Living in Grace

How often we starve ourselves of what we need the most - the richest of fare that only God can offer through Jesus: forgiveness, peace, joy, hope! Come! Come and eat without money! Come and delight in that which can only satisfy! Come to the banquet of God's grace as much as you need and want. He will never turn you away. It's time to stop going hungry! This sermon based on Isaiah 55:1-5 was preached on August 16, 2020, for a sermon series called "Committed."

The Gospel has intrinsic and eternal value, are we willing to give up everything else to hold on to it? This sermon based on Matthew 13:44-52 was preached on August 9, 2020 for a sermon series called "Committed."

Jesus says you can rest. Rest from your sin, guilt, shame and regret of the past. Rest from all the obligations you place on yourself in the present. Rest from your worries about the future. Find rest in Jesus. This sermon based on Matthew 11:25-30 was preached on July 26, 2020 for a sermon series called "Committed."

We long to have hearts ready to receive and believe the Word of God for the strengthening of our faith. We need our Lord to prepare our hearts to receive his Word like seeds need good soil. This sermon based on Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, was preached on July 19, 2020, for a sermon series called "Committed."

Even to us as Christians, the world - its materialism, its acceptance, and its pleasure - often mean way too much. But when we know the love our Father has for us and that in him we have acceptance and blessings this world cannot offer us, we must say, "What is the world to me!" This sermon based on 1 John 2:15-17 is the first in a sermon series called "Committed."

We proclaim Christ to the world, our friends and our family with a healthy sense of fear because of the importance of the task. And yet, we do not have to be afraid, Jesus tells us. We can proclaim him with confidence. This sermon based on Matthew 10:24-33 was preached on July 5, 2020, for the last sermon in a series called "We are the Church."

The compassion we have been shown through Christ compels us to show his compassion to the world. This sermon based on Matthew 9:35-10:8 was preached on June 28, 2020, for a sermon series called "We are the Church."

What motivates you? Your own personal gain? Guilt? Obligation? To get noticed and praised? When we come to realize who we really are, the worst of sinners, and yet God has mercy on us, forgives us our sins, and promises us eternal life with him, we have a new motivation for everything we do.  We are loved by a merciful God and we get to live in that mercy and show that mercy to everyone. This impacts everything we do - our job, our parenting, our household chores, everything is done in response to God's mercy. This sermon based on 1 Timothy 1:12-17 was preached on the Third Sunday after Pentecost, June 21, 2020, for a sermon series called "We are the Church." 

There's a lot that's mysterious about our God. But there are some things that are no mystery: his power over all things, the purpose he gives us, and his presence with us. This sermon based on Matthew 28:16-20 was preached on the Festival of Holy Trinity, June 7, 2020.

God keeps his promise to give us every spiritual blessing as he promises to pour out his Holy Spirit on all people.  This sermon based on Joel 2:28-29 was preached on the Festival of Pentecost, May 31, 2020.

So many times in life we feel powerless, helpless, not in control. And that's why Jesus' Ascension is such a big deal. Because it's our assurance that Jesus IS in control, the one who loved us enough to die for us, now lives and reigns all things for us at the right hand of the Father. This sermon based on Ephesians 1:16-23 was preached on May 24, 2020, in commemoration of the Festival of Ascension.

You need help. And that's exactly what Jesus promises, and delivers.  This sermon based on John 14:15-21 was preached on the Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 17, 2020, for a sermon series called "Do not be afraid.

True, unshakable confidence in life and in death can be found in Christ alone. This sermon based on John 14:1-12 was preached on the Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 10, 2020, for a sermon series called "Do not be afraid.

Listen to the voice of your Good Shepherd who alone can give you life to the full. This sermon based on John 10:1-10 was preached on the Good Shepherd Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 3, 2020, for a sermon series called "Do not be afraid."

All of our misguided and false hopes are brought to light as we come to know the true and living hope we have in the risen Christ. This sermon based on Luke 24:13-35 was preached on the Third Sunday of Easter, April 26, 2020, for a sermon series called "Do not be afraid."

Jesus steps right into the midst of our fears, doubts, and uncertainty and brings us real, eternal, and divine peace. This sermon based on John 20:19-31 was preached on the Second Sunday of Easter, April 19, 2020, for an Easter sermon series called "Do not be afraid."

The life of Christ is the death of everything that would make us feel afraid. This sermon based on Matthew 28:1-10 was preached on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020.

Jesus entered into Jerusalem willingly, to show us Holy Week is all about us. He comes to bring us his righteousness, his victory, and his peace. This sermon based on Zechariah 9:9-10 was preached on Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020. 

We can feel sapped of our hope by the trouble, sadness, and difficulties of our lives. But our God is a God who works in hopeless situations to give us hope, faith, and life that only he can. This sermon based on Ezekiel 37:1-14 was preached on the Fifth Sunday in Lent, March 29, 2020.

Many in our world probably wouldn't call life "great" right now. But in Christ, life is great, because of his life FOR us, and our life WITH him. This sermon based on Matthew 20:17-28 was preached for an online service on March 22, 2020, the Fourth Sunday in Lent.