From Wounds to Worship (2024)
expectations.
April 28, 2024 • Pastor Thomas-Steele Carr • Matthew 11:1–6
Pastor Thomas-Steele's sermon "Expectations" emphasizes worshiping Jesus in all aspects of life, combining listening to God's word with active obedience. The sermon discusses the challenging idea that experiences with Jesus may not match expectations and focuses on following Jesus involves surrender and discipleship. It delves into waiting on God, stressing the importance of trust in God's timing and purpose. The sermon encourages trust in God, even when His actions don't align with our desires, and concludes with a call to faith and surrender to God's will.
places.
April 14, 2024 • Pastor Thomas-Steele Carr • Luke 7:11–15
In Pastor Thomas-Steele's sermon, he explores the theme "From Wounds to Worship" using a passage from Luke, speaking on the inevitability of pain and suffering in life. He recounts the story of Jesus raising a widow's son in Nain, emphasizing Jesus' compassion and transformative power in times of deep sorrow. The sermon encourages listeners to trust in Jesus for comfort and healing, regardless of their struggles. It concludes with an invitation to embrace Jesus and surrender to his compassionate presence, finding hope and transformation from wounds to worship.
provisions.
April 7, 2024 • Pastor Thomas-Steele Carr • John 20:19–22
Pastor Thomas-Steele's sermon "Provisions" from the series "From Wounds to Worship" focuses on the grace of God during hardships, transitioning from pain to perseverance to hope. Using John 20:19-23, he shows how Jesus offers peace, purpose, and power to overcome challenges. Personal stories highlight God's provision in tough times, urging listeners to trust in God's peace, find purpose in suffering, and rely on the Holy Spirit. The sermon encourages seeking God's provision and His transformative power amidst struggles.
thorns.
March 31, 2024 • Pastor Thomas-Steele Carr
The sermon titled "Thorns" by Pastor Thomas-Steele was centered on understanding and dealing with suffering through a spiritual perspective. He reminded the congregation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, underlining that even though people endure pain and hardship, they do so with a purpose. He emphasized the notion of Jesus transforming wounds into worship, thus giving our suffering meaning and http://direction.the sermon unveiled the significance of prayer in our suffering, arguing that it should not be a last resort but our first response to suffering. Furthermore, it addressed the concept of God's silence amidst our suffering, suggesting that His silence is not a mark of indifference, but rather an indication that He has already communicated with us through the Bible. Hence, believers are encouraged to engage more with God's http://word.pastor Thomas-Steele's sermon made it clear that while God does not promise to take away our suffering, He undoubtedly guides us through it, similar to how Jesus and Paul overcame their trials. Suffering, thus, creates endurance, character, and hope. The sermon concluded with a calling to those yet to embrace Jesus as their savior, emphasizing the assurance of salvation found in faith and trust in Him. It was an encouragement to surrender through prayer and rejoice in the renewed life offered by Christ.
hands.
March 24, 2024 • Pastor Thomas-Steele Carr • Mark 1:40–42
In the sermon "Hands" by Pastor Thomas-Steele, Jesus shows his willingness to help with our woundedness through the story of healing a leper in Mark 1:40-42. Jesus's touch symbolizes his ability to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The sermon challenges listeners to have faith in Jesus's ability to heal and to surrender to his unexpected ways of offering help. Ultimately, Jesus is willing and able to bring healing and restoration to all who reach out to him with their woundedness.
voices.
March 17, 2024 • Pastor Thomas-Steele Carr • Mark 5:24–43, Romans 5:3–4, Psalm 62:5, Psalm 27:14, 1 Peter 5:7
Pastor Thomas Steele delivered a touching sermon on woundedness and finding healing in Jesus, as part of the "From Wounds to Worship" series. The sermon draws on the biblical story of Jairus, a struggling father desperate for the life of his dying daughter. Steele uses his own experience of loss, following his father's death, to add personal depth and relatability to the sermon. The key themes are voices of defeat, despair and doubt, which Jesus counters with trust, truth and triumph. The significance of dismissing others' opinions and our own harmful self-doubt is highlighted, with a focus on having faith and patience despite pain. Thomas-Steele solidifies his sermon by reassuring attendees that their difficulties are never a nuisance to Jesus and they can always approach Him with their struggles. He emphasizes that death is not the final chapter and that Jesus has the ultimate say. He urges his listeners to counteract the voices of defeat, despair and doubt with Jesus' voice. The sermon culminates with Jesus victorious over death by resurrecting the daughter of Jairus, symbolizing triumph over adversity. Thomas-Steele encourages his listeners to trust in Jesus during their toughest times, reinforcing that nothing can separate us from His love. The sermon essentially illuminates the battle against woundedness and the significance of trusting Jesus in trying times. It underscores the might of Jesus' voice in dealing with despair and doubt, encouraging listeners to concentrate on His voice even when faced with death.
wounds.
March 10, 2024 • Pastor Thomas-Steele Carr • Mark 5:24–34, Romans 5:3–4, Psalm 31, Psalm 39
In Pastor Thomas Steele's sermon "Wounds," part of the series "From Wounds to Worship," he underscores the universality of woundedness, whether physical, emotional, or mental. He implores his listeners to channel their suffering towards Jesus, emphasizing the healing potential of faithful submission. Through the biblical narrative of the woman suffering from bleeding in Mark 5:24-34, he points out her desperate but persistent faith in Jesus, culminating in her ultimate healing. Thomas-Steele insists on the need for relinquishing any fears or hindrances that curtail our pursuit of Jesus, urging us to aggressively seek Him with our brokenness. The crux of the sermon is the encouragement to submit our brokenness to Jesus and to wholeheartedly seek Him.
confessions.
March 3, 2024 • Pastor Thomas-Steele Carr • Psalm 147, Romans 8:18, Luke 13:1–5, Psalm 55
Pastor Thomas Steele's sermon, "Confessions", was a heartfelt discourse that highlighted Jesus as a savior and helper for those burdened with shame, sin, and pain. He noted the personal challenges he experienced after his father's death in 2017, especially realizing how his father had become an idol in his life, embodying security, stability, and provision. Thomas-Steele emphasized the need to solely depend on God, instead of other human beings, to prevent disappointment and pain. He also addressed the struggle of continually looking back after losing a loved one and the importance of looking to God amidst the pain. Thomas-Steele dismissed the misconception that good behavior exempts one from suffering, as this contradicts the bible teachings. He stressed that obedience to God can sometimes result in suffering and challenges. Trust in God was his concluding message, stressing God's patience, healing, and grace during hardships. This sermon serves as a reminder to surrender all burdens to God, reassuring the congregation of His everlasting love and mercy, while also praying for comfort, healing, and strength for all those who are hurting.