Text: 1 Peter 1: 3-6, 9-15,22 Keep awake! Get ready! Prepare yourselves! These are the words that fly at us from the scriptures for this first Sunday of Advent. But get ready for what? Get yourself ready for the future that God has already prepared for you. Get ready to embrace the life that Christ…
Grounded in our Neighborhoods
Text: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; Matthew 22: 34-40 Next week is the premiere of “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” the new movie about Mr. Rogers. I grew up with Mr. Rogers welcoming me home in the afternoon from school. We entered the land of make-believe and I heard him speaking to me and my child-like…
Grounded with our Ancestors
Text: Matthew 1:1-17 The very name of our church, Immanuel, means “God-with-us.” God is with us. Right here in this very time and place. Living, moving, breathing. In times past, we relegated God to the heavens while we mundane humans continued our life here below. And then we cried out in times of tragedy… “God,…
Imagine the Abundance
Text: Ephesians 3:14-21, Matthew 14:3-21 Friends… do you know how much potential you have? I’m not talking about the potential for worldly success… although you have that. I’m not talking about the potential for raising funds as a church… although I know its there. I’m talking about your potential in Jesus Christ. I’m talking about…
Imagine the Transformation
Text: Matthew 14:13-21 (focusing on verses 18-19), Philippians 1:3-11 Last Sunday in worship, I preached about our limitations. About how little we have… or think we have… that can be offered up for ministry. When we see so much need around us in the world, it is easy to believe that we can’t possibly begin…
Imagine the Possiblities
Text | Isaiah 55:6-11; Matthew 14:13-21 Focus Verse | Matthew 14:15-17 A few of you have been around recently as some neighbors have stopped in looking for some financial assistance. I’ve watched as you have greeted them with kindness and respect and helped them find their way to my office. I often sit down and…
Take Our Bread: Imagine the Multitudes
Text | Isaiah 55:1-6, 12; Matthew 14:13-21 Focus Verse | Matthew 14:13 There’s hope for the hopeless And all those who’ve strayed Come sit at the table Come taste the grace There’s rest for the weary Rest that endures Earth has no sorrow That heaven can’t cure Dave Crowder – “Come as You Are”…
We’re All Here
Text: Romans 8:38-39, Acts 16:22-34 The first thing I want to prayerfully acknowledge this morning is that we are all entering this space from different places. Some of you may be concerned about a family member or friend who you worry are having suicidal thoughts. I know that some of us have lost a loved…