Sermons
Welcome to Our New Sermons Page! We are adding older sermons daily and new sermons weekly so please check back here often for new content!
-
-
-
-
-
• 5/31/26All In Because He Is
1. The Reality and Pain of Grief
Rev. Susan McGowan opens with a deeply personal account of loss, describing the tragic death of a close friend in adolescence. This narrative is not merely anecdotal—it is emblematic of the universal human experience of loss and the existential wrongness we sense in death itself. The lesson underscores that such grief is not a failure of faith but a poignant indicator of love: “It’s a sign that you loved well and were loved well” 18:15.
Carry Forward: The ache we feel in the face of loss points us toward deeper questions about meaning, eternity, and the very nature of existence.
2. Theological Inquiry: The Sadducees and the Resurrection
The lesson contextualizes a debate from Luke 20, where the Sadducees—skeptical about resurrection—challenge Jesus with a hypothetical scenario about marriage after death. Their question is designed more as a theological trap than a genuine inquiry.
The Sadducees represent those who seek to confine God and the afterlife to neat, rational categories, leaving no room for divine mystery or surprise 08:14.
Jesus, instead of taking the bait, reframes resurrection not as an extension of this life’s rules and relationships, but as a profoundly new reality transformed by the living God 10:04.
Carry Forward: Faith sometimes requires us to hold space for mystery and to resist the urge to explain away every tension. The life to come is not bound by the structures and anxieties of our current existence.
3. God of the Living: Present Tense Reality
A pivotal moment in the lesson is when Jesus references Moses and the burning bush: “I am the God of Abraham…the God of the living” 12:22.
This present-tense self-description of God means that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are still alive to God—death does not sever covenant relationship.
The living God is one who transcends mortality and holds his people beyond the grave, offering hope rooted in divine, ongoing presence.
Carry Forward: Our relationship with God persists into eternity. The hope of resurrection is grounded, not in elaborate theories, but in the character and promises of the God who is.
4. Experiencing God in the Midst of Loss
Rev. Susan McGowan describes a moment of honest, unresolved grief—sitting alone, voicing questions into the night—not receiving answers, but experiencing the real, sustaining presence of God 14:38.
Carry Forward: In seasons when answers elude us, the presence of God is enough. Our questions, doubts, and pain are not ignored by God, but met with compassion and companionship.
5. What Resurrection Hope Sets Us Free To Do
The concluding application is both pastoral and practical:
You are free to love fully, even knowing loss will come. You can risk, give, show up for others’ pain.
Death does not have the final word—Christ’s resurrection ensures that hope and joy can persist beneath our grief 18:47.
The God of the living encourages us to bring Him our burdens and to trust that what is lost is not ultimately lost to Him.
Final Thought
You are encouraged to live “all in” because God is who He says He is—a present, living God. Your grief, questions, and hopes are not dismissed but held in divine love. Let this lesson embolden you to love courageously, grieve honestly, and trust in the God whose presence transcends death itself.
-
5/24/26All In | Week 7 | Anything But All In
This week’s message in our “All In” series explored what it looks like to hold nothing back from Jesus—and what happens when we don’t. The conversation focused on the parable of the tenants, a story Jesus told to illustrate the difference between living as stewards of God’s gifts and wrongly assuming ownership over what isn’t ours.
A Vineyard and a Warning
One concept discussed was the biblical motif of the vineyard, found throughout the Old Testament, especially in Isaiah 5. In this passage, God is depicted as the owner who lovingly prepares a vineyard, clearing it, planting vines, and building a watchtower, all so His people—Israel—could flourish.
But when God desired fruit from His vineyard, the response was disappointing. The discussion explored how this illustrated not only Israel’s unfaithfulness but the ongoing human temptation to take ownership over what God entrusts to us.
God’s All-In Love
A key theme that emerged was the astounding patience and grace of God. Despite repeated rejection, God continues to send His messengers, showing a stubborn love that refuses to give up. Ultimately, God sends His beloved Son—a powerful demonstration of holding nothing back for those He loves.
The parable’s tenants, however, reject the Son too, revealing their desire not just to manage the vineyard but to possess it outright. This startling narrative challenged listeners to ask whether, in different areas of life—careers, relationships, resources, or future plans—we have drifted from stewardship to a false sense of ownership.
Jesus: The Cornerstone
Several points were raised, including Jesus’ declaration that He is the cornerstone rejected by the builders. The conversation emphasized that Jesus must be the foundation of our lives; anything else will leave us misaligned and unstable.
The discussion invited self-examination: Have we truly built our lives on Jesus and His word, or on the shifting sands of our own ambitions and anxieties? It’s easy to read ourselves into the “heroes” of Jesus’ parables, but the real test is recognizing where we still cling to control.
From Owners to Stewards
The teaching encouraged a practical response: to identify one area where we’ve been living as “owners” and surrender it to God in prayer, moving from control to gratitude and trust. The conversation highlighted that stewardship brings freedom—freedom from anxiety, the burden of self-sufficiency, and the constant fear of losing what we think we possess.
Importantly, the message celebrated Pentecost, reminding us that this shift is not something we accomplish alone. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live as stewards, producing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, and more.
Living All In
The invitation is clear: recognize that every good thing—including our very breath—is a gift from God, to be held with gratitude and open hands. True life is found not in anxious ownership but in joyful stewardship, relying on the One who withholds nothing from us—even His own Son.
If this message resonates with you, consider this week what area you can hand back to God, and experience the peace and joy that comes from going “all in” as a steward of His generous love.
-
-
5/10/26All In | Week 5
Discussion Questions
1. Real and Relatable Wisdom“Behind every one of those statements is someone who loves you, who is completely for you and wants the best for you.”
Reflect on the idea that Jesus is the embodiment of God’s wisdom and, like a loving parent, wants what is best for us. How does this shape your willingness to listen to and trust His teaching?
2. Authority and Receptivity
“Jesus refuses to give the gift of truth to people who have already decided they will not receive it.”
Have you ever resisted a truth because it was inconvenient or costly? What does it look like to position your heart to truly receive God’s wisdom, even when it challenges you?
3. Trusting God’s Heart
“Trusting his wisdom means believing that what he says, even when it’s really hard to hear and put into practice, is the most loving thing that anyone could tell us.”
In what areas of life do you find it most difficult to trust God’s wisdom over your own? What practical steps might help you surrender these areas to Him?
4. God’s Wisdom and Our Questions
“Often the real struggle is not confusion. The real struggle is not holding back from him.”
What’s one question or area you feel hesitant to bring before Jesus? What holds you back?
How do you sense God inviting you to bring your authentic questions and struggles to Him?
5. Means of Grace
“We can do that as we open up God’s word and spend time in Scripture...in prayer...through a trusted and godly friend...by the power of the Holy Spirit through conviction.”
Which spiritual discipline (Scripture, prayer, community, attentive listening to the Spirit) has been most formative in hearing God’s wisdom in your life?
Where might you sense God inviting you to commit (or recommit) to one of these means of grace?
6. Jesus: Wisdom You Can Trust
Colossians 1 proclaims that all things are held together by Christ and reconciled through His sacrifice.
How does this assurance shape your trust in His wisdom, especially when you don’t understand what God is doing?
Can you recall a time when you lacked answers but experienced God’s presence and peace? How did that experience deepen your faith?
Application
Invite each group member to name aloud (or write down) one specific area where they feel challenged to trust Jesus’s wisdom in the coming week.
Encourage one another to pray for openness and courage to respond as God leads.
Closing Prayer
Pray for one another, asking that “by the power of the Holy Spirit, we step into those areas as we seek to be obedient to you, trusting in your word and your wisdom...because we know that you love us and are for us and want us to know life with you now and forever.”
-
5/3/26All In | Christformation | Rev. Ken Bough
1. The Goal of the Christian Life
"The goal of the entire Christian life is this: to become more like Jesus in his character, to experience his quality of life."
What does becoming more like Jesus look like in your daily life?
How do you define “abundant life,” and how is it connected to Christlikeness?
Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, John 10:10
2. The Process of Christ Formation
Discuss the idea that transformation is a lifelong process and that we participate in this with the Holy Spirit.
“There’s a limited partnership, if you will, between us and the Holy Spirit.”
Questions:
How have you experienced this partnership in your journey of faith?
In what ways do you resist or cooperate with the Spirit's work?
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 2:12-13
3. Emotional Pain & Discipleship
“One of the primary reasons why Christians are stuck is because of unresolved emotional pain.”
How does emotional pain affect your spiritual growth?
Why is it important to address emotional pain in the process of discipleship?
Questions:
In your experience, how have wounds or past pains influenced your walk with Christ?
What is the difference between addressing sin from the “outside in” vs. the “inside out”?
Scripture: Romans 7, Psalm 139:23-24
4. The Heart: Center of Transformation
“The heart is the control center of life…it is the place where God works to change us and the place we also must work if growth is to take place.”
Questions:
According to Scripture and your own experience, how does what is in your heart shape your behavior and thoughts?
Why does Scripture emphasize ongoing renewal of the heart and mind?
Scripture: Proverbs 4:23, Ephesians 4:21-24
5. Taking Control of Our Thinking
“The only dynamic of the heart that God has given us agency to control directly and long term is our thinking.”
Discuss practical ways to take thoughts captive and renew your mind.
Why is meditating on and memorizing Scripture so important?
Questions:
What is one scripture or thought pattern you want to “take captive” this week?
How might you incorporate meditation or memorization into your rhythms?
Scripture: Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:2
Application: Practical Steps
Reflect on two suggested practices:
Biblical Meditation: “Meditation helps us focus our attention on things that are consistent with God's order and thus helps to produce behavior and character that are consistent with God's truth.”
Scripture Memorization: “Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation.”
Discuss the memorization steps (e.g., passages over verses, writing by hand, reciting out loud).
Challenge:
Choose a passage together as a group to memorize this month.
Commit to daily meditation on a verse or passage.
-
-
-
• 4/12/26All In With What You've Been Given | Rev. Susan K McGowan
Opening Prayer
Begin your time together with prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your hearts and minds as you reflect on how to faithfully use what God has entrusted to you.
Scripture Focus
Read Luke 19:11-27 together. Reflect on the parable of the minas and its implications for our lives as followers of Jesus.
Icebreaker
Share about a time when you had to serve in a role that felt insignificant or unnoticed. What did you learn through that experience?
Key Sermon Themes for Discussion
1. The Role of Every Believer
“Even when you’re not the key player, you still have an important role on the team.”
How does this statement challenge our culture’s notions of significance and success?
Do you find it easy or difficult to see your everyday actions as meaningful in God’s kingdom?
Where do you see “benchwarmers” making a difference—either in scripture, your church, or your own life?
2. Fear vs. Faithfulness
“Fear-driven inaction isn’t just a missed opportunity. In this parable, Jesus calls it a moral failure.”
Reflect on situations where fear held you back from serving or stepping out in faith. What was the underlying reason for your fear?
The servant in the parable justified his inaction by saying, “I was afraid.” How does Jesus respond to fear as an excuse for not using what He’s given us?
How can you distinguish between godly wisdom and fear when deciding whether to step into a new opportunity?
3. Stewardship and Accountability
“You can’t steward what you haven’t acknowledged.”
As followers of Jesus, what does faithful stewardship look like in your context (work, family, church)?
What are the gifts, resources, or opportunities God has specifically entrusted to you? Have you named them?
Read Romans 14:12: “So then each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” What feelings does this raise for you?
4. The Dangers of Lukewarm Living
“Lukewarm isn’t just a neutral space to be in… it’s playing it safe, it’s disengaged.”
Have you experienced seasons of “lukewarm” faith? What contributed to that season, and what helped you move forward?
How does our community encourage or discourage full engagement in Christ’s mission?
What practical steps can help someone move from disengagement to active participation?
5. Passing It On and Seasons of Service
“The role here has not disappeared. There are people in here sitting right next to you that need your wisdom.”
How might your role in the church change over time? What unique value does each generation bring?
Who can you mentor, encourage, or pray with in this season?
6. Practical Application
“Pick something, anything, and show up. The boat needs your oar in the water.”
What is one area—inside or outside of church—where you sense God inviting you to step in and serve?
What is a new, concrete step you can take this month to use your gifts for God’s glory?
Prayer and Commitment
Close your time by inviting group members to share a specific area where they want to be “all in” this week. Pray for one another by name, asking God for courage, clarity, and joy in serving.
Going Deeper (Personal Reflection)
Take time this week to “name what’s in your hands.” Write out the gifts, influence, relationships, or resources God has given you.
Ask God: “Where am I holding back?” Listen for His leading and write down what you sense.
Final Encouragement
“There are no insignificant roles in the kingdom of God.”
How will you faithfully wield what God has entrusted to you this week? -
• 4/5/26Easter | 2026
Opening Prayer
Begin your discussion by inviting God’s presence:
“Heavenly Father, God, we thank you that you meet us in this place…we ask that the word that you would give us today would come alive, that we hear it by the power of the Holy Spirit in a fresh way. It would transform not only how we see you, but how we live and how we love.”
1. Encountering Disappointment
Andrew Kasberg shared: “Nobody’s life falls apart because they didn’t win the dinette set. But that feeling of walking out of that studio, walking out of a place, you know, with a dream that had been crushed...feeling empty handed, right?”
Discuss:
Can you recall a time you faced disappointment, feeling “empty handed”?
How did you process that experience, and what did you learn about God in those moments?
2. Honest Questions About Faith
Andrew Kasberg noted, “Every Easter…you will find something to the effect of, ‘Is the Resurrection real? Can I believe in this?’...that kind of question comes from people like you and I…”
Discuss:
Why do you think even committed believers struggle with questions about the Resurrection and faith?
Is it okay to ask hard questions about God? Why or why not?
3. The Kingdom of God
“The simplest way that I know to describe the kingdom of God...is the kingdom is not a place. It’s not a political entity. But it’s where God is ruling and reigning, where what God wants to have happen actually happens.”
Discuss:
How would you describe God’s kingdom?
What does it mean for you personally to enter God’s kingdom—not through earning, but by “receiving it”?
4. The Road to Emmaus
The story: two disciples, walking away from Jerusalem, hearts broken. “‘We had hoped that he was the one...’”
Discuss:
Have you ever felt like the disciples, struggling with dashed hopes? What keeps hope alive in such moments?
Is there a situation in your life where you feel God has not answered as you expected? How do you move forward?
5. Jesus Walks With Us
“Jesus walks alongside two grieving, confused people on this dusty road...offering a question...listens to their pain...enters into their story.”
Discuss:
How does Jesus’ willingness to walk with us in our pain shape your understanding of God’s character?
Why do you think the disciples failed to recognize Jesus at first? How does God sometimes work in ways we don’t expect or immediately see?
6. The Invitation
“Jesus never forces himself on anyone. Instead, he waits for the invite. He waits for us to invite him into our lives, into our challenges, into our questions.”
Discuss:
What does it look like to invite Jesus into your story, your struggles, your day-to-day life?
Can you share a time when you sensed Christ waiting for your invitation?
7. The Resurrection’s Impact
“Jesus does something that no king in history could ever do...no king in history had defeated death...had defeated sin...that’s exactly what Jesus the king does.”
Discuss:
What does the Resurrection mean for your everyday life and hopes?
How does believing in Jesus change the direction in which you “walk”?
8. Hope Has a Name
“We exist to be a place where tomorrow’s hope is found today…hope has a name. His name is Jesus.”
Discuss:
Where do you need hope in your life right now?
How does the promise of Jesus—the light, friend, and Savior—speak to your current circumstances?
9. Response
“Might today be the day that you stop walking around, return toward him and toward the future that he has for you?”
Discuss:
Is God inviting you to take a step toward Him today? What would that look like?
How can the group support each other in seeking and following Jesus together?
Closing Prayer
Invite participants to pray or write their own invitation to Jesus, welcoming Him into their story. End with thanksgiving for the hope and new life found in Christ.
Theological Alignment
This guide emphasizes the presence of Christ, the transforming power of the Resurrection, the possibility and importance of honest questions, God's sovereign invitation, and the call to respond. It affirms core Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians convictions about Christ’s lordship, Scripture’s authority, God’s grace, and the necessity of personal faith.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
