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Introduction This sermon addresses the reality of the "dark night of the soul"—those seasons where God remains silent despite persistent prayer. By examining Psalm 77, we explore the tension between deep personal suffering and the historical faithfulness of God. Using the Exodus story as a backdrop, we see how the biblical pattern of "hiding before rescue" serves to prepare the...

A morning to invest in your marriage with guest speakers Dr. Dan and Kathie Jarrell from Western Seminary. Designed to cultivate and tend to your marriage so it can thrive in the good times and the bad. Support the show *Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.

In this guest sermon, Dr. Dan Jarrell challenges us to move from an "anemic" life of thin experiences to a "thick" life of substance, centered on God. Using his experiences in the Alaskan wilderness and the philosophical concept of "focal things and practices," he critiques our technological culture that values efficiency over engagement. We often commodify sacred thi...

This sermon continues the "My Job Depends on Ag" series, using agricultural metaphors to explore the importance of stability and rootedness in the Christian life. Just as trees need to be planted by streams of water to bear fruit (Psalm 1), believers need to stay put—in a place, a community, and a calling—to flourish. However, our culture of hypermobility and fear of commitment (FOMO) of...

In the second part of the "My Job Depends on Ag" series, this sermon addresses the often-dreaded spiritual discipline of waiting . We frequently try to avoid praying for patience to dodge trials, but trials are inevitable. The question isn't if we will wait, but how . Using James' analogy of the farmer, we see that waiting is not passive; it is an active, expectant dependence o...

Using agriculture as a metaphor for spiritual growth, this sermon focuses on the importance of cultivating a "root system" by keeping our hearts. Just as trees need roots to bear fruit, we must tend to our inner life to produce lasting spiritual fruit. We often prioritize the external—our "branches" of doing and achieving—while neglecting the hidden life of the heart. Scripture...

This sermon introduces the new year series, "My Job Depends on Ag," using agriculture as a metaphor for spiritual growth. The pastor begins with a confession about struggling to trust God with finances (both for the church's summer camp and the Amigo Row building project) and how asking for help led to miraculous provision. He emphasizes that spiritual growth is not like technology—...

This sermon concludes the three-week series "God Our Home," connecting the longing for God's presence with the reality of Christmas. We recap that God's desire to dwell with His people is the entire storyline of the Bible—from Eden to the New Creation. However, significant barriers like disobedience, shame, lies, and God's holiness keep us from experiencing this intimacy....

This sermon explores the deep longing for God's presence and the obstacles that obscure it. While we often associate God's presence with emotional experiences—tears or goosebumps—He is a constant reality. "Emmanuel" (God with us) is not merely a seasonal Christmas theme; it is the entire storyline of the Bible, from the Garden of Eden to the New Creation. God's relentless...

This sermon addresses the deep ache for "home" we feel during the holidays—a longing for the permanent and perfect that the world cannot satisfy. This desire points to the central theme of Scripture: Emmanuel , God with us. This is not just a Christmas slogan; it is the entire storyline of the Bible, from the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem. Scripture References Genesis 1-3 : Eden, t...

This sermon explores the origins and significance of baptism and communion, tracing them back to their roots in the Exodus story. It explains that these sacraments are not random rituals but divine institutions commanded by Jesus, prefigured in the Old Testament, and practiced by the church for thousands of years. Scripture References Matthew 28:18-20 : The Great Commission to baptize. Luke 22:7-2...

This sermon addresses the "why" behind the Ten Plagues, asking "What's up with that?" regarding God's harsh judgment. The plagues are a revelation (Who is God?), a rescue (fulfilling His promises), and a recompense (judging oppression). They show God rules over humanity, nature, and all other gods. These were supernatural acts, and this message tackles the "why&q...

This sermon continues the study of the Ten Plagues, examining plagues six through ten (Exodus 9-11). It moves from the boils and hail to the climactic 10th plague, the death of the firstborn. The message connects the plagues to God's judgment on the gods of Egypt, their prophetic fulfillment in the book of Revelation, and the urgency it creates for our own lives. Scripture References Exodus 9...

This sermon explores the Ten Plagues (Exodus 7-10), one of the most iconic and disturbing parts of Exodus. The plagues are not random acts of anger but a deliberate act of revelation, raising questions about God's justice, His purpose, and the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. Scripture References Exodus 7:4-5 : God's stated purpose: "The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.&quo...

This sermon begins with reports from a global gathering in Cyprus, highlighting the perseverance of the persecuted church (e.g., in Ukraine) and a "quiet revival" in the West, especially among Gen Z (Bible sales, app downloads, and Christian music streams are all up significantly). The theme, drawn from this, is "But God," as we dive into Exodus 5 and 6. Scripture References Ex...

Welcome to the sermon. Last week, we explored Moses's question, "Who am I?" Today, we tackle the other great question from the burning bush: "Who are you, God?" We're diving into Exodus 3 to explore the profound meaning behind the name God reveals for Himself—a name full of mystery and power, which is ultimately and most clearly revealed in the person of Jesus. Script...

Welcome to the sermon. Today we're in Exodus 3 & 4, exploring one of life's most foundational questions: "Who am I?" Through Moses's encounter at the burning bush, we'll confront the shame and insecurity that so often writes our life's story. We'll see how God's answer to our feelings of inadequacy is profoundly different from the world's, shif...

Welcome to the sermon. Today we're in Exodus chapter two . We often think of the Exodus as a "movement of the people," but it's not an uprising. The people are stuck. This is a move of God . He is the one who steps in to rescue the oppressed. As we study the life of Moses, remember this: God will do something in you before He does something through you. Moses's life is a m...

Welcome to our first sermon diving deep into the text of Exodus! Today, we're in chapter one , asking the right questions to unlock its meaning. We'll explore why Israel is in Egypt, why the mighty Pharaoh is unnamed, and how two overlooked midwives, Shiphrah and Puah , become the unlikely heroes of the story. Scripture References Exodus 1 : The enslavement of Israel in Egypt. Genesis 12...

Welcome to the sermon! We're continuing our study of Exodus, seeing it as the key pattern for our lives and all of Scripture: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Renewal . Today’s point is simple: you can't truly understand Jesus without understanding Exodus. It's the backdrop for His entire life and ministry. Scripture References 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 : The Exodus story was written as an e...

Intro Good morning! Today we want to introduce our new series: a deep dive into the Book of Exodus . Just as songs like Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" or Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" borrow from earlier melodies, the Bible has a recurring melody line: the Exodus story. It’s a deliverance archetype that influences the entire biblical narrative, from Genesis to Revela...

AI, Technology, and The Church Text your questions to: (559) 754-0182 Watch the video of this entire conversation here Welcome to a thought-provoking conversation on the Radiant Church Podcast, where we explore the intersection of faith and technology. In this episode, host Eric Riley and his guests — David Janssen (Data Analytics Coordinator), Matt Flummer (Philosophy Professor), Tim Harms (Pasto...

Intro Good morning! My name is Ken, and I serve as one of the elders here. I haven’t delivered a sermon in nine years, but I’ve been serving in ministry the whole time—from pastoring to managing a condo complex. I’ve wondered if my work was spiritually significant, a feeling many of us share. Today, we'll explore the big idea that God desires to be glorified in our work, no matter where we ar...

Intro My name is Travis Aicklen, and we're concluding our "Summer of Wisdom" series on Proverbs next week. Today, I'm delivering our annual "State of the Union" address. This is not a typical sermon, but an important one as we set the course for the new year. I want to talk about three things: the realities of being a sending church, our Sunday rhythms, and our readin...

Introduction Good morning. We’ve been journeying through Proverbs this summer, exploring themes like justice, the poor, listening, trust, and wealth. As an executive and non-staff elder, I was asked to speak on priorities, a topic I'm deeply familiar with. I expected to find a lot about time management, but what Proverbs really emphasizes is a different kind of priority: who we are becoming o...