Sermons – Somerset Church of Christ

November 4, 2025

The women who provided for Jesus

woman in white veil representing virgin mary

Jesus grew up in a poor family. He was not well off, yet his ministry was the most effective in the history of the planet. He instructed his followers to take nothing with them for their journeys, highlighting both the need for them to depend fully on their faith that God would provide and limiting waste. When we bring a lot of things along, we tend to get bogged down and the mission loses focus. We can see this with the vast amount of money churches put into their buildings and programs rather than in missions.

Though Jesus sent his disciples out without any extra food or clothing, he was supported by the Galilean women: And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joann, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means” (Like 8:1-3). Jesus’s mission work couldn’t have happened without the aid of these women “and many others” providing for them out of their means.

Jesus was not alone in this. Paul, who is known for being a tent maker, still received help from the Philippian church: “And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only” (Philippians 4:15). Increasing mission work also means increasing mission support. When churches work together, they can accomplish a lot for the kingdom!

October 28, 2025

It has been granted to you to suffer for his name

a frightened man sitting alone on a chair

The Bible is full of stories of failure and promises of suffering. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul talks about advancing the gospel. He says that “what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ” (Philippians 1:12-13). He goes on to say that to live is Christ and to die is gain. Paul then encourages them by saying, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have” (vs. 29-30).

Simon Sinek, a famous organizational consultant, says that successful people have failed multiple times, often to the point of “hitting zero” or falling close to it. He argues that failure is not an endpoint but a crucial part of the journey, providing the most important lessons and driving the innovation that leads to success. The key is not to avoid failure, but to learn from it by getting back up and trying again. The Bible agrees. Paul says we “rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

Over and over again the Bible promises suffering. James says to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds, because the testing of our faith produces perseverance. When we face trials, failures are bound to happen. Moses murdered someone. Peter denied Christ. David was an adulterer. Paul persecuted Christians to the point of death. It was those failures and their suffering that led to endurance, perseverance, character, and hope. Failure is not the endpoint but a crucial part of the journey.

October 22, 2025

Prayers for the workers

When Jesus sent out the seventy-two, he sent them ahead of him into the towns he would later enter to let people know that the kingdom of God was near. Before he sent them he famously said this, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2 ESV). Jesus immediately warned them that he was sending them out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

Jesus instructed them to take nothing with them–“no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road” (vs. 4). The reason he instructed them to do so was to rely fully on the “Lord of the harvest.” Oftentimes, we lack workers because people don’t view the spiritual harvest as the Lord’s. They view it as their own, and they are the lords of their own harvest. When we become the lords of our own harvest, we think we don’t need to show up. Or we doubt in our own ability to succeed. Whatever the reason, the result is the same–there cannot be a harvest.

But as soon as we recognize that the harvest is God’s and he is the Lord of the harvest, we begin to work. And we work happily and start seeking other workers. There is every indication that the harvest is plentiful this year. We, too, need to pray for workers to gather up the harvest.

October 16, 2025

Overcoming negative thinking

Scientific studies suggest that reducing negative thinking is significantly more impactful for well-being than simply increasing positive thoughts. This principle is based on the premise that identifying, challenging, and reframing negative thought patterns is the cornerstone of good mental health. Jesus, addressing critics who were offended at his disciples not washing their hands, said, “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him” (Mark 7:15).

He went on to address issues of the heart (evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness). Jesus said, “All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (vs. 23). Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Paul is not simply advocating for positive thinking; he’s actively dismantling and eliminating every argument and opinion that’s opposed to the knowledge of God and takes every thought captive to obey Christ. Science agrees with the Bible that eliminating negative thinking is the key to being impactful in this world.

October 8, 2025

Jesus’ prayer for unity

photo of people s hand on top of wooden table

In John 17, John records a lengthy prayer by Jesus. It’s a prayer that he said shortly before he was arrested. Jesus prayed for unity, both for his disciples and for the world. When his prayer shifted to the world, it was for a very specific purpose: “I do not ask for those only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17: 20-21).

This powerful prayer reminds us that we are all in this world together–both believers and unbelievers. Without us teaching people the good news, they don’t stand much of a chance of ever knowing God or the saving power of grace through the blood of Christ. Jesus didn’t die for us. He died for everyone. And he longs for us to all meet together. This is evident when Jesus said, “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (vs. 24).

It’s not only our duty to bring people together through Christ, but it’s also our honor! Jesus ended his prayer by saying, “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them” (vs. 26). We all owe it to our neighbors to bring the good news of Jesus to them!

September 30, 2025

Fighting the good fight

When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, he charged him to keep preaching the Word with complete patience and teaching. He warned that people would surround themselves with people who would tell them what their itching ears wanted to hear, but Timothy should always preach the truth. Paul warned, “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).

Paul knew that his time on Earth had a shelf life. He said, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race” (vs. 6-7). Paul knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that God would award to him the crown of righteousness on that day, “and not only me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (vs. 8). This is a great reminder for all of us to keep fighting the good fight and finish the race.

As we close the doors of a church building that served us for 109 years, we look back to all the faithful people who already are receiving the crown of righteousness. We vow to pick up the baton of faith and carry it to the finish line. We will run the race to the finish line and will continue in a new building to do the work of the Lord. We will fight the good fight as we fight the spiritual battle and teach others to put God and Christ above all else!

September 24, 2025

For such a time as this

The story of Esther is one of divine providence. She was being raised by her relative Mordecai, who was in Susa due to the Babylonian exile of the Jews, because she had no living parents. They likely died when the exile took place. The short story is that she became queen to King Ahasuerus but he didn’t know she was a Jew. When Mordecai became aware of a plot by Haman to kill the Jews, he secretly devised a plan with Esther.

Esther was scared to tell the king but Mordecai was quick to call her out on it and reminded her of her purpose. He said, “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). We know the rest of the story, and Esther saved the Jews through her courage and faithfulness.

A lot of us struggle, like Esther did, to understand our purpose. Was it a coincidence that she became queen? Was she really the one to save the Jews? And on the questions and doubt come. Paul makes it crystal clear in Ephesians 2:10 that we are God’s “handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” Yet often, like Esther, we hesitate. Mordecai was also put there for a purpose, to remind Esther that she was put in her position by God “for such a time as this.” We need both Modecais and Esthers in this life. When you struggle with finding your purpose, find a Mordecai who will help you see it. When you see it, live it to the best of your ability.