FMC Tulsa

Ever wonder if we can truly know God? Psalm 19 reminds us that "the heavens declare the glory of God" - His fingerprints are everywhere in creation. From the perfect order of the universe to the longing planted deep in every human heart, God reveals Himself to us. God speaks through creation's beauty and through His Word. Both general and special revelation invite us to know Him - His power, His nature, His love. The question isn't whether God can be known, but whether we're willing to see what He's already showing us.

This week we tackled life's most fundamental question: Is God real? Using logic, science, and reason, we discovered that the universe's beginning points to an all-powerful, all-knowing, personal Creator. The scientific evidence for a cosmic beginning actually confirms what our hearts have always known—we are fearfully and wonderfully made by a God who loves us.

This Sunday, we began a new series on Christian apologetics—the reasoned defense of our faith. The sermon explored why we live in what Tim Keller calls a "paradoxical time," where both fervent faith and deep skepticism are rising simultaneously. We examined how Christianity isn't just good—it's true—and as C.S. Lewis reminded us, if it's true, it's of infinite importance. Most importantly, we learned that the motivation behind apologetics must always be love—love for God and love for those who don't yet know Him.

The message explored the mysterious journey of the wise men from the East and what their arrival at the manger means for each of us today. While many details about these travelers remain unclear—where exactly they came from, how many there were, even their true identity—one thing is crystal clear: God chose these Gentile foreigners to reveal that Jesus came not only as the Savior of the Jews but as the Light to all nations.

The message explored the theological truth that Jesus Christ is not merely a part of our lives, but the center around which everything finds its meaning and purpose. Drawing from Colossians 1, we were reminded that in Christ "all things were created" and "in him all things hold together." Through reflections on both the nativity scene and Leonardo da Vinci's depiction of the Last Supper, we saw how Jesus brings together people from vastly different backgrounds—shepherds and wise men, zealots and tax collectors, doubters and deniers—reconciling all things to himself through the cross.

The sermon explored the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth—a righteous couple who struggled with infertility for years—and how God used their situation to reveal His glory and advance His redemptive plan. Through the angel Gabriel's message that "your prayer has been heard," we see that God works through our seasons of barrenness and waiting. When the pregnant Mary fled to her older cousin Elizabeth for refuge and wisdom, we witnessed a beautiful picture of intergenerational faith and spiritual parenting. This story challenges us to reject the world's attempts to divide generations and instead embrace our calling to mentor and be mentored, to nurture and be nurtured in the faith.

The message explored Joseph's crucial but often forgotten role in the nativity story, comparing him to a "paceman" in a race—someone whose contribution makes the victory possible, even if they don't receive the glory. Matthew's Gospel reveals Joseph as an ordinary man facing extraordinary circumstances: betrayal, confusion, and a complete disruption of his life plans. Yet when God called him through an angel in a dream, Joseph simply got up and did what was asked of him—no recorded words, just faithful action.

This Sunday's sermon explored the dual meaning of Advent—not only as a celebration of Christ's birth over 2,000 years ago, but also as a time of expectant waiting for His promised return. Through the lens of young Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel, we discovered that we are not meant to be passive observers of the Christmas story. Instead, God has appointed us as "watchmen on the walls"—those who bear witness to Christ's coming and fulfill ancient prophecies simply by proclaiming His arrival.

The sermon explored how true greatness is measured not by worldly achievements, but by the quality of our faithfulness to God. King Josiah stands alone among Israel's kings as one who "did not turn to the right or to the left"—fulfilling both Moses' command and God's charge to Joshua. Despite inheriting a kingdom steeped in idolatry and being surrounded by impossible circumstances, Josiah rolled up his sleeves and got to work restoring the temple and renewing God's people. His story reminds us that when we feel stuck in spiritual or practical ruts, we don't wait for inspiration to strike—we simply begin doing what faithful people do.

The sermon explored the story of King Josiah and the vital connection between renovation and renewal in our spiritual lives. King Josiah's response to discovering the Book of the Law wasn't just to renovate the temple physically—he called the entire nation to covenant renewal. His example challenges us to recognize that our current Vision campaign isn't merely about fixing buildings and systems; it's fundamentally about opening ourselves to the renewing work of the Holy Spirit.