Authenticity is something we all are longing for. We all want to be the real, genuine version of ourself. But how can I be truly me, and not some phony, fake version of myself? In this stirring parable today, Jesus shows how true life is found. Once again, in a surprising twist, Jesus shows that it's not by accomplishing something that we find ourselves. Rather, it is by acknowledging what we can never be. Listen in to today's sermon to learn more about the way of humility that Jesus so beautifully reveals.
True Spirituality: Community and the Cross (Matthew 13:24-30)
We live in what has been called "the lonely generation." Therefore, so many of us are longing for true community and a real experience of "life together" (as Dietrich Bonhoeffer so famously called it). Listen in this morning as we discover together what true community was always meant to be like, how it went wrong, and how the cross of Jesus Christ forms what our soul has always longed for - the true community, the church of Jesus Christ.
True Spirituality: Silence and the Cross (Matthew 13:10-17)
In a noisy world, we all are beginning to realize the profound place that silence should play in our lives. We need quiet, reflective moments to sustain us. But what is true silence? What does God want to teach about our longing for silence? Listen in today as we learn from Jesus the purpose of parables, and discover the true "sound of silence" that leads to a deep prayer life with the Living God who hears.
True Spirituality: Curiosity and the Cross (Matthew 13:44-46)
Are you curious? As we begin the season of Lent ( the 40 days of reflection on the cross between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday), we begin a new series looking at spirituality. In a world that celebrates spiritualities, what is true that we can cling to? How does the cross of Jesus Christ factor in? Is it good to be curious? Let's learn from an old parable of Jesus about treasure to find the answer.
What To Do When the Word of God Comes (James 1:22-27)
As we finish our short sermon series on James 1, we're left with a memorable challenge from James. Listen in today as we learn together the only true ways to respond to God's Word when it comes to you. It has more to do with our feet than with our ears.
What To Do When Anger Comes (James 1:19-21)
"Angry" is a word that could describe so much of our world today. Anger at others, anger at leaders, anger at circumstances, and yes even anger at God. But anger is something all of us will feel frequently throughout life. So how then are we to best deal with anger? Listen in today as we learn three radical counter-cultural truths that James reveals in 1:19-21. The surprising answer... gentleness.
What To Do When Gifts Come (James 1:16-18)
What's one of the sneakiest ways that we have been deceived in the world today? By thinking that when good things happen, it's somehow because of something good we did. James steps in today and gives us a major, gracious corrective. He points us upward and inward, helping us to realize the transformative power that comes when seeing God as the gracious giver of every gift. Then he leaves us with one parting encouragement... pointing us outward to others. Listen in today to this anti-deception message on the power of the grace of God in the person of Jesus.
What To Do When Temptations Come (James 1:13-15)
What's the difference between a trial and a temptation? Temptations often are personal. Today in James 1:13-15, we learn from Scripture why we can never scapegoat God when we are tempted. Though we are all tempted, the origin of temptation actually comes from an often unsuspecting source. But God Himself is also the often unsuspecting Giver of exactly what we need when temptations do come our way.
What To Do When Trials Come - Part 2 (James 1:12)
Many of us have come to believe that God is real. But, as Alan Vance says in today's sermon, many of us still question whether God is actually altogether good. This is especially the case when we experience trials in life. Listen in to today's sermon as Alan teaches us from James 1:12 what steadfastness looks like, how trials again have a deeper beautiful purpose for our lives, and finally what "the crown of life" really is.
What To Do When Riches Come (James 1:9-11)
Money is alluring. And there is a reason why Jesus (and the Bible in general) talks about money so much. In today's text in James, we allow ourselves to ask the question we often secretly dream - "what would I do if riches came my way?" In James 1:9-11, there is a word for both the "lowly" and the "rich", and both are avenues to a place of deep, grace-filled freedom. Listen in today as we learn together how and why a life of lowliness is one to be pursued.
What To Do When Lack Comes (James 1:5-8)
"I don't know what to do!" How many times have you said or thought that? Feeling that we are lacking wisdom or not being sure what to do is a feeling all of us share in common. But the Bible lovingly trumpets a hopeful tune - that there is a God who is not only wise, but generous in dispensing it to a weary world lacking in wisdom. Listen in to today's sermon as we learn 3 beautiful character traits of God and then 3 gracious practical take-aways of what to do when we don't know what to do.
What To Do When Trials Come (James 1:1-4)
A new calendar year is a good time for reflection. Beginning today, we will spend 8 weeks looking at what (or Who) James invites us to reflect on in James Ch. 1. In today's intro sermon, we reflect on a harsh reality each of us know - trials of various kinds are a part of life. But James shocks us with a few surprise truths. Listen in as we discover together that what none of us want to go through (trials) is actually life’s most surprising path to where all of us want to arrive (joy).
We Have Come To Worship Him (Matthew 2:1-2)
Ever had an epiphany - when something was made known to you in a profound and clear way? Listen in today as we examine the greatest epiphany in the history of the world, when Jesus Christ made Himself known even to those who were searching the skies for wisdom. What they found when they searched the skies on this night would forever change their lives, and the angle from which they would view the world.
Home For Christmas: Jesus (John 14:23)
When Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem those many years ago, more than just a sentimental story was unfolding. As we learn from John 14:23, we see that when God put on flesh in the person of Jesus, Love itself was introduced to the world. Listen in today as we learn more about how the Love of God displayed fully in the Person of Jesus Christ invites us into our truest possible Home - Himself.
Home For Christmas: Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
Where were you born? Your birthplace, in one way or another, comes to define you. This week, we dive into learning more about Jesus' birthplace - little & insignificant Bethlehem, the city of David. What does Bethlehem teach us about the heart of God? Listen in this week as we see together how God loves to uplift the "littles" of the world.
Home For Christmas: Eden (Genesis 2:15)
What are you nostalgic about? During the season of Christmas, nostalgia is a feeling many of us are experiencing. In today's sermon, we locate the place of nostalgia in our world today, and discover the one place where it can be truly met and fulfilled. To learn that, we go back to our first home - the Garden of Eden.
Home For Christmas: Heaven (Revelation 21:1)
Today marks the beginning of Advent, the season of "Arrival" remembering Jesus' first coming at his birth and longing for his second coming. As we begin this new 4-week series, we tap into that "longing" today that each of us feels deep within - a longing for our true, eternal HOME. Listen in today as we connect the dots from the baby in the manger to the New Heavens and New Earth coming for those who trust in Jesus.
The Church: Home in Rome (Acts 27-28)
As we reach the end of our journey through the book of Acts, we now find Paul in Rome. Rome is not just a place for Paul in the first century, but it's also an image of the places where we live today too. What is Rome for us? How is the Church to live and exist in Rome? Listen in today as we learn together how the Church is to exist as an exile people, and to find our home in the hard places. Because that's what the Church is equipped for, and that's where the Gospel was made to go.
The Church: Submitting to the Way (Acts 24-26)
How do the way of politics and the Way of Jesus relate? In this sermon from November 14, Pastor Steven analyzes Paul's three interactions with three different politicians in Acts 24-26. How does Paul submit to the government? And ultimately how does he show the truer Way of Jesus? Listen in with us as we try learn together how to be faithful, submitting Christians in complicated political times.
The Church: Persecution With Hope (Acts 22-23)
Today is "International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians." Beautifully, our text in Acts leads us straight into Paul's reckoning with his own persecution - both his personal history being a persecutor of Christians and now being on the receiving end of persecution. What is persecution for a Christian? Why does it exist? What we learn from the Scriptures is that God more than just allows persecution of His followers - He actually also uses it for powerful purposes. And not just for Himself, but beautifully in personal ways for the people receiving persecution. Listen in to learn more of this mysterious, yet hard, blessing of God.