Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The weekly Sunday morning sermon series from the Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, TX. http://bwaychurch.org
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Holy Night: Great Joy
12/22/2025
Holy Night: Great Joy
Karl Ihfe continues Broadway's Advent series "Holy Night" by examining joy through the lens of Luke 2 and the shepherds' encounter with the newborn Jesus. Using a clip from The Chosen to illustrate the scene, Karl distinguishes between surface-level happiness and the deeper contentedness that characterizes true joy. He points out that the first Advent joy came amid difficult circumstances - Mary and Joseph alone in a barn, shepherds who were social outcasts - yet joy was found in trusting God's faithfulness. Karl shares personal stories that illustrate joy in unexpected places, including his mother's battle with cancer where she held onto the truth "I don't know what the day holds, but I know who holds the day," and his son Gabe's 11-day stay in the NICU where they experienced profound joy even in a place no parent wants to be. He connects these experiences to Jesus' teaching in John 15 about remaining in God's love so that "my joy may be in you and your joy would be complete." Karl emphasizes that when certainty isn't possible, faithfulness is still on the table, and that joy comes from staying connected to God's love even through trials. He concludes by challenging the congregation to choose joy this holiday season - to be God's joyful people who engage the world with hope rather than despair, contentment rather than complaint, trusting that God is doing something bigger and inviting us to be part of it.
/episode/index/show/bwaycofc/id/39495705
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Holy Night: For All People
12/15/2025
Holy Night: For All People
Jeremy Smith delivers an Advent sermon focusing on how we prepare for Christ's second coming by understanding his first arrival. Smith explains that the Biblical concept of peace (shalom) differs significantly from our modern understanding—it's not merely inner tranquility or absence of conflict, but rather wholeness, completeness, and right relationships as God intended. Using Exodus 22:3-4 and Isaiah 9:6-7, Smith illustrates how shalom means making things whole and right. When angels announced "peace on earth" to the shepherds in Luke 2, they were proclaiming that God's wholeness had entered our broken world. The shepherds' response—abandoning everything to see Jesus, then spreading the news with joy—demonstrated shalom in action. Smith concludes that Jesus himself is our peace, our shalom, who brings wholeness wherever he goes and will return to complete what he started.
/episode/index/show/bwaycofc/id/39412560
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Let the Children Come
12/08/2025
Let the Children Come
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe highlights Broadway church's long-standing partnership with the Children's Home of Lubbock, whose mission is "manifesting Christ through excellence in childcare." He shares sobering statistics about Lubbock County being the fourth highest for child abuse in Texas, with 783 confirmed victims last year, emphasizing that these aren't just numbers but children created in God's image who need healing and hope. Karl connects this ministry to Jesus's teaching in Mark 10, where He was "indignant" when disciples tried to prevent children from approaching Him. Jesus taught that the kingdom belongs to children and that welcoming a child in His name is welcoming Jesus Himself. Karl reminds the congregation that caring for vulnerable children isn't a side project but reflects the heart of God, who describes Himself in Psalm 68:5 as "a father to the fatherless." The sermon concludes with a call to radical generosity toward their $40,000 goal to support safety initiatives at the Children's Home.
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Holy Night: Dawning in the Darkness
12/01/2025
Holy Night: Dawning in the Darkness
Karl Ihfe begins the Advent season by examining the challenge of waiting, particularly how God's people waited 400 years between the Old Testament prophecies and the fulfillment of God's promise to send a Messiah. During this silence, many likely wondered if God had forgotten them or if His promises were merely myths. Yet God's "impossible plan" unfolded through ordinary people—a young girl named Mary and a carpenter named Joseph—who chose to believe despite the impossibility of their situation. The sermon highlights how Mary and Joseph “borrowed courage” by remembering God's faithfulness throughout history. When the angel declared, "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37), it was an invitation to remember how God had worked impossibly throughout Scripture—from Abraham and Sarah's child in old age to the parting of the Red Sea. As we celebrate Advent, we too are invited to hope in the seemingly impossible promise of Christ's return, remembering that the God who fulfilled His promise in the first coming will be faithful to complete what He started.
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Overflow: Can I Get a Witness?
11/24/2025
Overflow: Can I Get a Witness?
Dr. David Fraze explores how generosity serves as a powerful witness to the world in his sermon "Overflow: The Witness of Generous Living." Using a children's demonstration with pennies and the song "Love is something if you give it away," he establishes that generosity isn't about personal gain but about mission. Dr. Fraze contrasts the kingdom values of service (John 13) with the misinterpreted prosperity gospel, emphasizing that God promises to meet our needs, not necessarily our wants. Through stories like the Good Samaritan, John D. Rockefeller's transformation, and personal anecdotes, Dr. Fraze illustrates how even small acts of generosity—returning a jacket, giving an unexpected tip, or simply offering a smile—can profoundly impact others. He challenges listeners to examine their motivations for giving, asking whether they seek to preserve their own legacy or point others to Christ. As 2 Corinthians 9:11-12 teaches, our generosity results in thanksgiving to God and serves as a testimony that extends beyond church walls.
/episode/index/show/bwaycofc/id/39150900
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Overflow: Sacrifice
11/17/2025
Overflow: Sacrifice
In this sermon, Dr. Jordan Tatum begins by acknowledging how our culture conditions us to be selfish through advertising and cultural messages that tell us to prioritize our own desires and needs. He then examines Jesus's teaching in Luke 20-21, where Jesus contrasts the selfish religious leaders who "devour widows' houses" with a poor widow who gave everything she had. Dr. Tatum highlights a profound truth: "The value of the gift is not in the amount given. The value of the gift is in how much it costs me." From this foundation, he offers three progressive challenges: give something (for everyone), give generously (for those already giving), and give sacrificially (the highest level). He concludes by pointing to Jesus Christ as our ultimate example of sacrifice, reminding us that God "would not spare anything, including his own son, to bring us back to him," and invites us to respond with the same sacrificial spirit. https://bwaychurch.org
/episode/index/show/bwaycofc/id/39060585
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Overflow: Amazing Grace
11/10/2025
Overflow: Amazing Grace
In this sermon launching the "Overflow" series, Karl Ihfe examines the connection between grace and generosity through the lens of 2 Corinthians 8. He establishes that grace is the source of generosity, pointing to how God always gives first—"For God so loved the world that he gave" (John 3:16). The Macedonian churches exemplify this principle, as they gave generously despite their extreme poverty because they had first experienced God's transformative grace. Karl highlights Paul's surprising equation: severe trial + overflowing joy + extreme poverty = rich generosity. This counterintuitive formula works because true joy isn't dependent on circumstances but flows from grace. As he states, "Joy doesn't come from what's in our wallet. It comes from who's in our heart." Following Christ's example—who "though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor" (2 Corinthians 8:9)—we're called to let grace overflow into sacrificial generosity that matures us and becomes contagious to others. Karl challenges us to respond not by asking "How much should I give?" but rather "How much have I been given?”
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Remembrance Sunday: Our Living Hope
11/03/2025
Remembrance Sunday: Our Living Hope
On Remembrance Sunday, Karl Ihfe guides the Broadway congregation through a meaningful reflection on the Christian understanding of death and resurrection. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 4 and John 11, Karl emphasizes that our hope isn't merely in a future event but in a person—Jesus Christ, who declared "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). This transforms our understanding from resurrection as a distant future event to a present reality in the person of Jesus. Karl reminds us that Paul doesn't tell believers not to grieve, but rather that we "may not grieve as others do who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Christians grieve deeply because we love deeply, but our grief is infused with hope because death doesn't have the final word. The sermon culminates in a moving ritual where the names of departed saints are spoken, a bell is rung, and candles are lit—affirming that though we miss our loved ones, they are with Jesus, and one day "every name we're about to speak is going to rise again."
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The Domino Effect: This is the Way
10/29/2025
The Domino Effect: This is the Way
In the concluding message of "The Domino Effect" series, Karl Ihfe explores Ephesians 6 where Paul instructs believers to "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10). Ihfe draws a parallel between the Mandalorian creed "This is the way" and the early Christians who were known as followers of "the Way" before the term Christian was coined. Ihfe explains that Paul's description of the armor of God—the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit—isn't merely preparation for battle but a way of life. This armor represents different aspects of Christian living that Paul has been teaching throughout Ephesians. The real enemy, Paul emphasizes, is not "flesh and blood" but spiritual forces working against God's kingdom. Prayer completes the armor, keeping believers connected to God's strength and aligned with His heart.
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The Domino Effect: Jesus 101
10/20/2025
The Domino Effect: Jesus 101
Karl Ihfe continues the "Domino Effect" series by examining Ephesians 4, focusing on the pivotal decision of who we choose to follow. Drawing from Paul's letter, Ihfe contrasts two paths: the way of the Gentiles, characterized by "futility of thinking," darkened understanding, and insatiable desires, versus the way of Jesus, which leads to renewal and transformation. Ihfe explains that following Jesus means "putting off the old self" and "putting on the new self" as described in Ephesians 4:22-24. This transformation manifests in practical ways: speaking truthfully, managing anger appropriately, working honestly to share with others, using words that build up rather than tear down, and replacing bitterness with kindness and forgiveness. Ihfe challenges the congregation to become "radical encouragers" who reflect God's character in their daily interactions, reminding them that their decision about who to follow will impact every aspect of their lives and relationships.
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The Domino Effect: The Most Divisive Issue
10/14/2025
The Domino Effect: The Most Divisive Issue
In this sermon on unity from the "Domino Effect" series, Karl explores how Paul's letter to the Ephesians reveals unity as God's plan from the beginning. Drawing from Ephesians 1:10, he explains that God's purpose was "to bring unity to all things in heaven and earth under Christ." While the world naturally tends toward division and decay, Christ came to create "one new humanity" (Ephesians 2:15) by breaking down barriers between people. Karl emphasizes that unity doesn't mean uniformity—like four-part harmony in singing, unity harnesses our differences for God's kingdom. Paul instructs believers to "keep the unity of the Spirit" (Ephesians 4:3) through humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love. The challenge for Christians today is to prioritize unity over being right, to speak truth in love, and to remember that our unity is built not on opinions or preferences but on our shared identity in Christ, who is the "one Lord" over all.
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The Domino Effect: Living Wisely
10/06/2025
The Domino Effect: Living Wisely
In this installment of the "Domino Effect" series examining Ephesians, Karl Ihfe explores Paul's vision of prayer as revealed in three prayers found in chapters one, three, and six. Ihfe contrasts our often limited, comfort-focused prayers with Paul's expansive prayers that remind believers of the extraordinary power available to them—"the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead" (Ephesians 1:19-20). Paul prays for spiritual wisdom, enlightened hearts, and a deep understanding of Christ's love that surpasses knowledge. Ihfe challenges us to consider whether our prayers reflect an awareness of this resurrection power or if we've settled for prayers centered on comfort and entertainment. Drawing from his recent travels to Kenya and North Africa, he shares how believers in challenging contexts are experiencing God's transformative work despite difficulties. He invites the Broadway church to pray with kingdom perspective, asking God to use them to make a difference in Lubbock rather than limiting what God might do through them. https://bwaychurch.org
/episode/index/show/bwaycofc/id/38481785
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The Domino Effect: I Will Have a Peace, Thank You
09/29/2025
The Domino Effect: I Will Have a Peace, Thank You
Chad Hammond examines Ephesians 2 and its powerful message about Christ as our peace who has destroyed the dividing walls of hostility. He explains that the Hebrew concept of peace (shalom) is far more than the absence of conflict—it represents wholeness, fullness, and justice. Through historical context, Hammond shows how the temple's physical barriers separated Gentiles, women, and others from full access to God, creating a system of limited belonging. The heart of the sermon reveals how Christ's sacrifice has radically transformed this reality. As Ephesians 2:19 declares, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household." We who were once excluded have not merely been given citizenship but have been invited into God's family and become the very dwelling place of God's Spirit. Hammond challenges the church to embody this inclusive peace by breaking down barriers that prevent others from experiencing God's love, becoming the first "domino" in a chain reaction of reconciliation in our divided world.
/episode/index/show/bwaycofc/id/38394455
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The Domino Effect: Pivot Point
09/23/2025
The Domino Effect: Pivot Point
In this sermon from the "Domino Effect" series, Karl Ihfe examines Ephesians 2 to highlight grace as the essential pivot point in our lives. He begins by establishing the "before" language of Ephesians 2:1-3, where Paul describes our former state as "dead in your transgressions and sins," then transitions to what scholars call the "but God theology" - how God intervenes in our hopelessness. Karl illustrates this concept through his father's heart transplant, where his dad could do nothing to earn or deserve the new heart, but could only receive it as a gift and then choose how to live afterward. Karl emphasizes that "radical grace and radical discipleship are not opposite ends of the spectrum" but work together, referencing Ephesians 2:8-10 where Paul writes, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith... not by works, so that no one can boast." He concludes by sharing a story about adoption that demonstrates grace in action, challenging the Broadway church to become a community where grace serves as their pivot point, asking, "Is it possible to love our community so much that they go, 'please stop loving me'?"
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The Domino Effect: Starting Point
09/15/2025
The Domino Effect: Starting Point
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe launches a new series called "The Domino Effect," exploring the power of our decisions through the book of Ephesians. Karl highlights how Ephesians teaches us about grace, our view of the church (ecclesiology), and how our beliefs about Jesus should shape our relationships with others. He emphasizes two major themes that run throughout Ephesians: peace and unity. Paul describes the church as "the body of Christ, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way" (Ephesians 1:23), calling believers to a higher standard than the world's casual view of church. Karl challenges the congregation to be people of peace whose words and actions match, just as Jesus not only preached peace but embodied it. He also emphasizes Paul's message that unity doesn't require uniformity—we can disagree on some things while remaining unified in Christ, which is at the heart of the Gospel and God's plan to "bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ" (Ephesians 1:10).
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The Power of Friendship
09/08/2025
The Power of Friendship
Karl Ihfe examines the remarkable story of friendship found in Mark 2, where four friends carry a paralyzed man to Jesus, going so far as to tear through a roof to get their friend before Him. Ihfe highlights how true friendship requires significant investment of time—our most precious and limited resource—and sacrifice, as these friends were willing to overcome any barrier to bring their friend to Jesus. The sermon emphasizes a profound truth from this passage: when Jesus healed the paralyzed man, He did so in response to the friends' faith, not the paralyzed man's. As Mark 2:5 states, "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'" Ihfe challenges the congregation to consider both whose "mat" they might need to carry and what "mat" they might be lying on, needing to ask for help. He reminds us that Jesus calls us friends (not servants) and demonstrated the ultimate friendship by sacrificing Himself for us, carrying our sins to the cross.
/episode/index/show/bwaycofc/id/38131245
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The Heart of a King: A Heart for God
09/02/2025
The Heart of a King: A Heart for God
Karl Ihfe concludes his series on King David by examining why Jesus is called the "Son of David" from Matthew 1 through Revelation 22:16. This title signifies hope, as David's reign represented Israel's golden age—a time when the kingdom was united, prosperous, and free from oppression. When people cried out "Son of David, have mercy" to Jesus, they were expressing hope that He could restore what was broken. The title also emphasizes Jesus' humanity through His genealogy in Matthew 1, which breaks traditional rules by including women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba) and non-Israelites. This reveals that Jesus came not just for one ethnic group or gender, but for all people. Ihfe challenges us to follow David's example, who "served God's purpose in his generation" (Acts 13:36), and allow God's kingdom to break through in our lives despite our imperfections. https://bwaychurch.org
/episode/index/show/bwaycofc/id/38058485
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The Heart of a King: A Compassionate Heart
08/25/2025
The Heart of a King: A Compassionate Heart
Karl Ihfe examines 2 Samuel 9, where King David seeks out Mephibosheth, Jonathan's crippled son, to show him kindness. This story reveals three essential qualities of compassion that made David a man after God's own heart. First, compassion is personal—David called Mephibosheth by name, restoring dignity to someone who saw himself as "a dead dog." Second, compassion is active—David didn't just feel sorry for Mephibosheth but gave him land, servants, and a permanent place at the royal table. Finally, compassion is born out of love—David's actions flowed from his deep love for Jonathan that even death couldn't diminish. Ihfe connects this to Jesus's compassion in the Gospels and challenges the congregation to learn someone's name this week, take action for one person, and remember that true compassion flows naturally from those who understand how much they've been forgiven, as Jesus taught in Luke 7:47: "whoever has been forgiven little loves little."
/episode/index/show/bwaycofc/id/37948220
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Find Home
08/18/2025
Find Home
Jeremy Smith, the college minister at Broadway Church of Christ, shared how Atlas Campus Fellowship has been diligently preparing for returning college students with numerous welcome events planned. He presented Atlas's vision to become "the most welcoming college ministry in Lubbock, Texas through radical hospitality," where every student feels "personally invited and genuinely seen." This vision is summarized in their motto: "find home." Jeremy highlighted the unique challenges college students face: newfound independence, forming identities, competing worldviews, and different pressures depending on their school environment. Using the example of Apollos from Acts 18, he illustrated how the early church didn't treat young believers as "almost Christians" but instead welcomed them, taught them "more adequately," and empowered them for ministry. Jeremy challenged the congregation to overcome the subconscious barrier of seeing college ministry as less valuable because students' time is temporary, reminding them that everyone shares responsibility for creating a welcoming church where people can find home. https://bwaychurch.org
/episode/index/show/bwaycofc/id/37864875
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The Heart of a King: A Broken Heart
08/04/2025
The Heart of a King: A Broken Heart
Karl Ihfe explores the devastating relational brokenness in David's family from 2 Samuel 13, where David's failure to act at critical moments led to catastrophic consequences. Despite David's love for his children, he failed at three crucial crossroads: he wouldn't confront Amnon after raping Tamar, he refused to truly listen to Absalom after years of estrangement, and he didn't speak the necessary words until after Absalom's death when all he could say was "my son, my son." Ihfe challenges us to recognize similar crossroads in our own relationships, emphasizing that love requires more than feelings—it demands courageous action. Whether confronting difficult situations, truly listening to others, or speaking words that need to be said (like "I'm sorry" or "I forgive you"), we must act before regret sets in. The sermon concludes by pointing to Jesus as "the living Word" (John 1:14) who doesn't just feel love but actively intervenes in our lives. https://bwaychurch.org
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The Heart of a King: A Contrite Heart
07/28/2025
The Heart of a King: A Contrite Heart
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe addresses sin as the most destructive force humanity has ever faced, using David's moral failure with Bathsheba as a powerful case study. Ihfe identifies four crucial crossroads in David's journey: the spiritual drift that led him to remain in Jerusalem "at the time when Kings go off to war" (2 Samuel 11:1), his decision to ignore spiritual warning lights when informed Bathsheba was married, his refusal to repent when consequences began appearing, and finally facing God's judgment through Nathan the prophet. The sermon emphasizes how sin spreads like a disease when left unchecked, leading David from adultery to murder and deception. Yet when confronted with the powerful words "You are the man," David's heart softened and he confessed, "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:13). Ihfe concludes by reminding the congregation that while sin has consequences, God's grace offers hope for transformation—embodying the church's motto that "everybody is welcome, nobody is perfect, but anything is possible" through Christ.
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The Heart of a King: A Generous Heart
07/21/2025
The Heart of a King: A Generous Heart
In this sermon, Nolan Maples examines David's generous heart as revealed in 1 Chronicles 28-29. Though David's dream of building God's temple was denied because he was "a man of war," he still gave his entire personal treasury—an estimated 225,000 pounds of gold and 525,000 pounds of silver—to ensure his son Solomon could complete the project. Nolan emphasizes that generosity isn't about what we give but where we give from, citing David's words in 2 Samuel 24:24: "I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing." Nolan shares three studies demonstrating how generosity increases joy and happiness, from toddlers sharing candy to college students helping others. This reflects the Biblical truth that generosity leads to wholehearted joy, as seen when "the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly" (1 Chronicles 29:9). Ultimately, David's generosity points to Christ's greater sacrifice—not giving wealth but His body and blood. The sermon concludes with the powerful reminder from David's prayer that "all is yours," teaching us that recognizing God's ownership makes generosity natural.
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From Disgust to Loving Presence
07/13/2025
From Disgust to Loving Presence
Josh Jaynes explores the tension between our understanding of God's holiness and Jesus' willingness to be with sinners. He challenges the common teaching that "God cannot be around sin," noting how Jesus (who is God) was consistently comfortable around sinners - so much so that religious leaders criticized Him for it. Josh introduces the concept of the "psychology of disgust" and "negativity bias" that causes us to create distance from people we view as impure or contaminating. Through the parable of the Good Samaritan, Josh highlights how Jesus deliberately chose a Samaritan - someone Jews found utterly disgusting - as the hero who crossed boundaries to show mercy. He quotes Dietrich Bonhoeffer, suggesting we must "regard people less in light of what they do or omit to do, and more in light of what they suffer." Josh concludes that God always bridges the gap to be with us, and likewise calls us to stop dehumanizing others and instead cross divides to be present with those from whom we might naturally distance ourselves. https://bwaychurch.org
/episode/index/show/bwaycofc/id/37391230
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The Heart of a King: Hope for a Discouraged Heart
07/06/2025
The Heart of a King: Hope for a Discouraged Heart
Karl Ihfe continues the "Heart of a King" series by examining David's heart of hope during his most discouraging season. Using 1 Samuel 21-30, Ihfe traces how David lost everything—his job, security, family, mentor, and friends—and found himself hiding in caves as a fugitive. When David's men threatened to stone him after the raid on Ziklag, Scripture tells us "David strengthened himself in the Lord" (1 Samuel 30:6). Ihfe outlines four spiritual practices David employed to maintain hope: being honest with God through lament (Psalm 142), taking positive action when God directs it, resisting temptation to take moral shortcuts (as when David refused to kill Saul in the cave), and finding ultimate refuge in God alone. Ihfe concludes by connecting David's cave experience to Jesus' own suffering and resurrection, reminding us that "caves are where God resurrects dead stuff," giving us hope in our darkest moments.
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The Heart of a King: A Passionate Heart
06/29/2025
The Heart of a King: A Passionate Heart
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The Heart of a King: A Heart for Friendship
06/16/2025
The Heart of a King: A Heart for Friendship
Karl Ihfe delves into the topic of spiritual friendship, using the Biblical relationship between David and Jonathan as a prime example. He highlights how their covenant friendship became an anchor for David's soul, even amidst difficult circumstances with King Saul. The sermon explores three key questions: What is a spiritual friend? How do we find one? And is it worth the effort? Ihfe defines a spiritual friend as someone who helps us pay attention to God and challenges us to live up to our calling. He suggests that finding such friends requires prayer, putting ourselves in positions to meet like-minded people, and carefully testing potential friendships. While acknowledging that deep spiritual friendships are rare and can lead to heartbreak, Ihfe argues they are ultimately worth pursuing for their life-changing potential. He concludes by drawing a parallel between Jonathan's willingness to give up his claim to the throne for David and Jesus' sacrifice to become a friend to sinners. He encourages the congregation to take steps toward cultivating these transformative friendships, emphasizing their power to help us become the people God created us to be.
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The Heart of a King: A Repentant Heart
06/09/2025
The Heart of a King: A Repentant Heart
In this sermon, Nolan Maples explores the concept of spiritual decay by comparing the lives of Saul and David. He identifies three stages of decay in Saul's life: tolerating a loss of intimacy with God, accepting poisoned relationships, and betraying core values. Maples uses Scripture, particularly from 1 Samuel, to illustrate these points, showing how Saul's spiritual decline led to his tragic end. Conversely, Maples presents David as a model of spiritual formation, emphasizing his repentant heart and desire for a clean heart from God. He references Psalm 51:10, where David prays, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Maples encourages listeners to examine their own lives for signs of spiritual decay and to seek God's cleansing and renewal, emphasizing the importance of community and honest self-reflection in this process.
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The Heart of a King: A Bold Heart
05/26/2025
The Heart of a King: A Bold Heart
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe delves into the famous story of David and Goliath, examining David's bold heart as a key characteristic that made him a man after God's own heart. Ihfe contrasts David's boldness with the Israelite army's "learned helplessness," highlighting how losing heart leads to false beliefs, misguided attitudes, and self-defeating behaviors. Ihfe identifies three situations where David demonstrated boldness: everyday challenges (like facing lions and bears), opposition and criticism (from his brother Eliab), and pressure to conform (rejecting Saul's armor). He applies these lessons to modern Christian life, encouraging believers to face their own "Goliaths" – whether at work, in relationships, or in sharing their faith – with God's help. The pastor emphasizes that boldness grows through small acts of courage and trust in God's presence, even when facing challenges alone.
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The Heart of a King: What Matters Most
05/19/2025
The Heart of a King: What Matters Most
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe begins a new series called "The Heart of a King," focusing on David's life and what made him "a man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22). He emphasizes that while David was gifted in many ways, it was his heart that drew God to him. Karl highlights three key characteristics of David's heart: 1. Wild abandon to God: David worshipped with unbridled passion, as seen in his dancing before the Ark (2 Samuel 6). 2. Deep reflection: David spent time alone with God, pondering and considering, as evidenced in many Psalms (e.g., Psalm 139:23-24). 3. Stubborn love: David loved persistently, even towards those who wronged him, like Saul and Absalom. Karl encourages the congregation to cultivate these heart qualities, reminding them that God looks at the heart, not outward appearances (1 Samuel 16:7).
/episode/index/show/bwaycofc/id/36617920
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Holy Interruptions
05/12/2025
Holy Interruptions
In this sermon titled "Holy Interruptions," Dr. Jeremy Smith explores the idea that God often works through unexpected interruptions in our lives. He begins by sharing a personal anecdote about his dogs interrupting his work, which leads to meaningful moments of reflection. Dr. Smith then delves into how Jesus' ministry was largely shaped by interruptions, citing numerous examples from the Gospels where Jesus responded to unexpected needs and requests. The speaker emphasizes that while we often resist interruptions, they can be opportunities for God to work in and through us. He references Mark 5, where Jesus stops to heal a bleeding woman while on His way to save a dying girl, as a powerful example of how God's priorities may differ from our own. Dr. Smith also discusses how the Apostle Paul's plans were redirected by the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6-10), reminding us that even our well-intentioned plans may not align with God's will.
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