Roseville Covenant Sermons

Roseville Covenant Church
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Weekly sermons from Roseville Covenant Church in Roseville, MN

  1. 3d ago

    Life Preservers // Rev. Matt Kennedy // Aug 16 2026

    We often describe a brand new baby as, "the miracle of life." It's an appropriate phrase because scripture tells us in a variety of ways that life is not an accident nor is it a given, but life is a precious gift from God. In the same way, there are few things that shock our sense of goodness more than when a life is taken by violence. It is the ultimate act of disorientation and desecration. "Bloodshed pollutes the land" (Numbers 35:33), and just like toxic chemicals that seep into groundwater, the act of murder poisons the bonds of human community in ways that can seem impossible to undo. This week we continue our sermon series on the Ten Commandments by considering not just the prohibition of murder (Exodus 20:12), but the task of God's people to bear witness to life's sacredness in all the ways we resist violence and vengeance, seek peace and prosperity, and live responsibly and reverently. Most important of all, we'll do what we do every Sunday as the Christian community: rejoice that the blood of the ultimate victim of violence does not stain the earth with vengeance, but washes us clean with mercy (1 John 1:7).

  2. Aug 13

    Grace for the Ages // Rev. Matt Kennedy // Aug 09 2026

    There are words that have fallen from the lips of parents at least once in their life, "Because I said so!" Even the most patient moms and dads sometimes just want kids to follow instructions without stopping to explain why. It would be tempting to appeal to the fifth commandment as justification, "Honor thy father and mother." (Exodus 20:12). There are Bible verses that commend a child's obedience to a parent, but what if I told you the fifth commandment is more for adults than it is for children? Because the nature of aging and parenting in the modern world has become so revolutionized in the last few generations, the meaning of the fifth commandment can be hard to find without remembering the historical context of the Bible. In the ancient world there were no nursing homes, social security, or 401ks. Instead, generations both old and young lived in cooperative and dependent relationships within families and the aged were cared for with dignity. The fifth commandment is less about a child's blind obedience to mom and dad, but more the wisdom for all generations to build strong bonds of compassion, trust, and grace. In a world where generations have become increasingly at odds with each other, we need not only the Bible's laws to guide our parenting, but the grace of Christ to heal our estranged families. This week is a tender topic, but the good news is of God's tender-loving kindness. That is his honor, and it is how we honor one another.

  3. Aug 13

    Sabbath Posture for Sabbath People // Rev. Michele Arndt // Aug 2 2026

    Early in his ministry, Mark’s gospel records these words from Jesus:“The Sabbath was made for humankind (man), not humankind for the Sabbath.” (Mk 2:27). Sometimes it can feel like Jesus is speaking in riddles. What does Jesus mean?  In our journey through the 10 commandments, scholars and theologians suggest that the third command about Sabbath is a cornerstone to the other nine. It isn’t all that radical to tell someone not to steal or kill or commit adultery. Many other law codes in ancient near eastern traditions such as the Sumerian or Hammurabi have parallel teachings about these things. But none have a word to say about Sabbath. It stands alone.  At the heart of Sabbath is something that extends far beyond what we do or don’t do on Sundays. For the people of God, Sabbath is a countercultural identity God gives us to say to “all the other gods” (as we sang last Sunday) - that we are holy and do not exist to work and produce. Sabbath is a way of marking time that stamps us with the origins of Creation, reminding us that time does not belong to us. We neither control nor are controlled by time. Instead, we submit to Sabbath not merely as a single 24-hour practice, but as a posture. Sabbath was made for us.

  4. Jul 27

    Bearing the Name // Rev. Matt Kennedy // Jul 26 2026

    Do you ever get a word or phrase stuck in your head and it drives you a little batty? Or maybe there's a word or a name that "triggers" you because you associate it so closely to a bad memory. The Bible frequently warns us that words can be dangerous and that names are important. This is why the story of Exodus includes a story about God's name (Exodus 3:13-15) and a warning that this name carries serious weight (Exodus 20:7). This week we turn to the third commandment, traditionally translated, "Do not take the LORD's name in vain", but maybe more accurately, "Do not bear the LORD's name for evil." The third commandment is more than just a prohibition on swearing, but a reminder that God's people  have a responsibility to represent the Almighty well! There are times in the Biblical story God's people use his name like "magic words", a spell, or a talisman that gives cover to their evil conduct (Jeremiah 7:1-15). The commandments tell us that using words about God for selfish or vain reasons confuses and disparages a precious and awesome gift: God shares his name and reputation with people because he longs for a covenantal-partnership, an unbreakable relational bond.

  5. Jul 20

    First things First // Rev. Matt Kennedy // Jul 19 2026

    One of the major shifts that took place in the human mind during the age of enlightenment and the rise of democracy is the idea that religion was simply one "part" of your life among many. It has resulted in the idea that "worship" is simply what we do on Sunday mornings, and is related to the very specific spiritual activities like saying a prayer, singing a song, or attending a service. This was a departure from the pre-modern worldview that had no distinct categories of religious and secular: everything was spiritual! Worship is more than just a set of pious activities. Worship is what your entire life orbits around. One psychologist suggested, "Your 'god' is whatever is at the top of your hierarchy of values." Where you put your focus and what you spend your days pursuing will say more about who your god is than what box you check on a religious questionnaire. The first of the Ten Commandments tells us to worship nothing and no one except, "the God who brought you out of Egypt" (Exodus 20:2-6). The commandments begin with what we worship because worship will direct every other motive and method in our life. Like a ship whose course is off by a mere single degree, when our worship is misdirected it will not take long to become completely lost at sea. This Sunday we'll unpack the meaning of worship and tackle some challenging questions that have an incredible impact on the direction of our lives.

  6. Jul 14

    Walls of the Playground // Rev. Matt Kennedy // Jul 12 2026

    Historians sometimes observe a kind of see-saw in the life of societies and nations. In one era, a culture may become permissive and libertine. Once this gives way to anarchy, the pendulum swings back towards the rule of law in response. In some ways, we might be seeing this in our moment. An increasing number of people who have grown up with lawlessness are growing curious about tradition, religion, and moral order. There are signs that "rules" are coming back in fashion, and a good number of these people are growing curious about what the Bible teaches about morality. When the Bible lays out it's most famous set of rules, it is interesting to note the setting and context. Moses delivers the Ten Commandments to a people recently liberated from Egyptian slavery and tyranny (Exodus 19:1-6, 20:1-21). Newfound freedom is guarded by a call to law and obedience. But it's essential to note the order of things: God does not first give the Hebrews a list of rules and then offer liberation as a reward. God liberates first, then in response invites his people to live lives ordered around God's character. Historic Christian theology has always been careful to say that the Law does not save God's people. The Law shows us our need for the Gospel (God's grace in Christ) and upon the freedom we find in unconditional love, a new kind of moral order follows. This summer we'll examine the Ten Commandments not as more rules to follow for the sake of our salvation, but as insights into God's character-- leading us out of slavery and into the freedom of his love and grace.

  7. Jul 8

    Bridgebuilders: A Hole in the Wall // Rev. Matt Kennedy // June 28 2026

    To wrap up our Bridgebuilders series, we will return to the Old Testament prophets, where we started, to consider Isaiah’s words to the people of Israel post-exile. In Isaiah 58, they ask the question: “Why have we fasted and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?” But, they seem to lack self-awareness as it turns out that when they “fast” their workers are exploited and violence breaks out. God replies, “You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.” God continues: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” This Sunday we will consider this call from God and how we can joyfully and boldly live into the call for his glory and our neighbor’s good.

  8. Jul 8

    Bridgebuilders: Peaceful Reliance // Rev. Michele Arndt // June 21 2026

    One of the fun things about the Bible is that it is full of little sayings we throw around in everyday conversation without even realizing where they came from. This week, we will spend some time in Luke 10 which has not one - but two! - of these sayings. If you've ever referred to "a wolf in sheep's clothing" or "shaking the dust off your feet", you're squarely in Luke 10 territory. We find Jesus sending out the disciples in pairs with specific instructions. The mission at hand is urgent, so Jesus tells them to pack light - not even an extra pair of sandals! Don't dilly dally along the way. The message the disciples are entrusted with is this: "The Kingdom is near." And in the middle of it all, Jesus warns the disciples that they will find themselves like a lamb among wolves. In other words, they will be vulnerable. At the same time, he says not to linger if their message isn't well-received. Sometimes we can feel like it's up to us to build the kingdom, but this passage will remind us that our work is mostly to prepare the soil where it will land. What does it mean for us to recognize the nearness of the kingdom in our own communities? And how do we join Jesus in preparing others to receive it? Strap on your favorite summer sandals and join us this Sunday as we take our marching orders from Jesus and the disciples.

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About

Weekly sermons from Roseville Covenant Church in Roseville, MN

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  • Creator
    Roseville Covenant Church
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Roseville Covenant Church
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    Roseville Covenant Sermons