Thief River Falls Free Church Messages: Recent Episodes
Kevin MacLean
Listen to messages from the Free Church in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. We exist to cultivate followers of Christ among all peoples. Learn more at trfefc.org!
As we engage the culture and the community around us, we must be careful to not copy what culture is doing around us and remain distinct as the people of God. This sermon uses 1 Samuel 12:12-15 and 19-25 as the main text.
There are no leftover pieces with God. When we demean our own gifts and look with envy on the gifts of others, we're saying that we think God has given us something beneath us. Everything God gives is essential to the body of Christ.
in an age of depression and anxiety, we need each other more than ever as a family. And the Spirit does an incredible work of reminding us of our heavenly family, and our value in it.
Pastor Kevin MacLean takes us through the end of Luke 24, where Jesus restores and commissions His Disciples.
Your perception of reality can be shaped by how you imagine the world should be. Are your perceptions formed by the Bible?
If Jesus did not rise from the dead, that would mean our sin would not be forgiven. That would mean that there maybe really isn't a God, and maybe there isn't a heaven and hell. But it is true. Jesus did rise from the dead, and we are here because of that fact.
Pastor Kevin MacLean takes us through the Passover with Jesus and Judas' Betrayal, found in Luke 22.
Jesus reminds us that we will know when the end is near. Pastor Kevin reminds us that wondering about the details and when the end will come is not nearly as important as being ready for it.
In this sermon, Jonah delves into the profound message behind the expression "putting your money where your mouth is" and how it aligns with Christian stewardship. Drawing from Luke 20:45-47 and 2 Corinthians 9:7, we'll explore three themes: the Cheapness of the Rich, the Charity of the Widow, and the Cheerfulness of the Christian. As believers, we are challenged to emulate the widow's radical generosity and unwavering trust in God, recognizing that our ultimate treasure lies not in material possessions, but in our inheritance in Christ. With heartfelt cheerfulness and a deep understanding of our spiritual wealth, we must live lives of extravagant giving and wholehearted devotion to God, knowing that in Christ, we possess a treasure beyond measure.
We need to recognize Jesus as the ultimate authority in our lives. Pastor Kent teaches from Luke 20:27-47
Pastor Kevin delves into a passage from Luke chapter 20 where Jesus faces a calculated trap set by the religious leaders seeking to incriminate him. They flatter Jesus, hoping to catch him in his words, but Jesus perceives their deceitfulness.Jesus responds by acknowledging the authority of government and instructing to give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, while also emphasizing the importance of giving to God what belongs to God. This prompts reflection on the responsibilities towards both earthly authorities and God.
Jesus is our Lord, our ultimate authority, and we are his people, his submissive servants. And this church is a community that submits to his authority and carries it with us when we proclaim to our city the gospel and serve those who are lost. Will you submit and serve this day?
Jesus is on a mission: He's moving towards the cross. Join Pastor Kevin as we study Luke 19:28-48.
Christians must be ready for the Lord's return. Complacency and wickedness are not characteristic of a faithful stewardship of the gospel. There will be consequences for the unfaithful, but how wonderful will it be for those who walk in light of their Savior's return.
Dan Moose from the EFCA North Central District joins us this morning to share from Luke chapter 10.
Coming down off the mountain is harder than you think. This is what Jesus' disciples found in Luke 9:37-50 and it's a lesson for us today too. Faith is thrilling on the mountaintops of life, but it's in the valleys and on the switchbacks where we grow.
Jesus encounters two people in desperate need of him. Jesus first encounters a father whose only daughter is dying. Jesus agrees to come with him, but encounters a woman desperate to be healed. She is healed and her faith in Jesus restores her peace too. The daughter dies before Jesus gets there, but have no fear Jesus raises her back to life. Two daughters are healed by one faithful savior named Jesus!
Simon Peter's day begins after a fruitless night of fishing. Jesus, followed by a crowd, requests the use of his boat to teach the people God's Word. When he is finished, Jesus tells Simon Peter to set out deep for a catch. Peter reluctantly agrees and his life would never be the same.
Jesus ministers in Capernaum and his authority and power are heard in his preaching and seen in his exorcising of demons and his healing touch. All that he does is for the purpose of preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus' earthly ministry finally begins and our passage for this week highlights his mission, as foretold by the prophet Isaiah almost 800 years prior. Jesus' mission is a ministry of proclaiming the good news of God's favor. But such news can only be believed by faith. Sadly, some will take offense.
As foretold by the prophet Isaiah, God sends John to the wilderness to prepare a people for his Son, Jesus. John preaches a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, because personal repentance is what is follows salvation from God's wrath. And true repentance bears visible fruit and follows Christ Jesus exclusively. And yet, John's incarceration reminds us that the good news has deadly consequences.
Jesus submitted to his earthly parents as a developing human would. Hesubmitted to his heavenly father as the Son would. He took on our flesh; hebecame us.
At a point in history when Roman Caesars ruled the earth, God's plan of redemption has entered into its final chapter. And so the virgin Mary gives birth to her firstborn son, Jesus, who is 'God with us.' The setting is humble but the angelic announcement is royal. The welcome party is meager, but the good news is glorious. And yet only some shepherds, Mary and Joseph know that Christ the Lord is born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Peace has come to earth for those who will receive and believe.
We often think of the task of missions as something we must do or something we should support in prayer and finances. And that is true. But this view of missions has a serious gap - it omits the role of God. Our God is a God of mission who invites us to join him in his mission to redeem his creation.
In the end, all of us are called to be stewards of the money and material possessions the Lord entrusts to us. The consequences are dire if we are not good stewards, but if we are faithful, the rewards last forever!
We close our time in 2 Samuel being candidly reminded that David is a human king in need of the King of King's forgiveness. He is deeply flawed and eternally dependent on God's mercy, just as we are. David, both in his life and in his lineage, points to Christ, our Savior and King Eternal, because in the end, it's God's mercy that counts!
God is still using David, even when he is close to his end, by speaking through him about the promise of Christ the king.
As Sheba attempts to lead the northern tribes in secession David fears this could be the end of united Israel. Despite less than godly leadership, the Lord preserves Israel. The Lord's covenant with his people is through King David, making this a heritage worth saving.
Chapter 19 continues with the return of the king, the Lord’s anointed. David’s journey to Jerusalem is marred by political conflict among the tribes and marked by three conversations along the way. We’ll see an enemy pardoned, hear a friend rewarded, and witness a servant’s heart for his king.
David’s double agent, Hushai, was accepted into Absalom’s service. What seems like dumb luck turns out to be divine providence, as Absalom chooses to follow Hushai’s counsel and not Ahithophel’s far better strategy. The result is the latter’s demise and David’s deliverance. As if adding to the bounty, David and his retinue are blessed with a feast before the big battle. Why? Well, it’s simple: the Lord will not let his kingdom fail.
Last week we watched David and his household and warriors flee Jerusalem, ascending the mount of Olives heavy with grief. And yet, there was still glimmers of hope as three friends showed their faithfulness. This week, we find David descending the Mount of Olives while being cursed, falsely accused, and dodging stones as they are thrown at him. David’s faith, that the Lord may still bless him though he has sinned greatly, is an incredible example to us all. Though David walks through the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord is still with him.
It's possible to mistake winsomeness, that which is appealing, for wisdom, that which fears the Lord. 2 Samuel Chapter 14 will find David following winsome council, and this council will bring about Absalom's return and restoration. And what will unfold in Chapter 15 and following will be nothing short of disastrous.
The Lord pronounced judgment on David for his murder of Uriah and his conquest of Bathsheba in chapter 12. This Sunday in 2 Samuel begins the terrible realization of this judgment with the rape of David's daughter and the kin-slaying of his son. In short, chapter 13 reveals a travesty of love and justice.