Pastor Libin discusses the historical evidence supporting the resurrection of Jesus Christ, emphasizing four key points: the certainty of Jesus' death, the empty tomb, the costly appearances of Jesus to his followers, and the transformative impact on their lives. He cites ancient sources like Tacitus and Josephus, and modern scholarly works, affirming that Jesus was crucified and died, and that his tomb was found empty. Libin argues that the resurrection is supported by the disciples' willingness to die for their faith and the transformation of lives, including Paul and James. He concludes by inviting listeners to experience the resurrection's transformative power in their own lives.
Haley Terry and Steve Frissell discuss the biblical narrative of humanity's fall and God's redemption. They describe Adam and Eve's disobedience, leading to sin, shame, and the need for covering. The concept of sin's cost and the necessity of a sacrifice is emphasized, with the first Passover illustrating the need for an unblemished lamb. Libin Abraham highlights Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, who, as the unblemished Lamb of God, died to cover humanity's sins once and for all. The sermon concludes with a call to recognize and receive the covering provided by Jesus' blood, symbolized through the Lord's Table.
Libin discusses the significance of Palm Sunday, highlighting the crowd's adoration of Jesus and the religious leaders' plot to kill him. He recounts Jesus' actions in the temple, overturning tables, and tells the parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21, which reveals the religious leaders' rejection of God's messengers. Libin emphasizes that Jesus is the cornerstone of the kingdom, rejected but risen, and calls for believers to align their lives with Him. He stresses that the cross is central to the kingdom's design and challenges the congregation to live a cruciform life, surrendering to Jesus' authority and love.
Hunter Emmert discusses the importance of forgiveness in the kingdom of God. He explains that Jesus' parables, including the one about the unmerciful servant, teach us about the New Kingdom ethics of compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. He emphasizes that forgiveness is not limited and should be extended without counting the number of times.
Libin discusses the concept of fairness and grace, using a parable from Matthew 20 to illustrate his points. He describes how his children negotiate rewards for sports achievements, highlighting the human desire for fairness. Abraham contrasts this with God's Kingdom, which operates on grace rather than fairness. He explains that grace disrupts merit systems and emphasizes that God's generosity is not blindfolded but responsive to individual needs. Libin encourages trust in God's grace, rather than transactional faith, and concludes by inviting everyone to receive the gift of grace, regardless of their circumstances or timing in accepting it.
Libin discusses the nature of the Kingdom of God, emphasizing that it is not about political power, prosperity, or moral performance but about Jesus reigning through the church. He outlines a five-part story of God and His people, starting with creation, the fall, redemption, renewal, and eventual consummation.
Haley Terry's sermon explores the Kingdom of God through the lens of Jesus' teachings and interactions with the Pharisees. She emphasizes that the Kingdom of God is unlike any earthly kingdom, characterized by grace, humility, and inclusivity.
Steve Frissell introduces a new sermon, focusing on Jesus' teachings about the Kingdom of God. He emphasizes that Jesus' central message was the Kingdom of God, not just moral living. Steve defines the Kingdom as the King's reign through his people over his place. He highlights Jesus' unique kingship, contrasting it with earthly kings. Steve discusses the historical context of Israel's desire for an earthly king and Jesus' fulfillment of that role through his teachings and actions, culminating in his crucifixion and resurrection. He encourages the congregation to recognize and bow to Jesus as the true King.
This sermon casts a vision of the church as God’s “masterpiece” formed for this moment in history, in a world full of both opportunity and darkness.
Libin discusses the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman, emphasizing breakthrough faith. Despite her initial skepticism, the woman's faith persisted even after her son died. Elisha's attempts to resurrect the child failed, highlighting that faith cannot be outsourced. Eventually, the boy was resurrected, symbolizing God's power. Abraham draws parallels to Jesus' resurrection, stressing that faith trusts in God's actions, whether immediate or delayed. He concludes by inviting Jason and Michelle Frazier to share their daughter Jaden Faith's recovery, illustrating the power of faith and resilience.