Federal Way Church of Christ Sermons

Peter's resurrection story shows how Jesus extends forgiveness, entrusts sacred work, and calls us to follow in the way of self-giving love.

This resurrection story shows how the risen Jesus is faithfully present in ordinary moments, providing for his disciples in simple ways and inviting them to recognize and respond to him in daily life.

Thomas's resurrection story shows how doubt can deepen faith as Jesus meets him right where he is, leading to the gospel's greatest confession and a blessing over all future believers.

This resurrection story shows Jesus' faithfulness in fulfilling his promises, the Spirit's work in new creation, and the disciples' call to extend forgiveness throughout the world.

Mary's resurrection story shows Jesus' resurrection as the dawn of new creation, reversing the curse of the fall as she is commissioned to proclaim the good news.

Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life reveals a hope that is holistic and here, encompassing our minds, hearts, bodies, and communities while transforming our lives today as we await the final day of renewal.

Jesus as the True Vine reveals God's faithfulness where we have failed, invites us into the pruning that makes way for new growth, and calls us to abide in his love as branches connected to the source of life.

Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life rearranges our expectations of a "good" and "successful" life, transforms truth from mere facts to deep relationship, and calls us to follow his way of the cross rather than the ways of the world.

Jesus as the Gate reveals God's protection from the thieves of distraction and division, draws us to freedom beyond lifeless religious ruts, and invites us to cross the threshold into abundant life.

Jesus as the Light of the World reveals God's beauty that draws us to worship, calls us to see others with compassion, and invites us to step out of hiding into healing.

Jesus as the Bread of Life reveals a humble, generous, and accessible God while exposing our mixed motives, inviting us into genuine trust as we abide in him.

What does it mean to live as the People of God? We are God's beloved children who follow Jesus in practices like baptism, fellowship, and communion through which we are transformed by the Spirit and sent to extend God's transforming love to the world.

What does it mean to dwell in the Story of God? The Bible is a diverse library that tells a single story from creation to new creation, with Jesus as its climax and fulfillment. We engage Scripture with our heads, hearts, and hands as we learn the story, encounter God, and join in as active participants.

What does it mean to seek the Kingdom of God? Through stories of small seeds and hidden treasures—and through his life, death, and resurrection—Jesus shows us the Kingdom coming near through practices of presence, sacrifice, and renewal as we await its fullness.

What do we mean when we say 'We believe in God'? When we look to Jesus, we see God revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in perfect unity and love.

What does it mean to be a Church of Christ? Beyond a shared history, it means being a community centered on Jesus and following him together as our good shepherd.

Like the Magi, we are invited into a sacred pilgrimage with God that begins with attentive watching, disturbs our comforts, leads us to joyful worship, and transforms us by grace.

The poetry of John's Gospel and incarnational faith of the Celtic tradition invite us to sense God's presence in creation, community, and everyday life.

The final Advent Antiphon, “O Emmanuel,” traces God’s story from beginning to end, gathering up and fulfilling all the other antiphons in Jesus, who is God-with-us in his birth into the world, his life among us, and his return to dwell with his people forever.

The fifth and sixth Advent Antiphons, “O Dayspring” and “O King of the Nations,” trace God’s story from the deep darkness of exile to the hope of light and peace among all nations, finding their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the Dayspring from on high and the King who reigns for the healing of the world.

The third and fourth Advent Antiphons, "O Root of Jesse" and "O Key of David," trace God's story from origins of Israel's kingdom to the coming king who will bring true freedom and find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the unexpected king who establishes God's peaceable kingdom and faithfully frees all who are captive.

The first two Advent Antiphons, "O Wisdom" and "O Adonai," trace God's story from the creation to the exodus and find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who is the Wisdom that orders all things and the Lord who redeems all things.

The story of Exodus shows us a God who rescues his people, reveals himself to them, and finally takes up residence among them. As we become God's people, we continue to experience his deliverance, grow in knowing him, and ultimately carry his presence wherever we go.

The Tabernacle is a portable Eden, pointing us back to the God of creation who dwells with humanity and inviting us to participate in God's work of new creation with generous and willing hearts.

After God's people betray him by breaking covenant, he responds to Moses' bold intercession by revealing himself as merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, inviting them—and us—into restored relationship and transformation.

God gives the law not as a burden but as a gift that reveals his heart, showing us a God who is accessible, compassionate toward the vulnerable, and who invites his treasured people to reflect his character to the world.

Just as God led the Israelites into the wilderness to rebuild their relationship with Him after centuries of slavery, He invites us into our own desert spaces where distractions fall away and we can move from knowing about Him to truly knowing Him.

After crossing the Red Sea, Moses and Miriam lead Israel in an act of creative, holistic worship, showing us that creativity is a natural response to God, rooted in story, ripe with imagery, and rekindling hope for all that God is yet to do.

The Passover meal and Red Sea crossing become foundational practices of remembrance and deliverance for ancient Israel and they point forward to Jesus who offers his disciples communion and baptism as ongoing signs of belonging in God's family.

The Exodus plagues are signs that reveal God's character of patience and mercy as he confronts Pharaoh's hard heart.

In Exodus 4, Moses resists God's call with reluctance rooted in fear and past shame. God persistently responds with signs of his power and presence, showing us that when we face similar fears, we too are invited to partner with God rather than withdraw or carry the burden alone.

In Exodus 3, God reveals himself through the burning bush as present in the world, active in salvation, and personal by his name, calling us to pay attention, participate with him, and grow in relationship with him.

Exodus 2 tells the origins of Moses being found and formed through his subversive birth story, maturing heart for justice, and embrace of his identity as one of God's people.

The book of Exodus is a foundational story about becoming God's people. Picking up where Genesis left off, it shows how God's faithfulness persists despite Pharaoh's increasing oppression and calls us to become faithful resisters like Shiphrah and Puah who courageously chose to fear God rather than earthly powers.

As we prepare to enter a Global Week of Prayer, we explore God's desire—from the Tower of Babel to Pentecost—to transform human self-promotion into cross-cultural blessing, calling us to live "Anti-Babel" lives that extend his kingdom to all nations.

Psalm 57 calls us to take refuge in God's steadfast love and faithfulness instead of falling asleep in the numbing distractions of our culture so that we awake with active trust and praise that proclaims God's kingdom to the world.

Psalm 56 expresses trust in the midst of fear because of God's promise to be with his people.

In the midst of corruption and betrayal, Psalm 55 teaches us to bring our honest emotions to God in persistent prayer and trust. We ultimately find our hope in Jesus who, though betrayed, calls his disciples friends and remains faithful to the end.

Psalm 54 shows that biblical justice is primarily about God protecting the innocent rather than punishing the guilty, calling us to trust God as a good judge and partner with him in his kingdom work of restoration.

Jesus comforts his troubled disciples in John 14 by calling them to trust in him as the way, truth, and life during times when old certainties are being torn down to make way for new spiritual understanding and growth.

Psalm 53 contrasts worldly foolishness with godly wisdom, calling us from practical atheism to ongoing life with God and promising God's ultimate defeat of evil and restoration for his people. We see this fulfilled in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection where he begins the work of restoration, reveals true wisdom at the cross, and scatters the power of death, making a way for life with him.

When evil seems to prevail and suffering abounds, Psalm 52 calls us to reject worldly pursuits of power by trusting in God's love and justice with a defiant, stubborn, absurd hope.

Psalm 51 shows us how true repentance moves from confession to renewal, as the compassionate God creates pure hearts and personal forgiveness overflows into building up community in God's Kingdom.

Exploring questions from the congregation about why we pray, coping with unanswered prayer, recognizing God's responses, and praying together as a community.

What are we to do? How do we find peace amid the chaos? Like the early church, we lean deeper into Christian community through shared learning, fellowship, meals, and prayer.

Exploring questions from the congregation about knowing the Holy Spirit personally, listening for his voice, and growing in spiritual gifts.

Being filled with the Spirit is a continuous, ongoing experience throughout our life with God. Though we're told to be filled, it's not something we can do ourselves—only something we can open ourselves to receive from God. How can we do this? Paul shows us three beautiful practices that open our he

Evil is real and goes far deeper than human dysfunction or misunderstanding. We must open our eyes to the spiritual battle around us, put on the armor of God, and join with the Holy Spirit in prayer against the enemy's schemes of deception, corruption, and shame.

Though they may seem strange—the spiritual gifts of healing, tongues, and prophecy are meant to be invitations to deeper life with God, calling us into powerful, intimate, and listening prayer as we build one another up in love.

Though spiritual gifts have often been a source of confusion and harm, scripture teaches us that there are many gifts rooted in God for the body of Christ. In this sermon we learn from scripture, dispel some common myths, and turn toward prayer as we eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit.