Edinbrook Church: Recent Episodes
Brent Hall
At some point, we all need a new beginning, a fresh start, and a new way of life. When we become Christians, we become something radically new. The Bible tells us that we become a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come. But what do we do when we don’t see change or progress happening in our lives? Maybe it even seems like we’ve taken a few steps backwards. In this message, we will look at how God is creating us into something new and what to do when we don’t feel like a new creation.
After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they realized they were naked became afraid of God. Many of us wrestle with where we stand with God, especially when we feel like we’ve failed in some area of life. Were we meant to continually wonder whether God approves of us or not, whether we’ve done enough for Him to accept us? In this message we will look at something we can clothe ourselves with that gives us complete assurance and confidence before God and others.
Right from the beginning of the Bible God tells the devil that one day he will be defeated. The devil is crafty and wants to have power over human beings, bringing destruction into our life, family and community. So how do we fight back? How do we live a life of total victory? In this message we will look at God’s promise to the devil, how it was accomplished, and what it means for our lives today.
The word Christian is only in the New Testament three times. The word disciple, however, shows up in the New Testament 269 times. Clearly, the goal is to be more than just a “Christian;” the goal is to be a disciple. But what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? How do you become a disciple? In this message we will look at how Jesus defines a true disciple and the steps you can take to become one.
We prepare for all kinds of events in life, marriage, kids, careers, retirement. But are we prepared for the greatest event of all, what happens when we die? While death might not be a subject we like to think about, it is a reality that we must prepare for. What will it be like? What happens right after we die? In this message we will answer these questions and make sure we have no doubts where we will spend our eternity.
At times life feels like we are made for more than just living for ourselves. That’s because we are! Jesus has given us a purpose to fulfill on earth and promises that He will help us do it. But how? By trying harder? By faking it? Maybe there is a better, easier, life-giving way to live the life Christ calls us to. In this message we will discuss what Jesus means when He calls us to produce fruit and we will discover the key to living the life we were all made for.
The peace found in this world is too fragile and unstable to place your hope in. However, the peace that comes from God is a personal promise that you can count on, regardless of your circumstances. Even when the world around you seems to be crumbling, you can find security in God’s peace. Come explore four ways to enjoy God’s promise of peace and to weather the hard times no matter what life brings.
Jesus makes incredible promises about prayer. He says His followers will have the power to move mountains when they pray. Jesus also teaches us that there are some conditions to seeing prayers answered in our lives. But will we really receive everything we ask for? What about prayers that haven’t been answered? In this message we will discuss the conditions to effective prayers and how to make sense of unanswered prayers.
It’s easy to find ourselves at times overwhelmed by life: work, relationships, school, finances. And some problems are completely out of our control. We are powerless to change them. But the good news is that we are not alone. God promises to be with us through it all and He can change what we can not. In this message, we will look at the promise of God’s presence and learn what we can do to receive His help for problems out of our control.
Life is complicated, and we all face decisions that can greatly affect our lives in positive or negative ways. Therefore, we need wisdom. Wisdom for marriage, parenting, health decisions, and surviving a pandemic. The good news is that God promises to give us wisdom. In this message, we will look at why we need wisdom, what God’s wisdom looks like in our lives, and how to receive wisdom that leads to success in life.
Think about a typical manger scene for a moment. You’ve got baby Jesus in the manger, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, some animals, maybe even an angel; and then there’s the wisemen. If you think about it, they don’t seem to fit. They’re not Jewish. They’re not from the surrounding community, and they don’t seem to belong. Where did they come from? Why were they there? How did they know Jesus would be born at this time and place? Come explore some fascinating history about this group from the east and reflect on how we can posture ourselves in a similar way when we come to the Messiah.
It’s easy to grow complacent as Christians. In times where it doesn’t seem like God is doing anything in our lives or the world, we can lose our passion and zeal. But what if God is moving, even when we can’t see it? What if God is just on the verge of doing something that will change the world? Are we ready? In this message, we will look at the significance of the sign given to the shepherds and what it means for us today.
What do you do when God asks you to do something that doesn’t make sense? Joseph, who is engaged to Mary, the mother of Jesus, finds himself in a really tough situation, but he was willing to say “yes” to God. We don’t have to say “yes” to God, but amazing things happen when we do. In this message we will discuss Joseph’s dilemma, and what happens when we decide to say “yes” to God.
Mary was a young woman whose life was changed forever when God moved. It was unexpected, maybe even seemed a little crazy. But through the crazy, the unexpected, we see a life of obedience. That practice of obedience didn't just start when the angel showed up. It was a lifestyle of preparation through obedience. Join us Sunday as we kick off this new series Prepare Him Room and look at the life of Mary, mother of Jesus.
Yeshua is Jesus’ Hebrew name. The meaning of this name reminds us that there is hope no matter our situation, that Yahweh is able to save us from the most terrifying storms of life. In other words, we don’t have to lives characterized by fear and worry. What if we truly lived lives of confidence and hope? In this message we will discuss the meaning of the name Yeshua, and why we don’t have to fear when we’re in the storm.
Let’s start with the bad news. From the moment we are born, there is something wrong with us. We have a condition. It’s a sin condition. It’s a disease we can’t heal on our own. Although we may try in our own strength, we simply cannot make ourselves right. But the good news is that Yahweh has a solution. And the solution can be found in who He is – Yahweh Tsidkenu. Yahweh Tsidkenu means the Lord our Righteousness. You see, Yahweh raised up someone who was “right” to deal with our “wrongness” once and for all. Come learn how His righteousness can become your righteousness.
God wants us to know that He is a loving father, but many of us struggle to believe we are truly loved by Him as a child. We try to do what is good and right, tiptoeing our lives before God so that He will accept us. But do children tiptoe? Mine don’t! In this message, we will discuss what the Father’s love looks like and ask ourselves whether we are sons, daughters, or slaves.
Yahweh doesn’t just want to walk with us through our pain and hurts in life, He wants to do something about it—He wants to heal. Many of us aren’t even willing to admit that there is pain in our lives. The problem is that if we don’t deal with it, it will usually fester and lead to bigger problems down the road: addictions, relational turmoil, disorders. Yahweh doesn’t want that for you. He wants to help you heal and overcome. In this message, we will discuss three ways Yahweh Rapha helps us to find emotional healing.
All of us need direction in life from time to time. Do I take that job, do I say yes or no to my kid’s request, how do I heal my marriage? Let’s be honest, sometimes it seems there is no clear answer. So what do we do when we don’t have the answers? In this message, we will examine Psalm 23 and discuss what to do when we don’t know what to do.
We all have needs. Some needs are somewhat common and superficial, but every person also has deep, personal desires. The good news is that we have a God who is not distant. Yahweh is with us. He sees our needs and can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts… if we trust Him. In this message, we will look at the ways God provides for His people and the condition for Yahweh acting on our behalf.
Did you know that when you read the Old Testament in the English language God’s name is being covered up? Your translation most likely says “LORD.” While this is a generic term for God (a term used for human kings as well), this is not the actual name God revealed to Moses, the name by which God calls Himself throughout the Bible. In this message, we will look at God’s actual name, discuss why translations cover it up and talk about the significance of such a name.
Let’s be honest, we all wear masks at times—not physical masks, but invisible masks that allow us to hide our true selves from others. Sadly, wearing masks is especially true in churches where we falsely assume that to be a Christian means we don’t have any struggles. We think we’ll be judged if we are seen for who we really are. But what if God’s plan for the church is different? What if the church is to be a place where it’s safe and expected to have struggles? What if Edinbrook could be a church where you could actually be the real you, loved and accepted as we are in the messy struggle of pursuing Christ and finding healing together? In this message, we’ll look at why we wear masks and how we can all foster an environment where we’re invited into authentic community.
Sometimes God calls us to see a need and then meet that need - to go beyond our seats and act. Behind the heart of serving lies something deeper. According to Jesus, serving is the secret to greatness. In Matthew 23, he said, “The greatest among you will be your servant.” In this message, we will look to the ultimate servant – Jesus – and discover the five qualities that make a servant great. You may just find that serving will transform your life in great ways.
We weren’t meant to do life alone, and we weren’t meant to just experience the natural. God gives us His Spirit so that we can experience His supernatural presence at work in our lives. In this message, we will look at the reality of the Holy Spirit, how it can transform our lives, and how we can experience more of the true Christian life Jesus promised.
Jesus didn’t just sit in one place and wait for people to come to Him. He also traveled throughout the land to bring the good news of salvation to those who were far from God. As followers of Jesus, we have been given an exciting mission to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to others, including those who aren’t ready to step foot in a church building. In this message, we will discuss our identity as followers of Jesus Christ and one practical, simple thing we can all do to help someone outside our church walls experience the goodness of God.
This Sunday is a day you won't want to miss! We will hear stories of God working in the lives of people here at Edinbrook and take time to worship and respond to Him with praise.
Especially in the US, we don’t tend to recognize how the sins of our ancestors can affect us in the present. But the Bible (and science) clearly teaches that sin can affect future generations. Some of us might even have issues in our lives today that are the result of something that took place in our family lineage: anger, anxiety, fears, addictions, etc. The good news is that these curses can be undone. In this message, we will aim to break free from every generational curse and step into God’s favor for our lives and our children.
Sex is God’s idea and is wonderful in its multifaceted purposes, but sex also has the potential to cause much grief, regret and lingering effects when not treated God’s way. The good news is that Christ’s blood can free and heal us from sexual baggage, and God’s Word can give us instruction to prevent unnecessary future hurt. This week we will discuss God’s good design for sex and how to be set freed from any sexual baggage that is holding us back from experiencing the abundant life God wants for us, especially in our current or future marriage. (Parents, this message will deal with mature themes).
Spiritual strongholds are lies we believe that keep us from experiencing the freedom and abundant life that Jesus intends for us. These lies are from our spiritual enemy, the devil, and my guess is that we all have at least one stronghold in our life. These lies can be very entrenched and feel like reality, like truth—but they are not. The good news is that we have spiritual weapons to start undoing these strongholds so that we can discover more freedom. In this message, we will look at the weapons we’ve been given against spiritual strongholds and will practice undoing some of the common strongholds that enslave us.
The Bible teaches that Christians are in a spiritual battle against spiritual forces of evil, whether we like it or not. In Western culture, it’s easy to dismiss the spiritual and look for worldly solutions to every problem using modern medicine, psychology and science. While these things are incredibly beneficial (what theologians call God’s common grace) and should be received with gladness (and wisdom), what if some problems have no worldly solution? What if the root of some problems is spiritual, and only a spiritual solution can help? In this message, we will look at what the Bible teaches about these evil forces and two things we can begin asking for in prayer in order to receive the help we all desperately need.
In this message Pastor Brent will share an exciting new direction for Edinbook Church. You will hear why this change is needed, how it will give you spiritual growth opportunities like never before, and how we all have a part to play in fulfilling the mission no matter where you’re at on your journey with Jesus Christ.
Do you ever wish you overflowed with more love for God and people? What would your life look like if you experienced more joy and peace in your inner self, more patience towards your spouse and kids? You know you want these things, but why does it seem like little is happening? In this message, we will look at the fruit of the Spirit, why so many of us fail to produce fruit like we want to, and how to reap an abundant harvest that will change your life.
God blesses every believer with important abilities to be used to help others. These are called spiritual gifts. Sadly, many Christians today have no idea what their spiritual gifting is and, therefore, are missing out on their God-given purpose. You need to know what your spiritual gifts are! In this message, we will discuss the various gifts, talk about the purpose of these gifts, and take the next steps to discover what our gifting is.
An in-depth interview with the leader of Edinbrook’s Prayer Team, Robin Hokanson. She will share amazing stories of what God is doing through the prayer ministry and teach us how we can take steps to experience more of God’s help in our lives.
What would your life look like if you interacted with the Holy Spirit every moment of your day? From the moment you woke, until the moment you slept, how could life be different by inviting Him in? The heart of God has always been to “be with” His people. One of the most beautiful truths about the Holy Spirit is that we can be with God every day. But why should we want that? And what does that look like? Come see the benefits of a life filled with the continuous presence of the Spirit.
It’s impossible to have a close relationship with someone without two-way communication of some sort. If we’re going to live in a close relationship with God, we need to talk to God (prayer) and we need to hear from God, we need to learn His voice. But how do we do that? In this message, we will look at a character who had to learn to hear the voice of God, and we will discuss practical ways to hear from God personally.
When Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the disciples had no idea what they were about to experience—a new, exciting, life-giving power to help advance God’s kingdom across the earth. Today we read about the signs and wonders in the early church and wonder if these things are possible today? What if they are? This week we will look at the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost and discuss what we can expect from God when His Spirit moves.
Encountering Jesus can be a life changing experience. This entire series we have been talking about people who encountered Jesus and their lives were changed. This week we look at someone who did life with Jesus, the Apostle Peter. But even though he was one of Jesus’ closest friends, he still failed – really bad. Maybe you can relate. You love Jesus, you want to serve him, but you have something you are not proud of from your past, or you have failed recently and are not sure where to go from here. Join us Sunday as we look at one last encounter with Jesus and how He is a God who restores.
Let’s be honest, we all can struggle to trust God at times. It can be so very easy to doubt the incredible claims of the Bible. When one of Jesus’ own disciples doubts the resurrection, Jesus is able to breathe new faith into his heart. In this message, we will look at Jesus’s encounter with Thomas and discuss how we can strengthen our faith in order to experience the rich blessings and rewards that come through faith.
There will be times in every believer’s life when God asks something of them. When a rich man came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus asked something of him that seemed absolutely crazy—sell all your stuff, give it to the poor, and come follow me. Unfortunately, the man says no and goes away sad, but what would have happened if he had said yes? In this message, we will discuss the promptings God puts on our hearts and look at three life-changing benefits that happen when we say yes.
When a woman caught in a marital affair is brought before Jesus to be condemned, Jesus grants her grace, a new beginning. Many of us know how challenging it is to receive God’s grace and be set free from our past. But it is possible! In this message, we will take a closer look at the grace Jesus offers us today and how we can be set free from our past through God’s love.
When a Samaritan woman encounters Jesus at the water well in her hometown, she does not get the usual response she has grown used to. Rather Jesus offers her something…the greatest gift we can receive (which might be different from what you think). In this message, we will look at how wonderful this gift is and how we can experience it no matter how broken we are.
At times we all need God’s help, and God is willing and able to help. But what do we do when we don’t see answer to prayer, when we keep waiting on God to move? Is it possible that God is waiting for something on our end before He answers? This week we will study someone who had no right to Jesus’ help but received it anyways and discuss why Jesus was willing to answer the prayer.
When the chief tax-collector of Jericho heard that Jesus was coming through his city, he couldn’t help himself from trying to see what Jesus looked like, to see what Jesus might do. What Jesus would do would shock everyone…and lead to the salvation of a man who wondered if there was more to life than wealth. This week we will examine Jesus’ life-changing encounter with Zacchaeus and discuss why Jesus has the power to save us from a life that is empty and unsatisfying.
When Jesus started His ministry on earth, he invited several people to follow Him and join in the mission of a lifetime. Little did they realize just how radically their lives would change after saying yes to being His disciples. So what is a disciple? What does it mean when Jesus invites us to “follow Him"? No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, Jesus still says to you today: Follow me.
Easter is more than just a tradition that we celebrate once a year. Christians claim that a miracle happened historically, that Jesus died and came back to life. But is this claim true? Are there good reasons to believe that Jesus actually rose from the dead? This Easter we will examine the evidence for the resurrection miracle and discuss the exciting, life-changing implications it has for our lives if it’s true.
After describing the defensive armor of God, the Apostle Paul tells us what we possess as a weapon to fight off Satan and the dark forces that come against us. It is with the word of God that we fight off the spiritual enemy. Therefore, we must learn how to use this weapon. In this message we will look at what the Bible is, why it is so powerful, and how to use it as a weapon.
Helmets are important because they protect our brains, our minds. Paul wants to make sure we’re protecting our mental state with the assurance of salvation. But do we have assurance? What is our assurance based on? In this message, we will look at why we can have assurance of salvation and look deeper into what salvation means for our lives.
The Roman shield was a superior shield to other kinds of shields, even protecting from fire. In the same way, faith in God fully protects us from Satan’s lies that aim to set our lives on fire with despair. It is of utmost importance we take up our shield of faith against Satan’s attacks. In this message, we will discuss two kinds of faulty shields and three things we must believe if we desire to live in victory.
God wants you to experience supernatural peace. Jesus has done everything for us to have deep, abiding peace in our hearts. The enemy will try to rob you of this peace; you must learn to fight back. In this message, we will see the three kinds of peace that God offers us and how we can walk in peace.
Without the breastplate of righteousness, your heart is vulnerable for attack. Many believers today have salvation, but they don’t live in victory. But you can! If life is a struggle, if you’re battling temptations and losing the battle, if you ever feel guilty and defeated, you need to learn to claim the victory you have in Christ, in His righteousness—not yours. In this message, we will learn about the righteousness that God gives to us and the life-changing implications it has for our lives.
One of the biggest obstacles to experiencing the joy that comes from God is discontentment. We live in a culture that is so discontent, yet we have so much. This tells us the problem isn’t our circumstances as much as it is our heart, our priorities. But what if we could learn the secret to contentment no matter our situation? In this message, we will discuss what it is you must learn about your relationship with Jesus and how this is the key to contentment.
We live in a chaotic world and uncertain times, but we don’t have to live anxious, stressed-out lives. God offers us a peace that doesn’t even make sense from a rational point of view. God offers us a peace that can sustain us and strengthen us even when life is at its worst. In this message, we will look at how we can find such peace no matter what we’re dealing with.
What is your outlook on the future? Would you say it’s more doom and gloom or is it filled with hope and joy? Paul sat in prison not knowing if he would even get to see tomorrow. Yet he had joy about his future. How was that possible? As we continue in our series Choosing Joy, Paul shows us the one thing we should aim to do daily so we may have joy for tomorrow.
Joy is different than happiness. Happiness is an emotion based on external circumstances, while joy is spiritual and is based on our relationship with the Lord. But what is it about Jesus that leads to such joy? In this message, we will look at why knowing Christ leads to a life of rejoicing no matter our situation.
It’s not easy to stay humble in a self-exalting world. But nothing is more of an oxymoron than a prideful Christian. Christ modeled humility for us, and we are to follow His example. In this message, we will look at how the Gospel changes us into humble people and why it leads to joy in our lives and the church.
Life doesn’t always go according to plan. The Apostle Paul desired to journey to Rome and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. But he didn’t make it to Rome as a preacher, he ended up there as a prisoner. Despite his disappointing circumstances, Paul managed to remain joyful. In this message, we will look at Paul’s struggles as a prisoner and learn how to remain joyful even when life doesn’t go according to plan.
There is something indescribably exciting about being a part of a church. We are spiritually bonded by our love for Christ and the mission to love and help all people. We witness God at work in our lives. And we learn to live by God’s grace and get opportunities to show God’s grace to others, something radically different from the world. Even though Paul was in prison, he rejoiced because of his church family. This week we will look at Paul’s opening remarks in Philippians and get a small glimpse of the wonders of God’s church.
What do you think of when you hear the word radical? I am sure all kinds of ideas or images flood your mind. Jesus was called Radical. Actually, the call to follow Jesus is pretty radical. So what does that mean in our lives? What does it mean to live radical? We will see you this Sunday to talk about just that!
Sometimes it feels like we just go through the motions of Christmas, doesn’t it? Like the true wonder of Christmas can get lost. We so often forget to stop and dwell on why we do Christmas. There are several ways we can be unprepared for this Christmas season. And this week we will explore three barriers that get in the way of experiencing the joy, wonder, and awe of what Christmas is truly about. Come find out if one of these barriers is getting in your way of being prepared for Christmas this year.
At some point we all have to deal with a difficult person in our life - a co-worker, neighbor, or maybe even someone in the family. Difficult people can raise our blood-pressure, make us dread running into them, and cause great anxiety. The question is what do we do about it? This week we will look at the example of Christ and how we can be prepared to deal with difficult people in practical ways that work.
Life is full of choices. Do I date that person? What career do I go into? Should I make that purchase? Our lives are directly impacted by the decisions we make. The good news is that God offers us supernatural wisdom to help us no matter how big the challenge is and no matter what bad choices we might have made to mess things up. All of us need wisdom if we desire to move forward into better things. This week we’ll look at the importance of wisdom and how to get it.
No doubt you will face many storms in your life. Financial storms, health storms, relational storms, even the continuation of covid is a storm we all endure right now. We know what storms create: fear, instability, and confusion. But we can be prepared. This week we will look at the only thing in this world that is solid and trustworthy; the only thing that can help us prepare for and weather life’s storms.
When was the last time you shared your faith with someone who doesn't know Jesus? Maybe it's been awhile . . . maybe you never have. For many of us, we don't know what to say, or we feel like we don't know enough. But it might be easier than you think to point others to Jesus. Today we'll learn different approaches to sharing our faith.
What if Jesus were to return soon? Would you be ready? Jesus teaches his followers that they are to be prepared for His return. But what does that look like in our lives? In this message, we will look at one of Jesus’ famous parables and discuss what gets in the way of us being ready.
When we compromise on even just a little sin and allow it to take root in our lives, it begins to grow and erode the spiritual foundations we have laid. Plainly put, allowing sin in makes us lax in our faith. And that can be dangerous. Compromising on sin creates apathy, poor decision making, and invites idols into our lives. God wants better for you! As we close our series on Nehemiah, we will learn how to push back on dangerous compromise, so it does not take root.
Honor. Some people deserve it. God always deserves it. In Nehemiah 11 and 12, we see how the Israelites honored those who stepped up to repopulate the city. Then the focus shifts from honoring people to honoring God for his goodness and faithfulness, ultimately culminating in one of the biggest worship services in the Bible. In this message, we will discover why this worship service was so powerful and discover how we can experience this same powerful worship today.
Commitments are good because they help us to change and honor God. But why are commitments so hard to keep? In this message, we will look at three key commitments for God’s people and discuss how to break old patterns and live empowered by God so that we keep our commitments.
What do you do when your back is against the wall? Do you panic, blame others, give up? When the people of Judah were anxious because of oppression, they started by remembering their God. This week we will remember three powerful truths about God’s character and discuss why looking to the past can give us hope and peace for the future.
Any great project will be accompanied by great challenges. The rebuilding of Jerusalem was no exception. Nehemiah’s enemies were resolved to stop the work. In this message, we will learn the tactics of our spiritual enemy, the devil, and how he works to deceive, distract, and shame those who follow Christ.
In seasons of rebuilding in the way God calls us, we can face opposition. But what do we do when the opposition comes from inside the walls? Join us this Sunday as we dive into Nehemiah 5!
We can accomplish way more together than we ever can alone. Nehemiah teaches us that great things happen when people, no matter how diverse they are, are unified towards a common goal. This week we will discuss four goals for this Fall here at Edinbrook Church and what we can do to make it happen. These four goals, I believe, will offer an immeasurable blessing to you, your family, and the community around us.
As we gear-up for the Fall in the midst of Covid-19, the church faces many challenges. Getting things up and running again will take wisdom and courage. The book of Nehemiah teaches us many lessons for how to tackle this difficult task. In this message we will be reminded why the church is vitally important and how we can do our part to work together to accomplish God’s purpose.
All of us will face a time when we need God’s help to rebuild something that’s in ruin, whether it’s our community, family, finances, business, or even faith. When Nehemiah discovered that the city of Jerusalem had been destroyed, he knew something had to be done. But he also knew that it would take divine strength and intervention to rebuild the city. Before he did anything else, he prayed. In this message we will study Nehemiah’s powerful prayer; a prayer that has the power to help rebuild our lives and the world around us.
Join us this Sunday as we welcome Dan & Tina Gibbs from our partnership ministry in Nigeria – GECHAAN. GECHAAN stands for Gembu Center for HIV/Aids Advocacy Nigeria. Aside from Aids advocacy, GECHAAN has grown into a far greater ministry over the years making a nation-wide impact. Hear updates, future plans, and be encourage by what God is doing globally.
Psalm 99 contains truths about God: He is Holy. He is also love. These are at the very nature of who God is. What does this mean? And what does this mean for us? Listen and learn about how we fit into His plan and what promises we have because of this on Sunday.
Repentance, a word that often makes people feel flu like symptoms on Sunday morning. “Oh darn, can’t make it to church to hear the message this morning. Bummer!” But what if Repentance didn’t have to put that feeling in us? What if Repentance was actually an incredible gift from God? In Psalms 51 we see David, a man after God’s own heart, model repentance. Join us on Sunday as we look at this Psalm…The How to Guide to Repentance.
A letter written with love, care, and thought can have a profound impact on a person’s life. Within Psalm 19 can be found three tangible symbols – or love letters – that God gave us to get our attention. Have you ever noticed them before? Come learn what they are and how to pay closer attention to each one because they still exist today, and they are still relevant today. God still speaks to us through all three.
Drought. It comes in many forms – physical, emotional, spiritual. We’ve all had them. We’ve all been through them. We seem to be stuck in one right now with the effects of COVID-19. Droughts are a part of life whether we like it or not. So how do we get through a drought when there seems to be no end in sight? How do we carry on when life is different from the way it used to be? Come learn some drought tactics from a guy named Elijah and learn how to hold onto hope amidst your drought.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what is right. I know what you might be thinking, "How could being persecuted possibly be a blessing?" When we seek to live the #Blessed life we should expect to experience opposition. But Jesus tells us we should rejoice in it. Tune in this Sunday as we talk about what it means to be Blessed in the face of persecution.
Chaos...that would be a good way to describe the status of life right now, right? So when Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers," what does that mean? How can we be peacemakers in a chaotic world? Why should we? Wouldn't it be easier to keep quiet and keep on? That is not what God has called us to. He has called us to be peacemakers.
This week we talk about how God blesses the pure in heart. What exactly does it mean to be pure in heart? Pure in heart means we live with integrity. Come and understand integrity on a deeper level; see the lifelong benefits of choosing to live with integrity; and learn some ways to strengthen your integrity muscle.
Mercy is awesome to receive but hard to give freely. In week five of our #Blessed series on the Beatitudes, we discuss how God blesses the merciful. Learn what the Bible says about why you should live out mercy and stretch yourself to show mercy to those in your circle of influence this week.
We all need food, we all need water. It is essential. If we want to live a #blessed life are there things that are essential to that life? The short answer...yes. This week we are going to look at the idea of Righteousness. Why should we want it? Why do we need it? And how do we get it?
It’s pretty common to think meekness is a weakness. But if you look at what Jesus means by being meek, you will find our understanding is a bit skewed. Come learn that real strength is when we live out gentleness and discover some of the life-long benefits of living out gentleness day to day.
Blessed are those who Mourn. We might read this and ask what does that even mean? I thought blessed meant happy? How can our sadness lead to a blessed life? Join us Sunday as we talk about how Those who mourn are actually blessed.
The Sermon on the Mount has been called the greatest sermon ever delivered. But before Jesus dove into the meat and potatoes of His teaching, He issued eight blessings, or conditions, for being blessed. These became known as the beatitudes. This week we kick off a new series on the eight beatitudes titled #Blessed. On Sunday, we will learn what it means to be poor in spirit and discover three areas in life to depend on God and receive His blessings.
How can I respond when God makes no sense? I think we have three possible ways shown to us in the bible. Is there a correct way? I think the answer is YES, but it is not easy and at times it is not satisfying.
The cross is at the center of Christianity, but do we know what it really means? Do we understand what it actually accomplished? We talk about the cross and we wear crosses around our necks, but do we realize it has a unique, supernatural power to change our lives? In this message, we might discover that Jesus sacrifice’ accomplished more than we think, and we might find amazing benefits for our lives that flow from the cross.
The good news is that we don’t have to fear death. God offers us the promise of heaven and tells us about wonderful things to come. Many of us, though, wonder what heaven will be like. Will we be flying babies? Will it be boring? Will it be an eternity of singing? In this message we will separate truth from fiction and examine the amazing, incredible truths God tells us about heaven.
Many people today think the Bible is just a made-up book of fictional characters and stories. Over the years many historians have claimed that the events in the Bible didn’t happen. Is that true? Is the Bible fiction or is the Bible truth that we can build our lives upon? This week we will examine evidence for whether we can trust the Bible or not.
What is my purpose in life...Yikes, that is a deep question that many people are asking today. If you happen to Google this question there are thousands of blogs, websites and social media posts about this very topic. But what does God say? Tune in this Sunday as we look at this Crucial Question, What is the purpose of my life, and see what the Creator of life says about the purpose of life.
You know those nagging questions that seem to linger in the back of your mind about God? The ones you hesitate to ever speak out loud, or admit you have, or perhaps let anyone else know you think? Questions and doubts about God can be unsettling if they are left unspoken. We begin to think we are alone in our doubts about God, and often our doubts only grow until they paralyze our faith. But when we learn to admit our doubts openly, we learn that we are not alone —that everyone has doubts. And when we learn to live with doubt in a healthy way, doubt can be a tool that strengthens our faith.
Easter changes everything. And this year, everything has changed. Nothing will stop us from celebrating Jesus being alive!
Fear seems to be a constant companion as of late due to the pandemic of COVID-19. It’s always there under the surface and it can wear us down, so we live in a constant state of anxiety and worry. If we avoid this fear, it will start to erode our faith and purpose. The world will miss out on your unique God-given contribution to make a difference during this unprecedented time. This week we will learn from David how to live out courage and get through these difficult days together.
The impact of the coronavirus is enough to make anyone anxious and worried. Besides being a health risk, the threat of COVID-19 is affecting our jobs, kids, and general way of life. Is it even possible to have peace at a time like this? This week we will see that God offers us a peace that goes beyond human comprehension and discuss what steps we need to take to experience this supernatural peace.
No matter how smart we think we are, life is tricky. There are corners we can’t see around, there are challenges to great for us to overcome on our own. The good news is that there is one who is willing to lead us through it all…and He leads us well. Especially in times likes these, when we walk through the valley of darkness, we need a shepherd to lead us. In this message we will look at Psalm 23 and find peace in how Jesus promises to care for His sheep.
It’s common today for people to think they should never judge others and quote Jesus. But is that really what Jesus meant when He said, “Do not judge”? Without judging others, how can we make wise decisions about relationships, dating, and raising children. This week we will look at the context of Jesus’ statement and learn what we are not to do and what we absolutely must judge.
It’s popular today not to treat sin seriously. Even Christians find it easy to justify sin. We want to experience the promises of God, but we don’t want to deal with our sins. But what if by living in our sin, we’re missing out on experiencing more of God’s presence and power in our lives? In this message, we’ll look at two ways to battle against sin and temptation and walk in true life and freedom.
We all feel down at times. For some of us, it’s minor. For others it can be clinical. Elijah was one of the most famous prophets in the Bible often wavering between great faith and great fear, yet even he struggled with feeling low at times. In this message, we will challenge you to take some steps to overcome these feelings when facing doubt and depression.
Do you need to make any changes this year? Do you long to fix a problem or overcome a struggle? But now you realize what you’re up against—the barriers, pushback, and challenges. What if you turned it over to God and found a way to just take a first step?
Focus, we all need it. Struggle to find it. We buy planners, online tools to improve it, we even take classes on it. But as we head into 2020, how is our focus? Are we focusing on the right things? Life is distracting. We know that. But, lets take a little bit of time on Sunday to talk about Focusing on what matters most. See you Sunday!
Imagine having no more fear—fear of the future, of being alone, of not having enough money—but rock-solid faith. So often we let our fears overtake us, forgetting that God is bigger than our fears and can give us immeasurable peace. In this message we will see how even though we have troubles in this life, God will be with us and is worthy of our trust. Therefore, we don’t need to fear what’s outside of our control.
Let’s be honest, conflict with others happens. It might be with family, with a friend or someone at work or school. Conflict and criticism are never comfortable, and we don’t always know how to deal with them. In this message we will see what it truly means to handle conflict in a godly way and what it looks like to live at peace with others.
Busy is the norm – especially over Christmas. During this season you may often find yourself caught in a whirlwind of activity that doesn’t leave time for your spouse, your kids, your friends, or for God. But busyness leads to relational pain and emotional emptiness. In this message, we will learn how to choose a life with less speed and more fulfillment during the Christmas season.
There are 3.5 million people living in the Twin Cities. Statistics show that well over half don’t know the love of God! These are the same people you pass by in your neighborhood, at work or in a classroom. Every one of these individuals has a name and a story—and every story matters to God. This is why we do what we do as a church, to make Jesus known—one name, one story, one person at a time.
What if we pray and nothing happens? Sometimes God says no for reasons we don’t fully understand, but sometimes it is because there’s a step we need to take on our part. In this message we will study Israel’s victory at Jericho and what it takes to see God move.
The Bible is full of incredible promises, but there are conditions on our part. God will do amazing things in our life, church and community, but we must ask Him. What if we witnessed healing, helping and saving? In this message we will see that God is bigger than any challenge we face and what prayer is really about.
Jesus says our Father loves to give good gifts to those who ask. What would happen if we as a church started to pray for God to do miracles in our lives, families, church and community? In this message, we will examine the incredible power of prayer and steps we can take to be more intentional with prayer.
In the Bible, we read phrases like, “We are more than conquerors through Christ.” But, here’s the problem: What do I do when I feel more like a loser? If I am "made new,” why do I still struggle with the things of my old self? Be here this Sunday as we talk about how we can find victory through surrender.
What is your mind set on? What dominates your thoughts? Because according to Romans 8, whatever dominates your thoughts will determine where you go, what you do, and how you live. This week, we’ll dig into the battle of control of our minds and thoughts—a battle between sinful desires and the Holy Spirit. The outcome leads to life and peace or sin and death. The best part? We get to choose who wins.
When difficult, painful things happen, it can be hard to feel God’s love and goodness. But Romans 8:28 gives us a promise that can help us to have hope during times of hardship and suffering, that reminds us God has a purpose and a plan that is for our good. In this message, we will learn that even when we don’t know why something is happening, we can trust God with the outcome.
Is there a sin from your past you carry with you? If you belong to Christ, you are no longer defined by what you did wrong—you’re defined by what Christ did right! Jesus died on the cross so that you could live a new life free from shame and condemnation, but believing that can be a battle. In this message, we will unpack Romans 8:1 and how forgiveness is immediate and complete for those who belong to Jesus Christ.
We all have areas in our lives that we struggle with again and again—anger, losing control of our words, addiction, whatever. We know there’s a problem and that it’s hurting us, yet we can't seem to fix it. Come explore what it takes to defeat the sins that control us.
For believers, the old is gone and the new has come. We’ve been set free from sin, but does that really matter for our lives? And if it’s true that we’ve been set free, then why is it such a daily struggle? In this message we will look at what sin looks like in our lives and what we must decide if we desire more victory over sin.
When we place our faith in Christ, we are forgiven, made new, and freed from the power of sin. But if the old is gone, why do we still sin, then? And what does it mean to begin living as a new person? In the message we will answer these important questions for our lives and unpack how to live as the brand-new you—alive in Christ, dead to sin.
I don’t know if you need to be convinced of this, but relationships are hard. Sometimes they are downright messy. And while relationships can be very life giving, I am sure many of us have had moments where we have wanted things to change in our relationships. And we are not just talking romantic relationships, but relationships at large. So how can we have healthy relationships? What do they look like? Is it even possible?
God has a specific purpose and plan for your life. While we can’t always know what the specifics are, we can know some of the choices we need to make in order to fulfill our purpose. The question is whether you will make the right choices that help you discover what your purpose is. In this message, we will look at the life of Moses and see three key choices he made in order to live out God’s incredible plan.
Coasting in life doesn’t lead to life transformation. That’s why it’s imperative that we set goals for ourselves, because goals challenge us, stretch our faith, and give our lives direction. In this message we will discuss why goals are so important for people of faith and how to set goals that will change your life.
God cares about your mental health. Anxiety, jealousy, anger all begin with thoughts, and lies, that become strongholds in our minds. Transform your life by changing the way you think. In this message, we will look at five habits that can change your life from the inside out.
Because Jesus was raised from the dead, there is incredible hope for all of us. We have an eternal hope in heaven and a brand new future that can start now! Find out how this hope can change your life.
Have you ever been at a fork in the road and not known which road to take? Do you ever struggle to know what it is God wants you to do—what career path to take, where to live, how many kids to have? The Bible teaches that God will lead us, but in the moment it’s not always clear. This week we will discuss what to do when we’re not sure what to do.
One of the biggest mysteries of life is what happens after death. Do we float up to a cloud and start playing a harp? Do we just lie in the ground and cease to exist? Though God tells us that what He has prepared for us in heaven is beyond our imagination, the Bible also tells us some things we can expect in heaven. It’s truly a place you can be excited for. But heaven isn’t just an amazing, future reality; it has huge implications for us in the here and now.
The topic of Christ’s return has led to much speculation and confusion. Many people have predicted dates for Jesus’ second coming, but those days have come and gone. So is there evidence that Jesus will return, and if so, could He return soon? This week we will look at what the Bible says about Christ’s return and what that day means for all of us.
There are some aspects of Christianity that are difficult to grasp or even understand, even when explained—like the Holy Spirit. In this message, we will seek to better understand who the Holy Spirit is and how He works in the lives of believers to guide, protect, and empower us.
Ever wonder the point of worship? Why do we sing to God? Why do some people raise their hands while others close their eyes? In this message Pastor Brent will remind us what worship is all about and how the right attitude can elevate us over the troubles of this world and free us from every chain that holds us down.
We as human beings are often overwhelmed and fearful of approaching one another to seek wisdom and understanding on subjects of intimacy and importance. We flounder in the waters of difference and sink in the waters of otherness. The fear is, we will wound or be wounded, reject or be rejected on the journey to understanding others. But what if there was a way forward that could bring healing, wholeness and transformation? In John 4 Jesus shows us a way forward that that leads to a point of deep transformation. This Sunday we will walk on this journey with Jesus and the woman at the well to look at race and reconciliation in a way that will prayerfully provide us with a road map to do the same.
Lives are being changed at Edinbrook Church. It’s never been about being a bigger church, or being well known. It’s always been about leading one more person into a relationship with the God who loves them. This week Pastor Brent will challenge us to partner together in order to live-out the mission Jesus has given to Edinbrook Church.
As we wrap up our series Experiencing the Goodness of God, we will look at 2 Corinthians 13 where Paul tells us to examine ourselves. We will talk about how we do this. And in doing that we see that we can experience the greatest goodness of God - His Presence.
We all have weaknesses in our lives, things in our lives we wish we could change, perhaps even resent—too shy, don’t like our appearance, don’t have enough money, struggle with depression, have a disability. But what if God has a special, beneficial purpose for your weakness? In this message, Pastor Brent will show us how Christ’s power works through our weaknesses.
You ever notice how easy it is for our thoughts to spiral out of control? You make a mistake, and your mind tells you you’re hopeless; your girlfriend breaks-up with you, you must be unlovable; your boss wants to talk, you think you’re a failure. The battle to overcome negative and anxious thoughts and be at peace is fought squarely in the mind. In this message Pastor Brent will examine what it means to take every thought captive using the weapons of God so we can start winning the battle for the mind.
For many of us money is a constant struggle. We worry about it, argue over it, and wonder where it all went. But God doesn’t just want us to survive; God wants us to abound—not only in our finances, but in every area of life. In this message Pastor Brent will examine what God says about money so that we’ll be rich in every way.
In 2 Corinthians 5, the Apostle Paul says that in Christ we are a new creation. While this verse is encouraging, it also raises huge questions. If I’m a new creation, then why do I still have struggles? If I’m a new creation, why do I still sin? In this message Pastor Brent will teach us what changes in our relationship with Christ (and what doesn’t) and how to win the battle against the destructive desires and habits in our life.
Discouragement can be crippling, but it doesn’t have to keep us from experiencing God’s good plan for our lives. Paul was pressed in by all kinds of troubles but he didn’t lose heart. How? In this message Pastor Brent shows us how to persevere through discouragement so God’s awesome power can be seen through our weaknesses.
Though we don’t always know why we’re suffering, we can know that God is with us and that He will comfort us. The Apostle Paul suffered, but He also experienced God’s life-changing comfort in the midst of his great struggles. In this message Pastor Brent will show us how pain can be used for a greater purpose, and how God’s comfort can overflow out of our lives into the lives of others.
New Year, New You! Have you set your New Years Resolution? Maybe it is lose weight? Eat healthier? Maybe you want to learn a new hobby? New Year’s Resolutions are great, but they can’t make us new. There is only one way that we can be made new, and that is by a personal relationship with Jesus. He provided a way for us to be new people; not new in terms of an upgrade like on a phone or computer or new in the sense of a better version of ourselves. It’s new in the sense that a fundamental change has taken place at the core of who we are. Join us at Edinbrook this Sunday as we talk about what it means to be Made New.
How do we respond when life turns upside down—the betrayal of a loved one, or an unnerving medical diagnosis? Is it possible to have peace or hope when we enter the storms that shake us to our core? In this special Christmas message Pastor Brent Hall will unpack how Joseph reacted when he received life-changing news—it’s different from what we might think.
What is the Good News, and what can I do about it? The message of Christmas doesn’t have to be complicated; it’s a simple, powerful story. One of the key ways to experience God’s peace in your life is sharing the story with others. We will bring clarity to what the Good News is and how sharing this simple message can change someone’s life forever.
One thing is for sure, Americans are stressed out. Studies show that stress is at near-record levels in the US. Yet, the Bible says that Jesus came to bring peace on earth, a major theme of Christmas. So how do we experience the peace that Christ came to bring? This week we will look at God’s anti-stress recipe. The good news is that God promises to give us peace whatever our circumstances this Christmas season.
How can we have peace on earth when the news is riddled with stories that indicate a complete lack of peace between people? Our tendency is to gravitate towards people who look like us and have our same customs, but Jesus explicitly calls us to step outside of our comfort zones in order to bring people together for the sake of harmony and to give the world a picture of heaven. In this message we will see how the Gospel turns enemies into friends and how we can become peace-makers, bringing healing and restoration to the people around us.
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me…seriously? We all know this is far from the truth. Our words can do enormous good, but they can also inflict massive pain and damage. When someone is hurting, most of the time, somebody else’s words were on the other end of that. And over the holiday season, this seems to get amped up even more. Come learn how to take some steps to controlling your tongue over the stressful holiday season.
When many of us first start following Christ, we start our spiritual journey on fire for God. But there is a battle to keep that flame fueled. How are you doing spiritually? Are you currently passionate about your relationship with God? Has it been awhile since you felt fully alive in Christ? This week we will discuss the problem of atrophy and steps we can take to be engaged and enthusiastic in our faith, so that we can experience radical peace and joy.
Nothing is more overwhelming in life than finacial debt and pressures. The good news is that God can bless us with financial margin in our lives so that we can be financially secure and able to bless others. It’s true! But we have to learn from and trust Him. This week we will look at five crucial components for financial peace.
God wants us to experience peace, what the Bible calls Shaloam. Nothing disrupts Shaloam like fear. We must learn how to simplify our hearts from fear and worry in order to be at peace. This week we will look at the difference between contructive and destructive fears and steps we can take towards an abiding peace.
I’m overscheduled. I don’t have time. I’m too busy. Sound familiar? Our culture has made over-extending ourselves completely normal. What’s worse is we typically blame it on others or our circumstances. However, we have control over how we spend our time. This week we will look at what the Bible says about planning our time well so we can say no to less important things and yes to the most important things.
It’s so easy to compare ourselves with others and become discontent with who we are and what we have. But this is a heart issue that has to be resolved. No matter how much we get, if we don’t simplify our hearts, we’ll never be happy and we’ll continue chasing after more, complicating our lives in the process. The good news is that God teaches us a better way to live. In this message we’ll explore the problems of chasing after more and learn how to choose happiness and peace starting today.
Ever feel stressed-out and running on empty? Many of us feel overwhelmed with our to-do lists, activities and jobs. But God teaches us how to live so that we can have freedom in our relationship with Him and others. God gives us good, helpful, practical wisdom for slowing down, but we have to trust Him in the process. This week we’ll talk about the emotional, spiritual and physical dangers of always being in a hurry and what we need to learn so we can enjoy life!