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Karl Ihfe
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Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Expectation Gap: Home and Shalom
In this concluding message of the Expectation Gap series, Karl Ihfe tackles the challenging topic of sin and punishment by examining Luke 15 and the famous parable of the prodigal son. He poses a crucial question: when we sin, who punishes us - God or sin? Through the story of the father and his two lost sons, Karl illustrates that the father's loving posture never changes toward either son, whether the one lost in rebellion or the one lost in self-righteousness. Both sons misjudged their father because sin distorts our vision of who God really is, making us see Him...
2026-02-16
31 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Expectation Gap: Would You Rather?
Karl Ihfe concludes the "Expectation Gap" series by addressing our tendency to focus on self-improvement rather than allowing God to transform us through His love. Using the fruit of the Spirit passage from Galatians 5, he explains that qualities like patience don't come from willpower but from the Spirit working in us. Instead of asking "How can I be more patient?" we should ask "What belief is shaping my impatience?" This shifts our focus from behavior modification to heart transformation through encountering God. Ihfe distinguishes between viewing the gospel as primarily redemptive versus preventative. While both aspects are...
2026-02-08
27 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Expectation Gap: Are We There Yet?
Karl Ihfe continues the "Expectation Gap" series by tackling the third gap: we believe God wants us to grow, but we're often disappointed by our progress. Speaking honestly about his own 37-year journey with Christ, Karl admits he thought he'd be "a little further along" by now - more patient, less selfish, quicker to forgive. He suggests that part of our struggle comes from misusing Scripture by always asking "What should I do?" instead of first asking "What does this teach me about God?" Using the familiar story from Matthew 14 of Jesus walking on water, Karl offers...
2026-02-02
26 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Expectation Gap: BeliefSight
Karl Ihfe continues the "Expectation Gap" series by examining the second gap: believing God is with us while struggling to see His presence. Using the story from Matthew 12 where Jesus heals a man's withered hand on the Sabbath, Ihfe illustrates how different "gospels" shape our perspective. He shares Stephen Covey's subway story about a widowed father and his disruptive children, demonstrating how our paradigms can shift when we understand someone's full story—reminding us that "everybody has a story" and "we never know someone's whole story." Ihfe identifies the "gospel of anxiety" as the primary deceiver in th...
2026-01-25
16 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Expectation Gap: BeliefFeelings
Karl Ihfe continues the "Expectation Gap" series by exploring why we believe God is loving but don't always feel loved. Drawing from Steve Cuss's insights, Karl explains that every "gospel" has three elements: a path, a promise, and a payment. While worldly gospels make us pay for empty promises, Jesus's gospel reverses this - God pays the price and we receive the benefit. Karl identifies how our "inner critic" preaches false gospels, telling us we're frauds, disappointments, or incapable. This voice condemns our identity rather than convicting our behavior like the Holy Spirit does. Using 1 John 3 and...
2026-01-19
32 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Expectation Gap: Mind the Gap
Karl Ihfe begins a new series called "The Expectation Gap: Where Faith and Life Meet," inspired by Steve Cuss's book. He addresses the reality that followers of Jesus often experience a gap between core beliefs—like "God loves me" and "God is with me"—and their actual lived experience. Drawing from Mark 9, where a desperate father brings his tormented son to Jesus and declares "I believe, help me overcome my unbelief," Karl demonstrates that even Jesus' disciples experienced this tension between faith and doubt, as seen in Matthew 28 where some worshiped the risen Christ while others doubted. Karl...
2026-01-12
33 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Staying Grounded: Gate Change
In his sermon concluding the "Staying Grounded" series, Karl Ihfe addressed the challenge of unexpected life redirections, which he called "gate changes," drawing from the familiar frustration of airport gate changes. Using Acts 16 as his foundation, Ihfe examined Paul's second missionary journey, where despite doing fruitful gospel work, Paul encountered closed doors when "the Holy Spirit" and "the spirit of Jesus" prevented him from preaching in Asia and Bithynia respectively. Ihfe emphasized that these weren't rejections but redirections, noting that "sometimes God's no isn't a rejection, it's a redirection." Paul's willingness to listen during this delay led...
2026-01-05
18 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Staying Grounded: Divine Delays
In this sermon launching the "Staying Grounded" series, Karl Ihfe addresses the frustration we all feel when life doesn't go according to our timeline. Drawing from personal experiences with flight delays, he transitions to the deeper question of life delays - those seasons when relationships, jobs, or circumstances don't unfold as expected. Karl asks a pivotal question: "What if God isn't being late? He's just being patient. And we're struggling with impatience." The heart of the message centers on Moses' story from Exodus 3, particularly the 40 years Moses spent in the wilderness after fleeing Egypt. Karl points out...
2025-12-29
19 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Holy Night: Great Joy
Karl Ihfe continues Broadway's Advent series "Holy Night" by examining joy through the lens of Luke 2 and the shepherds' encounter with the newborn Jesus. Using a clip from The Chosen to illustrate the scene, Karl distinguishes between surface-level happiness and the deeper contentedness that characterizes true joy. He points out that the first Advent joy came amid difficult circumstances - Mary and Joseph alone in a barn, shepherds who were social outcasts - yet joy was found in trusting God's faithfulness. Karl shares personal stories that illustrate joy in unexpected places, including his mother's battle with cancer...
2025-12-22
23 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Let the Children Come
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe highlights Broadway church's long-standing partnership with the Children's Home of Lubbock, whose mission is "manifesting Christ through excellence in childcare." He shares sobering statistics about Lubbock County being the fourth highest for child abuse in Texas, with 783 confirmed victims last year, emphasizing that these aren't just numbers but children created in God's image who need healing and hope. Karl connects this ministry to Jesus's teaching in Mark 10, where He was "indignant" when disciples tried to prevent children from approaching Him. Jesus taught that the kingdom belongs to children and that welcoming a...
2025-12-08
23 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Holy Night: Dawning in the Darkness
Karl Ihfe begins the Advent season by examining the challenge of waiting, particularly how God's people waited 400 years between the Old Testament prophecies and the fulfillment of God's promise to send a Messiah. During this silence, many likely wondered if God had forgotten them or if His promises were merely myths. Yet God's "impossible plan" unfolded through ordinary people—a young girl named Mary and a carpenter named Joseph—who chose to believe despite the impossibility of their situation. The sermon highlights how Mary and Joseph "borrowed courage" by remembering God's faithfulness throughout history. When the angel decl...
2025-12-01
26 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Overflow: Amazing Grace
In this sermon launching the "Overflow" series, Karl Ihfe examines the connection between grace and generosity through the lens of 2 Corinthians 8. He establishes that grace is the source of generosity, pointing to how God always gives first—"For God so loved the world that he gave" (John 3:16). The Macedonian churches exemplify this principle, as they gave generously despite their extreme poverty because they had first experienced God's transformative grace. Karl highlights Paul's surprising equation: severe trial + overflowing joy + extreme poverty = rich generosity. This counterintuitive formula works because true joy isn't dependent on circumstances but flows from grace. As...
2025-11-10
21 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Remembrance Sunday: Our Living Hope
On Remembrance Sunday, Karl Ihfe guides the Broadway congregation through a meaningful reflection on the Christian understanding of death and resurrection. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 4 and John 11, Karl emphasizes that our hope isn't merely in a future event but in a person—Jesus Christ, who declared "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). This transforms our understanding from resurrection as a distant future event to a present reality in the person of Jesus. Karl reminds us that Paul doesn't tell believers not to grieve, but rather that we "may not grieve as others do who have no ho...
2025-11-03
26 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Domino Effect: This is the Way
In the concluding message of "The Domino Effect" series, Karl Ihfe explores Ephesians 6 where Paul instructs believers to "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10). Ihfe draws a parallel between the Mandalorian creed "This is the way" and the early Christians who were known as followers of "the Way" before the term Christian was coined. Ihfe explains that Paul's description of the armor of God—the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit—isn't merely preparation for batt...
2025-10-29
20 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Domino Effect: Jesus 101
Karl Ihfe continues the "Domino Effect" series by examining Ephesians 4, focusing on the pivotal decision of who we choose to follow. Drawing from Paul's letter, Ihfe contrasts two paths: the way of the Gentiles, characterized by "futility of thinking," darkened understanding, and insatiable desires, versus the way of Jesus, which leads to renewal and transformation. Ihfe explains that following Jesus means "putting off the old self" and "putting on the new self" as described in Ephesians 4:22-24. This transformation manifests in practical ways: speaking truthfully, managing anger appropriately, working honestly to share with others, using words that...
2025-10-20
24 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Domino Effect: Living Wisely
In this installment of the "Domino Effect" series examining Ephesians, Karl Ihfe explores Paul's vision of prayer as revealed in three prayers found in chapters one, three, and six. Ihfe contrasts our often limited, comfort-focused prayers with Paul's expansive prayers that remind believers of the extraordinary power available to them—"the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead" (Ephesians 1:19-20). Paul prays for spiritual wisdom, enlightened hearts, and a deep understanding of Christ's love that surpasses knowledge. Ihfe challenges us to consider whether our prayers reflect an awareness of this re...
2025-10-06
20 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Domino Effect: Pivot Point
In this sermon from the "Domino Effect" series, Karl Ihfe examines Ephesians 2 to highlight grace as the essential pivot point in our lives. He begins by establishing the "before" language of Ephesians 2:1-3, where Paul describes our former state as "dead in your transgressions and sins," then transitions to what scholars call the "but God theology" - how God intervenes in our hopelessness. Karl illustrates this concept through his father's heart transplant, where his dad could do nothing to earn or deserve the new heart, but could only receive it as a gift and then choose how to live...
2025-09-23
23 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Domino Effect: Starting Point
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe launches a new series called "The Domino Effect," exploring the power of our decisions through the book of Ephesians. Karl highlights how Ephesians teaches us about grace, our view of the church (ecclesiology), and how our beliefs about Jesus should shape our relationships with others. He emphasizes two major themes that run throughout Ephesians: peace and unity. Paul describes the church as "the body of Christ, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way" (Ephesians 1:23), calling believers to a higher standard than the world's casual view of church. Karl challenges...
2025-09-15
23 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Power of Friendship
Karl Ihfe examines the remarkable story of friendship found in Mark 2, where four friends carry a paralyzed man to Jesus, going so far as to tear through a roof to get their friend before Him. Ihfe highlights how true friendship requires significant investment of time—our most precious and limited resource—and sacrifice, as these friends were willing to overcome any barrier to bring their friend to Jesus. The sermon emphasizes a profound truth from this passage: when Jesus healed the paralyzed man, He did so in response to the friends' faith, not the paralyzed man's. As Mark...
2025-09-08
25 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Heart of a King: A Heart for God
Karl Ihfe concludes his series on King David by examining why Jesus is called the "Son of David" from Matthew 1 through Revelation 22:16. This title signifies hope, as David's reign represented Israel's golden age—a time when the kingdom was united, prosperous, and free from oppression. When people cried out "Son of David, have mercy" to Jesus, they were expressing hope that He could restore what was broken. The title also emphasizes Jesus' humanity through His genealogy in Matthew 1, which breaks traditional rules by including women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba) and non-Israelites. This reveals that Jesus came no...
2025-09-02
25 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Heart of a King: A Compassionate Heart
Karl Ihfe examines 2 Samuel 9, where King David seeks out Mephibosheth, Jonathan's crippled son, to show him kindness. This story reveals three essential qualities of compassion that made David a man after God's own heart. First, compassion is personal—David called Mephibosheth by name, restoring dignity to someone who saw himself as "a dead dog." Second, compassion is active—David didn't just feel sorry for Mephibosheth but gave him land, servants, and a permanent place at the royal table. Finally, compassion is born out of love—David's actions flowed from his deep love for Jonathan that even death couldn...
2025-08-25
26 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Heart of a King: A Broken Heart
Karl Ihfe explores the devastating relational brokenness in David's family from 2 Samuel 13, where David's failure to act at critical moments led to catastrophic consequences. Despite David's love for his children, he failed at three crucial crossroads: he wouldn't confront Amnon after raping Tamar, he refused to truly listen to Absalom after years of estrangement, and he didn't speak the necessary words until after Absalom's death when all he could say was "my son, my son." Ihfe challenges us to recognize similar crossroads in our own relationships, emphasizing that love requires more than feelings—it demands courageous action. Wh...
2025-08-04
29 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Heart of a King: A Contrite Heart
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe addresses sin as the most destructive force humanity has ever faced, using David's moral failure with Bathsheba as a powerful case study. Ihfe identifies four crucial crossroads in David's journey: the spiritual drift that led him to remain in Jerusalem "at the time when Kings go off to war" (2 Samuel 11:1), his decision to ignore spiritual warning lights when informed Bathsheba was married, his refusal to repent when consequences began appearing, and finally facing God's judgment through Nathan the prophet. The sermon emphasizes how sin spreads like a disease when left unchecked, leading...
2025-07-28
32 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Heart of a King: Hope for a Discouraged Heart
Karl Ihfe continues the "Heart of a King" series by examining David's heart of hope during his most discouraging season. Using 1 Samuel 21-30, Ihfe traces how David lost everything—his job, security, family, mentor, and friends—and found himself hiding in caves as a fugitive. When David's men threatened to stone him after the raid on Ziklag, Scripture tells us "David strengthened himself in the Lord" (1 Samuel 30:6). Ihfe outlines four spiritual practices David employed to maintain hope: being honest with God through lament (Psalm 142), taking positive action when God directs it, resisting temptation to take moral shortcuts (as w...
2025-07-06
28 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Heart of a King: A Heart for Friendship
Karl Ihfe delves into the topic of spiritual friendship, using the Biblical relationship between David and Jonathan as a prime example. He highlights how their covenant friendship became an anchor for David's soul, even amidst difficult circumstances with King Saul. The sermon explores three key questions: What is a spiritual friend? How do we find one? And is it worth the effort? Ihfe defines a spiritual friend as someone who helps us pay attention to God and challenges us to live up to our calling. He suggests that finding such friends requires prayer, putting ourselves in positions...
2025-06-16
32 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Heart of a King: A Bold Heart
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe delves into the famous story of David and Goliath, examining David's bold heart as a key characteristic that made him a man after God's own heart. Ihfe contrasts David's boldness with the Israelite army's "learned helplessness," highlighting how losing heart leads to false beliefs, misguided attitudes, and self-defeating behaviors. Ihfe identifies three situations where David demonstrated boldness: everyday challenges (like facing lions and bears), opposition and criticism (from his brother Eliab), and pressure to conform (rejecting Saul's armor). He applies these lessons to modern Christian life, encouraging believers to face their own "...
2025-05-26
30 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Heart of a King: What Matters Most
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe begins a new series called "The Heart of a King," focusing on David's life and what made him "a man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22). He emphasizes that while David was gifted in many ways, it was his heart that drew God to him. Karl highlights three key characteristics of David's heart: 1. Wild abandon to God: David worshipped with unbridled passion, as seen in his dancing before the Ark (2 Samuel 6). 2. Deep reflection: David spent time alone with God, pondering and considering, as evidenced in many Psalms (e.g., Psalm 139:23-24). 3...
2025-05-19
24 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Go and Tell: Mission Sunday
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe outlines the church's recent focus on missions, stemming from a season of prayer and discernment. Survey results showed members' desire for emphasis on local missions, long-term partnerships, empowering indigenous workers, and intentionality in mission work. Ihfe discusses key partnerships like the children's home, Open Door, and Carpenter's Kitchen. The sermon delves into Biblical passages, including Matthew 28:16-20 and Romans 10:9-15, to underscore the importance of sharing the gospel. Ihfe uses these scriptures to remind the congregation of their role in God's mission. He shares a story about high school students providing prom...
2025-05-05
28 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Senior Sunday 2025
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe delves into Matthew 28:16-20, examining Jesus' appearance to his disciples on a mountain and the Great Commission. He highlights the disciples' mixed reaction of worship and doubt, drawing a parallel to Peter's experience of walking on water (Matthew 14:28-31). Ihfe emphasizes Jesus' authority over all things and His plan to use the church to spread His kingdom. The speaker challenges the notion of following Jesus without the church, stressing that Jesus' plan involves His followers working together to make disciples. He encourages graduates and all believers to see their roles in life...
2025-04-28
22 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Running for Your Life: Marching to Zion
Karl Ihfe delivers an Easter sermon based on the book of Hebrews, exploring four key comparisons that demonstrate Jesus' superiority. First, Jesus is greater than the angels, as He is the Son of God who "upholds the universe by the word of his power" (Hebrews 1:3). Second, He is greater than Moses, being both fully human and the Creator. Third, Jesus is superior to every priest, offering a perfect, one-time sacrifice for sins. Finally, His sacrifice is greater than any other, covering the sins of the world for all time. Ihfe emphasizes that Jesus' death and resurrection have...
2025-04-21
17 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Running for Your Life: Unshrinkable
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe continues a series on endurance, focusing on Hebrews 11 and 12. He begins by reminding the congregation of the letter's context – written to a weary, persecuted church. Ihfe emphasizes the importance of holding onto faith and not losing confidence, quoting Hebrews 10:35-39 and referencing the prophet Habakkuk's words, "The righteous person will live by faith" (Hab. 2:4). Ihfe then explores Hebrews 11, often called the "Hall of Faith," highlighting examples of faithful people who endured despite challenges. He compares the Christian life to a marathon, acknowledging that we all hit walls in our faith journey. However, he...
2025-04-14
24 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Running for Your Life: On the Road Again
In his sermon, Karl Ihfe continues the "Running for Your Life" series, delving into Hebrews chapters 3 and 4. He explores the theme of spiritual journey, comparing the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt to our journey of faith. Ihfe emphasizes the danger of drifting into rebellion, referencing Psalm 95 and the Israelites' disobedience in the wilderness. The speaker stresses the importance of community and encouragement, noting how the Hebrew preacher alternates between "you" and "we" language to foster a sense of shared responsibility. Ihfe illustrates this point with personal anecdotes and a news story about a losing ultimate Frisbee team, highlighting...
2025-03-31
19 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Running for Your Life: A Word is Worth A 1000 Pictures
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe delves into the concept of the "lag" between what we hear in God's word and what we see in the world around us. Using Hebrews 2 and Psalm 8, he illustrates how we were created to rule with God, but sin disrupted this plan. Ihfe points to Jesus as the true human who has fulfilled this calling and now sits at the right hand of the Father. Ihfe acknowledges the tension we experience when we don't see everything subject to Christ yet, despite the promises we've received. He encourages believers to keep their eyes...
2025-03-24
28 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Running for Your Life: God's Grand Design
The Mar.16, 2025 Sunday morning sermon at Broadway Church of Christ oin Lubbock, TX. In this sermon, Karl Ihfe delves into the Book of Hebrews, addressing the central question: "Is it worth it to keep following Jesus?" He begins by highlighting how God has spoken throughout history, ultimately speaking through His Son, Jesus Christ. Ihfe warns against two common pitfalls in dealing with our past: amnesia (forgetting) and atavism (glorifying). Instead, he encourages believers to see how our history points to Jesus as the fulfillment of God's plan. Ihfe emphasizes Jesus' divinity and humanity, quoting Hebrews 1:3...
2025-03-16
27 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Running for Your Life: Just Keep Swimming
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe launches a Lenten series focused on the Book of Hebrews. He explains the purpose of Lent as a time of reflection and preparation, rooted in Biblical examples of 40-day periods. Ihfe then delves into the relevance of Hebrews for today's church, highlighting how both ancient and modern Christians struggle with the question, "Is it worth it?" to follow Jesus amidst persecution and challenges. Ihfe draws parallels between the early church's struggles and contemporary issues such as deconstruction of faith, institutional distrust, and political polarization within Christianity. He emphasizes the Hebrew preacher's message of perseverance...
2025-03-10
28 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Prayer: Let's Pray
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe explores the power and significance of prayer in the Christian life. Drawing from Luke 18, he emphasizes Jesus' teaching on persistent prayer, encouraging believers not to give up even when circumstances seem dire or God seems distant. Ihfe highlights Paul's prayer for the Philippian church, demonstrating how prayer shapes our hearts and helps us see the world through God's eyes. The pastor stresses that God is not just a starter but a finisher, who will complete the good work He begins in us. He encourages the congregation to pray together, citing Philippians 4:6-7...
2025-02-24
29 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
In With the New: Walking in the Way of Love
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe explores the concept of walking in the way of love as a core tenet of Christianity. He begins by drawing parallels between inheriting traits from our earthly families and inheriting spiritual traits from our heavenly Father. Ihfe then focuses on Jesus' example of love, particularly in John 13 where He washes His disciples' feet. The sermon delves into the transformation of the apostle John, from an aggressive and ambitious disciple to one who identifies himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." This change, Ihfe argues, came through John's experience of Jesus' love and...
2025-01-27
33 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
In With the New: Walking in Wisdom
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe delves into the concept of wisdom, distinguishing between earthly and heavenly wisdom as described in the book of James. He highlights how James, once skeptical of Jesus, transformed after witnessing the resurrection, leading him to write about true wisdom from God. Ihfe explains that heavenly wisdom is characterized by action, humility, and peacemaking. He emphasizes that wisdom is not just knowledge, but the application of that knowledge in our lives. Using examples from Jesus' teachings and personal anecdotes, Ihfe illustrates how earthly wisdom often leads to envy, selfish ambition, and disorder.
2025-01-13
30 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
In With the New: Walking in Obedience
In this New Year's sermon, Karl Ihfe delves into the question of how we measure a good life or a good year. He begins by referencing Psalm 128, which states, "Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him" (Psalm 128:1). Ihfe explains that this fear is not terror, but a reverent awe of God that leads to obedience. Ihfe then turns to Jesus' teachings, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, to illustrate what a life of obedience looks like. He focuses on Matthew 7, where Jesus provides four images to help understand true discipleship: the...
2025-01-05
21 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
New Years Prayer
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe delves into Paul's prayer for the Colossian church, found in Colossians 1:9-14. He sets the context by explaining the challenges faced by the Colossians, including the pervasive influence of Rome and the temptation of syncretism. Karl emphasizes the power of prayer, noting how Paul, despite being imprisoned, could still impact the church through his prayers and letters. The core of the message focuses on Paul's specific prayer for the Colossians, which Karl adopts as his prayer for the church in the coming year. This prayer centers on being filled with the knowledge...
2024-12-31
26 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
God & Neighbor: More Than Enough
In this sermon, Karl Ihfe explores the concept of God's fullness coming to earth through Jesus during Advent. He begins by referencing John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us," to illustrate how God moved into our neighborhood. Karl emphasizes that Jesus didn't come just as a partial representation of God, but with His complete fullness. Using Colossians 1:15-20, he explains that Jesus is "the image of the invisible God" and that "God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him." This means that when we look at Jesus, we see exactly...
2024-12-16
23 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
God & Neighbor: Moving In
In this Advent sermon, Karl Ihfe draws a parallel between the experience of moving to a new place and God's incarnation in Jesus Christ. Using John 1:14 and Eugene Peterson's translation, "The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood," he illustrates how God left the glory of heaven to dwell among us. The sermon traces God's promise of presence throughout Scripture, from Abraham to Revelation, showing that "I am with you" is a consistent theme. This promise finds its fullest expression in the Advent story, particularly in the angel's greeting to Mary: "Greetings, you who...
2024-12-09
21 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Therefore: Walk in the Way of Love
In this final sermon of the "Therefore" series, Karl Ihfe ties together the themes explored in previous weeks. He reminds the congregation of Jesus' teaching on priorities in Matthew 6, Paul's message of freedom through the Holy Spirit in Romans, and the call to stand firm in faith due to Christ's resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. The sermon then focuses on Ephesians 5, where Paul urges believers to "follow God's example" and "walk in the way of love" (Ephesians 5:1-2). Ihfe emphasizes that our identity as God's dearly loved children should motivate us to imitate Christ's sacrificial love. He explains Paul's...
2024-09-30
10 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Therefore: Stand Firm
Karl Ihfe begins by sharing about his upcoming eight-week sabbatical, explaining its purpose for rest, renewal, and spiritual growth. He then transitions to the main message, focusing on 1 Corinthians 15. Ihfe explores Paul's argument for the reality of Christ's resurrection, emphasizing its crucial role in the Christian faith. He quotes extensively from The Message translation to illustrate Paul's passionate defense of the resurrection. Ihfe highlights Paul's "therefore" statement in 1 Corinthians 15:58, which urges believers to stand firm and fully commit to God's work because of the resurrection's truth. He explains that if Christ is truly risen, it changes everything...
2024-09-25
37 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Therefore: Be Transformed
Recorded Sunday, Sep. 15, 2024. In this sermon, Karl Ihfe delves into Romans 12, contextualizing it within Paul's discussion of God's mercy in previous chapters. He emphasizes Paul's appeal to believers to offer themselves as "living sacrifices" in view of God's mercy (Romans 12:1-2). Ihfe explains that this concept, though seemingly contradictory, involves dying to our selfish desires so Christ can live through us. Ihfe stresses that true worship extends beyond singing to encompass our entire lives. He highlights the importance of being transformed by renewing our minds, rather than conforming to the world. This transformation, Ihfe argues...
2024-09-16
23 min
Broadway Church of Christ Sermon Series
Therefore: First Things First
Speaker: Karl Ihfe
2024-09-01
27 min
Harbor, Pepperdine Bible Lectures
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Teacher: Karl Ihfe The table is significant. It’s where Christians have broken bread, found fellowship, and extended compassion for centuries. It’s the place we still gather weekly to be reminded of our shared life in Christ. It’s also been the source of much controversy and contention, springing from the question, "Who gets a seat at the table?" That question almost split the church at the very beginning, and in a culture as fractured and divided as ours, threatens to split the church again. It’s time to look again at the example of Jesus, w...
2023-05-18
44 min
Amarillo Central
The Truth About Assumptions
09.04.19 - You know what happens when we assume. We’re all guilty of judging others unfairly and we’ve all been victims of rumor or bad information. Jesus gives us a new perspective for dealing with it and the grace to see others through his eyes of faith. Speaker: Karl Ihfe
2019-09-04
40 min