This sermon tackles the difficult and sensitive topic of divorce and remarriage as addressed by Jesus in Mark 10. The sermon highlights that Jesus's teaching is not a set of general rules but a lesson in discipleship, calling followers to pursue God's design for marriage. Jesus points back to the beginning of creation, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, and that a follower of Christ should tenderheartedly pursue their spouse’s flourishing. The sermon acknowledges that we all have a story of divorce and offers specific guidance for those who are single, divorced, or married, emphasizing that Jesus offers grace and wholeness to all. It concludes with a powerful illustration of communion as a marriage covenant offered by Jesus.

I unpack:

• The context behind the Pharisees' question about divorce, revealing it as a test for Jesus rooted in their hard-heartedness.
• How Jesus reorients the conversation back to God's original design for marriage as a lifelong covenant, not a contract to be broken for any reason.
• The high calling for all believers—single, married, or divorced—to tenderheartedly pursue marital flourishing, whether in their own relationships or in supporting others.

📖 Key Passage: Mark 10:1-12
🎧 Listen and reflect: A married congregant once said that marriage may not always be happy, but it can always be redemptive. What is one way you can be redemptive in your relationships this week?

This lecture, from the "Belong" core class, traces the meaning of hope from Genesis to the modern day, explaining what it means for the church to embody hope and be the hope of the world. The lecture defines Christian hope as a confident expectation rooted in the faithfulness of God. It contrasts this with worldly expectations, which are often based on past experiences. The lecture demonstrates how this type of hope has been present throughout the history of God's people, from Abraham's unwavering belief in God's promises to the people of Israel's confident expectation of a Messiah. This hope finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus and is now a "living hope" for the church, empowering us to become a safe refuge for the world.

I unpack:

• The distinction between worldly expectation and biblical hope, defining Christian hope as confidence in God's faithfulness.
• How God's people in the Old Testament expected hope, while those in the New Testament experienced it through Jesus.
• How the church today is called to embody a living hope and become a safe refuge for the weary and oppressed.

📖 Key Passage: Romans 4:17-21
🎧 Listen and reflect: The sermon challenges us to consider what we would do differently if we had radical hope in God's promises. What is one tangible action you can take tomorrow that demonstrates this kind of hope?

This episode introduces the "Belong" core class with a biblical theology of belonging rooted in the Trinity. The lecture explains that the church family is a community devoted to one another in love, meeting regularly to encourage unity, support, and good works. This devotion and love find their ultimate expression in the Trinity, where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have existed in a triune fellowship of love from all eternity. The sermon argues that God, out of the abundance of this love, created humanity to share in that relationship and calls the church to be a reflection of that love. Viewing community through this Trinitarian lens redeems our sense of significance, peace, work, and relationships.

I unpack:

• A definition of Christian community as a place of mutual devotion and love, which serves to foster unity, support, and good works.
• How the Triune God's perfect fellowship of love is the foundation and model for human belonging and community.
• The four areas of life—significance, peace, work, and relationships—that are redeemed when we view our lives and community through a Trinitarian lens.

📖 Key Passage: John 17:20-23
🎧 Listen and reflect: The lecture asks if your community is so powerful that the world can see the glory of Christ through your unity and love for one another. What is one way you can actively demonstrate this love in your own community this week?

This sermon, Case Law, preached on August 3, 2025 at Christ Community's Olathe Campus, examines Exodus 21-24 with a focus on 21:1-11. It's the tenth message in the "Exodus: Yahweh Rescues" series, addressing challenging laws for human flourishing in a broken world.

I unpack:

• The difference between apodictic (absolute) and case laws (conditional), showing these as responses to poverty, not endorsements of slavery.
• How Yahweh's rules dignify the vulnerable, promote justice patiently, and point to redemption in Christ.
• Practical wisdom like "do for one what you wish for everyone" for pursuing proximate justice today.

This message, a tough topic at a new campus, taught me to confront cultural tensions head-on, influencing how I now prepare for sensitive biblical issues. I hope it equips you to read hard passages with hope, seeing God's care for justice and dignity.

📖 Key Passage: Exodus 21:1–11
🎧 Listen and reflect: How can I pursue proximate justice for the vulnerable in my own community today?

This sermon, Plagues and Confrontation, preached on June 22, 2025 at Christ Community's Shawnee Campus, delves into Exodus 4:27-10:29 with a focus on 6:1-11. It's the fourth message in the "Exodus: Yahweh Rescues" series, examining God's mighty acts against oppression.

I unpack:

• How the plagues reveal Yahweh's personal, limitless power—unlike human or natural forces—to judge evil and redeem His people.
• The pattern of confrontation, warnings, and Pharaoh's hardened heart, showing God's sovereignty.
• Parallels to Jesus' signs and wonders, culminating in the cross as ultimate judgment and rescue.

This message, drawing from personal reflections on earthquakes and Marvel films, helped me appreciate God's patient power, shaping how I now encourage hope amid modern injustices. I hope it strengthens your faith in a God who hears cries and acts decisively.

📖 Key Passage: Exodus 6:1–11
🎧 Listen and reflect: In what areas of my life do I need to trust God's power for judgment and redemption?

This sermon, Becoming Together, preached on May 25, 2025, at Christ Community's Olathe Campus, explores 2 Peter 1:10-15. It's the fifth and final message in the "Becoming" series on virtue and spiritual formation, emphasizing how we grow in Christlike character.

I unpack:

• Why pursuing virtue isn't a solo journey but requires community to confirm our calling and avoid stumbling.
• How Peter's reminders about diligence, knowledge, and brotherly love foster bonds that motivate transformation.
• The role of examples like Martin Luther King Jr. and personal friends in modeling Jesus' virtues.

This message, my 16th residency sermon, challenged me to integrate personal stories like the CrossFit community into preaching, influencing how I now blend cultural analogies with biblical truth. I hope it inspires you to pursue Christlikeness not alone, but together in faith.

📖 Key Passage: 2 Peter 1:10–15
🎧 Listen and reflect: Am I pursuing Christlike virtues in community, or trying to go it alone?

This sermon, The Way of Becoming, preached on May 11, 2025 at Christ Community's Shawnee Campus, dives deep into 2 Peter 1:5–9. It’s the third message in the five-part "Becoming" series, exploring the spiritual formation of Christlike character.

I unpack:

• How the eight virtues listed by Peter are not a checklist, but a pathway of transformation.
• Why becoming like Jesus requires both effort and grace.
• The difference between a fruitless faith and a fruitful one.

This message also reflects my own experience preaching back-to-back Sundays for the first time, shaping how I now approach sermon prep. I hope this helps you not just believe in Jesus—but become like Him.

Preached on May 4, 2025 at Christ Community’s Shawnee Campus, this sermon explores the deep question at the heart of the Christian life: What does it mean to be a good person—and how do we actually become one? Drawing from 2 Peter 1:1–4, I invite you to consider not only what virtue is, but how the beauty and power of Christ form us into good people.

📖 In this message, I unpack:

• Why modern definitions of goodness fall short.
• How God’s divine power gives us everything we need for life and godliness.
• The difference between knowing about Jesus and truly knowing Him (epignōsis).
• How beholding Christ’s beauty transforms us into His image.

We don’t become like Jesus by accident. We become what we behold. So the Christian call is not just to obey rules—but to be captivated by the glory and goodness of Christ.

📖 Key Passage: 2 Peter 1:1–4
🎧 Listen and reflect: Am I captivated by Jesus in a way that’s actually changing me?