In this sermon for the Third Sunday in Advent, "Joy," we explore the story of the shepherds and the angels' announcement—the "Gloria." What does it mean that God's great, extraordinary glory first breaks in upon the most ordinary, mud-caked, and weather-worn people?

We look at:

• The Ordinary Shepherds: How their simple, unearned divine appointment offers a profound message of acceptance—your everyday life is good enough for God.
• The Titles: A look at the layered, powerful titles given to the Christ child—Savior, Messiah, Lord—and how to connect them to your personal struggles and needs today.
• The Gloria's Embrace: An unpacking of the ancient hymn, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests," arguing that God's favor and peace are spacious enough to pull everyone in, seeking both the lowly and the high-riding.

Ultimately, this message is a reminder that Christmas is about our "glorious humanity" being given back to us, finding the extraordinary packed into a simple, ordinary life.

In this Advent sermon, we explore the second canticle of Luke’s gospel—the Benedictus, the prophetic song of Zechariah.
Before he could sing, Zechariah had to face something deeper than disbelief: the fear that God had forgotten him. And maybe that’s a fear many of us hold quietly during the Christmas season.

In this message we look at:

✨ Why Scripture gives us songs—not just stories—to prepare us for Christmas
🌑 How the “dark nights” of waiting shape us
🔒 The hidden spaces where shame, disappointment, and unanswered prayers live
🌅 And the renewed hope that breaks in when God whispers, “Do not be afraid… your prayer has been heard.”

If Christmas feels heavy, complicated, or lonely, this sermon reminds us: there is room for your story in the Advent story.
God sees the hidden places. God hears the long-held prayers. And God meets us with light—guiding our feet back to the path of peace.

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"My soul magnifies the Lord." Kicking off our Advent series, Advent: The Musical, we dive into the first song: the radical and revolutionary Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).

In this message, we explore:
Model Disciples: The powerful, non-competitive relationship between Mary and Elizabeth.
An Oldie: How Mary's song borrows from the prophetic words of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2.
The Reversal: Why the Magnificat is a fierce, political song that declares God sides with the humble and marginalized, scattering the arrogant and pulling down the mighty.
Like Mother, Like Son: The striking connection between Mary's song and the later words of Jesus, including the Beatitudes, showing that he "sounds a lot like her."
Join us as we contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation—God arriving in unexpected ways—and learn to trust the pattern of the Magnificat reversal in our own lives.

Genesis 22 is one of the most troubling stories in all of Scripture. In this sermon, Jeremy walks through the binding of Isaac with honesty, curiosity, and deep pastoral care. Rather than rushing to easy answers, he explores the generational trauma behind Abraham’s family, the God who sees Hagar, and why this difficult text challenges our imagination of God.

What if the real test in this story isn’t blind obedience?
What if God is inviting Abraham—and us—into a deeper understanding of divine goodness?
And what does this story reveal about the God who ultimately leads us toward compassion, justice, and the Christ who shows us God’s true heart?

Join us as we wrestle with:
• The God Who Sees
• The God Who Tests
• The Fallout
• The Second Question
• And how this ancient story reshapes our imagination of God

If you’ve ever struggled with this passage, you’re not alone. This sermon offers a thoughtful, hopeful path forward.

What really happened in Sodom and Gomorrah—and why has this story been so badly misunderstood? In this sermon, Jeremy Duncan takes us past the clichés and weaponized readings to explore one of the most difficult and infamous passages in the Bible.

Beginning with Abraham’s bold negotiation with God, we look at what this story reveals about divine character: a God who listens, responds, and invites us into courageous, honest conversation. Far from depicting a capricious or vindictive deity, the narrative highlights God’s patience, justice, and surprising willingness to engage with human questions.

We also explore what the Bible itself says about “the sin of Sodom”—drawing from Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Jesus, and Jude—to show that this story has never been a single-issue judgment. Instead, Scripture portrays Sodom as a symbol of humanity’s worst impulses: arrogance, injustice, greed, violence, exploitation, and the refusal to welcome the stranger.

Most importantly, we confront the story’s deeper message: that it is extraordinarily hard to remove yourself from the reach of God’s grace. Even the worst city imaginable could have been saved for the sake of ten righteous people. Judgment is real, but God’s compassion is relentless—and the entire Abraham narrative points us toward a God whose primary posture is not power, but love.

If you’ve ever wrestled with hard texts, struggled with the idea of God’s judgment, or wondered what these ancient stories mean for a life of faith today, this teaching will help you see Sodom and Gomorrah in a new light.

Join us as Scott delves into Genesis 15, exploring Abraham's journey of faith and doubt. This sermon unpacks the "base of fear" we often experience, the "hard-fought" space "where faith forms" through honest questions, and the "sacramental discernment" that guides our "ways forward." Discover how God's "sure sign" in a unilateral covenant reveals His unwavering commitment, stretching beyond our limited years and inviting us to live with a faith that trusts His goodness in every small, painful step.

In this week’s teaching, Jeremy explores Genesis 13 and the moment Abraham begins to trust God after failure. Coming out of his mistakes in Egypt, Abraham is faced with a new test — will fear guide him again, or will faith take root this time? This story of Abraham and Lot isn’t just ancient history; it’s a mirror for our own journeys of grace, learning, and renewal.

If you’ve ever felt weighed down by regret, uncertain about what comes next, or wondered whether you can begin again — this message is for you.

🕊️ Series: Big Promises, Small Steps

📖 Text: Genesis 13

🎙️ Speaker: Jeremy Duncan

📍 Commons Church

#Faith #Genesis13 #Abraham #CommonsChurch #BigPromisesSmallSteps

This sermon, "Big Promises Small Steps," explores the story of Abraham and Sarah from Genesis, focusing on themes of discernment, the challenges of beauty, and God's unwavering devotion. It delves into how individuals navigate big and small changes in life, drawing parallels between ancient narratives and contemporary experiences. The sermon also touches on the "Matriarch in Danger" type-scene in Genesis and its foreshadowing of the Exodus story, highlighting God's remembrance and liberation of the vulnerable. It encourages listeners to reflect on their own fears and struggles, and to find hope in God's persistent presence through life's difficulties.