Sermons on Saved
Jesus the King (Palm Sunday)
On the day we now know as Palm Sunday, the people of Jerusalem celebrated Jesus as their king. They waved palm branches in the air, laid down their cloaks for him, and shouted “Hosanna!” But he didn’t ride in on a white horse. He wasn’t followed by an army, and he wasn’t adorned with gold and jewels. He is a gentle and humble King, who is exactly who we need. Sermon Text: Matthew 21:1-11
Christmas Eve: The Light Has Come
It’s Christmas Eve. The hope of the world has come. Jesus’ birth meant that God’s promises were fulfilled. The light came to earth to get rid of darkness. Jesus, the light of the world, is our sure and certain hope. We don’t have to live in the darkness of our current circumstances; we can live in the light of Christ. Sermon Text: Isaiah 9:2-3, 6-7 & John 8:12
We Need the Light
When God first created the earth, everything was full of light … until it wasn’t. The world became a very dark place in a heartbeat. After humans fell into sin, God promised to send a rescuer to bring light into the darkness of sin. As we recognize our need for the light of Christ in our lives, we can rest on God’s promises to save us from the darkness. Sermon Text: Genesis 3:1-15
United in Humanity
We are all part of humanity. But the Ephesians were divided based on race. There was a deep divide between Jews and Gentiles. Those divisions led to real hostility. But Jesus came to make the two groups one, breaking down the walls that divided them. Our society seems to be divided into at least two groups politically, racially, and socially. But Christ came to remove those barriers and make us all one. In Christ, we all become the one household…
Whatever It Takes to Reach the One
God did whatever it took to reach us when he sent Jesus. The Parable of the Shrewd Manager is one of Jesus’ strangest stories. He tells a story about a corrupt manager, but yet he tells us we can learn something from this wicked man. He says that Christians should be just as zealous about reaching the lost as criminals are about their selfish gain. Jesus wants us to be completely committed to reaching “the one” lost person in our…
We are The One Who is Lost
Jesus’ story about the Lost (or Prodigal) Son is one of his most famous parables. We see from the younger son how we can rebel and run away from God, getting lost in earthly desires. But this story describes another way we can be lost, too. Like the older brother, we can trust in our own performance and reject God. Jesus tells this story to show that he is looking seek and save both kinds of people. He loves both…
Jesus Seeks The One
After the Pharisees accuse Jesus of associating with sinners, Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep. He uses this story about a shepherd who left his flock to find a stray sheep to explain the importance of every single person. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Every life is important to God, which is exactly why it’s important for Christians to share the Good News of Jesus with the world. Sermon Text: Luke 15:1-10
Joy in Christ’s Work
Our salvation isn’t about our good works. By grace we are saved through faith. This means that we don’t have to worry about doing enough or being good enough to enjoy eternity with Jesus. At the same time, we can find joy in Christ’s work, which we do as a reflection of His love for us. Doing Jesus’ work isn’t always easy, but we press on towards the prize of eternity. Sermon Text: Philippians 3:1-12
God Blesses Us
Because they could not see how God blesses them, the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. Over and over again, they grumbled and rebelled against God. Yet, God was still with them and loved them. We see God’s steadfast love in the story of Balaam. Balaam was a sorcerer, who was hired to curse the Israelites. But he came to see that he could not curse those whom God has blessed. Maybe some people wonder of God is…
God Saves Us
God saved His people from slavery in Egypt. After traveling through the desert, the Israelites were finally close to the Promised Land. But then God changed their direction. The people started to grumble and God allowed them to be bitten by snakes. In his grace, he provided healing through the bronze snake. When the consequences of our sin leave us in pain, Jesus says that we can look to him who was lifted up on the cross. He will save…
Who Told You… God isn’t Loving Because There’s Suffering?
The reality of suffering is one of the most challenging objections to the God of the Bible. But Scripture does not shy away from the subject. Much of Scripture validates pain and guilt. And yet, the Scriptures don’t give an airtight answer to all our suffering. Instead, God tells us a story of a good world that went bad because of human’s free decision. But it also tells us about a God who steps into this world of pain and…
Hope Lives (Easter 2020)
Sometimes, it’s hard to believe that we need a Savior. Other times, we can’t imagine why Jesus would love us enough to die for us. People tell us Jesus was just a man, punished wrongfully, who died almost 2,000 years ago. But he’s much more than that. On the day we now celebrate as Good Friday, Jesus rescued us from our sin. And three days later, on Easter, He rose from the dead. Because of his resurrection, Hope lives forever…