A Season of More
Advent at Doxa 2023
Christmastide
December 31, 2023 • Donald Zimmerman • Psalm 75
As the year draws to a close, we ponder on the importance of recognizing God's works and expressing gratitude for His providence and judgment throughout the past year. In this sermon, we discuss the significance of humility and giving credit to God for our successes, acknowledging that any elevation we experience is due to His grace. With insights into how God's ultimate justice unfolds and empowers believers, our conversation also highlights the transformative power of living in faith and surrendering to God's will. The sermon wraps with a call for active faith and stewardship, and leaves you with a renewed sense of hope, purpose and reflection as we step into the new year. ---------- Christmastide, Traditions, Psalm 75, Gratitude, Humility, Advent, Faith, Righteousness, Empowerment, Surrender, Stewardship, Jesus, Christmas, New Years Eve, Doxa, Church, Redmond, Seattle, Washington
Your Deepest Problem Solved
December 24, 2023 • Eddie Williams • Matthew 1:18–25
Could the true spirit of Christmas be the antidote to our yearning for significance and purpose? Join us as we unwrap the layers of this festive season--we go beyond the bright lights and cheerful exchanges and explore the transformative message of hope, peace, joy, and love, brought to life by the miraculous event of Jesus' birth. Through personal stories and theological insights, we reflect on the fulfillment of ancient prophecies, and the significance of the name Emmanuel, "God with us," providing a fresh perspective on the celebration of Christmas. The narrative of Christianity—the story of sin, redemption, and the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ—is a central theme of our conversation. We tackle common misconceptions about our need to be perfect before approaching God, and contrast this with the unconditional love and forgiveness that the gospel offers. Weaving together anecdotes and biblical wisdom, we highlight the inclusive nature of the gospel message, inviting all to partake in grace and new beginnings, no matter their past. ---------- Christmas, Jesus, Gospel, Salvation, Faith, Love, Hope, Peace, Joy, Grace, Redemption, Imperfections, God's Love, Inclusive, Suffering, Significance, Purpose, Meaning, Holiday Spirit, Doxa, Redmond, Seattle, Church, Eastside, Washington
Your Deepest Love
December 17, 2023 • Eddie Williams • 1 John 4:7–12
Remember the joy of experiencing love for the first time, the exhilarating rush of emotions that suddenly made everything in the world seem beautiful? Now, let's journey together to understand a far more profound love that exceeds our human comprehension--the divine love of God. This sermon is a heart-to-heart conversation about the essence of true love during the holiday season, a period when our deep needs for hope, peace, joy, and love are most accentuated. Love originates from God and is expressed through us, the believers. It's a journey into exploring agape love, the highest form of love that's unconditional, sacrificial, and selfless. This isn't a love that can be manufactured by us, it's a divine gift to be received from God and shared with others. Picture this as God's innermost being poured out into our hearts, a profound understanding of His essence. Have you ever pondered the magnitude of God's love, as exemplified in the coming of Jesus? His love isn't merely an emotion, but His entire being, always ready to encompass our sorrows, mistakes, and brokenness. It's not based on what we can give but on who He is, the ultimate expression of love. We end our discussion by contemplating the story of God's love as told through the Gospel, with Jesus' death and resurrection as acts of sacrificial love. We invite you to be part of this exploration of understanding and accepting God's love in your life. ---------- God's Love, Holiday Season, Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, Divine Love, Advent, Gospel, Jesus, Sacrificial Love, Unconditional Love, Adoption, Transformation, Prayer, Doxa, Church, Eastside, Seattle, Redmond, Washington
Your Deepest Joy
December 10, 2023 • Justin Kim • Luke 2:8–12
Does our troubled world make joy seem elusive, almost impossible to grasp? You're not alone. Instead, imagine a holiday season devoid of the usual frenzy, but filled instead with deep, abiding joy. We're not talking about fleeting happiness that comes with unwrapping presents or enjoying a hearty meal, but the profound sense of contentment that comes from delving into our deepest yearnings for hope, peace, love, and joy. We discuss the challenges that make joy seem like a mirage in the desert of our lives. Yet, we argue that our hope and joy should not be tethered to this world, but anchored in the promise of our true home. Finally, we wrap up by looking at true joy--the joy found in knowing Jesus. This joy is inclusive, it is a gift to all, regardless of circumstances or backgrounds, and it is a joy that is birthed in the gospel and the grace of Jesus. ---------- Joy, Happiness, Worldly Possessions, Jesus Christ, Festivus, Hardships, Grace, Gospel, Prayer, Holiday Season, Broken World, Challenges, Materialism, Religion, Good News, Forgiveness, Love, Assurance, Inclusivity, Brokenness, Loneliness, Gospel, Sacrifice, Doxa, Church, Seattle, Redmond
Your Deepest Joy - Sermon Transcript
December 10, 2023 • Justin Kim • Luke 2:8–12
Your Deepest Peace
December 3, 2023 • Eddie Williams • Luke 2:1–14
In the midst of the holiday chaos, we all yearn for a sense of tranquility. We share our personal experiences of trying to create the perfect environment or looking for comfort in food and drink to achieve peace, only to realize that these attempts fall short. True peace, we discover, is found in the midst of life's challenges, much like Mary and Joseph found during the birth of Jesus. We delve into the story of the shepherds who encountered an angel of the Lord, a moment that exposed their false peace and replaced it with God's genuine peace, and we challenge ourselves to be open to similar transformative experiences. We all have an opportunity to experience the real, enduring peace that comes from knowing Jesus. When we confront the concept of "dark peace" and the fear that peace will eventually end, we can instead cling to the assurance of a peace that is everlasting--a peace found in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. May this sermon serve as a timely reminder this holiday season that true contentment can be found in Jesus and His sacrifice. ---------- Peace, Holiday Season, Jesus, Birth, Control, Solace, Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Encounter, Fear, Sacrifice, Contentment, Hope, Love, Joy, Good News, Certainty, Anxiety, Violence, Doxa, Church, Eastside, Redmond, Seattle, Bellevue, Washington
Your Deepest Peace - Sermon Transcript
December 3, 2023 • Eddie Williams • Luke 2:1–14
Your Deepest Hope
November 26, 2023 • Tim Patton • Isaiah 9:2–7
Let this sermon serve as a reminder and sanctuary for all that true hope is offered by Jesus Christ this Christmas season. To kick off Advent, we take a look at the names attributed to Jesus in Isaiah chapter 9--names like Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace, and then explore the invitation to rest in Jesus and His power. As the Christmas season approaches, we can find renewed hope in Jesus and draw closer to the zealous God who passionately seeks our salvation. There truly is more to this season that what we've been told it offers. ---------- Christmas, Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, Jesus, Isaiah 9, Darkness, Salvation, Zealous God, Advent, Light, Purpose, Self-Sufficiency, Bible, Names of Jesus, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace, Salvation, Passion, Encounter, Doxa, Church, Redmond, Seattle