In this sermon on Psalm 3, Pastor Josué Pernillo teaches us that... in the sorrows of life, we can cry to the Lord, see the glory of God, gain courage, and trust in God’s salvation.

There’s a certain erroneous way we tend to think about God’s favor. We think there is a bar, a minimum standard... requirement for entry that we must reach to receive God’s favor, his love, his acceptance, and so many of us live either believing we have lived up to that standard and feeling good, or knowing we have fallen short and feeling bad. But surprisingly, God’s ways are not your ways. We find it hard to forgive, hard to get past wrongs done to us or the wrongs we have done to others, but, unlike us, God is ready to forgive. And his forgiveness will lead to blessing. In this sermon on Genesis 48, in which Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh, the children of Joseph, Pastor Luke Herche focuses us in on the fact that God is determined to bless, despite what we think, by the logic of his grace. Therefore, we can stop doubting and rest in Jesus.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

What scenes or surprises in Jacob’s blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh catch your attention most, and why?

God was determined to bless his people, even when they didn’t expect it or deserve it. Where have you experienced God’s grace showing up unexpectedly in your own story?

Where do you tend to assume God’s blessing must be earned — and how does that shape your view of him, your struggles, or other people?

How does Jesus’s upside-down life, death, and resurrection redefine your idea of blessing and whom it’s for? How does God’s "logic of grace" shape how you see yourself and others?

If you trusted deeply that God delights to bless you by grace, not performance, what might change in your relationships, emotions, or decisions this week?

In Genesis 46:28–47:31, Jacob is reunited with Joseph and he and all of his family settle in Egypt, becoming sojourners... in a foreign country. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this passage, teaching us that to sojourn well involves these six things:
1. Remember sojourn is part of God’s perfect plan.
2. Don’t be surprise that your sojourn is hard.
3. Rest in the provision of God’s exalted King.
4. Maintain our identity as God’s distinct people.
5. Be instruments of God’s impartial blessing.
6. Hold onto hope in God’s promised home.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

Jacob calls his years “the days of my sojourning” (Gen. 47:9). What does this reveal about how God’s people are meant to see themselves in this world? How might recognizing yourself as a sojourner of faith bring both humility and hope?

Egypt offered comfort and abundance, but it wasn’t the promised land. Where do we see ourselves tempted to “settle in Egypt” today? What kinds of security or belonging do we look for apart from God’s promises?

How does Jesus’ own sojourning—leaving heaven to dwell among us—fulfill and redeem our restless search for home? What does his death and resurrection tell us about where our true citizenship lies?

In light of Christ’s finished work, what might it look like for you to sojourn faithfully—to live with open hands, rooted in God’s presence, and confident of your heavenly home—right where you are this week?

In this sermon on Genesis 45:16–46:27, in which Jacob learns that Joseph is alive and travels to Egypt... with all of his family, Pastor Luke Herche teaches that God’s blessings are tied to the land, that resurrection assures us of present and future blessing, and that we can now be confident in God’s blessing both here and in the world to come.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

What stands out to you about how God’s hand moves through the events and responses of these people? What emotions, surprises, or reversals do you notice?

Read Genesis 46:3–4. What do these verses reveal about God’s heart toward his people when they face uncertain transitions? How might God’s promises reshape our definition of blessing?

Why do you think Jacob hesitated to leave the land of promise? Where do we today struggle to believe that God can bless us “here”—in our own version of Egypt?

How does seeing Jesus as the “greater Joseph” deepen your understanding of God’s presence and blessing in hard places? What difference do the cross and resurrection make for how we interpret seasons of suffering or exile?

If God is with us and will one day bring us home, how can that confidence shape daily life—our attitudes toward hardship, our priorities, and our relationships? Which “old way” do you sense the Spirit inviting you to release, and what “new way” of trust or contentment could take its place?

In Genesis 43:1–45:15, Joseph’s brothers journey to Egypt for the second time, this time with Benjamin in tow, where... they are tested by, and ultimately reconciled to, Joseph. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this passage, taking a closer look at the events that unfold, at the character and actions of Jacob and his sons, and especially at Judah, the one through whom God’s promised child who would bless the nations would come.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

What part of this story is most moving to you and why?

How does Judah distinguish himself as a leader among God’s people? How does his leadership point us to Jesus? How is his leadership a model for us?

Think of an area of your life where you have relational struggles. How might a willingness to lead by sacrifice for others be used by God to restore intimacy?

How do you know when you’re being tempted? There are times when temptation seems obvious, but often it’s subtle and discreet, appealing at first... until you find yourself caught in a snare. The call in Scripture is constant to watch, be vigilant, stay awake, be aware of the temptation that is coming, and to pray. In Psalm 141, David, keenly aware of the snares that surrounded him cried out desperately to the one who could deliver him from sin and temptation. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on this psalm, showing us how we, too, can cry to the Lord for help, praying against a sinful heart, for sinful people, about the sinful consequences, for sin’s resolve.

Have you ever found yourself in a moment where you realized you had no idea what was going on? Life was sailing along as normal and then suddenly... something happened: bad news from a doctor, relationship changes, unexpected bad grades, the loss of a steady job. You didn’t see it coming and you can’t make sense of God’s providence. But in those moments, what if rather than being anxious and fearful you could be calm and confident in God’s work for your good? In Genesis 42, Joseph’s brothers come to him in Egypt for food during the famine, and we see that, though God’s providence seems confusing, his purposes are good. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this chapter, showing us that God is at work for good, we are in a season of trial, Christ endured that we might come through, and what matters now for us is our response.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

What parts of this story grabbed your attention most—either something Joseph did or how his brothers reacted—and why do you think that stood out to you?

How would it affect your current situation if you really believed God is weaving all things for good—even the ones that don’t make sense right now?

When trials press in, what do you tend to reach for—control, escape, blame, despair? What would it look like to name that honestly and bring it to Jesus?

Jesus stood the ultimate test so you could be found faithful in him. How does knowing that he passed the test for you change the way you face your own tests today?

What is one small, grace-fueled step you can take this week to respond to trial not with self-protection or self-pity, but with trust and openness to God's refining work?

The news can be frightening. Many people feel less safe after watching, listening to, or reading the news. On the global scale, we hear... of world rulers who seem to have the power to shape our world for years to come, either for good or for ill. But in what power do you place your trust? Is it in the visible, impressive, but ultimately limited powers of this world? Or is it in the invisible, often hidden, but absolute power of God who rules over all? In Genesis 41 we find God’s sovereignty, his control over all things, and his power on display again in the life of Joseph as Joseph is called before Pharaoh to interpret his dreams. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this chapter, showing that human power is ignorant and impotent, God’s power is counterintuitive, and God’s power is a call to act.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

Where in Joseph’s story do you see God working behind the scenes—and how does that reshape your understanding of God’s role in your own past or present struggles?

When life feels stalled, silent, or unfair, how do you typically respond—and what does that reveal about where you place your hope?

How does seeing Jesus as the One who was falsely accused, imprisoned, and ultimately exalted help you reframe your own seasons of pain or powerlessness?

What would trusting God’s sovereignty look like in a practical area of your life this week—especially where you feel powerless or impatient?

The hardest part is often the waiting. Sometimes it seems as if God is not at work and nothing is happening in your life and you wonder if God is doing anything... at all. But what if this season of waiting is not a sign of God’s absence, but the very place he is doing his most profound and necessary work in you? In this sermon on Genesis 39:21–40:23, Pastor Luke Herche invites us to see that even when God’s promises seem on hold, God is at work in the waiting, present with his people and preparing for things to come. Jesus endured delay and experienced God’s absence before receiving God’s kingdom, and we can now endure with hope that God is with us and at work, whatever may come.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

Which moments or details in Joseph’s story did you find most striking or relatable, and why? What emotions does the scene in the prison stir in you?

This passage wrestles with what it feels like when God’s promises seem on hold. What thoughts or reactions come up for you in seasons where life feels slow, stuck, or silent?

The sermon highlighted how God is at work in the waiting—even when we can’t see it. How does that truth land with you? When have you experienced God’s presence in an unexpected or unremarkable season?

In what area of your life are you currently waiting, or feel forgotten, overlooked or sidelined? How does the gospel help you wait with hope, trusting that God is with you and preparing you—even now?

Many Christians have a fairly optimistic expectation when it comes to life and ministry, feeling that with enough prayer and hard... work they can change the world. Others have a more pessimistic view, with little expectation of fruit or of God using them. But Scripture offers a more nuanced option, a realism that knows that God is with us to work through us even in the hard spots and difficult times in life. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on Genesis 39:1–20, the account of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife, showing in this passage God’s continuing plan to bless the nations through the offspring of Abraham. Pastor Luke focuses on four main points:

—God is with his people, to bless the nations through his people.
—Temptation and persecution make it seem as if God is absent and his blessing has failed.
—Jesus faced God’s curse and absence that we might know his presence and blessing.
—Jesus is with you; trust God in your calling, whatever may come, confident in his resurrection power.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

If you were retelling Joseph’s story in this passage to a friend, which moments would you highlight most vividly, and why do they stand out to you?

This passage raises a big question: when life unravels through temptation or injustice, where is God? How do you wrestle with that in your own story?

Joseph’s life reminds us that blessing isn’t about circumstances but about God’s presence. What makes it hard to believe that God is with us in our difficulty? What would help remind you of that reality in difficult times?

God blesses “the nations” through his people. What might living as a bearer of Christ’s blessing look like in your work, home, or community this week?

Sorrow and wickedness and evil are all around us. In the words of Shakespeare, “Each new morn new widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows strike... heaven on the face.” But what do we do in light of all this evil in the world? In Psalm 94 we find a reflection in the face of wickedness, a sober psalm that looks at the world as it is and helps us to wrestle with the question of how to respond. Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on this challenging psalm, teaching us that in the face of evil Christians can cry to a judge, hate wickedness, wait patiently, and hope for restoration.

The Christian life is like running a marathon. And like a marathon, following Jesus over the long-haul is difficult. It’s... going to include times where you want to give up. But in Hebrews 12:1–2 we find that following Jesus for the long-haul is also worth it. Listen as Pastor Ethan Brown preaches on this passage, showing that the race of the Christian life is not just something to be endured, but it can be a joy as we run together, run light, and run to Jesus.

Please note, audio quality improves after the first 30 seconds.

The first few chapters of the gospel of Mark put Jesus’ authority on display: his authority to heal, his authority to forgive sins..., his authority in teaching, his authority over creation, and in Mark 5:1–20 we see Jesus’ authority to cast out demons. In this account we find a question on the lips of a man possessed by a legion of demons that, surprisingly and counter-intuitively, we all need to ask ourselves: “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” Have you ever asked Jesus that question before? What might his answer be? Listen as RUF campus minister Ethan Brown preaches on this passage, giving us a clearer view of the authority, wisdom, and compassion of Jesus as he shows us how Jesus restores, Jesus destroys, and Jesus answers.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

What is an area of your life you want Jesus to restore? What do you hope that restoration will look like?

What is an idol in your life you want Jesus to destroy? How do you want to work alongside him this week in the work of destroying your idols (the love of money, self-righteousness, or some other false god)?

Can you think of a time in your life when getting what you wanted was bad for you? Can you think of a time in your life when God said “no” to you as an act of mercy and love?

Take a moment to ask the Lord the question: “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” When you've landed on an answer in light of the truths of God's Word, share that answer with someone you love.

Can God keep his promises when we fail? It’s a major question in the book of Genesis, and even throughout the whole... Bible. A popular question about the problem of evil is, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” But in this sermon on Genesis 38, the story of Judah and Tamar, Pastor Luke asks a twist on that question: Can God do good things through bad people? Or, will God keep his good promises when we fail so bad? Pastor Luke looks at the answer to that question under three heads: Our sin seems to endanger God’s redemptive purposes; God works through what is sinful and shameful to accomplish his glorious redemptive purposes; we can now boast in our weakness, trusting that our darkest moments are a part of Christ’s redemptive story.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

What parts of Judah and Tamar’s story are the most shocking to you? How does this chapter challenge the idea that God only works through “clean” situations or morally impressive people?

Where in your own life have you assumed “God can’t use this”? How does knowing that Jesus willingly entered the family line of Judah and Tamar impact the way you view your own failures?

How might you share your story (even the messy parts) in a way that points to Jesus as the hero?

Take some time to pray that God would use the weak and messy parts of your life for his glory. Confess your sins and ask for power to live in the hope of God’s redeeming grace.

Can our sin derail God’s purposes? Is it possible to undo God’s good plan with your poor choices? Can you out-sin... grace? These questions seem to be on the mind of the writer of Genesis in Chapter 37, where we find the account of Joseph, Jacob’s favored son, and his brothers. This story, though well-known on its own, is just a part of the larger story of Genesis, and a part of the even larger story of redemption. Through Joseph we ultimately get a glimpse of Jesus; through Joseph’s rule we find a picture of God’s kingdom. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this passage under four heads:

1) God’s promise to restore his world includes exalting his King.
2) Pride tempts us to resist God’s King; pain tempts us to despair of his promise.
3) God uses opposition to his rule to exalt his King.
4) Take heart—despite present appearances, our King reigns; his kingdom is coming.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

In your own words, retell the key events of Genesis 37. What stands out most to you? How does this story show us God’s determination to right his world and human opposition to it? (Consider also Psalms 2 & 8.)

Why are we, like Joseph’s brothers, so opposed to God righting his world? Why do we often like Jacob despair of it ever happening?

Which temptation is stronger for you right now—resisting Jesus’ reign in some area of your life, or despairing that his promises will ever come true?

The sermon asked, “Can our sin derail God’s purposes?” How does Genesis 37 begin to answer that question? Do you find this easy or hard to believe? Why?

Read Acts 2:22–24, 32–33. How might looking to the cross (both the significance of Christ’s opposition and the wonder of God’s purposes) change the way you respond to difficult circumstances this week?

Everyone longs for life. And most people don’t just want to survive, but to thrive, to know life to its... fullest. A Biblical way to say it is that people long for blessing. In Scripture, to bless is to bestow life upon and God, the blessed one, the source of all life, all power and good, is the one who blesses us. The book of Genesis is fundamentally about life and blessing. If you want blessing in your life, you need the message of this book. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche returns to a sermon series on the book of Genesis, re-introducing the book and showing that Genesis is the beginning of God’s story to bless the nations through the promised child. Pastor Luke exhorts us to believe the promise, give thanks for present blessing, and wait expectantly for what is to come as he walks us through the beginning of the story of blessing, the content of the story of blessing, and our response to the story of blessing.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

What do you think about the idea that we must understand Genesis (and, indeed, every book of the Bible), in light of the whole story? What are the strengths of that approach to the Bible? What are the dangers?

Where do you see blessing and curse play out in your own life, experience, or context? What do these things look like “at ground level”?

Which do you find to be the most difficult, believing God’s promises, giving thanks in the moment, or waiting hopefully for what is to come? Why do you think that is?

Jesus takes the curse we deserve at the cross and receives the blessing we need in his resurrection. How does that enable you to give thanks for present blessings even as you wait for good things to come?

Things look bad. Looking at the world around us, it is easy to see that things are not what they should be—and this has been true... throughout human history. In Psalm 37, David, the King of Israel, looks around and sees that things are not right. The wicked prosper, people plot evil, scheme to hurt others, draw the sword and bend their bows. Today we see this same principle at work on the large scale and small scale, war mongers and classroom cheaters. But what do we do with that? When you begin to get upset about the success of the people around you who seem to not deserve it or you begin to be tempted to join them in their evil ways, the psalmist offers another way: fret not. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this Psalm, showing that when things look bad we can do three things: look at the big picture, look at the cross, and look to the Lord.

If you believe in what you are doing, it can bring a certain joy to the task at hand to do it with others, especially when you are... in synch with those you are partnering with. But more often than not, there is a tension and dreariness that results from teamwork going awry. The book of Colossians comes to a close with some practical words about teamwork. After Paul has spent time telling his readers who Jesus is, who we are in light of that, and what it all means for our lives, he gives a final lesson in Colossians 4:7–18 on laboring together for the work of the gospel. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on this passage, showing that because we are in the Lord we can be fellow workers that communicate and cooperate for the work of the gospel.

Though the church at Colossae was perhaps the most insignificant church that Paul ever wrote to, they had a significant... mission: to declare the mystery of Christ. In Colossians 4:2–6 we see the apostle Paul calling the Colossians to live gospel-centered lives and to proclaim by their lives and by their words the mystery of Christ. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on this passage, showing us that because of the grace of God we can declare the mystery of Christ by being watchful in steadfast prayer, by effectively walking in wisdom, and by responding with gracious speech.

Most people don’t understand authority. It is seen either as an opportunity or a travesty, a means of personal power... or a tool for the subjugation of the weak by the strong. Both of these views share the same misunderstanding of authority—and it is into this misunderstanding that the gospel speaks. When we understand authority rightly we can live as citizens of Christ’s kingdom in a way that manifests his lordship, blesses our neighbor, and glorifies our Father in Heaven. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on Colossians 3:18–4:1, sharing four truths about authority found in the text: Christ as Lord radically redefines authority; before Christ all are equal; by Christ submission is qualified; and in Christ authority is submission.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

How does Paul anchor authority and submission in the Lordship of Christ?

How are our understandings of authority and submission distorted by culture and experience? How are they distorted by the disordered loves of our hearts?

How do Jesus’ cross, resurrection, and ascension to the Father's right hand each reshape the way we understand authority and submission?

What will it look like for you to exercise authority this week as an act of Christ-like service? What will it look like for you to submit to imperfect leaders, remembering Christ and honoring him as Lord?

As a Christian, you have a new identity in Christ—therefore, act like Christ, depending... on Christ, in the name of Christ and to the glory of the Father. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche explains, preaching on Colossians 3:12–17 and answering four questions: Who are we? What are we to do? How are we to do it? And why?

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

Who are you? Tease out some of the many things that make you you. How do each of those shape how you live? What is the relationship between our new identity in Christ and the way we are called to live?

Think of some areas of life in which you find it hard to bear with and forgive. How do our identity in Christ, the peace of Christ, and the Word of Christ help enable us to “put on Christ”?

What motives tend to sway your heart in everyday life? What can we do so that the glory of God in Christ becomes the great motive of our lives?

What is one area of life in which you hope to show greater Christ-likeness? Take some time to meditate on Christ’s grace to you in this very area and then pray to that end.

The psalms give us the language for every season of the soul, and Psalm 16 is a psalm about joy. It begins... with a declaration that there is no goodness apart from God and it ends with a recognition that at God’s right hand are pleasures forevermore. Joy is central to the Christian life and this psalm helps us understand what it looks like, feels like, and what it means to rejoice in the Lord. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on this psalm, helping us to understand joy better through four questions: Why do we long for joy? Where do we look for joy? How does joy become distorted? And how do we rejoice in the Lord?

From our vantage point within a culture steeped in pessimism and cynicism, we may be surprised to find... that Colossians 3:5–11, a passage containing a list of sins, is not ultimately about our sin—but rather our renewal and new identity in Christ. Listen as RUF at Illinois campus minister Ethan Brown preaches on this passage, showing us that to live as people of hope we need to be honest about sin and honest about grace. Pastor Ethan looks at this text in two sections: The Old Morality and The New Humanity.