Sun, 25 March 2007
Jane Jebsen, who leads Joy!'s adult discipleship ministry, discusses the NextStep worship experience that will launch at Joy! on Saturday, April 14. The opening message series is titled, "Amazed!"
Direct download: 2007-03-25_Announcement_NextStep_Jane-Jebsen_Tom-Keefe.mp3
Category:news & info -- posted at: 3:47pm CDT |
Sun, 25 March 2007
Judas and Mary show us diverging roads. Judas travels the road of greed. Mary is on the road of generosity. We can only imagine the tension in that room with Mary, Judas and the others. There was a discomfort with the actions and extravagance of Mary, but Jesus was calm. He received her gift as an incredible act of love. Surely they knew Jesus life was threatened. She must have been overwhelmed by some certainty that Jesus would die, so her deep love spilled out as the nard was poured. When Judas saw it, he was disgusted. To him it was a waste…he could see nothing good in her actions. To this day, of course, we see these two in marked contrast. Mary gives humbly from what she has and Judas’ greed tries to control not only his wealth, but the gift anyone else would give. Mary couldn't help herself...Hers was a response of love.
Direct download: 2007-03-24_Pastor-Scott-Hackler_The-Road-Less-Traveled_The-Road-of-Generosity.mp3
Category:sermons -- posted at: 2:42pm CDT |
Mon, 19 March 2007
The Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-32 Guest Pastor Al Caldwell invites us to return home to:
Direct download: 2007-03-16_Pastor-Al-Caldwell_The-Road-Less-Traveled_The-Road-Home.mp3
Category:sermons -- posted at: 2:01pm CDT |
Sat, 10 March 2007
Scripture Focus: Luke 13:1-9 Is your first reaction in tough times to blame? If it is you join a whole culture looking for someone on whom to hang all of the struggle and pain. When you see someone suffering, is your tendency to blame them for the suffering they face? Again, you will find yourself in the heart (or lack of heart) of the culture. This is the easy road. On this road we cut out people from our lives who do not produce what we want. On this road we can also cut ourselves from life with others or life with God because of our failures. The road less traveled is the road of mercy. It seeks not to blame but to help. It looks for forgiveness and readily gives others mercy in time of need. Not only can we see Jesus do this in the Gospels but we experience it as we are joined to his death and resurrection. What is so important to people of faith is that we know the one who will give it when no one else can or will. Jesus is the gardener who takes on the fate of all humanity, our suffering and our death, head on. He not only tends to the tree, but dies on a tree. He suggests that being cut off from God is a terrible fate, and then he endures that fate with us and for us. By joining us in our suffering, Jesus does not answer the questions about why we suffer. Instead he lives it. He shows us that it does not have the last word. Beyond our hope and comprehension is something greater still, of which by his death we can only catch a glimpse. For this purpose he tends the unproductive tree and dies with it, with us. To Know: Jesus will not give up on you, he doesn't want you to be cut off from God. To Feel: The love of God as Jesus meets us in our sinfulness, or in our pain and struggle. To Do: Receive mercy, give mercy, live mercifully.
Direct download: 2007-03-10_Pastor-Scott-Hackler_The-Road-Less-Traveled_The-Road-of-Judgment-and-Blame.mp3
Category:sermons -- posted at: 10:23pm CDT |
Sat, 3 March 2007
Scripture Focus: Luke 13:31-35 There is a lure in taking
risk. Youth culture is focused on the X games and extreme sports
where one's life and health is at stake in order to feel alive and receive
the adulation of friends. Danger meets us as we travel on busy streets
and yet we engage in the risk. We follow financial schemes that
put our assets at risk. We take a chance that by accepting the
new job or starting a new business we will have a better and more fulfilling
life. Fear is met either by the devaluing of life or by the thrill
of living on the edge. Is this really the life we want to live? There is a lure in avoiding
any risk. Many of us avoid accidents by driving back roads and
byways. We avoid the pain of broken relationships by avoiding
relationships. We seek the safe way in work, money, family and
even faith. Fear is met by controlling every circumstance and
encounter. Is this really life? The road less traveled
entrusts our lives to God who wants to keep us safe in his care as a
hen would her chicks. This is a way that celebrates the risk taken
so that others will meet the power of God and God's kingdom of love.
We travel this road blessed as God's messengers. To Know: Jesus risks his life as he lives out his ministry all the while knowing that he has the power of God behind him. While we may also meet hostility as we follow Jesus, we are in the care of God. To Feel: The calming trust of God's loving care. To Do: Live life boldly, but also retreat into God's care for safety.
Direct download: 2007-03-04_Pastor-Scott-Hackler_The-Road-Less-Traveled_The-Dangerous-Road.mp3
Category:sermons -- posted at: 3:58pm CDT |