Sermons - ZION BK

In today’s teaching, the Apostle Paul continues to warn the Colossians against false teachers—teachers who added Jewish mysticism and angelic Gnosticism to the Gospel of salvation though Jesus. The dangers of spiritual syncretism, specifically Christian mysticism, remain relevant for us today and are always detrimental to our faith in Christ alone.

For this year’s Christmas service, we focused on Matthew’s account of the birth of Christ. Instead of coming in strength to establish himself as king, Jesus came as an infant to identify with our weakness. He lived among the people and was known as Immanuel—God with us! An assurance we carry with us even and especially now!

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul combatted the prevailing religions of the day by reminding them that Jesus is Lord over all. Jesus is the one who saves and sustains all people. It’s an important admonishment to all of us—don’t veer off course! Remain steadfast in your pursuit of Christ alone!

In chapter 2, Paul described his hard work on behalf of the Colossians and his desire that no false teachers deceive them with plausible arguments. These arguments or heresies were particularly alarming because they were so closely associated with truth. Today, this can take the form of Christian Nationalism or even the Prosperity Gospel. Ultimately, adding any other contingencies to our faith and...

Paul concludes Colossians 1 by reflecting on his ministry and sharing an important theology of suffering—something that is often overlooked in the body of Christ. Christ suffered and so will his followers. But if Christians share in his suffering, becoming mature disciples, they will also share in the riches of his glory! Listen in to learn more!

This week, one of our elders, David St. Jean, leads us through an understanding of what the Gospel means and challenges our conceptions of who is the Rescuer of humanity. Within the context of understanding the Gospel, we are led into what healthy fear looks like and how to examine if we actually do believe the Gospel.

This portion of Scripture is one of the most important Christological passages in the entire Bible. Our hope and prayer for you is the same as Paul’s was for the Colossians: may your thanksgiving to God be grounded in truth, not theory. May you increase in the knowledge of Jesus, allowing Him to shape your life and prayers. And may you fall more deeply in love with Him than ever before!

This is the second sermon in our series on the book of Colossians. In this portion of Scripture, Paul is praying that the church will grow spiritually in gratitude, in soul-winning, in obedience, and in intimacy with Christ. In doing so, they and we will represent God well to others. Listen in to learn more.

We are starting a new series examining the book of Colossians. The Apostle Paul begins his letter with thanksgiving for the Colossians’ faith in Jesus and their acts of love toward one another. He concluded that their faith and love sprang from a place of hope. We share that same hope today. Hope that no matter how evil or difficult the world may become, if we call on the name of the Lord, we will...

As we conclude our series on the minor prophets, we examine the book of Micah. Like the original audience, we are called to identify and eradicate areas of self-absorption and self-gratification that lead to idolatry and refocus our lives on God alone. This is more crucial than ever in this turbulent time in our world. Listen in and let it change you!

Obadiah is an Old Testament prophet who confronted Israel’s neighboring nation of Edom over their response to Israel’s destruction. God was angry at both their reaction and inaction. How we treat God’s judgment of others is important, and it has even greater implication now in this time of divisiveness in our nation and around the world. Listen in to learn more!

This week we continue our sermon series on the minor prophets by examining the book of Joel and his declaration about ‘the day of the Lord.’ Like the original audience, we are warned of God’s judgment against sin and hear the call to repentance. Ultimately, the outcome is up to us. The day of the Lord can either be a time of great judgment or a time of repentance, salvation, and awakening.

In light of the upcoming election, we are beginning a new sermon series examining the minor prophets. Each has an important message that can teach us how to navigate this time together as Christians. Amos, specifically, covers the Christian ethic including the practices we should follow, the things we should pray for, and the types of justice that we should seek. Listen in to learn more!

This message concludes the “Proclaim” series on the importance of fulfilling God’s mission even if and especially when experiencing difficult times. In this passage, Jesus invites His disciples into His ministry of teaching, preaching, and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven. That same invitation extends to us today—to show compassion to others, to recognize the harvest all around u...

Don’t downplay your role in Christ’s mission. For when you are received by someone, they are, in turn, receiving Jesus and the gift of His incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension. No gesture is too insignificant, and no person is too small. It will be the best reward they will ever receive!

In Matthew 10:34-39, Jesus explains to His disciples that the Gospel message will necessarily cause disruption and division. But Christ did not come to bring peace on the world’s terms. After all, peace at all costs is not peace. Peace was not Jesus’s priority--His message is. Listen in to learn more!

In Matthew 10:26-33, Jesus continues instructing and commissioning the first disciples to go out and share the Gospel, specifically warning them against elevating the fear of man over the fear of God. As present-day disciples of Christ, we understand that we have been loved and forgiven by a good God. That is why we proclaim the good news to others, and that is how we fear Him.

Hardship in Mission is based upon Christ’s instructions to the disciples in Matthew 10. From His teaching, we discover that the mission is important and urgent, but it will NOT be easy! Instead of allowing these hardships and difficulties to overwhelm us, we must realize that this is the greatest time and opportunity to proclaim the goodness of God!

This week at ZION, we started a new six-week sermon series entitled, “Proclaim: Instructions for Mission.” It is based upon Christ's instructions to the disciples in Matthew 10. His directives still have great implications for us today. For if we are, in fact, "on mission" with Jesus, then we must learn how to do this mission His way.

Every summer, we revisit the true mission of the church. It reminds us to emulate the ministry of Jesus in His imperative to reach the lost. Now, more than ever, we need to have eyes to see the “sheep” who have wandered off so that at the end of this tumultuous time, we will have cause to celebrate instead of mourning the lost.

When the early church was born, they devoted themselves to community, discipleship, and prayer. From that dedication, five outcomes were produced among them: awe, signs, and wonder; unity; financial sacrifice; new rhythms; and growth. If we commit ourselves to those same values, the same outcomes will be evident in us as the present-day church. It is time for us to be the church God has called us...

Each year, we take the time to review our core values of discipleship, community, and prayer. Over the past three years, the methods have changed, but the message of Christ has always remained the same! And to the extent we become true disciples, connect with community, and do the deep work of prayer, we not only live out our values, we become an unstoppable church!

Most of the time, when we say we want to obey God, we don’t fully understand how difficult it will be. It is easier said than done. Learning the reality of living a life of obedience is essential to ensure we don’t become ensnared in sin. Sin is at work within us, and we are at war with sin. This is a war of obedience!

The first and greatest commandment is to love God. Loving God is demonstrated through obedience to Him and will always lead to the second greatest commandment, loving people. But what does is it really mean to love others? Listen in to learn how to live a life of sacrificial love toward God and people through the parable of the Good Samaritan.

After being tested by the religious leaders of His day, Jesus responded to their question about the greatest commandment in the Scripture with one simple statement: Love God with everything! Often, we, too, miss the point of God’s law and live in a way that does not represent Him well. However, when God is the center of our love, obedience to Him becomes our central priority! Only then are we able...