Pastor Nate brings the message, "Pleasing God with Purity” from 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. It's no secret that sexual freedom has been a focal point of our society. Why not? We are pleasure-seekers after all. As we open up chapter 4 of 1 Thessalonians, God's Word directs us in a better path forward, one that keeps the pleasure of sexual activity within the safe boundaries of obedience to God.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Comfort of the Coming King” - Part 2 from Isaiah 42:1-9. As we continue our Advent series this Sunday, we see that the coming Savior would be gentle with His people. "A bruised reed he will not break; and a faintly burning wick he will not quench." No one is a cast-away. No one will be written off. Jesus is for His people.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Comfort of the Coming King” - Part 1 from Isaiah 40. Do you find comfort in your circumstances or in the character and promises of God? As the Jews were agonizing in exile, God gave them a promise of comfort. It's a promise anchored in His unchanging character that extends to our lives today. A Savior would come and those who wait on Him shall renew their strength.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "My Shepherd: He is Enough" from Psalm 23. Pastor Nate reminds us, from a familiar text, of God's care for and provision in our lives.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Increasing and Abounding in Love” from 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13. What role does your love for others play in your standing before God? That's a question that Paul answers at the end of 1 Thessalonians 3. When we see love flowing through our lives God is establishing us in holiness.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Identifying with the Rejected Stone" from 1 Peter 2:4-10. Peter concludes Part 1 of his letter by identifying us as followers of the rejected Christ. However, in the sight of God He is chosen and precious. And those who follow this chosen and precious Christ have found an everlasting community that is much more grand than what the world could ever offer.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Exile, Love Your Brother" from 1 Peter 1:22-2:3. In God's providence (this message is on Valentine's Day), this passage in 1 Peter implores Christians to love one another. At times, the command to love one another is a tall order. The good news is that God has made it very possible for His children to love one another, and it's our aim on Sunday to understand and apply this passage to our lives.
Pastor Nate will brings the message, "Hoping in the Return of Jesus Christ" from 1 Peter 1:13. First Peter begins with an introduction about the wonders of God in salvation (indicatives). In this message we see how the book begins a shift toward practical Christian living (imperatives). Specifically, we are called to set our hope on the return of Christ and to live holy lives while we wait.
Pastor Nate brings this message from 1 Peter 1:6-12. We see a paragraph that is very true to reality: Christians (or as we’ve learned from our study, “exiles”) can have both joy and grief at the same time. Grief comes from our trials. Joy comes from God’s salvation. And, Peter’s instruction helps us see that one leads the other.
Pastor Nate brings this message from 1 Peter 1:3-5. Under the inspiration of the Spirit, Peter begins his letter by praising God and rejoicing in salvation. It's an interesting way to address "exiles" who are suffering under the pressures of a pagan culture. Yet, keeping God's saving mercy in the forefront of our thinking will encourage us through the challenges of another day.
Pastor Luke brings the message, "Living Captivated by Christ" from Colossians 3:1-17. In this passage Paul shows us how to live a life that is captivated by Christ. Paul's prayer for the Colossians is that they would walk worthy of the Lord, but how is this possible when we regularly battle with sin? It's when Christ captures our heart and focus that we are enabled to put off the old sinful ways and to put on the new self, that looks like Him.
The message is from John 4:21-26. In John 4 we see Jesus having a meaningful conversation with a Samaritan woman. From this scene we learn about the importance of worshiping God with our hearts. As we wrap up 2020 and squeamishly anticipate the upcoming year, we need to have the following truth settled deep within us: We will aim to worship our good God with our lives in 2021.
The message is from Luke 2:1-21. The angel who came to the shepherds in Luke 2 arrived with “good news of great joy for all the people:” a Savior, Christ the Lord had been born. In our humanity we are certainly subject to seasons of sorrow and pain, but Christians have a treasury of great joy, Jesus Himself, that is ours now and forever.
What will cause your heart to genuinely praise God this Christmas season? Eggnog, “small family gatherings,” gifts, Christmas cookies, carols, and your favorite Christmas meal are all wonderful. They are all gifts from God that we can look forward to. Yet, the greatest, most significant gift God has given is His Son, Jesus Christ. That’s what Zechariah declared and the topic of this message from Luke 1:67-80.
As we continue the theme of thanksgiving this Sunday, we see that God forgives our sins. Do you make a practice of confessing sin to God? Throughout Psalm 32 David expresses a joy in knowing that his transgressions against God can be forgiven and the steadfast love of God can be known personally in his life.
The message is from Lamentations 5:19-22. It’s been a doozy of a year. Someday, we hope to look back at “2020” and see that its hardships came to a final conclusion. In the last chapter of Lamentations there is the reality that suffering does not come to a predictable end. We are unable to set term limits for pain and hurt. In light of that, the book closes with very practical ways to lament to God when there is no end in sight.
The message is from Lamentations 4:17-22. Jeremiah continues his sorrow over the devastating fall-out of Jerusalem’s sin. And then at the end of the chapter we find a “gem-sized” statement of hope: “he will keep you in exile no longer.” Here’s what we will see: God is faithful and His promise to bring His people through exile is reason to have hope.
Last week we began a 5-week series in the book of Lamentations for the purpose of understanding how to process grief. How do Christians grieve? We lament, we don't despair, because we know God is there. This week, Lamentations 2 presents us with a sobering picture of God's anger at sin. Thankfully, Jesus has protected Christians from God's anger, yet we lament as we see the world wildly running straight into God's judgment.
Pastor Nate brings this message from Lamentations 1. The year 2020 has been a year filled with sorrow, hurt, and pain for many people, and who knows when it will come to an end. This is the first in a five week series in the book of Lamentations, which will help Christians understand how to go forward in life with emotions that come from pain and suffering, yet still keep their eyes on God.
Pastor Andy brings this message from Galatians 5. We are by nature and nurture people who express identity through various means. When we walk into a room full of strangers and see a familiar identity marker, we feel like we know a little bit about that person. So, what is the identifying mark for believers in Jesus? This question has been asked since the first century, and the Apostle Paul provides an answer in Galatians 5.
