goodshepherdkc Platte County sermons

Have you ever been with someone who never asks you a question? These one-sided conversations are draining and are not experiences any of us are looking to repeat. Jesus was a phenomenal question asker. He understands how relationships work, he knows that asking great questions builds healthy relationships.

Have you ever been with someone who never asks you a question? These one-sided conversations are draining and are not experiences any of us are looking to repeat. Jesus was a phenomenal question asker. He understands how relationships work, he knows that asking great questions builds healthy relationships.

Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “change is the only constant in life.” Change is difficult, because change comes with loss. But life is constantly changing. It's those who are able to embrace and navigate the change that are usually better equipped for the future. How can we learn to embrace change, and continue to have hope, believing that God is always doing something new?

Research done on those who are dying typically finds the same regrets time and time again that most people share. In order to finish our life with no regrets, we must be purposeful about the way we live our lives in the present.

It may seem sometimes like life goes by slowly. But in reality, our time on Earth is finite. No matter if we're old or young, if we're not dead yet, then we're not done yet. We can squeeze more life out of life if we create a list of things we want to do before we die ... a bucket list!

There are moments when the training is done, and the event is here. We run the race life has set before us, and it either lands us on the winner's podium, or in the stands clapping for the winners. How can we approach life in such a way that whether we get a gold medal or a participation trophy, we give God thanks through it all?

An article in Forbes states that the average Olympic athlete trains 4-8 years in advance of the Olympics. Years of goal setting, discipline, and repetition to give them the opportunity to try out to represent their country. Whether or not they ever make the team, the results of their hard work is obvious. How would our faith life change if we began to train like it was the most important thing in our life?

Sometimes, we feel as though we are just another face in the crowd. It is easy to feel like it wouldn't make a difference if you showed up or if you didn't. But, there is power in a name. Zacchaeus was a face in a crowd of people straining to see Jesus. But, when Jesus called him by name, he became more than a face. He became worthy.

The gospel frequently challenges systems of privilege, oppression and injustice. Such was the case in Paul's encounter with the slave girl at Philippi. She was in a situation with seemingly no options, when Paul delivered her from demonic oppression. The girl's bosses reacted to their loss and Paul paid for her liberation by going to jail. Are you willing to pay the price to bring equity or justice to others who are suffering?

The gospel frequently challenges systems of privilege, oppression and injustice. Such was the case in Paul's encounter with the slave girl at Philippi. She was in a situation with seemingly no options, when Paul delivered her from demonic oppression. The girl's bosses reacted to their loss and Paul paid for her liberation by going to jail. Are you willing to pay the price to bring equity or justice to others who are suffering?

Simon's request was motivated by the same illusion of power that drives so many in today's business, political, and entertainment arenas. Popular culture invests actors, sports figures and other celebrities with the appearance of unusual significance. But God's power has little or nothing to do with outward appearances or worldly acclaim. Simon adopted the world's perspective on power. How much do we allow status and position to define who we are?

Simon's request was motivated by the same illusion of power that drives so many in today's business, political, and entertainment arenas. Popular culture invests actors, sports figures and other celebrities with the appearance of unusual significance. But God's power has little or nothing to do with outward appearances or worldly acclaim. Simon adopted the world's perspective on power. How much do we allow status and position to define who we are?

The longer we live, the more certain we may become about things in our life. It becomes easy for our thoughts and viewpoints to become solidified to the point where we become difficult to influence. The risk we run here is an unhealthy judgment of others. Judgment belongs to God alone, and our happiness will increase when we leave God's work to God.

Everyone experiences a daily interaction between internal thoughts and the words we choose to speak. Although sometimes we use our words carefully, other times we can be quite careless. James tells us that with our tongue we are capable of blessing or cursing others. How important in the overall picture are the words we choose to share?

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. There are a lot of things that we improve upon as we do them more. But the most important task is the task of love. God doesn't just love us and forgive us so that we can continue to be the same person; God invites us into a new way of living that is full of love. This is our journey, the journey to love.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. There are a lot of things that we improve upon as we do them more. But the most important task is the task of love. God doesn't just love us and forgive us so that we can continue to be the same person; God invites us into a new way of living that is full of love. This is our journey, the journey to love.

Because we are imperfect human beings, we make mistakes. We make choices that hurt others, we do things that are counter to God's desires for us, and we do things that are harmful to even ourselves. When we make mistakes, it can be easy to identify with the mistakes, and misidentify who we are. But in Christ, we experience a different message: the message of grace and love that forgives.

Type 7 - The Enthusiast (the need to avoid pain) Type 6 - The Loyalist (the need for security). Type 5 - The Observer (the need to perceive)

Type 2 - The Helper (the need to be needed) Type 3 - The Achiever (the need to succeed) Type 4 - The Individualist (the need to be special)

Type 8 - The Challenger (the need to be against) Type 9 - The Peacemaker (the need to avoid) Type 1 - The Reformer (the need to be perfect)

The bad in the world can easily cloud our idea of what the world is like. Yes, there is darkness, evil and ugly, and it's appropriate to condemn the bad and mourn the suffering. But there is also so much good. God is able to redeem the bad to bring good. Just like the centurion, we can experience awe as we observe God's love for us.

Awe doesn't just bring joy and fulfillment, it can also inspire us, to make certain decisions, to create, and to take a stand for what is right. Like Moses, we can let the burning bushes in our lives inspire us to be faithful. What is the burning bush that inspires you?

Children inhabit a magical world full of joy. Children are in awe of everything. The simplest things can evoke awe. But at some point, we lose that sense of joy and awe. What would it look like to regain that childlike joy? What would it look like to incorporate play and imagination into our lives?

A contested election turned into a protest that turned into a stormed federal capitol building. Our nation is living through dark days, and finds itself broken. As we look to the future, we hope and pray for healing. For different ideologies to come together for the greater good, what must take place from us? Is it even possible?

Have you ever sat back and asked yourself, "Where am I headed and what kind of person am I becoming? What does God expect out of me, and what have I been equipped to accomplish?" It's easy sometimes to miss the big picture of our lives and lose sight of our purpose. How can we see the big picture and live lives with a daily awareness of our purpose?

Resilient people are committed to finishing strong. They believe that quitting is not an option. They despise aimless living and they pursue resiliency every day. How can we become a person like this?

There is a difference between a residence and a home. The goal of home is safety, comfort, and familiarity. When Jesus made his "dwelling among us," it was to become part of humanity, with celebrations and suffering alike. His desire to move in is to create a home in your life and mine. How receptive are we to inviting Jesus into our home? You're currently signed in as gaboasd@gmail.com Jeffrey Toro Change account OK To enable screen reader support, press ⌘+Option+Z To learn about keyboard shortcuts, press ⌘slash There is a difference between a residence and a home. The goal of home is safety, comfort, and familiarity. When Jesus made his "dwelling among us," it was to become part of humanity, with celebrations and suffering alike. His desire to move in is to create a home in your life and mine. How receptive are we to inviting Jesus into our home? Turn on screen reader support Mandi Steward Ballinger has joined the document.

Family, education, socioeconomic class, career, friends, spouse, or kids can all be systems or choices a person experiences or makes that may determine whether a person is included in life or not. In Jesus's time, shepherds were rarely included. But God chose to reveal the birth of the Savior of the world to these outsiders -- a group of people with whom Jesus would feel at home his entire ministry!

From our earliest years, we develop certain thoughts about light and darkness. Light can be illuminating or blinding, while darkness can cause fear or provide cover. The magi used the light of Jesus's birth to visit him from a far distance. If Jesus came to shine the light in the dark places of our lives, why are we sometimes content to hide in the shadows? Do you find home more in light or darkness?

Origin stories are powerful because they provide context and history for how things came to be. The Word of God was around from the beginning, before creation. Then the Word of God became human to live with us through the willing participation of Mary. This origin story helps us understand how God has been present all along.

In our weakness as humans, we hurt each other. It's impossible to escape the harm that we can do to one another. When we are broken and unaware of the ways we harm each other, we cannot truly love each other as Christ has loved us. Paul reminds us that having the attitude of Christ is about fixing our thoughts on what is true, honorable, and lovely, but how can we do this when we get hurt in our closest relationships?

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The key to understanding the significance of Jesus's second sign miracle is geography. An official walked by foot for two days to ask Jesus to heal his son. Across the distance, Jesus shows the people his true identity.

No one wants to run out of refreshments at a wedding reception as it would be embarrassing for the host. Ironically, this is exactly what happened, and it was the scene for Jesus's first sign or miracle. Jesus seized this moment to reveal who he was in order that the disciples would believe in HIm.

Matthew 22:36-40 calls us to love God and love our neighbors. What would it look like to truly live that out?

Very few people value renting or leasing as much as buying or owning. We'd much rather own the company than manage the employees. But in this life, everything we have belongs to God, and we are asked to manage or steward God's things for our limited time on earth. How can we avoid wrecking our stewardship?

Each of us have allegiances to entities in our life: country, sports teams, organizations, church, etc. Most of the time these entities we have citizenship are in harmony with each other. But other times, having dual or multiple allegiances can put us at odds with others, or ourselves. How do we navigate these odds to keep from wrecking our citizenship?

During the course of our life we learn of an interesting relationship between leading and following. You can't lead folks who aren't willing to follow, and it's difficult to follow if everyone wants to lead. To be a disciple means, by definition, our willingness to follow Christ. How can we avoid wrecking our discipleship?

During the course of our life we learn of an interesting relationship between leading and following. You can't lead folks who aren't willing to follow, and it's difficult to follow if everyone wants to lead. To be a disciple means, by definition, our willingness to follow Christ. How can we avoid wrecking our discipleship?

From the very beginning of creation God intended for us to live in community with each other and God. But being in relationship can be difficult because few folks love us like we love ourselves. Our human nature is to put our own needs first. How can we keep from wrecking our relationships?

As we get older we hope to mature, both in wisdom as well as spirit. As our eyes mature, they begin decrease in ability to see up close. Isn't it fascinating that our long-range eyesight stays more intact than up close? Maybe it's God's design of maturity that as we get older we begin to consider what legacy we'll leave behind for others, rather than focusing on ourselves.

Sometimes life forces us to narrow our focus for periods of time in order to accomplish tasks. If we're not careful though, this narrow focus could eventually become our main vision sightline, causing us to struggle to see things or people in our periphery. In medical terms, this is known as retinitis pigmentosa, or tunnel vision. How do we make sure that our vision is wider than it is narrow?

From the moment we're born, we focus on what's right in front of us - food, toys, people, etc. And yet, almost as soon as we're able to speak, people ask us future-based questions like, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" What if most of our future based decisions are really affected by one larger decision we make today?

There are moments in life that cause you to think about what impact you've made in this world. Jesus challenges us to change the world, one moment at a time. What can you do in 2020 to live that callling out?

Mary was pregnant with God's son and about to give birth when Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to be counted in the census. The city was crowded and every place a visitor could stay was full. Mary and Joseph went door-to-door looking for a place to stay but with no luck, until an owner of an Inn allowed them to stay in their stable. Scripture tells us that Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and knocks seeking to enter. How will you make room for Jesus this Christmas?

We don't have to look to far around us to see our enemies. When someone wrongs us we are immediately upset…and rightly so what he or she has done has hurt us. If left unresolved this person may turn into an enemy. Some of us even have enemies within our own homes. Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those who hurt us. How do we invite in the enemy?

A foreigner is someone who was born in a different country than one's own. How is it that we view the foreigner in our culture? Are they welcome? Are they invited to our table? Or are they considered "out" and not included? If Jesus were to show up today he would be considered a foreigner, would we welcome him into our culture?

Who are the poor? How would one define “poor”? As Christ followers what does it mean to bring good news to the poor? What does it look like to welcome in the poor?