Posts by Bob Rhodes (Page 3)

Introduction There’s a strange comfort in the phrase, “a whole lot of shaking going on.” Whether it’s upheaval in our lives, anxiety in the news, or pressure under the surface—we know what it feels like when the ground seems unstable. We long for something solid. In this week’s message, we continue our Dearly Beloved series by turning to a passage that contrasts the fearful and untouchable with the present and unshakable. Hebrews offers a vision of worship that isn’t meant…

Introduction This week, we continue our Dearly Beloved series with a focus on faith—but not faith as an idea, a feeling, or a private belief. This passage reminds us that faith moves. It walks through danger. It endures shame. It builds community. And it keeps going, even when the road is long. Hebrews tells stories of people who acted even when the outcome was unclear. Some were victorious; others were crushed. What they shared wasn’t the result—it was the perseverance.…

Introduction This week we begin a new worship series called Dearly Beloved. The title comes from words we often hear at weddings or funerals—language that signals something sacred is about to happen. In this series, we’ll hear those words as a reminder of who we are: a community deeply loved by God and called to walk by faith, together. We begin with longing. Longing rises when life doesn’t match the hopes we carry. It’s the restlessness that keeps us searching—searching…

Introduction What grabs your attention these days? Maybe it’s the endless scroll of your phone, a packed calendar, the state of the world—or even just trying to make it through the week in one piece. It’s no surprise that Paul’s challenge to the Colossians—“Set your minds on things that are above”—feels radical, even idealistic. And  it’s exactly that reorientation of attention and intention that Paul sees as the heart of spiritual transformation. The scripture this week speaks of a death…

Introduction As God Is in the Radio comes to a close, we arrive at a love that won’t let go. Throughout this series, we’ve journeyed through longing and fire, silence and sorrow, mystery and motion. We’ve listened for God in grief and in grace, in raw questions and unexpected harmonies. And now, we land where everything leads: the assurance that nothing—nothing—can separate us from the love of God. Our final song, “Unconditionally” by Katy Perry, offers a prophetic echo of…

Introduction As God Is in the Radio draws to a close, we turn to one of the most unapologetic songs in the series: “Mine All Mine” by Van Halen. It’s a song that doesn’t hide behind metaphor or subtlety—it demands answers. It wrestles with big questions about truth, fulfillment, and what belongs to us. Scripture asks those questions, too. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells a story about a man who thought everything he had was his own—his crops, his wealth,…

Introduction As we near the end of our God Is in the Radio series, we turn to “Let the Mystery Be” by Iris DeMent. It’s a quiet song with an honest message: faith doesn’t require us to have every answer. Instead, it invites us to acknowledge what we don’t know and allow ourselves to experience  the wonder and complexity that still surround us. Scripture extends a similar invitation. From the ancient prophets to the teachings of Jesus, we encounter voices…

Introduction This week in God Is In the Radio, we turn to “Love Rescue Me,” a song written by U2 with Bob Dylan. It doesn’t shy away from sorrow or regret—but it also refuses to stay there. Beneath the ache runs a steady hope: the certainty that love can find us, lift us, and lead us home. That longing echoes in Psalm 23. These ancient words aren’t just meant for quiet comfort—they carry a promise. Even in the valleys, we’re…

Introduction This week in God Is In the Radio, we enter a quieter, more difficult space: the ache of loneliness, the weight of sorrow, the absence of answers. Psalm 22 opens with a cry that’s both ancient and familiar: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” It’s a question that still echoes—not only in scripture, and in us. To help us sit with that question, we’re listening to “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” a song made famous…

Introduction This week’s message continues our God Is in the Radio series by pairing one of scripture’s most profound post-resurrection stories with Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road. In both, we meet people who are weary, searching, maybe even stuck. The disciples walk away from Jerusalem with hearts heavy from disappointment. The singer’s voice calls out to Mary from the porch—a voice offering invitation over certainty. Neither story gives us a clean resolution. What they offer instead is a chance: to step…

Introduction What if the Spirit doesn’t just speak—but moves? Last week, we launched a new series with the idea that God Is in the Radio—that divine presence might be pulsing through the static of everyday life, even in songs that never mention God’s name. This week, that theme deepens. It’s Pentecost, and instead of arriving quietly, the Spirit bursts into view like a rush of wind, tongues of fire, and voices that cannot be ignored. To mark this movement, we’re…

Introduction What if God is speaking through the songs we already know? That’s the question we’re exploring in this new series, God is In the Radio. For the next several weeks, we’ll be listening with theological curiosity to music that wasn’t written for church—but might still hold sacred echoes. By pairing secular songs with scripture, we’re practicing spiritual listening—tuning our hearts to hear grace breaking through the static. This week’s message launches the series with the Queens of the Stone…