Do Christians still show favoritism? Surely this can’t be true of us today! Unfortunately, it was true of the early believers, as we read in James 2:1-17. So how does this convicting passage apply to us today? Click below to hear Pastor David’s sermon on this portion of James’s letter:
Pure Obedience
Throughout September, our sermons will focus on the New Testament book called James. This very practical letter speaks clearly into our world and into our lives. In James 1:16-27, Pastor David helps us find how personal holiness and social holiness are part of our responsibility as believers in Christ. Click below to hear this sermon!
The Mystery of the Gospel
John 6 concludes its grand sweep of events and teachings with a real downer: Jesus loses the crowds that have been following him since the feeding of the five thousand. Apparently the message Jesus was proclaiming was too difficult for them to understand, approve, or agree with. Could we be in the same position today? Click below to hear Pastor David’s message on the path of discipleship from John 6:56-71.
You Want Me to Eat What?!
Just after feeding the 5000 in miraculous fashion, Jesus said some pretty bizarre things about what his followers should eat and drink: his body and blood. What in the world was Jesus talking about? Here’s a hint: he was not referring to the Lord’s Supper, as many Christians assume. Click below to hear Pastor David’s sermon on John 6:51-59.
Bread From Heaven
In John 6:35-51, Jesus makes a bold claim: that he is the living bread that has come down from heaven. Our Christian faith gives us hope for heaven, but what does that have to do with the real world and our lives today? And how does Jesus’s claim – that those who eat of this living bread will live forever and not die – tie into our everyday lives? Click below to hear Pastor David’s sermon on this subject.
The Bread of Life
This month, we will be focusing on Jesus’s words in John 6, specifically as they relate to the Lord’s Supper which we will share at the end of the month. Pastor David’s sermon this week focused on John 6:24-35, where Jesus proclaims, “I am the Bread of Life.” What does this mean? And how does Jesus satisfy our every desire? Click below to hear Pastor David’s message on this subject.
360 Revolution
Pastor Jerry preached today on the topic of the “360 Revolution” – a technique for evangelism that focuses on prayer. Three passages of scripture form the basis of this message: Mark 5:1-20, Luke 15:1-32, and Mark 2:1-12. Listen to this message – and take Pastor Jerry’s challenge seriously!
How many loaves do you have?
Jesus fed an enormous crowd – over 5000 people – with just a few loaves and a couple of fish. A familiar story if you’ve been around the church for a while, right? What does this passage have to do with our quest to discover and use our spiritual gifts? Click below to hear Pastor David’s message based on Mark 6:30-44.
Speaking Truth
Yesterday, we had the privilege of hearing testimonies, songs, and scripture verses from several guests from Mid-Michigan Teen Challenge, a Christ-centered organization in which men and women – many of whom have struggled with addictions to drugs and alcohol and are at the end of their ropes – can find spiritual healing, forgiveness, and a relationship with Christ. About ten of the young women enrolled in this 14-month residential program came to our church to share their stories with us. Pastor David’s abbreviated message, taken from Mark 6:1-13, summarizes this full day of worship by focusing God’s two-fold call on our lives: to become more like Christ and to share our stories with the world around us. Click the link below to hear this sermonette!
NAC2012: A Message of Hope
Pastor David participated in last week’s North American Convention (NAC2012) of the Church of God, which was held in Anderson, Indiana. In this message, he gives a summary of events that took place there, including a concern about the identity of the Church of God. Click below as he reflects on Judges 11:29-40 – a rather difficult passage to read! – and offers a word of hope from scripture to our situation.