Redeemer Weekend Sermons

Lamentations March 01, 2026 Teacher: Pastor Dave Brown A healthy spirituality is always an honest spirituality. Healing begins when hidden pain is brought from darkness into the light of God’s presence and the care of a trustworthy community. My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city. — Lamentations 2:11 What can I say for you? With what can I compare you, Daughter Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may comfort you, Virgin Daughter Zion? Your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can heal you? — Lamentations 2:13 A healthy spirituality is always an honest spirituality. The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord. You walls of Daughter Zion, let your tears flow like a river day and night; give yourself no relief, your eyes no rest. Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at every street corner “Look, Lord, and consider: Whom have you ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the children they have cared for? Should priest and prophet be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord? “Young and old lie together in the dust of the streets; my young men and young women have fallen by the sword. You have slain them in the day of your anger; you have slaughtered them without pity. — Lamentations 2:18-21 Pray as you can.  Not as you can’t. — John Chapman A healthy spirituality is always an honest spirituality. Laments are prayers that erupt from wounds, burst out of unbearable pain, and bring it to language.  Laments complain, shout, and protest.  They take anger and despair before God and the community.  They grieve.  They argue.  They find fault…Although laments appear disruptive to God’s world, they are acts of fidelity.  In vulnerability and honesty, the cling obstinately to God and demand for God to see, hear, and act. — Kathleen O’ Conner God’s silence in Lamentations leaves wounds festering, open to the air and possibly to healing.  The benefit of exposed wounds is that they become visible and unavoidable.  Left exposed, they require us to see, acknowledge, and attend to them, and then perhaps there can be energy to attend to the wounds of the world. — Kathleen O’ Conner A healthy spirituality is always an honest spirituality. For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. — Ephesians 5:8-12 It is easier to let God heal my sinfulness than it is to let him heal my woundedness. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 A healthy spirituality is always an honest spirituality. Healing begins when hidden pain is brought from darkness into the light of God’s presence and the care of a trustworthy community.

Lamentations February 22, 2026 Teacher: Pastor Daniel Bunn LAMENTATIONS 1:1-7 Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem (587 B.C.) Tisha B'Av Lamentations is meant to be felt. "How?" Lamentations names the pain and looks it in the face. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long (Psalm 32:3) What is hidden cannot be healed. How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalm 13:1) Lamentations invites us to name our pain before God. Truthfulness is not the absence of faith. Truthfulness requires deep faith. Where are you pretending everything is fine? What would it look like to be a little more honest? REVELATION 21:1-4

Teach Us To PrayFebruary 15, 2026Teacher: Pastor Dave Brown“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.— Matthew 7:7-12The aim is not to get God in on what I think he should be doing. Rather, the aim of prayer is to get us in on what God is doing, become aware of it, join it, and enjoy the fruit of participation.—Tyler StatonA few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”— Mark 2:1-5A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses.— Dietrich BonhoefferThen the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.— Exodus 32:14God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.— Numbers 23:19Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.Romans 8:33-34

Teach Us To PrayFebruary 08, 2026Teacher: Pastor Dave BrownAsk and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!— Matthew 7:7-11 (Luke 11:9-13)3 Reasons for Unanswered Prayers:Not “no” but “not yet”Complex GoodsEvil ExistsGod does not delay to give what he has promised; rather, by delaying he stretches desire. By stretching desire he enlarges the soul. By enlarging the soul he makes it capable of receiving what he is preparing to give.— AugustineGod always gives us just what we need, himself.  He even works to stretch our hearts so that we are able to receive what he gives.Safety and security are two idols we let go unchecked in the American church.“Safe? ... Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you”— C.S. LewisGracious Father,you are the God of peace,the sovereign King who gathers one Kingdom from many nationsand calls us to belong wholly to you and to one another;Teach us to be with you before we strive to do for you.Quiet our anxious hearts,loosen our grip on lesser allegiances,and form in us the mind of Christ.Where opinions differ, give us charity.Where fears rise, give us trust.Where we are tempted to divide, make us one.As we seek the future of Redeemer Church,guide us by your Spirit.Grant us wisdom in discernment,patience with one another,and courage to follow wherever you lead. Make us a praying people before we are a decisive people,that our life together may reflect the peace and unity of your Kingdom.Through Jesus Christ our Lord,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, now and forever.Amen.

Teach Us To PrayFebruary 01, 2026Teacher: Pastor Dave BrownSince I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus.— Luke 1:3As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”— Luke 10:38-42The Good Samaritan shows us what love does.Mary reminds us where love begins.Prayer teaches us how to stay there.“Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”— Luke 11:1One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.  When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”— Luke 11:1“When you pray, say: Father…”— Luke 11:2Prayer is about presence before it’s about anything else.  Prayer doesn’t begin with outcomes.  Prayer is the free choice to be with the Father, to prefer his company.  In our desire for certain outcomes or our confusion over not getting certain outcomes, we are tempted to begin there.  But we cannot brush past simply being with the Father and arrive at anything close to the sort of prayer Jesus won back for us.  Prayer starts with presence.— Tyler StatonGracious Father,you are the God of peace,the sovereign King who gathers one Kingdom from many nationsand calls us to belong wholly to you and to one another;Teach us to be with you before we strive to do for you.Quiet our anxious hearts,loosen our grip on lesser allegiances,and form in us the mind of Christ.Where opinions differ, give us charity.Where fears rise, give us trust.Where we are tempted to divide, make us one.As we seek the future of Redeemer Church,guide us by your Spirit.Grant us wisdom in discernment,patience with one another,and courage to follow wherever you lead. Make us a praying people before we are a decisive people,that our life together may reflect the peace and unity of your Kingdom.Through Jesus Christ our Lord,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, now and forever.Amen.

My WitnessesJanuary 18, 2026Teacher: Pastor Michael WhiteThe golden ruleMatthew 7:12 Intro:“We are an underwear family”I need you to get on board with this.It’s the done thing in our familyI would assume that we are all underwear people, if not, please don’t tell me. Families have characteristics. Ways that they do things, things they don’t do, values they have.  When you think about your family, now or in the past, what things characterized your family?Maybe you’re a camping familyOr maybe you’re a “we watch a movie on Friday night family”Maybe you’re a “we say grace even in restaurants family” There are things that you do, that show what your family values.“Remember who you are!”You’ve been given an identity.A set of valuesYou’re not just you, you represent a group of people. Super familiar verseBut I want to put it into its context and that’s going to add a layer to its meaning. ScriptureMatthew 7:1212 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Context is kingThis comes at the end of the sermon on the mount, Matthew 5-7That’s importantWhat’s the sermon on the mount?RiffJesus greatest concentrated teachingImportant because he starts out with this.He is defining what his purpose isShowing what is important to himFor the next 3 years he lives this out When we get down to our verse…7:12  Doesn’t really feel related to vv. 7-11.  7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Then the golden rule comes and it doesn’t seem to follow.It goes back to 5:17 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. That’s the overall rubric, What does it look like to fulfill the law and prophets?  Jesus takes 2 chapters to illustrate how you do that.then it culminates in the Golden ruleThe law and the prophets are fulfilled in how we treat other people.That’s what the 2 chapters of the sermon on the mount are all about, how Jesus’ disciples should relate to other people.The proof of a relationship with Jesus is a changed heart that results in changed behavior toward other peopleNeed to understand This is a verse about Christian community, the churchIt’s not about being an individual.  It does affect individual behavior, but in the sense of how we as individuals fit into the group.This is about how the family behaves.Just like your family of origin has certain characteristics,The Golden rule characterizes the family of GodThis is how the family behaves as God fulfills his plan and purpose for the world.The movement of God from the moment sin entered into the worldUntil the point where evil is finally defeated once and for allStory arc that God is making a new creation.  The church.  We are living into God’s plan and purpose and we do that by acting like the family of God.It’s fundamentally about redemption.As people come to know the good news of Jesus, God is gathering them/us together, creating a new people, a new community of people who are living into the reality of God’s new creation.  It’s like this taste of heaven.Here’s where the Golden Rule comes inThose people are pointing to a world where only good is done to each other.  Can you Imagine what that would be like?People wouldn’t hurt each otherNo one would say terrible things to each otherThere wouldn’t be any warNo one would need to be afraidIt sounds like heaven…This is the profound point.This is the answer to the line of the Lord’s PrayerThy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heavenA world where only good is done to each otherThat’s the kingdom of God. That’s what we point to.That’s how disciples of Jesus liveDo to others what you would have them do to you.This is the done thing.  This is how the family behaves.  This is how the new community reflects the character of God.This is how we live into the day when God’s rule is complete.That’s what the Golden rule is all aboutThe Golden Rule in historyNobody really knows how it became known as the “Golden Rule”  But the story I like best is that the Roman Emperor Severus Alexander 222-35, was so impressed by the saying that he had it inscribed in gold on the wall of his chamber.  Severus Alexander  You’ve probably never heard of him, but he has a very famous descendentSeverus SnapeThe Golden Rule isn’t original to Jesus.It exists in Judaism, particularly in Rabbi Hillel, I’d show you a photo of him, but he doesn’t have any famous relativesand many other places, Here’s the thing: it is almost always in the negative.  Don’t do to other people what you don’t want them to do to you.That’s a great rule. Would you like it if someone did that to you?No?  Then don’t do that to them.Cutting people off on the freeway.Jesus takes that rule and does something interesting with it.Jesus puts it in the positiveTakes it away from being passiveAs long as your not doing anything bad, you’re doing fine.By putting it in the positive makes it more demanding.Therefore everything you would like others to do to you, your yourselves be doing to them.It’s proactive“Hey, here’s this person in this situation.”  If I was in that situation, I would want someone to do this for me.You can’t meet everyone’s need.  It’s impossible.  But don’t use that as an out.There will be people God places in your field of visionMe in the supermarketYou look lost can I help you.In the negative way of understanding the rule, he didn’t have to do that.  In the positive sense that Jesus introduces, this was a great way.It has little implications and it has huge implications.Maybe it means you open the door for someone who is caring an armful of packages.Maybe you stop and help someone who looks like they need help.Maybe you grant charitable assumptions instead of assuming the worst.Maybe you put yourself into the position of people who are affected by policies and procedures that don’t affect you and ask yourself, what would I want someone to do for me if I was in that situation?Water at ChautauquaWe take the initiative to love people.It doesn’t say treat others as they treat you.We are called to live by a higher standard, a greater righteousness, a deeper ethic than “pay each other back in kind”quid pro quoFeels like there could be this complex morality.But Jesus boils down to something super simple.There are 622 laws in the Old TestamentAll the teaching of the sermon on the mount is caught up in this summary.  This one thing…Whatever you would like other people to do to you be doing that to other people. Raises issues of identityWhose family do you belong to?Maybe the more revealing question is: Whose family do you look like?  What are the things that characterize your life?Some of us, need to decide which family we want to belong to.Others of us, need to decide that we are going to be more serious about reflecting the family priorities.You can’t just dabble with JesusIn the public square there are people saying Jesusy things but whose lives don’t reflect anything of the Jesus that I know.What family are you reflecting?Whose family do you look like?Just because you show up at church, doesn’t mean that you are reflecting God’s family.The biggest problem to be overcome?  Our angerInside and outside the church.We are all Jesusy until something happens that makes us mad or that we don’t like.Sajan and the capital fund.We grow.  We get mentored.  We watch other people liveThe longer you hang out with the family, the more you figure out what the done thing is.Which means that some us need to make sure that we are setting a good example and all of us need to continue to grow into the image and likeness of JesusThis happened in our family.Brian  3 criteriaI’m a girl dadHe’s a guy.  He contacts his parents 3 times a year.I have heard from Rachel and AllieOur family is not like that.Brian has learnedThat’s the done thing in our familyI’m sure his parents don’t know he was deployedThey’ll have three kidsBut he has learned what our family looks likeWe sink our roots in deeply into the family and we participate with the Holy Spirit in the creation of the new communityI am a part of a group.  I am not just me.  I am an extension of us.All about relationships.  How we treat each other.How we love God, by loving othersHow does this help you make decisions?The Golden Rule is like a compass.  It doesn’t address every single situation.  But, it points you in the right direction.It might not tell you how long you need to do something or what the exact process should be, but it helps you find the right path.Friend is dealing with a difficult employee.  They do just the bare minimum to get by.  They are passive aggressive.  They are not actively undermining things.They seem to know just where the line is and they push it but don’t cross it.Before you put your management hat on.  It’s complicated.  And I haven’t told you the whole story.The Golden Rule doesn’t tell you when to involve HR, or when to start a performance improvement plan. But it does tell you what your posture should be as you approach the situation. An application point would be to look at your relationships and ask “Who am I not treating like I would like to be treated?”Context of the series on missions.  Uniquely positioned to affect peoplePlace of hospitality and warmthKeeping the main thing the main thing.All sorts of churches who have become characterized by all sorts of things that are not the gospel.God is inviting everyone into a new community.  That’s the evangelistic opportunity.We have this to offer people.  Showing peop

My WitnessesJanuary 11, 2026Teacher: Pastor Peter Mutabazi 

My WitnessesJanuary 04, 2026Teacher: Pastor Dave BrownBut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.—Acts 1:8Witnesses = MartyrsOur proclamation of the Good News must flow out of a life transformed by that Good News.The church is the bearer to all the nations of a gospel that announces the kingdom, the reign, and the sovereignty of God.  It calls men and women to repent of their false loyalty to other powers, to become believers in the one true sovereignty, and so to become corporately a sign, instrument, and foretaste of that sovereignty of the one true and living God over all nature, all nations, and all human lives.  It is not meant to call men and women out of the world into a safe religious enclave but to call them out in order to send them back as agents of God’s kingship.— Leslie Newbigin“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’— Matthew 25:34-40The translation of dikaiosyne poses problems, however, at least in English.  It can refer to justification, or to righteousness, or to justice.  Most English New Testament translations reveal a bias toward the second meaning…To find a correct translation is, therefore, crucial.  A wrong translation may in fact prove the aptness of the Italian saying…”The translation is a traitor!”  Perhaps, however, we should not allow ourselves to choose between “righteousness” and “justice” when seeking for the meaning of dikaiosyne.  Our problem may, rather, lie in the fact that the English language is unable to embrace the wide scope of dikaiosyne in one word.  Maybe, then, we should translate it with “justice-righteousness,” in an attempt to hold on to both dimensions.— David BoschInstead of “righteousness,” we should think in terms of “acting-rightly” for us and our neighbors.2 Parts to “acting-rightly”Spirituality — Loving GodMissions — Loving our neighborThe goal of mission is to ensure that every person, regardless of ethnic or social-economic status, experiences the fullness of the Kingdom of God here and now.When I think of words to describe deeply formed mission, I have in mind such words as patience, empathy, curiosity, discernment, incarnation, non coercive, invitational, justice, and service.  We need these words to combat a way of doing mission that is is often impatient, transactional, coercive, obtrusive, judgmental, disembodied, and anxious.— Rich Villodas

The IntermissionDecember 28, 2025Teacher: Pastor Leanne BentonGuest: Amanda MathesThe IntermissionBe still and know that I am God.(Psalm 46:10)BIBLICAL INTERMISSION #1:Israel Between Egypt and the Promised LandRemember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands.(Deuteronomy 8:2)He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna…to teach you that man does not live on bread along but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.(Deuteronomy 8:2)The wilderness was not punishment.It was preparation!BIBLICAL INTERMISSION #2:Elijah After the MountaintopThe Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.(I Kings 19:11-12)BIBLICAL INTERMISSION #3:Jesus Between Birth and MinistryFor to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.(Isaiah 9:6)And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.(Luke 2:52)In their hearts humans plan their course,But the Lord establishes their steps.(Proverbs 16:9)He who began a good work in youWill carry it on to completion.(Philippians 1:6)INTERMISSION #4: Redeemer Church

The Thrill of Hope - Christmas EveDecember 24, 2025Teacher: Pastor Dave BrownJoy turns into rejoicing.Look, Charlie, let's face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. — Lucy van Pelt In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. — Luke 2:1-20 I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. — Luke 2:10 The good news is that the one true God has now taken charge of the world…The ancient sickness that had crippled the whole world, and humans with it, has been cured at last, so that new life can rise up in its place. Life has come to life and is pouring out like a mighty river into the world, in the form of a new power, the power of love. The good news was, and is, that all this has happened in and through Jesus; that one day it will happen, completely and utterly, to all creation; and that we humans, every single one of us, whoever we are, can be caught up in that transformation here and now. — N.T. Wright Joy turns into rejoicing. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. — Luke 2:20 Feelings are great liars. If Christians worshipped only when they felt like it, there would be precious little worship. We think that if we don’t feel something there can be no authenticity in doing it. But the wisdom of God says something different: that we can act ourselves into a new way of feeling much quicker than we can feel ourselves into a new way of acting. Worship is an act that develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God that is expressed in an act of worship. — Eugene Peterson

The Thrill of Hope - Week 4December 21, 2025Teacher: Pastor Dave BrownWe all long to be known and to be loved.You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.— St. AugustineI pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.— Ephesians 3:17-19“Wide” illustrates his accepting love.“Long” reveals his lasting love.“High” proclaims his exalting love.“Deep” displays his sacrificial love.You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.— St. AugustineGod wasn’t hiding from us.  We were hiding from God, so God came to find us.This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”).— Matthew 1:18-23Immanuel — God with us.GodThe Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.— Luke 1:35WithUsFor I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.— Romans 8:38-39

The Thrill of Hope - Week 3December 14, 2025Teacher: Pastor Dave BrownJoyAnd there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.—Luke 2:8-1What’s the difference between happiness and joy?Happiness is an emotional response to our external circumstances. Joy is a deeper reality that flows from the core of our being.I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.— John 15:11Joy cannot by bought, nor can we just flip a switch will ourselves to be joyous. Joy must be cultivated.Joy is not a requirement of Christian discipleship; it is a consequence.  It is not what we have to acquire in order to experience life in Christ; it is what comes to us when we are walking in the way of faith and obedience.— Eugene Peterson

The Thrill of Hope - Week 2December 07, 2025Introduction: Pastor Dave BrownTeacher: Glen PetersonThe Story we live in..... is the Story we live out. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…” Isaiah 9:2-6 (niv)The Kingdom of God-Life in God's presence and God's power-has now become available to ordinary people like you and me.Its right here, right now.“Son of man, can these dry bones live?” “Sovereign Lord, you alone know."“Non-discipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith that sees everything in the light of God’s overriding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil. In short, it costs exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring (John 10:10).” Dallas Willard

The Thrill of Hope - Week 1November 30, 2025Teacher: Pastor Dave BrownThe season of advent is marked by hope filled waiting.Christ has died.Christ is risen.Christ will come again.For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.— Isaiah 9:6-7Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”— Revelation 21:1-5aChrist has died.Christ is risen.Christ will come again.A waiting person is a patient person.  The word “patience” means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.  Impatient people are always expecting the real thing to happen somewhere else and therefore want to go elsewhere. The moment is empty.  But patient people dare to stay where they are.  Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there.  Waiting, then, is not passive.  It involves nurturing the moment, as a mother nurtures the child that is growing in her womb.— Henri NouwenWhat God does in us as we wait is just as important as what we’re waiting for.Christ has died.Christ is risen.Christ will come againJesus's resurrection is the beginning of God's new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven.— N.T. WrightIn this season, we might not wait well.  We might become impatient and disgruntled and lose hope.  But, dear friend, the good news of Advent is not that we are faithful in our waiting; it’s that God is faithful in his coming.— Rich VillodasChrist has died.Christ is risen.Christ will come again

Kingdom Culture- Week 4November 23, 2025Introduction: Pastor Dave BrownTeacher: Pastor Hess HesterKingdom Culture: Shake and Shine!Matthew 5: 13-17 (NIV)       “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.    14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Salt only has an impact when it is in contact with the object of need. Who in the circles of influence of your life needs Jesus Christ?Live and speak in such a way as to create spiritual thirst in the hearts and souls of others.1 Peter 3:15, Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.  Matthew 5: 13b, c (NIV) “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world.”Even the smallest of lights can make a huge impact.  There is no darkness so thick that the light of Christ cannot penetrate it. Matthew 5:14b-15, A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Don’t hide your light! Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”   John 17: 20-23 (NLT); “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.   22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.  One of the greatest ways we shine the light of Christ is by the unity we display.

Kingdom Culture- Week 3November 16, 2025Teacher: Pastor Dave BrownKingdom Culture: FormationThe goal of discipleship is not information transfer.  The goal of discipleship is to develop the type of relationship with Jesus that forms our character.Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?— Luke 9:23-25Whoever wants to save their life will lose it.I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.  My heart took delight in all my labor; and this was the reward for all my toil.  Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.— Ecclesiastes 2:10-11The work God wants to do in us requires us to look within: to look deeper and be deeply formed.  Why? Because we are covertly and consistently being formed by a culture fashioned by shallowness.  In short, we are being shallowly formed.—Rich VillodasEnter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.— Matthew 7:13-14…but whoever loses their life for me will save it.The way of following Jesus requires a steadfast refusal to get caught up in the pace, power, and priorities of the world around us.  We are called to have our lives shaped by a different kind of power, pace, and priorities offered to us by God.— Rich VillodasThe 3 Steps to Breaking a Bad HabitTruthPracticeCommunityAlthough obeying rules does not lead to salvation, it can lead to formation. 3 Essential Practices for Re-formationSabbathExaminationServiceWhoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?— Luke 9:23-25 

Kingdom Culture- Week 2November 09, 2025Teacher: Pastor David NunnKingdom Culture: Bringing Heaven to EarthHow the Kingdom Shapes CommunityText: John 13:34–35; Acts 2:42–47Welcome to week two of “Kingdom Culture: Bringing Heaven to Earth.”Last week Pastor Dave Brown spoke about the way Jesus kind of “flips the script” on what we tend to believe a blessed life looks like. A blessed life according to Matthew 5, is one of humility, mercy, gentleness, sorrow, and dependance on the LORD. It involves persecution, rather than accomplishment, fame, or wealth. I would suggest to you that bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth will never be accomplished through powerful political movements, or even through great spiritual awakenings. That is not to say that the Spirit of God doesn’t miraculously move through great populations of people. There have been several such movements in Christian history, beginning with Pentecost which we’ll discuss in a moment. However, these great spiritual awakenings are the exception, not the norm.The norm for bringing the Kingdom of God in earth as it is in heaven is for groups of committed disciples of Christ to live and witness to their faith in a way that touches the community around them. When the world sees disciples loving each other and loving their neighbors in the same way that Christ loves them, then unbelieving hearts and minds are refocused with a desire to understand the source of that love.That is a process that is not built on great preaching, exciting worship, or big evangelical events that draw huge crowds. It happens as believers build humble, loving relationships in their homes, neighborhoods, workplaces and communities, and through those relationships we witness to the life-changing presence of Christ in our lives. The key to growing a kingdom culture is welcoming and joining the presence of our King within our community.At its core, Christianity is not a religion based on rules of conduct, or commitment to a list of tenets of faith. Jesus never taught His disciples to go and establish a correct moral standard for rest of the world to follow. We are not called to be moral police for the world. We have enough trouble policing our individual, personal morality.Again, as Pastor Dave reminded us a few weeks ago we shouldn’t be wasting time trying to manage sin; not our own, and certainly not someone else’s sin. That’s like trying to hide the darkness. It’s not possible. Instead, we should just turn on the light. How do we do that?Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.When we give ourselves wholly to God, we invite Him to bless us with His presence, His power, and His holiness. When you invite the presence of God into your life, it flips on the light that overcomes darkness. Again, to cite the teaching of Pastor Dave Brown, repentance is not just a change of behavior, it’s a change of direction. It’s a moment-by-moment choice to follow Jesus, which is all He ever asks any of His disciples to do. When we do that, Jesus doesn’t change our behavior. He changes our nature.2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!This new creation is the result of “abiding in Christ.” Does that sound familiar? It should. We spent the months of September and October talking about abiding in Christ. It is only through the presence of Christ that any of us can experience this life-changing outcome.So, if this newly created nature comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ, what other relationships are formed as a result?The model prayer is “Your kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven.” So, we’re talking about establishing God’s Kingdom culture in a way that impacts the culture of the rest of the world.One person can’t do that. It requires community. Even Jesus didn’t try to change the world’s culture by Himself. Many believed that He would. They expected Him to miraculously overthrow the Roman’s, declare Himself King, and establish His reign on Earth. Instead, He recruited and taught a small community of believers who were committed to following Him. In the book of Acts, Luke shares the history of this group of 120 believers who, over the course of the first century, made a fundamental cultural impact on the entire Roman world, and beyond. In fact, the impact of that tiny congregation is still being felt 2000 years later, on the other side of the world in Redeemer Church in Tulsa, OK. That’s the power of a community of people who are committed to following Christ wherever and however He leads.I would submit to you today that the power to alter a culture through the establishment of God’s Kingdom happens only through a community of faith. It is never the result of a single individual, no matter how gifted he/she may be.Let’s see how God moved through that first Christian community. After the ascension of Jesus, we are told in Acts 1:15 that about 120 followers of Christ were constantly gathering to pray as they followed Jesus’ final instruction to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit to arrive. As they gathered on the Day of Pentecost the promise was fulfilled.Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.Note, they gathered as a community. They had been meeting and praying together for the last ten days. When the Holy Spirit came, they were together as a community, and how many of them were filled with the Holy Spirit? ALL of them. And together they began to speak to the people outside their gathering place. They raised such a ruckus that a crowd gathered to see what was happening. At this point Peter stood up and addressed the crowd. Now you may say, “Look! Peter’s just one man, acting on his own.”Acts 2:14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:Peter wasn’t alone. He stood with His fellow apostles, and they stood with the support of the other 108 believers who were witnessing to the crowd.People often note the courage of Peter on that day. This was the man who denied that he even knew Christ on the eve of the crucifixion. Now he’s standing up and telling this massive crowd not only was Jesus the prophesied Messiah, but he accused the crowd of crucifying their Messiah. In fact, He ended his message with these words.Acts 2:36 “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”We wonder what happened? What changed in Peter to give him the courage that was lacking just a few weeks earlier, and of course we point out that He was filled with power of the Holy Spirit. I don’t want to, in any way, lessen the importance of the Holy Spirit in Peter’s courageous preaching, but I would suggest that there is at least one other important factor: Peter was NOT alone. In the garden outside the house of the high priest none of Peter’s fellow disciples were present. When he preached at Pentecost he stood as one of twelve apostles who were supported by a community of 120, who had spent the last 10 days in constant prayer together. Can you see the strength and power of a community, even a small one, when they stand together to preach the gospel to the masses who gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost that day? Had Peter been alone, he would not have been able to even get the attention of that crowd. The Holy Spirit worked through the empowerment of the entire group. Not just one or an impowered few. ALL were empowered, and ALL went into the streets to preach the gospel.So, what happened next? At the end of the day around 3000 people were added to their number. That was an extraordinary day. A powerful movement of the Spirit that brought thousands into the fellowship of the church. We recognize that as an extraordinary day. As I said earlier, that is NOT the normal flow of Kingdom growth. It was an exceptional outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the entire community of faith. Again, it was a community movement. It wasn’t Peter acting alone. God chose to work through a community. That’s what He always does. Look what happened next.Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.In this passage, I believe we see what the norm for the growth of Kingdom culture in the world should be. Note the verbs that describe how this brand-new church acted:They met together in the temple courts. This was the only place large enough for 3000 people to meet, but they weren’t just meeting. The Greek word used here actually means they continued together in one accord: as one mind. What do you think they were doing together in the temple? I think they were learning how to follow Christ.They devoted themselves:  Again, the literal translation is “steadfastly continued.” What were they continuing in doing?  They spent time and effort, listening to, learning, so that they could follow the teaching of the Apostles. This is most likely why they met together in the temple. Like Jesus, the apostles were using this common gathering place to teach the people. These new converts were devoted to gathering daily and continuously learning and following the apostles teaching.They were also devoted (steadfastly continued) to fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. Where do you think that took place?They broke bread: In their homes. Breaking bread

Kingdom Culture- Week 1November 02, 2025Teacher: Pastor Dave BrownCulture eats strategy for breakfast.— Peter DruckerFrom that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”— Matthew 4:17In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near…People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.— Matthew 3:1-2, 5-9Repentance was what Israel must do if her exile is to come to an end.— N.T. WrightIf repentance carries the tone of ‘what Israel must do if her fortunes are to be returned’, it can also have a much more down-to-earth ring: to abandon revolutionary zeal.— N.T. WrightThe repentance for which Jesus called, then, was not at all like the regular repentance of individual sinners when they recognized their sin and underwent the normal Jewish practices for restitution.  That could take place, in principle, at any time in Israel’s history…Jesus’ summons was more radical by far…Jesus was urging his compatriots to abandon a whole way of life, and to trust him for a different one.— N.T. WrightHe is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.— Leviticus 16:21-22At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself. “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”— Ezekiel 3:17-21From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”— Matthew 4:17The good news is about the living God overcoming all the powers of the world to establish his rule of justice and peace, on earth as in heaven, Not in heaven later on.  And that victory is won not by superior power of the same kind but by a different sort of power altogether…The kingdoms of the world run on violence.  The kingdom of God, Jesus declared, runs on love.— N.T. WrightStop trying to bring about the promises of God through your own effort and worldly means.“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.— Matthew 5:3-12

Life in the Vine - Week 8October 26, 2025Teacher: Pastor Dave BrownYou are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.— John 15:14-17I call you friends…but this is my command?Perhaps we may now hazard a guess why Scripture uses Friendship so rarely as an image of the highest love.  It is already, in actual fact, too spiritual to be a good symbol of Spiritual things.— C.S. LewisAppreciative love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist even if not for him, will not be wholly dejected by losing her, would rather have it so than never to have seen her at all.— C.S. LewisNow and forever more, we are friends of God.  We just don’t always act like it.A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.— Proverbs 17:17Savior AND LordWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.— Declaration of IndependenceIt is impossible for any created good to constitute man’s happiness.  For happiness is the perfect good, which lulls the appetite altogether…This is to be found, not in any creature, but in God alone…God alone constitutes man’s happiness.— AquinasIt would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.— C.S. LewisThis is my command: Love each other.— John 15:17When spiritual vitality is measured by sin-avoidance, we deceive ourselves into thinking that we are following Jesus faithfully. But following Jesus is to be measured by love—love for God expressed in love for neighbor. This is the good, beautiful, and kind life. It took me some years to realize this. In fact, I need to be reminded of it often.— Rich VIllodasLife has no better gift to give.— C.S. Lewis

Life in the Vine - Week 7October 19, 2025Teacher: Pastor Leanne Benton LOVE Each OtherNOTESJohn 15:12–13My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. “To love someone is to will their good, to promote their flourishing – and sometimes that means laying something down.” ~ Dallas Willard1. The model of love Jesus gives.2. The meaning of laying down our life.3. The mission of love.——————————————————————————1. The model of love Jesus gives.“Jesus didn’t love in general. He loved in particular.” ~John OrtbergA new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.(John 13:34-35)——————————————————————————2. The meaning of laying down our life.In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God…humbled himself, becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross.(Philippians 2:5-8)I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.(John 15:11)——————————————————————————3. The mission of love.You are my friends if you do what I command.(John 15:14)This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another.(I John 3:16)