Prince Of Peace

“The good life” according to Jesus, doesn’t consist of fame and the approval of others, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at our world today. We are so good at presenting an image of the type of person we want to be. Only posting the best pictures. Only sharing the moments where we are winning. We like to make sure people know when we’re being awesome. Scripture: Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18 Song: AM by Ikson™ Video showed during the sermon: Swag Seminary Support our podcast here

The cultural understanding of “The Good Life” is usually understood to be about upward mobility and the “American Dream”: financial freedom, material abundance, success, and social status. We think happiness is determined by the next best thing. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus turns the definition of “the good life” upside down. Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12 Song: エスケープ by Ikson™ Support our podcast here

As we do from time to time, we put the usual preaching schedule on hold while we explore public theology together. We will again field questions from the congregation around the theme of things that cause us to doubt or to question. Scripture: Luke 10:25-37 Song: Take Off by Ikson

Both of the readings today are about expectations and education. Paul is setting his church in Galatia up for what is to come, some final words as he helps them navigate what it means to live and work and worship together. Jesus sends his disciples out into the world that doesn’t always want them there. The same is true with us - what do we need to know before we are sent? Scripture: Galatians 6:7-16; Luke 10:1-11 Song: Golden Hour by Vlad Gluschenko

The disciples have had enough. They want Jesus to destroy his adversaries. Doesn’t sound very Christian, does it?  Well, what does sound Christian? Let’s ask some tough questions about following Jesus today. Scripture: Psalm 16, Luke 9:51-62 Song: Summer Moon by Kabbalistic Village

What a story, of demons going into pigs and jumping off a cliff. It’s so odd! But there are some details of this story that matter so much and tell us a lot about what God is about and who God is for that we miss in all the wild moments in this story. Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39 Song: "Here We Are" written by Nate Bergengren; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band

During Pentecost, we hear of the Spirit coming with a rush of violent wind and tongues of fire. In John’s Gospel this week we get a perhaps calmer Spirit, but equally as powerful in this calmness - to accompany us in the moments we cannot bear, and to witness God’s truth to us. Scripture: Romans 5:1-5; John 16: 12-15 Song: "The Stand" written by Joel Houston; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band

Today, we hear from Pastors Glenn and Edith about what God is doing in their midst. And we are again reminded of the rich blessing we have been given through God's Spirit... Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9, Acts 2:1-21

It's a powerful thing when young people stand up and share the good news in such an honest and vulnerable way. We shouldn't be too surprised because this is what God does again and again. And here again, God's message of love and grace finds its way to us...  Scripture: Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:15-23 Song: "We Are Called (let us not forget)" written by Nate Bergengren; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band

Jesus is setting up his disciples with a lesson in how to live in this world. Turns out, it’s a lesson we could all use again and again. Scripture: Psalm 67; John 14:23-29 Song: "Christ Is Risen" written by B. Johnson, et al.; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band

A sheet lowers from the heavens like some kind of movie screen and the film that plays blows Peter’s mind. It leads to Peter to accept the most unlikely dinner invitation ever. Peter is about to go into the home of the enemy and sit down at a table where they eat the wrong food in the wrong order after praying the wrong prayers. What gift do you bring for the hosts of a dinner like this? You have to hear this to believe it! Scripture: Acts 11:1-18; John 13:31-35 Song: "Our God" written by C. Tomlin, et al.; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band

What does it mean that we are called sheep? This is such an odd analogy these days, as we are pretty far away from sheep herding here in the suburbs. What does this HUGE promise given to us today have to do with sheep anyway? Scripture: Psalm 23; John 10:22-30 Song: "Savior's Arms" written by B. Fielding, et al.; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band

Easter changes everything. That may or may not strike you as good news. After all, maybe you like your life the way it is. Maybe you have a good job and a nice home and some great hobbies and you are not interested in someone upsetting the way things are. So I’ll say it again, Easter changes everything. Scripture: Acts 9:1-6; John 21:1-19 Song: "Christ Is Risen" written by B. Johnson, et al.; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band    

As we do from time to time, we put the usual preaching schedule on hold while we explore public theology together. We will again field questions from the congregation around the theme of things that cause us to doubt or to question. Thomas isn’t a bad guy, he’s a lot like most of us, just wanting the same experience of resurrection that everyone else has already gotten. This is what happened at our 10:30am worship service... Scripture: John 20:19-29

As we do from time to time, we put the usual preaching schedule on hold while we explore public theology together. We will again field questions from the congregation around the theme of things that cause us to doubt or to question. Thomas isn’t a bad guy, he’s a lot like most of us, just wanting the same experience of resurrection that everyone else has already gotten. This is what happened at our 9:00am worship service... Scripture: John 20:19-29

Jesus is risen! YEY! YEYEYEYEYEY! It feels like this day mostly speaks for itself, but what does this good news mean for us today? Luke’s account of the resurrection has some unique details. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Luke 24:1-12 Song: "Joyful, Joyful" written by C. Hall, H. Van Dyke, et al. performed by the Prince of Peace worship band

Today, we hear the passion narrative from the gospel of Luke as reading and Gospel and sermon... Scripture: Luke 22-23 Song: "Sins Are Stones" written by J.M. McMillan; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band

Jesus gets into a conversation about waste and worship and wealthy and poor with his disciples today. He ends it with a familiar phrase “the poor will always be with us. What does it mean for us, as followers of Jesus who want to work against poverty, that the poor will be with us? Does it directly contradict our work? Why do anything if it won’t make a difference? What if we have been reading this one wrong the whole time? Scripture: Phil 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8 Song: "Unashamed" written by D. McKelvey, et al.; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band

Our lives are shaped by the places we have called home along the way. But those places tend to change over time and we certainly change as well. Today we will explore how our Christian faith might affect the ways we think about home, and whether or not we can go there again. Scripture: Psalm 32, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Song: "You've Set Me Free" written by Nate Bergengren; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band

The world is a broken place. We are broken people. You feel it. We struggle to make sense of it, and when things get really bad it’s old habit to think that hardship and tragedy are God’s way of punishment. Frankly, it’s easier to think that sin causes suffering, and if we just make good choices, follow the right path, we can avoid it altogether. But it’s Lent, and Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem to do away with this whole idea--make a new way and give us something better. Now, the question is: what are we going to do about it? Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9 Song: "Reckless Love" written by C. Culver, et al.; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band