In His Present Glory, April 30th Worship

Two men are walking down a road and all of a sudden Jesus is right there with them. He seemed to appear out of nowhere. They were not sure who had joined them on their walk as he easily became part of the conversation. It took them a while before they suddenly figured out that this was the same Jesus who had the whole of Jerusalem buzzing with the news of His Resurrection. Just when we think God is some abstract, distant idea He can surprise us. God is closer than you think. He is in His present glory.

The Reality of the Resurrection, April 23rd Worship

An essential part of absorbing the implications of Jesus’ Resurrection is to understand that it is a solid historical fact. Things that happened two thousand years ago can get shrouded in myth and legend. But Jesus’ Resurrection was an event of such immense importance that great care was taken to record the details. Not just the Gospel writers but also historians of the era put the pieces together for us so that we can be sure. Jesus left His grave alive. Resurrection is a reality.

Easter Sunday, Jesus Christ is Risen Alive! April 16th

Jesus is alive! He is risen indeed. This changes everything. Since Jesus rose from the dead, we know He can bring life to any situation; He will be able to raise us from death to an everlasting life.  We celebrate that Jesus is alive. Christ is Risen!

Palm Sunday Worship, The King's Parade, April 9th

The eternal King of all comes riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. In this moment no one could sit on the sidelines, it was time to join in the simple innocent parade that celebrated Jesus’ arrival. So many had been touched by His warmth. They had been impressed by the miraculous things He had done. They were ready to call Jesus King. But it was also risky and dangerous for Jesus to enter through the gates of the great city. There were those who considered Him a threat. Just five days later Jesus will be crucified. Then it seemed as if darkness and doubt had won. Who in Jerusalem could guess that the celebration of this King was just beginning? The eternal triumph would be His!

God's Love has the Last Word, April 2nd Worship

The raising of Lazarus from death was the dramatic event that led to Jesus' suffering and death on the cross. Jesus knew that by calling his friend back from the grave he would put his own life in danger. Those who were afraid that Jesus was gaining too much of a following would not be able to ignore such a powerful event. But Jesus had come into the world to make sure that God’s love will always have the last word even if he had to sacrifice himself to prove that point. Today, as we continue our Lenten journey we can appreciate what it means that God’s love has the last word in our lives.

• 4/2/2017 - No Sermon Audio this week.  There were recording difficulties.           Sorry to those who look forward to listening.   

New Sight of God, March 26 Worship

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation," says Paul. When Jesus gave sight to a blind man it seemed to confirm God’s ability to be endlessly creative. Not everyone saw it that way. Some found nothing but questions about Jesus’ intent. We all have endless powers of skepticism or doubt. Instead we can simply look at what God can do and celebrate His ability to make things anew. It’s a whole new view.

"This Man Really is the Savior of the World" March 19 Worship

“Really”. That is what we say when we mean it. When we think something is absolutely true, the certainty we feel inspires confidence. Jesus arrived in a Samaritan village and in just a couple of days he had people saying, “really, truly, this man is the One sent from God to save us.” We want to build our faith on something other than our feelings and emotions. Some days we will not feel so excited and inspired. But the certainty of who Jesus is does not change. He really is the Savior of the world, and that really changes things.

Teacher of Eternity, March 12th Worship

Nicodemus was a wise and curious man. But he had his reputation to consider, so he met with Jesus in the night. Nicodemus also wanted time with Jesus, away from the busy hustle of the day. He would need the quiet of the night to really hear Jesus. During the season of Lent we each want to give God a chance to speak to us. God alone knows what your soul needs to hear. The words Jesus gave to Nicodemus that night are still speaking to us of God’s great love and grace.  

God Leads Through the Desert Wilderness, March 5th Worship

A desert wilderness. In contrast to the lush garden of creation in which the fall of Adam took place, Scripture characterizes the world after the fall as a barren wilderness into which God's Son breaks in so that He might undo what sin has done.  The devil tempts us, our sins convict us, and death is sin's curse upon us.  Into this wilderness, God sends His Son who is tempted in our place and found faithful---even to death on the cross.  This great news can be cherished even as we pass through the desert wilderness. Christ took our place, fought for us, and now there is glory before us, as Christ leads us home to the promise of the Father.

Just One Glorious Thing, February 26th Worship

This time of year we are looking for that first sure sign of spring. Even just one sight of something ready to start growing would be a glorious sight. When facing something difficult or uncertain we need assurance that we can continue to move forward. At this point in the church year, as we follow the life of Jesus, we have come to a mountaintop. Like his first disciples we have followed this amazing man as he began to reveal himself to those who were increasingly curious about where all this was leading. Now we stand on a mountain unsure of where we are being led. Here Jesus shows us His glory in all of its splendor and light. As we look out at where God will now lead us we must hold onto the vision of light and goodness. As we descend, the valley below looks dark and uncertain. This is when faith must actively remember who God is, what He has done, and will surely do again. God can lead us into the unknown assuring us that we will see His eternal the light.