As we continue in our Lenten sermon series we come across... a traditional 3 point sermon! So let's break down this part of Jesus' prayer: give us today our daily bread.
Costly: The Kingdom of God is For Babies
2015.11.08 - Kevin Makins - Three Important (& Annoying) Parts of Discipleship
Costly: The Kingdom of God is for Babies
Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)Jesus was asked by rich ruler “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
His response? “Sell everything you have, give it to the poor, then come and follow me.”
Which is… a little uncomfortable for all of us wealthy Westerners.
If we’re going to follow Jesus it will cost us everything, but we will receive something more. We will receive something that has been with us from our very first breathe.
Money: The Eye of the Needle - So What?
2014.06.01 - Matt Willard - So What?
Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)
“It’s not that we don’t like to talk about money. We love to talk about other people’s money! It’s that we don’t like to talk about OUR money”
COLOSSIANS REMIXED - SLAVERY REMIXED / JOY
2013.12.08 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins
Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)
Colossians 3:22-4:1, Romans 8, 1 John 1
Now that we’ve tackled women and children’s submission we can move on to a simpler, more Christmas-like topic… slavery. …
Awkward…
Let’s be honest: lots of people want to put the bible on trial for what it does and does not say when it comes to slavery. But the same bible that was used to defend human slavery was also used to give hope to the enslaved!
What exactly was Paul saying to these slaves and slave owners in Colossae, and perhaps the more frightening question, what is the text saying to us two-thousand years later?
The text:
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Targum written and read by Aaron Craig
This Isn't Easy - Maybe You Won't Want To Be In Heaven
2012.11.18 - Kevin Makins - This Isn’t Easy
Maybe You Won’t Want To Be In Heaven
Luke 18, John 10
Have you ever stopped to think that maybe you won’t WANT to be in heaven?
Music starts 35 minutes in.
This Isn't Easy - The Narrow Path
2012.10.28 - Kevin Makins - This Isn’t Easy
Luke 16, James 2, Matthew 7
Why doesn’t God just prove himself beyond a shadow of a doubt?
Music starts 32 minutes in.
Liturgy: Why We Gather and Why It Matters - Giving
2012.10.21 - Kevin Makins- Liturgy: Why We Gather and Why It Matters
Luke 12, Luke 16
This was the one sermon that I desperately didn’t want to preach.
Because seriously… it’s weird to talk about money.
But Jesus was never afraid to talk about money. In fact Jesus knew that where our money is, our heart would be. And so we have to talk about money, because we need to talk about the heart.
So what is giving, and why is it an important part of our liturgy?
Also, I lost my notes this week… and so that was interesting… I must have REALLY NOT wanted to preach on money.
Music starts 46 minutes in.
Soma: 1 Corinthians - Winning & Boasting (as strange as that sounds)
2012.03.04 - Kevin Makins - Soma: 1 Corinthians
Winning & Boasting (as strange as that sounds)
1 Corinthians 9, Philippians 2
Sort of a weird chapter this week. Paul starts off by getting all defensive about how pastors should get paid, and goes off on a sort of tangent about vineyards and soldiers and oxen…
And then he flips everything on it’s head and it all makes sense.
A sermon about rights, privileges, freedom, and just how much it costs to really be a Jesus disciple.
both God and money: Mo' Money, Mo' Problems
2011.05.29 - Kevin Makins - both God and money: Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems
Matthew 6, 1 Timothy 6, Hebrews 13
We work for it, think about it, dream of what we would do with it; our world is obsessed with money.
But when it comes to money, the church is often silent.
The job of the Christian is to confront the false gods of the day. Today, the god of money reigns.
We need to confront this false god. We need to believe that there is a better way, and a better God. We need to know how to use our money as a tool, how to rebel against the myths of our culture, and how to create a world that is generous.
Perhaps most of all, we need to understand Jesus’ words: “you cannot serve both God and money.”
Music led by Joel Cumby.
Kevin Makins - The Things That Make For Peace: Zacchaeus
Luke 19
On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus meets a tax collector named Zacchaeus. Lots of people know how this story goes: Zacchaeus climbs a tree, Jesus calls him down, they go for dinner, Zacchaeus repents, etc. etc.
And that’s where our telling of the story ends, but the text goes on - because you can’t leave destructive systems behind without serious consequences.
Zacchaeus’ story isn’t over yet.