Here Be Dragons

Following the Dragon-Slayer

June 23, 2024 • Matt Holmes • Matthew 8:18–27, Matthew 14:22–33

In this final dragon sermon, we look at two stories in which Jesus teaches his disciples what it takes to follow the Dragon-Slayer. On the one hand, following Jesus will lead them into dangers they never would have faced otherwise. On the other, it also opens up possibilities for them that they never would have dreamed possible. For sermon notes, events, and other content from TCC, download the TCC App:https://subsplash.com/turnerchristianchurch/apphttps://subsplash.com/turnerchristianchurch/app or check in at our digital sanctuary:http://www.turnerchristianchurch.com/digital-sanctuaryhttp://www.turnerchristianchurch.com/digital-sanctuary

Praying to the Dragon-Slayer

June 16, 2024 • Matt Holmes • Psalm 104, Psalm 77, Psalm 74, Psalm 84, Psalm 15

The prayers of Israel (the Psalms) are full of dragon language. The Israelites used dragons to help make sense of their struggle to follow God. What does it look like to pray about dragons? How can they help us open up to God? For sermon notes, events, and other content from TCC, download the TCC App:https://subsplash.com/turnerchristianchurch/apphttps://subsplash.com/turnerchristianchurch/app or check in at our digital sanctuary:http://www.turnerchristianchurch.com/digital-sanctuaryhttp://www.turnerchristianchurch.com/digital-sanctuary

Swimming with Dragons

June 9, 2024 • Matt Holmes • Job 41—42

When dragons appear in the Bible, it's usually in passages about suffering. In fact, the climax of the Book of Job--which is all about suffering--is a a long description of of a dragon called Leviathan. Why does the Bible talk about dragons when we are suffering? What comfort can there be in thinking about dragons?

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Matt Holmes • Romans 13:1–7, Daniel 7, Revelation 13:1–10

In Revelation 13, John describes the Roman Empire as a chaos monster, intent on destroying the people of God. In Romans 13, however, Paul describes the Roman Empire as God's servant for the good of God's people. How can these both be true? How are Christians supposed to view the rulers of the world? For sermon notes, events, and other content from TCC, download the TCC App:https://subsplash.com/turnerchristianchurch/apphttps://subsplash.com/turnerchristianchurch/app or check in at our digital sanctuary:http://www.turnerchristianchurch.com/digital-sanctuaryhttp://www.turnerchristianchurch.com/digital-sanctuary

The Great Red Dragon

May 19, 2024 • Matt Holmes • Revelation 12

For centuries most Christians have told the familiar story about Satan, the rebellious arch-angel who wants to overthrow God. But Revelation 12 depicts Satan as a dragon at war with a woman. With everything we have learned about chaos dragons, is it possible that Satan's story--and his motives--are different than we assume? In this sermon we will examine the place of Satan in a world of dragons.

Demons

May 12, 2024 • Matt Holmes • 1 Peter 5:6–10, Mark 5:1–20, Matthew 12:22–24

The Gospels don't talk much about dragons, but they do have a lot to say about demons--the wild, cruel spirits that haunt the graveyards and wastelands around Israel. What do these spirits have in common with the dragons? And what are we supposed to learn from the stories of their confrontations with Jesus?

Rahab

April 28, 2024 • Matt Holmes • Exodus 1:1–15

Last week we learned that human beings have a disturbing tendency to side with the chaos dragons against God's good order. In the book of Exodus, we see this alliance with chaos come out in the person of the Pharaoh of Egypt. We also see how God deals with chaos monsters that threaten his plan. For sermon notes, events, and other content from TCC, download the TCC App:https://subsplash.com/turnerchristianchurch/apphttps://subsplash.com/turnerchristianchurch/app or check in at our digital sanctuary:http://www.turnerchristianchurch.com/digital-sanctuaryhttp://www.turnerchristianchurch.com/digital-sanctuary

The Serpent

April 21, 2024 • Matt Holmes • Genesis 2—3

In Genesis 1, God creates a world that includes dragons, which symbolize chaos--powers that don't obey anyone, like storms and earthquakes. He creates human beings to help keep order in his creation. In Genesis 2 and 3, human beings have their first encounter with a dragon, and they discover that chaos is more tempting that we expect. Will they side with God, or with the dragons? For sermon notes, events, and other content from TCC, download the TCC App:https://subsplash.com/turnerchristianchurch/apphttps://subsplash.com/turnerchristianchurch/app or check in at our digital sanctuary:http://www.turnerchristianchurch.com/digital-sanctuaryhttp://www.turnerchristianchurch.com/digital-sanctuary

The Great Sea Dragons

April 14, 2024 • Genesis 1, Psalm 104, Mark 4

Human cultures all over the world have used dragons to represent the chaotic powers that threaten to overpower us. Surprisingly (to us), the Bible uses that same imagery to help God's people make sense of the chaos in their world. But where did that chaos come from? In this sermon we take our first look at the Bible's surprising answer.

Turner Christian Church

Spring 2024