destroy. Second, they lived in the desert. The Israelites struggled to survive, but the Amalekites knew what they were doing. They were like the Fremen in Dune. These were desert people, which didn’t bode well for a battle with them in their home. Third, the Amalekites carried out this unprovoked attack on the Israelites here at Rephidim. Maybe they heard this huge mass of people, animals, and possessions had somehow escaped Egypt and thought they’d be an easy target. Or maybe this was just a normal day for violent people who survived in a tough environment by being tougher than anyone or anything else. (Maybe both?) Later, Moses reminded the Israelites about this attack, saying, “When you were weary and worn out, they [Amalekites] met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.” (Dt 25:18). Fourth, the Amalekites would be enemies of Israel for hundreds of years — all through the time of the Judges a...
Water from the Rock (Exodus): In the third and final desert test, at Massah and Meribah, the Israelites desperately needed water (again), and things were going from bad to worse. They quarreled with God and were ready to kill Moses. In our time of need, will we harden our hearts and put God to the test? Or will we turn in faith to Jesus, our Rock and our Redeemer, who provides streams of living water? Recorded on Nov 24, 2024, on Exodus 17:1-7 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptSo, we’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh God led them through the desert wilderness by his word given through Moses and by his holy Presence. For the last few weeks, we’ve seen that God tested his people on the way to Mount Sinai to teach them important lessons. He did this because the Israelites lived for generations as slaves in Egypt, and they needed to learn a lot. They needed to learn how to be their own people, how to listen to God, how to trust him, and so much more. So how was it going? Well, the first test at Marah was just a few days after the famous parting of the Red Sea. The people were dying of thirst, and they found only bitter water and started grumbling against God. But God healed the water and provided refreshment when they arrived at Elim. Then, last week, we considered the second test. About a month after crossing the Red Sea, the people had run out of food and started grumbling against God again. But again, God provided manna/bread from heaven. This sustained them for forty years in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land. If you missed any of the sermons from our Exodus series so far, you can always go back and watch or listen to the audio podcast online or on the Church Center app if you’d like. But after these first two tests, had the Israelites finally learned to listen to God’s word? Had they learned to trust his goodness and faithfulness to provide for them? I’ll just tell you upfront the answer is no. This would be a hard lesson for them. Instead of learning and getting better at trusting God and listening to him, they seemed to go from bad to worse. But, to be fair, they were out of water again. In the desert, this was a very serious problem. Have you ever been in a bad situation and couldn’t see a way out? I have. Maybe you got an unexpectedly big bill or had some other financial problem. Maybe you got a bad diagnosis at the doctor, or maybe you had something hidden come to light in your marriage, and now you’re not sure where to go or what to do. In tough times like those, all kinds of theological questions come up. Questions like, “God, where are you right now?” or “Is this really your will for my life?” or even “Are you even real?” We’re told that God disciplines us because he loves us as his children. But what might’ve been a test to help us learn and grow often gets turned around, and we start to test or quarrel with God. Maybe if we were among those ancient Israelites, we wouldn’t be that much different. Maybe we’d be there, grumbling in the wilderness. But what do we do when we have serious problems — when we’re in a bad situation and can’t see a way out? Is there a way to bring our questions and doubts to God in humble,...
Manna from Heaven (Exodus): A month after being freed from slavery, the Israelites were starving in the barren wilderness — the second of three desert tests. However, the whole community grumbled against God. Yahweh rebuked them but mercifully provided bread (manna) from heaven. Does God actually know and care about our needs? Can we trust God to provide? Yes. Only he gives the bread of life. Recorded on Nov 17, 2024, on Exodus 16:1-36 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptSo, we’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh himself went ahead of them as a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. He also spoke to his people through Moses, his prophet and servant, providing instructions and commands for them to obey. This would basically be the pattern for the rest of the journey: God’s chosen people learning to make their way through the wilderness by his word and Presence. Last week, we considered the first of three tests in the desert in the waters of Marah and Elim. Today, in the second test, the people were starving. They needed food to nourish and sustain them. Had they learned to listen to God’s word and trust his goodness and faithfulness to provide for their needs? We’ll see. Have you ever needed God to provide? Have you ever wondered, “Does God actually know/care about my needs? Can I trust God provide what I need?” If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 16:1. This is the famous story of manna from heaven.Exodus 16:1–3 (NIV), “1 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” The first test at Marah came just three days after the parting of the Red Sea. Now, here, Moses says it’s been almost exactly a month since they were freed from Egypt (the Passover being on the 14th day of the first month). After the brief respite of Elim, the Israelites continued through the desert wilderness on their way to Mount Sinai when they started to have another serious problem: they were running out of food. If you remember, when they left Egypt, they brought bread dough with them so they could make unleavened cakes or crackers, but they were running out (or perhaps had run out). At this point, it wasn’t just a few people who started to grumble. “…the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.” In their desperate hunger, they started to think about being slaves in Egypt as something like the good old days. “Remember when we were slaves who were killed and beaten and exploited in every way? There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted. Wasn’t that great??” It might seem crazy from our vantage point. In the past few weeks of our series, we’ve seen God miraculously provide for his people time and time again. Why would they start grumbling so quickly? But remember,
The Waters of Marah (Exodus): After three days in the desert without water and finding a bitter spring, the Israelites became bitter and started grumbling. Yahweh had saved them and was leading them — why was the journey still so difficult? The Lord was good and faithful; he was testing them to teach them to listen to him and trust him for their needs. They had so much to learn. Recorded on Nov 10, 2024, on Exodus 15:22-27 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptSo, we’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. And we’ve said that Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. About 3,300 years ago, the ancient Israelites were slaves in Egypt, the greatest, most powerful kingdom on earth. They cried out in their bitter suffering, and Yahweh — the Creator of the heavens and the earth and the God who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — heard their cries and sent Moses to lead them. But it was the holy Presence of Yahweh himself who fought for them and delivered them with a mighty hand and mighty acts of judgment. We saw the Ten Plagues, which culminated with the Passover when Pharaoh finally relented and let the people go. Then, last week, we saw the final crushing blow against Egypt in the parting of the Red Sea, the crossing of the Israelites through on dry ground, and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army who was pursuing them. The Israelites were finally free, just as Yahweh promised. He freed them from the judgment of their sin in the Passover through the sacrifice of a substitute. He freed them from death by allowing them to cross the Red Sea; he made a way where there was no way. Pharaoh couldn’t hurt them anymore. They were truly free! Well, wasn’t the Exodus a great story? So…why is there so much story left? We’re only on chapter 15 out of 40 for the book of Exodus. And there are three more whole books of the Bible before the Israelites finally enter the Promised Land in Joshua. How could this be? Why does the rest of the journey take so long? And, as we’ll see again and again, the journey had many trials, many circumstances that seriously tested the faith of the Israelites. They were free, but they hadn’t yet arrived. Have you ever been frustrated as a Christian that you weren’t farther along in your journey? Have you ever thought you had kicked a certain temptation or were done dealing with a struggle, only to have it come roaring back into your life? I have. Those times can feel so defeating. Have you ever wondered why, after following Jesus, perhaps for many years, the circumstances of your life suddenly seem to be crushing the faith out of you? Lord, what are you doing? Haven’t you already rescued me? Haven’t you already saved me by your grace? Why are things getting more difficult? Why does it feel like this journey just keeps going on and on? Are you trying to break my faith? Lord, what are you doing? If you’ve ever felt that way, this sermon is for you. Well, if you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 15:22.Exodus 15:22–24 (NIV), “22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.
Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus): The first real test of faith for the Israelites came when Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after them. Caught at the Red Sea with nowhere to escape, their options seemed to be slavery or death. They couldn’t imagine how God might save them — until God made a way. He fought their battle and led them to freedom. All they had to do was trust him. Recorded on Nov 3, 2024, on Exodus 13:17-14:31 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptWe’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. And we’ve said that Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. About 3,300 years ago, the ancient Israelites were slaves in Egypt, the greatest, most powerful kingdom on earth. They cried out in their bitter suffering, and Yahweh, the Creator of the heavens and the earth and the God who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, heard their cries and sent Moses to lead them to freedom. Despite repeated opportunities to let the Israelites go, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, hard-heartedly refused. But after ten escalating plagues, where Yahweh brought divine judgment down on all the false gods and goddesses of Egypt, Pharaoh finally relented, and the Israelites were set free. Today, we’ll see the first real test of faith for the Israelites in their Exodus out of Egypt when Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after the Israelites. Would this be the end of this whole unlikely plan? Would Moses and Aaron (and probably many other Israelites) be killed? Would the remaining people die as slaves? Or would God do something? Would Yahweh fight on behalf of his people and deliver them as he promised? Could they even imagine God doing something like that? Could they trust him? Have you ever had that thought? Can I really trust God to rescue/deliver me? Well, if you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 13:17. This is the famous story of the parting of the Red Sea. And we’ll unpack this text as we go.Exodus 13:17–22 (NIV), “17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” 20 After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” So, the Exodus had begun. And, surprisingly, God himself was there, leading his people out of Egypt in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. He didn’t just send Moses as his prophet to lead his people; he went too. No one can see God and live, but God’s holy Presence was with them. Commentator Douglas Stuart writes, “…the Israelites knew all day every day that God was present with them. Here was a supernatural, huge,
Moses Flees to Midian (Exodus): Chapter 2 tells the story of Moses' birth and adoption into the Egyptian royal family, which seems to set him up to be the great deliverer of the Hebrew people. However, after his disastrous first attempt at helping his people, he was forced to flee to the land of Midian. Had he squandered his chance? Was this God's plan?? Recorded on Sep 29, 2024, on Exodus 2:1-25 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptWell, today, and for about the next six months, we’ll be working through a sermon series on the book of Exodus called Journey to Freedom. Last week, we started by sharing that Exodus is a wild story, but it’s a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. And we saw the context of this story was the bitter suffering and oppression of ancient Israel when they were slaves in Egypt, something like 3,200 or 3,300 years ago. Things went from bad to worse and culminated in the wicked command of the king to commit genocide against the baby Hebrew boys. They desperately needed God to intervene. But would God be faithful to save? If you missed that intro to our series, you can always go back and watch or listen online. But we said that besides being a great story, Exodus is a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. That in Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and are led through the wilderness of life by God's Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Well, today, in Chapter 2, we’ll see the rescue plan of God start to unfold with the origin of Moses. But it doesn’t go at all how you’d expect. In fact, by the end of Chapter 2, we might have more questions than answers about God’s rescue plan. If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 2:1. Chapter 2 has three parts with a little epilogue at the end. Here’s part one…Exodus 2:1–10 (NIV), “1 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. 5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said. 7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” 8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.” Part one is all about the birth story of Moses, who would become the mighty prophet and leader of the Israelites out of Egypt. Here, Moses writes that his parents were both of the tribe of Levi. Later, we learn that Moses’ father’s name was Amram, and his mother was Jochebed. Now,
Slaves in Egypt (Exodus): This is the beginning of our series on the book of Exodus, called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the Christian life. Is God faithful to save? Recorded on Sep 22, 2024, on Exodus 1:1-22 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God's Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.Sermon TranscriptWell, today, we get to start a brand new sermon series on the book of Exodus in the OT called Journey to Freedom, which will run through March. But I’ve been working for months to prepare for this series, and I can’t wait to share this story with you. Exodus is an ancient story, something like 3,400 years old, and, as we’ll see, it’s a wild story. But really, Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah (i.e., the Promised Land). Along the way are heroes and villains, cosmic battles between good and evil, folly and sin, and incredible grace, mercy, and love. It’s a story expertly told. But one of the things I want you to see throughout this whole series is that Exodus is a wonderful picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and are led through the wilderness of life by God's Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. This is our Exodus; this is our journey to freedom. Do you think there might be some valuable lessons we might learn about our journey from this first Exodus? Absolutely. But today, as we start this series, we’ll see what life had become for the Israelite people suffering in Egypt. And we’ll see a clear need for God to act/intervene/send a savior. The question is: Would the Lord be faithful to keep the promises he made? Is God faithful to save? If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 1:1.Exodus 1:1-7 (NIV), “1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; 3 Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; 4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. 5 The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.” Exodus is the second book in the Bible and is the second of a five-part series known by two terms: the Pentateuch, which means five books in Greek, and the Torah, which means the Law in Hebrew. These five books, including Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, were written by Moses, the mighty prophet and leader of the Israelites during the time of the Exodus. Now, to say that these writings have been influential is a ridiculous understatement. No one, after Jesus Christ himself, has had a more significant impact on human history than Moses and his five books. Over half the world’s population considers his writing to be Holy Scripture. Exodus begins by picking up where the book of Genesis left off. Genesis begins with a collection of stories of creation. The creation of the heavens and the earth,
Making Room in the Church: Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Because of his heart for people, Jesus was willing to be interrupted by Bartimaeus, Zacchaeus, and so many others. They believed in him, and he offered healing and forgiveness and changed their life into a testimony to the goodness of God. Jesus still seeks the lost today. Therefore, we must make room for more people in our church. Recorded on Sep 15, 2024, on Luke 18:35-19:10 by Pastor David Parks.Make Room is a three-part sermon series considering the need to make room 1) for more of God in our lives, 2) for more people in our lives, and 3) for more people in our church. Why? Because more people need good news! More people need the life and love, the freedom and forgiveness, and so much more that is only found in Christ. Our prayer is that in the coming years, many more people will experience the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.Sermon TranscriptWell, today, we’re finishing up our mini sermon series called Make Room to talk about some of the Biblical foundations of our 2030 Vision. We said that this series and our 2030 Vision plan are the result of a process our elder board spent months on — listening, learning, praying, and talking together about who we are as a church, where God is bearing fruit, and where we believe God is leading us in the next 5-7 years. We also said that one of the things that became clear is that for this next season of life, we do not believe that God is leading us in a dramatically new direction. We don’t need to reinvent our mission, vision, or values. Instead, the phrase that kept coming up in this process was “make room.” So, for the last few weeks, we’ve been talking about our need to make room 1) for more of God in our lives, 2) for more people in our lives, and today, 3) for more people in our church. This is what our 2030 Vision is all about. But this vision isn’t something that might happen months or years from now. We’re actually starting to see parts of our 2030 Vision happening this month as we multiply our community groups, serving opportunities on our ministry teams, worship services, and more. Down the road, if it’s God’s will, we’ll see expansion in kid’s and student ministry, pastoral staffing, building facilities, and perhaps another church plant; who knows! But first, today, we need to count the cost. When Jesus invited men and women to follow him, he challenged them to count the cost. Would they still be willing to follow him even if they had to give up everything? Now, I’m not saying we might have to give up everything to accomplish our 2030 Vision. But the truth is that change can be painful/uncomfortable. Even change for the best can still be hard. All the things I just mentioned will make room for more, but they will also bring changes around here. So today, we’ll consider why we need to make room for more people in our church — why we need to go through the potential pain of change. Will we be willing to pay the cost? If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Luke 18:35. We’ll unpack this text as we go.Luke 18:35–38 (NIV), “35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. 38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The book of Luke was written by a man who most likely became a Christian through the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Luke was a physician who did a careful investigation into the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and then wrote a history of the early church. These works are both in the NT as the book of Luke and Acts. Luke was alive during the time of the Apostles and interviewed eyewitnesses who saw/heard/experienced the person and work of Jesus. Our account today has lots of potential witnesses. Luke writes that Jesus was approaching Jericho with a whole crowd of people.
Making Room for People: We were made to enjoy deep, healthy, long-term relationships. But this world is broken, and relationships can be just as much a source of pain as anything. What can we do? We should take a risk and make room for more people in our hearts, homes, and lives. Why? The unexpected answer is found...at the end of the world. Recorded on Sep 8, 2024, on 1 Peter 4:7-11 by Pastor David Parks.Make Room is a three-part sermon series considering the need to make room 1) for more of God in our lives, 2) for more people in our lives, and 3) for more people in our church. Why? Because more people need good news! More people need the life and love, the freedom and forgiveness, and so much more that is only found in Christ. Our prayer is that in the coming years, many more people will experience the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.Sermon TranscriptWell, today, we’re on part two of a quick, three-week sermon series called Make Room to talk about some of the Biblical foundations of our 2030 Vision. If you missed the start of this series last week, you can always go back and watch or listen to the podcast online or on the Church Center app. But as we said, the elder board spent months listening, learning, praying, and talking together about who we are as a church, where God is bearing fruit, and where we believe God is leading us in the next 5-7 years (leading up to 2030). Now, I don’t know about you, but it really feels like the start of a new chapter of life as a church, so this was a very timely process. But, one of the things that became clear is that we do not believe that God is leading us in a dramatically new direction. We don’t need to reinvent our mission, vision, or values. Instead, the phrase that kept coming up in this process was “make room.” We need to make room. We need to make room 1) for more of God in our lives, 2) for more people in our lives, and 3) for more people in our church. Making room is what our 2030 Vision is all about. Last week, we were warned against the trap of becoming lukewarm in our faith from Revelation 3 and were encouraged to let Jesus in. He’s standing at the door and is knocking because he wants to be let into every aspect of our lives. Today, we’re going to consider the need to make room for more people in our lives. Now, here’s something I’ve noticed over the years — it was especially obvious during the isolation/loneliness of Covid: People, in general (maybe this isn’t you!), are really bad at maintaining deep, healthy, long-term relationships. This is a huge struggle. One of my responsibilities as a pastor is to meet with people and offer Biblical counsel and spiritual direction as they navigate the difficult terrain of life. There are many different reasons why someone might want to meet. But far and away, the most common reason is because there’s some sort of conflict in a close, usually family-type of relationship. Maybe you can relate? Many can. But this kind of situation/conflict can be so painful and frustrating. And I get it: when you’ve experienced that kind of relational pain, I’m sure it is hard to put yourself out there again and invest in other close relationships, hoping they’ll be different. However, the solution is not to disappear into the woods, become a hermit, and never deal with people again. That would be disobedient to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, which is to make disciples of all nations. And last time I checked, you can’t make disciples unless other people are involved. But neither is the solution to call Shoji Morimoto. I read about Mr. Morimoto a few years ago in an article from The Washington Post titled, Rent-a-stranger: This Japanese man makes a living showing up and doing nothing, (By Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Julia Mio Inuma, March 19, 2022). The article describes a man named Shoji Morimoto who makes a living by renting himself out to people who want a companion.
Making Room for God: What if Jesus wrote a letter to our church? In his letter to the church in the wealthy city of Laodicea, Jesus strongly warned about being lukewarm in their faith. These Christians were no different than the world around them. But this rebuke was coming from a place of love. "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock." Will they make room for him? Recorded on Sep 1, 2024, on Revelation 3:14-22 by Pastor David Parks.Make Room is a three-part sermon series considering the need to make room 1) for more of God in our lives, 2) for more people in our lives, and 3) for more people in our church. Why? Because more people need good news! More people need the life and love, the freedom and forgiveness, and so much more that is only found in Christ. Our prayer is that in the coming years, many more people will experience the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.Sermon TranscriptFor the next three weeks, we’re doing something a little different in our preaching ministry. Normally, our sermon series are based on a book of the Bible (e.g., John or Ephesians or Ruth) or a larger section of Scripture (e.g., Sermon on the Mount). But today, we’re starting a three-week topical series called Make Room to talk about some of the Biblical foundations of our 2030 Vision. But fear not; after this short series, we’ll jump back into a more typical expository series on the book of Exodus (which I’m very excited about!). Now, if we had your email address, you got an email this past week sharing some of our thinking behind this 2030 Vision. But I’ll give you a little more context before we jump into our Scripture passage for today. All the way back in February, after considering whether or not we should try and buy our current building facility, the elder board started developing a long-term ministry plan. We realized that our ministry vision should really come before any questions about a building facility because a building is simply a big, expensive tool to use for the mission/vision of a church. In other words, a building serves the ministry, not the other way around. Plus, over the past year, we saw over 50% growth as a church, and, to be honest, we started to feel some growing pains. Some of our systems and structures that used to work just fine were no longer working as well. We realized that if we failed to pray or plan for the next season of ministry, we would struggle to shepherd people well and would be vulnerable to division or discouragement. So, as a board, we spent months listening to our leaders and the congregation and learning from other pastors and churches. We spent months praying together and talking about who we are as a church, where God is bearing fruit in our ministry, and where we believe God is leading us in the next 5-7 years. This process was very helpful in bringing clarity to what really does seem to be the start of a new season in the life of our church. One of the things that became clear was that we did not feel God was leading us in a dramatically new direction. We don’t need to reinvent ourselves or change our mission, vision, or values. Instead, the phrase that kept coming up was “make room.” We need to make room. But make room for what exactly? Well, as we continued to refine our vision, three areas for making room emerged. We need to make room 1) for more of God in our lives, 2) for more people in our lives, and 3) for more people in our church. Making room is what our 2030 Vision is all about. And this is what we’re going to be talking about today and for the next few weeks. So, we’ll start this mini-series by dropping into Revelation chapter 3, and we’re going to consider a very famous passage where Jesus says he’s standing at the door of our lives, and he’s knocking. He wants to come in, be with us, and have fellowship with us. If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Revelation 3:14.Revelation 3:14 (NIV),
Ruth and Her Guardian-Redeemer (Ruth): In the stunning conclusion, Boaz legally becomes the guardian-redeemer, Boaz and Ruth get married, and a new baby provides redemption for Naomi. But the Lord was doing much more than providing a "happily ever after." As the ultimate Guardian-Redeemer, God was doing immeasurably more than anything they asked or imagined! Recorded on Aug 25, 2024, on Ruth 4:1-22 by Pastor David Parks.This sermon is part of the series Ruth: The Love of a Redeemer. In the Bible, the book of Ruth tells the story of a family that experienced a series of bitter tragedies. But through loyalty, integrity, and faithful love (hesed), they find unexpected redemption, restoration, and hope. Our God is a redeemer.Sermon TranscriptSo, all month, we’ve been working through a series on the OT book of Ruth called The Love of a Redeemer. As we’ve seen, Ruth is all about facing the bitter tragedies of life by leaning on the hesed, or the steadfast loving-kindness of God, but also on the men and women in our lives who have the character and integrity to reflect this kind of redeeming love to us. The Bible, from cover to cover, is a redemption story. And sometimes, the people of the Bible, people like Ruth and Boaz, reflect the redemptive love that God ultimately gives through Jesus Christ, his son. I do hope this short series has been helpful to you. I’ve really enjoyed it personally. But today, in Act 4 of our play, we’ll see this inspiring story come to its conclusion. We’ll see that the covenant love (hesed) of Boaz would make the cost of redemption a joy, not a burden. But also, we'll see that the redeeming work that God was doing would have an impact far beyond the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. God was doing something so much greater than anyone could ever imagine! If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Ruth 4:1.But before we jump back in, let me give you a little context. So, last week, we saw that, at Naomi’s suggestion, Ruth got dressed up nice, put on some perfume, and went down to the threshing floor when Boaz and the others were winnowing the grain they had harvested. Ruth pulled off what seemed to be a sketchy plan to go to Boaz at night and let him know that she was interested in him as more than a friend, shall we say? But when Boaz woke up and realized Ruth was there, she boldly asked him if he would be willing to serve as her guardian-redeemer. Now, we’ll see more about what exactly she was asking of him today. But instead of taking advantage of Ruth there on the threshing floor, Boaz was blown away and responded with a blessing, telling her he would do everything she asked. But there was one potential problem: there was another who was a closer relative to Elimelek who, according to their custom, should have the first opportunity to be the guardian-redeemer ahead of Boaz. But Boaz would not rest until the matter was settled the very next day. Now, we have Act 4, scene 1.Ruth 4:1–4 (NIV), “1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. 2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 3 Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.” “I will redeem it,” he said.” Uh oh. Ok! So Boaz went up from the threshing floor to the town gate. Now, I mentioned last week that Ruth clearly embodied the “wife of noble character” described in Proverbs 31. Proverbs 31:23 says of this kind of woman,
Ruth at the Threshing Floor (Ruth): Character matters. In this broken world, will you find yourself in a compromising situation from time to time? Absolutely. What will you do? Will you compromise yourself and follow the ways of the world? Or will you trust in the Lord and honor him with your life and the commitment of your character? Recorded on Aug 18, 2024, on Ruth 3:1-18 by Pastor David Parks.This sermon is part of the series Ruth: The Love of a Redeemer. In the Bible, the book of Ruth tells the story of a family that experienced a series of bitter tragedies. But through loyalty, integrity, and faithful love (hesed), they find unexpected redemption, restoration, and hope. Our God is a redeemer.Sermon TranscriptSo, all month, we’re working through a series on the OT book of Ruth called The Love of a Redeemer. As we’ve seen so far, Ruth is all about facing the bitter tragedies of life by leaning on the hesed, or the steadfast loving-kindness of God, but also on the men and women in our lives who have the character and integrity to reflect this kind of redeeming love to us. As Justun said last week, the Bible, from cover to cover, is a redemption story. And sometimes, the people of the Bible reflect the redemptive love that God ultimately gave us through Jesus. Of course, very often, the people of the Bible (and perhaps other people in our lives today) do not reflect God’s love or godly character. But Ruth provides several good models for us to learn from. In Act 1, we saw Ruth, a foreign (Moabite) woman, model this hesed-style love to her mother-in-law, Naomi, after their husbands died. We saw this in Ruth’s incredible declaration of loyalty and commitment to Naomi and then in her willingness to leave her people and her gods and return to Bethlehem with Naomi to love and care for her. Last week, in Act 2, we saw Boaz model this hesed-style love for Ruth and Naomi. Boaz protected Ruth as she worked in his field and generously provided food for them. Today, in Act 3 of our play, we’ll see if this loyalty and kindness, this protection and provision, might become something more for Boaz and Ruth. But the lead characters of our play find themselves in a seemingly sketchy situation that is a real test of their integrity. How would they respond? Will they compromise themselves, following the ways of the world? Or will they trust in the Lord and honor him with their lives and the commitment of their character? If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Ruth 3:1. Act 3, scene 1.Ruth 3:1–6 (NIV), “1 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.” 5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.” So, we’re not sure exactly how much time has passed here since Ruth and Naomi arrived from Moab. Chapter 1 ends with a transitional note from our narrator that they arrived in Bethlehem just as the barley harvest was starting. Then, Ruth providentially gleaned in the fields of Boaz during the harvest. Historically, the barley harvest would start in mid-May and would continue with the wheat harvest through the end of June. Now, here, perhaps sometime in July, the harvest was done, and the operation turned to winnow the grain on the threshing floor to separate the grain from the chaff. Bethlehem, which, as we said, meant “house of bread,” was filling back up. Now, harvest time was really hard work.
Ruth in the Fields of Boaz (Ruth): The Bible, from cover to cover, is a redemption story. Sometimes, the people of the Bible reflect the redemptive love that God ultimately gives through Jesus. How Boaz treated Ruth, a poor Moabite widow working in his fields, is a wonderful picture of the steadfast loving-kindness (hesed) of God. Recorded on Aug 11, 2024, on Ruth 2:1-23 by Justun Hart.This sermon is part of the series Ruth: The Love of a Redeemer. In the Bible, the book of Ruth tells the story of a family that experienced a series of bitter tragedies. But through loyalty, integrity, and faithful love (hesed), they find unexpected redemption, restoration, and hope. Our God is a redeemer.
Ruth and Naomi (Ruth): When dealing with the tragedies of this broken world, it's hard not to let those bitter experiences define you. Due to a famine in Judah, Naomi's family moved to the foreign country of Moab. However, when Naomi's husband and both her sons died there, she decided to return home to Bethlehem. Unexpectedly, Ruth, one of Naomi's daughters-in-law, made the beautifully brave decision to commit her life to love and care for Naomi, even in her bitterness. In the end, the faithful, sacrificial love of Ruth points to the greater love of Jesus. Recorded on Aug 4, 2024, on Ruth 1:1-22 by Pastor David Parks.This sermon is part of the series Ruth: The Love of a Redeemer. In the Bible, the book of Ruth tells the story of a family that experienced a series of bitter tragedies. But through loyalty, integrity, and faithful love (hesed), they find unexpected redemption, restoration, and hope. Our God is a redeemer.Sermon TranscriptFor the next month, we’ll be working through a series on the OT book of Ruth called The Love of a Redeemer. In the Bible, the book of Ruth tells the story of a family that experienced a series of bitter tragedies. But through loyalty, integrity, and faithful love, they find unexpected redemption, restoration, and hope. Now, this is an ancient story, well over 3,000 years old, and is an absolute masterwork of ancient literature. But because it’s so well-told, this ancient story is just as powerful for us today. Because how can we face the tragedies of this broken world? How can we remain faithful, find healing, and avoid becoming embittered or resentful when we experience a great loss? Can we ever recover our joy and peace after enduring real pain and suffering? The answer in the book of Ruth is found in the difficult-to-translate Hebrew word: hesed. But for now, if you have your Bible/app, please open it to Ruth 1:1. This is Act 1, scene 1 of our story.Ruth 1:1–2 (NIV), “1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.” V. 1 places us in a certain period of history for ancient Israel. “…the days when the judges ruled” took place after the Exodus but before the time of the ancient kings of Israel — probably about 3,200 years ago. The book of Judges takes place during the same time as Ruth but paints a very bleak picture. However, Ruth reveals that not everyone was corrupt or faithless during this dark time. There were good men and women who were faithful to God and his word despite their difficult circumstances. But here, in the opening scene of our story, we’re introduced to a family from Bethlehem in Judah. There was a man named Elimelek, his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, but there was a problem. There was a famine in the land. Now, ironically, Bethlehem means “house of food” or “house of bread” in the Hebrew language. Because of the famine, the house of bread was empty. So the man decided to move his family to live for a while (sojourn) in Moab. If we look at a map, we can see that Bethlehem was a small town about five miles south of the city of Jerusalem in the southern region of Canaan, known as Judah. Moab was the country to the east of the Dead Sea and had a violent history with Israel. They were not historically friendly. Now, if there was some disaster that happened in Wisconsin, we wouldn’t think anything of moving to another state to escape it, right? There would be no moral question about that move. But for ancient Israel, it was not necessarily a good thing for this family to move to Moab. According to the Mosaic Law, a famine in the Promised Land was God’s judgment against his people. Now,
The Armor of God (Ephesians): Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. How can we stand firm and fight our spiritual battles? By putting on the full armor of God: truth, righteousness, the gospel, salvation, faith, God's word, and prayer. Recorded on Jul 28, 2024, on Ephesians 6:10-24 by Pastor David Parks.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.Sermon TranscriptThis summer, we’ve been working through the book of Ephesians in a sermon series called The Gospel in Life. We’ve seen that Ephesians is a powerful little letter from the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus in modern Turkey that is all about how the gospel and our union with Christ changes everything — our identity, direction in life, relationships…everything. I hope this series has been helpful to you and to your faith and your understanding of what it looks like to apply the gospel to every area of life. Next week, we’ll start a new sermon series on the OT book of Ruth, which is all about finding the faithful love of a redeemer in a world full of bitterness and tragedy. But first, today, as we bring this series to a close, Paul ends his letter by considering the spiritual battles that we face and how we might stand strong in the armor of God. 25 years ago, there was a huge sci-fi movie that came out called The Matrix. The basic idea of the plot was that this computer hacker discovers the secret reality behind what everyone else thought was real life. Neo took the red pill, and his eyes were opened, and he came to see the dark forces keeping humanity in this virtual reality simulation called the Matrix. Neo joins the rebels who are fighting back against the machines using kung fu (obviously), which made a lot more sense back in the 1900s. But, try as I might to find a less conspiratorial reference for our text today; I kept coming back to The Matrix. Because for all who have the eyes to see, the Apostle Paul pulls back the curtain today on the hidden reality behind what everyone thinks is real life. At the end of his letter, Paul reveals that there are dark spiritual powers at work in the world. It’s not just that people can choose good or evil and sometimes choose evil (although, that is true). And it’s not just that sometimes bad things happen because our world is broken (which is also true). But also, there are spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms in opposition to God and enemies of God’s people. If we ignore this, it won’t change this reality. It only makes us more vulnerable to their manipulation. But as alarming as this might sound, we don’t have anything to fear. In Christ, and because of the armor of God, even the weakest one of us can be strong and stand firm against these powers — even when the day of evil comes. If you have your Bible/app, open it to Eph 6:10. We’ll unpack this as we go.Ephesians 6:10–13 (NIV), “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” For the last three weeks,
A New Relationship to Power (Ephesians): Slavery in Ephesus in the first century AD was different than most people think of when they think of slavery today. Still, the imbalance of power meant the slave/master relationship was often the context for exploitation and abuse. This is the default way of this broken world. But how do power and injustice work in the kingdom where Jesus is King? The gospel changes everything. Recorded on Jul 21, 2024, on Ephesians 6:5-9 by Pastor David Parks.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.Sermon TranscriptThis summer, we’ve been working through the book of Ephesians in a sermon series called The Gospel in Life. Throughout this powerful little letter from the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus in modern Turkey, we’ve seen that the good news of the person and work of Jesus Christ — and our union with Christ by grace and through faith — changes everything. First, we saw that the gospel changes our identity — from death to life and from without hope/God in the world to becoming a beloved child of God. Then we saw that the gospel changes our direction in life — from living for ourselves according to the way/values of this broken world to learning to follow the way of Jesus in true righteousness and holiness. For the last few weeks, we’ve considered how the gospel changes our relationships in life — including the relationship between the husband and wife, parent and child, and today, the relationship between the bondservant/slave and their master. If you missed any of the sermons in this series so far, you can always go back and watch or listen to the audio podcast if you’d like. But today, our text is a hard text, which would be tempting to skip over. But when you work through a book of the Bible, you need to deal with everything, whether it’s easy or difficult. But let’s deal with the elephant in the room right away: In addressing what was a typical household relationship in the first-century Roman Empire — the relationship between servants/slaves and their masters — many people today wonder if Paul (or, more broadly, if the Bible) teaches that slavery is ok. And that’s an important question. Could this passage be used to support the transatlantic slave trade that exploited millions of Africans from the 1500s to the 1800s? Could this passage be used to justify the human trafficking that exploits countless millions of people today, including many children, for forced labor or sexual slavery? I’ll say at the outset that the short answer is no; this text cannot be used to justify the brutality and exploitation of those practices. But what is Paul saying here? Well, not only does Paul show the Ephesians how the gospel transforms every relationship, including relationships with different levels or imbalances of power (such as the first-century relationship of slave and master), but the principles in this text would spread as Christianity spread and would eventually help bring an end to the whole institution of slavery. But we have some work to do here. So, grab your Bible/app and open it to Eph 6:5.Ephesians 6:5 (NIV), “5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.” Now, you might wonder why Paul would address slaves and masters at all. Thankfully, this isn’t an issue we have to deal with in our church, right? But this would certainly have been a common issue for the first-century Ephesians. According to Dr. Lynn Cohick and other sources, about 10% of the Roman Empire and up to a third of the city of R...
A New Kind of Home (Ephesians): Kids are great! But parenting is hard. What happens when you apply the gospel to the relationship between parents and children? How can parents shepherd their kids? How can adult children honor their parents when carrying wounds from their upbringing? There are many lessons here for everyone. Recorded on Jul 14, 2024, on Ephesians 6:1-4 by Ted Selker.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.
A New Kind of Marriage (Ephesians): Do you want a better marriage? Or do you want to be better prepared for marriage in the future? God's word provides power and wisdom for two to become one. Is this easy? No! But it can be beautiful as two people grow together in unity, love, and maturity over time. Plus, marriage can be a picture of the gospel for a world that needs to see the faithful love of Jesus. Recorded on Jul 7, 2024, on Ephesians 5:21-33 by Pastor David Parks.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.Sermon TranscriptIncluding today, we only have four more weeks in Ephesians before moving on to a new sermon series on the OT book of Ruth. But today, as we approach the end of The Gospel in Life series, we’re considering how our union with Christ transforms even the most basic household relationships — from the relationship between a husband and wife to the relationship between parents and children to the relationship between a household servant/slave and their master, which was a common work relationship in the first century AD. Now, we’ve already seen in Ephesians that when you become a Christian, you go from death to life — from without hope and without God in the world to becoming a dearly loved child of God. So, the gospel changes our identity in Christ. We’ve already heard the call to follow God’s example, putting off the old self and putting on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. So, the gospel changes the direction of our lives. So it shouldn’t come as any surprise that the way of Jesus might change our relationships, too. A few weeks ago, I stumbled across one of my old high school yearbooks. I read a few comments my friends wrote all those years ago, and one caught my eye. It said something like, “I’m so excited for you and Holly! Even though some people think you’re crazy, if anyone could figure out marriage, it would be you two!” Thanks? It was kind of a compliment, I guess. But, you see, Holly and I knew each other from the age of ten on. And once we started dating in high school, we knew we were supposed to be together. So, we got engaged just before the end of high school and got married the next year. But that comment in my yearbook probably represented what a lot of people thought at the time: that we were crazy! That we didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into! That it would never work! Now, from my vantage point today, I know that marriage is always risky — whether you’re 19 years old or 30 or 50 or 75. Just because loving people is the highest calling and the greatest commandment for human beings doesn’t mean it’s easy! In fact, really loving another person with all their sins and struggles, with all their blindspots and weaknesses — along with all of yours! — is one of the hardest things you could do in life. So how did we survive? How did we navigate the ups and downs of marriage in a broken world together? It wasn’t easy. And we’re still learning how to love each other better. But over the years, we’ve seen the wisdom/power of God’s way again and again in our marriage. So, do you want a better marriage? Or do you want to be better prepared for being married one day? Then grab your Bible/app and open it to Eph 5:21. We’ll read through this text and unpack it as we go.Ephesians 5:21 (NIV), “21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Well, we didn’t get very far, did we? I had to stop here because this verse is special for two reasons. First, grammatically, this verse is really the end of the list of actions associated with...
Following a New Way: How can we learn to navigate the rough terrain of life? Not by following the ways of this world. Becoming a Christian puts you on a new path — the way of Jesus — where we learn to walk in the way of love, goodness, righteousness, truth, and wisdom. This is the way. Recorded on Jun 30, 2024, on Ephesians 5:1-20 by Pastor David Parks.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.Sermon TranscriptToday, and through the end of July, we’ll continue to work through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in a sermon series called The Gospel in Life. And today, as we start Chapter 5, we’re going to consider how our identity in Christ — our union with Christ — impacts and transforms the direction of our lives. I don’t know about you, but I love to go backpacking. The first time I went backpacking, I was in high school, and our youth group went to Colorado [hiking slide] for a 5-day, 4-night hike over a 12,000+ foot mountain pass. Now, backpacking is so much work. You carry everything you need for life on your back the whole time. If you forgot something, you just don’t have that thing. If it rains, you put on your rain gear and keep going. And there are certainly no showers, beds, or bathrooms on the trail. But as some of you might’ve guessed, I love that kind of challenge, and I love being out in the woods or the mountains. However, we didn’t know what we needed to bring or what to do, or how to get from where they dropped us off at the trailhead to the end of the trail (on the other side of the mountain). But everything was ok because we had a guide, and our guide knew where we needed to go and what we needed to do to make it across some very rough and potentially dangerous terrain. Our guide made sure we stayed on the right path. He showed us how to hike through the woods, above the tree line, and finally across the snow at the top of the pass. Well, in our passage for today, the Apostle Paul acts like a trail guide, helping us know how to navigate the rough terrain — how to walk through life. Every one of us will reach different points in our path where the trail seems to lead in different directions. How will we know which way to go? How can we make sure we’re on the right path? the path that leads to life/love/joy/peace? the path that honors God and is worthy of the calling we have received in Christ? If you have your Bible/app, please take it and open it to Eph 5:1. We’ll read through this text and unpack it as we go.Ephesians 5:1–2 (NIV), “1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Last week, we considered the call “to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” That in Christ, we’re being transformed day by day into the likeness of Christ. Here, Paul uses the idea of walking as a metaphor for how we live our lives. Three times in this passage, he refers to how we might walk through life, the first of which is here in v. 2 (“…walk in the way of love”). He says, “Follow God’s example (lit. “be imitators of God”), therefore, as dearly loved children.” Have you ever seen a little kid imitating their parents? Not just in their appearance but in how they speak, dress, or act? This can be really cute or scary, depending on the example of the parents. But, Paul says,
To Be Made New: What does it mean to "put off your old self" and "put on the new self?" This hopeful calling is about experiencing the whole-life transformation God envisions for you. No longer having to follow our emotions and desires alone, anyone can learn this new way of life according to the truth that is in Jesus. Recorded on Jun 23, 2024, on Ephesians 4:17-32 by Pastor David Parks.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.Sermon TranscriptWe’ve been working through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in a sermon series called The Gospel in Life. And today, as we finish Chapter 4, we’re going to consider the call of the Christian life to put off the old self and “to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” I remember when our kids were little. Some of you have little ones here today. Two out of our three kids are adults now. But when they were little, I could never really picture how they would be when they were all grown up. I could only ever picture the next phase of their life. When they were in preschool, I could picture them in second or third grade but not high school. As a parent, I had certain things I hoped they’d have in their future, but I just couldn’t really envision them in that future. But then they’d go from preschool to second or third grade, and by then, I could start to picture them in fifth or sixth grade…or even in middle school. But here’s the thing: my kids were going to learn/grow/change; they were going to be transformed as they grew up, whether I could picture it or not. And it turned out to be more than ok. I love the young adults they are today and am excited about their future, whatever it’ll look like. In our passage today, I hope you’ll see that you have a Father in heaven who has a vision for your future. But unlike me, he can see the end from the beginning. And his vision for your life is a vision of transformation for every part of your life. If you have your Bible/app, please take it and open it to Eph 4:17. We’ll read through this text and unpack it as we go.Ephesians 4:17–19 (NIV), “17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.” The first half of Ephesians is more on what the gospel is. The second half focuses more on what the gospel does or (to use his language) what it looks like to walk in a manner worthy of the calling they’ve received in Christ. Here, Paul starts by looking back at where his mostly Gentile friends in Ephesus came from before they became Christians. He says, “…you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.” Now, remember that most people in his audience are Gentiles. But Paul isn’t cutting them down here. He’s been clear that everyone, Jews and Gentiles, were on the same sinking ship, and both groups needed a savior in Jesus. What he is saying is that apart from Christ and the power of his Spirit, the life of unbelieving Gentiles flowed out of a futility or an emptiness in their ways of thinking. Again, this isn’t meant as an insult. He says they were darkened in their understanding of reality because they were separated from God. He’s not saying they’re not smart,
So That The Body Of Christ May Be Built Up: Did you know you're needed for the ministry of the church? Even if you aren't on staff or are a leader? You are! The whole church, equipped by leaders through the ministry of the word, is called to do the works of ministry. By speaking the truth in love, the whole body grows in unity, maturity, and love until it reaches the whole measure of the fullness of Christ! Recorded on Jun 16, 2024, on Ephesians 4:7-16 by Pastor David Parks.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.Sermon TranscriptWe’ve been working through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in a sermon series called The Gospel in Life. And today, as we continue in Chapter 4, we’re going to consider the work of ministry that every member of the body of Christ has been called to do. This teaching touches on the very purpose of the church and of Christian ministry. This is something I’m so passionate about because this teaching must impact our very identity as Christians and everything we do as a church. Have you ever wondered what you’re doing here? Like what role do you play as a member of this church? I think most Christians think that if they show up for worship on a regular basis, and maybe serve or give, that’s all that they’re expected to do. But is that true? If so, then you might get the impression that you’re not really necessary, that you’re not really needed here. But that’s dead wrong. You’re vital. We need you as much as you need us. But if we fail to understand what ministry is or what it does, then we, as individuals and as a church, are headed for danger. If you have your Bible/app, please take it and open it to Eph 4:7. We’ll read through this and unpack it together.Ephesians 4:7–10 (NIV), “7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)” Last week, we saw how, because of our union with Christ in the church, we have already been made one. However, with so many forces threatening to pull us apart, it can be incredibly difficult to stay one. It takes humility, gentleness, patience, and so much more. And we saw that Paul shifted from a temple metaphor for the church to the body metaphor — that we in the church are members of the body of Christ. Here, starting in v. 7, Paul starts describing why the body needs to grow and mature and how that process works. He says that “to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” Now, of course, it’s true to say that every Christian has received the grace of God in their salvation. We are saved by grace through faith, right? So you can’t be a Christian and not receive the grace of God. But here, Paul uses the language of grace to describe more gifts after salvation — grace on top of grace already given. This is why Paul quotes Psalm 68. Now, if you go read Psalm 68, you’ll notice that Paul changes the language of v. 18 from people giving gifts to an exalted and victorious God to an exalted and victorious Christ giving gifts to his people. There are several theories about why he changes the meaning of this verse, but I don’t believe Paul was simply making the Psalm to say what he wanted it to say. If you read through the whole Psalm, it ends with God giving gifts to his people — gifts of power and strength. So,
Keeping the Unity: Unity in the church (or any close relationship) doesn't just happen. It takes work...and lots of it! In the church, our union with Christ means we ought to have unity with each other. But staying united takes loads of humility, gentleness, and patience. This is not easy; is it worth it? Absolutely. Recorded on Jun 9, 2024, on Ephesians 4:1-6 by Pastor David Parks.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.Sermon TranscriptWe’ve been working through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in a sermon series called The Gospel in Life. And today, as we start Chapter 4, we’re going to consider the unity we have as a church, that because of our union with Christ — which, we’ve seen is one of the main themes of Ephesians — but because of our union with Christ, we also have unity with everyone else who has this same union with Christ. This past week, Holly and I went back through a hard drive with all our old pictures, and I came across our old, grainy wedding video. Some of you know that Holly and I met when we were ten years old. So, even though we got married when we were young, it still felt like we knew everything about each other. Of course, that was far from true, but, you know, young love! But what that video captured was that on our wedding day, Holly and I were two who became one. And Holly and I were blessed not to have much conflict early on in our marriage. But do you know how hard we’ve had to work over the last hundred and fifty years of our marriage to stay one? Even in the best of circumstances, it takes a lot of work to keep a marriage healthy. But this is just a picture of the work needed to keep the relationships healthy that we have here in the church. There are many things that might be different about us or threaten to divide us, but we have been made one in Christ. But how can we keep our unity here in the church when there are so many forces that seek to pull us apart? If you have your Bible/app, please take it and open it to Eph 4:1. We’ll read through this and unpack it together.Ephesians 4:1 (NIV), “1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” In Chapter 1, Paul made it clear that every believer is called in Christ — called into a relationship with God, called from death to life, called into hope, called into the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, called by the power of the Spirit, and so much more. In Chapter 2, we saw that this calling was a result of God’s gracious gift and because of God’s eternal love — not because of anything we had done or ever could do. Remember? “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” We’re not saved by works, but saving faith is faith that produces good works. Remember? “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” So, the way of salvation is not by works. But the Christian life is full of good works done because we’ve been saved. Now, it’s always important to make sure we get the order right. Otherwise, we can become confused and think that salvation depends on us. This is why Paul and other NT authors usually start with what the gospel is, but then they pivot to talking about what the gospel does in life. In Ephesians, Chapters 1-3 are mostly about what the gospel is. But here, at the start of Chapter 4 and through the end of the letter, Paul turns his focus more to what the gospel does.
The Presence of Christ: What would be the best thing for you? How about for the people you love? To have the spiritual power that comes from a growing knowledge and experience of the love of Christ. To be rooted and established in his love. And that his presence would be real to you in your inner being. Recorded on Jun 2, 2024, on Ephesians 3:14-21 by Pastor David Parks.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.Sermon TranscriptFor a little over a month now, we’ve been working through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in a sermon series called The Gospel in Life. And today, as we finish chapter 3, we’re going to consider the second prayer of Paul in this letter, which is really one of the most expansive and powerful prayers in all of the Scriptures. The reason it’s so powerful is because Paul prays for what would be the absolute best thing for his friends there in Ephesus. Have you ever wondered what would be the best thing for you? Or what would be the best thing for someone you love? A parent or spouse or child or friend? A few years ago, I found myself thinking about that question a lot. We’d just moved our oldest son, Tyler, into his dorm room for his freshmen year at college. And Holly and I drove home with a bunch of empty bins in the back and a lot of feelings swirling around in our hearts — healthy pride in who he was and in his accomplishments, fears of what he might encounter, and everything in between. We realized that our relationship and our role as parents had seemingly changed overnight. Holly and I found ourselves feeling driven to pray for Tyler a lot that year. But what should we have prayed for? Should we have prayed that God would protect our son from negative influences? Should we have prayed that God would help him get good grades? or make friends? or that he would just be happy? What would be the best thing for him? What would be the best thing to ask God for? Well, today, we’re going to discover what would be the very best thing for all of us. Grab your Bibles/apps and open to Eph 3:14.Ephesians 3:14–17a (NIV), “14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Paul starts this section with “For this reason…” which is the same way he started the text we looked at last week. It almost seems as if Paul interrupted the flow of his letter with an aside about his story and his suffering. But after considering how Paul’s story was changed in every way by the story of who God is and what God has done and is doing through his Son and Spirit — in other words, the story of the gospel — it doesn’t seem like that much of a tangent. In fact, his story as a Jewish man who became a Christian and then was commissioned by Jesus to be his apostle to the Gentiles fits the great theme of this letter of our union with Christ and, therefore, our unity with one another in him, Jew and Gentile. But after a brief stop in connecting his story to this theme of unity, Paul comes back to where he left off in Chapter 2 with another prayer. But what does he pray for? He says that he’s kneeling before God the Father in heaven, “from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” Now, this doesn’t translate well into English, but the Greek word for Father is the root of the word for family. So, Paul starts this prayer with a reminder of who he is praying to.
The Wisdom of God: If God is all-powerful and perfectly wise, how could he allow suffering to exist? People have always wrestled with this question, many Christians as well. According to the manifold wisdom of God and through the suffering of Christ, we can approach God with freedom and confidence in our time of need. Suffering is not the end of the story. Recorded on May 26, 2024, on Ephesians 3:1-13 by Pastor David Parks.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.Sermon TranscriptFor the last few weeks and for the next few months, we’ll be working through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in a sermon series called The Gospel in Life. And today, as we start chapter 3, we’re going to consider the wisdom of God’s plan, hidden in the past, but now revealed to us in Christ. But there’s a mystery here. The mystery, what was really shocking, was that God’s plan included the immense suffering and humiliation of the cross of Christ. No one expected a dying messiah. Of course, Christians believe that after this suffering and death, on the third day, Jesus rose again from the dead as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. But still, God used the greatest tragedy to accomplish the greatest good. Almost no one would’ve thought this is what God’s plan would’ve looked like. However, even with this story of the suffering of the Son of God at the heart of the gospel, and even though the apostles and many of the first followers of Jesus suffered greatly for their faith, suffering is still shocking for many Christians today. Many Christians wonder if God is all-powerful, and if he is perfectly good, how could he allow suffering to exist? People have wrestled with this question as far back as we have a written record. Have you ever wondered how God could allow something evil or painful to intrude into your life? Have you ever prayed/cried out to God in tears/confusion because of the suffering in your life? What can we do in those dark days? What can we say when those difficult questions creep into our hearts? One of the things we can do is look to the stories of those who suffered in the Bible and learn from them. We might look to the stories of Joseph, Job, Naomi, or David and see how they dealt with suffering. But the Apostle Paul’s story is right up there — he suffered greatly because of his faith. And today, we’ll see how he talks about his experience, including the fact that he was an innocent man writing to the Ephesians from prison. But Paul’s perspective is radically different than the ways of this world. If so, grab a Bible/app and open it to Eph 3:1. We’ll unpack this text as we go.Ephesians 3:1–3 (NIV), “1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.” In Chapter 1, Paul spelled out the truly cosmic nature of the gospel — that God was working from eternity to eternity to unite all things in/under Christ. In Chapter 2, Paul went on to remind the Ephesians of the radical unity that God has brought to Jews and Gentiles by grace through faith in Jesus. Now, here, he shares how his personal story relates to the unfolding story of God. And he starts by calling himself “the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.” It’s interesting that he doesn’t say he’s a prisoner because of Christ Jesus, but he’s the prisoner of Christ Jesus. This phrase could have several possible meanings. First,
A New Temple: Separation from God and from other people can be hopelessly painful. But the gospel destroys all barriers and puts to death all hostility. Why? Because God is building a new temple, made up of all kinds of people, whose lives are built on Christ and aligned with his word. Recorded on May 19, 2024, on Ephesians 2:11-22 by Justun Hart.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.
Saved By Grace: What does it actually mean to be “saved” in a Christian sense? The Biblical picture of life in this broken world is bleak — that apart from Christ, we are spiritually dead. Is there any hope? Yes! The gospel says that because of God's love and mercy, salvation is offered as a gracious gift to be received by faith. The gospel changes everything. Recorded on May 12, 2024, on Ephesians 2:1-10 by Pastor David Parks.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.Sermon TranscriptWell, for the next few months, we’ll be working through a sermon series called The Gospel in Life from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in the Bible. If you missed either of the first few sermons, you can always go back and watch or listen to the podcast to catch up if you’d like. But today, we’re going to try and stare into the sun for the next 30 minutes or so. Today, from one of the most important passages in the whole Bible, we’re going to consider the heart of Christian salvation. What does it actually mean to be “saved” in a Christian sense? Just what is it that God saves us from? How has he saved us? And what has he saved us for? Well, in case you’re thinking, “I don’t really need this message. I’m already a Christian.” just remember, Paul is writing to Christians, to his brothers and sisters in Christ, in Ephesus. They’d already heard and believed the gospel. But today, in Ephesians 2, we’ll see that everybody needs the gospel, even Christians. We never graduate from our need for the gospel. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to Ephesians 2:1.Ephesians 2:1–2 (NIV), “1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” “As for you” probably refers to the gentile Christians in the church at Ephesus, but he’s not leaving himself or Paul’s fellow Jews from the need for the gospel, as we’ll see shortly. But here, Paul starts with the bad news. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.” What does this mean? Well, a transgression simply means crossing a line that shouldn’t be crossed. You commit a transgression when you drive your car through a guardrail on the highway — that never ends well. A moral transgression would be crossing a line that God has drawn, breaking a command of God, such as lying, cheating, stealing, coveting what isn’t yours, dishonoring your parents, and so on. These are all transgressions, but sin is very similar. The word for sin was originally an archery term meaning falling short of the mark. In Christian thought, sin means falling short of God’s standard for what is right in thought, word, or deed. Jesus taught that the whole Law could be summed up in two commands: first, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And the second, to love your neighbor as yourself. So sin means falling short in some way in our love for God or our love for others. Now, everyone knows that transgressions and sins are bad. God made human beings with a conscience. You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to know right from wrong. But here’s the real problem: Paul says that if you cross a line you shouldn’t cross or if you fall short of what’s right, it’s not just that you’re guilty, and it’s not just that you ought to be ashamed — it’s that you’re dead. You might be physically alive, but you’re spiritually dead. You’re a cut flower. You might even look quite youthful/beautiful on the...
Incomparably Great Power: Do you want to grow in your faith, no matter what your circumstances are? You need to understand what you've been given in Christ. Paul prays the Ephesians would know the hope of their calling, the riches of their inheritance, and the incomparably great power they have been given in Christ. Recorded on May 5, 2024, on Ephesians 1:15-23 by Pastor David Parks.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.Sermon TranscriptSo, last week, we started a new sermon series called The Gospel in Life from the book of Ephesians in the Bible. And we started with the truth that the Christian life is, first and foremost, a life of worship. Today, we’ll consider the first of two prayers of Paul in his letter. In this first prayer, we see not only the fruit of what God is doing in their church but also how Paul prays for them to continue to grow in their faith. Do you want to know how to grow in your faith? Do you ever read the Bible and wonder, why doesn’t my life look more like this?? Do you want more hope and more spiritual power, no matter what your circumstances are? This message is for you. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to Ephesians 1:15.Ephesians 1:15–16 (NIV), “15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” So, the Apostle Paul is writing a letter here to his friends, who are mostly Gentile believers in the city of Ephesus. Paul had planted this church about ten years earlier and is now writing back to them when he was under house arrest in Rome. Last week, we saw that after the initial greeting, he started the body of the letter with a doxology or an invitation to worship. And we saw that the reason he was inviting the Ephesians to worship the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ because of the gospel — which is the good news of who God is, what he’s done in the past, what he’s doing today, and what he’s promised for our future in Christ. We saw that this gospel reveals the truly cosmic nature of God’s plan, the only rational response being to live lives of worship to the praise of his glory. Here, in v. 15, Paul moves from doxology to prayer. “For this reason,” meaning, in light of the grand scope of the gospel, from eternity to eternity, Paul has not stopped giving thanks to God for the Ephesians, “remembering you in my prayers.” But why? Why is Paul so thankful? He says that he heard some good things about them. He heard about their “faith in the Lord Jesus.” Paul spent almost three years in Ephesus. He probably knew many of the people who were in the church there, except for those who came to faith after he left. And as a good shepherd, Paul would’ve cared deeply for them. Like a good mom or dad would want the best for their kids, so Paul would’ve wanted the best for them. At some point, someone brought him a report of their faith, and he was overjoyed. They do believe, Paul! They believe in the gospel, they trust in Jesus, and they follow his way — even in the mostly pagan city of Ephesus. How do you know? Because of their love for all God’s people. Now, the phrase “God’s people” here literally means “holy ones,” which is where, in church history, we got the term “the saints.” But saints in the Bible aren’t exceptional, superhero-like Christians. Saints are just regular old Christians who have faith in the Lord Jesus and who love one another. If you’re a Christian today, you, too, are a saint.
The Gospel for the Ephesians: Why should we worship? Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians with a doxology, or a call to worship, in response to the cosmic scope of God's plan in Christ. When we see the loving work of the Father, Son, and Spirit, from eternity to eternity, saving and transforming adopted sons and daughters in Christ — how can we help but give glory to God? Recorded on Apr 28, 2024, on Ephesians 1:1-14 by Pastor David Parks.Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.Sermon TranscriptSo, last week, we finished our series, Finding Life in Jesus’ Name, from John’s gospel. It took us 44 weeks, but we made it! And we said that John was all about finding life in Jesus’ name. Well, today, we’re starting a 14-week series called The Gospel in Life from the book of Ephesians in the Bible. I see this series as a fitting next step to John’s gospel because Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is all about what life looks like that is found by faith in Jesus’ name. And the first answer in Ephesians is that the Christian life is, first and foremost, a life of worship. Why do we meet every week for worship? Why do we sing songs of praise and pray/serve/give day by day? Have you ever wondered about that? When I was a kid, I was raised in the church, so I didn’t think much of it. It was just what we did. But in my twenties, I was invited to be on a teaching team at our church and started to preach every few months. I immediately agreed, but later, I thought, “Wait, what are we trying to do here? What’s the purpose of preaching? What’s the purpose of worship?” Our text today starts to answer these questions. But it’s like opening up a vault filled with priceless treasures, each deserving our utmost attention. After the opening greeting, we find the longest and maybe one of the most important sentences in all of Paul’s writing. This sentence is so densely packed with the riches of who God is and the fully cosmic scope of the gospel we’ll need the rest of our lives to explore it (even then, I don’t think we’ll run out of things to discover). Instead, today, we’ll get more of a 30,000 ft. view of this famous text and all its astonishing reasons for us to worship. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to Ephesians 1:1.Ephesians 1:1-2 (NIV), “1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The book of Ephesians was originally an epistle or letter, which followed the common format for letters back in the first century AD. It begins with a greeting, which states that this letter is from the Apostle Paul, who says his apostleship came by the will of God. Now, this statement is true of every apostle (and, incidentally, anyone called into church leadership), but this seems especially true for Paul if you know his story. We studied the life of Paul almost exactly one year ago, so if you’d like to go back and watch or listen to those sermons, you can. At any rate, Paul was writing this letter to whom? To “God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.” In other words, he was writing to the Christians in Ephesus. Now, some early manuscripts do not have the words “in Ephesus,” so some scholars believe this letter was intended to be shared with other churches in other cities as well. Whether or not that’s true, it does make sense with the general nature of the letter. It doesn’t address a specific issue in Ephesus or mention anyone by name there,
Jesus and Peter: John ends his gospel with a beautiful story of restoration. In the shadow of the cross, Peter had utterly failed Jesus — when Jesus most needed a friend. How would Jesus respond to him? With shame? Or punishment? Instead, Jesus restored Peter in friendship and his calling as an apostle and shepherd of his people. Once again, in loving forgiveness, Jesus told Peter, "Follow me!" Recorded on Apr 21, 2024, on John 21:15-25 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptSince last July, we’ve been working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. It took us 44 weeks! But today, we’re going to bring this series to a close in John 21. Next week, we’ll start a new series on the letter to the Ephesians called The Gospel in Life, which will run for the next three months. John was all about finding life in Jesus’ name, and Ephesians is all about what the life looks like that is found by faith in Jesus’ name. Incidentally, the Apostle John finished his ministry in Ephesus, so I think it’s fitting for us as well. But today, we’ll consider the beautiful restoration of Peter after his repeated denial of Jesus only a few weeks earlier. Have you ever done something so bad you weren’t sure if you would ever recover? Or have you been struggling with something for so many years that you’re about ready to give up on yourself? How do you think Jesus would treat you if you could talk with him face to face? I think it would look something like what happened between Jesus and Peter at the end of John’s gospel. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 21:15.John 21:15–17 (NIV), “15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Ok, let’s pause here. Last week, we worked through the third appearance of Jesus Christ after he had risen from the dead. He appeared to seven disciples along the shores of Galilee while they were fishing. He provided a miraculous catch of fish to represent the work of the gospel — that there would be a great harvest. But also, Jesus made them breakfast because he wanted to spend time with them. It’s really a stunning thought: that Jesus would not just care for his disciples in general but that after his resurrection from the dead, after all authority in heaven and earth had been given to him, he would still want this kind of personal relationship with them. Even after giving his life to save them from sin and death, he was still loving and serving them in humble ways. Our passage starts immediately after this. John says that after they had finished eating, Jesus started this line of questioning with Peter. “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” More than what/who? Do you love me more than the miraculous catch of fish? More than these things of the world? More than the other disciples? That would’ve been awkward, right? “Peter,
The Miraculous Catch (A Bonus Sign of Harvest): Have you ever wondered why you are here? Have you ever wondered what meaning or purpose there might be for your life? In the story of the miraculous catch, Jesus revealed that we are invited to join his work in the world — and there will be a great harvest. He doesn't need us, but he wants us. And nothing could add more meaning or purpose to life. Recorded on Apr 14, 2024, on John 21:1-14 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptSince last July, we’ve been working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name, and today, we start the final chapter. As I mentioned last week, after John, we’re going to start the book of Ephesians because John was all about finding life in Jesus’ name. And the book of Ephesians is all about what this life looks like. But today, we’re going to consider the miraculous catch, which I see as something like a bonus sign of harvest. As one of the wings of the art gallery that is John’s gospel, John curated seven miraculous signs that Jesus performed, which revealed his glory and helped his disciples to believe that he was the Messiah and the Son of God. Of course, none of the seven (turning water into wine, feeding the five thousand, or walking on the water) compare to the greatest miracle, which was the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. But here, in the epilogue of chapter 21 (last week, I compared it to the gift shop at the end of the gallery), John gives us one more. A bonus sign. A sign that would point ahead to the mission of God and the work of the gospel in the age of the church. Have you ever wondered why you are here? Have you ever wondered what meaning/purpose there might be to your life? Everyone asks these questions at certain points in their lives. In our passage today, John reveals one of the Bible’s greatest answers to our questions of meaning and purpose. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 21:1. We’ll read through this and unpack it as we go.John 21:1–3 (NIV), “1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.” Ok, let’s pause here. So, our story takes place sometime after the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus had first appeared to Mary Magdalene, then to Peter and the other disciples (minus Thomas the twin), and then to Thomas a week later, which is what we considered last week. Now, scholars are divided about why Peter decided to go fishing here. On the night of the arrest of Jesus, Peter denied even knowing Jesus not once but three times, just as Jesus knew he would. So, after this terrible failure of faith, was Peter giving up? Had he decided to go back to his old job as a fisherman? I don’t think so. We know that Peter was a witness first to the empty tomb and then to the risen Jesus. And he’s still with the other disciples, with Thomas, who had confessed that Jesus was both Lord and God, Nathanael, James and John, the Sons of Zebedee, and the others. I don’t think Peter was giving up. He wasn’t walking away from Jesus.
How to Struggle with Doubt: Have you wondered, does God really exist? Can we really trust what the Bible says? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Every believer, at certain times in life, will struggle with doubts. But Jesus didn't punish or shame his followers for their questions or doubts. The story of Jesus and Thomas reveals how we might deal with our doubts. Recorded on Apr 7, 2024, on John 20:24-31 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptSince last July, we’ve been working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name, and after today, we only have two weeks left! As sort of an epilogue to John, we’ll go through the book of Ephesians next because John was all about finding life in Jesus’ name, as we’ll see today. The book of Ephesians is all about what this life in Christ looks like. But today, one week after celebrating the greatest event in human history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, we’ll consider how to struggle with doubt. When I was growing up in the church, I don’t think anyone taught me this explicitly, but I had the impression that doubts were sort of inappropriate to admit. We walk by faith and not sight, right? So, isn’t doubt the evidence of a lack of faith? But does faith mean we’ll never have any doubts? Have you wondered, does God really exist? Or, can we really trust what the Bible says? Or, what about the miracles; are we really supposed to believe that God parted the Red Sea or that Jesus walked on the water or calmed the storm? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? If you’ve ever had questions like these, you’re in good company. Every believer, at certain times in their life, will struggle to believe. And you might think that seeing a miracle such as Jesus rising from the dead would cast out every question/doubt. But it doesn’t. Even in the face of the overwhelming evidence of who Jesus was, the first followers had questions and doubts; they still struggled to believe at times. But, as we’ll see today, Jesus didn’t punish them for their questions; he didn’t shame them for their doubt. In the story of Jesus and Thomas, we see that Jesus loved and served Thomas, even in his doubts, and it led to a much stronger faith. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 20:24. We’ll read through this and unpack it as we go.John 20:24–25 (NIV), “24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Ok, let’s pause here. So, last week, we saw that the first witness to the resurrection was Mary Magdalene, who recognized Jesus when he called her by name. “Mary.” Jesus sent Mary to tell his other disciples, including Peter and John and the others. After she told them she had seen the Lord, later that same day, Jesus appeared among them, and they saw for themselves he was alive. We know that Judas wasn’t among them because he had killed himself after betraying Jesus. But from this passage, John tells us that another one of the Twelve was missing when Jesus appeared. Can you imagine that? I picture Thomas coming back from the grocery store, like, “Wait, who did I miss?!?” Thomas essentially says,
Called By Name (Easter 2024): There’s something so powerful about being called by name. When Jesus Christ rose from the dead, the first eyewitness was his friend, Mary Magdalene. But Mary didn't recognize Jesus until he called her name. "Mary." When God calls us by name, his calling changes everything. Recorded on March 31, 2024, on John 20:1-23 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptAll year, we’re working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. Today, we’ll consider the meaning of the empty tomb from John chapter 20. Now, one of the features of the account of the resurrection in John is when Jesus calls Mary Magdalene by name. “Mary.” There’s something so powerful about being called by name. If you’ve ever had someone use your middle name when calling you by name, that probably wasn’t a good thing. You were probably in trouble. I still get a “David Elliott” from Holly every so often. Years ago, at the first pastor’s conference I attended before Appleton Gospel started, I went to dinner with some of the national leaders of the EFCA, the denomination we’re part of. There were maybe 50-60 people there, and I didn’t think anyone knew who I was. But then, the president of the EFCA announced that before dinner, David Parks was going to come up and pray in Korean. I froze. I hadn’t met the president, and I didn’t know how he knew my name, much less how he expected me to pray in Korean. But thankfully, before I did anything, a Korean man named David Park, who was a pastor in California, went to the front and led us in a beautiful Korean prayer. After dinner, I introduced myself and shared my moment of panic, and we laughed about it together. But other than that, normally, being called by name means someone knows you, someone sees you, and possibly someone loves you. But is that what you picture when you think about God? As someone who knows you, sees you, and loves you? As someone who calls you by name? Or does God feel far off and removed from your life? I’ve had seasons like that. Do you feel like you’ve been struggling through life without much help? Or that you’ve been trying hard to be a good person and aren’t sure what God thinks about you? Well, this message is for you. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 20. We’ll read through this and unpack it as we go.John 20:1–10 (NIV), “1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they we...
The Cross (Good Friday 2024): Ironically, during Jesus' trial and suffering, he was questioned, mocked, and abused for being the King. In his humiliating death on the cross, Jesus proved to be the perfect Passover sacrifice. Why did Jesus endure all this? It was all for you. Recorded on March 29, 2024, on John 18:28 - 19:42 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptJohn 18:28–40 (NIV), “28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” 30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” 31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. 33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” 35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” 36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” 38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” 40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.” As Justun mentioned last week, the Jewish religious leaders had illegally arrested, tried, and falsely condemned Jesus. However, as subjects of the Roman Empire, they didn’t have the authority to kill him — only Roman soldiers could do that. So, the trial moved from the high priest’s house to the house of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Ironically, John points out that the religious leaders wanted to avoid becoming ceremonially unclean while having an innocent man put to death. Again, ironically, Pilate spoke better than he knew when he said, “You are a king, then!” He wasn’t really confessing faith in Jesus, but what he said was true. Jesus was the King. But here, Jesus moved the conversation from his kingly authority to the truth of his message. If Pilate were truly a seeker, this would’ve been the perfect opportunity for him to hear the gospel. But sadly, Pilate played the cynical politician, rejecting Jesus’ claim to the truth (and maybe all truth claims: “What is truth?”). Even so, Pilate didn’t find any basis to execute Jesus, but he knew he had a hot political situation here. He tried to get Jesus released because of the Passover, but the crowd, no doubt led by the Jewish leaders, called for Barabbas, an actual criminal, instead.John 19:1–16a (NIV),
The Beginning of the End: What should we do when life isn't fair? For the Christian, it helps to see that in his arrest, trial, and condemnation — and, of course, in his death on the cross — Jesus didn't get what he deserved. He got what we deserved. None of this was fair. But in the injustice of the Great Exchange, in taking our death and giving us his life, we have everything we need to endure and indeed flourish, even in our failings. Recorded on Mar 24, 2024, on John 18:1-27 by Justun Hart.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Prayer: Communion with God: On the night before the cross, who did Jesus pray for? Jesus prayed for his disciples and those who would believe in him through their message. In other words, if you are a Christian, Jesus prayed for you! What did he pray for? Jesus prayed that we would experience true joy in a relationship with God and real unity with one another. Recorded on Mar 17, 2024, on John 17 by Ted Selker.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Joy in a World of Trouble: "In this world you will have trouble," said Jesus. How will any of us survive the troubles of this world? Jesus taught about endurance, but at the end of the Last Supper, he called his disciples to go far higher than mere survival. There will be times of grief, but there is unshakable joy for those who are found in him. Recorded on Mar 10, 2024, on John 16:16-33 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptAll year, we’re working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. Today, we’ll be working on John chapter 16, considering how we might have joy in a world of trouble. And this world is full of trouble, isn’t it? Every category in life is subject to trouble. There’s trouble with our health/relationships. There’s trouble with our money/work/politics. It’s not long before we have a world of trouble if we’re even a little public with our faith in Jesus. “When you're weary; Feeling small; When tears are in your eyes; I will dry them all.” (Simon and Garfunkel know what we’re talking about). Well, for the last six weeks or so, we’ve been studying the events and teachings of Jesus on that night of nights, the night before the cross of Christ. At this Last Supper, Jesus taught many things to help his disciples endure not only the trauma of the cross but to help them remain faithful and fruitful for the rest of their lives. Our passage today brings this long section to a close before, as we’ll see next week, Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17. But one of the themes of this long section is that of endurance/perseverance in the face of difficulties, hardships, and persecution. How will the disciples will be ok? How will they survive the pain and suffering of this broken world with Jesus returning to the Father? How will any of us survive the troubles of this world? Doesn’t it sometimes feel as if this world will shatter to pieces? Doesn’t it sometimes feel that we’re powerless in the face of such pressing darkness? Jesus has been teaching about endurance, but here, at the end of his discourse, Jesus lifts us up far higher than mere survival to the joy that is possible in him. Followers of Jesus don’t have to simply endure. We can have real joy — the joy of Jesus himself, the very joy of heaven. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 16:16. We’ll unpack this as we go.John 16:16–22 (NIV), “16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” 17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.” 19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief,
The Spirit of Truth: The way of Jesus is the best way to live. But the uncomfortable truth is that life doesn’t automatically get easier when you become a Christian. How can this be? And how might we endure when mild difficulties become outright (or even violent) persecution? We need the Spirit of truth. Recorded on Mar 3, 2024, on John 15:18-16:15 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptAll year, we’re working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. Today, as we finish John 15 and work into chapter 16, we’ll consider the uncomfortable truth that life doesn’t automatically get easier when you become a Christian. I’m sure you’ve seen examples of this on social media or in the news, but have you ever experienced this? Have you ever lost a friendship or family relationship because you were a Christian? I have. I know the pain and confusion this can bring. Or have you ever had someone call you out for your beliefs as a Christian in school, at work, or somewhere else? It can be so hard to know what to say in those moments. Thankfully, we don’t often experience violent persecution in our country today. Of course, that’s not true for Christians everywhere in the world. There are places where you would be killed for your faith in Jesus. We do believe that following Jesus is the best way to live. He is the way, the truth, and the life. So why is it that life doesn’t automatically get easier when we follow his way? In fact, sometimes, it gets way more difficult. Does Jesus have anything to say about this? He does. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 15:18.John 15:18–25 (NIV), “18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’” Ok, let’s pause here. So the minutes are ticking away and before long Jesus would be falsely arrested, tried, condemned, and crucified. So, in the shadow of the violence and humiliation of the cross, Jesus says to his disciples, essentially, “If they do this to me, don’t be surprised if they do this to you.” He says, “A servant is not greater than his master.” repeating what he said to them back in chapter 13. This is a consistent theme in John’s gospel. Back in chapter 7, Jesus said that the world “hates me because I testify that its works are evil.” (Jn 7:7). Later, as we’ll see in chapter 17, Jesus will pray for his disciples, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world,” and then prays that God would protect them from the devil and that he would sanctify them by the word of God. But here,
Jesus, the Vine: Jesus told his disciples, "I am the vine; you are the branches." This was the perfect analogy for the Christian life. Staying connected to Jesus means staying connected to the very life and love of God. This life consists of joyful obedience, fruitful work, and friendship with Jesus. What could be better than that? Recorded on Feb 25, 2024, on John 15:1-17 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptAll year, we’re working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. Today, as we start John chapter 15, we’ll consider the seventh and final “I AM” statement of Jesus in John’s gospel. Jesus says, “I am the true vine.” This teaching has huge implications for the Christian life. Maybe there’s someone here who is wondering what it would mean for them to become a Christian. What would that be like? What would have to change? Or maybe there’s someone who’s been a Christian for some time and is wondering, is this it? Should I be doing something more? Well, if you want to know what it looks like to do life with Jesus — if you want to know how it would transform you, or what would be required of you, then you need to understand what it means that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 15:1. We’ll read through this and unpack it as we go.John 15:1–4 (NIV), “1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” Ok, let’s pause here. So, again, this is the night before the cross of Christ. And Jesus is telling the Twelve, minus Judas, some very important things to help them not only get through the next few traumatic days, but to equip them for the whole of the Christian life. And there are few other passages as important for us today in understanding what life looks like with Jesus. Now, Jesus is a brilliant teacher. And he uses the analogy of the vine and the branches to teach us something about himself, about us, and about the work that God is doing in our lives when we are connected to him. As I said, this is the seventh “I AM” statement of Jesus in John’s gospel. There are seven signs and seven statements that point to Jesus being God. “I AM” refers to the divine name of God in the OT. But also, these “I AM” statements reveal something about Jesus’ mission/purpose. Here, he says, “I am the true vine,” which means that he is the source of life for the branches. If there’s a branch that fails to produce fruit, it’s cut off. But every branch that does bear fruit is pruned by God the Father so that it will be even more fruitful. Jesus says, “Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” What does all this mean? And what kind of fruit is Jesus talking about? Let’s keep going and see if it becomes more clear. (v. 5)John 15:5-8 (NIV), “5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up,
The Gift of the Spirit: On the night before the cross, Jesus knew he was leaving his disciples, but he promised not to leave them alone. He would send another advocate or counselor, the Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit would come alongside the disciples and call them forward in the way of Jesus. Even today, believers have been given the Spirit of the living God — what an incredible gift! Recorded on Feb 18, 2024, on John 14:15-31 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptThis year, we’re working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. Today, in John chapter 14, we’ll consider the gift of the Holy Spirit. When I was in first grade, I had the worst day of my short life up until that point. I got in trouble in school for something I didn’t do. I had to sit up next to the teacher, and Mrs. Meusson was very disappointed in me. What injustice. A few other inconveniences happened, and when I was telling my mom about my terrible day after school, I slammed the car door in frustration. But the door hit my other hand so hard that the nail turned black and fell off. I see now that that one was on me. But I felt so bad about my day because it felt like the whole world was conspiring against my six-year-old self, and I didn’t have anyone to be my advocate, someone to prove to Mrs. Meusson that I wasn’t to blame, someone to help me. Of course, the older I got, the higher the stakes became. If you have a bad day at six, it’s a pretty quick recovery time. Everything wrong could be fixed by a snack. If you have a bad day at sixteen, it’s definitely going to be worse. A bad day for me today, in my forties, could require a whole vacation to recover. Sometimes, I feel I may never recover. (Is that too dramatic?) Well, in our passage today, Jesus promised to send a helper, an advocate, so that we would not have to stumble through this broken world alone—someone who would be with us and help us find his peace, even through the bad days. This same advocate, the Holy Spirit, is available to us today, and he makes all the difference. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 14:15. We’ll read through this and unpack it as we go.John 14:15–21 (NIV), “15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” Ok, let’s pause here. For John, vertical love is always linked to horizontal love; love for God is always linked to our love for one another. Of course, he didn’t make this up. He got this idea from Jesus himself. Here, Jesus is saying if you love me, then you will keep my commands. And what is the new command that Jesus had just given them at this very meal? Back in chapter 13 we saw that it was to love one another just as he had loved them.
The Only Way: Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." But how can Jesus be the only way? Many people wrestle with the exclusivity of Christianity. This claim rests on the totally unique identity and work of Jesus — there is no one is like him. But once you see that the Christian faith is a real relationship with a real person, how could it be any other way? Recorded on Feb 11, 2024, on John 14:1-14 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptWell, all year, we’re working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. Today, we’ll be working on John chapter 14 if you’d like to start heading there in your Bibles/apps, and we’ll consider the exclusivity of the Christian faith. In his sixth of seven “I AM” statements, Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” But how can this be, and does this still work? In 2024? To claim that there is only one way to God? Because, we live in a pluralistic society with many different people claiming many different ways as the right way. I know a number of people who would look at this exclusive claim of Jesus as being narrow-minded at best and hateful at worst. There’s a modern phrase that captures this desire to be fully inclusive: “You do you.” This phrase means that any way you want to follow is good if it’s good for you as defined by you. And on the surface level, this sounds like wisdom. But is it true? Does it work? It doesn’t seem to work at all. In many ways, we’re more liberated from traditional rules/norms today than ever before. And this has led to some good things. But do we now have peace, individually or as a society? Not at all. We seem to have only ever-increasing anxiety, division, and conflict. And this is all very discouraging and depressing. The so-called progress of our progressive culture seems to be doing more harm than good. Now, I’m not saying we need to bring back all the traditional rules/norms. But there must be a better way. Well, according to the Bible, there is a way that God has made that is openly offered to all, no matter your background, ethnicity, morality, or class. Young and old, rich and poor, all are invited. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 14:1. We’ll read through this and unpack it as we go.John 14:1–5 (NIV), “1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Ok, let’s pause here. If you’ve been with us for the last few weeks, you’ll know that this teaching of Jesus is happening on the night before the cross of Christ. This is the Last Supper, which began with Jesus washing his disciples’ feet to demonstrate humble service. Then Judas left to betray Jesus, while Jesus gave the remaining eleven the new command to love one another just as he had loved them. But at the end of chapter 13, Jesus started talking about his departure, saying, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now,
The Love of Christ: On the night before the cross, Jesus gave his disciples a new command that would change everything: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Despite all the things that threaten to divide us, the cross-shaped, costly love of Jesus was to be the defining marker of his church. Recorded on Feb 4, 2024, on John 13:18-38 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptSo, all year, we’re working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. It wasn’t long ago that I was really having a hard time in my life. And I wasn’t handling it very well. And no one could see it more clearly than my wife, Holly. Now, Holly and I were married when we were pretty young. So we’ve had to do a lot of growing up together, and it hasn’t always been pretty. In fact, it never is. Immaturity is always painful. But when I was deep down in this dark valley and feeling pretty bad for myself, she could’ve responded to me with judgment and condemnation (or at least a cold shoulder). But instead, she told me, “It’s ok. I’m not going anywhere. And we’ll figure this out.” It was her grace; it was her love for me in that moment that made me want to run up out of the valley. Now, not everyone is called to be married, and I know that not everyone who gets married stays married for various reasons. But this kind of love is what every single one of us was created to enjoy with God and within the church. Today, we’re finishing John chapter 13, considering the love of Christ and his calling for us, his people, to love one another just as he has loved us. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 13:18. We’ll read through this and unpack it as we go.John 13:18–21 (NIV), “18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ 19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” Ok, let’s pause here. So, last week, we started a long section in John’s gospel focusing on the events and teachings of the night before the cross of Christ. This includes the story last week of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, demonstrating the humble service that Jesus called his disciples to do for one another. But this night also includes the Last Supper, one of the longest sections of the teaching of Jesus known as the Upper Room Discourse, and the sad story here of the betrayal of Jesus by one of his friends and followers. But Jesus knows this will happen. He isn’t surprised by this betrayal, but it still hurts. John says that he was troubled in spirit. If you knew one of your friends, someone you spent years of your life with, would sell you to your enemies, how would you feel? But Jesus says that this tragic choice was all part of the plan. He says this was to fulfill a verse from Psalm 41. This was a psalm of the ancient King David. And one where some sort of illness had threatened David’s life while his enemies prowled around him, celebrating his impending death. Even one of David’s close friends,
Jesus, the Servant: The night before the cross, when he washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus modeled the type of humble service he called his followers to do. As the Son of God, Jesus was the greatest — but he wasn't afraid to become the least to meet our greatest spiritual need. Ever since, humility has been one of the highest virtues for the followers of Jesus. Recorded on Jan 28, 2024, on John 13:1-17 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptAll year, we’re working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. Today, in John chapter 13, we’re considering the humility of Jesus. And this aspect of Jesus’s character (maybe more than anything) is so compelling to modern people. We love it when someone who’s rich or powerful or famous is humble. One of my favorite bands is Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Maybe 6-7 years ago, I was able to see them play, and the way Tom Petty thanked us for coming out and told us what an honor it was to be able to entertain us, even for just a few hours, demonstrated a level of humility that was so impressive. Now, I don’t know if he was that humble or if it was just part of the act, but it really made an impression on me. Humility is a powerful thing. But to be honest, humility is also a tricky thing to work on. Because as soon as you think about it, as soon as you notice it, it disappears. You might do something or say something and then think, “Wow, that was really humble of me to respond in that way or to do that thing for that person, and I don’t even like them!” but then, poof! The humility’s gone; it disappeared! Pride is still pride, even (or maybe especially) if it’s generated by your own humility. But this is a broken world, and we are sinful people, so pride/ego/self-centeredness, these things are the default mode of the human heart. I’ve noticed that it’s become popular on social media to talk about narcissists. But narcissism is nothing new. It’s just selfish pride. And it doesn’t take too much observation to see some narcissistic tendencies in our own lives. Am I the only one who looks at myself first in a group photo to see if the group photo is good? Or maybe I’m the only one who struggles with this? If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 13:1. We’ll unpack this as we go.John 13:1–5 (NIV), “1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” Let’s pause here briefly. So, everything in John’s gospel has built up to this point. John has been alluding to the hour of Jesus since chapter two, but even before that, Jesus was described by John the Baptist as the sacrificial lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And now, that time had finally come. For the past several weeks, we’ve been working through the events of the week leadi...
The Difficulty of Faith: At the end of his public ministry, people were still divided over who Jesus was. Some believed in him, while others did not. Even some of the people who saw Jesus do things that only God could do struggled to believe. How could this be? Because faith is a battle. But Jesus didn't punish or shame people who struggled with their faith. He continued to invite them into the life, light, and love of a relationship with him. Recorded on Jan 21, 2024, on John 12:37-50 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptWell, today, we’re continuing to work through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. We’ll be finishing John chapter 12, considering the end of the public ministry of Jesus and the difficulty of faith. If you’re new to the Christian faith, you might assume that having faith in God is easy because you (what?) just believe. That doesn’t sound hard, right? It’s not what you do that saves you; salvation is a gift of God’s grace we receive by faith in Jesus Christ. But if you’ve been a Christian for a little longer, if you’ve really tried to follow the way of Jesus, then you probably quickly saw how difficult faith can be — faith is a battle. I’ve been a pastor for almost 13 years now, but I’ve been a Christian pretty much my whole life. But for years now, do you know what has had to stay at the top of my daily to-do list? It just says, “Pray.” Do you know why? Because otherwise, I forget to pray! I’ve had some incredibly powerful times in prayer. I’ve had God dramatically answer my prayers. I’m definitely the best version of myself when I consistently spend time with God in prayer. So why on earth would I forget to do something that is so helpful and powerful for me? Because of the difficulty of faith. It doesn’t come easy. Even after all these years, even with everything I know about who God is, I still get distracted, tempted, confused, anxious, or afraid. What’s going on? Have you ever wondered why faith is a battle? In our passage for today, we see the difficulty of faith, but we also see the beautiful and gracious response of Jesus. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 12:37. Let’s work through this together.John 12:37–41 (NIV), “37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.” Ok, let’s pause here. If you’ve been with us for the past few weeks, you’ll know that we are in the week leading up to the cross. Jesus was anointed in Bethany by his friend and follower, Mary. Then, we had the triumphal entry of Jesus when he was welcomed as a king coming into the city of Jerusalem. Then last week, Justun preached on Jesus’ favorite title for himself, Son of Man. And we saw that the Son of Man title pointed to both the kingship of Jesus as the promised king of the kingdom of God and also his identity as the suffering servant of Isaiah. Next week, with the start of John chapter 13,
Jesus, the Son of Man: Self-sacrifice (not self-serving) is the way of Jesus — who came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. But let's face it: a life of sacrifice sounds hard, painful even. How can we joyfully follow this difficult path? By surrendering to God and submitting to all his ways. Recorded on Jan 14, 2024, on John 12:20-36 by Justun Hart.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Jesus, the King: At the Triumphal Entry, Jesus, riding the colt of a donkey, was welcomed into Jerusalem as a king by people waving palm branches and praising God. This fulfilled numerous prophecies about the promised King of the Kingdom of God. But if Jesus is the true King — then he not only deserves our total allegiance but he changes the way we understand and use any sort of power or authority. Recorded on Jan 7, 2024, on John 12:12-19 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptWell, today, we’re continuing to work through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. We’ll be in John chapter 11 12, considering the triumphal entry of Jesus when he was welcomed as a king into the city of Jerusalem. Most Christians would be quick to say Jesus is our Lord and Savior. But what does it mean for Jesus to be our King? This question is really at the heart of the Christian life. So if you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 12:12. We’ll read through it first and then we’ll go back and unpack it.John 12:12–19 (NIV), “12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” This is God’s word. The Apostle John starts this passage by saying it took place “the next day.” The next day after what? Well, last week, we saw the interaction between Jesus and Mary of Bethany at a dinner held in Jesus’ honor for raising Mary’s brother, Lazarus, from the dead. And Mary demonstrated extravagant honor by anointing Jesus with a very costly perfume. Jesus was really touched by what she had done. But we also saw that chapter 12 marks the start of the week leading up to the cross. Again, time slows way down for John as we get closer to the cross. The first half of John’s gospel covers about 2.5 years of time, while the second half only covers about a week. But if this is all true, then this week would be the most important week in human history. So here, the next day, six days before the cross, on Sunday morning, the great crowd that had come for the Passover festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. Let’s look at that again (v. 12).John 12:12–13 (NIV), “12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see,
Jesus and Mary: What comes into your mind when you think of worship? Going to church? Singing worship music? In the story of Jesus and Mary of Bethany, Mary gives a beautiful picture of what true and proper worship is. When Mary anoints Jesus, it's a picture of extravagant honor with an audience of one. Recorded on Dec 31, 2023, on John 11:45 - 12:11 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon Transcript Well, today, we’re back from a little Christmas break last week to continue working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. We’ll be working from John chapter 11 into chapter 12, considering a beautiful picture of true and proper worship in the story of Jesus and Mary of Bethany. As we begin, let me ask you a question. What comes into your mind when you think of worship? When I was a kid, I think if you asked me that question, I would’ve thought of going to church. And this makes some sense as we call this a worship service. But is worship limited to Sunday morning or whenever there’s a worship service? I think when many people think of worship, they think of worship music. And certainly, Biblical worship includes singing songs of praise to God. The book of Psalms in the Bible is a hymnal, a whole songbook used by God’s people for thousands of years in worship. But worship isn’t limited to music any more than it’s limited to a particular place/time. So, what is worship? Well, the answer is so clearly seen in our story today when Mary responds to Jesus with extravagant honor. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 11:45. We’ll read through it and unpack it as we go.John 11:45–54 (NIV), “45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” 49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.” Ok, let’s pause here. If you’ve been with us for the past few months, we’ve seen a similar reaction throughout this middle section of John’s gospel. People are divided over who Jesus is. Some respond in faith, as it says in v. 45, “many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.” At the same time, others oppose him, including those in positions of power like Caiaphas, the chief priest. Now, it’s interesting that Caiaphas made this prophecy about Jesus: That Jesus would die for the Jewish nation and also for the...
Everybody Needs Christmas: In the Christmas story, we see faithful men and women, young and old, looking forward to the birth of the One God had promised to send. One who would be the Savior of the world. But even good and faithful people needed Christmas. Why? Everybody needs Christmas because everybody needs Jesus. Recorded on Dec 24, 2023, on Luke 2:1-40 by Pastor David Parks.
Raising Lazarus from the Dead (A Sign of Life): Modern people really struggle with the reality of death. But when Jesus' close friend Lazarus died, his response has the power to change our perspective on life and death — and life after death. No longer must we mourn without hope. Why? Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Recorded on Dec 17, 2023, on John 11:1-44 by Pastor David Parks.Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.Sermon TranscriptWe’re working through the gospel according to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. And today, we’re in John chapter 11, considering the seventh of the seven miraculous signs and the fifth of the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in John’s gospel. With both a sign and a statement reflecting the divinity of Jesus, John is presenting this story as a culmination of all the evidence he’s presented so far as to the person and work of Jesus. But in this story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, we see both a sign and statement of the power of Jesus over life and death. As modern Western people, we really struggle with the reality of death. Even though we know death is real — and so much of our entertainment is obsessed with death — still, almost everyone seems to functionally live their life as if they’ll live forever. As a result, when some people get a bad diagnosis, or they hear of someone getting sick or dying, it’s not just sad or difficult; it’s like a traumatic shock they never expected in life. So, as followers of Jesus, how might we be more prepared to face the reality of death in our own lives or in the lives of our friends and family members? In our story today, Jesus faces the illness and death of a close friend. And how he responds not only reveals more about who he is, but has the power to change our perspective on life and death and life after death, forever. It really doesn’t get bigger than this. So if you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 11. We have a long passage, but it’s all one story, and we’ll unpack it as we go. John 11:1–16 (NIV), “1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” 11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” 12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there,
Healing at Bethesda - A Sign of Restoration: Is Jesus able to restore what we have lost? Back in Jerusalem, Jesus encounters a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. Jesus responds by healing him, restoring his mobility, and so much more. This is the third of seven miraculous signs in John's gospel, a sign of restoration. Recorded on Sep 10, 2023, on John 5:1-15 by Pastor David Parks.
Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Sermon Transcript
So all year, we’re going through the gospel according to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. And if you missed any of the messages so far, you can always go back and watch or listen online. But this morning, we’ll start John, chapter 5. For the last several weeks, we considered several one-on-one conversations between Jesus and individual people. Today, as we head back south to Jerusalem and the healing of the man at Bethesda, the Apostle John gives us the third of seven miraculous signs. As we’ve said, Jesus did many more than seven signs in his ministry. So, the seven signs John records here are designed to be just a sample of the miraculous part of his ministry, but each sign has been chosen to teach us something unique about Jesus and the kingdom where he is the King. So far, we’ve had the sign of celebration of turning water into wine, then last week, we considered a sign of healing in the healing of the official’s son. Today, we have a sign of restoration in the healing of the man at Bethesda. Have you ever lost something that was valuable to you? Maybe you feel you lost out on an opportunity you could’ve had or that you lost your money/time/health/or something else. I have, and one thing I’ve noticed is that sometimes these losses are our own fault, and then there are feelings of guilt/shame/regret that flood our minds when we think of what we’ve lost. Other times, these losses are completely out of our control, and then there are feelings of bitterness/resentment at what we rightly see as being stolen from us. Some of you are too young to remember the 1980s and earlier when seatbelts were optional, and the kids could sit in the backseat of a car (especially a station wagon!) and look out the back window while their parents drove. As a kid without an iPhone or even a DVD player, back in the dark ages, it was considered fun to drive forward while looking backward. But some of us today are stuck that way — looking out the back window of our lives, stuck looking back at our past and all we have lost or all we’d want to see restored, when we should be looking forward as we move forward into our future. But what can we do? What do you think Jesus would have to say about what you see through that back window? Would he care? What do you think he would do? Could he restore what you’ve lost? If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 5:1.
John 5:1-5 (NIV), “1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.” Ok, let’s pause here. So let’s recall that it’s the Apostle John who is our author, a young man with a temper who earned the nickname Son of Thunder when he started following Jesus.
Healing the Official's Son - A Sign of Healing: When returning to Galilee, Jesus encounters a father experiencing a parent's worst nightmare: a young son so sick he was near death. When Jesus comments about signs and wonders of faith, the man responds in faith and heads home to find his son miraculously healed. Go to Jesus for healing. Recorded on Sep 3, 2023, on John 4:43-54 by Pastor David Parks.
Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Sermon Transcript
So all year, we’re going through the gospel according to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. And if you missed any of the messages so far, you can always go back and watch or listen online. But this morning, we’re at the end of John, chapter 4. For the last several weeks, we considered several one-on-one conversations between Jesus and individual people. Today, as we come back north into the region of Galilee, in the healing of the official’s son, the Apostle John gives us the second out of seven miraculous signs. Of course, Jesus did many more than seven signs in his ministry. All the gospels present the miracles of Jesus as something that seemed to happen constantly as they followed him. So the seven signs John records here are designed to be just a sample of the miraculous part of his ministry, but each sign has been chosen to teach us something unique about Jesus and the kingdom where he is the King — and today, we have a sign of healing. Now, I don’t get sick very often, but I’ve been really sick a few times in my life, and it’s a miserable thing. I won’t go through my medical history with you, but I do know what it’s like to lay in bed and not have the strength to even sit up and to long for energy/relief/health. I know what it’s like to pray desperate prayers that God would intervene/heal. But I also know that what I’ve experienced is nothing compared to the illness and affliction that some of you have experienced, either personally or with someone close to you. These experiences can be heartbreaking and are so costly. So, as followers of Jesus, how do we face this type of suffering? As a dad, the worst thing I could imagine is one of my kids becoming so sick that we had to start making funeral plans. Could the way of Jesus possibly prepare someone for something so heart-wrenching as that? If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 4:43. Let’s jump right in.
John 4:43-47 (NIV), “43 After the two days he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there. 46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.” Ok, let’s pause here. So, our passage picks up right where we left off last week with Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well in the region of Samaria. John tells us that after staying in Samaria for a few days and seeing an incredible harvest of faith from the most unlikely place, Jesus makes his way to Galilee. Looking at a map, we see that in John 3-4, Jesus travels from Jerusalem/Judea in the south, north through Shechem in Samaria,
Jesus and the Woman at the Well: While traveling through Samaria, Jesus gently starts a conversation with a very unlikely person: a Samaritan woman with a string of failed marriages who was living with yet another man. Jesus offers her grace and truth. She responds by telling everyone in her town about Jesus, and many believe because of her testimony. If you have a past full of guilt, shame, or regrets, this message is for you. Recorded on Aug 27, 2023, on John 4:1-42 by Pastor David Parks.
Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Sermon Transcript
So all year, we’re working our way chapter by chapter and verse by verse through the gospel according to John. We’re calling this series Finding Life in Jesus’ Name, and if you missed any of the messages so far, you can always go back and watch or listen online. But this morning, we’re in John chapter 4. Starting last week, we started working through a longer section of John’s gospel that focuses on conversations that individual people have with Jesus. And we said that this shows the humility of Jesus, that he would be willing to spend one-on-one time with people and not just bask in the glory of the crowds but also his heart for people. No two conversations are alike. Jesus meets everyone where they are at, and helps them move forward in the truth and in healing and in redemption and in whatever else they most need. But also, each conversation teaches us something new about the person and work of Jesus. Last week, we had a conversation between Jesus and a powerful/influential religious leader named Nicodemus. And said that Nicodemus would’ve been widely seen as a good person (maybe one of the best people!) in their society. But Jesus was clear: even a man like Nicodemus needed to be born again to see/enter the kingdom of God. In other words, the way of salvation is a gift of God and a work of the Holy Spirit, not something anyone can earn by being a good person. It was a challenging conversation. Today, we have another conversation, but with someone who could in many ways be seen as the polar opposite of Nicodemus, that is, with the woman at the well. And this conversation is one of the best examples of John’s statement in the prologue that Jesus was full of grace and truth. The way that he deals with this woman who seems to have something of a sketchy past is really incredible. But what about you? Is there anyone here who could use some grace? Anyone who struggles to keep their life perfectly well-ordered? I know there’s someone here who’s got some junk in their past that follows you around and whispers guilt and shame and regret into your heart. For all who need some grace today, this message is for you. There is One who offers unconditional acceptance but also hope for change. There is only One who offers living waters welling up to eternal life, regardless of who you are or what you have done. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 4:1. We’re going to cover a lot of bible today, but this is all one story, so I believe you can handle it, and I’ll unpack it as we go. Let’s jump right in.
John 4:1-10 (NIV), “1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar,
Jesus and Nicodemus: In a private conversation with a powerful religious leader named Nicodemus, Jesus reveals the heart of the gospel and God's great love for a world in need of a savior. If you want to know what makes Christianity different than every other religion, this is it. But if Nicodemus needed to be born again, there’s hope for anyone. Recorded on Aug 20, 2023, on John 3:1-21 by Pastor David Parks.
Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Sermon Transcript
So, all year, we’re working our way chapter by chapter and verse by verse through the gospel according to John. We’re calling this series Finding Life in Jesus’ Name, and if you missed any of the messages so far, you can always go back and watch or listen online. I’m back today after a couple weeks off, and I just really appreciate Casey Johnson from the EFCA and Ted Selker preaching for us. But I’m so glad to be back, too. This morning, we’re jumping back into chapter 3. John 1 provided a great intro to the ministry of Jesus and his practice of calling men and women everywhere to become his disciples and learn to follow him. Chapter 2 introduced the first of seven miraculous signs in changing water into wine and the teaching that Jesus was to replace the temple. Starting here in chapter 3, John starts a longer section of conversations that individual people had with Jesus. And this is a really fascinating section of John’s gospel to me for several reasons. First, though Jesus had crowds of thousands of people following him during certain points of his ministry, he didn’t just want the fame/glory of the crowds; he ministered to individual people, too, which speaks to his humility. But second, this collection of interactions/conversations with Jesus are all different. No two are alike. Jesus doesn’t have this canned speech that he gives everyone; he meets everyone where they are at and helps them move forward in the truth, in healing, and in redemption. And that speaks to his heart for people. Each interaction teaches us something new about the person and work of Jesus. Today, in the conversation between Jesus and a powerful religious leader named Nicodemus, John reveals the core of what is fundamentally different about Christianity than every other religion or philosophy in the world. We say it all the time, but the way of Jesus is different; it’s unique. But it’s this very unique-ness of Jesus that makes the Christian gospel such good news and shapes how we receive and apply this to our lives today. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 3:1. Let’s jump right in.
John 3:1-8 (NIV), “Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound,
Jesus the Bridegroom: John the Baptist clearly understood his role in God's plan- he was there to prepare the way for Jesus. While he could have used his popularity to struggle for power, he pointed his followers to Jesus and reduced his own place in the ministry. Understanding God's plan in and around your life should completely change your perspective on life. Recorded on Aug 13, 2023, on John 3:22-36 by Ted Selker.
Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Jesus and the Temple: A temple is a place of forgiveness and fellowship — forgiveness of sin and fellowship with God. Jesus is the true temple, the place where heaven and earth are united and forgiveness and fellowship are offered to all. However, in Christ, you are a temple, too. This shocking reality has huge implications for human beings and human bodies. Recorded on Jul 30, 2023, on John 2:13-25 by Pastor David Parks.
Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Sermon Transcript
So this month, we’ve started a new annual theme for our preaching ministry that is: Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. And, we’ve said that normally, we’d have a selection of sermon series under this theme from various parts of the Bible throughout the year. But this year we’re doing something a little different. For almost the whole next year, we’re going slowly, chapter by chapter and verse by verse, through the gospel according to John. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 2:13. Let’s jump right in.
John 2:13-17 (NIV), “13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”” Ok! Did Jesus lose it? Did he have an anger problem? What is going on here? Well, the setting, according to John, was that it was almost time for the Jewish Passover. This was the national festival that commemorated the time at the start of the exodus out of Egypt when God had the Jewish people sacrifice a lamb and put the blood on the door frame of their houses. Everyone who was covered by the blood of the sacrifice was protected from the judgment of God; they would be passed over. If they weren’t covered by this blood sacrifice, they would be under the same judgment as the Egyptians. When this took place, Pharaoh finally agreed to let the people of Israel, who were slaves in Egypt, go. After this, the Lord commanded his people to continue to celebrate the Passover as one of their national feasts. They were to return to Jerusalem for a week and remember together what God had done to free them from captivity. This was to be a serious time, a holy time. When Jesus went up to Jerusalem (up in elevation), he found the temple and the people in the temple, not in a spirit of repentance, not with broken and contrite hearts; instead, he found a noisy and bustling marketplace. Now, there’s nothing wrong with a marketplace or buying and selling lawful things, but this was not God’s intention for the temple. So Jesus made a whip and drove the animals out and overturned tables and drove the people out, saying, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” Now, the fact that Jesus referred to the temple as “my Father’s house” is significant because no one talked like this. This will be a thread that runs all the way through John’s gospel, but here, we see Jesus clearly saying that God is his Father. In the OT, God is sometimes called the Father of Israel as a nation, but not in this individual, personalized way.
Water into Wine - A Sign of Celebration: At a wedding in Cana, Jesus performed his famous miracle of turning water into wine. This served as the first sign to the disciples of who Jesus is and what the kingdom is like where he is King. And what does this miracle teach us? Turning hundreds of gallons of water into the best wine at a wedding feast is a wonderful sign of celebration. Recorded on Jul 23, 2023, on John 2:1-12 by Pastor David Parks.
Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Sermon Transcript
So this month, we’ve started a new annual theme for our preaching ministry, that is: Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. And normally, we’d have a selection of sermon series under this theme from various parts of the Bible throughout the year. But this year we’re doing something a little different. For almost the whole next year, we’re going slowly, chapter by chapter and verse by verse, through the gospel according to John. So far, we’ve made it through chapter 1, which really has served as an introduction for the whole series. This morning, with the start of chapter 2, the author, the Apostle John, kicks off the public ministry of Jesus with the famous miracle of turning water into wine. Now, I know it’s the summertime, so if you missed any of the sermons so far, you can always go back and watch online or listen to the audio podcast if you’d like. But today, with turning water into wine, we’ll see the first of seven signs in John’s gospel, which reveal who Jesus is and what the kingdom is like where he is king. And this first sign at the very start of the ministry of Jesus sets the stage for what his unique and world-changing ministry would be all about. And the message here is so surprisingly good. The way of Jesus, becoming a disciple of Jesus, the life that is found in Jesus’ name — none of this is easy, but it is so very good. The first of the seven signs is a sign of celebration which ought to be received with joyful praise and surprised thanks. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 2:1. Let’s jump right in.
John 2:1–5 (NIV), “On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”” Let’s pause here. Ok! Just like the Godfather movie, the public ministry of Jesus starts with a wedding. Chapter one ends with a few men starting to follow Jesus as his disciples. We saw last week that Peter, Andrew, Philip, Nathanael, and John the author all started following Jesus initially because of the testimony of John the Baptist. But after they spent some time with him, they started bringing others to him, convinced that he was the Messiah or the chosen one sent by God. If we look at a map, we can see that this happened in the southern region of Judea to the east of Jerusalem in the wilderness beyond the Jordan River. That’s where John the Baptist’s ministry took place. Here in chapter two, the author says they attended a wedding in the small town of Cana in the northern region of Galilee. And Cana was only a few miles north of the town of Nazareth, where Jesus grew up. Now, we don’t know whose wedding they were attending, but we can guess it was someone who was a family friend of Jesus,
Jesus and the Disciples: The ministry of Jesus included calling men and women to become his disciples. In fact, everything that follows in John's gospel must be seen through the lens of discipleship — of learning to follow Jesus and helping others do the same. But as we see in this passage, the journey of faith often starts when someone says, “Come and see.” Recorded on Jul 16, 2023, on John 1:35-51 by Pastor David Parks.
Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Sermon Transcript
So this month, we’ve started a new annual theme for our preaching ministry, that is: Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. And normally, we’d have a selection of sermon series under this theme from various parts of the Bible throughout the year. But this year we’re doing something a little different. For almost the whole next year, we’re going slowly, chapter by chapter and verse by verse, through the gospel according to John. We started this series/theme by meeting two different men named John. First, we met John the Apostle, the author of this gospel account of the life and ministry of Jesus. John was an ambitious and hot-tempered young man with the nickname Son of Thunder. But John found a new life with Jesus and was changed so much that by the end of his long life, he was known as the Apostle of love. Second, last week, we met John the Baptist, who was a wild man. John lived in the desert wilderness and dressed and ate like it, too. But John was sent by God to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. And he did that very effectively. Today, we’ll move from the ministry of John the Baptist, preparing us for the coming of Jesus, to the very start of the ministry of Jesus. And the author introduces the ministry of Jesus in his gospel by showing how Jesus would call people to follow him. Last year, we spent the whole year focusing on learning to follow the unique way of Jesus. If you missed either of those sermons, you can always go back and watch online or listen to the audio podcast if you’d like. But today, we’ll see the start of the journey for several of the first followers of Jesus. And what we learn from this passage will not only help us see how to follow Jesus but also how we might help our friends or loved ones follow him, too. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 1:35. Let’s jump in.
John 1:35-39 (NIV), “35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.” Ok, let’s pause here. So John the author/apostle says the day after John the baptist (the John mentioned here) testified that it was Jesus was the Messiah, and the one he was sent by God to prepare the way for — the next day, John was there again, meaning in the wilderness to the east of the Jordan River, with two of his disciples. At this time in Judea, the model of a rabbi and their disciples was common, but it wasn’t common everywhere in the Roman Empire. This is why the author tells us that Rabbi means “Teacher.” As we saw in our last series, the Apostle Paul received an education under one of the most well-r...
Jesus, the Lamb of God: Before we get to Jesus, we must be prepared to see him. This was what the ministry of John the Baptist was all about: to prepare the way for the Lord. John did this through a baptism of repentance and his testimony about Jesus, the Lamb of God. But John's ministry is still needed. Why? It's only when we behold Jesus and see him for who he truly is that we can find the life-to-the-full that God created for us to live. Recorded on Jul 9, 2023, on John 1:19-34 by Pastor David Parks.
Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Sermon Transcript
So, last week, we started the new annual theme of Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. As I said last week, normally, we’d have a selection of sermon series under our annual theme from the whole Bible. But this year, we’re doing something a little different. For almost the whole next year, we’ll go slowly, chapter by chapter and verse by verse, through the gospel according to John. And last week, we kicked off this series/theme by working through the prologue of John’s gospel. We met the Apostle John, an ambitious and hot-tempered young man, one of the Sons of Thunder. But John found a new life with Jesus, and eventually, he was changed so much that by the end of his long life, he was known as the Apostle of love. We said that reading through John is like walking through an art gallery. John has curated many different artistic images and portraits under one theme. And the theme is all about who Jesus is, what God has done and is doing through him, and the reality of the new life, eternal life, a life to the full that is possible when we believe. If you missed the introduction, you can always go back and watch it online or listen to the audio podcast if you’d like. But today, we’ll meet another man named John, not the Apostle, but the baptizer. And this John, John the Baptist, had the special God-given task to prepare the way for the coming of the Christ (Messiah). And John the Baptist’s ministry is fitting for us even to this day. Because before we get to Jesus, we must be prepared to see him. We must first understand that God had promised that Jesus would come. Second, we must have a realistic view of our own sin and struggle that we need help; we need a savior. Third, and finally, as John encourages us to do, we must behold Jesus. We must really look at him and listen to him. We must carefully consider his words and deeds and meditate on what all that says about who he truly is. But if we do this, if we prepare ourselves and if we walk through this gallery that John has prepared for us, we just might find the life-to-the-full that God created for us to live. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 1:19. Let’s jump in.
John 1:19-23 (NIV), “19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”” Ok, let’s pause here. So again, the John in this passage isn’t the author, but the baptizer who had a very popular ministry early i...
Jesus, the Word of God: Many people sense there must be something more to life, but what could it be? There once was an ambitious, hot-tempered young man named John whose life was dramatically changed by his friend, Jesus. John came to believe the new life he found — a real life, an eternal life, a life to the full — is available for all who believe. And this is what John's gospel is all about. Real life is found by faith in Jesus' name. Recorded on Jul 2, 2023, on John 1:1-18 by Pastor David Parks.
Finding Life in Jesus' Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John's life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God's power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.
Sermon Transcript
So today, we have the privilege of starting a new annual theme for our preaching ministry, that is: Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. Now normally, we’d have a selection of sermon series under this one annual theme from the Old and New Testaments in the Bible, but this year, we’re going to do something a little different. For almost the whole next year, we’re going to slowly (chapter by chapter and verse by verse) work through the gospel according to John. This morning, I have the task of introducing this whole series, but we’ll also jump into the beginning, or the prologue as it’s usually called, which John uses as an introduction to his gospel. So, as we kick off this new theme, you might be wondering what John is all about and why we should care about what he has to say today. And those are good questions, but I’d like to start with a few questions for you. How do you feel about your life? Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, that something was still missing? I know I’ve had those questions over the years. Not that good things haven’t happened; certainly, many good things have happened in my life. But still, many people sense there must be something more to life, but what could it be? Well, a long time ago now, there was a man named John who was one of the closest friends of Jesus. John was an ambitious and hot-tempered young man when he started following Jesus. So much so that Jesus called John and his brother James the “Sons of Thunder.” At one point, John wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy a city that wasn’t very receptive to their message. He was ready to fight for the kingdom of God. But by the end of his long life, John became known as the Apostle of love. It really seems as if everything about his life had changed. He saw himself no longer with the hungry ambition to sit at Jesus’ right or left hand in glory but simply as the disciple that Jesus loved. And he came to believe that God was not only loving as part of his character but that God himself is love. And he came to believe and teach that the main marker of a Christian, the most important thing that distinguishes the life of a disciple of Jesus, is their love for one another. If you grew up with John and met him later in life, you’d wonder, “How did this happen?” Well, how did John experience this kind of radical change in his life? It was Jesus. Jesus turned John’s life upside-down. Jesus set him on a different path and walked with him until John understood and believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have a new life, an eternal life, and have it to the full. Of course, this is what Jesus does. So why should we care about what he has to say today? Because John claims that the new life that he found — a life marked by God's power/presence/purpose — is available for all who believe, even for us today.
Paul’s Final Word: As we bring our biographical series on the life of the Apostle Paul to a close, it's important to see how Paul "finished the race" of his life and ministry. Though he suffered many hardships, Paul's confidence in Christ and his heavenly reward remained unwavering. Paul not only "kept the faith," but entrusted the ministry of the gospel to the next generation. What a life! Will we be able to say the same thing at the end of our race? Recorded on Jun 25, 2023, on 2 Timothy 4:1-8 by Ted Selker.
The Life of Paul is a new sermon series (mostly) from the book of Acts in the Bible. The Apostle Paul has a fantastic story. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, which changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who ever lived. Paul’s story offers a great case study of what it looks like to learn the way of Jesus.
Paul's Power in Weakness: One of the most startling realizations for many Christians is that even with faith in Jesus, life can still be very, very hard. Tragedy can still strike. Godly people still suffer. The Apostle Paul knew this better than most. He endured great hardship during his ministry. What kept him going? What drove him forward? He learned the vital lesson that when you're weak, grace is enough. Recorded on Jun 18, 2023, on 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 by Pastor David Parks.
The Life of Paul is a new sermon series (mostly) from the book of Acts in the Bible. The Apostle Paul has a fantastic story. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, which changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who ever lived. Paul’s story offers a great case study of what it looks like to learn the way of Jesus.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’ve focused on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re almost done with this theme. After today we only have one more week in our series on the life of Paul before we start our new annual theme, which is Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. For most of this next year, starting in July, we’ll be working through the whole gospel of John, chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And I can’t wait for that series! I’ve been working on this for months, and I can’t wait to share what the Lord has been showing me in John’s gospel. But as we finish our series on the life of the Apostle Paul, I do hope this series has been helpful for you. We’ve seen throughout this series that everybody needs Jesus, even enemies of Jesus like Paul. However, if you hear the gospel, put your faith in Jesus, and start to follow his way by the power of the Spirit, it doesn’t just make your life a little better — Jesus changes everything. We’ve seen this transformation in Paul’s life, going from a violent persecutor of Christians to the most effective Christian missionary in the history of the world. And we’ve seen this dynamic of change/transformation in the lives of many people and even whole cities as a result of Paul’s ministry. I suspect many of us could give testimony to the changes that Jesus brought into our lives, too. However, despite all this evidence of the power of God and the truth of the gospel, one of the most startling realizations for many Christians is that even when you trust in Jesus as Lord, even when you’ve been baptized and are obedient to follow his way, life can still be very, very hard. Tragedy can still strike. Godly people still suffer. And I’ve experienced this. I’ve been wounded, I’ve had broken relationships, I’ve struggled and suffered, and I’ve tasted the bitter wine of anxiety and depression and all manner of weakness, despite trying to be faithful to God. But my life has been relatively easy compared to Paul’s life. Paul suffered a great deal after becoming a Christian, as we’ll see today. My question is this: why did Paul keep going? From a biographical standpoint, why did Paul keep traveling, keep preaching, keep making disciples, and so on, when he so often faced such terrible and even violent opposition? What drove him forward, despite such hardship? The answer is that Paul was taught a lesson by Jesus himself that sustained him through it all. Not only did Jesus help Paul learn how to survive suffering, but he gave him a source of power, even in the midst of great weakness. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to 2Co 12:1. As you turn there, let’s do a quick recap of Paul’s life. Paul was born and raised in Tarsus and received the best Jewish education in Jerusalem. He became a Christian in Damascus and eventually helped lead the church in Antioch. From there, he went on three missionary journeys which led him as far as Corinth to the west, in which he helped plant dozens of churches.
Paul in Ephesus: Have you ever felt stuck? With something needing to change hanging over your head? We say it all the time: Jesus changes everything. But what can we do when change is slow in coming? The whole region was changed after the Apostle Paul spent a few years in Ephesus. We learn three essential elements from his time there for real and lasting change. Recorded on Jun 11, 2023, on Acts 19:1-20 by Pastor David Parks.
The Life of Paul is a new sermon series (mostly) from the book of Acts in the Bible. The Apostle Paul has a fantastic story. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, which changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who ever lived. Paul’s story offers a great case study of what it looks like to learn the way of Jesus.
Sermon Transcript
So all year, we’ve been focused on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series on the life of the Apostle Paul as a case study for learning the way of Jesus. Now one of the things about the way of Jesus, and we’ve tried to make this clear throughout the last year, is that his way is a totally different way compared to the ways of the world or even the way of our lives if we chose our own way. And when you follow this different way of Jesus, all kinds of stuff changes in your life. But honestly, have you ever felt stuck? Have you ever felt like there was this thing hanging over your head that just never seemed like it would go away? I have. As a Christian, even as a pastor, I’ve had issues/struggles/doubts that took years to work through before I saw real change. Sometimes I felt embarrassed along the way, sometimes defeated. But then, in God’s timing and by his grace, I was able to see change and experience more of the fruit of the Spirit, more freedom in Christ, and more joy as a child of God. But what’s up with that? On the one hand, following the way of Jesus seems to change some things right away. But on the other hand, other things seem to take forever. I’ve talked with many people over the years who share this same perplexing experience. Do you know what I’m talking about? Have you ever felt stuck in an area of your life? We say it all the time: Jesus changes everything. But today, we’ll see how. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to Acts 19:1. We’ll put the Scripture up on the screens for you as well. But as we join the Apostle Paul in the city of Ephesus, we’ll unpack this in three parts, revealing three essentials for experiencing real life change: 1. The Gospel 2. Discipleship 3. Spiritual Power. So first, the need for the truth of the gospel…
Acts 19:1-7 (NIV), “19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.” Let’s pause here. So as we’ve said, the Apostle Paul was born Saul of Tarsus, a brilliant young Jewish man who was a violent persecutor of Christians, that is, until he met Jesus and became a Christian, which changed everything. By his early 40s, he was a leader of the influential church in Antioch. But then God called him out. So the church sent him out as a missionary to bring the gospel to other people/places around the Roman Empire. For the past few weeks,
Paul in Athens: Have you ever been nervous about sharing your faith? In the first century AD, Athens was the center of Greek philosophy, religion, and cultural influence. The Apostle Paul had the possibly nerve-racking opportunity to share about Jesus with the Athenian elite. In his famous speech at the Areapagus, Paul demonstrates that the content of the gospel never changes, but the context does. Recorded on Jun 4, 2023, on Acts 17:16-34 by Pastor David Parks.
The Life of Paul is a new sermon series (mostly) from the book of Acts in the Bible. The Apostle Paul has a fantastic story. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, which changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who ever lived. Paul’s story offers a great case study of what it looks like to learn the way of Jesus.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’ve been focused on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series on the life of the Apostle Paul as a case study for learning the way of Jesus. The Apostle Paul was born Saul of Tarsus, a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then, in his mid-twenties, Paul met Jesus, and he became a Christian, which changed everything. By his early 40s, he had served as a leader of the influential church in Antioch before being sent out as a missionary to bring the gospel to other people/places around the Roman Empire. Today, we’ll see that Paul takes a unique approach in the famous city of Athens. His normal pattern of ministry, and even how he talks about Jesus, is very different from other places. But how could this be? Does the gospel somehow change? That can’t be right, can it? But, remember, the Apostle Paul was the most effective missionary in the history of the world. So if Paul used a unique approach in Athens, we need to understand why. And the secret we uncover here can make anyone more effective in sharing their faith. Have you ever tried to share your faith, and it just didn’t go well? Or have you ever been scared to talk about being a Christian because you weren’t sure what to say? Then this message is for you. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to Acts 17:16. We’ll put the Scripture up on the screens for you as well.
Acts 17:16-18 (NIV), “16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.” Ok, let’s pause here. For the last few weeks, we saw how Paul started to bring the news of who Jesus is and what he accomplished to other people/places, along with a demonstration of spiritual power. He started with Barnabas in Cyprus and moved north into modern Turkey. And then, on his second journey, he went with Silas, Timothy, and Luke from Turkey to Philippi in Greece. This resulted in all kinds of people responding to his message, including men and women, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, and so on, because everybody needs Jesus. However, in addition to the spiritual fruit that he saw, Paul also faced spiritual opposition, which sometimes resulted in social upheaval and even violence. Let’s look at a map. From Philippi, in northern Greece, where Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned, they were chased over to Thessalonica, then to Berea, and then south to Athens, which is where we are today. After Athens, Paul would travel on to Corinth before heading back east to Ephesus,
Paul in Philippi: As the Apostle Paul ventures into Europe on his second missionary journey, he encounters three very different types of people — a wealthy woman of status named Lydia, a spiritually oppressed slaved girl, and a Roman jailer. All three experience the saving power of God in Jesus' name, highlighting a simple lesson: Everybody needs Jesus. Recorded on May 28, 2023, on Acts 16:11-34 by Pastor David Parks.The Life of Paul is a new sermon series (mostly) from the book of Acts in the Bible. The Apostle Paul has a fantastic story. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, which changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who ever lived. Paul’s story offers a great case study of what it looks like to learn the way of Jesus.Sermon TranscriptThe theme of our preaching ministry this year (which runs through the end of June) has been Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series on the life of the Apostle Paul. And we’re using Paul’s story as a case study for learning the way of Jesus. Because Paul was born Saul of Tarsus, a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then, when he was about 25, Paul met Jesus, and he became a Christian, which set his life on a completely different path. By his early 40s, Paul had served for a time as a leader of the vibrant, growing church in Antioch before being sent out as a missionary with his coworker, Barnabas, and their young helper, John Mark. They had a successful trip to the island of Cyprus (with the exception that John Mark bailed and went back home), but Paul and Barnabas continued into modern-day Turkey before coming back to their home base of Antioch. We saw most of this first missionary journey last week in Acts 13, and just a reminder that if you’ve missed any of the sermons in this series, you can always go back and watch on the Church Center App or on YouTube. Well, today, we’re picking up the story of Paul’s second missionary journey. But for the next few weeks, we’ll consider his work in several notable cities, including Philippi (today), Athens (next week), and then, on his third journey, to Ephesus. But today, in Philippi, we’ll see Paul and his team have remarkable success but also cause such a disruption they get beaten up by a mob and thrown into prison. Now, in some ways, this is just normal life for Paul. But through it all, we see a remarkable poise; we see that Paul has this unusual ability to have joy (and literally keep singing!), even as life seems to be crumbling around him. This joy, regardless of his circumstances, is exactly the theme of his letter to the Philippians Paul would write later — when he was in prison once again. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to Acts 16:11. We’ll put the Scripture up on the screens for you as well. But today, we’ll start with a little intro passage for context. And then we’ll encounter three people in Philippi who are saved by God: first a powerful woman named Lydia, then a slave girl, and then a Roman jailer. Let’s start with the intro:Acts 16:11-12 (NIV), “11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.” So again, this is the second missionary journey of the Apostle Paul. But one detail we haven’t mentioned yet is that when leaving for this journey, Paul and Barnabas had a serious problem. At the end of Acts 15, Luke writes, “They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.” (Ac 15:39-40) Relationships are hard for everyone,...
Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles: The spiritual awakening at Antioch produced two things: generosity toward the poor and a heart for the lost. As a result, Paul and Barnabas were sent out to bring the gospel to other people and places. They traveled to Cyprus and then to Pisidian Antioch and shared the word of God with a demonstration of spiritual power — and both Jews and Gentiles responded in faith. Paul was sent by the Spirit with power from the Spirit to all peoples. Recorded on May 21, 2023, on Acts 12:25 - 13:48 by Pastor David Parks. (Apologies for the loss of about 10 seconds of audio!!)
The Life of Paul is a new sermon series (mostly) from the book of Acts in the Bible. The Apostle Paul has a fantastic story. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, which changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who ever lived. Paul’s story offers a great case study of what it looks like to learn the way of Jesus.
Sermon Transcript
The theme of our preaching ministry this past year has been Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series on the life of the Apostle Paul. Now, Paul’s story is fascinating, but for us today, it serves as a great case study for learning the way of Jesus. Because Paul was born Saul of Tarsus, a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then Paul met Jesus, which changed everything. He became a Christian and had to relearn everything in light of the way of Jesus. In our passage today, it’s about 15 years after Paul became a Christian. He’s in his early 40’s and has been serving the church in Antioch (about 450 miles north of Jerusalem) for a year with his friend, Barnabas, during a great period of spiritual renewal/awakening. We looked at this time last week, and we called it an unexpected outpouring of grace. For the first time, a large number of Jews and Gentiles had believed the gospel and started following Jesus. As we said, this doesn’t really mean anything to us, but in their day, this was a radical change. There was a wall of separation (social/cultural/ethnic/religious) between Jew and Gentile and now they saw themselves as brothers and sisters in the same church because of Jesus. Maybe the closest thing to this for us today would be hearing that there was a church where people on the extreme political left and right were actively loving each other and seeing themselves as brothers and sisters because of Jesus. That would be unusual, right? Maybe unusual enough to seem suspicious? I’m sure that’s how many people felt about Antioch. But that’s what God was doing. Well, today, we’ll see what happened next. And what happened next was that this gospel-centered, Jew and Gentile uniting, radically new thing that God was doing in Antioch — that started to spread. In fact, as it spread around the Roman Empire, the world would never be the same. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to Acts 12:25. We’ll put the Scripture up on the screens for you as well. But today, we’ll work through this passage in three sections. First, sent by the Spirit. Second, sent with power from the Spirit. And third, sent to all peoples.
Acts 12:25-13:3 (NIV), “25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. 13 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
Ok! Let’s pause here. So when Luke writes that Barnabas and Saul had fin...
Paul and the Revival at Antioch: After Paul spent ten years in Tarsus, God was doing a new thing in the big city of Antioch — Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) were becoming Christians. Barnabas was sent to investigate and brought in Paul to help lead this new, unexpected outpouring of grace. Have you ever wanted to see a spiritual revival? This message is for you. Recorded on May 14, 2023, on Acts 11:19-30 by Pastor David Parks.
The Life of Paul is a new sermon series (mostly) from the book of Acts in the Bible. The Apostle Paul has a fantastic story. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, which changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who ever lived. Paul’s story offers a great case study of what it looks like to learn the way of Jesus.
Sermon Transcript
Since last July, we’ve been focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. We’ve had sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount, the Epistles of the NT, and the Ten Commandments, all focusing on the unique way of Jesus. And we’ve seen that this way isn’t simply a list of things to know/believe but a way of life to learn and follow that impacts and transforms everything. Today, we’re continuing our final series under this theme on the life of the Apostle Paul. Now, Paul’s story is fascinating, but it also serves as a great case study for learning the way of Jesus. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians at the very start of the Christian movement. But then, Paul met Jesus, which changed everything. So, Paul the persecutor became Paul the persecuted for his bold preaching about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. He was initially met with fear and skepticism by the other Christians because of his past. But he had several faithful brothers who were willing to vouch for him, including Ananias and Barnabas. Three years after becoming a Christian, he had people who tried to kill him in Damascus, so he went back to Jerusalem. It wasn’t long before he had people trying to kill him there, too. So the believers put him on a boat and shipped him back home to Tarsus in Cilicia (modern Turkey). Paul disappeared from the Biblical narrative for about ten years as he lived and worked in Tarsus. But then, in Acts 11, he comes back into the story because of Barnabas, of course. A revival or spiritual awakening was happening in the city of Antioch, and no one was better suited to help than Paul. But in this chapter of his life, we learn some key principles about spiritual revival/awakening, or what I’ll call the unexpected outpouring of grace. If you’ve ever longed for revival, if you’ve ever mourned the brokenness/darkness of the world, or if you’ve ever wondered what it would look like for God to do a miraculous work, then this message is for you. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to Acts 11:19. We’ll put the Scripture up on the screens for you as well. But today, we’ll read through this whole passage on Paul and the revival at Antioch and then go back and unpack it together.
Acts 11:19–30 (NIV), “19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith,
Paul the Persecuted: When Saul (Paul), a brilliant but violent persecutor of Christians, met Jesus on the road to Damascus — it changed everything in his life. His passion and direction in life were now running in the opposite direction: He wanted to tell everyone about Jesus! Of course, it wasn't long before he started experiencing persecution himself. There is no in-between with Jesus. Recorded on May 7, 2023, on Acts 9:19-31 by Pastor David Parks.
The Life of Paul is a new sermon series (mostly) from the book of Acts in the Bible. The Apostle Paul has a fantastic story. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, which changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who ever lived. Paul’s story offers a great case study of what it looks like to learn the way of Jesus.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series on the life of the Apostle Paul. And Paul’s story is fascinating, but it also serves as a great case study for learning the way of Jesus. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians at the very start of the Christian movement. But then, Paul met Jesus, which changed everything. So, as we saw last week, Paul the persecutor became Paul the Christian after seeing the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and being baptized by Ananias. What would happen next? How would this zealous persecutor of Christians explain his conversion to Christ? Would his peers, friends, and family accept him or reject him? What would happen when he goes back to Jerusalem? Would the Christians accept him after his intense persecution of them, or would they be hesitant like Ananias was initially? One thing is sure, after meeting Jesus, Paul’s life would never be the same. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to Acts 9:19. We’ll put the Scripture up on the screens for you as well. But today, we’ll read through this passage and unpack it as we go, and I’ll close with just one takeaway from Paul the Persecuted.
Acts 9:19–22 (NIV), “Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.” Ok, let’s pause here. So after his conversion and baptism, Saul stayed with his new Christian friends in Damascus. Given his incredible zeal and his education as a Pharisee, it shouldn’t surprise us too much to find that he immediately started preaching. But where did he start telling people that Jesus is the Son of God? At the synagogue. The synagogue was a congregation of Jews who gathered together to pray, read from the Hebrew Bible, sing songs of praise (usually from the Psalms), and live out their faith together. It would have been similar in many ways to our church today. But the synagogue was where Saul was most comfortable. Remember, he was raised by devoutly Jewish parents who traced their lineage to the ancient Israelite tribe of Benjamin and who sent him to school under the most respected rabbi in Jerusalem. But for Saul, becoming a Christian didn’t mean his Jewish faith no longer mattered. He saw Jesus as the fulfillment of his Jewish faith. Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. He was the one the whole Hebrew bible was about. He was the one in whom Yahweh God was accomplishing his saving and redemptive work. Jesus was the true Adam, ruling and reigning over creation; he was the true Noah, providing salvation from judgment against sin; he wa...
Paul the Christian: Paul's conversion experience on the road to Damascus is one of the most awesome and best-known conversion experiences in the Bible. But after he spends three days praying, we see an act of great faith on behalf of a local Christ-follower. Ananias is called to go visit a man that he knows is a violent persecutor of the early Church. But through his faithful obedience, Ananias helps to kick off the most prolific missionary ministry of all time. Recorded on Apr 30, 2023, on Acts 9:1-19 by Kyle Wagner.The Life of Paul is a new sermon series (mostly) from the book of Acts in the Bible. The Apostle Paul has a fantastic story. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, which changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who ever lived. Paul's story offers a great case study of what it looks like to learn the way of Jesus.
Paul the Persecutor: We're introduced to the Apostle Paul in the Bible as Saul, a zealous young religious leader at the killing of Stephen, a deacon in the early church. After this, Saul went from house to house, seeking to destroy the church. In the face of this intense persecution, the church scattered. Despite all this, God did miraculous works as the gospel spread throughout Judea and Samaria. Recorded on Apr 23, 2023, on Acts 7:54-8:8 by Pastor David Parks.The Life of Paul is a new sermon series (mostly) from the book of Acts in the Bible. The Apostle Paul has a fantastic story. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, which changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who ever lived. Paul's story offers a great case study of what it looks like to learn the way of Jesus.Sermon TranscriptAll year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series we started last week on the life of the Apostle Paul. We were reminded last week that everyone has a story. You and I have a story just as Paul had a story. And God has the power and intention to take our stories and shape them and mold them in incredible ways for his glory and our joy, and the good of all people. Paul’s story is fascinating, but it also serves as a great case study for learning the way of Jesus. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who, as we’ll see today, was a violent persecutor of Christians at the very start of the Christian movement. But then, Paul met Jesus, which changed everything. So, Paul, the persecutor, became Paul the Christian, which we’ll see next week. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who has ever lived. Throughout this series, we’re going to continue to ask: How did all this happen? How did someone so diametrically opposed to the Christian faith become the greatest missionary for Christ? How do you explain this? Well, today, we'll consider the darkest chapter of Paul’s story, when, as a young man zealous for the religion of his ancestors — angry, violent, blaspheming, ignorant, and unbelieving — Saul of Tarsus waged a personal vendetta to destroy the followers of Jesus. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open to Acts 7:54. We’ll put the Scripture up on the screens for you as well. We’ll read through this whole passage, and then we’ll go back and unpack it together. And I hope you’ll see three things: 1. The Battle 2. The Believer 3. The Beauty of a God who saves by grace.Acts 7:54-8:8 (NIV), “54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. 8:1 And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Saul of Tarsus: Born Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul was a brilliant young man, a rising star in the Jewish faith, who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, and it changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who has ever lived! If God changed Paul's story in such a dramatic way, what might he do with our story? Recorded on Apr 16, 2023, on Philippians 3:1-14 by Pastor David Parks.The Life of Paul is a new sermon series (mostly) from the book of Acts in the Bible. The Apostle Paul has a fantastic story. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, which changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who ever lived. Paul's story offers a great case study of what it looks like to learn the way of Jesus.Sermon TranscriptAll year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we get to start a brand new sermon series on the life of the Apostle Paul. Now, Paul’s story is a fascinating story, but also, Paul’s story serves as a great case study for learning the way of Jesus. And the reason is that Paul wasn’t raised in a Christian home. Born Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a brilliant young man who was a violent persecutor of Christians at the very start of the Christian movement. But then, Paul met Jesus, which changed everything. So, Paul, the persecutor, became Paul the Christian, and one who was persecuted himself for Christ. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the most influential people who has ever lived. Paul’s life and ministry have influenced billions of people for 2,000 years. How did all this happen? How did someone so diametrically opposed to the Christian faith become the greatest missionary for Christ? How did the one who sought to have Christians imprisoned or killed become one who gave all of his life and suffered many hardships for the work of advancing the gospel among all peoples? In our Easter service last week, we considered the plausibility of the resurrection of Jesus. Paul’s story is a compelling piece of evidence that Jesus is alive to this day as the King of all Creation. How else would you explain his conversion? But over the course of the next ten weeks, we’ll follow the story of his life, his conversion to Christianity, his suffering, his ministry, and more. We’ll be mostly in the book of Acts, but, as we’ll do today, we’ll draw on a few passages from his letters, as well. So today, we'll begin the story of Saul of Tarsus, the mighty Apostle Paul, and our case study on learning the way of Jesus. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open to Philippians 3:1. We’ll put the Scripture up on the screens for you as well. But we’re going to unpack this text as we work through it in four parts, and then I just have one takeaway for you at the end.Philippians 3:1–3 (NIV), “Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—“ Let’s pause here. So we’re coming right into the middle of a letter, so it might feel a little random. But Paul is using really strong language here to warn his brothers and sisters in Christ about a dangerous way of thinking. We’ll get to what the threat was in a minute, but from the beginning of the letter, it’s clear that Paul is writing to Christians in the Greek city of Philippi. Now, Philippi was the first European city that Paul had visited because God had called him there in a dream.
Easter Sunday 2023: Everyone has things in their life they wish they could change, things that might be silly, embarrassing, or even shameful. The resurrection is the culmination of the work of Jesus. There was a conspiracy to cover it up, but hundreds of eyewitnesses supported the truth of this claim. But if Jesus is alive, then it changes everything! Recorded on Apr 9, 2023, on Matthew 28 by Pastor David Parks.Sermon TranscriptSo all year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. The big question we’ve been trying to answer is this: If the gospel is true, how then should we live? We just finished a series on the Ten Commandments, which, if you missed any of those sermons, you can always go back and watch online or listen to the podcast if you’d like. Next week we’ll start a brand new sermon series on the life of the Apostle Paul, which is a fascinating story, but also serves as a great case study on learning the way of Jesus. But for today, for Easter Sunday, we’re considering the claim that Christians have made from the very beginning, a claim that is at the heart of the gospel message: that Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world, was buried, but on the third day he rose again from the dead. And if that’s true, as Christians believe, if Jesus really is alive, then it changes everything. Everyone has things in their life they wish they could change. Everyone has silly/embarrassing/even shameful memories they wish they could erase. Everyone has things they said or did or that were done to them they wish they could forget or, if it were possible, somehow go back and undo. But if Jesus is alive, it changes everything! If Jesus was raised from the dead, then he truly is who he claimed to be, and every terrible detail of our lives becomes part of a new story of redemption/forgiveness/hope/life/glory. But for many people today, a resurrection, a person coming back from the dead after days in the grave, seems impossible. If that’s you today, I’d simply ask you to listen to the story and see what you think. Even Christians believe that this event wasn’t something happening all the time — it was unique to Jesus. See if the story seems plausible to you. Because if it isn’t true- if Jesus didn’t really rise from the dead- then nothing in the Christian faith is helpful at all. It’s just a made-up story, a delusion. But if there’s even a chance that it might be true, then it’s worth investigating, right? If it is true, then it changes everything. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to Matthew 28:1. We’ll put the Scripture up on the screens for you as well. And we’ll read through this story in three parts; first, we’ll see the culmination; second, the conspiracy; and third, the commission. Let’s start with v. 1, this is the culmination.Matthew 28:1-10 (NIV), “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Ok, let’s pause here.
Good Friday 2023: Why should people consider something as dark and terrible as the shame and violence of the cross of Christ? When Jesus was betrayed, condemned, abused, crucified, died, and buried. Because you can't fully appreciate the majesty and the beauty and the power of the resurrection without first gazing upon the hill of Calvary. Recorded on Apr 7, 2023, on Matthew 27 by Pastor David Parks.lSermon TranscriptGood evening, everyone, and welcome to our Good Friday service. I’m Pastor David, and whether you’re joining us in person or online today, I’d like to welcome you to Appleton Gospel Church. As a church, our mission is sharing good news, and I hope you experience that today, even as we consider something as dark and terrible as the shame and violence of the cross of Christ. But I don’t think we can fully appreciate the majesty and the beauty and the power of the resurrection without first gazing at the hill of Calvary and consider the atoning sacrifice of the Son of Man, offered on our behalf. The darkness of Good Friday makes the light of Easter Sunday shine all the brighter. I don’t have many announcements for you today other than to invite you all back for Easter. We have two services on Sunday, one at 9:00 am and one at 10:30 am. But for now, would you join me in prayer as we open God’s word? Let’s pray. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open to Matthew 27. As we’ve done in years past, we’re going to read through the whole account of the suffering, death, and burial of Jesus on that first Good Friday. I would encourage you to follow along in your own Bible as we will not be putting so much scripture up on the screens. Or, if you’d like to just listen to the narrative, that would be fine, too. I’ll only make a few comments on each section as we go. So first, we see the Son of Man betrayed.Betrayed: Matthew 27:1-10 (NIV), “Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” Jesus knew and had told his disciples on at least three different occasions before arriving in Jerusalem that he would be delivered over to the Jewish chief priests and teachers of the law (elders) who would condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentile rulers to be killed. He knew this would happen, but he still came. This wasn’t an accident; the cross was central to the mission of Jesus. Part of the Roman occupation of Judea at this time meant that the Jewish people could not carry out capital punishments on their own. The chief priests and elders had condemned Jesus but they couldn’t put him to death. This is why Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor in Jerusalem, was involved. Jesus had also known that one of his closest followers, Judas Iscariot, was going to betray him. If you’ve ever been betrayed by someone close to you, you know how much that hurts. Judas had sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, but then later changed his mind and couldn’t live with what he had done....
Guard Your Heart: The tenth command of the Ten Commandments is, "You shall not covet...anything that belongs to your neighbor." Coveting means to desire something that is unhealthy, unhelpful, or unlawful. This command reminds us that all our problems are, first, heart problems. Obeying this command is especially difficult in an age of social media and expressive individualism. However, learning to guard your heart in Christ is the only way to find and enjoy true and lasting peace. Recorded on Apr 2, 2023, on Exodus 20:17 by Pastor David Parks. (Apologies, due to a technical issue, we lost the introduction to the sermon. However, it is included in the transcript below.)Ten Commandments: Learning the Law of Love is a sermon series on the most influential legal code in human history. Why should we learn about the Ten Commandments today? Because they reveal God’s will for how human beings ought to live: to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. Ultimately, the law of love points us directly to Jesus.Sermon TranscriptAll year, the theme of our preaching ministry is Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re finishing a sermon series on the Ten Commandments. I hope this series has been helpful to you. Throughout this series, I’ve personally been struck by the beauty of God’s vision for human society in the spirit of these commands. It’s hard to even imagine what life would be like if we all truly lived according to God’s will/way. What a joy it will be to find out in the new heaven and earth. But through this series, we’ve said that the Ten Commandments, as part of God’s moral law, reveal how God wants people to live. And ultimately, this way of life can be summed up as learning to love the Lord your God, heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love your neighbor as yourself — God’s law is a law of love. In this law, we discover that there is only one God, who is worthy of our worship and deserving of our respect, and we must find our rest in him. As a result, we must honor our parents, honor life, honor marriage, honor other people’s property, honor the truth, and today, finally, we must guard our hearts. This is God’s will for our lives. Well, if you have a Bible/app, please open to Exodus 20:12. We’ll read through the second half of the Ten Commandments and then unpack the tenth together today, focusing on the wisdom/goodness of this command, how this command connects to the heart, and how we might learn to guard our hearts in Christ.Exodus 20:12-17 (NIV), “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” As we’ve said, the book of Exodus was written about 4,300 years ago by Moses, the great prophet and leader of ancient Israel. And Exodus describes a key turning point in history when God rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and entered into a covenant relationship with them, which included giving them the Law. The first four commands are focused on how we are to love the Lord our God, while the remaining six are about how to love our neighbor as ourselves. Well, today, we’re focusing on the tenth command, which addresses the problem of coveting, which means to desire or lust after things that are unhealthy, unhelpful, or unlawful. So first, let’s consider the wisdom/goodness of this command. Why should we want to obey this command? There are probably many benefits to obeying this command, but the main benefit, in my view, is how it relates to our internal and external peace. The older I get, the more I value peace. Not simply the absence of conflict, although that is, of course, very good.
Honor the Truth: The ninth command of the Ten Commandments is, "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." There is a battle for truth in many areas of life. Truth produces justice, trust, and transformation. Christians ought to be people of integrity, who speak honestly about themselves and others and refuse to distort the truth or hide the truth or even exaggerate the truth, even and especially when it’s costly. Recorded on Mar 26, 2023, on Exodus 20:16 by Pastor David Parks.Ten Commandments: Learning the Law of Love is a sermon series on the most influential legal code in human history. Why should we learn about the Ten Commandments today? Because they reveal God’s will for how human beings ought to live: to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. Ultimately, the law of love points us directly to Jesus.Sermon TranscriptSo, all year, the theme of our preaching ministry is Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re almost at the end of a sermon series we’ve been doing on the Ten Commandments. And we’ve said that the Ten Commandments, as part of God’s moral law, reveal how God wants people to live. Ultimately, this way of life can be summed up as learning to love the Lord your God, heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love your neighbor as yourself — this is a law of love. We’ve said this before, but it bears repeating that obedience to the law is not the way of salvation. Remember: being a good person is not what makes you a Christian. Faith in the person and work of Jesus is what makes you a Christian. We’re saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus and not by our works as good as they might be. However, once you’re saved by grace, learning obedience to the law, learning to do God’s will God’s way, is the way of Jesus. This is the kind of life that God wants for his people. So today, we’re considering the ninth command, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” (Ex 20:16). And this command deals with being honest and telling the truth, particularly in a court of law, but this is just one example of what God wants for all of life — that we would think and speak and walk in accordance with the truth. And this is needed today more than ever. There is a battle for the truth in many areas and industries of life, including politics, education, healthcare, finance, science, and of course, religion. People are encouraged to create their own truth and then constantly share it on social media. You can’t just have beliefs and friends; you have to be an influencer or activist, promoting/marketing your truth. As a result, truth has been personalized, relativized, distorted, and devalued. We are surrounded and sometimes barraged by claims of truth going in every possible direction. And we know that all these claims can’t all be right. So what even is the truth? Well, if you have a Bible/app, please open to Exodus 20:12. We’ll read through the second half of the Ten Commandments and then unpack the ninth together today, looking at three vital things that are produced when we are people who honor the truth: 1. justice, 2. trust, and 3. transformation.Exodus 20:12-17 (NIV), “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” As we’ve said, the book of Exodus was written about 4,300 years ago by Moses, the great prophet and leader of ancient Israel. And Exodus describes a key turning point in history when God rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and entered into a covenant relationship with them, which included giving them the Law.
Honor People's Property: The eighth command of the Ten Commandments is, "You shall not steal." Why does God care if we take something that isn't ours? Because God wants people to do good work, provide for themselves, and live in harmony with their neighbor. And, as they are able, to be generous and hospitable, especially toward those in need. Why? Because this is the way of Jesus. Recorded on Mar 19, 2023, on Exodus 20:15 by Pastor David Parks.Ten Commandments: Learning the Law of Love is a sermon series on the most influential legal code in human history. Why should we learn about the Ten Commandments today? Because they reveal God’s will for how human beings ought to live: to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. Ultimately, the law of love points us directly to Jesus.Sermon TranscriptSo, all year we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series on the Ten Commandments. And we’ve said that the Ten Commandments, as part of God’s moral law, reveal how God wants people to live. Ultimately, this way of life can be summed up as learning to love the Lord your God, heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love your neighbor as yourself — this is a law of love. So today, we’re considering the eighth command, which is a command to honor other people’s property, “You shall not steal.” But this command is more about loving your neighbor than it is about loving your neighbor’s stuff. There are so many implications of this command, and the connection to the grace and generosity of God is really interesting, so let’s jump right in. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Exodus 20:12. We’ll read through the second half of the Ten Commandments and then unpack the eighth together today.Exodus 20:12-17 (NIV), “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” As we’ve said, the book of Exodus was written about 4,300 years ago by Moses, the great prophet and leader of ancient Israel. And Exodus describes a key turning point in history when God rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and entered into a covenant relationship with them, which included giving them the Law. The first four commands are focused on how we are to love the Lord our God, while the remaining six are about how to love our neighbor as ourselves. Well, today, we’re focusing on the eighth command, which reads simply, “You shall not steal.” This command prohibits or outlaws theft or the taking of someone else’s property. Put another way, we’re not supposed to take things that aren’t ours to take. This is about honoring other people’s property/stuff. This command is connected to the tenth command, which is about coveting or desiring what you don’t have. But first, here, the eighth command is specifically against taking something that isn’t yours. Have you ever stolen something? Maybe it seemed so small and insignificant that it really didn’t seem like a big deal. I think of shoplifting candy from a gas station or back in the year 2000 when Napster was breaking every copyright law ever by letting people share music for free. At the time, it didn’t seem like it was that wrong because it wasn’t hurting anyone, was it? Well, the gas station owner or the record companies and artists wouldn’t feel that way. The theft was directly cutting into their livelihood. But what does God think about this? What does the Bible say about the moral issue of theft? And what should we do if we’re already guilty of stealing? For the rest of our time, we’ll start with the OT first, then we’ll move to the NT,
Honor Marriage: The seventh command of the Ten Commandments is, "You shall not commit adultery." Why does God care so much about faithfulness in marriage? What exactly is marriage, anyway? God's vision for marriage (and sexuality) as a whole-life covenant union is counter-cultural and far from easy. But at the same time, it is beautiful, wise, helpful, and good. It provides relational stability for the husband, wife, and children, security for the ups and downs of life, and can be a wonderful source of love, joy, and peace. Recorded on Mar 12, 2023, on Exodus 20:14 by Pastor David Parks.Ten Commandments: Learning the Law of Love is a sermon series on the most influential legal code in human history. Why should we learn about the Ten Commandments today? Because they reveal God’s will for how human beings ought to live: to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. Ultimately, the law of love points us directly to Jesus.Sermon TranscriptAll year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series on the Ten Commandments. And we’ve said that the Ten Commandments, as part of God’s moral law, reveal how God wants people to live. And ultimately, this way of life can be summed up as learning to love the Lord your God, heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love your neighbor as yourself. This is a law of love. So today, we’re considering the seventh command, a command to honor marriage. But why does God care so much about marriage? Isn’t marriage just a piece of paper? What even is marriage, and why does God care so much about faithfulness in marriage? Once again, there’s a lot to unpack here. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Exodus 20:12. We’ll read through the second half of the Ten Commandments and then unpack the seventh together today.Exodus 20:12-17 (NIV), “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” The book of Exodus was written about 4,300 years ago by Moses, the great prophet and leader of ancient Israel. And Exodus describes a key turning point in history when God rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and entered into a covenant relationship with them, which included giving them the Law. The first four commands are focused on how we are to love the Lord our God, while the remaining six are about how to love our neighbor as ourselves. And we’ve seen that our neighbor includes our closest neighbors, including those in our own home/family. We were instructed to honor your father and your mother and to honor the life of every other person. Well, today, we’re focusing on the seventh command, which reads simply, “You shall commit adultery.” Whether you are married or not, committing adultery means having a sexual relationship with anyone other than your spouse. This, of course, limits sexuality to the narrow context of only being appropriate within the covenant of marriage. This sexual ethic is something that people in many cultures and times/places have found to be difficult to follow. It was no less countercultural for ancient Israelites than it was for Christians in the Roman Empire during the time of Jesus than it is for us today. However, it only makes sense once you understand God's intention for what marriage was supposed to be. So, for our remaining time, we will consider four things: (1) what marriage is, (2) what marriage is for, (3) what’s confusing about marriage in the Bible, and finally, (4) how we can obey this command to honor marriage.So first, what is marriage? This is related to what I shared last week about the negative prohibition of ...
Honor Life: The sixth command is, "You shall not murder." What does it look like to keep this commandment? If God is the author, sustainer, and savior of life, then we must work for and protect flourishing life, being especially attentive to the most vulnerable lives among us. Recorded on Mar 5, 2023, on Exodus 20:13 by Pastor David Parks.Ten Commandments: Learning the Law of Love is a sermon series on the most influential legal code in human history. Why should we learn about the Ten Commandments today? Because they reveal God’s will for how human beings ought to live: to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. Ultimately, the law of love points us directly to Jesus.Sermon TranscriptSo all year, the theme of our preaching ministry is Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series on the Ten Commandments. And we’ve said that the Ten Commandments reveal how God wants people to live. And ultimately, this way of life can be summed up as learning to love the Lord your God, heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love your neighbor as yourself. The Ten Commandments are really a law of love. Just a quick reminder, God’s moral law is not the way of salvation. We are not saved because of our obedience to the law. Remember, God saved the ancient Israelites by his grace from slavery in Egypt, and then he gave them the law. God’s law is the way to follow him once you have a relationship with him by his saving grace. So today, we are considering the sixth command, a command to honor life. But why does God care so much about life? And does this command simply mean we should avoid murder, or does it have deeper implications? Once again, we have much to unpack here. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Exodus 20:12. We’ll read through the second half of the Ten Commandments and then unpack the sixth together today.Exodus 20:12-17 (NIV), “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”Now, the book of Exodus was written about 4,300 years ago by Moses, the great prophet and leader of ancient Israel. And Exodus describes a key turning point in history when God rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and entered into a covenant relationship with them, which included giving them the Law. The first four commands are focused on how we are to love the Lord our God, while the remaining six are about how to love our neighbor as ourselves. We saw last week that our neighbor includes even the neighbors in our own home/family. And we were instructed to honor our fathers and our mothers. We saw that this was because parents are supposed to instruct their children in the faith and pass along any wisdom they have in how to live, both of which matter greatly to God. Well, today, we’re focusing on the sixth command, which reads simply, “You shall not murder.” Sounds simple enough, right? Not quite. You see, every negative command, a “thou shalt not,” if you will, also has a positive side. And the positive side is rooted in God’s character/nature and his heart for how this world ought to work. So, for example, the prohibition of the first command, “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Ex 20:3) also means that God positively intends for us to have a relationship with him. It’s not only about what we cannot or should not do; it’s also positively what that type of life we are called into. So here, the prohibition against murder also means that God intends positively for us to do what? To honor life, to work for flourishing life, and to protect human life when it is threatened.
Honor Your Parents: The fifth command is to honor your father and your mother. Parents are supposed to help their kids grow in their faith and in wisdom for life. But what does it look like to honor your parents when they fail to do these things? How do we honor them if we have a broken or even abusive relationship with them? Recorded on Feb 26, 2023, on Exodus 20:12 by Pastor David Parks.Ten Commandments: Learning the Law of Love is a sermon series on the most influential legal code in human history. Why should we learn about the Ten Commandments today? Because they reveal God’s will for how human beings ought to live: to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. Ultimately, the law of love points us directly to Jesus.Sermon TranscriptAll year, the theme of our preaching ministry is Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series on the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments, as part of God’s moral law, reveal how God wants us to live. And ultimately, this new way of life can be summed up as learning to love the Lord our God, heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. The Ten Commandments are really a law of love. So today, we are considering the fifth command to honor your father and your mother. Why should we do this, and what does it look like for us to obey this command? What if we have a broken or abusive relationship with our parents? There is much to unpack here. So if you have a Bible/app, please open to Exodus 20:12. We’ll read through the remaining commandments and then unpack the fifth together today.Exodus 20:12-17 (NIV), “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”As we’ve said, the book of Exodus, written about 4,300 years ago by Moses, the prophet and leader of ancient Israel, describes a key turning point in history when God rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and entered into a covenant relationship with them, which included giving them the Law. The first four commands are focused vertically on what it means to love the Lord your God, heart, soul, mind, and strength. And we’ve seen that there is only one true God, the creator of heaven and earth, who is worthy of worship, deserving of respect, and we must rest in him. Those are commands 1-4. Here, with the fifth command, and for the rest of the Ten Commandments, we'll turn from a vertical focus on God to a horizontal focus on what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. To love your neighbor starts with your closest neighbors, those living in your own home when you are young, and those in your family when you are older, including your father and your mother. Once again, v. 12 says, “Honor your father and your mother,” which, as the Apostle Paul says in Eph 6, “is the first commandment with a promise.” And here’s the promise: “that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Now, most commentators don’t believe this promise is meant to be taken individually but nationally. If Israel as a people honors their parents, as a society/nation, they will live for a long time in the Promised Land. But the language of this particular promise is interesting. It’s found again in Dt 25, although with a different command. Deuteronomy 25:15–16 (NIV), “You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.” So in Dt 25, it refers to the corrupt practice of using different weights for trading or payment,
You Must Rest in Him: What is the Sabbath, and are Christians required to observe it? Should we stay at home and not do any work around the house, or are we free to do what we please seven days a week? What if you're scheduled to work a shift on Sunday? Throughout the Gospels, Jesus refutes the legalistic interpretation of the Pharisees and their far-reaching rules for the Sabbath. Through this, we can see that the Sabbath is not a list of rules we're required to follow. Rather, it's an invitation to rest in and enjoy the Lord. Recorded on Feb 19, 2023, on Exodus 20:7 by Pastor David Parks.Ten Commandments: Learning the Law of Love is a sermon series on the most influential legal code in human history. Why should we learn about the Ten Commandments today? Because they reveal God’s will for how human beings ought to live: to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. Ultimately, the law of love points us directly to Jesus.Sermon TranscriptAll year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series on the Ten Commandments. [Ten Commandments slide] Now, all of our sermon series this year are really trying to answer the question: if the gospel is true, how then should we live? The Ten Commandments, as part of God’s moral law, reveal to us how God wants individual people to live and, by extension, what he wants for our families and societies as well. Ultimately, this new way of life can be summed up as learning to love the Lord our God, heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love our neighbor as ourself. The Ten Commandments are really a law of love. So far, we’ve worked through the first three commands, which focus on our vertical relationship with God, including 1. You shall have no other God’s before or besides the one true God. 2. You shall not make any image or idol of any created thing for use in worshipping the one true God. 3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, or bear the name of God in a vain or empty way. Today, we have the final command relating directly to our vertical relationship with God before we move next week to our more horizontal relationships with others. So today, we’ll consider the fourth command, to keep the Sabbath day holy. What does that mean? Well, all of these commands teach us profound wisdom for how God intends our lives to work. But for several reasons, this command is especially hard for us to understand/obey in our modern American/Western culture. However, if we learn this countercultural Sabbath way of life, it will not only guard us from a life of over-work, but also a life of over-worry. Why? Because, a Sabbath way of life is a life of love/joy/true and lasting peace. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Exodus 20:8. We’ll read through this and then unpack it together.Exodus 20:8-11 (NIV), “8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” As we’ve said, the book of Exodus, written about 4,300 years ago, by Moses, the prophet and leader of ancient Israel, describes a key turning point of history when God rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and entered into a covenant relationship with them, which included giving them the Law. Thinking about the context of this command, I can’t help but wonder how the ancient people of Israel would have thought about their work. For over 400 years, they were slaves in Egypt, and at first, it wasn’t so bad. We read at the end of the book of Genesis that the Lord had put Joseph,
Deserving of Respect: What does it mean to misuse God's name or to take the Lord's name in vain (Third Commandment)? It means far more than being careful not to swear. Christianity is based on a relationship with God. And in this relationship (just as in any healthy relationship), our thoughts about God and our attitudes toward God matter a great deal to him. The way we represent God's name to others matters as well. There is only one God; he is worthy of our worship and deserving of our respect. Recorded on Feb 12, 2023, on Exodus 20:7 by Pastor David Parks.Ten Commandments: Learning the Law of Love is a sermon series on the most influential legal code in human history. Why should we learn about the Ten Commandments today? Because they reveal God’s will for how human beings ought to live: to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. Ultimately, the law of love points us directly to Jesus.Sermon TranscriptAll year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series on the Ten Commandments. [Ten Commandments slide] The way of Jesus includes a unique message of what is wrong with the world, of who God is, and what he’s done and is doing to rescue and redeem people in Jesus. Christians call this message the gospel or the good news of Jesus. But if the gospel is true, then we’re called not just to believe it, but to learn the way of Jesus. And the way of Jesus includes a new set of morals or an understanding of what is right and wrong according to God. Ultimately, we’ve said that this new way of life can be summed up as learning to love the Lord our God, heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love our neighbor as ourself — that’s what the Ten Commandments are all about. So far, we’ve had a couple key takeaways that help us better understand the Ten Commandments. First, we must remember that ancient Israel was saved by the grace of God first, and then they were given the Law. So obedience to the law wasn’t the way of salvation, but rather, it’s the way God wants his people to function after rescuing them by grace. Second, we must remember that Christians do not pick and choose which commands or laws in the OT of the Bible we follow today based on our preferences or biases. There are different categories of law in the OT: civil, ceremonial, and moral laws. And while the civil and ceremonial laws are no longer in effect, we are still obligated to obey the moral laws, including the Ten Commandments, because they reveal how God wants all people everywhere to live. So with all that, if you have a Bible/app, please open to Exodus 20:1. We’ll read through the first three commands and then unpack the third of the Ten today.Exodus 20:1-7 (NIV), “And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” As we’ve said, the book of Exodus, written about 4,300 years ago, by Moses, the prophet and leader of ancient Israel, describes a key turning point of history when God rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and entered into a covenant relationship with them, which included giving them the Law. Eventually, God would bring them into the land he had promised their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The first command established monotheism in history, that there is only one God,
Worthy of Worship: Everyone worships something. Whether that be wealth, success, people, or other created things. In the second of the Ten Commandments, we discover that Yahweh God, the Creator of heaven and earth, is the only One worthy of our worship. Recorded on Feb 5, 2023, on Exodus 20:4-6 by Pastor David Parks.Ten Commandments: Learning the Law of Love is a sermon series on the most influential legal code in human history. Why should we learn about the Ten Commandments today? Because they reveal God’s will for how human beings ought to live: to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. Ultimately, the law of love points us directly to Jesus.Sermon Transcript All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series we started last week on the Ten Commandments. [Ten Commandments slide] The way of Jesus, as described in the Bible, includes a unique message of what is wrong with the world, of who God is, and what he has done and is doing today to address the problems of the world. Christians call this message the gospel or the good news of Jesus. But also, the way of Jesus includes a whole new way of life including a new set of morals/ethics/understanding of what is right and wrong according to God. Now, before we jump into the second command this morning, I’d like to address a common question or objection that modern people have about the commands of the Bible. The objection is something like, “You Christians don’t obey every command in the Bible. There are commands against eating pork/shellfish or getting tattoos that you seem fine ignoring today. So aren’t you simply picking and choosing which commands you prefer to follow? For example, isn’t your belief in the sexual ethic of the Bible which prohibits any sexual relationship outside of a marriage covenant between one man and one women, based not so much on the command of God but more on your own preferences or biases? How can you accept that one but reject others?” And that’s a fair question. Have you ever wondered about that or heard that question before? If that’s what you think is going on with Christians and Biblical commands, I certainly understand why some people think Christians are bigots. So why do Christians believe that the Ten Commandments are still valid while other commandments in the OT law are no longer valid, such as the dietary laws or the law against tattoos? And the answer is that the 600+ laws of the Mosaic Law in the OT contain three categories of laws: civil law, ceremonial law, and moral law. Civil laws governed the nation of ancient Israel in the Promised Land, including certain crimes and punishments, the allotment of land, how the poor were to be treated, how debt worked, and much more. Ceremonial laws governed worship in ancient Israel, including the sacrificial system, priesthood, tabernacle/temple, dietary laws, annual festivals, and so on. Now, the civil laws ceased to operate many years later, during the time of the exile, when the nation of Israel was basically destroyed because of their covenant unfaithfulness. The ceremonial laws were in place until the new covenant established by Jesus because the whole sacrificial system, temple, priesthood, and more were fulfilled by Jesus. However, the moral laws are still valid because they deal with morality, or what is right and wrong for all people according to God. Of course, there is much more we could say about the purpose of the various laws of the OT, and many of the civil and ceremonial laws have an underlying moral principle which is helpful to understand — but the big idea is that Christians today are fine having a pulled pork sandwich, but it’s still wrong to murder people or lie or steal. We’re not picking and choosing what we like or don’t like. We believe we’re still responsible for the moral law because it relates to how we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind,
There Is Only One God: The story leading up to the Ten Commandments isn't just the story of Israel: it's the story of God, and therefore of Christians throughout all of history. We see that the Ten Commandments follow the same pattern as the Gospel of Jesus: first, God rescues his people by grace, then He gives a law to show how we ought to live. Because we have already been saved by grace, we are called to love God and to love our neighbor. Recorded on Jan 29, 2023, on Exodus 19:1-8; 20:1-3 by Pastor David Parks.Ten Commandments: Learning the Law of Love is a sermon series on the most influential legal code in human history. Why should we learn about the Ten Commandments today? Because they reveal God’s will for how human beings ought to live: to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. Ultimately, the law of love points us directly to Jesus.Sermon Transcript:All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re starting a brand new sermon series on the Ten Commandments in the OT of the Bible. The Ten Commandments are really the cornerstone of the most famous/influential legal code in history. And you might wonder, “Why should we learn about the Ten Commandments today?” We have our own law in the US, but even as Christians, wasn’t the law a bad thing? Or isn’t it kind of like the opposite of the gospel? And the answer is that the Ten Commandments matter today because they reveal to us God’s will for us and how human beings ought to live. They reveal what is right and wrong according to God, both for individual people and for society. When Jesus was asked how to summarize the OT Law, he said it all came down to two principles: to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. And as we’ll see, the first four commandments of the Ten reflect our vertical oriented relationship, our relationship with God, and what it looks like to love God with everything in us. The remaining six commandments of the Ten, reflect our horizontal oriented relationships, our relationships with other people (friends and family, neighbors and coworkers), and what it looks like to love our neighbor as ourselves. But ultimately, as we’ll repeatedly see in this series, the Ten Commandments, points us directly to Jesus — to our need for Jesus because of our failure to perfectly obey this law of love, but also to the power that is available in Jesus for us to learn to follow/obey everything that he has commanded. With that, if you have a Bible/app, please open to Exodus 19:1. We’ll get a little of the context from chapter 19 and then we’ll jump down to chapter 20 where the Ten Commandments start.Exodus 19:1-8; 20:1-3 (NIV), “On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” 7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord…And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”
Sending People on Mission: Every Christian is an ambassador for Christ, sent out with the message of reconciliation, the gospel. Motivated by the fear of the Lord and the love of Christ, we are sent. Some of us are sent across the world, others across the street, but every Christian is a missionary. Recorded on Jan 22, 2023, on 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our DNA, a sermon series on our core values that define who we are and what we’re trying to do. Our core values include inviting people to worship, connecting people in community, training people for ministry, and sending people on mission. These values provide a wonderful source of power, meaning, and joy for the Christian life.Sermon Transcript: All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re finishing a 4-part sermon series called DNA, focusing on our identity and the core values which define who we are and what we’re trying to do here. Our core values [Values slide] include inviting people to worship, connecting people in community, training people for ministry, and sending people on mission — our topic for today. At the most foundational level, worship, community, ministry, and mission are the basic building blocks of the Christian life. Today, we’re considering the surprising truth that God has given us the responsibility of bearing the good news of the gospel to the ends of the earth. And he has entrusted to us the responsibility of making disciples of all nations. Last week, I said that responding to the call of ministry and that every Christian is a minister is a huge part of finding your God-given purpose in life. But the realization that God has called us to participate with him in his work of salvation in the world, and that every Christian is also a missionary, is the other half of discovering your God-given purpose in life. The reason why God doesn’t zap us into heaven as soon as we’re saved is because we have a mission; we have a job to do. Every Christian is a missionary. If you have a Bible/app, please open to 2 Corinthians 5:11. We’ll read through this and unpack it together. (v.11)2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (NIV), “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”So 2 Corinthians in the Bible is an epistle or letter from the Apostle Paul to the Christians in the Greek city of Corinth in the first century AD. Actually, it’s one in a series of letters back and forth between them, of which we only have two preserved in the canon of Scripture. The Corinthians had division/misunderstandings/sin ...
Training People for Ministry: The work of ministry isn’t just for pastors or church staff only — every Christian is a minister. Many people wonder what their purpose is in life. Using your unique set of spiritual gifts, experiences, knowledge, and passion to minister to others is a huge part of finding your God-given purpose. This is why training people for ministry is one of our core values as a church. Recorded on Jan 15, 2023, on 1 Corinthians 12:4-27 by Pastor David Parks. (apologies for the rough voice)This message is part of our DNA, a sermon series on our core values that define who we are and what we’re trying to do. Our core values include inviting people to worship, connecting people in community, training people for ministry, and sending people on mission. These values provide a wonderful source of power, meaning, and joy for the Christian life.Sermon Transcript:All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a 4-part sermon series called DNA, focusing on our identity and the core values which define who we are and what we’re trying to do here. Our core values [Values slide] include inviting people to worship, connecting people in community, training people for ministry, which is our topic for today, and sending people on mission. At the most foundational level, worship, community, ministry, and mission are the basic building blocks of the Christian life. When these values are guided and empowered by our mission and vision, which are rooted in the truth of God’s word, they become our DNA, encoding everything we need for life and flourishing as a church. Today, we’re considering the amazing truth that God has given each one of his people (us!) a unique set of spiritual gifts, gifts of his grace, so that we might minister to/serve one another, building up the body of Christ. What we’ll see today is that every Christian is a minister. The work of ministry isn’t just for pastors or church staff or the elders only — every Christian is a minister. So many people wonder why they are here and what the purpose might be for their lives. My friends, our calling to ministry in learning the way of Jesus is a huge part of finding our God-given purpose in life. And this is why we value training people for ministry. Because we want to help you discover and accomplish the beautiful purpose of God for your life. If you have a Bible/app, please open to 1 Corinthians 12:4. And we’re going through almost the whole chapter this morning, so we’ll break it into two somewhat bite-sized pieces. So part one…1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NIV), “4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” Ok, let’s pause here. So 1 Corinthians is an epistle or letter from the Apostle Paul to the Christians in and around the Greek city of Corinth in the first century AD. We know from Acts 18 that Paul stayed in Corinth for several years preaching the gospel, making disciples, and helping plant the church there. Eventually, the Lord called Paul on, and he left the church in the hands of other leaders. However, there were problems and confusion, so Paul wrote back to the Corinthians to help clear some things up.
Connecting People in Community: Humans are not solitary beings. Our horizontal relationships with people must be shaped and empowered by our vertical relationship with God; but none of us are perfect. Thankfully, the gospel provides a wonderful promise: if we confess our sins in humility, God will not only forgive us but will purify us from all unrighteousness. Recorded on Jan 8, 2023, on 1 John 1:1-10 by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our DNA, a sermon series on our core values that define who we are and what we’re trying to do. Our core values include inviting people to worship, connecting people in community, training people for ministry, and sending people on mission. These values provide a wonderful source of power, meaning, and joy for the Christian life.Sermon Transcript:All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re continuing a 4-part sermon series called DNA, focusing on our identity and the core values which define who we are and what we’re trying to do here. Our core values include inviting people to worship, which we covered last week, but also connecting people in community, our focus of the day, as well as training people for ministry, and sending people on mission. At the most foundational level, worship, community, ministry, and mission are the basic building blocks of the Christian life. When these values are guided and empowered by our mission and vision and are rooted in the truth of God’s word, they become our DNA, encoding everything we need for life and flourishing as a church. Today, we’re considering relationships here in the church and the value of connecting people in community. Now, again, just like last week, there are so many places we could go in the Bible to see why this is true and should be part of our DNA. But I think the opening of a letter written by the Apostle John is a classic example. So if you have a Bible/app, please open to 1Jn 1:1. We’ll read through this text and then unpack it together.1 John 1:1-7 (NIV), “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” So the book of 1 John is an epistle or letter in the NT from the Apostle John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, to the Christians most likely in and around the city of Ephesus in modern Turkey. The people in this area had initially heard the gospel from the Apostle Paul. According to church history, John was a leader in this region toward the end of his long life. And from his letter, we can see that there were problems there: people were being led astray by some who claimed to be Christians but had broken away from their church (and had started a church across town) because they had much different views of the person and work of Jesus. The true Christians there needed to hear again from one of the eyewitnesses of Jesus to st...
Inviting People to Worship: Worship is always the right response to a real encounter with Jesus. The disciples experienced this when Jesus walked on the water, called Peter out of the boat, and saved him despite his sinking doubts. When we see Jesus for who he truly is, we can’t help but worship and help others do the same. Recorded on Jan 1, 2023, on Matthew 14:22-36, by Pastor David Parks.This message is part of our DNA, a sermon series on our core values that define who we are and what we’re trying to do. Our core values include inviting people to worship, connecting people in community, training people for ministry, and sending people on mission. These values provide a wonderful source of power, meaning, and joy for the Christian life.Sermon Transcript The theme this year for our preaching ministry is Learning the way of Jesus. And today, as we kick off a new year, we’re starting a 4-part sermon series called DNA, focusing on our identity and the core values which define who we are and what we’re trying to do here. Our core values include inviting people to worship — which we’ll focus on today, but also connecting people in community, training people for ministry, and sending people on mission. We’ll cover all of these in the next few weeks. And we’ve certainly talked about these things before, but we must regularly come back to them and remind ourselves of them because worship, community, ministry, and mission, at the most foundational level, are the basic building blocks of the Christian life. When these values are guided and empowered by our mission and vision and are rooted in the truth of God’s word, they become our DNA, encoding everything we need for life and flourishing as a church. But also, if we miss/ignore one or more of these values, our life will be out of balance, and we’ll miss out on a huge source of power/meaning/life/joy in the way of Jesus. So today, we’re starting with inviting people to worship, and my goal is to remind you that worship is always the right response to a real encounter with Jesus. When we see Jesus for who he truly is, we can’t help but worship and help others do the same. Now, there are so many places we could go in the Bible to see why this is true and should be part of our DNA. But I think the story of Jesus walking on the water in Mt 14 is a classic example. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Matthew 14:22. We’ll read through this text and then unpack it together.Matthew 14:22-36 (NIV), “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.”
The Humility of Christmas: A world of pride is a nasty place. But a humble life is a blessing and a joy. Humility is one of the key themes of the Christmas story and is especially seen in the strange story of the visit of the Magi. In God's kingdom, the way down is up. Recorded on Dec 18, 2022, on Matthew 2;1-12, by Pastor David Parks.Sermon TranscriptAll year, in our preaching ministry, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re doing a standalone sermon for this Christmas season on the visit of the Magi (wise men) after the birth of Jesus. And this story relates to Learning the Way of Jesus in that in this story, we see several examples of the humility of Christmas. This is such a good reminder that the way up in the kingdom of God is actually down. Because humility is one of the key aspects of the incarnation of Jesus, and, in turn, humility becomes a key character trait for us as we learn to follow his way. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Matthew 2:1, and we’ll read through this story and then unpack it together.Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV), “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”Just a little context for you, first, the gospel of Matthew was written by Matthew, also known as Levi, who was a tax collector before he became a Christian. This means that he would’ve been wealthy but not well-liked. But Matthew met Jesus, and Jesus called Matthew to follow him, and he did. He left his lucrative career behind and became an Apostle or eye-witness to the life and ministry, and ultimately to the death and resurrection of Jesus. As we often say around here, Jesus changes everything. So with that, let’s jump back into this story and make sure we understand what Matthew is saying here. Look back at v.1.Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV), “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”” Let’s pause here. Ok! There’s a lot going on here. So we’re a little backward in that it isn’t yet Christmas for us today, but this story takes place sometime after the birth of Jesus. Now, it doesn’t say exactly how long after his birth this took place, but I would guess it wasn’t too long as they were all still in Bethlehem in Judea. We’ll tell the story again on Christmas Eve, but according to Luke’s gospel, Mary and Joseph had traveled from Nazareth in the north (which is eventually where Jesus would grow up) ...
Redeeming Friendship: In an age where people are more connected than ever, few people have even one friend they can be open, honest, and vulnerable with. So, what kind of friendships are Christians called to, and how can this change our lives? Recorded on Dec 11, 2022, on Colossians 3:1-17, by Pastor David Parks."Redeeming Regular Life" is a sermon series from the Epistles of the New Testament in the Bible. The Epistles are letters from the Apostles to the early Christian churches helping them understand and apply the gospel to life. "To what part of life?" you might wonder. The answer is: to every part! The way of Jesus changes everything, including marriage, sexuality, singleness, parenting, work, politics, friendship, and more. In Christ, regular life is a gift.Sermon Transcript:So all year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And today, we’re finishing a series called Redeeming Regular Life. This series is from the epistles/letters in the New Testament in the Bible from the Apostles of Jesus to various churches around the Roman Empire. Part of these letters address how the basic relationships ought to work in our lives, including in marriage, parenting, at work, and so on. But the apostles wrote on these things from a uniquely Christian perspective, showing how the gospel and the way of Jesus changes everything. Today, as we bring this series to a close, we’ll finish by looking at a much easier topic to stomach than talking about redeeming politics last week. However, even though our topic for today makes us less squirmy, it’s really just as difficult for us to do as it is to try and apply our faith to our politics. That is our desperate need to establish and maintain healthy Christian friendships. In all our busyness and the chaos of life, but also with how mobile people are today, moving from one house to the next or from one city/state to the next — all these things make it hard for us to form deep and lasting friendships. It’s ironic that we live in an age of social networking where we might have hundreds or even thousands of people we’re connected with online, who are supposedly our friends, and yet many of us struggle to maintain even one real friendship in which we feel we can be vulnerable and our true self. And yet, as we said in our marriage and singleness sermons in this series, even though most people get married, not everyone is called to be married in life. And not everyone who gets married stays married for various reasons. This means that a more universal need than understanding how marriage works (as important and valuable as that is) is our need to understand how friendship works. This is true for all people, married and single. So how does the gospel and the way of Jesus change our friendships? If you have a Bible/app, please open to Colossians 3:1. This is a longer passage, so we’ll break this up into four parts: 1. Who we are in Christ. 2. What we are called from in relationship to others. 3. What we are called to in relationship to others. 4. What these relationships produce? So first, who we are in Christ, starting with v. 1.Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV), “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” So Colossians is a letter from the Apostle Paul to the Christians in and around the city of Colossae in modern Turkey. And Paul might’ve known some of the believers there, but he hadn’t personally ministered in Colossae. Back in chapter 1, he says that they first heard the gospel through a man named Epaphras. In chapter 2, Paul says his goal in writing was “…that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding,
Redeeming Politics: Almost nothing is more divisive (and ugly) than politics today. How should Christians engage politically? Whatever issues, candidates, or parties you support, you must connect the values of God’s Kingdom and your allegiance to Jesus, your true King, to your politics — especially with people with different political views than yours! Recorded on Dec 4, 2022, on 1 Peter 3:8-18, by Pastor David Parks."Redeeming Regular Life" is a sermon series from the Epistles of the New Testament in the Bible. The Epistles are letters from the Apostles to the early Christian churches helping them understand and apply the gospel to life. "To what part of life?" you might wonder. The answer is: to every part! The way of Jesus changes everything, including marriage, sexuality, singleness, parenting, work, politics, friendship, and more. In Christ, regular life is a gift.Sermon TranscriptThis year, the annual theme of our preaching ministry is Learning the way of Jesus. And right now, we’re in the middle of a series called Redeeming Regular Life. This series is from the household codes found in the epistles/letters in the New Testament in the Bible, from the Apostles of Jesus to various churches around the Roman Empire. Now, in their day, household codes were common and addressed the way our basic relationships (regular life) ought to work. But the apostles wrote on these things from a uniquely Christian perspective, showing how the gospel and the way of Jesus changes everything. So far, we’ve covered redeeming marriage, sexuality, singleness, parenting, and work. If you missed any of those messages, you can always go back and watch or listen online. But today, we’ll move on to a topic many of us would desperately like to avoid, while others of us get maybe a little too excited to talk about, that is, our politics. I understand that by choosing this topic, I have chosen to willingly walk into a minefield with danger in every direction we go. What could be more divisive in our day than talking about politics? For that very reason, as Christians, we must think through these things from a Christian perspective. So what in the world does the gospel have to do with politics? And what does the way of Jesus mean for how we treat people who might have very different political views or beliefs than we do? Those are great questions. But it was really no different back in the first century AD. The Christians back then had political views and issues. They wrestled with how to interact with their political leaders and systems of government. And the instruction the apostles of Jesus give them remains helpful and wise to this day. So if you have a Bible/app, please open to 1 Peter 3:8. We’ll read through this and then unpack it together.1 Peter 3:8-18 (NIV), “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will,
Redeeming Work: Most of us spend most of our waking hours doing work. Work can be done in or outside the home. Work can be paid or unpaid. So how does the way of Jesus impact and transform our work? And what would a uniquely Christian perspective be on the relationships we have in our workplace? Recorded on Nov 27, 2022, on Colossians 3:22-4:1, by Pastor David Parks.
"Redeeming Regular Life" is a sermon series from the Epistles of the New Testament in the Bible. The Epistles are letters from the Apostles to the early Christian churches helping them understand and apply the gospel to life. "To what part of life?" you might wonder. The answer is: to every part! The way of Jesus changes everything, including marriage, sexuality, singleness, parenting, work, politics, friendship, and more. In Christ, regular life is a gift.
Sermon Transcript
This year, the annual theme of our preaching ministry is Learning the way of Jesus. And right now, we’re in the middle of a series called Redeeming Regular Life. This series is from the household codes found in the epistles/letters in the New Testament in the Bible, from the Apostles of Jesus to various churches around the Roman Empire. Now, in their day, household codes were common and addressed the way our basic relationships (regular life) ought to work. But the apostles wrote on these things from a uniquely Christian perspective, showing how the gospel and the way of Jesus changes everything. So far, we’ve covered redeeming marriage, sexuality, singleness, and parenting. If you missed any of those messages, you can always go back and watch or listen online. But today, we’ll move on to a topic that most of us spend most of our waking hours doing for much of our lives: our work. Work can be done in or outside the home. Work can be paid or unpaid. So how does the way of Jesus impact and transform our work? And what would a uniquely Christian perspective be on the relationships we have in our workplace? If you have a Bible/app, please open to Colossians 3:22.
Colossians 3:22 - 4:1 (NIV), “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. 1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.”
Now, before we go any further, we must remember that slavery in the 1st century AD was very different from what many of us think of slavery from our nation's history. First, slavery was widespread, not a majority of people oppressing a minority. During this time, up to 50% of the Roman Empire would have been considered a slave, with nearly every other civilization in history practicing slavery. Second, slavery wasn't exclusively based on race. War captives and debt were the two main sources of slaves. Third, slavery wasn't usually life-long. Voluntary slavery was a normal means of escaping poverty, and household slaves could rise to become confidants with great responsibility (think of Joseph in Potiphar's house in Genesis). For all these reasons, the ancient view of the master/slave relationship is closer to the employer/employee work relationship of today. To be clear, the Bible doesn't approve of slavery as an institution. The Apostle Paul explicitly says that if slaves can gain their freedom, they should do so (1Co 7:21), and one of the great implications of the gospel is freedom from enslavement to sin. Even here, we find a teaching that undermines the idea that a slave was somehow different in value than their master. In fact, it’s hard to see how slavery would ever have been abolished had it...
Redeeming Parenting: Parenting has been recognized as a blessing across societies and times. But how does the gospel change our perspective on parenting compared to society's beliefs and practices? Christians believe that children have inherent value as image-bearers of God, not because of what value they will provide to us or society. But raising children (and people) is not just limited to parents but is the responsibility of the entire church. Recorded on Nov 20, 2022, on Ephesians 6:1-4, by Pastor David Parks.
"Redeeming Regular Life" is a sermon series from the Epistles of the New Testament in the Bible. The Epistles are letters from the Apostles to the early Christian churches helping them understand and apply the gospel to life. "To what part of life?" you might wonder. The answer is: to every part! The way of Jesus changes everything, including marriage, sexuality, singleness, parenting, work, politics, friendship, and more. In Christ, regular life is a gift.
Sermon Transcript
This year, the annual theme of our preaching ministry is Learning the way of Jesus. And right now, we’re in the middle of a series called Redeeming Regular Life. This series is from the household codes found in the epistles/letters in the New Testament in the Bible, from the Apostles of Jesus to various churches around the Roman Empire. Now, in their day, household codes were common and addressed the way our basic relationships (regular life) ought to work. But the apostles wrote on these things from a uniquely Christian perspective, showing how the gospel and the way of Jesus changes everything. So far, we’ve covered redeeming marriage, sexuality, and singleness. Today, we’ll move on to the very important topic of parenting. For my wife, Holly, and I, parenting has been a source of the greatest joy in our life, but also of confusion, anxiety, and stress. Everywhere in the Bible, children are described as a blessing — maybe a chaotic and exhausting blessing (especially when they’re young), but a blessing nonetheless. But as far as I can tell, this is true no matter what you believe about God/faith/bible. So how does the way of Jesus impact and transform the work of parenting? What would a uniquely Christian perspective be on the relationship between parent and child? If you have a Bible/app, please open to Ephesians 6:1.
Ephesians 6:1-4 (NIV), “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” So, as we said a few weeks ago in our marriage sermon, the book of Ephesians is an epistle/letter from the Apostle Paul to the Christians in and around the city of Ephesus in the modern country of Turkey. And in this section of his letter, he addresses these basic household relationships. Look back at v.1.
Ephesians 6:1 (NIV) says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Let’s pause here. Interestingly, it seems as if Paul was expecting kids to be in the church congregation when his letter was read because he addresses them directly here. So kids! Do you want to know what it looks like for you to follow the way of Jesus? You should obey your parents. Now, this isn’t new. Almost every culture forever has come to this conclusion. Kids are the responsibility of their parents, kids need to grow up and mature in every way, and their parents, presumably, are further on in that maturity process, so kids should obey their parents. Learning obedience should help in the primary task of childhood- of growing up. However, there are always some parents who get the command backward, thinking it to say, “Parents, obey your children.” Obey their every desire, meet their demands, let them run the show. This never works for the parents or for the kids ...
Redeeming Singleness: In the Christian life, is it better to stay single or to become married? There is not a simple, black-and-white answer for everyone. While marriage can provide loving companionship in our short time on earth, it is not without the difficulties and distractions of family life. Remaining single can allow you to focus more easily on a life of undivided devotion to the Lord. Regardless of marital status, we must evaluate our priorities in light of eternity, avoiding distractions and focusing wholeheartedly on serving the Lord. Recorded on Nov 13, 2022, on 1 Corinthians 7:25-40, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series, “Redeeming Regular Life,” from the Epistles of the New Testament in the Bible. The Epistles are letters from the Apostles to the early Christian churches around the Roman Empire, helping them understand and apply the gospel to life. The way of Jesus changes everything, including marriage, sexuality, singleness, parenting, work, politics, and friends. In some ways, it’s easier to accept Jesus our Savior than it is to accept him as the Lord of our lives who wants to make some changes in our lives. In Christ, regular life is a gift. The way of Jesus is not easy, but it’s the way of redemption which leads to true and lasting freedom, joy, and peace.
Sermon Transcript:
This year, our annual theme is, Learning the way of Jesus. And we’re working through a sermon series called Redeeming Regular Life. And we’ve said that our series is from the household codes found in the epistles/letters in the New Testament in the Bible. In the first century AD, household codes addressed the way our basic relationships ought to work, whether it be in marriage, parenting, in our work, and so on. This sort of instruction was common at that time, but the Apostles wrote from a uniquely Christian perspective. And it’s vital, as Christians, to think these things through, because the way of Jesus changes everything. And there’s so much redemption and growth and freedom and joy that can come from learning the way of Jesus in regular life. For the last few weeks, we’ve started our series with redeeming marriage (Eph 5) and sexuality (1Co 7). Today, we’ll come back to 1Co 7 in order to consider what the gospel and the way of Jesus has to do with being single. I’m not sure why, but growing up in the church, I can remember hearing teaching on being married, but I’m not sure if I ever remember hearing teaching on being single. And this is kind of weird to me. After all, it is true that despite the fact that people tend to get married later in life than a generation ago, still, according to the US Census Bureau, about 90% of adults will be married at least once in their lifetimes. So, even in an age of mass confusion and anxiety about marriage, most people get married; however, not everyone. And not everyone who gets married stays married, whether because of divorce or death. This means that 100% of us, every one of us, needs to learn how to follow the way of Jesus as a single person. Thankfully, the Bible directly addresses this question for us. So if you have a Bible/app, please open to 1Co 7:25. Since this is a longer passage, we’re going to split it up into three parts. 1. Our priorities in light of eternity 2. The calling to undivided devotion. 3. The gift of freedom in Christ. So first, our priorities in light of eternity. v. 25.
1 Corinthians 7:25-31 (NIV), “Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. 29 What I mean,
Redeeming Sexuality: In Paul's day, as in ours, the Christian ethic has differed widely from that of the culture at large. Throughout the Roman empire, confusion was widespread as to the real purpose and nature of sexuality, which was viewed differently within marriage and outside of it. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul shows us that God has specific designs for sexuality within marriage: as a reflection of joy and pleasure, the source of new life in the world, and a way to grow in intimate knowledge of one another. Sexual attraction or desire isn’t inherently sinful, but it must be expressed in the right context. Recorded on Nov 6, 2022, on 1 Corinthians 7:1-16, by Pastor David Parks.
Recorded on Nov 6, 2022, on 1 Corinthians 7:1-16, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series “Redeeming Regular Life,” from the Epistles of the New Testament in the Bible. The Epistles are letters from the Apostles to the early Christian churches around the Roman Empire, helping them understand and apply the gospel to life. The way of Jesus changes everything, including marriage, sexuality, singleness, parenting, work, politics, and friends. In some ways, it’s easier to accept Jesus our Savior than it is to accept him as the Lord of our lives who wants to make some changes in our lives. In Christ, regular life is a gift. The way of Jesus is not easy, but it’s the way of redemption which leads to true and lasting freedom, joy, and peace.
Sermon Transcript
This year, our annual theme is, Learning the way of Jesus. And we’re working through a sermon series called Redeeming Regular Life. This series is from the epistles of the New Testament in the Bible. The epistles are letters from the Apostles to the early Christian churches around the Roman Empire, helping them understand and apply the gospel to life. “To what part of life?” you might wonder. And the answer is: to every part! The way of Jesus changes everything. Last week, we started this series with the teaching of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesian church on marriage, that a healthy and godly relationship between a husband and wife can be a beautiful picture of the gospel and the relationship between Christ and the church. If you missed that, you can always go back and watch on YouTube or listen to the audio podcast. But today, we maybe naturally move from the topic of marriage to sexuality. And some of you might wonder if this is an appropriate topic to be talking about at church. And I would say two things. First, kids start learning about sexuality in school around 5th grade and probably earlier from their friends or TV or whatever. So if we fail to address this in church, they will only have a worldly perspective on a very powerful and important topic. Second, the Bible addresses it, so we should probably hear what the Lord has to say about it, too. I think you’ll find the biblical perspective to be both realistic and very relevant to us today. So with that, let’s consider redeeming sexuality. If you have a Bible/app, please open to 1Co 7:1. We’ll read this first and then unpack it together.
1 Corinthians 7:1-7 (NIV), “Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am.
Redeeming Marriage: The Bible's version of marriage differs significantly from the way cultures have viewed it over time. Paul's teaching on marriage is not based on men being superior to women, but as a picture of Christ's relationship to and love for the church. The path to change and growth in marriage is costly, but if you do the work, the result will be a life and marriage which is honoring to God, your spouse, and yourself. Recorded on Oct 30, 2022, on Ephesians 5:21-33, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series “Redeeming Regular Life,” from the Epistles of the New Testament in the Bible. The Epistles are letters from the Apostles to the early Christian churches around the Roman Empire, helping them understand and apply the gospel to life. The way of Jesus changes everything, including marriage, sexuality, singleness, parenting, work, politics, and friends. In some ways, it’s easier to accept Jesus our Savior than it is to accept him as the Lord of our lives who wants to make some changes in our lives. In Christ, regular life is a gift. The way of Jesus is not easy, but it’s the way of redemption which leads to true and lasting freedom, joy, and peace.
Sermon Transcript:
So all year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus. And we just spent three months working through a very famous teaching of Jesus called the Sermon on the Mount. If you missed any of those sermons, you can always go back and watch them online or listen to the audio podcast if you’d like. But today, we get to start a new sermon series called Redeeming Regular Life. And this series is from the Epistles of the New Testament in the Bible. The Epistles are letters from the Apostles to the early Christian churches around the Roman Empire, helping them understand and apply the gospel to life. “To what part of life?” you might wonder. And the answer is: to every part! The way of Jesus changes everything, including marriage, which we’ll consider today, but also sexuality, singleness, parenting, work, politics, and friendship, which we’ll cover in the weeks ahead. All very easy topics to talk about, right? No, I know this series will be challenging for us, especially compared to what the world believes about these things. In some ways, it’s easier to accept Jesus our Savior than it is to accept him as the Lord of our lives who wants to make some changes in our lives. But my hope is that you’ll see that in Christ, regular life is a gift. The way of Jesus is not easy, but it’s the way of redemption which leads to true and lasting freedom, joy, and peace. So today, we’ll start our series with a message on redeeming marriage. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Eph 5:21. We’ll read this first and then unpack it together.
Ephesians 5:21-33 (NIV), “21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself,
Faith and Works, Getting the Order Right (an epilogue to The Unexpected Way series): The way of salvation is all about faith in what Jesus has already done. However, after salvation, the Christian life is then all about grace-motivated, Spirit-empowered good works. The relationship between faith and works can be tricky, but we must get the order right. Recorded on Oct 23, 2022, on Ephesians 2:1-10, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series “The Unexpected Way,” from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it’s different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy, and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus, which means that all year we’re trying to answer the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” And we’ve just finished working through a very famous teaching of Jesus called the Sermon on the Mount. We spent three full months going through what is honestly one of the most influential teachings of anyone, anywhere, in the history of the world. That’s the power of Jesus. But before we start our new sermon series called Redeeming Regular Life, which starts next week, I felt led to do a little epilogue here at the end of this series. And the reason is that there’s a fundamental danger in listening and trying to obey the teaching of Jesus. And it’s not only the temptation to ignore his teaching. Disobedience is the ditch on one side of the narrow path of following Jesus. And, of course, that is a problem. The way of Jesus is sometimes very hard and painful. And it’s tempting to ignore the bits we don’t like or are particularly difficult. But that’s not the only problem. There’s a ditch on the other side of the road. There’s a trap that many people fall into in trying to obey the teaching of Jesus or really in trying to do anything for God. The problem/trap is confusing the Christian life with the way of salvation, to forget that we are saved by grace through faith and not by our obedience/righteousness/works. So before we have another sermon on how to live in light of the gospel, we need to revisit faith and works and make sure we get the order right. Because, and here’s why this is so important, if we get this wrong, it’s possible we never understood or believed the gospel in the first place. Given what’s at stake, we must be clear. So if you have a Bible/app, please open to Eph 2:1. We’ll read this and then unpack it together.
Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV), “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
So Ephesians is an epistle or letter from the Apostle Paul to the...
Building Your Life on the Rock: Life has its storms. Sometimes, the storm is a category four hurricane, but more often, it comes in the form of loss, conflict, illness, or a rough patch in an important relationship. So how are we to weather the storms of life? Jesus tackles this issue at the end of his Sermon on the Mount, promising that the storms will come. But Jesus also promises that we can endure the storms, not just through knowledge of his teachings, but through joyful, sometimes painful obedience to his way. Recorded on Oct 16, 2022, on Matthew 7:24-29, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series “The Unexpected Way,” from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it’s different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy, and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus, which means that all year, we’ll basically be answering the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” And we’ve been working through a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount in a sermon series called, The Unexpected Way. The teaching of Jesus leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic, a cross-shaped way of life. And the way of Jesus is totally different than all the other religions and philosophies of the world. And at every turn, it seems as if the way of Jesus is the last thing we’d expect. But if it’s followed, it’s the only way that has the power to bring true and lasting love, joy, and peace to the journey and lead to abundant and everlasting life. Today, we’re coming to the end of the Sermon on the Mount. But next week, we’ll have a little epilogue on faith and works and the importance of getting the order right. But today, we’ll heed the call to build our lives upon the Rock and find true stability and security no matter what storms may come in life. Just a few weeks ago, Hurricane Ian, a category four hurricane, left devastation across southern Florida. I saw a time-lapse video of the storm in, I believe it was, Naples, FL. There were two buildings in the video, one a hotel made out of what looked like concrete and the other a smaller wooden house or shop. When the storm surge came in, the water almost covered the camera, maybe 8-10’ high. And when it receded, the hotel remained, but the house was completely gone. Not just knocked over, but gone. Sadly, everyone faces storms of various kinds in life. Sometimes literal storms like a hurricane, but more often, storms of long-term illness, unexpected loss, conflict, abuse, or abandonment. In many ways, this is just part of life in a broken world, a world marred by sin and death. But some people are able to remain standing through the storms, while others are crushed or just never seem to recover. So as we learn the way of Jesus, how can we remain standing, how can we endure the storms of life? If you have a Bible/app, please open to Mt 7:24. We’ll read this and then unpack it together.
Matthew 7:24-29 (NIV), “24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
False Prophets and False Disciples: Jesus never sugar-coated the dangers of following his way. One danger relates to false prophets or teachers who seek to deceive or mislead for selfish gain. Another danger relates to false disciples who trust religious works in the place of a relationship with God. Can we guard against false teaching? Can we have true assurance of faith? Absolutely. Recorded on Oct 9, 2022, on Matthew 7:15-23, by Kyle Wagner.
This message is part of our sermon series “The Unexpected Way,” from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it’s different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy, and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
New Identity, New Path: The Golden Rule — Everybody knows it, but why is it so difficult to treat others how we want to be treated? Why is this simple concept so difficult to put into practice? What about prayer? What about all the rest of the Christian life? The key is to realize that faith in Jesus results in a brand new identity as a child of God. Out of this new identity flows a whole new way of life, empowered and sustained by our good Father in heaven. Recorded on Oct 2, 2022, on Matthew 7:7-14, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series “The Unexpected Way,” from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it’s different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy, and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript:
All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus, which means that all year, we’ll basically be answering the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” And we’ve been working through a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount in a sermon series called, The Unexpected Way. Last week, we considered Jesus’ teaching about being judgmental of others and his calling to first work on your issues/struggles before trying to fix other people. We had a great discussion about this at Youth Group, and hopefully, it was helpful for those of you in a community group, as well. If you missed any of the messages in this series, you can always go back and watch on the church app or on YouTube or listen to the audio podcast. Today, we’re reminded that we have a radically new identity by faith in Jesus. And this new identity leads us to a new path in life. We’ve been talking about this path; that’s what the way of Jesus is all about. But it’s critical to see how our new identity (who we are) leads to this new path (what we do). Our activity flows out of our identity. Some of us really struggle with following the way of Jesus in one area or another, and it’s tempting to focus on the behavior, to try and control it or correct it somehow. But it’s far more effective to focus on who we are and whose we are in Christ. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Mt 7:7.
Matthew 7:7-14 (NIV), “7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
So in the Sermon on the Mount, let’s remember the context: Jesus is teaching his disciples/followers what it looks like to follow his way. And with all this focus on our behavior, it can start to feel like being a Christian is largely defined by what we say/do, in other words, by external behavior. But this is not the case. Of first importance is who God is and what the nature of our relationship is in Christ. And really, no one else in all of history has envisioned God and the relationship that human beings can have with him like Jesus does. You won’t find anything like this in Buddhism, Hinduism, or Islam.
Judging Others: Christians are often perceived as being judgemental - sometimes with good reason. But how are we to apply the teachings of Jesus' way while being both loving and honest? First, you must work on your own struggles before trying to help others, as this provides clarity and compassion and also helps to build community with your church family. Recorded on Sept 25, 2022, on Matthew 7:1-6, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series “The Unexpected Way,” from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it’s different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy, and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus, which means that all year, we’ll basically be answering the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” And we’ve been working through a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount in a sermon series called, The Unexpected Way. The Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew chapters 5-7 and today we’re starting chapter 7. For the last two weeks, we considered Jesus’ teaching on money, wealth, and possessions. He dealt with both the disordered love of money that is so tempting for us, but also the fears, anxiety, and worries that our money and our possessions tend to produce. If you missed any of the messages in this series, you can always go back and watch on the church app or on YouTube or listen to the audio podcast. Today, Jesus turns from dealing with worry to focus on the problem of being harshly critical or judgmental of others. Right or wrong, Christians often get the reputation of being judgmental or of having a holier-than-thou type of attitude. Have you ever experienced this? Or have you ever been accused of this? For being judgmental of a friend or family member or someone? I have. At the last wedding I officiated, I didn’t know most of the people at the reception other than the bride and groom. So, of course, at dinner, I was seated with people I didn’t know. With my level of extroversion, this isn’t usually a problem. I actually love those situations. But when the lady who was seated next to me saw that it was me, the pastor, who’d be sitting at their table and, in fact, sitting next to her, she literally said, “Oh no!” I said with a smile, “Oh no? What do you think I’m going to do to you?” And she said something like, “Well, now we need to be on our best behavior.” I laughed and said I’d try not to make things too weird or painful for the table, and we had a great evening. But what was she afraid of? I think she was afraid I would be judgmental of them. Or maybe that I’d look down my nose at them or make them feel guilty or something. Now that wasn’t fair, but as I said, right or wrong, Christians don’t have the best reputation with judgment. So what are we supposed to do? Should followers of Jesus never pass judgment on someone regardless of what decisions they make or what they do? Or is there a way to judge others without making them feel unloved or hopelessly condemned? There is much wisdom in our short passage today. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Mt 7:1.
Matthew 7:1-6 (NIV), “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye,
What To Do With Worry: Fear, anxiety, and worry produce a constant and overwhelming struggle for many people today. Out of all the anxiety and worry you experience, how much of it is related to money? Jesus knows how much we tend to worry about our money or possessions. But the way of Jesus, of seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness, is the only way to find true freedom from fear. Recorded on Sept 18, 2022, on Matthew 6:25-34, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series “The Unexpected Way,” from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it’s different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy, and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus, which means that all year, we’ll basically be answering the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” And we’ve been working through a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount in a sermon series called, The Unexpected Way. Jesus’ teaching has covered a lot of ground from thinking about the values of the kingdom of heaven, what it means to be a good person, the traps of religious works, and more. Last week, we started a little two-part series within the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus shifts his focus to our money, wealth, and possessions. And this is so helpful because, for whatever reason, issues relating to our wealth run deep within the human heart. Last week, we saw that one of the temptations/traps to avoid is thinking that making money or accumulating stuff is the highest value or the purpose of our lives. These things should not master us; Jesus clearly says we cannot serve both God and money. Today, in the second in our two-part series, we’ll move from love to fear — including the very real fears that start to well up when we think about our bills or debt, our financial security, or our future. Will we have enough? Will we be able to accomplish our goals? Should we be making/saving/investing more? What if the economy falls into a recession, or what if we can’t work for some reason? Out of all the anxiety and worry you experience, how much of it is related to money? If you have a Bible/app, please open it to Mt 6:25.
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV), “25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is teaching his disciples or followers what it looks like to follow his way. And what is his way regarding our money or our stuff? Let’s start back at v.
Treasures in Heaven: Money is one of those uncomfortable topics that some of us try hard to avoid. But Jesus has a lot to say about our money, wealth, and possessions. Why? Because financial issues seem to run deep in the human heart. How can we learn to be good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to our care while avoiding the trap of becoming mastered by our money? Watch here. Recorded on Sept 11, 2022, on Matthew 6:19-24, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series “The Unexpected Way,” from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it’s different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus, which means that all year, we’ll basically be answering the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” For the past two months, we’ve been working through a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount in a sermon series called, The Unexpected Way. If you’d like to go back and catch up on any sermons you missed, you can always watch on the app or on YouTube or listen to the audio podcast. But we’ve said that the teaching of Jesus leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic, a cross-shaped way of life. And it’s a totally different way than the other philosophies or religions of the world. In so many ways, the way of Jesus is counterintuitive, it’s the unexpected way. Last week, our fam had a little Covid time-out, which was not very fun, but Ted did a great job of filling in last minute with a message from a previous sermon series. Today, we’re jumping back into the Sermon on the Mount and will start a two-part section of the teaching of Jesus on money, wealth, and possessions. Jesus actually has a lot to say about money, not because money is necessarily a bad thing. But for whatever reason, money affects us in a way that few other things in life do. The love of money affects our hearts, including the inner drive/desire to earn/consume more and more (today). But also, the many fears swirling around our money affect our hearts, including all the anxiety around getting/losing money (next week). Both love and anxiety run really deep through the human heart, and if we fail to understand these things, they can easily master us and control our lives. So, how should a disciple/follower of Jesus think about money? If you have a Bible/app, please open it to Mt 6:19.
Matthew 6:19-24 (NIV), “19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Remember the context of the Sermon on the Mount is Jesus teaching his disciples or followers what it looks like to follow his way. In the last few weeks, we considered the teaching of Jesus on doing good works, religious works even, and that there’s a way to do these works without God even being involved. As I said, this section shifts the focus from religious works to our money. Let’s start back at v.
From Injustice to Injustice: Sometimes life’s not fair. After the injustice of being sold into slavery, Joseph tried to live a God-honoring life only to be falsely accused and then thrown in prison. When you go from injustice to injustice it can be hard to see the good plan of God and easy to feel abandoned. But through Joseph’s story, it was clear that God was with him. Even today, in the gospel we see that we are not alone. We are not forsaken. Even in the moments of the deepest pain, in the trials of greatest injustice, we are still found safely within the love and care of a God who does not abandon us, a God who in the end will right all wrongs and have the victory.
This sermon is part of the Joseph series from the spring of 2018. Recorded on Sep. 4, 2022, by Ted Selker, from Genesis 39.
Praying Like Jesus: Prayer is simply talking with God. But more than that, prayer is an opportunity to spend precious time in communion with and awareness of God’s presence. Jesus was constantly praying and taught his disciples how to pray. Want to learn how to pray like Jesus? Listen here. Recorded on August 28, 2022, on Matthew 6:5-15, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series “The Unexpected Way,” from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it’s different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus, which means that all year, we’ll basically be answering the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” For the past two months, we’ve been working through a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount in a sermon series called, The Unexpected Way. And we’ve said that the teaching of Jesus leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. But it’s a different way from the other philosophies or religions of the world; it’s counterintuitive, it’s the unexpected way. Last week, we started a new section of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus turns his attention to religious works and the potential trap of these things. He teaches that there’s a way to be religious without it having anything to do with God, and he gives three examples in giving to the poor, prayer, and fasting. Last week we started this section by considering how serving the poor can really turn into serving ourselves if we’re not careful. Today, our focus is on Jesus’ example of prayer. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Matthew 6:5. Instead of reading the whole passage first, we’ll read and unpack this in two parts. So part one:
Matthew 6:5-8 (NIV), “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Let’s pause here. Now, I’m not going to spend as much time on this section because this is very similar to our passage from last week. Last week, I said that Mt 6:1 was really the thesis statement for this section of teaching. There, Jesus said, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.” This is a warning for us not to try and do good works, religious works even, in order to be seen by others. Giving to the needy was the first example of this kind of twisted religious behavior, and now here he moves on to prayer. But again, just like last week, I don’t believe Jesus is saying we should never pray publicly. And I don’t believe Jesus is saying we should never spend long hours, at times, in prayer, which would presumably use many words. First, we must remember the example of Jesus. On a number of occasions, Jesus prayed both publicly and often at great length. And second, remember the context. If verse 1 is the thesis, then this teaching is just another example of doing a religious work, that is, prayer, for self-serving, self-glorifying reasons: praying to be seen by others. Jesus is saying it’s far better to pray a secret prayer with few words than to pray publicly or impressively when God isn’t even involved.
Ok,
Serving Those in Need: You can't read the Bible and miss God's heart for the poor. It's no surprise then that the way of Jesus would include the responsibility to give to and serve those in need. However, Jesus warns his disciples that there's a way of doing good works, even religious works, which is spiritually dangerous for those who are trying to help. How can we meet needs with both wisdom and generosity without falling into this trap? Listen here. Recorded on August 21, 2022, on Matthew 6:1-4, by Pastor David Parks. (Apologies for the audio quality.)
This message is part of our sermon series "The Unexpected Way," from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it's different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus, which means that all year, we’ll basically be answering the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” For the past two months, we’ve been working through a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount in a sermon series called, The Unexpected Way. And we’ve said that the teaching of Jesus leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic, but it’s a different way from the other philosophies or religions of the world. It’s counterintuitive, it sometimes seems upside-down. It’s the unexpected way. For the past few weeks, we’ve considered a number of examples of Jesus for how the moral law goes way deeper than what it allows or prohibits. It goes all the way down to the heart level and has underlying principles for how God intends for us to live. And it’s been hard teaching! This is serious stuff. But it’s so good. In each case, we saw both a beautiful vision for the type of people and society that we would enjoy if we actually lived like this, but also our desperate need for God because of how often we fail to live like this. Today, and for the next few weeks, Jesus turns the focus from morality and what it truly means to do right and wrong to religion or religious practice. Today, we’ll consider the giving of alms (charity) or more simply, serving those in need. Almost every culture and religion says this is a good idea, and it is! But Jesus gives us some unique insight into how this can become a trap for us if we aren’t careful. In fact, there’s a way to be religious without it having anything to do with God. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Matthew 6:1. We’ll read through this and unpack it together.
Matthew 6:1-4 (NIV), “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
So again, for the past month or so, we’ve seen again and again that being righteous or being a good person is much harder than it first seems. And this is because God wants us to follow his way whole-heartedly, with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. It turns out this is true for not only the way we treat other people, as we saw in our commitment to value/love them, to be faithful in marriage to them, to speak the truth to them, even to love our enemies — but also in the way we worship/serve God. This is really what Matthew chapter 6 is all about.
Loving Your Enemy: Interacting with people is hard, even with those you are closest to. Nearly everyone would agree that you should be loving and kind towards others, but this is often applied only to those who are like us or fall within our group. But what about those who are different than us, those with a different nationality, belief system, or political dogma? Jesus teaches that we should love not only those who are annoying, inconvenient, or who hurt our pride but those who are actively opposed to us as well... those we classify as our enemies. Recorded on August 14, 2022, on Matthew 5:38-48, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series "The Unexpected Way," from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it's different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus, which means that all year, we’ll basically be answering the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” To start, we’ve been working through a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount in a sermon series called, The Unexpected Way. And we’ve said that the teaching of Jesus leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic which is not at all what we’d expect. The way of Jesus is a different way from the other philosophies or religions of the world. But, if it’s actually put into practice, the way of Jesus leads to a life of love/joy/peace. For the past few weeks, Jesus has been teaching us what it really means to be a good person, for us to really live the life that God intended for human beings to live. And let me just take a quick survey today, do we think this has been easy teaching or hard teaching? Very hard teaching. Today, we have one more example from Jesus of the type of righteousness that he requires of his disciples, and it’s maybe the hardest one yet. Are you ready for this? Are you sure? If you have a Bible/app, please open it to Matthew 5:38. We’ll read through this and unpack it together.
Matthew 5:38-48 (NIV), “38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Again, just like the last three weeks, Jesus shows us that the OT Law has underlying principles that go way beyond what the Law allows or prohibits. But these underlying principles, rooted in God’s character, are how God intends for human beings to actually live. In this case, how we are to respond, not just to people who like us or are like us, but to the most difficult/frustrating people in life, even to our enemies. Let’s start again with v.38.
Matthew 5:38-39a (NIV), “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye,
Let Me Be Honest: People today have a complicated relationship with the truth. We feel that certain things are universally true but may actually be preferences or opinions. Other times we bend the truth to get out of commitments. Still other times we know that the information presented or shared online isn't true. All these things undermine our ability to trust one another. The way of Jesus calls us to not only speak truthfully, even when it's costly, but also to be men and women of our word. Recorded on August 7, 2022, on Matthew 5:33-37, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series "The Unexpected Way," from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it's different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus, which means basically all year, we’ll be answering the big question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” To start, we’ve been working through a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount in a sermon series called, The Unexpected Way. The teaching of Jesus leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic which is totally unique. The way of Jesus is a different way from the other philosophies or religions in history and, if it’s actually put into practice, leads to a life of love/joy/peace. For the past few weeks, Jesus has been teaching us that the heart of God goes way beyond the Law because the Law is rooted in the goodness/wisdom/love of who God is. In our ability to value other people or in our faithful love in marriage, again and again, Jesus refuses to shrink the requirements of the moral law. Instead, he raises the bar far higher than we would expect. Today, we have another example of this high standard relating to our commitment to speak the truth and be men and women of our word. Is this not such a needed teaching for our world today? Before we jump into this, let’s think about the world we live in. We live in a culture that doesn’t believe in truth, at least not in the absolute/universal sense. Whether you look at our politics/education/art/media, if you pay attention to the stories we tell or read the news, it’s clear we’re becoming more and more secular. A secular life doesn’t have a view of God. It could be you don’t believe in God, or perhaps you do believe in God but it doesn’t have any impact on your life. And if there is no God who is transcendent over all, then there is no objective truth that is over all. So what are we left with? We’re left with only facts and opinions. We’re left with scientific facts that may very well be replaced, and often are replaced, by further scientific inquiry. What is a fact today may not be a fact tomorrow. Also, there’s a well-documented history of confirmation bias. Of course, this is a problem for everyone, but also in science, of only looking for evidence that supports our existing beliefs. Stories of confirmation bias undermine our ability to trust the facts. Now I am certainly not anti-science, but many people have the feeling that so-called facts change, that what is presented as true will change over time. Beyond facts, in a secular society, everything else is just an opinion. With no God, with no objective truth, there can be no higher law, no objective right and wrong, no real good or real evil. Of course, no one actually lives like this is fully true. Even the most secular people still believe that cops ought to come if their house if it’s being robbed, or that things like rape or human trafficking are objectively wrong, not just wrong in their opinion. And yet,
How to Stay Married: If people matter so much to God, it only makes sense that God would care about how we treat one another in marriage. But this is a broken world. And sometimes, the most difficult people to love is the person you promised to love no matter what. So how do we do this? How do we stay married (if we’re married) or think about marriage if, one day, we might get married? And how does this relate to being single? Recorded on July 31, 2022, on Matthew 5:27-32, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series "The Unexpected Way," from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it's different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus, which means basically all year, we’ll be answering the big question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” To start, we’ve been working through a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount in a sermon series called, The Unexpected Way. The teaching of Jesus leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. But this way of life is really unique. The way of Jesus is just a radically different way from every other philosophy or religion in the world. Last week, we considered the value of human life and the key Biblical principle that people matter to God. And we saw that if people matter to God, then of course people should matter to us as well. But if this is how God cares for us, then the way we think about others and the way we treat others would really matter to God. Jesus dramatically raises the bar for us, saying that how we treat other people actually matters more to God than even our worship of him. We said that this was the first of six examples that Jesus gives about what it really means to be a good person. Today, we’ll consider the second and third examples of Jesus in the area of marriage and divorce. And this is only a logical extension of the principle from last week. If people matter so much to God, it only makes sense that God would care a great deal about how we treat one another in marriage. But this is a broken world. And sometimes, the most difficult people to love are the people you promised to love no matter what (for better/worse, for richer/poorer, in sickness/health). So how do we do this? How do we, as followers of Jesus, stay married (if we’re married) or at least think about marriage if, one day, we might get married? And how does this relate to being single? There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s jump in. If you have a Bible/app, please open it to Matthew 5:27.
Matthew 5:27-32 (NIV), “27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. 31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Again, just like last week, Jesus shows us that an OT Law, in this case, the law against adultery, which is the seventh commandment in the Ten Commandments, has an underlying principle that goes way beyond w...
People Matter to God: What kind of person, family, or society does God want? What would the world, or our lives, look like if they truly reflected the Kingdom of Heaven? We'll consider four examples from the Sermon on the Mount. First, we would have a much higher value for human life. Why? Because people matter to God. All people. For followers of Jesus, this has huge implications for our attitude toward and treatment of others. Recorded on July 24, 2022, on Matthew 5:21-26, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series "The Unexpected Way," from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it's different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
This month, we started our new annual theme for our preaching ministry, which is Learning the way of Jesus. The whole year, we’ll be answering this big question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” And we’ve said that the answer is rooted in learning a new way of life, which is the way of Jesus. To start, we’ve been working through a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount in a sermon series called, The Unexpected Way. The way of Jesus is just a radically different way from every other philosophy or religion — and it’s not at all what you’d expect. But the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. And this ancient ethic, if actually practiced, can bring a life of love/joy/peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way. Last week, we considered what it means to be a good person, and we saw that only the goodness/righteousness of Christ leads to our salvation. Not one of us has earned our way into the kingdom of heaven. But then, for the Christian, if the gospel is true, we’re called to live our lives in a way that is good/right/true. So, what do you think this type of life looks like? Today, and for the next few weeks, we’ll consider six examples of this type of life; or six examples of how life should work in God’s kingdom. First up, Jesus teaches on the value of human life, but Jesus goes far beyond anything we’d expect. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Matthew 5:21. We’ll read through this first and then unpack it together.
Matthew 5:21-26 (NIV), “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
As I mentioned, this is the first of six examples of the righteousness required by God; in other words, this is what it takes to actually be a good person. Jesus shows us here that each OT Law for ancient Israel had an underlying principle that went way beyond what the Law simply prohibits. But this underlying principle, rooted in God’s character,
Being a Good Person: Many people think that being a Christian is synonymous with being a good person. But Jesus teaches that we will not enter Heaven unless our righteousness exceeds the best, most righteous people we know. How, then, can we achieve the righteousness required by God to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Recorded on July 17, 2022, on Matthew 5, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series "The Unexpected Way," from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique, it's different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
For the past few weeks, we’ve been working on our new annual theme for our preaching ministry, which is Learning the way of Jesus. So, for the next year (and really for the rest of our lives), we’ll be asking the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” And we’ve said that the answer is rooted in learning a new way of life, the way of Jesus. To kick off this new theme, we started our first sermon series exploring a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount. And we’re calling this series The Unexpected Way because the way of Jesus is radically different from every other philosophy or religion, every other way, and it’s not at all what we’d expect. The reason is that the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way. So far, we’ve considered how to have a life of blessing and also how Christians should relate to the world. Today, we’ll be considering what it means to be a good person. I think many people in our culture think that being a Christian means simply being a decent, kind, helpful human being — being a good person. But what does it mean to be a good person when “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”? If the gospel is true, what does it mean to be a good person? As is so often the case, the way of Jesus is not at all what we’d expect. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Matthew 5:17.
Matthew 5:17–20 (NIV), “17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Ok, so this short passage has a lot of stuff to unpack. Let’s start again with v. 17.
Matthew 5:17 (NIV), “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Let’s pause here. There are so many things to say about this one short verse, but today I’ll just give you three. First, “do not think.” Jesus wants to make sure his disciples have the right way of thinking. Thinking about what? About why Jesus came, about his mission and purpose in the world. And this is vital for us to this day. So many people, including many Christians today, are confused about who Jesus is or what he came to do.
Being Salt and Light: How should Christians relate to the world? Should we avoid it altogether, or live fully immersed in it, looking no different than the culture around us? In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes his followers as the salt and the light of the world- two things that are useless if kept separate from the world around them, but are also capable of bringing incredible change to it. Recorded on July 10, 2022, on Matthew 5, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series "The Unexpected Way," from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique, it's different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
Last week, we started the new annual theme for our preaching ministry of Learning the way of Jesus. And we said that for the next year, basically, we’ll be seeking to answer the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” And we said that the answer is rooted in learning a new way of life, the way of Jesus. Before anyone was called a Christian, they were called followers of The Way because they followed the way of Jesus. To kick off this new theme, we started our first sermon series exploring a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount. And we’re calling this series The Unexpected Way because what we’ll see in this series is that the way of Jesus is radically different from every other philosophy or religion that has ever existed. It’s not at all what we’d expect. And the reason is because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way. Last week, we started this series by considering the passage known as the Beatitudes which showed us 8 unexpected blessings in the way of Jesus. These blessings reveal just how different the values of the kingdom of God are compared to the ways of the world. If you missed that message, you can always go back and watch or listen online. Today, we’ll seek to answer the big question, “How should Christians relate to the world?” For 2000 years, Christians have wrestled with how close or how far away they should be from people who are not trying to follow the way of Jesus and the various systems/organizations they create/maintain. At one extreme end, some Christians have thought we must completely withdraw/separate from the world. Do not engage, don’t try to change things, just try and find a place where you can practice your faith in peace. Why? Because the world is evil and will corrupt you if you aren’t careful. How should we relate to the world? Avoid it! On the other extreme, other Christians have thought that there’s virtually no difference between Christians and non-Christians and that the ways of the world, including our cultural values/ideas/practices, are totally acceptable and good. Of course, not everything is perfect, but just think of all the things in the world which are good and beautiful or are just cool. Don’t you want to be part of that? How should we relate to the world? Accept it! But do either of these extremes line up with the teaching of Jesus? If the gospel is true, how should Christians relate to the world? Avoidance? Acceptance? Something else? As is so often the case, the way of Jesus is not at all what we’d expect. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Matthew 5:13.
Matthew 5:13–16 (NIV), “13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
Learning the (Unexpected) Way of Jesus: Before anyone was known as a Christian, Jesus' early followers were called "The Way." Why? Because they followed the way of Jesus, which is radically different from every other philosophy or religion throughout the history of time. Today, we look at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, which shows eight unexpected ways to live that result in a life of blessing. Recorded on July 3, 2022, on Matthew 5, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our sermon series "The Unexpected Way," from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique, it's different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.
Sermon Transcript
So today is the first sermon in our brand new annual theme of Learning the way of Jesus. For the last two years, we’ve focused primarily on the story of who God is, what God has done, and what God is doing through his Son and Spirit. This story is what Christians call the gospel. For the next year, we’ll be asking the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” As Christians, we never graduate from the gospel, but if the gospel is true, then it has huge implications for the rest of our lives. So if the gospel is true, how then should we live? Well, the answer is rooted in learning a new way of life, which is the way of Jesus. Before anyone was called a Christian, they were known as The Way, because they followed the way of Jesus. And that’s what every sermon series in this annual theme will be about, learning the way of Jesus. Because if the gospel is true, and Jesus is truly the Lord and Savior of our lives, if Jesus is truly the Son of God who died on the cross and rose from the dead, then we must at least listen to him. But if Jesus isn’t who he claimed to be, if the gospel isn’t true, then none of this matters. We’ll start our first sermon series called The Unexpected Way, by exploring a very famous teaching of Jesus which is known as the Sermon on the Mount. What we’ll see in this series is that the way of Jesus is radically different from every other philosophy or religion that has ever existed. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way. However, when you dig into the way of Jesus, you find something surprising. At every turn, it’s not what you would expect. It’s truly The Unexpected Way. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Matthew 5:1.
Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV), “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew, also known as Levi,
Sovereign Over Salvation: It's hard to understand the mercy and salvation God offers to those who are far from him, even while enjoying the mercy we have received. In Jonah 4, we see that God doesn't offer salvation because people are righteous, but because he cares about them. Will we join God in proclaiming good news which saves the lives that matter to God? Or will we run from it, like Jonah? Recorded on June 26, 2022, on Jonah 4, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our "Sovereign to Save" sermon series from the book of Jonah in the Bible. Jonah's story is well-known both in and outside the church for his encounter with the great fish. But Jonah is really about the incredible heart of a sovereign God to save even his enemies.
Sermon Transcript
Today is the last sermon in our annual theme of The Greatness of God. Over the past year, I hope your view of God has grown to the point where God is high and lifted up in your mind, imagination, and experience in life. When we see God in this way, we’re able to live in light of reality (which is always the best way to live), but also, so many other things, which often make us angry or afraid, are seen in the right perspective and our lives gain more stability/peace/hope. Well, today we’re coming to the end of Jonah’s story. And we’ve said, the basic story of Jonah is well-known in and outside the church. But when you dig into what it actually says, you find it’s not really a story about a whale or even about Jonah. But rather, Jonah is about a God who is sovereign, with divine power/authority over all. So far, we’ve seen that God is sovereign over his creation, over life and death, over the times when we’re struggling in the deep, and last week, that God is sovereign over the nations, including both Israel and Assyria, both Jonah and the people of Nineveh. Today, we’ll wrap up this story by seeing that the reason that the sovereignty of God is good news is because our God is sovereign to save. He uses all of his divine power/authority to bring about salvation. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Jonah 4.
Jonah 4:1-11 (NIV), “1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” 10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
If you haven’t been with us, let me give you a quick recap. About 2,800 years ago, Jonah was a prophet of Yahweh God in the northern kingdom of Israel during a difficult time. The Assyrian Empire was the most powerful nation on the earth and they’d eventually conquer Israel.
Sovereign Over The Nations: In a fallen world, it's only natural to see people outside our tribe, people, language, or nation as our enemy. But is that how God sees them? In Jonah 3, God is a God of second chances, giving grace and mercy, to both Jonah and the people of Nineveh, the enemies of Jonah's people. Why? Because God is sovereign over the nations and He is sovereign to save. Recorded on June 19, 2022, on Jonah 3, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our "Sovereign to Save" sermon series from the book of Jonah in the Bible. Jonah's story is well-known both in and outside the church for his encounter with the great fish. But Jonah is really about the incredible heart of a sovereign God to save even his enemies.
Sermon Transcript
This whole past year, we’ve had the annual theme of our preaching ministry of The Greatness of God. After today, we only have one more week of this theme before we start our new theme of Learning the way of Jesus. Truthfully, I can’t wait to start this new theme. But we still have two more chapters in the story of Jonah in our Sovereign to Save series before we’re done with this theme. And we’ve said, the basic story of Jonah is well-known in and outside the church. But when you dig into what it actually says, you find a God who is sovereign, with divine power/authority over all. In Jonah, we see that this is a very good thing, because we find the great compassion and love of God, even for his enemies, and we see the lengths he goes to save them. Our God is sovereign to save. Last week, Kyle preached on the fact that God is sovereign over the deep, over even the worst times in our lives, and he often uses those dark/uncomfortable times to prune us for our good. Today, we finally get to Nineveh (after Jonah ran hard away from his calling) and we’ll see that God isn’t only sovereign over his people — God is sovereign over the nations, God is sovereign over all people, but again, with a heart to save. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Jonah 3.
Jonah 3:1–10 (NIV), “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.”
If you haven’t been with us, let me give you a little recap of the story so far. About 2,800 years ago, Jonah was a prophet of Yahweh God in the northern kingdom of Israel during a time of crisis for his people. The Assyrian Empire was the most powerful nation on the earth at the time. They would eventually conquer pretty much everybody before the rise of the Babylonian Empire. But they were on Jonah’s doorstep and were a real threat to him and to everyone he knew and loved. Jonah’s story starts with a word from the Lord, but (surprisingly) not for Israel. Jonah was sent with a message to Nineveh, to the capitol of the evil Assyrian Empire. In response, Jonah ran away.
Sovereign Over the Deep: In the most well-known chapter of Jonah's story, we do encounter a great fish. But is that what this story is all about? No! The point is that even in the deep, even in that dark and uncomfortable place, even as Jonah drifted down to what he thought would be his death, God was sovereign and good. The fish was only the circumstance that God used to change Jonah's heart. Recorded on June 12, 2022, on Jonah 2, by Kyle Wagner.
This message is part of our "Sovereign to Save" sermon series from the book of Jonah in the Bible. Jonah's story is well-known both in and outside the church for his encounter with the great fish. But Jonah is really about the incredible heart of a sovereign God to save even his enemies.
Sovereign Over All: In the series introduction to Jonah's story, we see all sorts of unexpected things. We see a prophet running from God. We see pagan sailors praying to and praising God. Most importantly, we see a God who is sovereign over all of creation, including the wind and the waves, the seas and the storms. Recorded on June 5, 2022, on Jonah 1, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our "Sovereign to Save" sermon series from the book of Jonah in the Bible. Jonah's story is well-known both in and outside the church for his encounter with the great fish. But Jonah is really about the incredible heart of a sovereign God to save even his enemies.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’ve been focusing on, The Greatness of God. And today, we’re starting our last sermon series under that annual theme called “Sovereign to Save.” This series is from the book of Jonah in the Bible. The basic story of Jonah is well-known in and outside the church. But when you dig into what it actually says, you find a God who is sovereign, with divine power/authority over all. In Jonah, we see that this is a very good thing, because we find the great compassion and love of God, even for his enemies, and we see the lengths he went to save them. Our God is sovereign to save. Today, we’ll start the story by considering the sovereignty of God over all of creation. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Jonah 1. Jonah is a narrative, but since we’re working through a whole chapter, we’ll unpack it as we go. V. 1.
Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV), “The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.” Ok, let’s pause here. So why in the world would a prophet of God run from God? The answer really is because Jonah had a major problem, not with the message of God’s word, but with the intended audience. You see, God had called Jonah to go and preach to the great city of Nineveh, which was not in Israel. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. To give some context, we know from 2 Ki 14 that this was happening during the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel who reigned from around 750 - 800 BC, in other words, Jonah lived during a time of utter chaos/crisis for his people. The Assyrians were the most powerful empire in the world at that time and would eventually conquer Israel and kill many friends and family members of Jonah. Historians sometimes point out that the Assyrians were the first empire we have who used phycological warfare to terrify and subjugate the peoples they conquered. Let’s look at a map here. But when Jonah, son of Amittai, a prophet from the city of Gath Hepher in the northern kingdom of Israel was called to go some 700 miles to the northeast to Nineveh, instead, he flees to Tarshish, a city somewhere in the far west in the Mediterranean, perhaps in modern Spain, some 2,000 miles in the other direction. Why would he do such a thing? Later in chapter 4, we learn that Jonah did this because he knew what God was like, that God was gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. And he knew that if the Assyrians listened to his preaching and repented (the goal of any good preacher), the Assyrians would receive the grace/mercy of God. And Jonah would rather disobey God than see his hated enemies receive the grace/mercy of God. How would God respond? Would he throw up his hands? Would he stomp his feet? Would his plans be somehow frustrated? Not for a second. v. 4.
Jonah 1:4-6 (NIV), “Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten t...
God is Greater Than...Wisdom: The second trap to consider is thinking that pursuing a life of knowledge and wisdom, the intellectual life, will lead to lasting meaning and satisfaction. Now there's nothing wrong with education, innovation, or technological breakthroughs, in fact, they can help so many areas of life. So get wisdom! But avoid the trap of pursuing knowledge and wisdom apart from God. Recorded on May 8, 2022, on Ecclesiastes 2:12-16, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our "God is Greater Than..." sermon series. There are several common traps that human beings have fallen into for thousands of years. Traps of believing that certain pursuits are satisfying enough to take the place of God in your life. But in the end, these pursuits reveal themselves to be ultimately meaningless and lead to a hollow and deeply unsatisfying life. Our series will examine the traps of pursuing pleasure, wisdom, work, and wealth before coming to the conclusion that God is greater than all.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on, The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called “God Is Greater Than…” And we’ve said that there are several common traps that human beings have fallen into for thousands of years. These traps are traps of faith, of believing that certain pursuits are big/important/satisfying enough to take the place of God in your life. But in the end, these pursuits lead to a life of hebel, the Hebrew word translated as meaningless; ultimately, these pursuits lead to a life that is hollow and deeply unsatisfying. Our series will examine the traps of pleasure, wisdom, work, and wealth before coming to the conclusion that God is greater than all, and it’s only in him that life has meaning/significance which will last forever. Today, we’ll consider the trap of pursuing a life of wisdom, of pursuing more and more knowledge — the intellectual life. How could that be such a bad thing to be an intelligent person?? Why is the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom a trap? If you have a Bible/app, please open to Ecclesiastes 2:12.
Ecclesiastes 2:12-16 (NIV), “12 Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly. What more can the king’s successor do than what has already been done? 13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. 14 The wise have eyes in their heads, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both. 15 Then I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?” I said to myself, “This too is meaningless.” 16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die!”
If you missed our series introduction a few weeks ago, you can go back and watch that if you’d like more background on the book of Ecclesiastes. But we’re assuming that King Solomon is the author, which means this book was written almost 3,000 years ago. And King Solomon was known for his wisdom which was a gift from God. So Solomon decided to go on a journey of discovery. He went on something like a quest to understand everything that is done under the sun — a phrase that means basically everything done in this broken world apart from God. And he did this in order to find out what, if anything, is truly meaningful, what among all the possible activities really matters in life — what really gives us meaning under the sun? Last week, we saw that this journey started with pursuing a life of pleasure. Solomon said that “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.” And he tried to see if good food, good wine, accomplishing big projects, entertainment, and sex, he tried to see if any of these things would lead to a meaningful life, but his conclusion is that it all ended up as hebel/meaningless/fleeting happiness, not lasting joy.
God is Greater Than...Pleasure: The first trap to consider is thinking that hedonism, of pursuing pleasure or avoiding pain, will lead to a meaningful life. It's tempting to think that indulging in good food and wine, accomplishing great things, having wealth, being entertained, or having lots of sex is the key to happiness. However, none of these things bring ultimate satisfaction. Is there anything better? Recorded on May 1, 2022, on Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our "God is Greater Than..." sermon series. There are several common traps that human beings have fallen into for thousands of years. Traps of believing that certain pursuits are satisfying enough to take the place of God in your life. But in the end, these pursuits reveal themselves to be ultimately meaningless and lead to a hollow and deeply unsatisfying life. Our series will examine the traps of pursuing pleasure, wisdom, work, and wealth before coming to the conclusion that God is greater than all.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on, The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a new sermon series we started last week called “God Is Greater Than…” As we said, there are several common traps that human beings have fallen into for thousands of years. These traps are traps of faith, of believing that certain pursuits are big/important/satisfying enough to take the place of God in your life. But in the end, these pursuits lead to a life of hebel, the Hebrew word translated as meaningless; ultimately, these pursuits lead to a life that is hollow and deeply unsatisfying. Our series will examine the traps of pleasure, wisdom, work, and wealth before coming to the conclusion that God is greater than all, and it’s only in him that life has meaning/significance which will last forever. Today, we’ll consider the trap of pursuing a life of pleasure, a life of happiness, a life of self-gratification. How could that be such a bad thing to try and be happy?? If you have a Bible/app, please open to Ecclesiastes 2:1.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (NIV), “I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives. 4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. 10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. 11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”
So if you missed our series introduction last week, you can go back and watch that if you’d like more background on the book of Ecclesiastes. But we said last week that we’re assuming that King Solomon is the author, which means this book was written almost 3,000 years ago. And King Solomon was known for his wisdom which was a gift from God. So because he was the king and had vast resources and because of his wisdom, Solomon decided to go on a journey of discovery. He went on something like a quest to understand everything that is do...
God is Greater Than: Series Introduction. In ancient times, King Solomon used his wisdom and vast resources to observe everything done under the sun. And what did he find? Life was a vapor, a breath. So much of what we worry about and work for seems to be meaningless. Is there any way to find real meaning and significance in life? Or are we stuck living in depression, denial, or destructive cynicism? Recorded on Apr 24, 2022, on Ecclesiastes 1, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our "God is Greater Than..." sermon series. There are several common traps that human beings have fallen into for thousands of years. Traps of believing that certain pursuits are satisfying enough to take the place of God in your life. But in the end, these pursuits reveal themselves to be ultimately meaningless and lead to a hollow and deeply unsatisfying life. Our series will examine the traps of pursuing pleasure, wisdom, work, and wealth before coming to the conclusion that God is greater than all.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on, The Greatness of God. And today, we’re starting a new, 6-part sermon series from the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible called “God Is Greater Than…” God is greater than what, exactly? Good question. Here’s the big idea for this series: There are several common traps that human beings have fallen into for thousands and thousands of years. These traps are traps of faith that can affect everything about how you live your life. Fundamentally, they’re traps of believing that certain pursuits are big/important/satisfying enough to displace, or, take the place of God in your life. What’s tricky about these traps is that they always seem to have the power to replace God for a season, or sometimes for years. But in the end, these pursuits reveal themselves to be ultimately meaningless and lead to a life that is hollow and deeply unsatisfying. What a tragedy. Our series will examine the traps of pursuing pleasure, wisdom, work, and wealth before coming to the conclusion that God is greater than all of these, and it’s only in him that life has meaning which will last forever. So let's learn from the Teacher of Ecclesiastes, let us not waste our lives on things which are ultimately meaningless, and let us see that God is greater than all. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Ecclesiastes 1:1. We’re going to cover the whole first chapter, so we’ll unpack this as we go. v.1.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-2 (NIV), “1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: 2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Let’s pause here. So first, who wrote Ecclesiastes? Someone who says they are a son of David, that is, King David of ancient Israel who lived around 3,000 years ago. After David died, Solomon, his son, became the king of Israel, ruling from the capital city of Jerusalem. It never says directly, but from the clues in the text, Solomon is the most likely author. Some scholars don’t agree, but there really isn’t any solid evidence that it couldn’t be Solomon, and it fits God’s gift of wisdom described in 1Ki 4; let’s look at that together.
1 Kings 4:29–34 (NIV): “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.”
God is Greater Than... Series Conclusion: After considering the traps of pleasure, wisdom, work, and wealth here are the conclusions of King Solomon's search for meaning: Fear God and obey his commandments. What does this mean and how might this lead to lasting significance? God is greater than all. Recorded on May 29, 2022, on Ecclesiastes 12, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our "God is Greater Than..." sermon series. There are several common traps that human beings have fallen into for thousands of years. Traps of believing that certain pursuits are satisfying enough to take the place of God in your life. But in the end, these pursuits reveal themselves to be ultimately meaningless and lead to a hollow and deeply unsatisfying life. Our series will examine the traps of pursuing pleasure, wisdom, work, and wealth before coming to the conclusion that God is greater than all.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on, The Greatness of God. And today, we’re finishing a sermon series called “God Is Greater Than…” from the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. And in this series, we’ve said that there are several common traps that human beings have fallen into for thousands of years. These are traps of faith, of believing that certain pursuits are big/important/satisfying enough to take the place of God in your life. But in the end, these pursuits lead to a life of hebel, the Hebrew word translated as meaningless; ultimately, these pursuits lead to a life that is hollow and deeply unsatisfying. Next week, we’ll start a new sermon series on the book of Jonah called Sovereign to Save. But today, we’ll consider the conclusion of King Solomon in his search for meaning. In some ways, it’s a very simple solution. But, in light of everything we’ve covered so far, I believe it is rooted in real wisdom, which, if we listen, will help us not only avoid these traps but will lead us to a life of lasting meaning and significance. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Ecclesiastes 12. We’ll break this chapter down into three sections. So part one, v. 1.
Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 (NIV), “1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”— 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; 3 when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; 4 when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; 5 when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets. 6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!””
Let’s pause here. What is going on here? Well, commentator Duane Garrett interprets vv. 2-5 as a poem describing the steady decline of the human body in old age, and I think he’s right. The trembling keepers of the house are the trembling of hands, the strong men stooping is the bent posture of a weakened back, the grinders are teeth that have fallen out or cannot easily eat anymore, and those looking out the windows are the eyes that have trouble seeing. v. 4 describes a declining ability to hear when sounds fade and the bird songs grow faint. v. 5. refers to a lack of strength and mobility and the fear and disorientation that that can bring. Fear for safety in falling from a height, for example,
God is Greater Than...Wealth: The fourth and final trap of our series is the materialistic life. The materialistic life believes that more money, wealth, and possessions will lead to lasting meaning and satisfaction. Money isn't inherently evil, but it is uniquely tempting for us. How do we avoid a life of hollow consumerism? Watch here. Recorded on May 22, 2022, on Ecclesiastes 5:8-20, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our "God is Greater Than..." sermon series. There are several common traps that human beings have fallen into for thousands of years. Traps of believing that certain pursuits are satisfying enough to take the place of God in your life. But in the end, these pursuits reveal themselves to be ultimately meaningless and lead to a hollow and deeply unsatisfying life. Our series will examine the traps of pursuing pleasure, wisdom, work, and wealth before coming to the conclusion that God is greater than all.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on, The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called “God Is Greater Than…” And we’ve said that there are several common traps that human beings have fallen into for thousands of years. These are traps of faith, of believing that certain pursuits are big/important/satisfying enough to take the place of God in your life. But in the end, these pursuits lead to a life of hebel, the Hebrew word translated as meaningless; ultimately, these pursuits lead to a life that is hollow and deeply unsatisfying. Our series has examined the traps of pleasure, wisdom, and work, but has come to the conclusion that God is greater than all, and it’s only in him that life has meaning/significance which will last forever. Today, we’ll consider the trap of pursuing wealth, of making/accumulating more and more, something we will call the materialistic life. But again, how could it be such a bad thing to have money?? How could the pursuit of more money, wealth, or possessions become a trap? If you have a Bible/app, please open to Ecclesiastes 5:8.
Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 (NIV), “8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. 9 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. 10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. 11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? 12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep. 13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, 14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. 15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. 16 This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind? 17 All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. 18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.”
As we’ve said, in this series, we’re assuming that King Solomon is the author, which means that Ecclesiastes was written almost 3,000 years ago.
God is Greater Than...Work: The third trap to consider is thinking that pursuing a life of work accomplishments or career achievements - the productive life - will lead to lasting meaning and satisfaction. But is this true? We were made to do good work, but work can become a trap if it becomes our main source of identity and security. Recorded on May 15, 2022, on Ecclesiastes 2:17-26, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of our "God is Greater Than..." sermon series. There are several common traps that human beings have fallen into for thousands of years. Traps of believing that certain pursuits are satisfying enough to take the place of God in your life. But in the end, these pursuits reveal themselves to be ultimately meaningless and lead to a hollow and deeply unsatisfying life. Our series will examine the traps of pursuing pleasure, wisdom, work, and wealth before coming to the conclusion that God is greater than all.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on, The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called “God Is Greater Than…” And we’ve said that there are several common traps that human beings have fallen into for thousands of years. These traps are traps of faith, of believing that certain pursuits are big/important/satisfying enough to take the place of God in your life. But in the end, these pursuits lead to a life of hebel, the Hebrew word translated as meaningless; ultimately, these pursuits lead to a life that is hollow and deeply unsatisfying. Our series will examine the traps of pleasure, wisdom, work, and wealth before coming to the conclusion that God is greater than all, and it’s only in him that life has meaning/significance which will last forever. Today, we’ll consider the trap of pursuing a life of work, of accomplishing more and more, something we might call the productive life. Now, again, how could it be such a bad thing to be a productive person?? How could the pursuit of a good job or a fulfilling career become a trap? If you have a Bible/app, please open to Ecclesiastes 2:17.
Ecclesiastes 2:17–26 (NIV), “17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. 19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. 20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. 21 For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. 22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
In this series, we’re assuming that King Solomon is the author, which means that Ecclesiastes was written almost 3,000 years ago. And we’ve said that King Solomon decided to go on a journey of discovery. He went on something like a quest to understand everything that is done under the sun — a phrase that means basically everything done in this broken world apart from God. And he did this in order to find out what, if anything, is truly meaningful, what among all the possible activities really matters in life — ...
The Perfect Judge: Our current age will not last forever. One day Jesus will return, the dead will be raised, and all will give an account of their lives to Him. What will that day be like? What hope is there for any of us to stand before the great white throne on Judgment Day? Our hope rests on the fact that the Judge is also the Savior. Recorded on Apr 10, 2022, on Revelation 20:11-15, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of The Supremacy of Christ sermon series. The Christian gospel claims that Jesus is far greater than anyone or anything. And it’s true that his first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and even death on a cross. But is that how Jesus is today? Absolutely not. Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. Today, Jesus reigns and rules over all of creation and will one day return in glory to judge the living and the dead.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on, The Greatness of God. And today, we’re finishing a sermon series called The Supremacy of Christ. For the past 6 weeks, we’ve been saying that the Christian gospel claims that Jesus is far greater than anyone or anything. And it’s true that his first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and even death on a cross. But that is not how Jesus is today. Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. Jesus reigns and rules over all of creation and today we will consider his return in glory to judge the living and the dead. During the past few years of dealing with Covid and other difficult things, it became clear to me that far too many Christians have way too small of a vision of who God is. And it’s true that if we fail to get this vision of Jesus, high and lifted up, supreme over all, we’ll have all sorts of problems in our life and faith. In this series, we’ve considered a number of ways that Jesus is far greater than anyone and anything. But now, let us look ahead to things yet to come, to the end of time and the end of this age of sin and struggle. A few weeks ago, we heard the promise of the angels at the ascension of Jesus that he would one day return in the same way. What will that day be like? What will happen on that day when the King of heaven returns? If you have a Bible/app, please open to Revelation 20:11.
Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV), “11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Earlier this year, we finished our Encounters with God series by considering the Apostle John’s encounter with the risen Jesus on the Island of Patmos toward the end of his life living in exile there. And just as the ancient Israelites needed the incredibly vivid prophetic imagery of Ezekiel and Daniel when they were in exile, so John and the early Christians needed John’s vivid imagery of the cosmic battle between good and evil found here in Revelation. Now, the book of Revelation is really unique in the Bible because it’s written in the Jewish apocalyptic literary style, which we don’t really have anymore. And I suspect that it’s for this reason, and the fact that at least some of the events he describes take place in the future and therefore might turn out a little different than we imagine today, that there are so many different interpretations of Revelati...
The Ascension: Maybe one of the most overlooked aspects of the gospel is the ascension of Jesus back into heaven. Why is this significant? Because the ascension of Jesus reveals both his kingly power and authority over all of creation and the wonderful comfort of his promise to return and take us to be with him. Recorded on Mar 20, 2022, on Acts 1:1-11, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of The Supremacy of Christ sermon series. The Christian gospel claims that Jesus is far greater than anyone or anything. And it’s true that his first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and even death on a cross. But is that how Jesus is today? Absolutely not. Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. Today, Jesus reigns and rules over all of creation and will one day return in glory to judge the living and the dead.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on, The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called The Supremacy of Christ. The Christian gospel claims that Jesus is far greater than anyone or anything. And it’s true that his first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and even death on a cross. But is that how Jesus is today? Absolutely not. Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. Today, Jesus reigns and rules over all of creation and will one day return in glory to judge the living and the dead. But if we fail to get this vision of Jesus, high and lifted up, supreme over all, we’ll have all sorts of problems in our life and faith. We’ve considered the transfiguration of Jesus and also the exclusivity of a relationship with God through Jesus. That no one comes to the Father except through Jesus. Today, we’ll consider the ascension of Jesus back into heaven. This is one of the most under-appreciated aspects of the gospel. But the ascension of Jesus reveals both his kingly authority over the kingdom of God and the wonderful comfort of the promise of his return. So we dare not miss this. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Acts 1:1.
Acts 1:1–11 (NIV), “1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Two weeks ago, we considered the story of the transfiguration of Jesus from Luke’s gospel. There, I said that Luke was the first of a two-part work in the Bible. The book called Acts is the second part of Luke’s work. Let’s go back to the start of this passage and work through it together. v.1.
Acts 1:1-3 (NIV), “In my former book, Theophilus,
The Only Way: Jesus claimed to be the way and the truth and the life. He claimed to be the only way to know God and find salvation. But how can Jesus be the ONLY way? Isn't that unbearably narrow? Isn't that offensive to people who do not believe in him? Not only does this make sense through the lens of having a personal relationship with God, but Jesus points to his own words and works as evidence that he is who he claimed to be. Recorded on Mar 13, 2022, on John 14:1-14, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of The Supremacy of Christ sermon series. The Christian gospel claims that Jesus is far greater than anyone or anything. And it’s true that his first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and even death on a cross. But is that how Jesus is today? Absolutely not. Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. Today, Jesus reigns and rules over all of creation and will one day return in glory to judge the living and the dead.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on, The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called The Supremacy of Christ. The Christian gospel claims that Jesus is far greater than anyone or anything. And it’s true that his first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and even death on a cross. But is that how Jesus is today? Absolutely not. Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. Today, Jesus reigns and rules over all of creation and will one day return in glory to judge the living and the dead. But if we fail to get this vision of Jesus, high and lifted up, supreme over all, we’ll have all sorts of problems in our life and faith. We started our series last week with the story of the transfiguration. And we saw that Jesus came into the world from the eternal glory of heaven, is raised today, in that same incredible glory, and will one day return in glory for all to see. No one is more glorious than Jesus. Today, we move to what some have called the exclusivity of Christ, the seemingly arrogant or at least offensive belief that Jesus is the only way to God. Did Jesus really claim this for himself? Let’s find out. If you have a Bible/app, please open to John 14:1.
John 14:1–14 (NIV), “1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
The gospel of John was written by one of the closest friends and followers of Jesus.
The Transfiguration: What is the significance of the transfiguration of Jesus, when he changed in appearance and spoke with Moses and Elijah on the mountaintop? This mysterious event reveals the glory that Jesus had from before the creation of the world, and the glory he would again possess after his resurrection. Recorded on Mar 6, 2022, on Luke 9:28-36, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of The Supremacy of Christ sermon series. The Christian gospel claims that Jesus is far greater than anyone or anything. And it’s true that his first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and even death on a cross. But is that how Jesus is today? Absolutely not. Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. Today, Jesus reigns and rules over all of creation and will one day return in glory to judge the living and the dead.
Sermon Transcript
This year, the annual theme which unites all of our sermon series is The Greatness of God. Today, we’re starting a new sermon series called The Supremacy of Christ. And here’s the big idea of this series: the Christian gospel claims that Jesus is far greater than anyone or anything. And it’s true that his first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and even death on a cross. But is that how Jesus is today? The answer, as we’ll see, is absolutely not. Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. Today, Jesus reigns and rules over all of creation and will one day return in glory to judge the living and the dead. And if we fail to get this vision of Jesus, high and lifted up, supreme over all, then we will have all sorts of problems in our life of faith. But with this proper view of reality, and the supremacy of Christ, all sorts of other problems are solved. Today, in the story of the transfiguration, we’ll consider the eternal glory of Jesus and what this has to do with our future. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Luke 9:28.
Luke 9:28–36 (NIV), “28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.”
So the gospel of Luke is the first of a two-part series in the Bible written by a man named Luke. Luke was a physician who became a Christian through the ministry of the Apostle Paul, probably in/near the city of Ephesus. Luke was sponsored by a man named Theophilus to do a careful investigation into the person and work of Jesus by interviewing eyewitnesses of his life and teaching and, ultimately, his death and resurrection from the dead. The gospel of Luke is the first half of this work and the book of Acts is the second, which explores what happened next. What happened after Jesus rose from the dead. In two weeks, we’ll consider the ascension of Jesus back into heaven from Acts chapter 1. But let’s back up and work through this text together. v28.
Luke 9:28 (NIV), “About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter,
Epilogue: Remaking Heaven and Earth: One day, at the end of our current age, we'll discover that the end is really a new Genesis, a new beginning. In this epilogue to our series, we’ll see that one day God will re-create the heavens and the earth, that the power of the curse will be undone, and our future is sure. Recorded on Feb 27, 2022, on Revelation 21-22, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of The Making of Heaven and Earth sermon series. There are few more important chapters ever written than the first three chapters of Genesis. These chapters dramatically shape our understanding of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the reason why things are the way they are today. More importantly, they introduce us to the God who created and sustains all things.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re finishing a sermon series called The Making of Heaven and Earth from Genesis 1-3. As we’ve said, there are few more important chapters ever written than the first three chapters of Genesis. The creation narratives of the Bible shape our understanding of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the reason why things are the way they are today. But more importantly, they introduce us to the God who created and sustains all things. In this series, we considered the creation of all things and the meaning and purpose and perfect relationships that were intended for us. But then we saw the fall to sin and the division/destruction/death introduced into God’s good and perfect world. But even in the dark chapters of the fall, we saw God’s grace and mercy and the promise of salvation. Today, we’ll turn from looking at the beginning of all things all the way forward to the end of this age and, in one sense the end of this heaven and the earth. But the end is really a new Genesis, a new beginning. And in this epilogue to our series, we’ll see that one day God will re-create the heavens and the earth, that the power of the curse will be undone, and our future is sure. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Rev 21:1. We’re going to look at three sections of Scripture in Rev 21-22, but we’ll unpack each one as we go. v. 1.
Revelation 21:1–5 (NIV), “1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Let’s pause here. So Revelation was written by the Apostle John when he was in exile on the Island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea. We ended our Encounters with God series with John’s encounter with Jesus there. But here, at the end of Revelation, John has a vision of the future. There’s nothing that we who live as exiles in this world need more than a hopeful vision for our future. And what does he see? He sees the end of our current age of history, the judgment of the living and the dead, and the creation of a new heaven and a new earth. Just as Jesus died but was resurrected, one day, all of creation will die and rise again. And just as Jesus died in humility and weakness, but rose in glory and power, so in the same way, will this broken world, bound by the curse of sin and the power of death will one day rise in everlasting beauty and splendor. First, notice that this is not only a spiritual reality. There are no babies floating in the clouds playing harps here....
New Garments: Even in the terrible chapter of the Fall of humanity to sin, the grace and mercy of God are found in abundance. Ever since, sin has had a profound impact on our relationships, work, identity, and so much more. But even in a place of guilt and shame, God's promises are full of hope. Recorded on Feb 20, 2022, on Genesis 3:14-24, by Pastor David Parks.
This message is part of The Making of Heaven and Earth sermon series. There are few more important chapters ever written than the first three chapters of Genesis. These chapters dramatically shape our understanding of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the reason why things are the way they are today. More importantly, they introduce us to the God who created and sustains all things.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called The Making of Heaven and Earth from Genesis 1-3. As we’ve said, there are few more important chapters ever written than the first three chapters of Genesis. The creation narratives of the Bible shape our understanding of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the reason why things are the way they are today. But more importantly, they introduce us to the God who created and sustains all things. So far, we’ve considered the creation of the heavens and the earth, the creation and vocation of human beings, and the creation of marriage before the fall to sin that we looked at last week. The fall of humanity marks one of the most significant turning points of history and is really what most of the rest of the Bible is all about. Well, today, we’ll consider some of the consequences of the fall. However, even (and perhaps only) in the disaster of the fall, do we see the depths of the grace/mercy of God. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Ge 3:14.
Genesis 3:14-24 (NIV), “14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” 17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” 20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”
As we’ve said, the first five books of the Bible, called the Torah, were written by Moses, the famous prophet/leader of the people of ancient Israel during the time of the Exodus. Moses was writing during a time when it was critical for God’s people to learn/remember their story, including who God created people to be and what God created people to do. But without an understanding of the fall to sin,
Did God really say? The Fall of humanity was one of the great turning points in history. Temptation came through questioning God's character and his word. No longer was there perfect openness, honesty, and trust. The new world was marked by fear, guilt, shame, blame-shifting, and ultimately, death. Yikes. What do we learn? Sin is the real reason the world is a mess. And sin is the main reason we need Jesus. Recorded on Feb 13, 2022, on Genesis 3:1-13, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called The Making of Heaven and Earth from Genesis 1-3. As we’ve said, there are few more important chapters ever written than the first three chapters of Genesis. The creation narratives of the Bible shape our understanding of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the reason why things are the way they are today. But more importantly, they introduce us to the God who created and sustains all things. So far, we’ve considered the creation of the heavens and the earth, the creation and vocation of human beings, and the creation of marriage: a good gift of God designed for human flourishing in the whole-life union of husband and wife. Well, today, we come to one of the great turning points of history, in the fall to sin of Genesis 3. We’ll consider both the nature of sin and the pervasive impact of sin on the world and in our own lives. But even in the disaster of the fall, we find the grace and mercy of a God whose greatness is only matched by his goodness. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Ge 3:1.
Genesis 3:1-13 (NIV), “1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Now, as we’ve said, the first five books of the Bible, called the Torah, were written by Moses, the famous prophet/leader of the people of ancient Israel during the time of the Exodus. Moses was writing during a critical time when God was fulfilling his promise to Abraham and Sarah to make their family into a great nation. So, in that age, it was critical for God’s people to know their story, including these creation narratives which shaped their understanding of who they were and what they were created and saved for. Of course, these things are still important to us today because every generation needs to know who they were created to be and what they were created to do, right?
Two Become One: Is marriage "just a piece of paper," like so many people say? What is the purpose of marriage? Marriage is a gift of God for human flourishing. Marriage is intended to be a whole-life oneness between husband and wife. Recorded on Feb 6, 2022, on Genesis 2:18-25, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called The Making of Heaven and Earth from Genesis 1-3. As we’ve said, there are few more important chapters ever written than the first three chapters of Genesis. The creation narratives of the Bible shape our understanding of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the reason why things are the way they are today. But more importantly, they introduce us to the God who created and sustains all things. So far, we’ve considered in the creation of the heavens and the earth that, contrary to a materialistic cosmology, the universe is not the product of chance, but is the good design of a God who speaks light into darkness and order into chaos, resulting in abundant, flourishing life. In the creation of human beings, both male and female, we have both the incalculable worth of being made in the image of God, and also the very human vocation of working and caring for God’s good world. Today, we’ll consider the joining of the man and the woman, of two become one. We’ll consider the stunning beauty and goodness of marriage as God intended. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Genesis 2:18.
Genesis 2:18-25 (NIV), “18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam[f] no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[g] and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib[h] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.”
So, the first five books of the Bible, called the Torah, are understood to have been first written by Moses, the famous prophet/leader of the people of ancient Israel during the time of the Exodus. He was writing during a critical time when God was giving his people their story, including these creation narratives which shaped their understanding of who they were and what they were created and saved for. As such, they are still important to us today because every generation needs to know who they were created to be and what they were created to do. Let’s go back and work through this text together. v. 18.
Genesis 2:18 (NIV), “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” So here, even in perfection, something isn’t quite right. In Genesis 1, God repeatedly assessed his creation as good, it is good, it is very good. But here, he sees something and assesses it as not good. It is not good for the man to be alone. I think this is as true today as it was all the way back then. Human beings were not ever intended to be alone. So many people in our church and in our world experienced the crushing reality of loneliness and isolation over the last two years. Now, it makes sense to be careful about being around other people during a global pandemic, but it is also true that it is not good for the man to be alone,
Working and Caring: "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it..." Why are we here? What is our purpose? So much of our God-given purpose is found in our work. Good work can be paid or unpaid, in or outside the home, in a variety of roles or industries. People were created to do good work. Recorded on Jan 30, 2022, on Genesis 2:4-17, by Pastor David Parks.
This sermon is part of our series, The Making of Heaven and Earth. There are few more important chapters ever written than the first three chapters of Genesis. These chapters dramatically shape our understanding of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the reason why things are the way they are today. More importantly, they introduce us to the God who created and sustains all things.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called The Making of Heaven and Earth from Genesis 1-3. As we’ve said, there are few more important chapters ever written than the first three chapters of Genesis. The creation narratives of the Bible shape our understanding of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the reason why things are the way they are today. But more importantly, they introduce us to the God who created and sustains all things. Two weeks ago, Ted kicked off this series looking at the pattern of creation by a God who speaks. Creation doesn’t come by chance or by conflict, but by God’s word which brings light out of darkness and order out of chaos. And the power/authority of God’s word results in flourishing life. Last week, Joe preached on the intent of God in creating human beings, both male and female, and the incredible worth we have as creatures made in the image of God. We’ve already considered some foundational truths: you are not an accident, but the good intention of a creator who speaks. And you are not left having to create your own worth, but rather, you have infinite worth because of how God made you. Well, today we’re considering the creation of work, and this is a story of purpose. We’ve seen, so far, the stage on which these human creatures, loved and made in the image of God, are supposed to play — a beautiful world, teaming with life. But what have we been created to do? People have always wrestled with this question. Why are we here? Is there some God-given purpose for our lives? The answer, in Ge 2, is absolutely yes. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Genesis 2:4.
Genesis 2:4-17 (NIV), “4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. 5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth[a] and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams[b] came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin[d] and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.[e] 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
The Making of Heaven and Earth: There are few more important chapters ever written than the first three chapters of Genesis. These chapters dramatically shape our understanding of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the reason why things are the way they are today. More importantly, they introduce us to the God who created and sustains all things.
"In the beginning..." Genesis 1 introduces us to a God who works as an artisan, creating all things by his powerful word. God's word brings light out of darkness, order to chaos, and abundant, flourishing life. The creation of the heavens and the earth reveals our origin, but more importantly, God's character and power. Recorded on Jan 16, 2022, on Genesis 1:1-25, by Ted Selker.
Encounters with God is a sermon series about the theophanies or divine appearances and how they reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him. How can we face the danger and chaos of this world with courage and poise? The Apostle John encountered Jesus while he was in exile. What did he learn? That Jesus has authority over life and death, that Jesus has a plan and knows the end from the beginning, and that Jesus is near and involved in his church. Recorded on Jan 9, 2022, on Acts 9, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re finishing our Encounters with God series. Next Sunday we’ll start a new sermon series called The Making of Heaven and Earth from Genesis 1-3. But, as we’ve said throughout this series: in the Bible, when God appears to someone it’s known as a theophany or divine appearing. And these encounters are wild stories; God never seems to act how we would expect. But these encounters, reveal the stunning character of God, and his heart to save a world that is lost without him. Well today, we’re finishing a series that started in the first book of the Bible by landing in the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation. And Revelation is wild, full of vivid and sometimes disturbing imagery. It’s written in the style of Jewish apocalyptic literature, which was a style popular in the first century AD, but no longer really exists, which makes it notoriously difficult for us to understand/interpret. The closest modern style, I would say, would be a combination of a zombie and superhero movie, everything is big and scary and there’s a cosmic battle between good and evil. So today, and like last week with the story of the conversion of the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, we get another theophany of the risen Jesus, high and lifted up, to an elderly Apostle John. But in this, our final encounter with God, we’ll see that Jesus is the reason that we can face all the danger and potential chaos of the world with courage and poise. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Revelation 1:9.
Revelation 1:9-11 (NIV), “9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
Let’s pause here. So the Apostle John was a young man when he met Jesus and started following him with his brother James. Based on the gospel accounts, he seems to have had anger issues when he was young, but by the time he was an old man, he was known as the Apostle of love. John was raised near the Sea of Galilee, like Jesus, but eventually served as a bishop over the churches in the region of Ephesus in Turkey. You never know where your life might take you or how you might change when you start to follow Jesus. But here, toward the end of a long life, we’re told that John is in exile on the Island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. They didn’t kill him for talking about Jesus (although according to historical accounts they tried several times), but they did send him into exile. Perhaps, for this reason, much of John’s vision is similar in style to Daniel’s and Ezekiel’s theophanies when they were in exile in Babylon. John says that it was the Lord’s Day, meaning it was Sunday, the day that Jesus rose from the dead. This is why Christians continue to gather for worship on Sundays.
We don’t know if anyone else was there, but at least John was worshiping that Sunday, he was in the Spirit and he heard a loud voice like a trumpet calling him to write down what he would see and send it to the seven churches of th...
Encounters with God is a sermon series about the theophanies or divine appearances and how they reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him. The Apostle Paul (known as Saul) had a life-changing encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus. Paul began his trip on a mission to arrest followers of Jesus and ended his trip proclaiming him as the Son of God. What happened to bring about this dramatic reversal? He saw Jesus, high and lifted up. Recorded on Jan 2, 2022, on Acts 9, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called Encounters with God. After this week, we only have one more week in this series before starting a new series called The Making of Heaven and Earth from Genesis 1-3. The greatness of God is evident in the work of creation. But as we approach the end of this series, as we’ve said all along the way: in the Bible, when God appears to someone it’s known as a theophany or divine appearing. And these encounters are wild stories; God never seems to act how we would expect. But these encounters, reveal the stunning character of God, and his heart to save a world that is lost without him. Today, we’re making the big jump from the OT to the NT, but we’re jumping over the gospel accounts of the NT. Christians believe that Jesus wasn’t just a great man, but that he was the only one who is fully God and fully man. So the whole life of Jesus in one sense is very much an encounter with God. But given the fact that we spent all of last year focusing on the person and work of Jesus, today and next week, we’ll look at a few divine appearings of Jesus that took place after his resurrection and ascension back into heaven. These appearances are not the Jesus meek and mild of his first coming, but the Jesus high and lifted up of today, the Jesus who is seated at the right hand of the Almighty, the King of heaven and earth. So today, we get to unpack the famous encounter with God and the Apostle Paul, who was also known as Saul, on the road to Damascus. In this encounter, we’ll see that God is the great Redeemer, even of his enemies. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Acts 9:1.
Acts 9:1-9 (NIV), “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.”
Let’s pause here. Back on Christmas Eve, I said that Luke was a physician who became a Christian through the ministry of the Apostle Paul, likely in the city of Ephesus in Turkey. After becoming a Christian, Luke did a careful investigation into the life/ministry of Jesus by interviewing eyewitnesses who were there. This investigation resulted in the book of Luke in the Bible on the life/ministry of Jesus and the book of Acts in the Bible, which is all about what happened next. What happened after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus back into heaven, so much of which had to do with the man who is introduced here, that is Saul. Now, Saul is the Hebrew form of his name, which makes sense as we start this chapter of the story in Jerusalem.
Encounters with God is a sermon series about the theophanies or divine appearances and how they reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him. Ezekiel had an awesome encounter with God as an exile in a foreign land. Ezekiel was transformed from priest to prophet, delivering a message of the power of God and God's word to a people in exile. Recorded on Dec 26, 2021, on Ezekiel 1-3, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called Encounters with God. After this week, we only have two more weeks in this series before we start a new series called The Making of Heaven and Earth from Genesis 1-3. But in the Bible, when God appears to someone it’s known as a theophany or divine appearing. And these encounters are wild stories; God never seems to act how we would expect. But these encounters, including our encounter today between God and the prophet Ezekiel, reveal the stunning character of God, and his heart to save a world that is lost without him. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Ezekiel 1:1. We’ll unpack this as we go. v. 1.
Ezekiel 1:1-3 (NIV), “In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the Lord was on him.”
Let’s pause here. So this is the brief introduction to the book of Ezekiel; the rest of the book is written in the first person. According to the events listed here, we know that Ezekiel’s encounter with God happened on July 31, 593 BC, and if we understand the opening line as referring to his age at the time, Ezekiel was 30 years old when God called him to be a prophet. This took place about 30 years after Jeremiah’s encounter with God that we looked at last week. It was also about 5 years after Ezekiel, who was a priest from Jerusalem in Judah, had been carried into exile after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. [map slide] Here, Ezekiel found himself over 800 miles from home; in the middle of modern Iraq. As an exile, he was a man without a country, a priest without a temple. Daniel was another prophet in Babylon with Ezekiel at this time. As I said last week, it’s hard to overstate just how heartbreakingly traumatic the exile was for the people of Israel. The northern kingdom of Israel had fallen several generations earlier to the Assyrian Empire. Now the southern kingdom of Judah had fallen to the Babylonian Empire. And roughly 90% of the people had either been killed or carried off to a foreign land as a conquered people. It was in this terrible circumstance, it was during these dark days, it was during this calamity that Ezekiel had his theophany, his encounter with God, by the Kebar River in Babylon. v. 4.
Ezekiel 1:4-28 (NIV), “I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved. Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward,
Encounters with God is a sermon series about the theophanies or divine appearances and how they reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him.
Isaiah has a vision of God, high and lifted up, and is confronted by the holiness of God. A supremely holy God can seem like a threat to people who struggle with sin. But surprisingly, holiness is both the reason God is able to save us and is the future for all people in Christ. Recorded on Dec 12, 2021, on Isaiah 6, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called Encounters with God. In the Bible, when God appears to someone it’s known as a theophany or divine appearing. And these encounters are wild stories, God never seems to act how we would expect. But these appearances reveal the stunning character of God, and his heart to save a world that is lost without him. Well today, we’ll consider the surprising encounter with God and the prophet Isaiah. In this theophany, at first, the vision of God as high and lifted up is quite terrifying because of the holiness of God. But then we realize, with Isaiah, that the holiness of God is not only wonderful but is also tied directly to the very purpose of the church, to our purpose/mission today. It’s a story of surprisingly good news. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Isaiah 6:1.
Isaiah 6:1-5 (NIV), “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.””
Let’s pause here. So Isaiah goes into the temple and who should he find there, but the Almighty God himself, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of hosts. Have you ever been surprised at church by the presence of God? Sometimes during worship, I just get this sense of awe and power at the presence of God. But probably not exactly to this degree. Isaiah finds himself transported into the throne room of heaven where the Lord is seated on a throne like a king, high and lifted up. Now, sometimes dates are difficult to determine in the Bible, but we actually know that it was the year 742 BC when King Uzziah died. Isaiah lived during a time of extreme uncertainty with the threat of war/violence all around the nation of Judah. [Map slide] During this time, the northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrian Empire, so the most powerful empire in the world was literally on its doorstep. This would’ve been terrifying because the Assyrians were the first civilization in history to have a professional army, not just a collection of local militia’s. As a result, for about 300 years, the Assyrians conquered everybody. Because this was a time of exile for the people of ancient Israel and Judah, there were many prophets at work during this time. Similar to the time of the Exodus, God was speaking a lot during the time of the exile so that his people wouldn’t miss why all this was happening. Other prophets who were active at this time include Jonah and Hosea in the northern kingdom of Israel and Micah and Isaiah in the southern kingdom of Judah. One more history nerd fact: the ancient Greek poet, Homer, author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, was 8 years old when Isaiah had his theophany in the temple. So there was a lot going on in the world at this time.
Ok, let’s jump back into the throne room of heaven.
Encounters with God is a sermon series about the theophanies or divine appearances and how they reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him. Is there any hope for the exhausted? Any grace for when you're feeling burned out? Absolutely. In the encounter with God and Elijah, we discover God's care for the whole person and our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Recorded on Dec 5, 2021, on 1 Kings 19, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called Encounters with God. In the Bible, when God appears to someone it’s known as a theophany or divine appearing. And these encounters are wild stories, God never seems to act how we would expect. Well today, we’ll consider the fascinating encounter with God and the prophet Elijah. And to me, this encounter is one of the most comforting and practically helpful stories if you ever get to the point where you’re feeling exhausted or burned out. The holiday season can be a tiring season under normal circumstances. But after the last 2 years of chaos and loss, I think we’re all feeling a little fatigued. Exhaustion shows up differently for different people. Some of us get more down/depressed, others get more angry/irritable, some of us feel all of these things. As followers of Jesus, what can we do when we’re exhausted? Is there any hope, any grace for the burned out? Absolutely. In our text for the day, we’ll see God care for Elijah in his exhaustion as a whole person, ministering to him physically, emotionally, and spiritually. If you have a Bible/app, please open to 1 Kings 19:1. We’ll unpack this story as we go:
1 Kings 19:1-5a (NIV), “1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.”
Ok, let’s pause here. What is going on here? Well, first, when is this taking place? So Ahab and Jezebel were the king and queen over the northern kingdom of Israel about 850 years before the birth of Jesus. This is about 100 years or so after the time of King David and Solomon. Under David, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah were unified. But after the time of Solomon, the unified kingdom started to fall apart. So it was right in the middle of this tumultuous time that God had called Elijah to be a prophet in Israel. This was a tough assignment. There was no peace at this time, and it wasn’t just that war was coming. There was vast corruption in the house of Israel. There was widespread idolatry/violence/injustice under the leadership of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. But immediately before this, Elijah’s ministry career had really reached a pinnacle. 1 Kings 18 describes an epic showdown between hundreds of prophets of the false Canaanite god, Baal, and Elijah. And Yahweh had shown up in a very public way, that he was the one true God, not Baal. Though hundreds of prophets cried out for hours and hours and cut themselves, Baal never answered them. In contrast, Elijah simply prayed and Yahweh rained down fire, completely consuming his offering. Now, you might think that after such a mighty victory, Elijah would be feeling good! That he would feel vindicated and wouldn’t need to be afraid of anything. But when he heard how Jezebel responded, and he heard her solemn vow to kill him,
Encounters with God is a sermon series about the theophanies or divine appearances and how they reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him. People have always wrestled with the nature and meaning of suffering. The ancient story of Job presents five perspectives that help us better understand suffering, even today. Recorded on Nov 28, 2021, on the book of Job, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called Encounters with God. In the Bible, when God appears to someone it’s known as a theophany or divine appearing. And these encounters are wild stories, full of surprises. God never seems to act how we would expect. However, these stories reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him. Today, we’ll consider the fascinating encounter with God in the book of Job. Job is famous in the Bible for what he suffered because the book of Job is a series of dialogues dealing with the nature/purpose of suffering. This is a topic that human beings have always wrestled with — and whether you have yet or not, you will one day, too. So many of the answers to suffering have to do with what you believe about who God is and what God does in this world. Now, this morning we’re going to do something that I don’t think I’ve ever done before. I’m going to preach through the whole book of Job. We won’t read through the whole thing (although I’d encourage you to do so). But it’s necessary to have at least a working understanding of the flow of the whole book to understand the theophany at the end. So if you have a Bible/app, please open to Job 1:1. We’ll unpack this as we go. First, the prologue:
Job 1:1-5 (NIV), “1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. 4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.” Let’s pause here. So first, what kind of man is Job? Job is a very wealthy man, he was also a family man, and he was a devoutly religious man. Job is presented here as being exemplary in every way. V. 6
Job 1:6-12 (NIV), “6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan [Hebrew word meaning the Accuser or the Adversary] also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” 9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.” The bible presents Satan in a matter-of-fact way, but also with fewer details than we would probably want. But here he’s presented as an angel who is named the Accuser or the Adversary.
Encounters with God is a sermon series about the theophanies or divine appearances and how they reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him. At Mount Sinai, Moses asks God to teach him His ways and show him His glory so he might know God better. God responds with an incredible display of His glory and with the stunning revelation of His character. Do you want to know what God is like? Recorded on Nov 14, 2021, on Exodus 33-34, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called Encounters with God. In the Bible, when God appears to someone it’s known as a theophany or divine appearing. And these encounters are wild stories, full of surprises. God never seems to act how we would expect. However, these stories reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him. Today, we’ll consider another encounter of Moses with God in Exodus 33. Last week in part 1, we saw the famous story of Moses and the burning bush, and we saw God’s faithfulness to save. Today, we’ll get just a little view of the glory of God. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Exodus 33:12. We’ll read through this story together and unpack it as we go.
Exodus 33:12-17 (NIV), “12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
Ok, let’s pause here. So last week, we saw God appear to Moses in the burning bush and send him to lead the people of Israel out of captivity in Egypt and into the land that God had promised to Abraham and Sarah and their descendants. Moses was understandably a little hesitant given both his qualifications and the immensity of this task. But eventually, he went and did what God called him to do. Now here, the people of ancient Israel are free and are camped at Mount Sinai. This is the same place where God called to Moses from the burning bush back in Exodus 3. Moses is back with a whole nation of people. Now, God had miraculously freed his people from the hand of Pharaoh, with signs and wonders and the parting of the Red Sea, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. While Moses met with God on Mount Sinai earlier in Exodus and was receiving the Law which would govern the people in the promised land, the people fell back into idol worship in making the golden calf. After dealing with that disaster, Moses is back on the mountain talking with God.
In the passage we just read, Moses says to God, “You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.” Now, maybe the incident with the golden calf revealed to Moses just how difficult this leadership task would be. So he makes this request, and this is such a great prayer request for us today. “Lord, teach me your ways. Teach me what you value. Teach me what you care about. Teach me what you despise. Teach me what to avoid. Teach me how to be wise. Teach me how to keep myself from evil. Lord, teach me your ways.” This is a wonderful prayer if you’re a young person here today.
Encounters with God is a sermon series about the theophanies or divine appearances and how they reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him. Encounters with God: Moses, pt 1 — In Moses' classic encounter with God in the burning bush, we clearly see that God is faithful to save. But will we trust in God's plan AND his timing? Recorded on Nov 7, 2021, on Exodus 3:1-15, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series we started last week called Encounters with God. In the Bible, when God appears to someone it’s known as a theophany or divine appearing. And these encounters are wild stories, full of surprises. God never seems to act how we would expect. However, again and again, these stories reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him. Today, we’ll consider Moses’ encounter with God in Exodus 3. Last week we saw God’s heart to do whatever it takes to have a relationship with people, starting with the family of Abraham and Sarah. Today, we’ll see God’s faithfulness to keep his promises to Abraham in his commitment to rescue and redeem his people from Egypt. God is faithful to save. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Exodus 3:1.
Exodus 3:1-6 (NIV), “Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.”
Let’s pause here. So first, a little context. Last week, we looked at the passage where God promised to give a people and a place to Abraham and Sarah. But God had promised that it would be long after Abraham had passed away. Now here, Moses was an Israelite, a member of Abraham and Sarah’s family, who was born in Egypt when the Israelites were slaves there. And in Moses’ day, they were being harshly oppressed and abused. But in the providence of God, Moses wasn’t raised as a slave, but by Pharaoh’s daughter, in Pharaoh’s household, with all the wealth and prosperity that would bring. So if there was anyone who had the education and the political relationships to lead God’s people out of captivity in Egypt, it would’ve been Moses. But it didn’t seem to work out initially. When Moses was 40 years old, he was pulled into a dispute between an Israelite and an Egyptian and wound up killing the Egyptian. So afterward, Moses was forced to flee from Egypt to Midian (Saudi Arabia). And Moses was accepted as a refugee there. He got married, started a family, and worked as a shepherd for his father-in-law. Now here, some 40 years later, at what Moses was likely believing to be the end of his career as a shepherd, he was on a journey several weeks from his home in Midian. And he found himself on Mount Horeb, the mountain of God, which was also known as Mount Sinai, when all of a sudden, he has this theophany, this encounter with God.
So first observation: God’s appearance is different. Last week, we saw that God’s word appeared to Abraham in a vision and then as a smoking firepot with a blazing torch. Here, God appears to Moses in a burning bush. This is one thing we’ll see again and again in this series. Every time God shows up,
Encounters with God is a sermon series about the theophanies or divine appearances and how they reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him. In Abraham's encounter with God, we discover both God's desire to have a relationship with people and how we might respond to him today. Recorded on Oct 31, 2021, on Genesis 15, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on The Greatness of God. And today, we get to start a brand new sermon series called Encounters with God. In the Bible, when God appears to someone it’s known as a theophany or divine appearing. These encounters are wild stories, full of surprises. God never seems to act how we would expect. However, again and again, these stories reveal the stunning character of God and his heart for a world that is lost without him. This series will go all the way into the new year (with a little break for Christmas). So today, we’ll start our series with Abraham’s encounter with God in Genesis 15. And we’ll see God’s heart for a relationship with people and we’ll see how we might have a relationship with him, even today. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Genesis 15:1.
Genesis 15:1-6 (NIV), “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield,[a] your very great reward.[b]” 2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[d] be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
Let’s pause here. So first, a little context. Genesis is a book of beginnings written by the prophet, Moses. The first 11 chapters describe a number of prehistoric creation stories and then chapter 12 seems to fall down into history with the family of Abraham and Sarah (or Abram and Sarai as they were known at this time). Now, Abram’s story is a very important story to understand anything about the work of God in the world, because it sets up and helps explain everything that comes after this. So first, this chapter is structured around two “I am” statements of God. “I am your shield, your very great reward.” in v. 1 and then “I am Yahweh (the LORD), who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans.” These statements are followed by a ceremony to ratify a covenant relationship between God and Abram. However, after the first “I am” statement, Abram has a problem. You see, back in Ge 12, God made a promise to Abram saying, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” But here, Abram says to God, “You promised to make me into a great nation, but I don’t even have a child of my own.” From previous chapters, we know that Abram had great wealth and he had many people working for him, but he and Sarai have no children of their own. God responds right away saying, “Come outside, Abram, and look up. Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” In other words, God says, “I’m not just going to give you a child, Abram, I’m going to give you a people. I’m not just going to give you a little, I’m going to lavish my grace on you.” Now, would this be hard for you to believe? At this time, Abram was an old man, and his wife, Sarai, was an old woman. No doubt, they both thought that ship had sailed long ago. The only way for them to have kids at this point would be through a miracle of God. How would Abram respond? Look at v.6,
When God is Big... is a sermon series examining what happens when you have a bigger vision of God. When God is Big...Chains are Broken: This world can be really tough. And it can be so tempting to turn to certain substances or behaviors to try and escape from reality. Whether it's binge drinking or endless social media scrolling, our tendency toward compulsive overconsumption is unhelpful and frankly destructive. However, there is hope in Jesus for freedom and healing. Recorded on Oct 24, 2021, on Acts 16:16-34, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on The Greatness of God. And today, we’re finishing a sermon series called When God is Big… In this series, we’ve considered how a bigger view of God changes everything, including how we live out our values and how we might deal with our various struggles. Well, today, we get to address one of the main issues that people in our culture struggle with today, which is the struggle of addiction. And the first question is, is this really a problem for us? Undoubtedly, you’ve probably heard of the opioid crisis, but for many of us, that issue might feel far away. Is this something we need to be paying attention to as followers of Jesus today, well, I think the answer is yes. According to the CDC, Wisconsin has the second-highest rate of binge drinking in the country and is almost tied for first place. A CDC study from 2015 showed that almost 25% of adults in WI (that is, 1 out of 4) had engaged in binge drinking in the past 30 days. And I believe the trauma of the Covid-19 pandemic and all the other social and political turmoil of the past few years have only accelerated this trend. It might be more like 1 out of 3 adults or even higher today. Now I get it. In this world, there seems to be stress and various threats coming from all directions. So it’s no wonder to me that more and more, people are falling into addictive patterns of behavior or turning to substances to try and escape reality for a time. That’s understandable. But it’s not just alcohol that’s a problem for us, is it? In her book, Dopamine Nation, Dr. Anna Lembke repeatedly refers to addictive behavior as ‘compulsive overconsumption,’ and that phrase was helpful to me to better understand what’s going on here. However, by that definition, almost everyone may wrestle with a certain degree of addictive behavior. Just think about the phrase ‘compulsive overconsumption’ and think about your relationship with your phone or your social media feed or with gaming or even your TV. We don’t even watch TV anymore, we binge-watch. Think of the struggle that so many people have with pornography or merely of watching the news. We know these things aren’t really helpful or healthy for us, and some are downright destructive patterns of behavior — but we just can’t stop. So given the difficulty and trauma of this broken world, are we hopelessly bound by these substances/behaviors, or is it possible to find freedom from compulsive overconsumption? The answer is yes, freedom is possible, healing is possible in Christ. In fact, one of the great benefits of the gospel of Jesus is its power to break the various chains that bind us in life. But how does this work? Well, if you have a Bible/app, please open to Acts 16, starting with v.16. My goal today is to show you that when God is big, chains are broken. Let’s start with v.16.
Acts 16:16-18 (NIV), “Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.”
When God is Big... is a sermon series examining what happens when you have a bigger vision of who God is. When God is Big...Identity is a Gift — Who are you? Who or what defines you? What does it mean to be true to yourself? These are questions of identity. When God is small, you are responsible for creating and maintaining your own identity. This is stressful and exhausting. But when God is big, identity is received as a gift of grace in Christ. This brings security and peace, no matter what happens in life. Recorded on Oct 17, 2021, on Ephesians 1:3-10, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called When God is Big… In this series, we’re considering how a bigger view of God changes everything, including how we live out our values and deal with our struggles. Last week, we looked at how a bigger view of God helps us deal with our struggle with fear. If you missed any of the messages from this series, you can always go back and watch on YouTube or listen to the audio podcast if you’d like. Well, today, we get to address one of the main issues that people in our culture struggle with today, which is understanding/establishing your identity. Now, I am a Christian, husband, father, pastor, friend. I’m a Packer fan, I’m an extrovert, I’m an ENTJ, I have 1.25 dogs. But who am I? What among these details defines me? How do I know if I’m being authentic to my true self? These are questions of identity. And these are huge questions because they tap into how we see/define/present ourselves in this world. Who are you? What is at the core of who you are? Well, if you have a Bible/app, please open to Eph 1, starting with v.3. This morning, we get to look at a very famous passage, which every Christian needs to understand, because it reveals so much about our true identity, our authentic self, who we truly are, in Christ. Let’s start with v. 3.
Ephesians 1:3–10 (NIV), “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”
Now, Ephesians was a letter from the Apostle Paul to the Christians in and around the city of Ephesus in modern Turkey. Now, Ephesians was written broadly, meaning, it was meant to be shared with other churches in other communities. So it’s a great letter to study if you’re coming into Christianity. However, the passage we just read is dense and somewhat difficult to follow. In fact, it’s one long sentence in Greek. I think the reason that Paul did this was once he started describing who we are “in Christ” (as he says), he can’t help but add one detail after another, brick by brick, until he has built up a towering description of what God has accomplished for us through the person and work of Jesus. Let’s work through this once again starting with v. 3.
Ephesians 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” So we start with a blessing or a call to praise God. Praise be, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because he has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in ...
When God is Big... is a sermon series examining what happens when you have a bigger vision of who God is. Fears are Quieted — What do we do when we are afraid? When God is small, when we lose sight of him or are distracted from him, fear is only natural but can be overwhelming. But when God is big, when we focus on Jesus and learn to walk by faith and not sight, then our fears are quieted. And we find a life of courage is possible. Recorded on Oct 10, 2021, on Matthew 14:22-33, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called When God is Big… In this series, we’re considering how a bigger view of God changes everything, including how we live out our values and deal with our struggles. If you missed any of the messages on our values from the last 4 weeks, you can go back and watch those on YouTube or listen to our audio podcast. But today, we get to start working on how a bigger view of God can impact/transform our struggles as well, including struggles with fear, identity, and addiction. So today, we get to address the ever-present issue of fear. Fear is powerful and fear is everywhere. Whether your struggle is more of generalized anxiety or a specific situation that you’re worried about or you’re in a full-blown fight-or-flight mode type of fear, fear is something that every single one of us will face in life. So what do we do when our fears become big? Is the voice of fear loud in your inner world today? I know it can seem like our fears are screaming at us at times. Well, my goal today is that you would see that when God is big, when you walk by faith and not sight…our fears are quieted. In Christ, a life of courage is possible. Is this something you’d like to learn? Then, please open your Bible/app to Mt 14, starting with v.22.
Matthew 14:22-33, “22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
So Matthew was also known as Levi. And Matthew was a tax collector before he started following Jesus. Eventually, he was commissioned by Jesus to be one of the twelve Apostles. The book of Matthew is the longest account of the life/ministry of Jesus in the NT. Let’s jump back into our text for today. Look back at v.22.
Matthew 14:22-23a, “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.” Let’s pause here. So Matthew records that immediately after the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side. The other side of what? The other side of the Sea of Galilee. This northern region of Galilee is where Jesus grew up and where he spent most of his time early on in his ministry.
When God is Big... is a sermon series examining what happens when you have a bigger vision of who God is. Mission is the greatest joy — When God is small, sharing your faith with others can seem scary or risky. But when you understand who Jesus is, and you know that your name is written in heaven, then talking about him is the most fulfilling purpose we could possibly enjoy. Recorded on Oct 3, 2021, on Luke 10:1-20, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called When God is Big… Way too many Christians have way too small a view of who God is. And when God is small, not in reality but in our minds/imagination, even though we might believe in God, other things can become big that shouldn’t be so big. Your circumstances, emotions, and failures can not only become big, they can become all-consuming. Well, in this series, we’ve been considering how a bigger view of God changes our values of worship, community, ministry, and mission. Next week, we’ll start working on how a big view of God can change our struggles as well, including struggles with fear, identity, and addiction. But today, we’re finishing out our values by considering how a bigger view of God changes our mission in life. Did you know that God has a mission? Did you know that God has called you to join this mission? Well, my goal today is that you would see that when God is big…joining the mission of God is the greatest joy. Please open your Bible/app to Luke 10, starting with v. 1.
Luke 10:1-3, “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” Ok, let’s pause here. So Luke was a doctor who became a Christian through the ministry of the Apostle Paul. And Luke did a careful investigation into the life and ministry of Jesus by interviewing eyewitnesses and then writing down what he discovered. And here, Luke records a time when Jesus sends out 72 of his disciples with a particular mission/purpose. Now, this wasn’t the first time Jesus did this. In the previous chapter, Luke records when Jesus sent out the twelve, who would later become his apostles. But here, Jesus widens the scope of those being sent, to include the seventy-two. As he sends them, two by two, he tells them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Jesus is talking about the harvest of salvation, the God-given fruit of the work of the gospel. But there’s a problem. There’s more work to be done than there are workers to get it done. What do we do? Jesus says, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” The word ask is more often translated in the Bible as to pray or even to beg. There’s a desperate quality to this prayer. “God, we need more people to work in this field! Please send more workers!” So the mission of God begins with prayer. But also, Jesus is emphatic in his sending. In v. 3 he says, “Go!” Go now. Go without delay. This wasn’t just a nice option for some of the followers of Jesus, but only if they weren’t busy. This was an authoritative commission. You will go. But how will they go? Jesus says, “I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” Being a lamb among wolves means to remain innocent, pure, and hopeful, even among the painful brokenness/darkness of this world — not becoming cynical and not using the ways of power or coercion which are the ways of the world, but as little lambs. You see, to Jesus, how his disciples were to fulfill their mission/purpose was as important to him as what they accomplished. So the mission of God must be done God’s way, using kingdom values. Godly ends never justify ungodly means.
When God is Big… is a sermon series examining what happens when you have a bigger vision of who God is. Ministry is Natural — When God is small, other people seem to exist for our benefit. Serving or ministering to others is totally optional. But when God is big, church leaders are to equip every Christian to do the work of ministry — every member is a minister — and the goal of ministry is maturity in Christ as the church is built up in love. Recorded on Sep 26, 2021, on Ephesians 4:11-16, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called When God is Big… Way too many Christians have way too small a view of who God is. But when God is small, not necessarily in reality but in your mind/imagination, even though you might believe in God, other things become big that shouldn’t be so big. Your circumstances, emotions, and failures can not only become big, they can become all-consuming. Well, in this series, we’ve been considering how a big view of God changes our values. And at this church, our values are worship, community, ministry, and mission. In a few weeks, we’ll consider how a big view of God can change our struggles as well, including fear, personal identity, and addiction. When God is big, it changes how we live out our values and how we deal with our struggles. So today, we’re considering how a bigger view of God impacts and transforms our understanding of and our obligation for ministry. And my goal today is that you would see that when God is big…ministry is natural. It’s not just the work of the pastors/professionals. But ministry is the normal work of every single follower of Jesus. Please open your Bible/app to Eph 4, starting with v. 11. Let’s read through this first and then we’ll go back and unpack it together. v. 11.
Ephesians 4:11-16, “11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
So the book of Ephesians in the Bible is an epistle/letter from the Apostle Paul to the Christians in and around the city of Ephesus in the modern country of Turkey. And like many of his letters, Paul initially emphasizes what the gospel is (chapters 1-2) before moving on to what the gospel does (chapters 3-6). So here in chapter 4, we’re in the middle of what the gospel, and more specifically Christ himself, does to build up Christians in faith/knowledge as well as their love for one another. Let’s look back at v. 11.
Ephesians 4:11-12, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” Let’s pause here. As I said, at this point in the letter, we already understand the good news of who God is, what he has accomplished in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and that Jesus has ascended back into heaven and is reigning and ruling today as the Lord of all creation. So from his throne on high, we find that Jesus hasn’t forgotten/abandoned us. But he continues to provide for us. Here, Paul says that Christ himself has given us these four different offices of ministry. (Now, there is some disagreement as to whether pastors a...
When God is Big... is a sermon series examining what happens when you have a bigger vision of who God is. Community is Unbreakable — When God is small, our emotions and desires become very great. Shared preferences become almost a prerequisite for relationships. However, the Bible defines love as self-sacrificing action for the benefit of another. Love is rooted in who God is and should be the defining mark of the Christian community. Recorded on Sep 19, 2021, on 1 John 4:7-21, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series we started last week, called When God is Big… Way too many Christians have way too small a view of who God is. But when God is small, not necessarily in reality but in your mind/imagination, that has a direct impact on your life. Even though you might believe in God, when God is small, other things become big. Your circumstances, emotions, and failures can not only become big, they can become all-consuming. But what happens when God is big? What happens when you have a better/truer/bigger vision of who God is? Well, in this series, we’ve started with our four core values of worship, community, ministry, and mission. Our values change with a bigger vision of God. Then, after that, we’ll consider three issues that people in/outside the church struggle with today including fear, personal identity, and addiction. When God is big, it changes how we live out our values and how we deal with our issues. So today, we’ll move from worship last week to community this week. What should our relationships be like in the church? What defines them? Well, my goal for today is that you would see that when God is big…community is unbreakable because it is marked by the very love of God. Please open your Bible/app to 1Jn 4, starting with v. 7.
1 John 4:7–12, “7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
Let’s pause here. So the Apostle John is sometimes known as the Apostle of love. Does anyone have any idea how he could’ve picked up that nickname? Love is a central theme of John’s gospel and his epistles/letters, such as this. I like to point out the fact that John didn’t start out as overly loving. He was a young man when Jesus called him and his brother, James, to follow him. They were initially known as the sons of thunder and at one point asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven on a town that had rejected Jesus. Not the most likely candidate to be known as the apostle of love later in life. But that’s the impact that Jesus has on people — he changes us. But here, we have a very famous passage where John says that God isn’t just loving in his character. But rather, he says that God is love. Look again at v.8 “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” And modern people love that idea, that God is love. However, C.S. Lewis pointed out that most modern people (of course, he pointed this out in the 1940s and ’ ’50s) believe in something more like love is God, not God is love. In Mere Christianity, Lewis writes, “They [modern people] really mean that our feelings are love, however and wherever they arise, and whatever results they produce, are to be treated with great respect. Perhaps they are: but that is something quite different from what Christians mean by the statement ‘God is love’.” (p. 174-175) Now,
When God is Big... is a sermon series examining what happens when you have a bigger vision of who God is. Worship is Obvious — If God has created us, then he deserves our lives. But if God has saved us, then he deserves our love. When you see and celebrate God as Creator and Savior, worship goes from optional to obvious. Recorded on Sep 12, 2021, on Revelation 4-5, by Pastor David Parks.
Sermon Transcript
All year, we’re focusing on The Greatness of God. And today we get to start a brand new sermon series called When God is Big… And the big idea of this sermon series is this: Way too many Christians have way too small a view of who God is. And when God is small, not necessarily in reality but in your mind, imagination, and heart, that has a direct impact on your life. Even though you might believe in God, when God is small, other things become big. Your circumstances, emotions, and failures can not only become big, they can become all-consuming. But what happens when God is big? What happens when you have a better/truer/bigger vision of who God is? Well, it changes everything. So in this series, we’re going to start by considering what changes in life through the lens of our four core values of worship, community, ministry, and mission. These things change with a bigger vision of God. Then, after that, we’ll consider what changes in your life in a few of the main issues that many people in/outside the church struggle with today including fear, personal identity, and addiction. When God is big, it has a huge impact on how we live out our values and how we deal with our issues. But today, we’ll start with how the greatness of God changes our experience of and priority for worship. My goal today is that you would see that when God is big…worship is obvious. Please open your Bible/app to Rev 4, starting with v. 1. Now, this is a longer passage, so we’ll unpack this as we go. v.1.
Revelation 4:1-6, “After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.”
So Revelation is fascinating. Some Christians obsess over it. Others avoid it. Now, one of the reasons it’s hard for us to understand is that it’s an ancient work, similar to other works of Jewish apocalyptic literature. It’s full of otherworldly images, beasts, and symbols. It’s difficult to know if it's meant to be taken literally, figuratively, or a combination of both. So my goal today is to be clear on the parts that are clear and tread carefully when the path isn’t as clear. So with that, let’s consider the text we just read. First, can you imagine if you found a door that was open, and on the other side was heaven? Not the heaven of TV and movies. But the actual heaven? God’s space. A spiritual realm outside of space-time. What do you think you’d see? John says the first thing he noticed was the voice of Jesus. The first voice he had heard, the voice like a trumpet, was Jesus Christ. John says that he was “in the Spirit.” What does that mean? Well, every Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit, but he isn’t saying he became a Christian here. He’s describing a spiritual vision or being caught up in the Spirit, similar visions that several OT prophets had such ...