The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Isaiah 51, in which the prophet tells the people seeking after righteousness that they should keep their eyes on God. This is in contrast to the world's advice ("you do you") and false religion's advice ("become a better you"). The Gospel is that Christ has raised the dead you to new life.
The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Genesis 45, in which Joseph forgives his brothers, and Matthew 15, in which Jesus talks about what makes a person unclean. The bad news is that the problem is our hearts. The Good News is that our true measure is not how good our hearts are, but how much we've been forgiven.
The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Genesis 37, in which Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers. Our two great mistakes are thinking that we're not desperate sinners, and that God is not that profound a savior. Both are untrue. God meets our great sin with, in Jesus Christ, even greater saving grace.
The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Isaiah 55, in which the prophet tells the people not to work for what they can get for free, and Matthew 14, in which Jesus miraculously feeds a hungry crowd. There are two potential paths to satisfaction: the world's and Jesus. Jesus satisfies, and only Jesus satisfies.
The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Genesis 29, in which Jacob loves Rachel more than Leah. Our God, though, does not choose like Jacob, choosing beauty over ugly. Our God chooses ugliness and sinners, showing the extent of his grace.
The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Matthew 13, in which Jesus teaches a parable about wheat and weeds. The Good News is that we don't have to be the saviors, creating a perfect world by pulling out all the weeds. The Good News is that we have a savior who is not us.
The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Matthew 13, in which Jesus tells (and interprets) the parable of the sower. If we look closely at this story, we will see that there is Good News for those of us worried about what kind of soil we've been sown on. There is Good News for sinners.
The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Genesis 22, in which God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Like Abraham in this awful moment, we need a miraculous intervention from God. There is Good News: like Abraham, we get just such an intervention.
The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Romans 6, in which Paul wonders if Christians should keep on sinning to get more and more access to God's grace. Of course not, he says. And then, he does something incredible: to combat sin, he preaches even more Good News.
The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Genesis 18, in which Sarah laughs at God's suggestion that she and Abraham will have a son. God, however, is faithful and a promise-keeper in the face of her faithlessness. This is Good News for us: God brings something out of nothing, life out of death, and a family from a barren womb.
