Sermon Archive
In January 2024, we went through a website upgrade. Part of that upgrade was a change in how we share sermon content on the website. Anything pre-2024 will be found here on the “Sermon’s Archive” page.
Unexpected (November 26-December 31, 2023)
In the heart of the Christmas season, Zionsville UMC invites you to embark on a journey of discovery through the unexpected. Embracing the theme, "Unexpected," our Advent sermon series delves into the profound stories surrounding the birth of Jesus, revealing how God's presence often unfolds beyond our anticipation.
Week One (Nov 26): Unexpected Hope (Hanging of the Greens). We delve into the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, exploring the common thread of unexpected hope throughout the Old Testament. Witness how God brings forth new life and hope, even in moments when we believe all hope has faded. This is also our annual hanging of the greens service where we prepare and decorate the sanctuary for the Advent season. We will have one service at 10:00am.
Week Two (Dec 3): Unexpected Plans. "Nothing about this child would be normal—not even his delivery." We reflect on Joseph and Mary's journey, setting aside their own plans to embrace a purpose beyond their imagination. Discover how God's unexpected plans can unfold in our lives, inviting us to release our preconceived notions and embrace God’s purpose rather than our own.
Week Three (Dec 10): Experience the unexpected through the eyes of our children as they creatively present the Christmas story. Sunday, Join us for the 9:30am or 11:00am service with the other “Night Owls” at Bethlehem’s only 24-hour roadside restaurant, the Falafel House. The kids have been working tirelessly to prepare and are ready to dish up an unforgettable Christmas. Please come and support our children as they share their talents and love of Jesus with us!
Week Four (Dec 17): Unexpected Joy. Celebrating the shepherds and Wise Men, the unexpected guests at Jesus' birth. Explore the unexpected inclusion and grace that brings forth true joy, transcending our expectations and reminding us of the transformative power of God's unexpected love.
Christmas Eve (Dec 24): The Unexpected Love of Christmas. In this final week, join us for a special Christmas Eve service that recaps the themes of Advent. Reflect on the unexpected ways God's love was revealed through the birth of Jesus, challenging our own expectations and inviting us to open our hearts to the true meaning of Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we will have services at 10:00am, 4:00pm, 6:00pm, 8:00pm, and 11:00pm.
As we navigate this Advent season together, may the unexpected become a source of joy, hope, and a deeper connection with the God who surprises us in the most extraordinary ways.
Week 6 (Dec 31): New practices for a new year
YouTube Series Link: Unexpected
Faithful in Every Season (October 29-November 19, 2023)
Season: A set period of time in which God is at work in specific ways.
Any given season won’t last forever (it is a set period of time). This definition reminds us that God is in control of the seasons—they are ordained by divine design. And most importantly, it reminds us that God is active in each season. Rather than just trying to “get through” a certain season, we are called to recognize where God is present and what God is doing within each season of our lives, so that we might respond to God’s work accordingly.
During this series we will also talk about stewardship. Ultimately, stewardship is more than how we handle our finances and giving—it’s also about how we render under God each day/month/year that we are given. Our next series is about recognizing God’s presence and activity within each season of our life and responding faithfully to that work, no matter what season we might be in.
YouTube Series Link: Faithful in Every Season
Joseph: Livin’ the Dream (October 8-22, 2023)
Like many of us, Joseph had a dream, but it was a dream focused on his own glory. However, life took him on an unexpected journey of slavery and injustice, leading to the fulfillment of his dream in a way he could never have foreseen.
In this series, we'll explore the profound parallels between Joseph's journey and our own lives. Just as Joseph's dream eventually aligned with God's greater purpose, we'll see how God has a dream for each of us that transcends our self-centered aspirations. Through both the highs and lows of our own experiences, we'll witness how God diligently works to bring His dream for us to fruition.
In a world where personal ambitions often take center stage, this series invites you to discover the beauty of living in alignment with God's dream. Through the lessons learned from Joseph's life, we'll find that God's dream for us is far grander and more fulfilling than anything we could ever imagine.
Join us, October 8-22, on this transformative journey as we explore the timeless wisdom of Joseph's story and learn how to embrace God's dream for our lives. Together, we'll find that the path to "Livin' the Dream" is one filled with purpose, hope, and unimaginable blessings.
YouTube Series Link: Joseph: Livin’ the Dream
Generation to Generation (September 3-October 1, 2023)
In our fast-paced world, where information floods our lives, it's easy to forget the stories that shape us. In the month of September, we'll journey into the early generations of Israelite faith—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. These patriarchs left an indelible mark, passing down stories that shaped their faith. As inheritors of this legacy, we must explore these entrusted stories.
Why is this exploration essential? Consider a 2001 study by Dr. Marshall Duke and Robin Fivush. It unveiled the profound impact of family history on emotional well-being and resilience, surpassing wealth, education, or race. Those with a strong sense of family history coped better with trauma, as they possessed an "intergenerational self," rooted in a historical narrative.
The Jewish people's resilience, both in biblical narratives and modern history, stems from this intergenerational self. The stories passed down fortified their identity and faith through adversity.
Join us for "From Generation to Generation." Explore your heritage and faith, connect with shared stories, and deepen your connection with God's tapestry of history.
YouTube Series Link: Generation to Generation
Connect the Dots (August 6-27, 2023)
You probably remember playing “connect the dot” puzzles from when you were a child. Simply draw a line from dot to dot, all the way from 1 to however many numbers there were on the page. As you followed the dots, an image would gradually come into shape. When you were a kid, you’d have maybe 25-30 numbers on a page. There are adult “connect the dot” puzzles with hundreds of dots on them.
Sometimes there are marks/lines on the page that have no number on them. Usually these lines will become part of the image once it is complete. But imagine, if you would, a dot that appears in thepuzzle, for which there is no number. As the lines get connected, the lines will get drawn around this poor dot. But it will never be connected into the larger picture. Imagine how that “disconnected dot” would feel—isolated, alone, excluded, forgotten.
In today’s world, it is easy to become a “disconnected dot.” Study after study shows that people in our society report higher levels of loneliness and isolation. Any time we go through a transition (a move to a new place, starting at a new school, experiencing job transition or the loss of an important relationship), we can feel alone. As the church, we are called to a connected life. To stay connected to God and to each other as we navigate (and serve) the world around us. So how do we live out that calling?
Each week, we’ll explore one place of connection among us as a church:
August 6 - Connected Hearts We are called to carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Or as Paul’s letter to the Corinthians puts it, we weep and rejoice with one another (1 Cor 12:26). Our hearts are connected together. So here’s the question for reflection—to whom are your hearts connected? In what ways? And how do we especially connect the dots between generations—to better understand one another and care for one another, as we are one body.
August 13 - Connected Gifts Paul makes it abundantly clear in both his letters to the Romans (12:3-8) and Corinthians (12:14-23) that God distributes gifts among the community of faith, that we might use our various gifts to build up the body of Christ. We don’t all have the same gifts, we are designed to complement one another. So how do we take our individual gifts and passions and offer them within the ministry of the church. Bottom line—we all have a place and a purpose. Have you found yours?
August 20 - Connected Hopes In James Taylor’s song “Shed a Little Light” there’s a line that goes: “There are ties between us, all men and women living on the earth, ties of hope and love, of sister and brotherhood / We are bound together in our desire to see the world become a place in which our children can go free and strong / We are bound by the task that stands before us and the road that lies ahead, we are bound and we are bound.” There are hopes that we all share. Hopes for our own lives. Hopes for our loved ones. Hopes for our world. These hopes connect us, and we can practice this connection together in our communal life by sharing them as prayers. Jesus said, “Whenever two or three of you agree on anything…” So how do we pray together, to share with God the burdens and hopes that we all carry?
August 27 - Connected Lives This week will focus on discipleship—the fact that we do not follow Jesus alone. Rather, in community we encourage one another. We “provoke one another” towards love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25). Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). Our walk with Christ becomes deeper as it is shared with others, people with whom we can be authentic and real. People with whom we can trust our deepest questions, and who hold us accountable to becoming our best selves.
YouTube Series Link: Connect the Dots
Summer of Service (July 2-30, 2023)
Join us throughout the month of July as we explore the lives of different servants from the Bible. In this inspiring series, we will uncover the essence of servanthood and discover practical ways to apply their teachings to our lives today. Throughout this series, we will be challenged to embody the heart of service in our daily lives. From supporting leaders to promoting others, caring for the vulnerable, encouraging those around us, and giving without expectation, we will discover the transformative power of serving with humility, love, and compassion.
Aaron (& Hur): The Supporter (Exodus 17)
Aaron was not “the man.” Aaron’s job was to support his brother. This role was most vividly depicted when the Israelites fought against the Amalekites. As long as Moses help up his arms, the battle went the right way. But Moses grew weary and required someone on each arm (Aaron & Moses’ friend, Hur). Sometimes, the way we serve is by lifting up those who are engaged in the work of leadership. This might be by praying and supporting our leaders (by thanking or encouraging them). Or it may not be a leader, but someone unseen who is doing good work in the world.
John the Baptist: The Promoter (Mark 1:1-8; John 3:30)
From the beginning, John the Baptist understood his role—to “prepare the way” for the Messiah. He was a fiery preacher, with a timely message for those who were disillusioned by the materialism of Roman society. He was austere (no trappings of comfort or fame), and he had an austere message (repent, and bear fruits of repentance). But he consistently pointed to the coming of the Messiah (“I baptize with water, he will baptize with fire.”) And when he saw Jesus, he said to his disciples: “Behold the lamb of God… He must increase, and I must decrease.” There is a natural bent in all of us to seek our own glory. But the heart of service is giving glory to others.
Ruth: The Care-Giver (Ruth 2)
Life was hard for Naomi and for her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. In the space of one year, all three lost their husbands, and none of them had sons. Because women could not own property in that time, the future was bleak. Naomi knows that her daughters-in-law are still young and attractive, they can return to their families and remarry. She releases both of them from their obligation, and plans to journey alone back to her homeland. Ruth, though, will not take her up on the offer—she insists on staying with Naomi, even though it means an uncertain future. Ruth epitomizes the role of the care-giver, the person who honors their commitment to care for a loved one, no matter the cost. One of the greatest ways we can serve is to be loyal to those who need us. And as a church, we are called to honor and care for those who are caring for others.
Barnabas: The Encourager (Acts 4:36-37; Acts 13-15)
Joseph was his name. That is not how we know him now, but that was the name given to him by his parents. Barnabas is the name given to him by the apostles. It means “son of encouragement.” Barnabas is someone who constantly built up others around him. It starts at the very beginning, when Barnabas sold a field to support the ministry of the fledgling church. It continues in his many journeys with Paul, where he encouraged and supported the church throughout Asia Minor. He participated in the Jerusalem Council as an advocate for the Gentile church. (In fact, he may have even been the lead, as his connections to Jerusalem were stronger than Paul’s). And even when he and Paul part ways, it is because Barnabas wants to include John Mark, while Paul is ready to write him off because John Mark deserted them in a prior journey. We don’t know what happened with Barnabas after that, but we know what happened with John Mark. He was eventually reconciled to Paul (2 Timothy & Colossians 4:11), and went on to write the first Gospel. All because someone saw something in him, and would not let that gift die. In the same way, we can serve by encouraging and building one another up (Eph 4:29).
The “Anointer” at Bethany: The Giver (Matthew 26)
During the crazy events of Holy Week, after a week of confrontation and teaching at the temple, but prior to Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion, there is a touching moment that happens. An unknown woman comes to Jesus and breaks open an alabaster jar of pure nard, a very costly gift. She pours the oil on Jesus’ feet, and wipes them with her hair. It is an act of sheer, extravagant love. So extravagant, in fact, that the disciples’ complain about the cost—they are sure that greater service could have been rendered by selling the gift and distributing to the poor. But Jesus defends the woman, explaining that she has done something beautiful for him. She has prepared him for burial—to face all that is ahead. One of the most powerful ways we can serve is by giving. Especially when that gift comes with no strings attached, when it is pure blessing to the one who receives.
YouTube Series Link: Summer of Service
The Art of Blessing (May 7-June 19, 2023)
Jon Ortberg defines a blessing as “the projection of good into the life of another.” This projection involves all of us—our thoughts and our feelings and our will. Our words and our actions and our souls. “To love someone with your soul means your will, your choices, your mind, your thoughts, your feelings, your body, your behavior, and your habits are all aligned for the good of their entire being before God.”
Imagine if we learned to bless others in this way. If it became a way of our being in the world. That, after all, is what God intends for us. Way back in the beginning, when God first made covenant with humanity, God told Abram: “I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” God makes a big promise to Abram—every part of My Being is aligned to bring good into your life. But God has an even greater purpose for this blessing. God’s will is not simply to bless Abram, but to enable him to become a blessing, so that others might experience God’s goodness through him.
This series provides us with plenty of opportunities to bless others. We have the opportunity to bless Confirmands and Graduates, mothers and members of our armed services. But we hope this is just the beginning of our blessing journey—that as we learn to bless others, the goodness of God will continue to spill out over our lives into the lives of those around us. That God will indeed make us, as with Abraham, a blessing to the earth.
May 7: Blessing & Cursing (Genesis 12:1-3; Abram’s covenant)
May 14: A Legacy of Blessing (2 Timothy 1:3-7; Lois, Eunice, & Timothy)
May 21: The Ancient Blessing (Numbers 24:24-26)
May 28 – Blessing our Country (Memorial Day Weekend/Pentecost—Acts 2)
June 4 – Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-10)
June 11 – When You Bless a Child (VBS Celebration)
June 18 – Whole-Hearted Blessing (Psalm 103)
YouTube Series Link: The Art of Blessing
Encounter with the RISEN Christ (April 16-May 7, 2023)
Join us at Zionsville UMC for an inspiring 4-week message series titled "Encounters with the Risen Christ." Through this series, we will explore powerful encounters that various individuals had with Jesus after His resurrection, and how these encounters transformed their lives.
April 16 - Thomas Believes (John 20:19-29
April 23 - Breakfast with Jesus (John 21:1-14)
April 30 - The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)
May 7 - Jesus Ascends (Luke 24:36-53). This is also Confirmation Sunday and will be a one-service-Sunday at 10:00am.
Join us as we journey through these powerful encounters with the risen Christ and learn how they impact our lives today. Don't miss this transformative series at Zionsville UMC as we grow in our faith, deepen our relationship with Jesus, and embrace His mission for our lives. All are welcome!
YouTube Series Link: Encounter with the RISEN Christ
Encounters with Christ (February 26-March 26, 2023)
We began the new year by studying some of Jesus’ best-known parables. But Jesus was known not only as a rabbi, but also as a healer. Throughout the season of Lent, our worship will focus on these stories of healing. As we do so, we will reflect on the ways in which we have encountered Jesus in our lives, and the ways we have known Jesus’ healing in our midst.
February 26—Man Through a Roof (Mark 2:1-12)
March 5—Ten Outcasts (Luke 17:11-19)
March 12—(Guest preacher from Fuller Youth Institute—Steve Argue)
March 19—Mary & Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
March 26—Lazarus (John 11:1-45)
YouTube Series Link: Encounters with Christ
Stories Jesus Told (January 15-February 12, 2023)
Rabbi.
That was the first title given to Jesus, long before he was known as prophet, Messiah, or Lord. Jesus was first known as a teacher. People flocked to Jesus for his teaching as much as for his miracle-working, and often came away remarking that they had never before experienced someone who spoke with such authority and wisdom.
One of the principle characteristics of Jesus’ teaching was his use of stories to illustrate and drive home his message. So to deepen our own understanding of Jesus’ message, we will begin the year by studying some of Jesus’ most well-known and beloved stories:
January 15: The Wise & Foolish Builder
January 22: The Sower
January 29: The Mustard Seed
February 5: The Good Samaritan
February 12: The Prodigal Son
YouTube Series Link: Stories Jesus Told
Joy to the World (November 27-December 25, 2022)
In the month leading up to Christmas, our church family will gather to await Jesus’ birth. We will gather in online spaces and in-person for services and celebrations. Below, you will find the different services we will have available and how you can join in throughout the month.
Hanging of the Greens, November 27: “Hanging of the Greens” is a service where we decorate the sanctuary as a way of entering the season of Advent. During the service, we learn about the symbolism of the decorations we use (wreaths, garlands, poinsettias, etc.), and then place those decorations while the congregation sings carols. It is a wonderful way to begin our journey to Christmas!
Children’s Christmas Musical, December 11: “Houston, we have NO problem!” Not when your kids blast off with Little Big Stuff’s latest kid’s Christmas musical of galactic proportions: In A Galilee Far, Far Away. Take your crew on an interplanetary exploration to discover the Glory of God throughout the universe, and beyond! And where will it all lead them? Back to a manger in Bethlehem, and the Savior of the World, of course! Our children will lead us in worship on this Sunday.
The Longest Night Service, December 21 : The Longest Night Service is a special service for those who might be struggling during the season of Christmas. This service acknowledges that, for many people, Christmas can be a time of loneliness or grief. Especially during a hard year, when Christmas will not feel "normal" for so many of us, this is a time to remember the hope of "Emmanuel" and feel surrounded by the compassionate love of God.
Christmas Eve Services, December 24: Take a break from the holiday craze and join us for Christmas Eve services at Zionsville UMC. This year, Zionsville UMC will host four services.
Christmas Day Service, December 25
YouTube Series Link: Joy to the World
Called to Trust (November 6-20, 2022)
We all find ourselves in places we don't want to be from time to time. Or we feel the pressure of life pushing in. There are times when each of us have to face moments of despair, failure, or fear. Maybe we have to face all of them! But over and over we are reminded that God is good, all the time. We encounter God in unexpected ways and are reminded of God's presence, God’s faithfulness, God’s goodness, and God’s grace.
November 6, Facing Despair - Ezekiel is confronted with the Valley of Dry Bones. Even in this place of despair we are asked to believe that God is able to bring life.
November 13, Facing Failure - God asks Jonah to reach out to the people he despises and hates the most in the world. What does Jonah do? He runs in the opposite direction. And yet, God meets Jonah in the midst of his fears and the troubling situation he finds himself in.
November 20, Facing Fear - Daniel is thrown into the den of lions, expected to be torn to pieces instantly. Still, Daniel seeks God’s peace and is met in the middle of the lions.
YouTube Series Link: Called to Trust
Who, Me? (October 16-30, 2022)
We hear voices all over. But which voices should we listen to? How do we hear the most important voices the clearest? Over the next three weeks we’re talking about how to hear God’s call in our lives and how to have the boldness to respond.
October 16: Judges
October 23: Samuel
October 30: Esther
YouTube Series Link: Who, Me?
Exodus (September 25-October 9, 2022)
Most of us learned the story of Exodus when we were children. Baby Moses being placed in a basket along the River Nile. God calling to Moses from a burning bush. The ten terrible plagues that fell upon Egypt. The dramatic escape from Egyptian chariots through the Red Sea. The giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai (while the people of Israel worshiped a golden calf in the valley). The long journey through the wilderness until the people reached the Promised Land.
It is one of the best known stories in the world. But what is this story about?
In Greek, the word “Exodus” literally means a road (or way) out. God took his people out of slavery in order to bring them to a better place—to a Promised Land that could be their forever home. In some ways, this is the story we have to offer the world today. Through Christ, God continues to offer his people a pathway to journey out of the darkness and into the light.
Sadly, there are over 20 million people in our world who live in modern-day slavery. Not to mention all those who are bound in cycles of poverty, addiction, abuse, and discrimination. God still hears the cries of his people; God still cares about the condition of their lives and of their souls. And God still calls us, as the church, to bear the good news with which Moses encouraged his people and confronted Pharaoh: Our God Saves.
September 25: The Call of the Church
October 2: Where We Find True Power
October 9: Binding Ourselves to God’s Promise
YouTube Series Link: Exodus
Beginnings (September 4-18, 2022)
Every story has a beginning. What happens in the first few pages of a story sets the tone for all that will follow. The good news of the Genesis account is that our story begins with goodness. We are crafted in love, created to reflect the glory of God’s divine image. Of course, the first few chapters of Genesis also introduce us to the chief conflict of our story—the ease with which we fall to temptation and seek life outside of God’s boundaries. Adam and Eve illustrate our bent toward making false choices, as well as the disastrous consequences which follow. Thankfully, this is just the beginning of a beautiful story which takes the whole Bible to tell: the story of God's gracious plan to rescue and restore His creation.
Week One: Creation
Week Two: Adam and Eve
Week Three: Noah
YouTube Series Link: Beginnings
Reset (July 31-August 28, 2022)
There are times in life when all of us need a reset. To reset our diet or exercise routine. To reset our career or our marriage. To reset our walk with God. To “reset” something doesn’t necessarily mean that everything that came before was bad or wrong. It does imply that some change is needed, that a new foundation or routine is required as we move forward. In some ways, a “reset” is a gift—it means we are not chained to the habits and routines of the past, but can create a new future for ourselves.
The COVID pandemic, and the resulting shutdown, served in some ways as a massive “reset” for our lives. We all had the opportunity (whether we wanted it or not) to discover new rhythms of work, family life, spiritual connection. And sometimes, when you look at how crazy the world has gotten nowadays, you might be feeling like we need to hit the “reset” button all over again!
For our church, this feels like a moment of “reset” too. In part because the pandemic has shifted how we do worship and fellowship and ministry together. In part because we have received in the past month some wonderful new pastors, who bring with them new ideas for ministry. But to a large degree, our leadership has been talking about these things we want to reset for the years.. Over the next month, we’re going to talk about how we, as a church, are trying to reset how we care for the world around us, how we organize small groups and cultivate individual spiritual practices, how we structure worship and family ministries to nurture faith in the next generation. If you’re needing a “reset” in your own spiritual walk, this can be the prompt you need to take that step and start anew.
Week One: Resetting how we connect with the world
Week Two: Resetting how we nurture faith in children
Week Three: Resetting how we cultivate our “spiritual genius”
Week Four: Resetting how we do life with others
Week Five: Resetting how we connect to the next generation
YouTube Series Link: Reset
Rise & Fall (July 3-24, 2022)
It would be easy to call this series, “Bad Leaders of the Bible.” Partly because the Bible abounds with stories of bad leaders, and we can often learn just as much from negative examples as from positive ones (knowing what not to do as well as what we should do). But for a variety of reasons, we’re going to narrow it in on four successive kings in Israel.
For one, this gives us the chance to narrow in on a specific window in Israel’s history. Secondly, each one of the kings we’ll look at has their own faults and failures from which we can learn. But, most importantly, not all the kings in this list were necessarily “bad”—some are even lifted up in the pantheon of great leaders in the Bible. It’s too easy to just label someone as a “bad leader,” when the truth is that all leaders are some mixture of good and bad, the same as us. What leadership does is put a magnifying glass on our gifts and our weaknesses. Yes, the good things we do can be magnified. But so will our failures. In other words, leadership is a place where our sin very often shows up.
So the goal of this series is not to label others as “bad” (and so feel better about our own mistakes and failures). Neither is the goal simply to learn from their mistakes so we can become better leaders ourselves. The goal is to hold up a mirror for ourselves, to see the sin in our own lives and leadership. Ultimately, the goal for all of us is to seek the grace of God. Because our end goal isn’t just to “do the right thing” or “make the right choice.” Sometimes, try as hard as we might, we’re going to fail. Our sin and brokenness is going to show up. The goal is to seek wholeness, healing, and redemption through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as we do our best to lead others.
As we study these early Israelite kings (Saul, David, Solomon, and Rehoboam), we do so knowing that we all mess up sometimes too. And we trust in the work of God who somehow tells a better story through our leadership—both in the moments of glory, and in the moments when we fall flat on our faces.
YouTube Series Link: Rise & Fall
Celebrate Together (May 1-May 15)
The month of May is rolling in like a party. Who doesn't love a party?? All throughout the month we are celebrating different groups and events - Confirmation youth, mothers, and graduates - through the lens of celebrating God’s wisdom.
Throughout life, there’ve been times you’ve made decisions, having zero idea where those decisions would lead me. And yet God has led, even through our half-informed decisions, even through our mistakes. He has led us to a life that we would never have imagined. The key, what’s important is where our heart is at—that’s what God cares about the most. Our part is to trust in God. God’s part is to direct our paths, and lead us into shalom and fullness of life.
YouTube Series Link: Celebrate Together
Rooted & Grounded (March 2- April 3, 2022)
How do we understand our own identity? If someone were to ask you to describe “who” you are, how would you respond? We might define ourselves by our personality (witty, pensive, good-natured, etc.); by outward traits (ethnicity, appearance, etc.); by the roles we play (profession, family position); or by the groups we belong to (nationality, tribe, etc.). Sometimes we even define ourselves according to others’ perceptions. But many of these things are transitory, or perhaps on the surface. They don’t reflect who we truly are. If you keep peeling back the layers, what identity is at our core?
This past fall, we talked about “corporate identity” in the “We Are” series—what it means to be the church. But in this series, we will focus on individual identity, and what it means to be disciple of Christ. We will begin and end the series by focusing on Christ’s identity (affirmed in both his baptism and the “Great Confession” of Peter). But the middle four weeks will focus on what it means to have our identity centered in Christ. Our hope is that we will all emerge from this series with a stronger foundation for our identity—for when we build our identity on Christ, rather than on the flimsy identities the world offers, we are able to grow into the true selves that God created us to be.
Week 1: Into the Wild - the common thread of all three temptations of Jesus is the question of identity.
Week 2: Into the Water - The wilderness journey begins with baptism. This Sunday will shift the focus from Jesus’ baptism to our own. Through the gift of baptism, we are incorporated into a community of faith. We are brought into a new covenant, and sealed with God’s grace and love. But perhaps most importantly, we are given a new identity as the people of God.
Week 3: The Dress Code - Paul often draws contrasts between the “old” person we were before Christ and the “new” identity we have in him.
Week 4: Rubbish - For most of his life, Paul used the law as a foundation of his identity, to prove his superiority to others. Yet in Philippians 3, Paul declares that all these things that used to be important to him are now “rubbish” compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
Week 5: New Creation - One of the key affirmations of the New Testament is that, when we believe in Jesus, we enter God’s new creation. We are no longer bound by old ways of being and living. Ultimately, as new creations, we are called to live as “ambassadors” who reveal and proclaim God’s salvation and hope to all the world.
Week 6: Who Do You Say I Am? - The events of Holy Week will reveal definitively who Jesus is, and what he came to do. But Jesus’ question to his disciples echoes down through history, and demands a personal response from each of us: “Who do you say I am?” We, no less today than Peter and the original disciples, must respond. No one else can make the great confession for us. And the rest of our identity depends on how we answer that question—what we believe and say about this Jesus.
YouTube Series Link: Rooted and Grounded
Spiritual Practices (January 9-February 9, 2022)
To start off the year, we want to spend some time reflecting on spiritual practices that lead us into deeper intimacy and conformity with Christ. There are of course the classical “spiritual practices” like prayer, fasting, tithing, reading Scripture, and so forth. Yet we often make the mistake of dividing off “spiritual practices” from all the other activities that make up our lives. So we spend some small fraction of our day being “spiritual” and all the rest of our time doing the menial stuff of living. But in truth, all life is spiritual. To every thing we do, we bring body and spirit and mind. So any practice can be spiritual, if we allow it to bring us back into closer pursuit of our Creator.
So with this understanding in mind, what is meant by a “spiritual practice”?
A spiritual practice is something that is repeated. We come back to it again and again and again. A practice is something in which we can continually improve.
A spiritual practice often connects us to some place of brokenness within. For instance, the practice of fasting may force us to confront our greed. The practice of Sabbath may force us to confront our addiction to “busy-ness.” The practice of generosity may force us to confront our selfishness. The practice of leadership may force us to confront our pride and vainglory. By forcing us to confront limits and places of inadequacy, spiritual practices become a crucible in which we are shaped and formed by God.
Spiritual practices are also ways that we experience the grace of God. As we come to our limits, we open ourselves to the leadership and guidance of God. We are thrown back on God’s mercy and strength. And when we experience that mercy and strength, it is pure grace.
The goal of a practice is not perfection - nor is it growth or excellence in the performance of that particular task. The goal is growth in our relationship with God that we most seek.
YouTube Series Link: Spiritual Practices
Up Close & In Person (November 28-December 19, 2021)
The world we live in is becoming more and more “disembodied.” Some of this is due to the “social distancing” imposed by COVID-19, but we also have to reckon with the truth that technology and social media set us on this path long before. We are now “connected” to people across the whole world. But often, that connection is mediated through a screen. We can see the pictures and words that people post, but often we do not know them as “real” people—people with flesh and blood and all the same frailties and faults that we humans bear. We just know the persona they project through the screen.
This, of course, has raised great questions for the church. We talk about being the “body of Christ,” yet how do we understand that body? At a time when so many are connecting to worship through technology (livestream, Facebook, Zoom classes and podcasts), how do we create authentic community where we are known to one another, and where Christ is known among us? The last thing we want to do is conduct church in a “disembodied” way.
So this Advent, we are going to reflect on the miracle and mystery of the incarnation—the good news that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Just as God’s word became tangible flesh, so that we might know his salvation and love, we are likewise called to “embody” God’s love and hope for the world around us, that we might be the light that shines in the darkness.
Week 1 (November 28)
King Ahaz lived under great anxiety. He was sure that his kingdom (Judah) could not stand against the powers allied against him. Yet Isaiah proclaims to him good news—that God would protect and sustain him. And to give him a sign, Isaiah points to a woman who will give birth to a child, and the name of that child will be Emmanuel. Symbolic names were an important feature of the Old Testament, they show up repeatedly in prophetic proclamation. So what does this name mean? God is with us. This is the promise of scripture, repeated again and again and again. From Psalm 23 to Isaiah 43, the message is the same: Do not fear. Why? Because I am with you.
Week 2 (December 5)
Too often we think of salvation in disembodied ways—we divorce the body from the spirit. And this has terrible consequences for our witness and for our world. We focus on “saving souls,” while neglecting the material realities in which so many people live. We focus on “getting to heaven,” while neglecting the care of this world that God has entrusted to us.
Week 3 (December 12)
This week, the children will lead us in their annual Christmas Musical - Glory to God in the Lowest.
Week 4 (December 19)
If anyone has the world’s goods, and sees a brother and sister in need, but refuses to help them—how could the love of God abide in such a person? When God wanted to communicate His love and redemption to the world, he did so through the body and life of His Son Jesus. God still wants to communicate His love and redemption to the world, so how does he do so? Through the body of His Son, known today as the church. We are called to embody his grace, so that those who live in darkness might know and see the light of Christ.
YouTube Series Link: Up Close & In Person
Bountiful Harvest (October 24-November 21, 2021)
While on Sabbatical, Dave heard a sermon based on the prophet Zechariah. Zechariah preached in the “post-exilic” period—a time when the Israelites were trying to clean up the wreckage that the Babylonians wrought, and rebuild their nation. It was hard work, and the people needed a steady infusion of hope. So Zechariah gave them a vision of God’s blessing—that someday they would no longer be a warning to the nations of what happens when we turn away from God, but a sign of the blessing God pours out on those who honor and pursue Him.
This vision was an image of a bountiful harvest (because that’s how the people of that day and time would’ve experienced God’s blessings).
If I hadn’t told you that this was an image of blessing, what might you have noticed? What might you have thought this was an image of? The answer is that it looked like a lot of work. The people were joyful, but they had a lot to do to bring in this harvest.
Sometimes God’s blessings show up in our lives in the form of work. When it is in full season, an apple tree’s branches are heavy with fruit—literally weighed down by the fruit they carry. So how many of us are “heavy laden” with the blessings of God? This isn’t to deny the reality of stress that so many of us deal with. However, it is often true that if we examine the things that burden us, they are often connected somewhere to a blessing. Whether it’s parenting, caring for an aging parent, working on a big project at the office, or taking care of a big home—all of these are connected to some blessing that God has given us, that requires careful stewardship. So how do we recognize the blessings that God has given us? And what work is required of us to steward those blessings well?
Week 1 (October 24) Finding Blessing
What does a bountiful harvest look like? Where can you identify fruit and blessing - to be able to see, even in our burdens, a blessing that God has given to us, and is asking us to steward well. We cannot steward them well if we don’t first recognize them as a blessing.
Week 2 (October 31) Recognizing Enough
Scripture is consistent: God desires to give us blessing and always provides for what we need. But one sure-fire way to turn God’s blessing into burden is to take more than we need. Think about the Israelites and how, when they took extra manna, it turned to rot. Or think about Jesus’ parable of the “rich fool,” who received a bountiful harvest and expanded his barns to take it all in only to die before he could enjoy it. This week we’ll reflect on how to recognize “enough” in our lives and not stretch ourselves beyond the point of healthy living and consumption.
Week 3 (November 7) Finding Rest
One of the challenges of our modern-day world is the lack of rest we allow ourselves. In order to sustain our abundance, we tell ourselves that we have to go, go, go. There’s always something more we should be doing, some item on our to-do list that needs attention. And the more we neglect rest, the less able we are to recognize and receive the blessing that is poured out all around us. This week we’ll reflect on practices of Sabbath-keeping, not as a law that is meant to burden us, but as a way of recovering a rhythm of rest and refreshment in life. As Psalm 127:2 says: “God enjoys giving rest to those he loves.”
Week 4 (November 14) Practicing Generosity
One of the best ways to experience blessing is to share it with others. Hoarding is a sure-fire way to sour and distort the blessing of God. If we have been able to recognize and draw the “enough” line in our lives and have recovered healthy boundaries of rest and work—then the truth is that we now have time, energy, and money to share with others. Again, this is not about creating a burden (giving to the point it hurts), but rather about multiplying blessing.
Week 5 (November 21) Trusting God
“Put me to the test,” God declares through the prophet Malachi. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse and see if I will not open up the windows of heaven and pour out my blessing until it overflows.” In the end, everything we’ve been talking about is rooted in a life of faith. If we are operating out of a scarcity mindset, we are always fearful of not having enough, so we drive ourselves to exhaustion and hoard our blessings, waiting for the other shoe to fall. But, when we operate out of trust—believing in the “Lord of the harvest,” in God’s desire to fill our lives with good things—then we can faithfully respond by entrusting our lives and sharing our blessings with others. This passage in Malachi seems to suggest that we experience God’s blessings in direct proportion to our trust in Him. The charge for this final Commitment Sunday is to place our trust in God, knowing that God is able to do abundantly above all we could ever think or imagine in response to our faith.
YouTube Series Link: Bountiful Harvest
You. (September 12- October 17, 2021)
You.
Most of us, when we hear the word “you,” we think in individual terms—Who, me? But often, when the Bible speaks to “you,” the words which follow are not intended for a single individual, but rather for a corporate body. Whether it’s Jesus or Peter or Paul, when one of them says, “You are,” they are speaking to the church as a whole.
Throughout this series, we will explore six different metaphors that the early apostles used for the church—a royal priesthood, the family of God, the body of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, the bride of Christ, citizens of heaven. Together we’ll discover who God is calling us to become—not just as individuals, but as His people together.
YouTube Series Link: You.
My Prayer for You (August 8- August 29, 2021)
We hear the words all the time: “I’m praying for you.” But often those words feel empty—either when spoken or received—because there’s little content to them. Sometimes we say we’ll pray for people, but we’re not sure how to pray for them, or what we should ask for (and so we don’t really follow through on the promise we made). Sometimes it even comes across judgmental—in the same way we might say “bless their heart”—as a back-handed way of pointing out someone’s deficiencies, or praying that they’ll come to see a situation the “right” way (i.e., that they’d become more like us). Or sometimes we focus too much on specific outcomes—for this job opportunity, for that relationship, for a certain test result—when the truth is that we are not God, we cannot control any outcomes, and in truth we don’t always know what outcome is truly part of God’s will.
In his letters to the Philippians, Ephesians, and Colossians, the apostle Paul writes four different prayers, often beginning with the words: “This is my prayer for you.” The few verses that follow those simple words contain some of the most poetic of Paul’s writing. In this series, we will explore the four prayers of Paul, as a model for how we can pray for one another.
Paul’s prayers have a way of cutting through this confusion, and clarifying the nature of intercessory prayer:
Paul’s prayers begin with God. God is the giver, and he shares out of the abundance of His riches, power, and love. All the things we desire for others begin with God.
At its heart, intercessory prayer is about expressing your own heart—and connecting with God’s heart—for another person. It is an expression of love and affection, in which you lay before God your hopes for another person.
Paul’s prayers focus not on outcomes, but on growing in our relationship with Jesus. The things he prays for—strength, wisdom, insight, knowledge—are all things that grow over time. He doesn’t pray for all obstacles or all tough choices to be removed. He instead prays for people to grow in strength and knowledge so that they can face those challenges through Christ.
Week One: Philippians 1:3-11 (Key verse: “This is my prayer for you, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight…”)
Week Two: Ephesians 1:15-19a (Key verse: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”)
Week Three: Ephesians 3:14-21 (Key verse: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being…”)
Week Four: Colossians 1:3-6, 9-14 (Key verse: “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his willthrough all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you might live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way”)
YouTube Series Link: My Prayers For You
Life in Exile (July 11-July 25, 2021)
In the introduction of 1 Peter (v.1:1), the apostle calls the members of the churches he was writing "exiles". This is something easily missed. We get hung up more on also calling them "elect" and the debates that go with that, but the bigger theme in 1 Peter is life as an exile. This also probably isn't how we think of ourselves as Christians, but it is an apt description for our existence in the world. An exile is a displaced person of a foreign kingdom.
In the case of the Jewish people in the Old Testament, they were taken from the land of Israel into exile in Babylon, stripped of their land, their king, and their temple- all the things that gave them security and identity. When their God was all they had, they had to learn that he was enough. Similarly, the people Peter was writing to were likely natives in their lands, but in deciding to follow Jesus were made into exiles in relation to their lands. They weren't cast out of any one place, but are people scattered by God's design into all the world until the coming day when His Kingdom comes in its fullness.
This has always been the case for us as Christians, but it is only recently that we've been reminded of this fact, as our society has grown both more secular (where the Church is moved from the center to the margins) and more pluralistic (many spiritual beliefs). In this environment, there is no longer a social advantage to being a Christian. Instead, Christians are realizing there is a cost to authentically following Jesus, leading to the age-old pressures to assimilate or to withdraw. Instead, we need to learn from the early church and the Jewish exiles who went before us, how they navigated these perilous waters, and not only survived, but thrived, finding opportunity in the challenge.
In week 1 (July 11) of our July sermon series, we'll introduce the idea of being exiles from 1 Peter 1:1-2.
In week 2 (July 18), we'll look at understanding our identity in 1 Peter 2:9-12 and Daniel 1:6-7. Exiles understand that their identity is in Christ.
In week 3 (July 25), we'll look at 1 Peter 1:13-20 and Peter's repeated call for the church to be holy. Exiles are called to be holy.
YouTube Series Link: Life in Exile
Out of the Box (June 27- July 4, 2021)
When we are in relationship with others, it can be so easy to jump into our own boxes and go to battle. Why? Because it feels good to be justified. But self-justification is a dead end. It distorts our view of reality and blinds us to God’s work in and through our lives.
If there’s anyone who ever lived “out of the box,” it was Jesus. At no point did Jesus need to seek validation or worth from others’ opinions of him. At no point did he need to self-justify his actions. Why? Because he lived as Adam was meant to live, in a perfect loving relationship with His Father. And because Jesus lives this way, he is able to see others through a different lens (outside the classifications that the world uses to assign value). Jesus saw and treated people with equal value—he affirmed that we are all equally God’s children. Which explains to some degree why those who felt cast out—tax collectors, sinners, lepers, etc—came to him in droves. Jesus set his followers free by teaching them to love all people for who they were and by deconstructing all the ways of self-justification (power, wealth, religion, etc.).
God calls us to a different way of being - a way of living “Out of the Box”. When living this way, we see others truly, we respond to their humanity and live out the impulses of compassion and care.
YouTube Series Link: Out of the Box
Chosen (June 6-20, 2021)
“… whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
—Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
Christ calls us to see and respond to the needs of others. Throughout this series, we will explore the ways in which God chooses us so that we may bless other people - both near and far. We are chosen in order that we may bear fruit that will last.
During this series we will partner with World Vision and participate in the Matthew 25 Challenge. The Matthew 25 Challenge will encourage your students to step out of their comfort zones and live out Jesus’ call to love those in need. Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 are truly life-giving when we put them into practice. This challenge is a week-long discipleship experience for your school: Participants are immersed in the needs of strangers, the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, the imprisoned.
YouTube Series Link: Chosen
Seek Ye First (Election Season 2020)
We live in a deeply divided world and are so apt to view the issues and events of our world through our “political lens.” The end result, though, is that we can’t find common ground between left and right—rather, we argue and blame and engage in this endless trench warfare that gets us nowhere.
Sadly, the church is just as divided as any other institution in our country. So usually, our approach to politics is just to “leave it at the door.” We can worship together and love one another only as long as we don’t have to engage one another about the stuff that is happening out in the world. Therefore, we avoid talking about anything that might be “political.”
The problem is, this is not how Jesus lived or taught. Yes, he was “apolitical” in that Jesus did not fit any particular box or party platform. However, he addressed social issues of his day, and was not afraid to criticize those who were in leadership. Most importantly, he announced and taught about a “kingdom of God” that stood in direct contrast to the power structures of his day.
Somehow, there has to be another option besides endless battle, or just ignoring the issues. The church has a unique opportunity to be a place where people of different political beliefs can come together, precisely because we worship the same God. Not that we will all agree with one another, but we can learn to love one another and listen to one another and treat our “enemies” with grace, just as Jesus taught.
Week 1: Not So Among You… - Jesus points to the ways the world is organized around power and might and authority, and what does he say to the disciples? “Not so among you.” Your life—and your community—are meant to be oriented around service, love, and humility. And the more we live by Jesus’ rules and directions, the more real and visible God’s kingdom is among us.
Week 2: Seek First the Kingdom… - Jesus calls us to love unconditionally those with whom we disagree politically. This is how we seek God’s kingdom first—by loving one another, even when we disagree. By seeking a unity in love that surpasses the division between us. By keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus…
Week 3: Rights and Responsibilities - Rights without responsibilities devolve into entitlement. How would conversations change if we recognized the responsibilities that come with rights? Indeed, when we exercise rights without responsibility, we do damage to the freedom we’ve received. What would it look like for us to talk about “responsibility” with as much passion as we do about rights? What would that require of us as individuals or as a society? But then take it one step further, and ask what love requires of us in this situation. How can we be most like Christ, to lay our lives down for the sake of another?
Week 4: Citizens of the Kingdom - The peace which Christ proclaims is entirely different—a peace built on justice, truth, reconciliation, and grace. The church is to be an “outpost” for God’s kingdom. We are called to live out God’s ways, to be light and salt of the earth, so that others may know who God is and be drawn to “give glory” to our Father in heaven—to make the same confession and to join our movement.
Week 5: Render Unto Caesar’s What is Caesar’s - What is God’s? What bears God’s image? People, obviously. Jesus takes a political question, and he brings it back to people. It’s people who hold the greatest value, who are the most important currency within God’s kingdom. To us, Jesus might say, “Prayerfully and discerningly give your vote to a candidate, but give your life to me.” Politicians can get your vote, but God has the highest claim on your life. Ultimate allegiance always remains with God.
YouTube Link: Seek Ye First
Story of our Faith (October 18- November 22, 2020)
There is an old story about Ernest Hemingway, who is perhaps best known for his crisp, terse writing style. The story is that he took a bet from a friend, who said he could not write a story in only six words. (Sounds like a version of “Name That Tune”—I can write a story in eight words; I can write it in seven…) However it came to be, here’s the six-word story that is attributed to Hemingway: “For Sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.”
You can say a lot in six words. Some other examples I’ve found include:
I am turning into my mother.
Never really finished anything, except cake.
Bad brakes discovered at high speed.
Never too old to love Disney.
From Stephen Colbert: “Well, I thought I was funny.”
From Dave Eggers: “Found true love. Married someone else.”
From Yogi Bera: “It aint over till it’s over.”
From the Beatles: “It’s been a hard day’s night.”
From Toy Story: “You’ve got a friend in me.”
From Shakespeare: “To be, or not to be?”
I found a list of six-word stories from a priest named Sean Mullen, who took this form to many of the Bible stories we know and love. See how many of the stories you can recognize from just six words:
God said, “Let there be light.”
Who said, “Don’t eat the apple?”
It rained forty days and nights.
Moses said, “Let my people go!”
David picked up five smooth stones.
By waters of Babylon we wept.
God asked, “Can these bones live?”
Mary: “Let it be unto me.”
Blessed are the pure in heart.
Care for him; I’ll repay you.
Hosanna to the Son of David!
Why, what evil has he done?
Today, you will be in paradise.
God, why have you forsaken me?
Who will roll away the stone?
He’s not here; He is risen!
O death, where is thy victory?
With God, all things are possible.
Disciples knew Jesus in breaking bread.
I once was lost; now found.
Ran race; Fought hard; Kept faith.
It is amazing how much you can say in just six words! So in this series, we’re going to take six different words. They don’t necessarily fit together into a single sentence. But each represents a type of story you find in Scripture. Taken together these six words represent our collective story of faith. My hope is, as we explore these stories from the Bible, it will be an opportunity to reflect on our own stories—how we have experienced God’s presence, power, and guidance in our lives.
Week 1 (October 18) Stories of Salvation and Grace
In his letter to Timothy, Paul writes: “This is a saying sure and worthy of full acceptance: That Christ came into the world to save sinners, of which I am the worst.” (1:15) This is Paul’s reflection on his life, and specifically on the moment when he met Jesus on the way to Damascus. Paul was on a certain path—a path which he was convinced was righteous. Yet, in retrospect, he realizes that Christ had to set him free. For all of us, Christ saves us from something—a lifestyle or a sin that is destroying us. How do we each describe the time when Jesus became real? How do we articulate the difference in our lives before and after that moment? How does grace change the trajectory of our lives?
Week 2 (October 25) Stories of Call
Everyone loves a good origin story. In our culture today, we tell them most often around “superheroes”—Marvel has made a fortune telling “origin” stories about superheroes. But the key to every origin story isn’t just how they got their power. It’s about how they came to understand the responsibility that came with that power. But “origin stories” weren’t invented with comic books. They go back to the “heroes” of the Bible as well. Abram staring up at the night sky. Samuel hearing God’s voice in the temple. David being chosen from among his brothers. Nehemiah having his heart broken when he hears about the fall of Jerusalem. Isaiah before the throne of God. Zechariah serving in the temple. Mary being visited by the angel. The disciples by the sea of Galilee. Saul on the way to Damascus. The list goes on and on. But the story we want to focus in on this week is Moses. A man who is running from his past. A man who is full of excuses and objections. But a man who is unmistakably called to a higher purpose. What can Moses’ burning bush experience teach us about our own story? For what purpose has God prepared and called us?
Week 3 (November1) Stories of Faithfulness (All Saints Sunday)
The affirmation of Scripture is that God is faithful—that his promises are trustworthy and true. However, all of us need someone who demonstrates that kind of faithfulness to us. Thankfully there are many stories in scripture about the faithfulness of God’s people. Abraham & Sarah. Moses & Joshua. King David. King Josiah. The list can go on and on. But this week we zoom in on the story of two women—Naomi and Ruth. Even though Ruth is not a Hebrew, she demonstrates amazing faithfulness to her mother-in-law Naomi. And God uses this faithfulness in amazing ways—not only providing for Naomi and Ruth, but making them part of His story. (Ruth was mother of Obed, who was father of Jesse, who was father of king David.) Ruth & Naomi’s faithfulness to one another created a legacy of faith that would live beyond them. So who are the people whose faithfulness has created a legacy for us? How do we live in such a way to pass down a legacy of faith to others?
Week 4 (November 8) Stories of Risk
All good stories have an element of risk. No one is intrigued by the story of the person who saves up year after year to buy a Volvo car. It’s not that a Volvo isn’t a good car or a bad thing to have. It just doesn’t make for a great story. The best stories involve a little risk, because it’s in that moment of risk where we learn to trust in a God who is bigger than us. There are lots of examples of risk to choose from in scripture—Abraham leaving a comfortable home; Moses going back to confront Pharoah; Rahab helping Joshua escape; Shadrach/Meshach/Abednego in the fiery furnace, or Daniel in the lion’s den. But I want to turn to the New Testament, and the story of Peter walking on the water. When is a time when we have felt called to step out of the safety of the boat? Have we ever experienced the panic that Peter did? How do we keep our eyes on Jesus, even when the waves are overwhelming? Can we trust that God will save us, no matter what we face or how we fall?
Week 5 (November 15) Stories of Provision
A central affirmation of Scripture is that God provides for us in our time of need. Whether it’s God providing manna for the people of Israel, or Jesus feeding the 5,000, or God telling Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” The affirmation over and over again is God gives us enough (and sometimes even more than we could possibly need). For this week, we focus in on an unnamed woman in the Old Testament, to whom God sends the prophet Elijah in a time of famine. This widow does not have much to offer—only enough flour to make a final meal. But she shares it with Elijah, and miraculously God gives her more flour the next day. Never more than she needs. Never enough to feed her for a week or a month. But enough for each day. As we reflect on this story, we ask: Has there ever been a time when we had to “tighten our belts”? Or a time when we felt we were at our end (if not materially, then spiritually or emotionally or physically)? How did God provide for us in those moments of need? How can we learn to trust and give thanks for his daily provision?
Week 6 (November 22) Stories of Community
For most of this series, we’ve focused on stories of individuals. And we’ve similarly asked each person to reflect on their own story or to reflect on their own individual pledge even. But the reality is that we are not disconnected from one another. Our stories interweave with one another, just as all the individual stories of the Bible are connected into one BIG story God is telling in the world. So with all our stories—they are part of a bigger story that God is telling in our families, in our community, and in His church. So today we set aside time to remember the story of the early Church, how they gave sacrificially and shared together, recognizing that the most powerful story is about a group of people who love one another (and love the world around them) in Jesus’ name. We close the service by making our commitment—not just to support “the church budget,” but to keep the story going. No matter what we may face—Coronavirus, division, etc.—this is a moment in the story when we get to experience God’s call, God’s provision, God’s protection, God’s faithfulness, and God’s grace. And we share what we have as a way of participating fully in that good story that God is telling in the world through His church.
YouTube Series Link: The Story of Our Faith
Strong & Weak (September 8-October 6, 2019)
Week 1 (September 8) Start with Samson
Samson is a buffoon - crazy strong, but ridiculously confident in his strength, and, in truth, not a very nice or wise person. So what is missing? Vulnerability. We are created with both authority and vulnerability (Genesis 1), and true flourishing takes place when both are joined. It is our flaws that make us human - they are gift, not curses. So there’s no need to cover them up. No need to posture. Humility means that we are not perfect, and have no need to posture or pretend to be perfect. And in the admission of our flaws, we open ourselves to growth and flourishing.
Week 2 (September 15) Back to the Garden
The serpent promises, ““You will not die, but you will become like God.” This is the two-fold promise of every idol—I will take away your insecurity/vulnerability, and I will give you authority. This is the pathway of the idol—it demands more, delivers less. So at the beginning it promises everything and costs you nothing; but by end it costs you everything and delivers none of the things it promised. We end up exploited and vulnerable, with less authority over our lives than we had. So how do we get free? We name them. We clean house. We dedicate ourselves to the one true God. The starting point is to recognize where we are, to own our vulnerability, and allow God to clothe us anew.
Week 3 (September 22) Zaccheus
Zaccheus moves from exploitation to flourishing. How? By making himself vulnerable. This is our first taste of Jesus in action.
Week 4 (September 29) Esther
Every act of true authority requires vulnerability. To stay safe forever is to withdraw, to stay in bubble wrap. We either engage and grow, or withdraw and stagnate. There are issues of race and inclusion, issues of justice and poverty, issues like protecting our environment. And every single one of those issues is waiting for someone to step forward. I think about the guy who said: “Every problem in the world exists because someone has not stepped into their God-given purpose.” We are called to embrace the authority—the potential God gives us—to change the world. Let us make it better place!
Week 5 (October 6) Jesus
Jesus is both vulnerable and authoritative. What set him apart was that he “spoke as one who has authority.” He commands the winds and the waves, commands diseases and evil spirits. He has complete and total authority. Even in the washing of feet, Jesus retains authority. Yet, he makes himself vulnerable. Born in a manger. Submits to our baptism, and to our temptation. Rejects the devil’s short-cuts around hunger, fame, and power. He will not accept a false authority, he will not make an idol of his own security or his own fame or his own power. He remains vulnerable unto the end. All of this is rooted in identity. God gives him an identity in the baptism, and nothing is worth trading that identity.
YouTube Link: Strong and Weak
Off The Clock (August 9-30, 2020)
We are living in a strange time. The things that usually structure our day (work, school, children’s activities, sports & entertainment, etc.) have all been broken. It produced for all of us a “Groundhog Day” effect where the days blend together in an endless loop. Despite our best attempt to put “structure” into our days, lots of people report having trouble sleeping, or getting up in the morning (or both). Yes, it was nice to be able to take “breaks” during the workday to walk the dog or interact with our children. But it also greatly blurred the lines between home and work--a lot of us ended up working in the evening or on our “days off” to fill in our hours and complete our projects. How many of us found ourselves asking, “What day is it?” because every day ultimately felt the same.
For some, the quarantine period slowed things down to an endless crawl. For others, the repetition made it fly by super fast. Even as we start to return to a “normal” routine (as school and office jobs return), there is still a sense of strangeness to time. But at the same time, I don’t want it to speed up to pre-COVID pace, where the norm was “busy-ness”--overstuffed calendars and overstretched relationships.
Now is the perfect time, as we re-establish routines, to reflect on how we approach and use time.
Week 1: Measuring our Days - There are 1440 minutes in a day. How do we invest the time we are given?
Week 2: Maximizing our Moments - There are “right times” for certain actions. We have to pay attention for what the moment/season requires of us.
Week 3: Making Room for Margin - Sabbath represents a fundamental shift to time. We carve out a margin, so we don’t push things to their full limit. And what we find is that important things grow in the margin.
Week 4: Remembering the End - When we talk about there being an “end” of time, we could be talking about a moment when time is up. (And for all of us, there is an “end”--our time on this earth is limited.) But there’s also a sense in which time has a goal, a direction towards which it is pointed. And the promise of Scripture is that time is directed towards a good end--a kingdom of peace and healing and salvation. An experience of love and blessing and God’s presence that will have “no end.”
YouTube Series Link: Off the Clock
Sports Culture: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (June 16-July 7, 2019)
YouTube Series Link: Sports Culture
Sown (March 3- April 14, 2019)
YouTube Series Link: Sown