Tangible Evidence (John 20:19-31)

While the claim of the resurrection of Jesus is a supernatural and miraculous claim, there is tangible evidence for it - both for the fearful disciples hidden in a locked room on the evening of the first Easter, for doubting Thomas, and for modern people like us. Listen in today as we listen to the evidence, as we believe what Thomas saw with his eyes and touched with his hands, and receive from God His greatest gift - the gift of life itself.

Books mentioned in the sermon:

  • Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (by Richard Bauckham)

  • The Resurrection of the Son of God (by N.T. Wright)

  • When Skeptics Ask (by Norman Geisler & Ronald Brooks)

  • I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist (by Frank Turek & Norman Geisler)

  • A Ready Defense (by Josh McDowell)

  • Hope in Times of Fear (by Timothy Keller)

  • Basic Christianity (by John Stott)

  • Living the Resurrection (by Eugene Peterson)

Burning Hearts (Luke 24:13-35)

What really is the true story behind the person of Jesus? This is the question 2 sad people were asking as they walked home from Jerusalem after Easter 2,000 years ago. Maybe this is one of your questions as well. Before believing in the great hope of the resurrection, our curiosity must lead us to answer this question. Listen in today as we hear this first story about how Jesus Himself comes to us and meets us in our deepest questions of life.

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The Pioneer & Perfecter (Hebrews 12:1-2)

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“No one remembers who climbed Mount Everest the second time.” — Edmund Hillary

As we begin Holy Week and celebrate on Palm Sunday the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem before us, we focus in on the reality that Jesus is the true and only Pioneer of faith. What does that mean for us? Why is that important? How did Jesus live in the way we could never ourselves? Listen in today as we learn about the power of presence, freedom, and purpose that Jesus unlocks for us.

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By Faith (Hebrews 11)

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Faith is one of the most fundamental parts of Christianity. But in a world of multitasking, distraction, and competing ideas, having a singular-focus on Jesus Himself can be admittedly difficult. How do we "fix our eyes" on Jesus alone? Listen in today as we learn about how faith invites us to see a new world, to look around at one another without competing, and to run the marathon of faith and not merely short sprints.

"Faith is that which is able to survive a mood." - G.K. Chesterton

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The Most Important Thing About Us (Jonah 4:5-11)

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What is the most important thing about you? As we arrive at the end of Jonah's epic story, we begin to finally see God reveal Jonah's deepest heart. What does Jonah care most about? Through the object lesson of a plant and worm, God not only reveals Jonah's heart, but ours as well. Along the way, we discover the most important thing about God too - that He loves humans more than we ever thought possible.

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Do You Do Well? (Jonah 4:1-4)

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In all sincerity, how are you doing today? Is it well with your soul today? How would you answer God if that question was posed to you today? Listen in as Mike Lilley teaches us about how Jonah was doing after God showed great mercy on the city of Nineveh. Why was Jonah so angry? Is God neglecting justice for the sake of mercy? Listen in today to learn how God's deepest character and what makes Him uniquely able to be both just and merciful at once.

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Keep the Change (Jonah 3:1-10)

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In this story from Jonah today, we see a stunning change happen in the city of Nineveh. Jonah gets a second chance at obedience, the Word of God is delivered, and then repentance rolls throughout the city and the great compassion of God is seen. This is a great model for how change happens for us as well. Listen in today then and discover afresh how true changes settles deep into us.

The Gospel in Jonah (Jonah 1:11-17)

What does Jesus have to do with Jonah? As the runaway prophet gets thrown overboard and hits the water, eventually finding himself famously in the mouth of a great fish, we see the stormy sea between Joppa and Tarshish calmed and the foreign sailors saved. When confronted with troubles and problems of various kinds in our lives, what will calm our troubled souls? Listen in today as we learn about sacrifice, substitution, and satisfaction - the heart of the Christian Gospel.

The Kind of Faith the World Really Needs (Jonah 1:7-10)

When the microphone gets passed to you, and the spotlight is on you to speak, what hope would you speak to someone in trouble? When Jonah finds himself in that place, we learn about where he finds his truest identity. Listen today as we see how insufficient Jonah's shallow faith is for the fearful sailors in the storm, and instead what kind of faith the world then and now needs from us. As we learn, it begins with not simply understanding “who” we are, but more so “Whose” we are.

The Storm of Holy-Love (Jonah 1:4)

When storms come to us in life (pains, troubles, trials, etc.), often we are quick to ask "why?" But as we learn today from God's intervening storm in Jonah 1:4, there is something meaningful for us in the storms of life. Listen in today as we learn about God's character of perfect holiness and love, and how they meet us in grace in the storms of life, helping us to see Jesus clearly amidst the waves and wind.

Fleeing the Presence of the LORD (Jonah 1:3)

"Is God really good?" When we scan the pages of Scripture, we find this to be a theme that is repeated in a diversity of ways, by a diversity of people throughout history. In this second sermon in the 11-week series in the book of Jonah, listen in as Mike Lilley traces Jonah's response to God's call. Why does Jonah choose to flee the opposite direction? His refusal to obey exposes his sin before God, bringing about great personal cost. But, more so, what does it show us about God Himself? Is He good? Is there any hope for us as people who are "prone to wander" and "prone to leave the God we love"?

The Story of God & Evil (Jonah 1:1-2)

As we begin a new 11-week series in the Old Testament story of Jonah, we ask ourselves, who is the book of Jonah actually all about? Listen in today as we learn from just the first 2 verses about the heart of the pursuing God, the reality of evil, and how God uses a prodigal, flawed prophet to not only bring Good News to an enemy city... but also to change the heart of the man himself.

Worship Reimagined (Matthew 2:1-12)

Epiphany Sunday is the day on the church calendar we recognize the Magi's trip to visit Jesus after His birth. What can their journey teach us about our own spiritual journey? More specifically, how can their insistence on coming to worship Jesus instruct us about what true worship of Jesus is in today's modern times. Listen in today as we lean in to what the true purpose of the church (and our whole lives) really is.

Rule of Life (Psalm 16)

As we begin a new year, 2023, do you want something deeper than another attempt at resolutions? Individual Christians for centuries have compiled a unique "rule of life" to help give intentionality, rhythm, and delight to their journey though life. Listen in today as we are encouraged from Psalm 16 and then walked through some practical ways to begin crafting your own "rule of life."

Credit to Stephen Macchia and his helpful book "Crafting a Rule of Life"

Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14)

What would you say is the opposite of peace in your life? Whatever you identify as your answer, the Bible promises that Jesus comes to bring not only the fulfillment and completion of that emptiness, but also of every incomplete reality in the world. Listen in today as we learn from the words of the prophet Jeremiah about God's vision for peace, even in the darkest of circumstances in our lives - plans for redemption, restoration, and reconciliation.

Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6; John 17:1-5)

Nothing in our world is "everlasting" - not kings, not parents, not batteries, not milk! But the prophet Isaiah tells of a day when a Son is to be born who will be called "Everlasting Father." How are we are to understand how a son can be "Father" and how one born can also be called "Everlasting"? Listen in today as we learn from Jesus' words himself from John 17, and see the powerful relevance of Jesus today being "Everlasting Father."

Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 5:1-14)

There are times in life when we are so aware of our weakness that we just need something or someone strong to lean on. The prophet Isaiah tells us that the coming son Savior is the "Mighty God." Listen in today as we learn truly what it means that God is Mighty, learning from a magnificent vision of victory at the end of all things - Jesus as both the Lion and the Lamb.