Sermons by John Nuxoll (Page 4)
The Promise of Perfect
Life doesn’t always get easier. Sometimes difficult seasons don’t let up resulting in emotional, physical and spiritual weariness. When we’re stuck in the middle, battling exhaustion, what’s supposed to keep us from quitting? We aren’t the first to find ourselves on the edge. It turns out that during one of Israel’s most discouraging times, God offered a wonderful message to help get them through that just happens to be a powerful promise for us too.
Finding Christmas
Long seasons of personal difficulty can make it hard to believe that there is a God who cares for us. But Luke’s telling of the events leading up to Christmas told through common people in Luke 1:5-25 might just suggest that God’s good news isn’t just for the masses—it’s personal too.
For When Adversity Comes
Difficult times are inevitable, but personal tragedy, disappointment and disillusionment don’t have to derail us. Could we invest in something now that will enable us to endure the adversity that is to come? Is there something God has written into the script of life that will give us the support we need to stand when the ground is shaking all around us? Proverbs17:16-20 might just have the answer.
Stuck in the Muck
If prayer is a space that God has given us to enjoy him and find purpose to life, what happens when prayer doesn’t work? Is it possible that we who struggle with prayer might find a happiness in God that would bring life to our inner selves and to those around us? Is there something God wants us to know about ourselves that could free us from the mundane, strengthen our souls in the face of difficulties and bring gladness…
Tears and Resurrections in the Face of Tragic Loss
At one time or another, we all come face to face with a tragic loss. Whether it’s the loss of a job, the discovery of some disease or the suicide of a loved one, shock, confusion, anger and pain confront us in bewildering ways. Is it possible to experience real comfort when a tragedy leaves us feeling trapped and alone?
The Way of Honor
Respect, acceptance and appreciation are powerful forces. The prospect of a positive public opinion can motivate us to succeed. But it can also crush us when it’s not there. And it can push and pull us in all sorts of wrong directions. Join us as we search through Acts 5:12-42 to discover how we can navigate the push and pull of public opinion.
The Way of Reconciliation
Conflict is one of the most normal human experiences. But is it possible that we can address conflict in ways that don’t end up breaking relationships as is so common? What did the first Christians have that enabled them to thrive as a community even when their members made hurtful mistakes? Luke sheds some light on that in Acts 6:1-7.
Live Forward (Easter 2021)
After a long season of disruption, normal sounds like a good thing. But what if our normal isn’t so good? Or what if normal misses the mark of the kind of satisfying life we were made for? The resurrection of Jesus was anything but normal for the first disciples who just happened to be the first skeptics too. It was a convention-defying invitation to be something different. Can it be that for us today too?
What it Takes
In our unstable world where public opinion shifts quickly and it’s easy to lose relationships over little things, we could all use a little security and clarity in where we stand with God. Is there any relationship that can offer us more security, hope and belonging than a positive one with our creator? And yet, with so many religions and even so many flavors of Christianity, establishing a clear basis for a meaningful relationship with God is more confusing than…
Blessed the Best
When God doesn’t answer prayers in the way we expect, he can still take our disappointments and make them into something new. But what about those times when the unanswered prayer doesn’t appear to have any long-term gain at all? Is it possible that if we had prayed differently God could have turned an unanswered prayer into a better opportunity?
The Sacred Space of Grieving
As painful as it can be, grief is a normal part of life. But grief misunderstood can bring about disastrous results. Unchecked loneliness, shame and hopelessness can lead to bitterness, a warped sense of reality or even worse. Is there a godly grief that can offer a sense of companionship and hope even when we’ve suffered a great loss? Luke 7:11-17 offers an interesting perspective on grief and shows us how God might be involved in the middle of it.
The Weary Soul Rejoices
Celebrating Christmas doesn’t seem like the right response to 2020. But is there something in the Christmas story that can give us comfort and joy even in a difficult season such as this?