Sermon Notes
Find a recap and sermon audio from previous worship services.
The Gospel of John: The Boundaries of the Table
Christians historically have fought to exclude their enemies from the life of the church - through wars, schisms, and trials. Their justification? To purify the church through its worship and practice. The results are not convincing. But what happens when Jesus is the one who draws the boundary - what happens when obedience to his means giving up some of our freedom?
The Gospel of John: Obedience to a Higher Law
What happens when Jesus asks you to break God’s law? Christian freedom means liberation from the oppressive laws of man - but what does it mean for God’s law? Jesus models how the way of the Gospel is not anarchy or lawlessness, rather it accomplishes what law cannot.
The Gospel of John: Freedom from Oppression
When Jesus finds us struggling under the burden of tradition and man's law, he reminds us that we are subject only to His law. This means that we remove any barrier to loving God and neighbor, no matter its source: nation, religion, gender, or ethnicity. Jesus makes clear that his way is above the way of the world, and the kingdom he inaugurates conquers the ways of man.
The Gospel of John: Freedom from Certainty
What does it mean to be born again? If the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these, why doesn’t Jesus clearly explain how we can be born again? In the mystery of birth, we discover that God’s grace poured out must have more to do with his action than ours - his call which makes our response possible.
The Gospel of John: God’s Yes and No
Christian freedom is nothing less than freedom from fear - fear of neighbor, self, and God. Jesus bravely models the fearlessness he calls disciples to imitate. In taking on the powers of exploitation and injustice, Jesus embodies the Christian mission: to love God and neighbor in the face of fear.
The Gospel of John: Called to Freedom
How does conversion work? Is it more like conquest or liberation? The Bible provides several examples of how Jesus calls us to discipleship, but the most common is through dialogue. We bring our questions, doubts, and authentic selves to Jesus and he meets us as we are.
The Gospel of John: Obedience in Freedom
John's Gospel is unique. It was born out of a crisis of faith and the need to articulate unambiguously the truth of Jesus' mission and identity. More than any other evangelist, John paints a picture of Jesus colored by Christian Freedom - freedom for and from. In Christ, we are freed for obedience and from sin.
The Epiphany of the Lord
Jesus came to give us life and to save us from death. The story of salvation runs through all of scripture and challenges us to see Jesus as more than just a teacher of morality. He is our savior and liberator. Through his life and work, we are freed for obedience.
Advent 2025 | Joy
The joy of the world is fleeting, but divine joy endures. The prophet Isaiah tells us that the joy found in Jesus is something like a desert flower sprouting from dry ground. It is the resilient anchor that provides peace amid uncertainty, and allows us to shine a light into a darkened world.
Advent 2025 | Hope
Divine peace is only possible when it is founded on prophetic hope. The hope we read of in Isaiah and experience in Jesus is otherworldly. Our hope is not dependent on humanity’s improvement or our own merit. Instead, we find hope in the Prince of Peace who brings us good news of great joy.
Advent 2025 | Peace
When the power of God meets the powers of the world, the result is not war - it is peace. God conquers the world through an infant who teaches us how to become peacemakers.
What God Has Done: Do Your Part
A special guest message from the Rev. Trevon Ferguson of Calvary Baptist Church, East Hampton.
What God Has Done: Realization
When the superficial layers of our identity are taken away, what is left? Is our faith skin deep - or do we carry it within our bones? The mission of the church is constantly tested, always at odds with the ways of the world. So the source of our faith must be constant, the object must be clear. To realize the mission of the church, we must rely on God from beginning to end.
What God Has Done: Preparation
God has given the universal church a clear mission: make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of God. But every individual church is called to participate through a unique expression of this mission. And, although the mission continues after 2,000 years, it is no less urgent today than it was when Jesus commissioned his disciples. What is our mission and how can we act with urgency and faithfulness to accomplish it?
What God Has Done: Conviction
Conviction is the force that moves us from comfort into a life of faith. It enables us to understand Peter's decision to get out of the boat and walk to Jesus on the stormy sea. It also baffles our neighbor who remains comfortably on the boat. Conviction challenges members of the church to lead a life defined by the logic of faith, and not the logic of human knowledge.
What God Has Done: Consecration
From the beginning, God has set aside certain places, things, and people for his purposes. The idea of consecration endows human life with meaning and purpose - we are given a mission and goal. The church is where God's consecrated people collaborate to spread the Gospel in word and act.
What God Has Done: Transformation
It takes very little to be 'against' something. From the beginning, the Church has been against poverty, sickness, and hunger. The challenge is how to be 'for' something - how to live out the Gospel in word and act. Scripture teaches us that Jesus transforms the problems our community faces into opportunities for faithfulness. Because of this, we are called to confront our problems in faith, not hide from them.
What God Has Done: Expectations
This year's stewardship campaign calls us to consider What God Has done through our church. Often we focus only on what we, alone, are capable, of when the spirit of stewardship is inherently collective. Using the story of Lazarus, we find that our expectations of God and his expectations of us are relational. We expect God to help the needy and God expects us to help him serve the needy. Pursuing stewardship faithfully means setting biblical expectations for God, our church, and ourselves.
The Beginning of Christian Formation
Christian formation is a lifelong process that begins in the home. Before there was Sunday school, youth group, or confirmation - the people of God used their experience with God to teach their children. What can today's church learn from this? And how can we avoid making the same mistakes that we find in scripture?
The Family of God
In Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth, he argues that the Exodus event reveals something about what it means to be a member of the church. In the Exodus event, the Hebrew people are transformed into the nation of Israel - God's chosen people. And in Baptism, people of all kinds are transformed into children of God - members of God's family. In the wilderness, Israel ate manna and today we commune with the same heavenly food and drink. Now, as then, we must learn to coexist with our new family members despite the challenge.