It is quite easy to fall into the trap of believing that our plans, thinking, wanting, desiring and doing will determine the path of our life. Our culture values making our own way, or determining our own meaning. However, Proverbs tells us other wise. The Lord is the one who establishes the plans and circumstances that we encounter in life. The created order is that God is the creator and we are the creation. He has created all for His purpose. We are wise to recognize that when we create our plans, we do so in full knowledge that God will bring His desire to bare upon the outcome in our lives. And because of His steadfast love and faithfulness, we should rest in this great truth. 

In the book of Proverbs Wisdom comes from a righteous heart. In a sense, both are seen as two sides of the same coin, or each supporting each other. The bad news is when we read the description of a foolish heart, antithetical to a wise heart, we see more of ourselves in what is described. The good news is that the life and ministry of Jesus perfectly embodies the wisdom of Solomon. Christians are united to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and are given a "Spirit of Wisdom" according to Paul. (Eph. 1:18) The gospel gives us the ability to be a part of the Kingdom of Jesus because we can act wisely as we are built up into the image of Jesus. 

Obeying God means that he leads us in dying to "self trust" and living to trust in Him. This is a sermon that was preached at All Souls Church in Missoula which encourages God's people to trust in Him and not ourselves. 

How should we live in the Kingdom of God? Proverbs gives us signs which help direct us and give us practical insights into day to day life. All wisdom in the world points back to Jesus Christ, and is also poured out by His Spirit in those who have been united with Jesus. This first sermon lays the groundwork for understanding wisdom and how it forms our ideas about life. 

This is a sermon preached at All Souls Church in Missoula, MT. It was delivered on March 31st, 2024. This sermon looks at the resurrection of Jesus Christ from Mark's perspective and is connected to the preaching series delivered at All Souls Church which walks through the book of Mark. 

Sermon preached at All Souls church on Mark 10:32-52. This section of Mark inlcudes the last of three statements Jesus makes regarding His journey to Jerusalem, and the cross. The disciples had not caught the vision of what it means to follow Jesus, to be His disciple. However; Bartimaus, a blind begger, comes to Jesus in need, in faith, and in willingness to give up His life to follow Jesus. The irony is that he sees Jesus, even though he is blind, and is rewarded with his sight. How are we blind to our own shortcomings in following Jesus? He still serves us, even when we are blind to His call. 

This is a sermon at All Souls Church in Missoula, MT. (preached on 3/10/24). The subject has to do with the transfiguration of Jesus Christ on Mt. Hermon as recorded in Mark 9. Jesus had just gotten done confronting Peter and the disciples about the reality of the cross in the Kingdom of God. Jesus was headed toward Jerusalem out of necessity to atone for sin and show what kind of life His disciples would live. Now, Jesus needed to encourage them to by revealing His glory and the worth of of giving up your life to follow Jesus. 

Sermon preached on Feb. 18th at All Souls Church by Rev. Ben Melli. This sermon focuses on Mark chapter 6 which largely serves as a picture of Jesus' ministry to the church. The disciples are not pictured as people who understand Jesus and His Kingdom. But there is grace in that Jesus still comes to them in grace and works through them. Similar to you and I, Jesus shows us grace and patience even when our hearts are hard to Him. 

Sermon Preached at All Souls Church on Mark 5:21-43 titled: "More Than You Bargained For". This sermon looks at the story of Jesus interacting with three characters all of whom came away from Jesus with a new faith. While Jesus does perform miracles in these stories, the main focus is on where the faith of each individual is placed. The characters display the type of "soil" in which the Kingdom of God thrives. 

A sermon on Mark 4:1-20 titled: "Something About Seeds" by Rev. Ben Melli 2/4/24. As this parable shapes the proceeding stories in Mark, it is important to understand Jesus' teaching about the soils.