Sermon Series

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The first phrase in the Apostle’s Creed is “I Believe in God, the Father Almighty”. What does this tell us about God, and what implications does it have for us?

“I Believe in God” by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Matthew 11:25-27 (NLT) ; 馬 太 福 音 11:25-27 (CUVS)
Psalm 14:1-7 (NLT) ; 詩 篇 14:1-7 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also read Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Gleive Marcio Rodrigues de Souza on Unsplash

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The Apostles’ Creed lays out the essentials of Christian faith. But what foundation does it build on?

“Hear, O Israel!” by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Mark 12:28-31 (NLT) ; 馬 可 福 音 12:28-31 (CUVS)
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NLT) ; 申 命 記 6:4-9 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also read Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash

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crepuscular rays from the sun rising into a cloudy morning sky. Trees and a fence silhouetted in front.

In winter 2026, Pastor Ryan explored the claims of the Apostles’ Creed as the basic statements of faith that all Christians should be able to agree on. Here is the creed:

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Amen.

February 15 – Hear, O Israel! (The Shema)
February 22 – I Believe in God
March 1 –
March 8 –
March 15 –
March 22 –
March 29 –

Photo by Lillian Fisher on Unsplash

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In spring of 2025, Pastor Ryan introduced us to some of the Penitential Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143).

June 8 – Anguish (Psalm 6)
June 15 – A Newly Created Heart (Psalm 51)
June 22 – Lectio Devina of Psalm 130 (詩 篇 130) – no recording
June 29 – A Response from Lament (Psalm 102)
July 6 – Joy in Confession (Psalm 32)

The two Penitential Psalms not included in this series are Psalm 38 / 詩 篇 38 (of David, asking God to remember him) and Psalm 143 / 詩 篇 143 (also David, asking for help).

Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash

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We think of confession as something frightening, to be avoided if possible. But in David’s psalm 32, it’s more uncomfortable to keep our sins hidden. Confessing our sins to God brings a new and joyful relationship with Him. In fact, he recommends that “all the godly” confess their sins. And then he recommends that we do something else.

“Joy in Confession” by Pastor Ryan Emmons

1 John 1:8-10 (NLT) ; 馬 太 福 音 5:13-16 (CUVS)
Psalm 32:1-11 (NLT) ; 詩 篇 32:1-11 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also read Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Fuu J on Unsplash

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In Psalm 102, the psalmist starts out with strong lament over the sorry state of his life, but moves to thinking about God’s everlasting nature and compassion, and confidence that God’s goodness will endure and lead to praises by people of all nations. This realization enables him to move forward out of guilt and self-pity. What is the connection, and what does he move toward?

Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT) ; 馬 太 福 音 5:13-16 (CUVS)
Psalm 102 (NLT) ; 詩 篇 102 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also read Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

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In Psalm 51, David cries out in sorrow and repentance to God after the prophet Nathan confronts him about taking Bathsheba for his wife and killing her husband. What is the essence of his confession? That is, what exactly is he asking God for?

“A Newly Created Heart”, by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Luke 15:20-24 (NLT) ; 路 加 福 音 15:20-24(CUVS)
Psalm 51:1-19 (NLT) ; 詩 篇 51:1-19 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also read Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash

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We all face temptation, although not necessarily the same kinds as other people we know. But what underlies our tendency to fall for it? And how can we get better at resisting? This is Pastor Ryan’s fourth and final sermon based on parts of the book named below.

Genesis 3:1-7 (NLT) ; 創 世 記 3:1-7 (CUVS)
Matthew 4:1-11 (NLT) ; 馬 太 福 音 4:1-11 (CUVS)

This sermon is fourth in the series “Following Jesus“, based on the book by N.T. Wright.

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Sander Sammy on Unsplash