Community

1 Samuel 30:1-31

1 Samuel

All Share Alike

Real strength comes from trusting God's promises, seeking His direction, and recognizing that all blessings are gifts from Him. The believer must share the spoils of victory with all who participated, honoring God rather than self.

Joshua 7:1 · Joshua 7:11

Joshua

But...

Sin disrupts community and God's purposes, affecting not just the individual but the entire body of believers. Repentance, whether chosen early or revealed later, is inevitable and necessary for progress in faith.

2 Timothy 2:22-26 · Romans 14

Community

Commitment to People and Principles

This sermon examines the tension between defending Christian principles and maintaining healthy relationships in community. True resolution requires balancing both through gentle confrontation that honors God's truth while respecting others.

Acts 2:42-44 · 1 Corinthians 12:18

Dumb Things Christians Believe

Community

This sermon challenges the cultural value of individualism and calls Christians to recover biblical community, where believers find meaning and identity through interdependence rather than self-focused consumerism.

Hebrews 10:19-25

Encouragement

This sermon examines the biblical imperative to encourage one another, emphasizing that true encouragement affirms who people are, not just what they do. Practical methods include direct affirmation, written notes, phone calls, acts of service, and presence with those who hurt.

Ephesians 4:1-6

Ephesians

Essentials of Unity

This sermon examines how God has provided unity in the church through the Spirit and calls believers to maintain it through humility, gentleness, patience, and loving endurance rather than consumer preferences.

1 Peter 3:8-12 · Ephesians 4:26

Fight Fair

This sermon teaches believers how to handle conflict with dignity and care, preserving relationships through fair fighting practices that honor both parties as siblings in Christ.

Final Fellowship Devotional

A farewell reflection on a 45-year-old church building being demolished, celebrating its faithful service while reminding the congregation that people, not buildings, are what matter in ministry.

2 Kings 3 · 1 Corinthians 15:33

For the Sake of One

A godly person's influence can profoundly impact those around them. Through the example of Jehoshaphat, this sermon examines how maintaining a godly perspective and staying close to God enables Christians to lead others toward Him.

Genesis 2 · Ecclesiastes 4:10

Friend Day

This sermon explores what friendship truly means—acceptance, loyalty, and sacrifice—and points to Jesus as the ultimate friend who laid down his life for us.

Acts 2:42-47 · Acts 4:32-35

Acts

Giving in Acts

This sermon examines giving in Acts as an expression of love and unity within the church. True giving comes from a heart that reflects God's generosity and prioritizes meeting the needs of others.

Ephesians 3:1-13

Ephesians

God's Intention for the Church

The church exists as a demonstration of God's wisdom to the spiritual realm by revealing his unity across all people. Believers must prioritize God's glory over personal preferences, building community through prayer, small groups, and self-denial.

Ephesians 3:7-12 · Ephesians 1:4

Ephesians

God's Plan Unfolded

God's plan before time began centers on Jesus bringing Jews and Gentiles together as one household. The church's primary purpose is to demonstrate God's multifaceted wisdom to spiritual forces in the heavenly realms, revealing a reconciliation that only God could accomplish.

Romans 14:19-21

How to Win

This sermon examines how Christians should handle conflict in church communities by seeking cooperation and, when necessary, choosing to lose rather than pursuing win-lose competition that damages relationships and fellowship.

Labor Day Devotional

This devotional challenges listeners to boldly express appreciation and affection to the people they love while they still have the opportunity, using stories of regret and life's brevity to underscore the urgency of speaking words that matter.

Ephesians 4:25-32 · Philippians 2

Let Community Begin with Me

This sermon concludes a series on Christian community by reviewing key lessons and calling listeners to personal change. The central message: authentic community begins when individual believers commit to transforming how they think, relate, and interact with one another.

Lord's Supper Devotional

This devotional challenges worshipers to recognize communion as a communal act, not merely individual reflection, and suggests practical ways to affirm community while honoring Jesus through shared worship.

1 John 3:11-18

1 John

Loving Each Other

Love is demonstrated through sacrificial action for others. True followers of Jesus prove their faith by laying down self-interest to meet the material needs of those in their community.

Grandville

Conflict

This sermon examines how conflict in marriage is inevitable but manageable through understanding underlying fears, avoiding blame-shifting, and choosing words that reassure rather than wound.

1 Corinthians 7:8-9 · 1 Corinthians 7:39-40

God's Desire for Widows

Scripture teaches that widows hold a special place in God's heart and deserve both family and congregational support. Widows also bear responsibility to remain spiritually focused and contribute their gifts to the life of the church.

Acts 9:32-43

Acts

Changing Lives

Through Peter's miracles in Lydda and Joppa, God directs believers' paths and reveals His inclusive heart, calling them to grow beyond their inherited expectations.

Acts 21:17-26

Acts

For the Sake of Unity

Unity rooted in common faith in Jesus matters more than personal preferences. Paul's willingness to accommodate Jewish practices while maintaining gospel integrity demonstrates how believers with diverse personalities and convictions can remain unified through patience, compassion, and mutual care.

Ephesians 3:1-13

Ephesians

God's Purpose for the Church

The church's purpose is to reveal God's wisdom to the spiritual realm by embodying unity across all human divisions. This happens when believers ground their identity in Christ's cross rather than political or cultural preferences.

Ephesians 4:1-16 · John 17

Ephesians

How to Keep Unity

While the Spirit establishes unity in the church, believers must actively maintain it through humility, gentleness, patience, and love—recognizing that all members are equally valued and saved by Christ's blood.

1 Corinthians 11:17-34 · 1 Corinthians 10:12

1 Corinthians

Attitude Matters

The Lord's Supper calls believers to recognize their equality at the cross and to extend Christ's sacrificial love through shared community, rejecting attitudes of superiority and division.

1 Corinthians 6:1-11 · 1 Corinthians 4:12-13

1 Corinthians

Changing Perspectives

Believers should not sue fellow believers in unjust courts; instead, they must adopt Jesus's perspective—accepting wrongdoing rather than retaliation—and recognize that commitment to God's kingdom contradicts the ways of the world.

Ephesians 2:11-22

Ephesians

Family

Jesus breaks down the barriers that divide Jews and Gentiles, creating one unified family in him. Believers must remember their former separation, Christ's reconciling work, and their calling to demonstrate God's unity and love to the world.

2 Kings 3 · 1 Corinthians 15:33

Kings

For the Sake of One

This sermon examines how godly influence shapes those around us through the story of Jehoshaphat's presence during Israel's conflict with Moab, calling believers to maintain a distinctly Christian perspective and let their influence draw others toward God.

Ephesians 3:1-13

Ephesians

God's Intention for the Church

The church's primary calling is to reveal God's wisdom to the heavenly realms by living as a unified, racially diverse community centered on Jesus rather than organizational maintenance or member preferences.

John 15:9-17

Friends not Servants

Jesus calls his followers friends rather than servants, offering an intimate relationship that brings joy and a mission to bear lasting fruit in the lives of others.

Romans 12:1-2

Romans

God's Desire for His Children

In light of God's merciful gifts through Christ, dedication to Him is the only rational response. Changed minds—fed by God's truth, focused on His mercy, and strengthened through community—enable believers to discover and live out God's will.

1 Corinthians 7:8-9 · 1 Corinthians 7:39-40

Family

God's Desire for Widows

God holds widows in special regard and calls both families and congregations to care for them, while widows themselves are called to continue serving through prayer, mentorship, and good deeds.

1 Samuel 23:1-6 · 1 Samuel 23:14-18

1 Samuel

Encouragement

God actively provides encouragement through others. Like Jonathan strengthened David's faith during persecution, believers can encourage one another by affirming God's promises, speaking truth, and helping others find their strength in the Lord.

Philippians 2

Gentle Strength

How quiet perseverance steadies communities—and the kind of strength that does not need to announce itself.

Titus 2 · Proverbs 31

Matriarchs of the Family

This sermon encourages mothers by affirming their vital role and addressing what they truly need: genuine appreciation, shared household responsibilities, and mentorship from experienced women. Rather than creating guilt through unrealistic comparisons, the sermon celebrates the profound impact of godly mothers.

Mission Report Devotional

This devotional explores how mission trips create lasting impact on both participants and those they serve, using the framework of interconnected lives to demonstrate the eternal significance of brief encounters.

Philippians 2:1-5

Philippians

Moving From "Me" to "We"

This sermon examines how Christian community requires thinking in terms of the group rather than individual preferences. Through humility, like-mindedness, concern for others, and Jesus's example, believers learn to prioritize corporate unity over personal interests.

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

1 Thessalonians

Overflowing Love

Paul's joy at Timothy's report of the Thessalonians' faith reveals the vital importance of Christian relationships and specific, bold prayer that trusts God to intervene against Satan's opposition.

Prayer for Family Festival

This prayer service reflects on the Family Festival's six-year history as Park Avenue's missional response to their community, explaining why members serve despite personal cost and calling the congregation to pray for the event's impact.

Prayer Time

This gathering invites the congregation to sing and pray together, seeking God's direction for the new year across three focus areas: congregational matters, evangelism, and family life.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Principles for Living

Paul instructs the Thessalonians on living as Christians through personal relationships and devotion to God, emphasizing respect for leaders, care for one another, and maintaining joy and prayer regardless of circumstances.

Ephesians 4:1-6 · 1 Corinthians 1:10

Pure and Simple Christianity

This sermon calls the church away from denominationalism toward unity centered solely on Christ, emphasizing the simplicity of the gospel and the essential matters of faith found in Scripture.

1 Peter 2:11-12 · Galatians 5:17

Purity

Christians are called to be militant defenders of moral purity in a culture that has abandoned it. Through intentional choices, wholesome habits, and mutual accountability, believers can resist erosion and champion God's standard.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Risk

This sermon challenges believers to prioritize genuine relationships and authentic care for people before sharing the gospel, modeling Paul's principle of becoming a servant to all in order to win some to Christ.

Hebrews 1:1-3

Saying What You Mean

This sermon examines barriers to clear communication—indirectness, contradiction, and false assumptions—and offers three factors for healthy dialogue: accepting others' feelings, revealing oneself honestly, and listening deeply, drawing a parallel to how God communicated plainly through Jesus.

James 2:1-9 · Matthew 18

The Crisis of Community

This sermon examines how churches have lost the meaning of biblical community—personal sharing of lives—and challenges believers to actively practice love toward one another rather than passively waiting to feel connected.

Genesis 18:16-33 · Genesis 18:25

The Dynamics of Prayer

This sermon examines how prayer creates intimate partnership with God, revealing that the Creator welcomes human participation in divine purposes and genuinely responds to our intercession, making prayer a profound privilege rather than a casual practice.

Matthew 5:21-26

Sermon on the Mount

The King's Children Seek Reconciliation

This sermon examines how Jesus calls his followers to transform their hearts regarding anger, moving beyond merely avoiding murder to valuing the dignity of others. The King's children seek reconciliation and healing rather than nursing pride and contempt.

Hebrews 10:24-25

The Need for Community

God created us for relationships and spiritual growth within community. The church assembly exists as a place where believers actively spur one another toward love and good deeds, not through programs but through genuine, intentional encouragement.

1 Corinthians 12:12-20

The Place for Relationships

The church is both a structured organization and a living organism designed by God as a place for family, fellowship, and active encouragement. Believers must consciously balance organizational matters with relational connection.

Proverbs 18:21 · Proverbs 10:19

The Tongue

This sermon examines Proverbs' wisdom about the power of words, teaching that we must guard our tongues through brevity, thoughtfulness, and listening while also using words wisely by speaking timely, pleasant, complimentary, and corrective truths.

Acts 1:14 · Acts 2:42

Time of Prayer

This sermon examines how prayer functioned as central to the early church's life and mission in Acts, challenging believers to recover prayer as the apostolic priority—not a secondary activity.

Ephesians 4:29-32

Too Much Talk

This sermon examines how our words either build up or tear down community. Christians must speak about meaningful matters and avoid harsh words, slander, and gossip to strengthen their spiritual family.

1 Timothy 5:1-16

Timothy

Treatment of Members

Paul instructs Timothy on how to treat different groups within the church, with particular emphasis on discerning which widows deserve congregational support based on need, age, character, and lack of family resources.

1 Timothy 5:17-6:2 · Acts 20:17

1 Timothy

Treatment of Members, II

Paul instructs Timothy on honoring and protecting church elders, evaluating their character carefully, and treating all relationships with respect that honors God's name.

Hebrews 10:19-25 · Leviticus 3

Worship and Edification

Worship encompasses both vertical devotion to God and horizontal encouragement of one another. The assembly must intentionally foster mutual edification, not passive isolation.

1 Corinthians 11:17-34 · Hebrews 10:24

Worship and the Lord's Supper

Worship requires both vertical communion with God and horizontal unity with believers, as demonstrated in the Lord's Supper. Paul addresses divisions at Corinth by calling the church to recognize Christ's sacrifice and celebrate their shared salvation together.

Recommended Books

A curated list of resources on marriage, relationships, and family life from Christian authors and publishers.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Risk

This sermon examines the anxiety of revealing authentic faith in secular spaces and calls Christians to build genuine friendships with others by serving them and entering their world so they may encounter Jesus.

Mark 1:40-45

Mark

The Heart of God

This sermon examines Jesus's healing of a leper to reveal God's compassionate heart—a heart that takes our place so we might be restored to community with him and with others.

Hebrews 10:19-25

Basics

Why Do We Assemble Together?

Christian assembly serves both vertical worship of God and horizontal encouragement of one another. The Hebrew writer calls believers to intentional community that provokes mutual love and good deeds, especially in times of uncertainty.

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

1 Corinthians

No Comparisons

God assigns each member of the body of Christ unique gifts and roles. Comparing ourselves to others or viewing ourselves as superior dishonors God's wisdom; instead, we must value all members equally and share in one another's suffering and joy.

2 Peter 1:3-9 · 1 John 4:17

Resolutions to Keep

This sermon presents three spiritual resolutions worth keeping: seeing the world through God's eyes rather than selfishly, learning to listen genuinely to others, and offering encouragement to those around us. Each resolution reshapes how we relate to God and our neighbors.

Ephesians 4:1-6 · Ephesians 2:10

Ephesians

Unity

This sermon examines how believers maintain the unity God has already established through humility, gentleness, patience, and loving endurance, focusing on what draws the church together rather than what divides it.

Proverbs 18:21 · Proverbs 10:19

Proverbs

The Tongue

This sermon examines biblical wisdom about the power of words, calling listeners to guard their tongues through restraint and reflection, and to speak wisely through timing, pleasantness, genuine compliments, and truthful correction.

Ephesians 2:11-22 · Deuteronomy 7:9

Issues

Racial Harmony

God desires racial harmony through Christ alone, who destroyed the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles. Christians must teach children to love all people as God's image-bearers and celebrate the differences that reflect God's creative wisdom.

Acts 2:42-47 · Acts 4:32-35

Acts

Sharing

Early believers shared generously from awe of God and trust in his provision rather than hoarding possessions for security. Developing a sharing heart means recognizing God's power and letting go of material accumulation.