Navigating Scripture

Rev. Chandler Wiley
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Join Rev. Chandler Wiley as we navigate our way around various passages of Scripture, setting a course for Jesus Christ.

  1. 3D AGO

    From Eden to EASTER (John 20:1-18)

    Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb in the darkness of early morning, carrying the weight of grief, loss, and unanswered questions. The one who delivered her from darkness now lies in a grave—or so she thinks. When she finds the stone rolled away, her despair only deepens. Death, it seems, has won. But the empty tomb is not a sign of theft—it is the beginning of new creation. In this Easter sermon, we follow Mary’s journey from confusion to clarity, from weeping to worship, as she encounters the risen Christ in the garden. Along the way, we see how John’s Gospel draws a powerful connection between Eden and the resurrection: another garden, another gardener, and another chance at life. Where sin once brought death, Christ now brings life. Where humanity once hid in shame, Jesus now calls His people by name. And where graves once marked the end, they now stand empty. This message invites us to see ourselves in Mary—to recognize our own grief, doubt, and longing—and to hear the voice of the risen Jesus calling us out of the darkness. “I have seen the Lord.” Because He lives, everything has changed.

    25 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Memento Mori: The Death of Death (Mark 15:42-47)

    On Holy Saturday, the Church stands in the silence between the cross and the resurrection. In this sermon from Mark 15:42–47, we are invited to slow down and face a reality we often avoid: death. With the ancient reminder memento mori—“remember death”—we step into the burial of Jesus and watch as Joseph of Arimathea courageously claims the body of Christ. As the lifeless body of Jesus is taken down, wrapped, and laid in a tomb, Mark leaves no doubt: Jesus truly died. But this is more than a historical detail—it is the heart of our hope. This message reflects on the weight of Christ’s death, the cost of our sin, and the quiet faithfulness of a disciple who honored Jesus when others fled. More importantly, it points us to the deeper truth behind the grave: that in the death of Christ, death itself is defeated. On this Holy Saturday, we remember not only that we will die—but that in Christ, death does not have the final word. Join us as we wait at the tomb… and prepare for the stone to be rolled away.

    19 min

  3. MAR 30

    Hosanna to the Crucified King (Mark 11:1-11)

    This sermon traces the rising excitement of Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem—and the surprising quiet that follows. As the crowds shout “Hosanna” and hail Him as the Son of David, expectations of political victory and national restoration reach a fever pitch. Yet Mark’s Gospel brings the moment to an abrupt and puzzling close, revealing a deeper truth: the people were right to celebrate, but wrong about the kind of king Jesus came to be. Exploring the rich Old Testament background of Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, and the promised Messiah, this message shows how every detail points not to a throne, but to a cross. Jesus enters not to conquer Rome, but to defeat sin, death, and Satan through His sacrificial death. This Palm Sunday sermon offers both clarity and warning. It challenges listeners to move beyond enthusiasm, crowds, and religious routine, and to truly know Jesus as the crucified Savior. Because in Mark’s Gospel—and in our lives—Jesus cannot be rightly understood apart from the cross.

    30 min

  4. MAR 24

    Out of the Depths & Up Into His Mercy (Psalm 130)

    In this sermon on Psalm 130, we descend into the depths with the psalmist—into the place of guilt, shame, and spiritual exhaustion—only to discover the astonishing mercy of God waiting there. This “gospel psalm,” as Martin Luther called it, leads us from the cry of a sinner who knows he cannot stand before a holy God to the unshakable hope found in divine forgiveness. Why do we keep records of our sins long after God has erased them? Why do we struggle to believe that grace is truly enough—for us? Psalm 130 confronts our instinct to rehearse guilt and invites us instead to rest in the word God speaks over His people: forgiven. Tracing the movement from despair to hope, from fear to reverent awe, this sermon shows how the Old Testament already sings of the redemption fulfilled in Christ. At the cross, Jesus enters the depths we deserve, pays the cost we could never afford, and rises to declare full and final forgiveness for all who trust in Him. If you find yourself weighed down by past sins, doubting God’s mercy, or waiting in the dark for assurance, this message calls you to hope in the Lord—more than watchmen for the morning. With Him there is steadfast love. With Him there is plentiful redemption. And in Christ, there is forgiveness for all.

    33 min

  5. MAR 10

    Restless Sinners COME to Jesus (Psalm 95)

    In Psalm 95, God invites His people to something deeper than a day off from work—He invites them into His rest. But what is that rest, and why do so few people experience it? This sermon explores the biblical meaning of rest as freedom from the endless striving that marks life east of Eden. We chase things like security, control, pleasure, and success, hoping they will give us peace, but every idol eventually collapses under the weight of our expectations. Psalm 95 calls us instead to put down our idols, draw near to God, and guard our hearts from wandering. Ultimately, the path to rest is not something we walk alone. Hebrews 3–4 points us to Jesus—the faithful Son who perfectly trusted the Father, resisted every idol, and opened the way for restless sinners to enter God’s rest through faith. Drop the idols. Draw near to God. Guard your heart. And consider Jesus, the Rock of our salvation.

    31 min

  6. MAR 3

    Jesus, Our Battle-Cry (Psalm 33)

    Psalm 33 calls God’s people to shout — not with timid voices, but with a battle-cry of joy. In a world filled with deception, injustice, and failing human plans, the righteous sing because the Word of the Lord is upright, powerful, and unfailing. This sermon explores how praise becomes spiritual warfare, why only the upright can truly sing this victory song, and how Psalm 33 ultimately finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ — the faithful Word made flesh. From ashes to assurance, from scheming in Adam to singing in Christ, we discover that Jesus Himself is our shield, our hope, and our battle-cry.

    32 min

  7. FEB 24

    Not According to Our Sins (Psalm 103:1-14)

    As we approach Lent, Psalm 103 calls us to preach to our own souls: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” In this sermon, we trace David’s sweeping vision of redemption — forgiveness for iniquity, healing from sin’s disease, rescue from the pit, and a crown of steadfast love. We linger over the heart of God’s character: merciful and gracious, slow to anger, yet perfectly just. How can a holy God refuse to deal with us according to our sins? The answer leads us to Christ, who bore our iniquities, entered our pit, and removed our transgressions “as far as the east is from the west.” This is a call to remember the gospel, stir your soul, and bless the Lord.

    31 min

  8. FEB 16

    Transfiguration Encouragement (Mark 9:2-9)

    On Transfiguration Sunday, as the Church moves from Epiphany toward the season of Lent, this sermon reflects on Jesus’ radiant glory revealed on the mountain in Mark 9. In the midst of the disciples’ confusion about suffering, the cross, and the road to Jerusalem, the Transfiguration becomes a moment of divine encouragement: Jesus is truly the Son of God, the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, and the One worthy of our complete trust and allegiance. As Christ descends the mountain toward Calvary, we are reminded that His glory and His mission meet in the cross—where He suffers to redeem the world. This message invites us to enter Lent with renewed faith, listening to Christ and following Him with courage, even through sacrifice and suffering.

    37 min
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About

Join Rev. Chandler Wiley as we navigate our way around various passages of Scripture, setting a course for Jesus Christ.

Information

  • Creator
    Rev. Chandler Wiley
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Rev. Chandler Wiley
  • Show Website
    Navigating Scripture