Shady Grove Sermons

Title: The Greatest Advice A Mother Can Give Text: John 2:1-11 Date: May 10, 2026 AM (Mother’s Day) Overview: Today's Mother’s Day sermon from John 2:1-11 celebrates Mary’s simple yet powerful words at the wedding in Cana—“Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5)—as the greatest advice any mother can give. John paints the scene of a first-century wedding crisis (running out of wine meant public shame) and shows how Mary, instead of panicking, turned to Jesus and then directed the servants to obey Him completely. Today we will learn two clear lessons: (1) Mary’s advice models the most important thing mothers (and all believers) can teach—obey Jesus above every cultural pressure or expectation; and (2) the servants’ radical obedience, even when it looked foolish (filling purification jars with water and serving it), opened the door for Jesus’ first miracle. The water-to-wine sign is not merely a party trick; it pictures Jesus replacing the “dirty water” of the law with the sweet w...

Choosing Harmony 1 Peter 3:1-7 Hearers of the Word Theme:  Because we are chosen by God and called into His light, we are called to live differently — by living in harmony with God’s wise design, but you must make a choice. Introduction   In our ongoing study of 1 Peter, we have seen how believers are called to live as “elect exiles” by submitting to God’s orderly design in every sphere of life—for the Lord’s sake and the sake of our witness. This week’s message, “Choosing Harmony” from 1 Peter 3:1-7, brings that same principle close to home into our home.  Peter shows that true harmony in marriage flows not from demanding our rights but from inner beauty, mutual honor, and Christ-centered love. Wives are urged to win even unbelieving husbands through faithful conduct and a gentle, quiet spirit, while husbands are commanded to dwell with their wives with understanding, honoring them as co-heirs of God’s grace, entering their world and serving them as Christ served the chu...

 Hope in Harmony 1 Peter 2:13-25 Hearers of the Word: Theme:  Because we are chosen by God and called into His light, we are called to live differently — by living in harmony with God’s wise design. Review – Our New Identity (1 Peter 2:9-12) • A chosen people,  A royal priesthood, A holy nation, and God’s special possession  Purpose: Declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Transitional Theme: Harmony (1 Peter 2:13- chapter 3) Two Foundations for True Harmony 1. Reverence God as Lord of all (Vertical relationship first) 2. Respect God’s design for an orderly arrangement (we are relating to our horizontal relationships– Greek idea is  “to arrange under”) Question to Consider: How do we achieve that harmony? 1. Harmony Produces Hope in the World 2. Harmony Produces Hope in the Workplace To be continued... Doers of the Word: 1.  Peter says if we forget who we are in Christ, we will live like we used to. In ...

Chosen to Live Differently 1 Peter 2:9-17  Theme: Because we are chosen by God and called out of darkness into His light, we are called to live differently by living in harmony with God’s design through willing submission in every sphere of life. Hearers of the Word: 1. Our New Identity (1 Peter 2:9–10) o Chosen people o Royal priesthood o Holy nation o God’s special possession o Purpose: Declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light 2. Our New Calling (1 Peter 2:11–12) o Abstain from sinful desires (they war against your soul) o Live good lives among unbelievers so that even when slandered, your deeds glorify God Statement of Truth: If you forget who you are, you will live like who you used to be. 3. The Overarching Theme: Harmony (1 Peter 2:13 - 3:12) o “Be like-minded / live in harmony with one another”  o Be sympathetic, love one another, compassionate, humble o Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult,...

The NEW Eve Text: John 20 (Easter Morning) Date: April 4, 2026 – The Grove Key Theme: The Easter story is strange and surprising, especially because of Mary Magdalene’s central role. This “weirdness” actually makes the story more believable, more wonderful, and shows it is good news for the whole world. Mary Magdalene serves as the “New Eve” — bringing life and hope instead of death and destruction. 1. The Easter Story is a Strange / Weird Story • The resurrection account includes confusion, angels, running disciples, detailed linen cloths, and especially Mary Magdalene’s prominent role. • These odd details make the story feel authentic rather than fabricated. 2. The Easter Story is a Well-Attested Story • In 1st-century culture, a woman’s testimony was considered worthless in court (per Josephus). • If the disciples were inventing the story, they would never have chosen Mary Magdalene (or the cowardly disciples) as the first witnesses. • The “weird” details (John outrunnin...

The Triumphal Entry    Matthew 21:1-11 The Grove – March 29, 2026 (Palm Sunday) Holy Week begins today— Passion Week —Matthew 21 shows us the final week of Jesus’ earthly life that culminates in His crucifixion and resurrection. It opens with the Triumphal Entry; the moment Jesus deliberately presents Himself to Israel as their long-awaited Messiah King. This is called Palm Sunday because the crowds place  garments and palm branches along the path as Jesus rode into Jerusalem!  Jesus was born in Betelhem, raised in Nazareth and he lived life and ministry largely in and around Galilee. When we come to this passage, I want you to understand that while many had come to town to celebrate Passover – Jesus was not just another pilgrim who had come to town!  The triumphal for entry was the arrival of the king. Matthew makes clear:  Jesus is King.  And the King has come to His city! God had promised that he would send Messiah to his people and that messiah wou...