JR.'s Sermons

There's one person in the Christmas story we don't like to talk about - the guy who tried to kill Jesus, and in the process visited an atrocity on the families of Bethlehem. That's right: Herod the Great, the original Christmas Grinch. But is it possible we have more in common with Herod than we might think? Is it possible that we're grinchier than we realize? Join us for New Year's Day (and the 8...

Everyone's favorite morning show returns. JR. and Nathan in the Morning! celebrates our third annual Christmas special by welcoming special guests Kathy Khang and Jose Humphreys. Light is one of the most beloved Christmas themes. But our world has racialized that metaphor, equating light (skin) with good and dark (skin) with evil. How should we engage this theme in a way that enables this beloved...

Christmas is a season of new life, of impossible possibility. Joseph illustrates for us the sort of faith that finds hope in the most unlikely places. As we approach Christmas, how can we attend to the Holy Spirit, particularly in those least likely places?

We're about to the time in the Advent season when the Christmas cheer begins to feel oppressive. After all, we know the world isn't really characterized by peace on earth or goodwill to all peoples. We might relate to John the Baptizer, who, after preparing the people for Jesus' ministry, found himself in prison. What do we make of Jesus' mysterious response to John? How do John and Jesus help us...

This time of year, nobody wants to be Scrooge. But the ba-humbug spirit is sneakier than we might think. John the Baptizer appears to us this year as the three spirits of Advent past, present and future to remind us what it looks like to be God's faithful people. Today, the question is: are we preparing ourselves for Jesus' arrival?

Ever feel like the world's ending? What comes to mind when you think of the apocalypse? Fire and brimstone? Sun blocked out and moon turning to blood? Bad news... right? Wrong. Somewhere along the way, we picked up the idea that God is going to abandon the world and take us all away. But that's wrong! The good news is that God loves the world - and home is where God's heart is. What does it look l...

'Curiosity' is not a word we associate with churches. Churches are more often known for quieting questions and insisting we 'just have faith.' But curiosity is a virtue - the most faithful people in Scripture were often curious. That's a good thing because God is bigger than any box we make, and when we choose to be curious, we often discover God in new and surprising ways. What does it look like...

What does it take to become more like Jesus? The process of change for a Christian can take a long time, and it's not very glamorous. It's a lot like BBQ, actually. What can we learn from the process of "low and slow"? How can our faith flourish as deliciously as a perfectly smoked, 20-hour brisket?

Diversity is a buzzword these days, and it's not something churches are particularly known for. So what does it mean for a church to say we value diversity? Why does God care about diversity? And how does pursuing diversity help us know God - and heal the world - better?

At Catalyst, we believe that Friendship is the heart of Jesus’ good news. What does that mean? Friendship with God invites us to go beyond hospitality to seeking friendship outside our own spaces. What does that mean for us - both as individuals and as a church? PLUS: we’ll hear from our Mexico team about how they discovered friendship in Chihuahua!

What does it mean to be a Black Sheep church? How can we be faithful in a culture that doesn't fit? We review our time with Jeremiah, and hear one last promise. The call is overwhelming, so it's a good thing the God who calls us is even bigger!

How do we NOT feel overwhelmed when facing the evils of the world? No wonder we have a tendency to silence or ignore those suffering - especially when we're powerless to help. Jeremiah teaches us that in times of great crisis maybe what we need to do is be silent and learn to lament. Because lamenting teaches us how to hear the voices of the crushed and marginalized. Lamentation is our pathway bac...

Sabbath is one of those old-fashioned ideas we don't pay attention to much these days. After all, who can really afford to take a whole day off from life? In Jeremiah's day, the people's failure to keep Sabbath was the signal fire that they were faithless. Why is Sabbath so important? And what does it look like to keep Sabbath in our (way too) busy world? How is Sabbath an act of revolution?

You know that "This is Fine" Dog? It's a pretty good representation of God's people in Jeremiah's day - and maybe in ours too. That's why God told Jeremiah not to attend funerals or weddings. God refused to go along with business as usual in the face of the people's unfaithfulness. What does 'no fast, no feast' look like for God's faithful people today?

Everyone knows that God loves us. So... why is it so hard to receive that love? What is the path to freedom from the guilt, shame and fear that keep us trapped in idolatrous ways of life?

No one worries about idols anymore. Which is weird because the prophets warned about them all the time. Why should we still heed their warnings today? What, exactly, IS an idol? And what does any of this have to do with raincatchers that leak?

What is a prophet? Contrary to popular imagination, prophets in the Bible weren't fortune tellers. God called prophets to tell the truth about God's people, to hold up a mirror to the people. What does that look like today?

Throughout the summer, we’ve see how differently we all experience the world, and how different our paths to healing can be. Such a variety can be overwhelming – sort of like Mirabel’s big opening number. As we bring this series to a close, let’s remember a core, simple truth: no matter who we are, we belong. We’re all part of the family God has created here at Catalyst!

Did we save the best for last? Maybe so... Enneagram 7s are the life of every party. Sevens love life and want to live it to the fullest - just like Camilo in Encanto. But life isn't all fun and games - so what does it take for Sevens to slow down and be present to the hard parts of life, too?

Do you have a friend who worries constantly? Who's aware of every possible danger - most you'd never considered? You might know an Enneagram 6. While they sometimes sound like Chicken Little, 6s are called Loyalists because they're the most steady, reliable people you've ever met. What's the path to health for these 6s? How do the rest of us make space for them to flourish? Brace yourself... for a...

Do you know someone who's got a sharp eye for details? Someone who tends to fade into the background, but doesn't miss anything? Someone who has only so much energy for social interactions? They might be an Enneagram Five. These Investigators are a model of curiosity and intelligence. How can they learn to operate not out of scarcity and fear, but abundance and faith? And how do the rest of us hel...

You know those creative types? The suffering artist, that person who seems to have this deep well of emotions the rest of us only dabble in? You know an Enneagram 4, and like Encanto's Tia Pepa, they can be both nourishing and overwhelming. How do we keep from getting blown away by these Romantics' wild emotions? And what's their path to flourishing?

Do you know a person who seems to have an extra four hours in their day? That go-to person to get anything - and everything! - done? That magnetic personality who puts the Oh! in Overachieving - they're an Enneagram 3. And just like Encanto's Luisa, there's a lot going on under the surface that we don't see. So how can we help these workaholics find flourishing?

Who doesn't love a helping hand? A thoughtful present at just the right time? But nothing can turn those gifts sour faster than finding out they come with strings attached. If you've been on the receiving end of an underhanded offering, then you might know an Enneagram 2. But if you know a healthy 2 - like Encanto's Mama Julieta, then you know the balm of healing and harbor they provide. So how ca...

Do you know that person whose standards are higher than anyone else you know? They have a drive to excel that the rest of us find intimidating. And yeah... they can be a little judgy. What we don't realize is that these Perfectionists reserve their harshest judgments for... themselves. So what's the path to flourishing for an Enneagram 1? And how can the rest of us love them well?