Why do we love the church? We love the church because God does. He calls the church His bride. He loves the church by giving Himself to her, by sanctifying her, and He loves the church as His own body. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on March 5, 2023.
The book of Esther never mentions God by name, yet His presence and purposes are all throughout this wondrous book. In our own lives we must remember that no matter how loud the silence is, God is working still. He is accomplishing His good purposes in our lives for His glory. This message was preached by Pastor Gabriel Medina on February 26, 2023.
"Jonah was learning a great theology in a most unusual college" (C.H. Spurgeon), the theology of grace. There are two ways to reject God's grace: open disobedience vs. hidden self-righteousness. Learn the lesson of Jonah: If we don't learn to give grace we will be hard pressed to enjoy the grace God has given us. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on February 19, 2023.
Ecclesiastes is realistic and honest about our lived experience. What we experience often seems futile. The preacher of Ecclesiastes, however, helps us pry our hope off of the fleeting things of this world and attach our hope to the Lord. This in turn causes us to look for the day when the vapor of this world is turned to glory at Christ's return. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on February 12, 2023.
What is our place in this world? We are exiles. God calls us to be in the world, not of the world, but clearly for the world. Though there are inherent dangers of assimilation and intimidation, we have the privilege of confidently bringing the gospel to this lost world until the Lord of glory returns. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on February 5, 2023.
In the book of Exodus we see God giving the grace of rescue, giving the Law that His people might live in gratitude, and giving sacrifices to remind them there will always be more grace when they fail. This is true freedom. In Christ we've been set free: we've been given a desire to do the right thing and through the power of the Spirit the ability to obey, to live as sons and daughters, not slaves. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on January 29, 2023.
All who are found in Christ receive the blessings of Abraham. We have reasons to take courage and to fear not. We have been chosen by God. He has not cast us off. He is with us. He is our God. He will strengthen us. He will help us. He will uphold us with His righteous right hand. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on January 22, 2023.
What do we do when we are overwhelmed by suffering? Job teaches us that an infinitely good and wise God is in control and that God invites us to worship in our weeping, to grieve in hope. Our God was not immune to sorrow and grief and so joins us in our suffering. Today He brings consolation but one day will bring restoration. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on January 15, 2023.
The Gospel not only forgives us from our sin, but also frees us from our sin. How can we learn to walk in the freedom Christ purchased for us? It's a learning process involving 1) solitude, 2) the Word, 3) prayer, 4) simplicity, 5) Sabbath, 6) service, and 7)gathering together. Look at Jesus' life and depend as He did on the Spirit's enabling power. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on January 8, 2023.
As Paul wraps up his letter to the Philippians, he encourages them and us to: 1. be concerned for others, 2. be content in Christ, and 3. be cared for by God. This message was preached by Pastor Gabe Medina on January 1, 2023.
Luke 2, the narrative of the birth of Jesus, is an invitation to come SEE what God has done, PONDER the power of God, the humility of God, the love of God, and to PRAISE Him. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on December 25, 2022.
Luke's passage reveals a shocking announcement to Mary that she, a young virgin, will bear the Son of God and the Savior of the world. But this is then followed by an even more shocking consent: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Mary's courageous faith is not simply to be admired but rather imitated. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on December 11, 2022.
If the genealogy in Matthew 1 is Jesus' resume, what kind of Messiah is He? He is an historical Messiah, a covenantal Messiah, a Gracious Messiah and a Redeeming Messiah. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on December 4, 2022.
Worry, anxiety and fear are a part of the normal human experience. Paul teaches us that because the Lord is near we can, in response to our fears, learn to rejoice in the Lord and be gracious, call out to God in prayer, and think on the nearness of God, on His character and on His promises. This message was preached by Pastor Gabe Medina on November 27, 2022.
Have you ever thought, ‘My life just isn’t turning out the way I expected it to?’ That was Naomi's perspective when she asked that she be called Mara ("Bitter") rather than Naomi (cheerful). Yet, God was at work through it all. The book of Ruth is about redemption and teaches us about God's overarching plan throughout history and by application in our lives as well. This message was preached by Pastor Jim Newheiser on November 20, 2022.
Conflict in the church is inevitable; however, the Gospel equips us to deal with conflict with one another. The Scriptures are so wonderfully realistic and practical in this area. With the power of the Holy Spirit and a willingness to live out peacemaking principles, forgiveness and restoration is possible. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on November 13, 2022.
Won't believing in salvation by faith alone make us careless about sin in our lives? I mean, if we are saved by Jesus' works, not our own, why do good works? In this passage we see the kind of life the Gospel produces. We'll see that the Gospel is neither legalism nor license, but grace with resurrection power. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on November 06, 2022.
Our default mode is to trust in our own righteousness. Paul warns us in this passage to look out for legalists, to look at Paul's failed attempt at righteousness from the Law and to look at what we gain in Christ. When we are "found in Him" we gain: Righteousness, Relationship, Real Change and ultimately Resurrection. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on October 30, 2022.
God's design for the church is not individualistic in nature. Rather, the church is a family of believers designed to care for one another. In Philippians God gives us examples of how to live out His admonition, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on October 23, 2022.
What does a lived-out faith look like? Paul gives three descriptors. It's a life earmarked by the absence of grumbling (inwardly) and disputing (outwardly). It's a life of holding fast to Christ our anchor and holding out that faith for others to see. And it's a life of rejoicing in God and sharing that joy with one another. This message was preached by Pastor Gabriel Medina on October 16, 2022.
There is nothing Christ commands that we cannot learn to do by the power of the Spirit. Because God is at work in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure, we can enter into this work of sanctification as well. Sanctification then becomes true communion with God. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on October 9, 2022.
Humility is a God-given gift for unity in the body of Christ. In this passage, Paul gives us the motivation for humility, the mind set on humility, the model for humility and the means of humility. This message was preached by Pastor Josh White on October 2, 2022.
What does a life "worthy of the gospel," a life shaped by the gospel look like? It's a life that stands firm, that strives together with other believers in one mind, and a life that is lived fearlessly. This message was preached by Erick Cobb on September 25, 2022.
What did Paul mean when he said, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." He preferred death not because his life was so horrible but because gaining Christ was so wonderful. Yet he was willing to delay his infinite happiness for other people's eternal happiness. May we imitate Paul as He imitated Christ. This message was preached by Erick Cobb on September 18, 2022.
Paul's joy in the midst of suffering can be ours when we realize our suffering brings the gospel (through us) to people we otherwise would never meet. It emboldens others to share Christ as they see the gospel put on display through our suffering, And the gospel testimony cannot be stopped no matter how messy our circumstances due to suffering. This message was preached by Erick Cobb on September 11, 2022.
In Paul's opening of his letter to the church at Philippi, he was thankful for his partners in ministry, sure of their future and complete sanctification, and full of hope-filled prayer for their ever increasing love for one another in Christ. This message was preached by Erick Cobb on September 4, 2022.
Acts 16:6-40 describes the birth of the Philippian church. It began with three unlikely converts: a religious, moral, wealthy woman; an oppressed demon possessed slave girl; and a rough but honor-driven jailer. All three reveal that the gospel doesn't come "naturally" to anyone but it is for everyone when the Holy Spirit holds the key to one's heart. This message was preached by Erick Cobb on August 28, 2022.
"My son, give me your heart and let your eyes observe my ways" (Proverbs 23:26). Parenting is discipleship. It is a call of God to pass on our faith to the next generation. By learning from and depending upon our perfect heavenly Father to lead and guide us, we will, through His power, be equipped to lead and guide the next generation. This message was preached by Erick Cobb on August 21, 2022.
God and the Bible are pro-sex. Within marriage it was God's idea for procreation, as a sign of covenantal oneness and for strengthening the marriage union. Our culture has made it into something it was never intended to be, our identity and turned it into a terrible idol. Rightly understood and enjoyed it is a good gift. This message was preached by Erick Cobb on August 14, 2022.
Every single marriage is at risk of what the Lord warns about in Malachi. And every one of us will benefit from seeing the beautiful covenantal nature of marriage and our beautiful covenantal God who is relentlessly faithful to us. Learn four ways to guard this precious gift of marriage. This message was preached by Erick Cobb on August 7, 2022.
