Aug 20, 2023
Sermon: John the Martyr
Matthew 13.53-14.13: John, the greatest of the prophets up until Christ, finds an end similar to other prophets that came before him. But like the other true prophets, his words do not disappear when he is dead. True prophets' words do not 'fall to the ground', but they continue to speak truth and call the darkness out into the light. The main words that stand are his testimony of Jesus, who is the prophet of prophets and who will undo all the powers that seek to destroy the righteous and just prophetic voice.
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  • Aug 20, 2023Sermon: John the Martyr
    Aug 20, 2023
    Sermon: John the Martyr
    Matthew 13.53-14.13: John, the greatest of the prophets up until Christ, finds an end similar to other prophets that came before him. But like the other true prophets, his words do not disappear when he is dead. True prophets' words do not 'fall to the ground', but they continue to speak truth and call the darkness out into the light. The main words that stand are his testimony of Jesus, who is the prophet of prophets and who will undo all the powers that seek to destroy the righteous and just prophetic voice.
  • Aug 13, 2023Sermon: Getting Our Expectations Aligned
    Aug 13, 2023
    Sermon: Getting Our Expectations Aligned
    Luke 7.18-35: In the midst of prison, John the Baptist has a moment of doubt about Jesus' ministry. He is stuck and hopes to get unstuck, but Jesus calls him to trust in his work and to hold on no matter what might come. John will never make it out of prison, but he clings to Jesus' identity as the Messiah. In times of stuckness, we may expect God to act - he might and he might not - but no matter our present stuckness, the surety of everlasting freedom is ours to hold out hope for - a sure hope.
  • Aug 6, 2023Sermon: Look! The Lamb of God! Part 2
    Aug 6, 2023
    Sermon: Look! The Lamb of God! Part 2
    John 1.19-39: In calling Jesus, the Lamb of God, John is presenting both an apocalyptic view of Jesus and a redemptive view. Would you stand behind a Lamb for protection against the beasts of this world? Yet, it is the Lamb that will overcome as he removes sin from the world and brings forth the goodness of God's kingdom against all evil.
  • Jul 30, 2023Sermon: Look! The Lamb of God! Part 1
    Jul 30, 2023
    Sermon: Look! The Lamb of God! Part 1
    John 1.6-8, 19-34: John comes in the wilderness to signal both the coming disintegration of the known Jewish world and the recreation through the coming Messiah. He calls all as individuals to ready themselves, to set themselves up for renewal, reorientation, and recreation. Themes of creation, of water, and of Spirit circle all around as John points our eyes to Jesus. "Look," he says, "not at me, but at Him!" Who is Him? The Lamb of God, the Word made flesh, the Messiah, Jesus.
  • Jul 16, 2023Sermon: Fiery Tongue, Fiery Baptism
    Jul 16, 2023
    Sermon: Fiery Tongue, Fiery Baptism
    Luke 3.1-20: John the Baptist calls us to reorient ourselves from those just above us to the heights of God and his riches bestowed on us. In doing this, we begin to notice the needs of those below us and to assist them with our plenty. This changes our hearts from those of envy and discontent to contentment and generous love. Through Jesus, we are enabled to live like this because it is like God. It is our calling and the pathway to life.
  • Jul 9, 2023Sermon: Becoming Lesser
    Jul 9, 2023
    Sermon: Becoming Lesser
    John 3.22-36: We begin an extended look at the ministry of John the Baptist. Today, one of the phrases that defines him in contrast to Jesus, "He must become greater, I must become lesser." Like John, we are to live our lives in pursuit of Christ receiving glory, not ourselves. Our lives become a service to his glory as he has given us everlasting life.
  • Jul 2, 2023Sermon: Plant Your Hope with Good Seeds
    Jul 2, 2023
    Sermon: Plant Your Hope with Good Seeds
    Luke 6.43-45: Jesus gives us a convicting teaching about watching the seed souls we plant and the fruit born in our lives. Bad trees don't produce good fruit. The call is to inspect ourselves and seek to be those who are bearing good fruit as disciples of Christ.
  • Jun 25, 2023Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus: Part 4
    Jun 25, 2023
    Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus: Part 4
    Matthew 4.1-11: In this fourth part of the series on Jesus' temptation, we see Jesus being offered the glories of the world. The devil offers it for worshiping him - a simple process on the outside and for short-term gain, but a destruction within and for long-term destruction. Jesus has other goals, with using his attention to be focused on God the Father and not the father of lies. Praise God for his victory and thus his coming eternal kingdom!
  • Jun 18, 2023Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus: Part 3
    Jun 18, 2023
    Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus: Part 3
    Matthew 4.1-11: In this second test, the devil tempts Jesus to test the Father. Is he trustworthy, is the challenge? Jesus resists, displaying a complete trust in the Father and the word that holds promises to him. He endures because of trust in the long-term fulfillment of God and his promises. Praise God for Jesus' triumph, for it is our victory as well and gives us strength to resist the devil's taunts in our own lives.
  • Jun 11, 2023Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus – Part 2
    Jun 11, 2023
    Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus – Part 2
    Matthew 4.1-11: In this second of our four-part look at Jesus' testing, we consider the devil's first challenge - turning stones to bread. Jesus shows his spiritual hunger is greater than his physical hunger. He seeks the heavenly food of God's provision rather than using his power for securing self-sufficiency. In this he shows his purpose to overcome Satan on our behalf. Praise God!