Sermon Archive

John 1:9-13

This week, Ross continues our Bumper Sticker Theology series by tackling the phrase, “We’re All God’s Children.” Looking at John 1:9–13, we see the important difference between being created by God and becoming a child of God through faith in Jesus. While every person bears God’s image and has value, Scripture teaches that adoption into God’s family comes through receiving and believing in Christ. Through Jesus, we are invited into a new relationship with God marked by belonging, security, and transformation.

1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:8-9

Marty challenges the common phrase “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” showing that Scripture paints a different picture. He explains that suffering, trials, and temptations don’t always come directly from God, but can result from living in a broken world, the choices of others, spiritual opposition, or our own decisions. Rather than promising an easy escape, God invites us to depend on Him in our weakness. Through Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” and teachings on temptation, Marty reminds us that God’s grace is sufficient, Jesus walks with us in hardship, and we are never meant to face life alone. The message points us toward a deeper truth: with God, we can face more than we could ever handle on our own.

Romans 8:28

Mark challenges the common phrase “everything happens for a reason” by showing that it is an oversimplification that raises difficult questions about suffering and evil, and he grounds the discussion in key truths that God is sovereign, holy, and will be glorified. Using the story of Joseph in Genesis, he explains that events in life come from a mix of causes—God’s sovereign work, human free will, a fallen world, others’ choices, and our own decisions—while emphasizing that God is not the author of evil but can work through even harmful intentions for good. He concludes that while we often cannot see the full picture in the moment, believers trust that God ultimately brings about His purposes and glory, even through hardship.

1 Corinthians 15:35-49

Sean challenges the common phrase “Heaven gained an angel,” showing that while it sounds comforting, it’s not what Scripture teaches. Angels and humans are distinct creations with different purposes—angels serve God as messengers and ministers, but humans are uniquely made in God’s image and invited into a relationship and inheritance that angels don’t share. Rather than becoming angels after death, we remain fully ourselves and are promised something greater: a future resurrection into glorified bodies, free from sin and brokenness. This reframes how we see both death and identity, reminding us that we are not ordinary or insignificant—we are known, loved, and destined for a restored life with God that far exceeds the role of angels.

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Ross kicks off the Bumper Sticker Theology series by challenging the popular phrase “follow your heart,” showing us that while culture treats our hearts like a trustworthy compass, Scripture reveals they are actually bent, broken, and deceptive (Jeremiah 17:9). Instead of leading us to life, our hearts often lead us deeper into confusion and sin, exposing our need for something more than self-help or self-discovery. Ross points us to the real solution: not fixing our hearts, but surrendering them to Jesus, who gives us a brand-new heart and His Spirit to transform how we think, desire, and live (Ezekiel 36:26–27). This message invites us to stop trusting ourselves and start trusting God daily, allowing Him to take His rightful place at the center of our lives.

Mark 16:1-8

Ross walks us through Mark 16:1–8 and centers on the moment that changes everything—the resurrection of Jesus. He challenges us to see that Easter isn’t just a meaningful ending, but the defining event that gives power to our faith. Because Jesus is risen, it reshapes what we believe about Him—not just a teacher, but Lord—and what we believe about ourselves as people in need of grace. And it transforms what we receive: not judgment, but forgiveness, new life, and a restored relationship with God. The question left in front of us is simple but personal: how will we respond to the risen Jesus today?