Sermon Notes
Find a recap and sermon audio from previous worship services.
After Forgiveness
On the third Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist warns his followers that the life of faith does not end with forgiveness, it begins here (Luke 3:7-14). When we are baptized and receive God’s forgiveness, we are given the choice to walk a new path that follows the steps of Jesus. When we begin with forgiveness, we can take the sacrificial journey toward Christ in the knowledge that good works are blessings for our neighbor and not justification before God.
Calling in the Wilderness
Focusing on Luke 3:1-7, Pastor Jon walks through the narrative structure of Luke to show the evangelist’s emphasis on Jesus’ historical, political, and religious context. Through this short prologue, we learn that God has sent Jesus on a journey that covers the full spectrum of human existence. And on this journey, fear is met by joy.
A Journey Toward the Light
Pastor Jon introduces our series for the season of Advent by surveying the evolving meaning of Advent throughout the history of the church. From the time of ancient Israel, through Jesus’ ministry, the Apostolic Age, and now in the Age of the Church - Advent is rife with meaning no matter what time we live in. One thing remains true: waiting for Jesus does not mean standing still. Over the course of this series, we will join the Wise Men of scripture and journey toward the light of Christ.
Christ the King
On Christ the King Sunday, Pastor Jon challenges us to consider whether we treat Jesus like a politician, rather than our King. Do we live life as though we have no king, or as though we are our own king. Following Jesus as King means sacrificial submission that mirrors the sacrificial submission of Jesus.
Holy Dissatisfaction
For Stewardship Sunday, Pastor Jon explores the idea of holy dissatisfaction in the story of Hannah found in 1 Samuel 1:4-20. Hannah models the life of faith that takes seriously God’s generosity, while meeting it with sacrificial giving. Her story teaches that we may be recipients of God’s gift, but we are not always the only ones blessed by God’s gifts.
Prophets and Widows
This week Pastor Jon continues our stewardship series with 1 Kings 17:8-16. In this text we are introduced to God’s prophet Elijah and a foreign widow who saves his life. This scripture challenges us to see generosity as a non-transactional and costly discipline that ultimately finds its fullest expression in the cross.
Giving All That Is Given
This week Pastor Jon studies Deuteronomy 6:1-10 to explain how we are claimed as children of God. God’s covenant faithfulness from Israel into today is defined by his selfless generosity. When we practice this same generosity, we come to resemble our father’s love for the world.
To Whom Shall We Go?
This week Pastor Jon studies John 6:56, 60-69 and reflects on one of the greatest dangers in Christian life: the belief that God isn’t powerful enough to forgive our sins. The scandal of grace, which we experience in our liturgy every Lord’s Day, reminds us that God’s love overcomes all sin once and for all on the Cross.
Living Bread
This week Pastor Jon studies John 6:51-58 to answer the question: what happens when Christians gather for worship? From the early church into today, leaders and governments have feared what might happen when Christians gather around the table and worship the God whose life is poured out on the Cross and celebrated in the bread and wine at communion. Why do we fail to gather regularly and how might weekly communion with Jesus help us?
The Bread of Life
This week Pastor Jon continues the second part of our summer series on evangelism. John 6:24-35 introduces the church to a theology of the table where Jesus - the Bread of Life - gives himself for the world. At the table we are fed with sustaining and everlasting life, the result of Christ’s body and blood poured out for the church. At the table, we invite our neighbor to tangibly experience God, to be fed by his hand, and thereby be sustained by his indwelling Spirit.
Go and See
This week Pastor Jon begins the second part of our summer series on evangelism. John 6:1-15 outlines 3 key truths about how the church bears witness: i. Disciples are responsible for feeding the crowd; ii. following Jesus for sustenance is enough; iii. we are all fed by Jesus’ hand. Following these truths means practicing a self-sacrificial form of evangelism that prioritizes the needs of our neighbor above our own.
Do Not Lose Heart
This week Pastor Jon continues his series on evangelism by studying 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:5. This scripture harmonizes with Psalm 116 in its claim that God hears our cries in the midst of affliction. God is present in all circumstances, transforming misfortune into blessing. The Holy Spirit assures of this truth, among both believers and non-believers.
Sufficient Grace
This week Pastor Jon continues his series on evangelism by studying 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10. This scripture testifies to God’s strength which is made perfect in weakness. Paul reminds us that God is able to use our struggles, turning our afflictions into blessings. For this reason, our witness is incomplete without our weaknesses.
The Day of Salvation
This week Pastor Jon continues his series on evangelism by studying 2 Corinthians 6:1-10. This scripture reminds us of God’s faithfulness in circumstances of all kinds. Paul’s word to the church challenges us to base our evangelism primarily on our witness of God’s activity in our life. It may be that the elements of our witness which are most difficult to reconcile will serve as the foundation of our evangelism to the world.
Fear the Lord
This week Pastor Jon continues his series on evangelism by studying 2 Corinthians 5:11; 16-21 . This scripture calls members of the church God’s ambassadors to the world. The success and failure of an ambassador depends on their obedience to their King. As Christians, Christ is our King. If we find that our witness to the world has suffered, might it be because our obedience as ambassadors has also suffered?
A Letter From Christ
This week Pastor Jon continues his series on evangelism by studying 2 Corinthians 3:1-6. This scripture challenges its readers to consider 3 areas of focus in evangelism: i. the context into which we are sent as evangelists, ii. what the evangelists asks their neighbor out of in inviting them to follow Jesus, and iii. what the evangelist invites their neighbor into when inviting them into the church.