God’s Acre on the Go

In this Easter message, we explore a question that echoes throughout John’s Gospel: “Who are you looking for?” In John 20:11–18 , Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb searching for the body of Jesus, but because she is looking for the dead, she cannot recognize the living Christ standing right in front of her. This moment reveals a deeper truth about how we live—we tend to see and find what we are alr...

In this Palm Sunday message, we explore the temptation to rush from celebration to resurrection without pausing at the cross. In Matthew 21:1–13 , Jesus enters Jerusalem to cheers and hope, but the week quickly unfolds into betrayal, suffering, and crucifixion ( Matthew 27:46; Luke 23:46 ). This sermon invites us to face a deeper truth: there are moments in life we cannot fix, control, or power th...

The story of Lazarus in John 11:1–44 begins with an unanswered prayer and ends with resurrection—but not in the way anyone expected. Mary and Martha ask Jesus to come and heal their brother, yet he delays, and Lazarus dies. This powerful narrative speaks to the reality of dreams that collapse, prayers that seem unanswered, and the painful silence many experience in faith. But Jesus does not avoid...

The story of the man born blind in John 9 is about far more than a physical miracle. After receiving his sight, the man is questioned, doubted, and eventually cast out by religious leaders who refuse to believe what has happened. Yet Jesus seeks him out and reveals himself, leading the man to faith. Meanwhile, those who believe they see clearly—the Pharisees—remain spiritually blind because their...

The scripture reference for this week’s message is John 4:3–10, 13–14, 39–40 . In this passage, Chapin reflects on the call to mission—how an unexpected encounter with Jesus can open our eyes to the needs around us and invite us into the work of sharing living water with the world.

How do we measure the health of a nation, a church, or even our own lives? In this message, we explore how Scripture defines true unity. In John 3:8 , Jesus describes the Spirit as wind — active, moving, alive. In Acts 2:1–8 , the Spirit enables understanding across language and difference. And in Galatians 5:22–23 , Paul names the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generos...

Is guilt always a bad thing? In Genesis 3:1–13 , Adam and Eve respond to sin by hiding and blaming, creating distance from God and one another. In contrast, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:9–10 that “godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation.” This message explores the difference between destructive shame and Spirit-led conviction. Sin is anything that creates separation — from oursel...

At Jesus’ baptism in Mark 1:9–11 , God speaks words of love and affirmation before Jesus begins his public ministry: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Paired with the royal language of Psalm 2:7–9 , this message explores how Jesus reshapes our understanding of God, faith, and blessing. Unlike the world’s transactional system—where crowns are earned through performance—Jesu...

In Matthew 6:25–33 , Jesus calls his followers out of the exhausting cycle of worry. He points to birds and lilies—creatures with no control over their future—yet God faithfully provides for them. If God cares for them, Jesus says, God will certainly care for us. Today’s world is filled with anxiety—about money, politics, global events, safety, and personal well‑being. Even those with full closets...

In Matthew 26:36–46 , Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane as the weight of betrayal, violence, and uncertainty closes in. Rather than clinging to certainty or escaping fear, Jesus prays a prayer of surrender: “Not my will, but yours be done.” This message reflects on Gethsemane—whose name means “olive press”—as a place where pressure reveals what is most precious. Drawing on Proverbs 3:5–6 , we...

In Luke 10:25–37 , Jesus responds to a lawyer’s question about eternal life by telling the Parable of the Good Samaritan—a story that challenges how we define “neighbor.” This message explores the fences we build to protect ourselves and how those same boundaries can limit our compassion, growth, and joy. Through personal reflection and Jesus’ own example of crossing cultural and social lines, we’...

What are you doing with your “one wild and precious life”? This week’s message draws inspiration from Mary Oliver’s famous question and Jesus’ parable in Luke 6:46–49 . Jesus warns that listening alone isn’t enough—only when we act on his words do we build lives with solid foundations. The sermon challenges us to move beyond performative faith into real obedience. It reflects on justice, compassio...

The story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 is often remembered for its violence and tragedy—the first act of fratricide, a chilling question of moral evasion, and divine judgment. But this week’s sermon invites us to look deeper: What if this awful story also lays the groundwork for a better one? Through this message, we explore how Jesus responds to Cain’s ancient question—“Am I my brother’s keeper?...

This special Epiphany episode explores what it means to find God’s light in the midst of life’s darkness. Rev. Chapin Garner begins with the story of the Magi from Matthew 2:1–12 , who follow a star during a dark and dangerous time—“in the time of King Herod.” Their journey is a model for anyone searching for light in uncertain seasons. We’re then joined by guest speaker Ashley Tedford, who shares...

Every year, Jesus' family went to Jerusalem for Passover. Every year. That repeated phrase in Luke 2:41–52 sets the tone for this story—not one of crisis, but of rhythm and trust. But amid that faithful rhythm, something unexpected happens: Jesus stays behind in the temple. Mary and Joseph, believing him to be safe among the caravan, realize he is missing. After three days of searching, they find...

In this moving Christmas Eve sermon, Rev. Chapin Garner explores the often-overlooked line in Luke’s nativity: “There was no room for them in the inn.” With tenderness and clarity, he unpacks the deeper meaning behind the absence of hospitality and how it foreshadows the life and ministry of Jesus—who was repeatedly rejected by the world he came to save. Far from a sentimental retelling, this mess...

In this heartwarming Christmas Eve message, Rev. Chapin Garner invites us to rediscover the joy at the heart of the season—not through shopping, stress, or sentimentality, but through generosity inspired by Jesus. The message centers on the real-life story of Issa Kassissieh, Jerusalem’s own Santa Claus, who embodies the joy of Christ by giving freely to children of all faiths in the Holy Land. Wi...

In this Christmas Sunday message based on Luke 1:39–56 , we pause amid the holiday rush to ask: What gift can we give the One who gave us everything? Drawing from the joyful meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, and the bold beauty of Mary’s Magnificat, we explore how love, attention, and simple gratitude are the greatest gifts we can offer God. From ancient songs of praise to unexpected modern-day expre...

In this Advent message, we look at the life of Joseph—the quiet man in the nativity story whose whole world gets turned upside down. From broken dreams to divine detours, Joseph is invited into God’s Plan "C"—an unexpected path that leads to greater joy and deeper purpose. This sermon invites us to reconsider what it means when life doesn’t go according to plan. Drawing from Matthew 1:18–25 , we’r...

Eliana Cañas Parra draws us into the heart of Advent peace by recounting the Christmas Truce of 1914, when enemies in World War I briefly laid down arms to sing, share meals, and recognize each other’s humanity. This fleeting moment of Shalom offers a glimpse of what God's peace can look like even in the darkest places. Psalm 122 is a prayer for the peace of Jerusalem, but Jerusalem here is not ju...

In this week’s message, we enter the wilderness—the place where things fall apart, where life feels uncertain, and where wild things roar. But as Mark 1:1–5 reminds us, the good news begins in the wild. It’s in that uncomfortable space where John the Baptist appears, calling people to repent, confess, and prepare the way of the Lord. Drawing parallels to Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are,...

On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Chapin explores the ancient words of Psalm 8 , a song of awe and wonder that celebrates both God’s majesty and our astonishing role in the universe. From the stars overhead to the fragile cry of an infant, the psalm reminds us that though we are small, we are deeply loved and entrusted with great responsibility. With stories from the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving...

In John 21:15–17 , the risen Jesus meets his disciples on the shore after a long night of fishing. Over a charcoal fire, he cooks breakfast and restores Peter — not with a lecture, but with love. Before he ever commands, “Feed my sheep,” he first feeds them. Grace before commission; love before labor. In this message, Kelly Antonson reflects on what it means to embody Jesus’ love language: acts of...

In this message based on Genesis 32:22–33 , Chapin reflects on Jacob’s long night of wrestling at the River Jabbok—a struggle that transformed him from a fugitive into a man of faith. Jacob’s limp became his blessing, a mark of someone who chose engagement over escape. Drawing from his recent journey to the West Bank with Frank Lyon and Eric Dupee, Chapin connects Jacob’s encounter with God to our...

In this sermon from Matthew 14:22–33 , we encounter the familiar story of Jesus walking on water — a miracle recorded in three of the four Gospels. But what if we read this story not as a rebuke of Peter’s doubt, but as a celebration of his faith-filled risk? Rev. Dr. Stephen Chapin Garner reflects on his own experiences as a lifelong “lake guy,” drawing parallels between teaching others to water...