A Student of Providence (2 Corinthians 1:3-11; LD 10)

The Apostle Paul has personally witnessed the resurrected Christ. He has been called into heaven to experience a vision on par with Isaiah. It is tempting for us to think that Paul does not have to wrestle with God's sovereignty and God's election. However, Paul confesses that he too has had a break through in his Christian walk where his theology moved from being a head knowledge to to a deeper conviction within the Apostle Paul.

(Preached 9.25.2022)

God's Cure for Anxiety (LD 9) (Luke 12:22-34)

When we worry about tomorrow we doubt God's providence and his care for us. Christ could have easily ended his sermon with the assertion that life is more than food or clothing. Christ would then be telling us how sinful we are. Christ does not just tell us that we are sinful, but Christ gives us assurance of the Lord's personal care for us. Luke tells us that Christ gives two proofs to assure us that our Heavenly Father does care. The pesky ravens receive the Lord's care. The Lord watches over the wild flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow. Christ's point is that if God cares about the little details of this creation then how much more his people. Therefore, we should not be anxious about tomorrow as we are in the father's care.

(Preached September 18, 2022)

Living it Out: Kingdom Focused (Matthew 6:19-34)

Our Lord calls us to be light in the world. So often we think that we need greater strategies to impact our particular circles. This is certainly something to pray about and to potentially discuss with one another. However, our Lord calls us to look beyond this immediate age. Where are we called to look? How do we know that our Lord is with us as we look to heaven’s glory?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Conforming: Cross Focused (Matthew 6:19-34)

The potential temptation we can have as Christians is to think that this kingdom is only spiritual and that there is nothing physical that our Lord provides.  However, Christ makes this strange promise that as we pursue the kingdom of God there is the assurance that the Lord will provide for us.  How does this work?  Why not worry about the physical things when the the Kingdom is Spiritual?

Reprioritizing Our Position (LD 50; Matthew 6:25-34)

Asking the Lord to give us our daily bread could be another way of asking the Lord to make me more successful.  In other words it is the desire that we want to be successful.  The problem that we have as humans is looking beyond this world and believing that our Heavenly Father is more than looking down upon us, but is actually caring for us.  So, when we ask the Lord for our daily bread what are we exactly asking the Lord to provide?

The Sabbath’s Answer to Absurd Anxiety (1 Peter 5:6-11 (LD 38; COD Head 5 Art. 14, 15)

There are many things in this life that can upset us and even overwhelm us.  Peter affirms the reality of the hardship in the Christian life as he tells us that we have our own struggles, the world, and Satan is out to destroy us.  These things make it pretty difficult for us to maintain a positive outlook in our perseverance.  So, how do we know that we will arrive at the goal of heaven?  Where do we turn in our darkest moments?  Where is our hope in this Christian life?