Lent 2019
Maundy Thursday Homily
April 18, 2019 • Rev. Adam Feichtmann
The Return of the King
April 14, 2019 • Rev. Matthew Trexler
Are you ready? Are you prepared to celebrate the most climactic day of the year? Easter is almost here. 9 days and counting! Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent have helped us prepare for the glory and joy of Easter. However for many of us, 46 days is a bit long of a preparation season. When leaving for a trip, we are lucky if we pack a day or two early! This Sunday is Palm Sunday. It marks the beginning of Holy Week, a week specifically dedicated to intensify our preparation for Easter. If you have yet to pack, yet to begin your preparations, may this Sunday be the day that helps you get started. We are honored to have the Rev. Matthew Trexler, the RUF Campus Minister at UCLA, preaching a Palm Sunday sermon from Matthew 21:1-11, Jesus' famous triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. I look forward to worshiping with you, and preparing alongside you for the glory and joy of Easter! Pastor Adam
The Farewell Discourse: Christian Unity
April 7, 2019 • Rev. Josh Eby
Have you ever wondered what Jesus prays for you? At the conclusion of Jesus' Farewell Discourse to his disciples, on the eve of his crucification, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and prayed to his Heavenly Father for his disciples and the forthcoming church. This 26 verse prayer, often titled Jesus' "High Priestly Prayer," is his longest recorded prayer. This Sunday we have the honor of having the Rev. Josh Eby back in town to conclude our Lenten sermon series by preaching on Jesus’ famous prayer recorded in John 17. To best prepare for Sunday's sermon, read and meditate on all 26 verses of John 17. As you do, may you reflect specifically on the key theme of Christian unity. I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday! Pastor Adam
The Farewell Discourse: The Holy Spirit
March 31, 2019 • Rev. Chris Stratton
Father, Son, AND Holy Spirit. Over and under-emphasis of the person of the Holy Spirit is extremely common. In some churches you would think that God is not triune, but is only functioning in the mode of the Holy Spirit. In others, you may wonder if there is even a person known as the Holy Spirit, because he is never mentioned. Jesus' Farewell Discourse to his disciples, recorded in the Gospel of John, is drenched in trinitarian language. In chapter 14 the Holy Spirit was introduced as another Helper, and Jesus develops this reality more in chapter 16. This Sunday the Rev. Chris Stratton will continue our Lenten series on The Farewell Discourse by teaching on the topic of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John chapter 16. To best prepare for Sunday, read and meditate on chapters 14 & 16. Reflect on the reality that we worship a Triune God, and that the Holy Spirit is a real and active person of the Trinity, who is a Helper to us every minute of every day. I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday! Pastor Adam
The Farewell Discourse: Union with Christ & Bearing Fruit
March 24, 2019 • Rev. Adam Feichtmann
Who are you? How do you become generative? Not many questions in life are more important than those. This Sunday we will study John 15:1-5. Jesus' teaching in this text discusses some of the most foundational life topics: our identity, and what we create. In preparation for Sunday, take 5 minutes to read, meditate, pray, and contemplate Jesus' words in these 5 verses and then ask yourself: Who am I? How can I become a generative person? I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday! Pastor Adam
The Farewell Discourse: Peace for Troubled Hearts
March 17, 2019 • Rev. Adam Feichtmann
"Peace I leave with you... Let not your hearts be troubled." Jesus says these words to his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion. When our hearts are troubled, may we remember that Jesus gives us peace. This Sunday we will continue our Lent sermon series through Jesus' Farewell Discourse recorded in the Gospel of John. In chapter 14 Jesus knows his disciples' hearts are troubled. He gives them peace by telling them three things. Three things that we can still hold onto today. To prepare for this Sunday and to see how Jesus calms the hearts of his disciples, read, meditate, and pray through John 14:1-11. These verses are well-known and often discussed outside of their direct context. As you sit with them, try not to get lost in the heavy (but important) theological debates, but rather reflect on how these verses brought peace to the disciples' troubled hearts and can do the same for you. I look forward to worshiping with you all this Sunday! Pastor Adam
The Farewell Discourse: Receiving & Reflecting the Love of God
March 10, 2019 • Rev. Adam Feichtmann
To receive love is sometimes more difficult than to give love. This is especially true for many of us in relation to God. Often, we are happy to serve God by giving love to others; however, we have a hard time sitting and letting God love us. Is that true of you? Do you find it difficult to sit and simply let God love you for who you are? Or do you feel like God loves you only if you are serving him? This Sunday is the first Sunday in the season of Lent. During our journey together toward the celebration of Easter, we will begin a new sermon series. We will study Jesus' Farewell Discourse to his disciples in the Upper Room on the night before his crucification, recorded in the Gospel of John chapters 13-17. In chapter 13 Jesus begins his time with the disciples by washing their feet, an act that only the lowliest of servants would perform. Some of the disciples awkwardly let Jesus wash their feet, but Peter won't receive Jesus' love at first. He doesn't want to receive love from someone who is acting like a servant. In preparation for this Sunday, read John 13, meditate and pray through the themes of love, discipleship, and servanthood. If you have extra time, read Jesus' entire Farewell Discourse in John 13-17. This will help you understand Jesus' view of the essence of discipleship, and the parting words he spoke prior to his crucifixion. I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday, as we journey together through this Lenten season. Pastor Adam