Sermons
Honest, gospel-centered preaching that connects the ancient text to the present moment—with room for faith, doubt, and hope.
Being Made Well and Whole: A Daughter Restored (Mark 5:21-43)
In Mark 5:21-43, we witness profound acts of restoration: Jairus' daughter and a woman healed. It's more than a story; it's a feast of God's grace and restoration. This passage is also 1 of 5 Markan Sandwiches, which is a storytelling technique akin to framing, whereby one story is interrupted and interpreted by another.
The A, B, Cs of Being the People of Jesus
What are the ABCs of Christian living for the individual and the church? In this passage from Mark 3:13-35, Jesus calls the disciples to an adventure, gives them and assignment with an apprenticeship, which requires boldness. Yet, even Jesus himself needs the bonds of a committed, covenant community, and so do we! We get into the journey of discipleship and discover the strength of covenant, companionship, and community.
The Parable of the Sower in Mark 4
In Mark 4 Jesus tells the parable of the sower, which is about how the kingdom of God surprisingly grows without human help and it grows in surprising places, thus inviting us to trust God and cast the seed widely.
Is Keeping the Sabbath Relevant Today?
What is the meaning of the Sabbath? In Mark 2:23-3:6, Jesus redefines the Sabbath as a gift for rest and rejuvenation. Discover why keeping the Sabbath is still relevant today, offering spiritual, mental, and physical renewal amidst modern life's demands.
Nicodemus: Curiosity and Conviction
John 3:16 rings true, "For God so loved the world." But what if faith feels confusing? Dive into the Gospel of John with Nicodemus, who appears 3 times in the gospel. Nicodemus is a leader wrestling with Jesus' teachings. See how his uncertainty and questions pave the way for understanding and faithful living.
Streams of Mercy Never Ceasing
Jesus washes the disciples’ feet in John 13. Peter protests this action, but why? Perhaps he realizes that Jesus was willing to do for him what Peter was not willing to do for others —be humble and serve.
Figuring Out Faith: Teach Me the Way of Forgiveness
Forgiving someone can feel like an impossible task. In this sermon, I honor our hesitations and talk about what forgiveness is and isn't as we take hope in God. Matthew 18 is our text.
Figuring Our Faith: I'm Fixed Upon It
God provides minimum protection and maximum support in this ever-changing world. Peter doesn't want a fixed faith, but Christ wants him to be fixed by faith. Matthew 16 is our text.
Figuring Out Faith: Praise the Mount of God's Unchanging Love
In Matthew 16 Jesus proclaims, “I will build my church, and the Gates of Hell shall not overcome it!” He makes this declaration in light of his own upcoming death and knowledge of the failures of the disciples. Jesus is fully confident in God’s ability to do good things. We should be too!
Figuring Out Faith: He to Rescue Me From Danger
Matthew 14 teaches that the storm rages and Peter asks to walk with Christ on the water while the disciples remain in the boat. What does faith look like in the storms of life?
Figuring Out Faith: Jesus Sought Me as a Stranger
Peter became an important part of the Church, but he started off as a stranger, just like me and you. Jesus calls us to follow him and to own our faith. Luke 5 and John 21 are the passages.
God with a Tattoo (Revelation 21)
“See, I will not forget you! I have engraved your name on my hands, says the LORD!” In this All Saints Sunday sermon, I speak from Revelation 21 about the 7 Shadows we live with and God’s promise to bring us perpetual light.
Easter: Breakfast with Jesus on Resurrection Beach
After the resurrection, the disciples are in disarray. John 21 tells us that Peter and the disciples go fishing. Jesus meets them with breakfast. He restores Peter. Once again, we see that there is hope after our worst mistakes.
Pentecost: What the Holy Spirit Can Do
Pentecost is recorded in Acts 2 and the passage tells us what the Holy Spirit can do. As people gather to celebrate, the Spirit opens doors, mouths, and hearts for the preaching and receiving of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Acts 16:16-34 Bound and Free
Everyone in this passage is bound by something or someone. This passage asks us to consider who is bound and who is really free. Paul and Silas free the Oracle of Delphi and are imprisoned.
Jonah and the Whale: A Love Story
Jonah and the Whale teaches us a lot. God tells Jonah to go to the Ninevites, his perceived enemies, and tell them of God’s love. He refuses and God intervenes through the use of a large fish. Ultimately, Jonah reluctantly preaches and the Ninevites believe the good news.
Sharks in the Water!
In this evocative passage, Jesus presses us to realize the purifying power of Divine love which helps us see the dangers, the sharks that lurk within us. Click here to read the passage (Luke 12:49-56)
Hey Now, Sermons Make Disastrous Towers
In this commissioning sermon from Genesis 11, I preach about the Tower of Babel. It is easy to use the sermon like a tower, a place to hide from our fears or a place to use for our vanity. The Lord, however, is our true refuge and strength.
Baptism into a Kingdom of Gracious Tomorrows
Baptism is to be a living reality not a one-time affair in our lives. John welcomes us to the water and Jesus invites us into the kingdom of gracious tomorrows.
The Good Samaritan Story Luke 10
This passage is familiar and yet tricky and the lesson we often hear from it is the exact mindset that Jesus was trying to push against.