Sermons at Smoky Row Brethren Church

Neither you nor the universe are an accident.

God wants you to relate to Him personally and not transactionally.

Check out our Christmas Eve Candlelight service filled with carols, Scripture readings, and a message of hope and salvation. We join with friends from Agora Church as we reflect on the miracle of Christ's birth and light candles to symbolize the light of Christ shining in the darkness.

Continuing our journey through the Psalms for advent, we discover the source of joy revealed in the character and promises of God made manifest in Jesus.

Guest speaker Dr. Jayne Wilcox delves into the theme of peace in Psalm 72 as we reflect upon the peace announced to the world at the birth of Christ.

A psalm of hope as we gather in anticipation of the experience of God’s kingdom.

Closing out the covenant instructions in the book of Leviticus, God lays out blessings and consequences for the response of Israel.

God takes special care to mark out times for the people of Israel to gather in remembrance of their salvation story and live out God’s values of justice and peace together. As the Church meditates upon the appointed times that God sets out for Israel through the lens of Jesus, we discover the profound beauty of a life centered upon God’s presence.

If you’ve spent any amount of time with Leviticus chapters 18-20, you likely have quite a few questions about which, if any, of these are still applicable today. But when we step back to look at the laws as a whole, we get a clearer sense of God’s purpose for Israel and the hope of a community that values justice and peace.

God institutes an annual ritual for Israel to be cleansed from sin and become AT-ONE with God again.

Leviticus is full of instructions about what should be considered “clean” and “unclean,” or “holy” vs “common.” Some seem a bit intuitive, while others leave us vexed. What do we make of all this, and do they have any relevance for us today?

Join us for some communal interpretation as we reflect upon the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, after they offer “unauthorized fire” in the newly consecrated tabernacle.

Leviticus begins with several chapters detailing different kinds of offerings. How do we make sense of these instructions? What is the significance of Leviticus then and now?

Stories of faithfulness from Anabaptist witness.

Jesus' friends fall asleep rather than stay up to pray with him in his night of anguish before his arrest. What lessons can we learn from Jesus about navigating deep disappointment in our closest relationships?

Reflect upon the value of friendship as we meditate upon Peter's fishing trip post-resurrection.

Differences between generations can often be a paint point in relationships. Jesus heals and rescues in these spaces too.

Jesus calls Levi (aka Matthew) to follow him and attends a party with Levi's friends, but some of the religious leaders spoil the party. What does it look like for us as Jesus' followers to have our social life transformed by his values?

We naturally seek out spaces to belong. For this reason, it can be especially painful when we are rejected or disillusioned by the people we care for deeply. Jesus knows this pain, invites us into a new family, and shows us how to navigate the pain with grace.

Many of us try our best to do good in the world, and yet we can find ourselves lost in anxieties about how others perceive us. See how Jesus shows us a better way, and his grace enables us to overcome our worst instincts.

Jesus restores all our broken relationships, starting with our relationship with God.

The value of encouragement in a discouraging world.

Pastor Rudy Bocanegra shares insights from his recent trip to Turkey for his doctoral studies.

We spend hours online, but have we stopped to consider how it's shaping us? Join us as we explore how to navigate social media in a healthy and Christlike manner.

Jesus tells us that the kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure and a pearl of great value (Matthew 13:44-46). For all that it costs us to follow Jesus, there is a reward of far greater value to be found in God's Kingdom.