Monthly Archives: March 2017

Identity Markers: One with Each Other – Sermon on Philippians 4:1-9

October 11, 2020
This is Part 3 of a 5-part series on “Identity Markers”
Video

We are in the middle of a worship series on “identity markers” – what makes it clear to others that we belong to Christ? Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi has helped us pinpoint the attributes of Christian life that mark us as Christ’s own beloved children.

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Heading for Deep Water – Sermon on Luke 5:1-10

March 12, 2017
Watch a video of this sermon here. 

If you’re a guest today, you have come into a church that is on an exciting adventure with God! We’re spending the 6 weeks of Lent together inviting God to change us in any way that God wants to. The Spirit of God is moving in our church. Some of you have told me stories of the Spirit working as you talk about what’s happening with your small groups, your prayer exercises, and reading the book Unbinding Your Heart.

Would you like to join us? There’s still time to join a small group this week. In fact, one group meets right after coffee time in the pastor’s study today. There’s one early on Tuesday morning, and a couple of groups meet on Wednesday night as part of Family Night. Thursday options include an afternoon study and an evening group. Whichever group you join, we’ll bring you up to speed!

Here’s what we know so far: mainline Christian churches are rapidly declining in membership and influence in our country. We’ve grown reluctant to bring new people into Christian faith, and that reluctance prevents us from sharing our faith with others.

Last week, we explored why it makes a difference in our lives that we are Christians. We considered what our motivations might be for sharing the Christian faith with people who don’t have a faith. We considered that some of us don’t have a dramatic faith story to share, like Paul on the road to Damascus. Some of us are more like Ananias. Our personal stories might not be very dramatic, but God can use us as the domino that tips someone else into following Jesus.

In fact, there’s someone here today who has had just that kind of experience. I’d like to invite her to come share her story with you. Kris?

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The Paul Problem* – Sermon on Acts 9:1-19a

February 27, 2022
Video

Have you ever been jealous of people who can tell a dramatic conversion story? Some people. Like the apostle Paul, have a clear “before and after” testimony of how Jesus Christ has made a difference in their lives. Paul, still known as Saul in the story you are about to hear, did not start out as a fan of Jesus.

Today is Transfiguration Sunday. A moment ago, we heard the story of Jesus taking his closest friends up on a mountain, where Jesus is revealed to them in his heavenly form, in a burst of light. But those disciples weren’t the only ones to see Jesus in a blaze of glory…

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