The Hand of the Lord Who Was Pierced

Friday April 18, 2025 Text: Isaiah 52:13-53 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Good Friday Passages: Isaiah 52:13-53

What have you done with your hands today? Have you used them to serve others or to serve yourself? Have you raised them in the praise of the Lord or lowered them into sin? Throughout our Lenten series we have discussed the hand of the Lord who did many things. His hands give, create, heal,

The Hand of the Lord Who Serves

Wednesday April 16, 2025 Text: John 13:1-17,31-35 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Maundy Thursday Passages: John 13:1-17,31-35

If you trip or about to be hit by a bus, what do you do with your hands? The natural reaction is to throw them up to protect your face, or to stop what is coming. Jesus knows what is about to happen, but he doesn’t throw up his hands to protect himself. He doesn’t

The Power of the King Comes

Sunday April 13, 2025 Text: John 12:12-19 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Palm Sunday Passages: John 12:12-19

A few weeks ago I saw a YouTube video where some professionals reset the epigenome in the eye of an old blind mouse. The result was that the eye grew young again and was able to see again. Think how the world would rejoice if they were able to do this not just for an

THE HAND OF THE LORD WHO HOLDS ALL THINGS

Wednesday April 9, 2025 Text: John 3:11-18,22-36 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Lent Passages: John 3:11-18,22-36

Reports suggest that in NYC only 1 out of every 10 pedestrian crosswalk buttons actually work. The city has little incentive to fix them either. They do a good job of giving people the illusion of control even if they don’t work. What about that close door button in an elevator? Does that actually do

Seize Him Who Seizes You

Sunday April 6, 2025 Text: Philippians 3:8-14 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Lent Passages: Philippians 3:8-14

How do you swing on the monkey bars? As an adult I don’t. Even if I wanted to, my feet touch the ground, so it doesn’t work. As a kid I remember starting on one side and swinging from one bar to the next. I remember the hesitation of letting go with one hand. But

The Hand of the Lord Who Raises the Dead

Wednesday April 2, 2025 Text: Luke 7:11-17 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Lent Passages: Luke 7:11-17

Last week we heard how Jesus touched a leper and not only healed him but also cleansed him. Normally if one touches an unclean leper, that person would become unclean himself. Not so with Jesus. He touches the leper and the leper becomes clean. Today that same hand meets death itself. In such encounters it

God Forgives Even the Righteous

Sunday March 30, 2025 Text: Luke 15:11-32 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Lent Passages: Luke 15:11-32

Our text this morning is a parable which is often given the label the prodigal son. This title puts the emphasis on the relationship between the father and the younger son. However, we should not underestimate the importance of the elder son, and his relationship with the father. The greatness of the Father’s love and

The Hand of the Lord Who Heals the Sick

Wednesday March 26, 2025 Text: Matthew 8:1-4 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Lent Passages: Matthew 8:1-4

When I was in college, I worked for a few years delivering and picking up furniture for a rental company. One day we had to go pick up furniture from the filthiest house I have ever seen. There were swarms of flies inside the house. When you walked through the front door there were piles

Repent: Let Go And Cling To Jesus

Sunday March 23, 2025 Text: Luke 13:1-9 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Lent Passages: Luke 13:1-9

In 2005 Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana ultimately killing over 1800 people and causing over $125 billion dollars in damage. Some people responded with the attitude: God is punishing New Orleans for their wickedness. Earlier this year wildfires swept across California killing some and doing over $100 billion worth of damage. Once again, some

THE HAND OF THE LORD WHO CASTS OUT DEMONS

Sunday March 16, 2025 Text: Luke 9:37-43; Luke 11:14-23 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Lent Passages: Luke 9:37-43; Luke 11:14-23

In his hymn A Mighty Fortress is Our God, Martin Luther reminds us that 3. Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us. We often underestimate the power and strength of Satan. We don’t really take him seriously. In our text this morning Jesus compares Satan to a strong man guarding

Speaker Pastor Matthew Ude