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 7 - Maundy Thursday We all have moments of feeling entitled because we are all human and all sinners. God understands this and by the grace of God forgives us for this. But God through Christ also calls us to a higher spiritual standard of living through the adoption of a lower social standing or less selfish way of living. John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJFdd0fwi9I

Giving Up for Lent: Week 6 - Palm Sunday The whole procession must have felt like a dream come true. God’s redemption and restoration of Israel was just around the corner. What was around the corner for Jesus, however, was not a coronation, but a cross. In only a few days, crowd of people would chant in unison once more, but instead of crying out “Hosanna!” the crowd cried out “Crucify him!” Psalm 118:1-9, 19-24, 26; Matthew 21:1-11 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kb7

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