Rev. Sally S. Wright preaches about God’s inexplicable presence of awe and glory mixed with the daily focus to spot God on the move. God is both in this place and in everyplace. So, then why do we have churches, sanctuaries and holy places? Our spiritual grandfather Jacob shows us what it means to have places of worship and to find God on the move. Our scripture reading is Genesis 28:10-22. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

Village Pres Sermons

Finding God–This Place and On the Move - Rev. Sally S. Wright

Rev. Tom Are considers the final Great End of the church. Our spiritual grandparents taught us that the church exists for the promotion of social righteousness. Jesus was always concerned about how we relate to others, so a concern for healthy communities is a faithful concern. Our scripture reading is Amos 15:21-24. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

The Promotion of Social Righteousness – Rev. Tom Are

On World Communion Sunday, Rev. Tom Are reflects on the Sixth Great End of the church, “The Exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the World.” When we share a meal with others, it is easier to see them as friends. Our scripture readings are John 13:34-35 and Matthew 28:16-20. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

The Exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the World – Rev. Tom Are

Rev. Tom Are preaches on the Fourth Great End of the church, "The Preservation of the Truth." This work may be more important these days than in any other time in our lives. Truth is often attacked. It is sometimes ignored. When this occurs, communities are put at risk, because we cannot stay in healthy relationships without truth. Our scripture readings are Exodus 32:1-6 and John 18:33-38. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

The Preservation of the Truth – Rev. Tom Are

The maintenance of divine worship is the third great end of the church. Worship can seem like an experience, like the satisfaction of sharing a good meal, or the relaxation of taking a walk through a park, or even the rush of riding a roller coaster. But experiences don’t require maintenance. Rev. Tom Are preaches this great end teaches us that worship, even more than an experience, is a practice, a discipline, an act of reminding ourselves what life is for. Our scripture reading is Isaiah 6:1-8. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

The Maintenance of Divine Worship – Rev. Tom Are

Today, Rev. Tom Are considers the second great end of the church: “the shelter, nurture and spiritual fellowship of the children of God.” In his last sermon, we were reminded that we belong to God. It follows that belonging to God means we also belong to one another. This great end claims the children of God require shelter, nurture and spiritual friendship. When it comes to faith, our relationship to one another is where the rubber hits the road. Our scripture reading is 2 Timothy 1:3-7. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

The Shelter, Nurture and Spiritual Fellowship of the Children of God – Rev. Tom Are

This sermon series title is about church. More specifically, what is the church for? What does the church mean to you? And what should the church mean to the world? The Presbyterian (USA) denomination has some historic statements called the “Great Ends of the Church” that attempt to speak to these questions. In this series, Rev. Tom Are reflects on each of these statements to mine their wisdom for our lives in these days. Our scripture reading is John 3:1-10.Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

The Proclamation of the Gospel for the Salvation of Humankind - Rev. Tom Are

We have walked through the letter from James, learning about what matters: listening, actions, words and prayer. In this sermon, we finish the series in James as our youth reflect on wisdom matters. Their experiences over the summer have lent them wisdom they have brought home with them. How have the experiences in your life brought you wisdom? And where might God be working in the midst of that wisdom? Our scripture reading is James 3:13-18. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

Wisdom Matters - Village Youth Elie Patterson, Espie Lemon and Ella Hans

Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka concludes the preaching series from the Book of James. We’ve talked together about how listening matters, actions matter and words matter. In this sermon, he talks about how praying matters. James 5:16 reads: The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Rodger believes that. He talks about what that means and why that is so. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

Praying Matters – Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka

Growing up many of us may have heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” We know that is not true. Words have tremendous power. They can hurt deeply. They can also heal. James warns us to be careful with our words. Our scripture reading will be James 3:5b-12. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

Words Matter – Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka

Many have come to appreciate James for his practical wisdom and most have come to understand that while we cannot earn our way to God’s grace, faithful followers of Jesus need to not only talk about faith but do it. Our scripture reading is James 2:14-17. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

Actions Matter – Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka

Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka begins a four-week sermon series titled, "Practical Wisdom from James." Our scripture reading is James 1:17-21. James gives us a practical formula for how we are to live as followers of Jesus: listen first, speak slowly and be even slower to get angry.Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

Listening Matters - Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka

As the parable goes, the bridesmaids had to wait. They had to wait longer than you might expect. Someone once said, “Good things come to those who wait.” But waiting doesn’t guarantee that good things will come. After a while, you begin to wonder if you are really waiting or just wasting the day with no good thing coming. Our scripture reading is Matthew 25:1-13. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

Faith Requires Patience – Rev. Tom Are

Change can be hard; everyone knows that. Even if the change is for our benefit, there is a comfort in the ways things have always been. “The devil you know,” as they say. But no one draws closer to God’s promised day by living yesterday all over again. Our scripture reading is Matthew 22:1-14. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

Grace Expectations – Rev. Tom Are

Jesus tells a story where a landowner goes out to hire day-laborers for his vineyard. The issue is the ones he hired at the beginning of the day receive the same wage as the ones hired at the end of the day. Rev. Sally Wright asks what does the story tell us about ourselves? More importantly, what does this story show us about who God is? Our scripture reading is Matthew 20:1-16. Support the show (https://www.villagepres.org/giving.html)

Who Can Be Saved? - Rev. Sally Wright

Join us for worship in person Sundays at 8, 9:30, 11 a.m. or 5 p.m. at our Mission Campus in Prairie Village or at 9:30 a.m. at our Antioch Campus in Overland Park. Or worship with us live online at www.villagepres.org/online.

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Village Pres Sermons

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