We continue learning about Jesus life before public ministry with our series, “In My Father’s House”. Pastor Megan and Pastor Erik discuss Luke 2:41-52, its a story of an adolescent Jesus. We often focus on Jesus death and resurrection as the core of his ministry. But it is good to remember that his teaching and life bear witness to God’s promises for us, too. This is one of the earliest reminders of this. What can we learn from how people learned from Jesus?

We start a new sermon series this week called “In My Father’s House”. Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Luke 2:25-38. God has prepared people to hear this good news! This is one of the few stories of a young Jesus and his parents. It gives us space to see more of the humanity of Jesus. There is a balance of prophetic witness here. Both stories are included. Why might this be meaningful? While Mary and Joseph knew who Jesus was, this must have still been unsettling for them to hear. What do we learn about who Jesus is from this story?

Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Luke 1:26-38. This is the passage that gives us our key verse for this series. This is the culmination of all promises, with Mary’s faithfulness front and center. Mary’s trust isn’t without question (v34) or confusion (v29). But she stays with it – and so does God. We may not be asked to do a big thing like this – but then again, we don’t know. God makes big promises and does big things. It is our joy to be a part of it. Trusting in the coming Savior, how will we continue to do God’s will according to God’s word?

Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Isaiah 61:1-9. This is a powerful Advent word – it points to a time that is both now and not yet. This promise was for the exiles, for the arrival of Jesus, and for us now. God’s promises are always the same and always new. Jesus reads this passage in the temple at the beginning of his ministry. This promise reminds us who Jesus’ incarnation brings God’s justice to the world.

Pastor Megan, Pastor Erik, and Pastor Kevin discuss Joel 2:12-13, 28-29. We heard Peter quote this passage in Acts back in August. We hear the promise again – God’s promise to dwell with all people continues to mean all people. The promise is twofold – our repentance is welcome and God’s Spirit is limitless. Sermon series title: how will we live according to God’s word here in Joel? How can we trust these promises for ourselves and for others?

Pastor Megan and Pastor Kevin discuss Daniel 6:16-27. Daniel faces death because of his confidence in God’s promises. We’re rarely called on to make this commitment. What does that look like in our lives?  Advent begins today, an opportunity to prepare our hearts for Christ’s incarnate arrival in the world. Jesus ultimately endures death for us. We are invited to set aside fear and doubt as we trust in the Word.

Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin, and Pastor Erik discuss Jeremiah 31:31-34. This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday and the start of our new sermon series, According to Your Word. Christ the King Sunday is sometimes called Reign of Christ Sunday. What does it mean for Jesus to reign in our lives? How are we showing that we belong to Him? God makes this promise: to write the law on our hearts. It is always there. God will stick with us. God forgives us. This is what it means to be God’s people.

This Sunday’s theme is 1st Communion. Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Deuteronomy 8:1-3, 6-11. History lesson: when does this reading happen, and why does it matter? When we bring young people to the table for the first time, we’re fulfilling our promises to them (and each other) to do exactly this. But when we come together for communion every time, we’re also living into the promises God has made to each of us, that Jesus would always be with us and we would always be one people in Christ’s name. We remember this covenant every time we come to communion!

This Sunday is commitment Sunday! Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Psalm 146 and talk about what commitment Sunday is all about. Serving others, sharing the gospel, ensuring a place for faith to grow for generations – our giving to the Most High does this! When we give out of sheer gratitude for what God has done, how do we bring in God’s

This Sunday is All Saints Sunday, this is a day to remember those who have built faith in us, who we call saints. Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin, and Pastor Erik discuss Psalm 24:1-6. We recognize everything they have given us so that we might know Jesus. We are called to similarly live and serve, trusting that God’s work is done through us. The blessing we have received from the Lord is through the saints of the church before us – and the blessing we share is that we become those saints to untold generations – this is how we pay our vows!