Acts 6:1-7
Church Leadership
Deacons: Servants who Strengthen the Church
Deacons are chosen servants whose lives exemplify Jesus and godly wisdom, functioning equally with other leaders to solve the church's internal problems and enable its growth.
Mark 10:35-45 · John 17
Leadership
Leadership That Imitates Jesus
Jesus rejects the disciples' desire for power and prestige, teaching instead that kingdom leadership means serving others, losing oneself, and being last rather than first.
Colossians 4 · Acts 20:4
Colossians
Crossroads
Paul closes his letter by introducing companions and coworkers whose lives demonstrate the costly call to follow Jesus wherever He leads, inviting believers to embrace the unpredictable crossroads that faith requires.
Acts 20:17-35
A Message for the Elders
This sermon examines the biblical role of elders as shepherds and overseers—not business-style leaders but spiritual protectors of God's flock. It calls the congregation to support their elders and charges the elders to know, correct, lead, study Scripture, and model Jesus.
James 2:14-26
James
Active Faith
Genuine faith is actively revealed in how believers treat others, particularly those in need. True faith demands action, not merely words or good intentions.
Philippians 2:5-11
Vision
Being Like Jesus
This sermon explores how believers can develop the mind of Christ by emptying themselves in service to others, following Jesus's example of sacrificial humility to deepen relationships and fulfill God's will.
1 Corinthians 12:1-6
Being the Real You
Evangelism is not a program for the trained few but a natural extension of who you are. God has gifted each believer uniquely to reach others through their own personality and style.
Matthew 20:20-23
Can You Drink the Cup?
This sermon examines Jesus's invitation to drink from his cup of sacrificial service and suffering, challenging believers to renew their commitment to giving themselves for the benefit of others through the practice of Communion.
Luke 10:30-37 · Luke 19:5
Compassionate Sacrifice
Demonstrating compassionate sacrifice to people already in your life—through the gift of time, genuine attention, and authentic care—opens doors for spiritual impact and shows them your faith is real.
Nehemiah 4:10-23 · 2 Timothy 2:8
Nehemiah
Dealing with Inside Opposition
When discouragement strikes during God's work, believers overcome by remembering God's greatness and remaining active in service, trusting His faithfulness despite obstacles.
Mark 10:32-45
Dying to Serve
Jesus teaches that greatness in God's kingdom comes through humble service, not power or position. The disciples—and modern believers—are called to adopt Jesus' servant heart, demonstrated supremely in his sacrificial death.
Philippians 2:5-11 · Genesis 1:28
Vision
Emptying Self and Finances
This sermon examines how Jesus' self-limiting example reveals that Christians should view finances as stewardship rather than ownership, limiting their own power and possessions to increase relationship with others.
John 21:1-14
John Gospel
Fishing
Jesus gives new meaning to an old experience—fishing becomes purposeful when he directs it. All work gains significance only when done for Jesus and offered to God.
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.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-18
Get To Work
Paul commands the Thessalonians to work rather than gossip and become busybodies, using church discipline to shame the idle into repentance while maintaining brotherly love.
Genesis 40:1-23
God Remembers
Joseph's faithful service in prison despite injustice demonstrates that a servant's heart honors God through loyalty where you are, to those around you, even when circumstances seem hopeless.
Matthew 22:34-40 · Deuteronomy 6
God's Priorities
Jesus identifies the two greatest commandments—love God with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself—establishing that these priorities, rooted in self-sacrificial agape love, must shape how we live and serve others.
1 Corinthians 7:7-9 · 1 Corinthians 7:29-35
God's Single Servants
Paul teaches that singleness is a valid spiritual gift and calls both married and single Christians to live with undivided devotion to God, free from worldly anxiety and committed to treating singles with respect and dignity.
Matthew 5:13-16
Impacting the World
Kingdom people are called to be salt and light in the world, making an impact by drawing close to others and sharing the transformative knowledge of Christ through both presence and witness.
Matthew 28:18-20
Investing in People
This sermon challenges believers to intentionally invest time and energy in people's lives as an act of obedience to Christ's Great Commission, recognizing that personal relationships and spiritual influence are the only investments that last for eternity.
Matthew 20:20-28 · 1 Timothy 3:1
Leadership Authority
Words shape our understanding of leadership. The New Testament does not connect 'authority' with elders; instead, leadership is about shepherding, care, persuasion, and service—never dictation.
Acts 20:17 · Acts 20:25-31
Leadership Words
This sermon examines the New Testament Greek words for church leaders—elder, overseer, and shepherd—to recover their true biblical meanings and call congregations to allow leaders to fulfill their authentic function of serving, protecting, and caring for God's people.
Matthew 20:20-28
Goodman Oaks Retreat
Learning to Serve
This sermon examines Jesus's teaching on true greatness through the story of Mrs. Zebedee's request, arguing that Christian greatness comes through humble service to others, not through seeking position or prestige.
Luke 19:11-27
Life in the Interim
Jesus calls his followers to faithfully steward what he has given them while waiting for his return. The sermon challenges believers to live as if Christ could return today, using their gifts for the king's glory rather than from fear or self-interest.
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.
Proverbs 5:15-20 · Proverbs 7:6-23
Marriage
This sermon examines Proverbs' teaching on marriage, emphasizing that both husbands and wives are called to serve one another, honor God, and find meaning in raising children who fear the Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:5-8 · John 3:16
Maximum Impact
This sermon examines the Christian's role in evangelism through Paul's metaphor of planting and watering seeds. Believers are called to intentionally build relationships and initiate spiritual conversations, seeing themselves and others as God sees them—valuable and worthy of spiritual investment.
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.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 · Acts 16
1 Thessalonians
Motives
Paul defends his ministry motives in Thessalonica, demonstrating through his sacrificial labor and character that he served the gospel and people, not personal gain—a model for believers to follow Jesus with pure hearts centered on God's kingdom.
1 Thessalonians 5:12
Ordination of Deacons and Elder
This sermon ordains deacons and an elder, charging them to serve with humility rather than seek rank, to prioritize others' interests, and to grow spiritually while shepherding the congregation toward Christ.
1 Peter 5:1-4 · 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
Ordination of Elders
This sermon celebrates the ordination of four elders at Park Avenue Church after years of prayer and congregational discernment, emphasizing the mutual responsibility between leaders and congregation to shepherd one another toward Christ.
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 for International Ministry
This sermon celebrates nine years of ministry to international children through Bible stories and English instruction, recounting the vision's origins and current needs for mentors, teachers, drivers, and expanded outreach.
Prayer for our Bible School
This sermon spotlights the Bible School program and honors the teachers and supervisors across all five departments—nursery through adult—who systematically guide participants through Scripture.
Nehemiah 1:1-11
Nehemiah
Preparation for Work
Nehemiah demonstrates that responding to God's work requires first feeling a genuine burden for those in need, then seeking God's direction through prayer, fasting, and confession—not jumping to action or programs before sitting with God.
Amos 3:1-15
Privileges and Responsibility
God's election of Israel brought privilege and responsibility to reveal Him to others. Believers today, similarly chosen through Jesus, must live as servants rather than presuming on God's favor through complacency.
Mark 5:1-20 · Isaiah 65:1-5
Restoring Sanity
Jesus brings healing and restoration to a man destroyed by chaos and evil, and sends him as a missionary to tell others what God has done. This same Jesus offers healing to all who are broken and shattered by life, and calls each believer to share their testimony.
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.
1 Timothy 3 · Titus 1
Selecting Elders
This sermon outlines the biblical qualifications for elders and invites the congregation to participate in identifying and nominating men whose character, faith, and servant conduct demonstrate readiness to shepherd the church.
Ephesians 5:21-33
Ephesians
Serving in Marriage
This sermon examines mutual submission and service in marriage as rooted in Christ's example, arguing that changing selfish attitudes—not seeking escape routes—enables spouses to serve and submit to each other for God's glory.
1 Peter 4:7-11
Peter epistles
The End Is Near
When believers keep Christ's return in mind, they are able to live faithfully—practicing self-control in prayer, loving one another deeply, offering hospitality, and using spiritual gifts to serve others.
Ezekiel 28:2-19
Ezekiel
The God of Success
This sermon examines how wealth and success can tempt us to pride and self-sufficiency, forgetting that all our gifts come from God. Disciples of Jesus work to honor God and serve others, not to exalt themselves.
Matthew 23:23-24 · 2 Corinthians 8-9
The Heart of Giving
This sermon examines Jesus's teaching on giving, demonstrating that the motivation and condition of the heart matter more than the act of giving itself. True generosity flows from a cheerful heart set on honoring God and serving others, not from obligation or external pressure.
Matthew 5:13-16
Sermon on the Mount
The King's Children Reveal God
Kingdom people serve as salt and light in the world, spreading goodness and revealing God's character through their transformed attitudes and actions in everyday life.
Titus 2:3-5
The Ministry of Motherhood
Motherhood is a sacred ministry where mothers shape their children's faith and character. Though imperfect and overwhelmed by competing demands, mothers profoundly influence their children's love for God and ability to honor Him throughout their lives.
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.
1 Peter 2:4-10 · Ephesians 6:5-8
The Sacred and the Secular
Everything matters to God. This sermon challenges the false division between sacred and secular activities, showing how daily work and ordinary life become spiritual when done with Christ at the center and for God's glory.
Ezekiel 2
Ezekiel
The Sweet Scroll of God
True success in following God is found not in others' response but in faithful submission to his will and message, even when rejected.
John 13:1-17
Time for a Bath
Jesus washes his disciples' feet to demonstrate humble service and spiritual cleansing. This sermon challenges believers to serve one another humbly and to receive the spiritual cleansing only Jesus can provide.
1 Timothy 3:8-16
1 Timothy
Traits of Deacons
Deacons must demonstrate character traits of respect, sincerity, sobriety, and integrity—their function differs from overseers (service vs. management), but their character must be equally strong and observable.
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.
Micah 2:6-13 · Leviticus 18:28
Micah
Truth
This sermon examines how God calls his people to speak truth even when it is unwelcome, using Micah's confrontation of false prophets and exploitation of the poor to challenge hearers to align their prosperity with justice and to follow God's leadership in serving others.
Luke 22:24-38 · John 13
Luke
Upside Down Thinking
In his final meal with the disciples, Jesus teaches that kingdom leadership means serving others, warns of Satan's attacks, assures them of his intercessory prayer, and calls them to prepare for persecution—lessons still vital for today's believers.
Acts 13:4-12 · Acts 9:15-16
What Is Our Mission?
2 Kings 5:15-27
What Time Is It?
This sermon contrasts Elisha's God-centered motives with Gehazi's self-seeking greed, calling believers to examine whether they point others to God or seek personal gain.
John 13:1-5 · John 1:1
Who Am I?
This sermon explores how understanding our identity in God's eyes—not through worldly measures or others' judgments—enables us to fulfill our spiritual mission with clarity and purpose, just as Jesus' secure identity allowed him to serve humbly.
Matthew 20:20-28
Grandville
Communication
Poor communication in marriage is a symptom of deeper trust issues, not the root problem. Couples must address the underlying lack of trust and commitment to service rather than control, learning to speak directly and listen actively.
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.
Mark 14:1-11
Mark
Do What You Can
This sermon examines the unnamed woman who anoints Jesus at Bethany, arguing that faithful service requires not grand gestures but simply doing what one can within one's sphere of influence, allowing our behaviors to speak louder than our words.
Mark 10:32-45 · 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Mark
Dying to Serve
True greatness in God's kingdom comes through serving others, not seeking power or position. Jesus exemplifies this through his sacrificial death, which ransoms us from sin and calls us to live as his own.
Romans 12:3-8
Romans
Transformed Thinking
This sermon examines how God's mercy calls believers to transform their thinking—recognizing their identity in Christ, accepting their God-given gifts, and using them to serve one another rather than pursuing self-interest.
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 8:26-40 · Isaiah 53:1-12
Acts
Teachers Needed
Philip exemplifies how God uses believers to share the gospel, teaching an Ethiopian official about Jesus through Isaiah. The sermon challenges listeners to be witnesses in their own spheres and to accept Christ's personal invitation into full relationship with God.
Acts 13:4-12 · Acts 9:15-16
Acts
What Is Our Mission?
God calls all Christians to a mission field where they are. Like Paul and Barnabas commissioned to preach to the Gentiles, believers are called to witness in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities rather than waiting for a distant calling.
James 5:1-6
James
Attitude Toward Wealth Matters
This sermon examines how accumulating wealth for selfish purposes and at others' expense reflects spiritual misdirection; followers of Jesus should view their wages and possessions as opportunities to serve others, not secure personal comfort.
Ephesians 3:14-21 · Ephesians 1:1
Serving
Filled with Christ to Serve
Paul's prayer invites believers to know Christ's boundless love and be filled with God's power, enabling them to serve others with humility and reveal God's glory through unity and praise.
John 21:1-25 · John 13
John
Finding Our Mission
This sermon examines how Peter's encounter with the risen Jesus reorients his purpose from fishing to glorifying God through faithful witness, even unto death. Disciples find meaningful mission only in Jesus.
John 13:1-38
John
Love's Full Demonstration
Jesus demonstrates authentic love through humble service and commands his followers to love one another with the same sacrificial, selfless love he showed them—a love that reveals Christ's reality to the world.
Mark 10:28-45 · John 17:24
Leadership
Biblical Leadership
Real leadership, contrary to worldly expectations, is found in serving others without seeking personal reward or recognition. Jesus models true greatness through sacrificial service rather than the pursuit of power.
Acts 20:17 · Acts 20:25-31
Leadership
Leadership Words
This sermon examines the biblical Greek words for church leaders—elder, overseer, shepherd, and deacon—to recover a servant-leadership model grounded in first-century meaning rather than modern business structures.
John 13:1-38
John
Love's Full Demonstration
Jesus commands his disciples to love one another as he has loved them—authentically, sacrificially, and with humble service. When we recognize that life is about God's glory rather than our own, we become channels of Christ's transformative love to a divided world.
John 16:5-15
John
The Counselor
The Holy Spirit's primary work is to point people to Jesus, not to draw attention to himself. Like behind-the-scenes workers who find joy in enabling others to shine, the Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment—all to glorify Christ.
1 Timothy 3:8-16
1 Timothy
Traits of Deacons
This sermon examines Paul's character requirements for deacons, showing that while deacons and overseers have different functions (serving versus managing), they must possess the same godly character traits including integrity, self-control, and commitment to truth.
Deuteronomy 15:1-18 · Romans 6
A Generous Heart
Those who belong to God should develop generous hearts toward the poor and needy, understanding that generosity reflects God's character and that spiritual freedom in Christ surpasses all earthly independence.
Philippians 2:5-11
Philippians
Emptying Self
This sermon examines how Jesus emptied himself to become a servant, challenging believers to adopt the same selfless mindset by prioritizing God's will and others' needs over personal preferences and recognition.
1 Corinthians 9:1-27
1 Corinthians
The Real Deal
Paul demonstrates that genuine faith requires willingly surrendering personal rights and freedoms for the advancement of the gospel, rejecting cultural pride in favor of sacrificial service.
1 Thessalonians 2:6b-12
1 Thessalonians
Making a Difference
Paul's investment in the Thessalonians—through maternal care, hard work, and fatherly leadership—modeled that life is about God's kingdom, not personal gain. Believers invest in others so they see Jesus, not us.
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.
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 · Acts 17
1 Thessalonians
The Crown
Paul's separation from the Thessalonians reflects his deep love and reveals that God's work continues wherever we are placed. Believers should invest in people and trust God's purpose even when plans are thwarted.
2 Kings 5:15-27
Kings
What Time Is It?
This sermon contrasts Elisha's selfless service with Gehazi's self-serving greed, showing that followers of God must prioritize God's glory over personal gain and maintain pure motives in ministry.
Mark 9:33-50
Mark
Greatness
True greatness in God's kingdom means humility and service to others, rooted in a heart set on exalting Jesus rather than self. Followers of Christ sacrifice their own recognition so that Christ alone receives credit.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9 · 1 Corinthians 3:1-4
God's Increase
True service results in God's praise, not human praise. As Park Avenue Church transitions leadership, believers must remember that all ministers are servants and God alone gives the increase.
Colossians 3:22-4:1 · Genesis 2:15
Issues
The Christian and Work
Work is God's gift from creation, made difficult by sin, and reflects our service to Christ. Christians should approach their work with a grateful heart, recognizing it as an opportunity to share with others rather than to fulfill entitlement.
Luke 16:19-31
Reversal
This sermon examines Jesus's parable of the rich man and Lazarus, arguing that spiritual reversal occurs when we ignore the suffering of others. Believers must choose to see the poor around them and respond with generosity rather than self-indulgence.
John 13:1-17
Serving
Confident to Serve
This sermon examines Jesus washing his disciples' feet as the ultimate model of humble service. True confidence to serve flows from knowing our secure identity and relationship with God.
Ephesians 2:1-10 · Romans 8:30
Serving
Created to Serve
Christians are created for good works and called to reflect God's character by serving others, not being distracted by worldly pursuits or temporary possessions.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 · Titus 2
Family
God's Desire for Women
God calls women to reflect his holiness through dignity, honor, and good deeds. Christian women are to dress and conduct themselves modestly, mentor one another, and serve others—demonstrating value that transcends cultural standards.
Matthew 20:20-28 · Matthew 19:28
Serving
Less of Me
Those who belong to Jesus are called to be servants, not seekers of power and position. True greatness comes through serving others and decreasing so that God can increase.
Ephesians 3:14-21 · Ephesians 1:1-14
Serving
Power & Glory
Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 calls believers to know Christ's love deeply and allow the Spirit's power to strengthen Christ's place in their hearts, resulting in humble service and lives that glorify God.
Matthew 25:31-46 · Matthew 24:42
Serving
Service Rewarded
Christians serve not from obligation but from their transformed character. This parable reveals that the righteous act out of who they are, naturally caring for the poor and vulnerable, while unknowingly serving Jesus himself.
Matthew 18:1-6 · Galatians 5:20
Serving
Wanting to Be Great
This sermon examines how humility—voluntarily choosing to be less so others may be more—is the true foundation of greatness in God's kingdom, requiring us to act without seeking recognition and to embrace continuous spiritual change.
1 Samuel 5:1-12
1 Samuel
Broken Before the Lord
This sermon examines how trivial concerns often obscure our perception of God's significant work in our lives. Believers must cultivate daily intentional prayer and sacrificial service to keep eternal perspective.