The Bible is filled with amazing stories that go back to the beginning of time! In the real life, historical stories of the Old Testament, we can see the way God takes lives filled with small successes and great failures, and turns them into epic tales of his own design.
We can also see that all of our stories, and all the stories that make up our communities, are no less a part of God’s story than any other. We can examine our own stories and look for God’s redemptive thread being pulled through and connecting each of them. We’ll hear individual testimonies every week, and we’ll get together to share our own stories in our Missional Community Groups.
We can celebrate all of our stories – not because we see our own greatness in them, but because through them we see the glory of a God who makes beautiful things out of us.
Everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
This sermon teaches that even in the most broken and desperate situations, like the one faced by Tamar in Genesis 38, God is at work to accomplish His redemptive plan. Tamar’s inclusion in the lineage of Jesus shows that the gospel is for everyone, demonstrating that God's grace redeems even our most sinful and chaotic moments for His ultimate glory.
This sermon teaches that the book of Esther reveals God is always at work, even when He seems hidden, using ordinary people to accomplish His redemptive purposes. The story encourages believers to be available to God, trusting that His grace orchestrates every "coincidence" for His glory and for the salvation of His people.
This sermon teaches that, like Joseph, Jesus is the "better Joseph" who suffered for the redemption of humanity. While Joseph's family meant evil against him, God used his pain for a greater good, foreshadowing how Jesus endured evil to save all of humanity.
This sermon teaches that Sarah's life, despite her doubt and unfaithfulness, is a testament to God's unwavering grace and faithfulness. The message encourages us to trust that God can turn our failures into treasures and, through Jesus, the "better Isaac," fulfill all of His promises.
This sermon teaches that while David was a chosen king, his life ultimately points to Jesus as the perfect and eternal King. It encourages believers to embrace their identity in Christ as princes and daughters of the King, using their gifts to humbly serve others and share the gospel.
This sermon teaches that the flawed hero Samson, with all his physical strength and personal weakness, ultimately points to our need for a perfect hero—Jesus Christ. Unlike Samson, who did what was right in his own eyes, Jesus humbly served and sacrificed for his enemies, offering true redemption and strength to all who believe in him.
This sermon teaches that, like the "prodigal daughter" Naomi, we can find redemption and a new name through God’s unfailing faithfulness. The message shows that even when we stray due to bitterness and lack of faith, God, in His grace, uses the kindness of others and humble circumstances to restore us and, through Jesus, redeem our story.
This sermon teaches that the story of Ruth is a testament to God's faithfulness, provision, and love for outsiders, the broken, and the desperate. It highlights how God works through tragedy and uncertainty, with every story in the Old Testament ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ as the ultimate redeemer.
This sermon teaches that the story of Elijah is a powerful testament to God's faithfulness to outsiders, in times of confusion, and in strengthening our convictions. It encourages believers to have a humble faith in Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of Elijah's ministry, who willingly went to the cross to redeem outsiders and offer us eternal life.
