MCF Sermon Podcast

And when Jesus rose from the dead, we are shown that even the most feared aspect of our human condition, death itself, cannot separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.  There is nothing we can do or be on our own to reach up and make God love us. Instead God reaches down and surprises us with love!

Pastor Kevin wraps up this Lenten sermon series with this sermon from Palm/Passion Sunday.  When God became human in Jesus Christ, he did not use fear to come in and conquer and rule us.  He came to restore relationship with us.  Healthy relationships are fueled by joy and never by fear.

Pastor Robin uses her personal story and the lectionary passages for the 5th Sunday of Lent to remind us that we are loved by God just how we are and that we are enough.

Pastor Kevin talks about "not wanting to go there."  We all have an image of self that we have constructed.  Whatever doesn't validate that image tends to get hidden.  The place where those parts of ourselves are hidden is called the shadow and we don't like to go there.  Religion often tells us that holiness has to with being good when in fact it has to do with being whole.  How does a cross, a snake on a stick, and an ancient tale about a snake help us "to go there" so we can find wholeness?

We were made to be human beings and not human doings!  What is the road to a life in which we are free to love God and each other?

Where are you standing?  Are you a cross builder, or cross bearer?

Pastor Kevin preaches on Mark 8:31-34.  Prior to the sermon, Julio Hanson sang They Won't Go When I Go by Stevie Wonder.

Pastor Kevin begins a new Lenten sermon series entitled, "Where Do You Stand?"  In this first sermon, Kevin challenges a Christianity that seeks to be a wilderness avoidance system.  Healthy spirituality has both "river" moments of spiritual highs, like Jesus' baptism, and times of "wilderness" struggles.  It's in the wilderness when wisdom is developed.  Kevin ended his sermon with a video tribute to the 17 students killed this past week at Parkland High School in Florida.  You can see this tribute HERE. 

What happens when we trade a childlike sense of wonder and enchantment for certainty?

Today were were visited by Don Rogers, CEO, of Empowering Lives International.  He shared an exciting life changing initiative in Kenya.

 

Pastor Kevin makes the case that there is a big difference between being a fan and a follower of Jesus.  Jesus never asked people to worship Him.  He asked people to follow Him.  Are you just a fan or are you a follwer?