This sermon is from the series titled “Body Parts”.

Theme – When we hear the word “member” we often think of people who belong to organizations with meetings to attend, dues to pay, and benefits to receive. But is that what a church member is? When the New Testament talks about “members,” is it talking about belonging to an organization or is it talking about something else?

The text for the sermon was taken from 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.

The sermon this morning was again provided by Scott Schimmel and Charlie Ruce.  This is a continuation of the topic presented last week.

Scott Schimmel is the Faith@Work ministry specialist for InterVarsity in San Diego. Previously he served as an Area Director for InterVarsity, leading entrepreneurial ministry teams on diverse college campuses. He also serves as a Gen Y leadership consultant and coach for churches, non-profits and businesses.

Charlie Ruce is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern at The Soul Care House in San Diego.

The sermon this morning was provided by Scott Schimmel and Charlie Ruce.

Scott Schimmel is the Faith@Work ministry specialist for InterVarsity in San Diego. Previously he served as an Area Director for InterVarsity, leading entrepreneurial ministry teams on diverse college campuses.  He also serves as a Gen Y leadership consultant and coach for churches, non-profits and businesses.

Charlie Ruce is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern at The Soul Care House in San Diego

The message this morning was provided by Tyler Allred.  Tyler is with the Intervarsity Cristian Fellowship here in the San Diego area.

Theme – Christians claim Jesus as “master” and “Lord,” but what is he the master of? Can we really trust Him to take charge of every aspect of our life? Would He be a competent master of relationships, jobs, life, family, emotions etc.  or should Jesus be our “Sunday-school-master” only?

This sermon is from New Years Day and was titled “What Matters Most”.

Theme – Many things in life are important.  So, the question is not, “What’s important?”  The question is, “What’s most or important?”  What matters most?  As we move into 2012, let’s strive to do everything in love, because it is love that matters most.

The text for the sermon was taken from 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.

“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.”  ~Bill Vaughan (columnist and author)

So here’s the question:  Are you entering the new year as an optimist or as a pessimist?

Let me be pessimistic for a moment.  2012 is the year that I will turn FORTY!  Ugh…

Now let me be optimistic.  2012 is the year that I’ll celebrate FIVE years here at Northminster!  Woohoo!

2012 is also the year that Robin and I will welcome (God-willing) our third child into the world.  2012 is the year that Macy, my four-year-old, starts Kindergarten.  2012 is the year that I’ll get to take Micah (who will be seven by then) to his first opening night movie—of The Hobbit, no less!

But for a lot of us, 2012 will not be an easy year.  2012 will bring a lot of hardship, a lot of suffering, a lot of fear, a lot of anxiety.  In fact, even for those who are expecting it to be a great year, 2012 may turn out to be really hard.

I don’t say this to be pessimistic, but to remind us that, whatever circumstances we face, we can always have hope.  We can have hope because we have a God who stands with us even in the midst of our difficulty.  We can have hope because we have a God who cares about us—so much that he sent his Son into the world.  We can have hope because we know that Jesus defeated death when he rose from the tomb.  Because of Jesus, death is not the end of the story for us!

As we move into 2012—whether it turns out to be a great year or a hard year—we can move into the future, not as pessimists but as optimists.  With that in mind, I want to leave you with one of my favorite passages of hope:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look!  God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  (Revelation 21:3-4)

–Pastor Markus Watson

This sermon is from the series titled “Hidden Characters of Advent” was provided by Nate Landis.

Nate is founder and director of the Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC), a network of church and parachurch partnerships that holistically shares the good news of Jesus Christ with students each week at 28 lunch clubs at middle schools and high schools in San Diego.

If you’d like to contribute to Urban Youth Collaborative, you can make a check out to Northminster and indicate “UYC” in the memo line. Or you can donate directly to what Nate is doing on the Urban Youth Collaborative website.

Theme – Jesus came as God in flesh and King of the universe.  Many people worshipped Him and were drawn to him.  Many others failed to recognize him and missed the promised Messiah.  Jesus was willing to be rejected by many in order to be loved by many others.  The choice is ours.  This Christmas, we get to witness the incredible love of God revealed in Jesus, “The One,” hidden among us.

The text for the sermon was taken from John 1:1-14.

This sermon is from the series titled “Hidden Characters of Advent”.

Theme – There are two kings in the Christmas story.  There’s King Herod, whose title is “King of the Jews.”  This king is a hard king to live under.  The other is the one “born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2).  King Jesus is very different from King Herod.  The question for us is, which king will we worship?  Under which king’s reign will we live?

The text for the sermon was taken from Matthew 2:1-18.

This sermon is from the series titled “Hidden Characters of Advent”.

Theme – Most of us are familiar with Joseph in the Christmas story. But too often he’s just the guy standing next to the manager looking on. It’s easy to forget what this whole experience must have been like for him. As we explore Joseph’s story, we find that he was a man of great courage and integrity.

The text for the sermon was taken from Genesis 2:1-18.

This sermon is from the series titled “Hidden Characters of Advent”.

Theme – Luke doesn’t start his account of Jesus’ life with Jesus.  He doesn’t even start it with Mary or Joseph.  Luke starts the story of Jesus with a man named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth–a woman who was unable to conceive children.  Why would Luke start Jesus’ story with this?  Because it reminds us that God is a God who brings life out of the empty places within us.

The text for the sermon was taken from Luke 1:23-25; 39-45; 57-66.