The Spring Midtown

The story of Moses confronting Pharaoh isn't just ancient history - it's a mirror reflecting our own struggles with pride and hardheartedness. We see how God's invitations to change are met with resistance, not just by Pharaoh, but often in our own lives. The plagues aren't random acts of vengeance, but carefully orchestrated 'de-creation' events, showing the consequences of rejecting God's order. This narrative invites us to examine where we might be refusing God's call to center Him in our lives. Are we, like Pharaoh, hardening our hearts? The message reminds us that God's commands aren't arbitrary rules, but wisdom woven into the fabric of reality. When we reject them, we invite collapse into our lives. Yet, even in judgment, God's ultimate goal is salvation - for the oppressed and, remarkably, even for the oppressors. This story challenges us to see beyond our limited perspectives and recognize a God who is both just and merciful, inviting us into a life of true freedom and flourishing.

This week, Clint brings to the moment of Moses and his encounter with the burning bush. This pivotal moment in Exodus reveals how God breaks into our lives, shattering our paradigms and inviting us into a greater story. We're reminded that God's call isn't about our qualifications, but about His grace and purpose. Just as Moses struggled with insecurity and doubt, we too might question our worthiness. But God doesn't demand perfection; He offers His presence. The burning bush symbolizes how God uses the ordinary to reveal the extraordinary, challenging us to be attentive to His voice in our everyday lives. This message urges us to turn aside from our routines, to create space for God to speak, and to trust that He can use our 'staff' - our skills, experiences, and even our weaknesses - to participate in His work of redemption and justice in the world.

This week, Daniel Barth leads us in an exploration of Exodus 3 where we delve into the profound moment when God reveals His name to Moses through the burning bush. This pivotal encounter reminds us that God often appears in unexpected places and uses unlikely people for His purposes. Just as He called Moses—a failed, forgotten old man—God can use us in our brokenness and searching. The lesson here is clear: our past doesn't disqualify us from God's calling. Instead, it's when we come to the end of ourselves that we're truly ready for God to work through us. This story challenges us to remain open to God's presence in our lives, even in the 'wastelands,' and to trust His timing, which is often different from our own. As we reflect on God's self-revelation as 'I AM,' we're invited to contemplate His eternal nature and self-sufficiency, finding comfort in the fact that the same God who liberated the Israelites is present and active in our lives today.

This week we begin a new sermon series exploring who God is through the lens of Exodus. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to see how this ancient story is not just a historical account, but a mirror of our own spiritual journey. The narrative of Israel's enslavement and liberation becomes a lens through which we can understand God's activity in our lives today. We're challenged to recognize that even in moments of apparent absence, God is working behind the scenes, weaving together a story of redemption. The text reminds us that God often chooses to work through the unexpected and the marginalized, teaching us to look for His presence in unlikely places. This message encourages us to resist cynicism and remember that our seemingly small acts of faithfulness can be pivotal in God's grand narrative. As we reflect on the parallels between Exodus and the life of Jesus, we're called to embrace a larger, truer story – one where we're freed not just from external bondage, but from the internal chains that hold us back from fully experiencing God's love and purpose for our lives.

This week, we wrap up our sermon series Free (From The Power Of) Money as Gayle Parker brings out the point behind the series. She challenges us to examine our relationship with money and how it aligns with our faith, reading from 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, where Paul encourages the Corinthians to give generously, just as the Macedonian churches did despite their extreme poverty. We're reminded that our Lord Jesus, though rich, became poor for our sake - a profound example of divine generosity. The central lesson is clear: if we sow sparingly, we reap sparingly; if we sow bountifully, we reap bountifully. This isn't about prosperity gospel, but about trusting God and participating in His kingdom work. The message urges us to give not out of guilt or compulsion, but cheerfully, as God loves a cheerful giver. Through inspiring stories of unexpected generosity and its ripple effects, we're encouraged to see giving as a declaration of trust in God's provision. This teaching invites us to reflect on our own giving habits and challenges us to step out in faith, knowing that God will multiply our generosity for His kingdom's work.

This week in our Free (From The Power of) Money series, our good friend John Talley III takes us into the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25:14-30, a powerful story that challenges us to examine our faithfulness with God's gifts. This parable isn't just about money; it's about how we steward all that God entrusts to us - our time, talents, and treasures. The master in the story represents God, and we are His servants, each given different 'talents' according to our abilities. The key question we must ask ourselves is: Are we being faithful with what we have? The servants who invested and multiplied their talents were praised, while the one who buried his talent faced severe consequences. This stark contrast urges us to actively use our God-given abilities for His kingdom, rather than hiding them away in fear or laziness. As we reflect on this, let's consider how we're using our skills, resources, and time to glorify God and serve others. Are we picking and choosing what to be faithful with, or are we committed to stewarding everything God has given us?

This week, we dive into Malachi 3 as we are confronted by our relationship to money and possessions through the lens of God's abundance. The prophet Malachi's words serve as a wake-up call, urging us to examine how our financial choices may be 'robbing' God, others, and even ourselves. We're reminded that everything we have is a gift from God, and we're called to be stewards rather than owners. The parable of the abundant party vividly illustrates how scarcity mindsets can lead to hoarding and conflict, even in the midst of plenty. As we reflect on this, we're encouraged to cultivate hearts of generosity, recognizing that our well-being is intimately connected to the flourishing of our neighbors. This message invites us to experience the freedom and joy that come from aligning our financial practices with God's vision of abundance for all.

Free (From The Power of) Money | The Slavery of Money - Matthew 6:19-24 - Clint Leavitt by Midtown Presbyterian Church

We are invited to confront the profound implications of Jesus' resurrection in this year's Easter message. The Gospel of Mark challanges us to examine the historical evidence and consider what it means if this extraordinary event actually occurred. The empty tomb confronts our intellect, stirs our hearts with grace, and inspires hope that transforms how we live. We're reminded that the resurrection isn't just about believing facts, but experiencing a love that outweighs death itself. The message emphasizes that no matter our failures or shame, we're welcomed with open arms by a God whose grace knows no bounds. As we reflect on the disciples' journey from fear to faith, we're encouraged to let our own weaknesses drive us deeper into God's transformative love. This Easter, we're called to embrace the resurrection's power to free us from fear and propel us into a life of purpose, knowing that our actions in God's kingdom ripple into eternity.

Artist Credits: Namaste - Audionautix Lost At Sea - TrackTribe Renunciation - Asher Fulero Prison - Argsound Vishnu - Patrick Patrikios Heartbeat Of The Wind - Asher Fulero Elegy - Asher Fulero Hon Kyoku - Doug Maxwell_ Zac Zinger The Six Realms - I Think I Can Help You Verve - Benjamin Martins Reading Credits: Jordan Ryan Thane Madaline Evalynn And Tobin.

In the final Sunday of our reThink Everything sermon series, culminating on Palm Sunday, we explore how repentance is ultimately a trajectory toward forgiveness. Daniel takes us on a journey through the story of Joseph in Genesis, witnessing how God can transform even the deepest betrayals into opportunities for growth and redemption. Joseph's tale reminds us that forgiveness isn't just about letting go of anger, but about recognizing God's sovereign plan in our lives. As we reflect on Joseph's words, 'What you intended for evil, God intended for good,' we're challenged to see our own hurts through a divine lens. This message encourages us to break free from the chains of resentment and embrace the liberating power of forgiveness. It's a call to trust in God's bigger picture, even when we can't understand the 'why' behind our pain. As we approach Holy Week, let's consider how we can embody Christ-like forgiveness in our own lives, remembering Jesus' words on the cross, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'

In this 5th week in reThinking Everything series, we're challenged to examine what's truly shaping our hearts and minds. Drawing from Colossians 3, we're reminded that transformation in Christ is not just about surface-level changes, but about becoming an entirely new person. The analogy of a secret apartment in a mall vividly illustrates how easily we can let harmful thoughts and habits take up residence in our lives without even realizing it. We're called to 'strip off the old self' and 'clothe ourselves with the new self,' a process that involves both 'digging down' to identify our idols and 'looking up' to set our minds on Christ. This message encourages us to consider: What have we allowed to move into our souls? Are we being transformed by Christ, or unintentionally shaped by the world around us? It's a call to intentional spiritual growth and a reminder that in Christ, we have the power to become the people we were truly meant to be.

This week, we are challenged to rethink our perception of Jesus and His kingdom as we delve into Matthew 16:21-26, where Peter misunderstands Jesus' mission. We're reminded that even when we think we have Jesus figured out, we might be missing crucial aspects of His message. The cross, often seen as a symbol of comfort, is reframed as a call to radical self-denial and sacrificial love. We're invited to consider where we might be putting ourselves in front of Jesus, inadvertently becoming stumbling blocks to His work. The message encourages us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus - not as acts of self-hatred, but as pathways to discovering our true selves. This teaching pushes us to examine our lives and ask: Where do we need to decentralize ourselves and let Jesus be Lord?

This week, we continue our sermon series on Metanoia confronting the pervasive problem of pride in our lives and culture. Drawing from Philippians 2:1-11, we're presented with a radical alternative: Christ-like humility. The passage reveals how our deep-seated insecurity often masquerades as pride, driving us to constantly prove our worth. But true humility, we learn, isn't thinking less of ourselves—it's thinking of ourselves less. Jesus' example of washing His disciples' feet shows us that genuine humility stems from a secure identity in God's love. This teaching invites us to rethink everything, urging us to turn away from self-absorption and towards the interests of others. It's a call to let the transformative power of Christ's sacrificial love melt our hearts and reshape our interactions with the world around us.

reTHINK Everything | The Transformation of the Whole Person - Heart, Mind, Will - Ezekiel 11:16-21 - Tom Parker by Midtown Presbyterian Church

On this first Sunday of Lent, Luke Parker helps us dive into the message of Luke 5:27-32, challenging us to rethink our understanding of repentance and God's grace. The story of Jesus calling Levi, a despised tax collector, reminds us that Christ came for the sick, not the righteous. We're confronted with the uncomfortable truth that it's often the 'good' people who struggle most to accept God's radical love. This message invites us to examine our own hearts: Are we clinging to our righteousness, or are we willing to admit our brokenness and need for Jesus? The parallels drawn between ancient tax collectors and our modern tendency to label and judge others are particularly convicting. As we reflect on this, we're encouraged to see people as Jesus does - not through societal labels, but as individuals in need of God's transformative love. This teaching urges us to embrace true repentance, not as a prerequisite for God's grace, but as our response to His already-offered love.

This Ash Wednesday, we begin the season of Lent with an invitation to rethink everything we thought we knew about God, ourselves, and the world, as we explore the transformational meaning of repentance. The story of Saul's conversion in Acts 9 serves as a compelling illustration of how crisis moments can lead to profound transformation. We're challenged to see our own crises not as obstacles, but as opportunities for growth and change. The message emphasizes three key elements of transformation: confrontation, darkness, and conversion. By embracing these elements, we open ourselves to God's work in our lives, allowing Him to reshape our understanding and redirect our paths. This teaching encourages us to be honest about our struggles, to let go of our certainties, and to trust in God's ability to transform even the most unlikely candidates for His kingdom.

As we wrap up our teaching series, A Link in the Chain, Romans 12:1-2 challenges us to consider what it truly means to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This powerful passage urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. But what does this look like in our daily lives? It's about shifting our focus from a 'my way' mentality to one that seeks God's will. We're reminded that everyone sacrifices to something - whether it's career, relationships, or comfort. The question is: what are we sacrificing to, and how is it shaping us? By offering ourselves as living sacrifices to Christ, we open the door to true transformation. This isn't about willpower, but about positioning ourselves close to the source of love and life. Like plants growing in the right conditions, we flourish when we create space for God's presence in our lives. This transformation isn't just spiritual - it's meant to be embodied in how we live, work, and interact with others. As we reflect on God's mercies, we find the energy for this transformed life, becoming living testimonies of Christ's love in a world hungry for meaning and purpose.

Link in the Chain | A Life Bigger Than Our Own - Luke 10:1-12, 17-22 - Clint Leavitt by Midtown Presbyterian Church

Jackie Parks, pastor of South Scottsdale Presbyterian church, invites us to rethink our understanding of love through the lens of God's radical, life-changing love. Drawing from 1 John 4:7-21, we're reminded that "God is love" and that we're called to reflect His love by loving others. This isn't just sentimental or convenient love—it's agape love, selfless and sacrificial. The parable of the Good Samaritan brings this to life, showing that true love is bold, inconvenient, and costly. Following Jesus means allowing Him to "rearrange the furniture" of our lives, challenging us to step beyond our comfort zones and embody His love in tangible ways. This message encourages us to examine how we're living out God's mission and whether our lives truly reflect the power of His transformative love.

In this powerful message, we're reminded of the transformative power of sincere faith and how it can spark spiritual fires in our lives and the lives of others. Through the lens of 2 Timothy 1:1-7, we explore how retaining sincere faith, reading what God is already doing, remembering that little things are big things, and rekindling the gifts of God can make us effective links in God's redemptive chain. The story of C.S. Lewis's conversion illustrates how ordinary conversations and friendships can lead to extraordinary spiritual awakenings. We're challenged to live as 'anti-hypocrites,' embodying our faith in every aspect of our lives, and to recognize that God is already at work in the world around us. This message encourages us to see the profound impact of small, faithful actions and to embrace our role as 'fire starters' in God's kingdom, igniting spiritual transformation in our communities.

In this powerful message, we're challenged to examine our role as Christians in a world filled with diverse beliefs and idols. Drawing from Paul's encounter in Athens in Acts 17, we're reminded that our faith isn't meant to be a private affair, but a transformative force in every aspect of culture. Just as Paul went to the marketplace, we're called to immerse ourselves in our communities, workplaces, and social spaces. The key lesson here is that authentic faith in Jesus propels us into every arena of our culture, living as different sorts of people there. We're encouraged to see beyond the surface, recognizing that everyone worships something, even if it's not a physical idol. This insight invites us to approach our neighbors with compassion, understanding their deepest longings and anxieties. As we engage with our culture, we're challenged to feel deeply distressed about the brokenness around us, yet move towards our neighbors in love, avoiding both outright condemnation and uncritical affirmation.

In this powerful exploration of John 3:1-17, we delve into the profound concept of being 'born again.' This familiar phrase takes on new depth as we examine Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus, a respected religious leader. We're challenged to reconsider our cultural understanding of rebirth, moving beyond mere emotional experiences or rigid moral structures. Instead, we're invited to embrace a fundamental transformation that transcends our accomplishments, status, or background. The story of the bronze serpent from Numbers serves as a poignant symbol, pointing to Christ's redemptive work on the cross. As we reflect on this, we're encouraged to see our own need for continual renewal and to trust in God's love rather than our own efforts. This message reminds us that no matter where we are in life, we all need this divine rebirth – a grace-filled invitation to see and enter the Kingdom of God.

In this powerful exploration of what it truly means to be the church, we're challenged to rethink our understanding of Christian community. The early church, as depicted in Acts 2:37-47, shows us a radically different way of living - one marked by inclusive fellowship, sacrificial generosity, and a transformative encounter with Jesus. We're reminded that the church isn't just a building or a tradition, but a diverse family united by Christ's love. The early believers' practice of breaking bread together serves as a powerful symbol of this unity, challenging us to open our own tables and hearts to those around us. As we reflect on this, we're invited to consider: How can we embody this kind of community in our own lives? How might our tables become places of radical welcome and spiritual transformation?

In this powerful exploration of worry and anxiety, we delve into Jesus' teachings from Matthew 6:25-34. The message challenges us to reconsider our priorities and trust in God's providence. We're reminded that worry often stems from misplaced priorities and attempts to control the uncontrollable. By striving first for God's kingdom, we can find peace amidst life's uncertainties. The imagery of birds and flowers serves as a poignant reminder of God's care for all creation, encouraging us to trust in His provision. This teaching invites us to examine our hearts, identify our true treasures, and align our lives with God's purposes. As we shift our focus from worldly concerns to eternal values, we can experience the freedom and peace that comes from fully trusting in God's plan for our lives.

Link in the Chain | The Message, The Means, and the Mission - Mark 1:14-20 - Clint Leavitt by Midtown Presbyterian Church

In this profound exploration of worship, we're invited to reflect on what truly holds the highest worth in our lives. The concept of 'worth-ship' challenges us to examine our priorities and recognize that everyone worships something. As we journey through this message, we're reminded of the importance of remembrance in our spiritual lives. The Bible mentions 'remember' or 'do not forget' over 500 times, emphasizing its significance in our walk with God. We're encouraged to practice intentional reflection, allowing ourselves to recognize God's presence in our daily lives. Through stories of fellow believers, we witness how slowing down, embracing Sabbath, and finding moments of solitude can deepen our connection with God. These practices help us combat the hurried nature of our culture and refocus on what truly matters. As we approach a new year, let's consider how we can incorporate these spiritual disciplines to grow closer to God and live out our faith more authentically.

We are reminded that the true meaning of Advent and Christmas goes far beyond the festive imagery we're accustomed to as Luke Parker shares what John has to say in this powerful message. The Book of Revelation offers us a startling, awe-inspiring vision of Christ that challenges our comfortable notions. We're introduced to Jesus as the majestic 'Son of Man,' holding stars in His hand and speaking with a voice like rushing waters. This imagery, drawn from Revelation 1:9-20, presents Christ not as a helpless babe, but as the all-powerful, glorified Lord. The message encourages us to trust in this Jesus who is in absolute control, even when we feel isolated or in misery. Just as John received this vision while exiled on Patmos, we too can find hope and strength in the midst of our personal struggles. This Christmas, let's look beyond the familiar trappings and see the cosmic significance of Christ's coming – a reminder that He holds the keys to death and Hades, and that the end of the story has already been written in our favor.

In this powerful message, we're reminded that even in our darkest moments, hope is never lost. The story of Jesus' resurrection in Matthew 28 serves as a profound metaphor for the transformation possible in our own lives. Just as Mary Magdalene and the other Mary approached the tomb in despair, we often face situations that seem hopeless. But the earthquake, the angel, and the empty tomb remind us that God's power can shake our world in unexpected ways. The central theme is clear: Jesus is on the move, already ahead of us, bringing new life where we least expect it. This isn't just about believing in a historical event; it's about recognizing the resurrected Christ at work in our everyday lives. We're challenged to look beyond our 'tombs' – our struggles, doubts, and fears – and seek Jesus in the ordinary moments of our days. This message encourages us to live with hope, knowing that no stone is too heavy for God to roll away, and that resurrection power is available to us here and now.

During this second Sunday of Advent, we delve into the profound concept of being 'born again' as described in John 3. Far from being a mere emotional experience or adherence to strict moral codes, Jesus presents this rebirth as a complete reinvention of self, necessary for everyone regardless of their perceived righteousness. The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a respected religious leader, serves as a poignant reminder that even those who seem most put-together need this radical change. We're challenged to consider where in our lives we've been striving for reinvention through our own efforts, only to find ourselves still in darkness. The good news is that this transformation comes from beyond us, changes how we see the world, and gives us a new identity rooted in God's love. As we position ourselves to receive this new life, we're invited to let go of our anxious grasping and trust in the work of God within us.

In this powerful exploration of the Christmas story, we're challenged to look beyond the familiar nativity scenes and confront the radical nature of God becoming human. The passage from Matthew 1 reveals the profound truth of 'Emmanuel' - God with us. This isn't just a comforting sentiment, but a life-altering reality that demands our response. We're reminded that Joseph's decision to marry Mary, despite the scandal, was based on his encounter with this incredible truth. The message invites us to wrestle with our own understanding of who Jesus is and how that shapes our lives. In a world plagued by loneliness and weariness, we're offered the transformative hope that we are not alone - the Creator of the universe has drawn near to us in the most intimate way possible. This challenges us to examine our busyness, our preconceptions about God, and our willingness to humbly receive Him. As we reflect on this, we're encouraged to cultivate attentiveness to God's presence in our daily lives, recognizing that our response to 'God with us' can lead to profound personal transformation and a deeper, more vibrant faith.

In this powerful message, we're invited to explore what it truly means to create a masterpiece with our lives. Drawing inspiration from O. Henry's 'The Last Leaf', we're challenged to reconsider our definition of success and significance. The story reminds us that our greatest impact often comes not from grand achievements, but from small acts of sacrificial love. As we delve into Romans 16, we discover a beautiful tapestry of diverse individuals united in Christ. This passage reveals that the true masterpiece of our lives is found in how we love and serve others, breaking down societal barriers and embracing the equality of all believers. We're encouraged to see ourselves as part of this grand masterpiece, where our individual brushstrokes contribute to a larger, more beautiful picture of God's love in action.

Sermon show notes for podcast and YouTube: 1. “The nature of faith is to live constantly out of tune with the world as it is presently, and constantly in tune with the way God intends it to be.” -N.T. Wright, “Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship” 2. “Christianity stands or falls by its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness, and pride of power, and by its witness for the weak. I feel that Christianity is doing too little in making these points rather than doing too much. Christianity has adjusted itself much too easily to the worship of power. It should give much more offense, more shock to the world, than it is doing. Christianity should take a much more definite stand for the weak than for the potential moral right of the strong.” --Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “My Strength Is Made Perfect in Weakness” 3. “If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?” -Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, “The Gulag Archipelago” 4. “We must not be frightened nor cajoled into accepting evil as deliverance from evil. We must go on struggling to be human, though monsters of abstractions police and threaten us. Reclaim now, now renew the vision of a human world where godliness is possible and man is permitted to be man.” -Robert Hayden, “Collected Poems” 5. Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo

Sermon Resources: 1. “We demand too much of life, too little of ourselves…In the last twenty-five years, the patient increasingly confronts the psychiatrist not with well-defined symptoms of their personal difficulties but with their dissatisfactions about life. He does not suffer from fixations or phobias or nervous ailments or emotional immaturity; instead he complains "of vague, diffuse dissatisfactions with life.” He describes "subtly experienced yet pervasive feelings of emptiness and depression," "violent oscillations of self-esteem," and "a general inability to get along." He gains "a sense of heightened self-esteem only by attaching himself to strong, admired figures whose acceptance he craves and by whom he needs to feel supported." He depends on others to validate his self-esteem, and yet happiness eludes him.” --Dr. Christopher Lasch, “The Culture of Narcissism” 2. “Life became dangerous; The day we all became famous; No one cares if you're happy; Just as long as you claim it; How can we change this? The day we all became famous; No one cares if you have it Just as long they think you do; I don't need the word, just need you to think I said it; I don't need to learn, just need you to think I get it; I don't need the sermon, just need you to think I read it.” -Jon Bellion, "The Internet" 3. “Pride is the beginning of sin. And what is pride but the craving for undue exaltation. It is the abandoning of God to whom the soul ought to cling as its source of life and to imagine itself instead as the source of its own life.” -Augustine, "City of God" 4. “How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any notice of me, or shove off? The point is that each person's pride is in competition with everyone else's pride. It is because I wanted to be the focus of things that I am so annoyed at someone else being the focus. Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer, or better-looking than others.” -C.S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity" 5. “For a very long time I considered low self-esteem to be some kind of virtue. I had been warned so often against pride and conceit that I came to consider it a good thing to deprecate myself. But now I realize that the real sin is to deny God's first love for me, to ignore my original goodness. Because without claiming that first love and that original goodness for myself, I lose touch with my true self and embark on the destructive search among the wrong people and in the wrong places for what can only be found in the house of my Father.” -Henri Nouwen, "Life of the Beloved"

Sermon Resources: Scripture References: Genesis 38-50, Nehemiah 1-5, Luke 12:13-20, Matthew 16:25 1. “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”--Frodo Baggins and Gandalf The Grey, "The Lord of the Rings" 2. "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." -Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Strength To Love"

For Such A Time As This | Prideful Influence - Esther 2:19 - 3:15 - Daniel Barth by Midtown Presbyterian Church

For Such A Time As This | Complexity Of The Issues - Esther 2:1-18 - Gabby Gustafson by Midtown Presbyterian Church

Sermon Notes: 1. Pew study on Post-Christendom: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/modeling-the-future-of-religion-in-america/ 2. “The church is one of those former power brokers who once enjoyed a place of influence at the cultural table, but has been chased away from its place of privilege and is now seeking to find where it belongs amidst the ever-changing dynamics of contemporary culture.” -The Church in Exile: "Living in Hope After Christendom" 3. “The most important thing in your life is not what you do. It is who you become.” -Dallas Willard 4. “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.” -Mother Teresa 5. Story of Edward Kimball: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Kimball_(teacher)

The Search | Proclaiming Living Water - John 4:28-30, 39-42 - Luke Parker by Midtown Presbyterian Church

The Search | What's Driving You? - John 4:27, 31-38 - Gayle Parker by Midtown Presbyterian Church

Sermon Resources: Scripture References - Amos 5:24, Jeremiah 7:1-11, John 14:6 1. “When the Patient goes inside the church building, he will see the local grocer with a rather oily expression on his face bustling up to offer him one shiny little book containing a liturgy which neither of them understands, and one shabby little book containing texts of a number of religious lyrics, mostly bad, and in very small print. When he gets to his pew and looks round him he sees just that selection of his neighbors he has previously avoided. You want to lean pretty heavily on those neighbors…Provided that any of them sing out of tune, or have boots that squeak, or double chins, or odd clothes, the Patient will quite easily believe that their religion must therefore be somehow ridiculous. Work hard on the disappointment or anti-climax which is certainly coming to the patient during his first few weeks as a church-going man.” -C.S. Lewis, "The Screwtape Letters" 2. “Make your patient a taster or connoisseur of churches. The perpetual search for a “suitable” church makes the man a critic where the Enemy wants him to be a pupil [remember, Enemy in the demon's eyes is God]. So bestir yourself and send this fool around all the neighborhood churches as soon as possible…And then, if your patient can't be kept out of the church, he ought at least to be violently attached to some party within it. I don't mean on really doctrinal issues; about those, the more lukewarm he is the better. The real fun is working up hatred between those who say “mass” and those who say “holy communion” when neither party could possibly state the difference in any form which would hold water for five minutes. And all the purely indifferent things–candles and clothes and what not–are an admirable ground for our activities.” -C.S. Lewis, "The Screwtape Letters" 3. “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” -Henry David Thoreau, "Walden" 4. “In the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshiping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” -David Foster Wallace, "This Is Water" 5. “The world is not divided between people who worship and people who don't. The world is divided into people who worship things that will distort their life, and people who worship the only object worthy of the adoration of our soul.” -Tim Keller 6. “If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Sermon Resources: Scriptures - John 4, John 2:24-26, John 19:28 1. “Our stories are all stories of longing. We long for a good self to be and for good work to do. We long to become human in a world that tempts us always to be less than human or looks to us to be more. We long to love and to be loved. And in a world where it is often hard to believe in much of anything, we long to believe in something holy and beautiful and life-transcending that will give meaning and purpose to the lives we live…The word longing comes from the same root as the word long in the sense of length in either time or space and also the word belong, so that in its full richness to long suggests to yearn for a long time for something that is a long way off and something that we feel we belong to and that belongs to us.” -Frederick Buechner, "The Longing For Home" 2. “The main emotion of the adult American who has had all the advantages of wealth, education, and culture is disappointment.” -John Cheever 3. “Religion has accepted the monstrous heresy that noise, size, activity and bluster make a man dear to God.” -A.W. Tozer, "The Pursuit of God" 4. “Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or to be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country.” -C.S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity" 5. “You have made us for Yourself; and our hearts are restless until they find rest in You.” -Augustine of Hippo

Sermon Resources: 1. Franz Jägerstätter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_J%C3%A4gerst%C3%A4tter 2. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead 3. “For the growing good of the world is dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs." -George Eliot, "Middlemarch" 4. “If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them, and this will lead us to prayer. Intercession is a way of loving others…it is selfless prayer, even self-giving prayer. In the ongoing work of the kingdom of God, nothing is more important than intercession.” -Richard Foster, "Prayer" 5. "On The Powers of Simple Medicine," by Galen 6. “In careful scientific studies, forgiveness has been shown to reduce depression, increase hopefulness, decrease anger, improve spiritual connection, and increase self-confidence.” -Fred Luskin, "Forgive For Good: A Proven Prescription For Health and Happiness" 7. “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” -Brennan Manning

Sermon Resources: Scripture References - John 8:31-32, John 14:6, Deuteronomy 23:21-23, Ecclesiastes 5:4, Psalm 50:14, Matthew 5:34-37, Luke 16:10 1. "Spin Room" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spin_room 2. “There is perhaps nothing that so marks us as human as the gift of speech…By speaking, we can reveal the hiddenness of thought, we can express the subtlest as well as the most devastating of emotions, we can heal, we can make poems, we can pray. All of which is to say we can speak truth—the truth of what it is to be ourselves, to be with each other, to be in the world—and such speaking as that is close to what being human is all about. What makes lying an evil is not only that the world is deceived by it, but that we are dehumanized by it.” -Frederick Buechner, "Wishful Thinking" 3. "The essence of swearing that Jesus targets here is about invoking something or someone else, especially God, to make your own words more significant or weighty. The aim is to impress others with your seriousness or piety so that you get what you want. It's a device of manipulation designed to override the judgment or input of others in order to possess them for our purposes. It's manipulation, or, as we say in our culture, “spin.” And Jesus says it's evil. Instead of loving and honoring others with truthfulness, the intent is to get one's way by verbal manipulation of the thoughts and choices of others.” -Dallas Willard, "The Divine Conspiracy" 4. “The tendency to lie is absolutely natural in the child, and if not checked, leads to deeper and deeper evil. That children lie, steal, cheat, and want to make reality what they want it to be is routinely observable. The fact that some people grow into honest adults is absolutely remarkable.” -M. Scott Peck, "People of the Lie" 5. "Just as forgiveness is the one way to be free from your painful past, so promising is the only way to be free from your unpredictable future. But it is not only that I know myself in the mirror of my promises. My people, the ones who belong to me, who depend on me, also know me by the promises I have made. What I promise is what I am and will be to them. Only if they really know what I am can they live with me in trust. They know me in the important way, not by reading my therapist's notes, but by knowing my power to keep promises.” -Lewis Smedes, "Controlling The Unpredictable"

Sermon Resources: Scripture References: James 5:1-11; Luke 12:15; Luke 6:20; Mark 10:24-25; Matt. 6:19-21; Proverbs 23:4-5; Proverbs 6:8 1. "God and Mammon in America," by Robert Wuthnow; additional study: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-24-me-42320-story.html 2. “We live in a materialist culture, we want money and possessions, and very few people have heard a powerful voice telling them to resist those impulses, or how to resist those impulses. Organized religion has not done a good job of challenging people to examine their lifestyles.The point isn't that we are all just strapped. It's a matter of making moral choices about how we use our resources.” -Robert Wuthnow, "God and Mammon In America" 3. Data on the wealth of Americans: https://www.sportofmoney.com/how-rich-are-americans-on-a-global-scale-very-rich/#:~:text=39%25%20of%20the%20world%27s%20millionaires,share%20is%20at%20%24145.8%20trillion. 4. “Upward mobility often ends not in satisfaction and peace, but in exhaustion, disappointment, and emptiness.” -Robert C. Roberts, "Just A Little Bit More" 5. “When success is equated with excess, the ambition for excess wrecks us.” -Jon Foreman, "American Dream" 6. “Riches are, from a biblical point of view, an affliction, a massive obstacle in entering the Kingdom of Heaven.” -Alasdair MacIntyre 7. “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.” -C.S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity" 8. “God has not appointed gold for rust, nor garments for moths; but, on the contrary, he has designed them as aids and helps to human life.” -John Calvin

Sermon Resources: 1. “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.” -Ecclesiastes 1:8 2. “Desire alone, of acquiring goods and possessions for ourselves and our nearest friends, is insatiable, perpetual, universal.” -David Hume, "A Treatise of Human Nature" 3. "I can't get no satisfaction." -Mick Jagger, "Satisfaction" 4. “In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by a relatively small number of persons who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.” -Edward Bernays, "Propaganda" 5. “Our enormously productive economy demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption…The greater the pressures upon the individual to conform to safe and accepted social standards, the more he tends to express his aspirations and his individuality in terms of what he wears, drives, eats, his home, his car, his food, his hobbies. We need things consumed, burned up, worn out, replaced, and discarded at an ever-increasing pace. We need to have people eat, drink, ride, live with ever more complicated and, therefore, constantly more expensive consumption. ” -Victor Lebow, "The Journal of Retailing: 1955" 6. Harvest Queen vs. Homecoming Queen: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1991/november-25/murder-envy-and-harvest-princess-what-really-poisoned.html&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1723312423553888&usg=AOvVaw1ZO4y_-tCOr2mrBn_u6LFG 7. “We have tended to turn the Christian faith into a relationship with a God who is the divine vending machine in the sky, there to meet our every want. Unhappy? Unattractive? Unsuccessful? Unmarried? Unfulfilled? Come to Christ and he'll give you all these things you asked for. We forget that God is not primarily in the business of meeting our wants. When we make him out to be, we squeeze him out of his rightful place at the center of our lives, and we put ourselves in his place. God is in the business of being God - of redeeming and restoring and forgiving and healing and loving. Christianity cannot be reduced to meeting peoples' wants, and when we make it so, we invariably distort the Gospel message.” -David Henderson, "Culture Shift" 8. "I Will Never Cast Out," by John Bunyan 9. Examen resource: https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/

The Great Con | Wisdom is from the World - James 3:13-18 - Daniel Barth by Midtown Presbyterian Church

Sermon Resources: 1.  https://www.billboard.com/lists/drake-kendrick-lamar-beef-timeline/ 2. "...it is James' conviction that teaching is a dangerous occupation for any man. His instrument is speech and his agent the tongue." -William Barclay, DSB on James 3. "Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it." - J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 4. "We really don't have to know what the devil sounds like to recognize his voice, we just have to listen to how we talk to and about our neighbors." -Jackie Hill Perry

The Great Con | Spirituality Is Individual - James 2:14-26 - Clint Leavitt by Midtown Presbyterian Church

Sermon Resources: 1. “Hostility isn't integral to the definition of discrimination; you can treat people differently without being hostile to anyone. But it is important to understand how discrimination can occur both without hostility and without any intent to discriminate.” -Tony Greenwald, "Favoritism–Not Hostility–Causes Most Discrimination" 2. “This is God's chosen lot. He had one opportunity only of living our life, and He chose to be born of parents too poor to present more than two doves at his presentation in the temple.” -F.B. Meyer 3. Stories on NY Church: https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/02/carl-lentz-and-the-trouble-at-hillsong; https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/us/carl-lentz-hillsong-pastor.html; https://pagesix.com/2020/12/28/hillsong-church-operated-like-a-nightclub 4. “How terribly, then, have the theologians misrepresented God…Nearly all of them represent him as a great King on a grand throne, thinking how grand he is, and making it the business of his being and the end of his universe to keep up his glory, wielding the bolts of a Jupiter against them that take his name in vain. But brothers, have you found our king? There he is, honoring and kissing little children and saying they are like God. There he is at table with the head of a fisherman lying on his bosom, and somewhat heavy at heart that even he, the beloved disciple, cannot yet understand him well. The simplest peasant who loves his children and his sheep is the true type of our God beside that monstrosity of a monarch.” -George Macdonald, "Christ In Creation"

The Great Con | Anger = Righteousness - James 1:19-20 - Tom Parker by Midtown Presbyterian Church