In John 3:1-17, Jesus challenged Nicodemus to be born again (or born from above) – a spiritual rebirth, in which his inner identity is fundamentally changed. Is such a transformation actually possible? Our culture tends to say no, but Pastor David says yes – click the link below to hear his sermon on this passage.
Give Up Temptation
What should we give up for Lent? This new series of sermons begins with a fresh look at the temptation of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. Click the link below to hear Pastor David’s sermon, which suggests that temptation is really a test of faithfulness to one’s identity – both for Jesus and for us.
Focus 40 (Sermon)
Isaiah 58:1-9a shows how strongly the Lord wants us to avoid “going through the motions” of our worship lives. In the upcoming season preceding Easter, we will participate in a program called “Focus 40” with many other Church of God congregations. What is this program about? And why are we being called to forty days of prayer and fasting? Click the link below to hear Pastor David’s message on these issues.
How to be Perfect
This Sunday, we considered Jesus’s words in Matthew 5:38-48, which culminate with the famous saying, “be perfect, therefore, as your Father in heaven is perfect.” How perfect is that? What is God calling us to be, anyway? Click the link below to hear Pastor David’s message on this topic.
High Stakes
In Matthew 5:21-30, Jesus expanded on the Old Testament laws “Do not murder” and “Do not commit adultery.” He was calling his disciples to avoid not just those actions but also the thoughts and attitudes that lie behind them. But are the stakes really as high as he suggested – that we should poke out our eyes and cut off our hands rather than be thrown into hell? Click the link below to hear Pastor David’s message on this passage.
Bright and Salty
What do Goldilocks, cooking, and the Sermon on the Mount have in common? There’s only one way to find out. Click the link below to hear Pastor David’s message on Matthew 5:13-20, the passage in which Jesus calls his disciples “the light of the world” and “the salt of the earth.” How should Christians be “bright and salty” in today’s world?
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On Sunday, February 6, Pastor David led us on an investigation of the well-known “Beatitudes” found in Matthew 5:1-12. Click the link below to hear this sermon about how these teachings of Jesus show us a model for “the good life” that is upside-down compared to how the world thinks.
The God Who Heals
In 2 Kings 20:1-11, King Hezekiah prayed to the Lord to be healed from a terrible disease – but what was his real request? God heard his prayer and healed him – but why did God choose to heal him? What does this have to do with the mission of Christ and our calling to follow him? Click the link below to hear Pastor David’s message on this topic.
A Short Sermon
Jesus’s first sermon in Matthew is, admittedly, pretty short and to the point. Immediately afterward, he called his first disciples (the First Church) together. What does this one-two punch say about how we should do church today? Click the link below to hear Pastor David’s sermon on Matthew 4:12-22.
Who needs to be baptized?
At the beginning of Jesus’s earthly ministry, he went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. What a strange thing to do! Why would Jesus need to be baptized? And what does this story have to do with our participation in the mission of Christ? Click the link below to hear Pastor David’s sermon on Matthew 3:13-17.