Sermon by Jon Ludovina on September 15, 2024.
This week, we look at Mark 9:33-37 and how Jesus redefines greatness for his disciples. So, what does being great in the kingdom of God look like, and how can we experience that now?
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Jon Ludovina on September 8, 2024.
This week focuses on the story of the rich young ruler from Luke 18:18-29 and how he, though he had nearly everything in this life, couldn’t experience Jesus’ kingdom. So what might be keeping you from experiencing Jesus’ kingdom? What idols might have their hold on you?
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Jake Blair on September 1, 2024.
Jesus’ teaching ministry is summed up in one word: repentance. This week, we look at how this applies to our church family. For example, what happens when people following Jesus sin against each other? What does repentance look like, then? How can we, as part of God’s kingdom, move forward if we’re stuck in bitterness and resentment?
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Adam Gibson on August 25, 2024.
Last week, we talked about repentance. In many ways, repentance opens the door to becoming the beautiful person you ought to be because repentance makes us right with God and allows these words spoken over Jesus to be spoken over us: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Adam Gibson on August 18, 2024.
How would you summarize Jesus’ teachings? Depending on who you ask, you’re likely to get different answers. However, Jesus’ summary statement is actually one of his first statements in the Gospels: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
In other words, Jesus’ life and teachings are all about ushering in God’s loving rule and reign on Earth as it is in Heaven. So what might His kingdom look like in our city, and how do we faithfully follow Him in our time and place?
Join us for five weeks as we examine Jesus’ teachings and consider how we can experience more of His kingdom in Columbia as it is in Heaven.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Michael Bailey for November 22, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone pray for your time together
Have someone read this aloud:
The call to worship for today is from Psalm 103:
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
Have someone pray for your time together.
Read this confession aloud all together:
Lord, we admit
It is easier to build our lives on weak foundations
So often, we seek the easier path
Rather than the righteous one.
Lord, we need Your forgiveness
We need You to give us faith to trust in You
Help us build our lives on You
Christ, our solid rock
Our firm foundation
Help us know You and seek Your Kingdom, Jesus
Sermon by Adam Gibson for November 15, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone pray for your time
Have someone read this scripture aloud:
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Take a minute to sit in silence and reflect on the past week. What can you praise God for in the midst of this season?
After a few moments, if you are participating with others, ask specific people to share what came to mind.
After sharing, have someone pray, or read this aloud:
Father, thank you for how you continue to provide and show up in the mess of this life. Help us always remember your provision and the depth of your love for us. Father you are all we need, you are everything.
Have someone read this aloud to close:
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Sermon by Jon Ludovina for November 8, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone read this scripture aloud:
Matthew 6 : 26-33
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Father God, you know our weaknesses. You know how often we fail to trust your provision and goodness. Forgive us, and help us trust that you are for our good. Let Your spirit comfort us, and remind us of Your love and care for us. Give us faith, Lord. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
Have someone read this aloud:
Jude 1 : 24-25
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Sermon by Jon Ludovina for November 1, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone read this scripture aloud:
Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Have someone pray for your time.
Take time to listen to “We Are Not Overcome” and reflect on the truth found in the lyrics.
Flesh will fail and bones will break
Thieves will steal, the earth will shake
Night will fall, the light will fade
The Lord will give and take away
Put no trust in the earth
In the sod you stand upon
Flowers fade into dust
The Lord will make a place for us
Because of His great Love
We are not overcome
Because of His great Love
We are not overcome
Have no fear for your life
Turn your cheek, turn your cheek
Bear the yoke of love and death
The Lord will give all life and breath
Because of His great Love
We are not overcome
Because of His great Love
We are not overcome
Have someone pray this aloud to close:
Father God,
Be with us this week,
As we seek Your kingdom here.
Jesus Christ,
Be glorified in our lives,
As we remember, we are secure in You
Let your Holy Spirit,
Remind us of Your truth often,
and move us to love our neighbors, as Christ has loved us
Amen.
Sermon by Brandon Clements for October 25, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone read this scripture aloud:
Exodus 34:6b-7a
The Lord, the Lord, is God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…
Have someone pray for your time.
Have someone read this aloud to close:
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Sermon by Michael Bailey for October 18, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone read this scripture aloud to begin:
Romans 8:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be glory forever. Amen.
Let’s sing and confess our need for God’s grace, and proclaim His provision and mercy for us.
Read this aloud:
Hebrews 3 says: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Take 30 seconds to pray for a way you can encourage someone. How have you seen Jesus working in someone’s life recently? Now, take some time to text them, and tell them why you’re thankful for them. If you have others in the room with you (physically or virtually), pray for specific ways you can encourage them.
Have someone read this to close:
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Sermon by Jake Blair for October 11, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone read this scripture aloud to begin:
Psalm 96 1 - 6
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
Corporate confession is a way for us to lay down our individualism and join with other believers confessing the same thing, as one body in Christ.
Read this confession, from John 1, aloud with everyone present:
If we walk in the light, as he is in the lightWe have fellowship with one anotherAnd the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just To forgive us our sins And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Amen
Have someone read this to close:
Acts 2:24–28
God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:
“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
Amen
Sermon by Allen Tipping for October 4, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone pray for your time together
Psalm 9:1-2
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Have someone read this aloud:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
As the family of God, we have so many things to thank God for, even in the midst of the hardest and darkest times in life. Let’s take 30 seconds to pause, then share aloud the things we’re thankful for with each other. Choose at least two people to share.
Have someone pray this to close:
God, You are faithful to provide us with everything that we need, and in Your presence is the fullness of joy and life. Teach us to trust you with all that we have. Spirit be near to us as we seek to follow you. Amen
Sermon by Brandon Clements for September 27, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone pray for your time together
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Pray aloud together. We learned in our 1 Timothy study of the power of prayer and how God uses it to bring about His purposes in the world. Take 30 seconds to 1 minute to pray for God’s kingdom to come into the world. You can pray for the healing of someone who is sick, a neighbor or friend to come to know Jesus, and anything in between. If you are gathering with more than one person, give multiple people an opportunity to pray. Pick one person to open the time of prayer and then have another designated to end prayer.
Have one person read this aloud, and everyone else is invited to read aloud with them.
Creator and Mighty God,
You have promised strength for the weak,
Rest for the laborers, light for the way, grace for the trials,
Help from above, unfailing sympathy, undying love.
Creator and Mighty God,
Help us to continue in Your promise.
Amen.
Sermon by Michael Bailey for September 20, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone pray for your time together
1 Peter 1:3-5 says,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Let us sing together, remembering and believing the good news of what God has done for us.
Have someone pray aloud, asking for focus, and wisdom as we hear the Word being taught.
Have someone pray this to close:
God, You are faithful to provide us with everything that we need, and in Your presence is the fullness of joy and life. Teach us to trust you with all that we have. Spirit be near to us as we seek to follow you. Amen
Sermon by Jon Ludovina for September 13, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone pray for your time together
Have one person read the confession below, and a different person read the scripture of assurance that follows:
Most merciful God, we confess
That we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
By what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent,
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us;
That we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways,
To the glory of your Name. Amen.
Psalm 103:8, 10-12
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Have someone pray aloud, asking for focus, and wisdom as we hear the Word being taught.
Have someone read this aloud:
I will now read this scripture and prayer over us as we conclude:
Excerpts from Galatians 5
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Lord help us walk in Your Spirit, forgiving one another, and seeking reconciliation. Lord give us the strength to repent, and root out any anger or frustration, that ultimately keeps us from You. Amen.
This study of this gospel account aims to equip Christians and churches to trust and follow Jesus.
Sermon by Jon Ludovina for September 6, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone pray for your time together
Have someone read this scripture aloud:
Psalm 34:1-3
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
Let’s sing the words of scripture together, and pray that the Truth shapes our hearts through it.
Have someone pray aloud, asking for focus, and wisdom as we hear the Word being taught.
Have someone read this aloud:
I will now read this prayer over us as we conclude:
May the grace of Christ, which daily renews us, and the love of God, which enables us to love all, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, which unites us in one body, make us eager to obey the will of God until we meet again, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Sermon by Jon Ludovina for August 30, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone pray for your time together
Have someone read this scripture aloud:
Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Let us sing this morning remembering God’s grace and goodness.
Have someone pray aloud, asking for focus, and wisdom as we hear the Word being taught.
Have someone read this aloud:
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Sermon by Adam Gibson for August 23, 2020.
Check out our blog on the Beatitudes for a breakdown on what each one means.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone pray for your time together
Have someone read this scripture aloud:
Psalm 66:1-2, 4, NRSV
Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise.
All the earth worships you;
they sing praises to you,
sing praises to your name.
Have someone pray for your time listening to the sermon together
Read this aloud:
I will now read this prayer over us as we conclude:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sermon by Michael Bailey for August 16, 2020.
Here is this week's sermon along with a digital worship guide that includes songs to sing, prayers, and scripture to read. Also, for those with children, please use our Kidtown and student guides as a resource to teach and lead your children each week.
Use this guide as a script, and, if possible, ask for a volunteer, roommate, or virtual participant to read the parts aloud. There are links to the songs to play and sing along with or, sing them a cappella. We want this to be a helpful guide for you and your community to participate together in worshipping the Lord.
Have someone pray for your time together
Have someone read this scripture aloud:
Psalm 96 : 1 - 6
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
Have someone pray this aloud
Psalm 1:1-4
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Father, Your word is truth, and Your truth is for our good. Open our ears to hear your voice. We need you. Amen.
Read this aloud:
I will now read this prayer over us as we conclude:
May the grace of Christ, which daily renews us, and the love of God, which enables us to love all, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, which unites us in one body, make us eager to obey the will of God until we meet again, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.