the Cross Orlando

Continuing the series through Mark, this message covers Mark 2:13-17, the calling of Levi the tax collector and Jesus eating with sinners, with context on how tax collectors extorted their neighbors under Roman occupation.

A guest speaker preaches from John 16:16-22, where Jesus tells his disciples "a little while, and you will see me," promising that their sorrow will be turned into joy that no one can take away, reflecting on the Apostle John's own hope amid suffering.

The opening of a chapter-by-chapter series through the Gospel of Mark, beginning with Mark 1, with extensive background on John Mark as the author writing from Peter's perspective and how the New Testament gospels were transmitted.

A guest speaker on the Sunday after Easter preaches from 1 Peter 1:3-9 on the living hope of the resurrection and faith refined through trials, recalling Peter's denial and restoration in John 21 as background to the letter's author.

An Easter Sunday message on the resurrection of Jesus, emphasizing that he truly died and rose bodily—flesh and bone, body and spirit—and that his resurrection was not for himself but to gather and restore his people.

A Palm Sunday message on Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem from Luke 19, tracing his journey from Galilee through the raising of Lazarus and Jericho as a growing crowd accompanies him toward Passover.

A late-Lent message on Romans 8:1-11, focusing on "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," and on repentance as a joyful opportunity for God's redemption to reach new places.

A Lenten message on the healing of the man born blind in John 9, addressing the disciples' question of whose sin caused his blindness and Jesus' answer that it was not sin but an occasion for God's works to be displayed.

A third-Sunday-of-Lent message on Romans 5:1—"since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God"—unpacking Paul's argument from Abraham and reframing justification as how we make sense of and justify our existence before God.

A second-Sunday-of-Lent message on John 3:1-17 and Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night, exploring Jesus' teaching on being born again and reflecting on the temptation to earn God's approval through accomplishment.

A first-Sunday-of-Lent message on the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4), framing Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel who resists the temptation to live off what he can make for himself, trusting instead that what God gives is better.

An Ash Wednesday message on Matthew 19, where Jesus welcomes the little children and then encounters the rich young man asking what he must do to have eternal life, illustrated by a story of subsistence farmers in Malawi and dependence on God.

The final week of the Genesis series looks at the story of Jacob, beginning around Genesis 32 as he parts from Laban and prepares to face Esau, recapping how the patriarchs reveal a God caught up in the particular details of ordinary lives.

Continuing the Genesis series, this message examines the often-overlooked life of Isaac, beginning around Genesis 22-23, and reflects on Abraham's defining willingness to receive God's gifts rather than manufacture his own future.

Continuing the Genesis series, this message takes up the difficult story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac, framed by a personal account of a coworker who stumbled over how God could test Abraham that way, and traces Abraham's journey from Haran.

Continuing the Genesis series, this message turns to the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 (starting from chapter 9 after the flood), urging that these primordial stories be read as more than children's fables and exploring what they reveal about God.

Continuing the Genesis series, this message moves into Genesis 2-3 and the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, beginning with the unwatered, virgin ground before God forms man to work it.

Beginning a series through Genesis, this message looks at the creation account in Genesis 1, with extended background on how Moses recorded the Torah, the transmission of the Hebrew text, and God's presence associated with light.

A New Year's Day message on 1 Peter 1, personally recalling the preacher's late father, focusing on being born again to a living hope through the resurrection and how trials test and refine faith amid the complexities of life.

A Christmas Eve reading of the nativity in Luke 2, noting how Luke roots the birth of Jesus in real history under Caesar Augustus and Quirinius, with God breaking into the midst of politics, taxes, and ordinary life through lowly Mary and Joseph.

The Advent gospel-openings series concludes with Luke 1, the most detailed nativity account, beginning with Luke's purpose in writing an orderly account and the angel Gabriel's announcement to Zechariah of John the Baptist's birth.

Continuing the Advent series on the gospel openings, this message turns to Matthew 1 and the genealogy of Jesus—son of David, son of Abraham—showing how Matthew roots Jesus of Nazareth in real history and Israel's story.

Continuing the Advent gospel-openings series, this message examines the prologue of John 1, "In the beginning was the Word," exploring the divine, uncreated Word through whom all things were made and the light that shines in the darkness.

The first Sunday of Advent begins a series on the openings of the four gospels, starting with Mark 1, whose proclamation of John the Baptist is rooted in the comfort prophecy of Isaiah 40 announcing the way of the Lord.

A study of Micah 6:6-8, set in the prophet's courtroom-style indictment of Judah, recalling God's faithfulness in delivering Israel and leading toward the famous call to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.