John 2:1-11 ~ Let the Party Begin

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Text: John 2:1-11

Title: Let the Party Begin

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

As we begin a new year, God begins a new thing in Jesus. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell many of the same stories of Jesus, John tells many different stories and in the process give a unique theological view of who Jesus is and how he now calls us to live. We begin our study of John this year by studying the 7 signs of John. The first sign occurs at a wedding in Cana. Partway through, disaster occurs. They run out of wine, but Jesus saves the day by turning ritual water into wine. What does it tell us that Jesus’ first miracle was not healing the sick or raising the dead, but turning water into wine? Perhaps Jesus is inviting us to a party we the likes of which we have never seen and letting us know that this time the drinks are on him.

John 1:1-18 ~ God Moves In

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Text: John 1:1-18

Title: God Moves In

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Just two days before Christmas, we come to the end of John’s prologue today as the word takes on flesh and moves into the neighborhood. In a world where the rich and powerful live in gated communities, safely ensconced in their wealthy ghettos, think for a moment what kind of all powerful God chooses to come and live with the likes of you and me. He comes not even in some earthly palace surrounded by guards and courtiers, but to a poor not-quite married yet couple in a small village in the backwaters of the empire. This God who is so great no one can even see his glory and live, condescends to live among us as a baby and somehow in this humble state shows his true glory. Come let us worship our newborn king!

John 1:1-18 ~ Does God have a Future?

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Text: John 1:1-18

Title: Does God have a Future?

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
In a world filled with war and violence, with oppression and corruption… in a world where more and more people are giving up on even the idea of God, we may be tempted to wonder if God has given up on us. As Karen Armstrong asks in her book The History of God, we may wonder, “Does God have a future?” But John reminds us God has not given up on this world. God has not abandoned it. God sees the darkness, but he sends his son to be the light for everyone. The world may not recognize him, many may not receive him, but this Advent we ask ourselves, “Have we received this word made flesh, the light that is coming, Jesus?”

2018 Sunday School Christmas Program

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2018 Sunday School Christmas Program

John 1:1-18 – Meaningful Life

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Text: John 1:1-18

Title: Meaningful Life

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
As a kid, I remember seeing my first 3-D movie poster (not the movie, just the poster) and being amazed as Jaws jumped off the page at men. It seemed so real. Now, you can put on a headset with your phone and play a virtual reality game, putting you in the middle of a combat zone or driving a race car. It’s not quite real, it virtually real. But deep down, something in us longs fro more than the illusion, we long for a real true life. Not a social media life, not a virtual reality life, and not a 3-D poster life, we want the real thing. Then look no further! In John 1, we meet the Word who literally made reality and invites us to experience true life in him.

Daniel 7:1-14 ~ Christ is King

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Text: Daniel 7:1-14

Title: Christ is King

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Today, the church celebrates the final holiday of the Christian year, Christ the King Sunday. Next Sunday, the year starts over with the first Sunday in Advent when we begin to look forward to the coming of the Savior King. But today, we remember Jesus as the true King of the Universe whose kingdom will have no end. Of course, it doesn’t always feel like Jesus is king. We live in a world filled with violence, corruption, oppression, disease, and death. It is far from the world pictured in either the Garden of Eden or the New Jerusalem of the book fo Revelation. But, though we cannot see it yet, scripture is absolutely clear that Jesus is indeed ruler of the world. In Daniel 7, we are given a brief glimpse into the cosmic struggle between the forces of chaos and evil and the good creator God. This vision ends with one like the son of man enthroned and ruling. We long for that day and until it comes, we work as ambassadors of this heavenly king.

Exodus 20:1-17 ~ Old School: Don’t Covet

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Text: Exodus 20:1-17

Title: Old School: Don’t Covet

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

After God rescues the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt, he brings them to Mt. Sinai where he gives them the law, which includes the 10 Commandments. These commandments are not guidelines for all humanity, but a call from God to live as a counter-cultural community. They produce a people who in our daily lives live as a sign, a signal, and a witness that God has not left the world to its own devices. Instead, God has come to rescue, save, and restore all that has been broken and marred by sin. On the final week of our study of the 10 Commandments, we face not a behavioral command, but a heart command, do not covet.

Exodus 20:1-16 ~ Old School: Don’t Lie

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Text: Exodus 20:1-16

Title: Old School: Don’t Lie

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

After God rescues the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt, he brings them to Mt. Sinai where he gives them the law, which includes the 10 Commandments. These commandments are not guidelines for all humanity, but a call from God to live as a counter-cultural community. They produce a people who in our daily lives live as a sign, a signal, and a witness that God has not left the world to its own devices. Instead, God has come to rescue, save, and restore all that has been broken and marred by sin. This ninth week of our series, we consider how to be a people of the truth rather than living in the darkness of lies.

Exodus 20:1-15 ~ Old School: Don’t Steal

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Text: Exodus 20:1-15

Title: Old School: Don’t Steal

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

After God rescues the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt, he brings them to Mt. Sinai where he gives them the law, which includes the 10 Commandments. These commandments are not guidelines for all humanity, but a call from God to live as a counter-cultural community. They produce a people who in our daily lives live as a sign, a signal, and a witness that God has not left the world to its own devices. Instead, God has come to rescue, save, and restore all that has been broken and marred by sin. This eighth week of our series, we consider the command to not steal in light of the parallel call to seek the common good of all.
hhttps://youtu.be/rVIb4TvFBSs

Exodus 20:1-14 ~ Old School: Fidelity and Chastity

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Text: Exodus 20:1-14

Title: Old School: Fidelity and Chastity

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

After God rescues the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt, he brings them to Mt. Sinai where he gives them the law, which includes the 10 Commandments. These commandments are not guidelines for all humanity, but a call from God to live as a counter-cultural community. They produce a people who in our daily lives live as a sign, a signal, and a witness that God has not left the world to its own devices. Instead, God has come to rescue, save, and restore all that has been broken and marred by sin. This seventh week of our series, we consider the command to not commit adultery and the call to be a people of chastity and fidelity in a culture that celebrates immorality and commitments of convenience.