Christ Pres - Sermons

Scripture Reference: Matthew 11:27-12:14 If we are going to be the kind of church that looks and feels like Jesus, then there should be something about our body that is restful. A body of Christ removes burdens rather than heaps on burdens and shame. Jesus interaction with Pharisees on the Sabbath presses home this point, in the person of Jesus, people finally find true Sabbath rest. The One who s...

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 13:2 Every church has a concept that “centers” their activities and gives a sense of purpose and mission for their members. But a church is so complex, how do you know what God would you to make that essential to your church? This week we look into the power of the Gospel to be the power behind everything your church does. Sermon Points: A Gospel Centrality...

Scripture Reference: Luke 5:27-32 Sermon Points: Jesus’ Love Pursues Jesus’ Love Celebrates Jesus’ Love Offends

Scripture Reference: Luke 15:11-32

Scripture Reference: Isaiah 65:17-25

Scripture Reference: 2 Samuel 9:1-13 Sermon Points: The Person Covenant Kindness Embraces (vv. 1-8) The Power Covenant Kindness Exercises (vv. 9-13)

Scripture Reference: John 6:1-14, 25-51 What is our natural response when we don’t have enough patience, kindness, faith, resources, wisdom, or humility? How might our response change if we follow Jesus’ pattern? Henri Nouwen’s Life of the Beloved: “To identify the movements of the Spirit in our lives, I have found it helpful to use four words: “taken,” “blessed,” “broken,” and “given…” These word...

Scripture Reference: Psalm 23 Is there a more appropriately famous Psalm than the 23rd? For good reason God’s people have clung to it in times of distress. But when was the last time we camped out on those images and studied them in hopes of finding new joys of the Christian’s security in Christ? Sermon Points: The Sheep and the Shepherd (vv. 1–3) The Traveler and the Companion (v. 4)...

Scripture Reference: Psalm 110 A powerful instinct defines our humanity in the object of our admiration. We become like what we admire. David in Psalm 110 penned a verse that was quoted or referred to over 20x in the New Testament. What did he discover that fixated him so much? Sermon Points: The Messiah is a King The Messiah is a Priest

Scripture Reference: Psalm 32 David shows us that guilt can actually lead us to a place of joy. It sounds so upside down in today’s world, however, being honest with guilt and turning to the right place brings freedom, forgiveness and joy. Could our guilt actually be a pathway to joy? Let’s follow David. Sermon Points: Defining Guilt (vv. 1-4) Acknowledging and Confessing Guilt (v. 5)...

Scripture Reference: Psalm 137 The Psalms are capable it turns out of exposing the darkest parts of our heart, the places where we experience deep and violent thoughts of hatred. But there is a godly way to manage that emotion. And Psalm 137 provides a vivid, if not disturbing, look into that very thing. Sermon Points: Some Explanations Some Lessons Some Hope

Scripture Reference: Psalm 145 Is there anything worse than feeling down and having some terminally perky religious person tell you to “cheer up and praise the Lord?” Yet, in Psalm 145, David ends his Psalm authorship with a litany of praise to the Lord and commands us to do the same. Why? Sermon Points: The Object of Praise The Nature of Praise The Future of Praise

Scripture Reference: Psalm 16 The emotion of hope consists of having something to look forward to even in the bleakness of everyday life. But David has found the key to celebrating even in the midst of isolation and pain. Only if he can be rescued from the enslaving power of death can he know true hope. Sermon Points: The Defeat of Idols (vs. 1-6) The Delight in God (vs. 7-8) The Death of Death (v...

Scripture Reference: Psalm 73 Does doubting mean lack of faith? Does doubting mean immaturity? What does a follower of Jesus do with their doubts? Psalm 73 gives us a window into the doubt of a Psalmist named Asaph. Surely this means the Christian life has a place for doubt, and that doubting can actually lead us to a deeper relationship with Jesus and others.

Scripture Reference: Psalm 87 For most of us, when we start to feel the aching sense of loneliness that seems to characterize more and more of modern life, we turn inward to our problems or even our marriages and families for hope. But Psalm 87 introduces us to a different source of joy, the Church. Sermon Points: Affection Expressed Alienation Overcome Adoption Secured Fountains Accessed

Scripture Reference:  Psalm 88 Psalm 88 is unique in that it doesn’t have a happy ending. In most other Psalms, the writer finds God’s hand in everything they’re experiencing. But what if you’ve tried that, but there’s still no answer? Here we find amazing insights into the pain of depression. Sermon Points: Depression and Experience Depression and Disconnection Depre...

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 4:14-16 Sermon Points: Holding Fast Drawing Near

Scripture Reference: Psalm 8 Though our culture looks inward to our feelings or our accomplishments to search for an identity, David sings to a majestic Lord and discovers his purpose and significance in light of Him. Psalm 8 poetically reveals what the rest of Scripture teaches, that we will only find our purpose and identity as we look outside ourselves to the Lord and how He made us and redeems...

Scripture Reference: Psalm 63 CS Lewis is an expert on the deep longing of the soul (what he called “Joy”) and how important it is to understanding the human condition. But David has found the ultimate fountain of joy in God, and investigating it opens up all kinds of doors to our humanity. Sermon Points: The Occasion for Joy The Emotion of Joy The Cultivation of Joy

Scripture Reference: Acts 1:1-11 Acts 1:1-11 examines the church’s role in God’s mission. It explores how Jesus’ ascension marks the continuation of His work through His people and warns against the dangers of mission drift. This message calls believers to remain focused on the gospel and to joyfully embrace their role as witnesses to the ends of the earth.

Scripture Reference: Psalm 51 It’s been argued that there is no sensation that haunts a human being more than the pervasive (and often unnamed) sense of guilt inside us. Psalm 51 walks us through exactly how King David, on the heels of a massive moral failure, navigated his way to God’s grace. Sermon Points: The Occasion of Guilt The Mischief of Guilt The Nature of Guilt The Healing of...

Scripture Reference: Psalm 3 David is afraid as his son Absalom has enacted a coup and is trying to hunt him down. As David prays, we see how he seeks the help of others and trusts the Lord, and thereby gives us a roadmap for our fears. Sermon Points: Fear Defined (vv. 1-2) Fear That Leads to Wisdom (vv. 3-8)

Scripture Reference: Psalm 13 One of the most striking features of the book of Psalms, for careful readers, is how realistic they are. Psalm 13 doesn’t shy away from full acknowledgement of the tragedy of human pain and sorrow. But how do God’s people keep from being consumed by it? Sermon Points: Own the Sadness (vs. 1-2) Establish the Truth (vs. 3-4) Start the Healing (vs. 5-6)

Scripture Reference: Psalm 19 Psalm 19 is a pretty famous Psalm because it celebrates the universal joy of finding wonder in our daily lives. But we often miss the point, so David leads us not only to find true joy in God’s word, but in the Living Word, the One the Psalm points us to… Jesus. Sermon Points: The Emotion of Wonder The Limitations of Wonder The Focus of Wonder

Scripture Reference: Psalm 2 Psalm 1 and 2 have been called the opening pillars of entrance into the world of the Psalms . Psalm 2 is a overarching look at the central problem and solution of humanity. If we are going to dig deeply to understand our own lives before God, we must come face to face with both the gracious, sovereign, and just reign of King Jesus and our ultimately futile resistance t...