Shepherd Of The Desert Podcast

This week our digital worship is a showcase of the resurrected Shepherd Podcast! Join Pastors Scott and John as they dig into what it means to be a Christian who doesn't forget their identity as a human being, created by God for the very life He has placed them in! Check it out at the link below this Sunday.

I love when something is done really well - even if it is not something I am particularly interested in, like a vegetarian dessert, or historical docu-drama. This weekend, we hear a particularly well-executed parable that leaves anyone who hears it exactly where Jesus wants them to be. What does it mean for us, and how can we be ready for His return? Join us at Shea as we dig into the Parable of the Ten Virgins. ~ Pastor John

This weekend our congregation celebrates All Saints Sunday. This is an opportunity for us to recall the lives of those who have finished their courses in this life and now find rest in God's presence. 

Progress and innovation are central priorities for our world and lives today - and this weekend we celebrate the Reformation of 1517 triggered by Martin Luther’s public display of his famed 95 theses on the door to the church in Wittenberg! How does that dusty memory from organ-filled sanctuaries relate to our increasingly fast paced world? Come to worship as we dig into John 8 and hear how the unshakeable foundations at the core of faith give us footholds in our world of constant shift and movement!

Songs have a way of marking new seasons, commemorating events, inaugurating moments of importance. In Psalm 96 we’re told to join with all creation in the singing of a new song! Join us in worship as we explore what that new song is, and how to sing it with every fiber of our being.

One of the most prominent pictures the Bible paints for us to understand our relationship with God is that of a Shepherd and His sheep. Psalm 23 is perhaps the most familiar example we have outside of the Gospels, and this weekend we dive deep into this seemingly simple text to discover a wealth of comfort and joy. Join us for worship as we hear again the promise of God's presence, and the eternal kingdom we will enjoy under His reign. 

Everyone, everywhere, at some point will ask the question; "am I enough?" This question arises out of a range of feelings, from despair to curiosity - but it is not a question without an answer! Join us in worship as we explore what it means to count on someone who can make a difference, and understanding whether we really are enough. [Phil 3:4b-14]

What are the melodies in the background of your faith, the sounds and poetic words that shaped your deepest convictions? Music is a gift God gives to us, and in October, we are exploring the beautiful relationship between Scripture and song. Join us as we hear a few classics we know, and a few ancient hymns new to us, all grounded and guided by the unchanging Word of God! [Psalm 25:1-10]

Theories abound around the root of true and lasting love. It's what makes you most happy, what brings you the most joy, where you find the most fulfillment - but these theories all gravitate and find their source in one place... the selfish desires inside each of us. The Truth about love is that it must find its source outside of ourselves! It is a gift received, rather than something we go and take for our own keeping. Join us as we hear from Philippians what this non-theoretical, life-changing love really looks like.

Have you ever stopped overthinking something and refocusing somewhere else only for that first thing to start naturally improving and falling into place? This weekend we hear from Paul about how keeping our focus on God reorients our human relationships. Join us in church as we take a close look at who we are trying to please, what opinions matter, and how our faith changes the nature of our friendships and connections! [Romans 14:1-12]

Pastor John is leading us through the question of LOVE: Given or Taken? Is love something we discover on our own, or shape for ourselves? Or, as the apostle Paul will reveal, is it something that God has designed especially for our good? Walk through Romans and Philippians with us as we discover the truth behind the love God gives. [Romans 13:1-10]

This weekend Pastor John spends time talking to Maryanne Krueger about Shepherd's partnership with Family Promise.  Learn more about how you can get involved.

This week we finish up our summer series on Jesus' parables. We fittingly turn to Matthew 21 and find the parable about evil farmers who act out against the one who hired them. Though the narrative is familiar, and the underlying point perhaps even more so, we are left with a challenging conclusion which may shake us to our very core. What do I think about Jesus? Join us in worship as we consider the claims of the Son of David... and the impact He has on our lives.

Sometimes the conversations Jesus has seem to be aimed at one or two people in particular. This weekend, Jesus uses a short parable to prove a point to the religious leaders who rejected His message. At the same time, when we dig deeper into what He says, we realize that Jesus has a critical message for us, too! Join us this week as we take a look at what really counts, in Matthew 21:28-32.

New beginnings often call for special attention and special ceremony. Every Fall our staff begins a new school year and this week we want to embrace our theme verse at the preschool, “Make a joyful noise to the LORD!” We are creatures made for noise making - but do we always sound joyful? Join us this week as we take a deeper look at Psalm 98 and what it means to sing this song to our loving and righteous God.

This weekend we encounter the favorite among parables, the lost sheep. As we explore the short passage on the heart of our loving God, we will learn how our hearts might be shaped to reflect His toward our brothers and sisters in the world around us. 

Some of the greatest speeches are incredibly short.  The Gettysburg Address is only 271 words long, but by it Abraham Lincoln galvanized a democracy in peril.  This weekend Pastor john takes a look at two parables comprising 3 verses but communicate volumes about the beauty of the kingdom and the great cost it requires to acquire it.

Who are your enemies?  That's a provocative question given that most of us don't have enemies.  We may dislike people and people may dislike us.  Personalities do rub the wrong way.  But having an enemy is a rarity for most people. This weekend we learn about God's enemy--His, and by extension ours.  In Matthew 13 we bump up against a parable by which we learn to estimate rightly the insidious power of our great Enemy.  And, we learn the patience of God in dealing with this Foe and those who labor for its cause.

Our journey through the parable of Jesus in Matthew continues this week as we hear the familiar story of the sower. A man plants some seeds, and where they fall has incredible consequences for their growth. The question that faces all of us, of course, is what kind of soil are we? Join us for worship as we explore the significant lessons from this parable, seeking to be the good soil where the Kingdom of God expands!

The End Times are a perennial favorite of Christians everywhere.  How the whole world as we know it meets eternity is a delicious, scary mystery we can't stop binge watching.  This July 9th Sunday sees our ministry team leading us to edge of eternity with the parable of the 10 Bridesmaids who longed to meet the groom as the Church longs to meet Jesus in eternity.  Come and get a taste of heaven this weekend.