Sermon Themes

September 13

Sermon Title: Community: The Power of Relationships in the Local Church
Scripture: Scripture: Acts 2:42-47
Synopsis: The church is more than a Sunday gathering — it’s a shared life. We will explore how authentic relationships help us grow, support one another, and live out our faith in meaningful, everyday ways. Together, we are the church. Together, we break bread, learn more about the love and grace of God, study the Word, fellowship, serve, and together, we pray and praise Him, for He is good.

 

September 20
Sermon Title: The Role of the Church
Scripture: John 11:38-44; Ephesians 1:20-2:10
Rob Donley preaching.

 

September 27         
Sermon Title: In Full Accord
Scripture: Philippians 2:1-13
Synopsis: Paul calls the church to unity, not by thinking exactly alike, but by sharing the mind of Christ. As we set aside selfish ambition and embrace humility, love, and self-giving service, we discover what it means to live in full accord with one another and with Christ. When our minds fixed on Jesus, we learn to seek the same purpose, the same hope, and the same kingdom. What would change in our lives if we woke up every morning with our minds truly fixed on Christ?

​

 

Sermon Series: Love One Another: Replacing “Othering” with “Neighboring”
In his final meal with the disciples, Jesus gathers at a table overshadowed by betrayal, fear, and uncertainty. Knowing what lies ahead, he offers words of comfort, challenge, and hope, centered on a simple yet radical command: “Love one another.” Through teachings on service, friendship, abiding, trust, and joy, Jesus shows that love is not merely a feeling but a way of life. In a world often divided by suspicion and exclusion, this series explores how Christ calls us to put love into action, replacing “othering” with “neighboring” and becoming a community where grace, compassion, and connection lead the way.

October 4
Sermon Title: Love One Another
Scripture: John 13:1-4a, 34-35
Synopsis: Jesus showed that love is more than a feeling or an idea. At the Last Supper, he welcomed both friends and betrayers to the table and humbly knelt to wash their feet. Then he gave his disciples a new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Following Christ’s example, we are called to move beyond dividing and labeling others. We are called to embrace others with acts of radical hospitality, humility, and grace. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can replace “othering” with “neighboring” and make Christ’s love visible in the world. Who is God calling us to love not just with words, but with unexpected acts of grace and humility?

 

October 11
Sermon Title: Show Us
Scripture: John 14:8-14
Synopsis: After three years of witnessing Jesus’s teaching, healing, and love in action, the disciples still ask, “Show us God.” Jesus responds by reminding them that whoever has seen him has seen the Father. Then he makes an astonishing promise: those who follow him will continue his work and do even greater things. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world, carrying God’s love into places of need. Jesus not only calls us to this mission, He trusts us to fulfill it. If people were looking for God, would they be able to see God’s love through our actions?

 

October 18
Sermon Title: Abide in Love
Scripture: John 15:1-5, 9b-11
Synopsis: Using the image of the vine and branches, Jesus reminds us that love is not something we generate on our own. To bear the fruit of love, we must remain connected to Christ, the true Vine, drawing strength and nourishment from God's presence. As God prunes away the things that hinder relationships with God and others, we grow in love, fruitfulness, and joy. Abiding in Christ is the source of a life rooted in connection and grace. What might God be asking you to let go of so that you can remain more deeply connected to Christ and love others more fully?

 

October 25

Sermon Title: You Are My Friends
Scripture: John 15:12-17
Synopsis: Jesus redefines friendship as a relationship rooted in love, trust, and mutual belonging. By calling his disciples friends, not servants, he invites them into a life where love replaces fear and where all are valued as expressions of God's grace. Even knowing they would fail and abandon him, Jesus chose love, ultimately laying down his life for his friends. His example reminds us that love has the power to sustain us, restore us, and help us endure together. How might your relationships change if you chose to see others first as friends loved by God rather than as strangers, opponents, or outsiders?

​

November 1
Sermon Title: Grieving to Rejoicing
Scripture: John 16:1, 12-13a, 20-22
Synopsis: As Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure, He acknowledges their fear, sorrow, and uncertainty. Yet He offers a promise: their grief will one day be transformed into joy, a joy that cannot be taken away. On All Saints Sunday, we remember those we love and miss, trusting that God meets us in our grief and sustains us with hope. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit and the assurance of God's enduring love, we find strength to journey together from mourning toward rejoicing. Where have you experienced God’s joy and hope sustaining you in the midst of grief?