Submerge Sermons

We all face suffering of all kinds constantly in our personal lives, and see it everywhere in our world. How does all this pain & suffering fit in with our understanding of God and faith? And is there any way to find any sense of joy in the midst of it all? Learn with us some "theology of suffering" and some real ways to respond that make sure it is never "wasted", and can even lead to finding joy...

We all face opposition in our lives from all sorts of fronts, and it's one of the biggest things that can rob our joy. On this Sunday we learned from people like Jesus & Apostle Paul, who faced a whole lot of opposition, how to still find purpose and God's radical joy in the face of it all, and how to respond in healthy ways that lead us to know Jesus better...

So many things that happen in our world & our lives to rob our joy are out of our control. But there are some things that we can control, and ways we can choose joy--and God wants to help us in do that! Learn with us some inspiring & practical lessons on choosing joy...

It's exhausting to keep pursuing happiness, when it depends entirely on what's happening in our lives. So God offers us something deeper--a joy, that can go beyond circumstances. And one unexpected place we can find joy is through humility--God's humility in becoming human because of HIs deep love for us, and our humility in serving others. Discover this joy with us!

The most frequent thing Jesus ever talked about was "the Kingdom of God"--but what is it, how do we become a part of it, what does it mean for the church & for our lives personally? Explore these questions with us and hear why bringing God's Kingdom "here as it is in heaven" is more important these days than ever, and how it reminds us we're part of something bigger...

“Within every apple lies the potential for an entire orchard.” Did you know that because God placed His Spirit & the seeds of the Gospel in us, He can bring an entire orchard through us? And when we do that, it adds all new purpose to our daily lives! And it makes the church "more than a place"--but a community of people that brings value to their local neighborhood...just as God intended!

God wired each of us with skills, gifts & talents, and He calls us to use those together to "be the church" in our world. Everyone gets to play in God's Kingdom! Learn with us how to discover your gifts & explore ways to use them inside & outside the church...

What did God really intend for "the church" to be? Join us as we learn about God's calling to us as a people, "beyond the fish bowl", beyond buildings & events, to people who are set apart for a purpose. And we learned that the more we embrace that calling, it changes how we view "church", why we go, and how we live the rest of the week...

We wrapped our prayers series by learning about a type of prayer that's often misunderstood & under-valued, but is vital to us staying close to God, and is a powerful antidote to all the guilt & shame we often face--prayers of confession & forgiveness. Learn with us the why & how of these, and how to forgive yourself!

In our world that feels as divisive as ever, it's encouraging to know that the one thing Jesus prayed for all of us was unity. But how do we find it, especially with those we disagree with? Learn with us what unity is NOT, what it looks like even in diversity, and how God wants to help us find more of it...