- SERMON ARCHIVE -
- 2020 -
FEBRUARY
SHIFT YOUR PERSPECTIVE
MIKE WIIST - FEB 23, 2020
Teaching from Luke 5:1-11, Mike Wiist challenges us to change our perspective in order to see what things God is capable of accomplishing through us in our community.
MARCH
CITY OF REFUGE
ABBY KAPLAN - MAR 8, 2020
Connecting to the concept of a city of refuge, as described in Numbers chapter 35, Abby Kaplan delivers a sermon that examines Jesus as our City of Refuge from sin.
FEAR OR FAITH
DAVID HURLEY - MAR 15, 2020
David Hurley encourages us with a reminder from Psalm 46 that God is our refuge and because we can turn to him, we can live by faith, not by fear.
JEHOVAH JIREH
DAVID HURLEY - MAR 29, 2020
God is the Lord who provides! David Hurley delivers the first sermon from our new series: The Nature of God. Just as God provided the sacrificial lamb for Abraham, God has provided Jesus as the sacrificial lamb for us.
APRIL
JEHOVAH RAPHA
RAYMOND JEW - APR 5, 2020
Continuing our series on The Nature of God, Raymond Jew delivers a sermon that highlights God’s love for us by examining the promise he made to heal us from sin by giving us life through grace.
JEHOVAH NISSI - THE LORD OUR BANNER
ABBY KAPLAN - APR 12, 2020
Continuing our series on The Nature of God, Abby Kaplan shares a lesson that illustrates how God pours his blessings into this world-not by might, nor by power, but by his spirit. His banner over us is love!
JEHOVAH ROHI
KAREN SEWELL - APR 19, 2020
Continuing our series on The Nature of God, Karen Sewell discusses how God brings us into community together as sheep of The Lord our Shepherd.
JEHOVAH SHALOM
DAVID HURLEY - APR 26, 2020
Continuing our series on The Nature of God, David Hurley shares a lesson that reminds us that though our worldly circumstances have not changed, we have a change in understanding, and do not need to be anxious, because we know that the God of Peace is with us.
MAY
JEHOVAH TSIDKENU
RAYMOND JEW - MAY 3, 2020
Completing our series on The Nature of God, Raymond Jew highlight’s God’s righteous nature. Because God is righteous, he gave us his grace through Jesus. We cannot be righteous through our own deeds, but we are made righteous through the love and sacrifice of Jesus.
I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
ABBY KAPLAN - MAY 10, 2020
Beginning our new series on examining the various “I Am” statements that Jesus made about himself in the gospel of John, Abby Kaplan shares a message that discusses Jesus as the Light of the World, who renews us as God’s creation through his grace.
I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
KAREN SEWELL - MAY 17, 2020
Continuing our series on the “I Am” statements Jesus made about himself in the gospel of John, Karen Sewell shares a lesson that focuses on Jesus as the Bread of Life. Before Jesus, we hungered for worldly things. But Jesus came to fundamentally change what we hunger for.
I AM THE TRUE VINE
DAVID HURLEY - MAY 24, 2020
Continuing our series on the “I Am” statements that Jesus made about himself in the gospel of John, David Hurley gives us a sermon that highlights what happens when we are connected to Jesus.
I AM THE RESURRECTION
RAYMOND JEW - MAY 31, 2020
Continuing our series on the “I Am” statements that Jesus made in the gospel of John, Raymond Jew brings us a message that discusses the promise of life we have in Jesus as the Resurrection.
JUNE
I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH & THE LIFE
DAVID HURLEY - JUN 7, 2020
David Hurley brings us our next lesson in our series about the “I Am” statements that Jesus made about himself in the gospel of John. Not a roadmap to some destination, but a way of life, a way of conduct, Jesus is the the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
WHO WAS, IS, & IS TO COME
ABBY KAPLAN - JUN 14, 2020
Abby Kaplan brings us a message of hope and encouragement as she highlights how the everlasting God, I Am, is with us today, I Was has been with us, working in this world, and the I Am Coming will be with us until the full kingdom of God is restored.
A TESTIMONY OF ANSWERED PRAYER
KAREN SEWELL - JUN 28, 2020
As we prepare to welcome a new minister, an answer to our prayers, Karen Sewell encourages our congregation to acknowledge when God says yes.
JULY
THE GROWING CHURCH
RYNE PARRISH - JUL 5, 2020
Joining us for the first time, Ryne Parrish encourages us to continue to seek God’s growth for our church and reminds us that our growth is from God.
YOU CAN DO WHAT JESUS SAYS
RYNE PARRISH - JUL 19, 2020
Beginning a new series, Hear & Do, and starting at the end of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Ryne challenges us to not just hear the words of Christ but to follow them—to be like the wise man who built his house on the rock, not like the foolish man who built his house on sand.
BEGINNING WITH BLESSING
RYNE PARRISH - JUL 26, 2020
Continuing his Hear & Do series, which examines Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Ryne shares a message of the good news of the Beatitudes—that is, they show us that we are already blessed by God and that they are Jesus’ statement that no one is left out of God’s kingdom.
AUGUST
BEING SALT & LIGHT
RYNE PARRISH - AUG 02, 2020
Continuing our series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Ryne encourages us to be involved in the world around us while still remaining distinctive as followers of Christ, showing the world a better way, always pointing people toward God.
GOD IS GOOD
SUSAN JEW - AUG 09, 2020
Continuing our series on the Sermon on the Mount, Susan Jew brings us a message that highlights how obeying God’s laws and commands is a natural consequence of loving our creator.
DIGGING UP THE ROOTS
RYNE PARRISH - AUG 16, 2020
Continuing our Hear & Do series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Ryne’s message is a reminder to us to use our words in ways that do not put others down, but in ways that reflect that all of us are the creation of God, and a challenge to us to make things right when we have done wrong.
CUTTING OFF SIN AT THE SOURCE
RYNE PARRISH - AUG 23, 2020
Sermons about sin can sometimes seem intimidating and like we are about to be reprimanded, but Ryne’s message about the implications of cutting off the sin in our lives at the source is an encouraging message that motivates us to consider our ability to choose to discontinue what we know is causing us to hurt others and ourselves. Continuing our series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Ryne challenges us to choose one sin this week, and cut it off at the source.
DEEP INTEGRITY
RYNE PARRISH - AUG 30, 2020
Continuing our Hear & Do series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Ryne encourages us to let our “yes” be yes and our “no” be no—to mean what we say, so that others can see our integrity without the need for promises. Tying this into Jesus’ words about divorce, Ryne highlights how as followers of Jesus, we need to show that we are faithful, in our words, and deeds, by doing what we say we are going to do.
SEPTEMBER
LOVING & PRAYING FOR ENEMIES
RYNE PARRISH - SEPT 06, 2020
“Turning the other cheek” isn’t about letting people walk all over you, but rather, is a mindset that results in reacting to people with grace, mercy, and above all, love. Jesus commands us to love and pray for our enemies and in this lesson, a continuation of our series on the Sermon on the Mount, Ryne challenges us to make the conscious decision to not retaliate when we feel wronged.
SECRET SERVICE: DOING WHAT JESUS SAYS WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING
RYNE PARRISH - SEPT 13, 2020
In this sermon, which highlights Jesus’ words about praying and doing good deeds in secret from the Sermon on the Mount, Ryne challenges us to do something this week to strengthen our relationship with God, and, to do something that blesses someone else, all without telling another soul.
WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS
ABBY KAPLAN - SEPT 20, 2020
Abby’s lesson from Matthew 6:19-34 drives home the point that because God is everlasting, he is where we should put our trust. Money and material things of this world can become lost or broken or stolen, but God, and his enduring love, is what is solid and trustworthy to lean on, and because we are sure in that promise, we do not need to worry.
MEASURING BY ME: WHY JUDGING OTHERS IS A BAD IDEA
RYNE PARRISH - SEPT 27,2020
Continuing our study of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Ryne illustrates how, when we use ourselves as a measurement for righteousness, it is easy to judge others, but the measurement we should be using is Jesus. We all fall short of his perfection, but when we realize we have that in common, we can begin to show each other more love and grace.
OCTOBER
PIGS & PEARLS: WHERE TO FIND WHAT YOU’RE REALLY SEEKING
RYNE PARRISH - OCT 04, 20202
In this sermon, Ryne uses the metaphor of dogs and pigs that Jesus references in his Sermon on the Mount to remind us that God gave himself, most holy and valuable to us, unworthy though we are, all so that we would give ourselves back to God. We, as God’s treasured pearls, should not throw ourselves before sin and worldly things, but give ourselves over to God, the one who is worthy.
FRUITS & SIGNPOSTS: HOW TO KNOW YOU’RE ON THE NARROW WAY
RYNE PARRISH - OCT 11, 2020
In the final sermon in our series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Ryne reflects on how and why it is important that Christians be recognizable by our fruits. In putting Jesus’ words into practice, we are not earning our spot in heaven, but rather drawing more near to Jesus, becoming more like him, and better able to serve others through a life that mirrors Jesus’ teachings.
HOW TO VOTE (AS A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN)
RYNE PARRISH - OCT 18, 2020
Beginning a new, 3-week series on the topic of voting, Ryne’s sermon examines how we, as citizens of heaven, should vote. In this lesson, which doesn’t mention any specific candidates, political parties or agendas, Ryne reminds us that our faith compels us to apply a kingdom lens before an American lens to what is on our ballots. This thoughtful look at how we can lean on our faith while we engage in civic life is an exercise in normalizing living out our faith.
HOW TO VOTE (WITH CHRISTIAN FREEDOM)
RYNE PARRISH - OCT 25, 2020
Continuing our series on how Christians should vote, Ryne’s sermon examines what freedom viewed through a kingdom lens looks like. Freedom as we know it through our American lens exalts self-interest, and we are limited in that freedom. It is only when we apply a kingdom lens to our view of freedom that we see how we are truly set free through service to others. In this lesson, Ryne challenges us to be purposefully mindful of the needs of those around us and to work to serve others, forsaking our own self-interests.
NOVEMBER
VOTING FOR A SAVIOR
RYNE PARRISH - NOV 01, 2020
Concluding our series on how Christians should vote, Ryne encourages us with a reminder that God is our refuge and it is in him that we find our peace. Neither candidate on the ballot this election will wipe away the world’s pain. When it is comfort and peace we crave, it is only God that will steady the ground beneath our feet. No matter the results of this election, we are the community of Christ, and God is with us through the uncertainty that life on this earth brings.
REJOICE FOR 2020
KAREN SEWELL - NOV 08, 2020
2020 has been a heavy year, but there has been plenty to be joyful about and thankful for. Delivering a lesson based in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Karen challenges us to choose an intentional mindset of joy and gratitude, not just during the holiday season when our focus is on the things we are thankful for, but all year long, even in challenging years like 2020.
A THANKSGIVING ASSIGNMENT
RYNE PARRISH - NOV 15, 2020
Continuing our theme of giving thanks, Ryne’s lesson this week highlights the fact that Christians are commanded to give thanks in all circumstances, and to rejoice always. To accomplish this, thanksgiving needs to become a mindset for us. Our challenge this week is to consider how we can make giving thanks, in all of life’s circumstances, a habit, not a holiday.
THANKSGIVING FROM THE BELLY OF A FISH
RYNE PARRISH - NOV 22, 2020
We've been talking this month about how to make thanksgiving a Christian habit, not just a holiday, and in this week’s sermon, Ryne examines how God is much bigger than we are, and so our thanksgiving must reach further than just ourselves. When thanksgiving is a habit, our perspective shifts and we are able to praise God for all of the ways he is working in this world, including the ways he is working through and for others around us.
COMMUNAL THANKSGIVING
RYNE PARRISH - NOV 29, 2020
Following the biblical practice of God’s people giving thanks together, this week Ryne led our congregation in an exercise of communal thanksgiving with a call-and-response reading of Psalm 136. Additionally, he read out loud some submissions from our church members declaring what they are thankful for. These moments of giving thanks with and for each other help us connect our voices and souls to direct praise to God above.
DECEMBER
WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS
RYNE PARRISH - DEC 06, 2020
In this week’s sermon, Ryne offers a message of hope and encouragement that highlights how, even though we are living in an “in-between” and “not-yet” time, fraught with uncertainty, we can wait patiently for Jesus’ return. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is with us even through all of the uncertainty we face in life now, we have assurance in God’s promise to return and we can wait, with hopeful anticipation, for that promise to be fulfilled.
FLY FISHING FOR CHRISTMAS
RYNE PARRISH - DEC 13, 2020
Continuing our discussion about how to live in these “in-between” times, Ryne delivers a sermon focused on reminding us that we should be waiting expectantly, hopefully, and on-guard for Jesus’ return. If we are caught off-guard, we will miss countless opportunities that present themselves each day to serve those around us, thereby serving God. God is present on this earth in those he created—are we paying attention?
AFTER CHRISTMAS: PRAISING & PROCLAIMING
RYNE PARRISH - DEC 27, 2020
Christmas is over—so now what? Shifting our perspective from what often feels like a post-holiday lull to a realization that Christmas marks a beginning, Ryne’s message encourages us to move into the moments following Christmas by praising God and proclaiming the birth of our Messiah.
For other sermons, visit our sermons page or our sermon archive.