An Ungrateful Response to Grace Texts: John 6:22-27; Luke 17:11-19; Psalm 78:23-32; Exodus 16; II Samuel 9:1-13; II Samuel 16:1-4; II Samuel 19:24-28 The story of Mephibosheth forms an example for how we should live our lives as a response to God’s grace. When compared to the crowds who sought after loaves to fill their…
The House of God Texts: II Samuel 7; Ephesians 2:19-22; Isaiah 53:4-6 This sermon takes a look at the Davidic covenant as recorded in Second Samuel 7, in terms of the short-term fulfillment found in Solomon and the temple, as well as the long-term fulfillment found in the person and work of Jesus the Christ.…
Worshipping with Wild Abandon Text: II Samuel 6 This sermon takes a look at Second Samuel 6, and looks at the lessons about worship that we can learn from Uzzah, Michal, and David. When we truly “worship with wild abandon,” we are not concerned with protecting either God’s reputation or our own, but are offering…
Upside-down, Backwards, and Inside-Out Texts: II Samuel 5:1-10; II Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13 The Gospel of Jesus Christ is truly counter-cultural….upside-down, backwards, and inside-out. In this sermon, Pastor Jon Twitchell challenges us to examine our lives and our churches to see if we are simply following the conventional wisdom of this world, or if we…
A Matter of Life and Death Texts: II Samuel 1:1-27; Matthew 5:43-48 The story of the end of Saul’s life forces us to confront questions about the Sanctity of Life. However, it would be good for us to remember that Sanctity of Life is not only about when life begins or when life ends, but…
We Need a Hero? Text: I Samuel 17:1-49 The story of David and Goliath is interpreted against the backdrop of superhero stories like Superman, Spiderman, or Zorro. David challenges us to not simply wait around for a “superhero” to step in and do amazing things, but to use the gifts that God has given us…
A Citizen of the Kingdom of God Text: I Samuel 8:1-20 We consider the nature of citizenships and kingdoms as we look at the Israelites’ request for a king to rule over them. As we consider the systems of human government, we are challenged to orient our lives around the spiritual realities of the Kingdom…
I Serve at the Pleasure of God Almighty Texts: I Samuel 3:1-20; II Corinthians 4:5-12 Have you ever wondered what it must be like for a Presidential appointee to receive a phone call asking them to serve “at the Pleasure of the President of the United States.” This sermon explores the call that the young…
Pentecost – Crash Helmets & Life Jackets Text: Acts 2:1-41 Pentecost Sunday provides an opportunity to consider the great power of the Holy Spirit available to the Church. Unfortunately, we are often ill-equipped to tap into God’s power, and would be surprised if we encountered the sort of transformational worship that took place on that…
A Faithful and True Witness Texts: Acts 1:1-11; I John 5:9-13 With present-day discussion about “The DaVinci Code” and the “Gospel of Judas,” the Church is challenged to consider why it places its faith in the message revealed through the current scriptural Canon. As we consider the witness of those early Apostles, our faith is…