A message from the series “Sermons during Pentecost.” Pentecost is the birthday of the church. 2000 years ago, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, and they were transformed. They were born again. On Pentecost, we celebrate the incredible gift that is the Holy Spirit, and also the commission to preach the Gospel to all nations.

A message from the series “Sermons during Easter.”

A message from the series “Sermons during Easter.” The exact center of John’s gospel is Jesus’ stunning declaration: The Father and I are one. This short sentence is the summary of John’s main message and forms the foundation of our Trinitarian theology. Indeed, it’s the starting point of all of our theology. Want to know about God? Look at Jesus.

A message from the series “Sermons during Easter.” In Jesus, God shows that all things will be made new. In Jesus, God shows that life is from God, a God who even brings life out of death. In Jesus, God shows that his light will overcome the darkness of the world. In Jesus, God shows, that the nations will be healed. In Jesus, God shows that we are all children of God and we can wear his name with boldness.

A message from the series “Sermons during Easter.” Today, we hear about the beginning of God’s mission to the whole world. We turn our attention to God’s rescue mission for his beloved humanity – we ponder the depths and heights of his love for his world, and the depths and heights of his love for each of us. We hear about Christ’s love, which is love that goes to the cross for us.

A message from the series “Sermons during Easter.” Imagine if you were defined, in perpetuity, by a shadow side of your personality and character. Doubting Thomas. This is unfair both to Thomas and to the Gospel of John. The story John has been telling has been leading up to this moment, not of Thomas’ doubt, but rather his extraordinary exclamation: “My Lord and my God!” This cry of adoration is absolutely breathtaking and points us to the the ultimate purpose of everything that has breath: Worship.

A message from the series “Sermons during Holy Week.” When Jesus speak, his words have power to accomplish what they say. When Jesus gives his disciples a new command, he is saying, “Because I have loved you, so you now are enabled by my love to love one another.” It’s not our effort, it’s the the love of Jesus working in and through us. He does not give us a command without also giving us the means by which we can fulfill his command.

A message from the series “Sermons during Easter.” These three days, Jesus has been at the gates of hell, casting down the walls of the prison, breaking the chains of the prisoners, setting them free and calling them into the light. His victory is so complete, so wide and deep, not even the gates of hell can prevail against him.

A message from the series “Sermons during Holy Week.” In Jesus, God’s flesh was nailed to the cross. He refused to come down, he refused to come away, he refused to forsake his love for his people even though it meant submitting to death on the cross. This cross is precisely where forsakenness comes to its climax. And it is also precisely where God’s absence ends. God has made his home with us. On the cross, Jesus takes upon himself all of the brokenness of the world. “Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities.” He takes them from us, and he stays with us, to never leave us or forsake us.

A message from the series “Sermons during Holy Week.” “We will have time these next few days to reflect on what it means that Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us. We will have time to let Jesus’ spirit speak to us about the lengths to which God was willing to go to bring this broken world, and our broken selves, back to life.”