Sunday Sermons

Justice includes consequences for evil, but biblical of justice is making God's will happen “on earth as it is in heaven.”

Series: Moral Boundaries: What God Wants

Speaker: John Pryor

Notes:

Justice is more about pruning than punishing. Things work best when they do what they were designed to do, the way they were designed to do it. People are the ultimate example of this rule—not the exception. Forgiveness is a price God is willing to pay, not His dream.

John 15:1-8, Micah 6:1-8, Mark 12:29-33, Psalm 130:4, Proverbs 17:9, 1 John 1:1

Justice helps the helpless. God expects His people to break the chains that bind people—to help those who are invisible, alone, abused, trapped, and unable to help themselves.

Jeremiah 7:5-6 & 22:3, Zechariah 7:10, james 1:27, Isaiah 58, Genesis 16

Justice requires relationships and commitment. Biblical justice means cultivated connections, sacrifice, patience, and time. The cost is high—including vision-based mercy and forgiveness—but worth it when people are united, protected, and empowered.

Matthew 5-7, Ephesians 4:32, 1 Peter 3:8-17

Justice takes teamwork and creates real change. Biblical justice restores broken hearts, broken lives, and broken homes, but it requires God's people to work together, doing whatever it takes to make sure His will is “done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Isaiah 58:11-12, Matthew 6:9-15, Ephesians 4

Lord, I will…

Truth includes “not lying,” but God wants much more than that. Things work best when they do what they were designed to do, the way they were designed to do it. We only reach our full potential when we follow The Way and when we know, live by, and share The Truth (John 14:6).

Series: Moral Boundaries: What God Wants

Speaker: John Pryor

Notes:

We must live within God's moral boundaries. Things work best when they do what they were designed to do, the way they were designed to do it. We only reach our full potential when we follow The Way and we know, live by, and share The Truth.

John 10:10, 14:6, and 15; Matthew 22:35-40, Micah 6:8

We must see all human life as sacred. God created all human beings in His own image. Taking a human life for selfish reasons is murder. God's grace and mercy covers every sin, but love means feeding, sheltering, adopting, empowering…

Genesis 1:27, James 3:9, Exodus 20:13 & 22:2-3, Matthew 25:37-40

Truth sets us free to produce fruit. We must refuse to distort, reject, or ignore the Truth—and we dare not keep the Truth to ourselves! Silence tells a deeper, truer story than blurting out everything we think, and the truth sets us free to produce fruit!

John 15:1-3, 26-27 and 8:32, Joshua 7

We must speak the Truth in love. Jesus told us to share the Truth; the question is not IF but HOW. We speak with words and silence, through action and inaction; even when we don't mean to “testify,” we are testifying. If you don't know how to share the Truth in love, join us as we focus on doing this more than ever, this year!

Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:11-16

Lord, I will…

As we look back and look forward, we find purpose and clarity for what to do right now. God has big plans for MHCC in 2020 as we strive harder than ever to prepare for Christ's return His way.

Series: Love Incarnate: The Arrival

Speaker: John Pryor

Notes:

Come to Jesus. Jesus meets us where we are to rescue us—but He expects us to trust, obey, and follow Him when He shows up—then help others come to Him.
Luke 24:41-45, Matthew 4:18-25, 11:28-30 & 19:21,
John 6:35, 10:10-18, 11:43 & 14:6, Isaiah 53:6, Psalm 23

Go where Jesus is. Jesus is even more fully present when people really need His help. This is especially true when we unite in prayer and worship and when we serve others. Like Jesus, we must value ALL human life* and do everything in our power to meet their needs. Matthew 14, 18:19-20, 25:31-46

Go where Jesus says to go. Start where you are, spread out strategically, break down barriers, and work to reach the world. This requires teamwork, focus, and Christ's help.
Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, John 8:12

LIVE for Jesus. Spend everything you have loving God and others and find joy and peace that the world cannot give you—but you can give them. John 13:24-35
Matthew 5:13-20

Lord, I will…

* Here are a few examples of how the unborn are portrayed in the Bible: Genesis 25:23-26, Psalm 139:13-16, Isaiah 49:1, Jeremiah 1:5, & Luke 1.

Only the Father knows exactly when Jesus will return, but we do know many things that must happen first, signs to watch for, what will happen when He returns, and what we must be doing to get and stay ready.

Series: Love Incarnate: The Arrival

Speaker: John Pryor

Notes:

Jesus is coming back again. Only God the Father knows when, but Jesus promised that He will return. As always: He keeps His promises, teams up with people, and gives us joy and peace along the way. We trust, obey, and share His love. John 13:34-35,
1 Corinthians 13:12-13, Luke 24

He gave us signs to watch for. There will be false saviors, wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution. Many will fall away, “but the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Prophecy is always vague and all about expectation, and we must never let our opinions about exactly what a prophecy means become more important than the things we know for sure—including unity and love. Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21,
2 Thessalonians 2:1-11, Revelation 13 & 7:14

He told us what will happen when He returns. Everyone will be surprised. Christians who have died will rise again, and we'll all be reunited in the air. The whole world will see Jesus and hear the shout and the trumpet. He will return physically, and we will all be judged.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Mark 13:24-27, 2 Peter 3:10,
1 Corinthians 15:23-24, 51-53; 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 21-22

He told us what to do to prepare for His return. Encourage one another and remember His return, but let it motivate you to build His kingdom and make sure you are ready when He returns. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 1 Peter 1:3-9, 13-16, Acts 1:8-11, Matthew 28:18-20, 24:14, and 25

Lord, I will…

Jesus intentionally set a perfect example in every way, and He proved that He is Lord by His resurrection. We must live as if Jesus did arrive, because He DID. We must live as if He is with us, because He IS. We must live as if He is returning, because He WILL return.

Series: Love Incarnate:Then

Speaker: John Pryor

Live as if He did arrive, because He did! We celebrate Jesus Christ as Emmanuel because He showed up. He kept His promises and brought a new kind of joy and peace into the world. We can trust and obey and share His love because Jesus proved He is Lord.
Psalm 96, Philippians 4:4-9

His birth and childhood (Luke 2)

His baptism and ministry (Luke 3-4)

His death and burial (Luke 23)

His resurrection and ascension (Luke 24, Acts 1:1-11)

Live as if He is with us, because He is. His Holy Spirit now lives inside us and empowers us. We follow the Way; we learn, live, and share the Truth; and we experience Life to the full. Matthew 28:18-20, John 14-15, Romans 2:4 & 8:10-11
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Philippians 4:9, 1 John 2:27

Live as if He is returning, because He will. We must prepare. God loves patterns, and there is always a season of hard work and preparation before the harvest and rest.
Romans 13:11-14, 1 Thessalonians 4, Revelation 21-22

Lord, I will…

The Arrival. Based on everything that is celebrated during Advent and most of the key passages read during this season, it focuses on four ways Jesus has arrived, does arrive, and will arrive. It will also focus on how all this should shape every day of our lives.

Series: Love Incarnate

Speaker: John Pryor
Turn your volume up when Jace is guiding Wyatt to hear what is being said.

Notes

God keeps His promises. We have real hope—not just positive thinking. We wait expectantly and live courageously because God has a perfect track record of showing up. We know Jesus will come again because we already know Him as Emmanuel.
Psalm 146:5-10 & 27:14; John 1:1-5, 1 Peter 1:13

We trust and obey. God rarely does what we expect, but (in His time) He always uses people, and He keeps His promises when we keep trusting and obeying. John 1:6-10, Luke 1:8-14

God gives us joy and peace. Sometimes we have to wait a long time, but He gives us joy and peace while we wait—and an even better kind of joy and peace when He shows up!Luke 2:25-38, John 14:6-7 & 8:12-19

We share His love. God showed us that love means putting others first and showing up in practical ways. As His children, we must love others as He loved and still loves us. When we do this, He is with us. 1 John 4:10, John 3:16-19, 1:11-14 & 13:33-35
Isaiah 35:8, Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus Christ is Lord. The first Christmas gifts remind us that Jesus is the King of kings, the Great High Priest, and the Lamb of God. Matthew 2:1-11

What are you waiting for?

What will you give Jesus?

SLOTH (laziness) literally means unstrung (as in a bow that's not ready to be used) or deceitful (not as good as it seems). Sloth keeps us at others' mercy—even if we are in a position of leadership.
We must break free from Sloth and focus on Wisdom (tangibly living out the best possible choices) and Diligence (consistent, relentless work, over time). Hard work leads to success; it's not the nerdy pastime of adults. Laziness leads to hunger and slavery; it's not our cute, fun birthright. Long-term investments and payos were part of God's original design, not the curse!

Series: Spiritual Disciplines

Speaker: John Pryor

Notes

Jesus's arrival on earth was an invasion. God doesn't offer a sense of optimism but real hope based on promises that He has kept. When everything was fully prepared, Jesus arrived, offering joy and peace to those who choose to truly follow Him.
Genesis 3, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:8-14, 2 Samuel 11-12, Galatians 6:7-9

Break free from Sloth. Inaction turns us into “unstrung bows” that are guaranteed to “miss the mark” because no shots are even attempted. The Highway of Holiness that Isaiah predicted must be walked. Genesis 1-2, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Isaiah 35:1-10 John 14:6, Proverbs 16:26, 21:25, 14:23, & 6:6-15

Focus on Wisdom. Wise people make the best possible choices and then live them out. We must live every moment remembering that we represent Christ on earth.
Colossians 3:23

Focus on Diligence. We must follow Christ's example and consistently, relentlessly do what needs to be done. Most things worth doing take a lot of time and effort.
Philippians 2:1-13

Lord, I will…

LUST also turns natural and even holy desires into dangerous cravings and actions that destroy relationships instead of build them. Lust destroys our ability to love others as people and their ability to fully trust, respect, and love us. Lust trades intimacy for brief, unsatisfying, and lonely sexual experiences. Feeding lust creates habits and addictions that can derail all our relationships.
We must break free from Lust and focus on Chastity (purity, especially sexual purity) and Love (putting others' needs and desires rst). Both produce people who see others as people, not objects and serve them in healthy, practical ways. True love doesn't ask what you can get out of someone, but what you can do to bless them.

Series: Spiritual Disciplines: Seven

Speaker: John Pryor

Notes:

Every choice matters. Choosing to sin weakens us and gives the devil leverage. Choosing to reject sin and invest in something good gives the Holy Spirit leverage. Lust trades true intimacy for physical experiences. Isaiah 40:3-5, Ephesians 6:10-18, Proverbs 7, Romans 1:18-32

Break free from Lust. Lust destroys our ability to love others as people and to fully experience the trust and respect we crave. We must do whatever it takes to break free, which includes confession and accountability.* Matthew 5:27-30,
Hebrews 4:15 & 12:1-2, 2 Samuel 11-12, James 5:16

Focus on Chastity. Chaste people are free to love fully. They see everyone as people made in God's image and seek ways to serve and bless them. 1 Corinthians 7, Proverbs 5:15-23, Song of Solomon, Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 11:1-5, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Focus on Love. The bullseye for believers is always loving God with all that we are and treating others the way we want to be treated. Philippians 4:8, James 1:27

Lord, I will…

* We recommend covenanteyes.com and x3watch.com

WRATH counterfeits righteous anger but—unlike God's wrath—it never results in true justice. Our wrath is selsh and uncontrolled. It blinds us, leading us to measure God Himself against our views of right and wrong and our anger as a justication for anything. It ends us hurting the angry person even more than those they hurt.
We must break free from Wrath and focus on Patience (waiting for a certain time and a certain purpose) and Justice (making God's will happen on earth). While never cruel, selsh, or arbitrary, righteous anger does help destroy dishonest and cruel systems and defend the powerless from their oppressors. It creates change—not just a meaningless display or punishment.

Series: Spiritual Disciplines: Seven

Speaker: John Pryor

Notes:

Human Wrath always misses the mark. God's righteous wrath is strategic, controlled, and results in justice and true transformation. Human wrath is reactionary, out of control, and makes things worse. It puts ourselves first—not God or others. James 4:1-3,
Matthew 5:21-22, Galatians 5:13-26 , John 11:33, Ecclesiastes 7:9,
Exodus 32:19, Psalm 90:11, Proverbs 14:29

Break free from human Wrath. We must plug into God's power and do whatever it takes to live out the new identity He has given us. This means systematically eliminating the bad habits and ideas that remain. Hebrews 12:1-2, Matthew 4:43-48,
Ephesians 4:25-31 & 5:6, Psalm 4:4-5, Jonah 4, John 3:16-17

Focus on Patience. God waits for a specific time and for a specific purpose, and He expects the same from us. Patience is a strategic, mid-game move, not the endgame. Sometimes we have to pray for our enemies for a long time. James 1:19, Proverbs 15:1, 1 Peter 4:8, Romans 9:22 & 12:19-21, Psalm 30:4-5

Focus on Justice. Even when we are right, our selfish, arbitrary wrath rarely makes a positive difference. At best, we create a memorable, fear-inspiring display or punish those who do wrong. Righteous defends the powerless, destroys systems that feed evil, and strategically makes God's will happen on earth. Numbers 14:18, Psalm 78:17-22, Numbers 25, Mark 3:1-5, John 2:13-22, Romans 1:18-32-2:11, Jeremiah 36:1-7

Lord, I will…

GREED is rooted in two lies: whatever we want is good, and things can make you happy. When we fear scarcity and believe we deserve what we want, we can justify just about anything; this is the essence of “the lust of the esh and the pride of life.”
We must break free from Greed and focus on Generosity (meeting others needs with our resources) and Peace (living resolutely—focused, not conicted). Generosity concentrates on people who has less than we do rather than things we don't have. Peace includes freedom from bitterness when we feel slighted. It also includes a natural, deep joy and contentment.

Series: Spiritual Disciplines: Seven

Speaker: John Pryor

Notes:

Greed is the most universal form of idolatry. It is not an action on a list but a fear-based system of false beliefs and toxic attitudes that steal our joy, kill what God plants in us, and destroy our lives. Romans 12:1-2, John 10:10, Luke 12:13-24,

Break free of Greed. We must use worldly resources to benefit others and to create eternal relationships. We must make strategic choices with the unchangeable realities of the future in mind. Luke 16:1-15, Hebrews 13:5, James 4:1-17, 1 John 2:15-17

Focus on Generosity. Meeting others' needs with our resources yields more joy than selfishness. We must not be proud or trust our money. We must trust God, use our money to do good, be rich in good works and generous to those in need. 1Timothy 6:17-19

Focus on Peace. This is more than just a lack of conflict. We experience peace (shalom) when we live resolutely—focused, not conflicted, no matter what we face.
1 Timothy 6:6-8, Colossians 3:1-17

Lord, I will…