This is the sermon audio from Compass Christian Church. Compass Christian Church is a new church in Louisville, Kentucky that exists to build a community of people transformed by the spirit and the good news of Jesus Christ.
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The world around us has a way of using power that means "I win, you lose." Power is about authority, coercion, the ability to make others do what you want them to do. That kind of power naturally leads to the oppression of many. In this sermon, Pastor Will discusses Ecclesiastes 4 and compares the normal "economy of power" in the world with the "upside-down" vision of power that Jesus has. Which one will you choose?
One of the fundamental problems that many of us face is we think we have control over our lives. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes knew better. He describes human life as fitting within a larger framework, out of the control of human hands. In this sermon, Adam Hendricks talks about the seasons of life in Ecclesiastes 3, reassuring us that the One controlling the seasons cares for us through it all.
(Note: This sermon is PG-13 in portions). Our modern world is full of the pursuit of pleasure. And the Preacher of Ecclesiastes certainly understood pleasure. He had extensive resources and could pursue anything that he desired, and he did! In this sermon, Pastor Will explains that the god of pleasure offers everything and leaves us with emptiness. The God of the Bible offers true joy and pleasure, but often we have to wait for Him. What choice will you make?
Who are you? Some of us might be tempted to answer with our profession: "I'm a teacher." "I'm a plumber." "I'm a pastor." In this sermon, Dan Kruer cautions us to find a godly balance with how we view work. When viewed wrongly, work can become onerous for many reasons. When viewed well, work is something we do because God designed us to work and because we can work for Him. That shift in perspective will help us navigate a life filled with responsibility and labor.
When we begin to read Ecclesiastes, we might be tempted to pay the Preacher no mind. He has a dreary story to tell, and we don't want to think about that right now. But the Preacher calls us in deeper to consider the truth, to shine the light in dark places. In this sermon, Meghan Wierwille talks about how God calls us to His living water instead of the cisterns that we build on our own. Our gains pale in comparison with God's plans for us in eternity.
What is the meaning of life? What do we do when life doesn't go the way we expect it to go? These questions are worth wrestling with. This new series on Ecclesiastes will help us dig into our lives to search for what matters and what lasts, which is foundationally found in relationship with God through Jesus. In this sermon, Pastor Will explains a bit about the series and wisdom literature before describing what life looks like "under the sun." Everything is vanity, fleeting, absurd, and meaningless for its own purpose. As we enter into the valley together, we can expect God to remove things f
Preaching the gospel requires understanding the gospel and having the boldness to speak to others about the good news. But that's not all that is required. In this sermon, Rev. Leon Weller explains that the power of God is vital to preaching the gospel. God works within us as we boldly share the good news, and He often opens doors for us to see His power in operation.
We all like to think that we understand love. As Christians, we pride ourselves in being the people of love. But how closely are we really following Jesus in loving others? In this sermon, Adam Wierwille explains that loving God is largely about loving others. And loving others often comes with a cost. We should be willing to follow Jesus fully and completely by loving unconditionally.
In the next four weeks, we will be exploring the four core values of our church. This week, Pastor Will taught about the foundational core value: love God. Loving God is foundational to the rest of Christian living. In this sermon, Pastor Will talks about the first commandment, how obedience and love work together, and how God relates to us as a loving Father. You won't look at obedience the same!
The end of the Bible looks remarkably similar to the beginning. In the end, God wins, humanity is restored, and creation is made new again. In this sermon, Pastor Will works through Revelation 21 and 22, showing that humanity's greatest desire and need is fulfilled by God's plans in the end: we will experience the presence of God in the kingdom.
The apostle Paul tells us in Romans that we have the ability to walk in newness of life. We are to be slaves to righteousness instead of slaves to sin. But how do we do this? For Paul, we need more than knowledge and more than the Law, we need the spirit. In this sermon, Pastor Will walks through the first portion of Romans 8, showing that we should identify with Christ and cooperate with the work of the spirit in our lives. This is the way to truly live.
The Christian conversion experience is a powerful thing. Conversion takes us from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of light and love. In this sermon, Jason Carter walks through Romans 6, showing that Christians trace the path of the exodus from slavery to sin into freedom in Christ. We can walk in newness of life because of what Jesus accomplished!
Genesis 1 and 2 aren't the only places we find creation patterns in scripture. In this sermon, we begin the second half of this sermon series by looking at new creation. In this sermon, Pastor Will walks through Colossians 1, showing us that life has been changed because of the coming of Christ. We have been redeemed, set free, and brought into the kingdom of God. And now Jesus is exalted above all of the powers. When we follow Jesus, we are living up to the image of God we were created to be. Our life can represent new creation.
In Genesis 1 and 2, specific things are said about humans created in the image of God. One important pattern is the pattern of "Male and Female." In this sermon, Pastor Will walks through Genesis 1 and 2, showing that men and women are equally created in God's image, both made for dominion. As we see throughout creation, God desires unity and not uniformity. Our differences are beautiful as we all follow Jesus together.
Once God created humanity in His own image, He gave us three important gifts. First, God gave us meaningful, dominion-quality work to perform. Second, God gave humans a day of rest every week. Third, God gave the first humans community. In this sermon, Pastor Will explores these three patterns and how they affect our lives as Christians today.
In the midst of the creation narrative found in Genesis 1 and 2, another striking moment happens. The pinnacle moment of the creation is when God creates humanity. Join Anna Brown as she untangles layers of meaning found in comparing Genesis to other ancient documents, revealing a God who loves his creation made in his image. What you will find will change how you view this passage, and humanity, forever.
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Perhaps the most familiar and recognizable words from scripture, the first verses of Genesis 1 tell a story about creation. Or do they? In this sermon, Pastor Will travels back in time to show that Genesis 1 is about the Creator more than the creation. The initial audience would have heard Genesis 1 as an answer to their questions about God primarily, not as a scientific explanation of creation. We would do well to hear these words the same way today.
As humans, we grow up learning to observe patterns all around us. In the Bible, one of the most common and prevalent patterns could be called the cycle of failure. God creates something good, humanity recognizes it as good, and we start with obedience. But eventually, we decide that we know more than God and then comes the fall and failure. This cycle repeats over and over until Jesus comes. In this sermon, Pastor Will talks about the good news that Jesus was always obedient, that he gave his whole life as a sacrifice for us, and he was raised from the dead. Jesus broke the cycle of failure, a
At the end of the book of Acts, we find the apostle Paul being faithful to the end. Paul is preaching the gospel of the kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ from the beginning of his ministry to the very end. In this sermon, Pastor Will traces the centrality of the gospel of the kingdom of God, showing how important it is for us to be able to share this same message with others. We are the continuation of this great mission to disciple others.
In Acts 16, we find the apostle Paul in Philippi, a city of major Roman importance. As Paul navigates life and ministry in this city, one decision seemingly leads to catastrophe. He ministers to a young slave woman, and she has a demon cast out of her, kicking off an incredible series of events. In this sermon, Rev. Leon Weller walks through Acts 16, showing that God is there with us even in our lowest moments, that miraculous things can happen anytime, and that we can always walk through life looking on the bright side.
One of the unfortunate aspects of human nature is that humans are not impartial. Social scientists have proven again and again that we are prejudiced and experience partiality. In the first century church, they had problems with partiality as well. In Acts 10, we find Peter bringing the gospel to the Gentiles. But as John Ely points out, there is much more to the story here. We find that Peter is cooperating with the work of the spirit, and we can, too.
Paul was living life the way he thought God wanted him to live. He was a diligent Pharisee, he studied under the best rabbi, and he was going places. Then everything changed when Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. This meeting forever changed Paul, but Paul had to cooperate with the heavenly vision - he had to repent and submit to the spirit's leading over time. Paul is an example to us of how no one is too far gone to feel the love of Jesus.
In Acts 8, we find the story of a man named Philip. Philip's time in ministry begins in Acts 6 with food distribution. In Acts 8, we find him continuing the mission of spreading the gospel and healing people like the apostles did. And then, we can fast forward to Acts 21 to find Philip as a faithful husband and father. Philip shows us that we can be faithful to follow Jesus in every stage of life.
The early church faced obstacles and opposition. No one understood this better than Stephen. First called to take care of widows, Stephen performs miracles and shares the truth of Jesus with wisdom and authority. This gets Stephen into trouble. In this sermon, Pastor Will explains the lead up to the death of Stephen, showing that faithful disciples trust Jesus in life and in death. We hope to never face such difficulty, but if we do, we should hope to have the kind of courage and love that Stephen displays.
In the beginning of Acts 6, we find another instance of where the danger to the church came from within. Conflict comes into the church, and the church handles it with openness, teamwork, and honesty. In this sermon, Rev. Leon Weller walks through Acts 6:1-7, showing that speaking up in a godly way helps us to solve problems in community. There is no perfect church, just people who commit to follow Jesus faithfully together.
