The Gospel of Luke is sharing the radical ideas of Christian love from Jesus. The heart of the Gospel is in these words spoken to us today. Jesus calls those who follow him to walk in His ways and to love our enemies. At a quick first glance this seems like a good idea but if we dive more fully into the text we see how truly difficult this is in comparison to our world view.
View SermonSermon Archive
Recent sermons preached by Wise Church pastors and preachers.
Sent and Sending
The word “mission” comes from the Latin word mittere which means “to send.” We see the word “sent” or “send” in most of our readings today. For example, in the Gospel of John (20:21) Jesus says “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” Just like Jesus, we are sent into the world with a mission.
View SermonMembers of the Body
Biblical Church membership is different from the worldly idea of membership.
The worldly view says: “I pay my dues which entitles me to benefits.” The biblical view says: “I am in indispensable part of God’s mission team in this place.” William Temple, a former Abp. of Canterbury, once said “The church is the only institution that exists primarily for the benefit of those who are not its members.” At Good Samaritan, our vision is: Loving our neighbors and helping them to find God, love, God, and share God. None of us can fulfill this on our own. We need you, and you need us.
Encouragement the Jesus Way
How might God want to prompt you this morning towards His kingdom work? Is there a person in your life that God might want to reach with encouragement? I guarantee you that if you are listening to this sermon you are called to love someone better. You are called to make a difference in someone else’s life for the good. If you do not know what it looks like to love, read your Bible. Read the letters of Paul to the churches in the New Testament. You will hear how God longs for us to treat each other.
View SermonBehold, My Servant
At the end of “the Beauty and the Beast” the spell is broken and the true nature of the beast is revealed. You might call this a manifestation, a sign that shows something clearly. The season of Epiphany is all about manifestations that reveal the true nature of Jesus as both fully God and fully man. As the old hymn says “God in man made manifest.” Today we see such a manifestation just after Jesus is baptized in the Jordan river.
View SermonGod has Been There
Imagine what it might have been like for Mary to answer the door and see Magi with their whole entourage! Strange men from far away bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. What became of these gifts, we don’t know, the Bible doesn’t tell us. They may have been a part of God’s provision for the Holy Family during what happens next.
View SermonUnfolding the Master Plan
The Ulm Minster is the tallest church in the world (530 ft). It was planned and begun by Heinrich Parler in 1377, but it was not completed until 1890. That’s 513 years of construction! In the beginning, God had a clear plan for the heavens and the earth, for the garden, and for Adam and Eve. Unlike Ulm Minster, which had many architects and builders along with way, God has overseen the development of his plan over thousands of years.
View SermonGo Before the Lord
What was it like when you were born? Was there joy, excitement, wonder, anticipation? Some babies are born with a clear purpose, like princes and princesses. For others, their sense of purpose develops over time. While John the Baptist wasn’t born into a royal household, he was born with a purpose.
View SermonChrist the King Sunday
With as much death, suffering, and pain there has been in the world in these past few years many of us in the world are raw from our past lives and need a healing touch from Jesus. I promise you that if you encounter Jesus you will not be the same. If you encounter the healing love and mercy of Jesus you will be calmer, kinder, and less reactionary. Christ the King can give you are new heart filled with love and mercy.
View SermonThe Kinsman Redeemer
In this third sermon in our series on the Book of Ruth, we see Naomi craft a plan to help Ruth find rest in the home of a loving husband who will protect her and care for her. The plan is a risky one and could easily have been misinterpreted! In fact, many have interpreted Naomi’s plan as risqué and provocative, but it need not be seen as such. It would not be in line with the character of the woman we have come to see in Ruth, or of the “worthy man,” Boaz.
View Sermon