Hays Christian Church

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.

Lent 2024 (Part 4): What Is God’s Response?

Concluding the Lent series on baptism, Pastor Cana takes us to Mark 1:9-11 and Luke 15:3-10 to help us understand God’s response to our repentance and baptism. Our Lord responds with joy each time we correct course, heed the Spirit, acknowledge our sin and repent. We are encouraged to repent together and share the joy of God.

Fruit of the Spirit (Part 2): Joy

The next Fruit of the Spirit for Pastor Cana’s series of the year is the Fruit of joy, illustrated in 1 Thessalonians 1:4-8, where Paul tells the church of Thessalonica that they received the Word with joy from the Holy Spirit. We are encouraged to share the joy we received as an example of God to others.

Tired and Frazzled: Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 19:7-11

Betty Rupp turns to Matthew 11:28-30 and Psalm 19:7-11 to show us what we can do when our lives leave us tired and frazzled. We are encouraged to turn to God, to learn from Him by reading, meditating, and studying the Word to gain wisdom and strength to deal with stress and anxiety.

Lent 2024 (Part 3): Who Is Baptized?

For Lent, Pastor Cana takes us to Galatians 3:27-28 and Acts 2:37-39, which teaches us that in Christ, all who believe are baptized into one baptism. We have peace to know that our baptism circumstances nonetheless guarantee us baptism into Christ.

Lent 2024 (Part 2): Why Baptism?

For Lent, Pastor Cana takes us to 1 Peter 3:21-22, which tells us why baptism is the Christian practice for cleansing. Jesus’ power in baptism can offer believers a cleansing for salvation and a new spirit because of His power of all things.

Lent 2024 (Part 1):What Is Baptism?

For Lent, Pastor Cana opens to consider baptism through Ephesians 1:13-14, which tells the Christians of Ephesus that they have been brought into God’s family as they received the Truth. Baptism is our covenant, pledge, and seal by the Holy Spirit as Christians. Our baptism and the Holy Spirit’s presence marks us as believers.

Fruit of the Spirit (Part 1): Love

Beginning the Fruit of the Spirit 2024 sermon series, Pastor Cana refers to 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 and Galatians 5:22-23 to introduce us to the fruit of love. Love can be the primary marker of a transformed life and we are encouraged to investigate how love shows God’s work in our lives.

God’s Rescue: Psalm 143:5-12

Pastor Cana reflects on Psalm 143:5-12, a psalm of survival and transformation, where the writer communicates the distress they feel, what they need from God, the only one who can do what they can’t do for themselves. When we feel as helpless as the psalmist, we can take comfort in knowing we can call on God for help and receive rescue.

The Lie of Wickedness: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Pastor Cana brings us to 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, which teaches it’s wrong for Christians to overemphasize sinfulness and wicked nature and offers new perspectives to reframe our minds. Our sin is not our defining feature as people who have been redeemed by God so we can reconsider our central identity in Christ.

Jesus Speaks About His Death: John 12:20-33

Pastor Cana brings us to John 12:20-33, where some Greeks seek Jesus, who then speaks on His death. We learn about the cross and what Jesus tells us before His death that might help us understand what is brough about by His death for God and each of us.

Visit of the Magi: Matthew 2:1-12

For Epiphany Sunday, Pastor Cana opens to Matthew 2:1-12, where the Magi find the child Jesus and present Him with gifts in recognition of His role as King. These foreign figures teach us that the message of Jesus is universal and God’s work in the world comes however He chooses. We can know that anyone can perceive God’s truth but recognizing His presence requires being open to God’s impossible ways.

Let Heaven & Nature Sing (Part 4): Creator Becomes Creation, Born to a Virgin

For Christmas Eve, Pastor Cana’s homily focuses on the Holy Birth. Jesus’ incarnation means transformation and is done out of love for creation. Christ’s choice to be embodied was to bring us into the divine love of God.

Let Heaven & Nature Sing (Part 3): A Peaceable Kingdom Promised

For the next part of this series covering creation in Advent, Pastor Cana brings us to Isaiah 11:1-9, which imagines a new future person in power for the people of God. In a world of conflict and distress, a peaceful kingdom is promised with Christ as its head. Today, we can imagine and participate in that peaceable kingdom.