Pastor Bill Davis Sermon Series

People of God

This sermon is based on 1 Peter 2: 2-10.  Who are you in this world?  You are a Chosen People, who as such are out of synch with this world.  Your values do not come from the influencers and talking heads of the day, but rather they come from our Lord.  People of this world are conflicted and confused.  They have been advised by various people of note on what to believe such as Charles M. Miller, author of "The Source of Self", or Frozen's Elsa "Let It Go".  Instead, Peter tells us to stand on the firm foundation of God and become priests in this world.  

I am The Gate

This sermon is drawn from John 10: 1-10.  We all have our own versions of the truth and when you need help deciding, there are spin doctors who are only too happy to help you form your opinions, right or wrong.  Jesus is our way and our truth to salvation and finding your joy.  He provides us with safe passage in this world, even though at times it may not seem so.  Jesus, as guardian of the gate provides us with protection and shelter in the storm.  Goodness and mercy are always with us.  Need help understanding how God's unrelenting love follows us?  Read "The Hound of Heaven poem written by Francis Thompson https://www.poetry.com/poem/13940/the-hound-of-heaven
 

Walking with the Risen Lord

This sermon is based on Luke 24:13-35, the road to Emmaus.
Two disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus after the crucifixion and the resurrection.  They did not recognize Jesus when he joined them as we don't recognize that he is always with us, even when we don't see or hear him.  He is always there, working for our good even through the tough times.  As a church we should encourage each other on our journeys, especially when it seems like God has turned his back on us.  And then there was a story about "Bruce"!  How simply amazing and what a great illustration of how God works in our lives, even when we don't realize it.

Peace

This sermon is based on the scripture found in John 20: 19-31.  In today's world we define "peace" as the absence of physical or mental threats.  This is not the peace that Jesus refers to in this passage.  Jesus teaches us that to have true peace, we must forgive your trespassers over and over again, showing radical Christ-like love.  

Eyes to See

Today's sermon is taken from John 9, the story of the blind man who Jesus gave the gift of sight.  As the story unfolds, we learn that the man's "spiritual sight" begins to improve and he learns who Jesus really is.  Do you remember the first time you found God?  Did your own spiritual blindness improve?  As Christians, we are called to meet people where they are, just as God meets us in our time of need.  Those who are blind "see", those who see are "blind".  As we go through Lent, our eyes are more and more opened.

Living Water for a Thirsty Soul

The story in John 4 illustrates the Samaritan women at the well who Jesus talks with about her life and offers her the gift of living water.  The wells of the world are deep but will only quench our thirst for a moment versus the Living Water that Christ offers which will satisfy our thirst for eternity.  What does being satisfied in life look like?  According to author Daniel Kahneman from his book " Thinking Fast & Slow", there are five aspects in finding satisfaction in life; 
Having friends and sense of community
Having goals for yourself
Being part of a "story"
Having a sense of meaning
Feeling as if we are "growing"
But true satisfaction comes from our love for and trust in our Savior, who died that we may live.  During this season of Lent, it is important that we not hide our pain, but ask God for forgiveness through repentance of our sins.  The Living Water offers comfort and the forgiveness we so desperately need.

Regeneration

This Lenten sermon is based upon John 3:1-17, the scripture and events that changed everything. Highlights of this sermon include the poem "The Road Less Traveled" by Robert Frost which was written as a gift to his friend Edward Thomas.  Making a choice about what path to take or having someone come into your life that changed it forever can have significant impact.  If you have had this experience, you know how profound these moments in time can be.  When we seek God, the encounters are life changing.
When Nicodemus met with Jesus at night, he asked him what do you mean, I must be born again?  Nicodemus was thinking of the worldly path for rebirth, when Jesus was talking about the spiritual path.  Taking the spiritual path in life to follow Jesus is the one decision we can make that takes care of every other possibility for us.  

Lessons and Love in the Wilderness

This sermon is based on Matthew 4:1-11.  Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness fasting.  He was tempted by Satan three times and each time Jesus resisted even though he was weakened and struggling.  During this time that Jesus experienced life as a human, our lesson is to trust in God, that he will never forsake us, even when it seems as though evil is winning.