Sermons by Colby Lawrence
Go Make Disciples – Our Mentoring
When Jesus began making disciples, He was intentional about the people He chose to invest in. Mark 3:13–15 says Jesus called the twelve “so that they might be with him.” Jesus ministered to crowds, but He also intentionally invested in a smaller group, inviting them into His life so they could learn not only from what He taught but from how He lived. His example shows us what Christian mentoring can look like today. Each of us has people watching…
Put On…Humility
Colossians 3:12-14; 1 Samuel 25 — In Colossians 3:12–14, Paul calls believers to “put on” humility as a defining mark of those who belong to Christ and are equipped for His mission. Grounded in their identity as God’s chosen, holy, and beloved people, Christians are to intentionally clothe themselves with humility in everyday life, especially in moments of tension and offense. The story of David and Nabal reveals how quickly even a faithful servant of God can be driven by…
PUT ON THE NEW SELF – Remaining Rooted in Christ
Colossians 2:6-15 – In Colossians 1:24–2:23, Paul reminds the Christians at Colossae that the mission of the gospel centers on Jesus and flows from what God has accomplished through Him. As Paul describes his own ministry, he shows that proclaiming Christ often brings hardship, yet that work reveals the mystery of God’s plan now made known among the nations: ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory.’ Christians must remain rooted in Him, drawing their life and stability from the one…
The Good News about Jesus is Radically Inclusive
In Acts 13–20, Luke shows us that the Good News of Jesus is not confined to one people, place, or culture. As Paul and his companions carry the gospel from synagogues into Gentile cities, homes, and public squares, the message of Jesus’ reign brings both joy and opposition. Outsiders rejoice, insiders resist, and the church is forced to wrestle with what it truly means to belong. From rejection and persecution to unity and transformation, Luke reveals a gospel that crosses…
Good News Changes Everything
Luke24:13-27 — This Sunday, we continue our journey through Luke and Acts, exploring the story of God’s Good News about Jesus. From the very beginning, Luke has shown us that this Good News is not always what we expect. It starts with Jesus’ birth and the announcement of His kingdom, moves through His ministry to the overlooked and marginalized, and challenges the world’s assumptions about who belongs in God’s reign. As we followed Jesus toward Jerusalem, we saw His teaching,…
Good News is for Everyone: Calling the Ordinary to Experience the Extraordinary
Luke 5:1-11 — The Good News isn’t just for people who have it all together; it meets us where we are, in our fears, our failures, and our everyday lives. Jesus shows us that His kingdom welcomes outsiders, restores the hurting, and calls us to follow Him fully. Hearing the Good News means more than admiring Jesus from the sidelines; it’s about leaving the nets we cling to, stepping into obedience, and letting our lives reflect God’s mercy and love.…
I am Thankful for Creation
Colossians 1:15-20 — When we say we are thankful for creation, we’re saying more than “I love sunsets and mountains.” We’re declaring faith in a God who made all things good, who entered His own creation through Christ to redeem it, and who even now sustains it by His power. Creation is not random or disposable; it’s sacred and filled with God’s presence. Thankfulness opens our eyes to see the world through new eyes: to live humbly, to care deeply,…
We Love One Another
John 13:31-35 — Love is the defining mark of God’s people; not just spoken or felt, but lived. From the cross to the towel to the quiet presence beside the brokenhearted, Jesus showed us that real love always takes shape in action. It sacrifices, it serves, it shows up. Scripture calls us to reflect that same love: the love that gives before it’s asked, that stoops low to lift others, that enters the mess instead of avoiding it. This is…
The Ministry of the Middle
1 Timothy 2:1-6 — Last week, we explored what it means to ‘love your neighbor as yourself,’ learning that this kind of love is neither passive nor easy. Today, we’re going to take that a step further and see what this love looks like in action. True love steps into the spaces where people are hurting, broken, or overlooked. It stands in the gap, carries burdens that aren’t our own, and allows God’s heart to flow through us to others.…
Too Good to Keep Quiet
2 Kings 6:24-30 — We continue our focus on connecting to the community as God’s people. Scripture shows us that living as a priestly family means more than just belonging to one another; it means stepping into the world as representatives of God’s presence, grace, and truth. Today, we will turn to a story from 2 Kings that begins in the middle of deep despair and hopelessness. In this moment of crisis, God works in an unexpected way, using unlikely…
Priests in Exile: Representing God in a Foreign Land
1 Peter 2:9-12 – As we enter the final movement of our 2025 theme, we are turning our attention to connecting to the community. This journey began by rooting ourselves in Jesus, then growing together in fellowship, and now leads us outward into the world around us. But this is more than outreach or programs; it’s about living as a nation of priests, embodying God’s mission of reconciliation and restoration in our everyday lives. From Abraham to Israel, from Jesus…
God’s Plan for Unity
Ephesians 1:3-10 — From the very beginning, God’s plan has always been about unity: between humanity and Himself, among people, and even with creation. In Eden, everything was whole and connected. But once sin entered the story, that unity was broken. Last month, we studied how deeply Jesus longed for His followers to be one, just as He and the Father are one. But that kind of unity doesn’t happen by accident. It begins with abiding in Jesus, staying connected…
Abiding in Jesus Looks Like Selflessness
Philippians 2:3-8 — Last week, we talked about one of the most recognizable fruits of abiding in Jesus: love. This week, we turn our focus to another essential fruit: selflessness. In a world that often praises self-promotion, independence, and personal gain, Jesus calls us to something radically different. Through His words, His actions, and ultimately His sacrifice, Jesus demonstrates that a life rooted in Him is a life marked by humility and service. To abide in Jesus means to become…
A Tale of Two Brothers
Genesis 4:8-16 — Have you ever experienced conflict in one of your relationships, maybe tension with a close friend, a falling out with a loved one, or even a rivalry with a sibling? If so, you’re not alone. Conflict, especially within families, runs deep in the human experience. In fact, the Bible is filled with stories of broken relationships, and one of the most recurring themes is Brotherly Conflict. From the earliest pages of Scripture, we see brothers in conflict;…
Triumphant Tragedy
Scripture Reading: Luke 22:32-38–This morning, we continue our study through the Gospel of Luke, focusing on Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion. Last week, we examined His final meal with His disciples, and now we witness the devastating turn of events—His followers believed it was the end. Jesus, whom they expected to overthrow Rome and establish His kingdom, was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. Yet, what appeared to be a tragic defeat was actually the fulfillment of His mission. Luke…
A Feast for the Forgotten
Luke 14:7-11 — Have you ever been to a party that just wasn’t fun? Maybe you walked in expecting excitement, laughter, and meaningful conversations, but instead, you found a room full of people awkwardly standing or sitting around, unsure of what to do. The silence is heavy, the small talk is forced, and the atmosphere feels uncomfortable. We’ve all been in situations like that. Interestingly, in Luke 14, we find Jesus at a dinner party with a similarly awkward vibe.…
From Excluded to Embraced
Scripture Reading: Luke 5:27-32 What comes to mind when you hear the word “outcast”? Perhaps you think of someone specific or recall a time in your life when you felt like an outcast yourself. In the first century, many individuals were labeled as outcasts—those who were paralyzed, demon-possessed, or otherwise marginalized. These were the people society avoided and deemed unworthy. Yet, to Jesus, they were exactly the kind of people He sought out, welcomed into His Kingdom, and revealed His…