Phil gave a lesson entitled “Body Language.” In this message, Phil looked at 1 Corinthians 12 and explained how Paul envisions the church working as a body. Just as the body has different parts to help it function well, so the church has diversity to help it accomplish its goal.

Phil launched into the next phase in the biblical journey, the story of The Church. Finding its origin in the death and resurrection of Jesus, the church in its fullness is to represent the ongoing ministry of Jesus to the world. Phil presented some individual and corporate practices for representing the fullness of Jesus to the world.

Phil continued our sub-series focused on the life of Jesus. In this sermon, Phil looks at the most neglected chapter of Jesus’s story – the Ascension. What do the various passages that talk about this subject reveal? Why does it matter that Jesus ascended, and what does Jesus do now in this state? The present reign of Christ is critical in understanding our place in His world.

Harold Shank delivered our second message on the resurrection with a message entitled, "I Pine Away." This lesson, taken from Isaiah, looked to the ancient response to hopelessness which comes to full flower in the resurrection of Jesus.

Phil continued our Listen to my Voice series with a look at the resurrection. The day Jesus rose from the dead is the center point of human history and gives us immense hope as we contemplate our own mortality. Phil spoke about this event through the perspective of Mary Magdalene.

Phil spent a second week exploring the theology of the cross. In this message, we explored what scripture has to say about sin in its various forms, and what it means that Jesus died “for our sins.” Understanding the thought-world of the New Testament helps us better understand the triumph of the cross.

Phil delves into the next big chapter in the life of Jesus, which is his death. This will be one of two sermons Phil will present on this topic. This first lesson we explore the relationship between the crucifixion and cosmic suffering. Scripture uses a number of metaphors to describe the crucifixion and its significance – ransom, sacrifice, redemption, victory to name a few. Phil will talk about several of these and go into most detail about the motif of sacrifice.

Phil continued our Listen to My Voice series with a message called “The Kingdom of Heaven is Like...” In this lesson, Phil explained what “kingdom” meant in New Testament times and how Jesus used this word in His teaching. Jesus’s message of the kingdom was good news when He first declared it, and it’s still good news to us today.

This lesson centered on our Family Blessing, where we celebrate the new births and adoptions that have added to our church family in the past year. Phil’s sermon will focused on the most historic birth of all, the birth of Jesus.