RUF at Wake Forest

The Hope of The Resurrection

Growing Up | Rev. Chris Horne | Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8

Jesus & Justice | Rev. Chris Horne | Ecclesiastes 3 & 4

Valentine's Day Edition | Rev. Chris Horne | Ecclesiastes 9:9, 1 John 4:7-11

What Good is Learning? | Rev. Chris Horne | Ecclesiastes 1 & 2

If It Feels Good, Should I Do It? | Rev. Chris Horne | Ecclesiastes 2

I Can't Get No Satisfaction | Rev. Chris Horne | Ecclesiastes 1

The Dishonest Manager | Rev. Chris Horne | Luke 16:1-15

Jesus is Able and Willing | Rev. Chris Horne | Mark 9:14-29

Uncle Legion | Rev. Matt Odom | Mark 5:1-20

Hear Matt Odom preach about how Jesus has the authority to tame what goes on in the hearts of human beings.

Jesus Calms The Storm | Rev. Chris Horne | Mark 4:35-41

Hear Chris Horne preach about what (or who) you should be most afraid of. 

Being Afraid With Jesus | Rev. Chris Horne | Mark 4:35-41

Hear Chris Horne preach about what (or who) you should be most afraid of. 

Jesus Outside The Camp | Rev. Chris Horne | Mark 1:40-45

Jesus Takes A Bath | Rev. Chris Horne | Mark 1:4-11

Your Real Life | Rev. Chris Horne | Ephesians 2:1-10

Hear Rev. Chris Horne preach about how Jesus calls us to a life where earning is irrelevant. 

Guest Preacher Series | 11 - We Are But Children | Matt Williams | Psalm 127:1-2

Hear Matt Williams preach that we are but children, and that's a good thing. If we own up to the fact that we are children, then get to reap the benefits of being a children by placing the god-like burdens we’ve been carrying on God, and trusting that he will carry them.

Guest Preacher Series | 10 - The Death of Scorekeeping | Rev. Ethan Smith | Romans 4:18-25

Hear Rev. Ethan Smith preach that on the cross, Jesus was delivered up for our trespasses and was crushed to bring about our justification. When we take hold of that promise by faith, we don't need to find ways to justify ourselves anymore. We can find peace in our Father's love for us.

Guest Preacher Series | 9 - Jacob the Schemer | Rev. Ben Milner | Genesis 25:19-34

Hear Rev. Ben Milner preach that Christianity is not a religion of moral paragons, but a religion of people who are really broken. Jacob, one of the founders of the Christian faith, came from a dysfunctional family and needed redemption. God is a great redeemer.

Guest Preacher Series | 8 - Facing Mortality | Rev. Derek Radney | Psalm 39:4-6, 90:9-12, and 103:13-19

Hear Rev. Derek Radney preach that we will die. Death is tragic, and the modern world might teach us to ignore the inevitability of death. But accepting our mortality is the key to wisdom on this side of Heaven. Christians can face death with courage and hope. 

Guest Preacher Series | 7 - Jesus Plus Nothing Is Everything | Rev. Jonah Hooper | Colossians 3:1-11

Hear Rev. Jonah Hooper preach that when Christ is all in all for us, Jesus plus nothing is everything. He is our prize, and that changes everything. 

Guest Preacher Series | 6 - Full of Faith | Rev. Kevin Teasely | Luke 7:1-10

Hear Rev. Kevin Teasely preach that being full of faith means that we’ve give up on ourselves completely and are clinging to Jesus because he’s all we’ve got. Being full of faith is not something that we do, so much as it is something we are.

Guest Preacher Series | 5 - The Fear of the Lord | Rev. Ethan Smith | Jonah 1:1-17

Hear Rev. Ethan Smith preach that the fear of the Lord drives out all other fear. We fear the Lord not from a place of anxiety, but confidence in His kindness.

Guest Preacher Series | 4 - The Core of the Christian Faith | Rev. Derek Radney | 1 John 4:7-14

What is the core of the Christian faith?  Hear Rev. Derek Radney preach that love and repentance are the core of the faith. As the beloved of God, Christians are called to love one another.

Guest Preacher Series | 3 - The Bucket Fillers | Matt Williams | Matthew 5:38-48

Who are our enemies?  Hear Matt Williams preach that our enemies are those who would take from us, and that Jesus calls us to give to anyone who would take from us.

Guest Preacher Series | 2 - A Family Conversation | Jonah Hooper | Ephesians 2:11-16

Hear Rev. Jonah Hooper preach that Christians are not just great friends in Christ, but that they are a family in Christ. So, Christians have family obligations to love, serve and reconcile with one another.

Guest Preacher Series | 1 - Well Pleased | Chris Horne | Mark 1:9-11

Hear Rev. Chris Horne preach that if you are a Christian, you are God’s child, and he is well pleased with you.

The King’s Cross | 8 - The Resurrection | Mark 16:1-8

In his last sermon for RUF at Wake Forest, hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that Jesus’ resurrection has changed everything. God is at work, and he is bringing His resurrection life to bear on the world as far as the curse is found.

The King’s Cross | 7 - Transcendence and Glory | Mark 9:1-8

Is there still glory in the world?  Hear Matt Williams preach that Jesus’ transfiguration gives us a taste of glory. While we’re on the road of suffering, a taste of glory is like food for the journey.

The King’s Cross | 6 - Jesus and the Demon-Possessed | Mark 5:1-20

How can we be healed?  Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that while we have a spiritual sickness we can’t heal ourselves, Jesus came to take the full force of evil on himself to free those he loves. Satan was cast into the pit of hell forever through Jesus’ suffering on the cross.

The King’s Cross | 5 - Lord of the Mega Storm | Mark 4:35-41

Does life feel like a storm right now?  Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that while our lives are full of legitimately scary storms, Jesus was thrown into the one storm that can actually sink us: the storm of sin and death. He did not abandon us in the ultimate storm, so we can have confidence that he will never abandon us in the smaller storms we are feeling right now.

The King’s Cross | 4 - The King Who Sows | Mark 4:1-20

How can we change?  Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that Jesus can change your life. He can give you the transformation that you long for. His method of change is organic and not mechanical. When you receive his word deep in your heart, it supernaturally produces fruit that changes you from the inside out.

The King’s Cross | 3 - True Healing | Mark 2:1-12

What is your “if only”? Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that our deepest need is to receive forgiveness, but we tend to think our needs are much shallower. If only we could get that MCAT or LSAT score, or if only we could be in with that group of people, then our lives would be okay. Thankfully, Jesus sees through our shallow diagnoses and extends the forgiveness that our hearts truly long for.

The King’s Cross | 2 - The Crisis of Authority | Mark 1:16-34

Have you ever been in a crisis?  Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach on a text about a crisis—the crisis of the true King of Creation announcing the arrival of his kingdom. The true King, Jesus, calls us to drop our pride and follow him.

The King’s Cross | 1 - Jesus in the Wilderness | Mark 1:9-15

Why does life so often feel so hard?  Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that God sends us into the wilderness because we are His beloved children. In the wilderness, God strips us of our spiritual pride and busyness so we can finally rest in him. He makes His power perfect in our weakness.

Senior Night 2021

Seniors in RUF share about how they have seen God at work during their time at Wake Forest.

Ellis’s Farewell Talk | Mark 5:21-34 | Ellis Keifer

Can Jesus really handle our mess? Hear Ellis Keifer reflect on how Jesus did not wait for her to get her mess together, but that he met her in the midst of it. Hear her teach that He will meet you, too.

Postcards from the Edge | 8 - What Does God Really Think of Us? | Zephaniah 3:14-20

What does God actually think about us? Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that God delights over and rejoices in those who believe in Jesus. Judgement day has passed—God enjoys being with you.

Postcards from the Edge | 8 - Israel on Trial | Micah 6:1-8

Why did a good God allow sin into his good world? Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that God allowed sin into the world because redemption is better than perfection. God is not waiting for you to finally get it right; He wants to redeem you to be a part of his kingdom that comes as far as the curse is found.

Postcards from the Edge | 7 - New Clothes | Zechariah 3:1-10

What does God think of you? Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that we are all covered in the excrement of our sin, Jesus cleans us and clothes us in garments of white. And so we can live with him, unashamed and unafraid.

Postcards from the Edge | 6 - Obadiah's Judgement | Obadiah 1:1-9 | Matt Williams

Will God deal with evil in the world? Hear Matt Williams preach that we experience evil everyday, both evil that is done to us and evil that we do to others. We all deserve judgement. But on the cross, Jesus broke the power of evil and saved us in the process.

Postcards from the Edge | 5 - Repentance and Restoration | Joel 2:12-17

Why do Christians repent? Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that Christianity is fundamentally about repentance. It is a lifestyle of confessing our sin to God and each other, knowing that we will be met with forgiveness and restoration.

Postcards from the Edge | 4 - Habbakuk's Question | Habbakuk 1:2-4, 3:16-19

How can I be happy? Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that happiness comes from remembering God’s goodness. The only way to remember is repetition—continually being reminded that God is good. Seeking happiness anywhere else will just torture us because we are not our fantasy selves.

Postcards from the Edge | 3 - Amos's Judgement | Amos 5:4-15, 18-27

Do you want justice to roll down? Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that yes, we all yearn for justice on a deep level, but we find in the Bible that we ourselves are the perpetrators of injustice. The Christian is the one who’s injustice has been forgiven, and who works alongside Jesus for justice in this world.

Postcards from the Edge | 1 - Hosea's Story | Hosea 3:1-5 | Rev. John Bourgeois

Does God love you like Hosea loves his wife? Yes! Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that we have been sold like slaves on the auction block of sin, but when all seemed lost, God sent Jesus Christ to buy us at the cost of his own life. We are his.

Postcards from the Edge | 2 - Hosea's Story | Hosea 3:1-5 | Rev. John Bourgeois

Does God love you like Hosea loves his wife? Yes! Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that we have been sold like slaves on the auction block of sin, but when all seemed lost, God sent Jesus Christ to buy us at the cost of his own life. We are his.

Postcards from the Edge | 1 - Jonah’s Story | Jonah 3:1-10 | Rev. John Bourgeois

Are we too numb? Do we have hearts that get angry at evil and long for good? Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach about the reality of a deep evil in our world, and the reality of a Good that is more just, deep, and splendid than we would dare imagine.

Living Upside Down | 12 - A Firm Foundation | Matthew 7:24-29 | Rev. John Bourgeois

Is your life built on a weak foundation?  Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that most of us have built our life on a foundation that will crack, but that Jesus offers himself as a foundation that will bring us ultimate security.

Living Upside Down | 11 - The Upside Down Way | Matthew 7:13-23 | Dakota Lee

Are you following Jesus in the Kingdom of God, or are you serving Satan’s empire? Hear Dakota Lee preach that there are only two ways to live, and that Jesus is calling us into his kingdom, free of charge.

Living Upside Down | 10 - Upside Down Judgement | Matthew 7:1-14

Would you throw a birthday party for prostitutes, or would you silently condemn them and go on with your day? Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that Jesus does not judge those who are on the bottom of society, but the judgers. Life with Jesus does not mean keeping the immoral out, but welcoming everyone as He has welcomed you.

Living Upside Down | 9 - Upside Down Treasure | Matthew 6:18-34 | Rev. John Bourgeois

W.H. Auden says, “If the moths don’t get you, the wolves will.” Are you feeling anxious? Hear Rev. John Bourgeois preach that all of us are anxious about our treasure — something the moths or wolves can destroy. Our life in the Kingdom of God is a treasure that no one can touch.