In this sermon, Chris Richards explores the theme of "The Powerful Foolishness of the Cross" based on 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. He begins by introducing the main idea that the cross of Christ serves as both a foolish and powerful cure for the aches of our hearts.

Chris reflects on the earlier message about being made complete in Christ, addressing the rivalries and divisions within the Corinthian church. He emphasizes the church's inclination to follow different personalities rather than uniting under Christ, ultimately leading to confusion.

He reads from 1 Corinthians, highlighting how the cross is viewed differently: for some, it is a symbol of foolishness, while for others, it represents the power of God. Chris elaborates on the historical context of the cross, describing it as a tool of crucifixion—an instrument of humiliation and suffering, yet a powerful symbol of redemption.

The sermon identifies two mentalities that challenge the message of the cross: legalism, which emphasizes being good enough to be saved, and relativism, which suggests that one is already good enough as they are. Richards emphasizes that true salvation comes not from personal effort but through the work of Christ.

He then discusses the inclusivity of the cross, which invites all, including the least, lame, and loveless, into a relationship with God. He stresses that followers of Jesus naturally talk about the cross and what it represents.

Finally, Chris acknowledges the complexity of life that can make it difficult to see the beauty of the cross, but he encourages the congregation to embrace its transformative power. He concludes by inviting the congregation to engage in a moment of reflection, contemplating their relationship with the cross and how it impacts their lives, emphasizing the hope and life it brings to believers.

In this sermon, Chris Richards opens with a prayer of praise to God, expressing gratitude for the story of Christmas and the significance of Advent, particularly the coming of Jesus. He reflects on the journey of their church as they enter 2025, celebrating milestones and the challenges faced by the congregation over the past five years.

The central theme revolves around the complexities of life and the expectations people have when waiting for the King, emphasizing the need for understanding despair, unrest, and sorrow. Richards points out that Jesus, born humbly, understands human suffering and brings hope, joy, and peace in moments of darkness.

He delves into the Corinthian church, examining its potential amidst complex societal issues such as money, entertainment, and moral challenges. This context leads to a discussion about the nature of leadership and the importance of recognizing who or what influences our lives. Using the scripture from 1 Corinthians, he underscores that believers often align themselves with different leaders or factions, creating divisions within the church.

Richards emphasizes the importance of unity in Christ, highlighting that while the Corinthian church struggled with these divisions, Paul called them to remain focused on Jesus as their true source of strength and hope. He concludes the sermon by inviting the congregation to reflect on their own experiences of darkness and to remember that Jesus, the light of the world, has come to offer love and peace to everyone. As they light the Christ Candle in celebration, the focus remains on rejoicing in the fulfillment of God's promises through Christ.

In this sermon, Chris reflects on the significance of Advent and the coming of the King, Jesus Christ. He begins with a prayer acknowledging the story of Christmas and the hope it brings. The theme "The King is Coming" is introduced, emphasizing expectations surrounding Christ’s arrival.

Chris discusses the reality of despair both externally in the world and internally within individuals. He questions whether the coming King understands the struggles and hardships we face, emphasizing that Jesus, born into humble circumstances, experienced sorrow and unrest just like humanity. Christ’s incarnation is portrayed as a means for God to connect with and empathize with human suffering.

Throughout the sermon, the speaker raises two questions for reflection: why is the coming of the King good news today, and how does it offer hope for the future? He speaks to the themes of hope, love, and joy found in Christ and highlights that God’s light shines in darkness, bringing peace and the promise of an everlasting kingdom.

The sermon culminates with the lighting of the Christ Candle as a celebration of Jesus’ birth, symbolizing the arrival of hope, peace, joy, and love in the world. The speaker reminds the congregation that the light of Christ has come to fulfill the longing that advent represents and encourages them to share this light with others.

In today’s sermon, the speaker discusses the theme "Echoes of Expectation" as it relates to the Christmas season, focusing on the anticipation of Jesus Christ's coming. He begins with an engaging joke and a story about Trudy Ederly, who attempted to swim the English Channel. Her journey reflects the feelings of despair and doubt before reaching her goal, which serves as a metaphor for the hope that the coming of Christ brings.

The speaker highlights how the Israelites find themselves in a state of darkness, as illustrated in Isaiah 8, where God calls them out for seeking guidance from mediums instead of turning to Him. He emphasizes that this darkness is often self-inflicted and resonates with personal feelings of hopelessness. However, the promise of light is presented in Isaiah 9, which speaks of a time when a great light will emerge for those dwelling in darkness.

Four key truths about God’s character are explored:

He also emphasizes subtle differences between Isaiah and Matthew's accounts, highlighting how the New Testament authors draw attention to Old Testament prophecies while providing deeper interpretations through their language choices.

In conclusion, the message underscores the transformative power of God's light in our lives, offering hope amid darkness and inviting listeners to reflect on their relationship with God as they anticipate the true meaning of Christmas.

We continue the "The King is Coming" series, focusing on the anticipated arrival of Christ during the Christmas season. He opens with a prayer, acknowledging the tension between joy and hardship in life, highlighting the beauty of celebrating Christ's coming amidst struggles.

Reflecting on personal anticipation, Chris shares a vivid memory of his wedding day, emphasizing that just as he wanted control over that moment, many people desire to dictate how Christ should come into their lives. He introduces the story of the Magi from Matthew 2:1-11, detailing their journey to find Jesus, which challenges the audience to examine their own expectations of Christ's arrival.

The sermon contrasts two groups: King Herod, who felt threatened by the Magi's search for the new king and attempted to manipulate the situation; and the Jewish leaders, who possessed knowledge of Scripture but remained indifferent. In contrast, the Magi, described as worshipful seekers, recognized the significance of the star indicating Christ's birth and came prepared to worship Him.

Richards connects this to the prophecy in Micah 5:2-6, emphasizing Micah's role in pointing the Israelites to the Messiah amidst a time of political instability and spiritual decline. He discusses Micah’s prophetic mention of Bethlehem, affirming the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding Jesus. The anticipation of Christ's arrival is rooted in a deep understanding of His dual nature as both fully God and fully man, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Jesus not just as a historical figure, but as the Savior who has come for each individual.

Chris prompts us to reflect on how they anticipate Christ's coming in their own lives, urging them to worship authentically and prepare their hearts for Him. The sermon concludes with an encouragement to embrace the hope and joy that comes from the promise of Christ's presence amidst life's uncertainties.

In today's message, DJ Jellison emphasizes the central theme of "God with us," rooted in the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14 about the coming of a king, named Emmanuel, which translates to "God With Us." The sermon explores the idea that God desires a personal relationship with humanity, contrasting this with the belief that God is distant and uninvolved in our lives.

Using the biblical narrative, Jalis illustrates how God has consistently pursued a relationship with us, starting from walking with Adam and Eve in the garden, leading the Israelites through the Exodus, and ultimately in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The story of his daughter Felicity highlights the human need for reassurance in difficult times, symbolizing our own calls to God for presence and comfort.

The sermon addresses three key lessons from the theme of "God With Us":

Overall, the message reassures listeners of God's constant presence, urging them to engage actively in their faith and community, affirming that God is always there, listening, and deeply caring for each of us.

This powerful Advent sermon titled "The King is Coming" explores how Jesus addresses human suffering through three key actions: incarnation, substitution, and restoration. Drawing from Matthew 8 and Isaiah 53, the message examines Jesus's interactions with various suffering people - a leper, a Roman centurion, Peter's mother-in-law, and those afflicted by demons and sickness.

First, through incarnation, Jesus writes himself into human history by being physically present with those who suffer. Rather than keeping distance, He touches the untouchable, honors the despised, and welcomes the outcast. The sermon highlights how Jesus reverses the normal pattern of contamination - instead of becoming unclean by touching the sick, He makes the unclean clean through His touch.

Second, through substitution, Jesus addresses the root cause of suffering - sin. Using Isaiah 53, the message explains how Jesus didn't just offer temporary healing but took our punishment upon Himself. Like Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities who took another's place at the guillotine, Jesus substitutes Himself for us.

Finally, through restoration, Jesus promises to make all things new (Revelation 21:5). Unlike abandoned renovation projects, Jesus's restoration work in our lives and in His church will be completed. The sermon concludes by challenging listeners to examine their expectations of Christ's restoring power and the church's role as God's healing presence in the world.

The message ultimately points to Advent's hope: in the midst of our suffering, the King is coming to make all things right through His incarnation, substitution, and restoration.

In this sermon about growing as a "Giver" in the church, the speaker explores Acts 11:19-30 to illustrate three key aspects of biblical giving. Drawing from the early church's example in Antioch, the message emphasizes that giving extends beyond financial contributions to include serving, stewarding, and sacrificing for spiritual needs.

The sermon outlines three main points about growing as a Giver:

The message concludes by highlighting that what made early Christians distinctive wasn't just that they served and sacrificed (since everyone serves something), but that they did so specifically for Christ's body, the church. The sermon challenges listeners to pray about three areas: identifying needs to serve, stewarding resources for kingdom work, and finding joy in sacrifice.

Throughout the message, the speaker emphasizes that true Christian giving prioritizes spiritual needs over physical ones, following Christ's example who "for the joy set before Him endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2).

In this illuminating sermon about New Testament letters and their application to church unity, the message explores how biblical writers used linking words like "therefore" and "because" to connect spiritual truths with practical living.

The sermon centers on Steel City Church's framework called "The Ways," which guides believers in learning and living like Jesus through three dimensions: lifestyles (connecting with God, investing in others, and engaging non-believers), identities (as uniters and givers), and practical guideposts (belong, speak, bear, serve, steward, sacrifice). The message emphasizes how understanding the gospel - God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ - should transform how believers live, particularly in their relationship with the church.

Drawing from key passages in Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians, the sermon outlines three crucial aspects of being a "uniter" in the church: embracing the church with a sense of belonging, equipping the church by speaking truth in love, and embodying Christ to the church by bearing with one another. The message reinforces that God's plan to make Jesus known to the world is through the church - a diverse, global movement of believers united in purpose.

Through practical applications from these New Testament letters, the sermon guides believers in understanding how to live out their faith as active, unifying members of Christ's church.

This sermon by Zakk Roberts at Steel City Church focuses on the transformative power of Christian unity and community. Beginning with Jesus's prayer in John 17:20-23, Roberts explains that Steel City Church exists to help everyday people learn and live the ways of Jesus. He traces Christianity's remarkable growth from just 120 believers in 30 AD to approximately 2.4 billion followers today, representing 33% of the world's population.

The sermon introduces "The Ways," Steel City's comprehensive guide to following Jesus, which encompasses three dimensions: lifestyles (connecting with God, investing in others, and engaging non-believers), identities (as uniters and givers), and practical guideposts like belonging, speaking truth, bearing burdens, serving, stewarding, and sacrificing. Roberts emphasizes practical expressions of Christian community through love, hospitality, harmony, and forgiveness.

Zakk concludes by highlighting how early Christianity transformed Roman society by addressing urgent social needs through practical love and community service. The central message is clear: the church's unity and mutual love serve as God's primary strategy for making Jesus known to the world. Through Steel City's framework of "The Ways," members are encouraged to actively participate in this divine plan by living out their faith in practical, community-oriented ways.