Sermons

As we look ahead to celebrating Christmas, we realize that the greatest journey ever taken was God’s journey to be born among us in the person of Jesus Christ. God has been so willing to do anything to come and be with us and show us that we are never alone. How can we learn about our journey, as we look at the journeys connected to the first Christmas, so that we might be more connected to God’s love, presence, and grace this Christmas season?

Our attitude and how we see the world around us is one of the biggest parts of being a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. For those who are walking daily with Jesus, we see the world through Jesus’ eyes, not just from our human perspective. This means that no matter what, we see reason for gratitude and thanksgiving (rejoicing in all circumstances) and finding the Good News, even in the difficult times of life.

No journey or trip is possible without the right supplies, planning, and support. Our generosity and our willingness to support the journey that God has called us to is what makes it possible to experience God’s love and presence in our life and in our world. Giving of our gifts is what makes God’s love and grace tangible and real for the people and helps us better understand our relationship with material things and know that all we have is a gift from God.

One of the greatest purposes of Holy Scripture is to show us stories about God’s people that we can learn from throughout history. Jonah was on a journey of faith and life just like each and every one of us. His journey was a bit more dramatic, but his struggles, triumphs, and attitude along the journey gives us great insight into how we should live, and often insight into how we should not live, as we strive to be faithful followers of God’s love.

In our journey of life and faith, we do not travel alone, but are always journeying with God and with others who travel the twists, turns, mountains, and valleys of life alongside us. Along the way, we are called to be faithful disciples who work to serve others. During the month of August, our sermon series, “Journey of Service” will take a closer look at how we can use our gifts and abilities to better serve one another.

Giving ourselves a break from the busyness and chaos of life is often challenging. We live over programed, over-scheduled, and over-functioning lives, but God’s grace offers us the ability to stop, reflect, and give thanks for Sabbath rest.

During this series we'll be looking at some of the values we hold onto on our journey to the life God wants for us, such as vibrant worship, unconditional grace & forgiveness, joyous generosity, extraordinary hospitality, engaging growth, and community connection.

As we journey from wherever we have been to where we are going, we must remember that we are always Easter people and should be defined by the hope of new beginnings, new opportunities, and new life in Jesus Christ. 

Just as Jesus journeyed to the cross, we too journey through pain, suffering, and loss. Join us on a Lenten journey as we find God’s grace, comfort, healing, and presence even as we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”. -Psalm 23

The future seems less and less knowable. It’s increasingly difficult to make plans with any degree of certainty. As people of faith, we can grumble and complain about not having control or we can realize that no matter where we find ourselves, God is with us.

Where to we go from here? Living life filled with the Spirit on this side of crisis.

It’s been a weird year. Family traditions and church traditions may not look the same as they always have. It may feel like Christmas just can’t or won’t happen this year. Yet, we’re reminded through the story of that first Christmas that it happens anyway.