So often, we let fear paralyze us and keep us from leaping into the authentic life God created us for. Part of Martin Luther’s genius was seeing how God acts to create faith and courage in anxious hearts. Today, Pastor Eric lifts up a Lutheran understanding of Baptism and Holy Communion as ways that God actually comes to us, giving himself to us in real, tangible ways. And, we talk about zip lines. Because they are always a great metaphor for faith!
Foundations 500: Word (September 17th, 2017)
God’s word is a treasure of the Reformation. Martin Luther translated the Bible from ancient languages into German so his contemporaries could read the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for themselves. Today, we continue to treasure the ways God’s word acts on us with power. From diagnosing what’s going on in our hearts, to showing us God’s good plans for us, the word of God speaks the truth of His love and grace into our lives. In this sermon, Pastor Paige highlights images from Isaiah 55:6-11 and Hebrews 4:12-16, as well as the day’s psalm, to remind us how God’s word brings the good news of Jesus to us.
Foundations 500: Grace (September 10th, 2017)
Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther began a reformation to restore the grace of God to the center of the church’s life. Today, we begin our "Foundations 500” series, looking at how the spiritual treasures of the Reformation can be the foundation of our Christian life today. In this morning’s sermon (based on Isaiah 41:13-14, 17-20), Pastor Eric grounds us in the truth of God’s unconditional love for us in the cross of Jesus Christ. When you feel empty, broken, or lost, Jesus tells you not to be afraid; he is with you.
The Kingdom Way (September 3rd, 2017)
Jesus created his Church to be a force of love, grace, and freedom that no power of bondage or death could resist. Why isn’t that what we see? What holds the Church back from being all that Jesus calls us to be? In this message from Matthew 16:21-28, Pastor Eric challenges us to walk the way of the Cross to find life that is real for ourselves, for our church, and ultimately, for our world.
Just Ask: God’s Will or My Will? (August 27th, 2017)
We face lots of decisions, big and small, each and every day. How do we know whether or not we are following God’s will? In this sermon in our “Just Ask” series, Pastor Paige shared the story of Jesus at age 12, when he spent time in the temple learning about his heavenly Father. For us, spending time with God, diving into God’s Word, and paying attention to the Holy Spirit’s action are all ways of discerning God’s will for the decisions we face in our lives. The sermon focuses on the story of Jesus in the temple from Luke 2:40-52. It also draws from Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, Ephesians 3:14-21.