Text: John 12:1-8This week, we read the story of Mary (the brother of Lazarus) anointing Jesus with expensive perfume. We live in a world that, like Judas, often doesn’t understand such acts of faithfulness and deems them as wasteful. This passage of Scripture is a reminder that we are also invited to be faithful to…
Text: Lamentations 1:1-22There are times in our life where we turn to God with hope and expectation for what He will do, but recognize that there are often seasons in which there is significant waiting. Lamentations is an emotive cry of a people who are in the midst of pain and tragedy. During this Lenten…
“Image of God: Part 2”Text: Colossians 1:3-23Last week, we explored what it means to be created in the image of God. This week, we look at Jesus, who is the clearest picture and articulation of who God is. As Paul says in his letter to the Colossians, Jesus is both the firstborn of the dead…
“3 Days Away but One Step Back”Text: Genesis 37:12-28When Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers, all of them are at least three days away from their father’s influence. Using this story, guest Pastor Eric Larsen looks at the impact that distance and time can have when we are not as close to God…
Letters of God’s Love: 1 John 2:7-17Text: 1 John 2:7-17As we discovered last week, the theme of God’s love is not exclusive to the New Testament, but it is a foundational message of the early church. We begin a month-long series based on the letters of John entitled “Letters of God’s Love.” In this first…
Text: Psalm 29, Luke 3 : 15-17, 21-22Psalm 29 is a reminder of the greatness of our God; that He is above and greater than whatever comes our way. On this Sunday where we read about the baptism of Jesus, we recognize that God’s greatness and His voice and lordship over the Earth is found…
“Who Will Intercede?”Text: 1 Samuel 2:12-26, Luke 2:41-52As we read the story about Samuel, Eli, and Eli’s sons, Eli’s question is left unanswered; who will intercede for you if you have sinned against the Lord? The Gospel of Luke presents Jesus as the answer to this question, having been described as priest-like in the same…
“Changed in the Waiting: Joy”Text: Luke 3:7-18John the Baptist’s words of preparation can seem frightening at first, but his call to “produce fruit” is paired with the promise of Jesus coming with a baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. This movement in our lives that changes, redeems, and restores us is able to remove…
“Changed in the Waiting: Hope”Text: Jeremiah 33:14-16We enter into Advent, a season of expectation, with words from the book of Jeremiah. God’s promise to establish the peoples Judah and Israel – a nation that had turned away from God – and raise up an eternal line of David provides hope that is grounded in His…
Text: Mark 13:1-23In the penultimate sermon of our series on the Gospel of Mark, we study Chapter 13; a passage that has often been used to teach us to be fearful. As we read the passage in its original context, we hear Jesus calling for His followers to be faithful in the midst of hardship…