audio by year 2009

Here is the audio from our Sunday service, delivered by Ryan Snow. The title for today's message is The World You Actually Live In and it is based on Luke 4:1-13.  Some of the audio was cut out due to a technical difficulty - sorry.

Here are a few recommended resources based on today's message:

For the most part people view Christianity as a system that makes people more moral, more decent, better neighbors, healthier, possibly wealthier and that the point of the Christian life is to try really hard to be moral.  Today's message argues that the battle in life has far less to do with how to be moral and far more about what our hearts delight in.  Today's message is titled A Battle Worth Fighting and it is based on Luke 3 and Luke 4. 

People expect good news for the weathly, the popular, the healthy and the successful.  The good news that Jesus began preaching in Luke 4 is a message for the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized.  Today's message continues our series in the gospel of Luke and is based on Luke 4:14-30. 

Here are a few recommended resources:
The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard

Our world is fascinated when a new leader, coach, teacher, or CEO takes over for a company, organization, team, or classroom.  In Luke 6, Jesus lays out the "values" statement of the community in which He intends to build.  His message is shocking.  When put into action, these values cause followers of Jesus to do the unthinkable: to love our enemies; to pray for those who accuse us; and to serve people without asking - "What will I get in return?"  Where does the power for this kind of love come from?  Is the gospel really suffici

"Jesus Christ is personified wisdom."  People look to many things for wisdom and within time discover that the so-called wisdom proves to be folly.  Today's message is a great introduction to the parables of Jesus and to the wisdom of not only His teaching, but of His life.  The power of this parable is that we don't "work real hard" to try and live out its teaching, but we rejoice in who Christ is on our behalf!

Here is a good book that might be helpful:

It is one thing to understand the message of the Bible, and an entirely different thing to internalize it and to live it out.  Today's message looks at the parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37.  In this passage we see that Jesus calls His followers to "proclaim" the message of the Good News through the relationships and the love/concern they have for all people at all times.

What does a follower of Jesus look like?  What kind of life would you expect from someone who is in a relationship with Jesus?  This message looks at Luke 12-13 and three parables that highlight three characteristics of a follower of Jesus:  Generosity, Accountability, and Trust. 

Here is a good resource on this theme:
Following Jesus, by N.T. Wright

People love identitiy markers.  We love to know - "Who's in and Who's out."  Jesus amazed people and left them astonished because He challenged the boundary markers of His day.  Jesus challenges the boundary markers we use today as well.  Today's message is a radical call to humility and is based on Luke 14:1-14. 

The previous message was about Humility.  In Luke 14 this theme emerges as does the theme of Hospitality.  We make excuses to the welcome Jesus extends to each of us.  We also make excuses for why we cannot show hospitality to people that are not like "us."  Beneath all of our excuses is pride.  The overflow of the humility that the kingdom produces is hospitality. 

Luke 15 and the Parable of the Lost Son is a favorite passage from the Bible for many people.  In this amazing passage Jesus speaks a powerful message to people who are alienated from God because of rebellion and resentment.  Luke 15 tells the story of two lost sons and one prodigal father.  Today's message focuses on what it means to be separated from God and living life in the "distant country."  

Many sociologists today argue that the greatest social crisis we face in America is the decline and absence of fatherhood.  In 1960 only 9% of children grew up without a father in the home.  In the year 2000, that number has ballooned to over 40%.  Whether we have grown up with a great father or without one, we often project our experience onto God.

Our world focuses on externals.  We love production, accomplishing things, and defeating the opposition.  In Luke 18, Jesus calls people to the radical path of humility.  Today's message shares the life-line that Jesus offers those of us that live our lives gasping for approval. 

Today's message was given by Ben Reynolds of Washington Church.

It has been said that the number one obstacle to men and women following Jesus in 21st century America is overload.  We are overloaded by - debt, choices, information, and activity (to name a few).  Progress has been the mirage we are chasing, but the results are painful in most of our lives.  We are starting a new series called Living the Simple Life.  Today's message looks at the primary problem: Overload. 

Todays message was given by Mike O'Shea

Songwriters love to write about time.  From Cher to Cyndi Lauper to Kenny Chesney, everyone seems to have something to say about our time.  Today's message looks at what God has to say regarding our time.  Our days are numbered, our time is limited, and all of our time will be spent.  This message is not a seminar on time management, rather a probing look at the reasons we all tend to do urgent things in the place of important things.  Today's message looks at Psalm 39 and Psalm 90.

Today's message is based on Luke 16.  It deals with the all important theme of our money.  People are often weary of discussing their finances and this message gets to the heart of our struggle and our love of money.  The theme is that money is a God given resource to influence people for eternity.  Today's message offers a fresh perspective on our money and the issues that come with it. 

Christianity has to do with our bodies.  Living the Simple Life involves our bodies.  It is not simply a "spiritual" thing.  It involves our bodies.  Today's message looks at how our bodies can be our servant and not our master. 

Today's message is based on 1 Peter 1 and 2. 

Today's message was based on Matthew 6, and it was taught by Scott Garrity.  When our focus is single, we can live a simple life.  The fruit of this life will be a life of service and loving others, fueled by the joy we find in God as we seek His kingdom.  The title of the message was - How Well Am I Doing?, and it completes our series titled Living the Simple Life. 

Today's message was given by Mike O'Shea.

Today's message was given by Ryan Snow and is based on 2 Timothy 1:13 - 2 Timothy 2:14.

Many things get started, few things get completed or finished.  Today's message is about finishing strong in our faith in the midst of confusion, opposition, and doubts. 

Here are two excellent resources that would accompany today's message:

The apostle Paul addresses what might be the greatest threat to the movement of Jesus in 2 Timothy 3:1, when he says that "in the last days, people will be lovers of themselves."  Today's message addresses the anti-thesis of love and how we can turn from our less wild lovers and live a life abandoned to God for the sake of others.

Eighty-five percent of unchurched 18-30 year olds say that the number one problem with the church is hypocrisy.  In today's message on 2 Timothy 3, we look at how Paul addresses both distracted belief and distracted conduct.  This is a wonderful portion of Paul's second letter to Timothy in which he points people to the Scriptures "which are able" to lead us to salvation (getting us out of the mess we've made) through Christ Jesus.

Amazon.com yielded more than 352,000 books related to the theme of Leadership.  Companies, organizations, schools, churches - all are on the desperate hunt for good leaders.  The bible has much to say and teach on this important topic.  In our series on 2 Timothy, the topic of leadership is central.  In today's message on 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Paul teaches us timeless principles on leadership.

Leaders that finish well are rare.  Today's message looks at the theme of failure and how we handle this reality in life.  The message is based on 2 Timothy 4:6-18.

It is easy to miss the forest when you are staring at a tree.  So often we read our bibles looking for answers to questions, rather than asking what the story of the bible actually communicates.  We are beginning a series highlighting God's mission throughout the story of the bible.  The shocking discovery that the bible reveals a God who has willed to make Himself known to His creation.  One author said this: