Our vision at Good Samaritan is to help people find God, love God, and share God. But how do we go about sharing God with others? In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus sends out 72 of his disciples into the towns where he himself was about to Go. As he sends them, he gives them some helpful advice which continues to be very applicable today as we share our faith with friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers.
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Recent sermons preached by Wise Church pastors and preachers.
Preserving the Faith, Engaging the Mission
A lot has happened in the Anglican Communion over the past sixteen years. Structures are shifting, but the faith has not changed, God is still good, and his Kingdom is still expanding. When Elijah was at his darkest moment, God reminded him that he was not alone, and that there were still 7,000 people who had remained faithful. In our dark moments God continues to do the same, he reminds us that we are not alone and that there will always be a faithful remnant ready to continue the work of the mission of God.
View SermonThe Second Sunday After Pentecost
Sometimes asking someone, “Who do you say that I am?” can be a rather risky chance. Someone might say something hurtful or unkind. Someone might answer in a way that makes you uncomfortable. Someone might say something true that you do not want to be spoken out loud. Asking someone what people think of you opens up all kinds of possibilities. In the 9th chapter of Luke, Jesus is being vulnerable with his disciples and showing them the way to interact in the world.
View SermonThe Near and Distant God
The tension between God’s “closeness” and his “otherness,” his transcendence and his immanence, is part of what led to the doctrine of the Trinity in the early Church. As Christians we believe that God is one God in three Persons. It is hard to get our mind around how this could be, and yet, this is how God has revealed himself to us. It is Jesus, the second person of the Trinity and the “image of the invisible God” who reconnects us with our heavenly Father and makes the distant God near to us once more. For those of us who are “in Christ,” God now dwells within us in the person of the Holy Spirit!
View SermonScattered Lego Pieces (Pentecost)
Many of the stories in the Old Testament describe the fracturing and scattering of people, largely as a result of human sin. On the Day of Pentecost we see the opposite happening, God uniting people of many nations together through the preaching of the Gospel, and each hearing in his or her own language. God loves unity, it is a major piece of his plan for redemption. This unity is already beginning to happen through the sacrifice of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
View SermonDestined for Glory
Jesus, who has the power and authority of life, desires for us, splendor and blessing greater than anything we could ask or imagine. His prayer for us, is that we be present with him, in the midst of the glory that is His, before the foundations of the earth; that we all may be one, and know in us, the very love of the Father, as the Father loves the Son, Jesus. May His will be fulfilled in us, that He be known in us and we in Him. Amen.
View SermonNo War, no Pain, no Tears
Memorial Day is a time for us to remember those who have died while serving our country in the armed forces. It brings us face to face with the harsh reality of war and the struggle for power between nations. The Book of Revelation gives us hope by reminding us that war will not be a part of the new heaven and new earth, neither will there be any more pain, or suffering, or tears, for the former things will pass away.
View SermonLove is…
There is something in us that loves weddings. It is beautiful to see a couple come together, pledging to love one another, through good times and bad times, until they are parted by death. Every human marriage points both backwards and forwards. Backwards to the one flesh union of our first parents, Adam and Eve. And forward to the marriage of the Lamb and his Bride in the book of Revelation. From this perfect, heavenly marriage we see a tangible example for us of what it means to love.
View SermonGood Shepherd Sunday
On Good Shepherd Sunday, we remember how Jesus loves us and desires to guide us in our lives. Sometimes though life becomes difficult and we desire to handle it ourselves. How often do you decide how Jesus should heal you or present himself to you? How often do you decide that He is not working fast enough or in the way you would like? If you are not daily listening to Jesus then you will not be able to hear his voice in times of crisis. Listening for a still small voice is the only way you are going to hear. Jesus desires for you to hear his voice. Jesus desires to be your shepherd; a godly, kind, and good shepherd. His ways are so very good. May you know his guiding and leading in your life!
View SermonThe Way
The earliest name by which Christians were known was simply “The Way,” a reference to Jesus’ teaching about the way that leads to life vs. the way that leads to death. In the book of Acts we see Saul’s conversion: he leaves the way of death and destruction and embraces Jesus and the way of life. In this sermon you will hear about some of the key features of his conversion as well as learn how to participate in leading someone to the way of life.
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