Sunday, Phil preached on the Great Commission. He talked about how this central passage shares key insights into Jesus’ purpose as well as our participation in it. He explored why it is challenging to carry out this vocation and give some practical ways to get started ..read more

Phil continued our sub-series The Mission of Jesus with a sermon from John 10 on the abundant life. Here Jesus states that one of the reasons he came was so that his followers might have life, and life to the full. Phil put forth some key principles of what an abundant life looks like based on the shepherding language used in this chapter ..read more

Phil continued our sub-series, The Mission of Jesus. In this sermon, Phil took a careful look at one of the most important texts in scripture on why Jesus came, Romans 8:1-4. This tightly packed passage reveals how Christ’s work on the cross dealt with the power of sin and paved the way for the ministry of the Holy Spirit ..read more

Phil preached about resurrection from Ephesians 1, where Paul talked about resurrection as a present power available to believers who open their eyes to it ..read more

Phil continued our series on The Mission of Jesus, exploring Jesus' speech in Luke 4. In this address, Jesus makes it clear that one of the reasons he has arrived is to lift up the downtrodden and marginalized in the world, and he expects his followers to do the same. Phil explored this important theme of justice, not through our modern-day political lens but through the rich tradition of Old Testament prophets ..read more

Sunday, Phil started the third main section of our school year theme, Follow Me. Our first section was Adopt His Rhythms; our second was Practice His Teaching, and our third will be Share His Mission. Part of discipleship is understanding the goals and aims of Jesus. What did he seek to do while on earth? How did the writers of the New Testament interpret his vocation? How do we today learn to share these same goals? Phil will begin an exploration of these questions by taking a look at 1 John 3:8, which speaks of Jesus’ battle with the devil ..read more

This week, Phil did a stand-alone sermon called Prodigal Hope. In this message, Phil talked about some good news concerning the dechurched. The largest study ever conducted on this demographic in the country has revealed that many of them are willing to come back. Phil will use Luke 24 as a springboard to talk about how God is still at work on people who walk away ..read more

Phil concluded our Sermon on the Mount series with a message from the section, “Do not worry.” In this message, Phil explored how Jesus himself modeled this non-anxious way of life and why it is something that we can learn today ..read more

Phil continued our series, The Sermon, with a message from Matthew 7 on false prophets. Jesus instructed his followers to be on the lookout for eloquence without character. Phil offered some criteria for discernment for us today as we evaluate our own content intake ..read more

Phil continued our series on The Sermon by looking at one of the most popular but often misunderstood statements in Jesus’ teaching, “Do not judge.” What did Jesus mean when he spoke these words? How have we misinterpreted them today? Phil explored the difference between making moral discernments and pronouncing condemnation on others, as well as the importance of self-examination and confession ..read more