Sermons

“You seem to be under the impression,” Thomas would say, “that the test of whether the good news is true is the absence of suffering. But the test is just the opposite. I have seen how Jesus’ wounds testify to his unwillingness to let you suffer alone." -Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 20:19-28   Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLbjN79qpvg

God is in charge and God’s script promises love, forgiveness, healing, hope, liberation, transformation, and the possibility of a whole new creation out of the old. Hear, believe, and remember the good news! Christ is raised! -Resurrection of the Lord Sunday -2 Peter 1:3-8, 12-16; Luke 24:1-12 Link: https://www.youtube.com/@rogershull

Giving Up for Lent: Week 5 - Palm Sunday Psalm 118:1-9, 19-24, 26; Matthew 21:1-11 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kb7if9qxx4

Jesus calls us from our tombs of despair to unbind us and give us back to life. Giving Up for Lent: Week 5 John 11 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my_cn4c56BY

Giving Up for Lent: Week 4 Matthew 2:1-12 ; Proverbs 2:1-15 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arfnM2pH6vY

Jesus broke through all the categories by which humans quickly judge and divide each other. He rejected ethnicity, religion, gender, marital status and relationship history, education level, and social status as legitimate grounds for judgement or restricting God’s love and grace. Third Sunday of Lent James 4:11-12; John 4:5-42 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJKXOw6tbW4

Instead of assuming the worst, assume that God holds the future and therefore it will be filled with promise. Second Sunday of Lent Genesis 12:1-9; John 3:1-17 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuuXQ0NfZuo

Instead of idolizing self-determination, therefore, we have the power of mind through faith to see God as our greatest and most trustworthy ally, the one who genuinely wants us to thrive. First Sunday of Lent Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PS9qKutuTI

We still do this today. When we feel anxious, vulnerable, or alone, we make false gods for ourselves to make ourselves feel better. We cling to things we should not for security, and worship people and created things in the place of God. Ex. 24:15-18; 32: 1-6; Matt. 17:1-9 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzku__39Dl4

My hope is that you will recognize in at least one of these options the way that you are salty, and in so doing, will also appreciate more clearly what you must keep on doing, even if the powers that be and the persecutors of the world argue that you and the world should be salt-free. Lev. 2:11-13; Num. 18:8, 19; Matt. 5:13-16 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc2zhIDUnao