It's Better When You're Here!

I’m beginning to suspect that I might know some of the most generous people on the planet. The Church has always been counter-cultural, and as I watch wealth concentrate into the hands of a few and see more and more cuts to the things that help my neighbors live with dignity, it only becomes clearer: I know incredibly generous people.

Because generosity isn’t about a number. Generosity is about two things:

The love. And the work.

So today, as we gather, let’s talk about what it means to steward that work—faithfully, courageously, and together.

Passage: Romans 12:3-5 CEB

Join us as guest Preacher, Reverend Ed New brings us our sermon this Sunday morning.

I’m reminded today of the people who included me.

I think of these saints on All Saints Sunday, because they were the ones who reached out, who welcomed me in, who brought me along. And they changed my life.

As we continue our series on generosity, I want to tie a few things together.

May we have a spirit of gratitude for the saints we celebrate.

May that gratitude inspire us to give generously.

And above all, may we give with a heart of evangelism—

a heart that doesn’t just open the door wide, but one that gently says, “Come and see.”

Let us be good stewards of the welcome we have received.

Passage: John 1:40-46 CEB

Friends, I find myself going back in time—digging up old, churchy words.

Words like Eucharist. Membership. Passing the peace.

I feel a little like Indiana Jones—or maybe more like one of those American Picker guys—sifting through dusty artifacts and discovering treasures.

And today, I brought one with me: Stewardship.

The way we talk about generosity in the church has always been wrapped up in this word—stewardship.

Because the truth is, the reason we’re tired, the reason we’re sunburned, the reason we keep showing up—

is because we’re stewards of a dream.

The dream of the Gospel.

So friends, let us steward the dream.

Passage: James 1:16-22 CEB

Join us as guest Preacher Rick Gebauer brings us our sermon this Sunday morning.

This is a busy time in the life of the church. And if I’m honest, it’s easy — even as your pastor — to forget our "why".

Today, I want to push back against that forgetfulness. I want to slow down, lean in, and remind myself — and you — of the reason we do all of this.

I’m so grateful for the kind words many of you share about my sermons. But I’ll tell you — the ones that seem to matter most are the ones I’m mostly preaching to myself.

In all the planning, the preparing, the pouring out — I need to remember: our why is always worth fighting for.

Because when the church is united in mission — nothing can stop her.

Passage: Ezekiel 37:1-7 CEB

All throughout Scripture, the pages are overflowing with dreams—divine encounters, angelic visions, and heaven-sent messages. From Joseph to Daniel, from the prophets to the apostles, God has used dreams to speak, to guide, and to reveal His heart.

When we talk about dreams, we often think of what happens while we sleep. But today, let’s lean in a little deeper—because God also has dreams for us. Not just in the night, but in the light of day. Dreams that shape purpose. Dreams that stir calling.

Ready or not... God has dreams for you. So let’s step into that together.

Passage: Genesis 28:11-19 CEB

In a world of single-serving relationships, the Church is called to something deeper—something eternal.

In a culture where love is often measured by what we get, the Church must become a place defined by what we give—a place of sacrificial partnership, of covenant over convenience.

Christian love is free, but it is never cheap.

It calls for all of us—our time, our presence, our hearts. Because real love, Christ’s love, was never meant to be consumed. It was meant to be lived.

Passage: Colossians 3:9-17 CEB

Last week, we talked about kids—and how Jesus didn’t just welcome them, He pointed to them as the example of real, humble, trusting belief. As a church, we've been gifted with a generation that shows us what it means to enter the kingdom of God with open hearts.

Today, we shift our focus to another powerful part of our faith journey: friendship. It's a gift, yes—but it’s also a challenge and a calling. We were never meant to walk alone. From the very beginning, we were built for community.

So let’s lean in, listen well, and start building something that lasts.

Passage: John 15:9-15 CEB

As we begin this new series on relationships, let’s start with the very first relationship we ever experienced—the one we had from the moment we entered this world. From our earliest breath, we were introduced to the people who would shape us the most.

Yet, as we grow older, it's easy to forget what it was like to be a child—the fears, the questions, the wonder. But God hasn’t forgotten.

Today, we turn our hearts to what God says about children—not just to understand them better, but to understand Him more deeply.

Children are not a problem to solve—they are a gift to be cherished. Let’s open our hearts, open God’s Word, and see what He wants to teach us through the lives of the littlest among us.

Passage: Matthew 18:1-6 CEB