The Great Storyteller: Week 2 (Matthew 13:24-43)

The Great Storyteller: Week 2 (Matthew 13:24-43)

August 11, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Matthew 13:24-43

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’ ”31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” 34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables;     I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” 36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

The Great Storyteller: Week 1 (Matthew 13:1-23)

The Great Storyteller: Week 1 (Matthew 13:1-23)

August 4, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Matthew 13:1-9

This week we begin a new sermon series called “The Great Storyteller.” In Matthew 13:1-3 we find a large crowd has gathered around Jesus. As the crowd grows Jesus steps into a boat and sets out a little way from shore. From there as the crowd stands on the beach, Jesus begins "teaching them many things through parables.” This is not the only place in the gospels where we find Jesus teaching through parables. These are simple stories used to teach us NOT so simple truths. As we take a close look at the teachings of Jesus, we quickly see that he is not only a master teacher, but a master storyteller as well. Throughout this series we will be looking at the parables of Jesus and the “many things” he has to teach us through them. Matthew 13:9 “He who has ears, let him hear.”  

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A Faith That is Seen and Moves

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A Faith That is Seen and Moves

July 21, 2019 | John Bartlett | 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10

Our faith should be something others see, impacting how we live, as we share the Gospel and make disciples.

 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10

5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

"For God So Loved Nineveh" - Week 5 (Jonah 4:1-4)

"For God So Loved Nineveh" - Week 5 (Jonah 4:1-4)

July 14, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Jonah 4:1-4

For the past four weeks we have been looking at the book of Jonah in order to better understand God’s heart for those who are lost. This week we conclude our series by getting a very telling look into the heart of the reluctant prophet. After Jonah finally obeys the LORD by speaking out against Nineveh’s sin, the entire city repents of their evil ways and turns to worship God.

Seeing that this is certainly pleasing to the LORD and has brought Him tremendous glory, we would be right to think that a prophet of God would be excited to see this happen. However, we see in Jonah chapter four that this is not the case. The bitterness in Jonah’s heart has grown deep, and in many ways, it has blinded him to God’s ultimate plan as well as his own ultimate calling. 

Have we unknowingly allowed these same roots to grow in our own hearts? Are we willing to ask ourselves what we desire more? That God's enemies are brought to judgement or that they would be miraculously saved (like we were), so that the Lord is glorified in their lives?

"For God So Loved Nineveh" - Week 4 (Jonah 3)

"For God So Loved Nineveh" - Week 4 (Jonah 3)

July 7, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Jonah 3

We are 4 weeks into our sermon series “For God so Loved Nineveh” where we have been getting a glimpse into God’s heart for those who don’t know Him, and what our response should be when He calls us to reach out. So far, we have seen God’s clear call to Jonah, telling him to go to Nineveh and call out against their sin as it has come before Him. 

We saw Jonah’s hardened heart cause him to run in disobedience not wanting his enemies to receive God’s grace. We have seen God chase him, catch him, and finally, safely deliver him to shore. 

This week we see God speak to Jonah a second time calling him to “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” This time things go quite a bit differently. 

"For God So Loved Nineveh" - Week 3 (Jonah Chapter 2)

"For God So Loved Nineveh" - Week 3 (Jonah Chapter 2)

June 30, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Jonah 2:5-8

This week we continue in our sermon series “For God So Loved Nineveh,” as we walk through the book of Jonah. Throughout this series we have been discovering God’s heart for those who don’t know Him, and what our response should be when He calls us to reach out. This week we find Jonah having been tossed off of a boat in order to calm the raging sea and has now been swallowed up by a giant fish! It certainly looks as though things have gone from bad to worse.

Like Jonah we too can find ourselves in impossible situations. Sometimes these situations are a direct result of our own disobedience. But even in our rebellion, God's grace reaches us and the very trial we find ourselves in might be the tool God uses to rescue us.

Jonah: For God So Loved Nineveh - Week 2

Jonah: For God So Loved Nineveh - Week 2

June 23, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Jonah 1:4, 1:8

This week we continue through the book of Jonah in our new sermon series “For God So Loved Nineveh.”

Last week we saw how God clearly spoke to Jonah, calling him to go to Nineveh and speak out against their sin. But instead he chose to turn his back on God, and in an attempt to flee from His presence he ran in the other direction.  

Today we look at God’s response to Jonah’s rebellion, and Jonah’s continued bitterness towards God for extending grace to those Jonah considered unworthy. Even in the midst of his rebellion, God still worked His will in Jonah’s life. God sent a STORM OF GRACE that would eventually lead to the repentance of an entire city and a whole crew of grizzled sailors!

Jonah: For God So Loved Nineveh

Jonah: For God So Loved Nineveh

June 16, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Jonah 1:1-3

When we think of outreach all sorts of things can come to our minds. What do we mean by “outreach"? What does it actually look like? What am I supposed to do about it? We can easily be overwhelmed, and if we are honest sometimes, we are quick to come up with reasons why it's just not for us. 

There are all sorts of things that might prevent us from sharing the gospel. Sometimes though, as we will see in our new series, the biggest obstacle is our own calloused heart. Jonah was a prophet called by God to speak the truth to the people of Nineveh. But his own anger towards them was greater than his love for the Lord… What about us? Do we have a root of bitterness growing in our hearts preventing us from reaching out to those who need Jesus!? What grace does God give for them and for us?


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"Embrace the Weirdness" - Week Six

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"Embrace the Weirdness" - Week Six

June 9, 2019 | Jim Day

This week we will complete our sermon series, “Embrace the Weirdness,” where we have been looking at the fact that sometimes God calls us to do things that are out of the ordinary. In truth, simple obedience to scripture causes the world around us to take notice. Obedience to God in the world’s eyes is just plain weird! As expected, when we follow Christ, we are going to stick out. 

This week we zero in on the early church as God started it in Jerusalem. Throughout the life of the church, the Holy Spirit has been the key to spreading the gospel. In Acts 1:8 Jesus tells His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” But what does this mean?