Resurrection Life Sunday Sermon

SCRIPTURE: Luke 16:19-31This Sunday's Sermon focused on a story Jesus told, comparing two men with two starkly different destinations. One man is rich. Filthy rich. The other man, named Lazarus, is destitute and disabled. This parable is the only time Jesus uses a proper name. The tables turn dramatically after these two men die. The rich man no longer basks in his wealth, but finds himself in agony. Lazarus is carried to Abraham on the other side of an unbridgeable chasm. The rich man vainly attempts to get some type of comfort back, but to no avail. This parable is among the most challenging in Scripture. The concept of an unbridgeable chasm separating heaven and hell is among the most difficult to preach. This will be a fire-and-brimstone sermon because it’s right there in the text! The trajectory of this parable’s teaching, however, is understanding the nature of faith, repentance, and resurrection. This intimidating story still declares the mercies of God toward repentant sinners and the importance of loving God above all earthly stuff.

Our Director of Ministries, Jeff Smith, returned to the pulpit with a return to our summer series on Jesus' parables, PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM. Because of our sin, we have no standing to insist on favorable treatment from God. Nonetheless, we all tend to require payback from those who have wronged us. But God lavishes free and full forgiveness on all who trust in Jesus’ righteousness and payment for sin on their behalf. God then commands believers to put His forgiveness in Christ on display by our unlimited forgiveness of others, just as He forgives us infinitely (Romans 8:1).

SCRIPTURE: John 21:1-11Are you tired of doing all the right things—working hard, planning wisely, staying faithful—yet still feeling like you have nothing to show for it? In this week’s message, called “Children, Do You Have Any Fish?” from John 21:1-11, we explore what happens when even our best efforts fall short—and how Jesus meets us right there, not with judgment, but with grace and direction. Your empty nets should neither disqualify nor discourage you, because they are there to prepare you for God’s intervention.

This Sunday, in our Portraits of the Kingdom series, we turned our attention to the Parable of the Prodigal Son. As we explore its four distinct scenes, one of the key questions we’ll confront is this: As we grow up, will God’s compassion and grace grow with us? This question contrasts the challenge Jesus gave to the religious elite: to die to their self-righteousness and self-congratulation.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:1-13.The message of Jesus' parable in Matthew 25:1-13 builds on last Sunday's sermon on the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, reminding us that the Church includes genuine and counterfeit believers. Likewise, in the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus describes two types of Christians. Some may appear to have saving faith, but they do not have enduring faith. Jesus challenges us: While we wait for His second coming, we must have a sustained faith through all seasons of life. May the Lord use this passage to challenge us to grow in depth of faith for the joys and trials of life!

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 13:24-30, and 36-43.In the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43), Jesus teaches us how to respond to the devil's influence within and upon the church. In the parable, we learn that Satan actively places those who serve his evil purposes among and around those who make up Christ's church throughout the world. Perhaps to our surprise, Jesus commands us here to temper our desire to root out counterfeit Christians and evil influences from the church at all costs. We cannot see people’s spiritual state clearly now; accordingly, we must carry out the work of the church with discernment, patience, and confidence in Christ.

SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:1-12This Sunday’s Sermon focused on a story Jesus told about Israel’s broken past, corrupt leadership, and future redemption rooted in himself. Jesus demonstrates tremendous courage by confronting the institutional authorities from the heart of the institution’s religious porthole—the Temple. He calls out the leaders for their smugness, ignorance, pride, and self-righteousness. Their blind desire to maintain control would ultimately drive their prophetic decision to kill Christ. In the Parable of the Tenants, Jesus pulls no punches. Yet this parable also points beyond human corruption, highlighting God’s sovereignty and His plan to bring growth through Jesus Christ, the cornerstone.

SCRIPTURE: Luke 14: 1-24. This Sunday, the focus was on the lessons Jesus gave to those dining with Him in the home of a prominent religious leader. He shares a word of wisdom for the host, a word of wisdom for the guests, and a word of warning for everyone. What Jesus says creates some pretty intense social awkwardness. Yet the lessons he shares in Luke 14:1–24 are vital for us to consider as we embrace the values of Kingdom humility, generosity, and kindness.

This Sunday, we welcomed Mr. Richard Gray, the Director of Equipping Pastors Worldwide (EPW). “Equipping Pastors Worldwide supports majority world pastors who long to be faithful in serving the Lord Jesus Christ, but who are lacking the training and resources to do so.” They prioritize sending reformed resources to pastors in areas where many Christians exist but without many trained pastors. Richard Gray's sermon is from Acts 13:16–52. This is the apostle Paul’s first recorded sermon, where he proclaims that Jesus is God’s promised savior through whom salvation comes to those who believe. The sermon will challenge us to consider what the command to share the message of salvation throughout the world means for each of us and Resurrection Life as a church.

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37. One of Jesus’ most well-known parables. Most people in Western culture understand what a "Good Samaritan" is—someone who extends generosity and hospitality to those in need. However, few know why Jesus originally told this parable. It was in response to a lawyer who asked Him, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ shocking story about the Good Samaritan is how He answers this question. Through this parable, Jesus reveals several aspects of the Kingdom

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:14-30. Jeff Smith, our director of ministries, brought us the second sermon in our series, PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM. In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus teaches that because He is a just and generous master, His servants should anticipate a reward from Him after He returns, in response to their obedience to Him while He is away. When understood in harmony with the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone, Jesus’ teaching here motivates our perseverance through trials, and it frees us from slavishly seeking the approval of others. Our response to this passage can reorient our lives today and enrich our joy in eternity!

Scripture: Mark 4: 1–20. Welcome to our new sermon series: Portraits of the Kingdom. When preparing a new sermon series, we often balance our focus between the Old and New Testaments. However, it's been a while since we've focused on the Gospels. This series will help us engage deeply with what it means to live with resurrection life and to discover the joy of belonging to Jesus!I’m excited for us to hear from Jesus each week through these creative, enlightening, eye-opening (and sometimes eye-popping!) short stories, which reveal the secrets of the Kingdom.This Sunday, we began with Mark 4:1-20. We’re starting here because Jesus tells a parable and explains why He speaks in parables. In verse eleven, Jesus says to the disciples, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything is in parables.” As people on the “inside,” I look forward to discovering these secrets of the Kingdom. Hence our series title: Portraits of the Kingdom.May the Lord bless our journey together as we explore these stories Jesus shared 2,000 years ago—stories that continue to guide us today.