Prince Of Peace

(Chad Brekke) Let’s take a moment to reflect on church buildings today and what they mean to us. What will we lose if the church on the corner goes the way of the dinosaur or Blockbuster video?  Here is the church, here is the steeple… Scripture: Mark 13:1-8, Hebrews 10:19-25 Song: Octagonic by Luwaks Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) Today’s Gospel contains one of the most well-known moments in Jesus’ life - the moment he cried over his friend. We see crying as many things, but not typically as a sign of strength or a characteristic of God. But here it is. Jesus crying. If God can cry, why don’t we? Scripture: John 11:32-44 Song: Cotton Dreams by Elm Lake & This Time Tomorrow cover by Lydia Brekke & Paul Koopman Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) The reformation not only changed the church, it had a global impact that continues today. On this Reformation Sunday, we will let old Martin Luther speak for himself. I think we will be reminded of the power of the gospel that freed this German monk from the terror of the law, even while members of his own church were condemning him to die. Scripture: Romans 3:19-28 Song: Woven by Viriya Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) Today we encounter blind Bartimeaus on the side of the road, and he begs Jesus to heal him. He begs. This is an uncomfortable thing for us to witness, and even more for us to emulate. But when he comes face to face with Jesus, he is asked a question that Jesus has been asking a lot lately. Let’s look closer at this question and his response.  Scripture: Mark 10: 46-52  Song: Close My Eyes by Tape Machines Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) James and John often had ring-side seats. They rarely had to ask the people in front of them what Jesus was saying because no one was ever in front of them. They spent so much time close to Jesus that they figured they could make an outlandish request. Hey Jesus, they said one day, if you don’t mind, scribble out a blank check and we’ll fill it in later. What Jesus says next should ring in our ears too. We better listen carefully. Scripture: Mark 10:35-45 Song: Olympos by Ooyy Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) Jesus gives a young wealthy man a difficult word this morning, one that is such a challenge that the young man walks away. We look at him and wonder the same thing as the crowd who witnessed this interaction - THEN WHO CAN BE SAVED?! Jesus’ answer might surprise you. Scripture: Mark 10:17-31 Song: Osaka by Oomiee Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke & Natalia Terfa) 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: Hebrews 1:1-4 Song: Nite Glo by Molife Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) Picking up right where we left off last week, Jesus continues to blow the minds of the disciples by a quick set of teachings that do NOT seem to fit with their expectations of “proper code of conduct for Jesus-followers”, and don’t really fit with our expectations either. Scripture: Mark 9:38-48 Song: Visitors by Dylan Sitts Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

10 Years ago today Pastor Chad preached his first sermon "Leap of Faith". Let's take a listen and see how it applies to our lives today a decade later.

(Chad Brekke) Jesus wants some time to teach the disciples so he tries to sneak through town without drawing a crowd. The disciples prove along the way that they truly do not understand the radical nature of the kingdom now at hand, so Jesus decides it’s time to blow their minds, and ours. Scripture: Mark 9:30-37 Song: Mt. Fuji by Ooyy & Smartface Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) “Who do people say that I am?” Jesus asks the disciples today. And then he asks a more pointed question - “who do YOU say that I am?” The answers they have tell us a lot about them, and our own answers tell us a lot about us. So how would you answer?  Scripture: Mark 8:27-38 Song: Seona by Ooyy Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) She had at least three strikes against her.  She was a foreigner (Syrophoenician), a woman (little status in those days), and her child was ill.  What made her approach this ancient border? What made her believe that Jesus would have anything to do with her?  What is she trying to teach us? Scripture: Mark 7:24-37 Song: Lakeside View by [ocean jams] Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) “We have met the enemy, and it is us.” says an old comic strip, pogo. Today’s Gospel finds Jesus saying the same thing as the church leaders tried to point out all the ways in which the disciples were falling short of doctrinal and traditional expectations. We are well past arguments like this… or are we? Scripture: Mark 7:1-8 Song: Read My Mind by Ooyy Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) “Because of this, many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.” (Jn 6:66).  Today we meet one of the followers of Jesus who just couldn’t take it anymore.  It was too difficult to understand what Jesus meant by saying He was the bread of life.  Jesus just did not match his expectations of a messiah.  What about you, Jesus asks Peter and you and me, do you also want to leave? Scripture: John 6:56-69 Song: Bringing Me Down by Ooyy Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) We are in week 4 of the Bread of Life discourse, or, our 5 weeks in John 6, and today we have before us the strange and visceral words of Jesus about flesh and blood and eating and drinking. What does this mean exactly? How are we to understand his words and what do they mean for us today? Scripture: John 6:51-58 Song: Smores by Oomiee Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) Ever been at your wits end? Ever feel like giving up? Ever feel like the whole universe is out to get you? Elijah had good reason to feel this way and one day he just lay down under a tree and gave up. He had no faith left. Wait until you see what God did next! Scripture: 1 Kings 19:4-8 Song: Not Missing You by Ebba Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) When Jesus fed the people, they decided he needed to be king. This very human response to having a need met inspires some harsh truth from Jesus today, and for us as well.  Scripture: John 6:24-35 Song: Daydream by Luwaks Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Jenny Sung) Pastor Jenny Sung is with us to share a bit of her story and move into community stories, and how through all of it there is always enough. There is something powerful in the giving, the breaking, and the sharing. Scripture: John 6:1-21 Song: Shine On by Tellow Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website  

(Natalia Terfa) Things are picking up around here. In-person meetings and gatherings, vacations, offices are opening, etc, etc, etc. After over a year of bubbles and isolation, it can be overwhelming to be in a large crowd. Rest is built into the rhythm of the life of faith, yet we prioritize action and business, and productivity over just about anything. What does it mean to rest? What does rest really look like? And is it possible?  Scripture: Mark 6:30-34 Song: Abundant Rest by Joyspring Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) We love a good mystery. There are dozens of wildly popular true crime podcasts and thousands of novels that keep us guessing until the end. But what about your own story? What will they write about you when all is said and done? Today we’re gonna skip to the end and have a look at the final chapter. Today the mystery is revealed. Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29 Song: Follow Me Wild Horse by Cospe Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website