I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to preach the good news about Jesus Christ several times over the years. This page collects those messages.
GracePoint Community Church
Revealing The Redeemer: Transfiguration & Truth (Luke 9:28-45) – Feb 18, 2024
When big events happen in our lives, we can become puffed up with pride when we’re successful or sink into despair when we fail. But Jesus’ transfiguration and His defeat of the difficult demon show us the need to stay close to Jesus at all times for our good and His glory.
Advent: The Forerunner’s Proclamation (Luke 1:57-80) – Dec 17 2023
We can be so desperate to escape painful feelings of shame and peer pressure that we pursue anything and listen to anyone that promises relief. But God’s redeeming love – proclaimed by John the Baptist and revealed to us in Jesus Christ – urges us to focus on Jesus as our redeemer and point others to Him as we anticipate His return.
Why Does Church Membership Matter? (1 Thessalonians 5:9-15) – May 7, 2023
In our current cultural moment, the idea of committing to anything that actively requires something of us is unappealing and maybe even frightening. But God’s steadfast love — revealed to us in Jesus Christ, and made manifest in the local church — is the primary structure God uses to nurture our faith and help one another grow in Christ.
Our Strength & Our Song (Psalm 118) – September 4, 2022
In times of distress, our temptation is to seek salvation in anyone other than our Creator. But God’s steadfast love, revealed to us in Jesus Christ, proves that our true hope is in him and him alone – and that he alone is worthy of our deepest love and praise.
Satisfying Our Greatest Hunger (John 6:22-59) – November 7, 2021
In the Merrimack Valley, we’re blessed with a variety of options for food and entertainment. And yet, even our most satisfying meals and experiences eventually yield to a hunger for more. In John 6, Jesus is confronted by hungry people. He feeds their bellies and uses the experience to provide an important lesson about eternal life.
Reason For Praise (Psalm 117) – Feb 28 2021
In a culture polarized by competing worldviews, we can be tempted to run away from the world and run toward people who embrace similar political opinions or share the same cultural or economic backgrounds. But experience tells us that retreating into tribalism does not lead to unity — not in the church and not in the world. Ultimately, tribalism leads to greater fracture and division. The author of Psalm 117 reaches into the heart of God’s purposes to show how God’s love and faithfulness unite all people in his eternal kingdom.
How Can We Be Friends? (John 15:9-17) – November 8, 2020
Over the last several weeks we’ve explored the themes of Christian identity and unity during times of change and challenge. This week we’re focused on Jesus’ words on this topic from John 15:9-17. In life, we sometimes struggle with authentic friendships because we often expect too much and give too little. But Jesus shows us how Gospel-saturated friendships, rooted in his love, can break down our walls of selfishness and self-protection to bring life and joy to our friends and to us as well. Pray for God to soften our hearts and open our minds this Sunday.
Holding Firm To God’s Word (Titus 1:1-16) – September 6, 2020
This week we’re kicking off a new sermon series studying Paul’s Letter to Titus. World-weary Christians sometimes seek new teachings that embrace their personal preferences and deepest desires… even if those are contrary to what God has clearly said. In his letter to Titus, the apostle Paul drives home the need to keep the gospel of Jesus Christ central to our lives and to the life of the church through faithful teaching and good leadership. Pray for God to open our hearts and minds this Sunday as we explore Titus 1:1-16.
Where Is Your God? (Psalm 115) – August 23, 2020
Have you ever accomplished something remarkable that somebody else took credit for? Without thinking or even meaning to, we do this to God all the time. In our sinful condition we often seek meaning and purpose in gods of our own making that are rooted in our strongest desires and preferences. But the author of this psalm shines a light on the futility of chasing after false gods and points us instead to the true source of all blessing — the God who rules and reigns over his creation and seeks to bless those who trust in him.
Spiritual Blindness (Mark 10:32-52) – June 10, 2020
For the third time, Jesus explains to his closest disciples how he’s going to be betrayed, executed, and then raised from the dead as part of God’s plan to save the world. Once again, the disciples fail to grasp what he’s saying. But a humble blind beggar gets it. This week, Jesus will show us all how he can heal our spiritual blindness, bringing us to peace with God and each other.
Help My Unbelief (Mark 9:14-29) – April 26, 2020
Last week, Jesus revealed his divine nature to his three closest disciples. This week, Jesus and his inner circle are confronted by a problem — and at the heart of the problem is prayer. In hard times, prayer may feel frustrating, especially when it feels like God hasn’t come through. But Jesus shows us that God is good, that he’s in control, and he will give us wisdom, forgiveness, eternal life, and more good gifts if we trust in him and ask in faith. Hope for God’s spirit to convict and encourage us this week.
How Can You Take The Bible Literally? (Matthew 16:5-12) – January 19, 2020
In today’s world, many people believe that books have no objective meaning — that the author’s intentions don’t matter as much as what the reader reads into the text. So when you’re faced with a book like the Bible… with miracles, with talking animals, and things that sound strange to our modern ears… how are we to respond? If someone asks, “Do you take the Bible literally?”… how would you respond? We’ll answer that question this week and show that there are logical reasons to trust the Bible historically and spiritually — for God’s glory, for our joy, and for the good of the world around us. Pray for fruit.
Where is the King? (Matthew 2:1-23) – December 24, 2019
In the middle of the Christmas story, right as new hope dawns for humanity… evil strikes. Fearful of the birth of the promised Messiah, King Herod does the unthinkable in a desperate attempt to stay in power. Why does Matthew include this heartbreaking event in his gospel? And what does it reveal about our hearts and God’s love? Pray for God’s spirit to convict and encourage us.
Trust In God’s Promises (Psalm 108) – August 4, 2019
When our circumstances look bleak, our tendency is to believe and act like we have no hope. Surrounded by fierce opponents, King David reminds us of the hope we have in Jesus who has triumphed over all our enemies and challenges — past, present, and future. It’s easy to sing God’s praises when life is good. But how do you approach God when your life is falling apart?
Personal reflection questions for Christians:
- Are you steadfast in your attitude toward God?
- Do you feel joy towards Jesus for what he’s done for you – past present and future?
- Do you spend time with Jesus through prayer, worship, reading your Bible?
- And if you do, do you enjoy your time with him?
Things to reflect on if you aren’t sure what to think about Christianity:
- You can absolutely be a good, moral person apart from God.
- But all the good in the world can’t make up for all the bad things we say, think, or do — which separates us from God.
- God doesn’t measure us against each other to decide who’s good and who isn’t; he measures each of us against Jesus, the only truly good person who ever lived.
- There is solid, historical evidence that Jesus is exactly who he says he is.
- The good news is we don’t have to earn our way to God; we just have to receive what Jesus has done for us out of his love for us.
Further study:
- Evidence for the Historical Jesus by Professor Gary Habermas
Transformation Road (2014-2015)
Bigger On The Inside
What does Jesus promise about rest? How does Jesus deliver rest? How do we respond to Jesus’ invitation to rest?
Download the sermon text: Bigger On The Inside (PDF) – Dec 2014
A Healthy Dose Of Skepticism
Where did the Bible come from? Why trust it? Is Christianity a matter of blind faith or is it something more?
Download the sermon text: A Healthy Dose Of Skepticism (PDF) – June 2015
How Can We Be Friends?
Jesus gave everything to his friends — including his own life. How does Jesus’ loving sacrifice transform our understanding of friendship and empower us to love other people like he does?
Download the sermon text: How Can We Be Friends (PDF) – Aug 2015
