--- Messages

 
 
 

November 2022

I Lift My Eyes…

This week is our Expectant Hope service. This short devotional addresses the notion of what do we go when we don’t want to praise God? How can we praise God when we are angry, sad, or afraid? Today we look at one of the most powerful psalms ever written (In my humble opinion). We will see just what it looks like to call out to God in the deepest moments of despair and fear. Our main passage this week is Psalm 121.



The Gospel of Matthew: All in the Family?

This week, we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew. In today’s text, Jesus has what looks like an awkward exchange with his mom and brothers. But what is really going on here? We explore this passage in the light of earthly families and the family of God. Our main passage this week is Matthew 12:46-50.



The Gospel of Matthew: What Does it Take to Believe?

This week, we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew. In this passage, Jesus uses stories from the Old Testament to highlight how some of the people are being willfully ignorant. This section finishes with a small analogy about a person/house that overrun with ghosts. This illustrates the dangers of allowing false teachers to persist.  Our main passage this week is Matthew 12:38-45.



October 2022

The Legend of Greedy Hollow

This week we take a break from Matthew, for a short devotional about greed. In the classic story the Legend of Sleep Hollow, we are introduced to three characters who all suffer with some kind of greed. We talk about how greed can consume us and will always lead to a something bad in the end. Our main passage this week is Luke 12:16-20.



The Gospel of Matthew: Jerks for Jesus?!?!?

This week, we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew. We look at an interesting passage where we see Jesus go out of his way to avoid a potential conflict. This is paired with a passage from Isaiah that talks about what God’s ideal servant will look like. Jesus did not go out starting fights and looking for areas to start arguments, his approach to ministry was so different. Our main passage this week is Matthew 12:15-21.



The Gospel of Matthew: Time to Get Yoked!

This week, we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew. Anna explores what Jesus means when he says that his Yoke is light. We talk about how this is an invitation to allow Jesus to come along side of us and carry our burdens for us. Jesus wants to do that work that we simply cannot do. Our main passage this week is Matthew 11:25-30.



September 2022

The Gospel of Matthew: Come on Cuz!

This week, we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew. Just after sending out the 12 disciples, Jesus gets a message from his cousin John. John asks if Jesus really is the Messiah or if he should look for another. This is a major question! We explore Jesus’ response to his cousin’s doubts. We end with a discussion of what it means to have honest doubts or questions, how these can grow our faith, and how God welcomes them. Our main passage this week is Matthew 11: 1-19.



The Gospel of Matthew: Politics at Thanksgiving, Yes Please!

This week, we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew. In his closing words to the disciples, before sending them out, Jesus has a few difficult lines. He talks about not bringing peace, but rather war. What are we supposed to do with a line like this? We explore how the gospel message should be a catalyst for change and for hope for the oppressed. When that happens, there will be push back and that is what Jesus is addressing in this passage. Our main passage this week is Matthew 10: 34-42.



The Gospel of Matthew: Sometimes I Don’t Always Find the Words to Rhyme

This week, we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew. When talking about spreading the Gospel message, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will be with us. We examine what it looks like to have the Holy Spirit with us. We also talk about how important it is that we recognize and understand when the Holy Spirit is moving and working. Our main passage this week is Matthew 10: 19-25.



August 2022

The Gospel of Matthew: Runners to Your Marks!

This week, we dive back into our journey through the gospel of Matthew. We look at the beginning of Jesus’ speech to the disciples, before he sends them out into the countryside to spread the Good News. We talk about how we, as disciples, should enter into the brokenness and pain of those around us and we should life a life worthy of representing Jesus. Our main passage this week is Matthew 10:1-18.





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