Matthew 4:18–22 and Luke 9:23 The Call of the Shore: Why Following Jesus Changes Everything There is a common misunderstanding that faith is a "spiritual quest"—a climb up a high mountain to find a hidden deity. We often talk about "finding Jesus" as if He were the one who was lost. But the reality of the Gospel is the opposite: the Christian life doesn’t start with us choosing Jesus; it starts with Jesus choosing us. Meeting Us in the Mess When Jesus called His first discipl

Gen 12:1-3; Jn 1:14 and 12:32; 1 Pet 2:9-10 The Subject of the Story: Moving from Mission to Call In our modern world, we are surrounded by "mission statements." Whether in the corporate office or the local non-profit, we are used to gathering in rooms to decide what we want to accomplish, what our goals are, and how we will manage our energy. But in the life of faith, there is a fundamental shift that changes everything: moving from a mission we create to a call we receive.

Isaiah 58:6-10 Turn on the news today, and you’ll likely hear economists talking about a "K-shaped recovery." It’s a shorthand way of describing a fractured reality: the upper arm of the "K" represents those whose wealth is rising—homeowners, investors, and those with stable careers—while the lower arm represents those who are sliding downward, struggling with rising rents and living paycheck to paycheck. This isn't just a statistic; it’s the world we live in. We see it at th

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16 I n our modern world, we are professional "members." We hold memberships at big-box retailers, local gyms, and social clubs. In these contexts, membership is a consumer transaction: we pay a fee, agree to terms, and in exchange, we receive a service or a benefit. It is a choice based entirely on what the organization can do for us. But when the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, he uses the Greek word melos. This word doesn't describe an entr

Philippians 3:7-14 As we navigate life's transitions—whether it's a new year, a new job, or just a new day—most of us carry heavy luggage. Some of that luggage is weighed down by old mistakes. Surprisingly, some of it is filled with our proudest trophies and past gold stars. While we are taught that remembering the past is a virtue, there is a profound power in what the Bible calls "Holy Forgetfulness." This isn't about having a bad memory; it's about the freedom of no longer

Matthew 6:25-34 We’ve all experienced the heavy, suffocating weight of worry. It’s that uninvited companion that keeps us up at night, replaying every "what-if" scenario until we feel completely paralyzed. It often feels like a protective measure—as if by obsessing over our problems, we can somehow control them. But there is a much better way to live. When Jesus tells us "do not worry," He isn’t offering a cold command to just "tough it out." He is giving us a loving invitati

Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-20 Consider Your Peace Have you ever felt like you were "faking it" just to get through the day? In our digital age, it's so easy to groom our lives to look perfect on the outside—like an "avatar" of our ideal selves—while feeling totally chaotic on the inside. We chase peace in better jobs, smoother schedules, or even just the hope that things will "calm down" next month.  Scripture shows us that peace isn't a plan or a program. Peace

Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-20 Advent invites us to slow down and marvel at the names given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace—and one that often makes us pause: Everlasting Father. How can the Son be called Father? This is not a contradiction but a glimpse into the beautiful complexity of Christ. The child in the manger is not only fragile and small—He is infinite and eternal. He is the Son who is the image of the Father's lo

Isaiah 9:6, John 4:1-4,14 Know Him as El Gibbor: Why the Manger Holds the Mightiest God The Christmas season is filled with songs that speak of a "holy" and "divine" King, words that often pass over us like beautiful, shimmering ornaments on a tree. They’re lovely to sing, but do we truly grasp the magnificent, life-changing truth behind the titles we give the baby in the manger? My deepest prayer for you this season is that you would not just know Jesus as a sweet baby, but

Isaiah 9:6, Colossians 2:3, Matthew 11:28-30 During the Advent season, we reflect on the names for Jesus foretold by Isaiah, which proclaim the coming of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 9:6 gives the Messiah four royal names that define His nature and character: "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; the government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor , Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Is 9:6) The first of these titles for Je

Romans 8:18-25 & 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 Where Will You Be When You Die? Ever thought about what being a Christian truly means for your...

Phil 1:3-11 & 1 Jn 2:18-27 As followers of Jesus, we are challenged to rethink a common misconception: the idea that perseverance in...

Romans 8:28-30 and Philippians 2:12-16 We continue the sermon series "The Work of God in Salvation." In scripture, there is an...

Galatians 1:6-10, 2:15-21, 3:1-14 This past Sunday, Pastor Jeremy preached about Justification , a foundational truth of Christian...

John 3:1-8, Eph 2:1-10 We return to the Master Blacksmith’s shop.   In his shop, there are rusted, bent, broken, and dull implements that...

Ephesians 1:4-5, Titus 1:2 Ever feel like you’re just drifting along in a holding pattern, or unsure of where you stand with God?  Have...

1 Corinthians 15:12-28 If you believe that the resurrection of Jesus is just about the promise of eternal life after death, you need to...

Zechariah 9:9 and Matthew 21:1-11 Palm Sunday testifies to the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as the Messiah prophesied in...

John 18:1-11 In the quiet of Gethsemane, Jesus faced a weight we can scarcely imagine – the crushing burden of taking our sins upon...

Luke 22:39-46 Remember the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane? Right before he was arrested, Luke 22:39-46  tells us he was in...