Sermons

Throughout history, humanity has imagined gods who rule from a distance, demand service, or draw near only to take something from us. Some gods are powerful but dangerous. Others are orderly but detached. Still others stand beside humanity but cannot save it. Into that long human story, Christianity makes a claim unlike any other: that God did not merely visit us, speak to us, or rule over us—but became one of us. In this fourth and final week of Advent, we reflect on the name given to Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel: Immanuel, “God with us.” This sermon traces that name back to its origin in Isaiah, set in a moment of political fear, failing leadership, and misplaced trust. Long before it pointed to the birth of Jesus, Immanuel was first spoken as a promise that God had not abandoned his people, even when their king refused to trust Him. But that promise also carried tension. God was present, yet fear and broken leadership remained. Survival came, but not restoration. The ache lingered. And it is that unresolved longing that prepares the way for Jesus—not as a symbol of God’s nearness, but as God himself in the flesh. In Jesus, “God with us” reaches its fullest meaning. God does not stay distant from human weakness, suffering, or sin. He enters it. He takes on flesh. He lives among us. And he comes not to condemn the world, but to save it. This message invites us to reconsider who God is, what kind of God would choose this path, and what it means for us to live in a world where God is not far off, but present, faithful, and with us—always. Who is this God that we serve? #Advent #GodWithUs #Immanuel #Matthew1 #Isaiah7 #Incarnation #AdventSermon #ChristianTheology #Jesus #HopePeaceJoyLove

Due to another snow day, Pastors Ben and Micah join together in the living room to bring a message from Luke 1 and Mary's Song - the Magnificat. On the third week of advent, we consider what it means for us to give praise to God. Through comparing and contrasting the songs of Mary, Hannah and Zechariah, we see a consistent acknowledgement of the way in which God lifts up the lowly and breaks down the powerful. But the reason for each song of praise differs, and teaches us a lesson about giving thanks, and holding on to joy in all circumstances. God walks with us in every season of life, if we will just have eyes to see.

Isaiah paints an astonishing picture of the world made right again: predators and prey sharing life together, the vulnerable resting without fear, and creation itself healed by the reign of a righteous King. But Isaiah starts not with a mighty tree—he starts with a stump. A fallen dynasty. A kingdom cut down. And from that stump comes a single shoot… a Branch who will bear fruit. In this Advent message, we explore the surprising promise God makes through Isaiah: why the Messiah is described as a shoot from the stump of Jesse, how the Spirit’s seven-fold work reveals the Messiah’s character, what biblical peace really means (far more than the absence of conflict), and how the “already but not yet” kingdom calls Jesus’ people to become peacemakers, not passive observers. Whether you’re exploring Advent for the first time or seeking a deeper vision of Christ’s promised kingdom, this message invites you into the kind of peace only Jesus can bring—whole, restored, and overflowing into the world through His people. #adventhope #HopeInChrist #AlreadyNotYet #KingdomCome #GospelHope #ChristianHope #HopeThatEndures #RootOfJesse #MessianicHope #UnshakeableHope #AdventHope #HopeIsHere #LightInTheDarkness #ChristIsOurHope #WaitingWell #HopeForAll #JesusBringsHope #HopeInThisSeason #ChristmasHope

As we begin the season of Advent—the start of the Christian year—we’re reminded that we don’t just celebrate Christ’s first coming; we prepare ourselves for His second. In this message, Pastor Ben walks through Matthew 24:36–44 and explores Jesus’ urgent call: “Be ready.” Just like a flight crew carefully inspecting an airplane before takeoff, followers of Jesus are invited into a daily posture of spiritual preparation. Not out of fear, but out of faithfulness—because once the moment comes, it’s too late to start checking our hearts. In this sermon we explore: ✦ Why Jesus insists no one can predict the day of His return ✦ What the days of Noah teach us about spiritual indifference ✦ Why “being taken” in Matthew 24 may not mean what many assume ✦ How Advent calls us to live between Christ’s first and second coming ✦ Practical ways to cultivate readiness, repentance, and hope If you’ve ever wondered what it means to faithfully wait for Christ’s return, or how to live awake in a world that drifts toward distraction, this message will help anchor your heart in Jesus’ words and His kingdom.

When Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done,” He wasn’t giving us a distant, future-focused wish. He was inviting us to participate in the present work of God’s reign breaking into the world. On Christ the King Sunday, we explored what it means to believe that the kingdom is not only coming someday, but arriving even now—and that Jesus calls His people to join Him in its growth. In Matthew 9, we find Jesus teaching, healing, and proclaiming the good news of a kingdom utterly unlike the empires of this world. He sees the crowds with compassion and tells His disciples that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. This message calls us to pray not just for our own needs, but for God’s kingdom to expand and for more workers to join the mission. If you missed the sermon or want to revisit it, you can watch it here and reflect on what it means to pray—and live—as citizens of a kingdom that is already at hand. #ChristTheKingSunday #YourKingdomCome #Matthew9 #KingdomOfGod #Sermon #thecommunityfellowship

We all have prayers that God hasn’t answered the way we wanted — or hasn’t answered yet. Those moments can shake our confidence, test our faith, and tempt us to pull back from God. This message explores what it means to pray without offense: • how to hold onto hope when the outcome is uncertain • how to trust God’s goodness even when life doesn’t make sense • how to live anchored in the ultimate restoration God has promised • why some prayers won’t be answered this side of heaven • and how we can keep praying with faith, honesty, and resilience Whether you’re carrying disappointment, waiting on God, or trying to rebuild your prayer life, this sermon will help you see God’s heart more clearly and strengthen your trust in Him. #prayer #faith #trustGod #hope #sermon #TheCommunityFellowship #unansweredprayers

When life breaks you down to the point of desperation, what do you do? In this message, “Praying with Desperation,” Pastor Ben looks at King Hezekiah’s story in 2 Kings 19 — a city surrounded, a king with only one hope, and a God who still hears. We’ll explore why God so often moves most powerfully when we have no strength left, and how desperation can actually become the doorway to deeper faith and dependence on Him. #Prayer #Faith #2Kings19 #Desperation #TheCommunityFellowship

This week’s message, “Giving Yourself to Prayer,” explores why prayer so often feels like a struggle—and what happens when we learn to expect God to move again. Too often, we pray without really believing our prayers make a difference. But Scripture shows us a God who hears His people, moves in response, and delights to answer when we call. If you’ve ever felt like your prayers don’t matter, this message will help you rediscover the power and purpose of prayer that actually expects God to act. 🕊️ Watch, reflect, and be encouraged to pray again—with faith, hope, and expectancy. #Prayer #Faith #ExpectGodToMove #Sermon #ChristianFaith #ChurchOnline #Jesus #Worship #communityfellowship