Compass Weekly Sermons

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, and God broke the cycle of death.

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.

The early church was facing persecution from outside the church in Acts 4, and in Acts 5, we find them facing an entirely new challenge. The challenge of Ananias and Sapphira was the first challenge from within. In this sermon, Pastor Will unpacks this difficult passage, encouraging us to be totally honest with ourselves and with God.

The week of the crucifixion was a difficult week for Peter. He was full of fear and anger, and those emotions led him to act in humiliating ways, including betraying his master three times. Mere weeks later, Peter finds himself alongside John in front of the same men who campaigned to have Jesus murdered at the cross. Peter had completely changed. In this sermon, Jason Carter unpacks Acts 4 and the transformation that Peter experienced through forgiveness, witnessing the resurrection, and receiving the holy spirit. We can experience a similar transformation today!

In Acts 3, we find the remarkable healing of a lame man by Peter and John. In this sermon, Pastor Will works through Acts 3 and the subject of healing. Healing is never a reward for faithfulness - it is always a gift of God's mercy. Sometimes we see miraculous healing now, and that healing is a demonstration of God's power reminding us of the coming kingdom, when healing will be universal.

As the early church developed and grew, they practiced simple and effective things. They ate together, they heard the gospel taught, they shared financial resources, and they prayed for each other. Simply put, the early church followed Jesus's example and lived in loving, generous community. In this sermon, Rev. Leon Weller explains what they did and how we can follow their example of following Jesus well.

Before Jesus was crucified, he spent ample time preparing his disciples for what was next. But the disciples needed to learn how to minister, learn the message, and prepare for life without Jesus. In all of this, there was a missing element that would help the disciples do the works of Jesus - the spirit of God. In this sermon, Dan Kruer walks through Acts 2:1-41, showing that the disciples were faithful to the mission that God gave them.

The book of Acts is a continuation of the story of the mission of Jesus. In this first sermon in the new Acts series, Pastor Will walks through the first 11 verses of Acts, detailing the importance of the kingdom of God and how Jesus is with his church through the power of the spirit.

Listen to two remarkable testimonies by Jason Carter and Renee Dugan, followed by a sermonette by Pastor Will.

Jesus has arrived, and he has brought peace, joy, and hope. But what is the point of all of this? The point of every promise, every prophecy, every action of God throughout time, is love. God loves us, and He is reaching out to us today, no matter what we are going through.

As we move through the story of the people of God, tracking the expectation of the Messiah, we come across the Davidic covenant. This was the moment when God revealed that there would be a coming king and an eternal kingdom. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic covenant - he is the true coming king. Knowing the coming king and the goals behind the coming kingdom should give us great joy!

One important thread through the scriptures is the suffering savior or the suffering servant. In this sermon, Pastor Will traces this theme through the life of Joseph into Isaiah 53, showing that God is with you in your suffering and that He can bring beauty out of your suffering. Our job in community is to not look away when others we know are suffering.

Looking back at the beginning of the story, we find hope for the coming king from an early time. In Genesis 1 and 2, God grants humanity this remarkable world and authority within it. But in Genesis 3, humanity fails an early test. Thankfully, the story doesn't end there! In Genesis 3:15, we get the first promise of a coming deliverer. We all fail from time to time, but God does not leave us or forsake us.

In the beginning of the Jesus movement, there was a man named Saul who was zealously pursuing the early church. After Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he needed help. That help came in the form of a disciple of Jesus named Ananias. Ananias was bold to face his fears and trust the Lord Jesus. Because of Ananias, Saul eventually became the apostle Paul and helped teach many people about Jesus.

During the lifetime of Jesus, he faced a lot of conflict with the religious leaders, including the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Sanhedrin. There was so much peer pressure, if you aligned with Jesus, you were kicked out of the religious community! In that charged environment, we find two secret disciples of Jesus in high places: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. These two men decide to boldly align with Jesus after his crucifixion by burying him like the king that he is. In this sermon, Pastor Will talks about these two men and how we can stand for Jesus like they did.

In a dark time for the people of God, Baruch stood up for what was right. In this sermon, Steve Longley tells the story of Baruch, showing us that we can take a bold stand for God since we are convinced that His Word is true.

In a dark time for the people of God, a noble priest named Jehoiada and his wife save the Davidic dynasty by hiding a future king named Joash. Six years later, Jehoiada boldly leads a coup to place the rightful king on the throne. Victory was won, until Jehoiada died. Joash, the king, was obedient to God while Jehoiada was alive but didn't persevere afterwards. In this sermon, Pastor Will talks about Jehoiada, Joash, and what obedience really means.

At the end of King David's life, one mighty man of valor stands out for his faithfulness to the Davidic dynasty and his bravery: Benaiah. From his early days winning battles against two trained men of Moab, a lion in a pit, and a super-tall Egyptian until the end of his military career protecting the interests of King Solomon, Benaiah shines as an example of faith and faithfulness. In this sermon, Rev. Leon Weller walks through the story of Benaiah, helping us to see that we, too, can take on our challenges with God's help, just as he did.

In 1 Samuel 25, we come across an interesting record. We find King David running from Saul and waiting for his exaltation to the throne of Israel. And while he usually does a good job of being righteous, in 1 Samuel 25, his anger almost leads him to make a grave mistake. Who saves the King? A woman named Abigail! In this sermon, Pastor Will works through 1 Samuel 25 and the account of Abigail, showing that peacemaking takes radical and intentional action.

Jonathan, the son of Saul, is a remarkable example of courage in the face of difficult times. In this sermon, Dan Kruer walks through 1 Samuel, showing that Jonathan was a man who trusted in God to do amazing things for the people of God, was loyal to his father and his best friend even when they shared animosity, and protected the line of kings coming before Christ.

In the middle of a time when many people were unfaithful to God, Hannah stands out as an example of faithfulness and obedience. After waiting years to have a son, Hannah cries out to the Lord, and He hears her. In this sermon, Pastor Will talks about infertility, Hannah, and how her example of faith prefigures the gospel.

In the book of Judges, one particular judge stands out as faithful, confident, and righteous - Deborah. In this sermon, Pastor Will explains Judges 4 and what we know about Deborah, showing her example of faith in the midst of a seemingly impossible situation.

Rahab had just about everything going against her: she was a Caananite, a pagan, and she lived in a city that was about to be destroyed. But in the midst of all of that, we find a redemption story. In this sermon, Pastor Will explains the story of Rahab and how it shows us that none of us are too far from the reach of the love and mercy of God.

The life of Moses was filled with ups and downs. During the middle portion of his life, one of the constants was a man we know as Jethro. In this sermon, Rev. Leon Weller walks through Exodus 18, showing that wise advice comes from many places and that we have a responsibility to speak up in love when we have the opportunity.

This is the opening sermon in the Unsung Heroes series. What happens when two enslaved midwives disobey the most powerful ruler in the world? In this sermon, Pastor Will explains the story of Shiphrah & Puah, two midwives, showing that true bravery is about doing what is right no matter the consequences.

We have been talking about generosity through the lens of money, but this sermon focuses on "space-time" generosity. What does it look like to give your time and space to those around you? In this sermon, Jason Carter surveys the Biblical practice of generosity, encouraging us to give more with the time and resources that we have to share God's love with others.

One of the big themes in the Bible is that God wants everyone to have what they need. From the beginning of Israel under the Law of Moses to the time of Jesus and the apostles, God's desire has been for the poor to be supported (and ultimately, to not be poor). In this sermon, Pastor Will traces the topic of supporting the poor through scripture, showing the simple truth that generosity to the poor is important to God.

What does the Bible really say about tithing? The truth may surprise you! In this sermon, Pastor Will describes the ancient practice of tithing, showing that it is not a New Testament practice. Instead, the New Testament teaches generous freewill giving. God wants us to cultivate hearts full of generosity, ready to share whatever we have in love.

No matter what emotions you are feeling or what your circumstances are, you can (and should) trust in God. In this sermon, John Ely walks through the famous Psalm 23, showing that God is a worthy shepherd for our lives and that we can trust Him in the good times and in the valley of the shadow of death.

Have you ever heard the term "righteous anger"? Psalm 10 shows a beautiful example of righteous anger, with the psalmist lamenting the status of the poor and vulnerable. In this sermon, Pastor Will talks about Psalm 10, the life of Jesus, and how difficult anger can be to master. We need to process our anger before we act.

What happens when we sin? Most people want to hide and try to cover things up. That's what David did in 2 Samuel 11, but that didn't lead to wholeness and healing. Psalm 51 was written after David felt remorse for what he had done wrong, and it provides a pathway to healing through confession. Join Pastor Will as he walks through Psalm 51, looking at the emotion of remorse and the healing path of confession.

What do we do when we experience pain and suffering? Psalm 22 gives one example of the language of lament and protest. Instead of giving humanity a clear, theological explanation for pain and suffering, God instead gives us language to approach Him in our darkest times. Join Pastor Will as he explains Psalm 22 and its implications for our modern Christian faith.

Psalm 91 is a song likely written to a king or another military leader leading troops into battle. In this psalm, we find ancient wisdom about how to handle fear and anxiety. Join Pastor Will as he walks through this text, showing that God meets us in our place of vulnerability and invites us to open up to Him.

In this session, I give my personal testimony on the subject of water baptism. I also share some concluding thoughts, including my expectations for the church in response to this seminar.

In this session, we look at two major figures of speech and how they impact the study of baptism: symbolism and typology.

In this session, we look at how the early church (70-200 AD) practiced baptism. They followed the same pattern we found in Sessions 2-4.

This session heavily depends on the foundation of Sessions 2 and 3, especially 3. We explore baptism in the epistles, showing that the use of the word "baptism" follows the example in the gospels and the book of Acts.

In session 3, we explore baptism in the book of Acts. This is the longest session, but, in my mind, well worth the time. This information is what changed my mind on the subject.

In session 2, we go through the gospels and look into what they say about baptism.