The FIVE Sermons

You know God has spoken to you when what you hear moves you – even if it moves you in the wrong direction!

When we talk about the story of Jonah, we’re usually inclined to think that Jonah is the main character in the story. However, what we fail to recognize is that at every major turn of events, before Jonah does anything, God speaks. God sends Jonah, sends the storm, sends the fish, sends Jonah (again), sends the worm and sends the wind. God, not Jonah, is really the main player in the story of Jonah and much of what takes place happens because God steps in and speaks. We have a God who speaks to us and speaks through us and if we have ears to hear, we might be surprised to discover that God is speaking more than we ever realize.

God has not just saved you FROM something, but FOR something as well.

What is the story of Jonah really even about? The name of the book seems to imply that the story is in fact about the titular Jonah himself, and the roller-coaster adventure he sets out on in order to escape the will of God. But what if that narrow view is missing the larger point? What if the story of Jonah has so much less to with the disobedience of Jonah and so much more to do with God’s compassion and commitment to the redemption of all people, in all places, for all time? In “Jonah” we see the extraordinary lengths God will go to save one for the sake of many, many more.

Be imitators of God as beloved children

Children love to imitate the ones they love. Parents, older siblings, best friends - for children, imitation really is the finest form of flattery. As God’s children, we are called to a life of imitation...but what does that even mean or look like? This week we’ll be exploring how to imitate God as dearly loved children for the glory of God and the sake of the world. We hope tonight meets you where you are, as you are and invites you to take one new step closer to God’s relentless love for you.

How we worship matters.

Maybe it’s just me, but I think we as humans have a tendency to overcorrect. We swerve to avoid the bump in the road and end up hitting a tree. We do this in so many different ways, but one of the most detrimental ways we’ve overcorrected is in our view of God. Too many of us grew up with a vision of God that was angry, vindictive and eager to dish out divine displeasure upon God’s disobedient people. Sound familiar? Thankfully, many of us have rediscovered a different, more accurate picture of God! However, in moving away (justifiably) from the doom and gloom, hellfire and brimstone God, some of us have overcorrected. We've created a distant, pacified god who really doesn’t care what we do or how we live, so long as we’re relatively nice to each other and show up to church from time to time. In Matthew 6, we are presented with a much fuller picture of God. Today, I want to invite you to experience that God, who invites us into real, authentic relationship and calls us to worship in ways that truly matter.

If we want to be faithful in life, we must learn to pattern our lives after the God of creation.

Throughout the scriptures, there is a consistent call to rest, slow down, and set apart time for God, with God. More specifically, there’s a whole day established for this called sabbath. This concept of set apart time patterned after the work of God in Genesis 1-2 is so important, it actually shows up in the 10 Commandments. However, while things like murder, theft and idolatry are sure to turn heads and receive swift pushback, breaking the sabbath usually receives the opposite response. While hard work is important, sabbath rest resists the urge to let our work for God to become our god. Today we’ll be exploring the power and importance of rest and exploring the possibility that doing less might just be the key to experiencing more; more of God, more life and more joy.

Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added unto you – Jesus

We have a tendency to worry. I do it. You do it. All of us at some point or another will find ourselves wrecked by worry. But it doesn’t have to be that way. While some stress may be unavoidable, we don’t have to be controlled or overcome by what we face or feel. Instead of being burdened by worry, Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom of God. Seeking the Kingdom is not about having no cares in the world, but trusting the One who cares for the world more than we’ll ever know. We hope this is encouraging to you and that walk away wanting to seek first the kingdom of God like never before!

In a day and age where almost anything is at our fingertips, what does it look like to wait on God?

When we think of key characters in the Christmas story, names like Mary, Joseph, and Gabriel all come to mind...but what about Simeon? Simeon has been waiting and waiting to encounter Jesus, the Messiah. He didn't know what He'd look like, where He'd be, or when he would see Him, but the Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would see the Promised One before he died. Simeon, waiting and holding on to God's promise, sets an example for us. Culture, technology, media - it's all trained us to expect things now. In what ways have we transferred that expectation over to God? And how many times have we missed out on what God has for us on the other side of waiting, because our impatience has shortchanged the process?

Mary, in a daring act of willingness, became a reckless co-conspirator in God’s plan of redemption.

In a small peasant town a young peasant girl encounters an angel of God with a message that is simply unbelievable. God is on the move, His plan of redemption is in motion, and she is called to give birth to God’s own son. Gripped with fear and burdened by confusion, she pours over the angel’s words and responds with a shocking sense of composure: “I am the Lord’s servant. May this happen to me according to your word.” Her willingness ushers her into an audacious grace thousands of years in the making and into an obedience that is anything but safe or easy. Her willingness comes at great risk to her physically, personally and socially but despite these dangers, her risk then continues to yield our blessing today.