A dad has brought his boy to Jesus to be healed of demon possession. The demon throws the boy to the ground, and Jesus asks the dad about how long he’s been like this. The dad explains, and then the ask: If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. What does […]

In our culture today, we imagine we see it all.  We believe our scientific minds and rational thinking are seeing the full picture. We forget that, as Paul wrote, “we war against spiritual wickedness.”  Jesus recognized personified evil, and the demons recognized Jesus.  They recognized his position and power.  In light of how they had […]

In this sermon we will explore the importance of orthodoxy, or right worship, to the ordering of our own lives to Christ. We will then move into an exploration of  worship as participation in heavenly things, calling us to greater transformation into Christlikeness through Word and Table. From 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 we will consider how […]

God is wonderful–the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Everything in all creation is from him, through him, and to him.  We are the creatures, and God is Creator.  It only makes sense that we would respond in worship.  But the draw is strong to pick something other than Creator, something in his creation, […]

God has been gracious to us. While we are running away from him, he reconciles us to himself. He invites us in, adopts us. We’ve been brought back as friends of God. This gift isn’t ours just so we can sit around the campfire with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit singing Kumbaya, and enjoying the warmth […]

God’s plan is for “no pressure” giving and “no pressure” call to giving. The person on minimum wage and the top wage earner both are called to responsibly manage their money. While the total dollars may be very different, as a percentage of income, they are equal.  Those who are wealthy have great responsibility in […]

We allow our urgent to suppress God’s important. This can happen individually and in organizations meant to serve God’s kingdom. We would never refuse to do God’s will overtly, but when the timing is never “right” because our stuff trumps God’s stuff, we end up inadvertently refusing to do God’s will. Luke 14:15-24

Jesus said something that is hard for material-minded American consumers to hear: “Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth . . . For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” To know where we are investing, all we need to do is check who has our heart. Following Jesus means […]

There’s nothing evil about being comfortable. People who seek pain or suffering need counseling. However, if my life is all about my comfort, presently or in the future, and I’m not willing to give up some of my material abundance to relieve suffering and expand God’s kingdom, we may question ourselves and our true heart […]

When we believe our money and our possessions belong to us, we may begin to think of every other aspect of life in the same way. We imagine ourselves in charge. We call the shots, and we make God our helper, our servant, our cosmic Santa Claus. If we aren’t followers of Jesus, so be […]