Real Peace. Real People.

Why Did He Do It?A SERMON BASED ON Mark 7:31-37His miracle was for one man and one man alone. He brings him to a private place, heals him, and then tells him to tell no one about it. Why was Jesus willing to take the time to make such a narrow impact when he could have made this man well in front of hundreds? Because it wasn't about the crowd. In this moment, the Savior's focus was on one man. And Jesus used this moment to bring this man healing for his life and healing for his soul.

A "Good Person"?A SERMON BASED ON Romans 9:30-10:4If we are looking for a good person, we've found one. No, she's not living under our roof, he's not staring back at you in the mirror. We find one “good person” in our life: Jesus. It is Jesus who knows what perfect obedience is. It is Jesus who knows what perfect love is. Jesus is the only “good person” we know. But he doesn't keep it to himself. He gives his goodness to us so that we can share in the Father's favor. This is how we begin our lives of obedience.

The Offensive Bread of LifeA SERMON BASED ON John 6:51-69In general, when people are faced with an idea that they find offensive, they do one of two things. 1. They turn their back on the idea, the person, or the movement. Or 2. They wrestle to get comfortable with this scandalous thought. In John 6, as Jesus ends his Bread of Life discourse, the disciples wrestle with Jesus' teaching and give us a path forward when we are presented with a section of God's Word that makes us uncomfortable.

A Feast of WisdomA SERMON BASED ON John 6:35-51Jesus continues his “Bread of Life” discourse as he reminds that disciples that God himself is the one who draws sinners to himself. This is a stark reminder that the wisdom of God is NOTHING like the wisdom of this world.

A Lasting MealA SERMON BASED ON John 6:24-35Tragically, the best meals don't last forever. Whether it's the steak that you spent WAY too much money on or it's that Thanksgiving meal that you fondly remember, we always find ourselves being hungry again. In these beginning verses of Jesus' conversation about the bread of life, we find him reminding the people that he offers something better. He offers something that is not temporarily satisfying, but eternally filling!

WITH YouA SERMON BASED ON Mark 6:45-56What does Jesus mean when he tells us he will be with us? And how is that helpful? When you are going through scary situations or rough patches in life, why does the presence of God matter? In our reading for this Sunday, we are reminded of a simple truth: there is no one we would rather have with us than our Savior.

Everything Means EverythingA SERMON BASED ON 2 Corinthians 9:8-11What can be used to serve Jesus? Often, we shrink the scope of service far beyond the way God presents it in Scripture. God has filled each and every Christian up with exactly what they need AND MORE so as to serve others and serve him. God is so generous with his blessings toward us and allows for so many opportunities for service that we are forced to stop asking what can be used to serve God and start asking WHAT CAN'T be used to serve God?

Inconvenient CompassionA SERMON BASED ON Mark 6:30-34When Jesus looks at you, what do you suppose he see? I'm sure he sees your day to day desire to walk in his ways. However, whether we want to admit it or not, he also sees our shortcomings. He sees the deep rooted sin. He sees the ways that we stray from him. But instead of being disgusted or disinterested, he is compassionate. His heart breaks for us. This is the heart of the gospel. This is our heart.

God's RepresentativesA SERMON BASED ON Titus 1:5-9When we take on the awesome task of serving Jesus in life, we can overlook the fact that we aren't just to speak his words, but we are to model his behavior. That is the standard that God places on those who want to be overseers in his kingdom. Our first concern might be that we can't live up to that calling… who can?? The same way that we depend on God's grace for our salvation, we depend on his grace in dealing with us as we strive to do our best to represent him in his kingdom.

"It's Not You... It's HIM"A SERMON BASED ON Ezekiel 2:1-7When a couple breaks up because one party is dissatisfied with the relationship, you might hear him or her say to their partner, “It't not you, it's me.” The person is taking responsibility for what is objectionable in the relationship. God tells us that when we face rejection for the gospel, we need to keep in mind that the person isn't rejecting us… they're rejecting God and his Word. This reminder comforts us knowing, “It's not you… It's HIM.”

Only SleepingA SERMON BASED ON Mark 5:21-24,35-43In the account of Jesus dealing with a grief stricken father and raising his daughter from the dead, Jesus' attitude astounds us. In the face of mourning and tragedy, Jesus shows calm, cool confidence. Why? He knows who holds all of the cards. This attitude is an attitude of faith. It's an attitude, by grace, we can mirror.

In the Back of Your BoatA SERMON BASED ON Mark 5:35-41Did he even care? This was the question on the minds of the disciples as they scurried around the boat trying to make sure that it wouldn't sink. They were doing their part, but by all accounts, Jesus wasn't doing his. But this was not even remotely true! Even if Jesus didn't frantically spring into action, it wasn't as if the situation was out of control. Jesus was still in the back of the boat.

Kingdom Work for DummiesA SERMON BASED ON Mark 4:26-34Do we make it more complicated than it is? Spreading the Kingdom of God can seem like such daunting work. But do we overthink it. God says, “preach the gospel.” We have to do more than that, right? In his 2 parables that Jesus shares with us today, he tells us not to overthink it. Go forth with the gospel, and let him worry about the rest.

Don't Believe Your EyesA SERMON BASED ON REvelation 20:1-6Is Christianity winning? I think most who examine the falling church attendance throughout the country and the lack of respect for Christian institutions would say no. Christianity seems as if it's on the ropes. But don't let your eyes deceive you. Christ still sits on his throne. Knowing this is key to reading the book of Revelation and is vital to your walk in the faith.

Do You Really Deserve a Break?A SERMON BASED ON MarK 2:23-3:6People get burnt out when they continuously work without a rest. It should be no surprise, then, that the same applies to our spiritual lives. If we spend our time loving and serving those around us without any time for spiritual R&R for ourselves, we inevitably burn out. Thankfully, the rest we have a God who knows that. He knows you so well that he is willing to say, “for your own good, take a break!” We take a break, we rest every time we find our ease of heart and mind in what Jesus did for us.

The Triune God Doing "Triune God Things"A SERMON BASED ON Romans 8:12-17Every other religion has a god. This god is described in a variety of ways: powerful, wise, angry, loving, perfect, flawed… every religion thinks something about their god. What should we think about our Triune God? Who he is is revealed to us by what he has done. This week, we discover a God who reveals himself as a God who is more complex than we could possibly imagine. We understand more and more about him as we see his work in our lives. Let's take a look!

Selling the Holy Spirit ShortA SERMON BASED ON Acts 2:1-21The power of God is present inside the walls of our church on Sunday morning. Some people might even say that they can feel it. But as you exit the doors, it might feel like things go “back to normal.” Just you, your strength, and the problems of the day. In our reading from Acts, we learn that on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church with a purpose. Jesus wanted his people to know that the power to change hearts, work faith, and save souls was a power far beyond the power of human beings. Yet, it was human beings that God chose to use as his instruments for that power.

His Ascension Draws Him CloserA SERMON BASED ON Ephesians 4:7-16In many ways, the ascension of Jesus ties a boy on his earthly ministry. He had defeated sin, the devil and hell itself. But that doesn't mean Jesus is done. He still has an agenda even as he sits at the right hand of God the Father. Hear about that agenda in this Sunday's sermon.

But How Do I Do It?A SERMON BASED ON John 15:9-17Even the most casual Christian understands a basic principle of Jesus' teaching and the teaching of Scripture: love those around you. Rarely, the problem is not knowing if we should love our neighbor or our God. The problem is execution. So how do go from a place of understanding God's call to love to making it happen? We look to the model of our love.

Remain, Remain, RemainA SERMON BASED ON John 15:1-8Your connection to Christ need not be tenuous. When he says, “Remain in me,” he isn't calling on us to do the impossible. Instead, he is calling us to make use of the means that he has established to keep us near to him. In all of this, we understand a critical point: Jesus and Jesus alone is the one who keeps our relationship strong. In that resolute relationship, we find ourselves bearing fruit.

Don't Settle for the Hired HandA SERMON BASED ON John 10:11-18Paying someone to do a job usually works out. You give them a sum of money, sometimes a large sum of money, and they do their work well and on time. But that's not always the case. Sometimes, the one motivated by simple money isn't willing to sacrifice what it takes to get the job done well. In John 10, Jesus points out the difference between the Good Shepherd and the hired hand. See the difference in our sermon for this weekend!

More Than A SloganA SERMON BASED ON 1 John 1:5-2:2Do we have something worthwhile to say? Or are the words that Christians speak just as relevant and useful as any common catchphrase of the world? The Apostle John delivers phrases that stick in our mind, but they carry more weight than anything the world offers. Why? Because they are rooted in truth and reality!

"Stop Doubting and Believe"A SERMON BASED ON John 20:19-31When Jesus says “stop doubting,” we can't help but notice an edge in his voice. In fact, he says that those who believe without seeing are blessed because they didn't NEED to make God prove himself. When the doubts of life come our way, how should we react? Do we wallow in them and allow them to take ownership of our mind, or do we answer them with the truth of the resurrection?

How Are You Doing?A SERMON BASED ON Job 19:23-27The hymn I Know that My Redeemer Lives is based on the words of Job, uttered when he was in the depths of despair and was forced to still find his hope in a God who seemed to abandon him. The reason these words of Job and the song writer are so poignant is that in the midst of trouble, the resurrection of Jesus changes death and life itself. If Christ has been risen from the grave, why on earth should I walk around being afraid of dying? And if death is not my primary concern in life, how does that shape my worldview?

Real SacrificeA SERMON BASED ON John 19:17-30On Good Friday, Jesus isn't beaten just to gain pity. He's not nailed to a cross to score your sympathy. He doesn't die for your tears. Here at the cross, we see these beautiful juxtapositions. At the same time, we see the wrath of God, the innocent helpless looking sacrifice, and the seeming defeat of Christ himself. But if we blink, we see at the same time the love of God, the strong redeemer, and the victory of our Lord. Come to the cross and see!

Unity Worth PreservingA SERMON BASED ON 1 Corinthians 10:16-17Keeping a group of people together isn't an easy thing to do. A church is no different. Personalities loom large. Opinions are stated (maybe overstated). Things fall apart. So how do we preserve and defend the unity in a church? At the Lord's Supper, God gives us a rich opportunity to find safety in the oneness that we share at his table.

Making A Strong EntranceA SERMON BASED ON Mark 11:1-11Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem isn't exactly understated. It is one of the few times that Jesus indulges the fanfare. The expectation of those in the city was that he would be this strong warrior on their behalf. They believed that he had the strength to answer their cries of “hosanna” which means “please save us!” And he would. Jesus would be that Savior… but maybe not the one everyone expected.

“You Are Mine”A SERMON BASED ON Isaiah 43:1-7Many of the problems in life are created by us. We might not love admitting it, but it's true. When we cause those problems, what does God say to us? Does he give up on us and let us wallow. Isaiah 43 answers that very question as God speaks to his people.

Sin - SolvedA SERMON BASED ON Ephesians 2:1-10How is the problem of sin solved? If you ask members of Christian churches around the world, you might get a variety of answers. But Scripture offers one answer. You are saved BY GRACE ALONE… but what does that mean?

Worship Is Worth Our TimeA SERMON BASED ON John 2:13-22We live in a world in which everything is on-demand. You could order a blender today and it will be on your doorstep by the end of the day tomorrow. You can pay your mortgage on your phone from the couch. Everything is instant. Everything is convenient. Everything is done on your timeline. So why not worship? Why would we gather together? Why would we build a space to be used to its fullest once a week? What is so important on a Sunday morning that we drop everything and show up?

Bearing Our CrossesA SERMON BASED ON Romans 5:1-11It doesn't take long to realize that we have certain crosses to bear in this life as a result of our Christian faith. We deal with persecution and hatred. We are forced to make difficult decisions that others don't have to make. It makes us ask the question: why? Why would God give us these crosses? Is it because he needs to see more from us? Is it to punish us? Or does he have so much more in mind for us?

Is This Some Kind of Joke to God?A SERMON BASED ON Genesis 22:1-18When God asked Abraham to do the impossible, Abraham gathered his things and was determined to carry out exactly what he had been called to do. Abraham was willing to do whatever the Lord had called him to do for two reasons. Check out Abraham's reasons and make them your reasons!

A Transfiguration Unlike Any OtherA SERMON BASED ON Mark 9:2-9As the Lord Jesus prepared to approach his suffering and death, he undergoes this transfiguration. It is one of those moments in which it seems that heaven connects with earth. Holiness and perfection are on miraculous display. Jesus is finally seen as he really is. But that still leaves us with one question: WHY?

An Unworthy EnemyA SERMON BASED ON 1 Peter 5:6-11You might not like to think about it, but the devil does actually exist. He is our adversary and the adversary of the church of Jesus. I don't think most of us wake up with that prowling lion on our minds, but that doesn't mean that he isn't hard at work. In our reading, Peter tells us that while the devil doesn't quit, we still don't need to cower in fear. Instead, we find our safety in the grace of Jesus.

Who's in Charge Here?A SERMON BASED ON Mark 1:21-28Can you be the boss of your own life? Can you control your destiny? You might think you can. But look back on the last few months of your life. Were you able to make all your problems go away? Probably not. So what do we do when we realize that we're not actually in total control over our lives? How can we get comfortable with that?

The Kindness in His CallingA SERMON BASED ON 1 Samuel 3:1-10Our approach to God matters quite a bit. Whether it is in worship or in our daily study of his Word, the way we come before him matters. Will we come before him with pride in our hearts, thinking we know best. Or will we go before him humbly with nothing on our tongue other than: “Speak, Lord, for you servant is listening”?

It Begins with BaptismA SERMON BASED ON Romans 6:1-11“So, what does your church teach about baptism?” Romans offers our explanation for us! The simple truth found in God's Word, that he is delivering on his promise of forgiveness, life and salvation in Baptism, is found in clear terms in Romans 6. If you have any questions about Peace's teachings concerning baptism, please reach out to our pastor!

Power and GraceA SERMON BASED ON Matthew 2:1-12In our narrative about the 3 wisemen who came to visit Jesus after his birth, we learn 2 truths about how God reaches his people. He does so with power and he does so with grace. When God goes after someone, he REALLY goes after them.

God's Special TreasureA SERMON BASED ON Exodus 19:1-8New year. New me. The beginning of the year is a time when people rebrand themselves. They try to form new habits and see themselves in a different light. They also try to make sure other people see them a certain way. Is that what we need? Do you need a rebranding in 2024? If you do, maybe start here: see what God says about you.

Here for YOUA SERMON BASED ON John 1:1-18Why on earth did Jesus leave his throne in heaven? Why would he descend from perfection and enter a world that is full of pain and turmoil? Why would Jesus be willing to show up in this world and face ridicule and rejection? We answer all of these questions in our sermon on Christmas Day!

A Faith Found in DetailsA SERMON BASED ON Luke 1:26-38When you watch someone fall short on their promises over and over again, you are likely to assume that they won't break that pattern any time soon. Does it sometimes seem like we treat God that way? Do we treat him like a loved one who says nice things, but never comes through? Or do we treat him and his promises as they really are? In our sermon, learn that your God and his promises are resolute and unimpeachable.

Joy > HappinessA SERMON BASED ON Isaiah 61:1-3,10-11Does God care about your happiness? He cares about your salvation, he cares about your physical body, he cares about your mental state… how could he not care about your happiness, right? But what happens when the things that make you happy run contrary to what God wants for your life? Today at Peace, we dive into the idea that happiness in circumstances and joy in Christ are fundamentally different ideas… and one is much more important than the other.

Prepare to Meet HimA SERMON BASED ON Isaiah 40:1-11When preparing for guests over the holidays, you are likely meticulous in your preparation. Things don't slip by you if the company coming to visit you is important or dear to you. When preparing for Christ to come, are we as meticulous? In a time when it seems like all our preparations are “buy this” and “clean that,” how can we get our hearts ready for the arrival of the most important guest? We'll use the words of Isaiah to explore just that!

Sheep Don't Need to Be Told to Be SheepA SERMON BASED ON Matthew 25:31-46What do you think of when you hear the words “judgment day”? People think of all of the ominous pictures that come with those words. In fact many people, even Christians, are left feeling afraid when they think of judgment day. But can we look at it from a different angle? Rather than with fear of a verdict, might we see judgment day in a different light. Let's dive into Matthew 25:31-46 to understand how we ought to feel about this “final” day.

What Makes Service "Faithful"?A SERMON BASED ON Isaiah 1:10-18In Isaiah, the people give God their best. However, it seems as if their best isn't enough for God. In our sermon based on Isaiah, we're going to talk about what exactly makes our service to God faithful. How can we know that we are living God pleasing lives? Isaiah gives us a path.

A New JobA SERMON BASED ON Luke 5:1-11When you start a new job, there is almost always one moment in which you go, “I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do this.” That seems like it would have been an acceptable response if that's what Peter said to Jesus. In our reading from Luke this week, we learn a little something about Peter's new job. In the same way, we learn something about our new job in the kingdom of believers.

“We Feebly Struggle… They in Glory Shine!”A SERMON BASED ON Revelation 7:9-17Jesus says that his followers will endure tribulation. Paul tells us that Christians will put up with all sorts of hardships. In our reading from Revelation 7 for this Sunday, we see what the ending looks like. It might be difficult to see how all of this turns out okay… so God gave John just a glimpse of what to expect from eternity with him. Let me tell you: it's as good as it gets.

“I Know” Trounces “I Think”A SERMON BASED ON Romans 3:19-28There are things that it is okay to be uncertain about, but your eternity isn't one of them. Throughout Christianity, there are denominations whose teachings cause their followers to say, “I think my relationship with God is good.” But that's not good enough. No, based on Scripture, we should have some certainty in our relationship with God.

God's or Caesar's?A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 22:15-22“Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.” Great. Now all we have to do is figure out what is Caesar's and what is God's. As we look at the words of Jesus in their context and we look at what Paul has to say on the matter, we find out that although church is certainly not the place for politics, God does call us to live a certain way when dealing with those in authority. So what should we give to our authorities and what should we give to God? We'll explore that question in our sermon…

A Story of Insane RejectionA SERMON BASED ON Matthew 22:1-14Who would say no? There are invitations we receive that are just too good to pass up. Who would say no to going on an all expenses paid vacation? Who would say no to a free meal at the finest restaurant in town? In fact, these offers likely seem too good to be true. Jesus tells us a story about inanely refusing an offer that is too good to pass up. But the offer isn't for dinner or a vacation… this offer has eternal consequences.

Shocking PatienceA SERMON BASED ON Matthew 21:33-43How long is God willing to deal with us? I hope we would ask that question in an effort to understand his mercy rather than to test it. God was willing to bear with his people for generations as he sent prophet after prophet to bring them back to him. Finally, he sent his Son who was rejected. This begs the question: Is God too patient with us?