Hope can sometimes feel fleeting. It’s easy to have hope in the good times, when everything around us is trending in the right direction. But when things start to unravel (which is exactly when we need hope the most!), our hope for the future often unravels as well. So in today’s sermon, we’ll discover why our hope tends to be so fragile. And we’ll learn how to find a much stronger kind of hope that can sustain us through even the most difficult circumstances we face. Join us as we begin a new series through the book of Philippians! 

Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:12-20

Unfortunately, many Christian communities have a reputation for being rigid in ways that alienate anyone who doesn’t (or can’t) conform to expectations. But the church’s earliest leaders model a very different way. In today’s sermon, we’ll explore a New Testament story that seems quite odd on the surface. But we’ll learn how it exemplifies the kind of humanity, vulnerability, and grace that followers of Jesus are called to embody.

Scripture Reading: Acts 20:7-12

Our cultural climate makes it easy for us to dismiss people who are different from us without a second thought. But what happens when God is using those very people to try to teach us something we need to learn? In today’s sermon, we’ll wrestle with one of the strangest stories in all of Scripture (buckle up!) as we consider the steep cost of writing people off without hearing them out. 

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 2:23-25

Throughout the Bible, we discover that God loves to speak through people. But in today’s sermon, we’ll explore a passage that uses a humorous story to name a serious caveat: If people claiming to speak for God don’t proceed carefully, things can go bad quickly. As we explore the passage, we’ll consider what that important insight means for the church and the way we share God’s message in the world. 

Scripture Reading: Numbers 22:21-31 NRSVue

We Christians have a habit of singing. Whether at weddings, funerals, Sunday morning worship, or just alone in prayer, many of us frequently find ourselves lifting up songs to God. But why exactly do we sing? And why is singing to God important? In today’s sermon, we’ll consider the powerful role of singing in our relationship with God, and we’ll discover the unique ability of singing to shape our hearts and our lives. 

In today’s sermon we’ll explore an uncomfortable truth that shows up all over Scripture: Sometimes God calls us to do things that are hard. That may not sound like good news. But as we’ll discover, God’s challenging call is always paired with an extraordinary promise. And when we answer God’s call, especially when it’s hard, we can be sure that amazing things await us on the other side. 

Scripture Reading: Exodus 4:10-16

Whenever we feel a sense of scarcity, it’s easy to view people around us as competitors and rivals. But we believe in a God of abundance who calls us to a spirit of cooperation and mutual flourishing. In today’s sermon, we’ll explore a biblical story illuminating the power of choosing cooperation over competition, and we’ll consider the life-giving difference that can make in our hearts and lives.

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 18:1-9

Sometimes when our souls are weary and we’re struggling to feel connected to God, God sends someone into our life who can speak the words we need to hear. In today’s sermon, we’ll explore the story of one biblical hero whose faith was revived through the timely companionship of a God-given friend. Along the way, we’ll consider how God may be speaking to us in similar ways through the friends in our life. Join us as we begin a new series, “Perfect Pairings.” 

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 19:19-21 NRSVue

Most of us live our lives at such a fast pace that we’re almost always looking ahead to the future, and we rarely slow down to reflect on the past. That’s a problem, because looking back is essential to growing in our relationship with God. So in today’s sermon, we’ll discover why looking back is so important for our faith, and we’ll explore several practical ways we can incorporate more prayerful retrospection into our busy lives. 

Scripture Reading: Psalm 77:11-15

Sometimes God shows up in a powerful way that nobody saw coming. That’s what happened on the day of Pentecost. As a result, the church was launched into the world to share the inclusive love of Jesus, and the world was forever changed. In today’s sermon, we’ll explore the church’s origin story, why it matters, and what it means for our lives today. 

Scripture Reading: Acts 2, selected verses