Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series

Broadway Church of Christ
  • 5.0 (1)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The weekly Sunday morning sermon series from the Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, TX. http://bwaychurch.org

  1. 14H AGO

    Rescue: Promises & Previews

    In this Lenten sermon from the "Rescue" series, Karl Ihfe uses the analogy of movie trailers to explain how the Old Testament points to Jesus' ultimate rescue mission. Beginning with Abraham's call in Genesis 12, where God promises to bless all nations through him, Karl traces the thread of rescue throughout Scripture. He shows how Abraham had to trust a promise he couldn't see, and how generations later, when Israel was enslaved in Egypt, God's rescue came through the blood of a spotless lamb during Passover - a preview of the greater sacrifice to come. Karl then connects this to Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53, explaining how early Christians like Philip helped others understand that this servant was Jesus himself. The cross wasn't a tragic accident but the centerpiece of God's rescue plan, orchestrated over thousands of years. He emphasizes that different scenes, centuries, and authors all point to one story, one rescue, one Savior. Karl challenges the congregation to read Scripture as God's "divine trailer," asking where they see whispers of rescue pointing to Jesus. He concludes by connecting this to the church's mission work, encouraging sacrificial giving toward a $133,000 goal to support missionaries sharing this rescue story with unreached peoples around the world. https://bwaychurch.org

    23 min

  2. FEB 23

    Rescue: And So It Begins...

    In this sermon, Karl Ihfe uses personal stories of helplessness—his son Gabriel's premature birth and his father's heart transplant—to illustrate humanity's need for rescue. He traces God's rescue plan back to Genesis 3, arguing that salvation didn't begin at the cross but immediately after the fall. Drawing on theological insights about Adam and Eve being like children who were "sinned against before they ever sinned," Karl explains how the serpent acted as a groomer, exploiting their innocence. When sin entered the world, the first consequence wasn't punishment but shame, causing Adam and Eve to hide—just as we do today. The pivotal moment comes when God asks "Where are you?"—not as a police officer but as a loving father seeking his children. Even before any apology, God speaks the Proto Evangelium in Genesis 3:15, promising that the woman's offspring will crush the serpent's head. This demonstrates that grace began in the garden, with God moving toward humanity rather than away from them. Karl connects this to Romans 5:8, showing how "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The sermon concludes with a personal application, challenging listeners to identify where they're hiding today and to step out into God's pursuing grace. https://bwaychurch.org

    21 min

  3. FEB 16

    The Expectation Gap: Home and Shalom

    In this concluding message of the Expectation Gap series, Karl Ihfe tackles the challenging topic of sin and punishment by examining Luke 15 and the famous parable of the prodigal son. He poses a crucial question: when we sin, who punishes us - God or sin? Through the story of the father and his two lost sons, Karl illustrates that the father's loving posture never changes toward either son, whether the one lost in rebellion or the one lost in self-righteousness. Both sons misjudged their father because sin distorts our vision of who God really is, making us see Him as a judge or accuser rather than a loving parent. Karl explains that sin functions not merely as individual moral mistakes, but as a condition we live under - a state of enslavement that punishes us from the inside out. When we lie, lust, or harbor bitterness, sin itself becomes the punishment, robbing us of freedom, joy, and authentic relationships. God doesn't stand ready to "zap" us when we mess up; instead, like a loving parent warning a child not to touch a hot stove, He calls out warnings because He knows how devastating sin can be. The good news is that God is the restorer while sin is the destroyer, God is the liberator while sin is the slave master, and God's invitation to come home remains constant regardless of how lost we've become. https://bwaychurch.org

    32 min

  4. FEB 8

    The Expectation Gap: Would You Rather?

    Karl Ihfe concludes the "Expectation Gap" series by addressing our tendency to focus on self-improvement rather than allowing God to transform us through His love. Using the fruit of the Spirit passage from Galatians 5, he explains that qualities like patience don't come from willpower but from the Spirit working in us. Instead of asking "How can I be more patient?" we should ask "What belief is shaping my impatience?" This shifts our focus from behavior modification to heart transformation through encountering God. Ihfe distinguishes between viewing the gospel as primarily redemptive versus preventative. While both aspects are important, he argues that the redemptive nature should be primary - God's love always comes first, and we respond to it. Drawing from 1 John 4, he emphasizes that perfect love casts out fear, allowing us to live differently when we truly know we are loved by God. The challenge isn't avoiding getting lost in our faith journey, but recognizing when we're lost and allowing Jesus to find us again. He concludes with a weekly challenge to practice "MOAs" (moments of awareness) - pausing at meals to recognize God's love and asking "What's mine to carry?" when anxiety rises. https://bwaychurch.org

    27 min

  5. FEB 2

    The Expectation Gap: Are We There Yet?

    Karl Ihfe continues the "Expectation Gap" series by tackling the third gap: we believe God wants us to grow, but we're often disappointed by our progress. Speaking honestly about his own 37-year journey with Christ, Karl admits he thought he'd be "a little further along" by now - more patient, less selfish, quicker to forgive. He suggests that part of our struggle comes from misusing Scripture by always asking "What should I do?" instead of first asking "What does this teach me about God?" Using the familiar story from Matthew 14 of Jesus walking on water, Karl offers a fresh perspective. While we typically focus on Peter's boldness in stepping out of the boat, Karl points out a crucial detail: 92% of the disciples stayed in the boat, yet 100% of them worshiped when Jesus calmed the storm. The point of the story isn't Peter's faith or courage, but Jesus's sovereignty over wind and waves. Karl argues that we've turned Scripture into a highlight reel, stacking up impossible expectations - be bold like Peter, contemplative like Mary, courageous like Daniel, wise like Deborah. This creates exhausting pressure rather than genuine transformation. Instead, Jesus doesn't ask us to become someone else; He redeems our personalities and helps us become the best version of who we were created to be.   https://bwaychurch.org

    27 min

  6. JAN 25

    The Expectation Gap: BeliefSight

    Karl Ihfe continues the "Expectation Gap" series by examining the second gap: believing God is with us while struggling to see His presence. Using the story from Matthew 12 where Jesus heals a man's withered hand on the Sabbath, Ihfe illustrates how different "gospels" shape our perspective. He shares Stephen Covey's subway story about a widowed father and his disruptive children, demonstrating how our paradigms can shift when we understand someone's full story—reminding us that "everybody has a story" and "we never know someone's whole story." Ihfe identifies the "gospel of anxiety" as the primary deceiver in this gap, explaining that chronic anxiety acts like an unreliable narrator, convincing us we need things for our well-being that we actually don't. He outlines five common false needs: control, perfection, certainty, over-functioning, and approval. These false needs, while not inherently evil, become corrupted when we try to function in God's role instead of our own. The problem isn't God's absence but our anxiety preventing us from noticing His presence. Ihfe offers two practical steps: filling in the blank "Jesus died so I don't have to ___" and remembering "God is already in the room." https://bwaychurch.org

    17 min

  7. JAN 19

    The Expectation Gap: BeliefFeelings

    Karl Ihfe continues the "Expectation Gap" series by exploring why we believe God is loving but don't always feel loved. Drawing from Steve Cuss's insights, Karl explains that every "gospel" has three elements: a path, a promise, and a payment. While worldly gospels make us pay for empty promises, Jesus's gospel reverses this - God pays the price and we receive the benefit. Karl identifies how our "inner critic" preaches false gospels, telling us we're frauds, disappointments, or incapable. This voice condemns our identity rather than convicting our behavior like the Holy Spirit does. Using 1 John 3 and Romans 8, he emphasizes that "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Karl shares personal stories, including his experience with an elder's harsh criticism and his obsession with painting a perfect red wall, to illustrate how we often condemn ourselves before others can. He concludes by challenging listeners to let God have both the first and last word in their lives, silencing the inner critic with the truth of God's unconditional love. https://bwaychurch.org

    32 min

  8. JAN 12

    The Expectation Gap: Mind the Gap

    Karl Ihfe begins a new series called "The Expectation Gap: Where Faith and Life Meet," inspired by Steve Cuss's book. He addresses the reality that followers of Jesus often experience a gap between core beliefs—like "God loves me" and "God is with me"—and their actual lived experience. Drawing from Mark 9, where a desperate father brings his tormented son to Jesus and declares "I believe, help me overcome my unbelief," Karl demonstrates that even Jesus' disciples experienced this tension between faith and doubt, as seen in Matthew 28 where some worshiped the risen Christ while others doubted. Karl distinguishes between "precious beliefs" (head beliefs we hold) and "core beliefs" (body beliefs that hold us), explaining how misalignment between these creates spiritual gaps. He shares personally about his own core belief that "if it's to be, it's up to me," which conflicts with his precious belief in Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit as our guide (John 16). The series aims to help people mind these gaps—becoming aware of them rather than stumbling over them—and learn to experience God's love, presence, and spiritual progress more fully. Karl concludes with practical steps: treating ourselves with the same kindness we show others and replacing negative self-talk with truth about our identity as God's beloved disciples. https://bwaychurch.org

    33 min
See All (100)

About

The weekly Sunday morning sermon series from the Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, TX. http://bwaychurch.org

Information