the Cross Orlando

An Advent message on the resurrected Jesus in John 21, where he makes breakfast for his disciples on the beach and restores Peter, illustrating Jesus' deeply personal, reciprocal love and the hope of a world to come.

A guest speaker preaches the final core value, "life," from Romans 5:20-6:4 and Saul's conversion in Acts 9, on dying to sin and living a new life in Christ, sharing her own struggle with anger.

Concluding the core value of "lineage" from Romans 5 and the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians, arguing that believers inherit a life of love, joy, and peace through the faith handed down from Jesus through Paul, Augustine, and Luther.

Introducing the core value of "lineage" from Romans 5:12-21, contrasting Adam's sin with Christ's one act of righteousness and emphasizing how Jesus, rooted in real history, gives believers the capacity to reign in life.

Continuing the core value of "peace" from Romans 5, on rejoicing in suffering that produces endurance, character, and hope, alongside John the Baptist's counsel in Luke 3 to live justly within one's station rather than abusing power.

Beginning the core value of "peace" in the opening verses of Romans 5, that having been justified by faith we have peace with God, building on the previous weeks' study of story in Romans 4.

Continuing the core value of "story" through Romans 4 and Colossians 1, presenting Jesus as the new beginning of the story and "Christ in you, the hope for glory," with Paul filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.

Opening a series on the church's core values with "story," using Matthew's genealogy and Romans 4 to show Scripture as a story of God with his people and Abraham's willingness to receive God's gifts by faith.

A guest speaker, a counselor, preaches on Psalm 131 from the Psalms of Ascent, exploring humility, contentment, and trusting that God is in control like a weaned child resting with its mother.

A study of Psalm 133 from the Psalms of Ascent, on how God blesses his people with the gift of life forevermore when they dwell together in unity, illustrated by the anointing of Aaron and closing with a remembrance of baptism.

Continuing the Psalms of Ascent series with Psalm 130, paired with Peter's denial of Jesus in Matthew 26, on crying out to God from the depths and waiting on him like watchmen for the morning, trusting that even there God offers steadfast love and plentiful redemption.

Continuing the Psalms of Ascent series with Psalms 126 and 127, paired with Jesus calming the storm in Matthew 8, on remembering God's provision across generations and trusting him for salvation without anxious toil since unless the Lord builds the house we labor in vain.

Continuing the Psalms of Ascent series with Psalm 125, on how those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, immovable and enduring forever, with a secure place prepared for them, finding peace amid the world's wickedness through faithfulness to God rather than capitulation.

Continuing the Psalms of Ascent series with Psalm 122, on the pilgrim's joy at arriving in Jerusalem to stand in God's presence, framing the gathered church as the temple where believers come not to demand but to give thanks for God's provision.

Part of the Psalms of Ascent series, describing how these fifteen psalms beginning at Psalm 120 were sung by pilgrims traveling together in family groups toward the festivals in Jerusalem, picturing God's people journeying toward him together through real-life challenges.

Opening a series on the Psalms of Ascent with Psalm 120, framing the believer as a sojourner who calls out to God in distress amid a world of lies and conflict, with God answering and defending his people as they journey toward home.

Continuing the series on vocation and living by the Spirit, drawing on Romans 12:1-8 to call believers to present themselves as a living sacrifice, stop trying to control the future, and take faithful next steps loving family, church, and city according to the measure of faith given them.

Continuing the series on living by the Spirit, using Jeremiah 29's call to seek the welfare of the city in exile and Jesus' compassion on the crowd in Matthew 14, to urge believers to genuinely care for and improve the cities where God has placed them.

Part of a post-Pentecost series on living by the Spirit, drawing on Exodus 19-20 and the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 to argue that God calls his priestly people to love and build families, even creating new family where their own is broken.

A message tracing Israel's calling as a kingdom of priests in Exodus 19 to the church as a royal priesthood in 1 Peter 2, showing how through Christ the Spirit now dwells in God's people so they can live the life they were made for before a watching world.

A Pentecost message on Acts 2, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, connected to the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 and Jesus' promise of the Spirit in John 14, presenting the Spirit as God's renewed, unmediated presence enabling believers to live the life they were made for.

The Peaceful and Quiet Life

An Easter-season message on Isaiah 40, where the God who names every star promises that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, paired with the persistent widow of Luke 18 as a picture of bringing our needs to God.

An Easter-season message on John 20:19-29, the risen Jesus appearing to the disciples and to doubting Thomas, arguing that Thomas belonged to the community before he believed and that belonging draws belief out of us.

Damascus Road