Northwest Church of Christ Sermons

What Church Building?

On our first official Sunday to have some members worshiping at the building while others continue to worship with us at home, this sermon looks at how God's plan has always been for the church to be about people, families, relationships, and the body of Christ living in the world as salt and light. The church Jesus died for was never made of bricks but was made in the lives of the people who are in Christ and who now live as a Spirit-filled Temple in the world. This sermon casts a vision of future plans to increase discipleship, prayer ministries, and small groups at Northwest. 

Holy Spirit's Opening Act Part 3

In addition to creating and sustaining life and creation, the Ruach, or Spirit of God is involved in bringing us God's presence, guiding us, empowering us, and giving us a prophetic voice to speak truth about injustices. This week that is exceptionally important time to talk about that when our country faces challenges of injustice, violence, and a need to speak God's truth.

Holy Spirit's Opening Act Part 2

The Hebrew word "Ruach" describes the wind, breath, or spirit of God. Studying the scriptures in the Old Testament that talk about the spirit give us anticipatory insight about how the Holy Spirit will show up in the New Testament and what Holy Spirit living can look like for those in Christ today. 

Holy Spirit's Opening Act

So often we think of the God of Israel, the Son revealed in the Gospels, and the Spirit's arrival at Pentacost. But Acts 2 isn't the Holy Spirit's opening act. The Holy Spirit is found in many places in the Old Testament, described in ways that set the stage for what Jesus later teaches about the Holy Spirit and the Apostles experience and proclaim in Acts 2. This series looks at the RUACH, the breath, wind, and Spirit of God described in the many books of the Old Testament and see how Israel's experience of God's Spirit informs our expectations of the Spirit living in us and working through us today.

Jesus' Mother and Brothers

On this Mother's Day we talked about how a mother's job is truly unique and complex and Mary learned that with Jesus too. One of the most unique interactions came in Matthew 12:46-50 when Jesus said that his true mother and brothers are those followers who do the will of the Father. Similar to his teachings in John 14-15, Jesus clearly recognized and taught the connection between obedience, love, family and the Spirit.

The Incredible Love of God

If you've ever seen a monkey trap, its a coconut with a hole and bait inside. When the monkey's fist closes around it they can't get loose. If they let go, they can easily escape. Their desire to have and possess what is worthless prevents their escape. But God loves us so much. We see it in the creation and the very beauty of the stars. We see it in the birth of Jesus, the teachings of Jesus, the crucifixion and resurrection. We see it in the offer to be children of God through faith. And yet, for so many people they can't let go of the mushy banana in the coconut. God offers us so much and we remain captive for such little. What's holding you back from enjoying the wonderful incredible, worth-giving love of God?

Believe it or Not!

When it comes to being a Christian there are some things that either you believe or you don't. Either God created the world or he didn't. Either Jesus is the son of God, who was born and lived in this world, crucified and resurrected...or he isn't and didn't. Either God is in charge and desires good things for his children...or he doesn't. During this time, we who claim belief should live lives that look like it. People should be able to see in us that we are different because of our faith.

Contagious Life

In Luke 8:26-56 Jesus encounters Legion (a demon-possessed man), Jairus (a synagogue ruler with a dying preteen daughter), and a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. For us, these seem like run of the mill Jesus miracles. But to a first century Jew, they see impurity, uncleanliness, and things you shouldn't touch or be around in almost every verse of these stories. They would have expected that uncleanliness to rub off on Jesus. Instead, in each story, Jesus become contagious to the people he touches giving them his life, health, wholeness, and hope. Christians would do this again during the Roman plagues of the second and third centuries and we continue to live in to that Christian tradition today, contagiously spreading the love and life of Christ to all who need it.

Kingdom of God

On this Easter Sunday morning we came together online to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. The sermon focused on how surprising it was for Christians to proclaim that the Kingdom of God had arrived in a world that didn't look any different and how boldly they proclaimed with one voice that Jesus was a surprising king, the Messiah! And this Messiah's death and resurrection meant the beginning of the two part inauguration of the Kingdom of God. Today Christians continue to usher in this Kingdom every day.

Hosanna! Lord Save Us!

After a few weeks gearing up our tech the Northwest Sermons podcast is back. We are now recording the entire service on Zoom and posting it each week while we practice our social distancing. This week we looked at the Triumphal Entry in Matthew 21 and all of the expectations people had for Jesus as the Messiah and how he did something even greater! He tore down all the walls of separation so that those who are in Christ can never be alone because we have access to God by the presence of the Spirit, which unites us as a body of believers. Jesus didn't just "go to the Temple" he was "creating a new Temple!"