For most of us, that’s what religion has always been. The same was true in Jesus’ day, but not for Jesus. He taught a radical new approach that the institutional church has never quite been able to embrace. This Sunday we’ll explore that new approach. Today’s scripture: Mark 2:21-28 Download the Weekly News. Watch the […]
Author Archives: Jeff Miner
When Jesus Encountered A Gay Couple
This sermon explores a well-known Gospel story that you probably learned in Sunday school: Jesus Heals the Centurion’s Servant. But in Sunday school, they didn’t tell you the whole story. In the original language, Matthew uses a key word — a scandalous word — that changes everything about the story. Today’s scripture: Matthew 8:5-13 Download […]
When A Woman Talks Back
Institutional Christianity has shown little respect for the spiritual insights and leadership of women. What about Jesus? What was his attitude toward women? Today’s scripture: Matthew 15:21-28 Download the Weekly News. Watch the webcast. Use the player below to listen to this sermon. Right-click on the tag to download.
Who Gets In?
Again and again, in his earthly ministry, Jesus emphasized that those we think most likely to get into heaven may not make it, while those who seem least likely just might. One of his favorite sayings was, “The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.” What did he mean? His answer may […]
Rock My World
The parable of the Good Samaritan — Jesus’ most famous — is more than a nice story. It challenges modern Christian orthodoxy to its core. If you’d like to see the two news videos that are referenced near the beginning of the sermon, visit our Facebook page. Today’s scripture: Luke 10:25-37 Download the Weekly News. […]
If Jesus Had Been President On 9/11
Ten years ago, we were attacked. We watched with disbelief as the towers fell. What if Jesus had been our President on 9/11? How would he have responded? We’ll look back at what was, what has been, and what could have been. Most importantly, we’ll consider what we can learn from all this for our […]
What the Bible Is — and Isn’t
We’re exploring one of the most uncomfortable passages in the New Testament — about the role of slaves and women. We’ll use it to engage a deep discussion about what the Bible is and isn’t. You might be surprised. Today’s scripture: 1 Peter 2:18-3:9 Download the Weekly News. Watch the webcast. Use the player below […]
Free!
It’s a powerful word — “free.” It’s what we all aspire to, to live as free people. We’re not talking about the freedom associated with democracy, but rather a freedom of the soul that occurs when we get our act together in life. Today’s scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-17 Download the Weekly News. Watch the webcast. […]
Reclaiming Jesus for Ordinary People!
That’s what our Church has been about from the beginning. This Sunday, as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary, we will talk about who Jesus really was, and why it’s so important that a Church like ours boldly proclaims Jesus’ message of love and healing in a world filled with judgment and hate. If you’re jaded […]
The Plan
What in the world is God trying to do? This sermon explores the Apostle Peter’s answer to that question. You may be surprised how simple and intuitive Peter’s answer is. Today’s scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-10 • Download the Weekly News. Watch the webcast. Use the player below to listen to this sermon. Right-click on the […]
The Choice
You’ve heard people say, “You only get to live once, so make the most of it!” Are you? This sermon examines two very different strategies for life described by the Apostle Peter. Today’s scripture: 1 Peter 1:14-2:3 • Download the Weekly News. Watch the webcast. Use the player below to listen to this sermon. Right-click […]
Great Expectations
This Sunday we’ll examine the mindset that characterized early Christians and how that made them so powerful, then consider how we might benefit from embracing that same mindset. Today’s scripture: 1 Peter 1:8-13 • Download the Weekly News. Watch the webcast. Use the player below to listen to this sermon. Right-click on the tag to […]
Why Should I Smile?
Life is hard. So why even bother? Why shouldn’t we grow cynical and depressed? The early Christians had a powerful answer to that question. With this sermon we launch a new series on the book of First Peter. Today’s scripture: I Peter 1:1-7 • Download the Weekly News. Watch the webcast. Use the player below […]