In the sermon "When Hype Gets in the Way: Jesus and the Challenge of Fame", David Pearson discusses Jesus' attitude towards fame and recognition. He emphasizes that Jesus was not afraid to reveal his identity and mission, but he did not want to be defined by the acclaim of demons or the crowds. Jesus silenced both demons and the crowd, and even his disciples, as he felt that wrong information was worse than no information. The sermon also highlights how crowds and hype can distort and derail ministry, and stresses the importance of understanding who Jesus truly was. Pearson concludes by saying that Jesus' dedication to his purpose, which was to bring hope to the hopeless, should be the motivation for the congregation at Mona. Their task is to help others become disciples and disciple others.
Brendan Bain presents a message with a focus on life as a journey. He encourages us to seek God to understand our purpose together. Brendan asks the audience to reflect on what helps or hinders them from being successful followers of Jesus and to seek God's purpose for them individually and as a group. They should remember to obey and move forward in their faith journey.
Referencing the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke, Courtney Stewart prompts personal reflection and highlights the importance of avoiding anger and unwholesome behaviour when faced with situations where one's kindness and generosity are trampled upon. The parable in the passage features a father and his two sons, with the younger son asking for his share of the estate, and the father's response being the opposite of anger. He challenges believers to adopt this response in their own lives.
In this sermon, Courtney Stewart reflects on the parable of the lost coin from Luke 15:8-10, emphasizing the importance of finding the lost and recognizing the priority it should be given. He explains that the joy of the woman in the parable was not in the nine coins she already had, but in finding the one she lost. Stewart encourages people to recognize that finding the lost should be a priority, and that evangelism should not be seen as a mere activity of the church. He concludes by noting that celebrating the finding of the lost is better understood when we understand what it means.
Courtney Stewart presents the story of the Lost Sheep as a trilogy of parables which also includes the parable of the Lost Coin and the Lost Son. Jesus presents to two distinct groups, (1) the Pharisees, his enemies and (2) the common people. Unlike the pharisees, the common people heard Jesus gladly. The two groups were antagonistic to each other but listened to Jesus’ presentation. He presents the passage in 3 parts, (1) The Complaint: The Pharisees complained that “this man welcomes sinners and eats with them”. (2) The Confrontation: He continues to unpack Jesus’ telling of the story of the Lost Sheep. He concludes with an encouragement that believers should be engaged in the mission of “seeking for Lost Sheep”. (3) The Challenge: He places the responsibility for the sheep on the shepherd, not the sheep. The shepherd is expected to search for and embrace the sheep. God is saying "Find the sheep that is lost".
Pastor Pearson looks at 3 things in Psalm 107 which speak of God’s call to his people to come back. The persistent call, the pessimistic outcome and the promise of restoration when we heed. He looks at how the psalm characterises the God of love, how the psalm characterises those who do not respond to his call and the result. He concludes this celebration of goodness to His people by looking at how God responds with restoration.
David Pearson discusses the importance of recognizing God's goodness even in difficult times, using Psalm 107 as an example. The speaker emphasizes the repeated command throughout the psalm to give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and wonderful deeds, and encourages listeners to reflect on God's blessings in their lives and keep a record of them. The sermon offers a message of hope and assurance that God will guide His people through even the most challenging circumstances
Charlie Royes discusses the supernatural nature of Jesus' birth and the disturbance it caused, as well as the disturbance caused by his present-day and future comings. The speaker emphasizes the need for people to come to Jesus and to carry the light of the Gospel into the darkness of the world.
Berley Adair Jr discusses the experiences of Mary and Joseph in the birth of Jesus. The speaker emphasizes the importance of faith and trusting in God's plan, as demonstrated by Mary and Joseph's reactions to the angel's messages. The sermon also touches on the significance of the shepherds in the Christmas story and the message of salvation brought by the birth of Jesus.
David Pearson promotes the message of Jesus and the potential for peace through his own selfless actions and sacrifice. He encourages us to follow in his footsteps and make his message of peace a reality in our own lives and with those around us.