Hays Christian Church

God’s Purposes Accomplished: Isaiah 55:8-13

Isaiah 55:8-13 is a rebuttal to the idea of overwork and offers a balance to value rest when needed. Pastor Cana presents us with the idea that the purposes of God are God’s to bring about. We are encouraged to rest and rejoice in God’s ability to accomplish His purpose.

Christ, Our Peacemaker: Matthew 26:47-53

Matthew 26:47-53 describes Jesus Christ’s arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and His response. Pastor Cana makes the case that Christ is firstly a peacemaker, living in a non-violent way and mindset, and it should shape our language and actions. We are encouraged to resist the violent language and conquering outlook of the world and choose to follow Christ the Peacemaker.

The Narrow Gate: Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13-14 describes the narrow gate and hard road to eternal life. Pastor Cana explains that the gate to God is narrow not to test us, but because living like Jesus is a challenging road. Our place is on the way because we have chosen it, living with compassion in a hardened world.

Fruit of the Spirit (Part 7): Faithfulness

Returning to the Fruit of the Spirit, Pastor Cana opens to Genesis 15:6-18, where God makes a promise to Abram/Abraham that his descendants will suffer, but ultimately be rewarded. The fruit of faithfulness in Abraham is only possible because of God’s faithfulness. In us, God’s faithfulness will form our faithfulness during the long life of faith.

The House of God: Psalm 84

Pastor Cana opens to Psalm 84, which comes from the family of Korah, who well understand of the house and place of God. They knew that to be in the presence of God was better than being anywhere else. Our joy comes from the fact that God’s presence provides us a best place to be.

Christians Who Changed the World: Harriet Tubman

In tradition to highlight Christians of history, Joanne Tramel speaks of abolitionist Harriet Tubman (born in slavery as Araminta Ross in 1822). A traumatic brain injury sustained in her youth brought her visions from God. After escaping slavery, she was encouraged by God to help others find freedom through the Underground Railroad, then during the Civil War in the Union army. In every accomplishment, she gave God the credit, which we can apply to our own lives.

Transfiguration Sunday: 2 Peter 1:12-19

For Transfiguration Sunday, Pastor Cana opens to 2 Peter 1:12-19, which lays out the important final thoughts from the wise apostle Peter to those in need of guidance. Christ’s confirmed glory in His transfiguration is a light for us in a dark place that we can rely on as a centering point of our lives.

Prayer (Part 6): Abandoned

Pastor Cana concludes the summer sermon series on prayer with Jeremiah 32:16-25, in which the prophet Jeremiah prays after he and his people abandoned God and faced the consequences of their choice. Yet, God provided a promise. We, like Jeremiah, can pray in hope that even when we don’t keep faithful to God, we can rejoice that God’s faithfulness is greater than human abandonment.

Prayer (Part 5): Rescue

The next prayer of Pastor Cana’s focus comes from 2 Chronicles 20:5-12, where Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, while struggling to defend the nation against Moab, turns to God for rescue as their only hope. When we do not know what to do, Jehoshaphat’s prayer teaches us to look to God and trust Him when we are in impossible situations.

Fruit of the Spirit (Part 6): Goodness

Picking up in the Fruit of the Spirit series, Pastor Cana opens to Romans 12:9-21, where the author pushes the Christians of Rome to be servants to one another, to serve in their giftedness and not seek to be someone else, and reminding them that God’s will can be revealed in their work together for God’s kingdom. God gives us community in which the Spirit can grow the fruit of goodness.

Prayer (Part 4): Formal

For the fourth prayer in the sermon series, Pastor Cana goes to 1 Kings 8:22-30, where King Solomon prays publicly on behalf of Israel. Praying to God in a formal way as a community can draw us to a single focus and give us a chance to declare what we believe together.

Prayer (Part 3): Informal

For the third prayer in the sermon series, Pastor Cana goes to Exodus 3:11-14 and 4:10-15, which gives us the example of Moses speaking to God with honesty as he is given the task of leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Because God knows our hearts and minds, He hears our casual prayers just as well as any other prayer. We know that praying honestly can mean praying in our own voice and in genuine reflection of our hearts.

Tabitha/Dorcas (The Impact of One Life): Acts 9:36-42

A break from sermon series, Pastor Cana brings us to Acts 9:36-42, where Tabitha (Dorcas in Greek), is resurrected by God’s will that her community may learn from her life and imitate her as she imitates Christ. God can give our work and lives impact, even in small and quiet action. We are encouraged to live our one life for God’s impact.

Prayer (Part 2): Defeat

The next prayer in the summer sermon series, Pastor Cana brings us to Joshua 7:6-13, where Joshua, Moses’ successor, leads the Israelites against their enemies, but the broken covenant results in their defeat. Joshua prays in anguish. God responds when we speak to Him honestly, even after defeat and we can take inspiration that God is with us whether we win or lose.

Prayer (Part 1): Deliverance

Kicking off the summer sermon series on prayer, Pastor Cana opens to 2 Kings 19:14-19, where King Hezekiah of Judah prays for deliverance as Assyria brings threat of conquest, swords VS. Judah’s faith in God. God can deliver His People and we can pray to ask Him for it.

Fruit of the Spirit (Part 5): Kindness

Pastor Cana uses 1 Peter 3:8-14 to introduce the 5th Fruit of the Spirit, kindness. God’s Spirit grows kindness in our hearts as a response to the love we have been given by God. We are asked to choose kindness over niceness (there is a difference!) and to prepare for the Spirit to grow kindness in us through true awareness of self and others.

But I Say to You…: Matthew 5:17-23

Jennie Straight uses Matthew 5:17-23 to discuss the fulfillment of the law and anger. Jesus came to fulfill the law of God, which is not the same as the laws of the pharisees. For instance, God’s law of “do not murder” not only prohibits killing, but also consuming, unrighteous anger. Our anger should be from injustice to others or dishonoring God. Are we twisting God’s law for our desires? We are challenged to consider our reasons for our anger.

Pentecost 2024: John 16:4-15

This Pentecost, Pastor Cana reads from John 16:4-15, which shows Jesus telling His disciples of greater things when the Holy Spirit comes to them. Because of Jesus’ departure, the Holy Spirit is present to teach and guide us in the way of truth.

Giving Generously: Deuteronomy 15:7-11

Deuteronomy 15:7-11 gives instructions to pre-nation Israel for how to be God’s people, specifically, giving to those in need and cancelling debt in the Sabbath (seventh) year. Pastor Cana explains that the chain of generosity begins with God and it is our responsibility to continue the chain and help the poor willingly and without judgement, whether with our money, resources, time, skills, or emotional support.

Fruit of the Spirit (Part 4): Patience

The fourth Fruit of the Spirit Pastor Cana is focusing on brings us to James 5:7-11, where James writes to Christians struggling with social exile to assure them that their endurance and patience will pay off when the Lord comes again. God’s compassion guarantees if we are patient, there will be blessing.

Christ the Host (Part 2): John 21:1-13

Pastor Cana’s sermon text, John 21:1-13, in which the resurrected Jesus greets His fishing disciples as they begin to return empty-handed and tells them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. After an abundant catch, Jesus invites them to breakfast. Christ our Host offers us what we need and beyond.

Christ the Host (Part 1): Luke 14:15-24

Pastor Cana’s sermon text, Luke 14:15-24, in which Jesus tells a parable of a host whose invited guests make excuses, so he calls on the poor, disabled, and strangers to fill his banquet. Christ offers us a welcome to an extraordinary feast beyond our ability to earn.

Fruit of the Spirit (Part 3): Peace

For the third Fruit of the Spirit, Pastor Cana reads into Jeremiah 6:14, 8:11, and Ezekiel 13:10, 16 and focuses on false peace, those who proclaim it, and how to seek the peace of the Spirit. God desires true peace, not lies about peace when there is none and we are to share those values.

Disagreements: Restoration and Community (2 Timothy 2:22-25)

Pastor Cana takes to 2 Timothy 2:22-25, in which Paul tells Timothy about the challenges but necessity of dealing with corrupt teachers. We consider how we handle disagreement, what God wants for us, and how communities can help lead us in a better way.

Easter Sunday: Mark 16:1-8

This Easter Sunday, Pastor Cana brings us to Mark 16:1-8, where, following Jesus’ burial, the two Mary’s are greeted by a holy messenger who tells them to inform the disciples than He has risen and will meet them in Galilee. In resurrection, Christ goes ahead of us into all our unknowns and from that, we may gain peace.

Blessed Are We Who Come in the Name of the Lord: Psalm 118:21-28

For Palm Sunday, Pastor Cana turns to Psalm 118:21-28, which is a part of the proclamation shouted by the Jews of Jerusalem as Christ entered the city. The larger truth to learn is that by the arrival of Christ into our lives, we are blessed by God. It is our calling to be people of blessing in God’s name to other people.