“Stories That Shape Us: Giant Issues”1 Samuel 17This week we study the original “underdog” story, David and Goliath. It is not a story rooted in David finding his inner strength to defeat Goliath, but instead dwelling in the confidence of God’s providence. Like David, the Lord uses the trials of our past to equip us…
“Stories That Shape Us: Radical Grace”Text: Deuteronomy 19We continue our look at influential Old Testament scripture passages by examining Deuteronomy 19. While the mindset of “an eye for an eye” – reserved for only the most malicious offenses – became a part of the culture, the passage reveals that God is a God of mercy…
“Stories that Shape Us: Finding Our Voice”Text: Exodus 3We’re in our second week of a new sermon series entitled “Stories that Shape Us” where we look at the Old Testament stories that both affect other areas of Scripture and define our understanding of who we are as the church. This week, we look at the…
Text: Luke 15:1-7We welcome Pastor Amanda Lawton as this week’s guest preacher. She serves the South Portland Church of the Nazarene as both children’s pastor and director of the Lighthouse School. We sometimes experience moments when we feel lost. However, as the Parable of the Lost Sheep reminds us, God is always searching for us…
Text: Galatians 5:13-26We continue our look at Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia. In last week’s passage from chapter 3, Paul reminds us that there is no law that keeps us from the grace of God. This may tempt us to live our lives the way we want to or just do the minimum…
“Trinity Sunday”Text: John 16:12-15On Trinity Sunday, the church remembers that in worship, we celebrate God, the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. But what does the Trinity mean for us? In this passage, Jesus invites us into this same interconnected relationship; that everything about His character is shared as a blessing to us as well.…
“Praying Our Way to Pentecost: The Power of a Praying Church”Text: Acts 12:1-25We continue praying our way to Pentecost and studying scripture that shows the power and importance of prayer. In this week’s scripture, Peter’s deliverance from prison is God’s response to the church as they intercede for him with fervent prayers. This passage reminds…
“Praying Our Way to Pentecost: Faith Fail”Text: Luke 22:31-34It’s easy for us to think of failure as not having accomplished a task or met a goal. During this season of intentional prayer, we should not be discomforted or give up if we find that our prayers are not answered in the way we expected to…
“Praying Our Way to Pentecost: Hank Dunn, Guest Preacher”Text: Matthew 26:36-46Today we welcome back Hank Dunn as our guest preacher. We also mark the official beginning of the Church of the Nazarene’s Half-Million Mobilization campaign “Praying Our Way to Pentecost.” As we pray for the renewal of the holiness message in ourselves, our communities, and…
“The Resurrection and The Date”Text: John 12:20-26On Easter Sunday, Pastor Tim shares the amazing story of how date palm seeds from the first-century Jewish encampment Masada, besieged by the Romans in the first century, were successfully planted and bore fruit 2000 years later. This important symbol of Judean export and culture had disappeared from the…