Praying Up: Our Father

Sermon preached at RUF's Wednesday Night Fellowship on Sep. 5, 2018. In college, lots of us are trying to make a name for ourselves. "Who am I? Who do I want to become?" The good news that comes to us from Gal. 3:26-4:7 is that you don't have to create an identity on your own. You don't need to base your sense of self and self-worth on shaky foundations. Jesus gives us a new, sure and fixed identity, which we receive by faith: beloved son, beloved daughter. As adopted children into the family of God, we have untold access to "our Father." We can come to him, pray to him, and play at his feet at any time. 

"Teach Us to Pray"

Sermon preached at RUF's Wednesday Night Fellowship on August 29, 2018. When the disciples demanded of Jesus, "Teach us to pray," what he gave them and us is a pattern of prayer we know as The Lord's Prayer. It is a prayer in three parts: up, out, and in. We start by looking up, with connection before content, with "our Father."

John 6:51, 60-69: Does This Offend You?

Sermon preached at RUF's Wednesday Night Fellowship on Nov. 8, 2017. Jesus is offensive. His repeated claims to be the one and only heaven-sent Savior of the world offends our pride, our secularism, and our "safe spaces." What are you going to do when you cannot out-alpha the Alpha and Omega? "Are you going to walk away, as well?" Or are you going to receive, submit to, and feast on this "bread of heaven?"

Mark 4:35-41: Why Are You So Afraid?

Sermon preached at RUF's Wednesday Night Fellowship, Oct. 25, 2017. The Christian life is an epic journey with a beginning, middle, and end. Jesus invites you on this journey: "Let us go across to the other side." On this journey, there are forces working against you. But God is on your side! He is with you and for you; He is almighty; and He will see you to your destination. 

John 1:35-42: What Are You Seeking?

Sermon preached at RUF's Wednesday Night Fellowship on Oct. 11, 2017. A journey with Jesus begins with two words: a word of intrigue and a word of invitation. In order to determine whether Jesus is legit or not, we need to step in and spend time with him, not simply listening to other people's words about Jesus but actually attending to the Word of God Himself.  

Isaiah 55:1-5: Why Do You Spend Your Money For That Which Is Not Bread?

Sermon preached at RUF Wednesday Night Fellowship on Oct. 4, 2017. As the Boss put it, "Everybody has a hungry heart." We try to fill the hole in our hearts with LEGOs, fame, fortune, sex, Facebook likes, etc., but at the end of the day we are still hungry, hangry, dissatisfied. It doesn't have to be this way. God has the "food" our heart craves, and it is free! Listen. Come. Eat. Taste and see that the Lord is good!