Brian's Sermons

Have you ever followed a leader? Follow the Leader is a simple children’s game where everyone lines up behind one leader and then they try to mimic the leader’s actions. The leader is usually happy to get to lead and does simple things, like waving arms, jumping, or walking in zigzag patterns. If you don’t follow the leader more or less exactly, the consequence is you’re out of the game. Until the next round, that is. There are other times, however, when following a leader exactly is more important. For example, if you are walking through a minefield, it’s important to walk directly in the footsteps of the one leading you through. If a guide is leading you along a cliff, chances are that the guide knows where the footing is solid and where it isn’t. Most of us have probably found ourselves in a situation where we think we know more than the one who is leading us. That phenomenon is nowhere more obvious than the Monday Morning Quarterback, where everyone at home knows better t...

We are in our second week of our Life Together series – trying to navigate life in community, to live out what God has called us to be.  Last week we encouraged one another; how did it feel to seek people out to encourage them?  I thought it was great; before I’d even left this building, I saw you rushing to encourage each other.  It was good, and I hope you keep it up.  What kinds of things did you do to encourage others?  Did anyone come up with anything creative? Did you use words, or did you think of other ways to encourage as well?  One of the most encouraging things that I saw actually didn’t come as a response to last week’s message. Back in January, I preached a message in which I included a story from the late Mike Yaconelli, in which a young woman in his congregation, in response to a sermon about God’s unconditional love, decided they ought to have a welcome dinner for the carnies.  Well, that stuck with some of you, and you decided that we...