2026 February

194 (or More) to 1

194 (or More) to 1

Paul Simon told us—“There must be fifty ways to leave your lover.” Now, I realize there are numerous ways to interpret this song: Is the person speaking about a friend, his mother, a woman who wants him to leave his current lover so that he may embrace her (literally and figuratively), or is the speaker his current lover who is dismissing his pain by mocking his comment that he is thinking about leaving her? But the point the speaker is making is clear: it is easy to leave someone you no longer love (“You just slip out the back, Jack. Make a new plan, Stan. You don’t need to be coy, Roy; Just get yourself free.”). But if that is so, the opposite must also be true. It must be extremely hard to leave many lovers behind because you are forced to choose just one. For instance, I’m going to

Custom Made to Grow

Custom Made to Grow

This sermon is based on Hebrews 5:11-14. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Stephen Covey said lots of great and important things: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” “Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” “The way we see the problem is the problem.” But my all-time favorite is: “Start with the end in mind.” The truth is, we have a good end in mind for you. It is the main thing we are trying to do here at RE, and we want you to understand what it is because if you don’t . . . well, that’s a problem. So, what is this end? We are custom-making disciples. It’s what we are called to

Isaiah’s Beautiful Feet

Isaiah’s Beautiful Feet

It was a very formal Southern church in which there was no messing around. That also meant it was a very serious and uptight church where nothing unseemly was allowed—ever. And that is what makes this story so much fun. Stuart Briscoe was one of my heroes—a great pastor, a spectacular teacher, and a phenomenal communicator and, on top of all that, he had an outrageous sense of humor. On one formal occasion, he was speaking at the above serious church on a very uptight Sunday morning. More to the point, he was speaking about today’s verse (as it is quoted in Romans 15): “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” And to prove his point, he swung his leg up and plopped his foot on the very formal, serious pulpit so that the sole of his shoe was facing the very formal, proper congregation. A

Custom Made to Be Relevant

Custom Made to Be Relevant

This sermon is based on 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Stephen Covey said lots of great and important things: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” “Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” “The way we see the problem is the problem.” But my all-time favorite is: “Start with the end in mind.” The truth is, we have a good end in mind for you. It is the main thing we are trying to do here at RE, and we want you to understand what it is because if you don’t . . . well, that’s a problem. So, what is this end? We are custom-making disciples. It’s what we are called

Micah’s Masterpiece in Three Points

Micah’s Masterpiece in Three Points

There’s a famous story about President Calvin Coolidge. As he was coming out of church one Sunday, a reporter intercepted him and, hoping for a controversial soundbite, asked the president what the topic of the sermon had been. Coolidge, who was never one for being longwinded, replied, “Sin.” The reporter knew there was no story there, and so he asked a follow-up: “What did he say about it?” Coolidge replied, “He was agin’ it.” Now, I realize many people feel this story is apocryphal, but Coolidge was a master of brevity, and his summary of the sermon exudes an economy of expression which, in my book, is a vote for authenticity. After all, a good summary is hard to find. It’s not every day someone recaps Beauty and the Beast by saying “Stockholm syndrome works” or condenses Star Wars: Episode V by saying “talking frog convinces son to kill his

Custom Made to Pray

Custom Made to Pray

This sermon is based on Ephesians 3:16-19. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Stephen Covey said lots of great and important things: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” “Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” “The way we see the problem is the problem.” But my all-time favorite is: “Start with the end in mind.” The truth is, we have a good end in mind for you. It is the main thing we are trying to do here at RE, and we want you to understand what it is because if you don’t . . . well, that’s a problem. So, what is this end? We are custom-making disciples. It’s what we are called to

David’s Verse Is a Little Worse

David’s Verse Is a Little Worse

Henry Ford famously offered all his customers the opportunity to purchase a brand-new Model-T in any color they wanted “as long as that color was black.” Apparently, not every customer was pleased with their “multitude” of color options. I understand how they feel. I came into this project thinking that we could choose any seven verses in the Old Testament and that the goal was to choose ones that are theologically rich, emotionally satisfying, textually significant and spiritually meaningful. But here we are, choosing our fourth verse, and I am beginning to feel claustrophobic. Yes, I can choose any seven verses as long as there is one creation verse, one Abraham verse, one Moses verse, one David verse, one prophet verse and one Psalm verse. After that, pick any seven verses you want! Thank you, Mr. Ford. And, if you would be so kind, please hand over a good David

Custom-Made People for Outside Our Church

Custom-Made People for Outside Our Church

This sermon is based on Colossians 4:2-6. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Stephen Covey said lots of great and important things: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” “Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” “The way we see the problem is the problem.” But my all-time favorite is: “Start with the end in mind.” The truth is, we have a good end in mind for you. It is the main thing we are trying to do here at RE, and we want you to understand what it is because if you don’t . . . well, that’s a problem. So, what is this end? We are custom-making disciples. It’s what we are called to