Sundays at Cumberland

Scripture certainly commands us to honor our mother, but it’s also important to try and UNDERSTAND her. Admittedly, it can be difficult to grasp the weight of her responsibility, but even beyond that, a mother’s role continues to face unforeseen challenges - unlikely treasures that ultimately point to the One who carried the greatest burden of all.

We tend to think of wisdom as a type of elite "intelligence," and therefore, we assume it’s reserved for just a select few. But God’s word makes it clear that wisdom is actually available to all - AS NEEDED...

Freedom is a GIFT -- and a RISK. We have so many options and the individual agency to choose them, but we must learn to ask a completely different question of ourselves: What if we were wise?In Jesus’ closing thoughts from his Sermon on the Mount, he points us to an important consideration that should change the foundation of our entire lives…

It's SO difficult to admit that our perspective may actually be rooted in a lie. But scripture challenges us to test our core convictions, and be careful to discern the SOURCE of any information that we trust. If the real key to a changed life is based on embracing the truth, then there’s only one way to do that:Allow the words of Jesus to change your mind.

For three years, Jesus created *significant* controversy with His teachings, His actions, and even His relationships. He arrived on the scene making choices that were absolutely confusing — especially to those who expected Him to operate on *their* terms.When we examine His life, we discover that Jesus modeled a completely different definition of success. And as a result, He still continues to be a point of contention today. For those searching for true victory in life, we must determine if Jesus is “the way” or simply “in the way.”

Isn't victory sweet? Whether it's sports or the game of life, everyone wants to end up in the winner's circle. We're even willing to go to extreme lengths - and not just to win, but to ensure that *others lose.*We're selfish, prideful, inconsiderate, greedy, unmerciful... not because we're evil, but simply because we want to win.So, is winning wrong? Of course not. But we often spend our lives pursuing a victory that's only temporary. In response to this, Jesus offers a revolutionary consideration about the nature of true victory:The sweetness of victory that we desire is hidden in the bitterness of suffering that we avoid.

The ministry of Jesus emerged as a steady progression towards a particular type of celebrity. His fame grew, success followed, and the crowds gathered to bear witness to His legendary reputation. But right at the time where everyone expected things to explode onto the greatest stage, Jesus informed His disciples of the one thing they had all been eagerly anticipating: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Interestingly enough, the type of glory that Jesus had in mind would completely change our understanding of victory, once and for all.

It’s interesting when stories - told to us as kids - stick with us as adults. When you look in Scripture, it affirms the responsibility of passing God’s truth - in story form - from one generation to the next. In this message, we’ll explore this privilege even more, hearing about how God’s story continues to be passed on in every generation.

Serving others... It’s one of the defining characteristics of Christian living.Serving others is the most practical demonstration of love, and therefore, it is expected of all who claim to be disciples. That being said, in every church setting there seems to always be a constant need for volunteers to step up and serve. Unfortunately, ministry reach is dictated by the willingness of those individuals to embrace this as a personal responsibility. And so often, within a congregation, we find an imbalance between those who do too much and those who do too little.There must be a better way.Maybe we should consider the full potential of a church where everyone understands that we are all Made to Serve.

This message wraps up our survey of the book of Amos. We’ll whittle God’s judgment down to a basic expectation, and measure that against the things we try to offer God instead. There’s hope in the clarity, and in knowing that what God really expects from us is something that is well within our capacity to give.

Amos delivers a prophetic judgment to Israel during the height of her prosperity. It’s such a striking indictment that it comes across to them as if someone had read their own obituary in the newspaper. All the justice they withheld from others would finally be delivered to them.BUT… Those harsh words still contain hope, because even though national judgment was absolutely certain, personal repentance was still a possibility.Even though we may feel helpless about the ever-shifting and ever-eroding trends of our society, we do have the ability to distinguish ourselves before God. If we choose to cling to righteousness at all costs, then it ultimately proves the truth about the God we claim to serve.

Whenever we lose sight of God’s standard, we settle into useless attempts to justify ourselves. This is the origin of pride - falsely assuming that we can determine our own righteousness. Amos reminds the people of Israel that the Lord does, in fact, have a standard, and that they have fallen far beneath it.In the same way, our society has progressively neglected God’s standard. Our apathy, our complacency, and our overwhelming self-interest has compromised our spirituality, but yet, we still affirm ourselves as favored by God. Obviously, we’re in need of a major recalibration - but most importantly, we need a true standard by which to measure ourselves.

God’s judgment on the wickedness of man is a reality that we should never take lightly. Our faithfulness TO God is directly tied to our reverence FOR Him, and therefore, we must be wary of anything that might cause us to take that for granted.Amos arrives in Israel in response to such neglect, as the prosperity of the nation seems to have cost them their humanity. Their persistence towards greed and injustice reflected a clear rejection of God’s heart for the vulnerable in society. In response, His judgment arrives to grant them their foolish desires - a life absent of the word of God.

We’re living in some very concerning times. It’s difficult to ignore the raging tension present between people who live on opposite ends of our social spectrum.The rich versus the poor…The right versus the left…The powerful versus the weak…We struggle to see the implications of a world that refuses to accept its own sense of shared responsibility. Consequently, what emerges from this type of collective self-absorption is a culture that is primarily characterized by indulgence, indifference, and injustice.The book of Amos highlights a period in Israel’s story that reflects so many of these same concerns. It gives a glimpse into how easily we become distracted by our own desires, and what happens when we fail to uphold our relational responsibility to each other. The Lord’s response to this is nothing short of chilling, revealing the true severity of our unfortunate social condition.We should all receive the words of Amos as a prophetic warning to us today — The Time Is Ripe.We’ll kick off the first week of our survey of Amos with a question: Do You Know the Time?

If God’s plan of salvation for the entire world is progressive, then the same can be said of our personal relationship with Him. We may start with basic belief, but where we end is something much more significant.More than just our Creator, our Savior, and the King of our lives - the Lord has determined to be our friend.This is a distinct New Testament revelation that transforms faith expression into the most desirable relationship of all. But if God Himself has decided to be my friend, then it leaves me with the unsettling question: Can I be a good friend to Him?

It’s important to have the Holy Spirit. But it’s equally important to know how the Spirit works.Jesus made clear promises to His disciples concerning this supernatural help, and we must consider them to avoid mishandling the gift. How do we relate to the Spirit? How does the Spirit relate to the world? And perhaps most importantly, how should we relate to the world, as we keep in step with the Spirit?

The Church holds the potential to be a unique reflection of the glory of God in the world - and so much of that is tied to how we relate to each other. There is One God, ruling over His people, and holding them all together by means of One Spirit. Scripture makes It clear that unity is a definitive marker of the Christian faith, leaving us with the pressing question:What exactly should we do with our diversity?Too often, diversity becomes a point of division, because historically, society has allowed our differences to mean more than they should. At times, we’ve drifted into extremes, and even ungodly responses, to those who show up as slightly different than us.Something certainly needs to change, and we must be careful to not demand a change in the wrong things. Fortunately, gospel mission calls us to something greater than just the safety we find in similarity. What we really need is a supernatural response to our differences.

In a world characterized by instant access to information, rapidly shifting opportunities, and a hyper prioritization of personal preference, we generally find ourselves swirling in more options than we can possibly use. If the good Lord has gifted us with free will, then the world has countered it by trying to overwhelm us with “options.”Interestingly enough, this steady increase of knowledge has resulted in an unfortunate outcome that we never could have anticipated:We have become more intelligent - but less wise.As the lines between right and wrong continue to blur with social progress, it becomes increasingly evident that we need something more than just “another option.” Wisdom doesn’t just come from a place of experience, it actually comes from a person. It seems that the practical help we need is found in the spiritual presence we ignore.

You can’t be godly without God…You can’t be Christian without Christ…And you can’t be “holy” without the Holy Spirit…The biblical record affirms the history of our burdensome longing for spiritual fulfillment, and the New Covenant reveals that God chose to resolve this tension - once and for all - by satisfying us with Himself. It seems to be the obvious conclusion for a world, and a people, dehydrating themselves in sin. But what’s most intriguing about it all is the manner in which He chooses to do it:He gives us His Spirit.Not just a set of rules to obey…Not just a perfect example to follow…Instead, He unites with each of us, specifically and individually, that we might find perfect alignment with Him. Our intimacy with God is made possible by our dependence on His Spirit, and He is the assurance we have in knowing that we truly belong to the Lord.

Every member must become a missionary - in some capacity, for their specific context, and according to God’s unique purpose for them. This means that we must accept that the primary goal of our church is not Sunday attendance. Instead, we are to become a community of kingdom preparation - arming people with the gospel and commissioning them into the world to make a difference.The next season of Cumberland will see a church that does more than just shepherd the broken. In addition, we’ll provide room for those same people to grow into the fullness of Christ and become agents of redemption. From planting churches, to launching businesses, to exploring artistic expression, to even running for public office - Cumberland is to become a launchpad for personal life mission through relevant gospel expression.We are to FEED the Church, so that she can continuously provide SEED to the world.

Back in January, we set our sights on pursuing Fruit Without Fail - because Jesus set the clear expectation that His followers would produce an abundance of fruit!So… how have you been growing?On the final Sunday of 2025, let’s take a collective self-assessment - a “Fruit Inspection,” if you will. We’ll discuss how distractions can take us off-course, and we’ll talk about the only real way to produce fruit.

One of the things that makes Christmas Eve so special is that it celebrates the end… of A WAITING.We savor the fullness of that anticipation, remembering the night - some 2000 years ago - when the countdown finally came to an end. But here’s the question… When did the countdown begin?

Traditionally, Christmas is a time of gathering with loved ones, but if we follow the pattern in scripture, then our reach should extend beyond what’s familiar and comfortable.As we’ll see in Scripture, lowly shepherds receive the primary invitation to the celebration of the birth of King Jesus, and in doing so, reveal something miraculous about the opportunity of Christmas.

We all face moments of uncertainty. And that’s usually the place where our character gets tested most. We allow challenges to tempt us to abandon the credibility of our words. It may sound simple, but it actually raises the question of the most ordinary of miracles: Can you remain true to your word?

Everything God does is significant. Big, small, and everything in between - it all counts as the mighty work of His hands.But sometimes, we overlook the Lord’s work in light of our inflated expectations.We find ourselves consumed with waiting for God to do something big, all while He is actively working in smaller ways around us. Mary was challenged with this, in reconciling a long awaited desire for a savior with the immediate weight of an unexpected pregnancy. Her miraculous demonstration of faith is one that is accessible to us all, if we consider that God’s good gifts don’t always come wrapped in the way we expect.This Christmas, we’ll give special attention to such ordinary miracles. Whatever God is doing, and, more importantly, however He chooses to work, must be our priority. Big or small, easy or hard, extraordinary or ordinary - it all counts as miraculous, and the Lord is worthy of praise for every thing He does!

We know that Jesus is the answer for both young and old, and His love extends to those who are facing the most impossible circumstances. Whether you're battling bullies at school, pressures at work, or maybe just discouragement in your own mind - the impact of such things can leave us feeling like we’ve lost control of our lives. Fortunately, the gospel reminds us of the most important thing: Even if all seems lost, Jesus restores.

We all have a tendency to compare. We know we shouldn’t. But sometimes, we fall into the trap. We can’t help but measure God’s will in our lives against what we see as His will in the lives of others. In such cases, the criticisms that we have for each other begin to feed the doubts that we form about God. Remember, God’s call in our lives is unique.One Bible story in particular explores this problem — that of Mary and Martha hosting Jesus in their home. The sisters respond to Jesus in contrasting ways, creating a familiar tension that’s very much avoidable. It’s an intriguing reflection of faith and priorities, leaving us with compelling questions over the best way to honor God.

Anyone can be used by God, because everyone can choose to believe.Scripture captures many examples of how the faith of one paves the way to good news for others. Whether it’s the courage of Abraham, or the loyal devotion of Ruth, we’re reminded of the only acceptable response whenever God calls...The righteous must choose to live by faith.

Scripture certainly affirms the Lord as a savior, but the narrative also reveals that He has chosen to use a variety of characters in His rescue plans. From Moses, to Esther, to perhaps, even you, the Lord continues to use the OVERLOOKED to accomplish the UNEXPECTED.

We certainly cannot do anything without the Lord. But, interestingly enough, He has chosen to do very little without us.His sovereign plan invites us to participate in His work, whether we feel qualified or not. Scripture is jam-packed with such testimony - stories of unlikely people who the Lord chose for extraordinary things.Peter and Paul represent 2 such stories, with competing personalities in the growth of the early Church. Paul, the brilliant religious activist, and Peter, the uneducated, impulsive commoner, both served God in their own extraordinary way. From white collar to blue collar, their distinct resumes remind us of the affirming significance of God’s call in a variety of life experiences.Whenever He taps our shoulder for kingdom service, anything that is wrong about us gets swallowed up in everything that is right about Him.

Emotions are like rocket fuel to our actions.If we fail to connect WHAT we do to HOW we feel, then we risk overlooking a key measure of our relational wellness. Whenever someone crosses the line to offend us, we’re left with a range of intense emotions from which to respond. Unfortunately, human emotions cannot be trusted to govern our lives, and following them can lead us into sinful compromise.Jesus calls us to sidestep this risk with a simple solution - just love everybody.If we can find a way to manage our emotions and pursue peace in spite of pain, then personal offense becomes an opportunity to demonstrate the genuine love we possess.

“Love your enemies.” Jesus introduced the most remarkable expectation with this simple, yet profound challenge. His command resets the relational standard for humanity.Far too often, our differences lead to division, and the current social climate seems intent on turning neighbors into enemies. More than ever, the words of Jesus offer a way forward - but how do we live out His expectation? How in the world are we supposed to love our enemies??

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few...” Jesus described the landscape of gospel mission when He voiced this sobering reality. It’s a prophetic observation that invokes a challenge for all who have received the Good News:Join in the work of sharing it with others.It seems that God’s call is much more simple than we care to admit. Consequently, our response reflects something deeper than just surface-level obedience. If we heed His call, then it affirms our commitment to the ultimate outcome - changed lives, and a God who is glorified.

Bring as much FAITH as you can, because we’ll need every ounce of it for the journey ahead!

ALL glory belongs to God. Yet we still resist giving credit where it’s due. We ascribe praise to so many different things, for so many different reasons. And whenever we’re not worshipping those idols, we’re busy stealing glory for ourselves... 😕But the Lord has determined that He wants all that belongs to Him. His sovereign plan includes reclamation of all of His glory, and an ultimate demonstration that He alone is worthy of it.

God’s plan for renewal introduces a new standard for humanity — characterized by LOVE OVERFLOWING. It leads us beyond our own borders of comfort and convenience, and directly into the lives of others. Cumberland operationalizes this idea through our local missions efforts, where we commit to the work of bringing good news to our local community.Our desire is to seek the common good - across all racial, political, religious, and economic differences - in the hopes that we can contribute to the flourishing of EVERYONE.Our All Things New campaign provides an opportunity to expand this effort in practical ways, as we leverage the gospel in our neighborhood.

It might be time for a shift.There’s no denying that we’ve faced significant delays in completing our campus project. And honestly, there’s a list of reasons to explain why. But as the Lord continues to renew our hearts for gospel mission, we must come to grips with the real obstacle standing in the way -- our personal priorities.The book of Haggai recounts a relevant charge to God’s people who are slack in repairing the temple. Misplaced priorities began to characterize their worship, and excuses piled up concerning the temple repair. In response, the prophet delivers a word that is meant for one specific goal:To call people back into alignment with God’s will.This week continues our All Things New series, with a focus on our own renovation project. Perhaps our delay demands a shift in our devotion, so that we can capture God’s heart concerning this step of our gospel mission.

Today marks the launch of a multi-year journey toward where God is leading Cumberland.In this new season, we’ll give our full attention to the beautiful vision of new creation. In the final pages of scripture, John’s apocalyptic glimpse into the future reminds us that Christ is enthroned as Lord of all creation. It is this specific revelation that holds remarkable implications for our fallen world and its future.As history moves towards the finale, we envision a climactic ending that will ultimately fix all that is broken. But John’s vision makes it clear that Christ does not return as some type of “divine REPAIRman.”Instead, from His throne, He declares boldly, “I make all things NEW.”Cumberland’s vision is a call to join in this redemptive work to ensure that the gospel is felt everywhere, by everyone. That means good news for here, near, and far.

In our society, the promise of security is enticing. The question of ‘who can deliver a brighter future?’ compels us to give our allegiance to whoever - or whatever - might seem capable.Power… Wealth… Influence… They become our standards of measurement. And those who have them claim to hold the keys to the future.Such is the allure of empire.And one way or another, we all get swept up in it. But Jesus offers a completely different option, and if we don’t pay close attention to His words, then we’ll find ourselves waiting for something that is already here.

Religion stands as our most desperate attempt to cleanse ourselves before God. As such, we generally measure each other by a mere surface-level standard of righteousness.Say the right things…Do the right things…Look the right way…Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for such shallow emphasis, and He calls us to a much deeper consideration. The way in which Jesus relates to us must determine how we relate to each other. If we embrace His approach — His Way — then we learn to bypass what we see on the outside, and focus on the one thing we should all hope to be: clean on the inside.

The book of Jude addresses the church as she faces the challenges of her own successful growth. It turns out that more people bring more problems. 😬This type of tension they faced — between growth and faithfulness — is actually NORMAL for the church. Therefore, we must adjust our understanding of gospel mission, and accept its tendency to be disruptive to the comfortability of a congregation.

The Church continues to wrestle with determining the most appropriate application of the gospel. We tend to enjoy its broad, accepting framework in light of OUR OWN faults; but then we offer a more restrictive version to others. It becomes a stumbling block for those seeking God, and it reveals the need for our own “open heart surgery.”

Heart disease can sneak up on you. The signs are easy to dismiss, and as long as your heart keeps pumping, you're fine... right?? In the same way, you should consider the potential of BLOCKAGES in your *spiritual* life - hidden faults - that may affect the flow of God’s love to and from your heart.

To bless or not to bless… That is the question. With all the things you need the Lord to *do* for you, do you forget to bless the Lord for what he's already *done* for you?

There may be no other figure in scripture who points to Jesus quite like David. And while we admire things like his courage as a warrior, his openness in worship, and even his artistic ability - the bible clearly identifies his most admirable quality: The sincerity of his heart.

Pharaoh was the most powerful man in the world, and no one could stand against him. That’s why God sent the most unlikely man to do the job... Moses’ story demonstrates the truth that the strength of this world is still no match for the weakness of God.

Abraham’s life gives a theological glimpse into the very framework of the gospel, long before it was ever proclaimed to the world. Esteemed as the Father of our faith, his example strips away any arguments we might hold concerning our own self justification. The reason is simple: Abraham chose to believe God. Against all odds, and perhaps, even, logic, he chose to order his life around trusting God - purely on the merit of His word. We can all look back to Abraham, to find the motivation we need to look forward in faith - no matter what we face along the journey.

Would you rather be favored by man… or be faithful to God? Learn how to stand against compromise and choose obedience over outcomes!

Is there such thing as being *too* merciful? Jonah certainly thought so...

God’s mercy is full of second chances.But have you ever considered just how important a second chance can be?Second chances are as important as the air we breathe. Without God giving us second chances (and third, and fourth…), we couldn’t survive!The problem is, we’ve become so accustomed to receiving second chances from God that we can feel entitled to them.We forget that it’s all a matter of God’s grace...