Melbourne Heights - Sermons

As followers of Jesus, we are called to let the light of Jesus shine through our lives. But in the face of tragedy, it isn't always easy to figure out how we can put our faith into action. So what are we supposed to do when we don't know what to do? We have to find whatever ways we can to let Jesus' light shine through us into our world.

After the mass shooting that have recently taken place in Uvalde, TX and Buffalo, NY, many of us are struggling to figure out how we can move forward. It feels like there are just some problems that are too big to solve.   But does that mean we should just give up? Or do we need to find some way to keep moving forward? In this series, we'll talk about what to do when you don't know what to do...

Has anyone ever told you, "God won't give you more than you can handle"? It's something we tend to say when someone around us is struggling. But is God really the one that gives us things to handle? Or should we be saying, God will help you handle whatever you're given?

The phrase, "Love the sinner, hate the sin," seems like it should be in the Bible. After all, the Bible tells us that all have sinned. And the Bible teaches us that God loves all. But the Bible doesn't say, "Love the sinner, hate the sin." Instead, the Bible says, "Love your neighbor." In this sermon, we'll be talking about just how big a difference there is between those two statements.

Over the years, there have been plenty of different issues that have divided churches. And many of these issues have been magnified by the belief that "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." But this phrase isn't in the Bible. Instead, in Matthew 23, Jesus reminds us what really matters to God...loving God and loving others.

Benjamin Franklin made the phrase "God helps those who help themselves," famous in his "Poor Richard's Almanack." But there are plenty of people who think this phrase comes right from the pages of the Bible. But the truth is, the Bible has a completely different message. The Bible shows us that God helps those who cannot help themselves.

We have all heard someone say, "Everything happens for a reason." We usually hear this phrase when someone is trying to make sense out of pain and suffering in the world around us. But when we say that "Everything happens for a reason," in church, we fail to take responsibility for the choices we make that may hurt other people.

There are times when Easter Sunday can feel like just another historical event. And since we have all witnessed moments that have defined generations - like the moon landing or 9/11 - we think we can understand the importance of Easter. But Easter is so much more than just another historical event. Easter is a personal event where God shows how much he loves you.

On Good Friday, Jesus grabbed a six-foot long, hundred pound, rough cut beam and drug it out through the city of Jerusalem. As he did it, Jesus was isolated. Jesus was abandoned. Jesus was alone.  But in his hour of darkest need, God sent a man named Simon - who was from a place called Cyrene - not only to help carry Jesus' cross...but also to remind Jesus that he was not isolated. He was not...

As Jesus was dying on the cross, the very first thing that he said was, "Father, forgive them..." But how could Jesus ask God to forgive the people who were taking his life? As we struggle with the problem of pain, one of the hardest issues to deal with is people who intentionally hurt us. In this sermon, we'll explore how Jesus forgave those who hurt him so we can do the same.

Although we all would like to be able to answer some of life's most difficult questions, the reality is that knowing why there is pain and suffering in this world wouldn't bring an end to the pain and suffering in this world. So we don't need an explanation for pain...we need a way to endure it. In this sermon, we'll begin exploring how Jesus dealt with pain and suffering in his life, and lea...

What would your life be like if you never had to worry about stubbing your toe, biting your tongue, or getting a headache again? The idea of a world without pain sounds pretty incredible. But in this sermon, we'll see that a world without pain wouldn't be a world of permanent euphoria. And that's because there is actually a reason why we experience pain.

When it comes to the problem of pain and suffering in the world, we have either blamed it on God or blamed it on the person who’s suffering. But both of these types of answers just aren't true. In this sermon, we'll explore what God has to say about the problem of pain and suffering in the book of Job. And we'll see that we'll never be able to answer some questions.

Some questions have an easy answer..like we all know that 2+2=4. But not every question has an easy answer. And that's especially true when it comes to our faith. Like, we've all wondered why bad things happen to good people. Well, just because something isn't easy doesn't mean it should be avoided. So, in this sermon we begin wrestling with one of life's most difficult questions: Where is Go...

There are times when it feels like we live in a world where everything changes...and that includes the church. Over the years, churches have seen everything change from the way sermons are preached to the music that is sung. So, is there anything that stays consistent? In this sermon, we'll be reminded that Christians are and will always be defined by three qualities: faith, hope, and love. And th...

What images do you think of when you think of hope? If you've spent much time around the church, you might think of things like a dove, a rainbow, or the cross. In this sermon, we'll explore a symbol that you'd probably never associate with hope: a sandal. And we'll see how a sandal shows us that we can always anticipate that God will keep his promises.

Great football players are defined by their size, strength, and what they accomplish on the field...but what defines us as Christians? Are we defined by attending worship services or carrying a Bible? Or is there some other essential quality that shows we are following Jesus? In this sermon, we'll be talking about the qualities that make us Christians.

When Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" they answered that some people thought he was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. But even though a lot of people thought Jesus was a prophet, in this week's service, we'll be reminded that Jesus was so much more than that.

What do a fictional racecar, a football fullback, and Jesus have in common? All three of them disappeared when they were on the verge of accomplishing something incredible. When Jesus was on the verge of creating an incredible ministry in the small town of Capernaum. And in this week's service, we'll see what Jesus' disappearing act can teach us about God's priorities.

From feeding the multitudes to healing the sick; Jesus performed plenty of miracles during his time on this earth. But when we struggle to see God at work in our world today, it's easy to wonder: Do miracles really happen? In this sermon, we'll talk about what we can learn from about Jesus from the miracles that he performed. And we'll be inspired to find ways to be a miracle for others.

Before Nathanael meets Jesus, he wonders if anything good can come from Nazareth. So before he even got to know Jesus, Nathanael wanted to reject Jesus. ​But even though Nathanael wanted to reject Jesus, Jesus doesn't reject Nathanael. Jesus accepts us all. How different would our world be if we acted more like Jesus and less like Nathanael?

We live in a world that can feel obsessed with gaining wealth and power regardless of the cost. We live in a world that can feel obsessed with privilege and pedigree - where who you know is more important than who you are. We live in a world where we're only worried about ourselves. ​But in the book of Mark, Jesus tells us that a new kingdom - the kingdom of God - is near. And the kingdom of God w...

As Jesus stepped into the waters of the Jordan River to be baptized, he couldn't have been in a more ordinary place...but this ordinary place would show us just how extraordinary Jesus is. ​As Jesus stepped into the waters of the Jordan River to be baptized, Jesus showed us that he is both ordinary & extraordinary. Jesus showed us that he is just like us & greater than we will ever be able...

After Jesus was born, some people were so excited to meet him that they traveled for months on end. But not everyone felt the same way. One man wanted to kill this baby, others wanted to ignore Jesus altogether. As we try to better understand who Jesus is, we face the same choice these people did. We can meet Jesus with excitement - knowing he will change us. We can want nothing to do with Jesus....

Every year countless children sit down with a sheet of paper in one hand and a marker in the other to make their Christmas list. Over the years, these lists have included everything from Rubik's cubes, to Tickle Me Elmo, to the latest video game system. And, with all the emphasis we put on these lists, it can feel like Christmas is all about presents. ​But there is far more to Christmas than just...