Sanctus Church Audio Sermons

Transitions are difficult. In our pursuit of the new, we sometimes find ourselves missing the old. How do we remain focused and unified in our pursuit of God's vision for our church? The answer lies in remembering the nature of the One who called us in the first place.

Jesus is the greatest gift we'll ever receive. Born in a manger, the light of the world invaded the darkness to give us hope in a time of hardship and disappointment. Christmas didn't begin at a mall, but rather in an obscure corner of the Roman empire where life was cheap and uncertain. Yet God moved, and everything changed. Let's remember why we celebrate Christmas. King Jesus is here. You never have to be alone again.

The Christmas story is filled with symbols that help us understand the significance of this holy invasion. God is here for everyone. Like the magi who saw and followed the star, we all face the same decisions: Will we pursue God? And what will we do when we meet Him in Jesus?

The time had come. Christmas marks the moment God stepped into the human story by showing up in an unexpected place — not a temple, but a manger. Even at birth, Jesus reveals the depth of God’s love for us. There’s nothing He won’t do to provide His children with a way back home.

God designed us for relationships. It’s why Paul uses his final words to recognize and bless those who walked alongside him throughout his ministry. What is God trying to teach us through these deeply personal and too often skimmed verses? Perhaps even in the face of death, God’s love, experienced through community and the Holy Spirit, is all we need.

Imprisoned, deserted, opposed — Paul details the extent of his hardship to Timothy. Yet through his personal remarks, Paul reveals that he's made peace with the past and found joyful anticipation about the future. By following the way of Christ, Paul models how to cultivate an unshakeable sense of peace and joy through the trials we face.

In his final charge to Timothy, Paul reminds us that Jesus' resurrection gave the world hope, unlike anything it had ever seen. When we build our life on this hope, we find peace and power that overrides our present circumstances — even in the face of death.

Following Jesus involves risk and sacrifice. If some form of persecution is inevitable, how do we prepare for that future? Paul points us to the Bible. The scriptures are designed to be read for formation. They have the power to shape us into the image of Jesus. When we actively love the scriptures, we allow the Author to transform us into people who can withstand anything that comes our way.

How do we navigate a broken world? In times of amplified chaos, we tend to feel discouraged and vulnerable to doubt. The culprit is unrealistic expectations. As he prepares his final charge, Paul moves from encouragement to warning, describing the grim nature of the world in which we find ourselves. By recalibrating our expectations, Paul helps us replace our wishful thinking with real hope, which empowers us to endure the "now and not yet".

The world is a confusing place. From propaganda to censorship, the truth is constantly under threat — including inside the church. False teaching is like a landmine; it’s subtle, dangerous, and difficult to remove. With time running out, Paul outlines how to detect and confront false teaching without losing sight of the objective. The goal isn’t to win an argument; it’s to see salvation.