This is one of the most challenging doctrines to understand, yet one of the most crucial to grasp. Many stumble in trying to do so. It's understandable, as such a confrontation teaching often demands a painfully deep surrender. Through it, however, the scripture story reveals a truth both confrontational and transforming, disorienting and foundatio…

This is Part 1 of Passion Sunday. We start with an overview of the story from the Passover meal to the crucifixion of Jesus, before focusing on the most notable symbol of our faith—the cross. And the cross isn't empty. Jesus is hanging on it. Why did this happen? Why would Jesus intentionally submit to this? And can do we possibly understand this v…

We celebrated Palm Sunday a Sunday earlier in order to include Passion Sunday before Easter. Today we remember Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He comes as King, which demands a decision from us all.

This is the first sermon in the Easter series called "King of Kings"

This is the sermon from our New Member Celebration Sunday. We baptized a new sister and welcomed 8 other new members into our congregation. Amazing day!

We delve into a familiar story from Mark 4––Jesus calming the wind and sea. Thankfully, the point of the story isn't simply to, "Have faith in Jesus because he can calm the storms." The "point" is way more profound than that. And truthfully, the story is not so much making a "point" but rather posing a question...a question about a "Person." And in…

For both the individual Christian and also the church congregation, worship is arguably the most important practice to grasp correctly and to do faithfully. Proper worship empowers our most critical battle against the foundation of every and all sin—idolatry. Therefore, an accurate understanding of Christian worship is vital, not only to this prese…

OK, Jesus. We hear you. We'll strive to forgive and reconcile with others. But practically speaking, Jesus, HOW DO WE ACTUALLY GO ABOUT DOING IT?!! This is the last teaching in the 5-Part series from "77," all about Jesus's commands to forgive and reconcile with one another. In this last sermon, we threw down the gauntlet with a no-frills, nothing-…

FORGIVENESS: The Gift of Reconciliation Does Jesus expect us to ask for forgiveness FROM others? Yes. He doesn't mince words either. In this short section from his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus outlines unbelievable standards regarding anger, gives a daunting command to seek reconciliation, and alludes to the day we'll be judgment against his mind-bog…

This week we explore the challenge of "heavy-duty" forgiveness in light of Jesus's teaching on prayer in Luke 11:1-10. Jesus doesn't just teach what to pray for, he also teaches how and why we should pray with a particular attitude, if you will. In prayer, we're to "ask with audacity," which an important note. Why? Because forgiveness is as essenti…

This is Part 2 of our sermon series on forgiveness called "77." In this sermon, we dig into Jesus's commandment to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Easy enough, right? Wrong. It's unbelievably difficult. But what if Jesus is serious? How in the world do we do that? And how does it all tie into the practice of forgiveness?…

This is Part 1 of 5 in the new sermon series called "77," based on Jesus's command in Mt 18:22 to not merely forgive only seven times but actually to forgive seventy-seven times (NRSV and NIV translation). As readers, we shouldn't miss the weight of this commandment: Forgive seventy-seven times! That's crazy! That's too hard! Let's be honest: That …

What is God up to in the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ? Is something brand-new taking place? Absolutely...and it's grace upon grace (Jn 1:16) Sounds good, but what does that mean?

Our brother in Christ, Glenn Abernathy, passed away on Monday, October 28, 2013. His influence and leadership within our congregation cannot be overestimated. The Sunday following his death, we remember and gave thanks for Mr Glenn and, moreover, considered the significance of this moment in the life of our congregation. The mantle of spiritual lea…

You've probably heard it read before...the passage describing the "full armor of God." You might also be able to recite the list: The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, etc. But how does the armor actually protect us in spiritual warfare? How do we practically wield these spiritual weapons? Moreover, how does this armor protect not ju…

C.S. Lewis wrote that we can make 2 opposite mistakes when it comes to devils: 1) Disbelieve in them altogether or 2) Be overly fascinated by them. Both are mistakes all the same, and both equally please the devils. Fortunately, the Bible provides a more sophisticated perspective than the modern default position of disbelief (mistake #1) and a more…

As a husband, this passage from Ephesians is humbling. It's staggering. It's awe-inspiring. And it's also terrifying. Find out why in this sermon—the last in the 3-part series from Eph 5:21-33.

How is one of the most beautifully profound and inspiring passages in all of Scripture so terribly misunderstood, so vehemently rejected and, worst of all, so often abused? You know: The "wives submit to husbands..." passage. Of course, that's just one little piece of the passage. It time to re-read Ephesians 5. This is Part 2 of 3 in our mini-seri…

The infamous "S-Word"... This is Part 1 of 3 in our mini-series from Ephesians 5:21-33...you know...the passage which contains the ever-contentious "wives submit to husbands" verse. Everybody has opinions on the passage. Preaching it is like walking through a minefield. Moreover, the assumptions in interpreting it and the implications after interpr…

Personally, I love this section of Ephesians. Okay...I love the whole letter, but this section is so jammed full with amazing insights. We see that the source of our problems is our mind and heart (4:17-24) and, therefore, real change occurs from the inside-out as God renews our minds and creates us anew. Next, we see the evidence of our renewed mi…

How do we change? As in, how do we actually change—deep down in the ways in which we're really broken? Can people truly change in their heart? Yes. Thankfully, it's one of God's most favorite things to do.

There should be no surprise regarding mainline church decline. Why not? Because most mainline churches no longer preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Preaching "half" of the gospel (grace, love and forgiveness) is no gospel at all. It's well-intended, of course, but the consequences are devastating, as we end up worshipping a god in our own image. In…

In Ephesians 2:4-10, Paul paints an incredible picture of God's grace and power and our new life in Christ. However, right before that, in verses 1-3, Paul paints a very different picture—our life before Christ. And the picture is bleak. Paul describes it in such stark terms as "dead in trespasses and sins." He basically says we followed everyone a…

This is Part 1 in a 3-part series called "The Crucible of Conversion" on Ephesians 2:1-10. Why was John Wesley's foundational sermon, "Salvation by Faith," on Ephesians 2:8? Because properly understanding it lays the foundation for everything...but it sure looks like a horrible idea going into it.

Paul prays that the Ephesians—battle-hardened, faith-tested, veteran Christians, if you will—would be given a spirit of wisdom and revelation as they came to know God. Strange, they probably assumed that's what they'd been doing—getting to know God—for almost a decade at that point. It's as if Paul tells the Ephesians that, when it comes to God, th…

In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul packs a staggering list of promises into the opening lines. He claims that in Christ, we are adopted as children of God the Father, redeemed by the blood of the Son, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. He writes that this is the "word of truth," and then qualifies this "word of truth" even further by saying t…