Sunday Sermons

So we’ve all been out somewhere and something tasted so good that we just had to invite someone else to take a bite, saying, “You have to try this!” While they may refuse at first, you’re not going to take “No” for an answer - even if they’re polite about it. Now it’s at this point that there are two types of people. There are those who will take a small bite (which is barely enough to even get a...

Have you ever gone through something that was hard, maybe even painful, but after looking back, you were able to see how it made you stronger, more compassionate, or deepened your faith and reliance on God? Maybe it identified areas in your life where you needed to shift gears, change an attitude, or a certain behavior. That’s what God’s refining fire is like. It’s not just for warmth or comfort;...

Have you ever bitten into a s’more that looked perfect on the outside… only to discover the marshmallow inside was stale and hard? Or maybe it was underdone, leaving the chocolate unmelted and the graham cracker crumbling in your lap. Or maybe you went for that dramatic flaming toast and ended up with something burnt and bitter that overpowered the whole treat. (And maybe burned your tongue) Here’...

You’d think making a s’more is simple. Graham cracker. Marshmallow. Chocolate. Done. But any seasoned camper—or chocolate connoisseur—knows: not all s’mores are created equal. A truly great s’more isn’t just tossed together. It takes intention. The right ingredients. The right timing. And especially—the right chocolate. Now, I’ll be honest. My favorite part is always the chocolate. But not just an...

Have you ever found yourself standing or walking in a place where your footing was a bit unsure because the ground was uneven and your balance was a bit unsteady? Or maybe you tried to balance something, but because of the place you were trying to build it, it kept falling over because it didn’t have a sure foundation. How did you feel? Maybe you felt a bit uncertain, a bit uneasy? A sure and cert...

How often do disagreements create rifts in relationships, including within the Church and denominations, sometimes over opinion or custom rather than core doctrine or the righteousness of God?  The reading from 3 John focuses on two congregations and their leaders, with hospitality as the central theme. The writer of 3 John highlights and praises Gaius as a model of generosity and welcome. His wil...

Have you ever received a piece of advice that stuck with you, not just because it was wise or encouraging, but because it was rooted in faith? It’s like a double blessing - truth paired with trust in God. And even more powerful is when the person giving that advice just doesn't say it, they lived it. They modeled it. Throughout his letters, Paul not only offers words of encouragement and inst...

Have you ever had someone correct you, and it stung because of how they said it? Or maybe you've tried helping someone, but they shut down because they weren’t ready to hear what you had to say? In our reading for today, we meet a teacher by the name of Apollos. Apollos was smart, passionate, and bold in his teaching, but he still had more to learn. In fact, there was something slightly off a...

Have you ever been criticized for doing the right thing? Maybe you spoke the truth, helped someone others ignored or stood firm in your values and it cost you. In moments like that, it’s easy to respond with frustration, bitterness, or even hopelessness. But what if instead, we responded with boldness, prayer, and praise? That’s exactly what Paul and Silas did. After being unjustly beaten and thro...

Sometimes the Holy Spirit whispers to us, inviting us to witness to the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness found in Jesus. We might receive a gentle nudge or a quiet whisper. As we heard last week, God's whisper becomes our witness. As we practice listening to the Holy Spirit and grow more attuned to the sounds of God's promptings, we become more courageous and more ready to spring into...

Have you ever told someone you did a certain thing, but you knew in your heart that you didn’t?  While you may have looked good on the outside and kept up appearances, there was a different reality that you tried to cover up. In our reading for today, Acts 4:32-5:11, Ananias and his wife Sapphira held back a portion of the money they received from selling a piece of property. The problem wasn’t th...

Sometimes when we think of the word ‘salvation’ we immediately assume that salvation means getting to heaven—faith becomes an insurance policy for the ever after rather than the catalyst for transformational living now. The Greek word for salvation (sozo) means more than that. It encompasses complete healing for the suffering of all humanity and all creation! Here and now! Salvation assures us of...

We are all busy, especially when we are hosting an event or family gathering. It’s ‘all hands on deck’!  Everybody in the family has a job to do to make sure everything is set to welcome each guest.  Sometimes though, we get preoccupied with the good to-dos and miss out on the great to get-tos.  This week we see how being preoccupied with even good things can get in the way of experiencing the bes...

In the back of our minds, we often carry a quiet awareness of what we should be doing (acts of compassion, words of encouragement, moments to step in) but for one reason or another, we don’t act. It’s only when the opportunity has passed and consequences emerge that we find ourselves saying, “If I only knew.”  This weekend, we turn to the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, where a wealthy man co...

Have you ever experienced a negative consequence for doing the right thing?  It could be anything from helping someone with their grocery cart only to have them yell at you for assuming they can’t do it.  Or, you can experience this with teenagers when you deny a request to go somewhere or be with someone because you are protecting the teen only have them pout and give you the silent treatment for...

There’s nothing like a good slice of pie, whether it’s apple, pecan, pumpkin, blueberry or even rhubarb. While eating a slice of pie is good, sometimes it can be difficult especially when we’ve eaten too much and “couldn’t possibly have another bite - but just a small slice” or when it’s a slice of humble pie. While it’s hard to eat a slice of humble pie, sometimes it can be good for us because it...

Have you ever gone up to someone to share something that was going on in your life and rather than listening to you or supporting you, they turned things around and started talking about themselves? It can certainly be frustrating. It happens so often that it’s almost surprising, even refreshing, when someone practices active listening and simply receives and affirms what’s being shared. As Prover...

It seems that we spend a lifetime accumulating more and more stuff. Our closets and drawers are overflowing and we’re running out of room for storage in our attics and basements, yet our eyes continue to focus on the next thing. Rather than getting caught up in the pursuit of more, what would it mean to practice contentment? 

In our Lenten series ‘Shaping Tomorrow’ we are growing in faith and understanding that what we do today, shapes tomorrow.  Moreover, how we think of God today shapes how we view ourselves and the world around us.  In our text for today the writer of 1 John states that he is writing, in an endearing way, so that those who are following Christ may not sin. The question begs to be answered, “what bec...

Most of us try to be on top of paying our bills so we’re not delinquent, past due or overdue. We may even make sure our bills are paid on time by setting up auto payments directly from our bank account. When it comes to prayer, we are often quick to ask for God’s blessing and provision but how are we at giving thanks to God for His work and movement in our lives? Have we been on time in thanking G...

So often we think of our faith life linearly. For the most part, we presume we know the road and our goals are: Keep from going in a ditch Don’t cross the center line Get to our destination in fairly good condition In western religious thought this makes sense. The road is our time on earth. The commandments are the ‘side of the road’ that keep us from driving into a ditch. We avoid collisions wit...

Sometimes we work in a bubble, simply grinding it out. The term cubicle not only refers to a space where people work but how we choose to work; isolated and detached from those around us. If we do seek someone’s counsel, it’s typically from those who agree with or think like us. If you ever want to be told what you want to hear, surround yourselves with those who think like you and will simply agr...