Sermon Scripture: Acts 11:1-18 (NRSV)

In our passage today, we are beginning to see signs that the Kingdom of God is moving and flourishing in ways no one could have expected. That it is advancing through the most unlikely among us, and it is reaching the most surprising of people.

God is rewriting they story of his work in the world.

May we be pliable enough that our biases or presumptions do not stand in the way of the work of the Holy Spirit, and may we be humble enough to celebrate God’s work in the most unlikely of places, following him with assurance and confidence into new and unknown territory.

Sermon Scripture: Acts 9:31-43 (NRSV)

The Acts of the Apostles is a theological history of the mission of Jesus as continued by his disciples, told according to the geographical spread of the faith.

Good deeds are natural outgrowth of our love for Christ and neighbor. Not prerequisite to salvation, nor requirement for ongoing acceptance by God.

Dorcas' resurrection is a sign that the Holy Spirit continues the work of New Creation begun with Jesus' resurrection; and a reassurance that God cares about and provides for the loss of a key Christian leader

Sermon Scripture: John 21:1b-17, Acts 1:3-8, Acts 2:42-47

As Jesus revealed himself to his followers in the 40 days after his resurrection, he gave them a promise.

Jesus reminds us that the Kingdom of God is less interested in rolling in, taking territory and knocking down empires. Rather, Jesus encourages us saying the Kingdom is all about restoring humanity to our divine nature first. Peace, justice, and restoration will follow as a byproduct of our divine action in the world.

Holy Spirit works in believers by renewing our minds to be like the mind of Christ. Allowing us to see the world with the eyes of Christ, to purity our lives to enter the world with the heart of Christ, and to empower us to impact the world with the hands and feet of Christ.

Pastor Andy Lucas shared his blessings and encouragement to the Emmaus Road on this, his final Sunday as pastor.

We will be celebrating Pastor Andy and his 15 years serving as pastor of Emmaus Road, and will be appreciating and sending off the entire Lucas family as they embark on their next adventure in Kansas City.

Sermon Scripture: Hebrews 2:14-15 (NIV)

The resurrection of Jesus IS NOT merely a personal victory. In the resurrection, Jesus enters death and rescues those who have been subject to it. Jesus does not enter death as a victim. Jesus invades death with divine life and death simply cannot hold divine life!

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Sermon Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-8 (NIV)

Palm Sunday is the commemoration of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem for the Passover festival. The events of that week were so significant that the week has come to be known as Holy Week.

It isn't an exaggeration to say that during Holy Week the way of heaven represented by Christ goes head to head with the principalities and powers represented by Pontius Pilate.

Sermon Scripture: John 12:20-33 (NIV)

The idea that civilizations are organized around an axis of power enforced through violence has become so ingrained into human culture that most will assume there isn't even another possibility. This is simply just the way the world works. And they are right….but it doesn’t have to be this way.

The organizing principle of the world does not have to be violent power, it can be co-suffering love. We don't have to believe Cain's old lie and see our brother as the enemy "other." We can organize our lives around the Christ-centered truth that every human is my neighbor.

Through the cross and resurrection, Jesus re-founds the world on an axis of love expressed in forgiveness. This type of beauty draws people into a new orbit of love centered on Christ. This is the axis of love that re-founds the world.

Sermon Scripture: John 3:16-17 (NIV)

What is Christian beauty? What form can our lives take that present to the world a beautiful form? It can be nothing other than the cruciform. The form of crucifixion.

The cross is where human ugliness and sin are met with God's love, forgiveness, and beauty. And it isn't a fair match.

The cross is the beauty that saves the world. And it is the beauty our lives must take on for the Church to find a hearing again.

Sermon Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV)

One of the most important questions for humanity to consider is "What is God like?”

Throughout history, humanity has believed in a pantheon of gods and goddesses and they had a particular way of relating to each of these gods. An altar was set up on a high place, and sacrifices were made to that god. The trouble with this system was that you never knew where you stood with the gods.

While ugly on the surface, the cross is the clearest revelation of God's character. The God revealed in Christ does not bear a weapon in his hands, but nails. He is not surrounded by an entourage of minions, but between thieves. God has reconciled the world himself. You don't have to question where you stand with God, for love has been poured out and put on display

Sermon Scripture: Mark 8:27-35 (NRSV)

So often, in spite of our best intentions, we misunderstand what it means to be a true disciple of Christ.

We hear the word discipleship and we start rushing down one path only to find that Jesus is slowly leading us in another direction. Jesus reminds us, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

May you chase after God’s Kingdom, actively working and subverting evil, while consistently respecting all life, defending the weak, and healing what is broken in creation.