Eph. 5:1-14: Relating to Our Growth

Sermon preached at RUF’s Wednesday Night Fellowship on Feb. 6, 2019. The point of our creation, salvation, restoration is Christlikeness—being fully human, someone who images/imitates God as a dearly beloved child. Our growth into Christlikeness is a process—a walk, not a snap of the finger or wave of the wand. We grow in the light—i.e., in the context of loving, supportive, life-giving and life-saving relationships.

John 1:35-42: Relating To Our Self

Sermon preached at RUF’s Wednesday Night Fellowship on January 30, 2019. Who am I? What does it mean to be me? The names we are called (by our parents, on the playground) profoundly shape how we see our self and self-worth. That so much power exists outside of our control freaks us out. In a desire for autonomy and even self-protection, we try to make a name for ourselves. We do this primarily through our performance (e.g., resume building) and/or our preferences (e.g., being authentic). This approach has problems of its own: 1) if we attach our self/worth to our success (and failures) we feel good when we are winning and awful when we are not; 2) we can make ourselves judge and jury of our self/worth but we are our own harshest critic; 3) because we are made in the image of a Triune God, we are (by design) dependent on other voices telling us we are good, beautiful, etc. Attempts to create a sense of self/worth independent of the estimation of others is doomed for failure. This brings us back to square one. We need someone from the outside-in to instill in us a sense of self/worth. That is a lot of power to be sure, so we need to be careful who we cede that power to. Only God should have that right: 1) because he knows us better than anyone else (including ourselves), and 2) he loves us. He calls us child, friend, beloved, “mine.”

Gen. 1:26; 1 John 4:18-19: Why Relationships

Sermon preached at RUF’s Wednesday Night Fellowship on January 16, 2019. The quality of our life is best measured by the quality of our relationships—relationships Jesus has come to make healthy, whole and right again—our relationship with God, our self, with others, and with the world around us. In this introduction to our semester-long series on relationships, we ask the all important question: “Why?” Why are relationships so fundamental to our well-being? And if they are so vital, why are we so anxious and afraid of getting close?

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.