Woodland Hills Church

Thief In the Night

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0500

Greg Boyd explains what the doctrine of the rapture is and why it is problematic. He then offers an alternative perspective, one which aligns with the call to live in love as Christ loved us.

Don't Skip the Chorus

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Cedrick Baker calls us to worship through song. In doing so, we open our minds to remember the goodness of God and his work in our lives, and we increase our faith as we walk with Jesus. Singing aligns us with the work of God and leads to dependence upon the only one who can deliver us.

The Great Babylon Must Fall

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0600

Revelation opens our eyes to see the empty promises of empires and systems that proclaim eternality and permanence. However, the reality is that they all fade and fall. In this sermon, Greg Boyd challenges us to set aside our hopes in these empires, and place our hope on the only kingdom that will last, the kingdom that is found in the cruciform king.

Escaping Babylon

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0600

This sermon by Dan Kent names what it means to be trapped by the culture of Babylon and the path to escape it. The Babylonian way compels us to pursue more while never having enough, while the cruciform way of Jesus offers us a gift that we cannot work to attain.

The Nature of God's Judgment

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0600

God’s judgment is a common topic throughout the Bible and even in popular culture. But what does the Bible mean by divine judgment? Does it mean God smites us when we go too far? In this sermon Greg Boyd invites us to see the divine judgment or the wrath of God in a different light. God’s judgment actually means that sin possesses its own repercussions—you might say that the wrongdoing ricochets. This is how divine wrath works because this is how God designed creation.

Love Rejoices in the Truth

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0600

Greg concludes the Love Does series with a look at Paul’s statement that love rejoices in the truth in contrast with not delighting in wrongdoing. He then connects the contrast between truth and wrongdoing to demonstrate how right relatedness is truthful and how this is the way we live in love.

Love Does Not Rejoice in Wrongdoing

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0600

This sermon by Greg Boyd shows us that love is more than simply not wronging others. The love of God actually means that we are not delighting or celebrating the wrongdoing. The motivations of our heart are shaped by love and therefore produce the fruit of loving action.

Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0600

Love does not keep a record of things done wrong and love believes the best of others. Sandra Unger names how difficult it is to walk in these two aspects of agape love. She names how keeping a record of wrongs undermines love and provides insights into how we can move away from this all-too-common practice.

Love's Case for Extreme Measures

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0600

Cedrick Baker invites us to look at love in action as extreme measures for the welfare of the other. Reflecting on the extreme measures of the Incarnation and the Cross, we are called to bless the other at cost to ourselves.

Love Does Not Envy or Boast

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0600

Paul wrote that love does not envy or boast. Yet these two practices are woven into modern life to such a degree that many cannot see any other option. Shawna Boren unpacks how envy and boasting undermine the practice of love and then shows us a better way, a way out and into agape love.

Love Does Not Dishonor

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0600

Greg Boyd teaches us that to dishonor others is to play the “king of the hill” game where everyone is trying to climb the social ladder at the expense of others. Love refuses to play the game of shaming another to benefit self. Instead, love honors others just as God honors us.

Love Trusts

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 14:00:00 -0600

This first sermon in the “Love Does” series highlights the action of trust. Dan Kent explores the way that God trusts, the call to be trustworthy in our relationship with God and how to grow in our trust of one another. This challenge to the worldly pattern of distrust invites us to manifest love in concrete and practical ways.

The Story of Us

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0600

This Christmas Eve, Greg gave a short sermon starting out by exploring the question,“Who are you?” by contrasting ancient, story-based identities rooted in community, with modern identities that often lead to loneliness and emptiness.

He goes on to tell “the story of us” – of a loving God who created humanity for relationship and stewardship, our fall into brokenness, and God’s persistent work of restoration in found in Christ Jesus.

The Joy—and Grief—of the Messiah's Birth

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 12:00:00 -0600

Christmas is a time of joy. However, the story of Jesus’ birth also includes struggles, suffering and grief. This is found specifically in the narrative of the Magi, which includes great joy and the reality of the world. Greg Boyd identifies this and provides concrete ways to deal with grief in healthy ways.

Security In the Unexpected Messiah

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Cedrick Baker explores how Old Testament prophesies speak to the coming deliverance of the Messiah. In Genesis 49:10, we see how the Messiah will come from the tribe of Judah and will establish a new kind of kingdom. In this way God promises his care and provision which gives us a sense of security.

The Delight of the Lord

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Dan Kent opens up the meaning of the prophesy from Hosea 11:1 about Jesus being called out of Egypt. Dan explains how this verse speaks to God’s delight for his people and applies this delight to us and how we experience God’s love.

The Serpent and the Star

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0600

Greg Boyd introduces this year's Christmas series, Fulfilled. Each week during this series we are looking at Old Testament prophesies about the incarnation of Jesus. In this first sermon, Greg addresses how the Old Testament proclaims that the coming Messiah will overcome Satan and evil.

The Beast of Wow and Wonder

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0600

Greg Boyd clarifies the meaning of the second beast in Revelation 13, naming it as the beast of “wow and wonder,” as it aims to expand our attention on the first beast. Greg then identifies common strategies the second beast uses in our culture today, offering ways to identify these issues along with three challenges for resisting the beast.

The Beast of Perpetual Ascendancy

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0600

In this sermon Greg Boyd calls us to a sober mindset about the reality of the modern-day empire. Just as Revelation originally challenged the early church to resist the empire of Rome, so too the Spirit of God calls us to resist the delusions of the modern global empire.

Be Alert and Sober Minded

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0600

This sermon on the first of two beasts in Revelation 13 addresses what it means to trust God’s faithfulness in tough times and the reality of hardship. Dan Kent contrasts this with a sanitized God, who, many assume, cannot deal with the world’s evil or the spiritual warfare that is being waged.

The Chase Is On!

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Shawna Boren proclaims our hope in the midst of trials and tribulations. She announces the fact that Christ has already defeated the enemy is stronger than our struggles. And she gives us concrete action steps to stand in the midst of Christ’s victory.

To the Death!

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0500

Greg Boyd highlights the way of lies versus the way of truth. The way of lies is founded upon the deception of Satan that draws us into the pursuit of ascent, rising to more power, more stuff and more acclaim. The way of truth is the way of the cross, the way of the Lamb. By counting the cost of discipleship, we move toward Christ and live in love.

The Struggle for Spiritual Awareness

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0500

This sermon by Cedrick Baker addresses the reality of an unseen spiritual realm and the need for spiritual eyes to see it. We are invited to cultivate a spiritual awareness of the spiritual battle that is transpiring all around us.

Flee to the Wilderness

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon Greg Boyd introduces a new series entitled Dragon Slayers. A myriad of symbols tell about a woman who gives birth to a Messiah, while Satan seeks to destroy him. Then the woman goes into the wilderness. The focus of this sermon lies on the meaning of going into the wilderness and our calling to bring God’s love to those mired in a wilderness life.

Love Never Fails

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0500

Shawna Boren looks at the phrase “love is not easily angered,” which is an appropriate challenge in our current culture. She names what anger is and how it undermines love. Then she gives insight into how we can navigate this emotion in healthy ways.

Love Is Not Proud

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Dan Kent introduces the problem of pride and how it is rooted in hierarchical systems where we measure ourselves against others. We are unable to love others when we are constantly evaluating them and ourselves. We must opt out of this system and learn to see all as equals, all equally loved.

A Kindness Revolution

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0500

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 that love is kind. Greg Boyd highlights kindness as a way of life that can revolutionize the world in which we live. He also calls us to slow down so that we make space in our lives for being kind and therefore live in love with one another.

Overcoming Selfishness

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0500

This sermon challenges the pattern of selfishness as a contrast to the call to agape love. Through this teaching, we learn how selfishness undermines our call to be like Christ and practical ways we can address the selfishness that creeps into our lives.

A More Excellent Way

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Greg introduces a new series on love by examining the four Greek terms that are commonly translated as the English word “love,” thus clarifying what love is and what it means to love as God does. He then takes us through the first three verses of 1 Corinthians 13 to demonstrate why love is so crucial to our walk with God.

Provoking the Beast

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 12:00:00 -0500

In this closeout sermon for the Testify! series, Dan Kent surveys the key points of Revelation 10 and 11 and highlights how the testimony of the church is crucial to what God is doing in the world. He then challenges us to practice the call to Testify!

Inseparable Love

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 11:00:00 -0500

Shawna Boren walks us through the difficult images of the opening verses of Revelation 11 and demonstrates how they are connected to the truth that God’s presence protects his people in times of trial and trouble. We can be comforted because no situation that we face can ever displace us from the reach of God’s love. This was true for the early church and it is true for us today.

Testify to the Way of Peace

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 11:00:00 -0500

This passage offers an interpretive challenge to a verse that seems to say that the people of God actually commit violent acts against their enemies. However, when you look beneath the surface of this complex imagery, it actually paints a picture of the way of the cruciform Christ and how the church overcomes through peace.

The Importance of Our Witness

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 11:00:00 -0500

This sermon explores how God invites and challenges us to take in his word, to the point of internalizing it into the depths of our souls. When we do this, we allow that truth to flow through us to others, specifically those who have not become followers of Jesus.

God's Hidden Mystery

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 11:00:00 -0500

This sermon addresses the mystery of God as it relates to how God will overcome evil at the end of time. When it looks like injustice, hate and war are winning the day, how God wins through love is truly mysterious. However, love will win in the end, even though we do not see how and we do not have the ability to ascertain God’s plans. We can trust that there is more to what God is doing than we can directly see at this point.

The Unseen Multitude

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Greg Boyd begins the new series titled Testify! by helping us see the crucial role that the unseen agents, called angels, play in the biblical story. We are invited to rethink the role that angels play in our story and the story of the world, and to embrace the reality that we live in a spiritual war zone.

The Way of Generosity

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 12:00:00 -0500

God calls us to the way of generosity and Dan Kent shows how this call is much larger than a set of rules for how we use our money. It’s about recognizing the story of the world versus the story of God. To be shaped by the world’s story is to only see what we possess because there is no ultimate victorious ending. But to be shaped by God’s story is to see the grandeur of what God is doing and the culmination of all things, which dwarfs anything that we can store up for ourselves.

The Way of Forgiveness

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Greg calls us into the Jesus way of forgiveness, contrasting it with the way of bitterness. He does this by explaining the parable of the unforgiving servant, as he helps us to see the inherent destructive forces that control our lives when we choose unforgiveness toward those who do us harm.

The Way of Integrity

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Cedrick Baker challenges us to walk in the way of integrity, living with our actions aligned with our beliefs. In this way of life our actions are not determined by what fits the situation, but by how our conscience determines what we will choose to do in the moment.

The Way of Empathy

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Dan Kent challenges us to enter into the way of empathy, which he says is crucial to our ability to connect with others by sharing in their feelings. It is a way exemplified by Jesus as he entered into the common human condition so that he might know what we experience from the inside.

The Way of Contentment

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0500

God calls us to live in contentment, which comes in two forms. First, there is basic lifestyle contentment, where we are at peace when our basic needs are met and we are not driven to pursue unnecessary things. Second, there is radical contentment, where we are living without anxiety, when we are facing a situation that could cause it. In this sermon, Greg offers us direction in how we can grow in both kinds of contentment.

The Way of Gratitude

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0500

This first sermon in our Walk the Way series addresses the importance of practicing gratitude and how it impacts our ability to receive God’s salvation. Greg Boyd looks at the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers, and how only one returned to express his gratitude to Jesus, and in doing so received something the other nine did not.

Crescendo of Hope

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Our world surrounds us with despair and darkness, and we long for a place of hope. Dan ties this reality into Revelation 8 and 9, where the trumpet judgments bring destruction to the earth. He looks for and finds hope in the midst of the destruction, showing us how we can hold on to hope in the midst of chaos.

Sealed by the Blood

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg Boyd explains the meaning of the seven trumpet judgments and how they apply to our modern context. Specifically, Greg addresses the image of the seals on believers’ foreheads, demonstrating how God has sealed us, thereby giving us confidence in the character of God to complete the work that he has begun in us.

Praying with Hope

Sun, 25 May 2025 12:00:00 -0500

In the apocalyptic scene of Revelation 8, the prayers of God’s people rise up to God. The church of the first century and the church of today is to be a people of prayer. In this sermon, Shawna Boren calls us into a fresh understanding of what prayer is and invites us into a fresh experience of relating to God through it.

Maranatha

Sun, 18 May 2025 11:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg Boyd addresses the nature of the final judgment and why the New Testament emphasizes the importance of crying out for God to set all things right with his coming.

Peace In Troubled Times

Sun, 11 May 2025 12:00:00 -0500

In a timely message for troubling times, Cedrick Baker shares his experience of living with God’s peace in the midst of struggle and trying situations. He discusses what peace is, how anxiety steals it and how to live in God’s peace.

Light Chasers

Sun, 04 May 2025 11:00:00 -0500

This sermon by Dan Kent helps us understand the meaning of repentance and why it is so crucial to our walk with Jesus. In it, we discover how we misunderstand what repentance is and see how repentance is a path to true freedom.

Silence Is Golden

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 11:00:00 -0500

This sermon brings us back to the book of Revelation, and in it Greg calls our attention to a singular verse, one that speaks of silence in the throne room.

Checkmate

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0500

In this Easter Sunday message, Greg shared with us how on the cross, God lured the rulers of this age into thinking that God could be defeated. However, what looked like defeat was ultimately the path to divine victory. Therefore, we can declare that what looks like Good Friday death is actually a precursor to resurrection victory.

Meditating on the Word

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Greg wraps up our series on spiritual disciplines by showing us the importance of meditating on God’s word. He explains how God’s word is foundational to our formation and then concludes with specific actions that can help us get God’s word inside our very essence.

Stop and Delight

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0500

God calls us to steward creation in partnership with him. However, the modern practices of human consumption actually destroy the very fabric that makes creation beautiful. We need practices that train us to serve as God’s creation stewards. In this sermon, Shawna Boren offers two Spiritual Practices for us to consider: gratitude and sabbath keeping.

Thank You, Please Forgive Me, I Love You

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Sandra Unger explores the practice of forgiveness and explains how it empowers us to live out the call to love others. We learn what forgiveness is and what it is not, while also being challenged to love others in ways that counter the primary ways of our culture.

Find a study guide for this message, and more sermon media on our website here.

Inner Exodus

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0500

We need spiritual disciplines which will shape us so that we can live in love toward ourselves. Fasting is such a discipline because it detoxes our dependence upon food and other pleasures, enabling us to receive what is actually fulfilling and whole. Dan Kent helps us to understand the role of fasting as we seek to love ourselves as God would have us to do.

Abiding in Christ

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg introduces the spiritual discipline of practicing the presence of God. This is simply the habit of living with an awareness of God’s nearness to us on a moment by moment basis. It is founded upon the invitation to abide in Christ, as he abides in us.

Honest to God

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 13:00:00 -0500

Greg introduces a new series on discipleship by explaining why spiritual disciplines are so crucial to our relationship and walk with God. Then he introduces us to the discipline of being honest with ourselves and with God about our lives.

Nothing but the Blood

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0600

Cedrick Baker brings a message on the victory that comes by the blood of Jesus. This victory is more than a legal declaration of personal cleansing of sin, it is an experience by those who embrace a life of cruciform participation. Following Jesus is not merely about belief; it costs us our lives, as it did the martyrs in John’s vision.

Hearing His Voice

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Greg challenges us to open our minds up to the idea that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, speaks to his sheep. This means that God speaks in a way that we can hear and follow him to the cross. Greg then explains the way that the voice of God works and how we can learn to listen.

Who or What Do You Worship?

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0600

This sermon addresses the meaning of worship and what causes a person to express their praise to God. Greg also explains why worship is so crucial to our life in God and what it means to worship God in our daily lives with how we act on a day-to-day basis.

Salvation Belongs to Our God

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Dan Kent helps us understand the meaning of the proclamation “salvation belongs to our God.” While we might assume salvation is about personal sin and guilt, Dan demonstrates that it is much more extensive than that. He shows us that salvation is centered around God’s work to establish the rightful King of all creation.

Radical Hospitality II

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Greg expands upon the call to be a people of hospitality as he highlights four specific groups of people who experience marginalization. As God has welcomed us in his divine hospitality, we also are to participate in God’s hospitality and show it to those who most need it.

Radical Hospitality

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 13:00:00 -0600

Cedrick Baker reflects on God’s hospitality toward us, and challenges us to join God in the life of hospitality. Just as God has freely given his love to us, we can reach out to others and show them the kind of love that we have received. This is rooted in the scene in Revelation 7, of God’s people celebrating the open hospitality they have experienced through the work of the cross.

Unity in Diversity

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0600

This unique sermon is a challenge by four individuals who reflect on different aspects of being God’s unified people in the midst of diversity—a reality that is a gift of God—and divisiveness—a reality that is a mud pit of Satan. The four perspectives call us to put our weight into the dream of God’s gloriously diverse, but unified, kingdom where all live in love, even when circumstances stand against it.

Multiples of Multitudes

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Shawna Boren examines the meaning of the vision of the 144,000. What is the meaning of this vast crowd and who is included in it? These questions are explored and the symbolic answers are connected to three parables of Jesus from Luke 15. This vision shows us the heart of God for all people, which can lead us into the depths of God’s love and transformation.

Branded

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Greg Boyd introduces the topic of what it means to be sealed by God. He explains that it pertains to the principle of God’s protection and God’s ownership of his people. We are protected in the sense that God is unconditionally committed to our salvation, we are owned by God because Jesus ransomed us from slavery to sin and Satan.

Stumbling Sideways

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0600

Meghan Good delivers a sermon on Jesus’ call to Peter from John 21 to help us understand how we can hear God’s call and embrace it through simple practices. These practices will shape our imagination for our journey forward.

Bittersweet Blessing

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0600

Christmas Eve service 2024

Follow His Lead

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0600

In this Christmas sermon, Shawna Boren explores the story of how Joseph encountered God four times through a dream. Joseph responded with great faith in ways that contrasted with conventional thinking. In doing so, this common man followed God as he was given the charge to care for the savior of the world.

Christmas Magi(c)

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0600

This sermon by Greg Boyd explores the Christmas story of the Magi’s search for Jesus. Greg provides historical background that opens our eyes to seeing the surprising and radical nature of their journey to find the Jewish Messiah. In addition, it reveals implications about who God is and how he relates to us.

Misfits at the Manger

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Greg examines the story of the angelic appearance to the shepherds and its meaning for Jesus and for us. We see how God comes for the marginalized and includes the outcasts into the redemption of all things.

Waiting with Anna

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0600

This sermon examines the story of Anna when she met the child Jesus in the temple. Dan Kent highlights how she waited for the Messiah for decades and the importance of waiting on God to act in our lives and release his gifts through us.

Crowns Not Crutches

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 13:00:00 -0600

This sermon by Dan Kent introduces the pale green horse of death in Revelation 6, and provides a way of understanding what God is trying to communicate through this and other terrifying images. Dan challenges us to embrace faithfulness when circumstances push us to prioritize fear.

Following the Little Lamb

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Greg examines the symbolism of the second and third horses who are told to come forth and show themselves for who they are. The second horse is given the title of societal conflict and the third is the horse of economic distress.

The Horse of Perpetual Ascent

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Greg expounds on the first broken seal and what it symbolizes. Here we read about the white horse that seeks to ascend through conquering. Some have taught that this represents the rule of Christ, but actually it is the ancient serpent who is merely a Christlike figure.

Election Eve: Keeping Perspective

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:00:00 -0600

Leading up to and throughout this election season, many of us have been experiencing a wide range of emotions—things like fear, anxiety and frustration.

It can be easy to lose perspective, which is why on "Election Eve", we held a special service, all about keeping our eyes fixed on King Jesus and his Kingdom, no matter the outcome of the election.

We want to remember who we belong to, where our citizenship is, and that our real hope is in Jesus—not in any particular candidate, political party or government.

Did Jesus Need a Campaign Manager?

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0600

This sermon is a conversation between Bill Doherty and Greg Boyd, where they talk about the relationship between the Kingdom of God and how the kingdoms of this world work, applying it to the present election season.

Final Justice

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0500

Greg speaks from the heart about the way that God judges, and how he uses all life circumstances to grow us, even though he does not cause those circumstances. When we honestly look at the difficulties of life, can we trust that God remains in them and meets us there, bringing good out of evil?

Poetic Justice

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0500

The Bible speaks repeatedly about the judgment of God, including the final judgment that is coming. In this sermon, Greg addresses what God’s judgment means by explaining the concept of organic judgment in contrast with judicial judgment.

The Joy of God's Judgment

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0500

In John’s vision he sees the martyrs calling out for justice, asking how long will they have to wait for God to make things right. This speaks to our common longing for justice as we live in the space where Jesus has won the victory and overcome Satan, yet we wait on justice to be fully realized. This sermon shows how we live in this space.

The Ancient Serpent

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg provides a defense for the existence of an evil intelligence, a being named Satan, and explains how Revelation conveys that he is the source and cause of all the violence, evil and destruction in the world. Through this, Greg argues that God has often been blamed for what Satan has actually done.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Lamb

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0500

This first sermon in this sub-series entitled “The Wrath of the Lamb” sets the stage for what is to come. Greg shows how the images in Revelation 6 have been traditionally interpreted as depicting God as a violent arbiter of wrath. However, he challenges these interpretations and introduces an alternative, which is more faithful to the text and to the revelation of God in Christ.

A Clash of Mindsets

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 13:00:00 -0500

In this final sermon for the Political Distortions series, Greg Boyd addresses the heart posture of humility, calling us to the mindset of living in love to the point that we take on the mind of Christ on the cross instead of the prideful-ascent mindset that characterizes Satan and those who are always pursuing a life of “more.”

Verbal Pollution

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0500

Jesus and the writers of the New Testament highlight the importance of how we use our words. In fact, the biblical parameters stand in stark contrast to the common ways of speaking about one another in modern life. As followers of Jesus, we are called to embrace an alternative way that is driven by love, not slander and gossip.

Bear With One Another

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Shawna Boren calls us to live in the way of Jesus by embodying patience in the midst of strife and turmoil. We are to bear with one another, showing others patience even when our natural tendencies compel us to set them straight.

Let Your Gentleness Show

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 13:00:00 -0500

Dan Kent challenges us with the words of the Apostle Paul to respond to polarization by letting our gentleness show. He explains what gentleness is and is not, and outlines the inherent power and the freedom we experience when we obey this command to gentleness.

Agents of Shalom

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 13:00:00 -0500

In this team-taught sermon with Greg Boyd and Bill Doherty, we learn about the importance of being a peacemaker, and discover some basic skills about how we can actually promote peace when polarized perspectives are part of our conversations.

Thwarting the Devil's Schemes

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0500

Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. Therefore, we must be wise to temptations that seek to entrap us in patterns that lead to our destruction. In this sermon Greg Boyd and Bill Doherty identify common ways that we are tempted in the current culture of political polarization. Greg and Bill then provide practical guidance for navigating these temptations so that we can avoid their entrapment.

The Set-Apart Kingdom

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 13:00:00 -0500

Greg Boyd and Cedrick Baker highlight the difference that the kingdom of God makes and how it contrasts with the kingdoms of this world. They help us understand how the two kingdoms often are combined, which means that the kingdom of God becomes something other than what it should be. Greg and Cedrick also provide some insight into ways that we can practice kingdom distinctives in our everyday lives.

Love without Judgment

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 13:00:00 -0500

In this introductory sermon to the new series, Political Distortions, Greg Boyd and Bill Doherty provide a framework for why God’s kingdom people are challenged to provide an alternative to the political polarizations that pervade our current reality. They also offer some initial guidance in how we can practice this alternative.

The Fragrant Partnership of Prayer

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 12:00:00 -0500

In Revelation 5, John’s vision includes the 24 elders holding up bowls of incense, which are our prayers. Greg explores four aspects of prayer, specifically intercessory or petitionary prayer. He addresses how prayer can be natural, its purpose, why it is urgent and the mystery of prayer’s outcomes.

Singing to God

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 12:00:00 -0500

The 24 elders in the throne room who sing praises to God show us that corporate worship is a distinctive feature of God’s people. Why is this important? What does this mean when corporate singing is uncommon outside of the church? Greg addresses these questions and provides practical guidance for ways that praising God can become a central part of our relationship with God.

The Trinity and the Spirit

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 12:00:00 -0500

When John enters the throne room in Revelation 4 and 5, the Father and Son are evident, but the Spirit is depicted as the seven eyes of the slain lamb. What does this imagery tell us about God’s triune nature and what can we learn about the role of the Holy Spirit? These are the questions addressed by Greg in this sermon, and the answers guide us into a deeper union with God.

Every Tribe, Language, People & Nation

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 12:00:00 -0500

The heavenly vision of John in Revelation 5 reveals that God redeems persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. Shawna Boren highlights the radical contrast of this truth against our common experience of division and “othering” that occurs in small and grand ways in our lives. God calls us to love the other rather than excluding those who are different. We make this a reality as we embrace the practice of hospitality.

Training for Reigning

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0500

The people of God are a kingdom and priests who will reign on earth. This is our identity. What does this mean and what are the implications for us? Cedrick Baker explores how we are being formed to be people of character who are trained to reign on earth, reflecting the character of God.

The Great Deception

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg Boyd focused on the part of John’s vision that no one is worthy to open the scroll. The reason is due to the fact that humanity has been deceived and therefore does not align with the character of God. Greg ties this passage to the deception of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 and then he provides spiritual practices that can break this pattern of deception.

The Lamb at the Center

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 13:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg Boyd introduces chapter 5 of Revelation where we read about the vision of the slain lamb. This lamb unveils the nature of God’s character in a surprising way, as typically God is depicted as having lion-like character, but instead the slain lamb shows us what God is really like, how God works in the world and how God has conquered evil.

The Heart of Worship

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0500

The twenty-four elders fall before the Lord in perpetual worship, giving us a radical image of life in the presence of God. In this sermon, Dan Kent explores the meaning of worship by showing us that the key is our allegiance to God demonstrated by the choices that we make in laying down our crowns before him.

The Imperishable Treasure

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0500

God is the only eternal one. All else is temporary. However, it is human nature to put our trust in temporary things, to focus on things that will not last. Jesus invites us to treasure that which will not be destroyed. When we set our hearts on God’s kingdom and his righteousness, we will discover the only treasure that endures.

Dancing With God

Sun, 26 May 2024 12:00:00 -0500

In Revelation 4, the 24 elders lay down their crowns and fall before God’s throne. This sermon explores how such acts are typically performed out of fear, but here it’s actually a reflection of the kind of love that they see in the life of Jesus, and a participation in the triune dance of God’s eternal being.

Upgrade Your Umwelt

Sun, 19 May 2024 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg challenges us to upgrade our umwelt. He expands on what Emily introduced in the previous week, and provides three practical ways that we can increase our ability to see God and enter into the knowledge of his transcendent glory.

Note: We had some mic issues between 27:07-29:12. We realize Greg can nearly not be heard, and we're sorry about that!

Don't be a Mantis Shrimp

Sun, 12 May 2024 12:00:00 -0500

John was invited to enter a door to see into the throne room of God. This was not a physical seeing. It was a spiritual experience, where he saw into another dimension of reality. What does it mean to see into this other world, to experience God in this distinctly different way? This sermon, by Emily Morrison, encourages us to embrace the gift of seeing God in this radically different way.

The Crystal Sea

Sun, 05 May 2024 12:00:00 -0500

In John’s vision in Revelation 4, he sees a sea of glass, which represents peace. What does this vision of peace mean for life when we are surrounded by chaos, evil and the constant barrage of all that is not peaceful? This vision of peace came before the final victory of sin and death. This peace is our inheritance in the present. We only need to see it and embrace it as God’s gift to us.

Attention!

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg calls the church to pay attention to the reality of spiritual warfare that pervades our world, and then he follows this with direction on the necessity and the ways to resist the powers that war against God’s kingdom.

Making Space

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg shares a second letter to the church of Woodland Hills that follows the form of the seven churches in Revelation. This letter praises the generosity expressed by the church, and it admonishes individuals regarding the need to live hospitably by examining how our time is eaten up by trivial and distracting busyness.

Revival Time!

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 12:00:00 -0500

This sermon applies the instruction to “hear” what the Spirit said to the seven churches from Revelation by offering a letter to our church today. Specifically, it is a call to revival, to enter into a new space of renewal so that we might wake up to the work of the Spirit in and around us.

Preparing for the Time of Testing

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 10:00:00 -0500

In the last letter to the seven churches, Jesus speaks of the endurance of the Philadelphians. They endure in times of trial and Jesus promises to keep them so that they might overcome and remain faithful. In this sermon, Greg challenges us to remain faithful in the midst of trials so that we might live in love, even when we face resistance to it.

Redeeming Creation

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 13:00:00 -0500

Jesus rose on that first Easter Sunday in his physical body. He was not a disembodied ghost. This demonstrates that the resurrection is not merely about the salvation of our souls. It’s about bringing all things into wholeness: the physical experience of our bodies, other creatures and the entire world. In this sermon, Greg calls us into this radical vision of God’s comprehensive salvation.

The Problem With Palm Sunday

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 13:00:00 -0500

This sermon narrates how Jesus was proclaimed as the Jewish Messiah by the people as they laid palm leaves as he entered Jerusalem. This is contrasted with their condemnation of Jesus to death, and it asks why they made this radical shift. Why did they adore him on Sunday and seek his crucifixion within the same week? These insights will open our eyes to what Jesus was doing, and what he is now doing in our world.

Big Reputation

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Shawna Boren explores the letter to the church at Sardis. This letter has a direct and somewhat harsh challenge given to a complacent and overly-confident church. These words are a warning to wake up and see reality for what it is so that we might more fully invest our lives in what really matters.

The Problem with Jezebel

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 13:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Jeremy Duncan, author of the book on Revelation entitled Upside Down Apocalypse, introduces Jesus’ words to the church at Thyatira. He unpacks the meaning of the violent and troubling imagery that we read, and he shows us how these words are meant to wake us up to the ways of the culture that undermine real life that only Christ can give us.

The Illusion of Self-Sufficiency

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0600

To the church of Laodicea, Jesus spoke harsh words of confrontation because they depended on wealth for their well-being, living under the illusion of self-sufficiency. In our modern world the pursuit of financial gain is a common illusory trap, one that tell us that it will serve as a foundation for our lives, but, in reality, it cannot be trusted. Only God can be the source of true life.

Sui Generis

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0600

Sui Generis is Latin for being of its own genre or unlike anything or anyone else. Each of us has a deep desire to feel special in relation to our Creator and this is the kind of relationship that God wants with each of us.

Spirit of Us

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0600

This sermon addresses how crowds who are formed around evil agendas serve as seedbeds for Satan. This has been seen throughout history where one crowd sets itself up as possessing the solution at the expense of others. It is based on an “us” vs. “them” mentality. The modern malaise of polarization continues this tactic of the enemy, and as Kingdom people, we must recognize it for what it is and rise above it.

Being God's Billboard

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0600

There is a cosmic war transpiring, one where Satan is in rebellion against God. We are caught up in a battle zone, and we, as parts of the church, have roles to play. This sermon explores what this means for us and how we influence the heavenly realms by being faithful witnesses to God’s character. Through the church, the wisdom of God is made known in mysterious ways that we cannot fully know.

Enemy-occupied Territory

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 13:00:00 -0600

Satan plays a main role in the book of Revelation. This sermon introduces who Satan is and his origin. It also addresses the primary tactics Satan uses and how we can combat and overcome them.

Our Hidden Treasure

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 12:00:00 -0600

This sermon expounds upon the letter to the church at Smyrna, where Jesus offers encouragement to the church which will be facing suffering and persecution. In their struggles, they are told that they are actually rich, contrary to all of the evidence. If they endure, they will receive the crown of life.

Sheep Among Wolves

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0600

Jesus addresses the church of Ephesus in the first letter to the seven churches, telling them what they did well and what they need to work on. Specifically, Jesus confronts the fact that they have abandoned the love that they started with. They were good at orthodoxy, but struggled to live a life characterized by love. This is an important message for us today in the midst of perpetual divisiveness over ideological differences.

Marching On

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 12:00:00 -0600

Faith is about capturing a vision of what can be and having a conviction that stirs up action to move toward it. This faith also pertains to the pursuit of racial reconciliation. God has a dream for racial reconciliation that has not yet been fully realized, but as we see God’s vision, we can put our weight toward it, leaning into that vision as if it already has occurred.

Angelic Awe

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 12:00:00 -0600

John sees a vision of Jesus holding the entire angelic world in his hand, symbolizing his universal authority. This sermon explores the reality of an angelic world by highlighting how our knowledge of the universe is actually very limited. Then we learn the role that angels play and how we can participate in the victory that Jesus won over what the Bible refers to as “spiritual powers” that have held us in bondage.

Jesus One and Only Weapon

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 13:00:00 -0600

This sermon explores John’s first heavenly vision where he is told to record what he sees and send it to seven churches. Part of this vision is a sword that comes from the mouth of Jesus, the only weapon that is ever associated with Jesus. Why is this symbol important? What does it mean? And what is the significance of it being his only weapon? The sermon answers these questions.

The Gift of God's Compassion

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 14:00:00 -0600

Christmas is the ultimate expression of God’s compassion, a core attribute and expression of God’s being. This is an expression associated with the Hebrew word for womb, which means that compassion is about entering into the experiences of another. God enters into our life through Jesus and shows us what God is like.

The Gift of God's Grace

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 12:00:00 -0600

God, at the core of his divine nature, is gracious. This means that God extends his favor to us as a gift, out of his delight in us. This grace is fully expressed in the coming of Jesus, and Christmas is a time to celebrate and receive the grace of God.

The Gift of God's Faithfulness

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0600

God proclaims to Moses that his character is faithful, even when his covenant partners are not faithful to him. Jesus was born to demonstrate God’s covenant faithfulness, coming to those who were not looking for him or able to recognize him when he came. God remains faithful to us today, never leaving nor forsaking us, even when we do not seek him or we rebel against him.

The Gift of God's Forgiveness

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0600

In this second sermon of the Christmas series, we examine God’s forgiving character, how God forgives us, what it means to forgive others and why this is important to our own well-being, and to forgiving ourselves. This core trait of God’s is ultimately fulfilled in the life of Jesus, as he shows us what God’s forgiving nature looks like.

The Gift of God's Justice

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0600

This opening sermon to the Christmas series introduces a central Old Testament passage that defines the nature of God, which is ultimately revealed in the coming of Jesus, the perfect embodiment of God. In this sermon, Greg addresses a difficult phrase where God is said to visit the iniquity of the parents on their children. How are we to understand this passage when it contradicts both Jesus’ teachings and his actions on the cross?

Slaughtering Lies

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0600

This sermon examines three key phrases found in Revelation 1:4-8 that help us understand the overarching themes of Revelation and reframe popular ways that this book has been taught. Through these phrases, we learn that the end times is not about waging wrathful war but about destroying lies that deceive.

The Seven Spirits of God

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 12:00:00 -0600

What are the “seven spirits”? To answer this question, Greg explores the way that Revelation employs numbers to convey truths, with seven referring to completeness or perfection. The seven spirits implies the perfect giving of the Holy Spirit, God’s presence, just as God completely poured himself out in the Incarnation.

The Bride Says "Yes" to the Dress

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0600

What is the endgame of all of Scripture? Since the Book of Revelation points to this endgame, it is crucial that we step back and look at the big picture of God’s purpose. This sermon answers this question by highlighting the goal of the preparation of the bride (God’s people) to be wed to the groom (Christ).

Three Works of Jesus

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Jesus, whom the book of Revelation gives divine titles, is at work in our world. This work is manifest in three ways according to this passage: he loves us, freed us, and made us. We put ourselves in a place to receive God’s ongoing love and to live out the freedom that we have been given. In addition, we have been made priests, people who offer this love and freedom to the world; we do this in our normal, everyday lives.

Rolling Stones

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 12:00:00 -0500

As members of God’s kingdom, we are priests, what Peter calls “living stones,” who participate in God’s transcendent and glorious work to redeem all things. There is not a special class of people designated for this, but God includes us in his work to change the world.

The Faithful Witness

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 13:00:00 -0500

Our focus scripture states that God relates to creation in time, through the past, in the present, and toward the future that is to come. He walks with us in relationship, as is demonstrated throughout the Old Testament. This eternality of God is applied to Jesus in Revelation, highlighting the divine transcendence of the slain lamb.

The Saturation Point

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 13:00:00 -0500

We are told that we are blessed if we hear and keep the words of Revelation. These words will challenge the norms of the culture that shape us, which means that we must be open to ways that we don’t know we are deceived. But even more than hearing, we must practice keeping these words, internalizing them in such a way that they become part of us.

A Living Faith

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 13:00:00 -0500

Many read Revelation as a predictor of the future. This turns God into a fixed, wooden object who does not actually relate to a living creation. But this book was never meant to be read this way. Instead, it points to a living God who relates to a living creation and calls us into a living faith.

The Time Is Near

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 11:00:00 -0500

This sermon addresses the meaning of “the end is near.” Many explanations that the church has offered have caused great confusion because the book of Revelation has been used as a predictor of the very end of time. However, such explanations misunderstand the genre that Revelation is. When we read this book as apocalyptic literature, we can interpret the symbols rightly and see how it can serve to encourage the church to be faithful to Christ in the midst of spiritual warfare.

A Hope Revealed

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0500

In this first sermon of our new series on the book of Revelation, we are introduced to how this book has been taught in ways that do not represent its meaning. We learn about its true meaning, and we discover why this message is so crucial to our present time. In a time when hope is waning, Revelation points us to the hope found in Jesus so that we might see the way that God brings victory when all seems lost.

This Is Us

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0500

While we are to invest in our individual Christian formation, we are also responsible for our formation corporately. We do not live out our faith merely as individuals. We live out our love for Christ together and work out our salvation as a group.

Antifragile Faith

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0500

The struggles we face offer us a choice: avoid them or use them as an opportunity to develop antifragile faith. Pain avoidance will keep us fragile, but when we press on with Christ as the goal, we can develop perseverance or what Dan calls, antifragile faith.

Living Beyond Happy

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg shares how God uses afflictions to form our character, if we have a vision for God’s ultimate goal of life and set aside the common goal of the pursuit of happiness. A vision to know God and live in his love will motivate us to enter into training that will shape us to love God and others. This training moves us beyond the never-ending chase of happy so that we might find joy in all things.

Postcards from the End

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 11:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg paints a picture of what God is doing now and what God will do at the end of history. He does this by providing three snapshots found in three passages that describe what the end will look like and how God will redeem all things by the power of his love. This gives us a reason for hope in the midst of any current suffering and pain.

The Goal

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0500

This sermon addresses how God uses the suffering we face in this world to form us so that we might know Christ and his glory. While the sufferings we face are not orchestrated by God, God meets us in these situations and provides us with the opportunity to meet Christ in the midst so that we might be transformed into his likeness.

Lessons from the ER

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 13:00:00 -0500

Greg shares physical challenges he's experienced lately and how during a visit to the emergency room, he began to understand the meaning of sharing in Christ’s suffering. He uses this experience to show how God meets us in our sufferings and uses them to bring about the transformation of knowing Christ.

Don't Look Back

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 13:00:00 -0500

The Apostle Paul wrote that he does one thing: forget what is behind and press ahead to the goal to win the prize of God. In this sermon, Dan Kent explains what it means to forget the past and press on toward God. When we do this we find freedom and joy to move into God’s continuing new work.

Abiding in Truth

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 13:00:00 -0500

Shawna Boren teaches through Jesus’ words about the vine and the branches from John 15, explaining how God works with us so that we might abide in Jesus and have the fullness of his life in us. She helps us identify issues that hinder our abiding in Jesus and how we can move into the life of the vine.

Raveling Truth

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0500

This sermon provides a recap of the Unraveling Truth series, as Dan walks us through four elements of the series: Truth, God, Jesus and the Bible. He explains how these elements are related to each other and how they have implications for how we think and do day-to-day life.

What's Really Going On

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Many people struggle in their faith because they have read in the Old Testament about the violence promoted and done by God. They ask how that violence is actually loving, and how it aligns with the God revealed in Jesus Christ on the cross. In this sermon, Greg provides a way to read these passages so that they point to the cross and demonstrate God’s love for the world.

Good Teacher

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Dan Kent asks the question, was Jesus a good teacher? He uses the story of the rich young ruler, who called Jesus “good teacher,” and Jesus’ response to help us see the uniqueness of Jesus’ teachings. The questions that this man brought to Jesus hindered his ability to receive what Jesus taught, and in the same way today, our questions limit us.

Where Are You, O Lord?

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Jim Beilby seeks to answer the question of where God is in the midst of the realities of our day-to-day struggles. This sermon addresses the apparent hiddenness of God when we are not experiencing his personal presence.

Gehenna

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg addresses the problem of hell and how many have walked away from the faith because they cannot reconcile a God of love with a place of endless torture. Greg gives a biblical understanding of hell by demonstrating its metaphorical language, how we bring hell upon ourselves, and how it actually is related to God’s love.

The Significance of the Church

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Many today view the church as insignificant and irrelevant, and therefore, the church is seeing many exit its doors and never returning. What are the reasons why people view the church in this way? How can the church counteract this perspective? These questions are explored so that we might understand what it means to be the church in today’s world and how we can participate in being God’s people in a way that is both significant and relevant.

Close Encounters of the Kingdom Kind

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Greg interviews Adam Dyer, pastor of Yeovil Community Church in England and the Director of Jesus Collective. Through the conversation, we learn about practical ways God is working through his people when Jesus is placed at the center.

Peacemaking in a Polarized World

Sun, 28 May 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Greg Boyd interviews Bill Doherty about how he came to faith, how he facilitates peacemaking through his organization, Braver Angels, and how we can live in a divided and polarized world.

Was Jesus Crazy?

Sun, 21 May 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Based on the claims that Jesus made about himself, we have three options: to say he was a liar, a lunatic or that he is lord. This sermon addresses the question of whether or not Jesus was of a sound mind, and then claims that the only sane human to have ever lived was Jesus, and what the implications of that are.

Everyone and Everything

Sun, 14 May 2023 12:00:00 -0500

This sermon addresses two issues people often find problematic about being saved through the work of Jesus. The first is the issue of particularity, or how salvation is an exclusive offer found only in Jesus. The second issue is what we are saved from. Many have argued that we are saved from the wrath of God, but this presents a myriad of problems, many of which actually portray God as inherently angry and violent towards humans. This sermon lays out a different view of salvation, one based in the loving sacrifice of God on the cross.

Church Scandal

Sun, 07 May 2023 13:00:00 -0500

The Church is to be the representation of God’s life to the world so that the world might see and know God. Yet throughout history, the Church has repeatedly fallen short of this calling. Now, as a result, people are resisting the Christian faith because of the repulsive actions and words of those in the Church. What are we to do with this reality? How do we understand what is going on in the Church? And why did God set up the Church as his primary means for his mission? This sermon seeks to address these questions.

The Great Fall of Christendom

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0500

This sermon addresses what Christendom is and compares it to an apostolic posture. While many bemoan the fall of Christendom, could this actually be a good thing as it makes space for us to return to the apostolic posture?

The Far Country

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Dr. Kishore Vellody shares his story about how truth has been “unraveled” in his own life – how his journey from a hard drinking atheist in college to one who is passionate about the love of God has played out in serendipitous and unpredictable ways.

The "Problems" in Scripture

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Many find themselves struggling with their faith when they are honest about imperfections that they find in the Bible. This sermon helps us understand the nature of these imperfections and offers a way to reframe the way the Bible works as God’s inspired book.

Nothing Gold Shall Fade

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0500

This sermon offers six reasons why we can trust in the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It also explains what the resurrection means for us, as it offers a sense of hope enduring, everlasting beauty in the midst of fleeting goodness.

From the Cradle to the Cross

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Many have walked away from the faith because the church has embraced patriarchal patterns. This sermon addresses what patriarchy is, how Jesus responded to it during his time and takes a hard look at how patriarchy remains a problem today. Here is an alternative perspective that tears down the patterns of control and abuse that deride and demean women, and empowers them to walk as peers alongside men in the world and in the church.

Religion vs. Relationship

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0500

History shows the church has promoted violence in various forms, and many have turned away from the faith as a result. This sermon examines this issue and addresses the alternative that Jesus brings and what the church should offer the world.

Does Everything Happen for a Reason?

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 13:00:00 -0500

How do we understand the problem of evil and its relationship to God’s work in the world? The common perspective is that God causes evil, but Greg offers an alternative view.

Natural Habitat

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 13:00:00 -0500

We live in a world where most people believe in some form of a God, but more often than not, people do not view God as personal or in a relationship with us. This sermon explores why it is logical to say both that God exists and is personal, and then it examines the importance of cultivating this personal interaction with God.

This We Believe

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0600

In a culture where the foundations of truth are unraveling, Greg offers a framework that equips us to focus on Jesus and walk with others who might see things differently than we do.

Miracles and Microscopes

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0600

This sermon covers the problem of science vs. faith and the supposed division between the two that often drives away people from the church. Dan Kent proposes a solution to resolve the differences, showing us how the two can work together and complement one another.

The Physics of Faith

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Emily Morrison looks at what happens right after Jesus feeds the 5000 to point out the importance of raising questions about our faith. She offers an explanation of three phases of our faith journey that allow us to embrace the questions and find a way through them by ultimately bringing them to Jesus.

Absolute Relativism

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 13:00:00 -0600

Is it possible to claim to know any absolute truth in an age in which everything is heading in the direction of relativism? In this sermon, Greg gives us three reasons to take relativism seriously and understand why people might think it plausible.

Good News People

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0600

The church too often puts on display bad news that drives people away from God. This sermon confronts this pattern and shows us a different way—a way of love that can provide an experience of good news.

Hitting Bottom

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 12:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Greg provides an introduction to a new series on the reason why we believe in and follow Christ. He surveys why this topic is important and some of the various questions that we will explore in the series. Then Greg explains the foundation of his faith that he worked out when he was wresting with questions of belief.

Panel of the Expert

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 13:00:00 -0600

As a conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount series, a panel discusses the high points of the series and interacts with the teachings in a personal way, helping us put the words of Jesus into action.

Hope in Action

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 12:00:00 -0600

In remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr., Greg engages the teaching of King to challenge the church to continue God’s call to tear down walls that divide people along racial lines.

One with Authority

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 12:00:00 -0600

Jesus spoke with authority, but what does this authority mean for today when we tend to distrust authority figures? In this sermon Dan addresses why acting on Jesus’ teaching is so crucial to actually understanding what he said. Jesus’ truth is not merely a set of facts that we give assent to. They are life truths that we can only fully know when we live them out.

Here's My Heart

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:00:00 -0600

In a world full of false messages, we need to hear God’s truth, specifically the truth about who we are as God’s children. This is not merely hearing factual truths about our identity, but opening our hearts to receive God’s truth, which means we must let go of things in our hearts that hinder these truths from sinking in.

The Light of Hope

Sat, 24 Dec 2022 15:00:00 -0600

Hope sets the course for our lives, as our hope determines our daily actions. But often we go through life putting our hope in that which has no ultimate importance. Christmas redefines hope, showing us what is ultimately valuable, and it demonstrates how God transforms our lives and the entire world.

The Absurdity of Loneliness

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0600

Loneliness pervades our society today. Jesus came to be with us, driving out isolation and confronting the demonic patterns that keep us from receiving and giving the love of God to one another.

Destination: Known

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0600

We are meant to live with meaning, but our world seems to offer meanings that ultimately fail to measure up to their promises. Jesus came into the world to give us meaning, the kind of meaning that can only be found from knowing the destination of the journey of life.

God's Perfect Peace

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0600

At Christmas time, we announce the coming of the Prince of Peace. Yet we look around at our world and peace appears to be the last thing that describes our situation. What does Christ’s peace look like in the midst of the tumult and chaos that we experience on a daily basis?

The Wise Builder

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Greg addresses Jesus’ teaching on the differences between the wise and the foolish builders and what it means to act on what Jesus instructs.

Keep Your Eyes on the Fruit

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 14:00:00 -0600

There is a distinct difference between false and true prophets. We know this difference by their fruit, by what they promote in the lives of others. The challenge is that because false prophets promote the norms of a culture they are easily embraced as being true.

The Road Less Traveled

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 13:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Greg address the differences between the wide and the narrow ways, and explains how we can embrace the life that comes with the narrow path.

Travel Hazards

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0600

In this panel discussion, Paul Eddy, Dan Kent and Shawna Boren discuss various aspects of prayer, specifically about why prayer matters and how to grow in it.

The Path is a Person

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 13:00:00 -0500

The end of the Sermon on the Mount offers two ways, or two paths to follow. In this sermon, Dan introduces the tradition of the Two Ways and then connects the way of life to the way of Jesus.

Day of Revelation

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 11:00:00 -0500

Greg teaches how what we build on the foundation of Jesus Christ will be tested by fire in the Final Judgment. That which aligns with the Kingdom will be purified and that which does not will be burned away.

As in Adam, So in Christ

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg addresses the question of how Christ died and gave life to all, but at the same time, people can choose death and therefore reject this life. This is set in the context of the end judgment of God.

What About Those Who Never Hear the Gospel?

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Jim Beilby addresses the question about the destiny of the un-evangelized, proposing that people are given the opportunity to receive Christ’s true revelation of himself after death.

Giving Thanks for All God Has Done

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 13:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg reviews some of the primary ways that God has worked in our church over the last three decades. This retrospective invites us into thanksgiving, celebration, and wonder at God’s faithfulness.

The Purifying Judgment of God

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0500

This sermon address the nature of God’s judgment at the end of time and how it relates to the suffering we are encountering in the midst of the struggles of this present life.

Creation Care Checkup

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 12:00:00 -0500

This sermon provides a brief report card on how well humans are doing at caring for God’s creation, specifically as it relates to Earth’s climate.

Love in Four Dimensions

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0500

The vision of Woodland Hills is “Learning to Love Together.” This is practiced in four dimensions: loving God, loving ourselves, loving other people and loving creation.

As Humans Go, So Goes the Earth

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 13:00:00 -0500

There is a direct, organic connection between how humans live in love and the well-being of creation. The calamity experienced at the hands of the environment is a natural result of human failure to care for it as God intended.

Caretakers of God's Property and Pets

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0500

God called all people to care for his land and animals as his stewards. This is a basic mandate that was part of the creation narrative.

The "Wrath of God"

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 12:00:00 -0500

What does it mean to trust God as the ultimate judge? This is an important question if we are going to live in love and forego judgment of others.

Love or Die

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Greg provides a big picture overview of the series on God’s final judgment and why it is so crucial, especially during this time in history.

The End of the World as You Know It

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0500

We long for justice, and we hope that God will deliver his justice at the end of times. This sermon introduces a series on the coming justice of God and what this means for us today.

Flowers for Footprints

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 10:00:00 -0500

John’s first letter tells us that we are God’s children and that the world is controlled by the evil one. But even more, it tells us how to know Jesus in the midst of this evil so that we might have resurrection life.

Getting Off Your High Horse

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 12:00:00 -0500

We get off the “high horse” by not judging others or seeing ourselves as superior to them. We also get off the high horse by living relationship with others and having the humility to receive feedback from them.

Fake News

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 13:00:00 -0500

The story of Genesis 3 identifies the lies at the root of all that is wrong with the world. These lies are fake news about the nature of God, ourselves, others and the purpose of the planet. When we buy into these lies, the resulting actions cause destruction.

Orbiting God

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 16:00:00 -0500

The story of the fall of Adam and Eve tells us what it means to lose the true center of life, and how when we orbit around a false center we are trapped in the perpetual judgement of others.

A Different Kind of Fire

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Dan Kent examines how we respond when others judge us. He first looks at how the world teaches us to respond, and then he offers a different response that is shaped by God’s perspective.

Our Civic Responsibility

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0500

In this sermon, Cedrick Baker brings clarity to what it means to be civically engaged in our world in a Kingdom way. He offers insight into ways that we can be God's love and light without falling into the traps of polarization.

Playing God

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0500

This sermon explores the four primary passages from the Bible that explain why judgment is forbidden.

Cross Examination Q&A Session

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0500

This panel conversation addresses the practical implications of the teaching on what it means to live in love and forego judgment of others.

A Tale of Two Trees

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 11:00:00 -0500

There were two trees in the Garden of Eden, one representing where we get true life from and one representing a prohibition from what steals from life. This sermon explores the significance of these two trees.

The Absurdity of Judgment

Tue, 31 May 2022 11:00:00 -0500

We live in a system in which everyone judges themselves and each other and creates a hierarchy of those above and below them. Jesus came to confront and blow this system apart.

Character Is Destiny

Mon, 23 May 2022 12:00:00 -0500

We become what we practice. We practice what we imagine is the goal of where we are going. As Christ followers, we are to set the goal of living in love so that we can practice love to become more loving.

The Point of It All

Mon, 16 May 2022 12:00:00 -0500

God calls us to replicate the love of the cross instead of passing judgment upon others. We do this as we live into the reality of our inclusion in God’s love and our identity in Christ, as part of the Triune, cruciform love that God is.

Our Central Mandate

Mon, 09 May 2022 13:00:00 -0500

In this introductory sermon to the “Cross Examination” series, Greg lays out the all-important challenge to live in love in the way that is defined by Christ on the cross. This sermon also details how this mandate to love goes against the grain of our culture which is dominated by divisiveness and judgment.

Life is Hard. We are Strong. God is Good.

Tue, 03 May 2022 11:00:00 -0500

How do we become the kind of person who heeds Jesus’ words on not worrying about our life? Dan Kent answers this question with three basic truths that can change how we face worrisome situations.

Food, Clothing & Dinosaurs

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Jesus tells us not to worry, but what does this mean in a world full of worry-causing circumstances? How can we not be anxious when there are so many troubling issues that we face? This teaching addresses what it means to trust God in anxious times to the point that we know that Jesus is with us as we face our worries.

A Different Kind of Hope

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 16:00:00 -0500

The world around us is wrought with pain and suffering. Amidst this reality it can often be difficult to find a sense of hope. To fully appreciate the incomprehensible glory that is going to be revealed to us, we first need to appreciate the full magnitude of the sufferings of this present age. As we engage with the painful news of our world, we turn our eyes to the coming hope that is grounded in the resurrected Christ.

*Please note that due to Greg being sick on Easter, we re-used his message from 2018 for this year’s service.

Darkness Confronts Light

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 16:00:00 -0500

On Good Friday, Jesus experienced the darkness and pain of God -forsakenness, as he entered the depths of the reality of a sin-drenched world. How can this inform our experience of living in a Good Friday World?

The Liturgy of Abundance

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 11:00:00 -0500

Scarcity drives common daily experiences in our world, yet God invites us to trust his ability to abundantly provide. In this sermon, Osheta Moore offers us a liturgy of abundance so that we can embrace God’s abundance in the midst of scarcity.

Opting Out (Of the Mammon Game)

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 12:00:00 -0500

How do we find freedom from the allure of mammon? In this sermon, Greg offers three practical steps for discovering contentment in God so that we are free from the discontentment that drives the Mammon Game.

Fireproof Treasure

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0500

At the end of time, we will come before God in judgment, where God’s love will refine and purge. Jesus taught us to live today with this future in mind by investing in treasures that will endure the fire instead of investing in that which will burn because they are not compatible with God’s love.

The Mammon Games

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Jesus taught us to be aware of the trap of money and greed. In this sermon, Greg applies Jesus’ words to today’s situation so that we might escape this mammon game and entrust our money to God.

What Are You Looking At?

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 13:00:00 -0500

Jesus taught us that what we see is shaped by how our eyes are trained to see the world. If our eye is bad, our sight will be corrupted. We need good eyes to see the world rightly.

Beloved Hypocrite

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 14:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Greg teaches on Matthew 6:16-21, where we’re told to fast in secret, unlike the "hypocrites" who put fasting on display for public applause. Our reward for secrecy is the beauty of the character that we develop when we learn how to be singularly motived by God’s will rather than social applause. This leads to two questions: How is this secret relationship with our Father going, and what really motivates us?

Pray Like the Sequoias

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0600

In this sermon Tara Beth Leach shares about the importance of corporate prayer and how it impacts our lives in a culture that is shaped by individualism.

Deliver Us From the Evil One

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 11:00:00 -0600

What does it mean to pray that God won’t bring us to times of trial and to be rescued from the evil one? Greg explores the answers to this question and how it applies to our daily lives.

Forgiven and Forgiving

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 13:00:00 -0600

Jesus teaches about the importance of forgiving others who have done us harm, even saying that the Father will not forgive us if we don’t forgive. What does this mean? Why is forgiveness so important? How do we practice it? These are questions that Greg explores in this crucial sermon for our times.

Daily Bread

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 13:00:00 -0600

The Lord teaches us to ask for the Father’s provision of our daily bread. What does this mean in our modern culture where we are taught to take care of ourselves? This sermon by Cedrick Baker seeks to address this question.

Keeping the Father's Name Holy

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0600

Continuing the “When You Pray” series, Greg opens this teaching on the Lord’s Prayer by discussing the analogical nature of the way that the New Testament authors wrote.

MLK Discussion Panel

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0600

This weekend we had a discussion panel in which Greg, Cedrick, Delon and Shawna addressed questions submitted about issues around race and God’s Kingdom.

Forces of Light

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 11:00:00 -0600

On the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Greg talks about how spiritual warfare is rooted in the war between light and darkness, and how MLK taught us to offer light in the midst of that darkness.

When Prayer Goes "Unanswered"

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 14:00:00 -0600

Why do prayers go unanswered if God is all-powerful? This sermon seeks to answer this question in a way that lines up with the character of God revealed in Jesus.

Teach Us To Pray

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 11:00:00 -0600

What is the purpose of petitionary prayer? In this sermon, Greg seeks to answer this question by showing how prayer is a means of partnering with God to join our will with God’s

Good News for Mary

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0600

The story of Mary, Jesus’ mother, is significant. Through it we can see how following Jesus involves trusting him in the midst of confusion, not the lack of it. Her story encourages us to press through fear and doubt, even when we don’t understand how God is at work in and around us.

Beyond the Mirror

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0600

Our understanding of God is often controlled by our projections upon him. How, then, do we actually attain a more accurate picture of who he actually his? This sermon seeks to address this question by helping us think through our experiences of parenting and how those experiences influence our view of God’s nature.

Good News for Ruth

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0600

Ruth is an ancestor of Jesus. Her story reveals surprising aspects of what Jesus came to do in our world, how he came to tear down walls that divide us into nationalistic camps. This is a story that we need to embrace so that the kingdom of God might rise up.

Good News for Rahab

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0600

The genealogy of Jesus includes a woman named Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute. Such an inclusion is not only shocking, but it also is scandalous. Why was she included and what does it mean for us today?

Good News for Tamar

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0600

This is the first sermon of our Christmas series that explores the five women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew. Here, the story of Tamar from Genesis 38 is told and we are introduced to what Christmas means for women in a culture that is shaped by misogyny.

Imagine This

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 13:00:00 -0600

The imagination plays a central role in the spirituality of most ancient people-groups. God is still speaking today in this way today, but we’ve lost the art of hearing because we don’t take our imagination seriously.

10,000 Opportunities

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Osheta Moore offers a teaching on the practice of silence, or what she calls holy listening. Then, she offers a means for embracing this holy listening through the discipline of centering prayer.

When You Fast

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0600

What is fasting? Why should we do it? What does Jesus say about fasting? In this sermon, Dan Kent explores these questions, and wrestles with the practical implications of fasting in our world that is overcome by the pursuit of pleasure.

The Discipline of Giving

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0600

In this sermon, Greg addresses the nature of the rewards that we receive from investing in spiritual disciplines. He then speaks to how generosity is rewarded.

The Spiritual Practices of Jesus

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 05:30:22 -0500

Jesus' life and ministry were characterized by prayer. Why did he pray as he did, and what does that tell us about why we should pray? In this sermon, Meghan Good explores this topic and helps us see the importance of spiritual practices to our life in God.

What's Your Story?

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 05:31:54 -0500

In this introductory sermon to a new series on spiritual practices, Greg lays the foundation for why we embrace such practices by identifying narratives that undermine our adopting them, and proposing a biblical narrative that will naturally and organically compel us to make them part of our lives.

We Are Family!

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:31:49 -0500

The final teaching of this series is a panel conversation with Bronwyn Lea on the topic of church as family, where Shawna Boren and Emily Morrison explore how the church can move into this experience in everyday life.

The Lost Art of Friendship Q&A

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 05:30:23 -0500

This panel conversation between Greg Boyd, Shawna Boren, Paul Eddy and Emily Morrison addresses questions that have been submitted during the series on friendship.

Thank You for Being a Friend

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 05:30:12 -0500

In this sermon, Shawna Boren addresses the question: how do we practice friendship in our culture? She identifies common cultural practices that serve as roadblocks to friendship and then provides five relationship builders that will open up opportunities for cultivating connections with others.

He Sets the Lonely in Families

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 05:31:51 -0500

In this sermon, Emily Morrison lays out the biblical teaching of the church as family and what this could look like in modern Western culture where church family is often little more than shaking hands and sharing a periodic pot-luck.

What Happened to Spiritual Friendship?

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 05:30:52 -0500

Historically, intimate friendship was valued in the church and in the broader culture. This sermon provides a basic overview of why spiritual friendship is so important and why we need to build it into our lives today.

Friendship With God

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 05:30:05 -0500

God has invited us to be his friends, but what does that actually mean? And how is being God's friend actually a more mature relationship than being his servant? This sermon addresses these questions and challenges our common notions of friendship with God.

First Steps

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 05:30:08 -0500

This panel discussion concludes the four-part series on participating with God in order to share his love with the world. The panel participants provide a new imagination for how we can share Christ with others.

Partnering with God

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 05:31:28 -0500

How do we share the gospel in a culture that does not recognize or value the Bible or Christian traditions? The Apostle Paul dealt with this in his day, and his approach serves as a model for us today.

Blessed Rituals

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 05:33:58 -0500

As members of God's church, we are called to share the gospel in every part of our lives. Our family is central to our daily lives, but we often don't think about how we can intentionally live out the gospel in that setting. This sermon addresses this topic.

Flexing Your Missional Muscle

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 05:33:56 -0500

Technology is a great thing, but it has unintended consequences. What are the consequences of moving church to live-streaming and how should we respond? This sermon explores two options that lie before us.

Being Married to God

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 05:33:29 -0500

This sermon employs the image of us sitting next to God in a marriage counseling session so that we might view God as our marriage partner and grow in love with each other.

The "Perfect" Sermon

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 05:37:59 -0500

What did Jesus mean when he told us to be perfect? This sermon addresses this question and shows us how we most often miss Jesus' point.

Where Love and Justice Kiss

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 05:30:12 -0500

This panel discussion addresses practical issues that pertain to Jesus' teaching on enemy love.

The Core Issue

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 06:23:03 -0500

To love our enemy, we must understand two core issues. First, we can only love when we are allowing Christ to meet our core needs. Secondly, all people share the same basic core needs, but they fall into the trap of trying to meet them in false ways.

Learning to Love Your Enemy

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 05:32:31 -0500

Jesus' teaching style draws you in with something you "think" you know, and then just turns it on its head. He was literally challenging the common thinking of the day.

Imitating Indiscriminate Love

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 05:30:50 -0500

Jesus taught us to love our enemies. While central to everything he taught, the church has long evaded its straight-forward implications. What then are we to do with his words?

Jesus' Third Way Response to Evil

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 05:30:35 -0500

How do we respond to evil? There are three options: We can respond in kind, we can cower to it, or we can opt for Jesus' third option. This sermon explores the third option and challenges us to combat the evil of our world by offering an unexpected response.

Future People

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 05:30:47 -0500

God's complete Kingdom that is coming in the future overlaps with the present reality of the world. In the midst of this overlap, we are called to live out the future in the present life that in reality, falls short of God's Kingdom vision.

The Kingdom of Heaven is Like... A Sunday Night Dress Up Meal?

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 05:30:54 -0500

When we pray "as it is in heaven," what does this actually mean? What are the characteristics of heaven? This sermon addresses this question by identifying the Kingdom as radically forgiving, radically welcoming and radically peaceful.

We Are the Church

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 05:24:40 -0500

The Kingdom of God is the present realization of God's fully redeemed future, and the coming of the Spirit upon the church is the primary means for seeing the present Kingdom come.

God, Sex and Family

Sun, 30 May 2021 05:31:16 -0500

Please note that this message has some "PG-13" content that may not be suitable for kids.This panel discussion serves as a wrap-up to the series on sex, marriage and singleness, as the panelists address practical issues around these topics.

Reality Over Legalities

Sun, 23 May 2021 05:37:39 -0500

Jesus' words about divorce appears to provide a technical reason for justifying the breaking of the marriage covenant. Is this what this passage really means, or is there something more significant that Jesus was saying? This sermon provides an unexpected answer to this question.

The Myth of Romantic Love

Sun, 16 May 2021 06:30:38 -0500

In this sermon, Greg challenges the modern myth of romantic love, providing three reasons why it derails us from entering into a biblical view of marriage. Also, Emily Morrison provides a reframe for understanding how singleness plays a part in God's family.

The Way of the Beloved Community

Sun, 09 May 2021 06:35:07 -0500

In this section of Scripture we're in, Jesus explains the difference between what people of his day assumed the Old Testament law meant and what it really means. He's making clear the underlying spirit of the law, as opposed to the literal interpretation that focuses on the letter of the law. This points to a "third way" pattern of living out the Kingdom of God that manifests the true meaning of God's law.

The Bottom Reframe

Sun, 02 May 2021 06:29:00 -0500

This two-part sermon provides an update on the state of what God has been doing in Woodland Hills Church, followed by an exploration of Jesus' teaching on the imagination and its relationship to adultery.

Imaginative Sex

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 05:32:25 -0500

First, Cedrick Baker provides a reflection on his thoughts after seeing the verdict of Derek Chauvin, along with more killings of black individuals at the hands of law enforcement. This was followed by a teaching from Greg on Jesus' challenge to common views of adultery.

Two Preliminary Words: Race and Sex

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 05:30:52 -0500

This sermon offers two preliminary words about two difficult issues that are hot topics in our culture: race and sex.

Living in High Definition

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 05:37:18 -0500

If we want to experience change in our life habits that are unhealthy and sinful, we need to learn to embrace the practice of confession. This sermon gives a clear path for entering into this little-adopted habit of the Christian faith.

The Newness of Resurrected Life

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 05:29:46 -0500

Our baptism demonstrates how we have died to sin and been given new life alongside Christ's death and resurrection. This is our new identity and it must shape how we view ourselves and others.

Good Friday 2021

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 14:30:31 -0500

On this Good Friday we held a special service as we reflected on Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Along with worship and unique reflections from artists, musicians and speakers, we also participated in virtual communion.

Relationship Matters

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 05:29:47 -0500

After a brief introduction, Greg invites panel participants to give insight and practical direction on dealing with interpersonal conflict and reconciliation.

Radically Righteous

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 05:31:24 -0500

In this sermon, Tara Beth Leach provides insight into Jesus' practical teaching regarding what it means to live in righteousness and reconciliation with others.

Say Hello to Anger

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 05:33:19 -0500

In this sermon, Greg provides a recap to his teaching from last week and then invites a panel of three to provide input and practical direction to the role that anger might play in our lives.

A Farewell to Anger

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 04:30:43 -0600

Jesus taught that being angry or insulting another person leads to the same consequences as murdering them. This is a radical Kingdom teaching that goes beyond an examination of our behaviors. It focuses on our hearts.

The Story of the Stooping God

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 04:30:59 -0600

The Bible announces God's good news. However, what do we do with the disturbing parts of Scripture, like the passages that depict God as promoting violence, animal sacrifice, or treating women as property?

From Exile to Promised Land

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 04:32:07 -0600

The Bible is not just a text to study. It is a way to hear and know God through the central story of Jesus who delivers us from exile.

Rock of Ages or Off His Rocker?

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 04:33:40 -0600

Jesus claimed that the entire Bible was about him, that he is the center of the Scriptures. This claim requires us to conclude that he was crazy or that he was correct. And if the latter, then we must decide what to do with such a claim.

The Divinely Inspired Story of God

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 04:32:46 -0600

In the first part of the sermon, Greg explains the decision of leadership regarding its plans for re-opening. The second part delves into the topic of what the inspiration of Scripture means and what it does not mean. It concludes with a panel discussion about trusting the authority of Scripture in a post-modern setting.

The Kingdom Bullseye

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 04:37:58 -0600

Jesus announced that he came to fulfill every part of the law. How was he able to do this when he was accused of breaking the law? He did this by redefining the law of God around the law of love. This is the bullseye of God's Kingdom.

Dashboard Discipleship

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 04:33:03 -0600

The New Testament raises expectations for obedience to the level of perfection, while at the same time offering mercy and grace when we don't meet those expectations. What is going on with this seemingly contradictory language? How do the two work together so that we grow as disciples?

Good Trouble

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 04:36:23 -0600

As we celebrate MLK day, we not only remember the sacrifices and initiatives of those who led the civil rights movement, we recognize how the teachings and actions of Jesus-which ultimately led him to the cross-manifest what John Lewis called "Good Trouble."

Doubling Down

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 04:31:30 -0600

This short sermon and panel discussion challenge us to respond to God's call to offer ourselves totally and completely to God by embracing spiritual disciplines that will shape our lives.

Purpose Driven Suffering

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 04:31:17 -0600

God is at work in all things-even in times of great suffering-to bring about his purposes. Those who are called according to his purpose will join in and cooperate with God's work, allowing the Spirit to form them to live into God's new work.

For God So Loved You

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 09:00:34 -0600

Jesus was born and we celebrate this fact because God loved the entire world. We also celebrate Christmas because God loves each one of us in a specific way. God so loves the world and God so loves you individually that he sent his son.It's WH tradition to share a story with coloring pages for kids on Christmas Eve. This year we hear about Jack the donkey's special journey in The Promised Star. Download coloring pages for your kids (or yourself!) at the link below!

For the Joy Set Before Us

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 04:33:37 -0600

How do we experience joy in the midst of struggle and suffering? Jesus and the early church provide a model for such joy, a kind of joy that does not ignore the reality of the difficulties that we face, but that gives us the ability to see beyond those circumstances to embrace the promise that God is making all things right.

People of the Plot Twist

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 04:39:35 -0600

The story of the encounter between Mary the mother of Jesus and Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist offers a model for how we can bring peace in the midst of conflict. A plot twist that shifts the narrative from animosity to blessing. In this sermon, Osheta visits this story.

Participating In Hope

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 04:37:18 -0600

When Jesus was presented at the temple as a baby, Simeon saw the fulfillment of his hope for salvation. This weekend's sermon explores the nature of that hope, and challenges the common view that our hope is for an escape from the world.

Neon Sheep

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 04:35:31 -0600

This sermon asks what it means for God's people to be salt and light in practical terms. Dan proposes three practical ways that we can move toward and embrace this call of God upon our lives.

A City On a Hill

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 04:36:15 -0600

Jesus said that God's people are a city on a hill, a blessed people who are called to be a blessing to others, giving forth light and hope. What does this mean in an Old Testament context, one that lies behind the words of Jesus? And what does this mean for us today?

Radiant

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 04:40:45 -0600

Jesus said, "You are the light of the world." In this sermon, we learn how being the light is much more than simply doing good deeds. It entails God's call upon God's people to be a distinct people who walk in covenant with him and shine forth an alternative pattern of living for all to see.

Stay Salty

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 04:50:07 -0600

Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth." What are the functions of salt, and what does this mean for us today? How does this shape the way we interact with the world? Greg explores these questions in this sermon.

Moving Forward

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 05:00:15 -0600

This final sermon is a panel discussion that addresses practical issues of being a Kingdom ambassador who offers Jesus' kind of love in the divisive political environment that we experience today.

Principles Without Poison

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 05:35:53 -0500

God has called us to seek the peace of the land in which we live, to be God's ambassadors who offer a third way. How do we do this? In this conversational sermon, Bill Doherty, from the organization Braver Angels, shares his experience of leading workshops that include Democrats and Republicans with the goal of helping each group understand the other.

We Will Not Be Played

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 05:30:20 -0500

One of the primary means the enemy uses to divide people today is social media. While social media has many advantages, it also is designed in such a way that it can easily be used as a tool of Satan. If we are not intentionally resisting the schemes of the enemy, we will too easily be played by them.

Taming the Raging Elephant

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 08:00:32 -0500

When we disagree, we usually assume that reason, not emotion, is driving the interaction, but actually the opposite is true. Greg explains how our default is to use reasoning to justify our emotions, and how knowing this can help us respond well during a heated discussion.

A Tale of Two Kingdoms

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 05:35:55 -0500

In the midst of a divided and polarized world, how does the church respond in a way that reflects God's kingdom? To answer this question, we must understand the nature of God's kingdom and how it stands in contrast to the kingdoms of this world.

Resisting the Polarizing Powers

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 05:30:23 -0500

What is the real cause of the persecution that Jesus says leads to blessedness? The answer is found in the refusal to make enemies of others or to embrace an "us vs. them" mindset. By opting out of this game, we no longer fit on either side and persecution becomes the norm.

The Moon vs. The Porch Light

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 05:30:09 -0500

In a world where violence is promoted as the solution to conflict, Jesus teaches us that God's children are to be those who live in and offer peace.

The Woe Road

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 05:33:09 -0500

In Luke's version of the Sermon on the Mount, he includes Jesus' teaching on those who have embraced idols and are not blessed as they are on the path of woe. This sermon addresses what these "woes" mean and how we can fight against the woe road.

Yard Signs and Yearning

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 05:30:09 -0500

Our world offers continual distractions that overwhelm us and keep us from purity of heart, and therefore hinder our sight of God. To have purity of heart is to have a single-minded focus on one thing, the one thing that matters.

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 06:49:35 -0500

In the midst of a culture of perpetual judgment, God has called the church to be a people of mercy. We will receive mercy to the degree that we offer mercy, and judgment to the degree that we judge.

What Do You Hunger and Thirst For?

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 06:36:55 -0500

God created us with a homing device in our souls which causes us to hunger for LIFE that can only be filled through our connection with him. However, we too often fall into the trap of hungering and thirsting after idols that leave us empty and leave us restless.

Meek Is the New Strong

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 04:38:09 -0500

Jesus taught that those who are meek will actually inherit the earth. What does this counter-cultural teaching mean? How does it relate to being humble and the reality that people are forced to be humble by those in power? This sermon explores these questions and then provides practical direction to embracing Jesus' teaching.

Good Mourning

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 05:44:36 -0500

Jesus taught that those who mourn are blessed. This occurs as the people of God know how things should be and set God's beauty in contrast to the ugliness of the world. And thus, we mourn for God to come and bring his deliverance.

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 06:24:59 -0500

The Sermon on the Mount opens with a teaching on being poor in spirit, which refers to an attitude one has before God. It means not being self-reliant, but broken and dependent upon God for life.

The Expert

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 07:23:35 -0500

This sermon introduces the Sermon on the Mount by asking why we should trust the words of Jesus found in Matthew 5-7. Jesus addresses big life questions and if we don't know why we should trust his answers, then we might place the authority of others on par with that of Jesus. Christ is the expert of all experts, which is the reason his teaching must be heeded.

Not a New Problem

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 06:32:21 -0500

This concluding sermon in our Race Conciliation series briefly addresses how prevalent racism has been in the history of the church. Then we hosted an extended panel discussion to answer questions we've gotten about race, and to discuss how to move forward as a reconciling people.

Why Do All Our Friends Look Just Like Us?

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 06:36:30 -0500

We are expected to go through life with friends who look like us. Being close with people who do not look like you is unusual in our culture, and the church tends to perpetuate this pattern. However, God's Kingdom is comprised of people from all kinds of backgrounds that don't look like our own. The question we all face is, "what will we do about it?"

The Wheat and Weeds Creation

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 07:27:42 -0500

We live in a world where Satan has laid claim to creation, while at the same time God is fighting to redeem all things through the work of the cross. These two fundamental forces are simultaneous, and we see them everywhere. Our calling is to participate in the good work that God is doing in order to advance the Kingdom.

Liberating and Reconciling Christians

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 06:05:19 -0500

Sin not only resides in the hearts of individuals; it also is woven through the systems and structures of our corporate way of life. Jesus entered into these systems to transform them and he now invites us to join him, offering our voices to bring liberation and reconciliation to our world.

Responding to the Powers

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 06:13:19 -0500

God is inviting us to respond to the volatile issues around racism in a uniquely Kingdom way, a way modeled by Jesus. This Kingdom way provides concrete handles for battling against the rulers, authorities and powers that drive racism in our world.

Revolting Against the Powers

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 06:24:43 -0500

We primarily think about the problems we face today in terms of individualism, pointing fingers at persons who are making bad choices. However, the Bible speaks of the struggle against systemic issues, what are called "principalities and powers" that shape the structures of how we live. The unique call of Kingdom people is to focus our struggle against these systems, rather than against people.

White Heresy

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 06:55:21 -0500

Why did Jesus die on the cross? The common response-to reconcile us to God-is only half of the answer. The other half, which is usually not preached in the white church, is to reconcile us to one another and creation.

Please... I Can't Breathe

Sun, 31 May 2020 06:47:04 -0500

This has been a troublesome week, with the gruesome murder of George Floyd and the unrest that this has caused both in Minnesota, and around the country. Greg offers a Kingdom perspective on the situation and challenges the church to wake up and see the changes that we need. After his sermon he was joined on stage for a discussion with several people of color from Woodland Hills.

Lamenting A to Z

Sun, 24 May 2020 06:20:25 -0500

In this sermon, Greg shares about the importance of lament during a time of loss and liminality. Building upon the ideas introduced by David last week, he expands on the topic and shares about his own experiences and the emotions he's been wrestling with.

Hitting the Wall

Sun, 17 May 2020 06:07:11 -0500

In the midst of the pandemic, many of us are experiencing a degree of intense anxiety. What do we do with that? How do we meet God in that experience? How do we find hope?

Kingdom Starters

Sun, 10 May 2020 06:24:07 -0500

From the parable of the yeast, Jesus is teaching us about how the Kingdom of God works. Instead of expanding with landmark gestures and grandiose acts, it infiltrates life in small ways, often hidden from view, but as it expands, it actually touches every part of life.

"Well Done!"

Sun, 03 May 2020 06:28:36 -0500

From the parable of the talents, we can see that God trusts us to participate and partner with him in his work, as we have been entrusted with an offering that can advance the Kingdom. Though we don't often see this reality, we must embrace what God says about us and what we have been given.

Your People Will Be My People

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 06:28:34 -0500

The book of Ruth speaks to our deep desires for faithful living, along with specific issues regarding faithfulness in the midst of the struggles of the pandemic. In this sermon, we hear the call to faithfulness and explore what it means.

In Adam, In Christ

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 05:47:00 -0500

Individuals are interconnected as a part of the whole of humanity, something we are experiencing during this pandemic. Often, we can tend to view humanity with disdain, and feel that people in general are stupid. However, God looks upon humanity with compassion.

The Coin (Easter 2020)

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 06:04:08 -0500

Love, not death, should have the last word. When you love someone, you come to know how much infinite worth they have. The idea that all that they are just ends with death doesn't seem right. Something in the core of our being says, "NO." That gut intuition is a faint echo of the heart of God.

Good Friday 2020

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 14:01:36 -0500

Through a message, worship, creative storytelling, poetry, special music and art, we express the heaviness and hope of Good Friday as we reflect on Jesus' sacrifice for us all.

Coronavirus Q&A

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 05:44:15 -0500

People have a lot of questions about what God is doing during this pandemic. In this teaching, leaders from Woodland Hills address questions that have been submitted over the last few weeks.

Are We Being Punished?

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 06:27:15 -0500

In the midst of great suffering and ugliness, there is also goodness breaking through. We are seeing this in the midst of this unusual time and it points us to how God works to bring his cross-like love in the middle of horrible circumstances. This teaches us that God is not the cause of this pandemic, but is the one who will win in the end.

Giving Thanks, No Matter

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 06:17:48 -0500

In this surreal time, we can let our lives be dictated by the circumstances of our situation, or we can live according to the reality that our lives are "hid" with Christ in God. How exactly do we do this in the midst of so much tumult? One way is to learn to give thanks "in all circumstances," as Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5.

COVID-19: A Kingdom Perspective

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 03:46:02 -0500

COVID-19 is impacting the entire world, changing life globally, locally, and personally. How should we as Kingdom people respond to this pandemic?

Who Knows?

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 08:45:43 -0500

This week we begin our new sermon series about moral relativism by exploring how early Christians lived out their faith, the point being that Truth is only true when it is lived.

Listen Up Q&A

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 10:40:52 -0600

This final teaching in the Listen Up series is a Q&A that speaks to the practical implications about listening to God's voice in our daily lives.

Tuning In

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 08:24:15 -0600

God is still speaking, offering an invitation to dialogue with him. However, this dialogue will be as unique as you as an individual are. The question for us is whether not we will take up this challenge and learn how to listen, or if we will simply go with the status quo.

New Normal

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 07:46:19 -0600

This weekend we discussed how God's voice gets drowned out by the background noise of our day-to-day lives, and also about how once we tune into God's voice, we find that the kingdom of God is defined by the love of the "other."

Everyday Whispers of Encouragement

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 10:02:45 -0600

This past weekend in Osheta's sermon, "Everyday Whispers of Encouragement" we take a deeper look at "the still, small voice" of God. We focus on the story of Elijah hearing God in a whisper, and how this passage can give us guidance today on how we can tune our ears in order to have ears to hear.

The Letter & the Spirit

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 06:44:32 -0600

As we continue our Listen Up series, this week Greg discusses how being open to hearing from God through our imagination affects the quality of our faith. Faith is about getting on the inside and working out our questions once we're in relationship. If we are expectant that our relationship with God is a two-way street and that he not only wants to hear from us, but also wants to speak with us, and we're open to our imagination being the place that conversation happens, then we're much more likely to be led by the Spirit in our Kingdom walk.

The Sound of Silence

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 06:24:30 -0600

For many, hearing God's voice and sensing the Spirit's leading is a foreign concept. This sermon addresses why we should be hearing God, and some of the major obstacles that keep us from hearing what God is saying.

The Inclusive Kingdom

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 07:30:53 -0600

As we reflect on the message of Martin Luther King Jr., we can see the parallel between what he taught and what Jesus told us the Kingdom of God looks like. To understand this, Greg unpacks the difference between xenophilia (the love of those who are different) and xenophobia (the fear of those who are different) and how it relates to racism.

Cruciform Inspiration

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 07:02:18 -0600

This week we look at how our scars, mistakes and imperfections (and even painful tattoos) all tell a story of God breathing and interacting, and enhancing the beauty of an imperfect thing.

Inspired Imperfection

Sun, 05 Jan 2020 04:26:05 -0600

In this first installment of a 2-part series centering around Greg's new Inspired Imperfection book we look at what it means for scripture to be "God breathed." Additionally, we explore to the potential consequences of keeping or removing the bible as an authoritative source in the life of a follower of Jesus. Greg makes the case that far from detracting from the bible's credibility, if viewed through the lens of the cross, the mistakes and errors in the writing made by the human authors enhance the bible's authority in showing God's power through the cross.

Exercises in Everydayness

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 07:22:08 -0600

At the turn of the new year, it is the time to think about resolutions, or things that we want to change in our lives. In this sermon, we learn about four exercises that will bring real change, the kind of change that will impact every aspect of our lives.

Immanuel

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 07:10:07 -0600

Dan wraps up our More Than a Name series with a special Christmas Eve service on Jesus' name of Immanuel - what it really means that "God is with us", and how we tend to carry this piece of scripture out.

Everlasting Father

Sat, 21 Dec 2019 20:00:34 -0600

Jesus is our everlasting Father. This is not a reference to Jesus actually being the first person of the Trinity. Instead it means the Jesus is our eternal source, which means that Jesus gives us an alternative narrative that empowers us to escape the narrative of death.

Prince of Peace

Sun, 15 Dec 2019 07:28:15 -0600

What does it mean that Jesus was the Prince of Peace? What is meant by Peace, anyway? And what does it mean for how we are meant to live?

Mighty God

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 08:17:01 -0600

We often say that Jesus is the "mighty God," but what exactly does that mean? How did he come and put on display the might of God? What does the Christmas story tell us about God's might? The answers to these questions don't fit common conventional thinking, but if we don't understand the way that Jesus lived out the might of God, we miss everything.

Wonderful Counselor

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 07:32:23 -0600

In the Old Testament, a name is more than what someone is called. It points deeper to his or her character. In the first message of our More Than a Name Christmas series, Greg explores the context of Isaiah 9 and what it meant for Jesus to be prophesied as a Wonderful Counselor.

A Walk on the Wild Side

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 07:29:05 -0600

We are designed by God to love nature, not just to live in it. This is seen in the fact that God often meets us through nature, as such encounters encourage our souls and enliven our bodies. Therefore, in a world that has little room for nature, we must adopt tactics that will open us up to God through nature.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 05:48:13 -0600

God created us to live in love for others, however, we fall short of this reality. In this sermon, David explores three barriers to loving others: religion, political affiliations and hurry. Addressing these three barriers will not only change your experience of love with others, but also it will change how you love God.

Look Closer

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 05:20:15 -0600

One of the four directions of love is to love yourself. But not the old self that you inherited from the world. Rather, we are to love the self that God meant us to be. So today we look back on the old self we were before, and we remember the new self we are now in Christ.

Return to Innocence

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 10:31:49 -0600

This weekend we continue our study of how attachment theory can be used as a descriptive tool for our connections in relationships with others as well as how we connect with God. How we have connected with others, both positively and negatively, is usually a good approximation for how we think of and connect with God. Some of this appears to be genetic, some a product of the nurture we received, and some a product of our own free will. In this message, we explore the role of free will in our development of healthy, secure connection as well as what healing looks like for someone who has formed unhealthy attachment mechanisms with themselves, others, and God.

Barriers to Love

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 09:58:04 -0500

In this sermon, Shawna sits down with Kevin as he explains, more in depth, Attachment Theory: How we experience love, and our relationships with God and others, through a pattern of attachment developed in us as a child. Understanding this can help us see both our natural tendencies in relationships, as well as areas in which we need to experience God's healing.

The Devil's Chaplain

Sun, 20 Oct 2019 09:21:35 -0500

God is love, and our job is to receive and replicate that love. This means that it is crucial that we rightly perceive what God's love actually looks like, something that some find challenging in the midst of creation that is overrun by violence. How then do we reconcile the nature of God's love when nature itself seems to point to anything but love?

The Hug

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 06:40:01 -0500

Two sermons in one today: Part 1: How does children's reliance on technology affect their ability to use their imaginations? And part 2: Looking at the Botham Jean "hug felt around the world" and how we might be stuck in a silo and not even know it.

Peacemakers Behind the Pixels

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 09:48:08 -0500

As we continue our Interface series, this week Osheta explores how a Kingdom minded person can engage with social media as a peacemaker and avoid the pits of binary either-or thinking. The medium and anonymity of online life creates a temptation to leave behind self-control and humility in exchange for judgment and unsolicited advice. In this message, we look at 5 principles that can help keep us grounded in love as we engage in social media.

Bad Robots

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 10:06:42 -0500

Social media can control our lives, forming our minds and our actions without our even knowing that it's happening. While there is great benefit to social media, we must also recognize it's dangers and develop a plan to live differently. Otherwise, we will end up looking like we aren't part of God's kingdom.

Sharing or Selling?

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 07:19:38 -0500

Like many things, social media has such incredible power for good, but also an incredible power for evil. One way that this evil is manifested is through the temptation of presenting ourselves only at our best in order to get LIFE from social media approval. What is the Kingdom response to this temptation?

Connection or Community?

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 06:09:26 -0500

Why do we keep participating in social media even when it is not good for us? This week, David goes into three big reasons why we are drawn in, and what it could look like to live faithfully to the gospel in our hyperconnected world.

How Did We Get Here?

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 10:44:59 -0500

In this introductory message to our new series called Interface, which deals with a Christian's role and interaction with technology, Greg walks through how we got to where we are, both as a human species as well as a Christian sub-culture. There is a general principle of proportionality that applies to all things including technology. It says a thing or person's capacity for good is directly proportional to its capacity for evil. Greg walks through that exercise in counting the cost of our interaction with technology.

Get to Not Got to

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 05:49:03 -0500

There are two fundamental hindrances to living generously as the New Testament teaches. The first is that of the wrong motivation. The common teaching in the church is that we give because we must follow the Old Testament law of the tithe. However, the New Testament provides a different motivation, one that empowers us to give freely. The second hindrance is the modern attachment to possessions. When we address these two hindrances, we will find that sacrificial giving is a "get to not got to" thing, thus finding freedom in giving our time and money for the sake of others.

Finding Your Foothold

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 09:16:23 -0500

Generosity is a tricky subject because so many think it primarily relates to how much a person gives. However, God's view of generosity is different. It is about learning to live in agape love where we are not doing what we do in order to get more from others, but in order to give and receive love in a community. When we do this, generosity flows our of hearts in natural ways, with surprising acts that bless others.

Where Is This Story Headed?

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 08:47:37 -0500

The grand story of the Bible is moving toward an end, one where God will reveal himself as he is. But what does that actually mean? When we take into account the entire biblical narrative, one that is centered around the cross, this means that God will fully unveil his love and we will not only see him as love, but also we will see ourselves as God's beloved bride.

On Earth as It Is in Heaven

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 08:36:04 -0500

In this week's message, Osheta continues our look at the biblical narrative themes of covenant and kingdom by using the Lord's Prayer as a guide. Jesus' own creative and kingdom focused practice that he gave us so that we can grow in our Kingdom literacy. By praying the Lord's Prayer regularly, we reinforce the values of the Kingdom in our hearts so that we can live faithfully into our Covenant.

All Things New In Christ

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 09:03:02 -0500

In this week's message, Dan continues our look at the biblical narrative themes of covenant and kingdom in the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. After his baptism and before the start of his ministry, Jesus was tempted in three very important ways by Satan. In this message we learn how Jesus inserts himself in to the biblical narrative and seeks to fulfill the promises and potential of old testament characters like Israel, Adam & Eve, and King David.

The New Passover

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 06:21:52 -0500

The New Covenant, which was inaugurated by Jesus and we celebrate with the sign of the communion meal, is a reframing of the Passover Meal from Exodus. In that Old Testament story we see how God defeated evil by allowing evil to act upon itself. In the same way, the cross brings victory over sin and defeats Satan through the hidden wisdom of love.

Dead Bones Arise

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 09:17:36 -0500

In this past weekend's sermon, we take a birds-eye view of the prophets, and what they teach us about one of God's most core values: taking care of the vulnerable.

A King-Centered Covenant

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 09:54:19 -0500

This week Greg goes through the covenant God made with king David, and touches on some of the foundational beliefs of Woodland Hills involving finding security only from Jesus instead of human kings, and how God always finds a way to bring beauty out of our sins.

Covenant Redemption

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 09:49:47 -0500

As we continue our Long Story Short series through the lens of covenant and kingdom, in this message we explore the connection between relationship and responsibility in the story of the Isarelites making a golden calf for worship while Moses is on Mt. Sinai. It's all too easy for us to get impatient and lose trust in what we can't see. Grace explores the struggles of the Israelites by reflecting on her own experience in building idols in her personal life.

The Father of All Who Believe

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 08:30:36 -0500

In the fourth part of our Long Story Short series, Greg zooms in on the calling of Abraham in order to discover the ways in which God's Kingdom is like a mustard seed.

The Flood

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 09:15:14 -0500

In this third installment of our Long Story Short series we explore what the overall narrative of the Bible is as it relates to our Covenant with God, and the Kingdom ways we're called to live here on earth. Today, we look at the story of the Flood through the lens of the cross finding that there's a new lesson about God's character and God's posture to us when we sin. Greg ends with one practical way we can live out our covenant to God inspired by this passage: by caring for the earth and all it's inhabitants.

Trouble In Paradise

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 09:15:19 -0500

In the second part of our Long Story Short series Greg takes a look at what happens when Adam and Eve disobey God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and what universal lessons we can learn from them about who we were originally designed to be. Life in the Kingdom revolves around trusting God for provision and honoring his prohibition. It's this focus that keeps us secure in our identity and not looking for life elsewhere through judging eyes. We are to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and him crucified, and this will keep us from judgment of others as well as keep a clear picture of who God is.

Bible DNA

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 08:17:12 -0500

Today we started out our new series called Long Story Short, where we will go through the whole bible book by book, looking at the key stories through the lens of Kingdom and Covenant. David started us out at the beginning in Genesis 1 and 2, to explore where the themes of covenant and kingdom show up and what they mean for our identity and intended vocation in the world.

Arise

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 08:38:12 -0500

Our guest speaker, Nicole Bullock, focuses on John 5:1-8 and unpacks what it looks like for us to "take up our mats and walk."

Living in the Never-Ending Story.

Sun, 26 May 2019 07:50:00 -0500

In this fifth installment of our Take Heart series, we explore what it means to be encouraged in one solid truth: that God's love for us is unceasing and he is present with us in the midst of incredible brokenness. Discouragement can come when we have a broken picture of God, but we can be encouraged that God always looks like Jesus and Christ crucified. But first, we need to understand the difference between believing something and experiencing something.

Inside-Out Encouragement.

Mon, 20 May 2019 11:14:13 -0500

In this fourth installment in our Take Heart series we explore what it means to be encouraged in our ability to build skills and competence in the areas God has entrusted to us. Discouragement can come externally from factors outside of our control that can be overwhelming, but it can also come from feelings and patterns of passiveness within that keep us from enacting what God has trusted us to do.

Expecting God.

Sun, 12 May 2019 10:34:05 -0500

Today with David, we looked at God's desire for encouragement and what kind of posture we should have in encouragement. He looks closely at the nostalgia of the Israelites when the temple was rebuilt and how it keeps us from seeing the ways God wanted to encourage them in the present rebuilding.

Embrace the Suck.

Sun, 05 May 2019 07:54:54 -0500

In this sermon with Greg, we get deep into talking about facing fears and problems, but not succumbing to them. Often times when we or ones we love go through hard times, along come four different crowds of people offering various "you'll get through it" type remarks. Though when life falls apart and everything comes undone, whether it be you or someone you know, sometimes all you can do is "Embrace the Suck" and just be present. The time may come where you can sort things out, mend, or find some sort of contentment, but sometimes you just need to be there, in the moment.

Show Me Where It Hurts.

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 09:02:53 -0500

Today Sandra shared with us a real-life example of her brother's story, and what to do, and what not to do, when confronted by someone else's discouragement.

Stunning Victory

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 10:00:15 -0500

Why did Jesus have to die? Why does the resurrection matter? What, if anything, actually hinges on believing Jesus was crucified and literally rose from the dead three days later? In this Easter message we explore these questions and other implications in believing and living out a resurrection centered faith.

Good Friday 2019

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 09:34:11 -0500

In this Good Friday service, we open with and discuss Hebrews 12, the sacrifice Jesus made for us, and what that all means. Greg explains how we should live our lives by not hiding our sins from Jesus - but we must give them over to him, and keep our eyes set upon him in order to experience the depth of love and intimacy he has for us.

Wonderfully Unorthodox

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 09:57:07 -0500

In this weekend's Palm Sunday service, Greg felt led to continue and expand on his message of loving people and losing labels. The brain needs repetition to really get something, and this message is so foundational to the kingdom, that it is worth continuing.

Zoom

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 10:10:52 -0500

In this weekend's sermon, Greg closes our Crux of the Matter series by discussing the importance of zooming in on the hearts of people as we zoom out on our need to be right.

Kingdom Ambassadors

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 09:25:06 -0500

In the fourth installment of our Crux of the Matter series, where we're looking at how to have difficult conversations with those we disagree with, Osheta furthers the discussion by inviting us to think about our everyday conversations as opportunities for peacemaking as Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God.

Bad Elephant

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 09:48:51 -0500

In the third installment of our Crux of the Matter series where we're looking at how to have difficult conversations with those we disagree with, Greg furthers the discussion of the relationship between our conscious reasoning and our subconscious feelings and emotional based instincts. Although we like to think of ourselves as rational logic driven decision makers, research continues to show that much of our reasoning is ad hoc and only serves to reinforce our already existing opinions and desires. In this message Greg tackles why these findings don't need to lead to a deterministic world view as well as how to resolve the tension between being created in God's image being and also born with a subconscious that pushes us away from Kingdom values.

Confident Humility

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 10:15:05 -0500

Today, Dan Kent shared with us some ideas about how having a proper Jesus-centered definition of humility can free us in our relationships, and help us remain centered on Jesus, put people before politics, and create peace during these divisive times.

The Self-Righteous Mind

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 09:00:54 -0500

This past weekend, Greg opened up our new series with 1 Corinthians 16:14 - "Let all that you do be done in love." We discuss how to be Kingdom people in dealing with difficult conversations on controversial topics, all while keeping Jesus at the center.

Grateful

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 08:12:58 -0600

In this in-between-series sermon, Shawna discusses how to cultivate and maintain a posture of gratitude in a fallen world. Particularly in a world full of negative distractions fed by social media, sometimes more than our brains can really handle.

Creation Confusion

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 06:08:30 -0600

In our fifth and final installment of the Priest and Physicist Walk in to a Bar series, we examine how to frame the Genesis creation story with what we know about our history and the cosmos. Specifically, we examine the difference between dogma, doctrine, and opinion and where questions like "how God created" and "when did God create" fit in to that framework. As has been the theme for the whole series, we explore how faith can go beyond reason, but not against reason.

Science and the Supernatural

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 06:00:26 -0600

Greg continues exploring the relationship between faith and science, making the point that the laws of science have nothing to do with the possibility of the existence of miracles (and in fact they might even *prove* that there is more to reality than what we can measure).

Science and Free Will

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 07:07:43 -0600

In this weekend's sermon, Greg continues our "Priest and Physicist" series, in which we examine five arguments against the naturalistic worldview.

Science and the "God Question"

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 04:41:51 -0600

This weekend we continued our sermon series, "A Priest and a Physicist Walk Into a Bar..." in which we explore how the science of our universe might point to an intelligence beyond itself.

The Imaginary Divide

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 08:48:06 -0600

Today we jumped into a new sermon series, "A Priest and a Physicist Walk Into a Bar..." which explores the (supposed) conflict between faith and science. So we opened it up by looking at the origin of this assumption that faith and science are at odds with one another.

Just Living

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 06:59:11 -0600

Although all sins in some ways are equal before God, there is something particularly evil and destructive about the dehumanizing effects of racism. Martin Luther King Jr. has by in large been secularized in popular culture as a nice man who wanted us all to get along, but this is an unfortunate caricature of a man whose core foundational trust was in self-sacrificial love and non-violent resistance. MLK Jr.'s message of racial reconciliation, and a refusal to deem another human being as his enemy, is central to the gospel of Jesus.

Co-Ruling with Christ

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 05:54:36 -0600

In this weekend's sermon, Greg provides us with a framework for the importance of prayer. While most of us have been taught about the importance of prayer, it can still feel like an empty duty if we do not have a framework for the reason why prayer matters.

Everyday Epiphany

Sun, 06 Jan 2019 07:09:00 -0600

Today Osheta talked about one of her favorite church holidays called Epiphany, and what it means to her. Epiphany honors the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as told by the story of the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12. To Osheta, it is about how Jesus shows up for many different people in many different ways.

After God Shows Up

Sun, 30 Dec 2018 05:45:35 -0600

Our life is made of seasons. We ebb and flow in different disciplines and commitments. In this final message of 2018, and in preparation to start the new year, Greg walks us through three important questions: 1. What does the Lord want me to retain & renew? 2. What does the Lord want me to let go of? And 3. What does the Lord want me to add to my life that wasn't there before?

The Child Shows Up

Mon, 24 Dec 2018 09:47:36 -0600

In this year's Christmas Eve service, we are reminded that Jesus entered into our world in what was seemingly the most inopportune time, in a dirty, smelly manger, and how he continues to enter our lives at all times, good and bad.

Why God Shows Up

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 06:27:08 -0600

This weekend Greg continues our When God Shows Up series by examining why Jesus came to earth when he did, and why showing up at this time in history was both edgy and subversive.

When God Shows Up

Sun, 16 Dec 2018 06:06:24 -0600

This weekend Greg continues our When God Shows Up series by examining two crucial questions we must ask when we find ourselves in an Advent season: How do we conduct ourselves in this fallen world when misery takes over? How can we hang on to hope when all seems hopeless?

How God Shows Up

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 05:50:11 -0600

This weekend we welcomed guest speaker Shane Claiborne to share with us a reminder of what it should mean to us this advent season that Jesus came into our lives as a homeless outsider in a violent, unwelcoming world.

Who Shows Up?

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 07:36:16 -0600

In many ways Jesus, and the kingdom he established, was anti-king of all kings. The holiness he embodied was guided by love, not law. Instead of using his kingship to separate himself from the unclean, lowly and hurting in the world, Jesus made his home right in the middle of our pain and our sin. This was unbelievably good news back then and today for all those who are hurting, needy, lonely, sinful or poor. God desires to make his residence in us, just as we are.

Blended Q&A

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 07:39:52 -0600

We wrapped up our Blended sermon series with a Q&A hosted by Greg Boyd, Sandra Unger and Kevin Callaghan. The audio file, as well as the YouTube video, contain questions and answers from all three of our services on November 24/25, 2018.

Rooted

Sun, 18 Nov 2018 06:22:52 -0600

This weekend, David wrapped up our Blended series with his sermon in which he modeled how we might unearth our roots, so that we might move forward in Jesus.

Where's Mommy?

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 06:11:24 -0600

In the life of a Jesus follower, there is clear power in testimony. It has the ability to break down walls of mental defensiveness and justification, and speak directly to the deepest parts of another's heart. We all carry wounds around with us as a result of the gap between what we needed and what we actually received. In this message Greg shares some of his personal journey in healing from the wounds passed on to him from his family.

Jocks Don't Change Diapers?

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 06:57:27 -0600

Today Sandra affirms that you don't have to have suffered awful abuse or trauma in order to have stuff that you need to heal from. We all have baggage from our past, so she shares five strategies for healing.

Family Lines

Sun, 28 Oct 2018 11:54:40 -0500

In this sermon of our Blended series, David talks about what we may inherit from our biological ancestors, how these attributes may have shaped the lives of future generations, and how to love our families for who they are, just as God loves us.

A Tale of Two Families

Sun, 21 Oct 2018 07:13:59 -0500

Greg starts off the first sermon of our new series titled Blended by examining how to scripturally navigate our biological and spiritual family systems.

Go and Do Likewise

Sun, 14 Oct 2018 07:26:46 -0500

Today Osheta summed up our sermon series on kingdom hospitality in light of the parable of the Good Samaritan, and we learned four vital steps to help us practice Kingdom Hospitality.

Lessons in Hospitality

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 09:36:33 -0500

Hospitality has a unique meaning and application in the Kingdom of God. In this message, Greg continues our Kingdom hospitality series exploring Peter's revelation in Acts 10 of who's in and who's out of the Kingdom. Through Christ, God has offered a giant bear hug to humanity with an invitation that all are welcome to enter. As followers of Jesus, this should be our primary mode of operation when it comes to interacting with strangers. We present what we have in an authentic way, we ask what would be helpful to those in need, and we always see hospitality in a reciprocal manner.

Warfare Hospitality

Sun, 30 Sep 2018 07:29:10 -0500

In today's sermon, Greg gives us one strategy for outrageous, radical Kingdom hospitality: engage in spiritual warfare to resist Satan's designs to hold grudges with one another and destroy healthy relationships.

Be Thou My Vision

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 08:14:00 -0500

In this week's sermon, Greg examines 2 Corinthians 5 to uncover a paradigm shifting truth that from God's perspective, all people are in Christ, and explores how this truth shows us that hospitality is at the heart of God's character.

Make Your Home in Me

Sun, 16 Sep 2018 05:14:41 -0500

In this second installment of our hospitality centered sermon series You Before Me, Shawna explores how welcoming the Other is not just a mindset, but also a condition of the heart. This continual welcoming and intentional making space for the Other in our lives can only happen when we have a surrendered heart that has first made space for God to dwell in us.

Getting Under God's Skin

Sun, 09 Sep 2018 11:23:51 -0500

We kick off our new "You Before Me" series with a look at hospitality as the essence of God -- Making space in your life to love and welcome a stranger.

Choose the Kingdom Groove

Sun, 02 Sep 2018 08:25:28 -0500

This week Osheta invites us to re-evaluate the busyness of our culture and instead model our schedules and lives on the example of Jesus.

It's All About Say-So

Sun, 26 Aug 2018 07:08:56 -0500

In today's sermon, Greg tackles questions about spiritual warfare and how it related to the nature of God, relationships, and free will.

Loose Salvation?

Sun, 19 Aug 2018 04:58:13 -0500

What does it mean to be saved? Can you ever lose your salvation? These are two of the questions Shawna tackles in this week's Loose Ends sermon.

Magical Faith

Sun, 12 Aug 2018 07:12:24 -0500

In this most recent sermon of our Loose Ends series, we look at a verse that many in the "name it and claim it" persuasion use to justify their views, Mark 11:23-24.

Fog of War

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 08:02:30 -0500

There is a very common understanding in many Christian circles that everything happens for a reason, we can't understand what comes to pass because God's ways are higher than our ways, and ultimately every single act, no matter how consistent or inconsistent with the God revealed in Jesus, is a direct result of the power, control, & sovereignty of God. In this message Greg dissects John 9:1-3 confronting all these ideas head on showing how dangerous poor theology and inconsistent exegesis can be.

The Chosen Few

Sun, 29 Jul 2018 06:06:16 -0500

In this week of the Loose Ends sermon series Greg looks at the Parable of the Wedding Banquet. He shares some general principles for understanding parables and addresses common misconceptions. Here we see that God is not like a violent, unjust king, but rather a God who lovingly invites all to a banquet he graciously prepares.

Hazak

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 07:03:38 -0500

What do we do when Jesus is the 'loose end'? What are those sections in the Gospel that we can have a tendency to gloss over? What words of Jesus do you hear and sort of cringe about? This starts with being honest with the text rather than avoiding, minimizing, reducing or dismissing.

Finding the Word in the Words

Sun, 15 Jul 2018 10:06:00 -0500

Osheta continues our look at 'loose ends' of scripture that often get overlooked or dismissed because of their seeming exclusiveness and contradiction. This week's installment examines Jesus' comments about parables and why they were one of his key methods of teaching. At the heart of it all is the question of who the Kingdom of God is for, and what is being asked of us to enter in to it.

Baptism for the Dead?

Sun, 08 Jul 2018 11:13:53 -0500

This week we look at a passage that some Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons use a lot, 1 Corinthians 15:25-29, and we end up digging into the reasons for our belief in the divinity of Christ, as well as the Mormon practice of proxy baptism and our own practice of adult baptism.

Your Attention Please!

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 05:55:35 -0500

This week in the sermon series Loose Ends, our friend Dr. Sandra Unger explores the often quoted Psalm, "be still and know that I am God." Sandra shares what the command to be still means in the Biblical context and how paying attention to God changes our whole approach to life.

Must We Submit To Government?

Sun, 24 Jun 2018 10:45:28 -0500

This week Greg taught on Romans 13, a Scripture that has been in the news recently when Attorney General Jeff Sessions used it as basis for why the American government is separating children from their families at the southern border. This passage, although helpful for us to understand how to respect the authority of earthly government in matters of polices, law and order, is not the final word for Kingdom people on how we should live.

When Yahweh Shows Up To Eat You

Sun, 17 Jun 2018 09:57:17 -0500

In this sermon we continue our look in to scripture passages that often get dismissed because of their obscurity, seeming contradiction, or relative weirdness. This week Greg examined Exodus 4:19-28 which describes a strange encounter Moses and Zipporah had with God on their way from Midian to Egypt involving threat of death, circumcision, and the smearing of blood. This encounter, although interpreted through a warped view of God's character, foreshadows the Passover later in Exodus as well as the spiritual circumcision available to all through Christ.

A Lethal Lord's Supper

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 09:44:11 -0500

Today we started our new summer series called Loose Ends, which works to "make sense of the verses we skip". Since we shared communion together this week, we focused on a strange verse related to communion -- 1 Corinthians 11:27-32.

Generous Principles

Sun, 03 Jun 2018 11:13:24 -0500

In week three of our Nothing to Lose series Greg provides some guiding principles for living a life of generosity modeled after the example of the sacrifice and life of Jesus.

Master vs. Master

Sun, 27 May 2018 09:18:06 -0500

Our culture tells us that success means gaining more money and more possessions. But the Kingdom that Jesus summons us into rejects this system. In the second week of our "Nothing to Lose" series, Greg shows us that in God's Kingdom, our treasure is stored up when we give it away.

The Treasure of Contentment

Sun, 20 May 2018 05:47:25 -0500

In this first sermon in our new 'Nothing to Lose' series, we explore contentment and generosity. We are constantly bombarded with advertisements and not so subtle innuendo that we should be discontent with what we have. This environment we find ourselves in strongly challenges the kingdom call to live out of a center of contentment and cultivate a heart full of generosity. In this message we explore what the Bible says about these topics as well as how they apply to our 21st century setting.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

Sun, 13 May 2018 09:00:00 -0500

In previous weeks we discussed the evidence that our consciousness persists in the interim stage between death and resurrection. But what exactly goes on there, before resurrection? Are we made perfect and pure enough to enter the kingdom instantly, or do we have to continue our growth in Christ?

Ripples of Heaven

Sun, 06 May 2018 06:02:35 -0500

What is your conception of heaven? Is it a place to which you escape when you die? Something only for the future and not for the present? In the fourth week of our Non-Perishable sermon series, our friend David Morrow explores the idea of heaven as the coming Kingdom in which we participate here and now, and the eternal Emmanuel - God with us.

Rest In Peace

Sun, 29 Apr 2018 10:40:37 -0500

In this third sermon in our Non-Perishable series, guest speaker Osheta Moore shares how anxiety and fear surrounding death can be overcome through looking to Christ, who shared in our death.

Between Death and Resurrection

Sun, 22 Apr 2018 12:25:30 -0500

This is the second message in our series "Non-Perishable", where we're exploring death from a Kingdom perspective. This week, Greg explains the evidence for life after death, why Heaven may not be what we thought, and how to gain a more beautiful picture of life after death.Greg played a song during his message, you can find that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekZ187l-Vn8

Facing The Grim Reaper

Sun, 08 Apr 2018 10:48:40 -0500

In our new series entitled 'Non-Perishable' we start by exploring why death is such a foreign concept in our culture, and why having a proper perspective on it is so important for our theology and life in the present age. Confusing the works of Satan with the works of God can have tragic consequences to our worldview and interpretations of what comes to pass in our lives, including death.

A Different Kind of Hope

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 09:41:18 -0500

Good Friday 2018

Fri, 30 Mar 2018 04:49:41 -0500

In ancient Rome, death by crucifixion was designed for extreme pain and extreme shame. It was important for criminals to feel the weight of their crime, and for spectators to fear what would happen to them if they did something wrong. But Jesus, who had done no wrong, chose to take on the shame of the cross. He knew that his sacrificial death would free us from the shame we carry.We gathered on Good Friday to honor and celebrate the freedom Jesus gave us all by taking on the shame of the cross.

Sure. Q&A

Sun, 25 Mar 2018 10:24:28 -0500

We wrapped up our Sure. sermon series with a Q&A hosted by Greg Boyd and Paul Eddy. The audio and video media files contain questions and answers from all three of our services on March 24/25, 2018.

Why The Bible?

Sun, 18 Mar 2018 11:50:56 -0500

In Week 5 of our "Sure." series (where we are honestly wrestling with challenges that our post-modern, post Christian, pluralistic culture presents to our faith), Greg addresses the (apparent) imperfections, errors, and contradictions in the Bible, and shows that they don't distract from it being God-breathed... but contribute to it.

Why God?

Sun, 11 Mar 2018 09:15:26 -0500

Today we answer the question of why believe in God? Is this like believing in the Easter Bunny? Isn't it illogical and improbable that there would be a personal being out there who created everything and loves the world and every living creature? Our answer: No! When you look at the facts, it's actually MORE logical that the above is true than not.

Why Jesus?

Sun, 04 Mar 2018 08:59:46 -0600

In this third chapter of our Sure. series we come to Jesus. Who is He? How do we know what we know about Him? Why do we believe it to be true? What are the critiques of the Christian belief in Jesus as a historical figure and what are the rational arguments in favor of the orthodox view of Jesus as Lord? In this message Greg explores these questions and others while explaining what it means to "give the reason for the hope that you have".

What is Faith?

Sun, 25 Feb 2018 10:55:43 -0600

What is faith? In what should our faith be anchored? Does our faith stand upon the various church doctrines and dogmas? In this sermon Shawna explores the meaning of faith, that the root which grounds our faith is not our belief system, but the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ crucified is the cornerstone of our faith. What is faith? In what should our faith be anchored? Does our faith stand upon the various church doctrines and dogmas? In this sermon Shawna explores the meaning of faith, that the root which grounds our faith is not our belief system, but the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ crucified is the cornerstone of our faith.

What is Truth?

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 09:27:19 -0600

In the first sermon in our 'Sure.' series, Greg examines the nature of truth. Is all truth subjective? Is all morality relative? In western culture a premium is placed on tolerance. Greg explains the history of this movement and ultimately how it squares with the teachings of Christ.

Move Together

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 08:44:48 -0600

During this final sermon in our Next Level Relationships series, Greg and Kevin have a conversation where we learn about the cycle of conflict. They discuss why we find it so easy to get pulled in, and more importantly, some tools from Jesus that we can use to short-circuit the cycle.

Move Inward

Sun, 04 Feb 2018 08:43:47 -0600

Why is it so easy to blame others when we are in conflict? In this fifth sermon of our Next Level Relationships series, Greg looks at what our brains and bibles can tell us about blame and how to navigate conflict.

Move Through It: From Broken to Whole

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 11:51:22 -0600

Conflict is the "elephant in the room" of all relationships - we either want to ignore it or focus completely on it. Yet as Kingdom people, how do we deal with conflict in ways that reflect Christ on the cross? In the fourth week of our series, "Next Level Relationships," Osheta Moore shows us how to tell better stories about those who seem like our enemies, while seeing each other as fellow image-bearers of God, and never enemies.

Move Slower: The Art of Listening Well

Sun, 21 Jan 2018 05:01:41 -0600

In the third sermon of our The Next Level Relationships series, David Morrow looks at the critical role that listening plays in healthy relationships. Dave discusses three challenges to, and three lessons for effective listening.

Move Deeper: Why We Hide

Sun, 14 Jan 2018 06:18:48 -0600

This week we explore vulnerability, and how we all tend to use the serpent's tools of hiding and idolatrous performance to protect ourselves from judgment and shame. We learn that Vulnerability is the only onramp to real connection with others, and is also the key to enabling us to receive our life and fullness from God alone.

Move Over: The Root of Relationship Conflicts

Sun, 07 Jan 2018 07:07:46 -0600

We tend to break the world in to sacred and secular, but in reality this is a false dichotomy. No matter where Jesus was or what relationship he was in He was fully present as a walking talking embodiment of the Kingdom of God. Instead of walking around with hungry hearts using others in an attempt to fill up our need for security, significance, and worth, we are called to mimic Christ in all our relationships by being filled by our relationship with the Father and letting that overflow to those around us.

The Discipline of Reviewing

Sun, 31 Dec 2017 08:49:41 -0600

For all of the events that take place in our lives from day to day, month to month, and year to year, it's important to take time to reflect, review, and ask God where He was working within these events and what He is doing through them. In the final message of 2017, Greg talks about the discipline of reviewing, and reflects on how God was working through Woodland Hills Church this past year.

Christmas Eve 2017

Sun, 24 Dec 2017 11:57:47 -0600

For most of us the Christmas story is a religious story that has become predictable over the years. But to its 1st century audience the Christmas story was anything but religious and predictable. In this Christmas Eve sermon Greg shares, how the Christmas story was irreligious and unexpected to its original audience and how if we look at the story with fresh eyes we will see a God that pursues us relentlessly at all cost, meeting us right where we are.

Circles of Affection

Sun, 17 Dec 2017 09:02:22 -0600

As we continue our Christmas series, "Do you See What I See: Looking at How to See Christmas Through God's Eyes," we focus on the shepherds. As with most of Luke's Gospel, being centered on Jesus' interactions with the marginalized (including the shepherds as a key part of the birth story) is no accident. In Jesus' day the shepherds as a people group were one of the more despised, untrusted, unclean, & judged people in society. In this message we learn how to stop automatically categorizing who's in and who's out based on superficial judgements of worth, and how to recognize the marginalized peoples in our own society and what God might have to say through them.

Following the Box-Demolishing God

Sun, 10 Dec 2017 06:21:40 -0600

Christmas is a time of year where we claim "Peace on Earth" and "Good-will toward humanity." But do we really mean that nice-sounding sentiment? Even more so, do we really understand the story that undergirds this time of year, in the first place? In our new Christmas series, "Do You See What I See," we explore Christmas as it was in the 1st Century: on the margins.

We Battle Together

Sun, 03 Dec 2017 07:21:00 -0600

In today's final sermon in the "Overcome" series, Greg discusses the last critically important key to overcoming temptation: Community.

The Armor of God

Sun, 26 Nov 2017 07:09:32 -0600

In this segment of the Overcome series we continue exploring the nature of temptation from a spiritual warfare perspective. Satan's primary weapon he uses against us is deception, therefore as followers of Jesus our primary defense is to saturate ourselves in the truth revealed in the crucified Christ about who God is, who we are, and what our relationship to others is to be. In this message Greg looks at each of the pieces of armor of God that Paul lays out in Ephesians 6.Extra downloads from this messageOur Identity in ChristWielding the Sword of the Spirit

Living in Resistance

Sun, 19 Nov 2017 11:02:26 -0600

We all struggle with temptation, and it begins in our mind. But how do we resist our own thoughts? In the second message of our "Overcome" series, Greg shows us how to see our enemy and understand his strategies, and then unpacks how to overcome them.

Battle of the Mind

Sat, 11 Nov 2017 20:12:28 -0600

We kick off our new "Overcome" sermon series with a talk about temptation and the core principle to overcoming it: analyzing our thoughts around a temptation and then taking those thoughts captive in Christ.

Failing Forward

Sun, 05 Nov 2017 09:48:10 -0600

The fear of failure affects so many of us. So deep is this fear that it has the capacity to keep us from saying yes the adventures into which God invites us. Failure is not a thing to be avoided, but rather a thing from which we can learn and grow. In this message, guest speaker Kris Beckert shares with us a word of encouragement regarding the transformation that can be found within experiences of failure.

Small Green Pieces of Paper

Sun, 29 Oct 2017 08:19:27 -0500

Dr. Sandra Unger joins us this week to unpack the ways God can use course corrections around our relationship to money and finances, to bring greater joy and hope. Spiritual disciplines like simplicity and generosity help us to humble ourselves before God and ask for His help in having a kingdom relationship to money and resources.

Unplugged

Sun, 22 Oct 2017 10:14:50 -0500

We continue our Course Corrections series by looking at small changes we can make in our life now, that have the potential for large scale shifts if followed out in the future. In this message David Morrow shares how the areas of leisure, entertainment, and social media can affect our Kingdom journey and what changes we might make now to ensure we don't become slaves to their influence.

Your Map Is Not The Territory

Sun, 15 Oct 2017 10:07:21 -0500

Today's sermon focuses on a strategy from Philippians 2:3-8 that demonstrates a kingdom way to engage with other people during conflict: remembering that our "map" (our brain's interpretation of sensory input) is an incomplete representation of reality, and to step into and seek to understand the other person's "map".

The Secret

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 09:25:05 -0500

Most Americans define themselves as distinctly unhappy. Why is that and what can be done about it? Is there really a "secret" to happiness? This week in our series Course Corrections, Greg explores one small tweak that may have the biggest impact in our lives - gratitude.

The Adventure of the Call

Sun, 01 Oct 2017 09:16:23 -0500

Like a GPS, sometimes the Holy Spirit redirects our path to bring greater adventure and blessing. In celebration of Woodland Hills' 25th anniversary Greg explores the ways the Holy Spirit has redirected the path of Woodland Hills, and what course correction means for followers of Christ.

There is no Them // Part Two

Sun, 17 Sep 2017 09:56:28 -0500

Hospitality is the intentional inclusion of the stranger and "others" in our jobs, churches, neighborhoods, cities, and beyond. What exactly does this look like and why don't we do this? In the second message in our "There Is No Them" series, Greg unpacks two Scripture passages that help to identify Jesus in the face of the strangers around us, and gives us practical tips on how to better represent Christ's Kingdom in our world.

There is no Them // Part One

Sun, 10 Sep 2017 09:56:43 -0500

Today Greg opens our two-part series called "There is no Them" with a message about the amazing consistency and unmistakable clarity we find in both the Old and New Testaments about our calling to welcome and embrace strangers into our lives and communities.

Dreamers and Doers

Sun, 03 Sep 2017 09:51:31 -0500

When did we grow out of our imagination? At what point did we cease living into the adventure that is life, that is following Jesus? We are told, at far too young of an age, to "put away childish things", to create a life that is predictable, linear and safe. But is that the kind of life Jesus invites us to live? This week Brianna shares with us the adventure of being Dreamers and Doers in the Kingdom of God.

The Urgency of Forgiveness

Sun, 27 Aug 2017 14:42:49 -0500

In our last sermon in the series Turning the Tables, Greg takes a final look at New Testament passages often appealed to in order to justify violence. This week we examine the Parable of the ungrateful servant.

The New Joshua

Sun, 20 Aug 2017 14:30:47 -0500

In this 4th installment of our Turning the Tables series, we examine how Jesus prophetically acts out a reinterpretation of a common Jewish racial understanding of the Kingdom of God. In both the interactions with the Roman centurion in Luke 7 as well as the woman (Canaanite descendant) in Matthew 15, Jesus reinterprets what it means to have faith in God and who the Kingdom is open to. The repercussions of this unequivocal 'no' to racism, and the hatred and de-humanization that accompany it, apply just as much to our 21st century culture in America as they did in 1st century Israel.

Revolting Beauty

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 14:25:54 -0500

One of the core convictions of Woodland Hills is that God is indiscriminately loving and opposed to all violence. But many Christians since the 4th century have not wanted this to be true. It's more comfortable for us to hate our enemies and be justified in doing so. So some Christians have gone to great lengths to argue that Jesus was not actually opposed to violence. Debunking these arguments is what Greg focused on during this 'Turning the Tables' message.

Hangry

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 15:35:14 -0500

It is common to hear objections about the differences between the God of the Old Testament and Jesus in the New, but what about the views some hold that Jesus wasn’t actually non-violent? How do we handle the Scriptures that seem to imply He engaged in occasional violent acts? In this second message in our series, Turning the Tables, David Morrow shows how Jesus cursing a fig tree had nothing to do with violence, and everything to do with liberation from that which enslaves His people, both individually and collectively.

Temple Tantrum

Sun, 30 Jul 2017 14:43:25 -0500

In our new Turning Over Tables series, we examine how central Jesus (as well as other new testament authors) placed our call to non-violence. In fact at one point in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus pre-conditions being considered a child of God to our love toward enemies and refusal to return evil for evil. Many throughout history have tried to twist scripture to fit certain personal or other non-Kingdom nationalistic agendas, but Jesus’ call to us is that His Kingdom is not of this world. What makes His followers distinct is our refusal to engage in violence no matter the “just” circumstance.

Redeeming the Past

Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:19:06 -0500

In this final sermon in our Moving Pictures series, Greg looks at how the past can be redeemed and give way to a healing future. All people carry wounds and brokenness from their past and many of us continue to live those hurts in the present. Greg examines how through the love of Christ all people’s pasts can be transformed and integrated into God’s great story of redemption.

The Force Awakens

Sun, 16 Jul 2017 14:28:31 -0500

Each of us is unique. We each have our own story, our own calling, and our own distinct set of giftings, talents, and experiences that shape our uniqueness. However, many of us are stuck living in stories of all the reasons we are disqualified from having a life of purpose and impact in the kingdom. Shawna uses the unlikely heroes of 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' to remind us that God can nullify any of the objections our minds present that keeps us from living out our identity in Christ.

Our Heavenly Wedding

Sun, 09 Jul 2017 13:38:00 -0500

Later this month Woodland Hills will be doing our annual baptism ceremony at Lake Phalen, and so in light of that Greg used this week's sermon to talk about baptism and contrasting it with the magical way of thinking about it that we see in the movie 'Oh Brother Where Art Thou'.

Repent!

Sun, 25 Jun 2017 14:25:06 -0500

The word “repent” is often associated with fear based tactics like street side preachers shouting “turn or burn!” Though fear based attempts to motivate change rarely have lasting positive impact. The New Testament picture of repentance is instead displayed as a joyful invitation to acceptance of the grace and mercy poured out by a God of love.

Why We Can't Know Why

Sun, 18 Jun 2017 15:02:51 -0500

This week in our Moving Pictures series we explore the film 'The Adjustment Bureau' to better understand the complexities of a world with free will. Every decision we make unfolds massive ripple effects, making it almost impossible to know why things happen as they do. Our hope in the midst of this beautifully complex world is found in God who is infinitely smarter than we can ever understand.

The Beast of Shame

Sun, 11 Jun 2017 12:35:55 -0500

The story of the transforming power of love over shame is all around us. This past weekend Sandra showed us this theme in the movie 'The Beauty and the Beast', and we learn how powerful love can be to defeat even the most paralyzing shame.

Fatal Illusion

Sun, 04 Jun 2017 14:52:45 -0500

This is our first week of the new sermon series, Moving Pictures. In this series we will look at different movies that show a particular theology. This week we were entertained with the film, Bruce Almighty, a film which highlights the question of free-will. Greg takes us through the illusion of fatalism. The foundation of fatalism (also understood as determinism and/or Calvinism) suggests the world and all its happenings are determined. All that unfolds, including all suffering, is a result of fate, a pre-determined destiny of events established by God. But, there is a different way of understanding the world and God’s relationship to the created order. God created a world with free-will; where humans have the capacity to freely choose life or choose death. God is a relational God and longs for relationship with humans who freely choose love. With the free-will understanding of the created order we discover God is not the author of all that unfolds in the world, but that humans play an integral role in what comes to pass.

Is God Angry?

Sun, 28 May 2017 10:30:33 -0500

Throughout the Old Testament we get clouded pictures of the character of God. Hebrews tells us that God gave our forefathers many glimpses of the truth. But through Jesus Christ, God gives us the full revelation of the truth. So what are we to do with the pictures that suggest God is an angry, wrathful, violent God? In this sermon, Greg points out various Old Testament stories that are glimpses of the truth of God’s character. With a careful reading that goes beyond the surface picture of the story we see that the greater revelation of the truth that God is a God who is rich in mercy, slow to anger, gracious and compassionate, that God is love.

Has God Always Been Loving?

Sun, 21 May 2017 01:26:30 -0500

The underlying theme behind our 'Glimpses of Truth' series is the idea that before we had the full revelation of God in Jesus, people only caught glimpses of him. He showed himself, but like the sun on a cloudy day, people's view was obscured by their culture, so what they saw was not the full revelation but one marred by their own expectations and fallenness.But despite this, there were still a few instances in the Old Testament where we can see glimpses of the Christ-like God that we know.

Make Room

Sun, 14 May 2017 12:30:31 -0500

God gives us dreams for our future. Yet, the circumstances and demands of life have a way of causing us to put those dreams away or forget them all together. How do we allow God to awaken us to the dreams he offers us? In this powerful message, Nicole Bullock (Co-Pastor of Blue Oaks Church in Brooklyn Center, MN) shares the story of a Shunammite woman who makes room for God in the face of paralyzing discouragement. Nicole also shares her own story of keeping faith in God through the uncertainty of seemingly-hopeless circumstances.

Is God Into Rules?

Sun, 07 May 2017 14:48:01 -0500

In week three of our 'Glimpses of Truth' sermon series we continue to look for portraits of God in the Old Testament that look like Jesus. This week we look at rules. The first five books of the Old Testament alone contain 613 different rules. Using Hebrews 1:1-3 as our springboard we can see that God gave rules to accommodate Israel’s needs as well as to protect and bless. In fact, in Jesus we see the ultimate expression of God’s desire, not for rule following, but for hearts given to Him in love.

Does God Play Favorites?

Sun, 30 Apr 2017 13:53:14 -0500

A surface level reading of the Old Testament gives the appearance that God has chosen Israel as a favorite nation, and has therefore discriminately blessed and protected them in and against other nations. Just as we discovered during the cross centered series, if one looks below the surface there actually is much more than is first apparent about the cultural understanding of God’s interactions with His people, the Israelites’ hearts, and God’s true calling and intention for their nation.

How Clearly Have We Seen God?

Sun, 23 Apr 2017 14:30:26 -0500

This weekend we kicked off our new sermon series, Glimpses of Truth. For the next six weeks Greg will be covering the ways in which the Spirit of God was consistently working in the hearts of God’s people to reveal as much of God’s true character as possible. Throughout the Old Testament we read many examples of how the spiritual immaturity of God’s people determines their understanding of God’s true character. Never coercing nor shaming, but through love and immeasurable patience, God meets us exactly where we are and carries us on to the full revelation of Godself that is finally found in Jesus Christ.

Reason for Believing

Sun, 16 Apr 2017 15:53:31 -0500

The Resurrection of Christ is central to the Christian message, yet it can be hard for some people to believe. Usually when people die, they stay dead! If Christ rose from the dead, it confirms his claims. Either Jesus rose from the dead, or the disciples were lying (Hoax theory) or the story is legendary (Legend theory). In this message Greg looks at the reasons to believe in the resurrection of Christ from historical evidence, and he examines problems with Hoax and Legend theories.

Good Friday 2017

Fri, 14 Apr 2017 11:04:13 -0500

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus experienced separation from the Father on Good Friday, and many of us feel the same way. But God is here for us! Our Good Friday service included testimonies, a sermon message, worship and communion.

The Non-Violent Warrior

Sun, 02 Apr 2017 15:01:11 -0500

If we read the Old Testament assuming that it all is about the cross of Christ, then we can see how God stooped to the level of the cultural conditioning of the Old Testament authors to allow himself to be portrayed as violent. In addition, when we read carefully, we can actually see, within the passages of violence themselves, the nonviolent character of God breaking through.

The Heavenly Missionary

Sun, 26 Mar 2017 13:32:34 -0500

God is a God who stoops down, out of love, in order to meet people where they are. He is a heavenly missionary who accommodates that which he is against in order to win people over to the truth. This metaphor of a heavenly missionary helps us understand what God was doing when we read about the violent depictions of God in the Old Testament.

Something Else is Going On

Sun, 19 Mar 2017 14:16:48 -0500

The Old Testament often portrays God as either doing, commanding, or threatening violence. For many, this is a huge problem because these depictions contradict the way Jesus lived and commanded. What are we to do with this contradiction? In this sermon, Greg invites us to see that there is something else going in these portrayals of violence, and we can only see this something else when we understand what was going on when Jesus died on the cross.

Fear and Control

Sun, 12 Mar 2017 10:39:34 -0500

Fear is part of the journey in this life, but for many, fear is consuming. As a result, it serves as a roadblock that keeps us from entering into what God has for our lives. God provides a way for us to move beyond fear and into a life of love. This is possible not because we have a guarantee that everything will work out as we wish, but because, even in the midst of the ups and downs of life, we know that God's love is greater than the fearful circumstance we face.

Addiction

Sun, 05 Mar 2017 13:20:36 -0600

In the Kingdom of God freedom is an end in of itself. It is part of our nature as created beings to be free and not be ruled over by one another, any agent in the spiritual realm, or by substances or behavior patterns. For many people addiction is one of the key stumbling blocks that perpetuates cycles of shame, hiding, and a lack of fullness of life. In this message Greg explores what lies at the heart of all addictions, substance or otherwise, and how we go about untangling ourselves from their grip so we can step into the full life that God desires us to have.

Unforgiveness

Sun, 26 Feb 2017 14:54:04 -0600

This is the fourth week in our Overwhelmed sermon series. Today we discussed the challenge of unforgiveness and resentment. Brianna suggests that living out of a false identity can be perhaps the greatest source of our struggle to extend forgiveness to ourselves or to others. The way to freedom from our unforgiveness is to remember the truth of who we are in Christ, and to be transformed more fully into our true identity by being transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Depression

Sun, 19 Feb 2017 14:24:36 -0600

Greg talks about depression, and how to take our thoughts captive to find the Joy of God.

Shame

Sun, 12 Feb 2017 14:07:40 -0600

In the second week of our Overwhelmed series Greg unpacks the topic of shame. We begin by looking at the origin of shame in Genesis 3; what shame is and where it comes from. Next we look at how God defeats shame on the cross and welcomes us to live shame-free lives through His unconditional love.

The True You

Sun, 05 Feb 2017 14:38:17 -0600

This initial sermon in our Overwhelmed series was a foundational message about the root of everything that holds us back. God has designed us to have power over our brain and our thought life and it is our responsibility to be disciples of our brain. We must fight against the cultural lies of our world by daily renewing our mind by focusing on who God says we are. Here is a link for the video that we played before the teaching.

Time: Spend it Well

Sun, 29 Jan 2017 14:29:55 -0600

Sometimes time doesn’t feel like such a gift. In fact if we’re not living in right relatedness with how God intended us to function, it can feel much more like a burden. Throughout history technology innovations have made false promises about giving more time back to their users, but in fact we have as many distractions as ever to keep us from living the simple, undistracted, others oriented life God calls us to. In this message we explore what can be done to take back control of how we’re living our life and spending our time so we don’t fall in to temptations that lead to getting our life from how busy we are.

Treasure: Spend it Well

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 12:13:01 -0600

God lovingly entrusts us with money, possessions, and resources. As followers of Christ we are called to surrender all our gifts to the Lordship of Christ. Because God is an other-oriented God who lovingly pours out blessings, and we are made in His image, then we too should be people who use our resources to bless others.

King's Kingdom Way

Sun, 15 Jan 2017 11:05:19 -0600

This weekend we honor the memory and life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a message from Dennis Edwards and Greg Boyd. King dedicated his life to the pursuit of the one new humanity inaugurated in the life of Jesus and this sermon focuses on King’s commitment to justice, peace and love.

Your One and Only Life

Sun, 08 Jan 2017 12:43:47 -0600

Everything that we have is a gift from God that we have been entrusted with. But these gifts are meant to be given away.

New Beginnings

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 10:17:37 -0600

This weekend service recognized our teaching pastor and dear friend, Seth McCoy, as he gave his last sermon here. Seth and his family will be transitioning from Woodland Hills to serve God’s Kingdom in another capacity. We celebrate and thank the McCoy family for serving, loving and participating in our larger Woodland Hills family. In this sermon, Seth discusses his affection for Woodland Hills and for the process of following your calling through three lenses: A telescope, a microscope and a rearview mirror.

Lighting the Way Home

Sat, 24 Dec 2016 10:54:58 -0600

Jesus is the Light of the world, and this Light has always been at work within us, whether or not we've been aware of it. Once we surrender to that Light, we find ourselves swept up into the greatest love story of all time!

Keeping the Light

Sun, 18 Dec 2016 13:54:37 -0600

Keeping the Light. Throughout the biblical narrative, we see that Jesus is the light of the world. And that light is shared with humanity in order that we may shine the light. In the Old Testament, Israel was called to be the light to other nations. With the Incarnation, Jesus came as the light of the world. And today, the family of God is to bear witness to the light of the world. Greg shares with us how we are blessed to be conduits of light, to shine and share the light.

Invasion of Light

Sun, 11 Dec 2016 14:01:32 -0600

In this third week of our Across the Universe series we are reminded that the counter-cultural beauty of the Christmas story is in the reality that the God who created the vast expanses of the universe became small and vulnerable. While it is often the case that we marvel at what is grand and big, the message at Christmas is that oftentimes the most profound experiences of God are in the seemingly mundane moments of life. Our call is to be a people who remember and remind others that the God of the universe does not only go half way for us, and so we should go all the way in love for others.

The Light of Love

Sun, 04 Dec 2016 14:01:25 -0600

As we move toward Christmas during our Across the Universe series, Seth explores what it means when God, the Creator of the universe, calls us home. This message took a look at what home means, and what we’re being invited in to, as seen through the unique lens of the prodigal son.

Marvelous Light

Sun, 27 Nov 2016 13:13:52 -0600

In the sermon this week Greg reflects on how the heavens tell of the glory of God. The vast and beautiful universe, bigger than the human mind can conceive, points to a marvelous creator. This same awe-inspiring creator is the one that became human to love and save all of humanity.

One Weapon

Sun, 20 Nov 2016 13:51:48 -0600

In this final sermon of the Without Borders series, Greg explores our ultimate weapon for fighting the powers of this present darkness. (Hint: it isn't more darkness)

No Fear

Sun, 13 Nov 2016 13:37:40 -0600

Fear and Faith. Throughout much of the biblical narrative we encounter stories of people who danced between fear and faith. Stories such as the fear of the disciples on the stormy sea, to the townspeople after witnessing the healing of the Gerasene demoniac, to Jairus and his daughter. Yet, in the midst of these fears, we also encounter the Jesus who is bigger than our fears. The Jesus who tells us, “Do not fear. Instead, have faith.” In this weeks’ message our guest, Pastor Dennis Edwards from Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, MN, takes us on a journey through these stories and exhorts the church to live in love – for there is no fear in love.

One Hope

Sun, 06 Nov 2016 14:15:21 -0600

In this final pre-election sermon, Greg reminds us that while the kingdoms of the world rise and fall and are ultimately doomed, the kingdom of God is everlasting and truly deserving of our hope.

No Enemy

Sun, 30 Oct 2016 11:58:35 -0500

In this third week of our Without Borders series and a week before the election we are reminded that Jesus' challenge to us in loving our enemies was designed to remind us that God has no human enemies. He has called us to be agents of peace, to find the commonality between us and to build on it. This practice will be exceedingly challenging during this election time. We are quick to blame and quick to judge. Jesus invited people on the polar opposites of the political controversy of his day to be brothers within his community of disciples.

No Country

Sun, 23 Oct 2016 12:43:34 -0500

Jesus calls us to be His ambassadors. Living as an ambassador of the Kingdom God instead of a citizen of the kingdom of the world requires an awareness and intentionality to not buy in to the “me first” culture of the world. Christians throughout history have usually migrated to one of two extremes in our relationship with the world. Either we withdraw and isolate ourselves from the culture to the point of irrelevance, or else we acquire as much power as possible in order to force or legislate Kingdom of God behavior in to the culture. Neither of these work, or are what we're called to. Instead we're called to a third way as an ambassador and missionary in a foreign land where we interact and show the people the Kingdom by how we live, love, and steward our talents and resources, and then invite others to join.

One President

Sun, 16 Oct 2016 13:29:54 -0500

This weekend Greg taught about the difference between the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God. In the kingdom of God, Jesus is our King (and president) and followers are marked by their indiscriminate love and refusal to rule over others. During this election cycle believers are called to put their trust in Jesus alone and not be pulled into trusting in the rulers of this world.

Risky Church

Sun, 09 Oct 2016 11:53:27 -0500

In this final sermon of the Worth the Risk series, we look at how the cross offends our worldly values, and how we as followers, and the church as a whole, are called to respond to this confrontation.

Risky Family

Sun, 02 Oct 2016 14:33:52 -0500

We often craft together ideal images of of what a “good Christian” family ought to look like. Images of the idealistic post-war, bourgeois nuclear families are more frequently articulated as the “biblical” family. But, is that accurate? Greg provides for us a snapshot of the various families portrayed throughout the biblical narrative. From Adam and Eve to Solomon and his many wives and concubines, to Abraham and Sarah, we gather a sense that “biblical” families are just as messy and dysfunctional as what we may witness today. The hope of the family unit is Christ! The Christ who works within the mess of it all to make something beautiful.

Risky Marriage

Sun, 25 Sep 2016 12:31:48 -0500

In this third message of our Worth the Risk series, Greg talks about marriage relationships and explores the meaning of Ephesians 5:22, which says that wives must submit to their husbands.

Risky Friendship

Sun, 18 Sep 2016 14:16:30 -0500

Being made in the image of God means that we are created to make and keep commitments. In this second segment of our Worth the Risk series, Seth explores commitment’s role in our relationships. A kingdom relationship is a creation in and of itself, and that creation requires constant care in the form of honest conversations about the things that come between us. Our tendency is to avoid conflict, confrontation, and rebuke because we believe a lie. We believe we can’t be honest and keep our friendships, but like all forms of deception this lie leads to relational death.

Risky Life

Sun, 11 Sep 2016 16:42:38 -0500

Greg opens our new Worth The Risk series with a discussion of commitment, the constant desire to find something better, and argues that you can only know the Truth about anything by passionately committing to it.

The Spark and Sustainer of the Church

Sun, 04 Sep 2016 11:29:08 -0500

One need not look very far to see examples of discord, hostility and disunity within humanity and even within creation. Culture wars, political wars, theological wars and military wars abound. What, we might ask, is the source of all this hostility? And, more importantly, what is the source of true peace, true unity, true harmony? Paul tells us in Ephesians that Jesus is the one true peace. Jesus IS our peace and the Holy Spirit is the unifier. A new president or policy or military leader or social activist will not bring peace. Only when people accept the one (Jesus) who IS peace, who IS harmony will true unity come.

God In Us Q&A

Tue, 30 Aug 2016 12:28:49 -0500

We wrapped up our summer God In Us sermon series with a Q&A night on Tuesday, August 30. It was hosted by Greg Boyd, our senior pastor, and Paul Eddy, our teaching pastor. It was a Q&A on the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.

The Hope of the Hope of the World

Sun, 28 Aug 2016 12:12:11 -0500

Hope is a vital part of life. In this segment of our summer series on the Holy Spirit, Seth explores how the Holy Spirit fuels our hope by giving us a vision of God’s plan for the world and by empowering us to take action towards bringing that plan into reality.

The Taste of the Spirit

Sun, 21 Aug 2016 15:00:23 -0500

As we continue our summer series on the Holy Spirit, this week Seth explains the role of the Holy Spirit in producing fruit that serves as evidence of a follower’s life in the Kingdom. As a way of understanding the fruits described in Galatians 6, a description and function of the soul is first explored. We use our will not to grit our way into a Jesus looking life, but rather to surrender our life, in order to gain the life the God promises. Our job is to surrender. The Holy Spirit's job is to produce the fruit in us.

The Gifting Spirit: Part 2

Sun, 14 Aug 2016 13:35:41 -0500

In this sermon Greg goes over the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit. After explaining each gift, he addressed why he believes these gifts are still relevant and important for the church today. He ends with an encouragement to zealously seek after all gifts God has for you.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Sun, 07 Aug 2016 13:36:30 -0500

This next sermon in our series, titled God in Us, focused on the meaning, biblical background and practical application of being filled with the Holy Spirit. This phrase has created much controversy in the church today while often creating more division than unity. The evidence in Scripture emphasizes that there is a difference between having the Holy Spirit as a follower of Jesus and the act of being filled with the Spirit, but that this filling of the Spirit looks more like the extravagant love of a married couple than any spiritual test.

The Gifting Spirit: Part 1

Sun, 31 Jul 2016 14:45:31 -0500

This message is the fifth sermon in the series. It lays the foundation for identifying, understanding, and utilizing spiritual gifts.

Walking in the Light

Sun, 24 Jul 2016 13:17:54 -0500

In this fourth message of the God in Us series we explore what it means that the light of the world has taken up residence in us. Throughout scripture we see the theme of darkness and light battling back and forth. In Genesis we read of the Spirit hovering over the darkness and bringing order to the chaos, light to the darkness. In the gospel of John, Jesus calls himself the light of the world, and promises his followers will have the Holy Spirit in them if he goes away. So what does it mean to have the light of the world living inside us?

A New Mind

Sun, 17 Jul 2016 16:28:54 -0500

God makes amazing promises over the kind of life we can live through the power of the Holy Spirit. This power will flow out of us like a river of living water. But we frequently experience a distance between the kind of full life that God promised and the kind of life we live now, don’t we? So how can the distance of this gap begin to close? Paul tells us, one of the key ways in which we can do this is through the practice of being transformed by the renewing of our mind. The primary place in which The Holy Spirit meets with us is in our minds, and we, through the power of the Spirit, can choose our thoughts, we can set our minds on things that are above.

Philando and Jeronimo

Sun, 10 Jul 2016 16:17:14 -0500

This weekend's sermon is a response to the recent police/black lives matter conflicts from Baton Rouge, Dallas and here in Saint Paul. We took a break from our current 'God In Us' series to talk about this together.

Who Is The Spirit?

Sun, 03 Jul 2016 16:50:52 -0500

This second sermon in our God in Us series focused on the broad question of, “Who is the Spirit?” This message focuses on three characteristics of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is God, The Holy Spirit is personal and the Holy Spirit is distinct in nature. Greg emphasized that the main role of the Spirit is to show us clearly the person of Jesus and help us to recognize God when we would have no other way of recognizing Him. The Holy Spirit is working to remove the veil in our mind and can do this through our imagination.

Walking In The Spirit

Sun, 26 Jun 2016 15:27:00 -0500

We began our new Holy Spirit series by hearing stories from Rob & Fred, friends of Greg's and podrishioners from a house church network in Philadelphia. They shared about what it looks like for them to choose to live in the flow of the Holy Spirit on a day to day basis.

Race Matters Q&A

Tue, 21 Jun 2016 12:32:10 -0500

We held a Q&A night to wrap up our Flesh and Blood sermon series. In the final sermon of that series we examined how racial reconciliation is a vital part of the gospel message. To further discuss this we asked Dennis Edwards, the Senior Pastor of Sanctuary Covenant Church, to join Greg for this Q&A on a Jesus-way of addressing racial issues within the church.

Tearing Down The Tower

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 11:15:00 -0500

In this, the final part of the Flesh & Blood series, we examine how racial reconciliation is a vital part of the gospel message. To be a Jesus-follower is to be one who seeks peace-making and is always striving towards reconciliation. We discover that we are only able to achieve reconciliation to the degree that we are willing to learn about perspectives that differ from our own.

Life Without Walls

Sun, 12 Jun 2016 13:30:09 -0500

In this, the third message in our Flesh and Blood series, we focus on Jacob's story in Genesis. His story is a great illustration of how we build walls inside ourselves, and it brings to light who we are really protecting ourselves from.

When The Spirit Moves

Sun, 05 Jun 2016 14:32:46 -0500

Jesus caused a stir in his community when he read the words from Isaiah 61 in his synagogue and announced their fulfillment through his own life and ministry. It’s no surprise; these words outline a powerful declaration of the Spirit of God at work. This sermon explores what happens for us everyday 21st Century believers as we embrace Isaiah 61. When the Spirit moves we are transformed; we become rescued and redeemed people that renew and rebuild communities.

When Conflict Burns

Sun, 29 May 2016 14:33:35 -0500

In this second message of the Flesh and Blood series, Seth describes the unceasing realities of conflict not only in the world in which we live, but also in our own lives; our own relationships, and our own hearts. Walls of conflict exist all around us, and those walls are torn down because one man chose to die. Through Christ’s death, the walls of conflict and separation are torn down. As the head of the church (that is Christ) leads the body (that is the church), the conflicts that divide the world are torn down and truth, justice, mercy and peace become embodied.

War and Peace

Sun, 22 May 2016 14:17:10 -0500

In this first message of the Flesh and Blood series, Greg dives in to relational conflict by properly defining kingdom peace and kingdom war. We live in a fallen creation whose inhabitants too often reflect the ideals of the enemy rather than participating in the triune God’s invitation to reflect His perfect love to each other. The principalities and powers play us off one another creating human enemies, but in reality the battle is not against flesh and blood. We were created to fight and protect, just not against each other.

Stories Of Justice

Sun, 15 May 2016 14:50:39 -0500

Week four of our Love. Walk. Do. sermon series focused on stories of justice for human trafficking victims. Mark Moore, Church Mobilization Director at International Justice Mission (IJM), shared stories of what IJM has done to actively bring justice and healing to human trafficking victims.

Passionless Hope

Mon, 09 May 2016 14:57:51 -0500

This message examines Christian hope and how we are called to prophetically speak hope into seemingly hopeless situations. While hope is vital, certain understandings of God’s character and role in radical suffering can leave victims of trauma with passionless hope. But when our picture of God is rooted solidly in the revelation of Jesus, it is possible to have a passionate faith, regardless of the circumstances. *We have Jessica's book available for purchase; please email Jodi at jcremers@whchurch.org if you're interested!

Do Justice

Sun, 01 May 2016 15:25:55 -0500

This third sermon in our Love. Walk. Do. series focuses on the importance of doing justice. There is always a danger in attempting to find solutions to justice issues with the political system where all solutions are ambiguous in nature. We are called to actively DO justice in our church and communities as a sign-post of the beautiful Kingdom of God because all of humanity has unsurpassable worth.

Walk Humbly

Sun, 24 Apr 2016 15:41:18 -0500

We all want a place at the top. A place of prominence and authority. From the story of Esau and Jacob, to James and John, to me and to you, the desire for a place at the top can frequently be seen. But for Jesus, a position at the “top of the Kingdom” can only be found through humility.

Love Mercy

Sun, 17 Apr 2016 15:46:47 -0500

In this first message of the Love. Walk. Do. sermon series, Greg tackles the first portion of the prophet Micah’s depiction of what God requires of us – to love mercy. Loving mercy means loving it when people don’t get the negative consequences they deserve. If justice is about collecting a debt, then loving mercy is about hating debt collecting. In a very counter cultural depiction of the Kingdom of God, Greg examines how we can’t truly love mercy until we realize the extent to which we depend on it from God.

Rediscover Faith

Sun, 10 Apr 2016 15:55:43 -0500

A popular view of faith is as an absence of doubt. But Greg shows us why this view not only is a barrier to new believers, but is also a dangerous way of doing faith.

Rediscover Humility

Sun, 03 Apr 2016 13:36:32 -0500

Jesus commanded His followers to love, and He commanded us not to judge. Yet the Christians of today are known outside of the Church as arrogant, judgmental, and intolerant. What is wrong with this picture?! In this message, Greg shares three ideas on how we, who say we follow Jesus, can truly become the humble, serving, loving people that the Church is supposed to be.

Rediscover the Resurrection

Sun, 27 Mar 2016 12:44:35 -0500

This Easter we heard from Greg Boyd on how the resurrection confirms that Jesus is the true revelation of God. Jesus is the exact representation of God and the truth is that the mercy of God triumphs over judgment. It is our task to align or re-align our picture of God with the person of Jesus seen in the resurrection.

Creating Ripples

Sun, 20 Mar 2016 14:35:14 -0500

In this sixth and last installment of the Everyday Influence series, Seth explores the positive ripple effect of us sharing the impact Jesus has had on our life. We don’t share the good news for a variety of reasons, but the promise of scripture is that if we show up and share, God will provide the power to our words that has the potential to change hearts. We don’t have to be perfect; in fact that’s part of the good news. Our story, infused with the power of the Holy Spirit, is enough.

The Vocation of Serving

Sun, 13 Mar 2016 11:41:58 -0500

For the fifth installment of our Everyday Influence series, Sandra shares her own life example of being stuck in a “box” of self-proclaimed righteousness, and how she realized that we are all in the same box: the big box of “screw-ups.” It is within this big box that Jesus dwells, and does his great work.

Following Promptings

Sun, 06 Mar 2016 13:31:51 -0600

We can all struggle to hear and obey God at times – but why? Is it that we’re not listening well? Or that we’re afraid that we might not like what we hear? We’re not alone in those realities – even Jesus’ disciples found themselves there, hiding from others and living in fear. But when they received the Holy Spirit, they had supernatural help to overcome their fears – and so do we! The truth is, we shouldn’t be afraid of what will happen if we listen to the Holy Spirit, we should be afraid of what we’ll miss out on if we don’t!

Everybody's Got A Hungry Heart

Sun, 28 Feb 2016 12:50:24 -0600

In this third installment of the Everyday Influence evangelism series, Greg shares how the real good news is meant to impact all of our relationships, especially with those that don’t know Jesus. We were created with an innermost need and desire for significance and value that only God can satisfy. We were also born into an environment filled with lies and deception about how that desire is to be satisfied. Our call to share the good news starts with our experience of the good news. Greg shares how listening and learning are just as important in evangelizing as speaking and sharing. As the saying goes, no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.

We Are Priests

Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:24:59 -0600

This week we heard from Seth McCoy during our second installment from the Everyday Influence series. Seth explored how being a priest is the best, hardest and most important job in the world. The primary role of being a priest is in learning how to give and receive mercy based on the good news of the Gospel.

The Story of Salvation

Sun, 14 Feb 2016 13:15:21 -0600

The first in our new sermon series about evangelism, Greg takes a look at the message itself. He looks at the most frequent (and often cringe-worthy) ways the “good news” is often presented, and then helps us see the really good news that we should be sharing.

Extending Freedom

Sun, 07 Feb 2016 13:07:50 -0600

“When Jesus saw THEIR faith, he said… ‘Son, YOUR sins are forgiven… Pick up your mat and walk.’” Satan tries to isolate us, but the truth is that everything in the Kingdom is in relationship. We NEED others, and others NEED us! To allow the Enemy to keep us from sharing God’s blessings is to remain in a cage of deception – but to love others as best we can, even though we’re still imperfect ourselves, is to be set free! We sat down with Jim to hear some of his story. Click here to see that interview.

Custom Made Cages

Sun, 31 Jan 2016 11:58:21 -0600

This week we heard from Greg Boyd during our fourth installment from the Cage Free series. Greg explored the custom made cages that can be built overtime in our soul and the need to perform consistent soul audits. The enemy will take advantage of any area of wounding to lie to us about our real worth. We need to sit with God to become aware of these wounds, allow God to remind us of how much we are loved, and come up with a plan with God and others for how to move beyond this place of woundedness. We also sat down with Laure to hear some of her story.Click here to watch that interview.

Solitary Confinement

Sun, 24 Jan 2016 13:02:50 -0600

We live in a world that isolates us – brokenness and loneliness are all around, and they’re caused by our Enemy who is at war with God. But Jesus overcame the Enemy, and now we can all not only be healed of our own brokenness, but we have also been gifted to bring healing and freedom to other’s lives as well! We sat down with Melany to hear some of her story. Click here to see that interview.

The Declaration of Independence

Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:32:59 -0600

In this second installment of the Cage Free series, Greg explores the connections between truth and lies, behavior, and our trust in God to meet our innermost needs of security, worth, and significance. Getting free of the bondages that cage us requires examining everything in our life through the lens of Jesus. Deception is the main tool of Satan, so ultimately it is the truth that sets us free.

Cage Free Living

Sun, 10 Jan 2016 10:07:59 -0600

In this opening sermon of the Cage-Free series, Greg gives us an overview of the basis of the Spiritual Warfare worldview. This view is central to our picture of a Jesus-looking God who does not himself cause evil or suffering.

Redeeming Pleasure

Sun, 03 Jan 2016 13:08:13 -0600

This week we heard from a guest speaker, Jeremy Jernigan, teach on the topic of his new book, Redeeming Pleasure. The topic of pleasure within the church has often been shied away from because of an assumption that pleasure is connected with guilt and shame. Jeremy emphasized the need to seek pleasure on God’s terms where we will experience maximum pleasure rather than seeking pleasure on our own terms which ultimately leads to less pleasure.

The Presence Changes The World

Sun, 27 Dec 2015 13:32:56 -0600

Our modern lives tend to get so busy that our everyday realities can keep us from seeing and experiencing that God loves us and is always with us. Emmanuel means “God with us”, and while it may sound a bit surreal, the Christmas story is as true today as it was on that first Christmas – God IS here with us!

The Invitation That Changes The World

Thu, 24 Dec 2015 12:52:17 -0600

This was the message from our Christmas Eve service in 2015.

The Hope That Changes The World

Sun, 20 Dec 2015 15:35:45 -0600

Waiting is really difficult, no matter who you are or what you’re waiting for. We see examples over and over in scripture of characters who waited well and others who struggled and tried to take things in to their own hands. In this message Seth explores what it means to wait in hopeful anticipation for Jesus’ coming this Christmas season.

The King That Changes The World

Sun, 13 Dec 2015 09:59:39 -0600

Christ offers complete peace and security, but only when our eyes are fixed on him alone as our King.

The Wonder That Changes The World

Sun, 06 Dec 2015 14:54:00 -0600

For children, Christmas is a time filled with wonder and awe. But as we grow, we tend to lose our sense of wonder and awe not only about Christmas, but about our world, our lives, and everything else! We all innately long to return “home” – home to a place where love overwhelms us and all things are new and glorious – and we long for someone who will take us there. But could that ever really happen? Praise God, for as wondrous and awe-inspiring as it sounds, that’s exactly what Jesus did for us on that first Christmas!

The Peace That Changes The World

Sun, 29 Nov 2015 14:50:30 -0600

This week we begin our Christmas series, The Night that Changed the World. This first week focuses on the peace that comes through Christ. Greg delves into the distractions that can get in the way of experiencing this peace of Christ. This peace of Christ requires an intentional inventory of the degree to which Christ has full reign over both our outer and inner lives. In this sermon we look into some crucial questions and practices to submit all of our lives to the reign of Christ to experience true peace that can only come through the Prince of Peace.

The People Who Shape Us

Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:47:29 -0600

In this sixth and last installment of the Formed series, Seth explores more in depth how ideas and identities we take upon our self that are not from God keep us from growing mature in the faith. God has provided the type of soil fertile for growth and He sees the potential in us as seeds. At the center of our calling is to mimic the type of soil Jesus has been to us by our love toward others. We are to be the type of soil where others will experience the Father’s love.

When Surprise Shows Up

Sun, 15 Nov 2015 14:32:37 -0600

So why DO bad things happen to good people?! What IS God’s plan for overcoming evil, and why does it so often seem like evil is still winning?! Yes, God does have the power to take anything that Satan intends for evil and to work it to bring about good, but this is not work that God intends to do alone. He “comes alongside” us to “work all things for good”, but this is a process that requires OUR cooperation!

Choosing To Say Yes

Sun, 08 Nov 2015 07:48:51 -0600

Personal experience is an important element of faith, so if we lack this, the life-changing depth of our faith will suffer. Today we talk about how to enhance the way we experience our faith, so that it feels more real and can affect us more fully.

The Practice of No

Sun, 01 Nov 2015 08:11:38 -0600

In this installment of our Formed series, Greg Boyd explores the importance of the Practice of No in the life of Christian discipleship. The story of Elijah and his experience with God on Mount Horeb are the foundation of this sermon as Greg examines how God lives in the quiet in the midst of a world that keeps getting louder and more sensational. The discipline of simplicity is an important tool to learn how to keep our gaze focused on Jesus rather than constantly looking for more.

The Spirit of the Disciplines

Sun, 25 Oct 2015 09:21:10 -0500

In this second installment of the Formed series, Seth explores what it is that holds us back as followers of Christ, or creates a gap between the person we want to be and know is inside of us and who actually are. We know that Jesus wants to give us an abundant life, but our reality is often one of spiritual scarcity and daily bondage to destructive ideas and behaviors. In this message we examine what it looks like to surrender our will and trust in our heavenly Father.

Dueling Desires

Sun, 18 Oct 2015 11:02:05 -0500

We desire to follow Jesus – unfortunately we also have some desires that conflict with following Jesus. And try as we might, those conflicting desires just won’t go away. So what are we to do?

The Priesthood of All Believers

Sun, 11 Oct 2015 14:01:30 -0500

Ministry is not the work of seminarians or professionals. It is the job of each and every one of us. Jesus is the Hope of the World. But God is not coming to rescue us out of the world; he is rescuing the world through us. Today, Greg urges us to find our particular passion or gift and get to work!

Building Community

Sun, 04 Oct 2015 14:32:45 -0500

In week four of Throughline, Seth discusses how and why we build community.

The Myth of Maturity

Sun, 27 Sep 2015 10:06:29 -0500

In this third installment of the Throughline series, Greg explores what it means to mature in the Christian faith and how that impacts our decision making.

Choosing Hospitality

Sun, 20 Sep 2015 13:45:57 -0500

God clearly shows amazing hospitality towards us from Genesis through Revelation, and yet we rejected Jesus, and we continue to reject countless others day by day. We have a superiority issue that Jesus confronted throughout his ministry, and he taught us to live a better way. It’s time for us to learn and practice some genuine hospitality!

When God Fills His Temple

Sun, 13 Sep 2015 14:32:05 -0500

In this first sermon of our Throughline series, Greg reflects on our history as a church, and reaffirms our central theme of Love: our first and last and only job here on earth is to do all things in love. Just as love provides purpose to a marriage, it provides our mission as a church, as well as to us as individuals as part of the body of Christ.

Mixtape: Luke 10:2-11, 17-20

Sun, 06 Sep 2015 13:06:37 -0500

In this final installment of our Mixtape series, Greg Boyd explores the theological and practical ramifications of spiritual warfare in the lives of the earliest followers of Jesus and how that applies to our lives today. We find critical principles for lifestyle warfare in the account in Luke 10:1-18 that provide practical ways to live out the beauty of the Kingdom of God in everyday life encounters.

Mixtape: Matthew 28:16-20

Sun, 30 Aug 2015 13:57:21 -0500

In this sixth installment of the mixed tape series, Seth shares his experience with the church’s call to make disciples of all the nations. As followers of Jesus, we are called on to learn and receive our Father’s heart so that not only will we know Him better, but so that we can express His heart for the broken world through our lives.

Mixtape: Ephesians 3:14-21

Sun, 23 Aug 2015 13:35:26 -0500

Sandra discusses some of the difficulties and obstacles to getting our life from the fullness of Christ.

Mixtape: Acts 2:42-47

Sun, 16 Aug 2015 14:00:38 -0500

In this next installment of our Mixtape series, Seth McCoy explores the richness of the early church as described in Acts 2:42-47. The beauty of the early church is evident as we look at this passage and explore the spirit of this church and how that could affect the spirit of the church today. We also look at the myths of this early church as often perceived or romanticized today and breakdown any misconceptions that might get in the way of living out what God has for His church today.

Mixtape: Ephesians 2:11-18

Sun, 09 Aug 2015 13:33:17 -0500

In this third installment of the mixed tape series, Greg shares his experience in growing in a non-violent world view during conflict. As followers of Jesus, we are called on to mimic our Lord and be peacemakers. We learn that being a peacemaker is not just doing activities that promote a lack of conflict, but it’s about rather putting our trust and whole source of worth and significance in the one who is peace, Jesus.

Mixtape: John 16:5-15

Sun, 02 Aug 2015 12:54:45 -0500

Early Church fathers said that every movement of God toward us begins with the Father, comes through the Son, and is accomplished in the Holy Spirit, while every genuine movement of humans toward God originates in the Holy Spirit, and goes through the Son to the Father. So if God’s movement toward us is accomplished in the Holy Spirit, and if our genuine moves toward God originate in the Holy Spirit, then we need this Spirit! Today we learn more about the Holy Spirit, and why Jesus left the earth so the Holy Spirit could come and fill it – and us – with God’s love!

Mixtape: Colossians 3:1-14

Sat, 25 Jul 2015 21:34:07 -0500

The upcoming Mixed Tape series will be a collection of scripture passages that have moved and inspired the body of Christ over the centuries. In this first message of the series, Seth takes a look at Colossians 3:1-14 and what it means to get our life from being hidden in Christ. We also take a look at our role of choosing to die to the old way of living and not letting it pollute our current reality.

Twisted Scripture: Genesis 6:1-7

Sun, 19 Jul 2015 14:06:35 -0500

Greg Boyd finishes our Twisted Scripture series by delving into the passage in Genesis 6:1-7 on the issue of the Nephilim. This controversial passage deals with the creation of hybrid beings, the Nephilim, that are the offspring of fallen angels and daughters of humans. This passage has led to many distracting theories and conspiracies that have served to move us away from the tasks of the Kingdom of God. Our job, as Kingdom people, is to stay vigilant to all the ways the principalities and powers of this fallen world are constantly trying to spiritual engineer the Kingdom and our identity in Christ out of this world. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and be careful of this temptation to slowly lose our Kingdom calling.

Twisted Scripture: Matthew 6:14-15

Sun, 12 Jul 2015 14:21:36 -0500

Today Brianna explores the concept of forgiveness that is so central to the Kingdom. Is it a condition of God's forgiveness of us? Or is his forgiveness unconditional no matter what? And if his love is unconditional, does that mean it doesn't matter whether we forgive others or not?

Twisted Scripture: Psalm 78:1-7

Sun, 05 Jul 2015 13:34:33 -0500

The Kingdom of God grows through witness and repentance, not by childbirth. The direction of people’s journeys through life hinges on whether or not someone is willing to tell them about what God has done. Are you telling others what God has done in your life?

Twisted Scripture: Joshua 14:9

Sun, 28 Jun 2015 12:38:53 -0500

Most evangelicals believe that God said the nation of Israel will exist forever, therefore its national and political boundaries must be fully restored before Jesus returns. But what if the “Israel” that the Bible refers to in this context is not a specific nation with geographical boundaries, but all who are the people of God?

Twisted Scripture: Matthew 26:11

Sun, 21 Jun 2015 12:56:02 -0500

In this fourth week of Twisted Scripture, Greg takes a look at Matthew 26:11, and what it means to “always have the poor with you.”

Twisted Scripture: Acts 2:37-38

Sun, 14 Jun 2015 13:27:15 -0500

In this continuation of the Twisted Scripture series, Greg explores the various differences in opinion about baptism, and clarifies where WHC falls in this spectrum.

Twisted Scripture: Proverbs

Sun, 07 Jun 2015 14:22:26 -0500

In part two of the Twisted Scripture series, Shawna explores the uses and misuses of a couple common Old Testament Proverbs. Often times in the Christian culture of the 21st century we see the book of Proverbs as a collection of nice sayings or one liners to guide our day. When we oversimplify the Proverbs they can often times come across very formulaic. We miss the cultural context they were written in and the oral tradition of wisdom they were meant to pass down to the next generation.

Twisted Scripture: Matthew 7:7

Sun, 31 May 2015 12:04:04 -0500

Seth McCoy begins our Twisted Scripture series by discussing the topic of prayer by focusing on Matthew 7:7-11. This passage has a tendency to be misrepresented by our own cultural contexts that can distort the language of this passage into an individualistic prosperity gospel. It was argued that the ultimate goal of prayer is to ask, seek and knock in order to find the beauty of a life lived in submission to God and for the purpose of advancing the Kingdom of God.

Creation Matters: En Garde

Sun, 24 May 2015 11:20:42 -0500

The Bible can seem to conflict itself depending on how it’s being interpreted, but what if the conflict isn’t with the Bible at all? For example, the story of creation often results in conflicting views and beliefs among people. But what if the conflict isn’t with the story itself, and is instead found in what lies behind the story – the very conflict we are to be standing with God against?

Creation Matters: Image That

Sun, 17 May 2015 14:00:12 -0500

What does it mean to be “made in the image of God?” Most people think it’s some unique attribute of being human – like our ability to speak, or to love. And while that may be part of the picture, there is much more to it. The living God breathed his life into us, brought us into his temple, and invited us to rule and reign with him by being living examples of his character and love to all creation!

Creation Matters: That, Not How

Sun, 10 May 2015 14:37:00 -0500

In this exploration of the Genesis 1 creation story and the young earth theory of creation, Greg presents three reasons why he believes that Genesis 1 was not intended to be taken as a literal account, but rather a narrative to express important truths about who the early Jews were and who their God was. Further, whether you believe in the young earth theory or evolution or some other view, the important thing that we all can agree on is simply the fact THAT God created the world and all life - not HOW he did so.

Whole Hearted: Part 2

Sun, 03 May 2015 12:55:02 -0500

In part of two of this two-part series on living wholeheartedly, Seth focused on the kind of heart that honors God. The focus of this teaching is the importance of gratitude, as noted through common myths about gratitude and possible danger of ingratitude or unspoken gratitude. We all have such a debt of love and the God-honoring way to pay back this debt is through gratitude and practical acts of love.

Whole Hearted: Part 1

Sun, 26 Apr 2015 13:07:59 -0500

In part one of this two part series on living wholeheartedly, Seth shares the importance and role of the local church in building God's kingdom. The early church had a very clear vision of their role in the world. They functioned out of their Spirit given gifts to continue the growth Jesus started while on Earth. We are invited and called to live the same style of Spirit led life.

The Song of Creation

Sun, 19 Apr 2015 13:43:47 -0500

Many people face a “crisis of faith” when it comes to understanding the story of creation as told in Genesis 1. When read as a chronological account of events and compared to modern-day science, it’s often reduced to an angrily defended “matter of faith.” But the creation story is not a scientific journal – it’s a beautifully poetic account of a good God and His love for us!

Mixed Signals: Q&A

Sun, 12 Apr 2015 12:08:11 -0500

During our weekend services on April 11 and 12 we hosted Q&A sessions with Greg Boyd and Paul Eddy. We included all three services, so enjoy listening to ALL the answers.

The Death of Death's Sting

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 14:03:38 -0500

In this Easter message we delve into how the Resurrection brings freedom from the accusations of the principalities and powers through the power of self-sacrificial love. We also look at how the Resurrection brings freedom from the fear of death and our mindset of scarcity in order to live a life that is truly sacrificial. The way to get our best life is to stop trying to get our best life now, but to live out of the abundant generosity given to us through the Resurrection.

Good Friday 2015

Fri, 03 Apr 2015 14:13:41 -0500

Good Friday is the day when we remember Jesus’ work on the Cross. This year, Greg frames the story of Christ's sacrifice from the perspective of parent and child relationships.

Hijabs at the Gym

Sun, 29 Mar 2015 13:11:40 -0500

In the last message of Mixed Signals, we take a look at Islam and how Kingdom people should be responding to the growing worldwide Islamic movement. We explore the growing disparity between the life Jesus led and calls us into and the normal worldly response to those who are different or potentially threaten our way of life.

A Without God Life

Sun, 22 Mar 2015 14:40:11 -0500

Atheism, which means “without God”, makes a lot of sense – if your understanding of God also omits the reality of Satan, because then God appears to be the only one to blame. But when Satan is held accountable for his ruthless reign, and God is understood to look like Jesus, a life “without God” makes no sense.

You Are Not The Tree

Sun, 15 Mar 2015 13:10:30 -0500

In this fifth installment of Mixed Signals, we explore the Gnostics belief of the church in Colossae and how those relate to the New Spirituality movements rooted in Eastern thought of our day. We explore the biblical perspectives on pantheism, interacting with spirits and reincarnation and ultimately see how finding enlightenment in anything or anyone other than Jesus is deceptive and misses out on the loving character of God.

Generic God

Sun, 08 Mar 2015 14:19:07 -0500

In this fourth installment of the Mixed Signals series, we explore how humans have historically given God, or the gods, attributes we ourselves have desired. In our present day this trend has manifested itself in a very generic, distant, tolerant, and civil picture of God. God is viewed as an ambiguous force defined by His power, and viewed as merely a giver of moral guidance wanting us all to get along. Greg and Seth expose how this misguided picture of God has led to a large population of Christians still viewing themselves as Lord of their own life.

Going to Hell (In a Nutshell)

Sun, 01 Mar 2015 12:57:55 -0600

In this week's theological meat-and-potatoes sermon on Hell and Salvation, Greg explores the fallacy of relativism, the singular truth of Jesus as the light of and way to the father, and whether this means that those who do not believe in him are doomed to an eternity of suffering in Hell.

I Can Relate

Sun, 22 Feb 2015 13:11:16 -0600

This week, Brianna Millett addresses how we are to respond to the “mixed signals” we get from the multitude of competing viewpoints in our modern world. How do we state our beliefs effectively? And what does the Bible teach about sharing the Gospel with unbelievers?

Don't Be A Butthead

Sun, 15 Feb 2015 14:56:10 -0600

We start Mixed Signals with a sermon on how to respond to questions about our faith in the midst of an increasingly pluralistic society. This sermon is focused on the way to respond to these questions as people of God and how to hold on to the most important beliefs with gentleness and respect.

I See Fire

Sun, 08 Feb 2015 12:48:12 -0600

Jeremy discusses other-centeredness and how our worldly definition of success differs from the Kingdom definition. He starts by examining the moment of clarity that we get when we “see fire,” or when emergencies arise - do we put on our own oxygen mask first, or do we take care of those around us first, at our own possible peril? The world (and airline safety speeches) tell us to take care of ourselves first, and only after that to worry about those around you. But Jesus tells us something different.

Through Samaria

Sun, 01 Feb 2015 13:45:47 -0600

In this final installment of the Women on the Outside series, we explore the story of the woman at the well Jesus encountered while traveling through Samaria and how he dives right in to the gender and racial tensions of the first century Jewish culture.

Party Crasher

Sun, 25 Jan 2015 15:19:37 -0600

We continue our short series on Women on the Outside this week by looking at the moving story of a prostitute who anoints the feet of Jesus with perfume and how we can learn much from how Jesus saw and responded to that woman.

Not This Woman

Sun, 18 Jan 2015 13:26:40 -0600

In this third installment of the Women on the Outside series, we explore the story of a Phoenician woman Jesus encountered while with His disciples in the Tyre and Sidon region. We discuss how Jesus held the challenge and beauty of His mission as first the rescuer of the nation of Israel with His overall mission and call to make disciples of all nations.

Knowing Her Role

Sun, 11 Jan 2015 13:25:59 -0600

Through the story of Mary and Martha, Brianna explores some affects of social norms and encourages each of us to embrace our unique role and mission in the kingdom.

My Friend Gail

Sun, 04 Jan 2015 14:22:44 -0600

This week we kick off our new series, Women on the Outside, with the story of the woman healed from sickness and how it relates to our role in God's Kingdom.

Keeping Christmas

Sun, 28 Dec 2014 13:40:34 -0600

In our final week of B.C. we explore covenants. Through Christ, God fulfills all his promises, and by yielding to him and giving up control, we can set ourselves free.

Good Tidings

Wed, 24 Dec 2014 12:34:54 -0600

For our 2014 Christmas Eve services we continued our B.C. series with a look at the prophecies leading up to the birth of Jesus.

Bad Blood

Sat, 20 Dec 2014 18:54:00 -0600

This week in B.C., our Christmas series, we look at a few “interesting’ aspects of Jesus genealogy in Matthew. The bloodline of Jesus is remarkably multicultural and multidimensional.

The Masterplan

Sun, 14 Dec 2014 13:27:31 -0600

This week we kicked off B.C., our Christmas series, with a look at what God's plan was before time even began, why it's dangerous to think of the Incarnation as a rescue mission, and at the intimate relationship we're drawn into with God through a baby in a manger.

The Good Shepherd

Sun, 07 Dec 2014 12:28:41 -0600

This week our guest speaker, Jeremy Jernigan, takes us through the historical view of shepherds as having a poor reputation and a despicable nature. Despite this, Jesus took on the identity of a shepherd, turning the image on its head and redeeming it. In Jesus, what we actually see shatters what we expected to see.

Heart Smart: Q&A

Sun, 30 Nov 2014 09:23:09 -0600

During our weekend services on November 29 and 30 we hosted Q&A sessions with Greg Boyd, Kevin Callaghan, and Sue Krautkramer. We included all three services, so enjoy listening to ALL the answers.

Dear Abby

Sun, 23 Nov 2014 08:51:00 -0600

In our sixth week of Heart Smart our team of panelists read and responded to Dear-Abby-style letters about difficult relational situations from members of the church community. For each letter, they gave advice on how to approach the problem from a Kingdom point of view.

Tough to Love

Sun, 16 Nov 2014 14:21:56 -0600

Learning how to love the people in our life that we find challenging to deal with is often very difficult. This week in Heart Smart we look at some biblical examples and instructions on how to do love our enemies in the same way we love our friends.

Baby Steps

Sun, 09 Nov 2014 13:33:45 -0600

Forgiveness is central to who God is and how he loves us. In week four of Heart Smart we look at the process of taking baby steps towards both receiving forgiveness and extending it to others.

She Said, He Heard

Sun, 02 Nov 2014 16:02:59 -0600

The topic for our third week in the Heart Smart series is communication. Communication is the essence of all relationships and as such, it is a very important aspect of who we are as image bearers of Christ. We should see communication as a Kingdom activity worth learning to do well.

Brain Reign

Sun, 26 Oct 2014 16:11:07 -0500

In our second week of Heart Smart we look at the New Testament teaching on reigning over the relational brain. Understanding how God wired our brains can help us to learn how to take our thoughts captive to Christ.

Hunger Games

Sun, 19 Oct 2014 15:29:33 -0500

We begin a new series this week on emotional intelligence and the roles this plays in our relationship. This week we take a look at the role Jesus plays in our relationships and the importance of letting Christ be the source of where we fulfill our need for love.

Active Stillness

Sun, 12 Oct 2014 14:29:47 -0500

Guest speaker Jeremy Jernigan takes us through the text in John 15 and describes what it means to remain in the vine and experience the vibrant life that Jesus desires us to have. The more we remain in the vine, the more closely we get to Jesus, and the more vibrantly we'll experience life.

God Doesn't Speak Gibberish

Sun, 05 Oct 2014 13:17:02 -0500

We finish our short series on the spiritual gifts today with a sermon discussing the gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues. As the most controversial of the gifts, we will correct false beliefs and discover the Scriptural truths and blessing that come from speaking in tongues.

Mystery of the Miraculous

Sun, 28 Sep 2014 13:17:33 -0500

In this week's sermon, we discuss the supernatural gifts of faith, healing, and miracles Christians receive from the Holy Spirit. We describe what each of these gifts are, as well as how we can ask for them and use them in our lives today.

The Power of Words

Sun, 21 Sep 2014 14:09:04 -0500

This week we hear from guest speaker Shawna Boren about the gift of prophesy. Shawna talks about the importance of staying awake to the Spirit's movements in our lives and how that will help us acting in the gift of prophesy.

Trusting the Voice

Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:39:44 -0500

This week we continue our short sermon series about the spiritual gifts. The first of the gifts we discuss in detail are words of wisdom and words of knowledge. Greg talks about how we discern these words from the Holy Spirit and tells us how we can best use them for building up the body of Christ.

Spiritual Bodybuilding

Sun, 07 Sep 2014 15:03:39 -0500

This week begins a sermon series discussing the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, or those gifts often referred to as the supernatural gifts. Before discussing each gift individually, today we discuss two pieces of information needed to understand the gifts. We'll discuss listening to the Spirit and using our gifts to build up the body of Christ.

Joyful Praise

Sun, 31 Aug 2014 15:25:28 -0500

We need reminders of why we praise and worship because it’s easy to forget the meaning amid the distractions and idols of our culture. In this message Greg explores the reasons why we do and do not worship, and looks at the method and tradition presented in the scriptures.

God in the Gallows

Sun, 24 Aug 2014 13:57:38 -0500

Greg has recently returned from a three week trip in Europe, and today he shares stories of how the Kingdom message of a Jesus-looking God, radical love and non-violence is truly spreading all over the world. The joy of his travels, the opportunities to see the work of fellow Kingdom people, and the vast beauty of God’s Earth as seen on the Alps came to a crashing halt with his visit to Auschwitz. Sharing his experience at Auschwitz, Greg addresses the timeless question of “Where was God in all that suffering?” and teaches that God is always on the inside of pain and suffering, not as the author of it, but as the Redeemer of it. And he reminds us that, in the end, Christ, not evil, has the final word and he will be (and is) victorious.

Twisted Scripture: Matthew 22 and Romans 13

Sun, 27 Jul 2014 11:06:55 -0500

This week we look at the twisted interpretation of Matthew 22 and Romans 13. This is a text with a long standing tradition that teaches Christians to serve both the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms in which they live on earth. In this sermon, we will learn why this interpretation is false and how to better understand it.

The True Tale of Two Brothers

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 08:40:15 -0500

The popular culture’s influence through media such as fairy tales, comic books, and movies has impacted how we understand stories from God’s word. For many, as we read popular Old Testament stories like Jacob and Esau we automatically look for a hero and a villain. We look for actions to imitate from the “good guy” and actions to avoid from the “bad guy.” Vanessa explores how this approach to biblical stories is misguided and gives context and insight to the complicated and messy, yet redemptive relationship between Jacob and Esau.

Twisted Scripture: James 1

Sun, 13 Jul 2014 09:30:16 -0500

For many, faith is about attaining as much certainty as possible in order to be a true follower of Christ. But the Bible tells us faith is about committing to a course of action in the face of uncertainty. God is not seeking all the right answers from his people in order to let them into heaven; no, he is our loving Bridegroom who seeks to be in a covenantal relationship with us in the midst of our uncertainties.

Twisted Scripture: Romans 10

Sun, 06 Jul 2014 09:48:03 -0500

For many Christians, salvation has been reduced to a one-time prayer where one mentally and verbally agrees to a few key theological beliefs. The Bible and Jesus' life, however, present us with a more holistic salvation that involves wholeness, new life, and transformation. Instead of viewing salvation as a legal contract, we are invited to join Jesus in a covenantal marriage where his life is poured out for us and our lives are poured out for him.

Twisted Scripture: Hebrews 9:18-22

Sun, 29 Jun 2014 09:32:51 -0500

Our Twisted Scripture series continues this week as Greg explores Hebrews 9:18-22. This scripture passage is commonly used to support the penal substitutionary atonement theory in which our guilt was transferred to Christ and He was punished on the cross on our behalf. Greg raises several objections to this line of thinking and discusses the use of animal sacrifices as a method of atonement in the Old Testament.

Twisted Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 09:19:50 -0500

This week in our Twisted Scripture sermon series Shawna Boren discusses with us the misuse of Jeremiah 29:11. We take a look at how the verse, when taken alone, can claim life is always good. The problem with this use of the verse is that life is not always good. Life delivers us times that bring suffering. This week we look at how this verse can be better understood.

Twisted Scripture: The Book of Job

Sun, 08 Jun 2014 13:08:01 -0500

The Book of Job has often been misused as a way to explain the mysterious ways of God in suffering and pain. The truth is that the Book of Job is there to teach us that God does not inflict pain and suffering, rather it is the cosmic warfare that we cannot see which interferes with God's true will for his people.

Twisted Scripture: Romans 9

Sun, 01 Jun 2014 13:07:38 -0500

Romans 9 is the most widely used text in the defense of predetermination. This week we will untangle the text in order to see the Scripture the way it was meant to be—within its correct social and historical context, as well as giving regard to its intended audience.

Trading In Our Mud Pies

Sun, 25 May 2014 12:56:30 -0500

The Bible is filled with stories of God's people being named and blessed by God. God gives his people a new name in order to give them a mission. Our guest speaker, Brianna Millet, teaches what it means for us to be given a new name through stories such as Abraham, Sarah, Jacob and Peter.

Kingdom Nice

Sun, 18 May 2014 16:07:46 -0500

The little things we do in the Kingdom make a big difference. In this sermon, Greg shows that the incarnation and cross are spiritual and physical realities for us.

Good News-ing

Sun, 11 May 2014 13:40:43 -0500

Evangelism is important. However, there’s a lot of baggage that comes with the term and how we are to evangelize to others. In this sermon, Greg Boyd and Stephanie Danielson share with us how to spread the gospel by living a life that compels others towards Jesus.

Hanging in the Balance

Sun, 04 May 2014 09:08:29 -0500

The Bible shows us that our prayers make a difference in this world. Yet, our picture of God doesn’t always line up with that truth. In this sermon, Greg shows how the world operates when it comes to our prayer and what a difference it makes.

Giving Up Good Intentions

Sun, 27 Apr 2014 15:04:49 -0500

Have you ever noticed that we tend to judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions? In this sermon, Jeremy Jernigan shows us the story of Simon Peter, and how our faith can be get stuck when we think about our past failures and that faith happens in the disappointment of failure.

Resurrection Principle

Sun, 20 Apr 2014 15:16:03 -0500

On Easter, it is important to remember Christ’s resurrection and the meaning, purpose and principle behind it. In this sermon, Greg shows how the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection has changed over time and how we should be looking at it.

Good Friday 2014

Fri, 18 Apr 2014 12:01:15 -0500

Good Friday is the day when we remember Jesus’ work on the Cross. This year, Greg take a look at the Cross through the eyes of Peter.

Rescuing Revelation: Q&A

Sun, 13 Apr 2014 11:10:57 -0500

During our weekend services on April 12 and 13, we hosted Q&A sessions with Greg Boyd, our Senior Pastor, and Paul Eddy, our Teaching Pastor. We included all three services, so enjoy listening to ALL the answers.

The End of the World As You Know It

Sun, 06 Apr 2014 08:38:21 -0500

A lot of Christians today believe in a literal rapture before the judgment of the world. However, these beliefs come from literal interpretations of several scripture passages. In this sermon, Greg takes a look at these passages and offers a different take on how to interpret them.

The New Jerusalem Bride

Sun, 30 Mar 2014 09:23:27 -0500

Revelation provides us with a beautiful vision of the future as well as a way to live in the here and now. In this sermon, Greg shows us how the symbolism of Jerusalem and the Bride shows God’s heart for creation and our holiness.

Holy War

Sun, 23 Mar 2014 13:16:57 -0500

In our contemporary Christianity, there is a pervasive view that God acts violently during the end times. But this view stands in contradiction to the Cross and Jesus’ teachings to love our neighbors. In this sermon, Greg shows how God does not act violently in Revelation and instead shows how lamb-like love wins.

The Lamb's Roar

Sun, 16 Mar 2014 12:49:09 -0500

The Book of Revelation was written to seven churches that were facing persecution for their faith. This week we look at the words Jesus gave to them in order to encourage them to endure during their suffering.

The Lion and the Lamb

Sun, 09 Mar 2014 13:16:35 -0500

Many people see Jesus as coming back to this Earth as a roaring lion that will seek its vengeance upon our enemies. However, in this sermon, Greg shows us how God’s power is best expressed by a sacrificial lamb, and it will continue to be expressed that way in the future.

A Vision of Beauty

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 12:38:22 -0600

Everyone believes the world will one day come to an end; however, we disagree on how, when and why. In this sermon, Greg begins the series on Revelation and shows us three things to keep in mind when reading the book of Revelation.

The Temptation and Testing Trilogy

Tue, 25 Feb 2014 12:29:20 -0600

In order to understand Jesus’ temptation in Matthew 4, we have to look back to the stories of temptation and testing that preceded it. In this sermon, Vanessa Williams shares with us how we can stand strong during these times.

The Maturity Gap

Sun, 16 Feb 2014 12:25:30 -0600

Self-control can often feel like God is just trying to stymie our happiness. In this sermon, Nick Cunningham shares with us why this isn’t true and points us to the real reason Jesus calls us to self-control.

Look

Sun, 09 Feb 2014 12:32:32 -0600

We all have times in our life where we go through the motions and don’t pay much attention to what’s going on around us. In this sermon, Greg reminds us to look and be thankful for the things in our lives.

House Rules

Sun, 02 Feb 2014 12:40:16 -0600

As we continue our series in Colossians, we navigate a difficult teaching that was used to make a case that slavery was OK with God. In this sermon, Greg shows how this passage was a cultural teaching designed to teach about relationships that were never meant to promote slavery.

Who's the Boss?

Sun, 26 Jan 2014 11:51:42 -0600

Marriage in the Bible can be misunderstood, and it often leads to questions of who should be the boss in our relationships. While it talks about headship and submission, these topics have been abused throughout the years. In this sermon, Greg shows how to interpret these passages and see the bigger picture when it comes to our relationships.

Widows in the Kingdom

Sun, 19 Jan 2014 12:07:38 -0600

Mark 12 is often used to describe how we should give our money. But it would be a mistake to use a despicable situation to draw up expectations for giving. In this sermon, Abe Johnson shows us how this situation was not how it was supposed to be and how we should really interpret this passage.

Making Friends with the Monsters

Sun, 12 Jan 2014 13:20:30 -0600

We all have monsters in our life that we deal with. Often, humanity tries to make sense of and control these monsters. In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Martin shows us how God treats these monsters and how we should react to them.

Among You To Be In You

Sun, 05 Jan 2014 13:48:44 -0600

The story that we live by is very important to the way we see this world. In this sermon, Greg shows us how the story we live by is dictated by our social context. In addition, we learn how to reinforce the gospel message in our lives.

Shake Him Off

Sun, 29 Dec 2013 10:44:37 -0600

At the end of every year, it is good to look back on that year and resolve things that have been left unresolved. In this sermon, Greg shows how unresolved anger is pollution in our lives, and we should resolve it and shake off the devil.

Love

Tue, 24 Dec 2013 10:31:45 -0600

This Christmas Eve, Greg reads us the story of a little lamb and how that lamb's love plays into the Christmas story. Instead of seeing a God who only works in power and looks a lot like humans, we see a unique beauty in the story of Jesus about a God of grace and gentleness.

Peace

Sun, 22 Dec 2013 13:57:21 -0600

When people think of peace, they often think of the absence of conflict. But God’s peace is much more holistic and reaches far into our souls and not just our actions. This shalom of God is about restoring our unity with the Father. In the third sermon of our advent series, we look forward to peace.

Joy

Sun, 15 Dec 2013 12:44:28 -0600

Why did Jesus come to earth? The most common answer is he came to save us. This week we discuss another answer to this question. Jesus came to show us the perfect joy of his Father and to give that joy to us. It is by knowing that the Father takes joy in each of us that we can begin to grow in the joy he desires for us.

Hope

Sun, 08 Dec 2013 12:22:30 -0600

We all have a song of hope in our hearts. During this advent season, it is important to remember that God is the one who we should look to write the words of that song. In this sermon, Greg shares how we sometimes get in the way of seeing God’s hope.

Without Borders

Sun, 01 Dec 2013 11:38:21 -0600

This week’s sermon includes practical ways we can live a more generous life. Our speaker, Shawna Boren, challenges us to explore the role God has for us in living a simple life and finding our true peace in him. She talks about some ways we can be more giving of our time, resources, money, and possessions.

The Choke

Sun, 24 Nov 2013 11:55:50 -0600

In America, we’ve been conditioned to always stretch our budget and time to get the next best thing. But God is calling us to a simpler lifestyle that will not choke our Kingdom purpose. In this sermon, Greg points out some practical tips to grow the Kingdom seed in our lives.

Consumer War

Sun, 17 Nov 2013 10:21:20 -0600

We live in a warzone where there are powers trying to derail us from living a life like Jesus. One of these powers is consumerism. In this sermon, Greg shows us how consumerism is anti-Christ, and we should change our mindset in order to fight back.

Lab Rats No Longer

Sun, 10 Nov 2013 09:36:22 -0600

In American culture, we are constantly being told to buy products and be discontent with our current situation. Like lab rats, we are constantly stimulated and tested to change our situation. Greg speaks to how we are called to step out of this consumerism rat trap and find a different way of living.

The Forest in the Trees: Q&A

Sun, 03 Nov 2013 11:26:51 -0600

During our weekend services on November 2-3, we hosted Q&A sessions with Greg Boyd, our Senior Pastor, and Paul Eddy, our Teaching Pastor. We included all three services, so enjoy listening to ALL the answers.

New Creation

Sun, 27 Oct 2013 13:38:13 -0500

In our sixth week of our sermon series, we shed a new vision on the Book of Revelation. Greg empowers the church to interpret the text through the non-violent, self-sacrificial love of Jesus. There should be a joy found in the hearts of the church—the bride of Christ—as we look forward to the final consummation of Jesus and the church.

The Church

Sun, 20 Oct 2013 14:39:16 -0500

In week five of our sermon series, we look at the role of the Church. A universal Church was born out of the ministry of Jesus, and this Church is empowered to look like the Cross. In this sermon, Greg shows us why it’s so important, as the Church, to keep our eyes fixed on the cross.

Jesus

Sun, 13 Oct 2013 09:42:21 -0500

In week four of our sermon series, we discuss Jesus. Jesus is the center of everything in the life of a Christian. We see how God’s redeeming work in creation culminates with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This has many implications for our own lives.

Israel Part 2

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 08:40:55 -0500

In week three of our sermon series, we’re diving into the tragic nature of not trusting God. The history of Israel is one of a people who have trouble trusting God to provide for them. However, the people of Israel are not the only ones with trust issues.

Israel Part 1

Sun, 29 Sep 2013 10:16:48 -0500

In week two of The Forest In The Trees, we take a look at the early history of the Hebrew people and the formation of the nation of Israel. Throughout these stories, we see a constant message of keeping faith in God despite their circumstances in this world.

Creation

Sun, 22 Sep 2013 12:46:55 -0500

The story of creation has interesting details. But getting lost in those details can make us miss the big picture. In the first week of our new sermon series, The Forest in the Trees, we take a look at creation and how the story of Adam and Eve fits into the big picture.

His Song In Our Heart

Sun, 15 Sep 2013 15:49:32 -0500

Worship is important. However, worship isn’t just about singing. In this sermon, Greg shows how worship takes many forms and brings many benefits to the Kingdom.

Triumph by Testimony

Sun, 08 Sep 2013 15:15:35 -0500

This week, Jessica Kelley shares with us her testimony. In addition, she tells us why having a solid picture of God is so important when we go through suffering.

Living in Communication

Sat, 31 Aug 2013 19:56:59 -0500

Jesus calls us to abide in him, and we will bear much fruit. Jesus wants us to be always present with him just as God is omnipresent. However, this requires us to allow God into our lives. In this sermon, Greg shows us how to be fully present with Jesus in every moment.

Valleyfair Prayer

Sun, 25 Aug 2013 14:21:59 -0500

In life, our emotions can be on a roller coaster, and our prayer life can follow this same pattern. In this sermon, Shawna shows us how we can find rest and a safe place in prayer with God, no matter our circumstances.

Imagining Prayer

Sun, 18 Aug 2013 13:55:12 -0500

Do you ever feel, during prayer, that you’re talking to the ceiling more than God? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. In this sermon, Greg explains how using our imagination is not only a time honored way of praying, but the way in which God speaks to us in this world.

Summer Q&A (August 2013)

Sun, 11 Aug 2013 11:37:29 -0500

During our weekend services on August 10-11 we hosted Q&A sessions with Greg Boyd, our Senior Pastor, and Paul Eddy, our Teaching Pastor. We included all three services, so enjoy listening to ALL the answers.

Honest to God

Sun, 04 Aug 2013 13:10:11 -0500

In order to be in a relationship with another, we have to be honest with the other person. The same is true for our relationship with God. In this sermon, Greg shows how we need to be honest with God in our prayer.

Church At The Feet of Jesus

Sun, 28 Jul 2013 15:12:41 -0500

As disciples of Jesus, we are to spend time with, know, and reflect Jesus and his life. Yet, we oftentimes replace Jesus with things of this world. In this sermon, Mark Moore tells us about waiting at the feet of Jesus.

God Needs Prayer

Sun, 21 Jul 2013 16:36:54 -0500

If God is all-powerful, does he need our prayers to change this world? And is it even worth praying if we can’t see the results? In this sermon, Greg addresses these questions as we begin a new series on prayer.

The Jesus Tribe

Sun, 14 Jul 2013 16:21:31 -0500

Guest speaker Sandra Unger speaks about what it means to be part of the Jesus Tribe. She discusses the reasons people are prone to label people so quickly. She talks about the common place occurrence of tribalism within our culture, and how as Jesus people we can work to overcome such separations today.

A Community of Discernment

Sun, 07 Jul 2013 15:35:39 -0500

In this week’s sermon, Greg contrasts the difference between judgment and discernment. He distinguishes the place, people, and purpose in which discernment, between helpful and un-helpful things, should occur for Kingdom people.

Sociopath Religion

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 10:15:12 -0500

A sociopath is a person who, for whatever reason, cannot feel emotions. They function by replicating behaviors in their life. In this sermon, Greg shows how religion can sometimes be sociopathic, and we are called to not judge others’ behaviors.

Summer Q&A (June 2013)

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 09:36:18 -0500

During our weekend services on June 22-23 we hosted Q&A sessions with Greg Boyd, our Senior Pastor, and Paul Eddy, our Teaching Pastor. We included all three services, so enjoy listening to ALL the answers.

The Cross and The Tree

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 15:21:52 -0500

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were tempted to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They did this because they didn’t understand that God was protecting them. In this sermon, Greg shows us how the Cross has undone the effects of this original sin and how we are to act in light of the Cross.

The Worst of Sinners

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 14:06:50 -0500

In this dog eat dog world, we’re programmed to judge others. But to love others with unsurpassable worth, we must ascribe worth to them at cost to ourselves. In this sermon, Greg talks about how to put on love and take off judgment.

Soak It Up

Sun, 26 May 2013 09:33:59 -0500

Love is not defined by warm and fuzzy feelings. As followers of Jesus, we look to the cross to understand love. In this sermon, Greg shares with us why our love for one another is so important.

He Washes Our Feet

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:07:10 -0500

In life, we try to put our best foot forward. Whether it’s interacting with others or just convincing ourselves, we hide the dirt in our lives and the shame that we feel. In this sermon, Jo Saxton shares with us the meaning behind Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and what it means for us.

Love: It's All About The Cross

Sun, 12 May 2013 13:35:55 -0500

God designed creation so that we would live in community with God and express God’s love towards each other and creation. However, sin disconnected us from God. In this sermon, Greg shows how we were created in the image of God to love others and creation and shows us how to reconnect with God.

Escaping the Twilight Zone God

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:09:45 -0500

In an episode of the Twilight Zone, a young boy gained omnipotent powers, and people were forced to accept his every decision as good—or else. In this sermon, Greg shows how many people view God this way, and he opens up another way to view God.

Kindred Q&A

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:36:49 -0500

We held a Q&A night to wrap up our Kindred sermon series on Tuesday, April 17, 2013. Woodland Hills recently started moving in a direction toward Anabaptism and this series was a way to unpack what that meant for us as a church and to educate those that attend here about the history of the tradition. Once the series was over, people brought any further questions to this Q&A night. The total length of the file is about an hour and a half.

Two Kinds of Life

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:13:41 -0500

Jesus tells us to hate our life in order to keep it, and if we love our life, we’ll lose it. Guest speaker Shane Hipps shares with us what life Jesus wants for us. He also talks about his personal experience with the Anabaptist tradition.

Keeping the Valve Open

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:05:23 -0500

God’s design for creation is beautiful. But, sometimes, we don’t follow God’s design for our life. In this sermon, Greg and Vanessa Williams address the battlefield in our mind and how to keep God’s goodness flowing to us. In addition, Greg gives a Kingdom response to the Boston Marathon bombings.

Waking From Oz

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 11:45:26 -0500

In the movie, Wizard of Oz, the characters are all looking for something they think they need. As Christians, we do the same. Whether it’s a new job, a marriage, a lack of a marriage or some other change that we’re looking for, we all look for something else that we think we need. In this sermon, Greg shows us that we have all we need for joy, and we just need to activate it through faith.

Get Real

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 14:57:19 -0500

Putting off immoral behavior can seem a lot like legalism. So, how do we reconcile that we were saved by grace not works and that we need to put off immoral behavior? In this sermon, Greg shows that we need to trust in God’s reality instead of how we define our own reality.

Crazy Love

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:35:04 -0500

Christ’s death and resurrection changed EVERYTHING! When we see this emerge from the story of God, it revolutionizes the way we view God, ourselves, others, and creation.

Good Friday 2013

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:24:59 -0500

Good Friday is the day where we remember Jesus’ work on the Cross. In his death, Jesus showed us what love looks like. The radiance and power of the Cross is the center of who God is and who we are called to be in his image.

Seeking Shalom

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:01:26 -0500

All of us seek for peace in our lives, but peace is just a small part of God’s shalom. Shalom is right relatedness between us and God, each other, and creation. In this sermon, Greg shows how the Anabaptists seek after shalom in every part of their lives and how we can seek after shalom as well.

What Do You Have to Offer?

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:26:24 -0500

We often define ourselves according to what we have to offer this world. But what happens when what we have to offer isn’t enough? In this sermon, Steve Wiens shows us how our wounds and inability to offer something can actually be used by God in glorious ways.

Blood and Water

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:59:27 -0500

Baptism and Communion are important sacraments to the Christian community. In this sermon, Greg shows us how the Anabaptists understood these sacraments and how Woodland Hills performs these today.

We The Church

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 17:15:35 -0600

The Anabaptists saw that the building is not the Church. God wants to dwell on this Earth, but it is not in a building. It is in his people. In this sermon, Greg shows how we are to demonstrate the beauty of the Church in our lives.

The Twist

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:49:21 -0600

When you read a book with a twist ending, the ending reframes the entire story. The Bible is no different. In this sermon, Greg shows how Jesus’ message reframes how we are to understand the Bible, and he shows us why the Anabaptists shared this belief.

Ana-What?

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 12:38:21 -0600

Throughout Scripture, we see a strong emphasis on positive traditions in the Church. In both the Old and New Testament, God repeatedly calls his people to be anchored with a sense of history. In this sermon, Greg explains why the Anabaptist tradition is closest to Woodland Hills.

Got Bread?

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 11:00:00 -0600

Got Bread? In this sermon, Laurel Bunker shares with us the all too common desire of humans to want more from God than Jesus. We all want to never be hungry, but we first have to realize that Jesus is the true source and nothing else will satisfy.

Reframing the Sun

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 17:29:28 -0600

How we respond to misfortunes and tragedies depends on how we frame them. In Colossians 3, Paul writes that Christ is all and is in all. When we frame our life within this understanding, we begin to see how we can live through misfortunes and tragedies.

The God of How Much More

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 15:05:30 -0600

It is extremely difficult to not worry in this life. In this sermon our guest speaker, Nick Cunningham, shows us how to deal with worry in this life. Through setting our priorities in order, being aware of God’s goodness and participating in that goodness, we find that we have much less to worry about than we thought.

Evangelism Reimagined

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 16:32:11 -0600

The ancient Israelites were called to be a chosen people who bless the entire world. But, like the Church today, they often made their chosen status a blessing only for themselves. In this sermon, Greg calls us to become evangelists by living a Kingdom life.

He Choo-Choo-Chooses You

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 16:10:14 -0600

We are God’s chosen people, predestined to be holy and blameless. But does God create and choose those who will be blameless and those he will blame? In this sermon, Greg shows how God does choose us but we also have the ability to choose him and get on board the predestined train.

Does God Play Favorites?

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:55:36 -0600

What does it mean to be one of God’s chosen people? Some people think back to middle school gym class and how they might have been last-picked for the team. In this sermon, Greg talks about the idea of being chosen by God and how being chosen isn’t the same as predestination.

A Letter to Henry

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 14:27:04 -0600

It’s a simple but profound truth that God looks like Jesus. This truth becomes all the more important when we face struggles in this world. In this sermon, Greg shares the story of Henry and Henry’s family that faced a battle no parent wants to face.

One Glorious Week

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 11:54:30 -0600

In 1914 at the beginning of World War I, enemy soldiers spent a week celebrating Christmas with each other. We can learn much from this stunning slice of history, and remember that the “peace on Earth” we strive for around Christmas should be our calling throughout the year.

Diaper Power

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 18:08:10 -0600

The poverty of the manger exemplified the power of God. In this sermon, Greg shows that God really is like the baby swaddled in clothes in the manger. The kind of power that God exhibits is foolish to this world, but it shows the type of God that we can follow with all our heart.

It's a Wonder-filled Life

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 16:09:34 -0600

We have lost the mystery of this world. We go about our daily lives and are not filled with wonder at what happens. In this sermon, Greg shows how viewing the world like a child will increase how much wonder and mystery we see.

Marshmallow Advent

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 17:55:49 -0600

Waiting is hard, especially in the western culture of want and gratification. In this sermon, Greg tells us about Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writings on advent, and how getting in touch with our emptiness through silence and solitude can lead to peace.

The Judgment Boomerang

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 11:00:00 -0600

The wrath of God is a misunderstood topic. In this sermon, Greg shows how sin has natural consequences that boomerang back to us. While God’s wrath has serious consequences for us, we need to understand how God uses his wrath.

Immoral TOHU wa BOHU

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 16:01:16 -0600

TOHU wa BOHU is the term the Old Testaments writers used to describe the formless, empty and chaotic world before creation. In this sermon, Greg talks about how sexual immorality is outside of God’s plan for creation, and it leads us back to TOHU wa BOHU. If you are struggling with these issues and would like to speak with someone or you have experience dealing with this issues and would like to help others, please contact Andrew or Anita. Andrew - alangbehn@whchurch.org or 651-287-2062 Anita - abarton@whchurch.org or 651-287-2065

The Blessedness of the Revolution

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 10:14:59 -0600

In the last week of our blessed revolution series, we revisit each of the beatitudes and see how we are blessed because of them. While the world may not count them as blessings, we can begin to see that the Kingdom will be a great blessing in the future.

The Peacemakers and The Persecuted

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:12:35 -0600

Being a peacemaker is more profound than simply being skilled at ending arguments. Our peacemaking is working against the corruption and conflict that pervade this world. In this sermon, Greg shows us how the cycle of conflict and how we can live in a way that breaks the cycle.

The Merciful and The Pure In Heart

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 15:40:24 -0600

As we continue our series on the beatitudes, we find an increasing understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. In this sermon, Greg talks about mercy and being pure in heart. He also shows how God doesn’t reward us for being merciful and being pure in heart, but there are natural, good consequences in doing these things.

The Dependent and Those Who Mourn

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:48:41 -0500

God designed us to get all of our life, worth and value from him. But when humanity signed our declaration of independence in the garden, we started to fill our lives with the things of this world. In this sermon, Greg calls us to become dependent on God in ways that might cause us to mourn. Additionally, Greg addresses the marriage amendment vote in Minnesota.

The Salt and Light Revolution

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 16:27:22 -0500

Jesus commanded his disciples to be the salt and light of this world, but being the salt and light has been misunderstood in many contemporary Christian circles. In this sermon, Greg talks about the purpose of being salt and light, and he calls all of Jesus' followers to step out of the crowd and become disciples.

The Pygmy Way

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 16:49:14 -0500

It is the 20th anniversary of Woodland Hills Church! In this sermon, Greg goes back to the foundations and history of this church, and shows how dependence upon God has been a mainstay of the culture at Woodland Hills Church.

Unveiling The Crypto-You

Sun, 30 Sep 2012 16:41:34 -0500

Our true self is hidden away in heaven, free from corruption and destruction. In this sermon, Greg asks us to realize what this true self looks like, and he calls us to embrace this true self in whatever ways we can in this life.

The Deep Truth

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 14:02:20 -0500

The same power that defeated Satan and destroyed the bonds of evil is at work in you this very day, but feeling that power can be difficult. In this sermon, Greg talks about the deep truth of your life and how to embrace it.

The Beautifully Bizarre Entangled You

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 15:24:51 -0500

The study of quantum physics reveals that reality is not how our eyes perceive it. In this sermon, Greg shows how beautifully bizarre reality is and how beautifully bizarre our relationship with ourselves and Christ is.

God's Big Toes

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 14:34:58 -0500

The Church of Christ functions like a body. When one part of the body doesn’t work, it affects the rest of the body. In this sermon, Greg calls the Church to respond to God’s call for us to serve one another.

According to Your Faith

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 12:55:04 -0500

Continuing in our series on doubt and faith, Greg finally addresses the passages that have caused confusion about faith. He sets aside the mental gimmickry for something much more substantial and beautiful.

The Space Between

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 15:45:06 -0500

An ecotone is a boundary between two different ecosystems (such as a Mountain and a plain). In this sermon, Steve uses this to describe how we interact with God and with each other.

Honesty However Ugly

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 15:01:13 -0500

The Bible is full of characters that are dealing with significant issues of faith and doubt. In this sermon, Greg takes a look at the model of strength tester faith and shows how God doesn’t want a people who won’t be honest with him

Summer Q&A, Part 1

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 17:21:25 -0500

During our weekend services on August 11-12 we hosted Q&A sessions with Greg Boyd, our Senior Pastor, and Paul Eddy, our Teaching Pastor. If you'd like to listen to all the questions, note that there are separate downloads for the three different services. [This is the recording of the 9:00 Sunday service.]

Summer Q&A, Part 2

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 17:05:17 -0500

Summer Q&A, Part 3

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 17:01:33 -0500

Sledge-Hammer Faith

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 16:18:34 -0500

Is doubt the opposite of faith? In this sermon, Greg points out how a strength-tester model of faith is idolatrous and counter productive to a life that follows Jesus.

Can I Get A Witness?

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:25:27 -0500

All of the church is a witness for Jesus Christ on this Earth. Yet, many people have inhibitions about being a witness for Jesus. In this sermon, Pastor Laurel Bunker talks about the roots of her understanding of witness and what being a witness looks like today.

Shadow of the Cross

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 16:29:12 -0500

If Jesus dying on the cross reveals God’s true nature, then what do we do with the barbaric pictures of God in the Old Testament? In this sermon, Greg talks about the problem and offers a different viewpoint of how to see the shadow of the cross in the Old Testament.

God's Shadow Activity

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 13:21:02 -0500

When people read the Old Testament, it can be a bit confusing to those that know Jesus and his ministry. In this sermon, Greg talks about how the Law in the Old Testament was simply a shadow of the cross, and that the ugliness in the Old Testament simply shows how far humanity was separated from God.

Summer Q&A Sermon Part 3

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 17:21:42 -0500

During our weekend services on July 7-8 we hosted Q&A sessions with Greg Boyd, our Senior Pastor, and Paul Eddy, our Teaching Pastor. If you'd like to listen to all the questions, note that there are separate downloads for the three different services.

Summer Q&A Sermon, Part 2

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 17:00:05 -0500

Summer Q&A Sermon Part 1

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 16:40:33 -0500

Everybody's Got A Hungry Heart

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:23:15 -0500

Paul wrote the Colossians to confront a false religion of invoking angels. These invocations were being done because people thought Jesus wasn’t enough. This same type of thought pervades our own society, where people with hungry hearts are searching for more than what Jesus offers. In this sermon, Greg talks about the fullness that Jesus brings.

Little Greg and The Ugly Stick

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 11:52:10 -0500

Our vision of God is extremely important to our faith. In this sermon, Greg tells the story of how his vision of God changed during his life. He also shows that God is not a god who is waiting up in heaven to hit us with a big stick when we mess up.

The Sting

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:28:40 -0500

While we know that Jesus saves us from Satan and the cost of sin, we can’t always articulate how it happened. In this sermon, Greg shows us how God outwitted the enemy and completely destroyed every piece of ammunition that Satan has against us.

I Owe It All To The Devil

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 14:08:17 -0500

When we sin, accusations fly. However, it’s not God that is flinging the accusations at us. In this sermon, Greg shows how we owe all accusation, blame, and condemnation to Satan.

Giving Birth To Hope

Sun, 27 May 2012 15:55:23 -0500

In this sermon, Dave Johnson (senior pastor of Church of the Open Door) takes us back to the opening verses of Colossians. Here, he explores how the “good news” of the Gospel provides us with a solid foundation of “hope.” This hope enables us to see beyond the difficulties and challenges that we face in this life.

Our Anabaptist Thread

Sun, 13 May 2012 14:22:28 -0500

The teachings of the Anabaptist church are important to Woodland Hills Church. In this sermon, Greg talks about four of the six distinctive teachings of the Anabaptist movement (next week will cover the last two), and they are still relevant today.

Our Charismatic Thread

Sun, 06 May 2012 13:13:32 -0500

The Charismatic thread helps us understand and delve into how the Holy Spirit works. In this sermon, Greg talks about the life of William Seymour and how the gifts of the Spirit are to be used today, in addition to counter-cultural Charismatic perspectives on race and gender that were a part of the movement from the beginning.

Our Pietistic Thread

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:58:04 -0500

The life and theology of John Wesley influenced many portions of WHC. Whether it was the pietistic way of life, his ideas on free will, or his love-centered Kingdom theology, we have a lot in common with Mr. Wesley.

The Lutheran Thread

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:16:54 -0500

There are many values of Lutheranism that flow through the life of Woodland Hills Church. In this sermon, Greg talks about these threads and how they impact our way of doing church. Whether it’s sola scriptura or the faith/grace interaction, we are not alone in our use of Luther’s teachings.

Our One Foundation

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 16:33:57 -0500

We see a lot of Christians base their lives on different things. Some base them on wayward things, such as government, the economy, their own job, or their health—the things that are here one day and gone tomorrow. However, Jesus says that he is the one foundation. In this sermon, Greg talks about how we are to base our lives upon Jesus, and also shows how Woodland Hills has done this.

Pleromaized

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:04:18 -0500

On Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While this resurrection points towards a beautiful future, there is also a need to live this resurrection in our daily lives. In this sermon, Greg talks about the resurrection and its implications for our lives.

Good Friday 2012

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:59:55 -0500

This Good Friday, Greg spent time talking about the meaning and significance of the lyrics in the song titled “The Power of the Cross.”

Stoicheion

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:37:47 -0500

Entertainment is a big part of our culture, but that doesn’t mean it’s always a good thing. In this sermon, Greg talks about the effects entertainment has on us, and how it might be a deeper spiritual activity than we first thought.

The Conspiracy Conspiracy

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:29:26 -0500

There are many theories out there stating that the formation of the Bible is a conspiracy by the early church to cover up other writings about Jesus. In this sermon, Greg conspires to show how those theories have their own problems and addresses some of the questions these theories raise.

Deceptive Dots

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:17:35 -0500

A GPS system will show us our exact location at any given time, and for certain phones, it is a little blue dot. However, just because we are physically somewhere does not mean that we are present in the situation. In this sermon, Sandra shows us some of the common distractions to being present and a distinct truth about why we are so busy.

Let's Not Make-a-Deal

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:51:41 -0500

Salvation is usually defined as a distinct moment in time. It is a deal that we make with God to get out of hell. In this sermon, Greg talks about how salvation is so much more than a one-time deal, and there is something better behind curtain number 2 (guaranteed).

Rooted in the Nows

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:42:35 -0600

God is like an atmosphere around us. As much as the air we breathe is around us and in us, God surrounds and enfolds us. In this sermon, Greg talks about the importance of being aware of God in the everyday moments, and he gives some practical tips to help you walk in this awareness.

The Great Contenders

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:09:01 -0600

From the very beginning of Christianity, there has been contention and a battle with the kingdom of darkness. Where there is no light, we are supposed to bring light through self-sacrificial love. In this sermon, Shawna explores why we contend and offers encouragement in our spreading of the light in our dark world.

Above The Clouds

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:51:08 -0600

Clouds can bring rain and refreshment to the Earth. But they also can block out the Sun, and they represent ominous things in our life. These “dark clouds” in our life block out the energy and glory of Christ in our lives. When we rise above the clouds in this life, we realize that we should always dwell in the serenity of Christ.

Non Competitive Suffering

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:06:31 -0600

For the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about sharing in Christ’s suffering. While suffering, it can be easy to judge ourselves or others based on how much they suffer. Being connected to God’s plan for your life is the best way to stay away from this type of judgment.

Continuing The Work Of Christ

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:26:22 -0600

For some Christians, the goal of salvation is escape from Hell. In Colossians, Paul talks about the glorious riches that are available to us in the here and now. And while being in Heaven is a great part of our relationship with God, it is not even close to the fullness that Jesus brings to our lives.

The Squishing God

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:09:16 -0600

Jesus is our hope of glory. But what does that mean? In this sermon, Greg talks about how we yearn to embrace and be fulfilled in life. He also talks about how we can surrender to God in order to be embraced.

Filling the Hysterema

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:36:59 -0600

In our culture, showing vulnerability or neediness is often seen as a weakness. Since God is all-powerful (not weak), he must not be vulnerable or need others, right? Greg suggests that if we step back from our cultural assumptions about power and weakness we may see that God's vulnerability is actually one of his greatest displays of power.

The Bridezilla of Christ

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:57:22 -0600

The Church is the body and bride of Christ. And while Paul says that we are holy in Christ’s sight, we don’t always act like it. In this sermon, Greg talks about how difficult it is to hope in the Church, and how we can still strive to be the Bride of Christ.

Considering The Even More

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:04:31 -0600

Life can throw difficult situations our way. Marriage struggles, road rage, or in Mary's case, being an unmarried virgin pregnant with the Savior of the world. How do we handle those situations? Our guest speaker, Steve Wiens, talks about how God always wants to bring his wholeness (Shalom) into every situation and that we, like Mary, have the opportunity to partner with God in that.

Pressing On

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:10:43 -0600

It is a New Year, and many people are making resolutions to change their lives and make them better. In this sermon, Greg talks about how Paul viewed his life’s journey. Make a new resolution this year that will mean more than a few pounds lost.

The Advantage of the Disadvantaged

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:05:47 -0600

In our world, we all strive to gain advantages to have a better life. However, the truth of the Kingdom is captured in the story of a crippled lamb. Greg shows us how, in the Kingdom, having advantages can be a disadvantage, and having a disadvantage can be an advantage.

The Gift That You Are

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 09:46:01 -0600

Christmas is a time of gift giving. In this sermon, Greg takes about the greatest gift that we’ve received, and he also shows how we can give back. Put on your thinking cap for this one.

Occupy The Kingdom

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 09:21:07 -0600

With all of the unrest around the economy, it can be easy to preach against the rich. In this sermon, Greg takes a look at the book of James to see what he says about wealth, and he finds that there is more to the story than fairness.

Christmas Beyond the Pattern

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 09:10:11 -0600

The pattern of Christmas is to buy gifts for people that usually are not needed items. In this sermon, we look at the book of James and how faith must be found in our actions to the poorest of the poor, and an alternative to the usual pattern of Christmas is given.

Abba and Abasi

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 09:46:17 -0600

It takes a community to raise a child. Yet, in our modern world, we've set the standard that parenting should only be done by the biological parents. This separation of family from community is a tactic of the devil. In this sermon, Greg gives some principles of parenting in today's world.

When Marriages Go Bad

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 09:49:13 -0600

Divorce happens. In this sermon, Greg speaks on when marriages go wrong. With divorce rates nearly the same inside as outside of the church, it is important to have a Kingdom understanding of divorce and remarriage, and how to answer the question: “When is it ok to divorce?"

Reverse The Curse

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 09:36:06 -0600

Marriage is a complicated endeavor. Whether we have allegiances to certain models of doing marriage or we follow in our parents footsteps, we all do marriage differently. In week 5 of the relatively speaking sermon series, we will learn about what the Bible says about marriage, and we'll hear what Greg has to say about beautiful submission to one another.

Say Yes to Arranged Marriages

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 08:48:59 -0600

In ancient times, fathers would arrange marriages for their sons and daughters. In modern times, it is the individuals who broker their own marriage deals. We live in a consumerist dating era where people can pick their own mate. In this sermon, Greg and Christina Cleveland give a few guiding principles on how to date in the modern world, and they also give insight into who should really be brokering our marriage deals.

Solo Mojo

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:13:16 -0500

Singleness is a topic that isn't discussed very often. In this sermon, Greg talks about the stigma that is attached to single people, especially in churches. He also brings to light how the early church viewed singleness and provides three implications of being single in today's world.

Honoring Your Mom, Dad and Your Father

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 11:38:22 -0500

Honoring your father and mother is an ancient command found in nearly every religion. Yet, families vary from person to person, and it can be difficult to honor some parents. In this sermon, Greg talks about how to honor your parents by forgiving them and assessing the reality of the relationship. By doing these two things, people can honor their parents in healthy ways.

A Family Affair

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 08:42:23 -0500

We’ve all dealt with issues in our families. In this sermon, Greg sets up the framework of understanding biblical family. This framework will help us understand how God wants us to relate to our families over the next five weeks of study. This sermon will make you go “hmmm”.

Creator of the Little

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:58:24 -0500

In Jesus, all things were created and are being sustained by him. Whether you think the world was created billions of years ago or 4,000 years ago, the only thing that matters is the sustaining breath of God. In this sermon, Greg tackles some of the ways in which we can view the interaction of science and faith. He also shows the beauty of a God who sustains the smallest things in this world.

Lessons From Karly

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 10:40:48 -0500

Being joyful can be difficult during hard times. In this sermon, Jeff Lexvold shows us an inspirational tale of finding God in the darkest places. He also talks to us about how to pray continuously during these times. Finally, he shows us how to give thanks no matter the circumstances.

God Look-Alikes

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 10:37:57 -0500

We were created in God’s image, to represent Him on Earth. In ancient times, people would make statues to represent their gods, but we were commanded to represent God, not make statues. In this sermon, Greg talks about our value as God’s image and the role we play in this world.

The True Image

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 09:11:01 -0500

Jesus is the image of the invisible God. This is one of the most foundational parts of Christianity and perhaps the single most important truth in the world. There are many deceptive pictures of God, but understanding and knowing Jesus is central to finding the true picture of God.

Body Parts

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 10:13:02 -0500

To belong to Christ is to belong to his body, which is the church. Just as any body part can not survive without the other body parts, a person cannot follow Jesus purely on their own. We all have a role to play in this body and no part is worthless. Finding your place and function is important to belonging to the body of Christ.

FREEDOM!

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 09:06:20 -0500

In Christian circles, we hear a lot about having “freedom from bondage.” Yet in our daily life, the bondage of sin can often feel more real than that freedom. While it may be something we receive as a gift, we're also called to have an ongoing active role in living out our freedom, allowing it to become the thing that defines us, over and above the world.

Out of the Darkness

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 11:20:27 -0500

It’s impossible to live in this world and not see the evil that happens. This evil happens because of the free will of evil forces in creation. But there is hope in this darkness. In this sermon, Greg explains how we lived in the kingdom of darkness and have been brought into the Kingdom of God.

What's God Thinking?

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 11:24:49 -0500

Discerning God’s will can be difficult. In the final sermon of God Will Hunting, Greg offers some practical suggestions for knowing God’s will. He also tells stories that highlight how these suggestions work in the real world.

The Story of a Lifetime

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:13:56 -0500

Sandra Unger guest speaks this weekend and tells a story of poverty and how to make a difference. She tells an all too familiar story of hope lost and continuing the cycle of poverty. Walking us through the biblical commands, Sandra points out how important it is to help the poor, but with something more important than money.

The Chairman's Plan

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 08:19:39 -0500

In the movie, The Adjustment Bureau, there is a chairman who has the master plan for the world and his agents adjust the world to make sure this plan happens. God works differently. In this sermon, Greg talks about God’s will and how we play a role in the creativity of this world.

Making a Difference

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 10:22:41 -0500

Even though the Borens are leaving Woodland Hills this week, their messages will continue to live on. In this sermon, Scott says farewell but also has a message of making a difference in this world. By bearing good fruit, we leave a footprint in this world.

OTW

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:22:25 -0500

Finding the will of God is much easier when we are walking daily with God. In this sermon, Shawna Boren lays out what it looks like to start and continue that journey with God. She also helps educate us on proper texting.

The Who and The Do

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:27:16 -0500

God’s will for us is primarily about who we are and not what we do. When we realize who we are in God’s eyes, then it is much easier to find God’s will in our lives. In this sermon, Pastor Seuss shares with us some practical ways to open up to finding the Who portion of God’s will.

Stick and String

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:21:05 -0500

God’s will is foremost about who we are and not what we do. God’s original design for us was to express his beauty to this world, but that requires us to receive who we are from him. In this sermon, Greg talks about his experiences as a little boy and how his interaction with God has shaped his understanding of who he is today.

Commun(ion)ication

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 10:39:39 -0500

It is important to understand the framework that God works in before trying to understand God’s will. In this sermon, Greg focuses on how God wants to exist in covenant relationship as opposed to legal relationship. This is why communing with God and communicating with God is so important.

God's Will in God's Word

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 07:23:07 -0500

When searching for God’s will, the first place we should start is the Bible. It contains much of what God wants done in the world. Greg also talks about the difference between God’s ideal will and His accommodating will, prompting many questions about the way God moves in this world.

God's Will Hunting

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 08:31:33 -0500

It can be difficult to understand God’s will. In this sermon, Greg talks about the foundations of understanding God’s will. When understanding God’s will, it is important to understand the gift of who God made us and live out of that understanding. It is important to realize that God is the center of our being and not a consultant or retainer.

thx a lot : )

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:21:16 -0500

It can be difficult to be thankful in life. Whether it’s a phone that stops working or a tragic accident that changes our plans, we have trouble being thankful during tough times. In this sermon, Greg gives us three ways to remain thankful despite what’s going on in this world.

Breathing Hope

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 09:19:57 -0500

Hope can be a difficult thing to hang onto in this world. It seems that our future is destined for some tragic end with every new newspaper. In this sermon, Greg talks about how hope drives us and is foundational for life.

In Christ Our Permanent Residence

Sun, 29 May 2011 10:13:10 -0500

As we start our new sermon series in Colossians, it is important to remember the foundations on which the early Church stood. Living in Christ, for the early Church, was the same as living at an address, and it had large implications for how they viewed themselves. In this sermon, Greg points out some of these implications and also gives a little history behind Paul’s letter to Colossae.

God With/In

Sun, 22 May 2011 10:40:31 -0500

When Jesus ascended to Heaven, he sent another advocate to us, namely the Holy Spirit. In this sermon, Greg describes why Jesus went “up” to heaven, and also why another advocate had to be indwelt within the body of believers.

The Fact of the Matter

Sun, 15 May 2011 09:20:49 -0500

When Jesus was resurrected, he was not in some far away place. In fact, Jesus kept pointing out to his disciples that he was flesh and blood. He ate with his disciples and let them touch his hands and feet. In the same way, our resurrection happens here on Earth, and God cares about the matter in the Universe.

Virtuous Ambiguity

Sun, 08 May 2011 08:46:15 -0500

God can be ambiguous at times. We seek clarity during those times; however, it may not be readily given to us. In this sermon, Greg talks about how to respond to God’s ambiguity by going up to God, out to others, and in for fellowship.

How Not To Be A Wuss

Sun, 01 May 2011 09:23:50 -0500

We’re called to partner with God in the breaking in of the new Kingdom. This empowers us to be aggressive. Not aggressive towards other people, but against the powers and principalities in the world and in our own hearts.

Defiant Flower

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 11:09:03 -0500

In Minnesota, snow can feel evil. Like a flower that yearns to break through the snow, we should yearn to break free from the old order of things and live the Kingdom now. In this sermon, Greg walks us through what the Resurrection of Jesus means to our lives today.

Good Friday 2011

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 08:37:38 -0500

For our Good Friday service, Greg looked at the life and death of Jesus using three different people who responded positively to Jesus. The criminal on the cross, a centurion and Joseph of Arimathia.

[Church] Happens

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 11:05:43 -0500

Jesus’ Church has done a lot of bad things throughout history. Whether it was wars or various forms of torture, people have misused the idea of Church. In this sermon, Greg speaks about the different issues surrounding the Church’s history, and he submits a few ideas about how to deal with this type of crap happening.

[Sin] Happens

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 08:44:27 -0500

We all have habitual sins that seem to plague us around every turn. Whether it’s gossip, lust, greed, or envy, we all falter in one place or another. Instead of wishing for deliverance, God asks us to work at our sins in order to become the people he created us to be.

[Unfairness] Happens

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 09:43:10 -0500

Sometimes life appears to be completely random and arbitrary, especially when it comes to fairness. It can be bad things happening to good people or good things happening to bad people. In this sermon, Greg shows us that even though crap isn’t a part of God’s perfect plan doesn’t mean God doesn’t have a perfect plan for crap.

[Unanswered Prayer] Happens

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:14:55 -0500

When we pray, we usually expect that our prayers will be answered. Sometimes, they are not. In this sermon, Shawna takes a look at what unanswered prayer looks like, and she provides insight into dealing with the pain of unanswered prayer.

[Feeling Insignificant] Happens

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 07:39:41 -0500

Most of us grew up wanting to be a superstar of some kind, whether it was an athlete, performer, or war hero. However, as we grow older, we recognize that we might be more ordinary than we thought. Yet, God wants us to know exactly how significant we are.

[Suffering] Happens

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:08:10 -0500

In this world, there is a lot of suffering. Even as Christians, we sometimes ask “Is God even in control?” In this sermon, Greg addresses how we react to suffering and also how God is in control of the situation. He ends with some practical advice on how to follow God amidst suffering.

Trusting a Killer God?

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 08:49:05 -0600

The Genesis passage of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, raises questions about trusting in God. In this sermon, Greg honestly probes some of those questions about the passage. He also provides some thoughts on how we can replicate Abraham’s faith.

Growing Our Faith

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 06:30:53 -0600

Sometimes in life, Faith is an intellectual issue. However, sometimes faith comes after following Jesus. In this sermon, Seth talks to us about examples of people following Jesus and then having faith. He also talks about what it looks like for our faith to grow.

Trusting In God Knows What

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 11:11:37 -0600

When we lock our doors or buy insurance, are we trusting in God? In this sermon, Greg talks about what it looks like to trust God in a broken world. He also talks about what protection looks like when following Jesus. Greg also tries telling a joke. We apologize for that.

Integrated Faith

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 10:18:52 -0600

Our fallen world is full of dis-integration. This week, Greg takes the past topics of faith and applies them to this fallen world. In doing so, we are giving a way of integrating our faith in any situation.

Imagine

Sun, 06 Feb 2011 10:38:50 -0600

How does a person keep their faith when facing an unfixable situation? In this sermon, Greg speaks to the question by examining his family’s own struggle with having an adult son with autism. Knowing that he can’t fix the problem, Greg describes how his vision of the solution provides a solid foundation for faith.

Toppling the House of Cards

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 09:49:50 -0600

Questions can sometimes topple faith like a house of cards. In this sermon, we introduce the idea that following Jesus is the central aspect of faith. This frees us to question and critique different aspects of our faith, without losing that faith.

I'm Not Who I Was

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:41:22 -0600

The story of the Exodus (see the book of Exodus) is a story of God leading His people from bondage to freedom. In this week’s sermon, Jim Hobson asks the question “If Christ has set us free, why are so many Christians still in bondage?” Jim contends that to free ourselves from bondage, we must see ourselves as God sees us.

Losing the Faith Game

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 08:01:54 -0600

Faith is often understood in measurement terms. Some say people need amounts of faith to receive benefits from God. Faith, however, should be understood in relational terms and not “faithometer” terms. The illustration of a marriage best serves the idea of how faith in God works.

The Faith to Doubt

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 07:15:48 -0600

Faith is sometimes understood as the lack of doubt. Doubt can be seen as the enemy of faith; however, doubt is not always the enemy. When wrestling with God, it is important not to doubt God’s character. We will always have doubt about questions on a broad range because we are human and finite, but God’s character need never be doubted.

The Wrestlers

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 09:51:28 -0600

God wants His people to wrestle with Him on the things that happen in their life. He wants His people to ask “Who are you, God?” Following the story of Jacob, we are called as Christ followers to struggle, strive, and seek to know who God is. We must also not be afraid of struggling with deep questions.

Subverting the Subversion

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 09:40:30 -0600

The Devil has historically used a 1-2 punch to fight God. He usually starts by trying to snuff out the Kingdom of God, and if that doesn’t work, he tries to normalize the Kingdom of God. This normalization leads to a watered-down and mundane version of the Kingdom. God calls us to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.

Christmas Eve

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 10:34:50 -0600

Christmas is the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus and of God incarnate. For most of us, this day is celebrated in a fog of normalcy. The birth of Jesus has become old news that we’ve celebrated before. The greatest truth—a beautiful, profound, mysterious, and wonderful truth—is shrouded in the boredom of the same old story, and we lose the vision of the uniqueness of Jesus’ birth. God wants us to open our heart to the beauty of this universe, and He wants us to ask Him to keep us awake to the vibrant beauty of this story.

Empire of the Baby

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 07:05:52 -0600

Christmas is a time of nostalgia when family and friends get together. Cute and serene can be words to describe this time, but Christmas and the birth of Jesus was anything but serene. The birth of Jesus was an act of war against the Empire of this world.

Subverting the Empire

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 07:39:11 -0600

Our culture is run by an empire built on the foundation of greed, selfishness, and consumerism. Jesus came to this world to subvert any empire other than the Kingdom of God. Jesus taught us the true meaning of freedom, peace, justice, and love, and He wants us to use these to subvert the empire.

Celebrating a Subversive King

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 06:50:36 -0600

Jesus was born a subversive King. He was born to show the world the true Kingdom and the True God, and in so doing, showed the world how the Roman kingdom was false. In the spirit of Jesus’ subversive intention, Greg shows us a way to be subversive with the Christmas culture of the western world.

The Center of the Ride

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 06:05:07 -0600

A central aspect of living as a Christian is lining up our life with the revealed Word of God. The battlefield of our living is actually waged in our soul, our mind. God wants us to understand exactly who we are in His eyes, so that our understanding will lead to right living according to the revealed Word of God.

Defragmenting Love

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 09:17:56 -0600

All of us long for deep contact with God and with others. Yet, fear of judgment and having no space in our lives to develop deep contact hinder us when trying to find deep contact with others. God wants us to know that we need not fear judgment to make space in our lives for contact with Him and others.

Exorcism

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 07:13:48 -0600

One of the main spiritual strongholds that we deal with is “mine-ing” stuff. We want to acquire stuff, label it as ours and create divisions in our souls that separate us from God. God wants us to heal these divisions by renouncing the false god, Mammon.

Punching Clocks

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 10:57:03 -0500

All of us feel the stress of time on our lives. We feel tired, stressed and worn out over everything that needs to get done. God wants us to give up the idea of time as money so that we can gain the peace of eternity.

Listening to the Kids

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 07:42:48 -0500

Many of us have wounds, stresses, and cares in our lives. Like children, these things cry out to us, wanting us to pay attention. God wants us to listen to these “children” and find healing with God’s help.

Ghost Behind The Wheel

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 11:07:19 -0500

In this first sermon of our Undivided series, Greg explores why we seem to be drawn to the busy life that our culture offers. At the same time, it’s easy for us to forget or ignore the beauty that God wants to develop in our inner world.

Worship Like Ants

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 09:28:05 -0500

Praise and celebration are foundational and essential to being God’s people. However, many Christians today are missing out on the importance of doing this together. We emphasize information, but we often don’t see the power of encountering God and the impact that it can have on our lives.

Church of the Scumbags

Sun, 03 Oct 2010 11:37:59 -0500

Jesus never asked for background checks on people before he ministered to them. His life and death reflect an all inclusive love and grace toward all people. Through Christ, God gives a massive bear hug of love and forgiveness around humanity.

The Real Proof

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 08:18:08 -0500

What is the real evidence of a disciple of Jesus? Too often today we are told that followers of Christ are marked by success, happiness and power. However, the Bible points to a different evidence, that of love that comes under others and serves.

Debt Free

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 07:00:00 -0500

When Jesus prayed from the cross, “Father, forgive them …” he was expressing the radical love of the Father that extends forgiveness to all the world. While such an expression of forgiveness is far from typical, it contains the ability to heal, transform hearts and release people to forgive others.

The Great Exchange

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 09:24:28 -0500

Jesus was innocent but he died the death of the guilty. He stood in our place, taking on our life so that we might have his. There is no greater act in all of history.

Discomforted by the Silent Christ

Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:43:37 -0500

Jesus’ silence before his accusers surprised everyone. Rather than defend himself, he suffered unjustly for the sake of the Kingdom of God. By doing this, he demonstrated faith in a higher court that would ultimately judge all.

God Wants To Talk

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 07:42:46 -0500

In the Bible, prophecy refers to much more than simply foretelling events of the future. According to 2 Peter 1:21 any time the Holy Spirit uses a person to speak the truth it is considered prophecy.

Old Peter / New Peter

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 08:52:47 -0500

The Apostle Peter had to learn the hard way how to follow Jesus. His three denials of Christ—and then three affirmations of love—marked the major turning point away from fear and toward imitating Christ.

Living In God's Peace

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 09:45:09 -0500

When we experience the peace of God, it frees us from fear and the temptation to take matters into our own hands.

The Gospel of Suffering

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 06:38:35 -0500

Hebrews 5:8-9 says that Jesus “learned obedience through what he suffered” and “was made perfect”. If this was necessary for Jesus then followers of Jesus should expect the same.

Who Wants to Pray... Honestly?

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:14:42 -0500

We often pray most honestly and faithfully when we are facing difficulties of some kind. The challenge is to pray like this in our daily lives.

The Betrothal Ceremony

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 06:16:30 -0500

Jesus orders us to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Baptism is the betrothal (similar to “engagement”) ceremony in our relationship to Christ.

Futile the Fig Leaf

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:42:21 -0500

As children, we learn to play “hide-and-seek” with our siblings, parents and friends. Many of us continue to play this game with God as adults. Kevin Johnson challenges us to turn to God with our whole heart and receive God’s mercy and grace.

The Rorschach Test

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 08:48:43 -0500

Psychologists use Rorschach tests to reflect what is inside a person. How we see the world and even how we read Scripture works in a similar way.

Transforming Love

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:22:57 -0500

Ephesians 3:14-19 is perhaps one of the most powerful descriptions of love we find in Paul’s writings. The love Paul speaks of is so great he is forced to press the boundaries of language to express it.

The Lost Party

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:49:36 -0500

In the parables of the lost sheep, the lost son, and the lost coin, it becomes clear that it is we who are lost and God who seeks to find us. Those in the position of danger are the ones who presume upon their relationships with God.

Breaking From Greenspan

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:13:40 -0500

In the parable of the lost coin, the woman calls her friends and neighbors together to rejoice with her when she finds it. Greg explores why she was so excited to recover a single coin of seemingly limited value.

Brotherly Loathe

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 10:35:45 -0500

In the story of the prodigal son, the focus is typically on the younger son who runs away and squanders his father’s wealth frivolously. His sin is as obvious as his disobedience. The elder son is also relating badly to his father, but in a more subtle way.

Prodigal God

Sun, 30 May 2010 09:49:40 -0500

Typically, we call the famous parable by Jesus “The Prodigal Son,” but that title is actually a bit misleading. The point of the parable is not the younger (Prodigal) son’s recklessly extravagant living. Instead, it’s about God’s recklessly extravagant love.

Empowering Love

Sun, 23 May 2010 09:45:10 -0500

We, as Jesus followers, are called to reflect God’s love in this world. We are to live lives of love, as imitators of God. We are to do everything in love and live in the unity of love with other Christ followers.

Returning Love

Sun, 16 May 2010 10:10:40 -0500

God's love for us is overwhelming! But that's not the whole story. As we receive God's love we are able to return that love to God and others.

Burning Love

Sun, 09 May 2010 10:02:11 -0500

God’s desire for us is that we become all that God created us to be. Life is the process in which we can resist or yield to God’s desire for us. When we yield we sense God’s burning love as warm and liberating. When we resist we experience God’s burning love as pain and wrath.

Victorious Love

Sun, 02 May 2010 10:31:10 -0500

God’s love is victorious! But perhaps not in the way that you’d expect. We often associate victory with our ability to control or defeat others but God’s victory encourages our freedom rather than squelches it. (We love discovering art that connects us to God in unique ways. Thank you to Dale Johnson for incorporating his art into this weekend's sermon.)

Covenantal Love

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 04:08:04 -0500

The love of God expressed in Christ on the cross shows the radical lengths God is willing to go to restore us. This healing of our relationship with God takes the form of a covenant, not a contract.

God Is Love

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 04:01:32 -0500

The love of God expressed in Christ on the cross was “foolishness to the Gentiles” and “a stumbling block to the Jews”. God’s love is scandalous to us all in different ways.

Love Is...

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 11:32:17 -0500

It is impossible to fully grasp God's love because it is infinite! The best we can do is humbly recognize our limitations in this way and give ourselves over to the overwhelming love that God extends to us.

Sehnsucht

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 05:04:21 -0500

In the story of the Prodigal Son, the son leaves home and experiences intensely that something is missing. Eventually he comes to his senses and goes home to his father. Greg connected this desire that the son felt to the German word sehnsucht which is a powerful form of longing that we all feel at times in our lives.

Good Friday 2010

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:28:39 -0500

For our Good Friday service, Greg looked at the life and death of Jesus using three different Marys. Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene.

Questionable Blessings

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 10:30:50 -0500

In the final week of our “Kingdom Economics” series, Greg answers four questions that were submitted by the congregation and podrishioners. 1) Why doesn’t WHC teach tithing? 2) I’m broke! Didn’t God promise me I’d reap what I’ve sown? 3) If misfortune isn’t a “curse” from God, why think good fortune is a “blessing” from God? 4) Is America “blessed”?

Kingdom Economics Panel Discussion

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:39:24 -0500

During the series, many people have sent in questions about their personal finances. Today we heard from a panel of people from Woodland Hills who responded to those questions with Kingdom of God principles.

In God We Trust

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:33:30 -0500

In week two of our “Kingdom Economics” series, Greg answers three questions that were submitted by the congregation and podrishioners. 1) Does having a savings account show a lack of faith in God? 2) Does saving for retirement show a lack of trust in God? 3) Is declaring bankruptcy a sin?

Defying the Beast

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:18:37 -0600

Matthew 6:24 tells us that we “cannot serve both God and mammon.” Instead, we can live out kingdom principles with our finances.

Let it Go

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:55:15 -0600

Leave it to Jesus to challenge one of our most central cultural values – justifying violence by manipulating scripture. In this sermon, we discover what it means to practice non-violence both in our actions and our attitudes.

Shaken Not Stirred

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 07:59:17 -0600

Despite Jesus clearly foretelling it, Peter didn’t think he would deny Jesus. But just as Jesus knew Peter would fall, he knew he’d get back up again too.

Opting Out Of The "Who's The Greatest" Game

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:47:47 -0600

Jesus came both to save us and to reveal the character of God to us. Rather than coming in great power God came and served. Jesus calls us to “opt out” of the worldly desire to be better than others and learn to love them even when we profoundly disagree with them.

Judas Christianity

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:30:50 -0600

When reviewing Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, Greg had two questions in mind for us to consider: “Was Judas fated to betray Jesus?” And “Why did Judas betray Jesus?”

Communion in the Wilderness

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:21:31 -0600

At the Passover meal just before Jesus was killed he instituted the practice of communion. When we take communion, we do so in the time between the initial experience of our faith and the final fulfillment of our unity with God and each other. This space “in-between” is like the wilderness the Jews experienced after leaving Egypt but before entering the promised land.

Stay Awake

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 09:17:00 -0600

As Jesus was warning his disciples about the coming destruction of the temple he instructed them to be careful lest their hearts be weighed down in various ways. This warning applies not only to Jesus’ disciples at that time, but also to his disciples today.

Left My Worries Behind

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 08:45:04 -0600

Jesus warned his disciples about the coming destruction of the temple. This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD. Yet there are timeless truths to be found in this text regarding what it means to prepare for what lies ahead of us.

The Widow's Sacrifice

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:16:11 -0600

In the story of the widow with her two small coins Jesus shows us that it is not the amount that we give that matters, but rather how much of a sacrifice that amount really is for us.

Out from Control

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 10:50:26 -0600

Jesus shows us what godly leadership looks like in two ways. First by modeling it with his own life and second by confronting those who abuse the authority that comes with leadership.

Jesus: Avatar or God?

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 06:56:19 -0600

Our American culture seems to have grown more open to spiritual things in recent history. In general this openness is good—but there is also the danger of losing the uniqueness of what we believe as Christians—that Jesus IS God and not merely one of many ways that God is expressed in the world.

The Ghost Of Christmas

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:54:10 -0600

In many ways, Jesus is like the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future in Charles Dickens’ story A Christmas Carol. However, much more than remind us of our past, Jesus has the power to transform it which allows us new freedom both in our present and our future.

Returning To The Sacred Shhh...

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:51:15 -0600

When we work for justice in the world, we are partnering with what God is already doing. It’s important that we seek God first, rest in God’s love, and only then can respond faithfully to the call to partner with God by fighting for justice in our communities.

The Fruit of Repentance

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 04:23:26 -0600

When John the Baptist was proclaiming the coming of the Messiah he preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins and called people to be baptized. Jin Kim connected this proclamation to faithfulness in the body of Christ and the importance of bearing fruit in the world.

Everyday Is A Day Of Thanksgiving

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:20:33 -0600

For this weekend following Thanksgiving , Dwayne delivered a sermon about the basics of living a thankful lifestyle. He asked questions about what we can thank God for in the middle of difficult situations and why it’s important to practice Thanksgiving in general.

Getting Egypt Out

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:34:20 -0600

Greg shared an image that he uses to represent how principalities and powers pollute the “air” we breathe by drawing on the impact of sins committed in the past. Norm shared his story of how he got out of living in poverty with the help of a friend who provided key opportunities.

Poverty and Generational Sin

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:31:20 -0600

Generational sin is the ongoing effect of hurtful behavior that passes on from parents to their children. Not only do the children have to deal with this sin, but God too works with us to overcome these effects of past wrong-doings on our lives.

A Touch Of Reality

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:26:36 -0600

The Bible has a lot to say about poverty. Most of it refers to material poverty—which is why we are focusing on that this series—but the Bible also recognizes the poverty of isolation, loneliness and invisibility.

Compassion And The Kingdom

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:23:27 -0600

Efrem Smith preached about how being a Christian means participating in the Kingdom of God in between the first coming of Christ and the second. He used Matthew 25 to help us grasp this.

Stories of Poverty

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:36:26 -0500

The Importance of Knowing Ernest: Sandra shares experiences and insights that have come from her family’s “unlikely” friendships with people on St. Paul’s East Side. In our movement toward the issue of poverty, it’s easy for the ‘haves’ to feel heroic for seeking to give to the ‘have-nots’. Through her relationship with Ernest, Sandra explains what can happen when we pursue relationships instead of responsibilities, or people instead of poverty.

To Have Or Not To Have

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:31:23 -0500

Greg was careful to be clear that his challenge was primarily to those in the lower middle class of America and higher. However the principles apply to all of us: Don’t hoard the things of this world, but rather share generously with those who have less than we do.

God's Heart For The Poor

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:00:00 -0500

We know that we are saved by God’s grace, not our own good deeds—but God still intends that we do good deeds. In fact, God saved us so that we can be restored to right relationship with God and all of creation. This restored relationship includes the activity (good works) that God has planned for each one of us.

Seeing What God Sees

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:00:00 -0500

When we ask the simple question, “What does the Lord require?” we get a clear answer from Scripture. There are many passages we could turn to for a response, but one of the most concise is Micah 6:8. Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

Celebrate God

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:00:00 -0500

We see many examples of celebration in the Bible. By reading through these verses we can learn a lot about what celebration is and how it was done during biblical times. [Focus Scripture: Psalms 66:8]

Praise & Celebrate

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Greg reminded us of the importance of worship, praise and celebration. We sometimes tend to collapse all three of these words together and associate it with the singing portion of a church service, but there’s much more to it that that.

Growing Up Into Kingdom Adulthood

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:11:19 -0500

Jesus was frustrating to most people who asked him theological questions. When the Sadducees challenged him, Jesus set them straight on the resurrection, the role of women, and gave a few hints about heaven, none of which they wanted to hear.

Turning Jesus Over to Caesar

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:59:19 -0500

Jesus was being set up by some schemers who were trying to trap Jesus. They asked him whether or not Jews should pay taxes to Caesar or not. His answer undermined the game the schemers were playing and will challenge the way we relate to our own government.

The Stone The Builders Rejected

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:00:00 -0500

By telling a parable Jesus prophesied that he would be rejected and killed. Nevertheless, he also claimed he would be the cornerstone for the coming Kingdom of God. This was shocking to his followers and enraged the religious leaders of the time.

Forgiveness Is Personal

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Rob spoke about forgiveness and one common challenge to it—revenge. When someone hurts us and we turn to revenge, we are essentially saying that we don’t like the way God is running the universe.

God Must Be Angry

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Our guest speaker could only speak on Sunday, so Greg used the Saturday night service to host a Q&A centered around the recently debated concept that God might be behind the natural disasters in the world...as well as other questions from the congregation.

The Life You Always Wanted

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Kevin Johnson shared some experiences he’s had with “strategies” for personal transformation. None of these strategies by themselves are good enough if we don’t have a basic openness to God’s leading.

Who Do You Think You Are?

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:00:00 -0500

At one point in Jesus’ ministry, priests and teachers of the law questioned Jesus about his authority. They asked him by whose authority he taught the gospel and did the miracles. Rather than answering their question, Jesus returned a question.

Angry Love

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:00:00 -0500

It might surprise you to know that Jesus got angry enough to turn over tables! There are times when it is appropriate to boldly confront others in our community.

The Wailing God

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:00:00 -0500

When Jesus entered Jerusalem he wept as he foretold its destruction. This is important because we gain an profound awareness of how it pains God when we resist him.

I am a Hypocrite

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:55:31 -0500

Jesus and his followers had very different ideas about what would happen when Jesus finally got to Jerusalem. These differences were so serious that everyone abandoned Jesus when his path took him to the cross. It may be tempting to judge Jesus’ followers as short-sighted hypocrites, but Greg challenges us with the question of whether we really would do differently under similar circumstances.

Air and Opportunity

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:00:00 -0500

God has given us the Holy Spirit as a “deposit” and guarantee of things to come. But we are expected to wisely invest this “deposit” in the world today.

Zacchaeus

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:51:44 -0500

Repentance and salvation are understood best in the story of someone’s life. Zacchaeus is a great example of radical repentance and a clear pronouncement of salvation by Jesus.

Gatekeepers of the Royal Son

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:00:00 -0500

The disciples sometimes got in the way of people who were coming to Jesus. When this happened, Jesus had to correct the situation and go directly to the people seeking him. This happens today too when Christians and their agendas get in the way of people who simply need to be pointed to Jesus.

Embracing the Pain

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:00:00 -0500

None of us like pain. In fact, much in our world today helps us to avoid it. Scripture promises that as we follow Christ we will suffer and endure pain but that it is not without a purpose. As we persevere, we experience growth and joy and become more like Christ.

Animate: Final Questions

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:00:00 -0500

This sermon addresses three specific questions as a follow-up to the Animate series. The first relates to the dangers of opening oneself up to the spirit realm. The second is about how we know what we sense in our imagination is from God. And the third questions whether imaginative prayer that focuses on Jesus alone is actually limiting.

Animate Questions: Getting Life

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:00:00 -0500

There were a lot of questions generated by our recent Animate series. This sermon answers questions about why Christians have sometimes been suspicious of the imagination, and about how we can get our “life” (worth, significance and security) from God.

Animate Wrap Up: Is it Just Me?

Sat, 30 May 2009 19:00:00 -0500

There were a lot of questions generated by our recent Animate series, which explored the role that imagination plays in our spiritual lives. One question that came up frequently was, “Are we just making all this up when we practice imaginative spirituality?”

What God Really Wants (It Ain't Nothin' New)

Sat, 23 May 2009 19:00:00 -0500

There is a consistent and persistent message God has been sending through both the Old and New Testaments: Love your neighbor as yourself. And everyone is your neighbor! What was recorded as law in Lev. 19 was echoed by the prophets and reiterated by Jesus in the gospels.

Clever Disguises

Sat, 16 May 2009 19:00:00 -0500

This is the fifth message in the Animate series which focuses on making ourselves free and available to commune with God. Transformation comes from spending time in the presence and glory of God.

Forming Me

Sat, 09 May 2009 19:00:00 -0500

This is the fourth message in the Animate series which focuses on making ourselves free and available to commune with God. Transformation comes from spending time in the presence and glory of God.

Holding up Your Body

Sat, 02 May 2009 19:00:00 -0500

This is the third message in the Animate series focuses on making ourselves free and available to commune with God. Transformation comes from spending time in the presence and glory of God.

Flesh and Blood

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:00:00 -0500

This is the second message in the Animate series which focuses on making ourselves free and available to commune with God. Transformation comes from spending time in the presence and glory of God.

What a Surprise

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 19:00:00 -0500

This is the first message in the Animate series which focuses on making ourselves free and available to commune with God. Transformation comes from spending time in the presence and glory of God.

Take Off Your Grave Clothes

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Easter is about Jesus’ resurrection and the faith of the church in that resurrection. Jesus’ claims to be God were unambiguous but didn’t always receive the same response.

Good Friday 2009

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Greg leads us in reflecting and then responding to what he calls “the central event that defines all history": the cross. You are invited to join the congregation in a responsive confession (download presentation file to read along)

How to get Blessed with More Houses

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Jesus used the law to show us that we can’t get to heaven on the basis of our own good deeds. Once we accept this, we can enjoy the freedom to live radically and generously in the community that is the family of God.

The Danger of Goodness

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Jesus' encounter with the rich young man raises the question of what a person must do to get into heaven. Is it good deeds? Is selling our possessions and giving to the poor enough? No, it is embracing the love relationship with God that is extended to us through Christ.

It's Time to Get Low

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Spiritually speaking, the attitude we have when we work to advance God's Kingdom is far more important than the work we actually do. If we do the “right things” but don't don’t imitate Jesus in our attitude we don't reflect the Kingdom of God the way we could. Humility, gentleness and bearing each others' burdens are basic to serving one another in Christ-like love.

Return to Innocence

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 07:44:45 -0500

Jesus uses little children as examples of the attitude we are to take. The innocence of children give us a good model for trusting God, getting our identity from him and avoiding the evaluation and judgment game.

Shocking Humility and Extravagant Grace

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:15:01 -0500

When we hear sermons, often we apply them to someone else. It is always easier to see and try to fix other people’s faults than it is our own. It is common to do this when we read Bible stories. One of the functions of Jesus’ parables is to free us from this self-serving favoritism and force us to look in the mirror.

Keep on Pushing

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 10:47:07 -0600

When we pray, we’re using our say-so to partner with God to bring about his will on earth as it is in heaven. But it is not magic. Prayer is a labor of love. We are pushing for God’s will to be accomplished, against all that resists his will being accomplished.

Prayer and Patience for Justice

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 06:09:49 -0600

The parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge is deeply rooted in the larger story of God’s faithfulness to Israel, Jesus’ re-enactment of that story, and the question of whether Jesus will find faith on earth when he returns.

A Sudden End and New Beginning

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:28:20 -0600

As Christians, we often give a lot of attention to passages in the Bible that refer to Jesus’ return, but often only to speculate about the end of the world. Instead, we should use these teachings to reflect on how we live here and now. One specific application of this principle is making daily decisions that honor God’s creation.

The Kingdom is Here and Now

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 04:51:34 -0600

When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus gave them an answer they didn’t expect, and it’s very relevant for us today. Instead of spreading Christian ideas and values through laws, politics and force, Jesus reminds us that we’re called to be the Kingdom by loving, serving and sacrificing for the people around us.

Giving the Gift of Gratitude

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 06:00:40 -0600

Jesus spent much of his time healing and performing miracles, and Luke tells the account of the healing of ten lepers – and the one who came back to thank Jesus. However, there was more healing needed than simply the physical reversal of leprosy, and this story reminds us some important principles about gratitude.

Don't be Like the Pharisees

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:34:56 -0600

In this section of Luke, Jesus gives four distinct teachings that on the surface seem unrelated. But when taken in context with each other, they highlight four different aspects of how we are to live in Christian community with one another.

Acting on the Truth

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:12:12 -0600

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the primary point is that information we have about God doesn’t do us any good if we don’t act on it. As Kingdom people, we must remember what this means for our own generosity.

Tormented by the Flames?

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:31:13 -0600

The story of the rich man and Lazarus has often been used to ground our theology when it comes to the doctrine of Hell. This message aims to broaden our imagination about this issue by looking at this passage in the larger biblical context.

Divorce, Remarriage and the Law of Love

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:00:00 -0600

Jesus teaches that “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” What this meant in the first century helps us understand what it means for us today.

Our One and Only Allegiance

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:47:23 -0600

Jesus tells us that “no one can serve two masters.” But what could this possibly mean? Don’t we all have many obligations and responsibilities? This message challenges us to live every area of our life in devotion to God.

Mary, Did You Know?

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:00:00 -0600

One of the best ways to draw out the meaning of Christmas is to look at the experience of Mary. Saying “yes” to God meant she would have to pay a tremendous price, but she was willing. Will we do the same with our lives? We are called to accept that doing God’s will is greater than any fears we might have.

Mary's Messy Yes

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 10:44:34 -0600

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the Bible’s great examples of faith. God chose her as the human vessel through which God would enter the world! Mary responded with great faith even though it would certainly introduce many challenges and change her life’s path.

Christmas Guilt

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 10:42:33 -0600

As Kingdom people, we always want to be aware of the dangers of consumerism and irresponsible spending. However, if we take on too much responsibility for fixing the world we can fall into guilt and become judgmental. Jesus modeled a balance between responsibility to those who are less fortunate, and the freedom we have to celebrate and share the good things that God has given us.

This Is What We Do

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:40:29 -0600

Christians are called to live generously all year round – not just at Christmas time. Jesus models four distinctives that we are to imitate in our lives and in our communities. We can easily get caught in the flow of our culture so these distinctives are challenging for us, but they’re crucial for expanding God’s Kingdom.

Shrewd for the Kingdom

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:38:21 -0600

What does it mean to use material resources in a godly way? All of our money and “stuff” will pass away but the relationships we have with people have real eternal value. God wants us to use our resources to advance his Kingdom rather than our own.

Revolting Against Normal

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:00:00 -0600

Most of the time we try to fit Jesus into our culturally-accepted view of God, and the early Christians did the same thing. But Jesus doesn’t fit into our categories. As Kingdom people, we’re meant to follow Jesus’ example and revolt against what’s normal in our culture. Three disciplines that can help us are practicing God’s presence, fasting and community.

Confronted By Upside Down

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:00:00 -0600

There are two sons in the parable of the Prodigal Son, and in this passage we find out how the older son responds when the younger son returns home. He’s judgmental of his brother, but it’s easy to understand why because his reaction stems from a sense of justice that we all share. However, the Kingdom of God challenges us to avoid judgments and instead, extend God’s grace to others.

God is Waiting

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:36:20 -0600

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus teaches about the love of God. Instead of using his power to force us to choose what’s best, God loves us so much that he gives us room to cause him pain in our relationship with him. And then when we do, he waits for us to return to him and runs to meet us. God runs to us because he loves us more than we can fathom.

Is God Really Like That?

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:31:39 -0600

Our perspective about what God is like deeply affects our relationship with him. Is he a distant, immovable being or does Jesus give us a different view of God? God is more upside down and different than many of us realize.

The Lord is My Shepherd

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:26:25 -0500

In the familiar Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus shows us a God who, out of his great love, goes after outcasts deprived of opportunities, safety and rights. Sharing from her own personal experience, Shawna illustrates this love and helps us understand the extreme nature of God’s goodness.

It's Free but Costs Everything

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:00:00 -0500

Jesus’ Kingdom is open to all of us, but he asks everything from those who follow him. This is a radical call to actually reorient our lives, which is much more than simply a willingness to do so if the circumstances present themselves. If we take these words of Jesus seriously, they will change our lives in ways we cannot predict.

The Upside Down Invitation

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:20:13 -0500

Blessed are those who share in God’s Kingdom meal – what an awesome experience! But who gets in on it? Those of us who think that we have the inside track might be shocked at how Jesus turns our expectations upside down. And some of us who are sure we’re “out” will be surprised at Jesus’ open invitation.

The Kingdom: It's Really Upside Down

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:15:24 -0500

God's unique way of growing his kingdom isn't what we may expect from a king. In fact, many times he flips our expectations completely upside down. In a conversation with the Pharisees in Luke 14, Jesus demonstrates this beautiful uniqueness and reveals the impact it can have on how we relate to each other in our everyday activities.

Run for Cover

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 03:52:19 -0500

To whom do we run when we are need? Where do we place our trust when we need protection? There are many things in this world that offer safety and shelter, but only in Jesus can we find true shelter, peace and love.

Praise Him

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:12:11 -0500

Praise Him! We may not always feel like praising God, however, there is something transformational about praise that realigns how we see God and how we see our own situations. Praise is one of the ways we fight against the lies of the enemy and walk in the victory of Jesus. Discover how praise can impact your life right now.

Caught Up In His Beauty

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 10:57:09 -0500

Why do we worship God? Why is it so central to the life of Christians? This sermon addresses how worship is about ascribing worth to God and communing with him. Worship can transform our lives if we’re willing to get “caught up” in it.

The Narrow Door

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:55:07 -0500

Jesus taught that the way to salvation is narrow, but what exactly does that mean? Who gets saved? How does someone get saved? These are big questions, and the answers will surprise many people – even some who have attended church their entire lives. Discover what Jesus meant when he called us to enter the “narrow door.”

The Mustard Seed Kingdom

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:44:52 -0500

Jesus described God’s Kingdom like a mustard seed and like yeast. What did he mean? And what do Jesus’ unusual parables have to do with our lives today? When we consider how his original audience would have heard Jesus’ words, it helps us discover just how challenging his teachings are for us today.

Defying Tanks

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 10:43:11 -0500

Jesus called a crippled woman forward despite the many forces working against her. She answered the call by stepping into the powerful healing of God, and immediately she stood up and praised God. We can see this as an analogy for responding to the call of God in today’s hurting world and the powerful forces that we come up against.

The Evil of Religion

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:41:07 -0500

Religion or relationship? We need to be careful about which term best describes how we engage our faith. Through his actions and teaching, Jesus shows us clear distinctions between viewing Kingdom life as a religion or as a personal relationship.

Speaking the Kingdom

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:38:47 -0500

Our passage this week shows Jesus healing a crippled woman. Jesus and his disciples regularly healed the sick and the lame and cast out demons by taking authority over the situation “in Jesus' name.” This challenges us to consider the power and authority our own words and actions have in our daily lives.

Daredevil of Love

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:36:46 -0500

We are called to live as daredevils, but most of us are bound by fears of some kind. God didn’t make us to be timid people who are dependent on worldly things; we are meant to be free from fear and complete in love. He wants to set us free so that we have the confidence to be daredevils.

The Porcupine Dance

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 10:33:45 -0500

Forgiveness is always easier to talk about than to actually do. But without it we are alone and isolated, and can be consumed by hurt. Jesus taught about how we should forgive each other through parables: because we experience God’s great forgiveness, we share the same with others who have wronged us. And as a result, we learn how to live our lives with each other and experience the freedom that God wants for us.

Repent or Perish

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:00:00 -0500

Jesus often taught about the love of God, but in this passage he also says “...unless you repent, you will all perish.” This is a very unpopular passage as it is commonly understood, as most people assume Jesus is using the fear of hell to scare us into repentance. The truth is that sin really does lead to perishing, but it’s not because of God’s arbitrary wrath.

Let God Be Glorified

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 10:31:28 -0500

Tragedies happen. This world is far from God’s ideal, and we must be ready to respond in God’s way when we find ourselves in difficult situations. Jesus shows us some clear ways to think and act so that we don’t fall into traps of judgment or guilt when life doesn’t work out the way we want. We also must remember that even though God doesn’t cause painful situations, he can always bring good out of them.

Held

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:00:00 -0500

Many people blame God for the terrible things that happen in our world: the death of a loved one, illnesses, natural disasters, even acts of terror. Some claim that these are ways that God judges and punishes us. But Jesus gives us a very different picture of God. Jesus reveals that despite the evil in our world, God is always on our side, wants what is best for us, and loves us beyond measure.

The Fire God

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:26:12 -0500

God is a FIRE. To all who are open to him, God’s presence is a fire of love, salvation, healing and purification. To all who are not, God’s presence is experienced as a fire of destruction. Jesus reminds and warns us to build our lives on him; depending upon where our hearts are, God’s fiery and holy love either saves and purifies us, or it destroys.

The Return

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:39:15 -0500

Many well-meaning Christians speculate about the end of the world and the return of Jesus. The problem is that most of these perspectives vary greatly and can cause a lot of fear and stress. But when we hear Jesus’ teaching about the end of the world, he focuses us in a direction that is quite different than many of today’s popular ideas.

Trusting Dad

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:16:14 -0500

So many of us have a messed up view of God. We don’t understand how our Father in heaven loves us beyond imagination. Because we lack a clear picture of God’s love, we cling to this world and all of its concerns. Our lives can get consumed by worry. But when we see the reality of God’s love, this world's problems are small by comparison.

Ravens and Wildflowers

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:00:00 -0500

As a society, we’re extremely worried. Concern about countless issues pervades our lives: our relationships, our kids, terror attacks, global warming, pandemics, the economy, living the American Dream – if we’re not careful, this worry can consume us. Jesus provides us with the Kingdom alternative to worrying, and it’s surprisingly related to birds and flowers.

Rich Towards God

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 10:20:46 -0500

Many times the modern American church views God as a judge or lawyer and the main goal of the church is to enforce certain rules. While God is the ultimate judge, he is also madly in love with humanity and wants to see everyone restored. If we look at how God has been extravagantly rich towards us, we begin to see what it means for us to be rich towards God and others.

Taking Off the Headphones

Sun, 25 May 2008 12:42:45 -0500

Is God's presence merely something we expect to experience once a week during a church service? Or maybe even once a day during a time of prayer? The truth is that God's presence pervades our life, but we are usually to distracted to notice. We are invited to experience God's presence on a moment by moment basis in our daily lives.

Stuffocating

Sun, 18 May 2008 09:54:46 -0500

No one wants to be told how to spend their money, but Jesus was not silent on the subject. He warned against greed and storing up treasures for ourselves while calling us to care for the poor and those who are less fortunate. His words may cause us discomfort, but they confront a very strong individualistic mindset that is just as prevalent in the church today as it is in secular culture.

Taking Out the Trash

Sat, 10 May 2008 19:00:00 -0500

What does it mean to “get saved?” Many people (especially people in the United States) see salvation as a one time event and the result of “believing” certain things about God. While belief is important, salvation encompasses much more than that. The salvation that God offers is a continual personal transformation where the trash of our old lives is replaced by the beauty of God's Kingdom.

Beyond the Comfort Zone

Sat, 03 May 2008 19:00:00 -0500

Some of Jesus' words were very challenging to the people of his time, and for us. One of the traits that he gave strong warnings about was hypocrisy – when our “public” lives don't match who we really are. Keeping these parts of our lives aligned is a major challenge and it almost always requires sacrifice. We don't like to move outside our comfort zones, but it's what is required if we want to partner with God to build his Kingdom.

What Kind of Leadership?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:51:23 -0500

Leaders are crucial to what God is doing to spread his Kingdom. While there are many good church leaders who serve from healthy perspectives, there are far too many who have caused pain by abusing those in their communities. Jesus boldly challenged such religious leaders in his time, and what he said gives us a biblical understanding of leadership and how it should operate in the church.

Inside-Out

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:00:00 -0500

How does true spiritual change occur? Sometimes we focus on the outside and try to change ourselves through what we do. But we don’t become clean by paying attention to external “religious” behaviors. In this sermon we’re challenged with the example of generosity to the poor and learn that becoming clean is an “inside-out” process, where we allow the Spirit of God to transform us on the inside so that our outside behavior lines up with his Kingdom.

Free to Shine

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:00:00 -0500

Jesus came to set us free so that we can shine with his love. But sometimes darkness in our own heart gets in the way of the life he wants for us. Many times our own thoughts, beliefs and feelings are at the root of why we don’t live as Kingdom people. A key to addressing this darkness is to realize that our perceptions are not what’s real, and instead align our thoughts and feelings with God’s truth.

Facing Reality

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:00:00 -0500

Jesus didn’t water down his message for the crowds or give them just what they wanted to hear. Jesus called them (and us) to repent – to face reality and turn from living in lies that hinder our ability to participate in what God is doing in the world. God’s Kingdom happens in our lives and in our communities when we repent and line our lives up with God’s way of looking at the world and God’s ways of living.

Get Real

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:00:00 -0500

In our culture celebrity worship is rampant. Because of their money, talent, and the attention they receive, many of us live through pop icons. Sadly, this same mentality creeps into the church. We can be tempted to elevate church leaders above everyone else and think that the Kingdom happens through them alone. Their prayers count more. Their words are more powerful. Their service is more significant. Jesus came to destroy this thinking!

No Fear

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:00:00 -0500

Time is ticking away. Being alive in this world means that we are moving toward death, and to some degree that makes most of us afraid. That fear can drive us to many different sources of worldly security, but the good news (the Easter news!) is that no one needs to live in fear.

Are You in the Game?

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:00:00 -0500

Followers of Jesus are called to recognize the spiritual war we’re in and “get in the game” because there is no neutral zone of safety. Casual Christianity is not an option from Jesus’ perspective – he makes it clear that we cannot settle for a comfortable faith. We are called out of safe (and boring!) Christianity into the reality of a war where we stand up for truth in the midst of a world full of lies.

Fighting the Right Enemy

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:00:00 -0600

Is there really a spiritual war? Do we believe that there is such a thing as a spiritual reality? If we don’t, we will engage the wrong enemy. Instead of fighting the powers of Satan, we will target other humans, often with hatred and violence. Spiritual warfare practiced through love and prayer is central to the Christian walk, but we need constant reminders in our Western culture that there really is a spiritual war going on.

Taking Back the House

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:00:00 -0600

In Luke 11, Jesus talks about this world as a “house” that Satan guards. As Kingdom people, what do we do with that? If we look to Jesus, he simply tells us to take back the house. And how exactly do we do that? We don’t adopt the patterns of Satan and try to overcome violence with violence. Looking again to Jesus, he shows us that the only thing that can overpower evil, and that is self-sacrificial love. Only love can conquer evil; only light can dispel darkness.

1 2 2 2 1

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:00:00 -0600

Is hearing God really a possibility? Can we live in a dynamic conversation with God despite so many different voices competing for our attention on a daily basis? In this message, Dwayne explains the basic beliefs that are required for this kind of conversation, and breaks down some of the common obstacles that stand in the way.

When God Doesn't Make Sense

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:00:00 -0600

As a person with muscular dystrophy, Scott has countless personal experiences that illustrate the principles that Greg taught about in the previous two sermons. Scott has personally wrestled with questions about why some prayers are answered and others are not – most fundamentally related to why he himself hasn’t been healed.

Scorpions, Eggs and Prayer, Part 2

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:00:00 -0600

Why does it seem like some prayers work while others don’t give us the results we want? If our prayers don’t seem to work, who is to blame? God? Ourselves? Others? To begin to understand prayer, we must break free from a simplistic and commonly held “magical view” of prayer. There are many variables that affect prayer and faith and how they work together.

Scorpions, Eggs and Prayer, Part 1

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:00:00 -0600

We live in a spiritual war zone. We must partner with God to bring about his will on earth as it is in heaven. How can we do this? Simply through prayer! We can impact the world by laboring with God to resist the forces of evil through spiritual warfare. We can join in this battle by praying continually with faith and persistence believing our prayers will impact the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

The Insane Importance of Prayer

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:00:00 -0600

Is prayer really that important? Does it really play a purpose in the grand scheme of things? If we believe the Scriptures to be true, it seems that prayer is “insanely” important – so much that we are to pray with “shameless audacity.” Some get bogged down with the idea of prayer because they see it as a religious ritual that is too complex and difficult to do in our regular lives. Yet the reality is that prayer is basically talking with God in an ordinary way about our ordinary lives.

Can God Trust You?

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:00:00 -0600

Every day we confront choices that reflect and form our character. Will we live for ourselves, or for the Kingdom? God wants us to be trustworthy for Kingdom service and it’s true that he tests us to refine our character, but he doesn’t tempt anyone. If that’s true, why does Jesus teach us to pray, “lead us not into temptation?”

Puppets and Dresses

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:00:00 -0600

Is the good news of Jesus Christ really as good in your mind as it was in the mind of Jesus? God's dream for humanity is far more amazing than most of us realize. He wants to “marry” us, to invite us into his family and walk in radical love with us.

Daily Bread, Daily Forgiveness

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 08:42:34 -0600

In the next part of the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches that prayer is about daily dependence on God to meet our needs, even though most people in our self-sufficient world do not think this way. We also discover the crucial role that forgiveness plays in our lives and the surprising freedom it can bring.

Displaying the Holy Name

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:00:00 -0600

One of the first phrases in the Lord’s Prayer is “hallowed be your name,” and most of us have prayed it countless times. But what does it even mean? What are we asking God to do, and how does this prayer relate to how we live our lives as Kingdom people?

The Great and Holy Smallness of God (Christmas Eve)

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:00:00 -0600

Christ's entrance into our world is both great and small. Jesus is the Son of God, a great and holy king. Yet he enters the world without much attention – in a small stable as a small child. Strangely, that “smallness” adds to his greatness. We ponder that “smallness” during our Christmas Eve service.

The Coming of the Bridegroom

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:00:00 -0600

Christmas is a time of celebration and hope! The birth of Jesus celebrates the coming of the promised Messiah. God loved us so much that he gave the gift of His only Son, Jesus, to redeem and bring us back into relationship with Him. As we celebrate the coming of Jesus, we also expectantly await Christ’s return.

Talking to Dad

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:00:00 -0600

Prayer is one of the most important aspects of our lives as Kingdom people. So why is it something we struggle with so much? Jesus used the Lord’s Prayer to teach his disciples when they asked him how they should pray. Perhaps surprisingly, his example is very different than the way many of us pray today. If we started from scratch, what kind of prayer life could we have if we followed this example from Jesus?

A Birthday Prayer

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:00:00 -0600

It’s easy to both love and hate the Christmas season. On one hand, it’s a sacred time when we remember and celebrate Christ’s birth. But on the other, our culture has made it into a frenzy of consumerism and materialism. In the Lord’s Prayer we find all the basics of what it looks like to follow Jesus. What can we learn from this example that will help us keep our Kingdom priorities during the craziness of the Christmas season?

Unleashing Inner Beauty

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 18:00:00 -0600

We are one-of-a-kind revolutionaries with inner greatness meant to glorify God. He has a unique calling for each of us – something that he’s given us special gifts and passion for – and we’ll never be truly fulfilled until we follow it! But too often our God-given beauty gets caged in culturally conditioned lies about why we can’t do the extraordinary things we’re meant to do. God is calling Kingdom people to unleash the beauty he’s built into each of us!

Revolting Purity

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 18:00:00 -0600

God warns us to preserve sex for marriage, but why is it such a big deal? Our culture tells us that sex is recreational, but from God’s perspective whenever two people engage in sexual intercourse, they are sealing a sacred covenant that was meant to never be broken. God cares about our sex lives because he cares about the covenants we make with each other. As Kingdom people, we’re called to revolt against the corruption of our culture and be examples of his beautiful design for sexuality.

A Better Way

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:00:00 -0600

Luke’s story of Mary and Martha is very relevant for our culture: like Martha, we are obsessed with working and producing, even in the church! It’s clear that Mary’s “better way” revolts against simply “doing” and prioritizes a relationship with Christ. When that’s in place, the kingdom will naturally flow from us. But the opposite is not true. We’ll never get a relationship with Jesus by focusing on what we do. Greg also ties this important lesson to marriages.

Surprised by the Outcast

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:00:00 -0600

Living in love for all people is one of the greatest challenges we face as Christians. Today, as in Jesus’ time, we often ask theoretical questions to justify ourselves and to limit who we love. In this message we’re challenged to ask how we self-sacrificially love and learn from those around us, including “outcasts” in our life. One crucial way to revolt against the systems of this world is to serve and be blessed by people who are judged by others.

The Relational Way

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 19:00:00 -0500

The Revolting Beauty series continues as we are brought face to face with the very heart of God and the center of the Kingdom: namely, Jesus' teaching on self-sacrificial love. In this sermon we learn about the four types of love, and the importance of living in such a way that God's agape-love flows to and through us. Finally, Greg helps us consider some of the areas in our culture that we will naturally “revolt” against if we are walking in the “relational way” of God's self-sacrificial love.

A New Reality

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 19:00:00 -0500

Our modern, Western way of thinking can easily blind us to the reality of the spiritual world. We are called to revolt against this cultural tendency by waking up both to God’s constant presence in our lives and to the spiritual war around us. We also learn that Jesus has given his church authority over demonic powers in this world, and that no matter what we experience in this life, our hope and joy is rooted in the love of God!

A Giant Jesus

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 19:00:00 -0500

Like Jesus' first disciples, we will be constantly confronted by anti-Kingdom values – in our case things like individualism, independence, and self-sufficiency. But Jesus' alternative Kingdom vision is very straightforward. As we reach out to the world around us, we're simply called to depend upon God and his community, enter into authentic relationships, act like Jesus, and then explain why.

A Call to Stand Out

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:00:00 -0500

In this first sermon of the Revolting Beauty series, we learn two aspects of how we are to stand out and revolt against our culture. First, no matter how “together” our lives are, God wants us to be part of what he is doing in the world. Second, allegiance to the Kingdom of God means that we may have to give up things that are good and normal in our culture. We need to consider even our most firmly rooted values: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Power vs. Presence

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:00:00 -0500

Greatness in the Kingdom of God is never measured like it is in our Western culture. Instead of seeking power and control the way our society does, Jesus taught that “...whoever is least among you all is the greatest.” This has tremendous ramifications for how we minister to the people around us, and tells us a great deal about how God wants us to help spread his Kingdom.

The Inner Sanctum

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 19:00:00 -0500

What we know to be true often doesn't change us profoundly, but our experiences always leave a lasting impact. Each of us has a place within where we can meet the Lord during worship. When we practice the habit of vividly picturing Jesus during prayer and worship, this experience allows us to take on his glory and we're transformed more and more into his likeness.

The Diversity of Worship and Praise

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 19:00:00 -0500

God delights in the praises of His people. The manner in which we worship is not important. God is only concerned with our hearts and desire to worship. There are many ways to express our love for God through praise and worship, and it is in this diversity that we see the full beauty of our God.

Entering Into His Presence

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 19:00:00 -0500

To worship God is to reflect back to God how much he is worth to us. Our lives are an act of worship, including special times where we individually and corporately worship God. As we participate in worshipping the source of all life, love and beauty, we in turn are changed and transformed.

Dancing with God

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 19:00:00 -0500

Our God is a great God! He is good, holy and worthy of praise. As followers of God, worship is a way of ascribing worth to God. It is expressing who God is and saying and singing what is true of him.

A New Kind of Glory

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:00:00 -0500

Jesus is both fully human and fully God. He is the beginning and fulfillment of God’s covenant with humanity. In Christ, God’s love and glory was revealed as he came and dwelt among us, serving, and ultimately suffering and dying to give us forgiveness and hope. It is the most amazing revelation in history!

The Shock God

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:00:00 -0500

God is an awesome and powerful God! He reveals his power not by control or force, but through love and sacrifice. God so loved the world that he sent his Son, Jesus, into the world, not to condemn it but to transform it, ultimately laying down his life for all on the cross. This kind of power and love was shocking then, and it is still shocking to our world today.

Caring, Sharing and Multiplication

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 19:00:00 -0500

As Kingdom of God people, we are called to care and share with others. When Jesus commands his disciples to feed the crowd with only five loaves and two fishes in Luke 9:10-17, he is showing them that nothing is impossible with God, as everyone was fed and there were leftovers remaining. Our call is to trust and listen to how God would use us. No matter how much or little we have, God can use our faithfulness to abundantly bless others!

The New Way of the New Israel

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 19:00:00 -0500

Up to this point in the story of Jesus, Jesus was the one who displayed the power of the Kingdom of God. At this point, Jesus charges the 12 disciples to do what he had been doing. The program given to the disciples follows a simple pattern: Do the Kingdom > Then Proclaim the Kingdom.

Spiritual Warfare Q&A

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 19:00:00 -0500

This last weekend concluded our sermon series on spiritual warfare, a topic that can be neglected or overly stressed in churches. As followers of Christ, it is important to recognize that there is a spiritual side to our world, in which principalities and powers are in opposition to the ways of God. In Christ, we can overcome and resist these influences both individually and collectively. To bring a biblically balanced approach to the topic, Greg Boyd (Senior Pastor) and Paul Eddy (Teaching Pastor) held a Q&A time to help answer questions from attenders. These audio files are a collection of all the questions and answers addressed during our three weekend services.

Lessons on the Battlefield

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 19:00:00 -0500

Spiritual warfare is a present reality in our war-torn world. There are principalities and powers, often unseen, which influence and distort what is true about God and His Creation. As followers of Christ, we do not need to fear these things. Rather, we are called to live in the truth of who we are in Christ, being filled with God’s Spirit and power, to come against and resist the strongholds and lies.

A War-Torn Creation

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 19:00:00 -0500

We live in a war-torn world of pain, hurt, violence and death. This is not how God intended creation to look. The Good News is God has sent his Son, Jesus, to defeat the powers of death, and to begin reconciling and redeeming the world unto God. When Jesus rebukes the storm mentioned in Luke 8:22-26, he is giving us a foretaste of the ultimate victory and restoration that is to come.

My Life as a Vampire

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 19:00:00 -0500

What is the difference between a vampire and Jesus? This may sound like a rather odd question to ask, but you may be surprised at the profound difference between the two. A vampire is known for two things: it loves to dwell in darkness and feeds off of people. Jesus is known for two things: he lives in light and sacrificially gives of himself in love for all.

Ready to Receive

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 19:00:00 -0500

There were many people following Jesus in the first century. They heard his preaching, observed his actions of love to the outcasts, and even witnessed his miracles. However, Jesus did not fit people’s expectations of how a Messiah should act. He did not conform to preciously established paradigms shaped by the culture of the time. These cultural blinders impacted people’s ability to receive what Jesus was saying.

Extravagant Forgiveness, Extravagant Love

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 19:00:00 -0500

When we look at the fallen world around us, we often see division, separation, and seclusion. Whether it’s separation by family, country, ethnicity, religion, there is a tendency to sort ourselves into people groups by what we like or do not like. Though this may be natural in this world, it is completely opposite of what the Kingdom of God is about. Jesus came and demonstrated a radical willingness to associate with people of all walks of life with the love of God.

Yes, I Reign!

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 19:00:00 -0500

In living a life of faith, it’s very important to allow Jesus to define how we see our life experiences. There are often moments in life when things do not turn out the way that we plan them to, or the way that we think things “should be.” And it's in these moments, that we have to look at the work of Jesus in our everyday lives, and trust that God is indeed present and bringing forth his Kingdom in and through us.

The Compassion That Heals

Sat, 09 Jun 2007 19:00:00 -0500

God chooses to engage us in all of our pain, division, and confusion to help us be healed. In Luke 7:11-17, Jesus demonstrates both the miraculous power and loving heart of God as he brings a widow's only son back from the dead. Just like Jesus had tremendous compassion on the widow, we can also seek to show God's compassion to help bring healing to others.

When God Reigns

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 19:00:00 -0500

When we live inside God's “Reign", we are basically making the decision to agree with God's truth about reality in every area of our lives. This means that we define the development of our lives only around whatever God says about things like relationships, money, work, and recreation. Living in God's Reign assures a person that, as they grow spiritually, they are actively making Jesus the Lord of their lives.