The Mediator: A Parable

THIS SERMON: I begin this sermon talking about Zebras and the impact of stress on the brain. I then turn to the impact of stress on the soul. But God does not take away our stress. He even prays that we would be left in the world. So we have to learn to deal. We have to trust that God can redeem bad situations, trust him to guide our steps, and give ourselves some grace along the way. THIS SERIES: In life, we are sometimes forced to walk through shadowlands. We can get scared, lost, and angry as pain, suffering, and grief surround us. We must learn to understand, navigate, and journey through the valley of the shadow of death. Most importantly, we must remember that we are not alone. Christ is with us and we are with each other. Pastor Jordan Rimmer will preach the series simultaneous to his friend Pastor Chris Thomas from First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn, MI. Sunday School curriculum will also be available for the series that was filmed by Pastors Chris and Jordan. You can watch them at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwS2NaLexncln9qUJ4wJhsg.

20 Feb 201924min

THIS SERMON: Jesus was fully human and understands what we go through, not in an abstract way, but because he feels those things. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he sweat drops of blood from the pain he was anticipating.   A part of the sermon, I refer often to a PowerPoint. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SLIDES. THIS SERIES: In life, we are sometimes forced to walk through shadowlands. We can get scared, lost, and angry as pain, suffering, and grief surround us. We must learn to understand, navigate, and journey through the valley of the shadow of death. Most importantly, we must remember that we are not alone. Christ is with us and we are with each other. Pastor Jordan Rimmer will preach the series simultaneous to his friend Pastor Chris Thomas from First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn, MI. Sunday School curriculum will also be available for the series that was filmed by Pastors Chris and Jordan. You can watch them at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwS2NaLexncln9qUJ4wJhsg.

11 Feb 201919min

THIS SERMON: When Jesus comes to see Lazarus, he is late by Martha’s standards. She lets him know so. Is this a lack of faith, or does it show that she has faith Jesus could have healed Lazarus? Maybe our honest laments are more an act of faith than of doubt. THIS SERIES: In life, we are sometimes forced to walk through shadowlands. We can get scared, lost, and angry as pain, suffering, and grief surround us. We must learn to understand, navigate, and journey through the valley of the shadow of death. Most importantly, we must remember that we are not alone. Christ is with us and we are with each other. Pastor Jordan Rimmer will preach the series simultaneous to his friend Pastor Chris Thomas from First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn, MI. Sunday School curriculum will also be available for the series that was filmed by Pastors Chris and Jordan. You can watch them at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwS2NaLexncln9qUJ4wJhsg.

5 Feb 201916min

THIS SERMON: Part of the scariest parts of the darkness is the unknown. But God never promised we would understand. He only promised that he will be with us. Maybe we are asking the wrong questions. Job is a book of his friends trying to explain the pain that job goes through, but at the end God rants about how is Job to know. All along, the real answer to why suffering is happening is that God and the devil had a bet. The point is that the answers are unknowable. THIS SERIES: In life, we are sometimes forced to walk through shadowlands. We can get scared, lost, and angry as pain, suffering, and grief surround us. We must learn to understand, navigate, and journey through the valley of the shadow of death. Most importantly, we must remember that we are not alone. Christ is with us and we are with each other. Pastor Jordan Rimmer will preach the series simultaneous to his friend Pastor Chris Thomas from First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn, MI. Sunday School curriculum will also be available for the series that was filmed by Pastors Chris and Jordan. You can watch them at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwS2NaLexncln9qUJ4wJhsg.

20 Jan 201921min

It is a new year, and with the new year comes new year's resolutions. In this sermon, I take a look at why I think Christians should embrace new year's resolutions, how the principles of succeeding at resolutions are biblical, and how for Christians self-help and success literature get's the process wrong.

8 Jan 201922min

In this short sermon on the Sunday after Christmas, I talk about the let down after Christmas, and living an Advent faith when all the bows are put away.

4 Jan 201912min

In this sermon, I look at the struggles we have experiencing Christmas because we are so busy and consumed by DOING Christmas. I then use Galatians 4 to talk about the importance of the holiday. I conclude with the poem below.   The Nightmare Before New Years by Jordan Rimmer Twas the Nightmare before New Years, and all through the land Everyone was stirring, as fast as they can. The decorations were hung, but were they enough? Paying off all this credit card debt will be tuff. The children were tucked in and dreaming upstairs Of expensive toys that they’ll break and they’ll lose and won’t share. Mom and I were exhausted, and fell fast asleep For this was a pace that we just could not keep. It was snowing outside and starting to pile In the morning I would have to shovel a while. Man, was the winter always rough on my back. And we are travelling this week and didn’t yet pack. The kids would wake up before the crack of dawn To open their toys, and all day they will yawn. Then we’d dash to see family throughout the day And we’ll eat and we’ll talk while all the kids play. As the day moves along a smile turns to a frown Somebody’s bound to have a melt-down. It might be a kid who didn’t get enough sleep Or an adult with too many secrets to keep.   Is this really what Christmas is all about? That we run and we spend and we stress and we shout? We hustle and bustle and wear ourselves thin. Is there something more happening that we just won’t let in? Then we realize with a great amount of fear: We are going to have do this all again next year? But bigger, and better, and nicer, and more More shopping, more cookies, of everything—more. Or we could choose differently here, you and I. We could hold on to love and give up the lie That Christmas is all about presents and stuff We could look at it differently, but it will be tuff. Maybe it’s not about presents at all Or decorations or cookies or sales at the mall. Maybe the holiday is all about love. That started with Christ who came from above. The love that was laid in the manger of hay Changes the way we love others today. Maybe this Christmas we can more than get through. Merry Christmas, I say, and God’s blessings to you.

23 Dec 201821min

One of the challenges of life is that joy and suffering often go together. Love involves risk. The wonderful part of life are not offset by the painful parts, but they go together. I take a look at the testimonies of Simeon and Anna, what this all must have been like for Mary, and what we can learn from them.

16 Dec 201822min