Know that the LORD is God 11/21/17

Psalm 100 helps us with our response to God. This message probes thanksgiving, and how pure worship of God sometimes requires our doing absolutely nothing!

Test God with Your Money 6/25/17

This is a message about $$. I address all the following questions:

Why is God and the church so interested in YOUR money?

What is God’s plan for the use of the money you give?

What happens to YOU when you give to God?

How can you test the presence of God in your life, and find a relationship with God, through giving money?

What type of blessing does the Lord promise when you give money?

God's Family 5/14/17

On Mother’s Day Rebecca took us to a most intimate moment between Jesus and his mother, as Jesus addresses Mary from the cross in John’s Gospel. We hear about the exemplary care Jesus shows to his mother, about Jesus’ radical redefinition of family by calling you his brothers and sisters, and about how you can feel the guidance of God as a mothering influence through following Scripture’s teaching.

Baptism Is Branding and Purposing 5/7/17

In this message I talk about baptism as branding and purposing.

PURPOSING: Jesus did not only show a way of life based on a radical love for others… He also asked us to join his movement. When those he was training asked if they should send away a large crowd so they could go grab some dinner, Jesus’ response was, “They don’t need to go away. You feed them.”

“You feed them” becomes a mantra for any body of believers (a church).

BRANDING: Pretty much anyone you talk with will say that the loving image Jesus represents is attractive to them. Jesus was a main culprit in sowing this image. He liked using the image of shepherding, and calling himself the “Good Shepherd.”

You are the would-be sheep of his flock, who he would brand with faith in his grace, and who he would lead to abundant life now and forevermore.

Doubt 4/23/17

The theme of this sermon is our doubt. No matter if we're talking the big doubts (Does God even exist?), or the more "trivial" brand (Does God care if the Dodgers win?)...

We look at doubt as not something to hide. We look at the many ways the people of faith managed the potential for doubt in the bible.

For Christ & His Kingdom Alone 4/16/17

There are many reasons to be in a church, and they are all bad and degenerative if it is not this: For Christ and His Kingdom.

In this Resurrection Morning (Easter) sermon we concentrate on the many reasons that we may have to participate in a community of faith. They will ALL hurt what God has brought us together to do and be IF the main reason is not acknowledged. We are together for Christ and his Kingdom.

When anyone weaves their life in and out of our community of faith they need to have the sense that we are only together because of Christ and his Kingdom. We may do any variety of things together: music, serve, eat, Bible study, play, etc. Yet we are doing all things in Jesus' name.

And when the problems within the church inevitable arise, we make it even more the clearer in that moment that we nevertheless continue to live in community for Christ and His Kingdom.

Who's Team Are you On? 4/9/17

you have been cut from the team--the team that seeks this world's goals. In the crucifixion of Jesus, Scripture tells that you as well have been crucified, and along with the sinful passions and desires we may entertain. 

In this message I share on the challenges, benefits, and realities for you now that your sinful passions and desires have been crucified

Careful Telling God: "Go Away" 4/2/17

Careful what you wish for... when pushing God’s Way in Jesus out of your life. Ask Jesus to become invisible to you, and so to not impact how you want to live your life, and you just may be getting your wish.

In this message I open a conversation around a group of people that ask Jesus to leave because they didn’t want to have to deal with him. And he obliged. He turned right back from where he came from, and left the people just how they were. He left them just how they were in their brokenness, in their floundering about for the “good life,” and in their inability to do anything about it on their own.  

What Is the "Good Life"?

In this message CPPC leader Bo Harvey shares a message on how we know, find and live the "good life."

Personal Transformation: From Conformity to Transformation 3/5/17

What is the outward shape or form of your life today? If you kept a diary of everything your did, would it seem that you are conforming more to the world's cultural tides, or to the Way of Jesus?

In this message I (Jonathan) break down Paul's ask that we step away from conformity to this world. Instead, you are set up by Christ for transformation into his Way by the renewing of your mind (Rom 12:2).

The Peace, Grace, and Call of Jesus 2/26/17

This message shares a plain outline of what Jesus offers you.

We have both the ultimate gift of full authoritative peace and grace, and Jesus' call/invitation to live the rest of our life in his Way.

Lay Down Your Life 2/19/17

Thought at all about giving up something during Lent? WHY!?

Have your answer to “why” in place before your answer to the “what” (you’ll give up).

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life…” –Jesus

It is crucial that you give up, or lay down, what is in the way of you completely offering your unique self in communion. In this youtube I’ll walk you through the important first question: WHY!?

Prayer Poverty 2/12/17

I know someone that has been trying hard at life, and at their work. I mean no one is perfect, but they are more or less diligent. They love their family, often at the expense of their own pursuits. There are friends this person cares about, and is a good friend—always there to listen and be of help. When it comes to work, the person is intent on trying hard. And, even, there is honest thought about how they can be glorifying God through the work. 

But then there was a time recently, when despite this overall strong approach to their life, anxiety, frustration, and even the occasional sense of defeat was beginning to creep in. 

I share this person's struggle, as I know for a fact more than a few of us share in it.

Prayer Poverty. It's the real deal. God fills our life with such joy, blessing and gift. All of this is sucked out of your life by prayer poverty. 

In this message I address the utmost importance of living with prayer.

Get a Swrod for Christ 2_5_17

Forgiveness 1/29/17

Imagine this coming Sunday, as we came together, that I asked for anyone to stand that bears no grudge—to stand if they have forgiven everyone. And that then, without hesitation, everyone in our sanctuary rises to their feet in confidence. As far as we knew, and as far as it depended upon us, we were in good standing with all others. The power of that moment would perhaps be the most powerful sermon I had ever experienced.

Jesus commands his followers to practice forgiveness. Furthermore, taking such steps for forgiveness comes first before any others service to a church.

 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift” (Jesus, Matthew 5:23,24).

I wonder how our churches are still operating with such a radical command. So many of us, most really, are too good at carrying grudges. Jesus would have us step back from serving in the church. How many leaders, preachers, people with keys to unlock sanctuary doors, people that turn on lights & microphones, people that play instruments, etc… How many of us need to put down our gift, first go make good with others, and then serve?

This message leads us deeper into the vision of Jesus for our human-to-human relations. The Way of God is forgiveness.

Am I My Brother's Keeper? 1/22/17

“I don’t know,” Cain says to God. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

I don't know about that man sleeping on the street. Am I my brother's keeper?

I don't know about that suffering family who recently lost someone. Am I my sister's keeper?

I don't know about that child who is malnourished and uneducated. Am I my brother's keeper?

I don't know about that woman selling herself to make ends meet. Am I my sister's keeper?

I don't know about that Police officer who lives with a target on his back from an angry society. Am I by brother's keeper?

I don't know about that woman threatened by racial injustice or societal paranoia. Am I my sister's keeper?

"I don't know," Cain responded. "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Jesus wants a community of followers who answer: “YES!” In this message I continue focusing in on God’s vision for our relationships human-to-human. 

Golden Rule 1/15/17

The Golden Rule might work great as a facebook meme, but Jesus originally offered it as a COMMAND. “In everything, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Join us, as a movement within the present upheaval of broken and damaged human relations, by studying and following the Way of Jesus.

In this video message I unpack the punch with which these words (the Golden Rule) hit us. As we rise as a community to be formed in the image of Jesus, it will require that we mature.

The End of Hate 1/8/17

The end of prejudice, intolerance, and violence is a common hope flowing through many people today.  I want to talk about why this hope, as a pop cultural project, is destined to fail. Then I want to talk about where this hope has already been enacted, and how you can get in. If you are passionate about ending prejudice, intolerance, and violence then let’s get down to it and talk seriously.

A New Year's Message 1/1/17

Listen in as I (Jonathan) share about making a "recount list" of your Heavenly Father's blessings, and about having "faith-forward" while we consider the future in all of our needs. This message will give you how to live into your Christian faith as we all transition into a new year.

On New Year's we stand in the door frame between our past and future. What we must do there, as with each step in our life, is worship. Using Scripture, from Isaiah 63 and Psalm 63, I show how to worship God while looking over the past and into the future.

Wieghty Words 12/18/16

In this message Rebecca opens the door of considering the “weighty words” we hear from God that shape and form us. The Christmas season markets itself on themes of goodwill, Santa Clause, and all being merry and bright. For many of us, though, our lives know difficulty. Rebecca leads you into the difficulties facing Mary when she received “weighty words” from God. Listen here for an invitation into a biblically-faithful response to living amidst difficulty.