Restoration Church: Recent Episodes
Restoration Church
Welcome to the Sermon Podcast of Restoration Church led by Pastor Nathan Gagne. To learn more about visit our website hhtp://restorationchurch.cc
Pastor Matt Ward from Charleston Church preaches today about encouragement and its importance for the Church.
'The Wilderness Test,' where we delve into how God uses challenging periods in our lives to humble us, test our character, and teach us obedience. Inspired by Deuteronomy 8:1-2 and Proverbs 17:3, we explore the Israelites' 40-year journey through the desert and its relevance to our spiritual journeys today.
Today, we dive into the powerful parable found in Matthew 25:23, exploring the profound importance of being faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us. Whether our responsibilities seem small or significant, our faithfulness in these areas prepares us for greater blessings and opportunities.
đ Key Scriptures:
- Matthew 25:23: "His master replied, âWell done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your masterâs happiness!â"
- Romans 12:1: "Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship."
- Ephesians 5:15-17: "Pay careful attention, then, to how you walkânot as unwise people but as wiseâmaking the most of the time, because the days are evil. So donât be foolish, but understand what the Lordâs will is."
- 1 Peter 4:10: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."
đ Discussion Points:
- Understanding what it means to be a faithful steward.
- Presenting our bodies as living sacrifices.
- Making the most of our time in alignment with God's will.
- Using our gifts for God's glory, not personal gain.
- The importance of faithfulness in both private and public spheres.
Today we start a new sermon series about tests. Pastor Nate dives into the test of small beginnings.
In his sermon, Pastor Nate explores the concept of being "poor in spirit," drawing from Jesus' teachings and illustrating the profound need for spiritual poverty to experience true richness in Christ. He emphasizes that material wealth can often obscure our spiritual needs, urging the congregation to continually recognize their dependence on Jesus.
Today, Pastor Victoria teaches us about the battle that goes on within us between the flesh and the spirit.
Over the past few weeks, we've been journeying through the book of Joel, exploring themes of justice, repentance, and restoration. This week, we're focusing on Joel 2:28-32, where the prophet speaks of God's promise to pour out His Spirit on all people. Join us as we dive deeper into the significance of God's Spirit in our lives and communities.
Easter isn't just a story from the distant past; it's a living reality that infuses every moment with purpose and meaning. It's the story of an empty tombâa tomb that once held the body of Jesus but now stands as a monument to His victory over sin and death. And as we stand in awe before this symbol of hope, we are invited into a journey of discoveryâa journey that leads us deeper into the heart of the resurrected life.
In the 1800s, companies paid workers with company scrip, tying them to employer-owned stores where prices were marked up, enforcing dependence and false loyalty. Satan also employs a similar payment method, maximizing profit while trapping workers in dependence and false loyalty. Indulging in his offers leads to higher rates of anxiety, loneliness, shame, and regret. Satan tries to convince you that working for him is better, offering seemingly higher rewards compared to God, but don't be deceived. A 10% pay raise might seem significant, but Satan is a grueling, greedy boss who doesn't genuinely care about you. Choose freedom in God's economy, where true fulfillment and care exist.
Today, we celebrate all that God has done in 2023, using this celebration to encourage us for 2024!
Is God calling me to something greater? Does He have a specific plan for my life? How can I glorify God more effectively?
Pastor Eric Hoffman shares a message about the profound impact of wholeheartedly saying yes to what God asks of us. This not only influences our personal lives but also holds the potential to impact our entire nation.
Today, Pastor Jeremy talks through the temptation Jesus underwent while fasting in the wilderness. Breaking down the core of each temptation and how Jesus responded.
As you listen, Investigate how the enemy might be using the same thing to temp you into going against Gods will.
Was Jesus violent? How do we fight like him?
Today, Pastor Nate dives into this idea and teaches us how to truly, fight Like Jesus.
Today is Miracle Offering!
Lets learn together how to be more like Jesus.
You can still give to Miracle Offering Here!
We are back in our series Like Jesus!
What we say has the power to build up or tear down. Let's learn from our savior how to use our words wisely.
Join us on a journey as Pastor Travis delves into a whole new world of insight. In today's sermon, he draws intriguing parallels between the timeless tales of Aladdin and Esther. Through a fresh and creative lens, Pastor Travis shows us how the struggles of Jafar and Haman, villains in these stories, can resonate with our own lives. Just like the characters in these captivating stories, we too can be susceptible to the same sins. It's a thought-provoking exploration that will have you seeing these beloved tales in a whole new light. Don't miss out on this enchanting and enlightening sermon!
Once upon a time he was the chosen favorite. The Center of attention. But his character could not handle someone else being equal in someone else's eyes.
Today we learn about the biblical villain King Saul
God is doing some amazing things at Restoration Church! Today Pastor Nate leads us through Miracles in our Church and how we can lean into what God has for us.
Today we hear from our Bethlehem Pastor Stephen Johnson as he preaches a message about the importance of having a Godly attitude and perspective on your daily life.
Today we hear from our Lead pastor (and Lead Introvert) Pastor Nathan Gagne of how to live out the gospel unhindered by the title of introvert!
This Sunday, Pastor Nate taught us the importance of Worship and pointed to Jesus as our example.
We are back in our Like Jesus series with Pastor Dennis Marquardt as we learn how to be BOLD like Jesus
Pastor Justin Corkum teaching us the three things that can happen when we serve the father without knowing him. Tune in today to learn how to have a deep relationship with God.
Thanks for tuning into the Restoration Church Podcast. We just took a look at all the ways that we can actively restore our walk with Jesus. This week, Its to put it to the test and see if your faith is Road Trip Worthy.
Thank you for listening to the Restoration Church Sermon Podcast.
We hope this message helps you learn more about how to love and follow Jesus!
Tune in for a brand new series!
Today Pastor Nate teaches us the difference between disassembling and deconstructing.
Join us this week as we hear from Pastor Travis about our core value, 'Together.'
He unpacks our partnership with the Assemblies of God, explaining how they hold us accountable. He also emphasizes how the Church serves as a safe place to hold us accountable as we pursue a life with Christ together.
Ever wish you could just ask for a redo with your family? Tune in today as Pastor Nate talks through a practice of apology and repentance.
Tune in this week to hear Mike Younus speak about over preparing our children for the future, only to ultimately set them up for failure.
In his sermon "Tee'd Off" at the Restoration Church, Pastor Nate taught us to control our temper like a golfer and stay calm when we feel ourselves getting angry.
It was an amazing Easter service at Restoration Church this year!
Tune in and hear how we can be free like Jesus.
Join Pastor Nathan Gagne in this week's sermon podcast as he teaches us how to trust like Jesus, and discover the transformative power of faith in our daily lives.
This week our Next-Gen Pastor Victoria teaches us the hard truth of how to forgive like Jesus.
We are back in our series "Like Jesus" where we learn how to view and act more like our lord and savior in our modern times.
Welcome to the Restoration Church Podcast!
Let's change the way we think about giving in this, our final week of the sermon series "NEW".
Ty Buckinghams's message about the Holy Spirit was a powerful reminder of the role that the Spirit plays in our lives. He showed us how the Holy Spirit can bring us healing by helping us identify and overcome the lies that the enemy has tried to make us believe. He also reminded us of the importance of replacing lies with truth and encouraged us to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in this process.
Ty is inordinately passionate about helping people understand Biblical truths in the most simplistic way possible; both as a speaker and as the author of The Holy Spirit Is Not A Bird and Better Than Jesus. For years he has traveled around the world, preaching and teaching predominantly on the Holy Spirit. His unassuming personality and speaking style make it simple and straightforward for anyone to receive from God.
Married to Rebecca with their son, Moses, they currently reside in Atlanta, GA. They have seen countless people saved, healed and filled with the Holy Spirit in services and in public. They believe that everyone they meet should have the opportunity to have a genuine encounter with Holy Spirit (without any weird baggage).
This week we listen in as Pastor Jeremy talks through how Serving is one of the key areas that helps us transform thoughts to be more like Jesus.
The Church Is it a building? Is it a people? Dive into this thought as Pastor Stephen Teaches us how to renew the way we think about...Church.
Thank you for tuning into the Restoration Church Sermon podcast!
This week we will listen in as our Lead Pastor Talks through being made new in Christ.
Tune in and hear some amazing young preachers share their story and teach us how to live a more Godly life.
This week pastor Stephen preached on how we can pray more like Jesus by following the example He left in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Pastor Nate teaches us how we should pray and fast more like Jesus by teaching us what Jesus taught us in the Bible.
Pastor Nate teaches on spiritual disciplines so we can grow and become more like Jesus in our walk of faith.
In the events of the end times we as christians are not to proclaim a set time. However, it is expected of us to be knowledgable of the events leading to it. This designated knowledge that God has for us strengthens our relationship with him. This will be our armor from societal normalities that would lead us away from the path of our Lord's love. "Be aware of the signs... Focus on the destination". Join us in our Final week in our series; "Predictive Text". This series gives us a peek into what we await in the end times as children of God.
Scripture is the greatest treasure that has been given to man. Having access to the words of our Lord and allowing them to guide us and provide comfort is powerful. Scripture tells us that in the end times, we as Christians are not to be taken by surprise. Through surrounding our lives with the Lord's words, we are preparing ourselves: We are assuring our alertness of the events to come. Through scripture we are guided to refrain from societal comforts. We must not shield and bunker ourselves from his guidance. The Lord calls upon us to be active and present, for he has informed us of our safety through his love. It is imperetive that we are awake to the knowledge that God has for us; for his words and love will act as our armor in times of need. Join us in our second week of our series "Predictive Text". This series gives us a peek into what we await in the end times as children of God.
There are many uncertainties that come with discussing the end times. There is no knowing when all of these questions may be answered. However, one thing that we may be certain of, is With the events of the end, the temple of God will be rebuilt. This stands as a beacon of anticipation that the church will be united through Jesus once again. Join us in our introduction of our new series; Predictive Text! This series will give us a peek into what we await in the end times as children of God.Â
There is only one way to receive Godâs salvation. That way is through devoting our lives to Christ and professing our unconditional love for him. With that we understand that there is no need to fear. We may live in comfort knowing that Godâs love can never be taken from us. Join us in our Final week of Fire & Water as we examine the challenging topic of baptism by blood.
Once you have accepted Jesus as your savior, a decision to make a public promise of your dedication to him is the next step. What are some of the barriers that people use to avoid water baptisms? Join us as we discuss the intricacies of water baptisms in the second week of our series Fire & Water!
As disciples of Christ we must not be lead away by false pretenses. It is our responsibility to only follow the path guided by Gods love. Join us in our final week of our villains series as we examine Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog!
One challenger of the standards could allow for a flood of others to bring forth the words of Jesus. Listen close as we explore this weeks villain, Hopper!
It's a day of celebration here at Restoration! Pastor Nate teaches on the resurrection of Christ and about how even his closest followers didn't immediately recognize him in his new body. Can you recognize Jesus in your own life?
Pastor Jeremy is here to teach us this week about what Palm Sunday is all about. Take out a pen and paper to take notes on the importance and the meaning behind the events of Palm Sunday.
This week in our series Gideon, Pastor Nate teaches about doubting God by continuing our journey looking at Gideon in the Bible. Join in to hear a word from God wherever you are!
Join in on the first sermon in the series about Gideon. This week, Pastor Andrew teaches on the initial call that God gave Gideon and how he ended up doubting himself. Many times in life, we find that we doubt ourselves too when God calls us to something. Listen in to understand how we can gain a Godly confidence!
This is the final sermon in our Pitfalls series! Pastor Nate ends this six week series with a sermon talking about the pitfalls in our finances. He teaches us about how we can biblically manage our finances and how we can navigate some troubles we may run into. Come listen and allow God to speak to you through this sermon!
This week Pastor Jeremy teaches us about some things that as Christians we can fall into in our walks of faith. It's not always an easy road! Pastor Jeremy gives us ways to navigate through these pitfalls and how to avoid them before we hit them. Take a listen to this week's sermon!
Pastor Nate brings us to the concluding sermon on the discussion of pitfalls in marriage
Listen in as Pastor Nate opens our series: Pitfalls, speaking on the pitfalls to avoid in dating
Benaiah Gagne brings us the fourth message of our series: Deeper on Kids' Takeover Sunday
Hear Pastor Nate in our third week of our series deeper! Learn about growing in a deeper walk with God.
Hear Pastor Nate speak on the life of Paul and his experience turning from persecutor to follower of Chris!
This Sunday Pastor Nate taught us about the similarities between the song Viva La Vida and a psalm in the bible, go check it out!
This week, we will be diving into Psalm two of the Bible and comparing it to the song "Red, White & Blue" by Toby Keith!
It's our last week of our series off the hook! Listen in to hear the conclusion to this series on mercy!
Our new series about Gods mercy, titled off the hook speaks about how God let us off the hook for all we've done! Lets hear about it!
This week our executive pastor Chris Sonksen talks to us about Miracles! Tune in to see what God is speaking today!
This week our guest speaker Josh Wellborn is speaking! Tune in to hear what he has to say!
This week Jeremy spoke on victory and giving god the glory! listen in to see how you can do this in your own life!
This week Pastor Nate speaks about persecution of the church and how it purifies the church. Hear what God has to speak this morning!
Thanks for checking out our podcast! Hope you enjoy our series about Jesus in the Old Testament.
Thanks for tuning in! Listen closely as Pastor Nate teaches us about all things marriage!
We are finishing up our anniversary celebration with a bang! Its Vision Sunday AND Kids Take over! Listen in as we hear from our Lead Pastor Nate Gagne and His Son Beniah!
As we continue our series celebrating 75 years as a church, Tune in and listen to our Guest Speaker Matt Springer!
We are still celebrating our 75th year as a Church!! Tune in to hear from Pastor Travis Nichelson, The AG District Youth Director, and an attender at Restoration Church!
As we celebrate our 75th year as a church we get to hear from Pastor Henry Snyder who was a Previous Pastor at Restoration!
75 Years!?We are celebrating 75 years as a church this month! This week, join in as Pastor Nate talks to previous pastors of the church to gain insight on how it all got started and the struggles and miracles that took place!
Pastor Nate begins "The Big Ask" series, by reading from John 1 in which Jesus begins gathering followers. At first no one believed in Him, however, once one person's life was changed and they shared the news with someone else, others began having their own testimonies about what Jesus had done for them. Jesus didn't truly receive a lot of followers until after His death. The important thing to remember when inviting someone to church is not to coerce or persuade them but to genuinely share with them how important a decision in your life it was. God gave us the free will whether or not we want to follow Him, but the trick is He encourages others to have faith and share to grow themselves.
Your perception of yourself determines how you walk your journey through life. Whether you see yourself as one of God's children, modeling His love & understanding for others, or whether you see yourself as a lone soul in a finite body whose wants, needs & feelings come before any consideration of others. Rather than bottle your emotions, reappraise the situation when you're having difficulty being compassionate. As the bible says in Colossians, the closer you walk in alignment with God, the better your journey will be.
Just as most of us have an ancestor whose decision to come to America shaped our entire life, Jesus' life was shaped by his ancestor Abraham's decision to follow God. Had Abraham decided against living out the plan God had for him, God may never have sent Jesus & we may have never had salvation from our sins but rather have been left to suffer our own consequences. But, because of Abraham's obedience, he created a legacy of obedience to God in his family which made it so that God knew He could entrust His blessing of Jesus to Abraham's descendant Joseph. Whether you grew up in church or you're bringing your kids for the first time, it's never too late to start a God-honoring legacy in your family.
It's the heart behind the gift & not the amount spent. The same is true when giving to those we love & giving to the Kingdom. Those with little who sacrifice to honor God are no less than those with lots who donate the most. Just as no sin is worse than any other, no gift is greater than any other. The person with the giving heart will be given more as they are more likely to bless others when they have an abundance. Keep after God's promises & one day you'll have what you need & more as 2 Corinthians chapter 9 says.
In Malachi 1 the Bible records God's response to the Iraelites bringing nothing but their leftovers. When you disgrace your Father & Master by returning only the unwanted of what you're given how can you expect Him to bless you with more? Remember where you were without God & give to Him from the perspective of thankfulness for what He's brought you out of & how much He's blessed you.
In the first week of the "Leftovers" series, Pastor Nate Gagne speaks about how Jesus deserves more than our leftover time, leftover praise, or for us to only begin following Him at the end of our life. God didn't give us the leftovers, He gave us His only Son. Jesus was the highest sacrifice Who paid the highest price. We could never do anything to repay that, however, we shouldn't bring leftovers when someone else provided the best possible for us.
In the fourth week of the "Haunted House" series, Pastor Nate Gagne speaks about the importance of setting boundaries with your in-laws. It can be an adjustment for everyone when they are thrust into their new roles after a marriage. However, the important things to remember are; honor your father & mother (in-law) even if you don't agree, protect your spouse from their in-laws (your parents) or even their own parents if there is tension between them, and separate from your parents in order to solidify the new relationship with your spouse. You will always be family with your parents & your in-laws, but establishing new expectations for the new roles is critical.
In the third week of the "Haunted House" series, Pastor Nate Gagne speaks from 1 Samuel 3 in which Eli neglects to teach his sons how to act like followers of God & it becomes the downfall of them all. Eli was once a great man of God but his legacy ended up being that of "scoundrels" & he died after his sons were killed in battle, thinking they still had the favor of the Lord. It's important not to just model for your family going to church on Sunday, but living for God daily. Eli didn't discipline or disciple his sons, nor did he differentiate between his family & those living against the Lord, so his kids lived against the Lord's will & even drew him away from the Lord in their actions. Parenting isn't easy, it's a 24/7 job, however, it can be a blessing if you walk alongside your kids, showing them your faith along the way.
In the second week of the "Haunted House" series, Marriage & Family Therapist, Bonnie Reiff, explains the three main principles to healthier relationships. 1) How you see yourself impacts your interactions with others; so be kind to yourself. 2) We must wear 'grae glasses' when interacting with others & try to see them through Jesus' eyes. 3) Humility is the key; when fights happen, be humble & it will be more easily resolved/not cause lingering unrest.
In the first week of the "Haunted House" series, Pastor Nate's wife Michelle shares from her past. She relates her life to the story of Jesus' healing of the man blind since birth. Jesus gave him an instruction & a calling, but it was up to him to walk out in faith to fulfill it. Just as being a blind man trying to find your way to a river can't be easy, Michelle didn't have an easy time overcoming the emotional handicaps from her early family life. The key is to allow Jesus to guide you & then faithfully follow His instructions on how to get to what or where He has promised you. For the blind man it was sight, for Michelle it was a Masters degree; Jesus has no limit to the depths of His ability to bless us if we trust Him.
In the fourth week of the "Anthems" series, Pastor Nate Gagne compares Lewis Capaldi's song 'Someone You Loved' to King David's Psalm 41. In the song, Capaldi laments his lost love, in the Psalm, King David laments the betrayal by his best friend while on his death bed. In both instances, the writer is haunted by the loss of someone they trusted deeply. Similarly, Jesus was betrayed by one of His own disciples which led to His crucifixion. Instead of becoming upset, Jesus lays His concerns down at the feet of His Father, God. The more you regret what you've done or what's been done to you, the less you are in alignment with the principle of forgiving those who have hurt you as you'd like them to similarly forgive you if you had hurt them.
In the third week of the "Anthems" series, Pastor Nate Gagne reads from Psalm 109 which speaks about responding in love & letting God remove the roadblocks of adversity to your dreams. The artist of that Psalm, David, had a lot of similar experiences to the artist of a popular song today. Little Nas X who wrote the song 'Old Town Road' could have given up on his dream of being a rapper when his parents didn't believe he would make it, however, he worked through social media to get noticed. Once he finally attained his dream, adversity from the Country Music elite struck him down. He could have given up or tried to get even, but instead he went back to what got him to where he was, in this case social media, and recruited a 'real' country artist to sing with him & 'legitimize' his song. Similarly, King David who wrote Psalm 109 could have given in at many points throughout his life, but God had given him a dream to be king & God took care of all the adversity that came against him.
In the second week of the "Anthems" series, Pastor Nate Gagne compares Marshmello's idea of what makes us "Happier" with what God's idea is which is written in Psalm 67. God blesses us not to make us happier, but for a specific purpose that will glorify Him & bring those who don't know Him to Him.
In the first week of the "Anthems" series, Pastor Nate Gagne compares Shawn Mendes' song "If I Can't Have You" to Psalm 16 in the Bible. What we find is that Mendes' idea of a life essentially on hold without an important person at the center is not new, Solomon was singing about the same idea thousands of years before. The difference is that Shawn is putting his faith in a human relationship that seems to already be failing him. Solomon, on the other hand, speaks about putting his faith in a relationship with God & how blessed he was because of that.
In the last week of the "Quit Church" series, Pastor Andrew Zemianek lays out the importance of quitting shallow relationships in favor of a deeper fellowship. The church looks different than modern culture because instead of shunning for past mistake, all are welcome & included. The way to reach the world, as God's mission for us states, is to intertwine social networks. A single person cannot reach a community, but a group of people can create one.
In the third week of the "Quit Church" series, Pastor Will Lapian, in his debut sermon, speaks about the importance of outreach & inclusion of new people if you really want to see God's kingdom grow. Jesus doesn't have a quota, in fact, in the bible it says it's God's will that none should perish, so the more on-mission we are as believers, the faster & farther God's Good News will spread.
In the second week of the "Quit Church" series, Mike Younus speaks from Matthew 6 about giving with a purpose & having your heart in it. God doesn't need your money, but He can do a lot more with it than you can. God can use it to bless you & someone else, but you must first have the faith to allow Him to move.
In the final week of the "Upsidedown Kingdom" series, Pastor Nate Gagne shows a clip from 'Stranger Things' in which the acceptance a human boy gave an upsidedown creature is given back to him when the creature has an opportunity to turn on him but instead allows him to go free. The measure that we use with others is what's given back to us. In scripture, God says 'whatever you do to the least of these, you do also to Me.' So, if you are a kind, generous person to others, God will be kind & generous to you. However, if you are stingy & cold, Jesus will use the same measure to give blessings to you.
Pastor Nate Gagne speaks from the book of Matthew Chapter 16 in which Jesus wrestles with His fate of being crucified. He gives up His life to save ours. In this He models for us giving up our worldly pursuits to gain spiritual ones. The more we try to 'win' in life, the more we 'lose' our sense of eternal life.
In this standalone message, Kingdom Ninja Daniel Gil recounts his parents' decision to return to the Lord, his early childhood in the church, tough decisions he had to make as a young adult to continue following God's plan rather than his own and how that all led to American Ninja Warrior.
In the final week of the "Prodigal God" series, Pastor Nate Gagne speaks about the ease with which Jesus intended for the lost to be found & returned, however, we complicate things with our own perceptions of the exclusivity of God's house. Those who have been in the Father's house for a while can get a false sense of ownership whereas those who have never entered or willingly left may be put of by this. It's God's will that we would all come to know Him & love one another. However, like any good father or gracious host, He will let you make your own decisions about whether or not to keep His company.
In the fourth week of "Prodigal God", Pastor Andrew Zemianek speaks about the older brother's mistake in refusing to forgive his brother as well as confusing his proximity to his father for a relationship with him. You can go to church every week & still be as far away from God as any 'sinner'. It's the self-righteous attitude that is the hardest to cure as it can easily creep in & be rationalized as justifiable. God's love is unconditional, there is no number of deeds that can earn you a higher position in His eyes nor any number of misdeeds that can lower your position. He loves us all the same & calls us to do so as well.
In the third week of the "Prodigal God" series, Pastor Nate details the sins of the older brother. We are quick to judge the younger brother as his actions seem more outright wrong, however, the older brother, in his unwillingness to accept his younger brother back without penalty is shifting the attention away from celebration of return to judgment of absence. The older brother's motivation for staying becomes clear when he essentially tantrums about the perceived injustice. However, if God's love had to be earned, none of us would have it. We need to celebrate when the younger brothers come back as we were them at one time; maybe not as visibly, but we've all disappointed our Father at one time or another. Acceptance is love, distance is judgment.
In the second week of "Prodigal God", Pastor Nate speaks about the older brother whose attitude toward his father following the return of his brother was just as telling as the younger brother's decision to walk away in the first place. Both brothers were so focused on what they felt entitled to that they missed entirely what was freely given, the father's love. Just like the father in the story, God wants us to welcome those who have walked away back with open arms.
In the first week of the "Prodigal God" series, Pastor Nate Gagne tells a true story of a NH woman who left a light on for her husband every night for 39 years before her death. He eventually came home 5 years after at which time a neighbor relayed the story to him. God is like the dutiful wife, always leaving a light on for us to find our way home, whether or not we decide to come is up to us. There's no place far enough or trouble deep enough we could get into that God wouldn't rejoice as the father in the prodigal son story does once we decide to come home.
In the final week of the "Mental Hell" series, Pastor Nate Gagne speaks about King David's attempted cover up in the book of Psalms. David's reputation, family & peace of mind were destroyed in the process; and the truth was eventually revealed anyway. The mental hell we put ourselves in when we lie, use & deceive is avoidable when we trust God's plan for us rather than our own. In doing so, we declare His image of us rather than our own. No matter your past, God sees you as; beautiful & wonderfully-made.
In the second week of the "Mental Hell" series, Pastor Nate's wife Michelle shares a training she learned in her MSW class. Mental Health professionals studied adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) & found a link between certain physical health issues & increased adverse experiences. However, if we believe what God says about us rather than the lies perpetuated by these experiences or negative influences in our lives, we an overcome our diagnosis or stereotype. If God can make a lame man walk, He can heal anything; including our self-image.
In the first week of the "Mental Hell" series, Pastor Nate Gagne speaks about mental health issues & their causes. Some are physiological, caused by imbalances in our bodies, some are spiritual, caused by outside forces trying to disquiet our minds. But with Jesus, we have an ally to help us fight for our peace of mind & a healer to help bring our bodies back to proper functioning. God didn't send His only son to do so that we would have lives of distress & torment, He gave up Jesus so we could have abundant life. The more trust we put in God, the more ammunition we have against the spiritual forces trying to manipulate our image of ourselves & exploit our bodily issues. God sees us as perfect in His sight; once we start believing that we can turn the tables on spiritual warfare.
In this standalone Easter message, Pastor Nate Gagne speaks from Psalm 88, detailing the lack of a hopeful ending. This Psalm was written during Jesus' death, so we believe His resurrection was the hopeful ending to that story. God sent His only Son to die for our sins so that we could have life. He is our light, if we decide to walk in the darkness, we will never see avoidable pitfalls or enjoyable vistas. Life following God isn't guaranteed to be easy, but it is guaranteed He'll go before as evidenced by His son's death on the cross.
In the last week of the "Uncharted Territory" series. Pastor Nate details the difference between miracles of action & desperation and the different roles they play in shaping our faith. Miracles of desperation are what immediately come to mind; lame walking, blind seeing, deaf hearing. However, miracles of action are much more common & arguably more powerful to the witness. A miracle of action is when a regular person chooses to be obedient & faithful to God's calling which demonstrates a great deal of courage. It isn't easy to walk into uncharted territory, but it makes a way for everyone behind you to follow the path you are helping to show them.
In the second week of the "Uncharted Territory" series, Pastor Andrew reads the story of Peter and Cornelius in which the culture of the ancient church shifts from following rules & working on internal goals to inclusion & sharing salvation with all. Although God is the same yesterday, today & forever, we make things difficult by trying to define His love through religion. At the end of the day, no territory is uncharted for God as He loved us enough to create the world for us as well as sending His son to die in place of us.
In the first week of the "Uncharted Territory" series, Pastor Nate Gagne reads from the book of Acts, detailing the lack of movement of the early church beyond the walls of Jerusalem & their Jewish ethnic group. Jesus called us to "go and make disciples of all nations". The early church missed out as the modern church sometimes does due to falling into a routine & becoming too content in their comfort zone. It's easy to talk to someone who believes as you do, looks like you, acts like you, speaks the same language, etc. God didn't call us to make disciples because it was going to be easy but because it's necessary. Every interaction is an opportunity to show God's love and testify through word & deed what God has done for you.
In the third week of the "Passion" series, Pastor Andrew Zemianek speaks from 1 Corinthians 7 in which Paul writes that it's better to get married than to lust. Some interpret this to mean marriage is simply a balm for sexual gratification. However, marriage is a blessing in that it allows us to redirect our passions from trying to gratify sexual needs to whatever it is God has put in our heart to do to honor Him; whether that be teaching, preaching, etc. The less we are distracted by lust, the more of God's work we can be free to do. That said, being single is not a curse. There is a testimony and fellowship among single people just as there is among families. God reaches people at all stages of life with people at all stages of life. Your motivation within your relationship status, whether single or not, should not be to continue to move along that continuum. Find joy in where you are and God will give you the desires of your heart and allow you to pursue your passions in His time and if it aligns with His plan for your life.
In the second week of the "Passion" series, Pastor Nate speaks about the falsehoods of having an affair. We may think that it's okay because "God would want me happy, and I'm no longer happy in this marriage", however, God sent Jesus to die so we could be cleansed of our sins. Adultery is a sin, therefore, God wouldn't support it even if we feel it is adding to our happiness. The bible says that the man who commits adultery destroys his own soul. The only way to guard against it is to remember & reinforce the value of your own marriage and support the steady burn of that passion rather than seeking a blaze for yourself, because the collateral damage will be your spouse and family.
In this first installment of "Passion", Pastor Nate warns against outside influences in a relationship. The opinions of others, images of people other than your spouse, societal ideals of what your partner should look or behave like all tear us away from the warmth of a joyous relationship. But God, if asked in, can reignite the kind of passion that every relationship was intended to have. God created marriage and all of the accompanying privileges; we're the ones who make it work when we abandon the path.
In this standalone sermon, Pastor Nate sets out the church's vision for 2019, including; matching a portion of the youth & kids mission giving, launching an online location to reach more people outside of Sunday morning, sending youth on a mission's trip, etc. Pastor Nate also announces a big change coming up for Restoration Church in the Fall of 2019.
Although many adjectives are used to describe God throughout the bible, perhaps the most poignant is just. Joshua, near the end of his life, makes a statement about His trust in God. Some of those Joshua had traveled the wilderness with for decades began to fall away from their trust in God. As they relied less on miracles to sustain them, they began to walk away from God. Although God allows this because He is just, He does it with a heavy-heart as He is also loving.
In the second week of the "Begin Again" series, Pastor Nate speaks from Joshua chapter two in which Rahab turns from her life of prostitution, instead gaining a reputation of helping the Israelite people accomplish God's will. Although her life started out on one distinct path, when she decided to follow God's will, He quickly led her down another path and helped her begin again with a new reputation. Her story is now one of the greatest testimonies in the bible about God's ability to turn a life around and create a new legacy for those who believe in Him, no matter the failures in their past.
In the first installment of the "Begin Again" series, Pastor Nate reads from the book of Joshua chapter one in which God instructs Joshua to be strong & courageous. Joshua likely needed some encouragement as his hero Moses had died without being able to realize the blessing of God's promised land. Even though our heroes may have had a lapse in faith, been overtaken by fear or have even been out-rightly disobedient to God, we all have our own relationship with God and our own choices to make. We all have the ability to stumble, along with the ability to begin again.
In this standalone sermon, Pastor Nate Gagne preached from 1 Samuel 15 in which Saul disobeys the Lord and loses his position in the process. Although some feel following someone rather than being the leader is restraining, working in rebellion against God serves only to limit one's choices further than following Him would. It's God's will to prosper us & give us a future, as described in Jeremiah 29:11, the question we must ask ourselves is this; could we possibly have a better motivation for our own lives or more resources to enact it on our own if we did?
In the fourth week of the "Advent" series, Pastor Andrew Zemianek preaches from Matthew chapter one, pertaining to the lead up to Jesus' birth. Although God could have orchestrated this miracle differently, by choosing Mary & Joseph, a virgin and her respectable fiance, He set into motion a series of choices which would show both the character of the people involved & the true miracle of Jesus' birth. God did not force Joseph to stay with Mary, but He knew Joseph's heart. By choosing a virgin, people would know Jesus was a miracle, by choosing an honest man, Jesus would live under his earthly protection. God may have set the events into motion, but it was the choices of the people that truly made the miracle.
In the third week of the "Advent" series, Pastor Nate preaches about the gifts the wise men brought & the implications they had on the survival of Jesus. The fact that Jesus' poor family was able to relocate following the threat from Herod toward all baby boys under two is a testament to God's provision. Before Jesus was even born, before Herod had even threatened, God had known to begin providing the gifts & guidance to the wise men. The bible says that we are co-heirs with Christ; if God is willing to go to such lengths for Jesus, think of what He can & will do for you if you are faithful & believe it's possible.
In the second week of the "Advent" series, Pastor Nate speaks from the second book of Luke. Throughout the nativity story, the outline for attaining & maintaining peace is seen. Although the shepherds were at first terrified, they felt the peace of the Lord & went to see the baby Jesus. Upon seeing Him, they praised Him & then felt the need to return to their village & tell everyone about Him. Through their obedience to His call, their attitude of praise & their willingness to spread the news, they found the peace they had not had at first. The unknown can induce anxiety, but if you accept the fact that God has a purpose for it all, you will come out on the other end with a greater purpose (spreading the good news) and a greater peace about you.
In the first week of the "Advent" series, Pastor Nate speaks from the book of Luke 1, in which the Angel comes to Mary to explain the event that would change hers & all of our lives forever. Although Mary has a difficult time believing at first what the angle means, due to the fact that it should be impossible, she allows her faith to be stronger than her fear & begins preparing for the coming of Jesus. If Mary had not been faithful, we may all have lost our hope for eternity. So throughout this season, let us strive to remember the true story behind the traditions.
In the final installment of the "Sinkholes" series, Pastor Dan Dedrick illustrates God's ability to lift us out of our sinkholes through the surrender of our perspective, plan & priorities. God can redirect our free-fall into an accelerated ascent, if only we can learn to trust Him. We often forget that God has the ability to see multiple outcomes and designate unlimited resources. We limit our potential blessings because we limit what we believe God can do. The key to changing everything is faith. The more faith we have in His perspective, His plan, his priorities, the more amazing the miracle will be when it comes.
In the third week of the "Sinkholes" series, Pastor Nate warns against the attributes that cause sinkholes in our relationships. None of us is perfect, however, as we see, Jesus already modeled for us the antidotes to our relational issues. Keeping secrets erodes relationships, but Jesus never lied so He never had to keep a secret. Forgiveness is something we often struggle with in relationships; that was modeled by Jesus when He died for us even when we didn't deserve it and had mocked Him. And finally selfishness; Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice of laying down His life because He loved us. We may not be perfect, but we have the perfect example. The more we strive to love as Jesus loves, the tighter our relationships will get and the less likely there will be a collapse within one.
In the second week of "Sinkholes", Pastor Andrew encourages us to base our identity in God not in what we can do for Him, but what He already did for us. It's easy to see your life collapse when a piece of your foundation shifts or disappears. As the bible says, the things of the world will fade. One day, you may wake up & a family member has passed, your company has closed, your house has burned down. If you only know yourself as parent, child, friend, employee, manager, homeowner; you'll be lost without your relation to your role or your possessions to orient you. The more you stand on the promise of God that He will never change & that He loves you in spite of all of your imperfections, the more stable your life will become. The more stable you are in your identity with God, the more able you will be to weather the storms life sometimes brings.
In the first message in the "Sinkholes" series, Pastor Nate equates physical sinkholes that can open up when things shift & weaken beneath the surface of a building or road to spiritual sinkholes that can devastate our lives & the lives of those around us if we don't address our spiritual deficiencies. We all have a sinful nature, as Paul writes about in Romans, however, how we relate to it is up to us. We can choose to shore up our spiritual foundation against the erosion it causes, or we can allow it to continue shifting things in our lives until eventually we are foundation-less and everything comes to ruin; potentially impacting others as well. The more we pursue God to fill in the gaps our sinful nature has caused with His spiritual nature, the firmer our foundation will be in Him.
In honor of pumpkin spice season, Restoration Church holds a pumpkin-themed service. Pastor Nate takes the opportunity to relate the sometimes ridiculous obsession with the flavor to our enthusiasm for following God. Often times, it only lasts for a season; eventually giving way to seemingly more important things. However, unlike pumpkin spice, God doesn't have a designated season but is the same yesterday, today and forever. The more you endeavor to follow God throughout every season of your life, the more you will find yourself longing for more of His presence. Pumpkin spice themed everything comes and goes, but living a life for God is something to practice daily.
In the final installment of the "Kingdom Builders" series, Pastor Nate reads from Ezra chapter 8 in which the non-religious king not only allows the Israelites to return home, but sends them with resources to rebuild God's temple there. Even with this miraculous offer, only a fraction go. This illustrates our unwillingness at times to move when God makes a way for us because the known is more comfortable in the moment although it may be less so in the long-run. Those who returned to rebuild the temple likely encountered God and had a deeper relationship with Him through that act of faith than those who stayed behind ever did. Not that God loved the others any less, but often big acts of faith & trusting in His promises are rewarded with greater faith, the establishment of more resources, etc. Being a good steward of what God gives you doesn't simply mean preserving it, as can be seen in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25). God gives to us, whether it be in the form of opportunities, resources, abilities for us to be blessed but to also bless others.
In the second week of the "Kingdom Builders" series, Pastor Nate Gagne speaks of God's promise & provision to accomplish His will, which can only be done through faith. Just as you had faith or will, in the promise of your spouse or partner to be true only to you, in sickness & health, for richer or poorer; we must have faith in God to be steadfast in His promise to bless us & not forsake us as well. Just as building a good marriage takes hard work, trust, hope & faith; so too does the building of His kingdom.
Pastor Nate expounds on the vision of Restoration Church to help build God's kingdom & what that work entails. It will take courage, community and stepping out of our comfort zone to reach just one more.
The song "sit next to me" by Foster the People resonates with so many likely because the general message is one of closeness & a sense of belonging. As Jonathan Cashman shares, Jesus' commission was to "go and make disciples". A disciple is someone who loves and relates a message. No one likes being where they aren't wanted, the most important part of being the church isn't simply keeping a building open, but keeping our hearts open to building relationships. The more we work toward sharing our lives and experiences with Christ with others, the stronger our faith will be while helping to foster some in others.
Although the contemporary idea of success is being "cutthroat" & saving face even at the expense of others, the bible recounts a story of King David's response to a grave mistake he made. Although he initially took pains to cover up his sins, he was convicted & decided to come clean about his extra-marital affairs and the lengths he went to to cover them up. The difference between confessing & repenting to God rather than others is that God will always love you unconditionally & forgive you.
Sinning against God should be as upsetting as when someone sins against us. Pastor Nate contrasts Ariana Grande's song "No Tears Left to Cry" with King David's Psalm 6. Both are expressions of sorrow; one of the sorrow involving a sin committed against Grande & concert goers when one of her concerts was targeted in 2017, one involving a sin committed against God by King David when he committed adultery. The key is that although one seems greater than the other, all sin is equal in God's eyes. Although a sin against God isn't always as publicly recognized, it serves to distance the one committing it from God in equal measure to the one committing sin against another man.
The term "Say Amen" can elicit multiple responses; praise God or 'yes, I agree'. In the Panic! at the Disco song, Urie is asking listeners to agree with him that living for the weekend is the path to take. In the Psalm, writer Asaph uses the term to mean, praise God for all He has done for me. Each song starts with the same idea but concludes in the author walking down a different path; one living his idea of what life should be & the other living with God and following His path. Although the writers lived in vastly different circumstances and eras in history, they both wrestled with the same question; is living with God worth it?
"In your life, whether it's sickness, sorrow, poverty, illness, sin; God is able to bring healing, God is able to bring salvation, God is able to bring salvation, God is able to transform, God is able to provide, God is able to do miracles. Why? Because He is a supernatural God. One of our core values is, 'Our God is able'. We don't ever want to forget that. Because if God's not able to do it then we're hopeless."
In the final installment of the "Launch" series, Pastor Nate expands on Pastor Dan's week 3 message on perseverance with the importance of staying on mission even one you are successful. Pastor Nate shares some examples of famous business owners unwilling to compromise their trust in God's guidance for their business.
In the third week of the "Launch" series, Pastor Dan Dedrick uses Peter & John's healing of the lame man as an example of perseverance. It would have been so easy for them to give up preaching the gospel, as it appeared Jesus was gone & the pressure from the religious leaders at the time was closing in. However, they took the opportunity to press on as they knew their mission was worth continuing. Even in the midst of trial, if we persevere toward what God has put on our hearts, we will glorify Him even further by not only completing the mission, but by not giving up on it when it would have been easier to do so.
In the second week of the "Launch" series, Pastor Nate Gagne continues to read from Acts, chapter one which talks about the time between Jesus' death & the coming of the Holy Spirit. This was a time of uncertainty for many of Jesus' followers, as He had just been betrayed & his betrayer had just ended his own life, leaving two voids in the mission team. Continuing with the NASA analogy, Pastor Nate illustrates how the selection of mission team members can make or break your mission. NASA often seeks to have multiple auxiliaries waiting in the wings to step in when it's mission critical. Similarly, God has many "mission-minded" people prepared with gifts & talents befitting the mission He has called you to do ready for when you need them. Sometimes it takes a catalyst, such as Jesus' death or the sickness of a crew member to propel the auxiliaries into action. However, that doesn't make them any less qualified; moreover, the time was likely selected for a greater purpose or example.
In this first installment in the, "Launch", series; Pastor Nate reads from Matthew 28 in which God lays out our mission. Similarly, NASA creates a flight plan for all of their space exploration. However, as prepared as the world's leading scientists can be, there are always unknown variables in space travel. Thankfully, traveling through life with God means you're in the cockpit with the Navigator. Pastor Nate walks us through the most important pre-flight check we should associate with any endeavor we take on; prayer. We should pray not as a last resort but with boldness & constantly. As we see through the example of the seemingly doomed Apollo 13 mission; the power of prayer makes the impossible, possible.
If even the most crooked tax collector such as Zaccheus could have his heart changed, so can we all. As Pastor Dan illustrates, it's not just enough to be willing, but you must be truly ready. Jesus already knows exactly where you are in the crowd, but it takes you stepping out for Him to use you as an example for others.
Whether due to technological advances or shifts in societal values, we are spending more time alone than ever. Authorities in the UK have responded to the ever-growing loneliness by creating a governmental Minister of Loneliness. Pastor Andrew Zemianek encourages us to combat this loneliness not through government programs but through faith. The stronger our community is, the more people we can reach and the more we can care for each other. The best way to combat loneliness is not to mobilize resources but to mobilize people intent on creating lasting connections and communities of care. What is a church if not a group of people with that very mission?
In this first installment of the, "We Are the Church" series, Plymouth Location Pastor Chris Pike speaks about the importance of every role to the mission of a business or church. If every member doesn't show up or shows up but does not have an attitude toward advancing the mission of the church (this model holds for businesses as well), the mission will not come across or may even break down. The key to staying on mission is acknowledging every member as an integral part of the team & instilling in them their importance to the overall mission.
In this standalone sermon, Pastor Nate preaches from Luke 14 which is a biblical example of our, "Just One More", mission statement. In the parable, Jesus illustrates that at any banquet, there will always be those with a reason not to attend. Although the will of God is that all should be saved, in this story, Jesus chooses to highlight the role of the servant. Once those invited declined, the master sent the servant out to seek out everyone he could, even those undesired by society, to come enjoy the banquet. In this we see ties to the Restoration Church mission; Jesus is for everyone.
Elijah became discouraged because just when he thought he would be successful, things began apparently unraveling. But, God came to him as a whisper to encourage him that he was not the only believer remaining. God is a good father; we often think of Him in the memorable wrathful episodes, however, we can't forget how tender & gentle He can be when that's what we need.
In the third week of the "Elijah" series, Pastor Nate Gagne speaks about a showdown between a prophet of God & an authority figure who believed in a false god. It takes a lot of courage to stand up for your beliefs, but when you do, God can move mightily through you; but only if you're willing to follow His will.
In the second week of the "Elijah" series, Pastor Nate encourages listening to God. God provided for the destitute widow & for the mighty prophet of Himself through cooperation with each other. Both had to have faith; one having to humble himself to ask, one having to find generosity even in their need.
In the first week of the "Elijah" series, Pastor Nate Gagne likens the inability to have conflicting public & private lives while truly following God to trying to get pretty stones without going through the long tumbling process. Just as with tumbling rocks, truly living for God isn't easy or instant; it's a process which you must follow through with & maintain in order to see results. No one has either a private walk or a public ministry, you must have both to advance the kingdom of God.
Pastor Andrew Zemianek illustrates our ability to be overwhelmed by the restoration process rather than the eventual product by comparing it to a father who works double over-time to provide for a family he never gets to see; the end does not justify the means. In the same way, if we allow ourselves to become too focused on getting to where we want to go, we'll lose track of why we're making the journey in the first place.
It's easy to go through the motions & even to continue trying to keep up appearances when inside you are falling apart. God is a God of joy & when situations in our lives tear us away from that joy He restores it to the level we found when we first found Him.
In the second week of the "Restoration" series, Pastor Nate uses the illustration of Jesus healing the Leper to exemplify Jesus' cleansing of us from our sins. No matter what you've done in your life, if you accept Jesus, you'll come to realize He's accepted you all along. As part of our restoration to Jesus' family, we are called to pay it forward by going out & telling those who are where we were so that they might become clean & be restored too.
In this final installment of the "Masterpiece" series, Mike Younus illustrates the fragile nature of family in speaking about an unexpected tragedy that occurred in his own family recently. He speaks candidly about his relationships with his children and how whether you are the child or the parent in the relationship, there is always room for improvement within the masterpiece of your family.
In this third week of the "Masterpiece" series, Pastor Nathan Gagne brings together marriage & family statistics with the words of the bible as well as some powerful quotes from a great world leader to illustrate the importance of keeping our family at the forefront of our minds. It's important, like any great piece of artwork, to continually restore your family, cherish your family, take care of your family, protect your family, enjoy the beauty of your family for itself without comparing it to others. The more you can learn to cherish your family, the stronger it & the community surrounding it become.
In the second week of the "Masterpiece" series, Pastor Nathan Gagne identifies the best way to love your children, it's with your time. The more time you invest in your children, the better & longer-lasting your relationships will be. Even great missionary David Livingstone who made great advances for God regrets not taking time for his family. Your family is your God-given blessing but also your God-given responsibility.
It's one thing to hear that Jesus died for your sins & another thing entirely to believe it. In a similar case of potentially too-good-to-be-true information, Japanese Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda continued hiding in a jungle in the Philippines until 30 years after WWII ended when a former superior officer was found & sent to convince him the war had truly ended. Just as Onoda dismissed all written attempts to convince him as propaganda and all talk from those he came across as misinformation, we often have trouble believing the bible and our friends' testimonies. It may take the word of a superior officer, Jesus, to finally persuade us to give up on the wars that have been over for us since Jesus died on the cross to end them for us. Jesus wants us to come out of the jungles of the perceived wars in our lives and walk in the freedom He has already secured for us.
In this final installment of the "Influence" series, Pastor Nate discusses how a small, seemingly insignificant thing such as a seed can change the world as things were with Norman Borlaug whose drought-resistant seed engineered in the mid-twentieth century is still helping to feed indigent populations in drought-stricken areas worldwide. No matter how small our influence & contribution seems, God can use it to change the world if only we're willing to use it.
The goal is to be the salted church which is spoken of in Matthew chapter 5. We are called to be salt & light to the earth as salt improves & light illuminates. Pastor Nate talks about other types of churches he's encountered throughout his life & their downfalls. The blender church, the freeze-dried church, the anchovy church, etc.
Joseph, who had gone from favored son to slave to prisoner still continued to use his influence which eventually led him to become the second in command over all of Egypt. The important point in this story is to remember that in every relationship, there are choices to be made which can be influential. Although we cannot walk through life putting the weight of eternity on our shoulders, it is important to remember that as Christians, we have a responsibility to remember how our actions can impact & influence those around us.
Pastor Nathan Gagne reads from Romans 10 while reiterating 2017's vision word; grow, and highlighting some of the ways Restoration Church grew this past year. He gave everyone in service one of his favorite snacks, a whoopie pie, to enact this year's vision word; influence. The whoopie pie is an easy way to invite someone to church & even if the influence it has isn't immediate, the hope is it will sow a seed in their life & make them question the existence of God.
The scoffer is a person who openly mocks the ideals of others which do not align with their own & have no retort for when their ideals are disproved. The scoffer is dangerous to those who are not so focused in their faith as they can be easily led away from God's word. As Pastor Nate has said throughout the series, "it's important to let your character influence your circumstances, not the other way around". Those with a strong faith have the responsibility to speak up as this may be the lifeline someone needs to explore their own faith.
God created sexual desire as a facet of marriage. Our culture has normalized not only sex outside of marriage but looking at graphic sexual images & speaking in innuendo. Even the youngest members of our society are exposed to things our grandparents would have fainted at. Solomon warns about staying away from the seductress because you have something worthwhile to give to someone worthwhile, your future spouse. The more you expose yourself to others, the less pleasure there is in sexual desire as God intended.
Pastor Nate encourages allowing your character to impact your circumstances rather than allowing your circumstances to impact your character. In this way, those Solomon would classify as a sluggard (a lazy person) could change their circumstances of poverty & lack by changing their character to become more disciplined & hard-working. Changing one's character is not easy but leads to much more opportunity.
In this series, Pastor Nathan Gagne follows up on the "Stories" series by speaking about the difference he hopes to see in his own life this year. Reading from the book of Proverbs, he examines some of the advice King Solomon who is still revered for his wisdom shared regarding how to most effectively live. In this first installment, Pastor Nate unpacks the difference between wisdom & folly; one leads to freedom of choice while one constricts your choices or could even lead to death.
Pastor John Sorice shares what God revealed to him following the lose of his daughter and the call to step down from two of his most prevalent ministries. When Pastor John felt directionless, God told him to; continue loving in mercy, walking humbly with God, serving others, praying for a humble heart & praising God no matter what the circumstances are. In these ways, he intends to continue serving in whatever new capacity God reveals to him. Whatever season of life you are in, God has an assignment for you.
Pastor Nathan Gagne equates salvation to a time-honored Christmas tradition; the Yankee Swap (or White Elephant, for those outside New England). God sent His Son to be born as a baby, live a sinless life, and be sacrificed on a cross; trading His blameless life for our baggage-filled ones. Jesus gave us all the #1 in the Yankee Swap because no matter what it is we're holding, He'll take it & give us the best gift of all.
Matthew 17 portrays the story of Jesus telling Simon Peter to catch a fish in whose mouth he will find a coin to pay an inquiring tax collector. Would it have been easier for Jesus to simply make a coin to give? Certainly. However, Jesus gives us opportunities to exercise our trust in Him through our obedience & faith in His ability to provide. for us.
In the 6th installment of the "Stories" series, Pastor Nathan Gagne reads from Luke chapter 1 in which Jesus' humble beginnings are laid out. Prior to His birth, God sent an angel to Mary to deliver the news that she would carry Jesus although she was a virgin. Although she was confused, as this was a major interruption in her life (one which would cause much skepticism & judgement), she willingly received God's will. Pastor Nate relates this to his own word from God to have a 4th son although he & his wife had planned to stop at 3 children. This decision almost cost his wife her life due to many postpartum complications. Although it is easy to become angry with God when He interrupts our plans, faith is believing that although it may not seem it in the moment, His plans are greater than our own.
Jesus was believed to be many things by His contemporaries, this is still true today generations & generations later. Jesus needed the disciples to question their perceptions of Him so that they could truly accept Him. The same is true today. The more we investigate Jesus & open our hearts to the possibility of Him & His unfailing love for us which He displayed on the cross, the more He will be able to work in our lives.
Pastor Andrew Zemianek draws attention to the woman at the well's predicament; she was alone due to her past which had caused her to be cast out by her community. The fact that Jesus, a respected religious figure would even talk to her was strange, let alone that He would know of her past & still associate with her. Jesus turned her ordinary, lonely existence into a testimony for her to share with others.
In Matthew 28, Jesus tells us to go & make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father & the Son. In this message, we are given context surrounding this notion of baptism & are shown the importance of it through the description of Jesus' own baptism.
The disciples, although they're familiar with Jesus' miracles, are stunned to realize they are following someone with such power. Jesus counters by asking them where their faith is. Jesus expects them to have realized that so long as they have the faith, anything is possible while walking with Him. This is a truth which is still apparent today for all of us.
Pastor Nathan Gagne shares a story of Jesus to accompany the images of Him we are all likely very familiar with. It is one thing to see Jesus as an icon on your grandmother's wall, it's entirely another to hear a testament to His forgiveness. Jesus is so much more than just a collection of stories in an old book; He lived, He forgave, He restored. The best part of the story is, He still can & He still does.
We are told in Philippians 4 to be anxious about nothing by looking to God in prayer, supplication, thanksgiving, and by making our requests known. Although Jesus knows everything we need, the type of surrender it takes to ask for help brings us closer to Him & builds our faith. The less anxious we are, the more we can walk boldly in faith to accomplish God's promises regarding our potential.
Humans have a great many fears; some are blanket fears (i.e. falling, loud noises), some are more personalized based on life experience or trauma (i.e. clowns, spiders). God's intention was not that we have fears, but that we have faith to walk with Him & trust His ability to provide safety & fulfillment within our lives. As we have learned how to fear, we have forgotten how to have faith. Just as in the story, we must take a lesson from when our fear overshadows our faith as Peter does.
Many of us have fears; the only innate ones being falling & loud noises. All other fears are learned through life experience. Pastor Nathan Gagne extrapolates by sharing from his elementary days when a friend left him to fight on his own. God does not ever leave us; He enjoys helping us. There is nothing too shameful for God to help you with as He knows every detail of our lives, down to the number of hairs on our heads.
In the final installment of the "Skeptic" series, we are equated to King Solomon, in that, even the wisest among us can have our devotion to God diminished due to other things in our lives which we give our attention to. For Solomon, rich as he was, his many wives & concubines were his undoing as they led him toward a belief in other gods. In Matthew 6, Jesus warns against trying to serve two masters; storing up treasures here on earth while our ultimate goal is heaven. Being asked to give can serve as a rationalization for our skepticism, however, even Jesus had financial support in His ministry while on earth.
Pastor Nathan Gagne speaks from John 6 in which Jesus' large crowd following the feeding of the 5,000 disperses once they realize there is more to following Jesus than a free lunch. When asked if the disciples will leave as well, Peter speaks for them stating; 'To whom would we go? Only You give eternal life.' Peter shows that being a true follower of Jesus is worshiping Him even when there is no apparent miracle.
Pastor Nathan Gagne reads from the book of James regarding the shift in James' attitude toward his half-brother Jesus. James was initially skeptical of Jesus' claim to be Lord, however, during his adult life he began to believe & eventually died for his faith. Just like Jesus, we all have those close to us who are skeptical of our belief; we must encourage them to keep questioning & by extension keep telling them about our own faith.
Pastor Andrew Zemianek shares of his time as an atheist in his early teen years & how the love of his mother & the persistence of her faith in spite of their differing world views eventually brought him back to a life of faith. He expounds on the human longing to understand how & why we were created. Conventional science seeks an exclusionary definition in regard to faith whereas, in Pastor Andrew's perspective, he has been able to find an inclusive definition.