Sermons by John Nuxoll (Page 2)
The Crux of Change (Good Friday)
Change can seem elusive, especially when faced with the weight of past hurts and the stubbornness of the human spirit. But amidst the complexity, the story of a Roman soldier at the cross reveals a profound truth: the death of Jesus holds the key to transformation. How can we tap into this power for change in our own lives?
Decision Time
Amidst the safety of the familiar, we often shy away from the unknown, clinging to the comfort of ‘’normal.’ What happens when Jesus challenges us to move beyond the confines of what’s expected and embrace a different way, even when it comes at great cost?
Whole-Person Healing
Have you ever wondered about God’s involvement in healing? In a world filled with pain, disease, and uncertainties, the quest for divine intervention can be both compelling and skeptical. Join us as we explore a pivotal moment in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus confronts the complexity of healing, and discover how God’s new work extends beyond what’s seen.
Slow Time
The new year helps us anticipate new possibilities. But the stark reality of life’s brevity, as depicted in Psalm 90, raises a common struggle. How can we navigate this brief existence and find true fulfillment?
Peace in Conflict
Promises of future peace abound but our present conflicts persist, causing tension in daily interactions and personal relationships. How can the love of Christ reshape our affections, reorient our priorities, and bring a transformative perspective in order to bring a little bit of that future peace into the present? Join us in exploring 2 Corinthians 5 as we delve into Paul’s profound theology of reconciliation.
Adventurosity
Most people love the idea of becoming more generous. But putting generosity into practice is easier said than done when so many of us are short on time and money. How can our gifts, both of our money and of our time, become a grace not just to others but a transformative gift to our own souls? Discover how genuine love, rooted in Christ, transforms our fears, uncertainties, and comforts into an adventurous journey of “adventurosity.”
From Past Regrets to New Beginning
New beginnings give us an opportunity to start fresh, make new friends and bring new energy into our lives. But how do we begin something new when our hearts and minds are so easily drawn to what went wrong in the past? How can we overcome regret to enter into what God has for us next?
Letting Go
Change is supposed to be a part of life. But that doesn’t mean letting go of what came before is easy. And matters only get worse when whatever is next fails to meet our expectations. How can we navigate change and enjoy what’s next when it’s so hard to let go? It turns out that one of the most mysterious books of the Bible, Ecclesiastes, sheds some light on that question.
Forgiving Your Enemies is Good for Your Soul
Common things like nature, travel, and even ice cream can bring us an appreciation for God and spiritual rest. They are good for the soul. But as crazy as it might sound, could an uncommon, seemingly impossible command from Jesus to love our enemies be the same? It just so happens that Jesus’ teaching on loving our enemies wasn’t just a command, it was also an invitation to experience personal well-being.
Ice Cream is Good for the Soul
Who doesn’t love the simple pleasures of life? A soft pillow. Ice cream on a warm summer day. Yet one doesn’t experience the fullness of life through overindulgence or materialism either. They don’t feed the soul. So how can earthly pleasures be any spiritual good? We’ll take a look at Psalm 16 to answer that.
Faithfulness for the World
We all have special responsibilities and roles we are called to fulfill. But sometimes when something doesn’t go as expected—especially when we lose something—it’s tough to keep going. Is there a life that can be enjoyed when so much in our lives can be taken away? And can that life be good for those around us too? Revelation 13 sheds some light on that.
Messy Mission
Church, like family, can be messy. And as church grows and changes, the mess sometimes gets messier. What’s true in the church is true of all of our relationships. If we can’t avoid the mess of relationships, is there a way that we can write a new story for ourselves and the people around us by confronting our fears in the middle of the mess? It turns out that one of Jesus’ most famous stories from Luke 15 sheds some…