Sermons – Somerset Church of Christ

October 20, 2026

Giving in the storm

island during golden hour and upcoming storm

There are several studies that measure giving during life storms and, particularly, collective crises. For example, a study measured giving during the COVID-19 pandemic. It found that there are two general responses–increased selfishness or increased generosity. At first sign of threat, people tend to increase selfishness. This could be seen with the hoarding of toilet paper and masks. But studies also suggest that people show greater financial and social generosity–rather than less–when experiencing personal or local hardship. There is community cohesion during crises.

Paul said it well when he said, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies” (2 Cor. 4:8-10). Paul says that we who live are “always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,” so that the life of Jesus is being manifested in our our mortal flesh. Storms are part of life. Our position towards God matters in times of trouble. When we endure, we manifest the life of Jesus to others.

Paul ultimately looks to the resurrection, which is guaranteed for Christians. That’s what matters. So what happens when we are giving in the storm? Paul says, “For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (vs. 15). And Paul sums it up nicely: “So we do not lose heart!” (vs. 16).

October 13, 2026

Radical boldness

After Pentecost, Peter and John were going up the Temple steps where they healed a lame beggar. This created quite a stir, and Peter told them they shouldn’t “wonder at this.” Peter was clear that they killed the Author of life on the cross “and by his name–by faith in his name–has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all” (Acts 3:16). As they were speaking, the priests and captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed that they were proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

About 5,000 men came to Christ because of the word that Peter preached. Peter and John were questioned by all the high-priestly family but Peter preached even more boldly. Peter and John’s boldness struck them: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished” (Acts 4:13). The council couldn’t deny what had happened, because thousands of people witnessed it.

They warned Peter and John not to speak about Jesus anymore. But Peter and John answered with even more boldness: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (vs. 19-20). The council further threatened them and “they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened” (vs. 21). As Christians, we are called to be bold for Christ. Radical boldness simply means proclaiming the word of God because “we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

October 6, 2026

Why do we focus more on what we lack?

Tony Robbins asked the question: “Do people focus more on what they have or what they are lacking?” The answer is what they are lacking. This is called the “deficit mindset” or “scarcity mindset.” Roughly 75% to 88% of Americans experience the hallmarks of a scarcity mindset. Interestingly, the USA is the wealthiest nation on earth, both in terms of total economic size ($32.38 trillion nominal GDP) and total private wealth ($163.9 trillion).

WebMD defines scarcity mindset as “a way of thinking that focuses on something you don’t have enough of. This scarce resource is often money or time, but it also could be other things such as emotional support.” People with a scarcity mindset are so obsessed with what they lack that they can’t seem to focus on anything else, no matter how hard they try. Researchers proved that people with a scarcity mindset fail to see opportunities even when they are painfully obvious due to tunnel vision from only focusing on bad outcomes.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” Luke 12:15 says, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” The scriptures call us to come from a mindset of abundance and contentment: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Ps. 23:1). Paul says, “. . . for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:11-12).

September 30, 2026

Love lays down its life

lush vineyard with ripe grapes in sunlight

In John 15, Jesus tells his followers that he is the vine and they are the branches. “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (vs. 5). Importantly, he says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (vs. 7-8). God’s desire is for us to produce much fruit–to be able to love and bless others abundantly.

In fact, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (vs. 11). There is more to life than abundance. Christ wants our joy to be full. He explains: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (vs. 12-13).

Sacrificial love is always contextualized. 1 John 3:16-17 says, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” The answer is it doesn’t. Love is not only about laying our lives down for each other. It’s about providing the needs of others when we have abundance.

September 22, 2026

Cracking the code of compassion

aerial view of massive crowd gathering in dhaka

John adds some details to the story of the feeding of the 5,000 that are really important. When he saw the huge crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” (John 6:5). He said this to test Philip because he knew what Philip would say. If any of us were asked that question, we would probably answer similar to Philip: “Two hundred denarii (1/2 a year’s wages) worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little” (vs. 7).

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, had a similar problem with the question: “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” (vs. 9). Without explaining the miracle, Jesus simply said, “Have the people sit down” (vs. 10). They still didn’t know how 5,000 men, not including women and children, were going to be fed. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, then began distributing the food to thousands upon thousands of people.

When they had eaten their fill, he ordered his disciples to gather up the leftovers so that none would be lost. When the people saw that miracle, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” (vs. 14). We often limit God when it comes to offering compassion on others. God is the Creator of the heavens and earth. He can do anything. When we realize this, we crack the code of compassion.

September 16, 2026

Breaking the spirit of greed

The Bible has a lot to say about greed, and it is never painted as a positive thing. 1 Timothy 6:10 says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus says that no one can serve two masters, as you cannot serve both God and money. Hebrews 13:5 encourages to keep life free from the love of money and to be content with whatever one has. Ecclesiastes 5:10 notes that whoever loves money or wealth is never satisfied. Proverbs 15:27 warns that the greedy bring ruin to their households. We are starting to get the picture.

In Luke 12, Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool. It begins with someone shouting, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (vs. 13). Jesus’ response was that he is not a judge or arbitrator over him. The he said, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (vs. 15). Then he went into his parable about the rich fool.

In the story, the land produced abundantly. Instead of being generous with the excess, he thought “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” (vs. 17). So he tore down all his barns and built larger ones. It was his response that was sinful: “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry” (vs. 19). God told him that very night his soul would be required of him. The issue was not that he stored up treasure on earth but that he did so without being generous to God: “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (vs. 21).