Journey Church Redmond

This sermon, the first in a series on politics and faith, argues that political ideologies have become idols and a new religion in America. Drawing on Joshua Ryan Butler's Party Crashers, it describes four political 'religions'—progress, responsibility, identity, and security—each rooted in a good God-given value that becomes idolatrous when placed above God and then sacrifices people such as the unborn, the poor, and immigrants. It calls Christians not to pick a partisan side or retreat to the center but to Jesus' side, pointing to Jesus' prayer for unity, Paul's teaching on one body and the broken dividing wall, and politically opposed disciples united in Christ. It closes with a gospel invitation stressing salvation by grace rather than works and Jesus as the only way to the Father.

This sermon, the second in a series called "American Idols," argues that politics is fundamentally about authority. It holds that humans were made to bring order out of chaos in partnership with God, but they repeatedly trust earthly rulers instead, as Israel did in demanding a king. The preacher presents Jesus' announcement of a present kingdom, his exchange with Pilate, and the resurrection as revealing God's ultimate authority, and he describes the early church as submitting to hostile rulers while changing the world through love rather than political power. He urges Christians to vote but not to treat Trump, Harris, or any candidate as a savior, and he closes with a call to salvation by grace alone, defining repentance as a change of direction.

This is a church staff page introducing its pastoral team. It presents a husband and wife as co-lead pastors who followed God's leading to Central Oregon to help people find the life Jesus offers and to bring a genuine, relational style of leadership to the church. It lists women among its pastors, including as lead, student ministries, and worship pastors.

This is a church's 'Who We Are' page describing its mission of leading people on a journey of transformation in Jesus through knowing God, finding freedom in community, discovering God-given purpose, and serving. Its statement of faith affirms biblical inerrancy, the Trinity, the fall of humanity through Adam and Eve, the full deity and humanity of Christ, salvation by grace through faith rather than works, and eternal heaven and hell. It also sets out Pentecostal-charismatic distinctives, including Spirit baptism, continuing spiritual gifts, healing as part of the atonement, and God's will for believers' wholeness and success, including financially, and it defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

This sermon, the last in an election-season series called 'American Idols,' argues from Acts 17 and Philippians 2 that Jesus' gospel is political and creates an 'upside down kingdom' opposed to the world's ways. The preacher contends that hubris and hedonism have destroyed societies throughout history, and that in America they appear as the idols of exceptionalism and entertainment, the latter tied to the founders' 'pursuit of happiness.' Against these, Jesus models humility and holiness, and believers, as citizens of heaven whose allegiance is to King Jesus rather than the nation, are to live 'elect, not exceptional' and 'empowered, not entertained,' engaging the world without withdrawing from it. The sermon closes with an altar call stressing that salvation comes from surrendering to Christ's lordship, not from being good, American, or religious.