Marriage Vows

Ok, I am playing catch up with getting these audio sermons online. I have had many people comment about how much they appreciated this series, and several have asked why the last couple are not online yet. So here you go.

I might mention that this 4th sermon in the Marriage series focuses on the covenant of the marriage vows. In it we look at the famous Love chapter I Corinthians 13. Those who have been married for a few years can look back and see how things are different than what they were when they stood before the altar and made their vows. What does it mean to keep those vows even when you simply don't feel like it. How do we define Love?

The Prodigal

Guest Speaker Johnathan Wright shares with us words of insight and wisdom surrounding the parable of the Prodigal son.
What would it be like to offend the father so much and yet be received back with overflowing grace?

Lost

This sermon is #2 in the Hitchhiker Series. This week we look at chapter two of Jonah when the prophet prays from the depths of "Sheol".

In this message we learn that God never abandons us. God is there to hold us fast in the most difficult of situations. Not only that, but we also learn that God "controls", or "designates" such seasons in our life as times for us to grow, and for us to learn to trust in God.

The Rainbow

This sermon begins with the rainbow; the covenant that God made with Noah and all creation. From there we look briefly the way God extends his covenant to humanity throughout history.
In this message we come to understand that God is a covenant God and we are a covenant people.

But what does it mean to be in a covenant relationship with someone?
What kind of covenants have we already entered into? What are the benefits and expectations?
This sermon helps us to take an honest look at our relationship with God.

The Day of Salvation

This sermon is an exciting venture as we compare our Christian lives to the Titanic. We like our luxury liner, but find out the only way to make it to the other port is to abandon our life and get on the life boat called "faith in Christ." This analogy is powerful and exciting as I draw in the responsibility of fathers to their children like unto Paul's sacrificial giving of himself to the early church.

Confessions of a Doubter

Doubt is an implicit lack of hope or faith. Doubt runs many lives and drowns us in absolute despair. Thomas doubted Jesus and found that his doubt turned into seeds of new faith.
This last week there were a lot of people who initially doubted Susan Boyle, and in the same way their doubt turned into amazement. There is nothing wrong with doubt itself unless we allow it to become our deathbed of despair. Instead our goal is to make it our hope for the future and the seeds of new faith in our life.

Only One Conclusion to Make

This Easter message focuses on the original ending of the Gospel of Mark. Why did Mark end his message of hope without seeing a risen Christ? What was his intent and who was he writing to? Does his message still apply to us?
The last sentence ends with the women being afraid and not telling anyone. Are we those women; afraid to tell others about the good news?

Toy King

In this message Marlys Mitchell shares with us the story of Jesus Kingship. We remember as we think of the crown of thorns that Jesus paid a great price to be the king. But do we understand the value of his sacrifice. Do with receive him as a toy that we play around with when it is convenient, or do we trust him as the king of all eternity?
Thank you Marlys for sharing this wonderful and clear message of truth and hope so that I could attend the "Multiplying the Missional Movement" seminar with a group of leaders who are helping develope our second service.

The Economy of Grace

In this third sermon in the series, "America in Crisis" we look at the difference between the worlds economy and God's economy. While the difficulties of the world and our economy barrage us, we are reminded that God's grace provides a different kind of economy for Christians to live in. It is an economy that gives us hope and stability in a tumultuous time.
As such we believe that God has provided a stimulus package for us that is life changing. It is called grace.

The Religious Bailout

In our current economic situation this message connects the dots to help us understand that we are in an even greater spiritual crisis. The good news is that God has paid a great price to provide a bailout package that will cover all the cost of sin.
The central message in this sermon is that we need to take advantage of God's offer in Jesus Christ.
Although this message is presented in a fun parody on recent government press conferences, it is very serious in the need of all people to claim their personal and spiritual bailout package from God. If you have never made Jesus your personal lord and savior, at the end of the message there is a short prayer that you can pray that will begin your personal faith journey in accepting the great measure of God's love and grace for yourself.