Marysville Nazarene

Jesus teaches his disciples that prayer is not a vending machine or a checklist of requests, but rather a response to our covenantal relationship with God, rooted in identity, trust, and alignment with His will. The Lord’s Prayer is an invitation to live as God’s people, shaped by our dependence on his leading, provision, and grace. 

Guest speaker, Dr. David Mabry from Encompass Ministries, explores the biblical framework for building healthy, Christ-centered relationships by focusing on the New Testament's "one another" commands. By breaking down our relational calling into five actionable steps, we can move beyond simply existing near people and into intentional engagement, bringing Jesus' heart into our daily interactions.

On the first Easter morning in Luke 24, the women arrive at the tomb expecting death--but in the Upside Down Kingdom, graves give birth to life! The stone is rolled away, He is not there, and the greatest flip in history is revealed--Jesus is ALIVE! What looked like the end was actually just the beginning, and God is still turning our stories right-side up today.

In this message, we look at Jesus' "cleansing" of the temple through a different lens. Rather than just an act of anger, we see Jesus clearing out the "business as usual" to make room for those on the margins. We often think the way of Christ is "upside down," but when we see that life comes through death--just like pruning a tree for new growth--we realize it's actually the only way to live right-side up. What needs to be cleared out of your life to make room for what God wants to do?

In the Upside Down Kingdom of Jesus, humility and confidence find common ground in the light of God’s mercy. Luke 18:9-14 will help us check our posture, revealing whether we are performing for OR relating to God. 

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables of a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. But the stories are less about lost things and more about the heart of God who searches for those who are far from Him. The Upside Down Kingdom reminds us that while people may focus on the what or who went wrong, heaven celebrates those who are found.

In Luke 10:25–37, Jesus never calls the Samaritan “good,” yet his compassion crosses cultural and religious boundaries and reveals what true goodness looks like in the Upside Down Kingdom. In a story filled with questions, we are left with one that matters most to Jesus; “Will I become a neighbor who shows mercy?”

In Luke 8, a storm reveals the disciples’ fear, but it also shows the power of Jesus’ presence. In the Upside Down Kingdom, faith is not the absence of fear—it is learning to trust the One who is in the boat with us.

In the upside-down Jesus notices and restores people the world overlooks—a sick servant, a grieving widow. He crosses boundaries of power, purity, and social status to show us that in God’s kingdom no one is invisible, and faith is revealed in our response to the unnamed. 

Jesus confronts an upside-down view of Sabbath by showing that God’s rest is meant to restore life, not restrict it. True Sabbath invites us to trust God enough to stop and be made whole, creating space for God to work IN and THROUGH us. 

In our culture today, we often see those who resist God’s voice find security in their circumstances, while those who follow do so out of humility, obedience, and trust. In Luke 4 and 5, Jesus reveals that being called is not about being ready or feeling qualified, but about responding to His mission--even when it challenges our comfort and expectations. This is the upside-down kingdom of Jesus. 

Jesus reveals an upside-down kingdom by seeking out Zacchaeus, a man written off by society, and offering grace before demanding change. Luke 19:10 captures the heart of Jesus’ mission—to seek and to save the lost, even when it creates tension with our religious expectations and what cultural considers normal.

From three, wise, gift-bearing kings to a power-mongering king, to a tiny baby born a King, the final days of the Christmas season may seem filled with drama. But, is it really a tale of We Three Kings? Is it a clash of two kings? Or will it be a promise fulfilled by the King of Kings?

The promises spoken by the prophets don’t end with a baby in a manger; they continue in the life Jesus lived. In Hebrews 2, we see Jesus as the pioneer of true humanity, revealing not only who he is, but who humans were always meant to be. This sermon invites us to look beyond Christmas morning and consider how God’s promise continues through a way of life marked by humility, service, and self-giving love.

The prophets promised that love would compel God come near —Immanuel, God with us. In Jesus, that promise is fulfilled, revealing a love that is not earned and is more than a feeling. Revealing a sacrificial, steadfast, and personal love. Advent invites us to receive this gift and allow this love to shape how we live as we prepare for Christ’s coming.

The prophets promised a joy that would not depend on circumstances but on the coming of God Himself--a joy that restores, strengthens, and transforms. That promise is fulfilled in Jesus as presence, salvation, and purpose, giving us a joy the world cannot create or take away. 

The prophets remind us that God’s promise of peace was spoken long before Jesus was born. In a world filled with noise, conflict, and restlessness, the person of Christ offers the deep, restoring shalom our hearts were created to discover in the birth of the Prince of Peace.  

Advent invites us to hear again the prophetic voices that pointed to Christ, reminding us that every promise of God finds its “Yes” in Him. While our human hopes begin with basic needs and grow toward deeper longings for meaning, belonging, and restoration, true fulfillment is found only in the promised Savior. 

In Thanks and Giving, we celebrate how blessing leads to gratitude, and gratitude overflows into generosity expressed through faithful stewardship. As we steward our relationships, gifts, resources, and the gospel itself, we witness God’s faithfulness, join His mission, and offer our next “yes” to the work of His Kingdom.