Messages on Jesus (Page 4)
What’s the Point of Jesus’ Death
Introduction Last week we began a new series called, “What’s the Point?” The series is built around the idea that if we don’t understand the reason behind something or if we can’t see the value in something, then we are likely to dismiss it. I used the example of Algebra class. Most of us sat in that class learning how to solve quadratic equations, the entire time wondering, “When will I ever use this?” The overarching question we were asking…
What’s the Point of Jesus’ Life?
Series Introduction Are you a pragmatic person? Practical? I say this about myself often. And the curse of being a very practical person is that when I am confronted with something that appears to be a waste of time or pointless, I find it very difficult to muster the motivation to do it or follow through with it. Not long ago, I took a class on global missions. It was for graduate level credit, so it was important that I do well,…
Something Worth Giving Everything For
Introduction As we approach the end of July, we approach the end of another ministry year. And this has been a great year. It seems very evident to me that God has been leading us as a church, and God has been blessing our efforts over the last year. It’s not that he owes us because we are something special, but because our desire has been to find where he is working and join him there and to glorify His…
Unexpected Encounter
Sermon Podcast Audio Introduction Today I have the privilege of teaching from one of my favorite stories about Jesus. And that’s a pretty BIG statement given all the stories about Jesus in the Bible. I mean, whether you’re a Christian or not, the stories of Jesus in the Bible are rather incredible; they tend to draw you in and make you want to know more about this man and his miracles. He taught with such wisdom. Many of the things he said are cliches everyone…
The Big Story of God: The Church
Run, Forrest This weekend a new Tom Hanks movie came out, “Bridge of Spies.” I heard it was really good, but I wonder if it’s as good as my favorite Tom Hanks movie, “Forrest Gump.” I love the character he played and how the movie intertwined fiction with historical events so well. One scene in particular, I remember vividly. It was while he was serving in the Army in Vietnam. He’s walking through the jungle when suddenly his platoon is in the…
The Big Story of God: The Savior
Introduction Have you ever been given a task to plan or a project to oversee only to have your best laid plans go horribly awry? In my previous life, when I was in banking, I had the job of overseeing bank operations. One of the tasks I was charged with was new projects. Back in 2005, our small community bank decided it was time to enter the 21st century and that we would pursue document imaging for all of our…
Threads: Jesus Changes Everything
Every so often, something or someone comes along that radically transforms the way we think or the way we do things. An event happens, a product is invented, an event transpires, a person is born, and life as we know it is changed forever. For years and years, if you wanted to talk to someone on the phone, you did it standing next to a device that was on a shelf or hanging on the wall. And if you wanted…
Renew Passion
This will come as a big shock to most of you, but there was a time when I was a hopeless romantic. When Kerri and I first started dating, I did anything and everything I could to woo her. And I was pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. After all, this skinny, dorky guy who wore glasses and loved Star Trek got that beautiful woman to marry me! I can remember the May I proposed to…