The College Church

Guest Speaker Maureen Desilets reflects on the exhortations in James 2:14-26 that often lead to unnecessary controversial arguments about 'Faith Versus Deeds', or the ‘right words' as opposed to the ‘right actions’. Together we’ll see - when we accurately understand what both the author James and the Apostle Paul are saying to their original audiences - it’s a “Both/And” stance NOT an...

James confronts the hypocrisy of claiming allegiance to Jesus while showing favoritism to our neighbors, and calls us to consistently follow Christ by loving our neighbors in the same way God does.

God uses the Bible to transform us. Two examples of changed behavior are our speech and how we treat the poor and marginalized Paul Sorrentino

James, the half-brother of Jesus, begins his letter with a theology of suffering and a theology of growth that are identical.  In this sermon, Pastor Bill unpacks why and how we can trust God when trials come into our lives.

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."  These words from the Apostle Paul invite us to share deeply in the self-giving love of Jesus. 

Many people today argue that forgiveness is the enemy of justice.  Is that true?  Is it possible to forgive and still take injustice seriously?  In this sermon on Jesus' teaching in Matthew 18, Pastor Bill unpacks how we can both confront sin and forgive those who sin against us. 

Marc Freedman from Stanford University says that we started the 20th century as one of the most age-integrated societies in the world and ended it as the most age-segregated.  One of the ways Christians are called to be weird is by valuing and pursuing intergenerational relationships.  In this sermon, Pastor Bill reflects on the Apostle Paul's relationship with Timothy and how intergenerationa...

We live in a world that is quick to complain, criticize and write people off.  Life often leaves us feeling lonely, run down and ready to give up.  There is a book in the Bible that was written to a beleaguered community that was tempted to throw in the towel.  In this sermon on the book of Hebrews, Barbara Ruh traces the theme of encouragement and the role that it can play in Jesus' family to...

Jesus talked about our relationship with money and possessions more than anything else.  In this passage, the Apostle Paul warns his protege, Timothy, of the dangers of seeking wealth and invites him to pursue godliness and contentment instead.  Then he instructs Timothy how to guide his church to live a life of simplicity and generosity, which is rooted in, and reflects, the beauty of the gospel.

Everyone needs freedom, community and meaning.  Western culture elevates the importance of freedom at the expense of the other two.  In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 12, Pastor Bill unpacks how the gospel moves us to value and depend on others in ways that lead to greater abundance, maturity and joy.

Humility was not considered a virtue in the Greco Roman world.  In fact, it was considered shameful and degrading.  It's only because of Jesus that humility has become widely thought of as a virtue.  In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how we can imitate Jesus' mindset in our relationships, both inside and outside of the church.

This recording was edited to protect the confidentiality of our panelists. A panel discussion with four of our gospel partners serving in different places around the globe covering topics like calling, challenges, perseverance, working cross culturally and prayer. 

God is calling you into the deep!  This sermon, preached by Pamela Foxx from Urban Promise in Camden, NJ, explores the nature of God's call, the miracle of God's power and the wonder of God's presence as we move into the world in His Name.  

In John 10 & 11, Jesus drops two bombshell revelations that have the power to revolutionize and transform our lives.  

A panel discussion on cultivating spiritual habits and a Rule of Life.

No one follows Jesus in a vacuum, but rather, in the context of a culture that often pulls us away from Jesus.  Resistance is hard.  It requires a conscious and deliberate plan for keeping God at the center of our lives.  In this sermon, we examine how Daniel resisted Babylon's attempt to assimilate him into their way of life, and how we, too, can resist the empire and build an abundant life! 

An abundant life is an embodied life.  There are competing narratives in our culture about what our bodies are for.  In this sermon, Pastor Bill offers a new (old) way of thinking about our bodies that's rooted in the gospel, as well as some every day habits for living a more embodied life.

How do we stay human in a technological world?  In this sermon, Pastor Bill unpacks what it takes to live abundant lives in a world in which effortless power threatens to diminish our personhood and our capacity to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

We were made for intimacy and belonging.  In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how we cultivate true friendship and deep community, and the habits and practices that nourish both.

"The greatest gift we can give each other is our presence."  In this sermon, Pastor Bill invites us to "practice the presence of people" like Jesus did, through the habits of listening, meal-sharing and hospitality.

"All reality and experience should drive us toward God and not away from Him," and "the purpose of life is to contemplate and share the love of God" (Ignatius of Loyola).  This sermon explores a framework and a practice for knowing ourselves so that we can know God, and discerning His presence and activity in our everyday lives.

John Mark Comer argues that “the modern world is a virtual conspiracy against the interior life.”  And yet, it is impossible to know God if you do not know yourself.  And it is impossible to form deep, intimate relationships with others if you are a stranger to yourself.  In this sermon on Psalm 139, Pastor Bill shows how can we can develop habits that train us to be present to ours...

Snacking and eating on the go are very different experiences than feasting and savoring a home-cooked meal.  In this sermon on Psalm 19, Pastor Bill invites us to cultivate a "slow down" spirituality in which we get to savor God's Glory in His creation and His Word.

"Attention is the beginning of devotion."  In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how our culture of distraction is a threat to our health and pursuit of abundance, and why it's so important to cultivate attention through the disciplines of silence and solitude.