Garden City Sermons

When the Bible says "honor your father and mother" it means help support them as they age. Paul closes the book of Ephesians by helping us create "greenhouses of grace." When we provide food, shelter, medicine, and clothing for our aging parents we create an environment for grace to flourish.

This week we launch a mini-series within our study of Ephesians—diving into the most intimate and controversial parts of ancient and modern life: marriage, family, and power. In Ephesians 5:21–33, Paul speaks into the Roman household codes, structures that upheld the entire empire. But instead of reinforcing hierarchy, Paul subverts it—calling Spirit-filled people to a new way of being in relation...

Not only are we set free by God, but we are also equipped by God to live in that freedom.  In this sermon on Ephesians 5:1-21 we look at three ways in which God equips us to live as free people. 

Why do we so often find ourselves stuck, wishing we could show up differently in our lives? Simple answer - You can’t live a new life if you’re still listening to old lies. This week Luke talks about trading old messages for new truth and stepping into the freedom Jesus has already made possible. Based on Ephesians 4:17–32.

It's hard to make and maintain friends as an adult. Seasons change. People move. Friends betray us. What does it look like to find companions as an adult? The very first instruction in the book of Ephesians comes in chapter 4. Paul tells the Ephesians to pursue connection. How are friendships possible? Friendships are possible because grace creates the two essential components of friendship: t...

In this sermon Janna unpacks Paul's message in Ephesians 3:14-21 about the God who is able to do beyond all measure. Too many of us don't experience our fullest potential because we are afraid of the unknown. What if, because of Jesus, the answer is both within us and beyond us?

In this message, Luke unpacks Ephesians 3:1-13 and the unexpected truth that our mess isn’t an obstacle to God’s message. Our mess often becomes the very vehicle He uses. We’ll explore what it means to embrace the mystery of faith, find our identity in Christ, and tell the truth about the hard stuff. If you’ve ever wondered where God is in the middle of your mess, this one’s for you.

We all wear masks to protect ourselves from the world's claws. So why take off the mask? From Ephesians 2:11–22, we explore what it means to live unmasked lives in light of God’s radical hospitality. Paul reminds us that we were once outsiders but now, through Jesus, we’ve been brought near, welcomed in, and made part of God’s family. When we truly receive that kind of welcome, we can finally...

On his deathbed, the great teacher Dallas Willard wished that someone would put the gospel in the language of attachment. Today we look at Ephesians 2:1-10 to see how Jesus offers a new attachment. 🙌 A big thanks to Matt Wade for much of the content and the idea for this message. 🧑‍🚀For more information about attachment and the Christian faith check out the work of Jim Wilder https://www.amazon...

In this message from Ephesians 1:15-23, we’re reminded that faith isn’t meant to stay in our heads — it’s meant to transform our hearts.

In this message, we explore Paul’s vision of identity: chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed by the Spirit. But here’s the real question: Does the church live like that’s true? The church is meant to be the place where we learn to give and receive love. Yet sometimes, we act more like Norma Desmond from  Sunset Boulevard , a fading star trying to revive a golden era, clinging to pa...

What do we do when there’s a gap between what we believe and what we experience? On Easter Sunday, we explore Ephesians 2:1–10 to show how grace meets us in that gap, not just to improve our behavior, but to change our  condition . Grace closes the gap by giving us a new destiny, a new power source, and a new identity.

In this wide ranging conversation Craig and Luke discuss what to expect this Good Friday and Easter at Garden City. They discuss the power of taking communion in a new setting. The return of cultural Christianity and the age of authenticity become topics of conversation Craig tells about a wedding where he heard a pagan sermon: “God is mad at you, but thank goodness for Jesus.”  

In Luke 19, as Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowd erupts in praise, laying down cloaks and shouting blessings. It looks like a coronation, but Jesus weeps. Why? Because they don’t understand the kind of King he is or the peace he brings. The Triumphal Entry not just as a moment of celebration, but as an invitation. Real freedom comes when we trust that God is already there. Like a c...

We all chase breakthroughs. My life will change when I... What if God isn't waiting on us to have a breakthrough? What if, from his perspective, he sees the finished product? What if God sees me as already across the finish line? What if I don't need to chase a breakthrough but live one out?

Some churches are in the city. Some churches are against the city. What does it look like to join a church that is for the city.

Good churches come alongside us to walk toward what Jesus wants for us. But what does Jesus want for us? FREEDOM

Luke and Craig encourage you to ask to borrow things, bring back pub culture, and start smoking (ok maybe not literally). They continue the conversation about the "Vibe Shift." Spiritual curiosity is on the rise, yet we are living in what Mark Sayers calls revolutionary times. How did Jesus navigate revolutionary times? He ate and drank with people who weren’t like him.    Click here for...

We believe that each person is a force for good in the community God has them in. What does it look like to join a church THAT you grow?

Unspoken expectations are premeditated resentments. Our expectation is that you join a church where you will grow. What does that look like?

Bible sales soared in 2024. Celebrities are finding Jesus. The vibe has shifted. In this Greenhouse episode Craig and Luke discuss how this shift is changing the ways Craig preaches. They trace this vibe shift through pop culture as well. The vibe shift changed westerns, Marvel, James Bond and Creed.

Religion takes grace gives. Religion says I obey therefore I am accepted. Grace says I am accepted therefore I obey. Learn more at comogardencity.com

Craig and Luke clarify the role curiosity plays in our church. Craig breaks down the difference between a  foundation  and a  high value , explaining why curiosity is important but  not  the foundation of Garden City. Why? Because when curiosity becomes the foundation, it creates too many places to hide. Instead, curiosity serves as a  high value —a tool that helps us engage, ask questions, and gr...

Experience tells us God is distant and punitive, the garden story offers a different perspective.

How does God feel about curiosity. Didn't curiosity kill a cat? In this episode Craig makes a case for building a church on the foundation of curiosity.