Emmaus Road Church | Fort Collins, Colorado

Sermon Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2, Matthew 28:16-20, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

As we have been focused on the power and work of God the Father and God the Son through Easter, and of course the empowering work of God the Spirit last week on Pentecost, it is right for us to take a moment to pause in worship and honor the mysterious Triune God whom we worship.

It is always our inclination to explain all that there is to know about God on Trinity Sunday, but we will only scratch the surface of this eternal mystery and this will be okay.

Sermon Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Pentecost marks the moment when the church received its empowerment for the work of God and his Kingdom and so to ask ourselves, what does this mean?

The work of God all throughout history has been in planning this party and the last thing you or I should do would be to limit who can join us in the celebration. God is inviting us to  a block party. Complete with dietary restrictions, and preferences, and languages, and customs and priorities that may not be like our own, but this is God’s party and it is a block party!

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the church is both the sign AND the instrument of the launch of the church’s mission.

Sermon Scripture: John 14:15-21

Through the Spirit of God, his love and action can be touched, felt, and made known anywhere you or I may be. By responding to God choosing you, by entering into his reciprocal vow of love, by enacting the Jesus Way through the enabling and empowering of the Spirit within us, we become the comforter and advocate that someone needs in their moment of need.

Sermon Scripture: 1 Samuel 7:12

Join us for our Annual Church Meeting where we hear the stories and look at the evidence of all that God is doing among us at Emmaus Road. We will hear from our pastor, treasurer, and each of our ministry leaders the details of our ministry over the last year and the amazing opportunities that lay before us. 

This is a highlight in the life of our community as we take a peek behind the scenes into the ministry and stewardship of Emmaus Road Church.

Sermon Scripture: John 14:1-14

Just as it was for the disciples of Jesus gathering around the table in the upper room centuries ago, life can be challenging for us. Many circumstances we face are difficult and require us to pause and consider what we know to be true of God and His work of peace and grace among us.

We consider what it means to trust in Christ and to follow his way, his truth, and his life.

Sermon Scripture: John 10:1-10

Jesus is a true shepherd, not only in the spirit of David, but reflective of God’s own providential love. Jesus’ relationship with his followers is one of intimacy and trust. They listen to his voice and recognize him. He brings them no harm but protects them. They willingly follow him, and he brings them to the source of life.

Sermon Scripture: Luke 24:33-35, John 15:1-11

The best way to engage in the consolation of the peace of Christ in the wake of fear and doubt is to rehearse what he said and to put it into practice.

Among the many things that Jesus shared with his closest friends and family at the table of the last supper, the  night before his crucifixion, was the familiar metaphor of the vine and the branches which says; we are the branches, we have a clear and simple role which has a very specific outcome, to bear fruit, and the fruit that is to be borne is very specific. It is to enact all the things Jesus said and did. To love God and love others as best we can.

May we remain grafted in the vine, connected with one another, and open to the pruning of the gardener.

Sermon Scripture: John 20:19-31

In the Easter season we celebrate the biggest mystery of faith: that Jesus willingly took upon himself death on a cross, providing victory over the sins of the world and the curse of death as he rose from the grave. 

This fact of faith, compared to all the other fantastic stories about Jesus (healing miracles, walking on water, knowing people he has never met), is the hardest one for the human mind to wrap itself around. 

Today, as you are likely still working out the consolation of faith or the desolation of doubt, we need to ask ourselves, do we see evidence that Christ is alive and working in and around us today?

Sermon Scripture: Luke 24:1-12, 13-32, 48-49

Have you been moving toward doubt, fear, anger, frustration, impatience, annoyance these days? Or have you been moving toward greater faith, hope, love, kindness, peace, and patience?

The consolation of God is not simply an optimistic view of the resurrection for us here in holy week. The consolation of God is an invitation to living life with open hands rather than clenched fists. 

May we be God’s hopeful people living with open hearts and open hands. May we not dwell in desolation. May we not stay in the darkness. Rather, may we move into the light. May we KNOW and REMEMBER the story of Jesus and God’s quiet-persistent-unstoppable Kingdom. May we live in open handed, consolation with God and with those around us.

Sermon Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11, Matthew 27:20-26

As we consider the crowds who met Jesus in praise and later condemned him for not suiting their needs, I hope we can humbly ask ourselves, “In what ways (big or small), do we push Jesus aside when his Kingdom does not align with our kingdoms?”

May we say NO to our preferential kingdoms, no to the kingdoms of the culture around us. Kingdoms of evil and domination, but even kingdoms masked as good or just when they do not align with the values of Christ.

May we say YES to the Kingdom of peace, mercy, forgiveness, healing, and freedom that Jesus taught and which changes the world quietly-persistently-unstoppably.