The Jesus Story / Sermons by Benjamin Shanks

Through Thick and Thin (Ruth 1)

In this message, Benjamin Shanks introduces our 4-week series in the Book of Ruth by highlighting the SETTING, CHARACTERS and PLOT of the story. This message will encourage you if you are in the middle of suffering not to separate yourself, or isolate yourself, but consecrate yourself to God and others in this season.

A Story of Clay & Glory (2 Corinthians 4:6-18)

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). In this message, Benjamin Shanks explores the threads of clay & glory throughout the Bible, finding that the story of humanity is a story of clay & glory. This message will encourage you if you are going through a hard time that God's glory shines in jars of clay. ACT I: Creation; ACT II: Separation; ACT III: Restoration; ACT IV: Glorification.

Everyday Life (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

The Teacher of Ecclesiastes has been to some deep, dark places. In Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, he returns from the brink to offer wisdom for everyday life: carpe diem! In other words: EAT GLADLY; DRINK JOYFULLY; ENJOY WORK; BE HAPPY; ACCEPT LIMITS; DO GOOD; and RISE AGAIN. This message will encourage you that in Christ and because of His resurrection, "Meaningless! Meaningless!" becomes "Glorious! Glorious!"

A Dead End (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)

Pleasure, laughter, wine, folly, projects, buildings, vineyards, the delights of a man's heart—meaningless, utterly meaningless. That’s the outcome of the Teacher’s experiment in Ecclesiastes 2, and that’s a dead end. In this message, Benjamin Shanks teaches on the biblical idea of idolatry, the Cycle of Addiction, and how in the Gospel Jesus offers us a narrow road to life. This message will help you understand idolatry, identify the idols in your life, and replace them with the worship of the One, true God who satisfies every desire.

To Do What Is Good (Titus 2:1-15)

When someone becomes a Christian—saved by grace, born again, forgiven, made alive—it's big news. And when they graduate to glory in the future, it's big news too. But what are we supposed to do in the meantime? What is Jesus' purpose for the present tense? In other words: What is the meaning of life? That's the question this message from Benjamin Shanks aims to answer from Titus 2:1-15. This message will encourage you with a purpose for your life—that the riches of God's grace are available to teach you to do what is good. OUR PAST IS GRACE; OUR FUTURE IS GLORY; OUR PRESENT IS GOOD.