Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church Orlando FL

The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed? A seed that grows into a shrub? Okay, so it’s a big shrub – but really? A SHRUB? The Kingdom of God is not what we think or expect.

Baptism is something so incredibly sacred in our faith. There are tomes upon tomes written about it where big theological words are used to describe its wonderment. However, Jesus calls us into a baptized life not to critique it from our armchairs, but to jump into it anew!

As we look forward to a new year filled with new possibilities, it’s so incredibly important to listen closely to God’s call in our lives and for our church. Many of us start off the year with new resolutions and hope for a better year than the last; let’s start the year by asking God what He is calling us into and then cast a vision that aligns with God’s heartbeat for the world.

 As we close out 2018, we look to a new year of resolutions and self-improvements – perhaps this year we may even stick with our goals for the new year. Whatever life has in store for us, we can boldly step forward knowing that we are anointed by the Holy Spirit to confidently claim Christ as King in 2019.

God shines the way of light for those in the darkness - gives us a new way of being love - a new way of doing life as a gift to each and every one of us – a gift so incredibly precious and priceless is found…in a humble manger. Let us worship our newborn King this day and always.

To some people, prayer is just a form of well wishing – no different than thinking hard. However, just a brief glance at scripture will show that prayer doesn’t only work – it is SO incredibly powerful!

Do prayers work better if we say them more often? How often should we actually pray? If we know anything about God, we know there is never a time that He wants separation from us. So what does that look like for us Christians that often find it difficult to carve out 5 minutes to spend with our loving Creator?

This Advent we are “praying in baby Jesus” by doing a three-part sermon series on prayer. This week we are looking at the promises found in prayer. Does prayer actually work? Who is prayer for? Find out the richness of God’s word on prayer. 

This Sunday we look at Jesus and His place in the world and in our lives. Is Jesus an hour a week King? Or does Jesus truly reign in your life as your King?

You’ll find it in a great number of pop songs and Hollywood movies – it’s the story of the person not content with where they’re at – and they know they were made for “more than this.” So maybe with the right job, the right connection, the right relationship, the right rub of the lamp, the right audition or interview will catapult them into the life they were really meant for: the life of more. God is calling us into the life of more – a life with purpose – but it looks a whole lot different than what we may be expecting.