What Would Jesus Say To...
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl
August 31, 2014 • Chris Edmondson • John 13:29, John 12:2–38, Matthew 26:14–75
Bowe Bergdahl, the 28-year-old U.S. Army sergeant who spent five years as a captive in Afghanistan before being traded for five high profile Taliban leaders, was returned by the Taliban on May 31, 2014. Bergdahl was the only U.S. soldier held captive in Afghanistan and was released in exchange for five detainees from a detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The circumstances surrounding the prisoner swap and Bergdahl’s capture in 2009 have raised a national debate, with Bergdahl’s supporters and friends joyous at his rescue, and some members of Congress — and some of his own platoon members—calling him a deserter. So who is Bowe Bergdahl? A national hero? A deserter? Or even worse—a traitor to his country? And What Would Jesus Say to Bowe Bergdahl?
Ellen
August 24, 2014 • Chris Edmondson • 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, Romans 1:26–30, 2 Corinthians 9:6–7, John 1:1–14
She’s one of today’s most popular television personalities. She’s known for her humor, her wit and her charm. For a living, she interviews the most famous people in the world, and has fun doing it. In this message, Chris looks at what would happen in a one-on-one conversation between Ellen DeGeneres and the ultimate guest, Jesus Christ. And as we peek into this interview, we discover some things that are really meant for our lives.
Robin Williams
August 17, 2014 • Chris Edmondson • Psalm 42:1–2, Psalm 43:5, 1 Kings 19:1–12, 1 John 5:11–12
Robin Williams normally doesn’t fail to make people laugh. But the world was crying on August 11th, 2014 to hear that the legendary comedian and performer Robin Williams had committed Suicide. In public, Robin Williams shared only the joy he found in life, never the sorrow. He was the same man in private, shielding even longtime friends from the darkness of depression that finally enveloped him. “I can honestly say I never saw him in the down times,” said comedian David Steinberg, who was friends with Williams for more than 30 years and toured with him for six months last year in a two-man show. “I read about it, heard about it, but that down time he kept to himself.” Almost half of all Americans experience mental illness at some time in their lives, and almost a third are afflicted in any one year. But for a Christian, is it possible to obey God, be in the will of God, and yet struggle emotionally with depression?
Walter White
August 10, 2014 • Chris Edmondson, Dave Thompson • 1 John 1:9, James 1:13–15, Genesis 13:10–13, Genesis 14:11–12, Genesis 19:30–38
Walter has good intentions—he is wanting to provide for his family before he dies. I understand that. If you’re a man, we all understand that, don’t we? We want our family to be okay. Our wife to be financially secure. We want our children to not have to wonder where the next meal is coming to come from. Walter has good intentions. But he makes a bad choice. He breaks the law. In the church world, the Bible calls that sin. Today, we’re talking about temptation. Here’s a question: What is the thing that the devil uses to temp you this most? Because all of us have that thing, right? All of us have that thing that we struggle with. That sin that we go back to again and again. All of us have that weakness that we give in to, right?
Lance Armstrong
August 3, 2014 • Chris Edmondson • James 5:16, John 8:32, Genesis 32:24–28
Lance Armstrong – the cancer-surviving cyclist who fought back to win seven Tour de France victories and take the sports world by storm. It’s one of the most well-known stories of our time. It’s a story that was never true. And in the end, it’s a story that has more to do with us than we may realize. We all want to be known for something. Whether it’s for being successful or influential or a winner or something else we see as impressive, we spend a lot of time and energy projecting an image of ourselves that we think will gain us acceptance from others. But this isn’t who we really are, and if we aren’t careful, we’ll end up going through life without being truly known by anyone. And this will rob us of ever knowing true acceptance.
Katy Perry
July 27, 2014 • Chris Edmondson • Luke 15, John 3:30–31, Proverbs 6:20, Proverbs 22:6
She’s one of the most popular performers today. Her songs top the charts time and time again. Because of her giftedness and opportunities, she lives on a stage few people will ever experience. But there’s something about her life that everyone can relate to, no matter who we are. In this message, Chris opens up the Bible to discover what Jesus might say to Katy Perry. And as we hear about her past and discover what God has in store for her future, we see some very telling lines that are actually meant for our lives.