Sanctuary Video Podcast

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Have you ever been asked to trust someone based only on their word? Maybe you wanted proof before believing, or you felt doubt creeping in. Taking someone at their word can feel risky, especially when the stakes are high.  In this sermon, we continue our series on the miracles of Jesus in the Gospel of John by exploring the story of a man in desperate need who has every reason to doubt a promise from Jesus—a royal official whose son is dying. When he asks Jesus to come with him to heal the boy, Jesus tells him to go back on his own and that his son will live. Should he trust Jesus or not? His response might be just what we need when we're looking for a miracle of our own.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Do you believe in miracles? Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. But most of us have found ourselves praying for one in those moments when we desperately need something extraordinary to happen. The Gospel of John records seven miracles Jesus performed to reveal his divine purpose and authority on the way to Jerusalem. Over the next few weeks leading up to Easter, we’ll take a look at several of these to learn more about the nature of miracles and what they reveal about Jesus’ character. In this sermon, we begin with Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding. What does this miracle reveal about Jesus’ heart and power? And how does it shape our understanding of what he wants to do in our lives? Join us as we explore the first of many powerful miracles and discover how they speak to us today.  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. We all wrestle with questions of identity and worth—who we are, what defines us, and whether we measure up. But from the very beginning, God declared our worth. Made in God’s image, we were created to reflect His love and goodness to the world. Yet, we often try to earn our place with God or define ourselves by other metrics: our achievements, the approval of others, or what we accumulate.  What if God’s love isn’t transactional but freely given? What if our worth isn’t based on what we do but on who we are to God? In this sermon, we will look to Scripture and the Easter story to uncover the powerful truth about how God really sees us and what that means for our lives.  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. We’ve all felt that sinking feeling of regret after making a mistake. But how often do we fail to turn that regret into real change through repentance? Repentance can feel like a daunting religious word, particularly if you’ve heard it in a “fire and brimstone” context. But what if repentance isn’t as intimidating as we think? What if it’s not just about owning our guilt, but experiencing life on the other side?  In Hebrew, the word for repent, shuv, simply means “to turn back.” It is an invitation to leave behind the things that keep us stuck and move toward renewal. This sermon explores the life-changing power of repentance, and if you’ve ever been stuck on a path you know isn’t right, this message is for you.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection guide. What if God is calling you to something bigger than your resources? Oftentimes, we let limitations—money, time, ability—dictate what we think is possible. But what if God is ready to provide in a way we never could have expected, if we will only step out in faith? Twenty-five years ago, asking this question changed the course of our church. It led us to launch Belong Disability Ministry, which has changed our community for the better. It has changed the way we think, the way we act, and our understanding of hospitality. In this sermon, we celebrate what God has done through Belong and challenge ourselves to consider: Where might God be calling us to trust Him beyond our limitations? And who else might God be calling us to show hospitality to, breaking down any barriers so they can find a place to belong as valuable members of God’s family?

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Why do bad things happen to good people? This is a question humans have been asking for millennia. Whether it’s illness, injustice, or a natural disaster, personal and global suffering often leaves us wondering, “How could a good and powerful God allow this?” In this sermon, we will explore some of the causes of suffering and wrestle with the tension of holding onto God’s goodness while facing these harsh realities. With Psalm 69 as our guide, we’ll discover that God invites us to bring our rawest emotions and questions to Him and gives us hope, even when the world doesn’t make sense.  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. There is nothing like fulfilling a dream! It feels magical when all your plans and hard work bring you to the finish line of something you’ve always wanted. But what do you do when you hit a dead end and your hard work adds up to nothing? Or worse, what do you do when your dream shatters before your eyes?  Last week, we talked about meeting God amid the pain of broken dreams. This week, we explore some practical ways we can face those broken dreams and invite God into the process of restoration. When life doesn’t go as we planned, it’s easy to hold onto bitterness or scramble to fix things on our own. But God invites us to a different response: surrender. When we release our struggles and disappointments into His hands, we make room for His greater plan to unfold.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide There is nothing like fulfilling a dream! It feels magical when all of your plans and hard work bring you to the finish line of something you’ve always wanted. But what do you do when you hit a dead end and your hard work adds up to nothing? Or worse, what do you do when your dream shatters before your eyes?  In this sermon, we get honest about the pain of broken dreams, which can leave us devastated and disillusioned. We explore the story of two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24 who were heartbroken after their dreams of a conquering Messiah fell apart. Just as Jesus walked alongside them in their grief, God meets us in our own disappointment.  Even when all hope seems lost, He can do something far greater than we ever imagined, and make us stronger at the broken places.  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Dreams unlock our potential. When God plants them in our hearts, He equips each of us with a unique set of skills and gifts to pursue them. But turning those God-given dreams into reality is difficult. It’s one thing to believe that dreams are from God and carry power; it’s another to stay committed to them through setbacks. If God gives us dreams, why are they so hard to achieve? What steps can we take to see them through? This week, we will explore what it really takes to bring a dream to life and how we can embrace the challenges along the way.  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear? Jesus frequently asked this question of the crowds that gathered to listen to him—not because he doubted whether they were paying attention but because he wanted to know if their hearts were open to receive his message.  Many who had the chance to meet Jesus in person and ask him questions either dismissed him or saw him as a threat. They wrote off the Son of God, even though he was right in their midst. In his parable about a Pharisee whose confidence blinded him and a tax collector whose humble heart allowed him to truly see, Jesus shows us that those who are most at risk of missing God are the ones who think they have Him all figured out.  We all have assumptions about who God is and how He works, but what happens when these assumptions limit how we encounter God? In this sermon, we’ll reflect on spiritual blind spots and consider how embracing childlike humility can open us to the surprising ways God works in our