DATE: September 18, 2022 THEME: New Season, New Opportunities SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:50-52 & Acts 1:1-14 Jesus hangs out for about 40 days after His resurrection, giving many proofs that He has indeed physically risen from the dead, as well as being seen by over 500 people before He gathers all of His disciples at the Mount of Olives to witness His ascension into heaven. This is a major transition in the life of humanity, specifically in the lives of the disciples. What do we do with times of transition? How did the disciples deal with the shift from walking with Jesus every day for 3 years, to watching His death, witnessing His resurrection, spending about 40 days with Him, then to watch as Jesus physically leaves and no longer physically walks with them into the new kingdom age? How, then, can we view major transitions in our own lives and the state of the ever changing world around us?

DATE: September 11, 2022 THEME: Too Good to Be True? SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:36-49 The resurrection of Jesus Christ was evidence that the gospel is NOT "too good to be true," but is rather "It's good because it's true!" Jesus invited the disciples, as He invites you, into resurrection new life in this life and the next because of the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave; into order to resurrect life, resurrect hope, and resurrect purpose in everyone's life.

DATE: August 28, 2022 THEME: Embrace Disappointments SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:13-35 Two of the disciples, Cleopas and his wife Mary, walk away from hope toward Emmaus, Jesus comes up and walks beside them to give them His presence, His Word, and to reveal His identity and glory to them. This is what gives hope in the midst of disappointment and disillusionment. We ought to embrace disappointment as an opportunity for faith.

DATE: August 7, 2022 THEME: So That... SCRIPTURE: Luke 23:50-56 Jesus is buried. It really happened. Jesus died. He is TOTALLY dead, not just "mostly" dead. The death and burial of Jesus is an illustration to one of the most powerful truths about the freedom we have because of the grace of God through identifying with Jesus in His death and His burial. Jesus died and was buried, SO THAT…

DATE: July 31, 2022 THEME: Here in the Death of Christ I Live SCRIPTURE: Luke 23:44-49 The death of Christ is best viewed through the lens of the resurrection as a fulfillment of all truth and scripture. Christ died during Passover to become our passover lamb. There is incredible beauty and power behind the imagery of the original Exodus and the NEW Exodus through Jesus our passover lamb. The curtain/veil was torn to give us access to Yahweh and is how He poured our His Spirit upon all flesh.

DATE: July 24, 2022 THEME: I Died With Him SCRIPTURE: Luke 23:32-43 The last hours of Jesus' life were filled with power and glory, even though it looked like sorrow, pain, and despair. The place where Jesus was crucified, the guards gambling for His clothes, the words of the crowd, among other things, were fulfilling prophecy. The most powerful image we have on the day of Jesus' crucifixion was His conversation with the criminal on the cross who died with Him. Through our scripture passage this morning, we get to experience the core of the entire narrative of scripture, the restoration of ALL things, bringing all things back into order and shalom because of the death Jesus died, and the death we died with Him on the cross.

DATE: July 17, 2022 THEME: Jesus Heals All Our Wounds SCRIPTURE: Luke 23:26-31 As Jesus was bring led away to be crucified, He became too weak to carry the cross/stauros/crossbeam to Golgatha ("Place of the Skill"). Why? Also, what was it that keep Jesus going? What was it that drove Jesus to the cross? In this sermon, we are introduced to Simon of Cyrene (and his sons would all become disciples of Jesus) and the Daughters of Jerusalem (not the women disciples). Jesus came to suffer and die to heal all of our wounds and cultivate a culture of healing in the Kingdom of God, the Church.

DATE: July 13, 2022 THEME: Joy & Rest SCRIPTURE: Luke 23:1-25 In the midst of Jesus' trials before Pilate and Herod, we see Jesus calm, peace-filled, and joy-filled, and at rest..."like, a sheep before its shearers is silent. It wasn't a fearful or rebellious silence, it was a restful and joyful disposition. When Jesus was handed over to the Chief Priests' will (desire, want, wish, what they asked for) He knew things would be as they should. Things had to go exactly this way in order for Jesus to fulfill all prophesy and promise; to accomplish salvation for all who would call upon His name, to be come children of God. Jesus was joyful to do so.

DATE: July 3, 2022 THEME: God has Grace for the Teachable but Silence for the Incredulous. SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:53-65 Peter and Jesus faced trials on the same night. Peter failed and received grace, Jesus succeeded and those who were judging Him received the silent treatment. God's grace is beyond what we can comprehend, that even in the midst of our failures and cowardice, God can restore and strengthen us through our trials.

DATE: June 26, 2022 THEME: Follow the Father SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:35-53 Jesus took His disciples from the Passover discussion in the Upper Room to the Garden where He was crushed with anguish and would be arrested. Through it all, the suffering and grief, Jesus followed the Father by faith and peace. How do we remind ourselves that in the midst of great sorrow and distress that the LORD is good and His steadfast love endures forever?