the Cross Orlando

Continuing the 1 Peter series, Ben points to the forgiveness of sin as a reason for our living hope, drawing on 1 Peter 2:22-25, Psalm 103, and the woman caught in adultery in John 8 to show that the cross is big enough to cover all sin and that Jesus forgives so we can go and live free.

Continuing the 1 Peter series on reasons for our hope in Christ, Demetrius (filling in for Ben) walks through Deuteronomy 31, Joshua 1, Matthew 28, Hebrews 13, and Ephesians 1 to show that God promises to show up with his presence, provision, and protection, calling us to meditate on his word and sit at Jesus' feet.

Continuing the 1 Peter series on giving a defense for our hope, this sermon turns to the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, exploring how faith gives life significance through being entrusted with and faithfully using what God has given.

Continuing the series in 1 Peter, this sermon dwells on the call to give a defense for the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15), grounding that living, imperishable hope in Christ's resurrection and applying it to facing suffering and challenges to faith today.

After wrapping up Thomas Keating's "The Human Condition," this sermon begins a series on 1 Peter, focusing on 3:14-15 and Peter's call to persecuted believers in Rome to always be prepared to give a defense for the hope they have in Christ.

Continuing the study of Thomas Keating's "The Human Condition," this sermon moves from "Where are you?" to "Who are you?", warning how our coping systems for meeting needs of power, esteem, and security harden into false identity, and urging that we let God meet those needs instead.

Continuing the study of Thomas Keating's "The Human Condition," this sermon uses David's plea in Psalm 51 for a clean heart to illustrate Keating's diagnosis that humanity's universal needs for power/control, affection/esteem, and security/survival are ultimately answered only in Christ.

Continuing the study of Thomas Keating's "The Human Condition," this sermon explores the search for happiness in the wrong places, "first article" truths learned from creation and other disciplines, and Augustine's view that sin leaves us unable to find or pursue true happiness apart from God.

The first in a series studying Thomas Keating's book "The Human Condition," reflecting on God's question to Adam and Eve, "Where are you?", and the human tendency to hide from God, drawing on Keating's work on centering prayer.

Concluding the Pentecost series on the Holy Spirit, this sermon examines Luke 10:21, where Jesus, prompted by the Holy Spirit after the return of the seventy-two, rejoices and prays to the Father, exploring how the Spirit moves believers to pray.

Continuing the series on the Holy Spirit, this sermon examines Luke 4:16-22, where Jesus reads Isaiah 61 in the Nazareth synagogue and declares it fulfilled, showing how the Spirit anoints him to proclaim good news to the poor and liberty to the captives.

Beginning a post-Pentecost series on the Holy Spirit, this sermon examines Jesus' baptism in Mark 1:9 and the Spirit's anointing for ministry, exploring how the indwelling Spirit empowers believers to live in a new state free from sin.

A Pentecost sermon on Acts 2, recounting the disciples' wait in Jerusalem after Jesus' resurrection appearances and ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit with the sound of a mighty rushing wind.

Concluding the series on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, this message traces Jacob from his ladder vision (Genesis 28) to his blessing and burial at Macpella (Genesis 48-49) and Romans 8, arguing that Jacob valued the promise of God above all else, even death.

A Mother's Day sermon continuing the series on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, turning to Genesis 25:19-34 and the story of Rebecca's twins Esau and Jacob, including Esau trading his birthright for a bowl of stew.

Continuing the Easter series on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, this message centers on Isaac in Genesis 26, where God forbids him from fleeing the famine to Egypt, showing how God hems in this improbable child of promise and calls us to cast our lot with him.

Continuing the patriarchs series, this message turns to the matriarch Sarah in Genesis 15-17, examining her faithless attempt to secure an heir through Hagar and God's covenant renaming of her as the mother of nations.

Continuing a series on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, this message traces Abraham's story through Genesis 12-25 and Romans 4, showing how God persistently reminds Abraham of the promise that he would be heir of the world through faith rather than works.

The opening of a series on who God is as "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," beginning in Genesis 12 with God's call of Abraham, set against the backdrop of creation and humanity's fall.

An Easter Sunday sermon continuing Matthew's Passion account from chapter 27, moving through the torn temple curtain, Jesus' burial by Joseph of Arimathea, and the resurrection, emphasizing our need for a Savior and that Jesus' self-giving service works.

A Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion sermon walking through Matthew 27:11 and following, from Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem to his silent trial before Pilate, the choice of Barabbas, and the events leading to the crucifixion.

A Lenten sermon on Hebrews 9:11, tracing the Old Testament priesthood, tabernacle, and sacrificial system to show how Jesus serves as the perfect high priest who restores humanity's broken proximity to God.

A Lenten sermon on Paul's letter to the Galatians, addressing whether followers of Jesus must keep Jewish law and ritual, and affirming that standing with God comes through Christ's rescue from peril rather than rule-keeping or behavior.

A third-Sunday-of-Lent sermon drawing on Psalm 136 and Exodus 8, tracing the Exodus plagues and Red Sea deliverance to show how the God of Israel persistently breaks in to rescue his people from peril and oppression.

A study of Matthew 15:21-28, where Jesus withdraws to Tyre and Sidon and a persistent Canaanite woman pleads for her demon-oppressed daughter, exploring faith, persistence, and how the heart rather than ceremonial rule-keeping defines holiness.