JupiterFIRST Church Sermons

Hope always gets the last word with God. But in seasons of distress, it can be difficult to see how God could ever bring any good out of the mess. The Book of Isaiah reminds us, though, that God has always done his best work in the most dire of...

When the angel Gabriel breaks through time and space for a first-century encounter with a young virgin by the name of Mary, it is clear that nothing in her life will ever be the same again. But more than Gabriel's awe-inspiring presence, it is his...

The Christmas story has been told in many ways, but rarely has it been told from this perspective. Mary and Joseph's compelling story has been stylized and sanitized by the march of time. A closer look, though, reveals a much more chaotic situation...

Many are aware of the pigeon's highly attuned homing instinct—best captured in "messenger pigeons"—but few realize that pigeons are only one of many creatures with an instinct to find home. In this special "friendsgiving" service, Pastor...

It's a defining moment in each of our lives... first flight. We all remember the moment when we first set aside the training wheels and rode a bicycle on our own! On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus himself has a chance encounter with three would-be...

In the days after a bitterly divided election, there seems to be less certainly about our future than ever. But these days of uncertainty are an opportunity for us to remember that the world (and the church) is much larger than is visible from our...

Halloween and All Saints Day, side-by-side on the calendar, present a peculiar juxtaposition between evil and good. Or... do they?! Join Pastor Kevin for a journey through the odd space that exists between the these two seemingly competing holidays.

The importance of "corporate branding" has been overtaken by a greater desire from Fortune 500 companies, becoming a "belief brand." In Pastor Kevin's home, there are several belief brand's present. Can you guess them? The question isn't "Do...

The Bible has a great deal to say about human relationships, especially Jesus. He was always turning the tables, both literally and figuratively. In a landmark conversation, Jesus turns the tables in favor of a victim who has been traumatized for...

The two national pastimes in the US has become trying not to say anything offensive to anyone and taking offense at every occasion we can. But Jesus very much wanted to show us a different way. But how do we choose it?

We don't love the idea of rules. They seem constraining and push against our fierce independence. Join Pastor Kevin on a journey to a monastery in rural New York to see how rules sometimes shape us in powerful ways spiritually.

Some things are just absolutely out of your control. Join Pastor Kevin for a conversation at the intersection of physical health and spiritual health, a place where it is important to, no matter what, choose to do something rather than nothing.

Laughter has been said to be the best medicine, but we don't think of the Great Physician (God) as having a sense of humor. Quite the opposite, in fact. He seems downright terrifying in the Old Testament, and God-in-flesh in the New...

A chance discovery at McDonalds lead to a change outlook for Pastor Kevin in this message about the importance of living a life oriented toward a life that gives.

The power of a good meal is something that we all understand. We might even refer to a truly great meal as a spiritual experience. Such a statement might be more true than we, though. The Bible has a lot to say about the meal as a central element of...

We all think that we understand the idea of Sabbath, but few of us have much margin in our life. And while understanding the meaning of Sabbath is important, it may be more important to understand how important it is to God. Join us as we take a deep...

There is an unlikely connection between the act of wearing a facemask and praying. In this message, Pastor Kevin walks us through a simple way to make prayer a life-giving practice and thereby remove a bit of the difficulty that we all face when we...

We often talk about how to be at peace, but we don't often talk about to bring about peace. Conflict is an unavoidable part of life, and God has very specific ideas about how to resolve it. Join us as we look a bit deeper into the processing of...

Anger is a powerful emotion. And while it can be productive, anger is often a drug that soothes our uncertainty without actually solving it. So what are we to do whenever the things that we have come to rely on are taken away and we have nowhere to...

A decaying row of hedges set around the perimeter of the church property led Pastor Kevin on a journey of discovery about a particular problem that leads to problems and anxiety for many of us and, more importantly, how to find relief for this common...

During times of intense pressure, there is a biblical pattern that is designed to diffuse the tension. A Non-Anxious Presence is the one person in the room who maintains a peaceful presence when everyone around them is losing. Join Pastor Kevin for...

It is difficult to know where to turn when anxiety is on the rise and the depths of depression are beginning to settle in. While many turn to the Bible, it does not always bring immediate relief. But why?! Join Pastor Kevin for an introduction to the...

Pastor Kevin and Sally make a pretty perfect union, and together they bring insight to the final message of the series. The Bible uses many metaphors to describe the model life of those committed to Christ, but one of the most compelling is the "new...

Moses, fireworks, and an untimely face-slap come together to form a message about getting along. Sometimes our arguments with each other get in the way of our hearing and seeing each other. What do we do when the rockets glare signal war with those...

"Going Viral" is the phrase used to describe online content that has been quickly and widely spread across the internet by way of sharing. It's almost impossible to know what content will or will not explode across social media, and it has never...

In a time of racial tension, Jesus' closest disciples are ready to call down fire from Heaven to destroy entire villages over how they have been maligned and mistreated. But rather than jump to justice, Jesus tells a story that shocks his listeners...

We all have fears. It is a part of the human experience. But are fears a "necessary" part of human existence? The Bible has a lot to say on the matter, and one of the most relevant passages on the matter is tucked away in the Apostle Paul's final...

In Psalm 72, King David has some important words for his son as he passes the crown from one generation to the next. What might you say to the person who will lead after you? What would you wish to be their lasting legacy? For David, it is absolutely...

Everyone hopes to build something of significance and lasting value with their life. When it happens, though, what do we do next? Join Pastor Kevin as he looks into one of the greatest building projects in the history of ancient Israel, a palace fit...

Robert Frost's most famous poem, The Road Not Taken, has provided a great deal of comfort over the years to those unable to decide which direction to take in life. Should we go this way or that? What is God's will for our life?? It all sounds nice...

Bows and arrows, shooting shots from shadows, blazing coals, burning sulfur, and scorching winds... oh my! It's Mother's Day and Sally Young joins Pastor Kevin for an unforgettable discussion on Psalm 11.

The Book of Psalms opens with a cautionary tale about two roads and a tree, but the as the story unfolds it quickly becomes obvious that this is more than just a story. The opening words to the greatest songbook of all time weave a compelling vision...

Music moves us. Without it, we might be unable to fully cope with the rhythms of life in this world. Be it sunshine or storm, melodies make meaning of our journey... but they do more than that, too. Sometimes the song itself the instrument through...

The story of the first Easter Sunday didn't end with a resurrection. In fact, that was only the starting event of what turned out to be a crazy day... especially for two followers of Christ in particular, who threw up their hands and made the...

Hidden in plain sight within the Easter story is one of the most hilarious episodes contained within the entirety of the Bible. You'll be shocked that you ever missed it. You may think that you know everything that there is to know about Jesus'...

The Book of Revelation is one of the most difficult books in the Bible to understand. Yet, in the midst of the signs and metaphors within the text is one of the greatest symbols of God's love. It is a symbol that has been tied to God since the first...

Most who visit the city of Rome miss the most important site. There are no tourist brochures, no medieval art on the walls, and no Michelangelo sculptures anywhere to be found. In fact, most people pass by it without even knowing that its there......

The journey from freedom to incarceration is never a straight one, but winds in and out of the ups and downs of life. For those who spend a portion of their life behind iron bars, it is an exercise in isolation and giving up almost everything that...

The Apostle Paul’s letter to a church coming out of crisis is both soaring and startling, especially when he goes into a rather lengthy monologue focused on how he somehow always ends up doing the things that he doesn’t want to do and pirates....