“It’s a real problem, and somebody better do something about it. But who? Oh, it’ll take care of itself.” Do we ever say that in our lives? And what does this have to do with the courtroom drama that plays out in Micah 6:1-8? Listen in to this week’s sermon:
Life in Christ
Do you know John 3:16? “For God so loved…” It seems like many people, especially Christians, know that verse, but what about its context? If we only read John 3:16, being a Christian could just depend on a mental acknowledgement of Jesus. But that’s not what John 3:14-21 is about. Listen in as Pastor David continues our series of messages with connections to human trafficking. (And visit www.free2work.org when you are finished!)
Rescue in Christ
“I do not do what I want to do. Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Paul’s words in Romans 7:14-25 ring true in today’s world, in a variety of ways. How can Jesus rescue us from the things that bind us? What difference does faith in Christ make in the fight against human trafficking? Listen in to Pastor David’s sermon as we continue our Lenten series on this important subject:
Hope in Christ
This week, our guest speaker was Kaitlyn Mercy, a local 17-year-old survivor of human trafficking. Due to the sensitive and personal nature of her experiences, we will not be posting an audio recording of her message. Instead, please take some time to familiarize yourself with some of the resources we can use to fight human trafficking:
- Read about the Polaris Project at www.polarisproject.org.
- Call 1-888-3737-888 if you suspect someone is a victim of trafficking.
- Check out Project HOPE, an organization founded by Kaitlyn herself to help people find healing: www.facebook.com/projecthope1 or www.project-hope.tumblr.com.
Freedom in Christ
February 22 was “Freedom Sunday,” a day in which churches from many different denominations joined forces to learn, pray, study, think, and act about the problem of human trafficking in today’s world. The evils of this industry make us wonder if God is aware or capable of doing anything about it. But Psalm 10 speaks a louder truth: God is King of the universe and will bring about justice for the oppressed. Listen in to Pastor David’s message on this special day!
What Good is This Gift?
“In God We Trust” – or do we? Once, Jesus sat in the temple and watched people put money in the offering plate. He praised the poor widow who gave her last two coins, rather than the rich who gave much more money. What good was her gift? Listen in to Pastor David’s message on Mark 12:41-44, the last in our series on tithing and stewardship.
A Day in the Life of Jesus
This Sunday we heard testimonies from the men of Mid-Michigan Teen Challenge – tremendous stories of transformation in Christ! Pastor David then gave a short reflection on the sermon text for the day, Mark 1:29-39, a day in the life of Jesus, in which he answers the question of why he exists. Maybe his answer can help us with the same question!
Who Then Can Be Saved?
Two stories in Luke 18–19 illustrate how hard – yet how possible – it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. One character “gets it,” while the other walks away disappointed from Jesus. What does this have to do with our tithes and offerings (and other tangible acts of service)? Listen in to Pastor David’s message:
Are We To Spend That Much?
A huge crowd had full hearts but empty stomachs. Jesus asked his disciples to feed the thousands of guests. But they complained: “Are we to spend that much?” Maybe, just maybe, that was the wrong question to ask. Pastor David helps us explore the issue of stewardship in this sermon on Mark 6:30-44.
How Do We Rob You?
The second message in our series on tithing and stewardship is based on Malachi 3:6-12, a passage in which God accuses his people of robbing him and urges them to return to him. What does this have to do with giving to the church? Listen in to Pastor David’s sermon: