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 from Ecclesiastes 11-12. As Solomon begins his closing statements to the book of Ecclesiastes, he specifically addresses young people with several nuggets of wisdom. In Sunday's sermon, we'll take the same approach by encouraging young people to pursue Biblical joy and to remember their Creator.
Pastor Luke brings the message, "Equipped with the Promises" from Acts 1:6-11. Jesus' last words to His disciples focused on the task of spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. Yet, in this daunting task, He provides three promises that equip us for what He has called us to. Those promises are the focus of this message.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Enjoying the Good Times During the Bad." At the beginning of chapter 8 Solomon shares the wisdom that is needed when living with a less than ideal government and culture. Pretty pertinent for Christians. Last week Nate mentioned that we would make it through chapters 8-9, but he's taking that back and preaching on Ecclesiastes 8:1-15.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "When God Doesn’t Make Sense” from Ecclesiastes 7:15-29. Wouldn’t it be nice if life was like a recipe? Put in all the right ingredients, cook it up at the right temperature, and everything turns out well! Life isn’t that way, and Solomon vocalizes the confusion. That being said, how we should proceed “when life doesn’t make sense” is what we aim to understand .
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Enjoying the Gifts from God." In Ecclesiastes 5-6 we see that the pursuit of wealth and expectation that it will give satisfaction is empty. Instead, enjoy what God has already given you, whether it's work, food and drink, or the money He has provided. This passage teaches us that God is looking out for your enjoyment!
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Reverence in the House of God" from Ecclesiastes 5:1-7. Does it seem that many church services have taken on a man-centric atmosphere? In Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 we find that there is wisdom in approaching God with reverence. Our worship should be governed by God's greatness.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "God's Set Times" from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. In chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes Solomon asks us to consider the timing of just about everything in life...being born and dying, planting and harvesting, weeping and laughing, etc., etc. What he's getting at is that these occasions and rhythms happen in God's timing. He is the One who determines when all things take place. And since that's the case, ought we not to be in awe of God?
Pastor Nate brings the message, "A Quest for Enjoyment" from Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26. Do you think that if you had more "thing" in life you would be a happier person? Do you think there would be more joy? As we study the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon tests those waters for us. Over and over again we are brought back to this reality: we find our enjoyment in life when we walk with God.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Emptiness of Work Apart from God" from Ecclesiastes 1:1-11. This is the beginning of a new sermon series in the book of Ecclesiastes where Solomon wastes no time in warning us of an empty life. His first concern is that people apply themselves to their work, but at the end of their lives they are left with nothing meaningful. How many people get to the end of their lives and quietly think, "I wasted my life"? Ecclesiastes will help us think more Biblically about a life of Godly fulfillment and meaning.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "When God Hides Himself from You” from Psalm 10. The Psalms are filled with honest, heartfelt questions and emotions that plague us during hard times: “Why O LORD do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” We might not ask those specific questions, but if our emotions were given a voice, they would be screaming those words loud and clear. In Psalm 10 David buoys us up with truth for when our hearts are filled with questions about the existence of God.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Praising and Pleading: The Peaks and Valleys of the Christian Life.” Psalm 9 is an accurate reflection of the Christian life. On one hand we praise God for defeating our enemy. On the other hand we plead with Him to go before us and defeat our enemy, that roaring lion. At first glance, this seems contradictory until you consider it in Biblical terms. What is unwaveringly true is that Christ will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. The battle rages but God will bring His people through it.
Pastor Andy brings the message, "The Majesty of God Revealed in Human Frailty” from Psalm 8. What comes to mind when you consider the majesty of God? The Sun, moon, and stars? The expanse of the universe? In Psalm 8 to highlight the majesty of God, the psalmist draws our attention to the insignificant and unimpressive creature called “Man.” The wisdom of God’s plan to display His majesty through human frailty has far-reaching and eternal effects: it gave hope to David, to the people of Israel who were exiled and oppressed, and finally to all humanity through the Son of Man, Jesus.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "God Is the Judge: It’s Going to Be Okay.” As we turn to Psalm 7, David is again facing perilous times. In his cry to the Lord, David finds encouragement in the truth that God is a Refuge and Judge. That’s an interesting pair to put together as you consider safety…and eternal justice. There is a lot of moral turbulence going on in this world, but God’s perspective, Christians are going to be okay…and in all reality, much better than “okay.”
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Dark Hours of God’s Good Discipline:” from Psalm 6. As a father loves his child and provides discipline when needed, so God loves us, His children, and brings discipline into our lives. In Psalm 6 David is experiencing such a time in his life and pleads with God to bring it to an end. It is a penitential psalm that will help us understand God and place our hope in Him.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Deliverance from Deception" from Psalm 5. For the next few weeks we will be studying various Psalms. They are filled with personal emotions that teach us how to express our hearts to God. In Psalm 5 David pours out his heart to God as people spread lies that effect him deeply. We then find how God can be trusted when others are deceptive.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "What Are You Standing In?" from 1 Peter 5:12-14. The giant redwoods in California can soar to over 350 feet in the air. Their massive trunks and branches can weigh millions of pounds. Only a strong root system could keep them standing. This is the last sermon in the book of 1 Peter. In his closing statement to the churches, Peter exhorts Christian exiles to stand firm in the grace of God.
Pastor Nate brings the message, "Fighting Satan with Promises of God” from 1 Peter 5:8-11. We are in a battle. Satan, our adversary, is carrying out plans to attack Christ's Bride. He hates her and wants to devour Christians like a lion devours sheep. Yet God leads us in His grace to be able to resist Satan and stand firm all the way to the end.
