The College Church: Recent Episodes
College Church
The Holy Spirit often orchestrates "divine encounters" as he sends us into people's lives. How can we be ready for, and make the most of, these encounters?
How do we change? In this sermon, Pastor Bill talks about how we can partner with the Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus.
The Holy Spirit, the spirit who is, who was, and who will always be, bursts onto the scene on the day of Pentecost and changes the course of history forever. But what does that mean for us today as believers? The gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a miraculous gift that can oftentimes be neglected, taken for granted and even resisted. In this sermon, Joe Pouliot will help us look at the awesomeness of the Spirit and how we can stay "present" to God's own Presence as we move through our lives.
Believers receive the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within them and the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every believer to use to build up the church. In this sermon, Barbara Ruh will help us explore how believers are to use these gifts and learn that the Holy Spirit is the gift that keeps on giving.
What exactly does the Holy Spirit do? In this sermon, Anthony Spina shows how the Holy Spirit points us, continually, to Jesus, guides us in our decisions and emboldens us to do things we would otherwise not do.
The Holy Spirit is God's personal presence with us. In this sermon, Pastor Bill answers the question, "why are we better off now that Jesus is no longer here, in the flesh?" and explores what Jesus means when He says that God is sending us "another advocate."
How do we read the Bible? Pastor Bill walks us through a method for engaging Scripture (Reading Fast, Reading Slow) and invites us to take our next step in our relationship with the Bible.
The purpose of reading the Bible is to know God so that we can become like Him. Our culture trains us to read for entertainment or information (if we read at all). In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores what it looks like to read for formation.
If we misunderstand what the Bible is, we will certainly misunderstand what the Bible says. In this sermon, Pastor Bill unpacks what it means that the Bible is a library of writings that are both divine and human that together tell a unified story that leads to Jesus.
American Christians are reading the Bible less and less. Some find it boring, others find it intimidating, and still others find it to be deeply problematic. So why should we care what the Bible says? Because Jesus did. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores Jesus' relationship with the Bible, and challenges us to model our relationship with the Bible after His.
The resurrection is the lynchpin of history. Without it, Christianity would not exist. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores why believing in the resurrection may be easier than not believing, and also why the resurrection matters.
Jesus experienced anxiety. In this sermon, Pastor Bill unpacks how Jesus navigates anxiety and loss in the final hours of his life.
What comes to your mind when you think about eternity? In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores the role that hope and secure attachment play in helping us to "hold" our fear of loss, rather than try to avoid loss.
The most common way people deal with anxiety is through avoidance. Avoidance habits often become a hedge against having to depend on God and others. Pastor Bill explores the relationship between anxiety, avoidance and idolatry, and the life-changing truth that there is abundant life on the other side of loss.
Often, the message we hear about anxiety is "anxiety is bad, pray it away!" Or "anxiety is bad, medicate it away!" But what if anxiety was one of our best opportunities for spiritual growth? In this sermon, Pastor Bill introduces the topic of anxiety, shows us how Jesus responds to anxious people, and how we can embrace anxiety as an opportunity to draw closer to God and others.
Vi Tran wrapped up this sermon series with Psalm 16 and reminded us that God is our only refuge. Psalm 16 teaches us to look to Jesus, who has given us a joy that transcends our circumstances — a joy that flows out of knowing God as the source of our security and hope because He is the God who has defeated death and promised to redeem and restore all things.
Psalm 23 is the most beloved Psalm, and perhaps the most famous piece of literature in the world. It was written by David, toward the end of his life. The Psalm portrays God as a good shepherd, a gracious host, and a permanent home. And it holds out the possibility of a settled life of confident trust and peace.
"Now we see in part." It's common to have experiences that trouble us deeply, or even cause us to question our faith. Psalm 49 invites us to pray through our conundrums, and examine our own hearts for things that don't fit our identity in Christ. As we do, we gain a greater understanding of God's "bigger picture" and the role that Jesus plays when it comes to resolving the unresolved parts of our lives.
Many Psalms summon us to praise God. Does this make God a narcissist? Why is praising God for who He is such an important part of the life of faith? Pastor Bill addresses these questions in this sermon on Psalm 148.
In Lament, we cry out to God for help. The counterpart to Lament is Grateful Praise: publicly praising God for answering us! Pastor Bill unpacks the role of Grateful Praise in the life of faith, Christian community and public witness, and then a parade of people share stories of grateful praise to God!
The most common type of Psalm is the lament (or complaint) psalm. In this sermon, Pastor Bill unpacks the significance of this fact, and the positive role that lament can play in the lives of God's People.
Christians often turn to the Psalms for an emotional pick me up. In this first sermon in the series "Enlarging Your Soul" Pastor Bill introduces us to the Book of Psalms and shows how the Psalms were written and arranged to teach us how to pray and to form us into God's People.
There are many misconceptions about the Christian understanding and practice of forgiveness. In this sermon on Jesus' teaching from Luke 17, Jasmine shows us that forgiveness is in God's nature, and that God desires to transform our hearts and equip us to forgive others as we have been forgiven.
We have a tendency to romanticize the Christmas Story — but those who were the first to feel the impact of the incarnation experienced perplexity, depression and fear. However, those initial emotions eventually gave way to joy, as the reality of who Jesus is and what He came to do began to sink in. Those who truly understand Christmas can't help but have their joy renewed, and their lives made beautiful by the message of Immanuel — God with us.
Throughout the Bible, God identifies Himself as a shepherd who gathers and cares for His flock. When the prophet Jeremiah does an autopsy of Israel's collapse into exile, he discovers its cause to be a failure of leadership. This sermon explores how God holds leaders accountable and shepherds His people, creating new possibilities for them to flourish.
Revelation helps us to see our present circumstances against the backdrop of the unseen future and and the unseen present! In this conclusion to our series on Revelation, Pastor Bill explores how the message of Revelation can transform how we live by renewing our hope and casting out our fear.
Vi Tran preached on Revelation 21 and encouraged us to not give up and to not quit. John writes Revelation because he wants to nurture our hope and build our resilience to stand firm in the Lord, to rejoice in God's true promises, to press on towards the goal, and to win the prize for which God has called heavenward in Christ Jesus.
John compares salvation to a wedding and a war. Both metaphors reveal something crucial about Jesus and how we are to live as His followers while we wait for His return.
Revelation is worship. It was birthed out of worship. It calls us to worship. And it is suffuse with worship. In this sermon, Pastor Bill argues that worship is what forms us into dissident disciples who can resist Babylon and remain faithful to the Lamb (Jesus).
The Beasts in Revelation 13 are not singular persons in history, but timeless tropes. The Apostle John wants to equip the churches to discern and resist human authorities and institutions who assume a god-like status and demand our allegiance and devotion, and to see through the delusions and deceptions that prop them up.
Revelation 11 is the most difficult to interpret, but perhaps the most central to John's message for the church. In this sermon, Pastor Bill helps us to "follow the hyperlinks" back to the Old Testament so that we can understand John's message and apply it to our lives.
In Revelation 6, God's judgment against evil begins. Consequently, this is typically where people stop reading, and where preachers stop preaching. But God's judgment is good news, and this section of the book (Revelation 6-19) is actually filled with encouragement and guidance for God's People. In this sermon, Pastor Bill talks about how we should approach these chapters, and unpacks the purpose and pattern of judgment in Revelation.
In Revelation 2-3, we see Jesus pastoring a variety of churches with tenderness and compassion. Pastor Bill reflects on the ways College Church has experienced Jesus' tenderness and compassion and calls us to extend the same tenderness and compassion to other neighboring churches.
Babylon penetrates and colonizes in the church. Jesus stands among the churches speaking affirmation, correction and motivation so that each church can resist Babylon and remain faithful to Him.
Pierre Willems speaks on Revelation 1:9-20 where God asks us to trust that Jesus is the one true king. While this can be difficult because of the evil still in the world, we are asked to see the world through God's eyes and develop a vision of Jesus that reflects this reality.
One day, the Kingdoms of this world will pass away, and God's Kingdom will remain. What Kingdom are you building toward? What will it take to resist the Kingdoms of the earth? What habits and relationships do we need in our lives to resist our modern "Babylons" so we can remain faithful to Jesus
In Revelation 17 we meet the Great Prostitute--Pastor John's symbol for Rome. This symbol is designed to call and equip Jesus' followers to discern and resist the dominant culture that wants to shape our imaginations and determine both who and how we worship.
The Book of Revelation can feel like a wilderness. As we begin our journey through this strange and wonderful book, we begin by getting our bearings: who are the main characters? What is the plot? And why does any of this matter to people today?
The Book of Revelation can feel like a wilderness. As we begin our journey through this strange and wonderful book, we begin by getting our bearings: what kind of literature in Revelation? Why does that matter? Who wrote it? What occasioned it? What does God want to do in His People, through this book?
Unlike many other New Testament letters, James keeps his preacher foot on the gas right to the very end of his letter--calling his readers to radical integrity, a life of radical prayer, and a community of radical love.
Many of James' hearers were poor and oppressed. James instructs them to be patient, to avoid grumbling and to persevere. This offends our modern, western sensibilities. What is James after in this passage? And might he have a powerful message for us today?
James "elegant punch to the face" continues as he shows us some of the ways that pride rears its ugly head in our everyday lives. Again, James calls us to a life marked by humility, and a willingness to disadvantage ourselves in order to advantage others.
Our world is filled with conflict and violence, and often these things rear their ugly head within the church. James puts his finger on what's underneath them, and more importantly, how to bring healing and peace to fractured relationships.
According to James, there are two kinds of wisdom, two ways of living and navigating relationships. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how we can become the kind of people who sow peace in divided times.
James warns us that the tongue is powerful, corruptible and inconsistent. But underneath these sobering warnings are truths that can transform us into the kinds of people who use our tongues to build up and bless.
Guest Speaker Maureen Desilets reflects on the exhortations in James 2:14-26 that often lead to unnecessary controversial arguments about 'Faith Versus Deeds', or the ‘right words' as opposed to the ‘right actions’. Together we’ll see - when we accurately understand what both the author James and the Apostle Paul are saying to their original audiences - it’s a “Both/And” stance NOT an “Either/Or”!
James confronts the hypocrisy of claiming allegiance to Jesus while showing favoritism to our neighbors, and calls us to consistently follow Christ by loving our neighbors in the same way God does.
God uses the Bible to transform us. Two examples of changed behavior are our speech and how we treat the poor and marginalized
Paul Sorrentino
James, the half-brother of Jesus, begins his letter with a theology of suffering and a theology of growth that are identical. In this sermon, Pastor Bill unpacks why and how we can trust God when trials come into our lives.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." These words from the Apostle Paul invite us to share deeply in the self-giving love of Jesus.
Many people today argue that forgiveness is the enemy of justice. Is that true? Is it possible to forgive and still take injustice seriously? In this sermon on Jesus' teaching in Matthew 18, Pastor Bill unpacks how we can both confront sin and forgive those who sin against us.
Marc Freedman from Stanford University says that we started the 20th century as one of the most age-integrated societies in the world and ended it as the most age-segregated. One of the ways Christians are called to be weird is by valuing and pursuing intergenerational relationships. In this sermon, Pastor Bill reflects on the Apostle Paul's relationship with Timothy and how intergenerational relationships are essential for our spiritual growth and flourishing!
We live in a world that is quick to complain, criticize and write people off. Life often leaves us feeling lonely, run down and ready to give up. There is a book in the Bible that was written to a beleaguered community that was tempted to throw in the towel. In this sermon on the book of Hebrews, Barbara Ruh traces the theme of encouragement and the role that it can play in Jesus' family to persevere.
Jesus talked about our relationship with money and possessions more than anything else. In this passage, the Apostle Paul warns his protege, Timothy, of the dangers of seeking wealth and invites him to pursue godliness and contentment instead. Then he instructs Timothy how to guide his church to live a life of simplicity and generosity, which is rooted in, and reflects, the beauty of the gospel.
Everyone needs freedom, community and meaning. Western culture elevates the importance of freedom at the expense of the other two. In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 12, Pastor Bill unpacks how the gospel moves us to value and depend on others in ways that lead to greater abundance, maturity and joy.
Humility was not considered a virtue in the Greco Roman world. In fact, it was considered shameful and degrading. It's only because of Jesus that humility has become widely thought of as a virtue. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how we can imitate Jesus' mindset in our relationships, both inside and outside of the church.
This recording was edited to protect the confidentiality of our panelists.A panel discussion with four of our gospel partners serving in different places around the globe covering topics like calling, challenges, perseverance, working cross culturally and prayer.
God is calling you into the deep! This sermon, preached by Pamela Foxx from Urban Promise in Camden, NJ, explores the nature of God's call, the miracle of God's power and the wonder of God's presence as we move into the world in His Name.
In John 10 & 11, Jesus drops two bombshell revelations that have the power to revolutionize and transform our lives.
No one follows Jesus in a vacuum, but rather, in the context of a culture that often pulls us away from Jesus. Resistance is hard. It requires a conscious and deliberate plan for keeping God at the center of our lives. In this sermon, we examine how Daniel resisted Babylon's attempt to assimilate him into their way of life, and how we, too, can resist the empire and build an abundant life!
An abundant life is an embodied life. There are competing narratives in our culture about what our bodies are for. In this sermon, Pastor Bill offers a new (old) way of thinking about our bodies that's rooted in the gospel, as well as some every day habits for living a more embodied life.
How do we stay human in a technological world? In this sermon, Pastor Bill unpacks what it takes to live abundant lives in a world in which effortless power threatens to diminish our personhood and our capacity to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
We were made for intimacy and belonging. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how we cultivate true friendship and deep community, and the habits and practices that nourish both.
"The greatest gift we can give each other is our presence." In this sermon, Pastor Bill invites us to "practice the presence of people" like Jesus did, through the habits of listening, meal-sharing and hospitality.
"All reality and experience should drive us toward God and not away from Him," and "the purpose of life is to contemplate and share the love of God" (Ignatius of Loyola). This sermon explores a framework and a practice for knowing ourselves so that we can know God, and discerning His presence and activity in our everyday lives.
John Mark Comer argues that “the modern world is a virtual conspiracy against the interior life.” And yet, it is impossible to know God if you do not know yourself. And it is impossible to form deep, intimate relationships with others if you are a stranger to yourself. In this sermon on Psalm 139, Pastor Bill shows how can we can develop habits that train us to be present to ourselves so that we can know ourselves as God does.
Snacking and eating on the go are very different experiences than feasting and savoring a home-cooked meal. In this sermon on Psalm 19, Pastor Bill invites us to cultivate a "slow down" spirituality in which we get to savor God's Glory in His creation and His Word.
"Attention is the beginning of devotion." In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how our culture of distraction is a threat to our health and pursuit of abundance, and why it's so important to cultivate attention through the disciplines of silence and solitude.
God created us with limits. Our limitations are gifts designed to draw us into interdependent relationships. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how embracing our limits through the Sabbath rhythms of ceasing, resting, delighting and contemplating can help us experience abundant life!
God created us with limits. Our limitations are gifts designed to draw us into interdependent relationships. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how embracing our limits can help us experience abundant life!
Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life, and life abundant" (John 10:10b). What does it mean that God created us for abundant life? How do we cultivate abundance in a culture of distraction and dysfunction? What role do honesty and hope play as we seek to experience deep and lasting change? These are some of the questions Pastor Bill explores in this introduction to the sermon series "Build My Life: Habits of Purpose for a Life of Abundance."
New Years is a natural time to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the coming year. In this sermon on Isaiah 40-66, Michael spurs us to reflect on our relationship with God, what He's revealing to us, and what it will mean for us to rely on His power to transforms us.
What is it about the story of Jesus' birth that continues to transfix us, two thousand years after the fact? In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores why God sent His Son the way He did and what that means for us today.
In this final sermon on the Apostles' Creed, Pastor Bill shows how the biblical portrait of salvation is holistic, unfolding and cosmic.
What is the church? How does the church maintain unity over time? What is the significance of the church's "catholicity" and the "communion of the saints"? These are some of the questions Pastor Bill explores in this sermon.
The Holy Spirit is God's personal, empowering presence. This sermon explores who the Holy Spirit is, what He does, and how we can "walk in the Spirit" in our ordinary lives.
Did Jesus go to hell? What does His death mean? How does the resurrection speak to our anxiety? Why is it better for us if Jesus leaves the earth and goes to the Father? Why is Jesus' coming judgment good news? These are some of the questions Pastor Bill wrestles with in this sermon about Jesus from the Apostles' Creed.
Are the gospels legends? Why did Jesus have to die? What does it mean for us to "take up our cross daily and follow Jesus"? These are some of the questions Pastor Bill explores in this second sermon on the person of Jesus from the Apostles' Creed.
According to the book of Hebrews, Jesus "is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being." In this sermon, Pastor Bill talks about the meaning and significance of calling Jesus the Son of God, Christ, and Lord.
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth." So begins the Apostles' Creed, the oldest summation of the essentials of the Christian faith. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explains why creeds matter, and what Christians believe about the first member of the Trinity.
In recent years, Christianity has suffered a crisis of credibility in the West, both inside and outside of the church. In this final sermon on deconstructing faith, Pastor Bill unpacks a posture and a promise that can transform our spiritual journeys and help us restore the gospel's credibility in our day.
Many who are deconstructing their faith are stepping back from spiritually abusive situations and toxic communities. King David (before he was king!) experienced this very thing. In this sermon Pastor Bill explores what we can learn from David's story about when to step back, how to heal and how to step back in to community.
You cannot honestly deconstruct your faith apart from God. The Book of Psalms provides amazing resources for deepening your relationship with God while questioning what you believe. In this sermon on the Psalms, Pastor Bill shows how the Hebrew Psalter is an ideal companion for us as we navigate different seasons in our spiritual lives.
Jesus deconstructed an entire religious system. In this sermon on Matthew 23, Pastor Bill unpacks what we can learn from Jesus about what needs to be torn down, and what can take its place.
Richard Rohr says that "every tradition has arbitrary attachments that are not native to Christianity." In this sermon, Pastor Bill talks about how we can go about discovering those attachments, and unbundling Jesus from them.
"I believe. Help my unbelief!" In the real world, faith and doubt often mix. In this sermon, Pastor Bill unpacks the redemptive role of doubt, the gentleness of Jesus in response to doubt, and how we can support one another as we wrestle with doubts.
As public life becomes less stable, more and more people are freaking out, and reacting to current events out of fear. In this sermon, Pastor Bill shows us how cultivating peace in our private lives can have a transforming effect on our public lives.
Pastor Bill interviews two pairs of intergenerational friends about how their friendships came to be and how God has used them in their lives and in their walk with Him.
Compassion is what motivates God to act on behalf of those who are suffering. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explains the nature of compassion, the boundlessness of compassion, and the ultimate goal of compassion.
Respect is one of the most important foundations of a civil society. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explains why we owe one another respect, why there's a lack of respect, how to cultivate respect and what it looks like in our public lives.
David Blankenhorn says that, "we live in the age of arrogance—an unforgiving, intolerant, anger-stoked age of entrenched confirmation bias across groups and of constantly alleged binary political choices in which your position is entirely wrong and mine is entirely right." The solution is intellectual humility. In this sermon, Pastor Bill shows how intellectual humility is a natural fruit of the gospel of grace, why intellectual humility is so elusive, and how we can cultivate it in our daily lives.
How can Christians be salt and light in a society that is unraveling? How can we remain engaged in seek our neighbor's flourishing when so much seems to be going wrong around us? In this sermon on a famous passage from the book of Esther, Pastor Bill focuses our attention on courage - one of five public virtues that we'll explore in the coming weeks. What is courage? When do we need it? And how do we get it?
Michael Jones speaks on Galatians 1:1-7
Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
God repeatedly tells his people to remember what He has done, and to tell the stories of His great deeds and faithfulness to the next generation. God also tells His people to expect God to do new and greater things in the future! On the occasion of College Church's 50th anniversary, Pastor Bill helps us to look back with gratitude and look forward with hope.
The first Christian sermon (preached by the Apostle Peter on Pentecost) was all about the resurrection, what it means, and why it deserves a personal response. In this sermon, Pastor Bill unpacks the significance of the resurrection and how it can impact our lives.
In life, as with homes, storms expose the quality of our foundations. In this final installment on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Bill explores what goes into a resilient life, and why we must decide what to do with Jesus.
What way should we go? Who should we follow? Do we have saving faith? Toward the end of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presents us with a series of choices, and teaches us how to discern.
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Our culture stands up and cheers Jesus' words--and yet, they present a profound challenge. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how Jesus transforms the way we relate to others by confronting and dealing with our pride.
Jesus talked about our relationship to our wealth and possessions more than anything else. In this famous passage, Jesus confronts greed, materialism and worry, and invites us to invest in things that will last forever, to live generously and to rest in God's Fatherly care.
“All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." Much of modern life has become performative. Like the Pharisees of Jesus' day, the temptation to seek the approval of others can turn beautiful acts of righteousness and devotion into sordid and cheap attempts at self-glorification. Jesus offers us a discipline to set us free from our egos, and a prayer to reshape the priorities of our hearts.
Jesus told His followers to "be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect." What does this mean? The answer has to do with how we relate to those who seek to harm us, or seek our help.
Jasmine Myers unpacks Matthew 5:21-37, in the third of our A New Way to Be Human series.
In this sermon, Pastor Bill shows how Jesus transforms His followers into people who are both attracted to, and attractive to, people who believe and live differently.
What does it mean to be God's People? What are God's People all about? Who is included, and on what basis? These are some of the questions that Israel wrestled with upon their return from exile. They are the same questions the early church wrestled with, and we must wrestle with if we want to be be found faithful in our time.
God beckons us to come to His table and feast on the spiritual food that He provides, at no cost to us, to nourish and satisfy our souls. In this sermon on Isaiah 55, Pastor Bill explores what this spiritual food consists of, and how we get to the table.
"Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. And pretty much anything you worship besides God will eat you alive." (David Foster Wallace)
In this sermon on Isaiah 54, Pastor Bill explores the dynamics of idolatry, shame and alienation, and invite you to step into the unique freedom that the gospel makes possible.
Some have called Isaiah 52:13-53:12 the Mount Everest of Scripture passages because of how clearly it depicts Jesus and His work of redemption - even though it was written 700 years before His birth! Listen to discover the surprising way that God accomplishes our salvation, and calls us to model our lives after the suffering servant.
This week Pastor Bill begins a new sermon series called "Songs of Redemption" based on Isaiah chapters 52-56. In this sermon, we explore the source of salvation, the nature of salvation and the purpose of salvation.
God appears...and the soul feels its worth! In this sermon on the Christmas Story from Luke's gospel, Pastor Bill explores the implications of God's unmerited favor and what it means treasure the gospel in our hearts, and share it with the world.
The Apostle Peter calls believers "living stones" who are being built together into a spiritual house. It's a rich metaphor that gives depth and richness to our understanding of Jesus, His Church and our place in it. In this sermon, Barbara Ruh explains how we're built up, what we're built on and what God's building for.
Why does God rescue His people on some occasions and not others? What must God's People do if they want to bear fruit? In this sermon on Psalm 80, Pastor Bill explores these questions and how they relate to the church in our cultural moment.
The first Advent lasted 400 years. There is a lot of waiting in the Christian life. Sometimes waiting can be deeply troubling and painful, or cause us to doubt God's presence. In this sermon on Psalm 22, Pastor Bill explores how we can continue to pray when God feels absent, and reminds us that, while the darkness is real, it is temporary.
How can we be secure in an insecure world? In this sermon on Psalm 16, Pastor Bill challenges us to break the cycle of trying to gain control over our lives, and instead follow David by looking out, looking up, looking around and looking back.
Psalm 2 is a Psalm that points to Jesus. In this sermon Pastor Bill unpacks the reality that we have a True King, we hate the True King and we need a True King in order to flourish, and be who we were created to be.
Hear reports from two of our Gospel Partners. Louise Nagler oversees Bible translation into African languages at Wycliff Bible Translators. Meg Given hosts United Nations diplomats at the Christian Embassy in NYC.
The Kingdom of God has already come, but it has not yet come in full. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores the nature of Christian hope, and what it looks like to live in this tension.
Is Christianity really in decline? If it is, could that be a good thing? How do Jesus' followers live as citizens of heaven, and citizens of earth, at the same time? And where does the power to do that come from? These are the questions Pastor Bill will try to answer in this sermon that calls the church to embrace its true identity.
What is the Kingdom Mission? What on earth are we supposed to be doing, in the name of our King? In this sermon (part II of II), Pastor Bill talks about our calling to demonstrate the gospel by doing justice and showing mercy.
What is the Kingdom Mission? What on earth are we supposed to be doing, in the name of our King? In this sermon (part I of II), Pastor Bill talks about our calling to proclaim the gospel and make disciples. In part II, Pastor Bill talks about our calling to demonstrate the gospel by doing justice and showing mercy.
The Kingdom of God is God's rule, over God's people, in God's place. The local church is the people in this equation. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how the church is called to live out the Kingdom Story.
Jesus said, "anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores what Jesus means by this statement, why becoming like a little child is so difficult, and why it's ultimately worth it.
The Kingdom of God is an upside down Kingdom. In this sermon on Jesus' beatitudes, Pastor Bill shows how Jesus turns conventional wisdom on its head, obliterates social and cultural distinctions and makes it possible for anyone to receive God's blessing and participate in the life of His Kingdom.
Kingdoms are defined by their kings and Jesus is no ordinary king. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores some of the ways that Jesus fails to meet the expectations of both his contemporaries in 1st Century Palestine, and modern Westerners, both inside and outside of the church--and what makes Jesus a truly unique and matchless king.
The gospels record Jesus talking about the Kingdom of God more than anything else - over 100 times in the pages of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John! How then is it possible that so many Christians miss the central message of Jesus, and, in fact, the whole Bible? In this sermon, Pastor Bill unpacks what the Kingdom of God is all about, and why it matters.
Everyone is experiencing this season differently. Some are eager to re-engage and make up for lost time while others are exhausted, weary and in need of rest. This sermon on Genesis 33:12-14 explores how we can navigate this season with wisdom, grace, patience and honesty.
In this sermon on Psalm 124, Pastor Bill explores what honest prayer looks like, as well as the role that praise plays in the life of faith.
What does it mean to be free? How can we be free in a world filled with injustice and oppression? Psalm 123 was written by an oppressed person. Through his prayer, we discover a path to freedom and flourishing that transcends our circumstances.
In this sermon on Psalm 130, Pastor Bill shows how God helps us to overcome our guilt and shame by trusting in His mercy and unfailing love.
King David sang, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity." In this sermon, on the occasion of our return to the sanctuary, Pastor Bill explores the pleasure of unity, the source of unity and the blessing of unity.
Gathering for worship has incredible power. In this sermon on Psalm 122, Pastor Bill explores how worshipping with others can liberate us from five prisons: individualism, tribalism, narcissism, cynicism and escapism.
Where does my help come from? That's the question on the Psalmist's mind as he embarks on a dangerous journey. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores some of the dangers of following Jesus, and why God can be trusted to help and protect us on our way.
The life of faith is a pilgrimage in which we step out into the void in order to journey with God and others. The first step of that journey is to acknowledge what's broken and what needs to be left behind. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores what Psalm 120 reveals about why we ache for a better world, and where we find motivation to seek it.
The New Testament calls the church the Bride of Christ. In this sermon, Jasmine Myers explores the life-giving significance of this metaphor for our relationships with Christ and with one another.
How is the church like a field? In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores what helps and hinders our growth, and how we can contribute to the growth of the Kingdom where we live.
A Temple is a building, right? Why then does the Apostle Paul call the community of Jesus' followers a Temple? In this sermon, Michael Jones explores the rich background of this metaphor, and unpacks what it means for the church.
The Apostle Paul calls the church "God's Household." In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores some of the practical implications of this metaphor for how we relate to and take responsibility for each other, and how we can welcome and make space for those who are outside the family of faith.
The Body of Christ is a metaphor that illustrates the church's unity within diversity. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how churches demonstrate the power of the gospel when racial, social and political differences are overcome.
What does it mean to be the church? This sermon (the first in a new series) explores how the church is like a field hospital during war time. It is a source of healing and restoration, it exists in close proximity to pain, and it ministers to the whole person.
God is a peacemaker. Jesus says that peacemakers are children of God. How can we be peacemakers in a world wracked with suspicion, fear and division? Pastor Bill shares two strategies that will challenge and equip you to a peacemaker in your every day life.
The Apostle Paul says we are Christ's ambassadors, sent by God with a message of reconciliation. Pastor Bill unpacks how Christians be faithful ambassadors for Jesus in a pluralistic and post-Christian society.
Jesus is risen. Now what? This sermon explores the truth that Jesus' followers are witnesses to Jesus' death and resurrection. It also challenges Christians to make sure that their message, their posture and their lives lineup so that the world can see what Jesus is like, and what life looks like when He is King!
Christ is Risen. Now what? This message explores the nature of Christian hope and how it impacts, motivates and animates everything a believer does.
The resurrection is not a symbol, but an earth-shattering, life-changing, historical fact. In this Easter sermon, Pastor Bill unpacks three implications of the resurrection that bring meaning, hope and purpose to our lives.
Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not of this world." How is Jesus' Kingdom different? And what does that mean for how Jesus' followers engage with society in our own day?
God's glory is the combined magnitude of all of His attributes put together. In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores the nature of God's glory and how we can behold and reflect it to others.
Many people believe that God is angry, capricious, and must be constantly appeased. Religious teachers throughout the centuries have taught that trials and suffering are the result of God's active judgment on our sin. In this sermon Pastor Bill shows how Jesus responded to these beliefs and teachings, and why we can trust in God's goodness.
God is Holy. When Isaiah experiences God's holiness, he is undone, purified and set apart. This sermon explores how a relationship with God makes us more self aware, more humble, more beautiful and more surrendered to God's purposes.
In this sermon, Pastor Bill talks about God's Wisdom and why we need it. God's wisdom is perfect and complete. The wisdom God gives to us when we ask is designed to help us navigate life so that we can remain fruitful and faithful to Him.
God is large and in charge. He always accomplishes what He sets out to do!
AND you are free, responsible and accountable for your actions!
Let’s explore this idea that God is Omnipotent; all-powerful.
Jesus said, “With God all things are possible!”
Nothing is too difficult for Him!
He is Almighty!
No matter what the task, God is able to do it, as long as it is consistent with His character.
God is never intimidated. Never overwhelmed. Never overmatched. Never in over His head.
How can we help one another to overcome our shame so that we can be more open and vulnerable with each other?