Waterstone Church Sermon Podcast

The Bible offers guidance on how to have a flourishing sex life, which differs from the messages that purity culture and promiscuity culture have communicated. These messages from purity culture (overvaluing sex) and promiscuity culture (devaluing sex) also existed when Paul was writing to the church in Corinth almost 2,000 years ago. In his letters, he argues that God's vision for sex represents...

Within church community every person has their own story. No matter our life stage: single, married, divorced, widowed, etc. we are called to be brothers and sisters and to intentionally connect with one another. The easiest way to do that is to seek out those who are in a different life stage, or generation, and be curious. Ask questions. Reach out. Be welcoming. Be the church. References: "To be...

Paul's household codes in Ephesians 5 have been some of the most misused and misunderstood verses in the entire Bible. We read Paul's words about submission and almost immediately react defensively because of the ways that these verses have been used to prop up male authority and patriarchal systems. However, what if we've so misunderstood these verses that we inadvertently use them to prop up the...

Whether you are in the middle of raising your own children, your children are grown, or you are an influence in children's lives, all of us who are in the family of God are called to raise and reach the next generation. References: Generations - Nate Bargatze: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=405536081053230 "The ambassador doesn't have any authority in and of himself. He has authority only becau...

God the Father adopts you as a son and daughter. He puts love in your heart and this love enables us to move toward others all around us with love. References: Promise Keepers - James Ryle, Pastor of Vine Life Christian Fellowship The Invention of Solitude , by Paul Auster The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001 film Camp Diva , Angela Patton, Ted Talk Hannah Coulter , Wendall Berry All Joy and No Fun , by Jen...

When evil times come, people get cynical and angry. They blame others. They lose hope. But Christians are the opposite. We are to be humble. Admit our part in what is wrong. We are to have hope. The gospel humbles us out of our pride but in such a way that we have more confidence in God than ever before. Have humility. Have hope. Remember someday the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the...

What do we do when God's expectations do not align with our expectations for our life? The book of Habakkuk shows us that in the face of evil and injustice, we wait and trust in God who will not tolerate evil and injustice forever. The book begins with an interrogation of God and ends with praise of God: worry transformed into worship, fear tuned to faith, terror becomes trust and anguish dissolve...

What must Waterstone become, in order to be a church that embodies the kingdom of God and gives hope to those both outside and inside the church? Can we see renewal and restoration take place, not wounding and heartbreak? The things we believe Christ is calling his church to are hard things. They aren't easy and not for the faint of heart. References: Live No Lies , by John Mark Comer "Exiles" Bar...

What does salvation mean and how has the church created a gospel story that's efficient but not sufficient?

Today we explore the Bible and consider, Are there any contradictions in Scripture? and How does an ancient book speak into my life now? References: "The Good Book Business" , New Yorker, December, 18, 2006 The Bible Jesus Read , by Philip Yancey, 120 Can We Trust the Gospels? , by Peter Williams Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony , by Richard Bauckham "The Old Testame...

There is not much division over who Holy Spirit is—the third person of trinity, co-equal, co-eternal with God. The confusion often arises when we try to understand what he does and role he plays in our lives. References: God of All Things , by Andrew Wilson, 129-131 A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God , by Jonathan Edwards Pretzel Metaphor for the Trinity The Mark of a Christian , b...

Who is Jesus and what does that mean for me? References: "The Burden of the Gospels," The Way of Ignorance , by Wendell Berry "Crucifixion was a Roman form of public service announcement: Do not engage in sedition as this person has, or your fate will be similar. The point of the exercise was not the death of the offender as such, but getting the attention of those watching. Crucifixion first and...

What if there is a God so transcendent he has named every star and so immanent that he cares for every sparrow—and what if that God wants to be with you? References: The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing Us Apart , by Bill Bishop Church Dogmatics , by Karl Barth “Since God is, before all things, a Father, and not primarily Creator or Ruler, all his ways are beautifully...