Garden Way Church Sermons

The love of money will not provide meaning in this life.  It comes and it goes… But finding joy and contentment in the work of The LORD will keep us from brooding over the past and help us to remain focused on what will be one day when we are with Jesus. (Ecclesiastes 5:8-20)

Solomon encourages us to step into the presence of God, but with care and caution.  We're called to be intentionally humble when we come before an incredibly holy God. (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)

Chapter four begins with Solomon observing some troubling aspects of loneliness in a life lived under the sun.  We'll discover that God's antidote for loneliness is to implant within us a desire for relationship, for community with other people, which is fulfilled through Life Together in His Church.  (Ecclesiastes 4:1-16)

God's intention for His creation and for us is to experience beauty.  Even when we go through terrible times or painful seasons of life, we can know: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” God always acts for our ultimate good, even when it doesn't seem like it's for our immediate good. (Ecclesiastes 3:9-22)

Life is made up of both positive and negative seasons. We can't change the season we are in by skipping ahead to the next one or by going back to the good old days. But, we can find God's purpose and bring Him glory in a seasons of suffering and hardship, or when we experience

What treasures are we storing up on this earth that we will not be able to take with us?  What legacy will we leave behind?  This passage is a great reminder for our lives to be focused not on things of this earth, the things under the sun, but instead on the plan and purpose

As Solomon explores a variety of personal pursuits we discover that the more She pursued personal satisfaction, the more he lost real perspective on the purpose of life. (Ecclesiastes 2:1-17)

In this earthly existence, this circle of life... we may or may not discover our place, but ultimately, we're not here just for this life… we're created by God for something more… something better beyond this temporary, vain, and often troubled, existence. (Ecclesiastes 1:3-18)

Solomon wanted to figure out what life was all about. So he launched out on a no-holds barred life safari that cost him millions of dollars and many years of his life. The Preacher was on a search for his purpose in life and it appears he was running on empty. (Ecclesiastes 1:1-3)

Jesus' great I Am statement does not stand alone, it demands a response.  “Do You believe this?”  He asked Martha.  Do you believe this?   He asks you and me!   And what will our answer be?  This is The Life that only Jesus offers. (John 11:25-27)

For millions of people Christmas is just "the holiday season."  May we not lose the sense of marvel at the Christmas miracle... Immanuel, God with us. He is our gift on the front porch of our life... waiting to unwrapped.  (Isaiah 7:14-17)

This message explores deliverance through unexpected means, a child!  Yet in this child, we find that God Himself has come. The Fourfold Name of this extraordinary child is packed with notions of divinity and hope.  (Isaiah 9:1-7)

In this message we explore Jesus' famous self-declaration, a three-part title. With this title Jesus identifies Himself as the sole path to God the Father, providing the real truth about God, and offering eternal life.  He alone is the means for reconciliation with God, peace, and a complete spiritual life.  (John 14:1-6)

The title Lord Jesus Christ is used 60 times in the New Testament, including 49 times by Paul. Lord speaks to His authority, Jesus speaks to His mission, and Christ speaks to fulfilled promise. A message from Ministry Apprentice Dexter Macauley. (Romans 5:1-5)

Jesus is our Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens—but not before He walked upon and suffered through this earth, this life.  Therefore, our Great High Priest can sympathize with our weaknesses.  He's walked the path we walk and can show us the better way.  Jesus is the priest we need, and, a

Jesus declares to us that He is that Good Shepherd and that we must look to Him. Jesus is the consummation of a 600-year-old promise… so that we can look to Him and listen to His voice as He guides us through the road of this life and prepares us to know the fullness of

Through this  message we discover the beauty and power of Jesus being 'The Lamb Of God' as we connect Jesus to the ancient Hebrew tradition of animal sacrifice and the Passover Lamb, symbolizing that His death is the perfect and final payment for sin, that liberates people from spiritual slavery to sin. (John 1:29-36)

Jesus was a man, but not an ordinary man. Referring to Jesus as “the Word” illustrates something more significant.  The Greek term for “the Word” is “Logos.” The idea attached to the word “logos” is reason, logic, or bringing order out of chaos. The Logos brings harmony and order to the universe.  This gives us

In this short paragraph Paul challenges us to pray… to intercede, with deep commitment, so that the gospel message will go out clearly, as we share… or invite, those who do not yet know Christ into God's grace. (Colossians 4:2-6)

In this next section of his letter Paul explains that we need to allow the Word and Character of God to shape the way we interact with others... so he gives us some very practical teaching in the areas of marriage, the home and the workplace. (Colossians 3:15-4:1)

As believers we have been drafted onto the team of the true King. God took us from our old life and gave us a new one in Christ Jesus. This new team of Christ comes with a different character and different demands. In today's passage from Colossians chapter 3 Paul reminds his readers that, since

False teachers in Colossians were gaining a foothold by introducing and importing rules and traditions from both Judaism and paganism and corrupting the purity of the Christian faith.  Paul calls these man-made weeds and philosophies “shadows” and contrasts them with the truth of the Gospel which he calls “substance.”  Paul wants his readers to step

In this message GWC Ministry Apprentice Dexter Macauley reminds us that The Gospel didn't just come into play at a single point in time when we were saved. God is still at work in our lives, helping us to deepen our roots in His plan and purpose... the deeper our roots, the stronger our impact

In this section of Colossians we'll discover our reason for living. Colossians 1:24-2:5 answers the question: “Now that Jesus is supreme in my life, now that I've been rescued & transferred, what is my purpose as a Christ follower?"  The Apostle Paul helps us to Discover Our Design. (Colossians 1:24-2:5)

In the 1st century The Colossians heard, "Worship Jesus, but not exclusively. Jesus is just one spirit among many to be worshipped."  In this passage we'll consider Paul's adamant declaration of Christ's supremacy over every being. every idea, and every goal which invites our attention. (Colossians 1:15-23)

In this introduction to his letter to the Colossian church Paul emphasizes that the church was flourishing until false teachers came and disrupted the growth and confused their theology. Paul's purpose in writing was to encourage the believers to combat errors in the church while standing firm in Faith, Hope & Love. (Colossians 1:1-14)

In this final message from the series through the letter of James, James sheds light for us on a crucial—and often misunderstood—passage about prayer from James 5.  We can be encouraged that God does hear the prayers of His children, and it is often through them that He chooses to accomplish His work on earth…

How long can we hold on when tough trials come into our life?  Not just the physical hardships, but emotional crisis, family battles, financial insecurity, spiritual battles… how long can we endure? In a society of one-click shopping and seemingly endless instant gratification, patience is one thing that is often in short supply.  In this

In this text James speaks to people who plan their finances and spend their money as though there is no God, and he says they are wicked.  These are serious words!  May we use these words as a mirror to check ourselves in what we are doing, as James announces the judgement to come on the

We all make plans... whether it's we will do tomorrow or in the coming year. While the Bible acknowledges that it is wise to plan, it also recognizes that the attitude behind our planning is crucial. In this passage from James we find a helpful perspective on how to approach our life, in light of the

In this text James begins by posing a question to all of us: Why do we fight? For most of us, we might think we know the answer. We fight because THEY started it!  But James has a much different answer. The problem isn't our circumstances, or our boss, or our friends, or our spouse,

In this text James illustrates two distinct types of wisdom, as well as the results that come from pursuing one or the other.  When we see ourselves through the eyes of a loving Father e will find ourselves growing in peace personally as well as in our interactions with others. This is true, Biblical wisdom.

The tongue is such a small part of our bodies, and yet it has astonishing power—both to wound and to heal, to bless and to curse.  From this passage Ministry Apprentice Dexter Macauley shows us the dangers of the tongue and what it can reveal about the state of our hearts.  (James 3:2-12)

In this passage James has us considering the relationship between faith and works. Do we act on what we say we believe?  Is our faith genuine, or, is it counterfeit, a fake representation of the real thing?  This message explores faith that saves and faith that doesn't—and how to know which one we possess. (James

If we are to truly fulfill Jesus' command to love our neighbors, we must be willing to see others as He sees them: people made in the image of God, worthy to be treated with dignity and shown mercy.  In this text James shows us how to avoid the sin of partiality by providing a

In this text we explore three distinct ways James says we can be prepared to live out our faith in active ways, that is, three ways we can Just Do It!  God's way! (James 1:19-27)

Sometimes difficult times present us with the temptation to sin, rather than wait on God. In the face of such temptation, we can embrace the truth that every good gift comes from God—or we can embrace our own truth and turn to other things for comfort and peace.  Which will we choose?  (James 1:13-18)

Most of us would not likely say that we enjoy tests and trials—and yet, life is full of them. When faced with trials, will we respond in faith?  Or with anger.. with disappointment.. with despair? (James 1:1-12)

This message considers how the ancient Hebrew festival of Pentecost, which became so significant for the 1st century Christians, is relevant for 21st century Christ-followers. We trace the history of Pentecost, and especially God's Holy Spirit from the Old Testament, through the time between the Old & New Testament, represented by John The Baptist, right

Missionary Guests Ron & Jacqui Whisler with Wycliffe Bible translators in Indonesia bring a report about their work and an inspiring message about praying for the harvest. (Luke 10:1-3)

In this message guest speaker Dexter Macauley explores the definition, the reality, and the application of true Biblical faith in the life of a Christ-follower (Hebrews 11:1-3).

This message consider the third and final part of the GWC Motto, To Share Him.  As followers of Jesus, we have received a precious gift - As we come to first Know Him, and then grow in our Love for Him, we then receive the serious responsibility To Share Him with those around us.  Neighbors,

There is nothing more powerful than the love of Jesus Christ.  In our greatest moments and in our deepest sorrows and in every place in-between, His love remains constant, it draws us to Know Him more and To Love Him more... this is our goal and purpose at Garden Way Church. (Matthew 22:34-38)

“To Know” as it is used by Jesus in John 17 describes life as more than just knowing facts about God and Jesus; true eternal life is rooted in a relationship with The LORD and a reliance on His Spirit in everyday life. (John 17:1-3)

When the Resurrection took place, the witnesses knew it was true news. But it took a while for them to understand that it was good news. It's important to understand that there is a back story to this idea of resurrection.  It's a powerful reason for understanding that this resurrection of Jesus really did happen.

This message explores what a life of contentment looks like for the Christ-follower - how we love this life He gives us now, while remaining fully connected to the life to come that is promised by our LORD. (Philippians 4:10-20)

Nearing the end of his letter Paul teaches the Philippian church how to allow the peace of God into their hearts and into the church. What Paul writes to the Philippian church can help us, too… should we find that we're not at peace with a brother or sister in our church family.  Philippians 4:2-10

Life today is meaningful because of where we are headed tomorrow. This message explores what it looks like to live a meaningful, purposeful life today in preparation for the tomorrow that The LORD has prepared for us. (Philippians 3:12-4:1)

In this text Paul wants us to understand that Jesus is the real treasure, and that He that is worth sacrificing everything else for.  Christianity is not a quick fix to our self-made problems or a magic salve for our guilty conscience.  Rather, it is a chosen path, following in the footsteps of The LORD.

This message considers how followers of Jesus are called to work out their salvation, because it is God who is at work in them to accomplish His will. This formula places the initiative and the power for our salvation and Christian maturity in God's work, while still requiring our participation in the process. (Philippians 2:12-18)

This text is really at the heart of the epistle to the Philippians... Paul shows us the beauty of sacrifice and how we can be motivated and passionate to pursue a life of serving others.  This message examines 3 key attitudes that help us to walk the downward path of greatness modeled by Jesus. (Philippians