Kern Talks

In this sermon, Pastor Will delves into the complexities of love and marriage, using a viral story about a bride's outrageous wedding demands as a starting point. He discusses the difference between society's fleeting notion of "falling in love" and the deeper, biblical concept of marriage as a lifelong commitment to serve and care for one's partner. Highlighting Genesis 2, Pastor Will explains how true partnership and selfless love are foundational to a healthy marriage. He encourages couples to focus on their vows as a mission statement for their relationship, emphasizing sacrificial love, patience, and dedication as key to strengthening marital bonds.

This week Pastor Will explores summer vacation challenges, using "National Lampoon’s Vacation" as a metaphor for family chaos. He introduces a five-week series, "Family Vacation," offering Biblical strategies to strengthen family bonds and grow in faith. Families come in many forms, and the sermon emphasizes the importance of choosing to serve the Lord together. The acrostic "FAMILY" outlines key points: Faith in Jesus, Asking for and Offering Forgiveness, Making and Keeping Commitments, Investing in Each Other, Listening to Each Other, and Yielding in Love. Pastor Will encourages families to commit to serving the Lord and join the series for more insights.

This week, Pastor Will reflects on the challenges of social anxiety and isolation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He gives personal experiences of going shopping during the early pandemic days and the eerie silence in stores. Drawing from the biblical story of Thomas, Will emphasizes Jesus's message of peace and belonging in community. He encourages listeners to reach out to others and extend invitations to belong, echoing the church's mission of fostering community and making a difference. Pastor Will concludes with an invitation for those seeking belonging and peace to accept faith in Jesus.

From Pastor Will's new sermon series "Where Everybody Knows Your Name".

Pastor Will delves into his personal experience with social media and its impact on feelings of belonging and loneliness. He reflects on the curated nature of online content, which often portrays only the highlights of people's lives, leading to feelings of inadequacy and exclusion. Drawing parallels to the loneliness epidemic, Pastor Will emphasizes the importance of belonging and community, highlighting the biblical story of Mary Magdalene's encounter with Jesus after his resurrection. Mary's experience emphasizes the transformative power of hearing one's name spoken by Jesus and Pastor Will invites people to turn toward Jesus for belonging and hope. He concludes with a prayer for those who feel called to turn to Jesus and encourages them to take a step forward in faith.

Pastor Will explores the significance of Palm Sunday in the Christian tradition and reflects on Jesus' final entry into Jerusalem. He encourages listeners to focus on their walk with God and explores the fifth essential practice of the Christian life: sharing. Drawing from biblical teachings, Pastor Will emphasizes the importance of sharing one's faith and the transformative power of Jesus' life and death, highlighted by Jesus' own acts of sharing throughout his ministry, culminating in his crucifixion and resurrection. He invites listeners to embrace their mission of sharing the good news with others. Palm Sunday serves as a reminder of Jesus' call to discipleship and sharing the message of God's love and forgiveness with the world. Who are you sharing with?

This sermon delves into the topic of money and its relationship with spiritual growth. Using personal anecdotes from tax season, Pastor Will reflects on the significance of money in their life and spiritual journey. Drawing from biblical examples, such as King Solomon and Jesus' teachings, the sermon explores how money can either hinder or enhance spiritual growth. Emphasizing the joy and fulfillment found in generosity, Will encourages listeners to adopt generous habits in daily life and consider giving back to God. Practical steps, like creating a plan for giving or performing five acts of generosity each month, are suggested to deepen spiritual growth through generosity. The sermon concludes with the story of Zacchaeus, illustrating the transformative power of generosity in one's spiritual journey.

Pastor Will uses the metaphor of a toddler learning to walk to explore the concept of spiritual growth, emphasizing the importance of listening to God, drawing parallels between recognizing a parent's voice and recognizing God's voice. He discusses general revelation through nature and specific revelation through the Bible, highlighting the importance of studying scripture to understand God's character. Pastor Will gives practical advice for reading the Bible, encouraging listeners to read slowly, consistently, and reflectively. Two next steps are offered: reading five verses a day or reading the book of John one chapter a day until Easter, inviting everyone to take a step towards deeper spiritual growth through intentional study of the Bible.

Join us in listening to this message from Steve Pawel. From Kern Church's service on February 25, 2024. 

Pastor Will begins with a personal anecdote about a doctor's visit, segueing into the idea that facing reality, whether in health or finances, is crucial for growth. He parallels physical health checkups with spiritual health evaluations, emphasizing the need for spiritual growth. Lent is introduced as a time for spiritual focus, inviting listeners to explore different practices. Worship is highlighted as the first practice, defined as honoring God rather than personal preference or entertainment. Drawing from Psalms and early Christian practices, worship's communal and transformative nature is emphasized. Pastor Will concludes with a call to prioritize regular worship attendance and daily prayer as steps toward spiritual growth, encouraging listeners to participate in a church-wide prayer campaign.

In this message, Pastor Will addresses the prevalent division in society, using a recent snowstorm response as an example. He highlights how political differences lead to polarization, affecting public discourse and personal relationships. Drawing from a Pew Research Center study, they emphasize that political divisions are increasingly seen as differences in core American values rather than policy disagreements. Instead of delving into specific political debates, Pastor Will offers hope rooted in Jesus' teachings, recounting a story where Jesus transcends societal divides to offer unity. He challenges listeners to embody Jesus' message of love and unity, advocating for humility in holding political beliefs and engaging with others to foster genuine community. Ultimately, Pastor Will calls for choosing the path of community and love in Jesus over succumbing to societal division, suggesting that individuals of faith can offer an alternative marked by unity and love.