SERMON SUMMARY
“Trusting God Instead of Playing God”
Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–7

When Laura and I were foster parents, we quickly learned that children who have been let down often test boundaries. They do this not because they want trouble but because they want to know if you will stay. Our foster daughter did this constantly. I remember buying her a Dora the Explorer balloon as a treat. Moments later she calmly waved as it floated away, as if she expected even good things to drift out of her life. She trusted her own inner judgment that said “do not get attached” more than she trusted love. That led to many power struggles, although what she truly longed for was connection.

 Full Transcript Below.

Welcome.
I’m glad you’re here.

This is Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton, using the Project Gutenberg edition—read slowly, aloud, and in company.

These readings aren’t lectures, and they aren’t explanations. They’re an invitation: to listen carefully, to follow an argument that wanders on purpose, and to allow surprise to do some of the work. So let’s take our time—and see where Chesterton leads us today.

Last time we contemplated the sanity of useless things and the madness of extreme logic.

Today we walk with Chesterton as he moves from the logic seated in insanity to the razor-point logic of materialism.

Sermon Summary

“Respond to the Word”
March 1, 2026
James 1:17–27

In a world overflowing with words, advice, and opinions, many people quietly wonder why real spiritual change can feel so slow. We hear Scripture read, sermons preached, and prayers offered, yet growth often seems harder than expected. James speaks directly into this tension, not to shame the church, but to tell the truth about how faith can drift when familiarity replaces transformation.

Sermon Summary
"Encouraging Words of Mercy"
March 8, 2026
James 2:1–17; Mark 2:17

Most of us know what it feels like to be judged by a quick glance. Often without meaning to, we size people up and make quiet decisions about who belongs, who matters, and who is worth our attention. These judgments are rarely loud or cruel, but they are powerful. Our words, our tone, and even our silence tell a story about what we value, and that story has consequences.

 Full Transcript Below.

Welcome.
I’m glad you’re here.

Sermon Summary:
“Watch Your Words”
March 15, 2026
James 3:1–12; Psalm 19:14

James 3 confronts one of the most familiar and humbling struggles in the Christian life: the power of our words. Most of us can remember a sentence we wish we could take back, or a comment spoken to us that lingered far longer than expected. Words have the ability to direct relationships, ignite conflict, and reveal what is happening deep within us.

Sermon Summary
March 22, 2026
Aggressive Words
(James 4:1–3)

Conflict is not hard to find. It shows up in families, friendships, churches, and communities. Most of us do not intend to start fights, yet we often find ourselves in tense conversations, repeated arguments, and strained relationships. James asks a penetrating question: “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” His answer is surprising. The problem is not primarily external. It is internal. Our desires battle within us.

Sermon Summary
March 31, 2026
“Words That Heal”
James 5:13–20
Passion/Palm Sunday

In James 5:13–20, the apostle speaks not to skeptics but to believers. He asks simple, direct questions: Are you suffering? Pray. Are you cheerful? Sing. Are you sick? Call for the elders. And then comes the invitation that unsettles us: “Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.” James assumes something we often resist. He assumes that healing happens in an honest community.

Sermon Summary
April 5, 2026
"The Doorway We Don’t Expect"
Matthew 28:1–10

Easter morning often feels triumphant and clear. Yet Matthew’s account of the resurrection reveals something more honest and more human. The women arrive at the tomb expecting death, not new life. Instead, they encounter an earthquake, an angel, an empty grave, and a command: “Do not be afraid… go and tell.” They leave with fear and great joy mixed together. The empty tomb is not a resting place. It is a doorway.

Welcome.
I’m glad you’re here.

This is Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton, using the Project Gutenberg edition—red slowly, aloud, and in company.

These readings aren’t lectures, and they aren’t explanations. They’re an invitation: to listen carefully, to follow an argument that wanders on purpose, and to allow surprise to do some of the work. So, let’s take our time—and see where Chesterton leads us today.

Last time we followed Chesterton into a rather uncomfortable place, the mind of the madman, and found, somewhat to our surprise, that madness is not the loss of reason, but a kind of reasoning that has become… trapped. Complete, even convincing, but somehow cut off from the wider world.

Sermon Summary —
“A Little Encouragement”
April 12, 2026
Text: 1 Peter 1:3–9

Encouragement is a simple gift, yet it carries remarkable power. In a world quick to criticize and slow to affirm, a word of encouragement can strengthen a weary heart and remind someone they are not alone. The film Unbroken captures this truth in a powerful scene where Olympic runner Louis Zamperini, weakened and nearly defeated in a prisoner-of-war camp, finds the strength to continue because fellow prisoners quietly encourage him. Their words restore his courage in a moment when it is almost gone.

Full Transcript:

In Session 9 of The Paradox of Common Sense: Walking with Chesterton, we follow Chesterton into one of his sharpest critiques of modern thought: the moment when reason begins to question the very tools that make reasoning possible. From materialism and evolution to pragmatism and the worship of change itself, Chesterton argues that some philosophies do not merely challenge belief—they undermine thought, standards, and even the idea of objective truth. Along the way, we consider whether modern humanity has mistaken endless adjustment for genuine progress, and whether, like sweepers in the sport of curling, we have begun subtly altering not merely the path, but the target itself. 

Full Transcript:

Sermon Summary
“When You Feel Like a Number”
April 26, 2026
Text: John 10:1–10

Many people know the experience of feeling like a number. In a world of systems, institutions, and constant noise, it is easy to feel anonymous, overlooked, or reduced to a line in a database. Even when life seems to be functioning on the surface, many people quietly carry the sense that something deeper is missing. Life can begin to feel thin rather than abundant.

Sermon Summary
“When the Heart Gets Crowded”
May 3, 2026
Text: John 14:1–14

In John 14:1–14, Jesus spoke to his disciples at a time when their hearts were deeply troubled. The night before his crucifixion, confusion and fear filled the room. Jesus had spoken about betrayal, denial, and his coming departure. The disciples sensed that something terrible was approaching, but they did not yet understand its meaning. Into that anxiety, Jesus spoke simple but powerful words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”