| |
|
|
Did you miss the sermon last week? Or the one two weeks ago? No problem!
 |
Now you can download the sermons you missed, the sermons you loved, or the sermons that you need to hear again. Click here for instructions on getting the sermons using "podcatcher" software, such as iTunes. Alternatively, you can use the links and buttons on this page to access sermons and associated take-away material; just click on a 
button to listen to a sermon, and click on a  button to read a take-away.
The sermons are organized by sermon series. To see the sermons in a series, just click on the series title, and it will open up for you. Clicking on the series title a second time will close the series. |
| The Bible tells us Jesus Christ was and is the Word. From our human perspective, words are the symbols we use to communicate meaning between ourselves and others. But Jesus is so much more than mere symbol; He is and was the primary communication of God – the "Word made Flesh." What can we learn from the One who is the very essence of communication? How can we grow up in faith to become mature communicators? |
|---|
| Cloud of Witnesses, Mike McQuaid, 05/11/2008
An adult facing a difficult time said, "Since coming to church, I have found more resources to deal with this difficult time." As we celebrate Pentecost Day, we recall the Holy Spirit empowering eyewitnesses of Jesus to share the good news about His life, death, and resurrection. Today, as 18 youth affirm God's work in their baptism by publicly professing faith in Jesus Christ, we recall a cloud of witnesses before and around them, and us. In whom do you believe?
[Acts 2:1-13] |
|
| Early May 2008 |
|---|
| Faith on the edges, Brian Hughes, 05/04/2008
As Peter draws his letter to a close, he assures his readers that their "fiery ordeal" is a test of faith and an opportunity to share in Christ's suffering. He also assures them of God's grace to restore and strengthen them.
[1 Peter 4:12-14; 1 Peter 5:6-11] |
|
| We celebrated Joy and New Life on Easter morning. And yet here we are a couple of weeks later, back to seeing our lives meander through all the hurts, the rejections, the losses, the suffering and injustice that were there before. What's changed? Our culture tells us to "move on and get over it." The empty tomb gives us permission to examine grief and come to understand how it has been transformed by Christ. |
|---|
| Life After Rejection, Mike McQuaid, 04/27/2008
Shame and Blame are the twin siblings of a de-motivated life. They also lock us into a profound grief about our life's trajectory. Forgiveness in Christ frees up our past.
[John 8:2-11] |
| 
| Walking a New Direction, Brian Hughes, 04/20/2008
As we follow after Christ, we may notice there are others not coming along for the journey. Moving forward sometimes means walking away from those who are "stuck."
[Matthew 12:46-50] |
| 
| Choosing Poorly, Brian Hughes, 04/13/2008
Watching someone make a really bad life choice, feeling helpless knowing the impending consequences, leaves us wondering what to do with all the emotions and thoughts the logical outcome leaves behind.
[Genesis 3:8-13] |
| 
| Grief Acknowledged, Brian Hughes, 04/06/2008
On their last night together Jesus told his disciples they would grieve. Following Christ does not insulate us from loss. But he does promise it will have an endpoint.
[John 16:17-24] |
|
| Holy Week and Easter 2008 |
|---|
| Your Identification Please, Brian Hughes, 03/30/2008
Last Sunday Christ appeared to his frightened followers, first to Mary Magdalene, telling her, "Don't hold me," then rushing on through the locked doors of his disciples, revealing himself to them. This Sunday, Christ is still on the move. He's back, this time to show himself despite the doubts of Thomas. Thomas needs visible, tangible proof? Well, that's just what Christ gives him. He gives whatever anybody needs to believe.
[John 20:19-31] |
| 
| An Easter Earthquake, Brian Hughes, 03/23/2008
Easter 2008 message.
[Matthew 28:1-10] |
| 
| Good Friday 2008, Brian Hughes and Mike McQuaid, 03/21/2008
Good Friday 2008 |
| 
| Maundy Thursday 2008, Brian Hughes, 03/20/2008
Maundy Thursday 2008 |
| 
| Palm Sunday 2008, Mike McQuaid, 03/16/2008
Holy Week begins today with the telling of Jesus' jubilant reception by the crowds in Jerusalem saying, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" The rest of the story is told as our worship continues on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
[Matthew 21:1-11] |
|
| How the Bible tells us God's story. |
|---|
| The Prophets' Calling, Brian Hughes, 03/09/2008
Centuries have passed since Moses' work was accomplished. Sadly, once again people all too readily fall back into their same old selfish patterns. The prophet Isaiah steps onto the stage of history and reminds everyone there are such things as personal consequences. But even the smoldering wick of faith will not be snuffed out; a Servant is coming.
[Isaiah 42:1-7] |
| 
| David's Destiny, Brian Hughes, 03/02/2008
A man is slumped in a chair in a state of shock. Through the
prophet Nathan, he hears a variation on "Which do you want first, the bad news or the good news?" The prophet then responds, "The bad news is that you will not build a house for the Lord. The good news is that God will build a house for you." This story can be understood as the "ideological summit" of the Old Testament.
[1 Samuel 16:1-13] |
| 
| Moses' Assignment, Brian Hughes, 02/24/2008
God does not abandon his people. He hears their cries and responds with a covenant that reaffirms his compassionate love for them. Characteristically, God starts with one man. God appears to risk his plan on the slender thread of what happens to one child. Later called to his mission after a serious failure as an adult, Moses falls on his face before a burning bush and nothing is ever the same again.
[Genesis 12:1-7] |
| 
| Abraham's Adventure, Mike McQuaid, 02/17/2008
What makes a seventy-five year old man "take off his slippers and put on his walking shoes" to embark on a trek across the desert? His adventure meant leaving behind a comfortable lifestyle for an unknown destination. Why? Put simply, it was the sight and sound of God. He also set in motion a train of events that would, eventually, bring Jesus to the world.
[Genesis 12:1-7] |
| 
| Noah's Voyage, Mike McQuaid, 02/10/2008
Stepping out of the ark was probably as large an act of faith as stepping into it. Noah did not enter the ark merely to escape an impending disaster. He also was part of God's strategic plan of ultimate redemption. Entering in to God's Story for humanity is always life changing.
[Genesis 7:1-12] |
|
| To run well the amazing race of life requires rigorous training: five disciplines to build strength and stamina for the long road ahead. There are those who start exercising, but then quit when it starts to hurt. It doesn't start working until it hurts. There's an important principle of life right there. Nothing begins to work until it hurts. Discipline is saying no to old habits for last year and acting on the directive of God for this New Year. You can't skip over discipline to live a Christ-like, Spirit-filled life. It's like running an amazing race. |
|---|
| The Amazing Race - Stewardship, Brian Hughes, 02/03/2008
The ongoing success of Jesus' mission has now been entrusted to you and me. Jesus has passed the baton on to us, calling us to the highest place of trust. Now is the time to run our leg of life's relay.
[John 21:15-22] |
| 
| The Amazing Race - Service, Brian Hughes, 01/27/2008
Servanthood is an attitude demonstrated in action as we pursue The Amazing Race of life. God has entrusted us to live out the real mission of Jesus, the humble servant who modeled true greatness.
[John 13:2-17] |
| 
| The Amazing Race - Prayer, Brian Hughes, 01/13/2008
Evil is a reality in our world, but the good news in this Amazing Race of life is that Jesus' hard-won power trumps the power of Evil. Disciplined Prayer allows us to experience transformation as we fully acknowledge our dependence on God.
[Mark 5:1-13] |
| 
| The Amazing Race - The Word, Brian Hughes, 01/06/2008
To run well, the amazing race of life requires rigorous training: five disciplines to build strength and stamina for the long road ahead. The first discipline addresses our need to hear from Heaven each day, to gain direction and transformation from The Word.
[1 Timothy 4:1-8] |
|
| When you realize that this world is not all there is (in fact this is just kind of the kindergarten stage) and that eternity is going to go on for millions and billions of years (yet you will only spend 60, 70, 80 years or so here on earth) a lot of things lose their importance. They just don't seem that important when you put them in perspective of eternity. Every child of God has been created with unique gifts for the mission that only they can fulfill. |
|---|
| Just Like Us, Brian Hughes, 12/30/2007
The Letter to the Hebrews speaks of the great mystery of the God "for whom and through whom all things exist," coming to us as one who is like us "in every respect." Our God came among us as Jesus of Nazareth, our brother. He is able to help us, to save us, to lift us up, because, in the Incarnation, he joins us in the human experience of daily life.
[Hebrews 2:10-18] |
| 
| Mary's Mission - Participating in Grace (5:30), Mike McQuaid, 12/24/2007
Mary's Mission - Participating in Grace (5:30 service). |
|
| Mary's Mission - Participating in Grace (10:30), Brian Hughes, 12/24/2007
Mary's Mission - Participating in Grace (10:30 service) |
| 
| Joseph's Mission - Protecting the Innocent, Brian Hughes, 12/23/2007
Joseph transitions from engaged guy to protector of the unborn Christ. Then he finds himself fleeing his home, protecting the baby Jesus from an angry King Herod. His role as a man and father expanded in ways he never expected. Some of us are called to acts of mercy and justice, protecting the innocent and vulnerable.
[Matthew 1:18-25] |
| 
| Zechariah's Mission - Praising God, Mike McQuaid, 12/16/2007
Just after hearing he was going to be a Dad, Zechariah lost all ability to speak. He was unable to share what he knew about the Good News soon to be born in Bethlehem. The day his voice returns he immediately bursts into song. Some of us are called to praise God in word and song.
[Luke 1:62-79] |
| 
| John the Baptist's Mission - Preparing the Way, Brian Hughes, 12/09/2007
John the Baptist takes up Isaiah's prophecy and now adds the sense of urgency. He tells everyone he can, "The One you've been waiting for? Guess what, he's almost here!" Some of us are called to help prepare the way for Christ, that new lives may be touched by the Gospel.
[Matthew 3:1-5] |
| 
| Isaiah's Mission - Pointing toward Hope, Mike McQuaid, 12/02/2007
Old Testament prophets had a unique role in God's unfolding revelation: pointing toward the future. Isaiah's mission was profound - he was called to shift the entire religious landscape. No longer would God be named by what He had done in history (God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob); God would now be known by what He was planning to do at some point in the distant future: send the Messiah. Some of us are called to be witnesses of Hope, pointing toward what God intends for our future.
[Isaiah 35:1-10] |
|
| Thanksgiving and Christ the King Sunday 2007 |
|---|
| Fighting the Powers, Brian Hughes, 11/25/2007
In our celebration of Christ the King, we can think of few places in scripture where the largeness of the reign of Christ is more sweepingly and eloquently expressed than in the grand affirmations of Colossians. Christ the King is the glue that keeps the cosmos together.
[Jeremiah 23:1-6] |
| 
| Little Things Count, Mike McQuaid, 11/21/2007
What does God want out of us anyway? What does Jesus expect? It is God's job to worry about issues of effectiveness, long-term worth, and global value. It is our job to be faithful; to be, in our lives and deeds, an outpost of the kingdom, a credit to the king. We know who sits on the throne.
[Matthew 25:31-40] |
|
| Tens of thousands of college grads and thousands of MBAs file for bankruptcy every year. The scary part? All graphs show the numbers going up and to the right. What's up with that? God-honoring money management is far and away more a matter of wisdom and character than it is of education. Doing it right sets one up to "take hold of the life that is truly life." Are you up to the challenge of deciding for true wealth? |
|---|
| How Wise People Build Wealth, Part 3, Brian Hughes, 11/18/2007
The latest cost estimate for raising a child from infancy to age 22 is now over $300,000. If you plan to help kids with college, it's going to be way more than that. People who figure out God's way of managing money, who humble themselves to learn His ways, over time are often surprised how God's wisdom works so well in their lives
[2 Corinthians 9:1-8] |
| 
| How Wise People Build Wealth, Part 2, Brian Hughes, 11/11/2007
In 2006, Warren Buffett pledged the largest philanthropic gift in history: 30-40 billion dollars. Lessons from Buffett's strategies, coupled with sage advice from Scripture, provide a base for a biblical approach to money management. Realistically, how can God use you to change the world if you can't manage your own financial affairs?
[Ecclesiastes 5:10-18] |
| 
| How Wise People Build Wealth, Part 1, Mike McQuaid, 11/04/2007
More people went bankrupt last year than graduated from college. Eighty percent of the cars on U.S. Highways are worth less than what people owe on them. In communities like ours, most people actually have very little equity in their homes. They owe, they owe, so it's off to work they go! It's time to let Christ reset our priorities.
[1 Timothy 6:3-10] |
|
| Caring or being used? Compassion or codependence? Healthy limits or divisive walls? How does a Christian discern the difference? What are legitimate boundaries? How do I answer when someone wants my time, love, or energy? Aren’t boundaries selfish? Christians often focus so much on being loving and giving that they forget their own limitations. Boundaries are personal property lines that define who you are and who you are not, and influence all areas of your life. It’s also a very Biblical concept. |
|---|
| Boundaries and Your Family, Mike McQuaid, 10/28/2007
Establishing boundaries with our family of origin is a tough task, but one with great reward. It is a process, with certain distinguishable steps. The basic question is this: "Where have you lost control of your property?"
[Joshua 24:14-15] |
| 
| Boundaries and Your Friends, Brian Hughes, 10/21/2007
Friendship: the word conjures up images of two people who will be there for one another. The saddest people on earth are those who end their days with no serious relationships in which they are supported or have learned to support another. Boundary conflicts between friends come in all shapes and sizes. Learning how to establish solid friendships is a task well worth embracing.
[1 John 4:7-12] |
| 
| Boundaries and Your Work, Brian Hughes, 10/14/2007
The "Fall" divided love from work. Before the Fall, Adam was connected with God and, in that profound connection, engaged the tasks God had given to him. After the Fall, he worked amid the toil of a broken humanity and world. Understanding boundaries can help resolve many work-related problems, as well as how to be happier and more fulfilled in the work we do.
[Genesis 1:27-31] |
| | Boundaries and Your Self, Brian Hughes, 10/07/2007
We have learned that boundaries are biblical. We have begun setting limits on others. We’ve moved from taking no or too much responsibility to taking just what is appropriate. But how do we begin putting boundaries on ourselves? Instead of just looking at the control and manipulation others may attempt to place on us, we continue our series by reflecting on our own internal boundary conflicts.
[1 Thessalonians 4:1-8] |
| | How Boundaries are Developed, Brian Hughes, 09/30/2007
There's an old saying that "Insanity is genetic – it's inherited from your kids." Well, boundaries are not inherited. They are built. To be the truth-telling, responsible, free and loving people God intends us to be, we need to learn about limits.
[Genesis 3:21-24] |
| | 9:00 - What are Boundaries?, Brian Hughes, 09/23/2007
Physical boundaries mark a visible property line indicating that someone holds the deed. In the emotional and spiritual world, boundaries are just as real, but often harder to see. In reality, these boundaries define your reality, your soul if you will, and they help you guard and maintain it.
[Genesis 1:1-5] |
| | 11:30 - What are Boundaries?, Mike McQuaid, 09/23/2007
Physical boundaries mark a visible property line indicating that someone holds the deed. In the emotional and spiritual world, boundaries are just as real, but often harder to see. In reality, these boundaries define your reality, your soul if you will, and they help you guard and maintain it.
[Genesis 1:1-5] |
|
| Fall Launch 2007 |
|---|
| Determined Discipleship, Mike McQuaid, 09/16/2007
Prayer is a central concern in the Books of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles. In today's gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable about a persistent woman who harasses an unjust judge until he finally gives in and gives her the just judgment she demands. Jesus seeks to remind us how we ought to "pray always and not lose heart."
[Luke 18:1-8] |
| | Mustard Seeds, Brian Hughes, 09/09/2007
We have doubts. It can be difficult to trust in the teachings and promises of God. It is even more difficult to do all Jesus has called us to do. We frequently cry out in desperation for God to increase our faith. We tend to forget God has given us all we really need. The smallest amount of faith is enough to make miracles happen.
[Luke 17:5-10] |
| | Like Today Never Happened Before, Brian Hughes, 09/02/2007
This is one of the great "grace texts" of the church. In this letter, because of St. Paul's own autobiography, the contrast between a former unhealthy way of living and the great love of God that allows for new possibilities is clearly defined. Such Grace means living like today never happened before.
[1 Timothy 1:12-17] |
|
| Summer 2007 |
|---|
| Christian Leadership 101, Mike McQuaid, 08/26/2007
The call of God upon a life, vocation, is a great gift of God. The call comes not because of our personal attributes, or because of any of our alleged virtues, but solely out of the gracious goodness of God. Our only qualification to be disciples is the call of God. The authorization for each of our ministries is God's.
[Jeremiah 1:4-10] |
| | It Takes a Wrecking Ball, Mike McQuaid, 08/19/2007
The Jesus who crashes into our personal space in this text is light years from the sugary, serene pastel portraits of a gentle Savior that adorn church hallways. We may prefer a Jesus who soothes, who comforts, who improves our lives. Our text reminds us Jesus is not so constrained when it comes to the lost.
[Luke 12:49-56] |
| | When God Refuses to Listen, Brian Hughes, 08/12/2007
We pray our prayers, we sing our songs to God. What is "good" worship? What is the true test of Christian prayer and praise? The prophet tells us that we must link our worship to our lives, that we must test our liturgy by our ethics, that justice is a good criterion for the validity of our worship.
[Isaiah 1:1;Isaiah 1:10-20] |
| | Majoring in the Minors, Mike McQuaid, 08/05/2007
What is really important in life? What ought to be our highest priorities? To be a Christian, a follower of Jesus, is to keep focusing upon what is important and to keep refusing to become preoccupied with what is unimportant.
[Luke 12:13-21] |
| | A Plea for Persistence, Mike McQuaid, 07/29/2007
When Jesus' disciples asked him about prayer, he gave them a model prayer, the Lord's Prayer. Then he told them a parable that urges persistence and dogged determination in prayer. In our relationship with God, we are to keep at it, keep attempting to be attentive to the incursions of God into our lives.
[Luke 11:1-13] |
| | Hospitality, Brian Hughes, 07/22/2007
An often neglected, sometimes underestimated, Christian virtue is hospitality. Hospitality requires that we expose ourselves to others. As Christians, we must be willing to receive others, to welcome them into our lives.
[Luke 10:38-42] |
| | Belief in Action, Brian Hughes, 07/15/2007
Jesus was a teacher who taught not only through ideas, stories, and concepts but also through active example. He calls us, not simply to think about God, but to actively serve God and neighbor.
[Luke 10:25-37] |
| | Healed by the Wrong People, Pastor Brian Hughes, 07/08/2007
Sometimes God's incursions among us are surprising. Sometimes God's power comes to us when we least expect it from people we least expect. Sometimes we are healed, restored, saved by strangers. This is the peculiar nature of salvation by a stranger named Jesus.
[Luke 9:51-62] |
| | We Will Follow You, But..., Pastor Mike McQuaid, 07/01/2007
God gave this one and only Son to reach lost people. For those who really and truly desire to become more like Christ in their lives, a mark of discipleship is that you become most like him when you are part of His work making the Lost become Found. 3D living is a framework for operating successfully and effectively as God’s means for reaching the Lost.
[Luke 9:51-62] |
| | You Belong, Brian Hughes, 06/24/2007
Paul speaks to the Galatians on the change which has occurred in their lives "now that faith has come." We are reminded that, because of the work of God in Christ, in the
cross and resurrection of Jesus, we are given a home, a place in the kingdom of God. We belong.
[Galatians 3:23-29] |
|
| Since the opening moments of the Christian Church, "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" has been the proper name of God. Our worship services contain this title. We baptize children and adults using this title. We end prayers with these words. But what do they really mean? The Trinitarian name did not fall from heaven, but was first used to describe how God encountered followers of Jesus Christ. What do these words mean for us today? |
|---|
| I Believe in God the Holy Spirit, Brian Hughes, 06/17/2007
The center of God's divine activity is the incarnate Son of God, Jesus the Christ. Yet just as the Son performed the work of the Father who sent him, so the Spirit performs the work of the Son. In carrying on Jesus' earthly ministry, the Spirit's ongoing work is to reveal truth, give life and strengthen faith.
[John 14:22-27;Acts 2:1-4;John 16:5-11] |
| | I Believe in God the Son, Mike McQuaid, 06/10/2007
Unlike any other widely followed religious leader in history, Jesus Christ made a unique claim. He declared Himself God. Not a god, not god-like, but God incarnate - the Creator of the universe in human flesh. Intellectually, that's disturbing. Spiritually, that's the most liberating thing that could ever happen to humankind.
[Mark 1:9-13;Romans 3:21-26] |
| | I Believe in God the Father, Brian Hughes, 06/03/2007
The Apostle's Creed was developed between the second and ninth centuries. It is the most popular creed used in worship by Western Christians. Its central doctrines are those of the Trinity and God the Creator. But why was it written and where did it come from?
[Genesis 1:1-3;Mark 14:32-36] |
|
| Pentecost 2007 |
|---|
| Believe … do greater works, Mike McQuaid, 05/27/2007
Affirming one's faith in Jesus Christ is not about checking off one more item on one's (or one's child's) spiritual "To Do" list. Instead, it's one of many steps in a lifelong
journey of exploring to whom or what we can entrust our souls for eternity. Jesus says that when we respond to His love and forgiveness by entrusting our lives into His hands, He sends us into the world to do "even greater works" than people saw Him do. On this Pentecost Sunday, will you trust the Spirit of God to move you to demonstrate your faith in Christ through your good works toward others?
[Acts 2:1-21;John 14:8-17] |
|
| Ten Thousand Steps. Roughly that's the distance you will travel from sunrise to sunset, each and every day of your life. It adds up to about 115,000 miles in a lifetime - or more than four times around this big blue planet of ours. With that said, just one question: Are you using your steps wisely? Assume the average distance across most rooms is twenty feet - about ten steps. The question we hope to answer is this: What if ten steps - just one-thousandth of your daily average - could actually impact eternity? If so, it might change the way you walk. This series will bring personal evangelism into the twenty-first century. Your journey may not be dramatic, but it can have a life-changing impact for someone standing just a few steps away from you. |
|---|
| Grander Vision Living, Brian Hughes, 05/20/2007
Jesus desperately wanted three career fishermen, as well as the fine people of St. John Lutheran Church, to understand that this life is all about people. In Grander Vision Living, we are talking about making people such a priority that we will take a Walk Across a Room, having a radical inclusiveness for people - even those who look different, talk different, act different and so on. We are invited to bring all into Christ's presence.
[Luke 5:1-11] |
| | The Power of Story, Brian Hughes, 05/13/2007
Words. Humble words. Wise words. Gentle words. Grace-filled words. If your closest friends or the family members who actually live underneath the same roof as you were polled anonymously about this, would they say that in the course of normal, everyday life, you can be counted on to speak words of encouragement and grace? What is your story? What is the story of God in your life? And can you get them both told together well?
[John 5:19-26] |
| | Living in 3D, Brian Hughes, 05/06/2007
God gave His one and only Son to reach lost people. For those who really and truly desire to become more like Christ in their lives, a mark of discipleship is that you become most like Him when you are part of His work making the Lost become Found. 3D Living is a framework for operating successfully and effectively as God's means for reaching the Lost: it means to Develop Friendships, Discover Stories, and Discern Next Steps.
[Luke 15:1-10] |
| | The Single Greatest Gift, Brian Hughes, 04/29/2007
The single greatest gift Christ-followers can give people around them is an introduction to the God who created them, who loves them, and who has a purpose for their life. Nothing beats it - not monetary gains, not job opportunities, not recognition or accolades. And when you boil it down, this is what Just Walk Across the Room is all about: watching for ways to give this greatest gift to someone living far from God.
[John 4:4-9;John 4:21-30] |
|
| Messages from Holy Week and the Easter Season, 2007. |
|---|
| Breakfast by the Beach, Brian Hughes, 04/22/2007
The risen Christ is free and moving. He doesn't recognize the separation that we tend to make between "secular" and "religious". He intrudes, comes to where you are, speaks to you, and reveals himself to you. Pay attention tomorrow when you are sitting at your desk, or washing the clothes, or sweeping the floor, or reading a book. Jesus is loose and he is looking for you.
[John 21:1-19] |
| | From Fear to Faith, Mike McQuaid, 04/15/2007
John's Gospel ends in a series of three resurrection stories. Our Gospel text today comprises the second and third resurrection appearances. In this two-act drama we learn these key truths: 1) The disciples of Jesus reacted to his crucifixion with fear, cowering behind locked doors; 2) Jesus seeks out those fearful disciples right after his resurrection. He comes to them, appears before them, and empowers them to do his work. From Fear to Faithful Action.
[John 20:19-31] |
| | Easter 2007, Part I, Mike McQuaid, 04/08/2007
Easter 2007, Part I
[Luke 24:1-11] |
| | Easter 2007, Part II, Brian Hughes, 04/08/2007
Easter 2007, Part II
[Luke 24:1-11] |
| | Good Friday 2007, Suzanne Sewell, 04/06/2007
Good Friday 2007
[John 18:1-11] |
| | Maundy Thursday 2007, Brian Hughes, 04/05/2007
Maundy Thursday 2007
[John 13: 27-35] |
| | Palm Sunday 2007, Mike McQuaid, 04/01/2007
On Palm Sunday, we remember people using palm leaves to praise Jesus as king; and yet by the end of the week we will hear that many of the same people abandoned, betrayed, or denied Jesus in the moment of his death. With our own palms we praise Jesus today; and yet we will use those same palms to hurt people later this week. What can we learn from how Jesus used his palms?
[Luke 22:1-13] |
|
| Around and around we go. Job, paying bills, fixing the car, kids, yard work, relationship stresses - it all seems a variation on the theme until something dramatic spills into our lives. Many times we can't stop the dramas from happening, but we can choose to learn from them. The word "disciple" means "learner". That's what this series is all about - making an intentional choice to pay attention to those times in life when God is trying to teach us something, and in the process, learning as we go forward into the next day. We will discover how Jesus taught his disciples to grow from their experiences, and we'll see how we can learn the same way. |
|---|
| Going the Distance, Brian Hughes, 03/25/2007
Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, "The essential thing in 'heaven and earth' is ... that there should also be a long obedience in the same direction." Repent and Believe are easy to learn, but knowing these two in our heads is just the beginning. Life, God's Teaching Moments, is a tool we can carry forward every day of our earthly existence.
[Psalm 73:1-10;Psalm 73:23-28;Mark 1:14-15] |
| | Time to Move, Brian Hughes, 03/18/2007
Action comes out of confidence. It's a faith issue. Sometimes our lives are shaped by inactivity. But there comes a point where our confidence is expressed in how we live. It is visible, it is seen, it is public. Jesus has always been much more than just talk.
[Matthew 7:24-29] |
| | Changing Your Strategy, Brian Hughes, 03/11/2007
You've made a choice to learn from Life. Jesus' first command to us is to repent. Repentance is not about judgment. It's about change. That can be scary, but in Jesus' presence, it's time to stop worrying. It's time to be honest with ourselves.
[Matthew 6:25-34;Numbers 13:2;Numbers 13:17-18] |
| | It's Your Turn, Brian Hughes, 03/04/2007
You're walking along what you think is a straight path when suddenly out of nowhere an unplanned situation forces you to a screeching halt. You're at an intersection. You can decide to move along a familiar path, pretending nothing happened or you can make a choice to learn from Life. Which direction will you choose?
[Mark 1:14-15;Jeremiah 29:11] |
| | Rules of the Game, Brian Hughes, 02/25/2007
You want your life filled with a sense of purpose and direction, where you know you are doing exactly that God made you to do. You're just not sure how to go about it. Jesus invites you to learn from him, finding meaning in your daily experiences. His teachings are where we start.
[Matthew 11:25-30;Mark 1:14-15] |
| | Ash Wednesday, 2007, Brian Hughes, 02/21/2007
Ash Wednesday, 2007.
[Matthew 5:6-7; Psalm 51] |
|
| Countless books and studies have been written and numerous courses have been taught on the formation of strong families. Despite all that effort, many of us are still wondering, "How do I raise normal kids these days?" While we may think we're in new territory in our post-modern world, even a causal glance at scripture tells us the question is as old as Adam and Eve. Lots of families in the Bible were a Real Mess! What can we learn from their mistakes and, even more importantly, what can we learn about God's Grace and Faithfulness toward these families regardless of their ancient blunders and missteps? This series will be a practical introduction to Family Transitions through the eyes of Scripture. Even if your kids are raised and on their own, don't miss this opportunity to gain a renewed appreciation of how we can raise healthy, Christ-following children. |
|---|
| The Future of the Family, Brian Hughes, 02/18/2007
We must conclude that the family as we know it will not be found in heaven. We live and breathe and give birth to the next generation, living as faithfully as we can until "the world to come" arrives. On that day God will finally heal all conflict in relationships. Male and female will be redeemed.
[Matthew 22:23-33] |
| | Yours, Mine and Ours - A Family by Choice, Pastor Brian Hughes, 02/11/2007
Blended families bring together a myriad of expectations. The story of Ruth is a witness of God's blessing upon faithful followers who find one another later in life. Ruth's family eventually produces the Davidic dynasty, which in turn leads down through the generations to Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
[Ruth 1:11-18] |
| | The Importance of Fathers, Mike McQuaid, 02/04/2007
Ignored by her father, Dinah starts hanging around with the wrong crowd. She becomes a seriously "at risk" child. Once the worst happens, someone has to pick up the broken pieces. Many of our young dads, if statistics are any indication, have come from families that don't understand the powerful role fathers play in their child's development.
[Genesis 34:1-5] |
| | But Mom Always Liked You Best, Brian Hughes, 01/28/2007
Birth order can have a profound impact on a family's expectations. In our Bible story this morning, it's a theme we see between Jacob and Esau as well as Leah and Rachel; Jacob's anger at Esau's birth placement plays itself out on Leah and her children, continuing the unhealthy pattern.
[Genesis 25:24-34] |
| | Kids Will Be Kids, Mike McQuaid, 01/21/2007
Cain and Abel - a solid example of conflict developing in families with distant parents. When parents step out of their role, one of the kids becomes the "identified patient" amid the trauma. This is not to suggest "it's all the parent's fault," but to help us understand that Cain and Abel's conflicts were rooted in something much deeper than their career choices.
[Genesis 4:1-12] |
| | So What’s a "Normal" Family?, Brian Hughes, 01/14/2007
In the physical world, boundaries are easy to see; fences, signs, walls, moats with alligators, or manicured lawns in front of houses set way back from the street. In the spiritual world, boundaries are just as real, but often harder to see. God designed a world where we inhabit our own souls and we are responsible for the things that define "us." But often our family or past relationships confuse us about where our lives end and someone else's begins.
[Genesis 2:19-25] |
|
| What is Christian Worship? On that special Christmas night shepherds came down off the hills to worship. Wise men traveled hundreds of miles, bringing gifts to honor of the newborn King. Mary broke into worshipful song after her late night angelic visitor. John the Baptist led a multitude of seekers in prayer and confession as they awaited the coming Messiah. Two thousand years later, how do we worship the one born in Bethlehem? |
|---|
| When's He Coming Back?, Mike McQuaid, 12/24/2006
Is this the year Jesus returns? What happens until he does?
[Luke 21:7-8;Luke 21:29-36] |
| | High School Drama, Kayleigh McQuaid and Colby Andersson, 12/24/2006
High school drama. |
| | Running to Worship, Brian Hughes, 12/24/2006
Where is the Holy Family? Where is Jesus tonight? In an orphanage in Tanzania.
[Luke 2:8-20] |
| | What's Up with All the Presents?, Brian Hughes, 12/17/2006
The Magi bowed down and presented gifts to the newborn Jesus. We bring all sorts of things into worship. Be they hopes or fears from all the years, now is the time to leave them here.
[Matthew 2:1-12] |
| | Why So Much Singing?, Brian Hughes, 12/10/2006
Some folks love to sing. Others prefer to listen and enjoy the moment. Some stand there and don't get it. Statistically, only about 7% of Americans can read and sing along to music. So why is there so much of it and what role does singing play in worship?
[Luke 1:39-56] |
| | What is Christian Worship?, Mike McQuaid, 12/03/2006
Unchurched visitors or newer Christians can experience worship as a weird and alien moment. Long ago John the Baptist fervently helped prepare hearts and minds to worship Jesus. After all these centuries, not much has changed. Do we even know what it means to worship Jesus?
[Matthew 3:1-6] |
|
| Here we have, in one verse, the summation of what God expects of us as followers of Jesus. It is a three-sided relationship: Up (Faith): Walk humbly with your God; In (Love): Love mercy; and Out (Hope): Do justice. It is also how we understand what it means to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ. |
|---|
| What is True?, Mike McQuaid, 11/26/2006
In a value-neutral, non-judgmental, permissive society where we like to believe that there is no higher standard of judgment than our own consciences, this is the Sunday we are reminded that we shall be judged. God's ways are not our ways.
[Matthew 25:31-46] |
| | Thanksgiving Eve 2006, Brian Hughes, 11/22/2006
Thanksgiving is deeply rooted in our historical experience as citizens of this country. But Thanksgiving is even more profound than that, for it says something about how we will live our lives. Tonight we will discover a concrete way in which we can share thanks with the children of Tanzania.
|
| | Out With It, Brian Hughes, 11/19/2006
If the words 'evangelism' or 'invite' send chills down your spine, join the club. Many Christians feel the same way. Jesus had a reason for coming to us and it wasn't to build churches. Our work is to bring Lost people into the safe haven of community with God and with his followers. We are invited to make a connection with a person whom God has already prepared.
[Micah 6:8;Matthew 28:16-20] |
| | In Christ, Brian Hughes, 11/12/2006
God was relational with humans from the very start, and he means for us to be relational with each other. The theme of relationship runs through scripture from beginning to end - it's the reason God planned for our redemption and promises us that we can be with him forever.
[Micah 6:8;Ephesians 2:11-20] |
| | God Calls, We Answer, Brian Hughes, 11/05/2006
When you consider the Up (Faith) relationship, keep in mind that you are not the instigator of the relationship. You do not have to work to keep the relationship alive. Every time you pray, you are simply responding to God's call to your heart.
[Micah 6:8;Luke 6:12-20] |
|
| Scripture reveals the pattern of life that God created for us. We can see it in the lives of Adam and Eve before the Fall and we see it lived out on a daily basis by Jesus. This pattern is crucial to living a Balanced Life - a life lived as God intended. What comes to mind is a pendulum, swinging in a natural rhythm to and fro. |
|---|
| A Passionate Life, Brian Hughes, 10/29/2006
Throughout the early 1500's, Martin Luther was in deep anguish about his life's ministry. Sometimes he was completely and utterly convinced he was renewing the Church in ways God intended. Other times he fell into deep despair, flooded with doubt about what he was doing. Such is the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ, finding balance between assurance and skepticism.
[Romans 5:1-8] |
| | The Language of Letting Go, Brian Hughes, 10/22/2006
Codependency has probably trailed humanity through the B.C. years right up to "those generally wretched times of the twentieth century." People have worried themselves sick about other people. They have tried to help in ways that didn't help. They have worn sackcloth because they thought they didn't deserve silk. These and many more habits are self defeating. Time for a change.
[Luke 18:9-14] |
| | Me, Myself and ... You, Brian Hughes, 10/15/2006
People - you can't live with them and you can't live without them. Sometimes they can make you crazy. Other times life would lose all meaning if we were completely on our own. Somewhere between self-absorption and self-fusion we can find a life.
[Matthew 20:20-27] |
| | The Gift of Work, Mike McQuaid, 10/08/2006
Work is important. The very first command that God gives humans is to "be fruitful and multiply." Does this mean we are to be workaholics? In a word, no. Working our brains out is not what God meant in Genesis.
[Matthew 11:25-30] |
| | Nearer My Couch to Thee, Brian Hughes, 10/01/2006
Maybe you've tried all the diets and exercise plans. Maybe you're thinking either they don't work or you can't stick with them. Feel like giving up? You're given only one body in this life. It is *the* most basic form of stewardship to learn how God would have you care for it.
[Genesis 1:26-31] |
| | Adrenaline and Stress: How long will you last?, Brian Hughes, 09/24/2006
God intended a balanced life, but so few of us give it more than a mental acknowledgement. There are profound biochemical and physical impacts on the human body when we just keep pushing. God frees us to live a very different lifestyle.
[Matthew 8:18-27] |
|
| Fall Launch |
|---|
| Who Needs It?, Brian Hughes, 09/17/2006
In Christ's vineyard, in contrast to every other vineyard we know, our degrees and seniority, our years of distinguished service, our titles - vice president, chairperson, dean, doctor, professor, honorable, reverend, whatever - are irrelevant to the overriding question: Are you immersed in and compelled by love?
[Matthew 20:1-16] |
| | A Restoration Rubric, Mike McQuaid, 09/10/2006
Jesus gives guidelines for discipline and restoration among his followers. The community/church has the authority and the responsibility of maintaining accountability among its members. In a post-modern world, this isn't always well received, but among followers of Jesus Christ, we find it's the only way to build the kind of community He would have us be.
[Matthew 18:15-20] |
| | The Call, Brian Hughes, 09/03/2006
The story of Moses teaches us a number of important lessons about vocation. The call of God sometimes comes when we least expect it, where we least expect it, coming to ordinary, not-too-well qualified people (like us!), enlisting us in divine work.
[Exodus 3:1-15] |
|
|
|---|
| Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?, Brian Hughes, 08/27/2006
Whether one's a long time Christian, new to the faith or still recovering from bad past experiences of the church, there comes a time when we know in our hearts, souls - in our bones - that it is not just about the outward trappings of religion. It just makes sense, on all levels of our lives, to follow Jesus.
[John 6:61-68] |
| | Depth of Personality, Brian Hughes, 08/20/2006
Shallow people aren't just boring or silly, they're also a wonderful anti-example of how much more is possible in this life. Though triggered by the nicks and dings of life, Proverbs reminds us that deep Wisdom (and profound growth in personhood) must be sought in the midst of life's tussles.
[Proverbs 9:1-6] |
| | Strength for the Journey, Brian Hughes, 08/13/2006
Faithfulness always brings opposition, often in ways we can't see until it's upon us. The prophet Elijah speaks words of truth given him by God, but ends up running for his life. Along the way he finds he's not running alone, but that God has come up along side him. After a time in God's presence, he discovers strength to turn around, go back and confront the evil he fled.
[1 Kings 19:2-8] |
| | Bread for the Soul, Mike McQuaid, 08/06/2006
Jesus points past our physical wants to the spiritual hunger that lurks within us all. We so easily confuse the two, but Jesus doesn't send us away; instead, He feeds us the "Bread of Life."
[John 6:24-35] |
| | A Love that Surpasses Knowledge, Mike McQuaid, 07/30/2006
In the power of the Holy Spirit we "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." Faith is always a gift of the Spirit. Without the third person of the Trinity, we'd wander throughout life never knowing or understanding the Love of Christ.
[Ephesians 3:14-21] |
| | A Never Ending Compassion, Mike McQuaid, 07/23/2006
Wherever he went, Jesus always drew huge crowds. People came from miles around to experience life in his presence. How is that transformation apparent today? Just look around on any Sunday. Jesus still draws crowds.
[Mark 6:30-34;Mark 6:53-56] |
| |
| |
