Pastor Andy brings the message, “Grace for 2023” from John 1:16-18. What do we want to focus on as a church and as individuals this coming year? What will define us? This year, let's be defined by Grace.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Jesus Above All." In Mark 9:1-13, we see the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain and a voice from heaven declaring Him to be the Beloved Son. Clearly, Jesus' exalted status is being proclaimed, but it's Peter who unknowingly says that Jesus is on par with Elijah and Moses. How often do we fail to see Jesus' glory and then place Him right alongside (or below) other good things?
Pastor Andy brings the message, "Identity and Mission" from Mark 8:27-9:1. Mark 8:29 is the watershed moment of the gospel: Peter confesses Jesus is the Messiah. The disciples finally understand Jesus' identity. Immediately, Jesus begins to reveal his mission. With the disciples, we will begin to see Jesus' identity and mission as inseparable. And his identity and mission have ramifications on the cost of discipleship.
Pastor Luke brings the message, "The Power of the Church" from Acts 12. There are times when it seems like the church will be snuffed out like a struggling flame, or that the oppression and persecution will grow to a point when the darkness will overcome it. Yet, we are reminded in Acts 12 that the power of the church does not rest in the people of the church, but in the object of their faith.
Pastor Nate brings the message, “Choose God” from Deuteronomy 32-34. The lesson in Deuteronomy is simple: Choose God, Choose Life. As the book comes to a conclusion, Moses once again teaches that while life is full of decisions, there is really only one choice for God's People: we choose Him! Please pray for the Sunday service and that God will use His Word to bear fruit in your life and the life of our church family.
Pastor Nate brings the message, “Blessings and Cursings” from Deuteronomy 27-28. In one of the most graphic portions of Deuteronomy, Moses unpacks the covenantal consequences Israel will face for disobedience to God. While it's a hard portion of Deuteronomy to read, it certainly helps us understand the rest of the Old Testament and appreciate the curse that Christ bore on the cross.
Stephen Ellison brings the message, "Obedience in Response to the Character of God” from Deuteronomy 12-26. As people who have been saved by grace and not by works, how should we look at the specific (and often confusing) laws given throughout the middle of Deuteronomy? While we have a different relationship to God than the nation of Israel, we have a lot we can learn about His character and what He has planned for us by reading these laws and getting to the heart of them.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Tempted? Choose God’s Word” from Deuteronomy 6-11. As Israel is staged and ready to proceed into the land, Moses continually reminds these people the important lesson of always choosing God's Word. It's a lesson that Jesus teaches us when He enters into the wilderness and faces the temptation of Satan. God's Word will carry you through the temptations.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Love the Lord Your God” from Deuteronomy 4:44-6:9. “Rom-coms” (romantic comedies) attempt to portray the experience of love. Hallmark cars try to communicate love in a few lines. Shakespeare gives us sonnets. But what does it look like when one of god’s children loves his/her heavenly Father? In our sermon this Sunday we see the call to love God “with all your heart, soul, and might.”
Pastor Nate brings the message, "God's People...God's Word" from Deuteronomy 4. Just in case you didn't see it, another mainstream denomination took another purposeful step away from God's Word as their guiding authority. It raises the question: what's going to keep Christians and the next generation of God's people from apostasy? As we look at Deuteronomy 4 it is very clear that God's Word must be kept in front of God's People.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Not Fear...Faith!" from Deuteronomy 1-3. This coming Sunday we begin a new series in the book of Deuteronomy. If this study in Deuteronomy seems daunting, take courage! Deuteronomy is a book that is rich with the character of God and full of life lessons for us. To get a jump on Sunday's sermon, take a look at chapters 1-3 and notice the progression from fear to faith.
