In spiritual and personal matters, more work is not always more results. In fact, without time to spend on God, relaxation, relationships, we become less productive and creative. In the book of Acts, the Disciples decide that they need to delegate out the food bank ministry to free up time for the preaching and prayer. From the sermon series on Acts by Pastor Lars Hammar.
Stephen and the Point of Speaking to Power - sermon Apr 30, 2023
When you are put on a trial that's rigged, you speak the truth for those outside the court, who will see the injustice of it, not to get yourself out. This is the story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. By Pastor Lars Hammar
Faithful God by Cindy Stein
God speaks to us in many ways and is with us every day because He is a faithful God. By Cindy Stein. April 23, 2023
Crossing Barriers - sermon April 16, 2023
The first in a series on the Book of Acts, Pastor Lars looks at the ongoing desire of the disciples to mix religion with state and culture, instead of going out and bringing the Gospel to the people.
Hearing Jesus' Voice - sermon Easter Sunday 2023
When Jesus is raised from the dead, he is transformed. There is a body, but it looks different, but it's still him. The resurrection is not a question of resuscitating a corpse, or seeing a ghost, or just having an interesting realization. It's about a transformed body that we recognize not from sight, but from hearing God's voice and rekindling the connection that has always been there. Easter Sunday 2023. By Pastor Lars Hammar
Has God really Forsaken Us? - Good Friday sermon 2023
When Jesus says on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me," we should take him seriously, that he means that he feels abandoned by God, and that it is more than just a figure of speech. But if it's a real cry of anger and frustration and doubt, what does that mean for how Jesus saw himself in God's plan? Good Friday 2023. Pastor Lars Hammar
Tough Jesus? - Palm Sunday sermon 2023
Is Jesus a tough guy, who endures pain without flinching, or the Messiah who embraces weakness so we can be weak together? Palm Sunday 2023. By Pastor Lars Hammar
Possibilities - sermon March 26, 2023
We get caught up in our limited ways of thinking when we feel defeated and overwhelmed. God gives us visions that are deliberately jarring and non-literal to shake us out of our ruts and stimulate our imaginations. By Pastor Lars Hammar
Open to Truth - sermon March 19, 2023
It's one thing to be shown the truth, but if you are afraid of the consequences of it being real, you're unlikely to change your mind, even if the evidence is right before your eyes. By Pastor Lars Hammar
Woman at the Well - sermon March 12, 2023
When a Samaritan woman encounters Jesus waiting by a well in the middle of the day, she ends up getting a new life of acceptance, value, and respect. By Pastor Lars Hammar
Wilderness Rebirth - sermon March 5, 2023
When we go into the wilderness, both literally and figuratively, we move outside of our areas of expertise, and into a new place where we have to start over, unlearn and relearn, and let go of being the expert. This is what Jesus is talking about when he tells us we need to be reborn in the Spirit - to let go of being the expert about God, and letting God teach us. By Pastor Lars Hammar
The Wisdom of Not Using Power - sermon Feb 26, 2023
The big temptation for Jesus is to use his power instead of embracing weakness. There is wisdom on knowing when you can't force things, and when you need to take time to detox from life and listen to God. By Pastor Lars Hammar
Listen - sermon Feb 19, 2023
Listening means being open to being changed or converted to the views of the other. Listening to God means being open to God in your heart, for both challenge and comfort. By Pastor Lars Hammar
Maturity - sermon Feb 12, 2023
We can understand the deeper mysteries of the Spirit when we are not preoccupied with gossip and social positioning. By Pastor Lars Hammar
Inspiration - sermon Jan 5, 2023
Inspiration comes from God, as a gift from the Holy Spirit, when we open our hearts. By Pastor Lars Hammar
The God of Losers - sermon Jan 29, 2023
What if we have it all wrong, when we look at the cross, and our minds skip over it, as a blip along the way to resurrection and victory? What if the whole point of the cross is that it's not the path to winning, but the path to losing? Maybe Jesus wants us to embrace losing and weakness, and reject the whole idea of gaining at other's expense? By Pastor Lars Hammar
A Great Light - by Cindy Stein January 22, 2023
Lord of Grace member Cindy Stein sharing the word, Jauary 22, 2023.
Psalm 40 Revisited - sermon Jan 15, 2023
Walk through Psalm 40 part-by-part and pray with it. The Psalms are not intended to always be uplifting, but more like prayer journals showing people's real life struggles and doubts and problems with God. By Pastor Lars Hammar
Jesus is Enough for This Life - sermon Jan 8, 2023
If there was no heaven to reward you, and no hell to fear, and you knew that after you died you would just sleep in the dusty *sheol* of the Old Testament, would you still follow Jesus? Odds are, you probably already do, because Jesus is worth it even if this is the only life. Sermon January 8th, 2023 by Pastor Lars Hammar
Reflections on the Blessings - sermon Jan 1, 2023
Reflecting back on the blessings and experiences of 2022. Preached at the combined service of Lessons and Carols on January 1st, 2023