Sermons from LifeJourney Church » Knowing God/Relationship with God

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:00:33 +0000

Sometimes we feel really disconnected from God. Some of us have always felt that way. We hear others talk about their “close personal walk with God,” and they seem like aliens. Why can’t I feel that way? What’s wrong with me?

This sermon examines the one essential prerequisite for feeling close to God. It’s not what you think!

Today’s scripture: Psalm 63:1-8

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Push/Pull

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:00:24 +0000

Many of us long to be close to God, but fear what that might mean. The result is deep inner conflict — part of us wants to draw near to God, while another part of us pushes away. This Sunday we’ll talk about the factors that cause us to fear God. How can we overcome them?

Today’s scripture: Luke 19:1-10

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God’s Active Social Life

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 30 May 2010 16:00:52 +0000

Sounds odd, doesn’t it? Many of us probably tend to see God as a singular monarch, “the Unmoved Mover,” sitting on a throne somewhere in the distant cosmos, completely self-sufficient, wanting and needing no one.

But what if that’s not the case? What if God is, in fact, a thoroughly social Being who thrives on relationships with others? This sermon explores what the Bible teaches about God’s ‘social life’ and the profound implications for how we live from day to day.

Today’s scripture: Proverbs 8:1, 22-32

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Bewildered

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 23 May 2010 16:00:40 +0000

Some people see God as best friend and constant traveling companion. Others see God as infinitely transcendent and remote — ‘high and lifted up.’ So which is it? Should I see God as best buddy or as unknowable being?

This sermon continues our series, as were thinking deeply about a critical question: “What is God really like?”

Today’s scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:9-12

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The Battle Of The Sexes

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 09 May 2010 16:00:05 +0000

On this Mothers Day, we could choose to play it safe and offer a bland, superficial sermon filled with platitudes about motherhood. But that’s not who we are!

As followers of Jesus, let’s engage the real issues (and truly honor our Moms) by exploring an important subject: ‘gender and God.’ If God is Father, does that mean God is more male than female? Is it valid to refer to God as “Mother”?

Today’s scripture: Luke 15:1-10

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A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 02 May 2010 16:00:19 +0000

How we see God — the picture of God we carry around in our heads — dramatically affects how we feel about life, ourselves, and God. So what is God really like?

This Sunday we resume our series in which we are exploring that critical question, using the concept of the Trinity to guide us. This week we’ll explore the “second person of the Trinity” — Jesus. What is the primary thing we’re supposed to learn about God from Jesus? Even if you’ve spent a lifetime in church, you’ll probably be surprised.

Today’s scripture: John 13:1-20

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Ears Wide Shut

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:00:40 +0000

In our relationship with God, we tend to do a lot of talking. In hurried prayers, we tell God what we want, then race off before God has a chance to get a word in edgewise. Then we wonder why life seems so frustrating.

Maybe we’re swimming against the tide. This sermon will explore how to learn to listen to God.

Today’s scripture: Micah 3:4-7, 9-12

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Love Hurts

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:00:48 +0000

When you picture the personality of God, what comes to mind? Perhaps the classic Unmoved Mover — aloof, measured, dispassionate.

When you hear about the anger of God, what do you imagine provokes that anger? Perhaps insubordination: “How dare you disobey me; don’t you know I could crush you!”

In this sermon, the prophet Hosea will challenge us to embrace a very different understanding of God’s personality — to see God as maybe we never have before.

Today’s scripture: Hosea 11:1-9

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I Love You This Much

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:00:34 +0000

Do you feel loved by God?

If you’ve been around church for any length of time, you’ve probably had it drilled into your head. God is Love. Jesus loves you.

But do you know it? Do you feel loved?

As we continue our series on Romans 8, there’s some remarkable insight into God’s love. Maybe the evidence has been there all along, but we just didn’t know how to see it. Watch or listen for a time of spiritual refreshment.

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Relax, Everything’s Gonna Be OK

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:00:36 +0000

Just how involved is God in the daily affairs of my life? Can I count on God to “fix” everything?

This week we resume our Romans 8 sermon series by studying one of the best-known verses in the Bible: “All things work together for good for those who love God.” Romans 8:28.

This verse (and those around it) raise fascinating questions about free will and predestination. Watch or listen for a practical examination of how God works in the world and our lives.

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Are You There, God?

Guest Speaker — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:00:15 +0000

What do you do when it feels like God is far away? Our impulse may be to act like God is far away — but that can lead to actions that are self-destructive.

There’s a better way, and we’ll look at the example of Habakkuk to get some practical ideas.

This sermon was brought to us by our Clergy Intern, Vivian Wyatt.

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Don’t Make Me Come Down There!

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:00:24 +0000

We’ve spent a couple weeks looking at stories surrounding the birth of Christ — it is the season, after all.

This week, something related but maybe not the first thing that comes to mind at Christmastime: What did it really mean for God to become human?

The scriptures say that Jesus “emptied himself” of divine privilege and power while he was in the flesh on earth. That has enormous ramifications for how we see God and how we are able to relate to God. Watch or listen for a message of encouragement and hope.

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This Is All Your Fault!

Melody Merida — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:30:49 +0000

Have you ever been told — or felt like it was implied — that Christians can’t feel sad or depressed or angry?

Would it surprise you to know that over a third of the Psalms, most of Job, plus an entire book — Lamentations — are all prayers that express anguish to God?

The writers of those texts were being honest. And they dared to bring their pain, frustration — their lament — directly to God.

This sermon looks at ways to reclaim the power of the prayer of lament. Listen or watch for a lesson that’s practical and life-giving.

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An Unlikely Candidate

Melody Merida — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:00:47 +0000

Do you think of yourself as the last person God might choose to do something important or worthwhile in this world?

Well, then, congratulations! As we see from our examples in scripture, that’s exactly the sort of person God chooses. Strange, huh?

Listen or watch as we examine this counter-intuitive way that God works, and look at ways we can lay aside our doubt and have confidence that God can and will use us.

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Grace That Flows Like a River

Rev. Jeff Miner — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:50:03 +0000

What is “grace”? The Bible says without it we cannot be saved.

This sermon cuts through all the theological mumbo jumbo and gain new insight that could. . . well, save us — in any number of ways.

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Misfits Wanted

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:00:14 +0000

Have you seen the classic Christmas program, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer? If so, you’re familiar with the Island of Misfit Toys, home of the ostrich-riding cowboy and the train with square wheels.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and we’re taking a look at a little-examined character from the familiar palm-procession story: the donkey Jesus rode into Jerusalem. He was a “misfit” too, but was needed by Jesus at this crucial time.

Listen or watch as we look at how we can find our purpose and mission — how we can be needed by God, misfits though we are.

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Messy Spirituality

Melody Merida — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:22:34 +0000

Have you ever thought, “I must not be a very good Christian. Everybody else is so together — and I’m just a mess.”

Well, guess what — God knows what a mess we all can be. Listen or watch as we wrestle with the idea that there’s no need to pretend before God, or hold back — we can come as we are.

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Powered by God

Guest Speaker — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:09:00 +0000

Why does it seem so often that we have no power for living? Why does it seem that we just drag from one day to the next, never really engaging in life? Deacon Robert Ferguson will bring us a message of hope and encouragement.

Robert’s sermon is part of our Black History Celebration Sunday.

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The Prodigal Father

Guest Speaker — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 18:23:28 +0000

We often hear platitudes about the “love of God” — but in this sermon, we’ll get some insight into how that love works.

We take a look at the familiar story of “The Prodigal Son”, and find that it tells us a lot more about God (as demonstrated by the father in the story) than it does about the son.

This sermon was presented by Deb Doty, Jesus MCC’s Director of Discipleship.

Who Let the Dogs Out?

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 27 May 2007 22:13:54 +0000

When you were a kid, did you ever get lost? Remember how that felt?

As an adult, have you ever had a similar experience spiritually or emotionally — a time when you felt completely lost? In this week’s sermon, Pastor Jeff will interview Robin Herman as she tells her dramatic story of a catastrophic car wreck and a lost dog. From her experience, we’ll learn much about God and ourselves.

Still Waters

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:09:44 +0000

It’s a familiar story: Jesus and the disciples are in a boat in the middle of the sea, and they’re caught in a ferocious storm. The disciples freak out; Jesus takes a nap.

Wouldn’t you like to have that kind of peace? When all the world is raging and storming around you, to be able to rest, knowing that all is in God’s hands.

That sort of peace is foreign to most of us — but it shouldn’t be. Listen as we learn about Jesus’ secret to perfect peace.

The Big Bang

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 15:56:56 +0000

Have you ever considered just how much power was required to raise Jesus from the dead? And God promises that we have access to that very same power — power to raise to new life the dead and decaying parts of our heart and soul.

So, where does your life need some resurrection? Listen for insight as we celebrate on this Easter Sunday!

Dying to Live

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 19:42:37 +0000

What does it mean to follow Jesus? It means more than to just believe his words — it means to do what he did, to walk in his footsteps.

We’re used to thinking of the cross as something Jesus did for us. But Jesus sees it differently — he invites us to join him there. So what does that mean? When Jesus says, “Follow me to the cross, share that experience with me,” what does he mean?

Listen as we take a deep look into the meaning of discipleship.

Transformational Encounters

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:29:16 +0000

Do you want to experience the kind of connection to God that is so profound that you are constantly renewed and reinvigorated for life?

Listen for practical insight on how to grow closer to God.

Sordid Lives

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:23:12 +0000

We’re looking at the incident of the Golden Calf, as we continue in “Lessons from the Exodus.”

Moses is gone for a time, and the people demand a new god to worship. It’s breathtaking how quickly they turn from being God’s people into something else.

So how much of your spiritual life is based on a particular religious leader, and how much is a result of your relationship with God? We consider that, plus other insights, from this fascinating story.

You Expect Me To Eat What!?

Rev. Jeff Miner — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 19:08:55 +0000

“Trust in God.” It’s supposed to be the base of Christian life. Some Christians make it sound like if you trust God, everything will go your way.

But let’s get real. Sometimes we’ve trusted God and have been very disappointed.

This sermon takes a deep look at trust, learning from Israel and their exodus from Egypt.