Sermons, Lectures, & Teachings
Honoring the past context for God’s word.
Understanding the current relevance for God’s word.
Living in the future hope of God’s word.
Begin with Prayer | Luke 6:12-16
The Gospel - the Good news of Jesus Christ - is that not only did he come to earth, defeat death, and rise up again so that I may have new life, that I may know the love of the Father. That’s only half of it! Not only is this good news for me, but the second half is that God came to earth for others too. So my job as a Christian is not just to grow closer each day with the Father through Jesus, but then also to be sharing this same Good News with others.
Prayer: Being With God | Luke 10:38-42
It’s no secret that we become what we contemplate on, think on, focus on. So, if we want to become like Jesus, then we must look at Jesus. Contemplative prayer is central to spiritual formation-becoming people of love in Christ.
Prayer: Talking With God | Luke 11:4-13
We are so used to performing our life with other people. We edit our thoughts to present a more polished image of ourselves to the world in order to be loved and not rejected, to succeed and not fail. It’s like we can’t help but carry that way of being over into our relationship with God. But this isn’t what God designed.
Holding Up the Mirror: Finding Ourselves in the Easter Story | Luke 19:28-42
This message explores the story of Palm Sunday through the lens of a mirror and challenges us not to assume we are "good soil." It invites us to hold up a mirror as we examine the four characters of the familiar Palm Sunday passage and see where we find ourselves.
Overflow of the Heart | Luke 1:25-55
A young woman named Mary had received surprising news herself. News that could have ruined her life. It could have been the catalyst for Joseph, her fiancé, to call off her marriage. It could have made her an outcast in society. It could have brought out feelings of anger or frustration or disappointment because the life she once thought was hers for the taking was now taken away.
Palm Sunday: Why a King Matters | 1 Samuel 8:4-9 & Luke 2:29-40
Today, we are going to take a look at the procession of Jesus into Jerusalem and why this is such a symbolic act. If Jesus came to bring salvation and freedom to the whole world, not just to the Jews, but to the Gentiles as well, then why is the world’s recognition of Jesus as king less than a week before his crucifixion significant? And what does this mean for our lives today?