Christ Presbyterian Church: Recent Episodes
Christ Presbyterian Church
Pastor Joe McDonald teaches that the antidote to worry is not simply becoming calmer, but learning to trust God by seeking His kingdom and righteousness first. Using his own story of unemployment, he shows that trust is built through a relationship with Jesus, recognizing God's faithfulness in both hardships and acts of generosity, and participating in God's work of justice, compassion, and love in the world. He concludes that Jesus is the perfect model of trust, calling believers to fix their eyes on Him, pursue God's kingdom above their own, and find true life and peace in Him.
James gets real about his own anxiety—like the time a surprise meeting invite from his boss sent him into a full doomsday spiral. Digging into Matthew 6:25-34, he explores why Jesus tells us not to worry, why that's easier said than done, and how anxiety might actually be a signal pointing us back to where we've stopped trusting God. Honest, funny, and genuinely hopeful—part of our summer series on the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus warns that wealth can become a dangerous rival to God, offering a false sense of security, fostering greed, and competing for our worship, while inviting us instead to find lasting security and abundance in God's kingdom. He teaches that practicing generosity and simplicity frees us from the grip of money, allowing our hearts to be shaped by God's love and to become a source of blessing for others. Ultimately, Jesus points to His own generosity on the cross as the foundation for true freedom, reminding us that because God has already given us everything in Christ, we can live with open hands and wholehearted trust in Him.
Pastor Carrie explains that spiritual practices require intentional, consistent practice, just as learning to play the piano does, and highlights fasting as a biblical discipline that helps believers depend more fully on God rather than on themselves. She emphasizes that fasting is not about earning God's approval or achieving specific results but about reorienting the heart, mind, and body toward Christ, exposing self-sufficiency, and deepening trust in God's provision. Along with prayer and giving, fasting is presented as a lifelong practice that shapes disciples into people who are increasingly transformed by God's presence and aligned with His kingdom.
Jesus teaches that prayer is not about saying the perfect words but about approaching God as a loving Father, aligning our hearts with His kingdom and will, and honestly bringing Him our deepest needs. The Lord's Prayer reminds us that we are dependent on God for daily provision, forgiveness, strength against temptation, and transformation, while also calling us to extend forgiveness to others. Rather than treating prayer as a last resort, Jesus invites us into a daily, ongoing relationship with our Heavenly Father that changes both our hearts and our lives.
Jesus teaches that prayer is not a performance to impress others or a formula to manipulate God, but a relationship with a loving Father who already sees, knows, and cares for us. Pastor Emily challenges us to recognize that both performative prayer and the avoidance of prayer stem from the same misunderstanding of God's character, inviting them instead to trust His love and make space for honest, regular connection with Him. Ultimately, prayer becomes less about saying the right words and more about resting in God's presence, listening for His voice, and remembering that we are already fully known and loved.
This sermon explores the gap many people feel between who they are and who they think they should be, especially when it comes to living out their faith and inviting others to follow Jesus. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians, Pastor Jonathan emphasizes that the Gospel is not just a message to believe but a power that transforms lives through the work of the Holy Spirit, and that genuine invitation flows from experiencing that transformation personally.
Jesus teaches that His followers should reject retaliation and respond to wrongdoing with grace, generosity, and forgiveness. Emily emphasizes that this is only possible when we remember the abundant grace God has shown us. She challenges listeners to see the humanity in those who hurt them and seek their good rather than revenge.
This sermon teaches that Jesus’ kingdom calls believers to abandon retaliation and revenge, responding to wrongdoing with grace because they are living in the new reality of God’s kingdom. Through examples like turning the other cheek and going the extra mile, Jesus invites his followers to affirm both their own dignity and the humanity of those who harm them, refusing to answer evil with more evil. Ultimately, the sermon points to Jesus’ own death and resurrection as the foundation for this way of life, showing that God’s grace cancels our debts and makes restoration possible without seeking payback.
In this episode of Pastors Cut, Gabby Gustafson reflects on Jesus’ teaching about oaths and truthfulness in Matthew 5, exploring how both covenant commitments and everyday speech reveal the condition of our hearts. The conversation highlights the importance of honesty, integrity, and vulnerability, emphasizing that truthfulness leads to wholeness while dishonesty fragments us and damages trust.
This sermon challenges the tendency to create “loopholes” around truthfulness, comparing childhood “fingers crossed” promises to the subtle ways adults manipulate words to avoid discomfort, accountability, or commitment. Reflecting on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5, she explains that dishonesty fractures relationships, distorts our hearts, and damages our trust in God by leading us into hiding, suspicion, and self-protection. Through the example of Peter’s denial and restoration by Jesus, she emphasizes that the way of Jesus is not merely about avoiding lies, but becoming people transformed by grace who can live openly, honestly, and truthfully before God and one another.
Melissa Schaser and Carrie Gleason discuss Petey Crowder’s sermon on Jesus’ teaching about lust and adultery, emphasizing that sin and spiritual deformation happen gradually and begin in the heart long before outward actions occur. They explore how Christian sexual ethics apply across every stage of life — including singleness, dating, and marriage — and stress the importance of accountability, community, and learning to see others as image-bearers of God rather than objects.
The sermon explores Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5 that adultery and lust begin in the heart long before outward actions take place, comparing sin to Icarus flying too close to the sun, as the damage starts before the fall is visible. It challenges listeners to take sin seriously while recognizing that true change does not come from rules or self-control alone, but through surrendering to Jesus and allowing Him to transform the heart. The message ultimately offers hope, reminding people that no struggle is beyond Christ’s healing and that God desires to create lives and relationships marked by faithfulness, honesty, and restoration.
This sermon reflects on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5 about reconciliation, emphasizing that because God sacrificed to reconcile humanity through Jesus, Christians are called to pursue reconciliation in their own relationships, even when it is painful or uncomfortable. Using personal stories about motherhood and conflict with her daughter, the pastor illustrates how pride, fear, justification, and shame often keep people from apologizing or taking the first step toward healing, while true reconciliation requires humility and ownership of one’s part. Ultimately, the sermon encourages listeners to trust the Holy Spirit, embrace the discomfort of difficult conversations, and pursue restored relationships as an expression of the grace and forgiveness they themselves have received from God.
This episode explores Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing that He came not to abolish the Old Testament law but to fulfill it, shifting the focus from rule-following to a transformed life rooted in trust in Him. The conversation highlights how Scripture is meant to shape and transform us relationally, not just serve as a checklist, producing righteousness over time as we grow in faith.
This sermon emphasizes that while rules are good and necessary, they cannot transform our hearts—only a relationship with Jesus can truly change who we are. Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it, shifting the focus from external rule-keeping to internal heart transformation and a life rooted in connection with Him. Ultimately, the Christian life is about receiving Christ’s righteousness and becoming more like Him, rather than trying to earn it through checking religious boxes.
This sermon contrasts the “way of the saint” with the pursuit of celebrity, emphasizing that Jesus calls his followers to live as “salt and light” by humbly depending on Him and drawing close to the needs of others. Using biblical imagery and examples, it explains that God’s people are meant to bring transformation and blessing to the world through faithful presence, not personal influence or success. Ultimately, the message highlights that Jesus Himself embodies this calling, and as believers rely on Him, His love and faithfulness flow through them to impact others.
This episode explores the final Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing that following Jesus may lead to suffering or persecution rather than earthly reward, but ultimately grounds believers in God’s kingdom. Petey Crowder explains that Christians often mistakenly expect comfort, success, or recognition, when in reality living out Jesus’ way—through humility, justice, and sacrifice—can put them at odds with the world and cost them approval or opportunity. The conversation concludes that true faith is often formed through weakness, discomfort, and everyday choices to live differently, where God’s presence and lasting transformation are found.
This sermon uses the image of hiking against a crowd to illustrate how following Jesus often puts believers at odds with the world, especially when living out the Beatitudes. It explains that persecution is not something to seek or exaggerate, but something that naturally comes when one faithfully lives in allegiance to Jesus rather than worldly values. Ultimately, while this way may cost approval and comfort, it anchors a person in God’s kingdom, where true blessing, purpose, and lasting security are found.
This episode introduces a new sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing the importance of slowly engaging Scripture and trusting God to transform people through His Word. The conversation explores how the Beatitudes are not a checklist for earning blessing, but an invitation to depend on Jesus—revealing both our need for Him and a way of life shaped by His presence and grace. Ultimately, the discussion highlights that a “blessed life” is not self-made, but formed by surrendering self-sufficiency and allowing God to work through both our lack and our abundance.
This sermon contrasts the world’s definition of a “blessed” life—success, status, and self-achievement—with Jesus’ teaching in the Beatitudes, where blessing means experiencing God’s presence, not perfect circumstances. A truly blessed life begins with recognizing our need for God and grows as His character overflows into others. Rather than striving to earn blessing, we are invited to release self-sufficiency, grieve misplaced pursuits, and receive a life with God, where blessing is found in His presence, not our performance.
This episode introduces a post-Easter conversation where Melissa Schaser interviews Petey Crowder about his Easter sermon, which focused on baptism and the call to leave behind old patterns of sin to embrace new life in Christ. They reflect on Holy Week traditions—such as Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Watch Night service—highlighting how each service prepares believers to understand Jesus’ death and resurrection more deeply.
This sermon emphasizes that people often search for fulfillment in places that ultimately leave them empty, like returning to a permanently closed store, rather than turning to Jesus. Through the resurrection story in Luke 24, it highlights that Jesus’ victory over death offers true, lasting life and freedom from old patterns of sin, shame, and dissatisfaction. Easter is presented not just as an inspiring story, but as an invitation to embrace a completely new life in Christ and live in the reality of that transformation.
Baptism is described as a sacrament that represents God’s saving work and initiating love, serving as an outward sign of an inward grace. This discussion highlights why both infants and adults are baptized, emphasizing that God’s claim on us comes before our response and is nurtured within a faith community. It also encourages believers to be baptized as a meaningful, physical expression of faith that marks identity in Christ and connects them to the church.
This sermon reflects on Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14, showing that true courage is not found in favorable circumstances or personal strength, but in trusting Jesus amid fear and uncertainty. Through Peter’s experience, it teaches that courage is a steady commitment to follow Jesus, even when faith falters, because Jesus comes to us, reveals Himself, calls us to be with Him, and saves us when we cry out. Ultimately, the message reminds believers that despite doubt and failure, Jesus never loses His grip on them, which is the true source of lasting courage.
This episode centers on Jesus’ baptism, emphasizing that God’s love comes before His call—Jesus is affirmed as beloved before beginning His ministry, showing we act from God’s love, not to earn it. The conversation explores how God’s love is relational and unconditional toward our identity, yet not the same as approving all our actions, highlighting the importance of repentance and ongoing forgiveness. It concludes by illustrating how weakness and need open us to experience God’s grace more deeply, allowing the Gospel to transform us and flow into others.
This sermon teaches that Jesus’ baptism was not about His need for cleansing, but about identifying with humanity so He could make all things right and bring us into His life. At that moment, God declares Jesus as His beloved Son before He does anything, showing that God’s love always comes before His call—a truth that defines our identity as well. The message invites believers to stop striving for approval and instead live from the secure, unchanging reality that they are already deeply loved by God.
This episode of Pastor’s Cut reflects on a sermon about Naaman’s healing in Second Kings, focusing on themes of humility, obedience, and the transformative power of simple spiritual practices. The discussion explores theological perspectives on physical and spiritual healing, emphasizing faithful trust in God’s work amid both miracles and suffering.
This sermon reflects on the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5, emphasizing that even a powerful and successful person could not overcome his deepest need for healing on his own. His eventual willingness to humbly follow God’s simple instruction reveals that true healing comes through surrender, trust, and God’s grace rather than human achievement or status. The message ultimately points to Jesus and baptism as signs that God offers deeper healing for the soul, inviting people to stop striving for self-fixing and instead receive new life from Him.
This episode of Pastor’s Cut features a conversation about a sermon on Exodus 14, where God parts the sea to deliver the Israelites, illustrating how sin can both surround and pursue people like the sea and the Egyptian army. The pastors discuss how sin is not only personal wrongdoing but also a broken force in the world that pushes people toward needing God’s saving grace through Jesus Christ. They also connect the story to Baptism, describing it as a gift that marks believers as part of God’s covenant family and a reminder of God’s deliverance and grace.
Pastor Melissa Schaser preaches on the Israelites’ fear in Exodus 14 when they were trapped between the sea and Pharaoh’s army, illustrating how sin both blocks our path and pursues us. She explains that the Hebrew word "Yeshua" (deliverance) points forward to Jesus, who ultimately rescues humanity from the power of sin. Baptism is presented as a sign that believers belong to God and can trust that He will make a way even when they feel surrounded or stuck.
On Pastor’s Cut, Melissa Schaser interviews Petey Crowder about his sermon on Noah in the “Through the Waters” series at CPC, exploring how the flood story reveals a grieving yet faithful God who confronts sin and ultimately promises to bear judgment Himself through Jesus. They discuss the theology and historicity of Genesis, emphasizing that the story primarily reveals God’s character, covenant commitment, and the cleansing, renewing grace symbolized in baptism.
This sermon explores the story of Noah and the flood in the Book of Genesis, emphasizing that it is not a children’s tale but a sobering account of a grieving God confronting the deep corruption of human sin. Rather than acting out of anger, God responds out of heartbreak, using the flood as both judgment and a means of purification, an “uncreation” that makes way for a new creation and covenant faithfulness. Ultimately, the story points forward to the greater rescue found and fulfilled through Jesus, where sin is decisively defeated not by another flood, but by grace that brings new life.
In this episode of Pastor’s Cut, Melissa interviews Emily Hamilton about the inspiration behind the “Through the Waters” sermon series at Christ Presbyterian Church, which traces major water stories throughout Scripture to highlight the unity of God’s redemptive story and the meaning of baptism. Emily explains the many gifts of baptism—reminding us that we are created and beloved by God, cleansed and raised to new life in Christ, and initiated into God’s family—while contrasting Genesis’ hopeful creation narrative with both ancient myths and modern cultural stories about identity and worth.
Pastor Emily describes baptism as a gift from God, like a beautifully wrapped package containing many smaller gifts that remind us we are seen, loved, and claimed by Him. Reflecting on Genesis 1, she highlights how God brings order and life out of chaotic waters, offering a hopeful counterstory both to ancient Babylonian myths and to today’s pressure to create and define ourselves. Baptism, she says, grounds our identity not in self-creation but in receiving the truth that we belong to a good Creator who continues to bring life out of chaos in us.
On the Pastors Cut podcast, Joe McDonald reflects on returning to staff and preaching the final message in the “Invited” series, centered on Revelation’s closing invitation, “Come, Lord Jesus.” He shares how a vision of a diverse multitude worshiping Christ and the concept of “spiritual martyrdom”—a humble surrender of self so Christ can live through us—shaped his message and challenged listeners to follow the Spirit’s daily nudges.
Pastor Joe McDonald reflects on meaningful invitations in his life and connects them to the Bible’s final prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus,” in Revelation 22. He explains that Revelation offers hope and assurance of Jesus’ promised return, not a timeline to decode. The invitation “Come, Lord Jesus” is both a longing for Christ’s return and a call to live as his witnesses in the world now.
In this episode of Pastors Cut, Petey Crowder reflects on his sermon about Hebrews’ invitation to “come boldly to the throne of grace,” emphasizing Jesus as both our great High Priest and King, whose primary mission is to save and reconcile us to God. He discusses common misconceptions about Jesus—reducing him to a social service provider, political culture warrior, power confronter, or personal genie—and argues that these distortions distract from Christ’s central saving work.
This sermon centers on Hebrews 4:14–16, presenting Jesus as the great High Priest who fully understands human weakness and invites us to come boldly and honestly before God to receive grace and mercy. It challenges distorted views of Jesus by emphasizing that his primary work is healing human brokenness through his once-for-all sacrifice, not merely affirming us or fixing others.
This episode of Pastor’s Cut features host Melissa Schaser in conversation with Emily Hamilton, who reflects on her sermon from John 11 and Jesus raising Lazarus, emphasizing how Jesus is Lord over death and invites the community to participate in making space for new life. Emily and Melissa explore how spiritual growth often requires honest community, naming “grave clothes” that still bind us, and helping one another respond to Jesus’ call into life.
This sermon reflects on Jesus raising Lazarus to show that human beings are ultimately powerless before death, but God fiercely opposes death and has authority over it. By connecting this story to present-day suffering, it emphasizes that death is not just physical but a destructive power at work in the world, one that Jesus confronts with compassion and resurrection life. Jesus invites his community to participate in this work by “removing stones and grave clothes,” calling believers to costly, communal action in word and deed that anticipates God’s life-breaking-through even now.
This episode on Pastor's Cut centers on how recent violence and unrest in Minneapolis reshaped Petey Crowder’s sermon, calling the church to bring both personal and communal burdens to Jesus in a time of fear and anxiety. Petey and Melissa reflect on the church’s role as a discipling community that forms people to follow Jesus with humility, prayer, and love for all made in God’s image, rather than taking political sides. The conversation concludes by highlighting spiritual practices like silence, Scripture, and everyday faithfulness as ways to embody the Gospel as good news in ordinary life.
This sermon invites weary and burdened people to bring their struggles to Jesus, grounding that call in Matthew 11, where Jesus offers rest not by removing burdens, but by teaching a gentler, life-giving way to carry them. It emphasizes that Jesus’ “yoke” fits us well, relieves the crushing weight of shame, fear, and responsibility, and reminds us that we are yoked to Christ himself, who carries the heaviest load and frees us from trying to save the world on our own. In the midst of division, violence, and exhaustion in the city of MPLS, this sermon calls the church to trust Jesus, keep showing up for neighbors with compassion, and walk forward with hope, love, and rest rather than guilt, fear, or despair.
Pastors Melissa and Carrie have a conversation about Sunday's sermon. Which challenged listeners to move from simply believing that Jesus is real to truly believing in Him with trust that shapes how we live, illustrated by the tightrope walker who invites someone to rely fully on him. It affirmed that faith is not a solo journey but a shared one, where the church functions like a rowing team—carrying one another through doubt, suffering, and seasons of questioning. Rooted in the Nicene Creed, the message reminded the congregation that shared beliefs anchor us to Christ and to one another across generations, offering hope and belonging even in painful seasons.
Pastor, speaker, and author of the book we gave our congregation on Christmas Eve, What's a Christian, Anyway?, Glenn Packiam, speaks.
This episode of Pastor’s Cut features a conversation with Jonathan Hicks about his sermon on the invitation to “come and see,” highlighting how encountering Jesus naturally leads people to invite others through ordinary relationships like family and friends. The discussion explores fears around evangelism, emphasizing that the focus is on extending gracious invitations rather than controlling outcomes, and that hearing “no” is a normal, survivable part of faith-sharing. The episode concludes with stories from the church community illustrating how God works through weakness, hospitality, and repeated invitations to bring transformation over time.
This sermon reflects on how the Christian faith becomes credible when the gospel is visibly lived out by real people, emphasizing Jesus’ repeated invitation to “come and see” as a call to experience Him personally rather than just intellectually. Through the story of Jesus calling Philip and Nathanael, the message shows how encountering Jesus transforms skepticism into belief and naturally leads people to invite others. The sermon concludes by encouraging believers to draw closer to Jesus themselves and to practice inviting others to experience the difference He makes in their lives.
The episode explores our new sermon series on invitation, centered on Jesus’ call to the fishermen in Matthew 4. Pastor Petey reflects on what it means for both longtime believers and newcomers to continually lay down sources of identity and security to follow Jesus. The episode also includes church updates and a personal story showing how surrendering a good thing opened space for deeper faith and service.
Pastor Petey preaches that invitations open us to new possibilities, and Jesus’ core invitation "Come, follow me" is an invitation to apprentice under Him by being with Him, becoming like Him, and doing what He does. Following Jesus means leaving behind familiar sources of comfort, identity, and control, not because they are bad, but because Jesus offers a life that is bigger in purpose and better in foundation than anything we cling to. When we receive this invitation ourselves, we are then called to extend it to others, trusting God to bring healing, hope, and transformation through a life shaped by his love.
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This episode reflects on a sermon from Luke 2 that emphasizes the ordinariness of the shepherds and how God transforms ordinary people by sending them on mission. It highlights the shepherds’ two responses to Jesus’ birth: encountering Christ personally and then simply sharing what they experienced, without needing all the answers. The conversation encourages listeners to pursue deeper awareness of God’s presence and to speak honestly and relationally about how God is at work in their own lives.
The sermon explores how God works through ordinary people by highlighting the shepherds in Luke 2 and showing that their low status did not disqualify them from participating in God’s saving work. It emphasizes two invitations from the passage: to personally encounter Jesus and to simply share what that encounter reveals, without needing all the answers. The message challenges listeners to overcome fear of insignificance and trust that God can use their everyday faithfulness to do something meaningful and even “unheard of.”
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This episode features Pastor Emily Hamilton discussing her sermon on Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel, emphasizing God’s invitation for Mary to freely say yes to participating in His work despite fear and risk. She highlights how God honors human agency, inviting willing partnership rather than forcing obedience, a theme reflected through art, poetry, and everyday faith. The podcast closes with encouragement to notice and respond to God’s invitations in ordinary life, plus brief church mission updates.
This sermon reflects on the angel’s message to Mary, emphasizing that “do not be afraid” means not letting fear control us, and highlights Mary’s courageous “yes” to God despite the real social, personal, and physical risks she faced. It explains that the annunciation is not a distant, sentimental scene but a deeply human moment in which God invites an ordinary young woman to partner with Him, showing that God works through real people, real fears, and real vulnerability. Finally, it invites listeners to see Mary as a model for their own lives, encouraging them to trust God’s love, promises, and support through others as they respond to God’s invitations, even when those invitations feel costly and frightening.
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This episode discusses the third week of CPC’s “Fear Not” sermon series, Petey and Melissa dive into a great conversation about how we can hope even when it scares us.
When disappointment has made hope feel risky, God gently invites us to trust Him again. In Advent Week 3, we walk with Zechariah in Luke 1 and discover that Christian hope isn’t found in outcomes, but in holding onto a faithful God who brings light into our silence through Jesus.
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This episode discusses the second week of CPC’s “Fear Not” sermon series, focusing on Joseph’s response to the shocking news of Mary’s pregnancy and how it illustrates the human impulse to seek our own solutions instead of noticing God’s involvement. Pastor Petey and Pastor Melissa explore how fears, misplaced sources of security, and attempts to control life contrast with the deeper hope found in Jesus’ presence, as well as the importance of small, faithful next steps during hardship.
By reflecting on Joseph’s experience in Matthew 1, Pastor Petey emphasizes that God meets people in uncertainty, offering His presence rather than a detailed plan. Ultimately, he encourages listeners to wait patiently, release control, and take the next faithful step, trusting that God is with them to save and guide them.
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Pastors Melissa and Petey discuss the first sermon in the Fear Not series, focusing on how people—like Judah in Isaiah—often feel stuck in darkness yet are met by God’s surprising “nevertheless” of hope. They reflect on human reactions to feeling stuck, the tendency to blame God, and the importance of Christian community to hold hope for one another. The episode also features updates on CPC’s Christmas offering to The Dwelling Place and a testimony from Pastor James about experiencing the gospel through weakness.
The sermon teaches that although we often feel emotionally, spiritually, or practically “stuck,” God is actively writing a better ending to our story. Drawing from Isaiah 8–9, it emphasizes that God’s light breaks into our darkness through Jesus, the true King who brings hope, peace, and transformation when our own efforts fail. As we face seasons of fear or paralysis, we’re invited to look first for God’s light, lament honestly yet anchor our hope in His promises, and let the certainty of God’s future reshape our present.
The sermon explains that coveting is a hidden, disordered desire that harms our lives and relationships, much like upstream pollution creates dead zones in a river. God gives the Tenth Commandment to transform our hearts, not just our outward actions, because coveting turns good things into idols. Through practices like gratitude and simplicity, and through the hope, power, and fullness we receive in Christ, God reorients our desires toward Him so we can truly live free.
The 9th Commandment calls God’s people to protect truth because communities cannot flourish where dishonesty destroys trust. Lies, whether spoken, exaggerated, repeated online, or shared for convenience, bind us in spiritual chains, while truthful speech reflects the character of God and the freedom Jesus brings. Christians are urged to tell the truth even when it costs them, refuse to spread unverified claims, and speak with both honesty and gentleness so that their words build others up.
This sermon focuses on the commandment “You shall not steal,” explaining that stealing violates God’s generous nature and our understanding that everything ultimately belongs to Him. Drawing from Genesis, Pastor Melissa teaches that humans are stewards, not owners, of what God has provided, and that theft undermines trust and dependence on God. The message concludes by urging believers to cultivate gratitude, release attachment to possessions, bring their needs to God, and share generously with others.
Pastor Petey explains that God calls His people to keep their promises and embody covenant love, reflecting God’s own steadfast faithfulness in all relationships, not just marriage. He concludes that through Jesus, who forgives and restores the unfaithful, we are set free to live faithfully — showing the world that commitment is more valuable than convenience and that God’s promises never fail.
Pastor Petey explains that the Sixth Commandment, “You shall not murder,” is about far more than refraining from taking a life—it’s about valuing every person as made in the image of God. Jesus expands this commandment to include anger, contempt, and words that dehumanize others, revealing that such attitudes also violate God’s intent. True freedom in Christ means rejecting hatred, extending grace, and treating all people with dignity, compassion, and love.
This sermon explores the Fifth Commandment, "Honor your father and mother," highlighting that it is not just for children but a lifelong call to give weight and value to those who came before us. It explains that honoring parents is less about obedience and more about acknowledging the significance of our roots—both in biological families and in the spiritual family of the church. Even when family relationships are broken or painful, God offers healing and a new sense of belonging through the community of faith.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of the Sabbath as a command from God designed to give us rest and reorient our identity away from constant striving and toward God’s grace. Rooted in both creation and redemption, the Sabbath reminds us that we are not defined by our work, but by the freedom and love God gives us. Rather than being a burden, Sabbath is a purposeful, holy pause that helps us resist the pressures of a nonstop world and live as people truly set free.
The message explores the true meaning of the third commandment, which is not just about avoiding profanity but about how God's people represent His name through their lives. Misusing God's name means attaching it to personal agendas, using it to justify harm, or claiming faith without living it out—actions that can distort God's reputation. Instead, we are called to bear His name well, reflecting the love, freedom, and truth found in Jesus, who perfectly represents God on our behalf.
Pastor Melissa Schaser explores the Second Commandment’s command against carved images, emphasizing that idols are not just physical statues but anything that takes the place of God's voice in our lives. Even good things — like work, family, or ambitions — can become idols when they define our identity, fuel our doubts, overwhelm us, or become the focus of our deepest longings. The sermon calls us to recognize these influences and gently re-center our lives around Jesus, who is our true mercy seat and the voice that brings life, not exhaustion.
Petey Crowder preaches that the Ten Commandments are not restrictive rules but a framework for living in true freedom, rooted in God's rescue and grace. Obedience to God's commands is not about earning love but about staying close to the God who has already saved us. By turning away from lesser gods and distractions, we learn to live freely in relationship with the one true God.
Pastor Emily challenges common misconceptions about sharing faith, emphasizing that invitation is for everyone, not just a select few, and it’s not about pressure or perfection but about faithfully witnessing to what God has already done. She highlights that the Practice of Invitation is less about having the right words and more about being present with people, sharing vulnerability and authentically—especially through our own wounds and stories.
This sermon emphasizes CPC’s vision to be “open to how the gospel moves,” which means surrendering control and trusting God to lead, even when it's uncomfortable or uncertain. Drawing from Romans 10, the message explains that righteousness comes not from our efforts, but from faith—confessing Jesus as Lord both publicly and in the deepest parts of our hearts. Ultimately, faith is a daily practice of handing over the keys to our lives, letting Jesus take the lead, and continually calling on Him for transformation.
In this sermon, Pastor Joe Bustamante reflects on Exodus 34 and how God reveals His unchanging character to Moses, emphasizing that God's presence and faithfulness do not depend on our performance but on His grace. He explains that, like the Israelites, we often seek the benefits of God without actually seeking God Himself, chasing modern-day "golden calves" when God doesn’t meet our expectations. Ultimately, Joe calls the church to become a people who reflect God's character through prayer, confession, and surrender, pursuing God's presence over His provision.
This message explores how bowing before God is both a physical and spiritual act of worship and transformation, seen through the stories of Edmund Hillary, Moses, and Jesus. It emphasizes that true reverence leads to humility and openness to God's shaping work in our lives. By adopting the posture of bowing, especially in times of strength, speed, or struggle, we allow God to form us more fully into His likeness.
Pastor Emily Hamilton uses the TV show The Bear to illustrate how generational pain and dysfunction affect families, highlighting a character’s desire to break the cycle for future generations. She then explores Exodus 34, explaining that God allows people to experience the consequences of sin not out of retribution, but as a form of restorative discipline meant to lead to healing. Ultimately, the message points to Jesus as the one who enters into humanity’s broken story to disrupt the cycle of sin and offer a new future rooted in mercy, healing, and transformation.
Pastor Carrie Gleeson reflects on how God's character—merciful, compassionate, and forgiving—is consistently shown not just in His words but through His actions, especially as seen in the story of Jonah. Jonah struggles with the idea that God's forgiveness could extend even to the cruel and undeserving, like the people of Nineveh, highlighting how God's grace is limitless and available to all who turn to Him. The message challenges us to embrace both receiving and extending forgiveness, not by our own strength but through the power of God's love working in and through us.
Despite human failure, disobedience, and brokenness, God consistently steps into the mess, fulfills His promises, and demonstrates unwavering love, most clearly through Jesus' sacrifice. This love is not just theoretical—it is active, restorative, and present in every part of our lives, offering hope even when everything feels lost.
The sermon explores the phrase “slow to anger” from Exodus 34, explaining that God’s anger is not like human anger, impulsive and self-serving, but is rooted in His deep love, justice, and desire to protect what is good. Through biblical examples, it is demonstrated that God’s anger is always tied to what He values most—His people and their well-being—and that even in His anger, He remains patient and redemptive. Ultimately, God’s slowness to anger culminates at the cross, where He bears human injustice and sin out of love, showing His commitment to rescue and restore us.
This sermon emphasizes that God's core character is compassion and grace, as revealed in Exodus 34:6-9, and encourages believers to internalize this truth by memorizing the passage. Because God's identity is rooted in compassion and grace, Christians are called to reflect that same character in their relationships, offering love and kindness even when it's hard or undeserved.
Pastor Jonathan Hicks preaches on Exodus 34. He explains that God reveals Himself as Yahweh (“I Am”), a name that reflects His unchanging, faithful, and personal nature, full of mercy and justice. The message challenges listeners to move beyond superficial or false ideas of God and to develop a deeper, more honest relationship with the real, living God who keeps His promises and draws near to His people.
In this episode of Pastor's Cut, host Melissa Schaser talks with Pastor Carrie Gleeson and one of CPC's Deacons about the difficult question, “If God is good, why do bad things happen?” as part of CPC's Asking for a Friend series. They reflect on the nature of suffering, unanswered prayer, and the redemptive power of Jesus’ sacrifice, emphasizing that while pain is inevitable, God’s presence and promises remain constant and trustworthy. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to embrace questions, sit honestly with grief, and anchor themselves in God’s unchanging goodness and community support.
Pastor Carrie Gleeson reflects on the deeply personal and often painful question of why a good God allows suffering, acknowledging that this tension doesn't have a neat or satisfying answer. Instead of offering simple explanations, she emphasizes that God meets us in our suffering, uses it to grow our perseverance, character, and hope, and ultimately anchors us in the redemptive story of Jesus. Through examples from scripture, theology, and her own life, she encourages listeners to bring their honest questions to God, trust in His unchanging goodness, and live with resilient hope grounded in Christ's resurrection.
In this episode of Pastor's Cut, host Melissa Schaser speaks with Pastor Jon Good and one of CPC's Elders about the question,"What happens after I die?". They explore themes like the process and mystery of death, the hope of heaven, Jesus’ role in preparing a place for believers, and the importance of how we live before we die. The conversation also addresses listener-submitted questions about the nature of heaven, who is saved, and encourages a focus on present spiritual transformation, not just the afterlife.
Pastor Jon Good explores the profound question of what happens after we die, emphasizing that while the Bible doesn’t offer detailed descriptions of the process, it clearly affirms that Jesus' resurrection changes everything. Jon encourages listeners not to fixate on the mechanics of heaven or death, but to focus on how they live their “dash”—the one life they've been given—through a relationship with Jesus.
In this episode of Pastor's Cut, host Melissa Schaser speaks with Emily and Akash from Christ Presbyterian Church about reconciling faith and science, a topic Emily recently preached on. They explore how scripture, particularly Genesis, is often misinterpreted as a scientific text rather than a theological narrative, and how science can actually align with and enhance Christian faith when approached with humility and curiosity. The conversation encourages believers to embrace questions as a natural and faithful part of spiritual growth and to view scientific inquiry as a meaningful way to participate in God’s ongoing story of creation and redemption.
Pastor Emily Hamilton addresses the often complex relationship between Christian faith and science, emphasizing that they are not inherently opposed but can be meaningfully integrated. She argues that Christian faith provides a purposeful orientation for engaging with science, guiding ethical decisions, and inspiring exploration as a form of worship and service. Drawing from scripture, especially Colossians 1, she highlights Jesus as the sustaining force behind all creation, urging believers to approach science with humility, curiosity, and alignment with Christ’s reconciling work in the world.
In this episode of Pastor's Cut, host Melissa Schaser speaks with Pastor Petey Crowder and Guest Ann Webster about the “Asking for a Friend” sermon series at Christ Presbyterian Church, focusing on why the church matters and the significance of communal worship and practices like communion. They explore theological and historical perspectives on head coverings and women in ministry, affirming CPC’s long-standing commitment to full leadership for women based on biblical interpretation, not cultural trends.
Petey preaches on the question, “Does church still matter?” and argues that church is essential for spiritual growth, encouragement, and living out the Christian faith. He emphasizes that while faith in Jesus is personal, it is not meant to be lived out in isolation—gathering with a local church strengthens, challenges, and forms believers in ways that private devotion cannot. Ultimately, the church is not just a building or event but a community that helps individuals encounter Jesus more clearly, grow in love and good works, and embody God’s character in a fractured world.
In this episode of Pastor's Cut, Host Melissa Schaser and special guests reflect on questions such as the trustworthiness of the Bible, the relationship between the Old and New Testaments, and how differing interpretations arise based on personal context and tradition. The conversation also highlights practical ways to engage scripture meaningfully, such as reading in community, slowing down to listen, and integrating scripture into daily rhythms.
Melissa Schaser preaches that Scripture is trustworthy not only because of its historical accuracy and preservation but because it is "God-breathed," filled with the Holy Spirit, and transformative when engaged with an open heart. She encourages forming new daily habits around reading the Bible, emphasizing that it is not just a book of facts or morals but a living, Spirit-inspired text meant to shape and equip believers through the ongoing work of God.
Together, we celebrated the amazing ways God is moving through our church through ministry, serving, and generosity. We heard powerful stories, lifted our voices in worship, and were encouraged by how the Gospel continues to impact our community.
In this episode of Pastors Cut, host Melissa Schaser talks with Joe Bustamante, student ministry pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church, about his recent sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:21, focusing on the “Great Exchange” — Jesus taking on our sin and crediting us with His righteousness. Joe emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and surrender as essential practices in viewing ourselves through God’s eyes, and notes how these struggles manifest differently across generations.
In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul writes about a two-way exchange that Jesus enacted on the cross: our sin was credited to Jesus, and his righteousness was credited to us. Even though as Christians we believe that this exchange has occurred in our lives, we often struggle to live out the fact that we have received the very righteousness of God, and this often causes us to feel like we need to work our way to righteousness even though God has already given that to us through Christ.
In this episode of Pastor’s Cut, host Melissa Schaser speaks with Pastor Emily Hamilton about her sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:18–20, which explores God’s reconciling work through Christ and how believers are called to be ambassadors of that reconciliation. Emily emphasizes that personal transformation and outward mission are interconnected in a continuous cycle, represented by an “infinity loop” where engaging in God's mission deepens personal growth and vice versa.
Pastor Emily Hamilton preaches about how we receive God’s new life in order to become agents of it.
In this episode of Pastor's Cut, host Melissa Schaser talks with Pastor Petey Crowder about week 3 of the Eternal Perspective sermon series. Petey emphasizes that following Jesus isn't about self-improvement but about a total transformation—a new life shaped by God's work, not our efforts. They also explore the subtle dangers of syncretism, the temptation to blend Christian faith with cultural values or self-driven goals, and how true spiritual renewal is both personal and communal, ongoing rather than a one-time event.
In this message from 2 Corinthians 5:16–17, we’re reminded that following Jesus isn’t about self-improvement; it’s about surrender. True transformation comes not through tips and tricks, but by letting Jesus take over and make us completely new.
In this episode of Pastor’s Cut, Melissa Schaser talks with Petey Crowder about his sermon from 2 Corinthians 5:11-15, focusing on how the Apostle Paul finds identity not in others' opinions but in God's love through Christ. Petey emphasizes the idea of being "compelled" by Christ’s love—not as emotional motivation, but as something that firmly holds and shapes us. Listeners are challenged to reflect on what truly grips them in life, and to center their identity in the unshakable love of God rather than external validation or cultural pressures.
This sermon is about how, when the love of God grabs hold of us, we can let go of anything else we cling to for salvation, purpose, or a good life.
In this episode of Pastor’s Cut, host Melissa Schaser speaks with Pastor Emily Hamilton about 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. Emily shares that the goal is to move beyond Easter as a single day of celebration and to dwell deeply on how Christ’s resurrection calls believers to live with hope, courage, and eternal perspective in daily struggles. They also explore theological questions about what happens after death, emphasizing that Christian hope centers not on disembodied afterlife, but on the promised resurrection and full restoration of creation.
Kicking off our new sermon series, Eternal Perspectives, Pastor Emily preaches on life with Christ. She reminds us that we are called to live and die as though we will live again.
On Easter, Petey preaches about the victory of the cross. Through His death on the cross, Jesus not only took on the punishment for our sins but also defeated the powers of death, evil, and oppression in our world.
The road to the Cross requires us to take up palm branches to welcome King Jesus and then take up our crosses to follow Him.
This sermon is about how Jesus calls us to serve and sacrifice for others in the way of the cross. The cross is both the power and the path for a meaningful life of responding to the grace of God.
Pastor Emily Hamilton preaches how the cross of Christ frees us from the dominion of sin and frees us for the newness of life.
This sermon is about how the justice of the cross, and how it serves as both our admission into the family of God and our marching orders to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.
This sermon is about the ugliness of the cross and how a ruthless symbol of Roman execution became a universal symbol of God’s love.
For Christians, our greatest hope comes from the greatest defeat, Jesus the Son of God being handed over to death on a cross – a message which the Apostle Paul describes as “foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). Christ’s work on the cross stands as an invitation to all those who follow him to take the risk of looking like “fools” so that others might know the transforming love of God.
In this episode of Pastor's Cut, host Melissa talks with Pastor Petey Crowder about his sermon on the Parable of the Great Banquet from Luke 14. Petey discusses how the parable highlights people's misplaced priorities, showing that those who reject God's invitation will miss out on the blessings of His kingdom. He emphasizes the need for believers to fully commit to their faith, focusing on the importance of intentionality and prioritizing God's presence over distractions.
In the final sermon for our series Kingdom Parables, Petey discusses the Parable of The Great Banquet. He reminds us that the kingdom of God isn't about what we bring, but our presence is required.
In this episode of Pastor's Cut, host Melissa talks with Pastor Petey Crowder about his sermon on the Parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10. Petey emphasizes that we should see ourselves as the person in the ditch needing help rather than the Samaritan. He highlights the powerful message of the love of God and neighbor being intertwined.
This week's sermon is about the parable of the Good Samaritan. Petey preaches that when we know God has rescued us and offered us hope, we will respond with action toward those who need rescue and hope.
In this episode of Pastor's Cut, host Melissa talks with Pastor Emily Hamilton about her sermon on the Parable of the Rich Fool from Luke 12. Emily encourages the congregation to embrace spiritual disciplines as a way to have freedom and joy, rather than burdens. Her hope is that people will be challenged to live more generously, trust God's provision, and integrate these practices into their daily lives.
Pastor Emily Hamilton preaches on the Parable of the Rich Fool. In this parable, Jesus challenges us that greed and an abundance of possessions do not equal true life.
In this episode of Pastor's Cut, host Melissa talks with Pastor Petey Crowder about his sermon on the Parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15. Petey discusses its multiple layers, including the grace shown to both the lost younger son and the resentful older brother, while emphasizing the importance of celebrating lost things being found in God's kingdom.
In this sermon, Petey talks about how God loves lost things—and we are all lost things! We are invited to celebrate and rejoice anytime lost things are found.
In this episode of Pastor's Cut, host Melissa talks with Pastor Jonathan Hicks about his sermon on the Parable of the Two Sons from Matthew 21. They discuss the difference between faith that’s merely spoken and faith that leads to action, encouraging listeners to reflect on how they live out their beliefs. Jonathan also explores how the parable challenges both religious insiders and outsiders, emphasizing Jesus’ message of grace for all, even those considered the worst of sinners.
Jonathan Hicks preaches about the Parable of the Two Sons. This Parable reveals that God’s kingdom welcomes those who admit their need for grace over those who think they’ve earned their place.
In this episode of Pastor's Cut, Petey discusses the inspiration behind the Kingdom Parables sermon series, focusing on how parables like the Mustard Seed challenge us to rethink our lives and God's kingdom. Small acts of faith, though seemingly insignificant, can grow into something powerful when rooted in God's timing and grace.
The parable of the mustard seed illustrates the power of small, seemingly insignificant actions in God's kingdom. Just as a tiny seed can grow into a large tree, small acts of faith, like prayer, service, and everyday choices, can lead to significant impact in God's kingdom. God uses the small and humble to accomplish great things, so be patient and trust that even the little things in life matter in His plan.
The church is uniquely positioned to develop spiritual companionships because we have committed to being a part of the one family of God, to following Jesus together, and to allowing the Holy Spirit's work to break down divisions for the sake of our unity.
Petey preaches a sermon on how you were made for others. Friendship with others can help you remember what Christ has done for you, and it makes a difference in your everyday life.
Lawyer, speaker, and author of the book we gave our congregation on Christmas Eve, Made For People, Justin Whitmel Earley, speaks.
Jesus forecasts the reconciliation of all things, including our eternal relationship with him, through the image of a heavenly home that he is going to prepare for all those who put their trust in him. Jesus equips us for the journey through the peace that he offers, which stands in contrast to the fear and anxiety that so often accompany those who live in this broken world.
This Christmas, Petey talks about how God is with us in the in-between moments of our lives to point us towards his hope and healing.
We tend to underestimate our need for Jesus to rescue us and, in doing so, miss out on the fullness of the gospel. Jesus is pursuing us with his love and grace, meeting us in our weakest place.
Petey talks about the mountaintop moments and how they are meant to form us to cling to Jesus throughout the ups and downs of daily life.
Jesus shows us that when we are in the darkness of the valley, He is with us by absorbing our anger, partaking in our grief, and dispensing a deeper hope.
In “God With Us in the Ordinary,” Petey talks about the importance of attending to God’s presence in the everyday moments of life. To kickoff the Advent series Petey encourages us that God will do his extraordinary work in our ordinary lives.
In the final “More than MN Nice” series, Petey encourages us to make space in our lives for new people so that we might show them the love of Christ.
Petey talks about how the calling of Christ involves way more than comfort. The God who sacrifices His life for us calls his followers into fulfilling lives of courageous sacrifice and love of others.
In a world where we so often we don’t say what we really mean, the church is called to be a community that speaks the truth in love to one another so that we grow in Christlikeness together.
When we accept God’s deep and all-encompassing love for us, we can risk having relationships that are deeper than the surface level.
In this sermon, Petey talks about how we can practice receiving the love of Jesus by receiving help from others rather than insisting on carrying our burdens alone.
Petey talks about the calling of Christ-followers to love one another by making space in our lives, even when we’ve been taught to view ourselves as “relationally full.”
Petey preaches on how there’s more to life than just pretending we’re fine. Being honest with God and others about our brokenness is the best way for healing to start.
Petey kicks off the More than MN Nice sermon series with a look at how our efforts to prove how good we are can sabotage our openness to God’s gracious love.
Pastor Emily shares how wisdom is a virtue that helps see the world truthfully and act rightly. We can cultivate wisdom for civic life through immersing ourselves in the story of scripture, exercising media hygiene, and attending to the cries of the vulnerable and disadvantaged.
Petey preaches on the importance of humility as we stand for Christlikeness this upcoming election season.
Petey explains how Christians can begin to approach the upcoming election with Christlikeness by loving our neighbors and resisting the temptation to use our words to bring evil into the lives of others.
We learn from Abraham this week that God is trustworthy, even with the most important things. And a fully surrendered life leads to experiencing the fullness of God.
Pastor Melissa shares that God calls us to open every part of our lives to Him. No part of your story is irredeemable.
Petey’s sermon on Genesis 17 shows how God uniquely marks Abraham and his descendants as a reminder of God’s promise, and how Christ followers have our whole lives marked with the reminder that God makes good on His promises.
Our God is a God of redemption; He is always moving and He shows us in tangible ways through Hagar’s story what it means for Him to show up and transform in the midst of really hard circumstances. Pastor Carrie shares how Hagar’s story is one of trauma and turmoil, but through it all she shows us what deep trust in God looks like.
Pastor Melissa shares how God sustains us in seasons of waiting by protecting us and providing for us in ways that only He can.
In the opening sermon for a series on the life of Abraham, Petey walks through God’s original call to Abraham and how it shows God’s desire to redeem the world through one family and its descendants.
Pastor Emily shares in the story of Moses, how we see that our identity and purpose flow from the character and purposes of God.
Pastor Melissa shares that after we receive the radical grace and forgiveness of Christ, we are called to serve with our whole selves.
In the opening chapters of Genesis, Pastor Jon reads that God created human beings in the image of God and gave them the holy work of cultivating the earth and serving all of creation with care and compassion. From the beginning of time, this work has been given to human beings not as a burden, but as an essential part of God’s plan to serve as God’s coworkers in bringing flourishing to all of creation.
Petey talks about the future of the church as one unified, diverse body from every tribe, tongue, and nation.
Evil and suffering may seem overwhelming, but Petey preaches on how the coming return of Christ promises they have an expiration date. This is cause for hopeful living here and now.
Pastor Melissa Schaser shares that the Bible’s answer to the problem of death is resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection gives us a vision for the hope-filled future resurrection of all who are in Christ.
Petey preaches on the hope and necessity of the judgment of Christ in His second coming.
Petey preaches on what our future hope is and how God will ultimately make all things new.
Pastor Emily shares that Christ will come again to make all things new; therefore we have hope that the way things are is not the way they will always be. We live in the already-not-yet, between redemption and final restoration, and in that tension we are called to humble dependence and courageous faithfulness because we have been born again into a living hope.
On Easter, Petey preaches about resurrection being the main thing we need in the wilderness. Christ brings new life where He finds us!
In the wilderness, it’s easy to believe lies like “I’m not enough” or “there’s not enough.” Petey talks about how when we trust Jesus, we find that He’s enough!
Petey talks about how hospitality can offer us tangible signs of God’s grace in the midst of the wilderness seasons of life.
Jonathan shows us in Elijah’s encounter with God in the wilderness how God gently cares and provides for us when we are in the wilderness places of disappointment and discouragement.
Petey shares about the importance of God’s presence in the discomfort of the wilderness and how moving forward with Him is better than the illusions of the past.
Pastor Emily shows us on Sunday that in Hagar’s wilderness, God reveals himself as one who pays attention, promises, and provides.
This sermon kicks off our Lent series by exploring Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Pastor Petey helps us see that rather than proving our way out of the wilderness, Jesus models what it means to trust God’s promises.
In the conclusion to Teach Us To Pray, Petey preaches on becoming people who trust Jesus’ power to overcome temptation in our lives.
Lead Pastor from Transformation Church and the author of the book we gave our congregation on Christmas Eve, God, Do you hear me?, Dr. Derwin L. Gray, speaks.
Petey explains how the Lord’s Prayer creates a culture of forgiveness in our lives, church, and world.
Pastor Melissa Schaser shares that when we pray “Give us today our daily bread” we trust God to know our needs better than we do and to provide for them in ways that only God can.
Pastor Emily shares how prayer is about surrendering to and participating with God’s kingdom.
In the first sermon of the “Teach Us to Pray” series, Petey talks about the importance of seeking, trusting, and expecting in prayer as we go to the God who desires an ongoing relationship with us.
To experience the fullness of the Christmas story, we must move beyond simply celebrating the arrival of the Christ child and find our own place in the nativity story. Like the Magi of old, we’re encouraged to respond to the Messiah’s birth both by kneeling before him and by sharing the Good News with a broken world.
In this Christmas Eve sermon, Petey talks about the importance of Jesus’ presence being the light for our lives and our world.
Pastor Emily speaks on how God’s joy creates the conditions for our lasting joy in Him.
While Christmas tends to be full of anxious consumption, God comes to offer us the possibility of gracious contentment. In this message, Petey points us to Jesus’ teaching to be content with God before we engage in consumption.
In this first Advent sermon, Petey encourages us to let the wonder of God’s gracious coming to earth break through the jadedness of our holidays and lives.
We are all tempted to believe the good life is found in accumulating more possessions and more stuff. Jesus invites us to a different version of the good life where instead of gripping tightly to our money and saying “mine,” we can open our hands to generously use and give all that he’s given us.
Using the story of the Rich Young Ruler, Petey talks about the importance of letting go of what we’re holding onto so that we can receive abundantly more from God.
In the conclusion to our series on 1 Corinthians, Petey points us to the power of resurrection to bring newness, forgiveness, and hope into our lives and our world.
This sermon covers how order in worship allows us to listen and respond to the Holy Spirit together while lifting up the voices and gifts of everyone.
Pastor Melissa Schaser speaks on how experiencing the real and sacrificial love of Christ compels us to sacrifice to love others.
In the church, it’s better with others! In this talk, Petey shares about the opportunities we have to bless others and be blessed by others in our faith.
Teaching Pastor from Willow Creek Community Church, Megan Fate Marshman speaks. Megan uses her life to spread hope, share truth, and celebrate others.
Every week, we look out the windows to remind us that our faith is meant for the world. In this sermon, Petey talks about the importance of integrating our faith into our daily lives.
We can help others be open to the Gospel’s movement through practices of invitation. In this message, Petey explains that invitation is something we can all do as we encourage others to “come and see” the possibilities of a life with Jesus.
We can become open to the how the gospels moves when we’re open to relationships with one another. Relational practices like confession and telling the truth help us depend on the power of the gospel more in our everyday lives.
Guest speaker Andy Sikora shared about how God calls us to focus on loving our neighbors and look beyond calling things sinful that are matters of conscience.
Pastor Emily dives into how the Gospel story is meant to impact every part of lives—including the way Christians do and don’t have sex.
Petey talks about what it means to “right size” ourselves in light of the Gospel, not trying to play God nor shrinking from the calling God has on our lives.
The very middle of Psalm 23 contains the simple phrase, “for You are with me. This points us to the intent of Psalm 23 and all of the Bible—God wants to be with us, and He is willing to go to great lengths to make that happen!
Even when we walk through dark valleys, we are called to be people of disciplined hope who keep our eyes focused on the promised light of Christ.
Petey speaks to how obedience to Christ is the only thing that will lead us onto right paths, since Jesus Himself is the only right path to a life with God.
Pastor Emily talks about how God restores our lives through sending His Son Jesus, who, rather than erasing our brokenness, transforms it.
In this sermon, we explore how God creates the conditions for us to rest in Him no matter what we’re going through.
In the kickoff to Psalm 23, Petey talks about how the presence of the shepherd was the most important thing for the flock. God’s presence in our lives unlocks the possibilities of His power and provisions.
On Easter Sunday, we are reminded that the sacrificial love of Jesus on the cross makes a way for God’s resurrection in our stories when the things we’ve built our lives on fall apart.
This Sunday, Pastor Emily shared about how the hope of eternal life of God’s kingdom enables us to pursue daily faithfulness and holiness in the present.
Sunday’s sermon challenged us to take our faith seriously everyday by paying attention to where our lives are bearing fruit and to abandon ways of life that are not healthy for our faith.
In this week’s sermon, Petey looks at how we are called to live out our freedom in Christ by loving others. We are free to set aside “me-first” behavior and become “others-first” people by the power of the Spirit in us.
This week, Carrie speaks on how through a relationship with Jesus we find belonging, individually with Him and collectively with each other. Nothing can keep us from having a relationship with Jesus when we accept what He did for us on the cross. We are adopted into His family and through that share in His inheritance.
The sermon, hitting one of the most well known passages in Galatians “I have been crucified with Christ,” asks what we need to lay down so that we can experience the life God has for us.
Petey kicks off this Lenten series with how Jesus is the only way to the life God has for us, and how the Apostle Paul passionately challenged any other path to an abundant life that we might be tempted to take.
Melissa walks us through how reading Scripture over and over and over allows us to develop a personal, loving relationship with God as we learn who God is in the pages of the Bible.
Petey talks about the abundance of God through the giving of our resources, specifically our finances. The practice of generosity shows us God’s provision and goodness alone when the temptation is to cling to control with our money.
This week Emily taught us that hospitality is a practice that makes space in our lives for God’s presence and purposes. While hospitality might require courage, we shouldn’t make it over-complicated.
Petey shares about how regular prayer makes space for God’s power to impact our lives and our world, and encourages you with some simple do’s and don’ts from Scripture.
This week Petey shares about the importance of making space for the power and presence of God in our everyday lives through the things we do over and over and over as Christians—especially since most of the things we do revolve around our own existence, rather than the Gospel.
Author and pastor Sharon Hodde Miller talks about a better way to approach control and the power that God gives us through agency, self-control, and work of Jesus Christ.
This week Petey digs into what control actually costs us. Yet in Jesus, we find that our hope isn’t in more control; instead, Christ is in control so we don’t have to be.
Melissa starts our series by looking at Genesis 3 and exploring why we are so driven to seek after control and how our methods of control can live in the secular world, while we find hope as images of God, surrendered to Him.
As we celebrate Christmas, Petey reflects on Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her heart of faith. May we, too, welcome Him as the Hope of the world: our Messiah and Promised One.
Emily dives into the difficult story of Bathsheba—her silence and woundedness—and how God sees her and ultimately enters into our pain through the person of Jesus . . . who alone can bring healing.
In the person of Ruth, we see the ways her character points to Jesus. Petey also reveals that selflessness always requires risk, and asks us: Will we let go and risk receiving the love of God . . . and showing that love to others?
This week Petey illuminates how God uses Rahab, an unlikely person like Jesus, to fulfill His promises. This further reminds us that no matter our story, we are not disqualified by God.
During Advent we are exploring the 5 women found in the lineage of Jesus found in the book of Matthew. This week Petey shares the story of Tamar, a woman who acts unconventionally in her pursuit of justice. And when Jesus breaks into our story, we are not condemned to carry the weight of injustice—we are freed through His sacrifice for us on the cross.
As Petey shares from verses 12-17, we see our unique status and identity as a child of God. As we live into the reality of that relationship, how do we live differently as His beloved?
This week Jonathan explores how our lives change when the Holy Spirit makes His home in us, then challenges us to consider if we have a “guest” relationship with the Spirit or a “move-in” relationship.
Does what we say we believe make a difference in our lives? Petey concludes our series by challenging us to be neighbors who tangibly demonstrate God’s great big love.
This week Emily shares how the Gospel is a story that forms us as a community, moving us into a new family where we vulnerably share our lives with one another.
Petey reminds us that the Gospel is good news—and when the Gospel matters to us, we move beyond ourselves and to deeper dependency on Jesus.
This week we see that Jonah views his relationship with God as a transaction—not a relationship. Melissa shares that where Jonah chooses self-righteousness and forgets God’s mercy, Jesus chooses to die in order to save the world . . . revealing a life of sacrifice and a God who goes to every length to extend grace to us.
Special Guest Dana Allin (Synod Executive of ECO) inspires us to reshape our mindset of what the mission of the Church is: that we are called to suffer and sacrifice together for the sake of the world.
In Jonah 3 we see Jonah deliver one of the worst sermons possible, yet we see God work to redeem the Ninevites through it. Petey shares how God sees the possibility in us even when we don’t—and how He uses us to be a conduit of His compassion and mercy to others.
This week we see how God pursues Jonah with a storm. Emily explores how God, in the same way, disrupts our lives with a storm so we are in a place where God’s grace becomes tangible to us.
In our new series on Jonah, we discover a rebellious prophet who runs from God. Jonathan explores why Jonah does so, leading us to ask the question: how are we running from God . . . and what are we running to?
Petey concludes our series by exploring the difference between spirituality and religion—and how we need practices in community to reinforce our soul’s need for Jesus.
We all have aspects of our life that are broken, difficult, or hopeless. But Petey reminds us of the abundance of God’s grace and love—and how God’s good is greater than our bad.
While we long to make logical sense of life’s difficulties, Melissa shares that God doesn’t provide immediate relief or understanding—instead, He offers the hope of future redemption.
Emily brings hope to life’s hard realities with the reassurance that it’s not about what we can handle, but how Jesus handles everything through His cross-shaped life of sacrifice and grace.
Carrie explores why “Just follow your heart” can be misleading . . . and how Jesus is more concerned with who we are becoming, versus where we are going.
Petey launches into a new series and explores a biblical alternative to this oft-said phrase, leading us toward the truth that the best way to help yourself is to depend on God.
Special guest Greg Holder inspires us to live like the world has been invaded by the best news possible—a God who has the last word!
Petey wraps up our series this week by demonstrating how the early church lived in a uniquely different way—where they were experiencing what God wants for them because they fully trusted what God had done for them. They were living as if the Gospel meant everything.
On Pentecost Sunday, Petey preaches that because we have the presence of the Holy Spirit, we have the power of God to do exactly what He’s called and equipped us to do—and to experience His transformation in our lives, our church, and the world.
This week we dig into Acts 1 and Jesus’ ascension. Emily shares that in this act Jesus doesn’t go away—instead, He goes ahead of us, uniquely uniting heaven and earth as we witness the future breaking into our present.
This week Petey explores the idea that “newness begets newness”—that new life in Christ generates a whole new way of living. But Jesus isn’t a ticket to a better life; He IS the new life. Where do you need to let newness in?
Petey digs into Matthew 28, sharing that being a disciple is a life of moving closer to Jesus—and doing so in community with others. And as we live “on mission” for Christ, we have to believe the love of God is for everyone, everywhere.
Petey preaches from John 21, where we see Jesus encountering Peter—and witness that Jesus does not see Peter’s failures. Instead, He sees Peter through the lens of God’s great love for him. In the same way, where do we need to let go of failure and instead hold on to God’s grace?
As we celebrate this year’s Commitment Class, Carrie shares that even in the midst of doubts, Jesus can be trusted—because Jesus is who He says He is.
In our new series we explore the 40 days Jesus was on earth after the Resurrection. Petey dives into Luke 24, where we witness that it’s not enough just to know ABOUT Jesus—the difference is in knowing Jesus through the practice of our faith.
On Easter we celebrate the wonder of the Resurrection! Petey shares how death does not have the final word and how a relationship with Jesus—the Resurrection—brings hope to our lives and to the world.
On Palm Sunday, Jonathan shares Jesus’ proclamation that He is the way, the truth and the life, and the hope we have as Jesus guides us to true life that is found only in Him.
Melissa explores Jesus’ proclamation that He is the True Vine, revealing how Jesus uniquely revives and sustains us when our lives are connected to Him.
Who do you follow? What are you giving your time and attention to? Petey identifies our need for Jesus as the Good Shepherd, to protect and lead us and to ultimately prevail over death and sin by His death and Resurrection.
This week Emily explores Jesus’ claim that He is the gate: a place where we are removed from danger and invited into a realm of protection and flourishing.
In this week’s sermon, Petey examines this great hope: that in a world full of darkness, we need to stay close to the Light—Jesus, the Light of the world.
In our Lenten sermon series, we’re exploring the “I AM” statements of Jesus. This week Petey shares how Jesus offers Himself as the Bread of Life, the source of eternal and abundant life, for those who trust in Him.
Petey wraps up our Daniel series by sharing how God wants to transform us in the midst of suffering in order to prepare us for what's next.
Emily helps guide us through Daniel 7, where we read about visions of monster-like beasts! This vision of God’s promised future helps us live in a troubled world because we have true hope in Jesus as He ultimately defeats the tyranny of the beasts through His sacrificial love on the cross.
Guest Steve Cuss helps us take a deeper look at ourselves through the lens of 1 John 3, showing that if we don’t express our needs to God, it limits our ability to experience His love.
This week Petey shares about the Lion’s Den, and how we often follow the path of least resistance. But in the example of Daniel, we see how he seeks the faithfulness of God in an unbending culture.
Petey explores the unusual story in Daniel 5, where we see how pride can be a death sentence and how humility ultimately paves the way for us to walk in God’s goodness.
This week Melissa speaks on Sabbath, and how God sets up a practice of rest so we live on His schedule and not the world’s.
This week Petey focuses on simplicity and how hurry keeps us reaching for the next thing rather than begin satisfied with the blessing of Jesus.
As we seek to eliminate hurry in our lives, Petey shares a challenge to pursue silence and solitude, which is meant to break us of our dependence on anything other than Jesus.
Cory launches into our new series, “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry,” by exploring how hurry is the enemy to our spiritual life and the beautiful invitation Jesus makes to us in Matthew 11.
Celebrate the wonder of Christmas as Petey shares about the gift of Jesus coming to earth as our hope of salvation. Glory to the newborn King!
As we explore “O Holy Night,” Emily shares how out of God’s deep love for us, He promises to go the distance to rescue His people and lead them to a new life.
This week Petey speaks about our deep longing for peace, shown in the carol “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.” Peace is about far more than a lack of conflict; instead, our ability to find wholeness and peace comes when we walk through life’s circumstances with Jesus.
This week’s Song of the Season is “Joy to the World”! Petey delves into this carol and its deep connection to Psalm 98, where we are called to sing for joy because of God’s justice and reign over the world.
In our Advent sermon series, Songs of the Season, we’re exploring a favorite Christmas carol each week. Jonathan kicks us off by looking at “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” sharing the history of this song’s origin and the deep promises it holds for us today: promise of rescue and the gift of God with us.
This week we hear about the fiery furnace, and Petey shares how standing on a conviction can lead to courage. For when God is with us, sin and suffering have no final power.
This week Melissa explores the dream of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2. We see how God uniquely dwells among us, unlike the Babylonian gods, and how He comes alongside and equips Daniel to endure the circumstances he’s in. When we face similar difficulties in life, Melissa urges us to not ask why is this happening, but instead: where is God showing up?
This week we witness the things Daniel and his friends said yes and no to as they live in Babylon. Petey shares how their example shows we shouldn’t be afraid of living in a culture foreign to our faith; instead, we see how God provides for His people in a way that Babylon never can. For when we say yes to Jesus, we can say no to any promises the world makes.
Petey kicks off our new series on the book of Daniel, where we witness a story of God’s faithfulness in a foreign land. Like Daniel, we live in a world that wants to pry us from our devotion to God; listen as Petey shares how Christ holds fast to us and God’s faithfulness gives us hope when sin severs us from who we are meant to be.
Two responses tend to arise in stressful times: we retreat or we react. But in John 15, Jesus calls us to remain in His love. Pastor Emily explores this text and shares tangible ways to be shaped by Jesus as we abide with Him—as individuals and as a community.
Pastor Melissa Schaser shares that in hard seasons, as we’ve all experienced in the past year, Jesus isn’t calling us to push past or through the pain. Instead, Jesus asks us to release our pain to Him as He draws close to us. Walking through John 11, we witness how Jesus gives us ultimate, eternal hope in what is to come.
When we face difficult circumstances, it can be tempting to just put our heads down and wait it out. But with Jesus, there’s a better way forward. Pastor Petey Crowder explores John 4 and challenges us to actively seek what Jesus has for us, rather than passively accepting the way things are. Where are you stuck? And what better future is Jesus offering to you?
When Jesus matters to us, we can’t help but invite others to come and experience Him! Pastor Petey shares from 1 Corinthians 3 and encourages us to be a church that points to the hope of the Gospel and is passionate about Jesus—a church that you can’t wait to invite your friends to.
What does it look like to "own the mission" at CPC? Pastor Petey Crowder encourages us to be more than spectators and to be a church who listens to the Spirit, while making space for others to encounter Jesus. Exploring 1 Corinthians 12, he encourages us to see what unique gifts we each have, so we can offer to the world the beautiful invitation to Jesus and His Kingdom.
What are we inviting you to at CPC? Pastor Petey Crowder shares his vision for CPC as a church that challenges you to grow in your dependence on Jesus. For if we cling to only Jesus, we’ll discover everything that God intends for us. So whether you’re new to Jesus, your faith is stuck in neutral, or you’ve been living out your faith for decades, a next step with Jesus is for everyone. What will your next step be?
Pastor Carrie Gleeson teaches on how Jesus encourages us to be intentional with those around us and to invite others in to His Kingdom, for the main avenue for people to know Jesus is through His followers.
Pastor Petey shares how community is a gift from God so that our beliefs become real to us as we practice them together.
Pastor James Madsen explores Jesus’ teaching on the sheep and the goats and encourages us to pursue the sacrificial love that Jesus models.
Pastor Jonathan Hicks teaches on the theme of caring for the vulnerable and shares practical ways we can do so in our own lives.
Pastor Melissa Schaser teaches on Acts 3:1-8 and how we are called to care for the poor because Jesus first loved us.
Apr 24th, 2016 - John Crosby and Todd Mulliken - About Reality in the Land of Minnesota Nice
Mar 12th, 2014 - John Crosby, Jeff Chu, and Wesley Hill - Being a Gay Christian, part 2
Mar 12th, 2014 - John Crosby, Jeff Chu, and Wesley Hill - Being a Gay Christian, part 1