Christ Church MN Sermon Blog

  UNGLUED: Prayer That Strengthens, Sends, and Sets Us Free Scripture: Acts 4:23-31 At an annual physical, a doctor might ask two simple questions: What are you consuming, and what are you strengthening? Those same questions can help us examine our spiritual lives. When hope begins to fade, prayer is not another obligation meant to make us feel guilty. Prayer is where God strengthens us, fills us, and reminds us who we are. In Acts 4, Peter and John were arrested for healing a man and speaking about Jesus. When they were released, they returned to the believers and reported the threats they had received. The church’s response? They prayed. Not for an easier life. Not for their enemies to disappear. They prayed, “Enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness” (Acts 4:29). The opposition fueled their passion. Notice how their prayer began: “Sovereign Lord.” Even after facing threats and persecution, these believers recognized that God remained in control. Their circ...

  UNGLUED: From Unraveled to Unstuck Scripture: Isaiah 6:1–9 Sometimes coming unglued is exactly what we need. In Isaiah 6, the prophet sees the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne. The temple fills with smoke. The foundations shake. Angels declare, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth.” Isaiah’s response is immediate: “Woe is me for I am ruined.” Standing before the holiness of God, Isaiah recognizes something we all must eventually confront: We cannot save ourselves. We cannot explain away our sin, hide behind good intentions, or make ourselves worthy through effort. Isaiah is unraveled. But that is not the end of his story. Unraveled by His Holiness Encountering God’s holiness brings us face-to-face with our need for Him. Isaiah confesses that he is a man of unclean lips living among a people of unclean lips. His brokenness is personal, but he also recognizes the brokenness surrounding him. This moment of humility matter...