Sermons

Glory

Some assert that God's glory is the overriding theme of the Big Story. It's certainly a primary issue that surfaces at Creation and carries through Redemption into Restoration. But how does the glory impact our routine, rather-mundane daily lives? As followers of Jesus, we can find out. Let's reason together (Isaiah 1:18) and remember Jesus' warning: be careful how we listen (Luke 8:18)

Speaker: Michael Boys

Series: The Big Story

Scripture: Ezekiel 2:1 - 40:1

The Poetry of Grief

When judgment comes, when disaster falls, when calamity crashes in all around, Lamentations shows us how to grieve, how to lament, how to channel our sorrow in fruitful directions.  There is a time for weeping and wailing, for giving vent to our anguish.  But Lamentations shows us how careful, prayerful, and thoughtful poetic effort can clarify and intensify our affections.  Lamentations shows us why it is so important to Eat This Book.

Speaker: Joe Rigney

Series: The Big Story

Scripture: Lamentations 3:21 - 24

The God Who Is Here

Since Creation, from ancient rock-hewn temples to modern self-help seminars, men and women have sought God in their own ways.  Yet He has made himslf findable, accessible, and knowable.  Psalms, the Bible's songbook, includes a worship poem that discloses all God is doing to reveal Himself, and reminds us how we should respond.

Speaker: Michael Boys

Series: The Big Story

Scripture: Psalm 19

God of This City

Impending judgement is coming upon God's people for their persistent sins.  God will exile them to a foreign and pagan city.  Pay attention to how God calls His people to live there.  It's probably not what you would expect, but it has significant implications for how God desires us to live and exist in Houston, Texas.

Speaker: Michael Boys

Series: The Big Story

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1 - 14 

The Mighty Servant

As we "eat this book", we've come to the Old Testament Prophets, beginning with Isaiah.  In a sense, his writings reveal and summarize God's Big Story.  That story has a role for you and me to play, in our lives, each and every day.

Speaker: Michael Boys

Series: The Big Story

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1 - 12

Love, Marriage, and Sex

If God's wisdom literature describes the way His world works, we would expect to find truths about love, sex, marriage.  Regarding the Song of Songs, Mark Dever notes, "In our present erotic age, we must not be beguiled into compromising or scared into surrendering God's very good gifts, and this is a crucial part of our discipleship to Jesus."

Speaker: Michael Boys

Series: The Big Story

When Half-Full Means Flat Empty

Ecclesiastes is a powerful summary of the world in which we all live.  The author has "been there, done that, and come home with the t-shirt"!  Is it hopeless skepticism, as some say?  Or discouraging pessimism, as others suggest?  Or is it a pathway to genuine hope (and, perhaps, even effective ministry)?

Speaker: Michael Boys

Series: The Big Story

Life Skills: Start Here

Proverbs has been described as imparting "skill in the art of godly living" -- What could be more practical than that?  Whatever your past week has been, God has truth for you this morning, from His Word through His Spirit.

Speaker: Michael Boys

Series: The Big Story

Scripture: Proverbs 1:1 - 7

Misleading Appearances

Today we consider the last of the Old Testament's historical books and the first of its wisdom literature.  Job and Esther's stories include violence, relationships, bravery, mystery, and deliverance.  And also encouragement for us today.

Speaker: Michael Boys

Series: The Big Story

Looking Forward - Looking Back

After captivity, the return of Israel's exiles to the Promised Land was a powerful demonstration of Yahweh's faithfulness.  What would  they make of their new opportunities?  How would they fare given their "new beginning"?  And what lessons are here for us as we follow Jesus in the 21st century?

Speaker: Michael Boys

Series: The Big Story