https://sermons.logos.com/profile/7137688https://files.logoscdn.com/v1/files/85780648/assets/17249337/content.png?download=true&signature=dT6HRFNas83yfHiljQn93afYDWY&e=.pnghttps://sermons.logos.com/profile/7137688RSS for NodeMon, 25 May 2026 12:28:11 GMT60Michael Ryan StotlerSermons by Michael Ryan StotlerMichael Ryan StotlerPastor@laughlinchurch.comnohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1775258https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1775258Wed, 20 May 2026 01:59:51 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerJudah and Tamar This story, for many people, when you read it, you're just like, "What is this doing here?" And that is on purpose. It's a riddle. And the more you meditate on it and the more you meditate on the relationship between the shared words and images with the narratives on either side, backwards…3591nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1770642https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1770642Sun, 17 May 2026 18:26:12 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: A Command and a Warning As Paul turns into chapter 3 of Philippians, he writes, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.” That word “finally” does not mean he is finished. It signals a shift. He is moving from the example of Christ’s humility in chapter 2 to a serious warning in chapter…3749nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1770639https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1770639Wed, 13 May 2026 01:47:27 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerDown Into the Pit The scene that we were just in was about how Joseph is betrayed by all the brothers, including Abraham's other sons, but especially Judah, that snake, and his really self-oriented betrayal of his brother. He's after a quick 20 shekels. We're gonna pick up in verse 29 and shift back…2840nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1765930https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1765930Sun, 10 May 2026 18:26:59 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Mother’s Day can stir up many emotions. For some, it is a day of gratitude and celebration. For others, it carries grief, loss, longing, or complicated memories. Some are exhausted in the middle of parenting. Some are praying for children who have wandered. Some are grieving children they…2781nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1762898https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1762898Wed, 06 May 2026 01:52:12 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerA Man in the Field 12 His brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. 13 Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers, you know, are pasturing the flocks at Shechem. Get ready. I’m sending you to them.” “I’m ready,” Joseph replied. 14 Then Israel said to him, “Go and see how your brothers…3110nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1759002https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1759002Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:46:47 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerJoseph’s Dream Today is the story about his dreams, his robe, the brothers becoming angry like Cain, doing something to their brother that will result in a robe deception, and that's the arc of the chapter. 2 These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Joseph , when seventeen years of age, was…2766nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1756587https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1756587Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:25:19 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: From Theology to People Paul has just taken us to the heights of Christ’s humility. We have seen the Son who emptied Himself, took the form of a servant, and became obedient to the point of death. Now Paul shifts from theology to personnel. At first glance, verses 19 to 30 can feel like…1704nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1754236https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1754236Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:02:46 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction to The Joseph Story So we're gonna overview in this first session. And we are going to do some review. Remind ourselves what are you supposed to already know walking into the story of Joseph and his brothers? The story of Joseph and his brothers. These are the 12 sons of Jacob, who is the…3105nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1749531https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1749531Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:26:43 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: Salvation That Shows Paul has just given us the great hymn of Christ’s humility. Jesus humbled Himself, became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Then Paul turns and says, “Therefore.” Because of Christ’s obedience, because of His humility, because of what God has done through Him,…1555nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1742274https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1742274Wed, 15 Apr 2026 02:04:00 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerJacob and Esau Part Ways Today we are gonna read the conclusion of the Yaaqov story. This final part of the final act. It began with Yaaqov going back to the place where he began his journey in and out of exile to Bethel. He got a new name. He got the blessing, the prediction of kings of many nations.…3758nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1747123https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1747123Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:23:22 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: The Way Down Is the Way Forward Most of us spend a lot of energy protecting our place. Our reputation. Our rights. Our sense of being noticed or appreciated. We may not say it out loud, but we feel it when we are overlooked, when someone else gets the credit, or when serving costs more…2635nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1739591https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1739591Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:41:54 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Good morning, and happy Easter. Easter is one of those days that comes with a lot of expectations. The room is fuller. The songs are louder. The story is familiar. And yet, when you slow down and actually read the resurrection story, especially in the Gospel of John, you notice something…1332nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1739457https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1739457Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:24:23 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerThe Death of Rachel and Isaac The last section was a bright spot in a pretty dark tunnel up to that point. We go back into the land, the family purifies itself, Yaaqov introduces his whole family to the Elohim that has been with him all along. And they leave behind their pagan identities of old to embrace…3334nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1734979https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1734979Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:35:15 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: The Soil Where Joy Grows Paul’s letter to the Philippians is saturated with joy, but that joy is never detached from how believers treat one another. As Paul turns to Philippians 2 , he addresses a quiet threat to the church’s joy, not persecution from outside, but self-centeredness within.…3160nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1734890https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1734890Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:54:12 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerJacob Returns to Bethel We are wrapping things up. And interestingly, that is how all of these sections start to feel, like we're wrapping up unresolved threads from earlier in the story in really interesting ways. third and final section makes up most of what we call Genesis 35 and 36. And the first…3229nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1734634https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1734634Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:32:02 GMTMichael Ryan Stotler2140nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1730192https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1730192Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:28:30 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: One Command That Shapes the Whole Church After opening his letter with thanksgiving and prayer, Paul spends much of Philippians 1:12–26 describing his own situation. He writes from prison, uncertain whether his future holds release or death. Yet his concern is not self preservation. His…1938nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1730183https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1730183Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:19:29 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerJacob’s Silence We've pondered how the story began. Highly disturbing. We have Shechem, the son of Hamor, who abuses his exalted position to see, take, and rape one of the daughters of a migrant family that just came into the area and bought new property. So we took a long time, and rightfully so, to…3604nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1729937https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1729937Sun, 15 Mar 2026 18:37:50 GMTMichael Ryan Stotler2154nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1725524https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1725524Wed, 11 Mar 2026 02:22:26 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerThe Oppression of Dinah We are coming to the center of the third act of the Yaaqov story. It's not a happy story. It's highly disturbing, and it's gonna repeat patterns that we have seen at the center of the other two acts. Recall that in the first act, you had the story of the twins and deceptions as…3691nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1720790https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1720790Sun, 08 Mar 2026 18:18:24 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: A Statement That Reorients Everything Few sentences in Scripture are as concise and as demanding as Paul’s words in Philippians 1:21 : “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” This is not a poetic flourish or a slogan for difficult times. Paul is not writing from comfort or security.…1454nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1725213https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1725213Sun, 08 Mar 2026 15:58:31 GMTMichael Ryan Stotler1208nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1720702https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1720702Wed, 04 Mar 2026 02:46:34 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerThe Reunion of Jacob and Esau We have the sending of messengers to Esau. He's coming with 400 men. We have the wrestling with God, seeing him face to face. Yaaqov is now the wounded servant. But he has the blessing, he has the blessing of God. The blessing of God is a dangerous thing to one's own health.…2717nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1715926https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1715926Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerThis morning we are taking a short break from our journey through the book of Philippians. As we move through the year, I like to pause and draw attention to the biblical calendar and the Jewish festivals that shaped the faith of God’s people. Even though we do not celebrate these feasts as Christians,…8nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1715807https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1715807Wed, 25 Feb 2026 02:56:15 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerGod Wrestles With Jacob We are in the final act, the third and final act of Yaaqov's story, and we have reached the middle of this opening piece. The meeting with Esau happens on either side of this narrative right here. And the fact that they're all next to each other, it's a point of meditation that…3371nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1713423https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1713423Sun, 22 Feb 2026 19:22:39 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: What Is Worth Showing the World? Paul’s words in this passage are not theoretical. They are spoken from confinement, under real threat, with his future uncertain. He is not writing from comfort but from custody. Yet what rises to the surface is not fear, bitterness, or self-defense. It…1622nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1710956https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1710956Wed, 18 Feb 2026 02:55:56 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerJacob Builds an Ark We are at a crossroads moment in the story of Yaaqov. We just walked with him through a 20-year exile in Mesopotamia, halfway to Babylon, in the house of Lavan. Do you remember the first story of him leaving the land was having that dream and vision of Heaven and Earth united with…3342nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1706442https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1706442Sun, 15 Feb 2026 19:28:51 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Some of you may remember walking through this passage years ago. Others were not here yet. A lot has changed since then. Seasons change. Circumstances change. People change. But the gospel has not changed, and it has not slowed down. Paul writes Philippians from prison. Not a metaphorical…1475nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1706352https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1706352Wed, 11 Feb 2026 02:48:51 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerJacob and Laban Make a Covenant This is the climactic showdown between Yaaqov and his uncle. Remember all the brothers are there. All the kids are there, all the animals. It's this whole crew. And remember they're up in the hills. 43 Then Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters; the children,…2924nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1701956https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1701956Sun, 08 Feb 2026 19:23:01 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Think about someone in your life who always shows up for you—someone who prays for you, encourages you, and walks with you in your faith. That’s a gospel partner, and that’s what Paul writes about in Philippians. When we hear “partnership,” most of us think marriage, or maybe a business…2957nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1697589https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1697589Sun, 01 Feb 2026 17:05:13 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Every family has habits that reveal who they are. Some families have a certain way of greeting each other. Some share meals every night. Some build traditions that are passed down for generations. When you see those habits, you know something about the identity of that family. Paul does…1220nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1657792https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1657792Wed, 28 Jan 2026 03:01:48 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerJacob verse the Narrator We're turning a significant corner right now in the story of Yaaqov. We followed him into exile because of the mess of he and his mom's making. And it's been, as I said, a hall of mirrors of the deceiver being deceived mirrored by the sisters deceiving and tricking, the rivalries,…2900nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1697228https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1697228Sun, 25 Jan 2026 19:26:56 GMTMichael Ryan Stotler467nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1697241https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1697241Sun, 25 Jan 2026 19:26:48 GMTMichael Ryan Stotler7130nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1654108https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1654108Sun, 18 Jan 2026 19:23:27 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Some of the greatest movements of God begin in the darkest places. For Paul and Silas, the path to salvation for a Roman jailer ran straight through pain, injustice, humiliation, and a midnight prison cell. What happened in Philippi is not just a story of a man saved. It is a story of how…1625nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1650661https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1650661Sun, 11 Jan 2026 19:31:46 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: When God Opens a Door, No One Can Shut It Have you ever had a moment where you knew, beyond your plans and beyond your control, that God was clearly the One opening the door? That is exactly what we see in the story of Lydia. Paul’s second missionary journey had been one redirection after…3419nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1650576https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1650576Wed, 07 Jan 2026 02:59:45 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerGod Sees Leah Last time we were together we talked about Read that just to get our bearings 31 When the Lord saw that Leah was neglected, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to conceive. 32 Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has seen my affliction;…3560nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1638310https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1638310Sun, 04 Jan 2026 19:30:32 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: The Best-Laid Plans Good morning. Welcome to the first Sunday of a new year, 2026. This morning, we are starting a brand new sermon series called Philippians: The Pursuit of Joy . We are going to spend the next several weeks walking through the Book of Philippians, a letter the Apostle…3545nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1614199https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1614199Thu, 25 Dec 2025 02:35:14 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerWelcome Tonight, y’all are invited to rest your weary hearts and rejoice. The waiting is over. The promise is fulfilled. Christ the Lord is born! Let’s pray that the light of His coming fills every dark and tired place in us tonight. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping…898nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1636086https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1636086Sun, 21 Dec 2025 19:13:11 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: The Love That Found Us There’s a reason the last candle we light before Christmas is the candle of Love . Because love is the center of it all — it is the heartbeat of Christmas and the foundation of our salvation. In a weary, wounded world, love often feels conditional. We love those who…1017nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1636070https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1636070Wed, 17 Dec 2025 02:57:48 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerGod Sees Leah We just finished the story of Lavan, the uncle, swindling his nephew, Yaaqov, the trickster. The trickster gets tricked in a way that mirrors his own trickstering Genesis 29:31-30:24 - Another example of how the numbering doesn’t always match up with the narrative, but that’s ok. And these…2833nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1631813https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1631813Sun, 14 Dec 2025 19:27:34 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction This third week of Advent we light the pink candle, the candle of Joy . In the middle of the Advent journey, we pause to remember that joy is not simply a feeling dependent on circumstances—it is a steadfast, soul-deep response to who God is. Even when life feels bleak, even when our hopes…3040nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1631747https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1631747Wed, 10 Dec 2025 02:58:28 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerDeception in the House of Lavan Last week we talked about that amazing dream. Do you wish you had dreams like that? He did say he was terrified. We're not gonna forget about the dream though, 'cause it's gonna come up again as we move forward. he goes from Bethel, which is up in the northern hill country.…3477nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1629487https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1629487Sun, 07 Dec 2025 19:30:22 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction – When Life Feels Like a Storm Have you ever noticed how life can shift from calm to chaos in a matter of moments? One phone call, one diagnosis, one loss—and suddenly the waves rise, and the winds roar. You thought you were sailing peacefully along, but then a storm hits that you never…2502nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1618863https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1618863Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Today is Thanksgiving Sunday—a time when we pause to remember God’s blessings and to express our gratitude to Him. But gratitude isn’t just a seasonal emotion; it’s a spiritual posture. True thanksgiving flows from recognizing who God is , not just what He gives. Psalm 100 is one of the…1445nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1618842https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1618842Wed, 19 Nov 2025 03:01:34 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerJacob’s Exile We just finished act one, the first main part of the Yaaqov story. Where we had lots of deceit. Now we are going to follow the deceiver into exile and see where it leads him. The first thing that happens to Yaaqov in his exile is he ends up alone in a field, so he falls asleep, as one does…3690nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1614263https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1614263Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:10:19 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerLooking Back at the Journey Today we come to the end of Ecclesiastes. Over the past weeks, we’ve walked with Qoheleth—the Teacher—on his quest for meaning. And what a journey it’s been. We began with the declaration: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (1:2). Life under the sun is fleeting, elusive,…1628nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1614212https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1614212Wed, 12 Nov 2025 02:49:07 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerParting of the Brothers Let's take our third and final step into this first part of the Yaaqov story. You can feel the tension has built to a climactic point here. The double deception. Now Jacob appears to be walking away with the blessing, the deceptive plan that he and his mother worked. But it's…2947nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1609894https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1609894Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:54:12 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Life is short. That’s a truth we can’t escape. If you’re young, life feels long—like you’ve got all the time in the world. If you’re older, you know how fast the years go by. One day you’re full of energy and possibility, and then suddenly you’re looking back wondering where it all went.…1089nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1609812https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1609812Wed, 05 Nov 2025 03:05:34 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIsaac Blesses Jacob So Yaaqov just walked into the tent with the tasty food that my father loves. 18 When he came to his father, he said, “My father.” And he answered, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob replied to his father, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit…3182nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1609563https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1609563Sun, 02 Nov 2025 17:08:26 GMTMichael Ryan Stotler1490nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1605245https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1605245Wed, 29 Oct 2025 01:58:01 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerRebekah’s Plan to Deceive Isaac We just finished walking through This story, and it was the story of how the son of Avraham imitates the deception of his father, Avraham, in deceiving foreign kings, and potentially bringing curse and disaster on the nations instead of blessing. And so remember, in our…3481nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1602877https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1602877Wed, 22 Oct 2025 01:56:46 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerYitskhaq’s Conflict With Abimelech 15 Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines stopped up by filling them with earth. 16 Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us.” 17 And Isaac departed from there and…3404nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1596169https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1596169Sun, 19 Oct 2025 18:40:29 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Ephesians 6:18-20 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the…1278nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1596099https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1596099Wed, 15 Oct 2025 01:52:45 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIsaac Deceives Abimelech The literary design of this unit has been carefully crafted to invite the reader into a meditation on how the children repeat the story of their parents, and how God’s choice of this family means that God’s justice and mercy will also repeat through the generations. 1 There was…3129nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1591743https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1591743Sun, 12 Oct 2025 18:57:48 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Life is full of risk. Every decision you make involves some level of uncertainty. The job you take, the investments you make, the people you trust, the ministry you step into—all of it has a cost. Some of us are risk-takers by nature. Others want to avoid risk at all costs. But here in Ecclesiastes…1495nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1591680https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1591680Wed, 08 Oct 2025 01:50:43 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerJacob Tricks Esau 27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished;…3037nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1587022https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1587022Wed, 01 Oct 2025 01:57:41 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerThe Birth of Esau and Jacob The Literary Design of the Yaaqov Story The Jacob story goes from Genesis 25:19 - 37:1 It goes from chapter 25, verse 19. So do you remember how the seven-day narrative in Genesis 1 and 2, the chapter divisions that came much later, they're kind of amiss 'cause the seventh…3450nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1582649https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1582649Sun, 28 Sep 2025 18:21:12 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction There is an old saying: “As goes the leader, so goes the people.” History is full of examples of nations flourishing under wise leadership—and collapsing under foolish rule. It is one of the leading themes in Parts of the Bible. Koheleth (the Teacher) gives us a picture of what happens when…3185nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1582576https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1582576Wed, 24 Sep 2025 01:53:53 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerJacob: Introduction Jacob is actually not how anybody in his family would've ever pronounced his name. In Hebrew, this figure's name is Yaaqov Yaaqov. Yaaqov, grandson of Avraham, takes up this third section of the Genesis scroll, though interestingly, he is actually the character who receives the most…3233nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1577982https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1577982Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:23:45 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction – A Wake-Up Call You Can’t Ignore My wife always teases me. I fall asleep hard for about 3 hours. You can drive a truck through our house and I wouldn’t hear it. But there are some “wake-up calls” that you can’t ignore — the smoke detector going off, your child screaming “Dad!” in the middle…1375nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1577976https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1577976Wed, 17 Sep 2025 01:52:59 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerNot Chosen But Blessed Let's think through the cycle. The Eden's been planted. The wife, the ezer, has been provided. And so what I'm expecting is maybe something that's disappointing, some sort of mistake or tragedy that's going to lead to division, strife. 1 Now Abraham took another wife, whose name…3166nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1573717https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1573717Sun, 14 Sep 2025 15:51:39 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Let me ask you: have you ever been in such a rush to finish something that you skipped over a basic precaution and paid the price for it later? Maybe you were putting together a piece of furniture, ignored the instructions, and ended up with five extra screws and a shelf upside down. Or…1537nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1573600https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1573600Wed, 10 Sep 2025 02:02:34 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIsaac’s Marriage to Rebekah This is the last stop before Abraham is sent the the grave. Today we are going to be with Rivqah. Remember here name is the sounds of the work “blessing” in Hebrew, with the letters mixed up. And we're gonna follow her on her Abraham-like journey to the land of the new Eden.…3725nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1570950https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1570950Sun, 07 Sep 2025 15:59:37 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: The Danger of Small Things Small things can cause big problems. A single spark can start a forest fire. One missed detail can derail a mission. And, as Ecclesiastes 10 opens, a few dead flies can ruin a whole bottle of expensive perfume. This isn’t just about hygiene—it’s about how a little…1409nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1570942https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1570942Wed, 03 Sep 2025 01:44:54 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerSarah’s Tomb as a Mini Eden This story is designed with three major sections. There's a little opener, there's a long dialogue in the center, and then there's a little concluder. The dialogue itself has three parts, with a little fourth part that concludes the dialogue. 1 Now Sarah lived 127 years; these…2615nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1566292https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1566292Sun, 31 Aug 2025 18:19:16 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: The Quiet Strength That Goes Unseen In a world that celebrates loud success, celebrity, and brute strength, Ecclesiastes reminds us: wisdom—though often quiet and overlooked—is a treasure beyond measure. But it’s also fragile. Ecclesiastes 9:13–18 13 I also saw under the sun this example…1551nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1564282https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1564282Wed, 27 Aug 2025 01:58:42 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerBlessing for the Next Generation A Heroine From the Non-Chosen Family 20 Now it came about after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn and Buz his brother and Kemuel the father of Aram 22 and Chesed and Hazo…3504nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1560146https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1560146Sun, 24 Aug 2025 18:23:00 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: Joy in a World of Shadows Have you ever been so overwhelmed by life that joy seemed... out of reach? You wake up, go through your routines, shuffle through responsibilities — but joy feels like a luxury, or worse, a distraction. Ecclesiastes understands that. It doesn't ignore death, suffering,…2505nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1560046https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1560046Wed, 20 Aug 2025 01:58:04 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerAbraham Surrenders Isaac Still in that test moment the Genesis 3 place 4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. 5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.” 6 Abraham took…3388nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1555773https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1555773Sun, 17 Aug 2025 18:27:39 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: There’s a strange comfort and a haunting chill that comes when we hear the words: “The same event happens to the righteous and the wicked.” Koheleth is pulling no punches. Everyone dies. This fact levels us—it humbles kings and commoners, it erases fame, and it silences ambition. Death…2884nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1555833https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1555833Wed, 13 Aug 2025 02:05:03 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerAbraham’s Ultimate Test 1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains…3854nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1543317https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1543317Sun, 10 Aug 2025 18:32:02 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Have you ever looked around and thought, “That’s not fair!” Maybe you saw someone cheat their way to success, lie to keep their job, or abuse others and walk away untouched—praised, even. Meanwhile, someone who’s done things the right way—honestly, humbly, sacrificially—gets passed over,…1671nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1551450https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1551450Sun, 03 Aug 2025 18:41:17 GMTMichael Ryan Stotler2182nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1539051https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1539051Sun, 27 Jul 2025 17:04:10 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerTestimony Moment Invite a volunteer or child (with parent) to briefly share what VBS meant to them. Introduction: A Week to Remember This past week, our church was filled with laughter, games, memory verses, crafts, music, and the unmistakable energy of children discovering that Jesus loves them . But…1785nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1539058https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1539058Wed, 23 Jul 2025 01:53:42 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerAbraham’s Covenant with Abimelech Today we are going through the second half of Genesis 21 which happens in two parts The first part is focused on Hagar and Yishmael, which makes sense. That's what flows right out of it. But next is gonna come another round of interactions between Avraham and Abimelech.…3222nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1535008https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1535008Sun, 13 Jul 2025 16:04:51 GMTMichael Ryan Stotler🙏 Prayer of Commissioning for VBS Heavenly Father, We come before You today with grateful hearts, knowing that You are the One who calls, equips, and sends. Thank You for the incredible opportunity we have this week to open our doors, open our hearts, and open Your Word to the children of our community.…1454nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1534967https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1534967Wed, 09 Jul 2025 02:02:11 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIn chapter 20 we have seen Abraham behave like the deceiver again and the king who is not a believer act like the righteous. 8 Early in the morning Abimelech got up, called all his servants together, and personally told them all these things, and the men were terrified. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham…3729nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1530980https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1530980Sun, 06 Jul 2025 15:59:00 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerGood morning, church. Today, as we celebrate Religious Liberty Sunday , we are reminded of a precious gift— the freedom to worship without fear. We can gather here without the threat of persecution. We can open our Bibles without worry. We can speak the name of Jesus boldly. But even more precious than…1665nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1529032https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1529032Wed, 02 Jul 2025 01:57:52 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerThe Blessing of Seed Distorted 30 Lot went up from Zoar, and stayed in the mountains, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to stay in Zoar; and he stayed in a cave, he and his two daughters. 31 Then the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to…3472nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1526747https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1526747Sun, 29 Jun 2025 18:19:50 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Who among us hasn’t questioned those in charge at one time or another? Whether it’s the boss at work, a government official, or even a church leader—our relationships with authority can often feel strained, especially when their decisions seem arbitrary or self-serving. In Ecclesiastes 8:1–9…3012nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1526729https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1526729Wed, 25 Jun 2025 01:54:47 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerA Flood of Fire 15 When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the…3294nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1522718https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1522718Sun, 22 Jun 2025 18:35:25 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: The Paradox of Life Have you ever looked at the world and felt like things just don’t make sense? Like the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper? Ecclesiastes 7:15 begins with this kind of observation: “In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing…1539nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1518676https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1518676Sun, 15 Jun 2025 18:25:25 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: Happy Father’s Day. Today we celebrate dads—young dads with kids in diapers, seasoned dads with kids raising their own kids, grandfathers, and even spiritual fathers in the faith. But I also want to acknowledge that Father’s Day can bring mixed emotions. For some, it’s a joyful day of family…1108nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1518150https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1518150Wed, 11 Jun 2025 01:54:04 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerAbraham Intercedes for Lot Starting in Genesis 18 On the hilltop, with sacred trees, we're eating a meal, God and humans, by the tent. How Wonderful We've got Avraham. Yahweh voice of God is appearing as a human, we've got Avraham, we've got Yahweh, we've got Sarah in the tent. And it was this whole…3244nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1514579https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1514579Sun, 08 Jun 2025 18:44:54 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerEcclesiastes 7:1–14 1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. 2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. 3 Frustration is better than laughter,…4035nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1512607https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1512607Wed, 04 Jun 2025 01:58:35 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerThe Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah We just walked through another cycle of the melody. From God providing the delivering help for the helpless one, the naked one; God splitting in order to provide what his chosen one can't do for themselves; the making of a covenant; but then the abuse of those covenant…3515nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1510430https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1510430Sun, 01 Jun 2025 18:30:13 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: Finding Peace in Life’s Uncertainty Life feels uncertain, doesn’t it? Jobs change, relationships shift, economies fall, and health fails. The plans we made so carefully often unravel. And when life gets uncertain, we instinctively scramble for control. We grasp for clarity, for security,…2859nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1510401https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1510401Wed, 28 May 2025 02:03:52 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerCovenant #2 With Avraham: Sign of Circumcision God blesses the one who you think he would curse, which is the oppressed immigrant. Let's flip it over. We see how God re-creates Hagar. What's in store for Avram and Sarai? And this is what we call Genesis 17 . It's the climax of this walk through the melody…3827nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1508101https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1508101Sun, 25 May 2025 15:52:52 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: The Paradox of Plenty Have you ever known someone who “has it all” but still seems empty inside? Maybe that person is you? We live in a world where success is measured by accumulation—money, property, followers, accolades. Yet Ecclesiastes 6 reminds us that even with all that, we can still…1478nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1506160https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1506160Wed, 21 May 2025 02:09:52 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerGod Hears the Cry 7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She replied, “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Go back…4182nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1502015https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1502015Sun, 18 May 2025 18:33:00 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerEcclesiastes 5:13-20 13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, 14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. 15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so…3143nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1499765https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1499765Sun, 11 May 2025 16:04:29 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction Good morning, Church family. Today we honor one of God’s most beautiful and profound gifts: mothers. And not just biological mothers, but all women who have loved, nurtured, prayed, and comforted others like a mother would—whether you’re a mom, a spiritual mother, a grandmother, or a mother-figure.…1335nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1497737https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1497737Wed, 07 May 2025 01:50:53 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerThe Oppression of Hagar I was trying to draw attention to the way that the vocabulary and imagery of the Eden story is permeating chapter Genesis 11:27–25:18 . And so that's, again, setting us up with the melody. So what comes after the great promise and provision of blessing and abundance and seed and…3053nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1495482https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1495482Sun, 04 May 2025 17:12:22 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerEcclesiastes 5:10-12 10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. 11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? 12 The sleep of a laborer is…1515nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1493503https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1493503Wed, 30 Apr 2025 01:56:51 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerGod’s Covenant with Abram Setting - After these things . is Abram back at the sacred trees of Mamre or is he outside of Salem? Outside of Salem is the last place we saw him, but his camp was outside of mamre. The answer is we don’t know. We are having another conversation with God. 7 And He said to him,…3258nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1489205https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1489205Sun, 27 Apr 2025 18:29:24 GMTMichael Ryan Stotler8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. 9 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. Introduction:…1511nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1489116https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1489116Wed, 23 Apr 2025 02:01:58 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerTenth Could it have been because Melchizedek is the 10th king and he gives them the 10th? Probably Tenth rimes with the word for "wealth." This is what the Israelites will be called to give to honor the priestly staff in the temple. Royal Priest But the whole point here is that this is not a priest from…3718nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1484409https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1484409Sun, 20 Apr 2025 18:32:59 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerIntroduction: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Today, we gather to celebrate the greatest event in history—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His life was unlike any other. He walked among us, teaching with authority, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and loving the outcasts. He came proclaiming…1418nohttps://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1477956https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1477956Wed, 16 Apr 2025 02:02:19 GMTMichael Ryan StotlerA Flood of Violence What's happening in this story is Sodom and its five kings become engulfed in a metaphorical flood. And the floodwaters represent these kings. And these kings are heavily armed. They're out for blood. They're out for glory and honor. And these kings, these kings are actually so formidable…3739no