Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor Sunday Sermons

Emily and Caroline talk about how we can learn to better discern our God-experiences. They also talk about what it's like when you're not sure you can trust your own mind. There's a great variety in how human brains are wired, and this conversation explores the God-encounters, psychosis, and how people who are neuro-atypical might find embrace in our shared faith.

We can experience love without noticing it. Same with experiencing God, "in whom we live and move and have our being."  A look at a high intensity experience, drawing inferences for more subtle, less-intense ones.

Guest Speaker Ben shares his personal experience of God throughout his life in this week's message.

God speaks to people in myriad ways. We integrate spiritual disciplines and practices into our lives so we learn to better discern God's presence and nudges, as well as to better experience the one-ness of being held within God. It's mystical territory we're exploring, but humans through the ages witness this kind of relationship with God. In the sermon we talk about some of the ways God interacts with humans, and about how it's a lot like finding the "next, small step" in the darkness.

This story allows us to enter into a world that operates on generosity rather than greed, ambition, and competition. It invites us to experience a world in which those who stand ignored and underutilized by society are nevertheless of great value to God—worthy, regardless of their circumstances, to live with dignity each day. It beckons us to advocate for and give generously to those in need, regardless of whether or not we think it’s fair.

The stories of Jesus aren't just "about something"—they do something. This one helps us look at our rivalry addiction...and as we do, opens space for God to offer to help us—to do the work that makes the party enjoyable.

The parable of the pharisee and the tax collector is a challenging one. As soon as we begin to side with the actions of either character—believing that one is more right or more wrong, that one is more justified or less deserving of God’s mercy than the other—then the story has us right where Jesus wants us to be: realizing that we all actually contain a bit of each character. It's a story that reveals how it’s possible for two different things to both be true and at work at the same time within us, and to recognize and engage in this paradox within ourselves.

What does one of Jesus’ shortest parables and the story of how the American Psychiatric Association changed its mind on homosexuality have in common?

Many of our Christmas traditions are drawn from stories and folklore surrounding St. Nicholas, a saint from what is now modern-day Turkey, known for his concern for the poor. Worship Director Cassie Brabbs shares a St. Nicholas story from her childhood, along with other Christmas memories and an encouragement to keep some traditions alive throughout the year.

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

John the Baptist grew up surrounded by neighbors who celebrated him. We all need a little of that in our lives. Ken Wilson brings us the fourth sermon in our Advent series. This one's subtitled, "It Takes a Rejoicing Village to Make a Baptist."

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.