Aug 13, 2023
Sermon: Getting Our Expectations Aligned
By: Pastor Ben Hulst
Series: John the Baptizer
Luke 7.18-35: In the midst of prison, John the Baptist has a moment of doubt about Jesus' ministry. He is stuck and hopes to get unstuck, but Jesus calls him to trust in his work and to hold on no matter what might come. John will never make it out of prison, but he clings to Jesus' identity as the Messiah. In times of stuckness, we may expect God to act - he might and he might not - but no matter our present stuckness, the surety of everlasting freedom is ours to hold out hope for - a sure hope.
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- Aug 13, 2023Sermon: Getting Our Expectations Aligned
Aug 13, 2023Sermon: Getting Our Expectations AlignedBy: Pastor Ben HulstSeries: John the BaptizerLuke 7.18-35: In the midst of prison, John the Baptist has a moment of doubt about Jesus' ministry. He is stuck and hopes to get unstuck, but Jesus calls him to trust in his work and to hold on no matter what might come. John will never make it out of prison, but he clings to Jesus' identity as the Messiah. In times of stuckness, we may expect God to act - he might and he might not - but no matter our present stuckness, the surety of everlasting freedom is ours to hold out hope for - a sure hope.
- Aug 6, 2023Sermon: Look! The Lamb of God! Part 2
Aug 6, 2023Sermon: Look! The Lamb of God! Part 2By: Pastor Ben HulstSeries: John the BaptizerJohn 1.19-39: In calling Jesus, the Lamb of God, John is presenting both an apocalyptic view of Jesus and a redemptive view. Would you stand behind a Lamb for protection against the beasts of this world? Yet, it is the Lamb that will overcome as he removes sin from the world and brings forth the goodness of God's kingdom against all evil.
- Jul 30, 2023Sermon: Look! The Lamb of God! Part 1
Jul 30, 2023Sermon: Look! The Lamb of God! Part 1By: Pastor Ben HulstSeries: John the BaptizerJohn 1.6-8, 19-34: John comes in the wilderness to signal both the coming disintegration of the known Jewish world and the recreation through the coming Messiah. He calls all as individuals to ready themselves, to set themselves up for renewal, reorientation, and recreation. Themes of creation, of water, and of Spirit circle all around as John points our eyes to Jesus. "Look," he says, "not at me, but at Him!" Who is Him? The Lamb of God, the Word made flesh, the Messiah, Jesus.
- Jul 16, 2023Sermon: Fiery Tongue, Fiery Baptism
Jul 16, 2023Sermon: Fiery Tongue, Fiery BaptismBy: Pastor Ben HulstSeries: John the BaptizerLuke 3.1-20: John the Baptist calls us to reorient ourselves from those just above us to the heights of God and his riches bestowed on us. In doing this, we begin to notice the needs of those below us and to assist them with our plenty. This changes our hearts from those of envy and discontent to contentment and generous love. Through Jesus, we are enabled to live like this because it is like God. It is our calling and the pathway to life.
- Jul 9, 2023Sermon: Becoming Lesser
Jul 9, 2023Sermon: Becoming LesserBy: Pastor Ben HulstSeries: John the BaptizerJohn 3.22-36: We begin an extended look at the ministry of John the Baptist. Today, one of the phrases that defines him in contrast to Jesus, "He must become greater, I must become lesser." Like John, we are to live our lives in pursuit of Christ receiving glory, not ourselves. Our lives become a service to his glory as he has given us everlasting life.
- Jul 2, 2023Sermon: Plant Your Hope with Good Seeds
Jul 2, 2023Sermon: Plant Your Hope with Good SeedsBy: Pastor Ben HulstLuke 6.43-45: Jesus gives us a convicting teaching about watching the seed souls we plant and the fruit born in our lives. Bad trees don't produce good fruit. The call is to inspect ourselves and seek to be those who are bearing good fruit as disciples of Christ.
- Jun 25, 2023Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus: Part 4
Jun 25, 2023Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus: Part 4By: Pastor Ben HulstSeries: The Devil Went Down to JesusMatthew 4.1-11: In this fourth part of the series on Jesus' temptation, we see Jesus being offered the glories of the world. The devil offers it for worshiping him - a simple process on the outside and for short-term gain, but a destruction within and for long-term destruction. Jesus has other goals, with using his attention to be focused on God the Father and not the father of lies. Praise God for his victory and thus his coming eternal kingdom!
- Jun 18, 2023Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus: Part 3
Jun 18, 2023Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus: Part 3By: Pastor Ben HulstSeries: The Devil Went Down to JesusMatthew 4.1-11: In this second test, the devil tempts Jesus to test the Father. Is he trustworthy, is the challenge? Jesus resists, displaying a complete trust in the Father and the word that holds promises to him. He endures because of trust in the long-term fulfillment of God and his promises. Praise God for Jesus' triumph, for it is our victory as well and gives us strength to resist the devil's taunts in our own lives.
- Jun 11, 2023Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus – Part 2
Jun 11, 2023Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus – Part 2By: Pastor Ben HulstSeries: The Devil Went Down to JesusMatthew 4.1-11: In this second of our four-part look at Jesus' testing, we consider the devil's first challenge - turning stones to bread. Jesus shows his spiritual hunger is greater than his physical hunger. He seeks the heavenly food of God's provision rather than using his power for securing self-sufficiency. In this he shows his purpose to overcome Satan on our behalf. Praise God!
- Jun 4, 2023Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus: Part 1
Jun 4, 2023Sermon: The Devil Went Down to Jesus: Part 1By: Pastor Ben HulstSeries: The Devil Went Down to JesusMatthew 4.1-11: We start a four-week look at Jesus' testing in the wilderness and confrontation with the devil. Today, we look at the background context of this story. The next three weeks, we'll look at each testing in particular each week.