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Santa Monica Nazarene Church

250 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratings

Weekly sermons from Santa Monica Church of the Nazarene in Santa Monica, CA.

Christianity Religion & Spirituality Spirituality christian church santamonica jesus monica nazarene santa scripture sermon worship
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Episodes

Everything, Down to the Very Last Thing

March 06, 2024 00:09 - 36 minutes - 49.9 MB

In this sermon we look at the story about Jesus cleansing the temple. We walk briskly through a history of the temple, into how it changed with Jesus, and then what it has to do with us and the cleansing of our own lives. 

02.04.24 - To Love Is To Serve - Mark 1:29-39

February 08, 2024 22:21 - 25 minutes - 35.2 MB

In this sermon we look at a moment in Jesus’ ministry as establishing something crucial about his work of salvation and who we are called to be as people, which is to serve.

12.10.2023 - Imitating Christ - John 1:6-8, 19-28

December 13, 2023 18:59 - 25 minutes - 29 MB

In this sermon we return again to John the Baptist, however we focus on what it means for John (and for us) to point to Jesus. Touring through the lectionary passages for the day, we find that pointing to Jesus means imitating him.

12.03.2023 - Prepare - Mark 1:1-8

December 06, 2023 18:58 - 24 minutes - 28.3 MB

In this sermon we join John the baptist “on the frontier as the ages collide” asking once again what it means to prepare the way for the Lord. We look at the opening lines of Mark’s gospel, what I’ve been learning about cooking, and a question.

11.26.2023 - A Messy Advent - Mark 13:24-37

November 30, 2023 16:56 - 25 minutes - 28.9 MB

In this sermon we begin the season of Advent (a week early, we know) by considering what kinds of holy disruptions the Spirit is eager to work in our lives.  

11.19.023 - Surrendering to God - Ephesians 1:15-2:10

November 22, 2023 16:55 - 25 minutes - 29.2 MB

In this sermon we proclaim that Christ reigns over all creation and we consider what it means to order our days in light of this good news.

11.12.23 - Why We Must Go Into the Woods - Psalm 148

November 19, 2023 17:38 - 24 minutes - 27.9 MB

In this sermon we wrap up our time with the Psalms by looking at the theme of creation. We remember that the creation is a thin place where we encounter the presence of God in a unique way. Namely, because we are around things that are not struggling to be anything other than what they are.  

10.01.2023 - We Need Sadness - Psalm 88

October 05, 2023 22:36 - 27 minutes - 31.4 MB

In this sermon we talk about sadness in the Psalms, how our culture downplays sadness, how sadness is a part of the gospel, and a cellist that played a sad song in a war zone, all while considering a Psalm that is sadness all the way down. You'll love it, I promise.

09.24.2023 - Teach Me to Notice - Psalm 8, 19, 148

September 29, 2023 23:21 - 29 minutes - 33.8 MB

In this sermon we talk about the Psalms as poetry and how, as such, they teach us how to notice the world around in order to better attend to it with love.

09.17.2023 - Prayer and Longing for God - Psalm 42

September 29, 2023 23:19 - 24 minutes - 28.4 MB

In this sermon we look at the Psalms as they relate to prayer. We talk about the word ‘prayer,’ who taught us to pray, what it means to pray without ceasing, that Jesus prayed all the time, and what it means to long for God (with help from some fourth century thinkers).

09.10.2023 - A Life with the Psalms - Psalm 105:1-5

September 15, 2023 20:34 - 23 minutes - 26.8 MB

In this sermon we consider what it means (and how to do it, a little) to cultivate the Psalms in our lives over time so that the story of God becomes the story of our lives.   

09.03.2023 - We Need People - Psalm 22

September 06, 2023 16:03 - 30 minutes - 34.8 MB

In this sermon we look at what the Psalms have to teach us about community. 

08.27.2023 - To Pray with Honestly - Psalm 139

August 30, 2023 16:05 - 31 minutes - 35.5 MB

In this sermon we look at the honesty of the Psalms and what it means for us to learn how to tell our own story in light of the gospel.  

08.13.2023 - Living Between Hope and Memory - Psalm 85

August 16, 2023 16:10

In this sermon we begin a new series on the Psalms. We introduce what they are, that they speak to the full range of human experience, and in praying them what it means to live between memory and hope.  

08.13.2023 - Living Between Hope and Memory - Psalm 85

August 16, 2023 16:10 - 35 minutes - 40.2 MB

In this sermon we begin a new series on the Psalms. We introduce what they are, that they speak to the full range of human experience, and in praying them what it means to live between memory and hope.  

06.25.2023 - Forgiveness - Matthew 7.7-9

June 30, 2023 20:26 - 28 minutes - 32.1 MB

In this sermon we consider the word forgiveness. We look closely at forgiveness as it’s positioned in the Lord’s Prayer, noting it’s connection to our asking for daily bread and God’s desire to give such bread and forgiveness to us. We reflect on the power of the Amish community to forgive a violent attacker and what it means to be those kinds of people.

06.18.2023 - Faith, Hope, and Love - 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

June 21, 2023 17:28 - 28 minutes - 32.2 MB

In this sermon we look at what faith, hope, and love mean for our discipleship.

06.11.2023 - On Discipleship - John 1:36-39

June 14, 2023 21:35

In this sermon we begin a series on discipleship, beginning with the idea that disciples are people who follow, stay put, abide, dwell with God. Discipleship is not an occasional thing but an everywhere-all-the-time thing.

06.04.02023 - The Doctrine of the Trinity - Matthew 28:16-20

June 14, 2023 21:32 - 23 minutes - 27.2 MB

In this sermon we consider what it means to confess that God is Trinity. Our goal is not to explain the mystery of the Trinity, but rather what this confession means. We look a little bit at the history on why there arose a need to clarify the Triune nature of God, which we read in the Nicene Creed. However, we mostly consider what it means to confess that God is Father, Son, and Spirit; what that means for salvation; and what it has to do with saying God is love.

05.28.2023 - The Spirit of Peace - John 20:19-23

May 31, 2023 17:24 - 23 minutes - 26.9 MB

In this sermon we talk about the giving of the Holy Spirit and what it has to do with being a people of peace.

05.21.2023 - Worthy to Be Worshiped - Luke 24:44-53

May 24, 2023 20:44 - 33 minutes - 48.3 MB

In this sermon consider what the ascension of Jesus means in terms of worship. What the worship gathering is, why we do it, and how it relates to the rest of our lives.  

05.14.2023 - The Spirit of Belonging - John 14:15-21

May 18, 2023 21:34 - 29 minutes - 34.3 MB

In this sermon we consider how Jesus’ words about God as our advocate and never leaving us orphaned speaks to a culture of loneliness.

05.07.2023 - The Gospel Will Destroy You - The Gospel Will Destory You

May 10, 2023 20:40 - 32 minutes - 36.7 MB

In this sermon we look at an important story in Acts about a time when God’s people had to discern past experiences in light of present circumstances.

04.30.2023 - Surviving or Thriving - Hebrew 8:6-13

May 05, 2023 15:39 - 32 minutes - 36.7 MB

In this sermon Tim Olson takes us into Hebrews and challenges us to allow the gospel to disrupt our lives and why that's good news.

04.23.2023 - Holy Conversations: On ‘Talking and Discussing’ the Past into the Future - Luke 24:13-35

April 28, 2023 00:58 - 40 minutes - 46.4 MB

In this sermon we focus on what it means to talk and discuss the things of faith, especially in the midst of division. We begin with Luke 24 and then turn to Acts 15 to a first century example of discerning the way forward when it's different from the past.   

04.16.2023 - Hope and the Wounds of Jesus - 1 Peter 1.3-9

April 23, 2023 16:46 - 39 minutes - 45.3 MB

In this sermon we talk about the Christian understanding of hope in terms of God’s movement towards the poor, marginalized, and oppressed as the way in which God moves for all things.   

04.09.2023 - God in the Garden - John 20:1-18

April 23, 2023 16:43 - 31 minutes - 36.5 MB

In this sermon we focus on the resurrection of Jesus in John’s gospel, what it means to recognize God in this surprising but consistent way, and all the things that happen in the garden.

04.02.2023 - Will I Welcome Him? - Matthew 21:1-11

April 05, 2023 16:34 - 28 minutes - 32.2 MB

In this sermon we look at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We focus on our expectations of who Jesus is, considering that God reveals who God is on God’s own terms not ours.

03.26.2023 - It's (Not) A Zombie Story - John 11:1-45

March 30, 2023 23:38 - 35 minutes - 40.8 MB

In this sermon we look at the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. We talk about empathy versus sympathy, how a zombie story helps us understand the Lazarus story, and an ancient poem by a guy named Simeon about waking up in Christ’s body.

03.19.2023 -To See or Not to See -John 9:1-41

March 23, 2023 02:08 - 27 minutes - 31.9 MB

In this sermon consider the story of man born blind but healed by Jesus, of what it means to see (with the help of a Bob Dylan song).  

03.05.2023 - To Love in Such a Way - John 3:1-17

March 07, 2023 21:59 - 24 minutes - 27.8 MB

In this sermon we look at the famous conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, what it means to be pushed to the edges and why its necessary for growth, consider how the gospel can be misconstrued, talk about the phrase ‘born again’, what it means of Jesus to be ‘lifted up’, and mold.

02.26.2023 - Wilderness Wonderings - Matthew 4:1-11

March 02, 2023 17:33 - 22 minutes - 26 MB

In this sermon we consider Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, it’s connection to Israel’s story in wilderness after the exodus, a place called glass beach, and some challenging questions from Frederich Buechner.

02.22.2023 - "Love in the Time That We Have" - Matthew 6:25-33; 6:1-6, 16-21

March 02, 2023 17:32 - 15 minutes - 17.4 MB

In this sermon we reflect on Ash Wednesday, what it means to wear the ashes, a story about a father living in the hallways of joy and sadness, a film called Collateral Beauty, A song about useless beauty, a scene from Ted Lasso, what it means to give/pray/fast, and loving in the time that we have (thanks Iron and Wine).

02.19.2023 - There Are Lot’s of Way to Be in God’s Presence - Matthew 17: 1-9

February 22, 2023 21:41 - 27 minutes - 31.4 MB

In this sermon we look at the transfiguration of Jesus, the different expressions of light throughout the church year, Peter’s response and the various ways to interpret it, and Asbury University and the question of what it means to be in the presence of God.

02.12.2023 - Discipleship as Filling and Pouring - John 2:1-11

February 15, 2023 21:37 - 27 minutes - 31 MB

In this sermon we look at the story about Jesus at the wedding in Cana. We consider what weddings were like back then, that there was a whole year of preparation leading up to this moment, and we consider the action of filling and pouring as first and second half of life matters (thank you Richard Rohr).

02.05.2023 - The Divine Echo - Matthew 4.12-23

February 08, 2023 22:25 - 23 minutes - 26.6 MB

In this sermon we look at what discipleship meant in the first century Jewish context and consider what it might mean to be called to follow Jesus. Hint: calling begins with listening to God speak to you.

01.29.2023 - A Song for Followers - John: 1:29-42

January 31, 2023 23:29 - 29 minutes - 33.2 MB

In this sermon we consider Jesus’ question to the disciples, “what are you looking for?” with a little help from U2, Clarence Jordan, and a personal experience.  

01.22.2023 - The Brooding Spirit of God - Matthew 3:13-17

January 25, 2023 20:59 - 23 minutes - 26.4 MB

In this sermon we look at the story of Jesus’ baptism, what it has to do with the season of Epiphany, and a string of connection about what it means to come up out of the waters towards the New Creation God is bringing about in Jesus. And some help, again, from Flannery O’Connor.  

01.08.2023 - New Travel Plans - Matthew 2: 1-12

January 11, 2023 17:29 - 18 minutes - 20.9 MB

In this sermon we consider the story of the Magi and what it means to pay attention to the divine in both ordinary and extraordinary ways.  

01.01.2023 - Ponder - Luke 2:15-20

January 04, 2023 17:27 - 27 minutes - 31.4 MB

In this sermon Pastor Alicia McClintic considers the person of Mary as she ponders her experience of the birth of her son, Jesus.

12.24.2022 - Hey! Unto You a Child is Born - Luke 2:1-20

December 28, 2022 17:26 - 17 minutes - 19.5 MB

In this sermon we enter into the nativity scene through the eyes of the family Herdman in order to see anew the story of Jesus’ birth.  

12.18.2022 - God With Us, Really - Matthew 1:18-25

December 21, 2022 18:59 - 31 minutes - 36.1 MB

In this sermon we look at the story of Joseph receiving news about Mary being pregnant and we consider through it what it means to confess that God is with us in the significant and insignificant things of life.

12.11.2022 - Home to Joy - Isaiah 35:1-10

December 18, 2022 17:52 - 19 minutes - 22.8 MB

In this sermon Kevin Portillo takes into Isaiah to talk about joy and being brought home to God.

12.04.2022 - Go to the Edges - Matthew 3:1-12

December 07, 2022 17:49 - 25 minutes - 29.7 MB

In this sermon we look the person of John the Baptist, what it means to expect him while being surprised by him, what it means to be called into the wilderness (on purpose), how what edges and tree rings have to teach us.

11.27.2022 - The Here and There of Advent - Matthew 24:36-44

November 30, 2022 22:43 - 27 minutes - 31 MB

In this sermon we consider the season of Advent and what it means to live in light of the first and second coming of Jesus.

11.20.2022 - Capturing Days - Nehemiah 8

November 30, 2022 22:41 - 28 minutes - 32.6 MB

In this sermon we consider the importance of how we tell time and what it means for Christ to reign over our days.

11.13.2022 - An Invitation to Switch Stories - Matthew 7:13-29

November 18, 2022 19:18 - 28 minutes - 32.5 MB

In this sermon we conclude our look at the Sermon on the Mount. We talk about the metaphors Jesus ends with as an invitation to switch stories, to find our role within the story of God.

11.06.2022 - Water is Everywhere - Matthew 7:1-12

November 11, 2022 17:41 - 28 minutes - 32.6 MB

In this sermon we consider Jesus’ teaching about specks and logs in eyes, pearls before pigs, and what it means to ask, seek, and knock. We do this with the help of David Foster Wallace and his parable about fish. We consider what it means to become people capable of paying attention to what is often hidden just beneath the surface of our ordinary lives. This is to become compassionate people, people who want goodness for others.  

10.30.2022 - The Trees, Our Teachers of God - Matthew 6:19-34

November 04, 2022 19:50 - 27 minutes - 31.9 MB

In this sermon we talk about nature (birds, lilies, trees) as thin places where we sense God’s presence, a place where the veil between heaven and earth seems a little more see through and God a little more present. We consider what Wendell Berry’s reflection on trees has to teach us in this, and how a quote from a poet helped me understand why God seems more present in nature. We close with a reflection from the desert fathers and mothers (and the movie Contact) about what it means to detac...

10.23.2022 - The One Thing - Matthew 6:1-21

October 27, 2022 17:15 - 27 minutes - 32 MB

In this sermon we consider the connection between our inner and outer lives through Jesus’ teaching about giving, praying, and fasting. We consider what it means first to desire God, how to cultivate a desire for God, and how that flows out in our actions.