First Pres Colorado Springs Sermons First Presbyterian Church Colorado Springs

How amazing is God’s grace? There are none who are so far from Christ that they cannot hear His voice, turn and live. Do you share Jesus with expectation that the person in front of you may soon be your eternal brother or sister in Christ? Can you see the unseen future of the lost being found and finding a new identity in Christ? There are amazing stories of conversion and revival. But every testimony is amazing! Are we truly ready to accept new believers into our community, or do we think, “They are not like us”? Speaker: Jennifer Holz

In one way or another, you will spend your life. The question is what will you spend it on. Jonah realized they were all doomed if he did not change course. He realized that death was coming over all of them, including himself. There was no more choosing. There was only one thing to do—give his life for theirs’. At that moment, he was willing to die to save the lives of the shipmates. Jesus said there is no greater love (John 15:13). Jonah may have done it more out of desperation than love, but he lays his life down. When will you lay your life down for the call of Jesus? The one who tries to save his or her life loses it, but the one who gives his or her life away finds it saved by Jesus (Mark 8:35). Speaker: Tim McConnell

What is your first reaction to God’s purposes in your life? Do you embrace them? Even the hard things? God had an errand for Jonah—go and preach grace to the citizens of Nineveh; go and preach love to your enemies. Jonah probably had a list of reasons in his own mind why he got on a boat to flee in the opposite direction. We are given an errand today. Go and preach forgiveness to the ends of the earth (Luke 24:47); make disciples of all people (Matthew 28:19). How do we respond? Speaker: Tim McConnell

What does it mean to have eternal life? It means you are in the love of God. Love goes on forever. As Paul said, hope lasts only as long as you are waiting for what you are hoping for. Faith lasts only until you know by sight the thing you once believed without seeing. But love. Love goes on forever and only grows greater. To put your faith in Christ is to be in Christ, in His love, which goes on and on and on. People ask, “Am I safe?” We want to be safe, and to create safety for others. The one truly safe place to be is in the love of God for eternal life in Jesus Christ. Speaker: Matt Holtzman

The cross is the culmination of Jesus’ mission of love. The only way that God could be both just and the justifier of sinners, both righteous and the forgiver of rebels, is to send His own Son to pay the due penalty for our error and rebellion. God would not do that unless He loved us. God so loved the world, so loved the fallen, rebellious, spiteful world, that He gave His Son, His only Son. That Son is Jesus who died for us on the cross. That Jesus was laid in a tomb outside of Jerusalem. That tomb was found empty and that Jesus was seen again, alive after He was dead. He is risen! Now we can know the truth of the second half of vs. 16 – “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” People ask, “What is my worth?” Your worth is proven in the death and resurrection of Jesus. God sees you worth the life of His own Son. Speaker: Tim McConnell

On Palm Sunday, Jesus came into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. Many crowded around singing “Hosanna!” Everyone wanted to see Jesus. Can you see Jesus? In this conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus says something has to happen before you can see. You must be born again from above, born again spiritually, fundamentally transformed and regenerated. Like a baby that opens its eyes for the first time, when you believe in Jesus the Spirit of God opens your eyes to see. People ask, “Am I enough? Do I have what it takes?” Nicodemus would never earn his way into heaven. We need need Jesus, we need God to open our eyes so we can see. Speaker: Tim McConnell