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The Orchard Church

The Orchard Church

By The Orchard Church

This is The Orchard Church, a podcast where the Word of God is taught to point people to Jesus Christ and help them to look more like Him.
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Living Excellent Lives: Leadership in Your Family

The Orchard ChurchJun 17, 2019

00:00
34:30
Empty Nets

Empty Nets

Bob Dylan once famously sang, “The times they are a-changin'.” The experiences of the last year may have left you feeling empty. These past few months remind us that sin is ugly. It wreaks havoc in our lives. There is only one answer, only one Savior who can provide meaning and hope to the seeming hopelessness of life. That’s Jesus—who walked out of his own grave on Resurrection Sunday, the victor over sin and death. Jesus is the answer to our struggle and the solution to the emptiness we feel.

How can a floating pulpit, a Rabbi, a miraculous fishing experience, and a terrified fisherman provide some answers for our emptiness?

Empty Sermon Series - Week 1 of 4 - 3.21.21

Mar 30, 202135:57
Jesus, Friend Of Sinners

Jesus, Friend Of Sinners

Jesus is called a ‘friend of sinners,’ by the Pharisees which was intended to be an insult, but nothing could be further from the truth. In many ways, the Bible is a story of friendship. There is friendship within the Godhead between Father, Son, and Spirit. God befriends Adam and Eve in the garden, but sin broke the friendship. As God’s revelation continues, people stay distant, and friendship with God repeatedly fails because of sin. Jesus came to restore our friendship with God.

What kind of a friend is Jesus? On the night when betrayal would be exposed, and those closest to him would abandon him, he called them friends. During the most intense suffering and pain, when Jesus had every right to lash out, he suffered for them. Jesus would demonstrate the greatest love for others as he laid down his life on the cross for his friends.

Is it possible to have a friend who knows you better than anyone, even better than you know yourself? A friend knowing everything about you, still loving you, and even liking you? Could you have a friend who would transform you to become a better friend to others? Yes. His name is Jesus. He is a friend of sinners. It seems complicated, but Jesus changes everything.


It's Complicated Sermon Series - Week 4 of 5 - 3.07.21

Mar 08, 202133:03
Recovering Friendship

Recovering Friendship

“To the Ancients, friendship seemed the happiest and most fully human of all loves; the crown of life and the school of virtue. The modern world, in comparison, ignores it.” – C. S. Lewis

Is this true? Are we ignoring friendship? Have we forgotten what friendship is all together? One study shows that in 1985 the average American had about three friends, defined as people whom we can confide in, people with whom we share the most important things in life. But by 2004, just nineteen years later, the average American only had two close friends, and one in four had no one this close at all. What efforts need to be made to recover friendship?

We are made for friendships, but It’s Complicated. Sin has corrupted our friendships. To be a sinner means living with the regular possibility that our friendships will suffer from our (and others’) selfishness, inattention, busyness, anger, pride, self-righteousness, fear, and laziness. Sin may do real and regular damage to our friendships, but our love for Christ and each other means we continually seek repair.

Only when we’re made whole in Christ can we enjoy genuinely healthy friendships with others because only then will we desire to give love as much as we want to receive it since we’ve already been satisfied by the God who created love. It’s Complicated, but Jesus changes everything.


It's Complicated Sermon Series - Week 3 - Friendships - 2.28.21

Feb 28, 202133:09
Parents And Kids: Pressure, Peers, And Perseverance

Parents And Kids: Pressure, Peers, And Perseverance

When a baby is born, the world stops and changes. Schedules are altered. Focus is redirected. Sleep is forfeited. God's kindness is on display. Children are a blessing from the Lord. Learning to eat, crawl, talk, and go potty seems to be the order of the day. Kids change so quickly. Preschool arrives as the world gets bigger and is filled with wonder. The question, "Why?" seems to repeat like a one-hit-wonder. The elementary years change everything as the world gets scheduled, and now our little ones have obligations and homework. However, about the time we decide we have things figured out, middle school hits, and our children realize that the world is broken and every day become s a new battle. Friends begin to have more influence, and we start to wonder what happened to our kids. Faith is changing, and questions begin to arise, and by the time high school arrives, these adults in training want control over everything as they prepare to leave the nest. 

In God's kindness, he has made the home a sanctifying community as our sin is exposed by the closeness we share. We battle our hearts and fight with each other. We learn about grace and see how time flies. The gospel's truth is transferred through relationships, and the home is intended to be a place of teaching and instruction. Relationships between parents and kids are complicated, but Jesus makes them better.


It's Complicated Sermon Series - Week 2 - 2.21.21

Feb 22, 202142:30
Marriage: A Messy, Mystical Union

Marriage: A Messy, Mystical Union

We are made for relationships, but It’s Complicated, and after a year like 2020, our relationships are showing wear. Sin has corrupted our relationships. To be a sinner means living with the regular possibility that our relationships will suffer from our (and others’) selfishness, inattention, busyness, anger, pride, self-righteousness, fear, and laziness. It’s not simply that our relationships break: it’s that we routinely do the breaking. This may not be the world we want, but it’s the world we have.

The reality that relationships are complicated does not mean resigning ourselves or giving up. Jesus told his disciples just hours before his betrayal and arrest that he was building a new community identified by their love for one another (John 13:35). Sin may do real and regular damage to our relationships, but our love for Christ and each other means we keep working. Only when we’re made whole in Christ can we enjoy genuinely healthy relationships with others because only then will we desire to give love as much as we want to receive it since we’ve already been satisfied by the God who created love. Yes, It’s Complicated, but Jesus changes everything.

It's Complicated Sermon Series - Week 1 - 2.14.21

Feb 22, 202136:54
Step Out

Step Out

What's Next has been a series that is a parable of the Christian life. Jesus comes to save us from the slavery of sin, and as his grace transforms us, we are very different from the person we were in the wilderness. In obedience, we pass through the waters of baptism to obey God and declare our love and trust in him to the world. We daily work to fix our eyes and Jesus as we rest in our Passover lamb and share his life by the Spirit. However, when the battle seems impossible, we must remember that nothing and no one can stand before the Commander of the heavenly host. The victory is his and ours! Keep trusting. Keep worshipping. Keep obeying. Keep the faith. Step Out in confidence.


What's Next Sermon Series: Step Out - February 7, 2021

Feb 09, 202131:20
What's Next: Step In

What's Next: Step In

Waiting. Patience may be a virtue, but it feels more like a pain. It seems that the world has been on hold because of COVID. People talk about getting back to normal while words like postponed, canceled, and everyday activities are unrecognizable. Joshua and the children of Israel have just spent forty years in the wilderness wandering. The land promised to Abraham must have felt more like a vanishing dream than a divine covenant soon to be fulfilled. What are you supposed to do when the river is at flood stage, and there’s no way to cross? What’s the way forward? What’s Next? Step In.

What's Next Sermon Series - Week 2 of 4 - January 24, 2021

Jan 26, 202137:31
Whats Next? Just One Step

Whats Next? Just One Step

On May 19, 2014, US Navy Admiral, William H. McRaven, gave a commencement speech at the University of Texas, often referred to as the “Make Your Bed” speech. He said, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” This decorated officer has seen a lot, but he knows the importance of doing the little things like making your bed before changing the world for generations to come.

Uncertainty. Loneliness. Perhaps fear. Joshua has been commanded to be courageous, but he knows that he is too small for his given task. The test of faith has come to Joshua. God will test us for our good, but the enemy tempts us for our destruction. Joshua has received God’s word. God had given Joshua his promise to be with him to take the land, and he could approach it with confidence, but how God would accomplish the task were not to be presumed and would be given along the way. What should he do? Joshua believed God and began his planning.

The decision to send spies was the standard operating procedure. Details about Jericho would help plan a battle strategy and attack. Joshua does not yet know that God is preparing to act on behalf of his people miraculously. God works typically through ’natural’ means, but he may do the miraculous. Joshua does not yet understand what God has been doing and what he is about to do. Joshua believed God and began planning and praying, and although the plan didn’t work perfectly, it confirmed that he was working to keep his promise.

Joshua does not know that God is about to deliver Jericho into the hands of his people in a miraculous way, but he knows that prayer and provisions are both needed. What about us? The world seems crazy right now. What will happen during the inauguration later this week? What about the vaccine? Yes, these things have massive implications and could change the course of history, but what about the small things? What about the ordinary means of grace and the simple things we know to do? What about standard operating procedures for Christians? When we face times of uncertainty and change, we need to remember God’s promises and rely on his presence. Nothing is impossible for God, but his primary focus is his glory, not our comfort. What should you do when you are faced with uncertainty, anxiety, or fear? What’s Next? Just One Step… Faith.

Jan 19, 202134:38
Love Your Pastor, Love Your Church

Love Your Pastor, Love Your Church

On Pastor Sam Shaw's final Sunday, he leaves a message for The Orchard and Pastor John Nix.

January 10, 2021

Jan 13, 202127:21
Facing 2021 With Courage and Confidence

Facing 2021 With Courage and Confidence

Join us as Pastor Sam Shaw walks us through Philippians 1:12-21, answering the question, "Where does our confidence and courage come from?"

Stand-Alone Sermon - January 3, 2021

Jan 06, 202134:50
Trusting God for an Uncertain Future

Trusting God for an Uncertain Future

James 4:13-17 says: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Join us as Co-Pastor Sam Shaw walks us through three mistakes to avoid when planning for an uncertain future.

December 27, 2020

Dec 29, 202027:44
Christmas With The Orchard

Christmas With The Orchard

For many of us, this is not exactly what we expected for Christmas Eve. Being forced to gather online in our homes  is not how many of us would have planned it. But as Luke, Chapter 2 shows us, sometimes plans can change. Join us for a Christmas Eve Message from Pastor John about how God often breaks through when plans change and in unexpected ways. 

Christmas Eve. 2020

Dec 29, 202010:16
A Mission of Peace

A Mission of Peace

Peace? What is peace? It usually depends on who you ask… To those at war, it is a ceasefire. To those with hectic lives, it is calm and still. For those with anxiety or depression, it is inner tranquility. To the parent of small children, it is a moment of quiet. To those in complicated relationships, it is a lack of conflict, whether internal or external. A lack of peace affects individuals, families, communities, and nations. People can try to manufacture peace or fake peace by pretending not to care or that everything is fine, not realizing that any peace we produce is fragile. 

Jesus came on a peace mission to save sinners, so He entered the conflict as a baby. The first Christmas was not a peaceful experience. Mary and Joseph's lives were turned upside down. The shepherds' night was interrupted by a terrifying experience. Born probably in a cave, our Lord Himself would spend His early days as a refugee from the bloodthirsty and vindictive madman. Advent is about the Prince of Peace and his peace mission. 

Advent 2020: Peace Sermon Series - 12.20.20

Dec 21, 202030:27
The Pursuit of Peace

The Pursuit of Peace

he peace we are looking at is not subjective, inner calm in one’s spirit, those who never engage in disagreement, or a compromising spirit. The biblical concept of peace is different. It is not merely the lack of conflict, hostility, or Wherever Jesus goes, he brings peace. He is the Prince of Peace. When he was born and came to earth, the angels cried, “Peace on earth.” Peace was the farewell gift he left to his disciples. The greatest “peace” Jesus achieved for us is that He took away the enmity between us and God by His death on the cross.  

Charlie Chaplin said, “I am at peace with God. My conflict is with man.”  

The world seems to grow more hostile everyday. We live in an age of individual, ethnic, political and national aggression. Anger and frustration harness enormous energy and they want results fast. We live in a broken world marred by sin, but the command to live peaceably is meant, not for an ideal environment, but for this sinful world, a world inhabited by people like us.  

As Christians, we can have peace with God because of Jesus and then actively work to bring about peace and reconciliation where there is hatred and enmity. Peacemakers are not primarily concerned with themselves, their rights, or what others think. Peacemakers are recognized as members of God’s family. How can we pursue peace in a world gone mad?  

Advent 2020: Peace Sermon Series - 12.13.20

Dec 21, 202029:56
The Gift And Guardian of Hearts And Minds

The Gift And Guardian of Hearts And Minds

“The first great and primary business . . . every day was to have my soul happy in the Lord.” –George Mueller

Is it possible to be at peace with yourself? Our hearts and minds are under siege with a global pandemic, quarantines, closures, lost jobs, financial hardships, social unrest, and general uncertainty. Everyone seems to be struggling with something heavy right now. Mentally and emotionally we are a powder keg just waiting for the spark and, as the fuse burns, we could explode at any moment. 

Peace is a spiritual issue, but there are accompanying physical signs when it comes to anxiety as well: unusual mood swings, irritability, anger, sweating, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, exhaustion, nervous twitching, decreased concentration and memory, nausea, shortness of breath, hair loss, weight gain or loss, panic, indecisiveness, canker sores, muscle tension, insomnia, and high blood pressure to name a few. The struggle is real. 

What should we do about anxiety? God gifts us with a guardian and an antidote for anxiety.

Advent 2020: Peace Sermon Series - 12.06.20

Dec 07, 202035:32
Advent 2020: The Joyful Mystery of Peace

Advent 2020: The Joyful Mystery of Peace

Peace? What is peace? It usually depends on who you ask… To those at war, it is a ceasefire. To those with hectic lives, it is calm and still. For those with anxiety or depression, it is inner tranquility. To the parent of small children, it is a moment of quiet. To those in complicated relationships, it is a lack of conflict, whether internal or external. For some, it can be a greeting or signoff, but few things are more fragile than peace. 

A lack of peace affects individuals, families, communities, and nations. Marriages fill with strife. Parents and children argue. We may lack peace within ourselves. We may be unsettled, uncertain, conflicted. One moment we are angry. The next, we are sad. Then all of a sudden, we are happy—without understanding why we felt those things. People can try to manufacture peace or fake peace by pretending not to care or that everything is fine, not realizing that any peace we produce is fragile. False peace can be destroyed instantly by failure, doubt, fear, difficulty, guilt, shame, distress, regret, sorrow, or anxiety about the future, relationships, and possessions.

The biblical concept of peace is different. It is not merely the lack of conflict, hostility, or Wherever Jesus goes, he brings peace. He is the Prince of Peace. When he was born and came to earth, the angels cried, “Peace on earth.” Peace was the farewell gift he left to his disciples. The greatest “peace” Jesus achieved for us is that He took away the enmity between us and God by His death on the cross.

Advent 2020: Peace - 11.29.20

Nov 30, 202030:01
The Cross Changes Everything

The Cross Changes Everything

Join us as Pastor Sam walks us through Mark 15:33-39, detailing four events that explain why Jesus died, and what his death means.  

The Gospel According to Mark - The Servant King - 11.22.20

Nov 23, 202028:51
The King and His Cross

The King and His Cross

The cross, is the most recognized symbol in the world. It is roughly analogous to an electric chair. How strange is it that a cross became the symbol of Christianity? Join us as Co-Pastor Sam Shaw walks us through Mark 15:1-32, and sheds light on the King and His cross.

The Gospel According to Mark - The Servant King - 11.15.20

Nov 17, 202038:13
Jesus & A Wasted Life

Jesus & A Wasted Life

Co-Pastor Sam Shaw makes a passionate plea to avoid the dangers of a wasted life, calling us to do what we can, to do all we can, and to do it while we can for Jesus.

The Gospel According to Mark - The Servant King - 11.08.20

Nov 09, 202038:37
Stay Awake

Stay Awake

There is nothing quite like a closely contested game at the end, and if one of your favorite teams is involved, it can be exhausting. The running joke in our house includes the effects of the game on hearing, and no one can even begin to fathom how long a game will last with less than two minutes on the clock. We obsess over the details, strategizing around personnel, the clock, and game management. Our voices get louder, and everything takes on more weight in the hopes that our team will be victorious. Some days we experience the thrill of victory, and other days, the agony of defeat.   

The clock is ticking as the most significant event in human history nears. Jesus is hours away from giving his life and rising from the dead. The disciples seem to be utterly oblivious to what is taking place around them. Coming out of the seemingly endless conflict in the temple complex, one of the disciples takes a moment to wonder at what for them was the height of human achievement, the religious center of Israel, and the great symbol of what it meant to be Jewish. They had no idea that one comment about the temple complex's beauty would release an unsettling and unthinkable reality. Jesus provides a prophetic glimpse of things to come, which raises more questions and devastates the disciples.  The Gospel According to Mark - The Servant King - 11.01.20

Nov 03, 202043:26
Not Far From The Kingdom

Not Far From The Kingdom

Jesus answers the questions from the intellectual and religious elite publicly while the crowds look on and listen with great delight. The Chief Priests, scribes, Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees have all asked their questions and have been publicly humiliated. Jesus is on their turf answering questions at the religious center of Israel. This thirty-something-year-old itinerate rabbi who didn't attend the right schools is schooling the Jewish leaders. 


A scribe who seems impressed has one more question, but his approach is very different from the previous attempts to publicly humiliate Jesus. It has been a day for questions, but Jesus is about to turn the tables and ask the question of the day. The question Jesus asks will raise the stakes and then He will follow it with a full-scale verbal assault against the current religious authorities. The conflict continues to escalate. The cross is three days away and a moment of truth has arrived. Religion can’t save you, the Messiah is not what you expect, and the heart is the most important thing when it comes to following Jesus.


The Gospel According to Mark - The Servant King - 10.25.20

Nov 03, 202038:18
The Servant King: Jesus And The Sadducees

The Servant King: Jesus And The Sadducees

Jesus stuns the Pharisees and Herodians with his answer to the questions about politics and taxes, but the parade of opponents continues as the Sadducees confront him. The Sadducees were the wealthy aristocracy associated with the priesthood, and they wielded significant political and temple influence. They dominated the Sanhedrin (Acts 5:17) and were sympathetic to Hellenism, the Herods, and Rome. Politically, they were very liberal and were happy to cooperate with the Roman occupation authorities to preserve their favored position. Theologically, they only considered the books of Moses as authoritative, did not believe in angels and demons (Acts 23:8), and that at death, the soul perished along with the body. For the Sadducees, there was no resurrection, so there were no future rewards or punishments.  

Undeterred by what had just taken place, they take their shot at this upstart rabbi from Nazareth. The fuse is lit on a theological conundrum as they toss it to Jesus in the hopes that he will be embarrassed and publicly humiliated. These Sadducees present an absurd scenario meant to show the foolishness of believing in a future resurrection, and just when they think they have Jesus cornered...  

The Gospel According to Mark Sermon Series - The Servant King - 10.18.20

Oct 20, 202034:25
The Servant King: Jesus & Politics
Oct 20, 202038:10
Household of God: Visible Theology

Household of God: Visible Theology

The church seems to have fallen on hard times. According to a recent Barna report, one in five churches will close over the next eighteen months. To some professing Christians, the church appears to be unnecessary and unimportant. Is the church moving toward obsolescence? 

1 Timothy 3:14-16 reminds us that the church matters to God. God has given His people the privilege and responsibility of living in such a way that people can see the gospel at work while upholding its truth.


The Dearest Place on Earth Sermon Series - Week 5 of 5 - 9.27.20

Oct 11, 202036:54
The Dearest Place on Earth: The Flock

The Dearest Place on Earth: The Flock

Pastor Sam walks us through Acts 20:28-31 and 1 Peter 5:1-7, showing us that God’s word refers to the church as a flock of sheep and leaders in the church as Shepherds.


The Dearest Place on Earth Sermon Series - Week 4 of 5 - 9.20.20

Sep 28, 202038:47
The Dearest Place on Earth: 10 Year Anniversary

The Dearest Place on Earth: 10 Year Anniversary

Join us as we celebrate 10 years of God's work through The Orchard Church.

Sep 28, 202037:26
The Dearest Place on Earth: The Family

The Dearest Place on Earth: The Family

Give yourself to the church. You that are members of the church have not found it perfect, and I hope that you feel almost glad that you have not. If I had never joined a church till I had found one that was perfect, I should never have joined one at all; and the moment I did join it, if I had found one, I should have spoiled it, for it would not have been a perfect church after I had become a member of it. Still, imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us.

The church is not an institution for perfect people; but a sanctuary for sinners saved by grace, who, though they are saved, are sinners still, and need all the help they can derive from the sympathy and guidance of their fellow believers. The church is the nursery for God’s weak children, where they are nourished and grow strong. It is the fold for Christ’s sheep; the home for Christ’s family. –C.H. Spurgeon

God designed us for community and everyone is looking for a place to belong. We label ourselves using sports, political parties, movements, ethnicities, economics, jobs, and even our beliefs about COVID and schools. However, there is something special about being family that remains. Sports teams, fraternities, sororities, the military, and civil servants all refer to one another calling them brothers and sisters. In Christ, we find a different kind of community. For the church, our identity is not based on race, class, gender, or life situation. Our identity is found in Christ. We belong to Jesus above every other affiliation.

Sep 06, 202040:59
The Dearest Place on Earth: The Bride

The Dearest Place on Earth: The Bride

Pastor Sam introduces a new 5-week series on the church called: The Dearest Place on Earth. As imperfect as it is, the church is the dearest place on earth to us.


The Dearest Place on Earth - Week 1 - August 30, 2020

Sep 06, 202032:55
Empty Religion Has No Place In The Kingdom

Empty Religion Has No Place In The Kingdom

We’ve been walking through the Gospel of Mark and we’ve reached a turning point and now we have entered the week of passion. As Pastor Sam told us last week, Jesus has made his triumphant entry. Messianic hopes are at a fever pitch. This is a buzz that is so much bigger than any election. This is hope that the Jewish people might be rescued from Roman tyranny. This is the idea that there is a messianic King in the line of David, which is why they would say, 'Hosanna', and that 'He would come on the throne of our father David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'  

People are beginning to wonder. Could this rabbi from Nazareth- Is it possible for him to be the Messiah? Is it possible that this is gonna change everything? They wanted a king but they were looking for a different kind of king. 

The Gospel According to Mark Sermon Series - The Misunderstood King - August 23, 2020

Aug 31, 202037:03
Jesus: Prophet, Priest, & King

Jesus: Prophet, Priest, & King

In Mark 11:1-19 we see Jesus as Prophet, Priest, & King. As a Prophet, he is a truth-teller. We are called to listen to him. As a Priest, he opens the way to God for us. We are called to trust him. As a King, he loves us and intends to rule over us. 

The Gospel According to Mark Sermon Series - The Misunderstood King - August 16, 2020

Aug 17, 202032:21
Jesus and Life-Changing Faith

Jesus and Life-Changing Faith

We use faith in many ways, and it can be confusing. We say.“just have faith,” or “have faith in your leaders,” What do we mean? 

We speak of faith-based programs or faith-based projects. We may even give the impression that every religion has an equal claim on the truth - if people just have faith.  When we turn to the Bible, we discover faith - the faith that saves and heals -  is trusting a particular person.

The story of Jesus healing a blind beggar’s eyes gives us a clear picture of what faith looks like, and what it does.

The Gospel According to Mark Sermon Series - The Misunderstood King - August 09, 2020

Aug 15, 202046:34
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

In 1987, the band U2 released an album called The Joshua Tree. One of the songs is "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Bono calls it, "a gospel song with a restless spirit." The lyrics speak of trying to find satisfaction and salvation in all kinds of different experiences, but the conclusion is that the search continues because something is still missing. People are looking to find peace for the restless soul. Augustine wisely states that our hearts are restless until they find rest in God through Jesus. The search usually includes religion, relationships, or release, but the search can only reveal that we still haven't found what we're looking for. 


Jesus is confronted by a wealthy man of influence who seems to have the same question asked by U2, "How do I know if I have eternal life?" This encounter reveals the desperation and the realization that being a disciple of Jesus Christ means finding life also means losing everything. Most people are looking to feel better with no cost, and the primary aim seems to be comfort. We may find some temporary relief for our souls through wealth, power, popularity, or religion, but unless we surrender to Jesus, the song remains, "but I still haven't found what I'm looking for..."


The Gospel According to Mark - The Misunderstood King Sermon Series - August 02, 2020

Aug 11, 202034:51
The Kingdom for the Unimportant

The Kingdom for the Unimportant

In Mark 10:13-16, Jesus shows us that the Kingdom of God is for the weak, the broken, and the unimportant. If true compassion equals action, then it begs us all to ask the question, "What will I do to help bring others to Jesus?".

The Gospel According to Mark Sermon Series - The Misunderstood King - July 26, 2020

Aug 03, 202035:04
What Jesus Said About Marriage, Divorce, & Remarriage

What Jesus Said About Marriage, Divorce, & Remarriage

As a Christian, the Gospel changes how we think about everything in life. In Mark 10:1-12, Jesus warns about the hardened heart. A hardened heart can keep us from seeing and living out the true gospel of Jesus, ultimately leading to grief, anger, bitterness, pain, and sometimes even divorce.  


The Gospel of Mark Sermon Series - The Misunderstood King - July 19, 2020

Jul 22, 202036:45
That's Not What Jesus Said

That's Not What Jesus Said

Have you ever been in a place where someone said something so shocking that the whole room went silent and people couldn’t decide how to feel? Not just an awkward silence, but a stunned hush. Words so strong and offensive that it was difficult to wrap your head around what was said and there was no way to take the sting out of it. Direct, uncomfortable, and in your face.  


Jesus is a Misunderstood King. Even today we find many who will speak positively about Jesus, but they don’t want to hear talk of sin and hell. Following Jesus is sometimes reduced to good intentions, religious activity, and just being nice.These ideas are out of step with Jesus and his gospel. If anyone wants to followJesus, they must be willing to die to themselves daily and practice self-denial.Nothing is better than entering eternal life and the kingdom of God, but nothing could be worse than choosing sin and self over following Jesus. Sin is so serious that Jesus is about to say some things that will oppose the very idea of comfortable Christianity because souls are in danger.  The Gospel According to Mark - The Misunderstood King - July 12, 2020

Jul 16, 202029:47
Jesus And The "Me-First" Attitude

Jesus And The "Me-First" Attitude

There are all kinds of people in the world. We're all different. We all have different interests. But there's one interest that we all have in common. In fact, everyone struggles with it... Call it self-interest, but it's the "me-first" mindset. This is the mindset that forces every action and every decision to ask one question: "What will this do for me?" Join us today as Pastor Sam Shaw looks at four different passages and shows how the Son of God himself confronted and dealt with the "me-first" mindset.


The Gospel According to Mark - The Misunderstood King - July 05, 2020

Jul 09, 202030:01
What To Do When You Need Faith

What To Do When You Need Faith

The struggle is real. The world around us seems to be devolving into absolute chaos and on the brink of consuming itself in disease, violence, and pain. Many are facing mental, emotional, physical, relational, and financial difficulties. The brave front you show others has been overrun by the horde of despair and unbelief. For some, the pain inside is so intense that surviving another day raises dark questions that we dare not admit. Have you ever been to the edge or reached the bottom? Are you there now? Does your life feel like you have been underwater too long with lungs ready to burst or give up if you don’t get some relief?   

This text reminds us that life is not always a mountaintop experience. The valleys are always waiting with difficulty, confusion, arguing, and doubt. Jesus explained his purpose, but it was not well received. He explained that following this Misunderstood King means taking up a cross. However, the disciples, like most of us, begin to doubt when life is hard. They are joined by a despondent dad who is losing what little hope he had in light of over-confident disciples and a suffering child.

The Gospel of Mark Sermon Series - The Misunderstood King - June 28, 2020

Jun 29, 202026:21
Jesus Reveals His Glory

Jesus Reveals His Glory

The disciples had a problem, and it might be the same type of problem many of us have: They underestimated who Jesus was. And because of that, it shaped the way they thought, the way they acted, and the way they lived. Jesus chose twelve men, and he trained them to pick up the work of the Kingdom, and he did it in two ways. He exposed them to situations that were beyond their strength or wisdom or courage and would require more resources than they had. Then he would display his glory and resolve the situation, to teach them that he was enough. But they never seemed to grasp it.

When they should have had peace, they had fear. When they should have had faith, they had doubts. Or to put it a different way, they had a glory problem. Other glories had captured their hearts. And those glories can never quite fill us. They underestimated the glory of Jesus. So, he is going to create a situation where his glory is going to be revealed and their lives will never quite be the same after this experience.  The Gospel of 

Mark Sermon Series - The Misunderstood King - June 21, 2020 - Happy Father's Day!

Jun 21, 202032:36
The Compassionate King & The Witless Disciples

The Compassionate King & The Witless Disciples

Today we are going to look at a condition or occupational hazard, as Pastor Sam calls it, that every Christian faces. It doesn’t matter your age, your ethnicity, whether your a man or a woman, a young Christian, or mature Christian, you will face this occupational hazard. It goes by many names, but it is the root cause of things like fear, bitterness, worry, lust, greed, selfishness, and hatred. This root springs forth many nocuous weeds. Jesus addresses it. He names it. He warns against it. And he tells what to do about it in Mark Chapter 8.

The Gospel According to Mark - The Misunderstood King Sermon Series - June 7, 2020

Jun 07, 202033:28
The King for Everyone

The King for Everyone

Jesus was misunderstood by his disciples, and after a heated episode with the Pharisees over what makes one ceremonially clean, he withdraws to an unexpected place. The region of Phoenicia was gentile and pagan, so going into the area of Tyre and Sidon was an attempt to go somewhere a little less conspicuous while providing some privacy. However, Mark tells us that he could not be hidden, and the crowds keep coming. Jesus travels through Sidon, and the crowds keep coming as Jesus engages these unclean people. The text today reveals an encounter Jesus had with a man who could not hear and was incapable of verbal communication. Contrary to the religious and social norms of Jewish leaders, no one is too unclean for Jesus, and it’s astonishing. This Misunderstood King does all things well.


The Gospel According to Mark - The Misunderstood King - Week 7 - 05.31.20

Jun 02, 202026:36
The Misunderstood Gospel

The Misunderstood Gospel

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a list of disinfectants to protect against the coronavirus spread. According to the EPA, products on the list have "qualified for use against COVID-19" through the agency's Emerging Viral Pathogen program where manufacturers provide the EPA with data that "shows their products are effective against harder-to-kill viruses."

Our text today helps us understand how to be made clean before God. Many struggle with the sense that they will never be able to do enough to be clean before God, and that is a legitimate fear. Religion and legalism only frustrate; they can never save. Do you struggle with feeling like you will never be good enough for God? Is it really possible to be loved and accepted by Jesus? Even after all our struggles and failures? Jesus is A Misunderstood King, and as we will see today, His Gospel is often misunderstood as well.

The Gospel According to Mark Sermon Series - The Misunderstood King - Week 6 - 05.24.20

May 21, 202039:59
The Misunderstood King: Confusion & Compassion

The Misunderstood King: Confusion & Compassion

Messianic hopes are reaching fever pitch. Jesus, the compassionate shepherd, has miraculously satisfied thousands with food, and the people are beginning to think about this Rabbi from Nazareth in terms of politics and power. This text will be familiar to many, but if we are not careful, we may miss something beyond the miracle of walking on water. This text reveals so much more than just a miracle, and Mark directs us to a self-conscious theophany by Jesus himself. There are many truths contained in this rich passage, as well as pain points and struggles we all face. Glory is revealed. Compassion continues. But confusion still surrounds the Misunderstood King. Could it be that we still misunderstand Jesus today?

The Gospel According to Mark Sermon Series - The Misunderstood King - Week 5 - 5.17.20

May 17, 202030:08
A Mother's Faith

A Mother's Faith

There are only two times recorded in the New Testament where Jesus is impressed by faith. One is a Roman centurion who trusted Jesus to heal his servant without coming to the house, and the other is the miracle recorded in Mark, Chapter 7:24:30, where a Gentile woman begged Jesus to heal her daughter. Everything in the story of the woman seemed like it was against her. The disciples were against her. Satan was against her. It seemed Jesus was against her. She was not of the chosen race. Her gender was against her. Her ethnicity was against her. She knows, according to the standards of the day, she is unclean, and disqualified to approach Jesus.


The one thing she had going for her, was her faith. Jesus said to her, "woman, your faith is great" because she persisted in asking and trusting when everything seemed to be against her.


The Gospel According to Mark Sermon Series - The Misunderstood King - Week 4 - 05.10.20

May 10, 202025:30
The Feeding of the Five Thousand

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

What in your life appears impossible? What keeps you awake at night? 

Why did Jesus ask his disciples to feed five thousand men, with wives and kids, with just the food for a little boy? This sounds impossible, but nothing about this is unusual with Jesus. Jesus regularly calls people to tackle impossible tasks with incredibly limited resources. Throughout the gospels, Jesus did not hesitate to tell people to do what they could not do:  He told a crippled man to stand up and walk. He told a girl who was dead to wake up. Yet, a crippled man stands and the dead come to life. Miracles happen. 

Following Jesus is a life of impossible commands. hopeless situations, and God doing what seems impossible. What miracle do you need in your life today? Ask God. He is waiting to hear from you.


The Gospel According to Mark Sermon Series - 05.03.20

May 03, 202037:47
The Misunderstood King: Confusion, Superstition, & A Woman Scorned

The Misunderstood King: Confusion, Superstition, & A Woman Scorned

This text from the Gospel of Mark contains everything needed to write a script for an over the top melodrama. Political intrigue, family scandal, marital infidelity, malice, opulence, wrongful imprisonment, outrageous behavior, and murder. You name it, and it seems to be there. However, if we are not careful, we may miss what this teaches us about Jesus by getting caught up in the salacious and gruesome details of the story. There are only two accounts in Mark’s gospel that are not about Jesus, and this is one of them. The other can be found at the very beginning, and both of these accounts are about John the Baptist. Misunderstanding when it comes to Jesus places the eternity of the soul in jeopardy. Ignoring conviction and conscience is deadly serious. Following Jesus is not about one’s comfort; it is about the understanding of the cost.

The Gospel According to Mark - 4.26.20

Apr 26, 202031:49
The Misunderstood King

The Misunderstood King

Mark 6 provides a glimpse into a tragic and painful experience in the life of Jesus as he faces personal rejection. The text picks up after a beautiful event in which a twelve-year-old girl is given life again by Jesus. Jesus and his disciples make their way back to Jesus’ hometown which one would think would be a joyous occasion where the people he grew up with would welcome him back and ask him about all the miracles he had performed. However, after Jesus teaches in the synagogue on a sabbath, the people acknowledge that his teaching and wisdom are extraordinary but instead of celebrating Jesus, his own community ridicules and rejects him. Jesus was a Misunderstood King.  

It is because of your giving that we are able to continue to support missionaries Joey around the world. You can give to The Orchard Church by texting "Give" to 901-295-3215 or visiting theorchardchurch.com/give. Thank you for your continued obedience and generosity.   

The Gospel According to Mark Sermon Series - 4.19.20

Apr 19, 202029:18
The Powerful King: Power Over Sin & Death

The Powerful King: Power Over Sin & Death

In the decades before and after Jesus, there were dozens of messianic movements in Israel. The would-be "Messiahs" arise and gather followers, then the same thing would always happen: the leader would be killed, usually at hands of the Romans by crucifixion. When the leader died, the movement would collapse and everyone would move on. Except for this one movement: The Jesus movement. The only true Messiah. Upon His death, the movement exploded. In 300 years, it had taken over the Roman Empire. And today, almost 2 billion people are celebrating Easter. What made following Jesus so different? Why didn’t His following collapse like all the others? This movement thrived because of what happened after the leader was killed. He came back from the dead - physically, literally, and appeared to his followers. That’s why the movement didn't die but thrived. That is why Christianity has spread all over world. That is why Jesus changes everything.

Apr 12, 202028:42
The Powerful King: Power to Bring Healing

The Powerful King: Power to Bring Healing

The whole world right now yearns to be healed. The world is not the way it was supposed to be. God’s original creation was very, very good. God created our world to be sin-free. God designed us to be holy, happy, and healthy. But sin entered the picture, and ever since then, sin has sickened all of God’s creation. This is why we all yearn to be healed.   In the New Testament, there are two instances where Jesus calls himself the Great Physician. Today, watch Jesus heal two people. Learn how He heals, when He heals, who He heals and why.  

The Powerful King - Week 4 - 4.05.20

Apr 05, 202031:29
The Powerful King: Power Over Spiritual Forces

The Powerful King: Power Over Spiritual Forces

The previous section left the disciples in fear and asking the question, “Who is this?” Jesus dealt with the storm on the water and now he would deal with the storm inside. The question is immediately met with another demonstration of power that leaves people in fear and asking questions.

The Powerful King Sermon Series - Week 2 - 3.29.20

Mar 29, 202028:45
The Powerful King: Facing Fear With Faith

The Powerful King: Facing Fear With Faith

As Corona Virus spreads, it's shaking the faith of many; tempting us to live in fear of headlines, predictions, and others.  Anxiety is the new normal for most. People are hoarding, locking themselves in their homes, and looking to the news for guidance.

We've been walking through the Gospel of Mark and today we land on Mark 4:35-41, the story of how Jesus calms the storm. This story reminds us that we live by faith, not fear. In the worst of times, Christians can and should be at their best. We are people of the Word; people of faith. We believe the world belongs to our sovereign Lord. His rule extends over everything - even microbes, and viruses. He has the whole world in His hands.

It is our prayer that God uses this message to calm the storm in our hearts and minds. 

You matter to God. You matter to us. We want to hear from our church family. Please reach out to info@theorchardchurch.com.

The Powerful King - Week 1 - 03.22.20

Mar 22, 202024:52