Sunday Sermons

Jesus has made it clear to the disciples that he is going away, yet he clearly still has much to teach them. What is also clear is the disciples’ confusion about where Jesus is heading. In the second half of John 14, Jesus gives great encouragement to the disciples. Though he is going away from them, there will be One that will come to help them as they keep walking the path he laid out for them—O...

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life,” declares Jesus in John 14:6. This verse, along with John 3:16, are among the essential verses that capture the essence of the gospel. In these words we can rightly declare that Jesus is the way one receives salvation; this we embrace as the truth that will give us life—the life that is without end… eternal life. Yet, as we look closer at this section in...

Throughout John’s Gospel we have read about God’s love for the world, the Father’s love for the Son, and even Jesus’ love for his friends and disciples. But how well do we really understand what love truly is? On his final night with his disciples, Jesus will impart a new command to them: they should love one another as he has loved them. Seems like a simple instruction. However, once the disciple...

After the astonishing washing of the disciples’ feet, Jesus makes known that one of his chosen disciples will betray him in fulfillment of Scripture. Even more surprising is that Jesus declares that his betrayal will confirm who he truly is, hopefully resulting in the disciples’ belief. How is it that his betrayal will bring about these results? Seeing the impact of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus should...

Message from Pastor Mike Matheson on January 3, 2021

Message from Pastor Chris Amundson on December 27, 2020

Message from Pastor Mike Matheson on December 24, 2020

Some of us are still scrambling to finish up our Christmas shopping. Despite having had all year, we still scramble until the last minute to get gifts for those who matter the most to us. Who we put on that list and the gifts we give them says a lot about how we view those important people in our lives. When we look at Matthew 2 we see two different perspectives on Jesus’ birth. One results in the...

What is the true meaning of Christmas? This is a question that has been asked by many throughout the centuries. However, when we look at our passage from Luke, we might think that Christmas brings forth feelings of great fear! When the glory of the Lord comes upon you, fear seems to be a natural response. However, when the messenger shares the message with the shepherds, their response is quite di...

How we hear and receive a message is dramatically impacted by the means (or medium) through which it is delivered. Throughout the story of Scripture, God sent angels to deliver important messages to his people, often revealing his plans to advance his redemptive plans. When God’s messages came through one of his own messengers, it was clear this was important. Enter Mary, the humble girl who was e...

Christmas is the favorite time of year for many. From the time with family and friends to the decorations, many would say this is truly “the most wonderful time of the year.” In a year that has been less than wonderful for most, many might be looking to the hope that comes with Christmas. Can Christmas redeem 2020? Yes! But not through decorations, gifts, or even time with family. We must step bac...

It is easy for us to take our senses for granted. The ability to see—even if through glasses—is a tremendous blessing. The ability to hear—even if we need aids—is a wonderful gift. In John’s Gospel we have witnessed many who simply have not been granted the ability to see Jesus for who he truly is. Sadly, because they cannot see that he is the true light that has come into the world, they cannot (...

The coronation of a newly crowned king or queen puts on full display the majesty, wealth, and prestige of the new monarch. In many ways, the ceremony makes a powerful statement about what kind of ruler he or she will be. In John 12, Jesus arrives at Jerusalem for the Passover feast. Upon his arrival, the crowds greeted him seemingly ready to make him their king. Yet Jesus reveals in this moment ju...

All too often our decisions are made by the answer to this question: What will it cost? Rather than deciding in light of what we truly need or what is best for us, we take the cost into account more than anything else—not only the monetary cost but the relational and emotional cost as well. Oftentimes, even a gift cannot be received without incurring a great cost to us. Jesus, without question, is...

Few things are as painful as the death of a loved one. In John 11, we read about Jesus’ loss of his beloved friend, Lazarus. Though John has repeatedly declared that in Jesus “was life and the life was the light of men” (1:4), this was only understood in a spiritual sense. Yet, through this event, we are clearly shown that Jesus clearly holds life and death in his hands. The question we have to an...

Where does real security come from? Can we ever find it in this world given the uncertainty that we all face? Despite the various steps we take to feel secure, the reality is that these steps only reveal the depths of our insecurities. Those engaging with Jesus in John 10 are pressing him to find out if he truly is who he claims to be. While they’re primarily asking for their own benefit, Jesus re...

As we continue reading of Jesus’ interactions with the Jewish leaders, it is clear that their leadership did not match up with God’s intent for those shepherding his people. In the previous chapter, we saw them throw out the blind man who testified of Jesus’ miracle and rejected the very possibility that his testimony was true and… that Jesus is who he says he is. What kind of shepherd does the Fa...

Here we come to one of the most well-known stories about Jesus: his simple healing of a blind man followed by that simple profession of faith: I once was blind, but now I see. But if we’re not careful, we might miss the big idea. Jesus is not simply performing a simple miracle but is redefining the true nature of what it means to see. And the question we are left with to answer for ourselves is th...

For some—if not many—the thought of asking for help seems like a declaration of defeat. Further, there is a sense in which we now feel indebted to the one who gave us help. We would much rather be self-reliant and independent rather than beholden to another. Yet, when confronted with the truth—namely the truth of Jesus’ word—we are confronted with our genuine need for him. Though we think we are m...

“I am the light of the world,” Jesus proclaims in John 8:12. What significance does this have? If he is the true light, what is the right response from us? When we ponder his statement through God's bringing light into the world at creation to the promise of a coming Messiah to bring his people out of darkness, one would think they wanted the true light to come. And yet, once he arrived, many were...

Where do we turn when we’re seeking satisfaction? For many people, satisfaction seems impossible to find let alone attain for the long haul. Most would say that true satisfaction is elusive—difficult to find or achieve. However, John’s Gospel teaches something very different; not only is satisfaction not elusive… it is exclusive. And it exclusively comes from the Word that John has been directing...

We are returning the Gospel of John this week after having worked through the first six chapters in the spring. In the first section of our study, John the Evangelist forced his readers to wrestle with the question, “Who is this Jesus?” As we work through chapters 7-12, we will continue wrestling through this question, yet will also be faced to answer the question, “Why is it so hard to believe?”...

We see God’s heart for multiplication from creation to the Great Commision. We also want to see God’s heart for multiplication at every level of the life of our church, from multiplying growing disciples, to multiplying healthy leaders, and multiplying local churches. (Gen 1:28; Matt 28:18-20; Acts 11-21; 2 Tim 2:2)

We were created for community. Because God has reconciled us to one another, we want to put a priority on personal relationships, from membership, where we commit to one another as family, brothers and sisters in Christ, to group settings, where we have fellowship with one another, to one-to-one, where we can really know each other. Even as we reach out to the community around us, personal relatio...

Paul’s short letter to the Philippians addresses a church that shared in Paul’s ministry through a committed partnership in the gospel. Their commitment, though tangibly demonstrated through their support of Paul, was ultimately to Christ. They knew the joy that Christ brought. They knew the hope that he brought. They knew that regardless of their circumstances, their lives were wholly committed t...