Sun, Apr 02, 2023
Duration: 46 mins 47 secs
The letter to the Thessalonians ends with a recital of house rules. He fires off the instructions to conclude this friendly letter to ensure the church remains healthy. These words address leadership, community, perspective, and discernment. These principles are still relevant for healthy churches.
Sun, Oct 23, 2022
Duration: 42 mins 45 secs
In the Information Age, we do not have to look far to see people failing. Politicians lie. Athletes cheat. Actors abuse. CEOs intimidate. And it's not just THOSE leaders in the world who are guilty. Abuse, scandal, and deception dwell within the church. Every month another spiritual leader falls from grace. We can wag our fingers, shake our heads, and join the chorus of critics. Or we can look inward at our own wayward hearts. We too walk a perilous path. We must check it for pitfalls.
Sun, Aug 11, 2019
Duration: 45 mins 13 secs
We do not stand alone. As followers of Jesus, we band together, suffer together, and grow together. There is no other way. Jesus shapes us through godly mentors, faithful leaders, and loving believers. Timothy experienced this with Paul, who tasked his "beloved son" with raising up the next generation of leaders in the church. This investment in the lives of others is the greatest impact we can have.
Sun, Aug 26, 2018
Duration: 38 mins 13 secs
The early church threatened everything. Its followers did not set out to overturn the religious, political, economic, or moral standards of society. They set out to bear witness to Jesus as Lord. Their loyalty to the risen and ascended king, however, made them dangerous because neither lobbyists, legalists, nor morally lax crowds could persuade them to shut up and stop loving others in Jesus's name. The modern day church could learn a few lessons from their fearless proclamation of Jesus is Lord.
Sun, Mar 12, 2017
Leadership and pastoral ministry sometimes feel like they're at odds. Best practices and business principles have crept into the church, helping it run more smoothly as an organization, but sometimes at the cost of personal care. The local church is God's flock, he wants shepherds to care for it his way: more delight than duty; more generosity than greed; more service than aegis. This sermon is filled with pastoral confessions and biblical insights on spiritual leadership.
Sun, Sep 04, 2016
Duration: 38 mins 29 secs
Spiritual community forms us. God calls people to deep relationships to make them more Christlike. The weekly worship service (singing and sermon) is part of corporate discipline, but spiritual community also includes leadership, service, giving, caring, encouragement, counsel, and rebuke.
