Matthew 18:21-35 ~ The Air We Breathe

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Text: Matthew 18:21-35

Title: The Air We Breathe

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

This Lenten Season, we celebrate Jesus through the eyes of the Gospel of Matthew. On this fourth Sunday of Lent, Jesus tells us a challenging parable about a servant who does not forgive like his master. At first glance, this parable can frighten us into thinking our forgiveness is dependent on our forgiving others. But, this seems to get so much of how Jesus describes God backwards. Instead, we consider this Sunday what it might mean for us to be a forgiving people because we have been forgiven.

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-46 ~ What’s It Worth?

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Text: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-46

Title: What’s It Worth?

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

This Lenten Season, we celebrate Jesus through the eyes of the Gospel of Matthew. On this third Sunday of Lent, Jesus tells us a series of short parables of mustard seeds, yeast, treasure and pearls. Through these captivating word pictures, Jesus urges us to value small beginnings and to give up anything to grab hold of the kingdom ushered in through him. Grabbing hold of this kingdom is not cheap or easy, it can cost us all we have. What is the gospel of Jesus worth to you?

Matthew 7:1-9 ~ To Whom Do You Listen?

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Text: Matthew 7:1-9

Title: To Whom Do You Listen?

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

This Lenten Season, we celebrate Jesus through the eyes of the Gospel of Matthew. On this second Sunday of Lent, we remember Jesus going up a mountain and being transfigured before his closest disciples. For a moment, his disciples see Jesus revealed in glory surrounded by Moses and Elijah (the lawgiver and the greatest prophet) and then God speaks from a cloud urging them to listen to Jesus, his beloved Son. How have we listened to him this week?

Matthew 4:1-11 ~ According to Scripture

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Text: Matthew 4:1-11

Title: According to Scripture

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

Sundays in Lent are an odd experience. All week long, Lent is a time of fasting and repentance, of grief for our sin, but on Sunday, we celebrate Jesus and the gift we have found in him. This Lenten Season, we celebrate Jesus through the eyes of the Gospel of Matthew. ON this first Sunday of Lent, we remember Jesus going off into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. In this tense spiritual battle, we see how Jesus is the new and better Adam who is faithful to God, how he fulfills the purpose of Israel and has become the perfect Israel for us, and how he models for us, his disciples, how to resist temptation and seek our holy God. Join us this Sunday as we meet Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11.

Luke 20:9-19 ~ What’s Your Gospel?

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Text: Luke 20:9-19

Title: What’s Your Gospel?

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

We conclude our series on the parables of Jesus this week. Often parables can be confusing because they come out of a culture radically different than our own: primarily agricultural, Jewish, 2,000 years ago, with a little mixture of Greek culture thrown in. On top of that, Jesus told parables in part to keep his mission and teaching a little obscured to those on the outside. As a result, we often read his parables and find ourselves puzzled, rather than enlightened. In our final parable, Jesus points to his death, but also the amazing grace of a God who sends his son in one last attempt to bring his people home.

Luke 14:15-24 ~ Tearing Down Walls

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Text: Luke 14:15-24

Title: Tearing Down Walls

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

We continue our series on the parables of Jesus this week. Often parables can be confusing because they come out of a culture radically different than our own: primarily agricultural, Jewish, 2,000 years ago, with a little mixture of Greek culture thrown in. On top of that, Jesus told parables in part to keep his mission and teaching a little obscured to those on the outside. As a result, we often read his parables and find ourselves puzzled, rather than enlightened. Over the next few weeks, we will come to these parables with fresh eyes as we seek to understand them through the eyes of a Middle Eastern Jew. This week, we consider Luke 14:15-24 and consider the walls we have put up around the gospel.

Luke 16:1-13

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Text: Luke 16:1-13

Title: Say What?: Don’t Wanna Waste your Life

Preacher: Mr. Ron Radcliffe

This week continue our sermon series on several of Jesus’ parables. Often parables can be confusing be cause they come out of a culture radically different from our own: primarily agricultural, Jewish, 2,000 years ago, with a little mixture of Greek culture thrown in. On top of that, Jesus told parables in part to keep his mission and teaching a little obscured to those on the outside. As a result, we often read his parables and find ourselves puzzled, rather than enlightened. This week as we look at Luke 16:1-13 consider the following: If you were asked to give an account of your life right now, what would it be? What are you wasting? What do you love the most?

Luke 12:13-21 ~ Say What?: A Rich Fool

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Text: Luke 12:13-21

Title: Say What?: A Rich Fool

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

This week, we start a new sermon series looking at several of Jesus’ parables. Often parables can be confusing be cause they come out of a culture radically different than our own: primarily agricultural, Jewish, 2,000 years ago, with a little mixture of Greek culture thrown in. On top of that, Jesus told parables in part to keep his mission and teaching a little obscured to those on the outside. As a result, we often read his parables and find ourselves puzzled, rather than enlightened. Over the next few weeks, we will come to these parables with fresh eyes as we seek to understand them through the eyes of a Middle Eastern Jew.

Mark 1:14-15 ~ I Need a Break Thru: Slinky Living

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Text: Mark 1:14-15

Title: I Need a Break Thru: Slinky Living

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

Everyone gets off course once in a while in their life. We drift in a relationship. We fall behind on some bills. We gain a few extra pounds. We may coast in our spiritual lives. Last week, Pastor Rick urged us to consider what kind of spiritual soil we have cultivated in our lives for the Spirit to use to transform and develop us in Christ-likeness. This week, we consider one simple spiritual practice that can lead to lifelong learning and growth. Through the lens of Mark 1:14-15, we consider how to live like a Slinky and welcome the kingdom of God in our lives.

Matthew 13:1-23 ~ Spiritual Stuff: Are You Drawn In or Indifferent

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Text: Matthew 13:1-23

Title: Spiritual Stuff: Are You Drawn In or Indifferent

Preacher: Rev. Rick VanderWall

As the New Year begins, we usually have thoughts about how to make this year better than the last. This usually means starting something like a diet or exercise program. And like most good ideas, it isn’t long and somehow they just fade away and we fall back into the routine we like and are use to. But what about our walk with God and the spiritual things that come with that? Is it time to take a good look at where we are at in this journey? We are starting this year with a sermon series titled “I Need a Breakthrough.” And the subject we are starting with is about all that Spiritual Stuff. On this first day of a new year, let’s look at scripture to find out what we need to do to guide us in this endeavor. Are you drawn in or indifferent?