​Sunday Sermon by Kevin Jensen — Jesus encountered two rich men, one after the other. One could not set aside the idol of wealth in his life; the other devoted himself to God over everything else, including his wealth. Jesus warned us that it is very difficult for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God, though even then all things are possible with God. This lesson examines the temptation of wealth, the Lord's call to submit our wealth to his rule in our lives, and what we can do to use the measure of wealth God has given us for his glory. Texts: Luke 18:18-27 & 19:1-10, 1 Timothy 6:17-19

​Sunday Sermon by Kevin Jensen — Joseph had every right and reason to get revenge against his cruel brothers, and God gave him the power to do so—but Joseph refused to let his own honor become an idol in his life. He devoted himself to God and trusted in God for his honor, and as a result, his broken family was reconciled. We all want and need to be honored; we can trust God to bring us the honor we need, so that when we are offended by others, we do not have to get revenge. Text: selections from Genesis 37 and 42-50

​Sunday Sermon by Kevin Jensen — Everyone needs to be loved, desired, appreciated. Leah did too—but her husband loved and married her sister! Both women were his wives simultaneously, but Jacob loved Leah's sister Rachel the most. Leah was desperate for her husband's love, and we can understand why; but what she needed more was what she already had, the love of God. God's love for us gives us a solid foundation for life and all our relationship, so that our yearning to be loved need not ever become an idol that controls our lives. Text: Genesis 29:14b-35

​Sunday Sermon by Kevin Jensen — The Israelites knew better when they crafted a golden calf idol, directly violating the first two of the 10 Commandments spoken only weeks earlier in their hearing by the voice of God himself! So why did they do it? They did it because they were afraid—and in their fear, they looked for their security in something other than the true God. In our quest to keep ourselves from all idols, we must take care to make sure we look for our ultimate security in God alone.  Text: Exodus 32

​Sunday Sermon by Kevin Jensen — It's a sad story of God's judgment: The last four kings of Judah continued Judah's overall trajectory away from God, their true King. Finally, Judah became so filled with sin and wickedness that God was no longer willing to forgive, and he brought destruction on Judah. Even then, though, God was looking for an opportunity to redeem his people in the future. Text: 2 Kings 23:31 to 25:30

​Sunday Sermon by Kevin Jensen — King Josiah served God from a young age, but when he heard the words of God's law for the first time, he devoted himself and his nation to God all the more. Because he humbled himself and turned to God, God gave Judah one last chance to do right before he brought his judgment upon them. We, too, often need one last chance—and God readily gives it if we humble our hearts and seek him. Text: 2 Kings 22:1 to 23:30

​Sunday Sermon by Kevin Jensen — Our God does amazing things, and when Manasseh, the most wicked king that Judah ever had, repented, God did another amazing thing: He forgave him! The recognition that God could forgive as evil a person as Manasseh gives us hope that God will forgive us, too, as we repent of our sin and turn to him.  Text: 2 Chronicles 33

​Sunday Sermon by Kevin Jensen — Hezekiah was a man of great faith, yet he, like we do sometimes, faced enormous troubles that threatened to overwhelm him—and not only him, but also Jerusalem and the entire nation of Judah. How did he respond? Hezekiah stumbled a little at first, but later he prayed, then prayed again. And God responded to the king's faith and rescued Jerusalem.  Text: 2 Kings 18-19

​Sunday Sermon by Kevin Jensen — In 753 BC, Israel seemed strong—but within about thirty years, it fell! Why? Israel had long turned away from God, worshiping idols and doing evil. Its evil finally caught up with it, and God did not rescue the nation, because God is faithful—faithful to both bless those who seek him and to punish those who do evil The fall of Israel is a warning to us to respect God's judgment and to seek him with gratitude for his kindness, listening to him and obeying him so we may enjoy his blessings.  Text: 2 Kings 15:8-31, 17

​Sunday Sermon by Kevin Jensen — Jesus, in his Parable of the Soils, was right: different people respond to God in different ways. In Jesus' own history, the history of Israel and Judah, Judah's king Uzziah was faithful to God, but only until pride choked out his faith. His son Jotham was steadfast in his faith, and his trust in God strengthened his nation. But his son Ahaz was entirely unfaithful to God, and the result was God's judgment upon the king and people of Judah.  Text: 2 Chronicles 26-28