We don't mean to be selfish at Christmas, but somehow the holidays become more about what we want to get than what we can give. So our Christmas lists grow longer, our expectations get higher, and we make this season revolve around us. And that might just be part of why we feel let down at Christmas. Because Christmas isn't about us...it's about Je…

When Christmas doesn't feel magical enough, we think the solution is to do more. So we bake more cookies, attend more parties, buy more presents, and put up more decorations. We fill our schedules with so much Christmas activity that there's no room left for anything else. But maybe part of the reason we feel let down at Christmas is that we keep f…

We cry out desperately when we need God's help, but when God answers our prayers, we immediately move on to the next problem. David spent over a decade hiding in caves, running for his life, begging God for rescue. When God finally delivered him, David didn't just sigh with relief and worry about what's next. What did David do that most of us forge…

We all face giants that feel too big to defeat - the diagnosis that terrifies us, the crisis that keeps us awake, the problem we can't solve. A teenage shepherd boy walked into a valley to face a nine-foot warrior when trained soldiers refused. His confidence didn't come from his own abilities but from something he learned while protecting sheep. W…

When we mess up badly, we often replay our mistakes over and over until we're convinced we're complete failures. We get so consumed by what we've done wrong that we can't see past our guilt. Yet, David broke half the Ten Commandments in one terrible episode of his life. But somehow he moved from crushing shame to genuine gratitude - how did he do i…

It's easy to think we have all the pieces we need when things are running smoothly. We stick with our systems and avoid complications because efficiency feels safer than inclusion. But what if the people we think we don't need are actually essential? Because every person plays an important part in making the church who we are.…

We all have things we want to do but avoid starting because we're afraid we'll mess it up. The fear of imperfection keeps us from taking the first step toward serving others. But what if God doesn't need our perfection before we begin? Sometimes the most beautiful outcomes come from the messiest beginnings.…

You learned the rules early - don't chew with your mouth open, say please and thank you, keep your elbows off the table. But are these the most important manners we can have?What if there's a different kind of etiquette that matters more than any manners your parents taught you, one that could change not just how you eat, but how you live?…

From the car you prefer to drive to the way you like to spend your free time, our lives are filled with choices we make that can divide us. So how can we, as followers of Jesus, find a way to be united when there are so many things that try to pull us apart? At the communion table, we're reminded that no matter our differences, we are one body: the…

We live in a world that constantly tells us we have to earn our place at the table by being the strongest, the richest, or the most popular. But no matter how hard you try, there will always be people who seem to be better than you. But that's not how it works in God's kingdom. In God's kingdom, everyone has a place at the table...not because we've…

Most of us never want to eat anything we deem to be disgusting. But sometimes it's the things that are the hardest to swallow that can change us the most. At the communion table, Jesus talks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood (which sounds pretty gross), but when we take communion, we can be changed forever.…

What is a table? That may seem like a pretty ridiculous question. A table is a pretty ordinary piece of furniture with four legs and a top. But there are times when ordinary tables can become something extraordinary. Like when we come together at the communion table. Because at this table, we have the chance to become more like Jesus.…

Everyone thinks they know what heaven looks like - there will be golden streets, pearly gates, and massive mansions. But what if our entire understanding of our eternal reward has been completely backwards? What if the real treasure waiting for us isn't about luxury real estate, but something infinitely more valuable that changes everything about h…

Have you ever felt like your prayers weren't making it beyond your ceiling? Has someone ever talked down to you or treated you poorly because of their beliefs? Have you ever felt like throwing up your hands and walking away from faith? If you're at that breaking point right now, it's worth holding on because, even when we're ready to quit, God is s…

We all have times when we feel helpless - whether it's a health crisis, financial stress, or watching someone you love make bad choices. What are we supposed to do when we feel this way? The first Christians felt the same way, living under brutal persecution. But Jesus has something crucial to say about who's really in control when everything looks…

The book of Revelation seems so mysterious and confusing that most of us are convinced it's impossible to understand. But what if all the symbols and strange imagery are actually covering up something surprisingly simple? What if this intimidating final book of the Bible is really just Jesus trying to tell his followers, including you, something he…

Many churches tend to measure success by attendance, budgets, and buildings. But do those numbers really tell us how well a church is following Jesus? What if instead of asking "Is our church successful?" we started asking "Is our church healthy?" Jesus gives us a completely different way to measure what truly counts.…

The church does so many different things that it can feel overwhelming to define what we're actually supposed to be doing. But what if Jesus boiled down all our responsibilities as his followers into just two simple commands that cover every situation we'll ever face? In this sermon, we'll rethink what the work of the church really is.…

A lot of people seem to think the "real" ministry of the church is done by pastors and church staff while everyone else just fills the pews. But what if that's backwards? But what if every single Christian, including you, is actually called to do the work of the church, not just watch it happen? In this sermon, we'll rethink who does the work of th…

From worship services, to programs, to special events, we spend a lot of time focusing on what happens inside our church buildings. But what if God cares more about how we live outside these walls than what we do inside them? In this sermon, we'll rethink the purpose of the church.

Life isn't a fairytale where every problem can be solved with the wave of a wand, and then we all get to live happily ever after. No, the problems we face in this world are big and complicated, so it can take a long time to make any progress on solving them. So our calling, as followers of Jesus, isn't to give up when things don't happen quickly. O…

When life's challenges seem overwhelming, we question where God is in our struggles. But faith means trusting God's faithfulness even when He seems silent. So, yes, we can face tough times with confidence, not because everything will go right, but because God has proven trustworthy in the past.

What are you willing to stand for, even when it costs you everything? In a world that pressures us to conform, the courage to take a moral stand can become a major test of faith. But, as followers of Jesus, we're called to stand up to evil. And realize the most important question isn't "What will others think if I stand?" but "What will God think i…

When is someone else's problem our concern? Too often, we easily dismiss the struggles other people are facing because they don't affect us personally. But our faith requires us to see beyond ourselves and recognize that what isn't a problem for us might be life-changing for someone else.

When evil is happening in the world around us, what do we do? In Esther's story, when Queen Vashti is mistreated, the king's advisors remain silent. But later, when Mordecai discovers a plot against the king, he speaks up. The book of Esther challenges us with this vital truth: when evil happens around us, we can't sit silently - we must speak out.…

We often think of Esther's story as a biblical fairytale - an orphaned girl who marries a king and saves her people. But looking closer, we see it's so much more than a fairytale. Esther's story challenges us to consider our responsibility to take a stand when we face big problems in our world, even when speaking up might cost everything.…

While the world has changed dramatically since the first Easter, but we still face a lot of the same struggles 2,000 years later. But the resurrection reminds us that "the worst thing is never the last thing," offering comfort to the sorrowful, hope to the despairing, and the promise that our emptiness can be filled with new life.…

On Good Friday, when the crowd was given the choice between Jesus and Barabbas, they chose the one who offered them power and control over the one who called them to service and sacrifice. We face the same choice: do we want to follow Jesus's way or do we want Barabbas?

While we often focus on the wayward son or his resentful brother when we read the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the story's true heart lies in the father's relentless love. Just like a parent will never stop searching for a lost child, God never stops seeking those who are lost - even when such grace seems foolish by worldly standards.…

When faced with tragedy, we often ask "Why?" But instead of getting caught up in theoretical debates about why evil exists, Jesus calls us to focus on another question "How do we respond?" Through the parable of the fig tree, Jesus shows us that true faith isn't about having all the answers; it's about taking action even when we don't.…

Just like winter is necessary for spring, Jesus teaches us that true life often emerges from death. Through the metaphor of a grain of wheat that must die to produce many seeds, Jesus reveals a profound but counterintuitive truth: those who cling to their lives will lose them, while those who surrender their lives for God's kingdom will find true, …

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve weren't really tempted to eat an apple. They were tempted to become like God by providing for, protecting, and empowering themselves. Jesus faced these same temptations in the wilderness but chose a different path. His "foolish" refusal to seize control shows us that when we put God first, we discover a deeper wi…

The cross is the most recognizable symbol of our faith, but it was also one of history's cruelest methods of execution. So to the ancient world, building a faith around an instrument of death would've seemed foolish and offensive. Yet for followers of Jesus, this apparent foolishness reveals God's wisdom and power, although its true meaning can onl…

We often think of God's kingdom as something grand and majestic, like a mighty cedar tree. But Jesus compares it to a tiny mustard seed. While this seems like a strange choice, through this simple seed, Jesus shows us that God can take what seems small and insignificant and transform it into something incredible.…

In one of Jesus' strangest parables, a dishonest manager starts cutting deals with his master's debtors. But instead of condemning this scheming manager, the master commends him. While this seems to go against everything Jesus taught, there's more to this story than meets the eye. Through this puzzling parable, Jesus shows us that what matters isn'…

Sometimes the most powerful spiritual practices are the ones we overlook. While we often think of prayer and Bible reading as key disciplines, praise is equally vital to our faith - appearing over 300 times in scripture. More than just celebration, praise is a conscious choice we make regardless of circumstances, focusing on God's goodness even in …

Just like athletes need rest days for physical health, we need rest for our spiritual well-being. This is why God created the Sabbath - a day of rest and reflection. Though our busy lives make it challenging to pause, taking time to rest isn't just about following rules - it's about remembering God's goodness and recognizing that nothing is more im…

When we think of spiritual disciplines, prayer and Bible reading usually come to mind first. But there are other important practices that can strengthen our relationship with God - including fasting, which Jesus explicitly expects his followers to do. Though often overlooked in modern churches, fasting helps remind us that we need God more than any…

As we start a new year, many of us make resolutions to improve our lives. While most resolutions fail, experts say it's often because we make goals without plans. The same is true in our spiritual lives - our relationship with God could be better, but improvement won't happen by accident. In this sermon, we'll explore spiritual disciplines - practi…

We love to picture Jesus as a sweet baby in a manger, but He didn't stay that way. This sermon challenges us to see beyond the nativity scene and embrace the grown-up Jesus who calls us to radical change. Discover how letting Jesus be present in your daily life can transform you in ways you never expected.…

Do you ever feel like something's always missing at Christmas, no matter how hard you try? You're not alone. In this sermon, we'll explore how the peace announced by angels to shepherds isn't just about the absence of conflict, but about wholeness and completeness. And together we'll find out how Jesus can be the missing piece in your life this sea…

If Christmas is "the most wonderful time of the year" then why does everyone always look so miserable in December? This sermon dives into the true source of lasting joy. Discover how trusting in God, rather than in fleeting holiday experiences, can bring a happiness that persists long after the decorations come down.…

Remember those childhood Christmas wishes that seemed too good to be true? Isaiah's prophecy felt like that – a world of perfect peace. But what if that world is closer than we think? Learn how being Jesus' presence in this world can help bring His kingdom to earth, one act of love at a time.

Do you ever feel like you're always waiting for Christmas to arrive? But what if the greatest gift is already here? This sermon explores how we often miss Jesus' presence while preparing for the holiday. Discover how to stop waiting and start living as if Christ is already with you – because He is.

Before Thanksgiving Day even arrives, it's easy to shift our focus to Christmas. But before we leave gratitude behind, let's ask: Who gets to be blessed by God? Is it only the "perfect Christians" among us? In this sermon, we'll dive into Psalm 1 to uncover a surprising truth about blessings. Spoiler alert: It's not about following rules perfectly,…

As Thanksgiving approaches, we're often too busy getting ready to reflect on gratitude. But what does it really mean to be "blessed"? Is it about material possessions or something deeper? This week, we'll explore the true meaning of blessings, challenging the idea that being blessed equals worldly success.…

Although our nation has been politically divided throughout our history, something about this election just feels different. It feels like we are more divided than ever...and we might just be doomed to stay that way. But is that true? Are we doomed to be divided? In this sermon, we'll talk about what it means to be united and challenged to do our p…

In a world obsessed with political power, it's easy to lose sight of the true kingdom we're called to serve. As election fervor reaches its peak, we're pausing to ask: What does God's kingdom really look like? This week, we'll discover a radically different kind of kingdom – one that puts others first and shows up when we need it most.…

Do you ever feel like your faith and politics are in a constant tug-of-war? You're not alone. As Election Day looms, tensions are high and divisions deep. But what if there's a way to navigate this political minefield without compromising your faith? This week, we'll explore how to follow Jesus while everyone else is fixated on donkeys and elephant…

The phrase "God won't give you more than you can handle" is often misunderstood. This phrase implies that God causes our difficulties. Instead, Scripture teaches that God is our refuge and strength during tough times. So God doesn't give us difficult things to handle; God helps us handle difficult things. God is always there to support us through l…