Sermons - Normandy Church

Pastor John Bower examines what it means to be a follower of Christ. Are you willing to be brought low for the sake of the Kingdom?

This week Mark Heger goes into Mark 4:35-41. We talk about how to remain faithful to the one who allows the elements of the storm to exist, and to trust He is sovereign over all. Permalink

From June 27th Sunday Service, Pastor John teaches from 1 John.

So what is the church? What is she supposed to do? Instead of Discernment Sunday, today was "Teaching Sunday." We learned the church is the family of God, the Temple of the Holy Spirit and the Body of Christ (Colossians 1:15-20; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 12:17; John 3:16; Acts 1:8).

POWER SUITS! SUPER BOWL SUNDAY! DISCERNMENT SUNDAY! ALL THAT AND MORE INCLUDED IN OUR FIRST SERMON ON HER - A SERIES ON THE CHURCH. THE INVITATION IS TO BE, BELONG, BECOME AND THEN DO IN 2020. AND ALONG THE WAY WE WILL WORK TO DISCERN THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR DAILY LIVES TOGETHER (EPHESIANS 1:22-23; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:27; ECCLESIASTES 3:1; ACTS 1:1; 15:28)

THIS WEEK WE FINISHED UP OUR LET US SERIES IN HEBREWS 10. PASTOR JOHN REMINDED US THAT WE ARE DESIGNED TO WALK WITH GOD AND OTHERS. AND AS WE WALK TOGETHER, WE PERSEVERE TOGETHER (HEBREWS 10:19-25; PHILIPPIANS 2:1-3).

HAPPY 8 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, NORMANDY! THIS WEEK WE HAD DR. STEVEN GOVENDER PREACH AND SHARE SOME OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE ON THE LIFE OD A CHURCH AND GIVE HOPE FOR WHAT IS TO COME HERE AT NORMANDY.

THIS WEEK WE LOOKED AT THE WHY BEHIND OUR SERMON SERIES ON “LET US”. OFTEN TIMES WE LOOK TO THE CHURCH TO BE OUR SOURCE OF LIFE. HOWEVER, FOR THE BELIEVER, CHRIST IS THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF OUR LIGHT. THEREFORE, LET US…(EPHESIANS 5:25-33; ACTS 5:12-17; HEBREWS 10:19-25).

THIS WEEK WE ARE REMINDED THAT PART OF THE REASONS WHY CHRIST MADE A WAY FOR US WAS IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT LIVE OUT THE “FIRST THINGS” - LOVING GOD AND OTHERS (HEBREWS 10:19-21).

ONE OF THE SURPRISING GIFTS ADVENT BRINGS TO US IS THAT OF EACH OTHER. DURING ADVENT WE ARE REMINDED THAT WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO LIVE INTO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE TOGETHER (LUKE 2:15-18; HEBREWS 10:19-35).

THIS WEEK, MARK HEGER CONTINUED OUR ADVENT SERIES WITH THE GIFT OF INCARNATION. TAPPING INTO HIS “INNER NERD”, MARK EXPLAINS HOW THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS MIGHT NOT BE AS UNUSUAL OF AN OCCURRENCE AS YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT. OUR RESPONSE TO THE GIFT OF INCARNATION SHOULD BE MUCH MORE THAN JUST A CELEBRATION OF JESUS’ BIRTH, BUT RATHER, CELEBRATING HIS ENTIRE LIFE!

ADVENT MEANS “APPEARING” OR “COMING”. IT IS A TIME FOR BELIEVERS TO LIVE INTO GOD’S STORY AND IT OFTEN CATCHES US BY SURPRISE (MUCH LIKE IT DID WITH MARY AND THE SHEPHERDS!). THIS WEEK WE LOOK AT THE GIFT OF FULFILLMENT. THROUGH CHRIST’S BIRTH, GOD FULFILLED SEVERAL PROMISES WHICH GIVES US THE HOPE THAT HE WILL DO THE SAME FOR US (LUKE 1:26-38).

THIS WEEK WE FINISH THE STORY OF LAZARUS. WE LEARNED THAT JESUS’ RESURRECTION LIFE IS MEANT TO BE LIVED RIGHT NOW IN OUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. WE LIVE THE RESURRECTION LIFE BY FOLLOWING JESUS, BELIEVING IN HIM AND OBEYING HIS COMMANDS TOGETHER.

WE ARE TWO WEEKS INTO THE STORY OF JESUS AND LAZARUS. THROUGHOUT THE BOOK OF JOHN WE SEE THE CALL OF THE GOSPEL IS TO LIFE AND TO LIVE HIS ETERNAL LIFE. BUT IN THE KINGDOM, WE LIVE BY DYING, AND AT TIMES CHRIST LEADS US TO THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH TO GIVE US “NEW GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING” (JOHN 11:17-37).

THIS WEEK WE LOOKED AT ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL STORIES OF JESUS - RAISING LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD. WHEN CHRIST DELAYS IN ANSWERING US, IT IS TO GIVE US “NEW GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING.” CHRIST WANTS TO MEET US IN THE MIDST OF OUR DESPAIR AND UNMET EXPECTATIONS (JOHN 11:16, 24-25).

THE FIRST RULE OF SHAME IS THAT YOU DON’T TALK ABOUT SHAME. THIS WEEK, WE LOOKED AT WHAT CHRIST DOES WITH SHAME IN THE STORY OF THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY. THE GOOD NEWS IS CHRIST TAKES THE BRUNT OF OUR SHAME IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT BE WITH HIM, LEAVE OUR SHAME AND ENTER INTO OUR IDENTITY AND VOCATION (JOHN 3:16-17; JOHN 8:1-11; ROMANS 8:1-2; ROMANS 8:31-34).

THIS WEEK THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP REMINDED US THAT WE MAKE SENSE OF OUR LIVES IN STORIES. PASTOR JOHN ENCOURAGED US TO PAY ATTENTION TO OUR THOUGHTS, BECAUSE UNDERNEATH THOSE THOUGHTS ARE A STORY WE ARE TELLING OURSELVES ABOUT GOD AND OURSELVES. THE STORIES WE TELL DEFINE US. THE GOOD NEWS IS CHRIST’S STORY FOR US IS THAT HE LEAVES THE 99 SHEEP TO FIND THE 1 LOST SHEEP (PSALM 23:1-4; LUKE 15:1-7).

WHAT WE THINK ABOUT GOD AND THE STORIES WE TELL ABOUT GOD AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO BE WITH GOD. SO WE REMINDED OURSELVES OF WHO GOD IS BY LOOKING AT THE PRODIGAL SON (LUKE 15:1-3 & 11-24).

THIS SUNDAY, MARK HEGER TAUGHT US WHY OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS IS SO MUCH MORE INTIMATE THAN WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT. USING JOHN 14, WE WITNESS JESUS USING “MARRIAGE PROPOSAL” LANGUAGE TO EXPRESS HIS GREAT LOVE FOR THE DISCIPLES. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC, MARK ALSO WROTE A BLOG BACK IN 2015 FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE.

WE FINISHED UP HAGGAI AND LOOKED AT THE COGNITIVE DISSIDENCE THAT OFTEN COMES IN LIFE. WE SEE THE PROMISES OF GOD AND OFTEN TIMES IT DOESN’T LINE UP WITH OUR CURRENT REALITY. YET CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO BE HOPE FILLED. PART OF HOW WE DO THAT IS BY TELLING OURSELVES A DIFFERENT STORY ( HAGGAI 2:20-23; HEBREWS 10:35-39; ROMANS 15:13).

WE HELD A MEETING TO UPDATE OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY ON THE WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON IN OUR CHURCH IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, WHERE WE ARE AT CURRENTLY, AND WHERE WE HOPE TO SEE OUR CHURCH GO.

THIS WEEK HAGGAI REMINDED US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRIST AT THE CENTER AND CIRCUMFERENCE OF OUR LIVES. THE PROPHET CALLED THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE THINGS THAT KEPT THEM FROM FROM LIVING OUT THEIR CALLING TO BE A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS. SO WE MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR LIVES AND FOR OUR CHURCH AND FAMILY (Haggai 2:10-19; Matthew 5:17-19: 1 John 2:3-6).

HAGGAI CONTINUES TO BE THE PROPHET WE NEED (NOT THE ONE WE WANT). THIS WEEK IN HAGGAI, WE LOOKED AT THE DISAPPOINTMENT THE RETURNING EXILES FELT AS THEY BEGAN THE WORK OF REBUILDING THE TEMPLE AND HOW IT CORRELATES WITH OUR CURRENT STATE AS THE CHURCH. IN THE MIDST OF THE DISAPPOINTMENT, HAGGAI GAVE THE REMANENT HOPE TO CONTINUE TO WORK FAITHFULLY ON THE TEMPLE BECAUSE OF THE FUTURE GLORY AND BY GOD’S GOOD GRACE, HE WILL GIVE US A SLOW FAITH AND A LONG HOPE FOR OUR LIVES AND OUR CHURCH (Haggai 2:1-8; Matthew 1: 12-16).

THIS WEEK, PASTOR JOHN TAUGHT ON THE PROPHETIC AND THEN WE HAD A CHANCE TO PRACTICE PROPHECY. PROPHECY IS TELLING SOMETHING THAT GOD HAS SPONTANEOUSLY BROUGHT TO MIND FOR BUILDING UP, ENCOURAGING, AND COMFORTING THE BODY OF CHRIST (1 COR. 14:1-5 & 1 COR. 14:26-29)

THIS SUNDAY WE FINISHED EPHESIANS! JOHN WAS SO HAPPY HE CRIED, SO WE HAVE THAT GOING FOR US. WE CLOSED IT OUT ASKING THE LORD TO COME AND BIRTH A DESIRE IN OUR CHURCH TO BECOME A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS IN OUR OWN STREETS AND NEIGHBORS FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL (EPHESIANS 6:18-20; 23-24; ISAIAH 52:7-10)

THIS WEEK, JOHN KASERMAN PREACHED ON THE FINAL TWO PIECES OF THE ARMOR OF GOD…THE HELMET OF SALVATION AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. HE ENCOURAGED US TO FIND HOPE IN CHRIST’S ULTIMATE SALVATION AND TO UTILIZE THE WORD OF GOD TO FIGHT THE ATTACKS OF THE ENEMY.

WE CONTINUED THE ARMOR OF GOD BY EXPANDING ON THE GOSPEL OF PEACE AND THE SHIELD OF FAITH. WE LOOKED AT THE TEXT IN LIGHT OF CHRIST AS OUR SHEPHERD KING (EPHESIANS 6:12-16; ISAIAH 61:1-4; MATTHEW 11:28-30).

WITH THE PAINFUL AWARENESS OF THE SHOOTING IN EL PASO AND DAYTON, WE LOOKED AT EPHESIANS 6:12-15. WE STAND TOGETHER AGAINST THE FORCES OF EVIL WITH THE TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. THERE IS A SPIRITUAL REALITY OF EVIL THAT THREATENS TO UNDERMINE THE CHURCH’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, THEIR UNITY IN THE BODY AND THEIR VOCATIONAL PURPOSE.

THIS WEEK, PASTOR JOHN WALKED THROUGH OUR BATTLE “AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN HEAVENLY PLACES”. HE PLAGIARIZED MARK HEGER A LITTLE (TEACHING MOMENT®), LED NORMANDY THROUGH IT’S OWN LITURGICAL PRACTICE AND UNPACKED THE BATTLE THE CHURCH FACES IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE (EPHESIANS 6:10-20).

THIS WEEK PASTOR JOHN GAVE US A FEW REMINDERS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST. WE’VE BEEN ADDED TO THE LORD, BECAME A MEMBER OF HIS BODY AND ARE CALLED TO BE DEVOTED TO CHRIST AND ONE ANOTHER. (ACTS 5:12-20; JOHN 15:4-16)

THIS WEEK, BRYAN AND ERAINA LARSON TAUGHT ON EPHESIANS 6 AND HOW IT RELATES TO PARENTING.

THIS WEEK PASTOR JOHN, WITH SOME HELP FROM HIS WIFE, KASEY, UNPACKED THE ROLES THAT HUSBANDS AND WIVES PLAY TO MAINTAIN UNION IN MARRIAGE. MARRIAGE IS THE COVENANTAL UNION OR PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE, DESIGNED BY GOD TO DISPLAY THE UNION OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. MARRIAGE IS DESIGNED BY GOD TO HELP BOTH THE HUSBAND AND WIFE TO FULLY LIVE OUT THEIR DESIGNED PURPOSE FOR BEING. THE WIFE IS TO ALLOW HER HUSBAND TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER AS CHRIST TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CHURCH. THE HUSBAND IS TO LOVINGLY LAY DOWN HIS OWN AGENDA AND TO LEAD HIS WIFE LIKE CHRIST DOES FOR THE CHURCH. (EPHESIANS 5:18-33).

THIS WEEK WE LOOKED AT THE GOAL OF MARRIAGE: UNION. IT FLOWS OUT OF OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST, DISPLAYS HOW CHRIST AND THE CHURCH ARE ONE AND FINALLY, UNION IN MARRIAGE HELPS US TO FIGHT SPIRITUAL BATTLES (EPHESIANS 5:21-33).

SUNDAY WAS PASTOR JOHN’S FIRST SUNDAY BACK AND HE LEAD US THROUGH PSALM 62, “THE ONLY PSALM”. THIS POEM IS AN INVITATION INTO THE VISCERAL EXPERIENCE OF BEING HUMAN AND TRUST IN GOD ALONG FOR SALVATION AND HOPE IN THE MIDST OF TRIAL (PSALM 62:1-12; ROMANS 5:3-5, MATTHEW 11:28-30).

TODAY, JOHN KASERMAN PREACHED FROM EPHESIANS 5:8-14 AND TAUGHT US WHAT IS MEANS TO “LIVE AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT”. PLEASE SEE VIDEO BELOW FOR THE SERMON THAT JOHN REFERENCED FROM RICK WARREN.

THIS WEEK JOSHUA FLYNT WALKS US THROUGH EPHESIANS 5:3-10, AND HOW SPENDING TIME WITH GOD AND CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF GRATITUDE IN OUR LIVES SETS US FREE FROM SINS THAT CAN SO EASILY ENTANGLE US.

MO BRINGS US BACK INTO EPHESIANS, STARTING WHERE WE LEFT OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF CHAPTER 5. WE TALK ABOUT THE HIGH CALL THAT GOD HAS FOR US TO BE IMITATORS OF HIM AND THAT IT’S ONLY ADTER WE UNDERSTAND AND WALK OUT IN OUR IDENTITY AS BELOVED SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF HIS THAT WE CAN FULFILL THAT CALL.

ON MOTHER’S DAY, LAUREN WILLIAMS WALKS US THROUGH THE EXCHANGE BETWEEN JESUS AND THE RICH, YOUNG RULER. TOGETHER WE CONSIDER GIVING AND GETTING THE WAYS OF THE KINGDOM AND WHAT THIS SHOWS US ABOUT THE GOODNESS OF GOD.

THIS SUNDAY, MARK HEGER UNPACKS THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY, AND EXPLAINS WHO THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AND WHY HE IS IMPORTANT.

TODAY JOHN KASERMAN PREACHED FROM THE BOOK OF JOHN AND THE BOOK OF ACTS. HE ENCOURAGED US TO LONG FOR, LISTEN TO, AND BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THIS EASTER SUNDAY, MARK HEGER WALKS US THROUGH JESUS’ MINISTRY AS TOLD THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JOHN AND SHOWS US WHY EVERY DAY IS “THE GREATEST DAY”.

ON PALM SUNDAY, JOHN KASERMAN PREACHED ON THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF JESUS FROM MATTHEW 21. HE SHOWED US HOW CENTURIES OF PROPHECY WERE FULFILLED IN THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY AND HOW IT WAS A DEMONSTRATION OF GOD’S STEADFAST LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS.

THIS WEEK, JOHN KASERMAN PREACHED OUT OF JOHN 11, THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS. HE SHOWED US THAT EVERYTHING JESUS DOES IS FOR A PURPOSE AND FROM A PLACE OF LOVE. JESUS COMES ALONGSIDE US IN THE PROCESS.

THIS WEEK MARK HEGER CONCLUDES CHAPTER 4 OF EPHESIANS AND EXPLAINS HOW OUR DISOBEDIENCE GRIEVES THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

THIS WEEK WE LOOK AT EPHESIANS 4:25-26 AS JERRY EXPLORES WHAT IT MEANS TO PUT OFF FALSEHOOD AND UNRIGHTEOUS ANGER.

MARK HEGER REJOINS US THIS WEEK AS WE CONTINUE EPHESIANS 4. THIS SUNDAY WE TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION “IF I’M A CHRISTIAN, THEN WHY DO I STILL SIN?”

THIS WEEK JERRY WILLIAMS PREACHES ON EPHESIANS 4:17-24 AND DISCUSSES “WHY WE THINK THE WAY WE THINK”.

TAKING A QUICK BREAK FROM EPHESIANS THIS WEEK, JERRY WILLIAMS SHARES SOME PRACTICAL WAYS TO SPEND TIME WITH GOD, AND THEN WE TAKE SOME MOMENTS TO PRACTICE.

THIS SUNDAY MARK HEGER TALKS ABOUT WHAT MAKES A CHRISTIAN, A LOCAL CHURCH AND THE GREATER UNIVERSAL CHURCH HEALTHY, BY LOOKING AT PAUL’S WORDS IN EPHESIANS 4;14-16.