the Cross Orlando

An exploration of the Song of David in 2 Samuel 22 (verses 26-34), reflecting on how God deals justly—showing mercy to the merciful, saving the humble, and humbling the haughty—unlike the world that rarely rewards humility.

A study of Acts 20 (beginning at verse 27), set against the week's readings about sheep, wolves, and false teachers, following Paul's ministry in Ephesus from Acts 19 and his charge to guard the church.

An exposition of Romans 6:19-23—"the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life"—read in the context of Paul's argument in Romans 4-5, using Abraham as the paradigm of faith who simply received God's good and favorable gift.

Connecting Psalm 19, the Ten Commandments of Exodus 20, and Matthew 5:17-26, this message shows that Israel kept the law because they were already God's people, and that Jesus came not to abolish but to fulfill that enduring teaching.

Opening with the Lord's Prayer and its petition for daily bread, this message turns to Luke 5:1-11 and the miraculous catch of fish, considering how Jesus involves himself in our material provision and the calling of his first disciples.

A study of Luke 6:36-42 on being merciful as God is merciful, withholding judgment and condemnation while extending mercy and forgiveness, and the speck-and-log teaching, connected to Philippians 2 and becoming like Christ the teacher.

Drawing on Luke's parables of the lost and a reading from 1 Timothy, this message frames the gospel's grand meta-narrative—a good God who creates, provides, and pursues fallen humanity—showing that our sin qualifies rather than disqualifies us as the people of God.

A guest speaker filling in explores three biblical invitations, beginning with Proverbs 9:1-9 and Wisdom's invitation to come and learn, reflecting on curiosity, humility, avoiding being a scoffer, and seeking wisdom amid current events.

A study of Genesis 15 and God's covenant with Abraham, focusing on God's promise to be Abraham's shield and reward, and how Israel's identity was established by grace through Abraham before the conditional covenant given at Sinai.

A Trinity Sunday sermon on Romans 11:33-36, Paul's doxology praising the depth of God's riches, wisdom, and unsearchable judgments, with reflections on how the doctrine of the Trinity developed and how theology is articulated in context over time.

A Pentecost sermon on the giving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), paired with the Old Testament reading of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, exploring how Christ's incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension culminate in the Spirit being released to move freely among humanity again.

A guest preacher (Aaron, filling in for Ben) preaches on the "already and not yet" of God's kingdom, drawing on Ezekiel 36:24-26 and Psalm 51 about God's promise of a new heart and clean spirit, set against the backdrop of the recent Texas school tragedy.

A sermon on prayer that turns to 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul's pastoral exhortation to make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving for all people and those in authority, so believers may lead peaceful and quiet lives. The opening commends the Jesus Prayer (breath prayer).

A sermon on the lectionary readings from Isaiah and James, focusing on Isaiah 12:1-6, a song of thanksgiving and praise, and reflecting on how God's word and even his judgment come through the prophets to his people.

A Mother's Day sermon reflecting on mothers' opportunity and responsibility to represent God's love to their children, and on God as a heavenly parent who supplements and heals where earthly parents falter, drawing on Psalm 147 as a song of praise.

A sermon on 1 Peter 2:21-25, on Christ suffering for us and leaving an example to follow, healed by his wounds, and how believers living under God's reign should not be surprised by suffering since suffering does not mean they are doing something wrong.

An introduction to a series on the letters of John (1, 2, and 3 John), noting these short, less-studied epistles and how the aged apostle John repeatedly returns to the simple, deep command to love one another.

An Easter Sunday sermon on the resurrection account in Luke 24, imagining the women coming to Jesus' tomb with burial spices early in the morning and finding it empty, and reflecting on what the resurrection means for us.

A Good Friday message on Psalm 22 and Matthew 27, contrasting the faithlessness of Judas, Pilate, and the crowd, who grasped for control, with Jesus' humble faithfulness as he trusted God even in death on the cross.

A Palm Sunday message walking through Matthew 26, from the woman anointing Jesus with costly perfume through the Last Supper and Gethsemane, presenting faith as believing more is going on than reason and logic can see.

A message on Hebrews 9, explaining the Old Testament tabernacle and sacrificial system and how Christ, as high priest offering his own blood, secures eternal forgiveness that liberates believers to live as they were intended.

A message on John 6's feeding of the five thousand, paired with the manna of Exodus 16, urging listeners to trust that God knows something we do not and to bet on his way at the forks in life.

A Lenten message linking the "finger of God" in the Exodus 8 plagues with Luke 11's casting out of a demon, showing that the God who rescued enslaved Israel will go to any length to rescue people who recognize their need.

A Lenten message on Matthew 15 and the Canaanite woman whose persistent, non-performative, need-based faith Jesus calls great, urging listeners to approach God honestly from a place of brokenness and need.

A Lenten message on 2 Corinthians 5-6, where Paul, working with God in the ministry of reconciliation, urges believers not to receive God's grace in vain but to let the gospel reorder their whole lives, even through hardship.