Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.

He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God;

for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.”

Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

John 3:1–3

Many people have memorized John 3:16 (included in Sunday’s gospel) because it powerfully summarizes the message of salvation.

The context, however, of this statement does not get nearly the same attention.

It was from within Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus that we hear “for God so loved the world…”

Jesus told him that to see the kingdom of God, you had to be born from above.

This confounded Nicodemus who could not wrap his mind around the concept.

Sometimes the ways of God are not our ways.

Join us Sundays as we consider how Jesus invites us to think and live differently.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.

The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Matthew 4:1–3

The story of Jesus’ temptation by Satan in the wilderness for 40 days is why Lent is a season in the church.

Jesus is tempted by the devil to use his divine power (first for food) for his own personal benefit.

With all of God’s power at his disposal, Jesus could have demonstrated that power in all kinds of ways throughout his life.

But Jesus’ calling was to use his power to change hearts and lives through his ministry of teaching, healing, compassion, and love.

All of Jesus’ power is used to help others and ultimately to give his life for us on the cross.

Join us Sunday as we ponder Jesus’ temptation and apply it to our lives.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.

And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.

Matthew 17:1–2

The story of the transfiguration of Jesus has a lot of rich, symbolic meaning, but it also shows us God has a real flair for the dramatic.

On a high mountain, Jesus’ appearance changes drastically, as his face shone bright and his clothes dazzled.

This was a moment for the key disciples present to more deeply understand who Jesus was and what God was up to.

Sometimes we miss the subtleties of God, but here God took no chances.

Join us Sunday as we consider the transfiguration.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets;

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Matthew 5:17

Our gospel text for Sunday continues with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus makes clear his ministry and teaching are not only consistent with Old Testament laws,

but is the very fulfillment of it.

In Jesus’ ministry we see the full embodiment of a faithful life.

It may look like a departure from tradition, but that is only because humans can hardly muster the bare minimum.

Join us Sunday as we encounter Jesus’ challenge to live a faithful life.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:1–3

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus offers his moral vision for a faithful life.

It is worth reviewing regularly as Jesus teaches us principles of how to love God and love our neighbor.

It is also noteworthy that he begins with the Beatitudes.

These statements about who is blessed in the world (the poor, the mourning, the meek, the merciful, etc.) is an upside-down version of what we tend to experience in this life.

God’s blessings are for those who are struggling rather than succeeding, poor rather than rich, peacemakers rather than the powerful.

This is a word of challenge and hope, as we seek to see one another as God sees us.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”

Matthew 4:18–19

I have always been fascinated by the call stories of Jesus’ disciples.

He seemingly is walking on the beach one day and sees some fisherman and says “follow me” and they do!

In fact, the text said that both sets of brothers (Simon and Andrew, James and John) immediately left their life behind to follow Jesus.

Most of us don’t make life changing decisions immediately.

We take our time to think it over, talk to our families and friends, and mull it some more.

But in this case, God was up to something big and the response was dramatic.

Join us Sunday as ponder the immediacy of the gospel.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by,

he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

John 1:35–37

There must have been something uniquely powerful about being in the presence of Jesus.

The call stories of the disciples all hint at this without saying it.

The disciples in this story simply see Jesus and start following him.

His presence is a powerful force like gravity, people are simply drawn to him.

On Sunday we will consider discipleship and the power of following Jesus and how that transforms our lives.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

Matthew 3:13

Sunday marks the Baptism of our Lord.

At his baptism, Jesus hears the powerful word from God

“this is my son, the beloved” and then begins his public ministry.

Baptized in Christ, we share this same affirming word from God that we are God's beloved children.

We also share a calling to love God and neighbor in our life.

Join us Sunday as we consider Jesus’ baptism and our own.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?

We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:1–2

This Sunday, we celebrate Epiphany featuring the story of Magi following the star and bring gifts to Jesus.

The Magi believed that God communicated messages through the movement of the night sky.

They watched and waited for the sign the Messiah was born. When they saw the star of the Messiah they began their incredible journey.

Join us Sunday as we remember their journey and consider what it means for us tonight.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.