Sermon Series Cris Escher Sermon Series Cris Escher

All Nations - The Diversity of the Gospel

All throughout the Gospels, people’s nationalities are mentioned. Why are the gospel writers spending precious ink telling us where some of these people are from? Perhaps, their nationality is part of the story and shows us another part of God’s love for all nations.

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All throughout the Gospels, people’s nationalities are mentioned. Why are the gospel writers spending precious ink telling us where some of these people are from? Perhaps, their nationality is part of the story and shows us another part of God’s love for all nations.

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[Sunday] Easter - All Nations - 21'
[Sunday] Easter - All Nations - 21'

Christ is Risen! Peter falls asleep and sees a vision where Jesus declares all food clean. Yea! Pulled Pork for everyone. Living in the resurrection Glory! But as Peter answers the door he realizes that it was never about the food.

Good Friday - All Nations - 21'
Good Friday - All Nations - 21'

We Walk through the Passion of Jesus the Christ as he is raised in his glory

Maundy Thursday - All Nations - 21'
Maundy Thursday - All Nations - 21'

John 12:46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

[Sunday] Palm Bracket - All Nations
[Sunday] Palm Bracket - All Nations

He raised Lazarus from the dead? I think this is the Messiah. Do you think he is the one who will finally kick out the Romans from the holy city? If he can raise the dead, then he can do anything I think he should do. I am expecting a miracle.

[Sunday] What Who - All Nations
[Sunday] What Who - All Nations

The man asked Jesus the same question many have asked throughout time. What do I have to do to get to heaven? Jesus tells us a story about a man who was beaten and robbed and the outcast who cared for him. Turning our questions of what to who?

[Sunday] Who Carried - All Nations
[Sunday] Who Carried - All Nations

Jesus says all through the gospel to take up your cross. He was going to die but rise again and we should take up his cross. But after he was arrested, all his friends and followers were nowhere to be found to take up his cross. So then who carried it?

[Sunday] Painted Apart - All Nations
[Sunday] Painted Apart - All Nations

Look at the stark separation, a clear delineation showing clear cultural lines of separation between people. But Jesus crosses this separation to bring healing, not just to the servant, but to all nations.

[Sunday] Crumbs and Crosses - All Nations
[Sunday] Crumbs and Crosses - All Nations

She is unworthy but is wanting something from Jesus. Will she fight for what she wants, or will she show us that the kingdom of God is made up of mustard seeds, crumbs, and crosses?

[Sunday] Blessed Curse - All Nations
[Sunday] Blessed Curse - All Nations

They came to the new world to live the dream, to get away from all that would hold them down, away from all the sinful people who would drag us to hell. But what happens when a cross shows up in the middle of your dream?

[Ash Wednesday] 2021 Live Stream
[Ash Wednesday] 2021 Live Stream

Ash Wednesday we ponder the question of how we got here. What have we done to outselves. This day invites us to sit in dust and ashes and seek repentance.

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Faith & Family Dysfunction - Working our Way Through Biblical Dysfunction

Anxiety, pitting our family and friends against each other, group think, and bitterness. These all take life away from us and can cause us to live in despair. But when we look through the main story of scripture we see a family who is extremely dysfunctional, and yet God never leaves them and we know them as the patriarchs

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Anxiety, pitting our family and friends against each other, group think, and bitterness. These all take life away from us and can cause us to live in despair. But when we look through the main story of scripture we see a family who is extremely dysfunctional, and yet God never leaves them and we know them as the patriarchs

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[Sunday] Breaking Dysfunction - Faith and Family Dysfunction
[Sunday] Breaking Dysfunction - Faith and Family Dysfunction

There is always forgiveness. But what happens when someone does something so bad that it's impossible to forget. How do you break that hurt that distrust. Joseph’s brothers try to kill him and he was taken from his family for the rest of his life. How do they break the dysfunction?

[Sunday] Self Differentiation- Faith and Family Dysfunction
[Sunday] Self Differentiation- Faith and Family Dysfunction

If you are in Christ; your identity is not in what you’ve done, how you feel, or how others think of you. These things do not define you. Your identity is made in the image and likeness of God. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, God sees you as His precious child, holy and dearly loved. Receive your identity, instead of trying to achieve it.

[Sunday] Bitterness - Faith and Family Dysfunction
[Sunday] Bitterness - Faith and Family Dysfunction

Jacob was always a fighter. He fought for everything and left an angry wake behind him. But when he was left all alone, his bitterness and the thought of sure death just around the corner, he was able to get relief from the bitterness and havoc.

[Sunday] Triangles - Faith and Family Dysfunction
[Sunday] Triangles - Faith and Family Dysfunction

Remember that time when you asked your mom for something and she denied your request? Then you went straight to your dad and asked him. Yeah, that's making a triangle. It’s bad, but we do that all the time, and yet it needs to stop.

[Sunday] Named Anxiety - Faith and Family Dysfunction
[Sunday] Named Anxiety - Faith and Family Dysfunction

Abraham looks at God's promises to him and tries to make them happen for himself. Oh, the havoc caused by not trusting God and who you really are! But God still brings peace with his promises.

[Sunday] No Excuses - Faith and Family Dysfunction
[Sunday] No Excuses - Faith and Family Dysfunction

Anxiety, pitting our family and friends against each other, group think, and bitterness - these all take life away from us and can cause us to live in despair. But when we look through the main story of Scripture, we see a family that is extremely dysfunctional, and yet God never leaves them, and we know them as the patriarchs.

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The Standard Sermon Series

The Ten Commandments have long been the standard to which we judge how we should live. But how many do we have to keep so that we can stay on God’s good side? Is it one or five? I mean, some of these are easy, like don’t murder. I haven’t broken that yet. However, when we look deeper at the commandments, we see a deeper standard for our lives.

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The Ten Commandments have long been the standard to which we judge how we should live. But how many do we have to keep so that we can stay on God’s good side? Is it one or five? I mean, some of these are easy, like don’t muder. I haven’t broken that yet. However, when we look deeper at the commandments, we see a deeper standard for our lives.

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[Sunday] Sneaky Snakes - The Standard - 9,10th Commandment
[Sunday] Sneaky Snakes - The Standard - 9,10th Commandment

It's so scandalous and sneaky when we feign righteousness before everyone but secretly wish them poor fortune.

[Sunday] Little Judges - The Standard - 8th Commandment
[Sunday] Little Judges - The Standard - 8th Commandment

Look, there's another one. Little judges are everywhere, working so hard to put people in their place. Perhaps Jesus knew what he was talking about when he said get the plank out of your own eye first.

[Sunday] Give Life - The Standard - 567 Commandment
[Sunday] Give Life - The Standard - 567 Commandment

Don’t kill, commit adultery, or steal. Every one of these takes life from our neighbor. But as people of the creator, we can take the creation spirit and give life to our neighbor, their spouse, and things.

[Sunday] Well For You - The Standard - 4 Commandment
[Sunday] Well For You - The Standard - 4 Commandment

Do this, and it will go well for you. It's a promise, but often it's hard for us to keep.

[Sunday] Slow Down - The Standard - 2&3 Commandment
[Sunday] Slow Down - The Standard - 2&3 Commandment

Rush, rush rush, running around in every direction. Perhaps our vision of God can be clearer when we slow down and remember Jesus.

[Sunday] Fear Love & Trust - The Standard - 1st Commandment
[Sunday] Fear Love & Trust - The Standard - 1st Commandment

We are getting just a taste of the love of God here at the end of Romans. While we all are worried about what people are tasting or not, we see that God’s love flows to each of us. Let go with God’s flow.

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God's Greater Story [Romans] Sermon Series

Paul in Romans is not speaking of a belief that is only for himself, a personal theology or a record of his personal spiritual journey. Paul is speaking of God and God’s work among his people, a saving work that includes all nations and that extends throughout all time. Paul’s words of faith are not for himself alone but for all peoples. Paul tells the Romans and us God’s greater story.

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Paul in Romans is not speaking of a belief that is only for himself, a personal theology or a record of his personal spiritual journey. Paul is speaking of God and God’s work among his people, a saving work that includes all nations and that extends throughout all time. Paul’s words of faith are not for himself alone but for all peoples. Paul tells the Romans and us God’s greater story.

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[Sunday] Just a Taste - God's Greater Story - Romans 14
[Sunday] Just a Taste - God's Greater Story - Romans 14

We are getting just a taste of the love of God here at the end of Romans. While we all are worried about what people are tasting or not, we see that God’s love flows to each of us. Let go with God’s flow.

[Sunday] Under Roman Roads - God's Greater Story - Romans 13
[Sunday] Under Roman Roads - God's Greater Story - Romans 13

There they were, placing another Christian friend in the catacombs under the roads of Rome. They were facing persecution from all sides, and things looked bleak. They then looked at the new painting on the wall. It was Jesus the savant of all, encouraging them, too, to be servants of all.

[Sunday] Molded - God's Greater Story - Romans 12
[Sunday] Molded - God's Greater Story - Romans 12

The power of the world is chiseled in stone, but the power of God is molded in flesh and blood. Let us pray we don’t seek our hope in cold, chiseled stone, but may the Spirit guide and mold us to be servants of God’s creation.

[Sunday] Loving - God's Greater Story - Romans 11 + 12
[Sunday] Loving - God's Greater Story - Romans 11 + 12

Special Guest Victor Belton.
How Great and Wonderful is our God who takes our burden away so we can love those around us.

[Sunday] Grafted- God's Greater Story - Romans 11
[Sunday] Grafted- God's Greater Story - Romans 11

The story is backwards. Usually the stump is wild and the grafted branches are the good, fruit-bearing kind. But here, the wild branches (usually less fruitful) are the ones which have been grafted in. Paul is telling us, the wild ones, to be humble because we have been grafted into the original tree of promise.

[Sunday] Perspective - God's Greater Story - Romans 10
[Sunday] Perspective - God's Greater Story - Romans 10

Salvador Dali’s Christ of St. John of the Cross was almost completely destroyed when a man claimed it desecrated Christ and His image. What would enrage someone to destroy a work of art like that? Was it someone hostile to the faith? Nope, it was a matter of perspective.

[Sunday] Humble Servant - God's Greater Story - Romans 9
[Sunday] Humble Servant - God's Greater Story - Romans 9

Why are God’s original people, who are in the line of their father Israel, being left behind? This is an extremely hard question, and I think we find the answer, not in the search for power, but in being a humble servant.

[Sunday] Overwhelm - God's Greater Story - Romans 8:31-39
[Sunday] Overwhelm - God's Greater Story - Romans 8:31-39

The world just feels overwhelming. From the virus, politics, and loss of security it can feel like it is just too much. That right there is what the author Paul wants us to see, that no matter what, God's love is just as overwhelming, but in a good way.

[Sunday] Stuck in the Stone - God's Greater Story - Romans 8b
[Sunday] Stuck in the Stone - God's Greater Story - Romans 8b

Have you ever felt stuck? Stuck inside because of a virus? Stuck at a job? Stuck in a relationship? Many times we groan because we are yearning for freedom from the stone we are stuck in. What can we look to for true freedom?

[Sunday] Slave to Son- God's Greater Story - Romans 8
[Sunday] Slave to Son- God's Greater Story - Romans 8

Paul makes a curious point prior to chapter 8 here. He says we are no longer a slave to sin but a slave to Christ. But where is the freedom in that? It sounds like we have exchanged one slavery for another, but that was just a stopgap point. For Paul keeps moving forward and says we are not a slave to have been made into a child of God.

[Sunday] Deliverance- God's Greater Story - Romans 7
[Sunday] Deliverance- God's Greater Story - Romans 7

Life can be full of struggle. In the midst of such struggle we are trying to figure out how we should act that would be the best. But many times we end up doing and participating in the very things we hate. Who will deliver us from this struggle?

[Sunday] - Resurrection of Van Gogh- God's Greater Story - Romans 7
[Sunday] - Resurrection of Van Gogh- God's Greater Story - Romans 7

The famous artist is troubled. Stuck in an asylum for over a year, all he can do is paint what he can see. One day his brother sends him a picture from Rembrandt, of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Van Gogh sees life once again. 

[Sunday] - Reflection - God's Greater Story - Romans 6
[Sunday] - Reflection - God's Greater Story - Romans 6

When we are looking at participating in a greater story, we usually desire to neglect and hide our weaknesses. However, we see that we are baptized into Christ’s death and participate in his resurrection. Wait, what? Baptized into death? How is this the greater story?

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The Jesus Experience Sermon Series.

Luke’s Story of Jesus  Luke wants to tell us a story; no, he wants to give us an experience. It’s about someone who is doing something new, someone who is bringing miracles, healings, and parties, someone who defies expectations, someone whom everyone has an opinion about, and who will save the world.

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Luke’s Story of Jesus  Luke wants to tell us a story; no, he wants to give us an experience. It’s about someone who is doing something new, someone who is bringing miracles, healings, and parties, someone who defies expectations, someone whom everyone has an opinion about, and who will save the world.

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Recognize Jesus - The Jesus Experience - Luke 24
Recognize Jesus - The Jesus Experience - Luke 24

How will you recognize Jesus? Now really think about that question because no one recognized Jesus after He rises from the dead. It seems those who recognize him throughout Luke’s gospel are all doing the same thing: eating with Him.

The Art of Life - The Jesus Experience - Luke 24
The Art of Life - The Jesus Experience - Luke 24

You were created, but you were not just as a sack of unfeeling chemicals. You were created as a great work of art. But what if the world does not seem like a great work of art? What if I think my life is just a dark mess? I imagine that's what the women carrying embalming spices to Jesus’ grave thought. However, what they saw that morning changed how they saw the world and changed how they saw themselves. Christ is risen, they saw the Art of Life.

When To Weep - The Jesus Experience - Luke 19
When To Weep - The Jesus Experience - Luke 19

Everything is going great! Jesus is finally showing us who he truly is. He came riding into Jerusalem to so many people crying out “Hosanna” and “You are the King of Kings.” All Jesus has to do now is take his rightful place on the throne in Jerusalem and in our hearts. Jesus must feel amazing today, but why is he over there weeping while overlooking Jerusalem?

From Back to the Front - The Jesus Experience - Luke 18
From Back to the Front - The Jesus Experience - Luke 18

Jesus says that the man went away justified. But who is this man? What if he did not deserve to be justified? What if he had hurt me or had stolen something from me? What if he was a tax collector, or if he was too young, or blind or too short? Yes, Jesus said he went away justified. Well then if that man went away justified, then perhaps I could as well.

The Window - The Jesus Experience - Luke 17
The Window - The Jesus Experience - Luke 17

The stories we have been reading have left us breathless, and now Jesus is calling for us to live a humble life. But how, Jesus?

To Change or Not To Change - The Jesus Experience - Luke 16
To Change or Not To Change - The Jesus Experience - Luke 16

Have you thought about Kodak in the last 10 years? In the 70s they were one of the largest American companies. However now, they don’t exist. Luke 16 is asking us if we will change, if we will adjust our behavior and actually follow God’s way. But it asks a question at the end. What happens to us if we don’t actually change?

The Picture - The Jesus Experience - Luke 15
The Picture - The Jesus Experience - Luke 15

Jesus gives us a picture of the kingdom of God here in Luke 15. The picture is of a celebration when the lost have been found. Look at how the woman celebrates when the coin is found, look at how the man celebrates when the sheep is found, and look at how the father celebrates when his lost son is found. But this leaves us with a question: will we join the party or complain on the outside.

The Christian Life - The Jesus Experence
The Christian Life - The Jesus Experence
Just Out Of Reach - The Jesus Experience
Just Out Of Reach - The Jesus Experience

The world is filled with struggle, and it leaves us wanting more. We’re struggling to get the things which are just out of our reach. But in this world of struggle, Jesus has us look to the creation, beckoning us to see how God takes care of the small things, how the birds are fed and beautiful  and how we loves us even more than them.

Hidden in Plain Sight - The Jesus Experience
Hidden in Plain Sight - The Jesus Experience

Lord, when will your kingdom be here on earth? I find myself asking this frequently when I see nothing but sin and distress all around me. However, Jesus wants us to see how we give gifts. He says that we are still sinful and yet we still give good gifts. How much more does God give good things? Just look for them; they may be hidden in plain sight.

Lambs Among Wolves - The Jesus Experience
Lambs Among Wolves - The Jesus Experience

Jesus gathers his followers together and sends out 70 (Or is it 72?) to go bring his kingdom to those who need it. But he says, “You will have struggle, for I am sending you as lambs among wolves.” The world is dangerous; however, he sends his sheep out to bring peace to the house.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore - The Jesus Experience
We're Not in Kansas Anymore - The Jesus Experience

Jesus asks the disciples “Who do people say I am?” They get it right and say he is the messiah. Jesus then goes to the top of the mountain, becoming bright and shiny. We’re not in Kansas anymore - this is literally a mountain-top experience. But when there are mountains, there are also valleys, with crosses, death, and suffering. We’re not in Kansas anymore.

You Have Enough - The Jesus Experience
You Have Enough - The Jesus Experience

Jesus sends out his disciples with enough to bring good news. Five thousand people have been listening to Jesus in the wilderness. They are getting hungry, and there are only 5 loaves and 2 fish. But Jesus says it is enough. We often feel like we don’t have enough, that we will be so much better if we just had more. However, Jesus says you have enough.

How's Your Soil - The Jesus Experience
How's Your Soil - The Jesus Experience

Chapter Eight of Luke talks about soil. The great sower throws seed down, and it falls on different kinds to soil. In bad soil the seed withers and dies, but in the good soil the fruit rises up from the ground. This parable leaves an important question, “What if I’m not good soil?”

Shock and Awe - The Jesus Experience
Shock and Awe - The Jesus Experience

Chapter seven is filled with shock and awe. An outsider shows great faith, a widow's son is raised, John the Baptist is not sure about Jesus, and a sinner is forgiven much. Many times when we encounter true faith, we are filled with shock and awe.

All Or Nothing - The Jesus Experience
All Or Nothing - The Jesus Experience

Jesus is giving us a picture of the kingdom of God: miracles, healings, and parties. However, some are very upset that Jesus is doing any of this and are threatening to kill him. Jesus just looks at them and says the way of God is all or nothing.

Something New - The Jesus Experience
Something New - The Jesus Experience

Jesus bursts onto the scene; he reads from Scripture and how God is doing something new, and he says that newness is Him. How do people respond? Will they be happy? How would you have responded?

Baptism of Jesus - The Jesus Experience
Baptism of Jesus - The Jesus Experience

John was a man from the wilderness who “prepared the way of the Lord.” But when he baptized Jesus, it was not the normal pattern of forgiveness. Rather, this time the heavens opened up, and God said “this is my son whom I love.”

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