Church at the Center

Follower: Gone Fishing

Luke 10:1-24

Pastor Jennifer A G Layte--sort of

The congregation gives the sermon.

Follower: A New Job and a New Name

John 1:35-42; Luke 5:1-11; Matthew 4:18-20

Pastor Jennifer A G Layte 

"Simon didn’t know it yet, but his soul—which had just been named 'Rocky'—was about to be shaped in the hands of a skilled craftsman."

Bring the Kingdom: The Difference

Matthew 7:7-29

Pastor Jennifer A G Layte - Resurrection Sunday

"Alleluia! Christ is risen! And that makes all the difference."

Bring the Kingdom: Don't Judge Me!

Matthew 7:1-7

Pastor Jennifer A G Layte - Palm Sunday

"Palm Sunday. Come join us! 

We’re still at Hosanna (deliver us!)  

And not yet Hallelujah (praise God!) 

But this is where we start.  

Welcome to the human condition."

Bring the Kingdom: Worry and Stuff

Matthew 6:19-34

Pastor Jennifer A G Layte 

"Worry never fixes anything."

Bring the Kingdom - A Really Big Shew

Matthew 6:1-18

Pastor Jennifer A G Layte 

"Are other people supposed to see our good works or not?"

Bring the Kingdom: Absolutely Everything

Matthew 5:17-48

Pastor Jennifer A G Layte 

"In today’s passage, Jesus calls out the baggage—three basic ways that human beings operate in the world before we enter the Kingdom of Heaven, that He does not want us dragging back in there: 1. We diminish other people’s personhood, which was created in God’s image just like ours was. 2. We objectify or use people. 3. When other people diminish or objectify or use us, we retaliate. We lash out. These aren’t just behaviors, they run deep. They are core default responses in every human being—except for Jesus, who, as He says, fulfills the Law. As He illustrates these three approaches to life and people, He shows them up for what they really are, and the remedies He prescribes are impossible without Him."

Bring the Kingdom: Supremely Blessed

Matthew 5:1-16

Pastor Jennifer A G Layte 

"This list is a description of people who are blessed—and what their blessing looks like. Notice something here—none of the things on this list are actions. They absolutely one-hundred-percent will lead to action, but this isn’t a list of rules and rewards. This is a list of characteristics, personal qualities—what a follower of Jesus looks like, and the reality—the blessing—behind that characteristic. Remember how we said we will look more like Jesus when we contemplate His glory? The Beatitudes are what God’s love/glory looks like through His people."

The Gift of Hesed

2 Samuel 9:1-13

Rev Sheree Harrington 

"God's covenant love for His people involves total commitment as well as a deep affection."

His Glory the Glory: Right Here, Right Now

2 Corinthians 3

Pastor Jennifer A G Layte 

"We contemplate God’s glory in Jesus Christ, and when we accept God’s invitation to enter His life, His own Spirit enters our lives and transforms us more and more—“with ever-increasing glory”—to look, act, sound like Him. As we are transformed, we ourselves become the face of God’s glory to the rest of the world. We are the sixth facet."