Returning to our study in John after a few weeks away, we pick up in chapter four with the story of the woman at the well. Interestingly, Jesus chooses to travel through Samaria, in fact the passage states that he "needs to go" through Samaria. He has a divine appointment with this nameless woman, and her story is now immortalized in scripture--how Jesus told her "everything she ever did", and yet still loved her and wanted her to know of this "living water" that only He can offer!
Aug 18, 2013•44 min
Continuing our walk through the gospel of John, we come to the story of Nicodemus (dare we call him "Nick at Nite"??) in chapter 3. In doing so, we enter one of the most powerful and well-known passages in the gospels--the meat of the "good news": that "God so loved the world that He gave..!" It is an amazing truth to realize the free gift of salvation is available, attainable, transformational.. listen in for 10 descriptive words we apply to salvation from these first 21 verses.
Jul 21, 2013•45 min
John details Jesus's first passover in Jerusalem since starting his public ministry--and for the remainder of chapter two we get a picture of Jesus that sometimes flies in the face of our "Jesus meek and mild" imagery! Jesus was filled with passion for the purity of the temple and cleansed it from the sinful cheating and corruption going on within its walls. Interestingly part of the original passover feast was the step of removing all leaven--many times a picture of sin in the Bible--from the h...
Jul 14, 2013•43 min
This week we continue in the gospel of John as the writer and apostle John records the first miracle of Jesus' ministry at the start of chapter 2: turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. Several lessons we learn from this miracle are: just do what He says, when God acts with creative power, he makes it "good" (see Genesis 1!), and God can in an instant create something that through human processes could take years.
Jul 07, 2013•29 min
As we finish up the first chapter of John, the title of our series, "Come and See", takes prominence as the first followers of Jesus (and Jesus himself!) tell others simply to "come and see" when asked various questions about Jesus. Our invitation is still the same--"come and see" and learn about this Lamb of God who came to take away our sins!
Jun 30, 2013•35 min
The apostle John presents the testimony of John the Baptist as we continue walking through chapter one of his gospel--as his following grew in the wilderness, the religious leaders/elite wanted to know who he was. He started by saying that he was *not* the Christ, the Messiah, but was simply a voice calling out for people to follow Him. When Jesus appeared, John was quick to point Him out as the "Lamb of God" who takes away the sin of the world.
Jun 23, 2013•40 min
The apostle John continues to unravel the great truths of God's incarnation in Jesus Christ in these first verses of chapter 1--we are introduced to the forerunner--John the Baptist--and his witness to the light. The great truth unpacked to us in verse 16 and 17 is that of Jesus' perfect combination of grace and truth! The law revealed our sin perfectly, but could do nothing to change us. God's grace changes us!
Jun 16, 2013•45 min
We began our series through the gospel of John titled "Come and See" with a look at the opening statements about Jesus as the "logos" or Word, who was in the beginning with God and *was* God. We looked at the amazing truth about Jesus as part of the godhead and his participation in creation--and yet in all this glory and power, he then became flesh--a real man--and laid aside all that glory for us--to die and rise again for our salvation!
Jun 09, 2013•45 min
Faith by obedience--that's the story of Namaan, a commander of the Syrian army, whose story is told in 2 Kings chapter 5. In Luke chapter 4, Jesus refers to his healing through the ministry of Elisha as something we should take note of, and on this communion Sunday, Steve uses the story of Naaman to illustrate the need for simple faith that leads to obedience in our Christian walk.
Jun 02, 2013•34 min
Pastor Steve covers the final chapter division of this short letter from Paul to Titus, who is serving as pastor/leader for the churches on the island of Crete. In closing, Paul warns him against all those who will try to bring controversy and distraction from the main goal--doing God's work and being productive for the kingdom!
May 26, 2013•56 min
As we finish up chapter two of the short letter to Titus from Paul, Paul continues to give instruction for how young men, bondservants, and Titus himself should live in the present dark world. Pastor Steve noted the issue of grace--we tend to worry that grace will cause a free-for-all towards sin, but Paul tells Titus that grace will teach us to say no to ungodliness and instead live righteously! Jesus gave all so that we could have his purifying power, being set apart as a special people to liv...
May 19, 2013•41 min
As we continue looking at "Getting our Ducks in a Row" through Paul's letter to Titus, in chapter two Paul turns his attention to discipleship. The need for inter-generational communication is clear: the older men and women have a distinct role to play in modeling and teaching the younger generations how to live out their faith. Given it is Mother's Day 2013, Pastor Steve focused on the role of the older women and their behaviors and impact on the younger women & moms.
May 12, 2013•47 min
Part of Titus' difficult task in Crete is to deal with a significant number of deceptive and lying teachers who would come against the church. The job of the elders that Titus would appoint would be to rebuke and correct those who would come deceiving with fables and manmade rules and commands. A challenge for us is to consider whether our mouths say one things but our works--the fruit of our lives--says another, similar to how Paul characterizes these defiled and disobedient teachers in Crete....
May 05, 2013•31 min
As we start Titus, the final letter from Paul in the pastoral epistles series, the main theme of Paul's message is bringing order to the church in Crete--a series we have entitled "Getting our Ducks in a Row". One of the first "ducks" to get in order is healthy church leadership--the role of elder/bishop. But, applicable to more than just the church elder, the recommendations from Paul are a good reminder to all men who want to be a godly leader, whether at home, work, or wherever they have infl...
Apr 28, 2013•42 min
Listen to a powerful testimony by Ron Mancuso, the first in our "Lost & Found" stories of salvation series. Ron's story is just one story of many--but it reveals God's amazing grace to bring someone from darkness to light through a series of events, all by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Apr 21, 2013•46 min
"The Finish Line" - As Paul closes out his heartfelt letter to Timothy, he starts with a declaration of his having fought well and run his race, and is now ready to depart. As he considers these things he makes several requests of Timothy (desiring him to visit) and also greets and notes others who have both been partners in ministry as well as those who have been against him.
Apr 14, 2013•41 min
Paul is drawing his emotional letter to his dear "son in the faith", Timothy to a close. He now charges him to "preach the Word", realizing that as time marches on in these last days, people will become less open to hearing the challenging truth of God's Word, but will instead "heap up for themselves teachers" who will tell them what they want to hear. Christians stand in that difficult place of needing to share God's truth--sometimes hard to hear--with love to a world that is less interested th...
Apr 07, 2013•39 min
Easter Sunday 2013: Skeptical? On Easter, we look at the story of Thomas, an honest skeptic, who, when presented with the truth, worshipped God and believed. As Jesus said to Thomas, though, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Do you have faith? Are you willing to look at the facts and evidence for Jesus? We pray you will be one of those who is blessed through believing even what you have *not* seen!
Mar 31, 2013•47 min
As Paul continues his personal message to Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 3, he warns him that more difficult times are coming, and those times will see the state of mankind (and the bad character that goes with it) grow worse and worse. Instead of allowing that to cause us to fear, instead Paul's directive is to "continue in the things which you have learned" so that we can be ready, equipped, and able to do God's work in the dark days ahead.
Mar 24, 2013•54 min
Do you want to be used by God? Isn't our greatest purpose to be useful to Him for the work of the Kingdom? Those who are desiring to be "vessels of honor" will choose to be cleansed from all evil and purified and sanctified to do His work!
Mar 17, 2013•42 min
Continuing in 2 Timothy chapter 2, Paul reminds Timothy to teach his people to not get into useless arguments and "babblings"--rather he should be diligent to rightly teach God's Word, which is The Truth. Those who are taught the Word faithfully will be founded on God's solid foundation, and they will depart from sin.
Mar 10, 2013•43 min
Paul reminds Timothy that he endures everything he has endured for the sake of others--so that others might know the gospel and receive God's grace that had so powerfully transformed his own life! "If we endure, we will also reign with Him" (v 12). Keep going and endure hardship for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Mar 03, 2013•45 min
"Hold fast", "Be strong", "Endure hardship" .. Paul continues to shore up Timothy's faith in the difficult place and with the difficult opposition he faces as a young pastor. Just as Timothy was to consider these things, we too can "consider what [Paul] says, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things." (2:7)
Feb 24, 2013•43 min
Paul admonishes Timothy to not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ--for it is that very gospel which saves us and calls us, just like it saved Paul and called him to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. We also need not be ashamed of the power of God and His gospel, but instead be lights in a dark world, representing the truth and being vessels through which God can bring life!
Feb 17, 2013•41 min
As we continue in the pastoral epistles of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, today Pastor Steve started the second letter from Paul to Timothy. This letter is personal, emotional, and a heartfelt message from the imprisoned Paul to his dear son in the faith, Timothy. It has as much encouragement, challenge, and truth for us today as it did for the young pastor, Timothy.
Feb 10, 2013•44 min
Warren McIvor, one of our elders, challenges us to dig deep into the Word of God, to find the treasures of truth and wisdom that are there for those who will invest the time and effort!
Feb 03, 2013•38 min
One of our elders, Todd Giszack, shares a message about our role as ambassadors of Christ in this world, given the task and mission of reconciling others to God.
Jan 27, 2013•50 min
Today's message brings our study of 1 Timothy to a close as Pastor Steve finishes up chapter 6. Listen in as Steve rewinds and summarizes all the instruction Timothy has received from the Apostle Paul, finishing up with the encouragement to pursue all the good and godly traits and to resist and reject false teaching, argument, and the love of riches and wealth. Instead we are to do good and commit ourselves to the calling Christ Jesus has made on each of us.
Jan 20, 2013•45 min
Continuing chapter 6 from last week in 1 Timothy, Paul warns Timothy about those who will come in to argue about words, who have greedy intentions, and whose doctrine and life will not line up with Jesus Christ and the Word of God. In addition to staying away from errant doctrine and those who teach it, we also have to watch our lives for the love of money, the greed of this world, as it will take us down to ruin as well. Instead we are to pursue the gifts of the Spirit and fight the good fight ...
Jan 13, 2013•43 min
Returning to our study of the pastoral epistles in the new year, we are picking up where we left off in chapter five of 1 Timothy--as Paul takes care of some "housekeeping items" related to compensation, handling accusations and sin in the leadership, and representing God in every relationship, no matter to believers or unbelievers.
Jan 06, 2013•39 min
