REUNION Christian Church - Sermons

Matthew 1:18–25 with Nathan Caddell.Fear is a deeply human experience. It shows up when plans fall apart, when control slips away, and when the future feels uncertain.In this Advent message, we explore the story of Joseph in Matthew 1 and the fear that surrounds the first Christmas. Through a surprising Joseph’s quiet crisis and the angel’s words “Do not be afraid,” we discover that Christmas is not about fear disappearing, but about God drawing near.This sermon looks honestly at how fear shapes our decisions, why fear often tells us to run or protect ourselves, and how God responds not by fixing circumstances, but by offering his presence. Joseph doesn’t get all the answers, but he learns that he is not alone. And that changes everything.

Luke 2:1–20 with Matt Chin.What does “peace on earth” mean when life feels anything but peaceful?In this Advent message, we explore the birth of Jesus through Luke 2:1–20 and discover that the first Christmas happened in a world marked by fear, power, and instability. Rome promised peace through control and force, but God chose a different way. Quiet. Vulnerable. Unexpected.From Caesar’s census to shepherds in the dark, this sermon reflects on peace not as escape or calm circumstances, but as restored relationship and inner wholeness. We look at why God comes near to the overlooked, how peace grows in ordinary lives, and what it might mean to take one small step toward hope when everything feels unsettled.

Luke 1:57–80 with Nathan Caddell. Waiting is exhausting. Whether it is for test results, a relationship to heal, a job to come through, or simply for life to feel less chaotic, most of us treat waiting as something to endure until peace finally arrives. In this Advent message, Nathan looks at the story of Zechariah in Luke 1, a priest who receives the news he has prayed for his whole life and still struggles to trust it. Instead of instant answers, Zechariah is led into a long season of silence, and God meets him there.This teaching explores how waiting, doubt, and silence are not signs that God has abandoned us, but places where God often forms a deeper kind of peace in us. Peace that is received, not achieved. Nathan reflects on Zechariah’s transformation, the practice of silence, remembering God’s past faithfulness, and what it might mean this Advent to stop trying to control our way to peace and begin to open ourselves to God’s presence in the middle of the unfinished story.

Luke 1:26–38 with Matt Chin. In this Advent message, we look at the story of Mary and the kind of peace God offers in the middle of real life. Many of us long for clarity, control, and a future that feels predictable. Yet when God steps into Mary’s life, none of those things are promised. Her plans shift. Her questions grow. Her world becomes more fragile, not less.What changes for her is not her circumstances, but God’s presence. Peace begins in the moment she realizes she will not walk her uncertainty alone.This teaching invites us to slow down and pay attention to the places where life feels unsettled. It explores honest questions, the difference between control and trust, and how God draws close in the moments we would avoid. If you are tired, anxious, or holding a part of your life that feels unpredictable, this message offers a quiet reminder. Peace does not wait for everything to make sense. Peace begins when God meets us right where we are.

John 15:4-11 with Nathan Caddell.Many of us feel pressure to build a “fruitful” life through the right job, relationship, income, or image, yet still feel tired and restless. In this message, Nathan wraps up our “With” series by looking at Jesus’ words in John 15 about the vine and the branches.We explore why our usual go-to sources of peace and joy fall short, what it means to stay connected to Jesus in seasons of pruning and disappointment, and how surrender can lead to a deeper experience of friendship with God rather than blind obedience. If you feel worn out from trying to hold your life together on your own, this teaching offers an honest, hopeful invitation to rest, remain, and receive the kind of life you were made for.