Melbourne Heights - Sermons

When is someone else's problem our concern? Too often, we easily dismiss the struggles other people are facing because they don't affect us personally. But our faith requires us to see beyond ourselves and recognize that what isn't a problem for us might be life-changing for someone else.

When evil is happening in the world around us, what do we do? In Esther's story, when Queen Vashti is mistreated, the king's advisors remain silent. But later, when Mordecai discovers a plot against the king, he speaks up. The book of Esther challenges us with this vital truth: when evil happens around us, we can't sit silently - we must speak out.

We often think of Esther's story as a biblical fairytale - an orphaned girl who marries a king and saves her people. But looking closer, we see it's so much more than a fairytale.Esther's story challenges us to consider our responsibility to take a stand when we face big problems in our world, even when speaking up might cost everything.

While the world has changed dramatically since the first Easter, but we still face a lot of the same struggles 2,000 years later. But the resurrection reminds us that "the worst thing is never the last thing," offering comfort to the sorrowful, hope to the despairing, and the promise that our emptiness can be filled with new life.

On Good Friday, when the crowd was given the choice between Jesus and Barabbas, they chose the one who offered them power and control over the one who called them to service and sacrifice. We face the same choice: do we want to follow Jesus's way or do we want Barabbas?

While we often focus on the wayward son or his resentful brother when we read the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the story's true heart lies in the father's relentless love. Just like a parent will never stop searching for a lost child, God never stops seeking those who are lost - even when such grace seems foolish by worldly standards. 

When faced with tragedy, we often ask "Why?" But instead of getting caught up in theoretical debates about why evil exists, Jesus calls us to focus on another question "How do we respond?" Through the parable of the fig tree, Jesus shows us that true faith isn't about having all the answers; it's about taking action even when we don't.

Just like winter is necessary for spring, Jesus teaches us that true life often emerges from death.Through the metaphor of a grain of wheat that must die to produce many seeds, Jesus reveals a profound but counterintuitive truth: those who cling to their lives will lose them, while those who surrender their lives for God's kingdom will find true, lasting life. 

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve weren't really tempted to eat an apple. They were tempted to become like God by providing for, protecting, and empowering themselves. Jesus faced these same temptations in the wilderness but chose a different path. His "foolish" refusal to seize control shows us that when we put God first, we discover a deeper wisdom than the world's pursuit of power and self-reliance.

The cross is the most recognizable symbol of our faith, but it was also one of history's cruelest methods of execution. So to the ancient world, building a faith around an instrument of death would've seemed foolish and offensive. Yet for followers of Jesus, this apparent foolishness reveals God's wisdom and power, although its true meaning can only be understood through experience.

We often think of God's kingdom as something grand and majestic, like a mighty cedar tree. But Jesus compares it to a tiny mustard seed. While this seems like a strange choice, through this simple seed, Jesus shows us that God can take what seems small and insignificant and transform it into something incredible.

In one of Jesus' strangest parables, a dishonest manager starts cutting deals with his master's debtors. But instead of condemning this scheming manager, the master commends him. While this seems to go against everything Jesus taught, there's more to this story than meets the eye. Through this puzzling parable, Jesus shows us that what matters isn't how we spend our money - it's how we spend our lives.

Sometimes the most powerful spiritual practices are the ones we overlook. While we often think of prayer and Bible reading as key disciplines, praise is equally vital to our faith - appearing over 300 times in scripture.   More than just celebration, praise is a conscious choice we make regardless of circumstances, focusing on God's goodness even in difficult times.

Just like athletes need rest days for physical health, we need rest for our spiritual well-being. This is why God created the Sabbath - a day of rest and reflection.   Though our busy lives make it challenging to pause, taking time to rest isn't just about following rules - it's about remembering God's goodness and recognizing that nothing is more important than Him.

When we think of spiritual disciplines, prayer and Bible reading usually come to mind first. But there are other important practices that can strengthen our relationship with God - including fasting, which Jesus explicitly expects his followers to do.   Though often overlooked in modern churches, fasting helps remind us that we need God more than anything else, even our daily bread.

As we start a new year, many of us make resolutions to improve our lives. While most resolutions fail, experts say it's often because we make goals without plans. The same is true in our spiritual lives - our relationship with God could be better, but improvement won't happen by accident.   In this sermon, we'll explore spiritual disciplines - practices found in scripture that help our faith grow and place us in a position where God can transform us.

We love to picture Jesus as a sweet baby in a manger, but He didn't stay that way.   This sermon challenges us to see beyond the nativity scene and embrace the grown-up Jesus who calls us to radical change. Discover how letting Jesus be present in your daily life can transform you in ways you never expected.

Do you ever feel like something's always missing at Christmas, no matter how hard you try? You're not alone.   In this sermon, we'll explore how the peace announced by angels to shepherds isn't just about the absence of conflict, but about wholeness and completeness. And together we'll find out how Jesus can be the missing piece in your life this season.

If Christmas is "the most wonderful time of the year" then why does everyone always look so miserable in December?   This sermon dives into the true source of lasting joy. Discover how trusting in God, rather than in fleeting holiday experiences, can bring a happiness that persists long after the decorations come down.

Remember those childhood Christmas wishes that seemed too good to be true? Isaiah's prophecy felt like that – a world of perfect peace.   But what if that world is closer than we think? Learn how being Jesus' presence in this world can help bring His kingdom to earth, one act of love at a time.

Do you ever feel like you're always waiting for Christmas to arrive? But what if the greatest gift is already here?   This sermon explores how we often miss Jesus' presence while preparing for the holiday. Discover how to stop waiting and start living as if Christ is already with you – because He is.

Before Thanksgiving Day even arrives, it's easy to shift our focus to Christmas. But before we leave gratitude behind, let's ask: Who gets to be blessed by God? Is it only the "perfect Christians" among us?   In this sermon, we'll dive into Psalm 1 to uncover a surprising truth about blessings. Spoiler alert: It's not about following rules perfectly, but about developing a relationship with God that transforms us from the inside out.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we're often too busy getting ready to reflect on gratitude. But what does it really mean to be "blessed"? Is it about material possessions or something deeper?   This week, we'll explore the true meaning of blessings, challenging the idea that being blessed equals worldly success.

Although our nation has been politically divided throughout our history, something about this election just feels different. It feels like we are more divided than ever...and we might just be doomed to stay that way. But is that true? Are we doomed to be divided?   In this sermon, we'll talk about what it means to be united and challenged to do our part to be united with our family, friends, and community not because we're all donkeys or elephants but because we love Jesus.

In a world obsessed with political power, it's easy to lose sight of the true kingdom we're called to serve. As election fervor reaches its peak, we're pausing to ask: What does God's kingdom really look like?   This week, we'll discover a radically different kind of kingdom – one that puts others first and shows up when we need it most.

Do you ever feel like your faith and politics are in a constant tug-of-war? You're not alone. As Election Day looms, tensions are high and divisions deep. But what if there's a way to navigate this political minefield without compromising your faith? This week, we'll explore how to follow Jesus while everyone else is fixated on donkeys and elephants. 

The phrase "God won't give you more than you can handle" is often misunderstood. This phrase implies that God causes our difficulties. Instead, Scripture teaches that God is our refuge and strength during tough times.   So God doesn't give us difficult things to handle; God helps us handle difficult things. God is always there to support us through life's challenges.

You can't talk about misquoted verses in the Bible without talking about this one: Money is the root of all evil. But most of us know the actual verse states, "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."   This verse reminds us that following Jesus isn't about getting rich, but about loving people more than possessions.

The phrase "an eye for an eye" is often misunderstood as permission for revenge. However, in the Bible, it actually sets limits on retaliation.   And Jesus takes this further in the Sermon on the Mount, calling us to "turn the other cheek," challenges us to respond with love, just as God loves us, even when we're hurt or offended.

One of the most commonly quoted verses in the Bible is Matthew 7:1, which says, "Don't judge." But when we take a closer look at this verse, we'll find that Jesus isn't saying we should never hold other people accountable.   Instead, Jesus calls us to evaluate our own actions and attitudes first. Before pointing out others' faults, we must examine our own lives.

We often misquote Philippians 4:13, thinking it's about achieving greatness through Christ's strength. But when we take a closer look at what Paul writes, we discover this verse isn't about becoming superhuman; it's about finding strength in God during tough times.   So Philippians 4:13 isn't a motivational quote, it's a promise that God is always with us and will help us make it through.

Even though the Olympics showcase incredible athletic achievements, there are also stories of disappointment and failure. Similarly, in life, we all face difficult days and moments of doubt.   As we run the race of life, we must remember that God is there to support and guide us through our struggles.

Even though the athletes competing at this year's Olympics are some of the greatest athletes in the world, that doesn't mean they don't have their struggles. And there are times when we all struggle too.   But when we have moments in life when we feel like giving up, we need to remember that we are stronger than we think.

In the Olympics, athletes compete in events where the difference between winning and losing can come down to fractions of a second. Similarly, in the race of life, we want to make sure we're spending our limited time on things that really matter. In this sermon, we'll be reminded of what really matters...and that's chasing after God.

When Nineveh repents, you'd think Jonah would be thrilled. Instead, he's angry that God showed mercy to his enemies. How often do we feel the same way?   This sermon explores the tension between our desire for justice and God's heart of compassion. It challenges us to see people as God sees them - not as enemies to be punished, but as children to be loved. Whose side are we really on - our own, or God's?

When Jonah finally arrives in Nineveh he preaches a half-hearted sermon that is exactly nine words long. As representatives of God, are we sometimes just as half-hearted in our obedience? This sermon challenges us to examine how we're representing Jesus in our daily lives and interactions. Are we truly reflecting God's heart for the world, or are we, like Jonah, just going through the motions?

After spending some time in the belly of a fish, Jonah finally decides to do what God told him to do. But he isn't exactly enthusiastic about it.   But Jonah's half-hearted obedience highlights the gap between our words and our hearts. And in this sermon, we'll learn the importance of aligning our inner attitudes with our outward actions as we serve God and others.

As a new week begins, many of us continue to wrestle with the events that unfolded at a campaign rally in Butler, PA. In this sermon, we'll hear our pastor's perspective on these heinous events and think about how we as individuals, as followers of Jesus, and as a nation move forward.

In the book of Jonah, God calls Jonah to preach to Nineveh - Israel's sworn enemy - but Jonah runs the opposite way. There are times we want to do the same thing.   But Jonah's story reminds us that God's love extends to all, even those we struggle to love. So how will we respond when God calls us to love those we'd rather avoid?

Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday with crowds cheering "Hosanna!" and welcoming Jesus like a king. But by Good Friday the cheers of "Hosanna!" were replaced by calls to "Crucify him!" So what happened during those 5 days?   The crowds realized that instead of being who they wanted him to be, Jesus was different. And Jesus wanted them and us to become more like him.

In the book of John, a woman named Mary annoints Jesus' feet with a bottle of perfume that costs about as much money as the average person makes in a year. And Mary was willing to do that because of everything Jesus had done for her (including raising her brother from the dead).   Jesus laid down his life for us. So what are we willing to give for him?

Every kid may dream of winning an Olympic medal or a Super Bowl ring...but no one dreams of coming in last. But Jesus tells us, "The first will be last and the last will be first."   And this isn't just something Jesus said, it's something he did when he laid down his life for us on the cross. So, if we want to be more like Jesus, we have to learn how to put ourselves last and to put God and others first.

We all know that our world can be a messed up place filled with violence and hatred. But none of us want the world to be that way. So is there some way that we can overcome violence with mercy? Is there some way that we can learn to love instead of hate?   Jesus tells us there is. But just because there's a way to do it, that doesn't mean it's easy...but it is possible if we practice what Jesus preached.

We've all experienced things that have caused us to lose our temper or hold a grudge. We've all experienced things that have made us bitter.   But, if we want to be more like Jesus, we have to let go of our bitterness. Instead, we need to learn to be more kind, more compassionate, and more forgiving.

In Acts 8:29, we're reminded that God wants us to "be like his Son" Jesus. But we all have times when we don't really act like Jesus. Things happen in life that make us angry, or jealous, or greedy. Or, to put it another way, we get dirty.   So we need to clean up. And that's what Lent is all about. Lent reminds us that we need to clean up to become more like Jesus.

Sometimes it feels like there are a million things to get done on our to-do lists. And all of the things we want to get done are important...they wouldn't make it onto our to-do list if they weren't.   But, in our busyness, we need to make sure we don't let things that are important get in the way of things that are imperative. 

No matter how hard we try to keep up with all of our commitments, things always end up on the back burner. Sadly, our relationship with God tends to be one of the first things we put on the back burner when life gets busy.   So what can we do to make sure God remains a priority in our lives when life gets busy? We can slow down and remember who God is.

Many of us struggle to tell other people "no." Because of this, we fill up our time and schedules with things that aren't that important to us.   So if we want to overcome our busyness, we need to learn to set boundaries. And we need to learn to make sure that all of our yeses count.

We live in a culture that often tells us that our worth comes from our work. So, we think that we have to be constantly busy just to show how valuable we are.   So if we want to be able to slow down and make time for what really matters, we have to understand where our value truly comes from.

Even though the New Year has only just begun, many of our calendars are already filling up. But no matter how busy we get, we still try to cram more events and activities into our lives.   But our chronic busyness is taking a toll on our lives. So we need to find ways to slow down and make time for what matters the most in our lives.

In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving each year, it feels like everyone has tips and tricks to make us more thankful. But the truth is that in spite of all of these tips and tricks, we still aren't great at being grateful.   And we're never going to be great at being grateful until we realize just how blessed we are.