Calvary: the Hill Sermons
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On Easter Sunday, we examine Matthew's account of Jesus' resurrection. If there is enough reason to believe that it actually happened, what do we do with that information? Does it make a difference to our lives? Jesus seems to think it does.
On the cross, Jesus experienced a cosmically unprecedented reality: God the Son lost his intimacy with God the Father. In doing so, Jesus both defeated Loneliness itself, as well as provided an example for how to lament during times of loneliness.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus' humanity is on full display as he wrestles in prayer with the reality that his appointed time on the cross is near. Overwhelmed with extreme sorrow and grief, he invites those closest to him to keep watch and pray with him, thus revealing how the Son freely chose, out of love, to be bound to human mortality for our sake. In the process, we also learn ways to support one another in times of great sorrow and grief.
In the last week of Jesus' life, he gave voice to three laments. The first was over the city of Jerusalem, and his people Israel. He lamented their rejection of him as their rightful Messiah. Jesus provides us a model for lamenting over loved ones.
Church is more than an individual affair, but rather a corporate reality. We are called to lean into these relationships in the context of our obedience to Jesus.
In his final greetings, Paul allows us a brief window into what this early church looked like and how it functioned. We can take both challenge and encouragement from this look under the hood. The church is supposed to be a beautiful mess of overlapping stories.
A clique is by definition "a group of people with shared interests who are resistant to outsiders joining their ranks." The church is not supposed to be resistant to outsiders, but oftentimes outsiders aren't even on our minds when we think of church. Paul wants us to reframe our thoughts about unbelievers, and to posture ourselves toward them.
Paul addresses slaves and masters, and doesn't dismantle the institution. What!? What is going on? Is the Bible outdated and regressive? After we deal with the elephant in the room, it turns out Paul has a lot to say about vocation and meaningful work as we live out our lives for Christ.
What does the gospel have to say about marriage and family life? Is Paul a chauvinist? Are wives supposed to submit? We are hitting all the buzzwords this week as we seek a Christian understanding of marriage and family.
The apostle Paul gets very practical as he continues to unpack what it means to be clothed in the riches of this mystery, " Christ in you, the hope of glory ", as we continue to live our lives not only as individuals but also in the community.
Paul begins a deep, practical dive into the Christian life of the Churchgoer and the Church. Since our "old self" is already shed, but not yet dead, he gives us some pointers on living our lives practically for Christ. And yes, it includes our sexuality...
Once we've grasped what we have in Jesus Christ, how practical does that get externally? And how deep does it go internally? Paul gives us a robust description of the Christian life post-conversation.
It isn't in our own creativity or strength that we conjure up vision for ourselves or our community for the upcoming year. It is in looking up, beholding our God, and receiving his invitation for us this year.
Remembering God’s faithfulness isn’t just about reflecting on all the ways he has delivered you and where things are all buttoned up. We reflect on his faithfulness even (and perhaps especially) in the areas that aren’t yet buttoned up. We reflect on his faithfulness because of the desperate circumstances we’re in today.
The in-between, uncomfortable, waiting reality of Advent is the plan. As we stare death in the face (which we Americans do not like to do), we can take great joy, peace, thanksgiving and consolation knowing that in this little baby God has prepared the antidote for death for all people who believe in him.
In the New Testament, all of God's people are called to ministry. The question then isn't, "Are you called?" Rather the question is are you listening? Are you paying attention? Like Mary, are you allowing the Advent of our Lord to disrupt your life, creating space to reflect on what He has done with fresh wonder and awe, so that you might likewise hear and respond, "Here am I, Lord."
In the midst of the height of the Roman empire, God quietly dropped into humanity in the person of Jesus Christ. But he didn't keep it quiet. He made his grand announcement to a group of lowly shepherds. And in doing so, he made clear the priorities of this new Upside Down Kingdom that we're all invited into.
As God's people, we are not called to do first, we are called to look upon what God has done. Only after beholding what God has done are we invited to do. This week we contemplate Joseph's darkest day turned into an invitation to partner with God's grand plan.
If there's one word that describes human beings, it's distracted. Paul lays out the philosophy that was plaguing the Colossian church, and it turns out it's simply a distraction turning their attention from what is truly important: the gospel of the kingdom of Christ.
So you have become a Christian? Now what? The Apostle Paul wants us to know that the identity of Jesus as Lord and his work for us on the cross is not just the beginning of the Christian life but vital to its daily walk. The gospel provides complete provisions for a faithful journey and we should accept no substitutes.
In this sermon from Pastor Wayne Taylor, we learn that the mystery from God, hidden for ages and generations, has been revealed: Jesus Christ. In Him is an inexhaustible treasure trove of all things good. So why would we feel the need to go somewhere else to scratch the itches we feel dayto day?
Like a good teacher, Paul in our text today, repeats himself with increasing clarity. He underscores a foundational truth that his readers should not move from, that this Jesus, who shed His blood on the cross, is fully God and fully human. In the language of John's gospel, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."
Paul, in a majestic hymn, turns our attention to the glorious person of Jesus Christ as both creator and redeemer.
There is always more to experience in the Gospel of Jesus. Paul paints a tapestry of prayer that the Colossians would experience the A-to-Z of the Gospel and the growth that comes with it.
Paul's got nothing but thanksgiving to God that the Gospel reached a city he had never been to. He spends time reflecting on how wonderful the Gospel really is, and the God made it possible.
A look at the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of the book of Colossians. Should a 21st century American church care what the Apostle Paul had to say to a 1st century church that he didn't start in an insignificant city that he never visited?
Right on the heels of the greatest command to love God is the second greatest - to love our neighbor as ourselves. In many ways this is more difficult practically speaking. So practically, how does our church do this? We'll take a glance at the ministries that emphasize neighbor love.
Our number one priority as the people of God is to love Him back. That's the first and greatest commandment, according to Christ. How do we do that as a church family? This week we take a look at the wide array of opportunities to do just that, together.
In spiritual direction circles, we often talk about the distance between the head and the heart as being the "longest journey". But this, the longest journey, is essential. If we want a relationship with Jesus, beyond our head-knowledge, we must go where he goes and speak the language he speaks. We have to go to our hearts.
Unique to the Mosaic Law, Israel’s legislature provides a glimpse at the heart of the God who wrote it. Embedded in that law is a social program called the Cities of Refuge—a program of grace, compassion, and mercy.
