Our Lord, Jesus, has so much love for us, and hope for our lives, that He offered His own, to save ours. He who created us, who called us into being, is Himself the greatest respecter and investor for the sacredness of human life. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He suffered and gave life so that no other substitutional sacrifice would need to be offered to sustain us in life before God. We are called to take joy in the gift and blessing of life in Him. We are called to defend and protect the sanctity of life of others. Those living in our midst, and for the unborn, and for all those dependent or defenseless, upon grace for the hope and fullness of life. We are to extend hope and mercy to each one. Let us take courage in the word of God through the Apostle Paul from 1 Corinthians 1: 4-8: “Let us give thanks for one another to the Lord, because of the grace given in Jesus Christ, that in every way you are enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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Dressed for Salvation
For those of you who are married, can you remember what you wore on your wedding day? If you are not married, think about another significant event in your life. We tend to wear special clothes for special occasions. In Isaiah 61:10, the speaker seems to be the servant of the Lord, the Messiah (see 61:1). Earlier in the chapter, God’s people were given “garments of praise” (61:3). Now the Servant himself is given special garments for a special purpose, Salvation and Righteousness. He is getting prepared to save his people. He is getting ready to visit us!
View SermonPatriotism, Nationalism, and the Kingdom of God
Two similar and yet increasingly different words have been frequently used in talking about United States politics in recent years: patriotism and nationalism. Both words talk of love and affection for one’s country, but nationalism has come to mean exalting your country (or your agenda) above all other countries (or agendas) with no regard for the needs of the other. The truth is, as Christians, we must love the Kingdom of God, which transcends all races and national boundaries, more than the nations of this world, even as we seek the welfare of the nation where we have been planted.
View SermonThe Near and Distant God
The tension between God’s “closeness” and his “otherness,” his transcendence and his immanence, is part of what led to the doctrine of the Trinity in the early Church. As Christians we believe that God is one God in three Persons. It is hard to get our mind around how this could be, and yet, this is how God has revealed himself to us. It is Jesus, the second person of the Trinity and the “image of the invisible God” who reconnects us with our heavenly Father and makes the distant God near to us once more. For those of us who are “in Christ,” God now dwells within us in the person of the Holy Spirit!
View SermonScattered Lego Pieces (Pentecost)
Many of the stories in the Old Testament describe the fracturing and scattering of people, largely as a result of human sin. On the Day of Pentecost we see the opposite happening, God uniting people of many nations together through the preaching of the Gospel, and each hearing in his or her own language. God loves unity, it is a major piece of his plan for redemption. This unity is already beginning to happen through the sacrifice of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
View SermonDestined for Glory
Jesus, who has the power and authority of life, desires for us, splendor and blessing greater than anything we could ask or imagine. His prayer for us, is that we be present with him, in the midst of the glory that is His, before the foundations of the earth; that we all may be one, and know in us, the very love of the Father, as the Father loves the Son, Jesus. May His will be fulfilled in us, that He be known in us and we in Him. Amen.
View SermonNo War, no Pain, no Tears
Memorial Day is a time for us to remember those who have died while serving our country in the armed forces. It brings us face to face with the harsh reality of war and the struggle for power between nations. The Book of Revelation gives us hope by reminding us that war will not be a part of the new heaven and new earth, neither will there be any more pain, or suffering, or tears, for the former things will pass away.
View SermonLove is…
There is something in us that loves weddings. It is beautiful to see a couple come together, pledging to love one another, through good times and bad times, until they are parted by death. Every human marriage points both backwards and forwards. Backwards to the one flesh union of our first parents, Adam and Eve. And forward to the marriage of the Lamb and his Bride in the book of Revelation. From this perfect, heavenly marriage we see a tangible example for us of what it means to love.
View SermonGood Shepherd Sunday
On Good Shepherd Sunday, we remember how Jesus loves us and desires to guide us in our lives. Sometimes though life becomes difficult and we desire to handle it ourselves. How often do you decide how Jesus should heal you or present himself to you? How often do you decide that He is not working fast enough or in the way you would like? If you are not daily listening to Jesus then you will not be able to hear his voice in times of crisis. Listening for a still small voice is the only way you are going to hear. Jesus desires for you to hear his voice. Jesus desires to be your shepherd; a godly, kind, and good shepherd. His ways are so very good. May you know his guiding and leading in your life!
View SermonThe Way
The earliest name by which Christians were known was simply “The Way,” a reference to Jesus’ teaching about the way that leads to life vs. the way that leads to death. In the book of Acts we see Saul’s conversion: he leaves the way of death and destruction and embraces Jesus and the way of life. In this sermon you will hear about some of the key features of his conversion as well as learn how to participate in leading someone to the way of life.
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