Emmaus Road Church | Fort Collins, Colorado

Sermon Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NRSV)

As the people of God, we mark time to tell the story of Christ. The liturgical calendar tells the story of salvation in Christ. Keeping these rhythms helps form our identity as the people of God.

Advent is about waiting. It is about longing. During this season we enter into solidarity with our ancient brothers and sisters who waited for the coming of the Messiah. Now that the Messiah has come in the person of Jesus, we await the return of Christ and the renewal of all things. So, this season is about being honest about our own longing. 

Our role as the Body of Christ in the world is to anticipate this kingdom by living according the reign of Christ now. We don't know how long, but the prophetic word for us this Advent is to live in accordance with the kingdom of Christ as we await its full arrival.

This Advent, as we look forward to Christmas, how can we “set all our hope on the grace of Jesus Christ”?

As we look around, really open our eyes, we see too much suffering and injustice in the world.  Jesus found the company of tax collectors and sinners more real than that of the pretty and privileged people.  He welcomed and served the poor, the orphaned, the widow, the stranger.  These people were marginalized, rejected by their society, as by ours.  Christ sought them out, and not so he could Lord it over them and feel better about himself, but so he could wash their feet.  

What can we do as we hope for the coming of the Lord?

Sermon Scripture: Revelation 1:4-8 (NRSV)

Today is Christ the King Sunday! It marks the final week of the liturgical year before beginning a new year with the start of Advent. It is a time to remind ourselves of our allegiance and to remember again whose we are, we are children of the Creator God, the Living Christ who rules over all the nations.

Those who give their allegiance to Christ are rescued from a life of vengeance, selfishness, crudeness (and the like) and transformed into a "Lamb-King community."

Sermon Scripture: Genesis 6:5-14 (NRSV)

What the Bible does best is serve as an inspired sign that points to Jesus. This means that we can find Jesus in all of the scriptures....even in Genesis. 

Today, we are going to find Jesus in the story of Noah.

Jesus is the ark who ushers us into new creation. When Noah and his family entered the ark, they were in an old, corrupt world, dominated by violence. When they stepped out of the ark, they stepped into a new creation, filled with new possibilities.

Sermon Scripture: Genesis 2:4-7; 18-24 (NRSV)

In this series, we are flexing our interpretive muscles as we learn to read the Bible in the light of Christ. The tradition handed down by Jesus to his disciples on the Emmaus Road and picked up by the apostles and the early Church Fathers was to read the Bible with Christ as the interpretive center. This means that we can expect to find Jesus through the whole of the scriptures - even in the Old Testament!

Sermon Scripture: Hebrews 11:1; 12:1-12 (NRSV)

We often remember someone’s life with fondness, but that doesn't mean their journey was always easy. Those whose lives we consider faithful, may have consider their own lives and faith a struggle! Those whose lives ended in a state of spiritual maturity had to go through a process of growth, maturity, and wrestling to get there. 

Like a runner who runs a race, there are moments of “runners high” where everything is going well and it feels like you could run forever. There are also moments where continuing to run feels impossible. Run the race of faith with perseverance. Fix your eyes on Jesus who has marked out the path for us.

We are invited to join the cloud of witnesses for those that follow us! 

Sermon Scripture: Genesis 1:1-3 (NRSV)

Genesis 1 gives us an account of creation filled with harmony and balance.

This week, as the fall colors are bursting all over our city, take a few moments to take it in. Go on a walk in a natural area. Marvel at the beauty in your own backyard. Worship the Creator by standing in awe of creation. May you be pointed to the Word of God, the Creator, Jesus of Nazareth.

Sermon Scripture: John 18:33-38  (NRSV)

All of us are subject to some kind of power structure. While this may make us uncomfortable, power structures often serve good purposes. It is also true, however, that power can corrupt. Unchecked power and authority often leads parties, institutions, and persons to seek after their own good rather than the good of others.

What the world needs is a group of people who bear witness to this Christ-like power. We are to be that people! 

May we commit ourselves to the task of not just understanding the broken signposts, but answering the invitation to bear witness to how they are redefined on the cross.

Sermon Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-16 (NRSV)

As Pastor Daniel leads us this week, we take a peak the Broken Signpost of rest. Culture is constantly shaping our faith, often numbing us to the beautiful hope it holds. As we consider how the faith to which we are called flows counter to our culture, we discover the freedom promised to those who swim against the flow. 

Hear the good news! Because God loves us, we lack for nothing; because God forgives us, we have everything we need; because God surrounds us with sisters and brothers, we do not journey alone.

Sermon Scripture: John 18:33-38 (NRSV)

Of all the broken signposts, we would expect truth to be the least broken. But, our relationship with truth isn't quite as straight forward as we might expect. 

As with all the signposts, once we have understood truth in light of Christ, we are invited to bear witness to this in the world. We are invited to be ambassadors of truth - not by defending it - but by embodying new creation, faithfully pointing people to Jesus, and showing that self-giving love is the most powerful force in the world. To be people of truth is not, primarily, to clearly articulate doctrine; but to love well.