The Hidden Glory of the Church (1 Timothy 3:14-16)

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Who needs the church? Churches once held a prominent position in the U.S., but no longer. And even many Christians in our day wonder: “Can’t I can be a Christian without going to church?” Some of the disregard and disillusionment comes from the sins and division that is tolerated in many churches today. Yet even while writing to a very compromised church in Ephesus, Paul holds up the glory of God’s people gathered. Who needs the church? We do and our world does.

Leading God’s Church: A Noble Task (1 Timothy 3:1-13)

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"Authority" is not a very popular word in our culture today that idolizes no-strings-attached freedom and self-expression seemingly above all else. Yet God ordains and delights in authority—good authority—especially in the church. We'll see how God's design for leadership in his church serves to guard and witness to the gospel.

God's Power in God's People (Ephesians 2:1-10)

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In the midst of all the tragedy, division, and disappointment of our day, it can be easy to wonder, where is God? Is he really in control? Where do we look to see the power of God at work? We're taking a break in our 1 Timothy sermon series this week to reflect on the theme from Fenway Kids Adventure Week. We'll see in Ephesians 2:1-10, that we can see God's power at work in us, his people.

Men and Women in the Church (1 Timothy 2:8-15)

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We return to our sermon series on 1 Timothy, which is all about how the local church is the steward of the truth--the gospel. In guarding and sharing the gospel, Paul moves from a focus on teaching in chapter 1 to now behavior and order in chapter 2, particularly among men and women. The way we live when we gather together matters! This passage is a challenging one, both to receive and to apply, but we can trust that all of God's word is good for us. (*Credit to Pastor Curtis Cook’s sermon on this text at Hope Fellowship Church, Cambridge, MA.)

Giving Thanks, Waging War (1 Timothy 1:12-20)

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How do we keep ourselves from drifting away from the gospel like the Ephesian church? By cultivating a personal thankfulness for God's amazing grace in our own lives. Paul models this for us in our passage this Sunday as a fuel for Timothy's good fight for the faith in his own life and in the church.

Guard the Gospel (1 Timothy 1:1-11)

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We begin a new sermon series through 1 Timothy entitled, "The Church: The Pillar of Truth." Many people in our day believe truth is subjective and changing. Yet we'll see in this letter that God not only cares very much about the universal truth of the gospel, but that he has ordained the local church to guard it and proclaim it. (Credit to a sermon on this text by Curtis Cook, Hope Fellowship Church.)

Sex Matters (1 Corinthians 6:15-20)

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In week two of our series on the body, we’re zooming in on the issue of sex. In our passage, the Apostle Paul teaches the Corinthian church (and us) why sex is so significant for the Christian. Why should Christians flee sexual immorality? Why does sexual sin matter so much to God?

Your Body Matters (1 Corinthians 6:12-14)

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For the next two weeks, we're going to explore what God's word has to say about our bodies. This small passage from the book of 1 Corinthians has massive implications for our lives today. This week we'll see why our physical bodies matter to God and should matter to us.

Christ's Kingdom Come (Matthew 1-28)

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The Bible is much more than just another religious book. It is an interpretation of all of history. This Sunday we conclude our sermon series in the Gospel of Matthew with an overview series on the whole book. We'll that Matthew is ultimately pointing to King Jesus as the focus and goal of all of history--that all of our individual stories are ultimately about him and for him.

A Death Like No Other (Matthew 27:45-61)

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Like with many public events and people, there are many perspectives about the significance of Christ's death. However, the only interpretation that matters is God's. In the events surrounding the the death of his Son, we'll see God's take on this event--what is really going on--through the cries and miracles and ministers surrounding this death like no other.

The Crucifixion of the Christ (Matthew 27:27-44)

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This Sunday we come to the climactic crowning of the Savior King. And yet Matthew's description of Jesus' crucifixion is surprising in many ways. Surrounded by mocking from Romans and Jews alike, we're reminded that the very thing they're mocking Jesus about is being truly fulfilled in their midst.

How Do I Deal with My Guilt? (Matthew 27:1-26)

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How do you cope with guilt? We all do the wrong thing sometimes. And when we do, we're very good at avoiding, minimizing, or trying to atone somehow to make the feeling go away. But how does God call us to deal with our guilt? In our passage this Sunday, we see a number of people trying to deal with the responsibility they have for Jesus' death. And yet in the midst of the guilty characters all around him, stands the innocent One who came to wash all our guilty stains away.

Faith on Trial (Matthew 26:57-75)

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Jesus famously said that in this world believers will have trouble (John 16:33). We will all face pressure and even persecution because of our faith. The question is, in the face of opposition, will we shrink or stand? In our passage, Jesus is put on trial before the high priest. And yet there are really two trials going on. We'll see what we can learn from the strength of Jesus' faith in contrast with the weakness of Peter.