Ben Bergren

If you've ever wondered how to make real friends as an adult, you're not alone in asking. Church can be a strange place for this — you can sit next to the same people every week and still feel like strangers. In this message, we look at what separates simply being connected from actually being someone's friend. Whatever season of friendship you're in — full, empty, or somewhere in between — this one's for you.

Thirty-six years ago, a girl group with some serious rock-and-roll pedigree wrote a song about hitting bottom, and it became a number one hit. Today we're going back to that song, and further back to a judge named Samson, to ask a question most of us would rather dodge: why do you keep repeating unhealthy patterns even after you know better?

1981 was a year that swung wildly between despair and disbelief · hostages freed, a president and a pope both shot at, and a one-hit-wonder song that somehow still gets stuck in your head. That song is the key to today's episode and the story from Acts 3. 

The meaning behind Fleetwood Mac's Landslide changes depending on what season of life you're in: changes, growing older, wondering if you can handle what's next. In this episode, Pastor Ben Bergren follows that same question through the story of Moses.

Stop comparing yourself to others·Paul says grace already settled your worth, not your ledger. If you've ever caught yourself keeping score—against a sibling, a coworker, that person from high school on Facebook—you're not alone, and you're not crazy. It's how we're wired. Paul helps us see a better path forward.

Why is grace so hard to accept? Jesus offers forgiveness and love without a price tag — and yet most of us keep reaching for something we can manage, something we can earn. In this sermon from Galatians 4. You didn't find grace, grace found you. 

Most of us have a "Jerusalem crowd" · a person or a room that makes us go quiet when we know we should speak up. Peter had one too. And when that crowd showed up in Antioch, he stopped living out what he actually believed. Paul called him on it publicly.

Grace is free·no asterisks, no fine print. So why do we keep building tollbooths on a road we didn·t pave? A look at Paul·s letter to the Galatians.

Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit was given to the early church. Nothing has changed God's heart and mind since then. We have the same Spirit and the same mission today.

Jesus told Mary ·don·t hold on to me· · then told Thomas ·put your finger here.· Same risen Jesus, opposite instructions. Here·s why both make perfect sense.

We conclude our sermon series "This is Us" about our mission statement at CLC. What does it mean to be on a path of Inspired Growth? Mary Magdalene show us the way.

The story of Zacchaeus in the gospel Luke illustrates Jesus' inclusive love for all. All four parts of mission statement are contained in this story! Jesus welcomes all without condition and the crowd hated that.

Did the resurrection of Jesus happen? Does he care? Does he even notice you? Listen in and find out!

We come to the end of this season and our series on Spirituals. "Soon I Will Be Done" reminds us we are going home one day in the same way the people of Israel crossed the Jordan to finally be home after 40 years.

There is quite a story to the Spiritual, "There is a Balm in Gilead." Hear the hymn and how it ties to the book of Numbers, Jeremiah and the gospel of John. There is healing to be found in your life!

Today we hear the Spiritual, Wade in the Water and we hear the story of the people of Israel at the Red Sea. This Spiritual also points to the waters of Baptism.

As we begin the season of Lent we are going to explore both the story of Exodus and the genre of music called "Spirituals." Today we begin with the beginning of the Exodus story and we welcome Knixx Taylor singing, "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child."

We are called to be humble and invited to serve. Are there exemptions to that rule? To find out, we look at the story of Joseph found in Genesis.

There is a reason this story is told before the season of Lent, Holy Week and Easter. Listen in and find out why this is an important moment in history and why it is important for you today.

If Christ is our foundation and we build the walls of love and service on that foundation, what holds them up? Prayer. Prayer anchors our lives to the foundation.