Park Church Sermons

We live in a cultural moment where people are longing for wisdom, yet increasingly uncertain where to find it. James’ letter speaks to this longing—not with vague spiritual sentiment, but with direct, practical wisdom for forming resilient lives of faith grounded in Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

We live in a cultural moment where people are longing for wisdom, yet increasingly uncertain where to find it. James’ letter speaks to this longing—not with vague spiritual sentiment, but with direct, practical wisdom for forming resilient lives of faith grounded in Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

We live in a cultural moment where people are longing for wisdom, yet increasingly uncertain where to find it. James’ letter speaks to this longing—not with vague spiritual sentiment, but with direct, practical wisdom for forming resilient lives of faith grounded in Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

We live in a cultural moment where people are longing for wisdom, yet increasingly uncertain where to find it. James’ letter speaks to this longing—not with vague spiritual sentiment, but with direct, practical wisdom for forming resilient lives of faith grounded in Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

We live in a cultural moment where people are longing for wisdom, yet increasingly uncertain where to find it. James’ letter speaks to this longing—not with vague spiritual sentiment, but with direct, practical wisdom for forming resilient lives of faith grounded in Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

We live in a cultural moment where people are longing for wisdom, yet increasingly uncertain where to find it. James’ letter speaks to this longing—not with vague spiritual sentiment, but with direct, practical wisdom for forming resilient lives of faith grounded in Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

We live in a cultural moment where people are longing for wisdom, yet increasingly uncertain where to find it. James’ letter speaks to this longing—not with vague spiritual sentiment, but with direct, practical wisdom for forming resilient lives of faith grounded in Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

The life Jesus offers does not happen by accident. Every day, our habits and routines are forming us into a particular kind of person. The question is not whether we are being formed, but by what. In a culture and economy designed to fragment our attention and keep us constantly connected to screens, following Jesus requires more than awareness and good intentions. It requires intentional practices that create space for communion with God, presence with others, and attentiveness to what matters most.

As a church, we are asking each of us to commit to two simple but meaningful practices that help us resist the pull of distraction and cultivate a deeper life with Jesus. Practices like “Jesus Before Screens” and “My Phone Sleeps Where I Don’t” are not about guilt, restriction, or proving our holiness. They are small, research-supported1–5 acts of discipleship that reorient our hearts toward God and remind us that our devices are meant to be our servants, not our masters. As we take these steps together, supported by a committed community, we trust that God will use these ordinary practices to form in us a greater freedom, presence, and love for Him and for others.

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God created us for communion with Himself. Like the temple in Jerusalem, our lives were meant to be places where we meet with God. Yet over time, other things can quietly occupy that sacred space. In Jesus’ day, economic interests, cultural assumptions, and long-accepted religious practices had slowly crowded the temple until the place intended for prayer had become something else entirely. People had grown so accustomed to the obstruction that they no longer recognized what had been lost.

Jesus’ response was anything but indifferent. Filled with holy zeal, He overturned the tables and drove out everything that hindered people from encountering His Father, declaring, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” His passion reveals both the value of communion with God and His willingness to confront whatever stands in its way. As we become aware of the ways our digital lives have shaped us, Jesus extends that same invitation to us—not to reject technology itself, but to courageously remove whatever crowds out His presence. The goal of every sacrifice, boundary, and countercultural choice is not simply less distraction, but more of God. As we clear away what has taken up residence in our hearts and habits, we create space to become people who more deeply enjoy His presence and help others do the same.

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In countless visible and invisible ways, our digital environment is shaping us. The devices we use, the content we consume, and the habits we repeat each day are quietly influencing our attention, desires, relationships, and spiritual lives. If we hope to follow Jesus faithfully in our digital age, we must begin by honestly examining the ways we are already being formed. All worthwhile growth and change starts with awareness. Awareness is not the destination, but it is an essential first step toward meaningful transformation.

The invitation of Jesus is not one of shame or condemnation, but rather the sweet integration of grace and truth. He lovingly calls us to see reality as it is so that we might experience the freedom He desires for us. Through honest reflection and a Digital Habit Audit (see the series companion workbook on the series page, linked below), we have an opportunity to pay attention to what is truly shaping us and to discover where our lives are aligned—or misaligned—with the life God intends. As we do, we can trust that the kindness of God will lead us toward repentance, renewal, and a more intentional way of living.

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