Pastor Scott gives what he often calls a "pastoral talk" to address some very practical and important concerns regarding life as a church community. There are many challenges in the aim to have depth of community including geographic scattering, busy schedules, widening social circles, fatigue, and the transient nature of cities. Several concrete instructions are given on how to overcome these challenges and develop deep meaningful relationships within the church. In the ending, Pastor Scott talks specifically about the need for supernatural love in order to do what God is calling us to do in being a community of love.
Treasure and Pearl
What do you value the most in this world? There are so many enticing things around us and it's very easy to become attached to this present world. Jesus teaches twin parables about how the person who discovers the value of the kingdom will joyfully give up anything in order to attain it. Pastor Scott discusses the paradox of how eternal life is a life gift, but costs us everything we have to obtain it. Are we truly surrendered?
Mustard Seed and Leaven
It is common for followers of Christ to feel small and insignificant, and to feel like progress in the mission isn't really happening. It's easy to become weary and to even wonder if the Lord has anything big in store for the future. Jesus addresses all this in these twin parables as he teaches us that the kingdom may start small, but over time it will grow to be something huge. Pastor Scott gives some strong encouragement at the end to stand firm and keep sowing seeds, trusting that in due season, we will reap a harvest. This is the perfect message for those getting weary in the work of God.
Wheat and Weeds
There are, undoubtedly, many things that frustrate us as godly people in this world. We are grieved by the gross things that happen in the name of Christianity, and we are vexed by the atrocities in society. Just like the disciples wanted to call down fire from heaven, we at times long for God to come and cleanse away all evil. Pastor Scott shows us in this parable that Jesus is teaching us to synch up with God's timetable and join him in the great work of extending mercy to all people. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the season of grace. Now is the time to love all people regardless of how evil they may be.
Standalone Sermons: The Importance of Forgiving
No one can escape the need to forgive others. Everyone is hurt or wronged or betrayed at one time or another, and when these experiences happen, it's very easy to become bitter. Ren elder John Michaelson goes deep into the teaching of Christ from the sermon on the mount about the dangers of not forgiving. He discusses how it's not only important to forgive but to pursue reconciliation. John also provides some wonderful hope at the end on God's sufficient grace to enable us to forgive deeply from the heart.
The Sower
The Word of God is sown into hearts, but all hearts don't respond the same way. Pastor Scott teaches on the Parable of the Sower showing four very different types of hearers. Some are completely shut, and others get excited but eventually fall away. Other people grow but distractions choke any real fruit from coming forth. The good heart, though, hears and receives and produces abounding fruit over the long haul. Our relationship to God's Word determines our measure of fruit, and Pastor Scott presses the point that fruitfulness is not optional. The message concludes with some practical thoughts on what fruit looks like, and how we can be fruitful.
Why Parables?
Parables are a form of teaching often associated with Jesus because he used them frequently. A parable employs story and metaphor to explain an idea. Sometimes parables are very easy to understand, but sometimes the point is not immediately obvious and needs to be searched out. Pastor Scott explores the question the disciples asked Jesus of why speak in parables. The answer to that question is very different than what most people think. This message serves as an introduction to the series on parables.
Easter 2017
Pastor Scott walks through the resurrection narrative found in John 20-21 for most of the message and then points out three simple things that can be seen. We see weak, doubting people many of whom denied the Lord. We see the resurrected Christ coming to these struggling people not to condemn but to help. We see that when these weak seekers encounter the risen Christ their lives are utterly transformed and they go out and turn the world upside down. Parallels are made throughout the message of how Jesus works in our lives today in much the same way.
Palm Sunday 2017
Out of John 12 Pastor Scott tells the story of the triumphal entry of Jesus giving special emphasis on all the different types of people found in this story and their motives for being there. Motives matter. It's not just important what we do but why we do it. Without right motives we will not be able to stand firm and run the race to the end. The Bible teaches that God will weigh motives on the great day of judgment. Motives will be revealed. The message ends with several ways we can cultivate right motives.
Standalone Sermons: Steadfast Love in the Darkness
Lamentations 3 promises that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. But the background of Lamentations is not happiness and blessing, but suffering and destruction. How does the steadfast love of the Lord come to us in times of pain and suffering? Nate draws on Scripture and personal experience to unpack what it looks like to be loved by God through the hard times of life. We learn that life hits hard, but the love of God comes stronger. Those moments that were meant to tear us down, actually can build us up stronger than we were. The sermon gives special encouragement and guidance for those in the midst of mental illness.