Alabaster Group

260419 The Beauty of Wisdom

True wisdom is not transferable knowledge but a spirit that cries out in every facet of life, inviting us to learn from our mistakes and think like God. The more we do so, the more we reflect the beauty of God’s character. Just as the Queen of Sheba was left breathless not by Solomon’s arguments, but by the manifest beauty and order of his court, we are called to build lives that trigger a response to the glory of God in others. 1 Corinthians 6; 1 Kings 10; Proverbs 3; James 1; Proverbs 1; Colossians 2; Psalm 37; James 3 NYC Sunday Sermon | April 19, 2026

260405 Free to Choose

True spiritual maturity is found in moving beyond a relationship with God defined by needs and wants to one anchored in free will and choice. While God faithfully meets our basic needs to deliver us from the "slavery" of survival, His ultimate desire is for us to relate to Him as free sons and daughters who act out of voluntary devotion rather than necessity. Just as Nehemiah chose to rebuild Jerusalem without a direct divine command or personal crisis, we are invited to exercise a godly ambition that originates in our own hearts. Matthew 6; Deuteronomy 15; Nehemiah 1-2; 1 Corinthians 9; Philippians 1 NYC Sunday Sermon | April 5, 2026

260329 The Testimony of Righteousness

Righteousness is not merely a moral attribute but a tangible form of spiritual power. When we perform acts of integrity—such as returning a poor man’s pledge or giving alms like Cornelius—we are accruing a memorial of righteousness that carries weight in the heavens. Like a pendulum raised to its peak, these quiet sacrifices build a storehouse of potential that can be converted into action. The Lord desires that we understand this dynamic so that we can make full use of the spiritual power available to us. Deuteronomy 24; Acts 10; Romans 1; Genesis 15; Luke 7; James 5; Mark 5; Luke 5 NYC Sunday Sermon | March 29, 2026

260322 Unique Love

In different areas of our lives, we can easily become one of many: one of many students, employees, citizens, customers, residents, etc. But to God, we each hold a unique place in His heart and He desires to relate to us in a way that can’t be replicated or replaced. When we recognize this about our relationship with God, it also becomes easier to love others in the same way that God loves them—not generally, but individually. Gomer was not just another prostitute, she was someone deeply loved by God, and Hosea was invited to share in this love. Epaphroditus was not just another worker to God, and neither was he to Paul. Sharing in God’s unique love for others opens up a door to intimacy that would not otherwise be possible. Isaiah 52-53; Exodus 33; 1 Timothy 5; Mark 9; Philippians 2; Hosea 1 NYC Sunday Sermon | March 22, 2026

260315 Dignity: The Bedrock of the Soul

Many times, the healing that Jesus offers us restores not only our bodies, but our souls. Suffering over long periods of time can take a toll on us such that our dignity begins to erode, and it becomes harder for us to believe that we are valuable in God’s eyes. When Jesus encounters the leper, He does not just heal him, He emphasizes that God desires to heal him, and in doing so, restores a dignity that had been lost. As we relate to others, we have a responsibility to build up our neighbors, while at the same time, not tearing ourselves down. When we choose to reinforce one another’s dignity, our breakthroughs are no longer fragile, but become the stable ground from which we truly worship and encounter God. Acts 3; Matthew 8; Matthew 23; 1 Peter 3; Proverbs 31 NYC Sunday Sermon | March 15, 2026