Village Pres Sermons

Today we turn to Pixar's “Inside Out." Jesus loved Lazarus and Martha and Mary. When their brother Lazarus takes ill, sisters Mary and Martha send for Jesus, but he does not come right away. By the time he arrives, Lazarus has died and Martha, Mary and many others blame Jesus, and Jesus grieves his death. Part of what it means to be family is to be sad together. Our scripture reading is...

Today we turn to Pixar's "Toy Story." Jesus calls us his friends because we do what he has commanded us to do. To be a friend is a wonderful gift, which is why it is so painful when a friendship is lost. Our scripture reading is John 15:12-17. ​We have edited out portions of this sermon that contain copyrighted video clips from the movie Toy Story. To watch these clips at home on yo...

The Gospel tells of a God who, when we are lost, will wait for us and then when we find our way home, will run and welcome us with open arms! Our scripture reading is Luke 15:11-32. We have edited out portions of this sermon that contain copyrighted video clips from the movie Finding Nemo. To watch these at home on your own copy of the movie, please refer to the following timestamps in your movie,...

We conclude our series “In Joy” with some closing words from the most joyful letter in the Bible. Paul’s letter to the Philippians ends less with a spirit of exuberance, and more with a sense of contentment. Perhaps, contentment is the soil in which joy blossoms. Our scripture reading is Philippians 4:4-7, 10-14.​ Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@...

Internationally renowned poet and author David Whyte has described joy as “a deep form of love...the fleeting presence of those we love understood as a gift.” Joy is not a solo act. Joy lives in me, but it is rooted in us. Our scripture reading is 2 Timothy 4:9-18.​ Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer reques...

Joy is not limited to an experience. The deepest joy is the result of spiritual practice. There are many spiritual practices, and one practice is sabbath observance. When we remember what time is for, we remember what our lives are for. When we remember the purpose of each day, joy is easier to experience. Our scripture reading is Exodus 20:8-11.​ Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Chur...

Human beings need joy. Joy can result from the positive circumstances in our lives, but if positive circumstances are required, then joy will be elusive. No life escapes disappointment. No life escapes suffering. Yet, Christ teaches us that aided by courage as well as some practices, joy can find us even in hard times. Our scripture reading is Luke 15:3-10. Support the show Contact Village Presbyt...

Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka explores the criticism that the church is anti-science. Our scripture reading is Romans 12:1-2. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer request?  congregational-care@villagepres.org Facebook @villagepres Instagram @villagepreschurch YouTube @villagepresbyterianchurch To join in the missi...

Rev. Anna Owens, site pastor at the Village Church Antioch Campus, explores the criticism that the church is anti-women. Our scripture reading is Luke 7:36-50. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer request?  congregational-care@villagepres.org Facebook @villagepres Instagram @villagepreschurch YouTube @village...

Rev. Dr. Dionne Boyice, director of mission and engagement at Village Church, explores the criticism that the church is anti-gay. Our scripture reading is John 3:16-17. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer request?  congregational-care@villagepres.org Facebook @villagepres Instagram @villagepreschurch YouTube...

If we are honest, as sinful human beings we judge others too readily and we are hypocritical in that we do not always act in accordance with what we say. Given that, the call of the church is to be authentic, to be honest, to be real. Our scripture reading is Romans 14:1-12. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a pray...

The story claims that there was a day when all the people of the earth spoke one language. That would surely aid communication. It would certainly benefit unity. If we all spoke the same language and used the same words, it would obviously be easier for everyone to be on the same page. Why did God confuse their language and scatter the people? Our scripture readings are Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 2:1...

Two brothers went to worship, and one ended up dead. This tragedy happened, in part, because of envy, but also because God stirred things up in church. Our scripture reading is Genesis 4:1-16. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer request?  congregational-care@villagepres.org Facebook @villagepres Instagram @v...

It didn’t take long for the train to jump the rails, as they say. The good creation of God falls on hard times as the creatures created in God’s image reject the ways of God. It is the deeds that matter, but deeds always begin with thoughts and motivations. Sometimes, we think our ideas are better than God’s ideas. Our scripture readings are Genesis 2:15 -17 and Genesis 3:1-21. Support the show Co...

The Bible begins with some remarkable stories. They read like stories of people who lived at the beginning of time, but they are better understood as stories that describe what is true about all people. At the most basic level, these stories bear witness to what is good and what is not good. Our scripture reading is Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-25. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villag...

In the Gospel of Matthew, we read of a time when all peoples of the earth will be judged not according to our wealth or power but according to how we treat a special group of persons: the least of these. Why? Because in caring for the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, sick, and the prisoner, we care for Jesus himself. Our scripture reading is Matthew 25:31-40. Support the show Contact...

Rev. Dr. Darren Kennedy grew up in Village Church and is currently serving as a professor of theology and the academic dean at Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt. He worked as a summer intern at Village Church in 1991-1992, served as director of senior-high ministries from 1993-1996 and was ordained at Village. Village Church has supported his work as a PC(USA) mission co-worker in E...

In the second creation story in Genesis, God gave the human the power to name all the creatures. With the naming comes the responsibility to care for all of earth’s creatures. As we come upon Earth Day, we are reminded that God calls us by name to care for the earth and all her creatures. Our scripture reading is Genesis 2:1-19. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org...

He is Risen! Our scripture reading is John 21:1-19. Sermon preached by Rev. Tom Are on April 9, 2023 at Village Church Mission Campus. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer request?  congregational-care@villagepres.org Facebook @villagepres Instagram @villagepreschurch YouTube @villagepresbyterianchurch To joi...

It was a parade which lasted most of the day. There was singing and people spread their cloaks on the ground to prepare the way for the king. Like all parades, this one came to an end. But the truth of this day will never stop. Our scripture reading is Luke 19:29-40. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer reque...

Peter was following Jesus. That’s a good thing. From their first encounter, Jesus called Peter to follow. Yet, the text states that Peter follows “at a distance.” The distance shows up not in yards or miles on the ground, but in the kind of distance measured in the human heart. From that distance, fear is real, and denial is possible. Our scripture reading is Luke 22:31-33, 54-62. Support the show...

“You are the Christ!” This was Peter’s confession. The Christ, or Messiah, was the long-awaited, long-promised one of Judaism. Peter believed God had finally fulfilled this promise in Jesus. Peter was right about that. So, we have to wonder, given that he was right about Jesus being the Christ, why Jesus calls him Satan? Our scripture reading is Mark 8:27-33. Support the show Contact Village Presb...

Jesus walked on water, which is quite a trick! But more impressively, Peter walked on water. He was not as good at it as Jesus was, but for a while he was dancing on the waves. In a world that is as broken and chaotic as this one, some water walking might just be what is needed. Our scripture reading is Matthew 14:22-33. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communic...

For one who makes a living fishing, the best day is the day you catch a  fish as big as a boat, or the day you catch a boatload of fish. For Peter, the latter occurred. But it turned out to be anything but his best day. Our scripture reading is Luke 5:1-11. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer request?  congr...

Jesus invites his followers to “get a life,” as some folks might say these days. Jesus understands that life is a gift. It is a gift that is beautiful, but also broken at times. To embody life as Jesus does, some things will need to be left behind. Our scripture reading is Mark 1:14-20. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200...