November 1, 2020
Jeremiah 27 & 29 — Is God for us or against us? Who is us? What messages are we listening to?
Read MoreOctober 25, 2020
Ephesians 1 & 2 — Who we are in Christ — In Christ, we are blessed, redeemed, justified, forgiven, chosen, sealed with the Holy Spirit, adopted as God’s children, God’s handiwork, created for a purpose, at peace, and rulers with Christ.
Read MoreOctober 11, 2020
Matthew 14:22-33 — In this storm, in this world, at this time, Jesus calls us to radical, extreme discipleship. He calls us to be wave-walkers. But we must get out of our boats to become wave-walkers and walk on the water with Jesus. Nothing is impossible. Wave-walkers take risks, expect problems, accept failure, and fear. However, wave-walkers overcome fear with faith. Faith focuses and remains focused on Jesus.
This is part of our sermon series, Love Never Fails, Love Conquers All. This sermon is also based on and made use of the following books: Cho, Eugene, Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian's Guide to Engaging Politics, David C Cook; Sauls, Scott, Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for Those Who Are Tired of Taking Sides, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; and Bauman, Stephan, Break Open the Sky: Saving Our Faith from a Culture of Fear, Multnomah. This sermon especially made use of the ideas from the book by John Ortberg, If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat.
Read MoreOctober 4, 2020
Philippians 2:1-15; Galatians 3:23-4:7 — Love divine and dusty. That is the love that never fails and conquers all. God put his divine love into action when he made himself nothing, dressed in human skin, and pitched his tent among us. Now He calls us to love as He loves, to get dusty like Jesus by engaging in the messy relationships and dust of the world. This love is possible because Jesus Christ created a new humanity, the children of God. Christ died for you, for me, for everyone. We are free to love with his love, love divine and dusty.
This is part of our sermon series, Love Never Fails, Love Conquers All. This sermon is also based on and made use of the following books: Cho, Eugene, Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian's Guide to Engaging Politics, David C Cook; Sauls, Scott, Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for Those Who Are Tired of Taking Sides, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; and Bauman, Stephan, Break Open the Sky: Saving Our Faith from a Culture of Fear, Multnomah.
Read MoreSeptember 27, 2020
James 1:19-27; 3:1-12; 1 Peter 3:8-17 — We shall be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Active listening to understand and learn from others is an act of love. We can only make progress, learn, understand, have empathy, and love others when we listen. Jesus calls us to get into the difficult and messy relationships with people who are not like us, do not think like us. That’s is how we are the salt and the light of the world. We shall love by listening. That’s what our Lord did, for us and for the others.
This is part of our sermon series, Love Never Fails, Love Conquers All. The story used in the sermon was adapted from The Shadows of the Neanderthal: Illuminating the Beliefs That Limit Our Organizations by David Hutchens. This sermon is also based on and made use of the following books: Cho, Eugene, Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian's Guide to Engaging Politics, David C Cook; Sauls, Scott, Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for Those Who Are Tired of Taking Sides, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; and Bauman, Stephan, Break Open the Sky: Saving Our Faith from a Culture of Fear, Multnomah.
Read MoreSeptember 20, 2020
Jeremiah 23:16-39; 2 Peter 1:12–2:3; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5 — God’s people are people of God’s Word and therefore people of truth. As people of truth, we cannot participate in creating and propagating lies of any kind. This is God’s creation, God’s history, God’s world, and we are living the kingdom life as kingdom people. Thus, truth involves all truth in all areas of life. We cannot claim God’s Truth and then follow and live lies in our daily lives. We must seek truth and live out truth. We must do the hard work to seek and know the truth. We must be truthful and live truthfully rooted in, informed by, and guided by God’s Truth.
This is part of our sermon series, Love Never Fails, Love Conquers All.
Read More