Petra Podcast: Recent Episodes
Petra Church
Just like a vine needs a trellis, we also need relational habits that help us develop our relationship with God.
Sometimes God calls us to be faithful to our commitments despite life's obstacles, so join us for this message, "Growing in Faithful Love," as Pastor Brian Flewelling takes a look at Nehemiah.
We honor the Sanctity of Human Life and how God created everyone in his divine image, no matter where life's journey has taken you. This year, Pastor Brian Coles will share some thoughts on human life in his message titled, "You are the Temple of the Holy Spirit."
Join us for Pastor Brian Coles' message, "Prayer and Fasting" to lead us into our Church-Wide Fast.
Pastor Brian Flewelling's message "Abide" kicks off the New Year by introducing our year's theme.
Our Year In Review Sunday with a message from Pastor Lester Zimmerman on reading and studying Scripture.
Join us for a unique Christmas experience as we see the justice of Jesus working in our hearts and our society.
God's nature is to meet people where they are and guide them to where they need to go. Hear more about our King's virtues in Pastor Brian Coles' message and the third part of our Advent Series, "His Gift of Humility."
Find out the greatest mistaken assumption about self-control and why Jesus’ way is so much more effective.
Lead Pastor Brian Coles, in his message "Dreaming Forward," discusses next year's church-wide theme, Abide. He also outlines the five practical initiatives he believes the Lord is calling the church to.
When Mary anointed Jesus’ feet she showed us that the extravagant worship of an undivided heart is still the most dangerous devotion on the planet.
God created governmental authorities to serve his purposes and the Scriptures provide wisdom for navigating these contentious political moments.
Exploring how our faith and trust in God grow through the tests we face and through the praises we sing.
A note about this sermon: This message was delivered by a pastor who lives in a country where Christianity faces hostility. For his protection, this message is not available online and was not livestreamed. The scripture and sermon points have been included.
In the middle of the storm, God gives us a compass to orient us, and these two practical steps to guide us.
Lead Pastor Brian Coles brings us a message on prayer and how crucial it is to every situation.
Have you ever found yourself in a desperate and undefined situation? This Sunday, we dive into our 6-week series Uncharted: Trusting God in Difficult Times, where we’ll discover the guiding principles God used to lead the children of Israel through the Red Sea and wilderness and into their promise land.
Lead Pastor Brian Coles brings us a message on how generosity is not just an action but a lifestyle.
As we're gearing up for Fall Groups, we thought it would be timely for Pastor Matt Kauffman to give us a deeper understanding of the importance of small groups and of doing life with those around us!
To wrap up our Gospel of John series, we focus on John Chapter 5 and explore the deeper meaning of the physical healing that happens in this story!
Garry and his wife, Melissa, both came out of the LGBTQ world to follow Jesus and are passionate about sharing what God has done in their lives! He shares part of his own journey with a focus on commitment to genuine community.
Founding Pastor Lester Zimmerman brings the message as we dive into John Chapter 10, where Jesus describes himself as a good shepherd, and we are described as his sheep.
We begin our new summer series with two of the most significant miracles Jesus performs!
Sometimes, God’s love is something we rest in and receive, and sometimes, it provokes us to action!
Once a year, we set apart a Sunday in June to honor the next generation. Student Ministries Pastor Nacho Barrera brings the message and a few of our youth share their testimonies!
Celebrating and honoring all dads as Lead Pastor Brian Coles brings us a special Father's Day message!
Pastor Brian Flewelling reminds us of a very simple prayer that will change your life and someone else's!
It's First Responders Sunday! One Sunday a year we recognize and honor all First Responders who serve as firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement officers, active military and National Guard members, and others who respond to emergencies for their courage, commitment, and extraordinary service to our community!
How our choices in our thoughts, words, and actions will bring about extraordinary change for the kingdom of God!
Our Student Ministries Pastors and non-resident Missionaries, Nacho & Merrilee Barrera, bring the message as we hear what it means to Freely Receive and Freely Give in the Mission Field.
Pastor Tracy Coles encourages our moms with a special message about keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus!
Pastor Brian Flewelling brings us a message on how to avoid the three shortcuts of the tempter as we learn what Jesus did and how we can apply it to our lives today.
We are starting a new series called "FATAL." Throughout this three-part series, we'll discuss some common pitfalls and warn you of their traps so you don't find yourself on the road to destruction. In this message, Pastor Brian Flewelling presents three things that will sabotage your faith if you fall in love with them.
This week's focus is on listening and what it means to truly listen to those you do life with!
Did you know your relationship with Christ directly impacts your relationship with those around you? This Sunday, we discuss how we are better in community than we are by ourselves.
It's Easter Sunday! Lead Pastor Brian Coles brings us a reflective message that reminds us what Easter is truly about.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus walked into the city as the victorious liberator of his people. Today, we’ll discover how to walk in the freedoms he paid on the cross.
It's Baptism Sunday! Join us in celebration as 16 brothers & sisters in Christ take the next step on their spiritual journey by making a public declaration to live for Jesus! Lead Pastor Brian Coles also brings us an impactful message.
Why does God give us spiritual gifts, and how can we learn to practice them in healthy ways?
How can we partner with the Holy Spirit to build God's kingdom in the specific ways each day requires?
God doesn’t just use our feet; he uses our words to share the gospel. We'll dive into part 4 of our Empowered Series as we uncover three simple ways you can share the gospel.
We've discussed what a transformational mindset looks like, but how can we make it a transformational habit?
The Holy Spirit gives us access to all God’s resources, but how do we partner with him?
We can approach empowerment from a place of rest and trust. Empowerment is not just about accomplishing things for God. It’s about learning to rest in him and having him accomplish things through us.
If we want to be a church that continues to build God’s Kingdom around the world, we should learn the secret sauce.
Pastor Brian Coles leads us into a conversation on how to cast vision for our lives in 2024 as we align our goals and dreams with the one who created us!
Let's take a look back at 2023 and celebrate all that God has done through our ministry here at Petra Church!
Lead Pastor Brian Coles wraps up our Gift series with a timely message about how Jesus's presence is our Greatest Gift!
While celebrating Jesus’ salvation, we discover that our condition is worse than we think and better than we know.
Philippians 4 is a powerful chapter, but how does it tie in with my willingness to worship?
Here are some practical tools to help anyone read and understand the Bible and connect to God in the truths it communicates.
Brian Coles kicks off our new three-part series, My Morning Devos, where we discuss practical ways you can connect to the Father, the importance of prayer, how to interpret God's word, methods, resources, and strategies that work for those in our community.
Pastors Lester Zimmerman and Brian Coles take us on a trip down memory lane as we reflect on 40 years of ministry here at Petra Church!
Lead Pastor Brian Coles wraps up our Called series with a message that focuses on an excerpt from Zechariah 4:6, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord.
Lead Pastor Brian Coles brings us a really important message on how to heal from unhealthy leaders.
These parenting habits can be the same for biological or spiritual children. Practicing them will help you raise both in a way that’s healthy.
The next generation is in need of spiritual mothers and fathers who will encourage, support, and disciple them. Will you answer the call?
Personal needs can create anxiety, but if we call on the Lord, they can be opportunities to see his provision.
David was the symbol of Israel, a foreshadowing of the Messiah, and is a model for us today. Here’s what we learn from him.
Pastor Brian Flewelling and Worship Director, Crystal Martin, take the stage to bring us a message on the most important King in His Kingdom.
Founding Pastor Lester Zimmerman takes the stage and brings us Part 6 of our 1 Samuel Series with a word on how to demonstrate kindness to those who make our lives difficult.
The son of Saul may be one of the most underrated people in the Bible. Here’s how his faith provokes us to lead and love.
Student Ministries Pastor Nacho Barrera helps us to understand King David, his life, and our Father's redemptive power.
How do we raise our children to become disciples who are purely devoted to God as they steer clear of corruption? Hannah chose the Nazarite option.
Through Hannah's story, we can see so much of our own struggles with unfulfilled dreams and inter-relational conflict. How did she come out thriving in the end?
Student Ministries Sunday is a Sunday we set apart to honor the next generation. Student Ministries Pastor Nacho Barrera will take the stage with a few of our youth, who will share their testimonies!
God wants us to reimagine our relationship with him. He is constantly pursuing us, but are we really doing what we can to also pursue him?
First Responders Appreciation Day is for both Petra and community members who serve as firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement officers, active military and National Guard members, and others who respond to emergency situations. Founding Pastor Lester Zimmerman and First Responders answer the question, "Why do you do what you do?"
Pastor Brian Flewelling brings us a special message that focuses on how we can distinguish God's gentle whisper from the noise of the world through Elijah's encounter with God.
We celebrate all kinds of moms in honor of Mother's Day and our very own Ben (Counseling Ministry Director) & Marci (Lifespring Ministry Leader) Dodd bring the message.
The Tower of Babel was a monument to humanism that stood in the way of God’s plans for humanity. How do we recognize and choose to live in God’s Kingdom instead of modern-day Babel?
As our culture slides away from God, here are a few helpful pointers to recognize where culture is going off the rails and how we can choose not to follow it.
Let's face it, our culture can be TOXIC! Every day we are flooded with false promises, loud opinions, lies, temptations, and so much more! If we allow ourselves to be overtaken by the negativity of this world, it will lead us to anxiety, guilt, victimization, and perversion. So how exactly do we break out of the toxicity?
The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus are overwhelmingly verified as historical facts, but something is missing. Lead Pastor Brian Coles uncovers what this is in this special Easter Message.
In this message, we look at Matthew Chapter 9 to learn more about how we can trust the Lordship of our Father.
We will take a look at what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, to be obedient to his word, and how Jesus is a fulfillment of the law of Moses with a message from Pastor Brian Flewelling.
What does it look like to live in God's Kingdom daily? Lead Pastor Brian Coles answers this question and more.
Pastor Brian Flewelling will close this series with a message on how healing happens when you learn to bring "this specific thing" to God.
“God is a Savior” is a central theme in scripture, but what exactly does it mean to be saved, and how can I be sure I'm saved? Pastor Brian Flewelling answers these questions and more.
Lead Pastor Brian Coles provides tips on how to remain unshaken in a life of shakable circumstances.
There's one thing that can make the difference between constant discouragement and unshakeable confidence. Pastor Brian Flewelling gives us the answer to what that one thing is.
This series will help us understand how life has taught us to fend for ourselves and how our self-protection and self-comfort actually keeps us from connecting to God’s friendship and provision. Throughout this series we will learn how to rely on God and openly receive his protection, hope, security, deliverance, approval, and comfort.
From conception to the day we are called home, our lives hold so much meaning and value. This year, we are excited to announce that we will have a special Q&A Panel with Petra members Kevin Esh and Lisa Troncale as they share God's Heart for Foster Care and Adoption.
Join us as we continue the conversation on how to cast vision for our lives in 2023 as we align our dreams and goals with the one who created us!
Lead Pastor Brian Coles rolls out the direction God is leading Petra Church for 2023 with a message titled "God is our Refuge." We will look at what God is teaching us about himself and how his character will equip us to walk out a purposeful and powerful 2023.
Throughout the next 4 weeks, we will discover new ways we can create space for God to work in all aspects of our lives as we increase our faith and find new hope in him.
Lead Pastor Brian Coles continues our three-part series, The Path, with a message titled "The Art of Persuasion."
Love is predetermined to help you take steps forward no matter how many steps you’ve taken backward.
Pastor Brian Coles gives us practical tools to practice relationships and living in Community.
God’s words carry God’s truths, and these six analogies will help us tap into its many useful purposes.
How do we experience the fullness of Jesus in Christian community? Here are a few suggestions:
What is the purpose of our lives? What are we truly destined for? What is holiness and how is it displayed?
Your body is a sacred instrument of God's love, character, and worship; is it telling the truth about him?
God is equipping us to be rulers of today so we can raise powerful godly children who will solve the problems of tomorrow.
Daniel played an interesting role in Ezekiel's ministry as God gave him knowledge and understanding beyond his years. We take a look at Daniel’s life and how the community he surrounded himself with elevated his giftings.
Senior Pastor Brian Coles shares Part 3 of our Ezekiel Series with a message titled "Dead Things to Life."
Sin has destroyed families and nations in the past and continues to do so today. Our study of Ezekiel will help us understand how brokenness welcomes transformation and new encounters with God as he promises to deliver us from evil.
Student Ministries Pastor Nacho Barrera brings a message along with testimonies from high school students.
Lead Pastor Brian Coles brings a special sermon that celebrates fathers and recaps our 2022 VBS.
Founding Pastor Lester Zimmerman addresses the need for mental and emotional – as well as spiritual and physical – health for all those who carry an unusual burden of stress and trauma.
When we get injured, we see a doctor. But when life hurts like crazy, we don’t always know where to go or how to heal.
Sharing your faith is easy to do when you can answer "Why I Love Jesus". Join us as Pastor Tracy Coles shares the heart behind Local Missions at Petra.
Two women were used by God to raise world changers. How do we learn from their example and help the next generation go further faster?
Lead Pastor Brian Coles wraps up our message series with the question: Are you living your life for today, or for eternity?
How do we learn to invite the Holy Spirit into a life of partnership, and to fully realize Jesus’ dreams of a kingdom?
Kevin Graves shares Part 2 of our This Side of Heaven Series with a message called “Elijah and the Still Small Voice.” Kevin is the Director of Target Ministries, a ministry focused on sharing the Good News among unreached people groups in Asia.
Jesus and Nicodemus, the religious conservative, have two different opinions about where we’re going and how to get there. Both want to see God’s kingdom come to earth. Join us as Pastor Brian Flewelling shares Jesus’ perspective in a message called “Living in the Spirit."
Founding Pastor Lester Zimmerman shares about having the courage to stand for your convictions in a culture of compromise. Will we be faithful in our generation?
Join us as Lead Pastor Brian Coles shares how, through the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can offer our bodies, renew our minds, and surrender our wills to become “Vessels of Honor.” We will also celebrate water baptism this Sunday!
We typically associate surrender with defeat. Giving up control of our life to Jesus, however, is the beginning of true freedom!
Brian Flewelling shares Part 2 of our FREEDOM Series with a message called "Following the Right Voice." We'll be looking at God's chiropractic adjustment that brings alignment to our lives.
Lead Pastor Brian Coles will be kicks off a seven-week teaching series called FREEDOM with a message called “The Tree of Life.” This series will help us embrace the truth of God’s Word as it relates to our worldview, our past, our sin, our personal value to God, and our purpose in his Kingdom. Join us in this journey to emotional, relational, and spiritual freedom!
Karen Ellison, president of Deeper Still Ministries, has served in the area of post-abortion healing for many years, and out of that founded Deeper Still, a weekend retreat designed to bring healing and lasting freedom to abortion-wounded women and men.
Learn how to exercise the muscle of saying “no” to certain things in order to say “yes” to better things.
Waiting can be difficult. Two witnesses of Jesus help us to learn that God is in the waiting.
This is the first message in our Christmas series called, “Joy to the world”; Where we focus our attention on recapturing the joy of the eyewitnesses of Jesus birth, life, and ministry.
Celebrate as 26 brothers and sisters in the Lord are baptized - the largest baptism in Petra's history!
Hear two different stories of someone being “locked out,” and their journey back into wholeness.
Guest speaker Pastor John Boateng shares a message based on the story of Joseph in Genesis 39. Pastor Boateng is Apostolic Leader of the Grace Charismatic Ministries Network in Accra, Ghana.
Alone you may not get there at all. Together we’ll get there stronger than before we started. So what made the difference?
The Essentials series will focus on the values, passions, and convictions that bring us together at Petra. Pastor Brian Coles sets the foundation with a message called "Devotion to Jesus."
When Jacob’s life comes to a crisis point in Genesis 32, we learn what it means to take hold of God’s promises.
Founding Pastor Lester Zimmerman shares God’s plan from Genesis 12-17 to bring salvation to the human race.
What happens when you begin listening to another voice, listening to your own voice and not the voice of God?
We often have complicated relationships with our authorities. Nations, like ours, rise and fall based on how we practice four Biblical principles.
Every warrior needs armor. Pastor Brian Coles concludes our Ephesians study by examining Ephesians 6.
Three questions will help you practice the love of Jesus in your everyday relationships.
In the shadow of the Ephesian temple to Artemis, God delivers a shocking promise to the Ephesian churches.
The vision of our Local Outreach Ministry is to share the love of God by serving Lancaster County. Pastor Tracy Coles shares how we connect to local ministries to combat poverty, homelessness, addictions, sexual identity issues, and abortion.
Kristina Flewelling will be shares on "Grace for Every Season" followed by a panel of four moms from different stages of motherhood. The panelists are: Crystal Martin, Marci Dodd, Sharon Zimmerman, and Lisa Troncale.
What tool do you grab for in a crucial conversation where the stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong – violence, silence, or dialogue?
In construction, people know the value of having the right tool. If you need to tighten a loose screw, for example, you grab a screwdriver or – better yet – a drill. The question is: In relationships, when you're faced with conflict, what tools do you reach for?
The universe is filled with evidence. What does the evidence of human consciousness, free will, and moral law communicate about God, society, and personal meaning?
The Universe is filled with evidence. How is it pointing toward design rather than randomness, and what does that mean for us?
Welcome to Petra Church as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are so grateful to celebrate the new life and freedom that we have in Jesus.
Jesus is about to enter Jerusalem as a triumphant hero but we're left asking the question, hero of what?
Baptism is not a one-time event in water, but baptism needs to be a daily reminder of the gospel and how we can daily follow Jesus!
This is our last message in our series called “He Loves Me.” Today’s message brings this entire series full circle in a very important way. It is different because it speaks to the final goal of the healing journey. The goal is to become a healed healer.
As a third-generation pastor, Nick Stumbo observed first-hand the fallout of sexual brokenness and devastation in the lives of men and women in the church.
After facing his own addiction to pornography, Nick and his wife, Michelle, found hope and healing through the counseling and group ministries of Pure Desire. It radically changed their lives! His public disclosure to his church body led to much forgiveness and healing and the launch of Pure Desire groups for men and women.
Today, as the Executive Director of Pure Desire, Nick continues to believe that the church can become a place of healing. He is the author of Setting Us Free and Safe: Creating a Culture of Grace in a Climate of Shame.
Nick lives in Oregon with his wife and four children.
Lead Pastor Brian Coles speaks of letting go of offenses in our lives. This is the fourth message in our powerful series, "He Loves Me".
Join Pastor Brian Flewelling and guest ministers Barry & Sandra Falkenstine as they have a conversation about the emotional lies we’ve believed, how to identify them, and how to break free of them.
Pastor Brian invites you to learn more about the Lifespring Counseling Department that partners with Petra.
Pastor Brian Coles starts our new series, "He Loves Me: An Invitation to God's Healing Journey" with a message on the Father's love for us.
What are the four prayers the Apostle Paul says are of primary importance to all people coming to salvation?
With a new career comes a new wardrobe. Find out what equipment the Lord gives you to pray as his priests on the earth.
Pastor Brian Coles introduces our 2021 Theme, "Declaring God's Goodness" with a message based on our mission: Empowered by God to bring Jesus' Love, Healing and Hope to the world.
Dave Hess speaks of a new day in the life of Petra Church. As the leadership of Petra transitions to New Lead Pastor Brian Coles.
Pastor Brian Coles closes the Advent Series with a message on the Father's Love. Merry Christmas!
This Advent season, learn how to dial down the joy killers, and dial into the Joy Giver.
Pastor Lester Zimmerman shares seven steps to freedom from guilt and shame in a message called "The God of New Beginnings."
Join us as Jodi Seidler, daughter of Pastor Lester & Erma's daughter, shares about growing up at Petra and building a meaningful legacy.
Pastor Brian Coles wraps up the "Daring Faith" series with a powerful message of waiting for answers from the Lord.
Pastor Lester talks about how to face our fears with a daring faith. We look at the story of three obscure women in the bible as examples of daring courageous faith.
In life of faith we take initiative. Pastor Brian challenges us to stop thinking about our faith and start doing in Week 4 of the Daring Faith series.
Life experiences lead us to assumptions about how to live, but God wants to march us off our maps into all-new territory in three key areas.
Join us for Week 2 of our series called "Daring Faith", Expect the best in your life of Faith in the Lord.
Join us for Week 1 of our series called "Daring Faith", as we discover how to Build a Life of Faith.
Today we wrap up the series on the book of Ecclesiastes. We will discover some great nuggets of wisdom and Solomon’s final conclusion of the two most important truths to live by.
This is the second of a three part series on the book of Ecclesiastes. Pastor Brian Flewelling encourages us to find the balance between enjoying your journey and fulfilling your mission.
This is the first of a three part series on the book of Ecclesiastes. King Solomon takes us on a journey to discover the meaning of life. He writes from the perspective of what it is like trying to find meaning in life without God. Without God at the center, everything is meaningless. But with God life is full of purpose.
The more we live connected with the Holy Spirit, the more we can move in his power. In this sermon we’ll explore his gifts of Faith, Healing, and Miracles.
Pastor Lester kicks off a new series on spiritual gifts. In this message he explains the amazing and practical way the Word of Knowledge, Word of Wisdom, and Distinguishing Between Spirits operate in our lives.
Join us for James Chapter 5, as guest speaker Rob Heagy teaches on Possessions, Perseverance. and Prayer
Pastor Lester continues the message series on the book of James In chapter four James identifies the root issue of many of our problems and then gives us the cure on how we can overcome, resist the devil and walk in God's grace.
Join us for James Chapter 3 as Pastor Brian Coles teaches us to tame the tongue and sound like Jesus.
Join us for James Chapter 2, as Pastor Brian Coles walks us through verse by verse the teaching of James. Favoritism and Faith
In the opening chapter of James he helps answer the question, how do you become all that God dreams you could be?
Happy Father's Day! Join us as Pastor Brian Coles talks about the great invitation of Father God!
When you stand before Jesus, how does He see you? What does He do to the accuser and show His love to us?
Pastor Lester discusses the difference Jesus makes in our lives and in how we respond to the crisis swirling around us. As followers of Jesus we should respond differently than the world because Jesus has renewed our minds and given us a new heart of love.
On this anniversary of Pentecost we are reminding you that you live in the age of the impossible.
Welcome! Join us as Pastor Brian Coles teaches on the importance of staying together during this challenging time by imitating Jesus. Be Blessed!
Galen Burkholder shares a message on Missions in this unique time of our lives. How God is moving around the world.
Being a mom can feel overwhelming at times. Listen in as Kristina Flewelling and Tracy Coles – with their husbands – answer questions, share their insights about what moms are struggling with, and share how the Lord wants to encourage moms in the journey.
During this time of isolation, disruption and uncertainty anxiety can easily over take us. In this message Pastor Lester shares some helpful insights on overcoming anxiety in our lives.
Uncluttered - Making Space: What is clutter? How do I know if something in my life should stay or go? Join us as Pastor Brian Coles walks us through this messy idea of living “Uncluttered”.
What is God doing in the middle of this is global shutdown, and how should we prepare ourselves for reentry?
Happy Easter!! Join us in worship and a message from Pastor Brian Coles as we celebrate this important day! The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single most important event in history. God Bless!
In this Palm Sunday message we draw encouragement from the life of the disciples as their world was turned upside down into chaos, confusion and discouragement. We learn the importance of paying attention to our soul in these times.
Welcome to Petra! Join us as we discover how to “Make the most of every opportunity”. As Pastor Brian Coles unpacks this meaningful phrase from the Apostles Paul, we learn three important lessons to navigating our lives Intentionality, Wisdom and Thankfulness. Be Blessed!!!
Pastor Brian Coles helps us look at Accountability a little differently as we wrap up our TRUE-ish series.
Pastor Brian Flewelling asks, "Are we falling into the trap of the performance culture, or can we hear God redefining what it means to be truly significance?" in the 5th message of or TRUE-ish series.
Jesus also gave us a test to use to determine if a person, group or particular teaching is true or True-ish. It is The Fruit Test. What is the spiritual fruit in those that espouse a particular teaching? What fruit does it produce in their followers? Pastor Lester brings Part 4 of the TRUEish message series.
Discover the lies our culture tells us about the Church, and the truth of about why God loves the Church so much.
Pastor Brian gives us tips on how to read and interpret the scriptures in the 2nd message of the TRUEish series.
Pastor Lester introduces a new series called TRUEish. Our world is filled with half truths and partial lies. Even in the church we have teachings that are TRUEish. Partially true but mixed with unbiblical ideas. This series gives us ways to test and discern what we are hearing. Todays test is the Authority of the Bible.
In this message from Pastor Brian Flewelling, we reexamine our relationship to money by looking at a story from the life of Abraham—our father of faith.
Lester Zimmerman, Stephanie Hubach, Darrell and Betty Eberly share how we can become more aware and more embracing of those with disabilities as a valued part of the church family.
Pastor Lester Zimmerman wraps up our series called “God Speaks. The greatest way God has spoken to humanity is through his son, Jesus. Merry Christmas!
Pastor Brian Flewelling shares the fourth message in our "God Speaks" series. These lessons from four nativity scriptures will help unlock the power, the preparedness, and persistence to see God move in our day and our time.
Pastor Lester shares the second message in our series "God Speaks". We look at how God has spoken to humanity through the ages and how he is still speaking to us today.
Pastor Brian Coles opens our new Christmas series; “God Speaks.” We are excited to take some time over the next few weeks to remind ourselves about the true meaning of Christmas. That Christmas is about God speaking to humanity through his son. God the Father speaking life and hope in the promised Messiah Jesus.
Pastor Lester shares the final message of the “He Loves Me” series. Seeing ourselves as God sees us is key to a healthy identity. This message explores our great worth and value as sons and daughters of God.
We need to be able to see ourselves as God sees us, not as we see ourselves. We’ll talk about God’s perspective of forgiveness; his delight in those who love him; and what golden retrievers teach us about God.
Join us as we start a brand new series called “He Loves Me”. Listen in as Pastor Brian Coles shows us that through the power of the gospel we are free from the oppression of rejection because we are “Fully Accepted”. God Bless You!!
Rob Heagy wraps up our "Life on Mission" message series, looking at how prayer ties into the work of evangelism in our lives.
In today’s message Pastor Lester shares about our mission to make disciples. Helping people become fully devoted followers of Jesus. Whether we are a parent, teacher, leader or friend we have the mission assignment of not only leading people to faith in Jesus but also helping people understand what it means to follow Jesus.
Have you often felt inadequate in steering people towards Jesus? Pastor Brian Flewelling will give us a playbook that helps move people down the field towards Jesus, and into the endzone.
This week Pastor Lester shares that our mission is not just telling the world that God loves them but showing the world God loves them. Through us they taste and see that God is good. In this message we explore ways in which we can practically touch people with God’s love which in turn will open their hearts to consider the message of the gospel.
Welcome, join us as we explore Part 2 of our message series, "Life on Mission". God Bless
A life on mission is a life that flows out of the heart of God the Father. We’ll look at three stories Jesus tells and how they shape life and church. Stay tuned. In the weeks to come we’ll discover how to connect deeply with people, and how to steer people towards Jesus.
Welcome! Join us this week as we wrap up our sermon series entitled “When Pigs Fly”. Listen in as Pastor Brian Coles teaches on God’s Miraculous Provision. Be blessed!!
We are all broken people in the process of recovery from something. Life throws us curve balls and we have an enemy who is trying to destroy God’s destiny in our lives. Jesus came to save us and set us free from life’s bondages. Today we explore the biblical truths that lead to a life of freedom.
All relationships go through tough seasons and times of testing. But there is hope. In this message Pastor Lester shares how we can partner with God in seeing relationships restored.
Faith in a God of miracles is often in contention with the skepticism of our world. This series will explore four areas where God is bigger than the walls that close in on us. He is the God of healing; restored relationships; deliverance; and provisions.
This morning we are starting a two-part series called Why We Do What We Do. We are exploring some of the core values that inform why we do certain things as a church.
Senior Pastor Lester Zimmerman brings a message on Qualification of a Leader (and Others),
He also gives an update on the succession plan and shares the recommendation for our next Senior Pastor.
In this week’s book of the minor prophets, God challenges Habakkuk to wait for the promises to come. This message will teach us that waiting is so much more than passively sitting around.
How does God feel about us being our brother’s keeper? Obadiah lays out what God requires of us in the story of the Edomites and Israelites. Obadiah is a short book with a powerful message of both judgement and grace.
Happy Father's Day!! Join us as Pastor Brian Coles speaks on "Receiving the Blessing of the Father
This sermon will help weather the storms of life that we all face more often than we like. You will learn keys to help you become completely unshakable.
What do we do when God is silent; when suffering or hardship are shouting “Where is your God?” These points will help you identify ways you can partner with God as he brings purpose to your pain.
In this message Pastor Lester unveils God’s original plan for men and women to lead together. This is a powerful word of encouragement for women.
God gives us insider hacks into relationships to help us succeed in ways that many people fail? This week Pastor Brian will help you make the flip from accusations your heart might be making to blessings God’s heart is giving to people.
The children start us off with a song for today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. He is the Victorious Word who became flesh and lived among us, was crucified and rose again on the third day. Everything we believe hinges on the resurrection. The cross and the resurrection is the cornerstone to our Christian faith.
"Jesus, The Broken Word" - Jesus spoke seven times while dying on the Cross. Join us as seven “eyewitnesses” reflect on Jesus’ suffering and death through the lens of their own relationship to – and experience with – Jesus.
In this message we explore the blessings and opportunities that come with the senior years of life. This season of life provides many opportunities to serve, grow and take on new challenges like Caleb in Joshua 14. Our goal is to enjoy and be a blessing in every season of life.
How do we raise children in this generation? These three simple Biblical truths will give you confidence to launch your children into the world as whole-hearted lovers of God and lovers of life.
Welcome!! Enjoy the second message in the series, "The Game of Life". Join Pastor Brian Coles as he teaches on Succeeding Single!
Marriages are under enormous pressure these days. In this message Pastor Brian gives us three Biblical postures that will help you and your spouse build a healthy marriage.
Today we wrap up our teaching on the book of 2 Timothy. In this message we learn how to fight the good fight and run the race laid out for us.
In this teaching Pastor Brian will give you some simple analogies and fresh encouragement to be able to connect the power of God in the scriptures to your present situation.
We continue our message series on 2 Timothy. Today we talk about being unshakable in the last days. As the world becomes increasing dark the church becomes increasing strong and effective at the same time.
Pastor Brian Flewelling shares Part 3 in our "Unshakable" message series. You don’t want to be the next public casualty of failed character. From these verses we’ll learn how to shape the habits of our lives in a way that doesn’t just avoid things, but runs towards God.
Join us for Part 2 of our series "Unshakable". Pastor Brian Coles speaks on 2 Timothy chapter 2.
Welcome. Today we begin a study on 2 Timothy. We have entitled this series UNSHAKABLE. Today we unpack chapter one of Paul’s letter to Timothy and discover how to live with Unshakable Faith in the 21st Century. Use the Fill In Notes to follow along right now. You can come back later as well to watch or listen to the message and take additional notes. The Bulletin is also with the Fill In Notes so you can stay up-to-date to what's happening at Petra.
Jamie Detweiler shares part 2 of our Well Spent series. We are entrusted with God's resources in this world - What does it mean to be a Steward?
Every person on planet earth possesses God-given resources to fulfill God’s design for your life. In this message we’ll discover how you use your body and your time in a way that unlocks God’s plans in every season of your journey.
The week of prayer and fasting is something our community looks forward to each year. Join Pastor Brian Coles as he explains how God invites us to experience him in deeper ways through prayer and fasting.
Pastor Lester shares an encouraging word on how we can live with Unshakable Confidence as we face 2019. While the world is shaking, the followers of Jesus have a firm foundation to stand on. Jesus is our solid rock.
Join us as Pastor Brian Coles wraps up our 2018 theme “Celebrating Gods Work Through Us”. We learn from the life of Joseph to enjoy Gods favor at work in our lives.
In this message we explore the Christmas carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”. The amazing story of God coming to earth to be with us and to walk with us through life’s ups and downs. We are no longer alone. Emmanuel is here with us. His presence is our Christmas gift.
The third message in this series will review some Facts and History of the song; Dig into the song verse by verse; Discover the bible verses that the song is based; Develop our own answers to song’s question… “What Child Is This?”
Continuing our series on the Songs of Christmas we tell the Christmas story today through the song “O Come All Ye Faithful”. We unpack the theme of worship in this message of song and scripture. Come and adore Jesus with us.
Join us today as Pastor Brian Coles opens a brand new series called “Songs of Christmas”. Today we will look at the meaningful truths found in the song (O Holy Night). Listen in as we discover how to “tell the story” this Christmas Season! God Bless
Do you desire to become a more grateful person? Grateful people are healthier, happier and fun to be around. In this message we explore how we can change our focus which will in turn set us free to live a lifestyle of gratefulness. You can choose to be a grateful person no matter your circumstances.
Today we celebrate lives that have been transformed by the power of God. We stand with those giving testimony to God’s power and love through water baptism. As we reflect on baptism we are reminded that we are saved from our sins for eternal life with God but also for God to pour his power and love through us to a needy world. Jesus wants to live his life through us.
Today we are looking at the lie of busyness which tells us that are significance come from how busy we are. In some ways, busyness is the new status symbol of our day. We like to talk about how busy we are. It makes us feel important and admired. But the pressure of busyness can be overwhelming. Our culture has set an unreal expectation and pace for any of us to really follow. Let’s look at how we can slow down the treadmill and bring sanity back into our inner world?
Lie # 6: It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere. The lie of sincerity
If I can accumulate more things, better things, bigger things then I will be happy. Just a little more. A newer model, the latest edition, latest technology. This pursuit of more and more things for satisfaction is not always a conscience thing. We are not always aware of why we are doing what we are doing. But if that inner need for satisfaction and fulfillment is not met we will keep trying to fill that hole with more and more things. It’s just the way we are. And it’s not always big expensive things. Sometimes it’s small cheap things or even junk. And our lives soon become cluttered with possessions. How do we counteract this impulse to find happiness in stuff?
Guest Speaker Mark Jayakumar shares stories from his ministry in India. He also exhorts the church to get back the Holy Spirit fire.
Satisfied: Part 4 - Relationships can be a tremendous blessing in our lives. But sometimes we misuse them or expect them to meet a need in us they weren’t designed to meet. In this message we’ll learn to recognize when our relationships have gone out-of-bounds, and how to get back on track so we can have meaningful connections to God and people.
Satisfied! There’s just something about that word. It’s something we all want, but few of us actually have. Join Pastor Brian Coles as he talks about our third lie of satisfaction, “success makes me important!” Be Blessed!!
Today we continue to explore what it means to find our satisfaction in God instead of the lies of our culture tells us. There is a legitimate and illegitimate way of finding satisfaction and fulfillment in life. Our culture tries to get us to believe that pleasure will give us the fulfillment we long for. It’s a lie.
In this teaching we identify the lie that birthed every lie, and how it cuts us off from experiencing the overflowing love of God. Plus, what is the one habit we can practice that will nurture us back to an overflowing life in Jesus?
We wrap up our three-part series on relationships and the habits we need to foster to have good relationships. At some point in your life you will be given responsibility and influence over people in some way. Today we look at ways to build healthy relationships with those we oversee. How to become a leader that people love to follow. Jesus sets the example for us. He turns leadership upside down by showing us how to be a leader that serves and looks out for the interests of others ahead of our own.
Join us Today we are continuing our three-part series called “Relationships”. Pastor Brian Coles will be teaching on habits for building Godly relationships, specifically in our peer relationships! May God richly bless you!
Today we start a new series called “Relationships”, habits for building Godly relationships. Join pastor Brian Coles as he opens up this exciting series!!
Find out what Jesus said is the one thing that distinguishes his followers from the rest of the cheering crowd. Start using a habit that the first century followers of Jesus used back then. And learn how to take the truths that you read in the Bible and drill them deep into your heart and mind.
Jim Wetzel shares How to Study the Bible in Part 2 of our Series: The Word of God. How we approach the Bible in large part determines the benefit we receive from it.
Pastor Curt Malizzi, the Pastor of Hopewell Christian Fellowship of Telford, PA, brings the first message in our series The Word of God.
Daniel faces new evils under a new administration. Join us to find out the qualities that set him apart--event in his old age, and especially in a competitive market. Plus we discover God’s promise to us as we stare our lions in the face.
Join us as Pastor Brian Coles continues our Series in Daniel with chapters 4 and 5. These chapters contain two amazing stories that teach one primary truth, “The Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.” God Bless!
Are you living at odds with our culture? Is the God you serve worth living for even when things are not going well? Is the God you serve worth giving your life for?
From Daniel's life we learn how to prepare for the pressures and the trials of life, and how to live confidently in the face of impossible odds. - Pastor Brian Flewelling
Join us for a message by Pastor Brian, as he inspires us through stories of God at work in our youth on Youth Sunday!
Happy Fathers Day! Today we honor our earthly fathers and our heavenly father. Join Pastor Brian Coles as he draws four valuable lessons from Jeremiah chapter one. We are confident this message will be a blessing to you, and again, Happy Fathers Day!
Culture often paints Christianity out to be a religion of superstition. Yet, the overwhelming evidence from science, history, and reason shows that Christian belief, more than any other worldview, makes the most sense of all the data. Our hope is that the Christian learns to use their minds to discern and understand truth both in science and in faith. We also hope that truth leads you to a deeper relationship with an infinite and personal God.
We want to draw some spiritual insights from the lives of First Responders that reflect on biblical truths. The way in which they serve reflects on the example Jesus set for us. Jesus came to earth on a divine rescue mission. He exemplifies the heart of first responders. He is a first responder to humanity. Let’s reflect on this correlation and the lessons we learn from First Responders and Jesus.
Larry Kreider, the International Director of DOVE Christian Fellowship International, shares the message of Embracing Your Season. There are 3 things we need to know about the seasons of our lives: - Life comes in seasons, we need to embrace our present season and receive grace for this season: it will not last forever. - Never allow your present season or past season to define who you are. - Learn all you can in your present season and begin to prepare for your next season as the Lord conforms you into the image of Christ.
Michael Berg brings us the message "Celebrate the Mission". Michael grew up in Michigan and attended Michigan State University, Lake Michigan College, and University of the Nations. His education culminated with an Executive Master’s degree in Leadership from the University of the Nations. His wife, Darla, grew up in Lancaster County and attended Ecola Hall Bible School and University of the Nations. In 1979, Michael and Darla met in their first Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Discipleship Training School, and were married in 1981. They have three children. In the summer of 1995, Michael and Darla arrived in Orlando, FL, with the written vision of what would become the YWAM Orlando base.
Remember the cliché, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.”? As creative and catchy as it is, when you think about it, yes, it is about the journey and we’re going to be talking about that, but it’s also about the destination. As Christians our hope is found in our destination, to be with Jesus forever. So we wanted to debunk that thought quick and zoom in on The Journey of Motherhood in light of the destination.
Today is the last part of the series on the book of Colossians. In the first part of Paul’s letter to the Colossians he sets forth some doctrinal truths and in the last part he gets real practical. Doctrine is to help guide us in practical everyday living. Christianity is not just a belief system. It is a lifestyle. Today we look at the lifestyle of prayer, sharing our faith and valuing our relationships.
Join us as we continue our journey through Colossians. Today we look at the powerful truths found In Colossians 3. As believers, we find that the Spirit of God not only makes us new, but empowers us to live for him. Listen in as Pastor Brian Coles presents part three of SATURATED.
Paul begins by saying he has a great struggle for the believers, even for those he has not met. The word translated “struggle” has the idea of a contest or fight. Since he is in prison while writing this letter, he most likely means he has a great fight in prayer and intercession for these believers. He is fighting for the protection of their faith. He is aware that false teachers have come to argue for a philosophy that ignores or adds to the message of Jesus. He says “my purpose” is their hearts would be encouraged and united in love. This is how he is fighting in prayer for them, that they would be faithful in their hearts to Christ and in love for each other. Then, in this way, they can experience all the riches that come from a complete understanding of God’s mystery, which is Christ. The mystery of who God is and what he is like is revealed or understood in Jesus. The mystery of how to know God and to be in relationship with him is revealed in Jesus. There are great riches in knowing Christ; not simply knowing about him, but knowing him. What are these great riches we enjoy? There are too many to begin to name. But we want to focus on this aspect of these riches; you and I can live understanding life, successfully navigating life, because we have a complete understanding of God. Our understanding of God allows us to understand life.
We are about to embark on a 4-part sermon series on the book of Colossians. We titled this series “Saturated” because the theme of Colossians is that Jesus saturates everything…. creation, our story, salvation. When something is saturated in liquid, it takes on those properties. Our hearts should be like a sponge, absorbing Jesus into every pore. But if you drop a hard, metal block into water, the metal block doesn’t absorb the water. All it will do is rust. When our hearts are hard, even when surrounded by Jesus, we will reject him and our conscience becomes seared. We want our hearts to be soft, ready to absorb all God wants for us.
How do you know if you are born again – To be born again or a Christian is more than just saying a prayer. It is full surrender to Jesus. It is an inner transformation – a spiritual heart transplant by the Holy Spirit. When you are born again you have a desire to follow God and to stop sinning! Yes, Christians still sin at times, but we feel bad and repent when we do. God gives us the power of his Holy Spirit to live a victorious life. In the Bible, baptism is seen as a way of declaring that Jesus is now Lord of your life. Jesus expects all his followers to be baptized. It is not optional. Baptism doesn’t save us, but it is pledging allegiance to Jesus above all other authorities and relationships.
Let’s join two dejected, confused and hurting disciples of Jesus as they walk back toward their home in Emmaus after the crucifixion. They had just seen their leader killed by the Romans. It was now the third day and they had lost all hope. That is until a stranger joins them and opens their understanding and then reveal his true identity – The Risen Jesus!
Join us as we “take another look” at Jesus, and his journey to Jerusalem. Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus entering Jerusalem as “Our Humble Savior, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”.
Jesus wants us to know when the time of his return is getting close. So, Jesus has given us indicators or signs to watch for. In this message Pastor Lester shares why he believes it is possible this generation could see the return of Christ. We explore the signs Jesus told us to look for that indicate what time it is on God’s time clock.
This message is the last of the “Be The Church Series”. Today we look at the values that followers of Jesus have as they live out their lives in a counter-culture way. Jesus did not instruct us to build monasteries and go hide away from the world until he returns. Instead he told us to go and engage the world around us. The challenge is for us to stay relevant and friends with the people around us without beginning to think like them.
Jim Wetzel shares a message on spiritual growth; What does it mean to believe in God? What does it mean to believe in Jesus? What is it that God requires?
This week we want to focus on how God calls us to love one another. The hallmark of Jesus was how he loved people. He cared the same for both the rich and the poor, the educated and uneducated, the Jew and gentile. He was no respecter of persons.
This is how God wants us to be known. This is what it means to be the church. We reflect Jesus to the people around us. How we care for and treat each other has a great impact on our testimony to people who are looking for something real and authentic. In other words, the way we love each other validates our message.
It's incredibly important that we physically gather together for our weekly services, but why do we gather? We gather so we are ready to be the church to the rest of the world.
The word “church” today is often used to describe the place where Christians meet to worship - an address and a building. We say, “I’m going to church” or “Which church do you attend?” We know what we mean but it’s good to be reminded that the church is God’s people who come together to carry out his mission. It is not a building. The church is born again followers of Jesus, committed to sharing the transforming message of Jesus in every way possible.
God wants you to be involved in His great rescue mission. But how the church understands itself plays a big role in whether we succeed in God’s plans. In this message Pastor Brian will help you see just how high the stakes are, and give you a timely message for how God is asking the Petra community to respond.
This powerful message entitled "Responding to Addictions" from Pastor Ken Reinford, Dr Joe Troncale, and Gene Carmack is about the opioid epidemic in our county and how we as God’s people can make a difference. We carry the same anointing as Jesus to see the captives set free.
Lisa Hosler is president of Susquehanna Valley Pregnancy Services (SVPS), where she has served since 1985. SVPS is a life-affirming ministry that serves people in southeastern Pennsylvania, partners with organizations, and resources leaders and the church at large. On this special Sunday dedicated to the Sanctity of Human Life, Lisa shares with us a message of encouragement to align ourselves with God, to live in love and to initiate love.
We have an exciting week ahead of us as a church, it is a week that we have set aside as a church family for congregational prayer and fasting. It’s a week that we are asking each one of you as individuals, as families to dedicate intentional and excessive time to seeking God in prayer. Our elders are calling for a fast. That you would not eat, or if not eating is not an option for you that you would give us a hobby, entertainment to create space for prayer. So why would we do that? There is something about new beginnings and fresh starts that cause us to evaluate: who we were, who we are, who we want to be, what we have done, what we are doing, what we are going to do, where we have been, where we are, and where are we going. There is something about a new season that causes us to examine our priorities, the things we have valued with our time, energy and resources. If we do that well, if we pray well, if we listen to the spirit of God well, he will deposit something in us that I have found more valuable to me than anything else on the planet. Vision: Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion. Vision determines direction, Vision confirms calling, Vision infuses identity, Vision translates into tasks.
Each new year brings with it new possibilities and new opportunities. God’s grace is more than enough for what each one of us will face this year. So, we begin the year with peace in our hearts knowing that God is in control. In two weeks we will begin a week of prayer and fasting to prepare our hearts for what God wants to do in us and through us this year. Each year we ask God to give us a theme for the year. Since this year is our 35th anniversary as a church, we decided to make it a year of celebrating what God has and is doing among us. He has done and is doing great things. He is using us to impact our families, friends, community and world. So, our theme for 2018 is “Celebrating Gods Work Through Us”. We know it is because of God’s faithfulness that we stand here today. It is by his power and might that we have been able to see many lives changed and the nations reached. So, we celebrate God and give him the glory!
It’s the end of the year. It’s always an appropriate time to look over your shoulder. Thank God for His faithfulness. Reflect. Slow down. Rest. There are natural stopping points in life: • There’s a period at the end of every sentence. • There’s a pillow at the end of every 17 hour day. • There’s an exhale at the end of every inhale. • On the highway there’s a rest stop every 20 miles. Unless you really need to go to the bathroom… • Every growing season is followed by a season of dormancy. • At the end of every six days God designed a Sabbath rest. Why would he do that? That’s so inefficient. We could get so much more done. We could have so much more fun if he would just let us. He gave us the earth to rule over. Now why is he meddling with us? There’s something in the Sabbath rest that is a priority to God. You’re going to spend a 7th of your precious lifetime Sabbathing. Why? What is so important to God that He interrupts what’s so important to us? We want to give you three simple words strait from the Bible that will clarify God’s love for you in the Sabbath and will help you encounter the majesty of God in it. He Rested. He Blessed It. And He Made It Holy.
We have been focusing on the names of God and specifically those names given to the coming Messiah. We have seen the Messiah described as the Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father and Emmanuel-God with Us. Today is the last day of Advent which brings us to the Christmas story where God reveals to Mary and Joseph what they are to name their baby. The are not to name him David, Elijah or Joseph Jr. They are to give him the name “Jesus” which means – The Lord Saves or The God who Saves. The name was descriptive of his mission of coming to earth. Names were very important in those days. People didn’t just name their children cute names. They choose names that spoke of purpose and destiny. God chose the name for his son. God said His name shall be Jesus! Every time people said his name they were calling him “The God Who Saves”. The name Jesus is a Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua. Just as Joshua saved the people of Israel from the bondage and death of Egypt so Jesus would be like Joshua to save the world from bondage and sin. The full name given to Jesus was The Lord Jesus Christ. The title Christ referred to the promised Messiah. And Lord refers to his divinity and authority. When referring to God’s son, the name “Jesus”, becomes a name of power and authority. A name above all other names. A name that changes lives. A name that saves, delivers and sets free.
So why the name Emmanuel? Of all the names, why are we talking about this one? Well I think I can answer that question using on word, it’s an awesome word. Emmanuel describes God's proximity to us. He is near to us. Understanding and believing his proximity to us changes everything. Do you believe that he is near? Do you trust that he is near? Do you talk like he is near? When you go places are you thinking, man God is with us. If God is with us, then real life, real purpose, real power, and real forgiveness are ours for the taking!
In Part 1 we looked at Jesus as the Prince of Peace. Today we want to look at the description of Jesus as the Everlasting Father. This seems strange that Jesus, the Son of God, would be called father. But this is not a reference to the supreme father of the trinity. Jesus is not Father God. This is referring to the quality of the messiah in how he will relate to those who follow him. He will care for them just as his father does with the same enduring compassion and fatherly care. We see this same fatherly characteristic in Jesus in Matthew 9:36 "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Jesus came to reveal the father’s heart to us. He said, “If you have seen me you have seen the father.” In the Hebrew mind the term father often refers to one who is an originator. We use the term “founding fathers”. George Washington is the father of our nation. Jesus is the originator. The founding father of everything. He is eternal. He always was. He created all things and all things exist by him. He is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega.
As a customer, your real-life experiences shape how you view that company, that product. In the ancient world, a person’s name, their brand, was equivalent to their reputation. We are not going to talk about our reputation, we’re are going to talk about God’s. There are literally dozens of names given to God throughout the scripture. And it’s a wonderful study. When we study the names of God, we discover His character – who He is. Over the next four weeks, as we lean into Christmas, we’re going to focus on just four names, and those that especially lead us to this miraculous moment in history that we call Christmas...when God becomes flesh.
We are wrapping up a three-part series called Resilient. The focus is on being resilient in the face of spiritual warfare.So far, we looked at how to stand against the lies of the enemy and how to get back up when we fall into temptation. Today we will talk about how praise and worship makes us resilient in the midst of spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare is a very real part of our lives and world in which we live. The Apostle Paul says there are demonic principalities and powers at work behind the scenes. We have an enemy of our souls who is looking for ways to keep us from God and if he fails at that, he does what he can to limit us in our service to God. Jesus describes Satan as a thief. Yet as God’s children we have been given spiritual weapons to stand against and defeat him. We need NOT walk in fear, but we do need to walk in wisdom and spiritual understanding.
We are in the midst of a three-part series called Resilient. The focus is on being resilient in the face of spiritual warfare. Last week we looked at what it means to stand strong and be resilient against the lies of the enemy. Today we will talk about being resilient with temptation. The definition of resilient we are using is: “Being able to withstand and recover quickly from difficult conditions.” Being able to bounce back and get up after being knocked down. God wants to teach us to be resilient in our faith. To recover quickly when we are knocked down. To resist or rise above whatever life throws at us. instead of talking about all the ways to resist temptation we will look at it from a different angle. Let's talk about how we respond when we fail the temptation test. To be resilient means - when we fall we get back up quickly.
Today, we are beginning a new sermon series called “Resilient”. The definition of Resilient is, "Able to withstand and recover quickly from difficult conditions." As Christians, I'd like to add something to the definition of “resilient:” “Able to withstand, recover and thrive in the midst of difficult conditions.” During this series we’ll be discussing how to combat temptation and the war on worship. We begin this series by talking about our adversary, the enemy of our soul, Satan. And more specifically, his LIES.
Today is the last part of our ALL IN series. We have been exploring what it means to go all in with God. What it means to be fully surrendered to Him. The sad reality is that it is possible for us to go to church every week and never go ALL IN with Jesus. That’s called religion and there is no life or power in it. The Christian life is meant to be so much more than that. God wants us to live by faith - not fear, play offense - not defense, use all we got, holding nothing back, being surrendered fully to his purpose in our lives. We don’t just add Jesus to our lives like another friend on Facebook. Jesus calls his followers to abandon all to him, go all-in, give it all up. You see, Christianity is more of a way of life then a belief system. We are called “followers of Jesus” which means we follow his example, his teachings, his moral code, his daily direction in our lives. We are to make our faith our lifestyle not just a Sunday morning experience! We are - Empowered by God for daily encounters. Following Jesus is not easy, but it is fulfilling with eternal rewards. Going ALL IN means different things to different people. In this series we tried not to create a rigid definition of what it means to go ALL IN. Instead we asked a key question each week to challenge our hearts. Today’s question is: Is my devotion to God consistent and enduring?
This is week five of our All-IN Teaching Series. The gospel of Jesus is a radical re-alteration of our lifestyles. If you start following Jesus you quickly realize “I can’t go on with life as usual.” To help you evaluate your own life and commitment to Jesus we wanted to give you a set of questions. The questions we asked so far have been: ➢ Week 1: Am I living to please God, or myself? (Heart Attitudes) ➢ Week 2: Have I given all to God, or am I holding something back? (Practical) ➢ Week 3: Am I living by faith in what God can do, or in fear of what I might lose? (Intensity & audacity of faith) ➢ Week 4: Am I using what I have to glorify God? (Practicality & Devotion) ➢ Week 5: Am I generous in life, or reluctant in giving? (Generosity & joy of faith) The shape of the gospel is the shape of generosity. If you want to know what generosity looks like look at Jesus. He had mad talent. But he chose to give himself constantly to the needs and the development of the people around him. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” 1 John 3:16. If we’re becoming like God then we’re becoming generous people like Jesus.
Pastor Patrick Thuo, leader of the Hopewell Network in Kenya, brings us Part 4 of our All In Series with the message entitled "Use What You Have".
We are in the midst of a series called ALL IN. We are exploring what it means to live a life that is sold out to God. Full abandonment. Full surrender. Going All In. We are not trying to create a cookie cutter Christian because going ALL IN will look differently for each person, however, there are some basic truths that we can all grab a hold of. We are using a set of questions to help us define the idea of going ALL IN. Today’s question is: Am I living by faith in what God can do, or in fear of what I might lose? The title of today’s message is PLAYING OFFENSE. A lot of Christians play defense instead of going on the offense. They circle the wagons to keep the devil out instead of fully engaging the culture and taking the fight to the enemy’s camp. A sports team can have good defensive players and have a great defensive strategy but if they don’t have a strong offense they aren’t going to win any games. God didn’t put us on the earth to play it safe but to be dangerous. To take ground. To advance the ball downfield. To attack the gates of hell. To take risks. The Christian life is not a spectator sport. Actually, We have been born on a battle field right in the middle of a cosmic war. A war between good and evil and evil advances when good people do nothing. There are those who are satisfied sitting on the sidelines and there are those ready to charge the gates of hell and take back what the enemy has stolen from us.
This is the second week in our series ALL IN. Last week Pastor Lester began the series by preparing our hearts to go ALL IN as we follow Jesus. We defined going all in last week as surrendering completely to Gods purpose. We want to get your mind thinking and your hearts ready last week. There weren't multiple action points from the sermon. There was one really, to simply put our hearts in place of surrender before the Lord. I want to warn you that going ALL IN does require action steps, it requires change, it requires choosing, not necessarily in some dramatic emotional fashion either. Sometimes it’s a quiet resolve, followed by consistent action.
As Pastors, we have been looking forward to this ALL IN Series. It’s going to be both challenging and fun. This is a great follow up to the Acts 29 series where we looked at the lives of the believers in the early church and how they lived their lives with this sense of total abandonment to God. We believe by the end of this series, as we go ALL IN in a fresh new way, we will be transformed one again – from glory to glory he is changing us to be more like Jesus. • As we together, explore what a fully surrendered life looks like I believe we will experience God’s pleasure on our lives in a new way. • In this series, the purposes of God will become more clear and active in your life. • You will become bolder and more daring in pursuing God’s call on your life. • You will find your life increasingly centering more around Jesus then yourself. • We will discover what some people call radical is really normal New Testament Christianity. • You will become more extravagant like your Heavenly Father. • And - You will find the Christian life is anything but boring when you are ALL IN with God.
Pastor Brian Coles brings us the final message in our Acts 29 series, The Holy Spirit still speaks and guides. Several weeks ago Pastor Lester began this journey reminding us that the things that the Holy Spirit was doing in the book of Acts he is still doing today. We have learned that the… - The Holy Spirit Still Empowers - The Holy Spirit Still Strengthens - The Holy Spirit Still Saves - The Holy Spirit Still Sends and Delivers
Pastor Brian Flewelling brings us Part 4 in our Sermon Series Acts 29. What was started in the book of Acts is being completed through us. The resources in the first church are still available to this church. Wake up Church! The Holy Spirit is still sending us out in a thousand directions to have a thousand conversations under a thousand rooftops. Every believer is a full-time missionary. Every conversation is a kingdom opportunity. Everyone is a disciple maker.
We are presently studying the book of Acts and giving a special focus to the ministry and acts of the Holy Spirit in the early church. Even though there are only 28 chapters to the book of Acts we have entitled this series Acts 29 because the empowering work of the Holy Spirit continues through God’s people today. The works of the Holy Spirit did not stop or decline as the book of Acts closes in chapter 28. The Holy Spirit is still doing his amazing work in the earth through God’s people. We are now living in the days of Acts 29. • The Holy Spirit still empowers people like he did in the book of Acts • The Holy Spirit still gives supernatural courage and makes people brave • And - The Holy Spirit is still saving people all over the earth Today we are looking at Acts chapters 9 thru 11. These chapter reveal the deep struggle the Jewish people had in accepting Jesus as the Messiah and then also accepting the fact that the gentiles could be saved without converting to Judaism and observing their laws. Powerful testimony by Ryan Forbes.
Kenneth Scott Latorette, history Prof at Yale, said this: “Never in so short a time has any other religious faith–or for that matter any other set of ideas, religious, political or economic–ever achieved so commanding a position in such an important culture without the aid of physical force, or social or cultural prestige.” In other words, Christianity should NOT have spread. Islam was spread through force and conquest, especially in its early years. Not only did Christianity not have support to help it spread, there was also great persecution set against them. To be a Christian in the early church could cost you everything. Only the Holy Spirit could make a following of a carpenter’s son grow. Only the Holy Spirit can make us spiritually brave. The same God that stood behind the gospel in the early church still stands behind you today!
Today we begin a five-part series on the book of Acts. The book is called Acts because it refers to the Acts of the Holy Spirit through God’s people in the early church. Acts begins with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the beginning of the book and ends with the Apostle Paul still preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit at the end of the book. In between are amazing stories of the Holy Spirit working through God’s people. The book of Acts gives the history of the Christian church and the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as the mounting opposition to it. Acts is written by Luke who is a doctor and a disciple of the Apostle Paul. He also wrote the gospel of Luke. There are 28 chapters to the book of Acts but we have entitled this series Acts 29 because the empowering work of the Holy Spirit continues through God’s people. It did not end in Chapter 28. The works of the Holy Spirit continues throughout the generations. The Church of Jesus Christ continues to advance and his Kingdom on earth continues to expand. We are now living in the days of Acts 29. The Holy Spirit is still empowering God’s people and doing amazing things. The practical message in this series is that God does amazing things through ordinary people who are empowered by the Holy Spirit.
This is the second installment of a two-part series called Edible Evidence. This short series can challenge your heart. Pastor Brian suggests that these two verses in the bible are arguable some of the most important verses in scripture. Last week Pastor Lester walked us through chapter 5 of Galatians where the bible is so clear to communicate that if you are an authentic follower of Jesus then your life will display certain Jesus like characteristics. Galatians refers to them as the fruit of the spirit.
Today we are beginning a two-part series on the nine characteristics of a Spirit-filled Christian. These are listed in Galatians, chapter 5. The Apostle Paul, the author of Galatians, refers to these characteristics as the fruit of the Spirit. We have entitled the series “Edible Evidence”. In other words, the evidence or proof of being a Christian is in the type of fruit you exhibit. It should be good edible fruit that attracts people to you and gives honor to God. Jesus said we should be recognized by the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. He said every good tree produces good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit. The Christians at Galatia were having a hard time lining up their walk with their talk. They kept struggling with inner heart issues. Paul explains to them and us what it means to walk and live in the Spirit.
Ever get a song stuck in your head? The Psalms are a collection of poems and songs, specifically written to be repeated by others. And in that sense, they are unique in the Bible. The psalms were both personal and corporate at the same time. The Psalms are full of wisdom! What if the church was wise? What if our nation was wise?.... One of the greatest epidemics facing our world is FOOLISHNESS. Why?
Psalms of Lament or also referred to as the Pit Songs. They were written while the Psalmist was feeling discouraged and overwhelmed with life. While he was in the pit of discouragement and feeling like God had deserted him. A number of times the Psalmist describes himself as being in the pit of despair. The Psalms are so encouraging because as we read them we realize we are not alone in what we are experiencing and they help put into words what we are feeling and sometimes what we are afraid to say to God. They show us how to live in a fallen world full of pain and disappointment. They show us how to hang onto God when we are in the pit. David doesn’t hold back and God is ok with that. He dumps his doubts, fears, anger, feelings of God deserting him, wanting to get even with people. God gives us permission to lament. That’s why we have all these Psalms to help us get in touch with our emotions and express them. God doesn’t want us to pretend.
Dave Hess, Senior Pastor of Christ Community Church, brings us the message Psalms of Thanksgiving, Fully Enjoying Forgiveness.
This morning we are beginning a five-part message series on the book of Psalms. In this series, you will see yourself. You will connect with the emotions of the Psalmist and you will be strengthened by the faith of the Psalmist. Life Empowering Truths: There are a number of life empowering truths that are repeated through this book that will affect your life. Let me mention four to look for. • God is on His Throne - Throughout this book the theme of God being on his throne is repeated again and again. At some points, the Psalmist is feeling defeated and overwhelmed but he always comes back to the realization that God is on his throne. No matter what is going on in your life right now and no matter what might happen in the future this one truth rings loud and clear. God is in control. God has the final word. God is working behind the scenes to accomplish his greater purposes. And in the end God’s people win! • God is all powerful and God is always faithful and loving with his children. We not only serve a powerful God but one who is loving, faithful, compassionate and very patient with us. David had this revelation of God before Jesus came. He didn’t view God as an angry God toward his children. • God invites us to share the good, bad and ugly parts of our heart with him. David doesn’t hold back and God is ok with that. He dumps his doubts, fears, anger, feelings of God deserting him, wanting to get even with people and all the ugly things he was feeling. • Praise is both pleasing to God and healing for our soul. Something happens to us when we praise God. When we stop complaining and begin praising. Our perspective begins to change. Our heart is encouraged. Faith begins to flow into those hard places. I trust God to stir and impart these truths into our hearts as we go through this study.
Bishop Titus Mbai from Destiny Network of Churches in Kenya, brings the message from Luke 15:14-18. How is our spiritual walk reflected in our everyday lives?
Today we take time to honor our Dads. Being a Dad is a special gift and privilege. We have a much greater impact on the lives of our children then what we realize. Their worth, value and identity is greatly impacted and shaped by their Dad. This is true of both girls as well as boys. At a certain age, little girls look to their daddy to validate their femininity and boys their manhood.
Today is Student Ministry Sunday and Pastor Brian challenges us to take the next step. It takes the entire body to take a step forward. We are not only better together, we were built to be together. Pastors Brian and Tracy Coles also share what God is doing in and through the Student Ministries along with some student testimonies.
Today we’re going to have a family conversation about money. For some of you it’s not easy to talk about. It feels very painful. It feels very personal. That’s why we need to talk about. There are few things that impact your life more than money. That can cause you such anxiety, or such joy. Wrap you up in bondage, or set you free. To cause you to live a small and self-interested existence. Or empower you to fulfill your purpose by making an impact in the world around you. God cares about your financial well-being. God cares about how you relate to money.
Our generation is quick to call people heroes. We have sports heroes, superheroes, the list goes on. But so many of you women and moms out there are the real heroes and I salute you. You are an amazing group of people. And you’ve overcome much. We’re continuing our sermon series on Unlikely Heroes. These are people in the scriptures who are flawed but we can learn something from their lives and see how God used them through their weaknesses. Today we’re going to be spending some time looking at two women who approached Jesus very differently. Mary and Martha.
The people we read about in the bible were flawed people like you and me but that didn’t stop God from calling them and using them. The primary lesson in all of this is that you don’t have to have it all together to be used of God. Today we are looking at the unlikely person of Peter. Peter's original name was Simon until Jesus changed it to Peter. Peter live the tough life of a fisherman. He and James and John were partners in the fishing business. Peter was married and he and his wife would often travel together in ministry. Peter met Jesus through his brother Andrew who took him to meet Jesus. In the natural Peter was a poor candidate for the ministry. He wasn’t the most pleasant, kind and considerate person to be around. If he was in the school year book he probably would have been listed as the most unlikely to succeed as a leader in the church. The most unlikely to be chosen.
Today we’re going to learn a very important lesson from a failure in the life of Abraham’s wife Sarah. Sarah went through a test that every person in this room will walk through, at one time or another. If we’re not careful, our response to our test can cause someone else’s duress. When Jesus went through his test, people were blessed. I do confess that our test can bless instead of oppress. So let the caress of Jesus possess you so that you can address your mess with success. That might take a moment to digest.
Over the next few weeks we are going to study a few characters from the bible...Sarah, Peter, Mary, Martha, and today, Samson. The purpose of this series is to remind you that even the greatest characters in the bible, the ones whose lives are surrounded by the miraculous, were just people and they were flawed. Their families had problems, they had a past they were embarrassed of, and in essence they were a lot like you and me. Our hope is that you will not be trapped by the lie that you have to be perfect or have it all together to be used by God; or even just loved by God.
The theme for our Good Friday Service was The Price of Hope and todays theme is Hope Lives. Hope is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. It is what keeps the human spirit alive, enabling people to overcome the most overwhelming circumstances. Easter Sunday is a day of great celebration. Easter is about forgiveness and hope. Jesus paid the price on the cross for our forgiveness and for us to have an eternal hope. We have hope because Jesus overcame the powers of darkness.
Celebrating the day Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, five days before they crucified him. He had taken the 100 mile journey down from Galilee, with hundreds of thousands of other Jews arriving from all over the country to worship YHVH at the temple during Passover holiday. 5 Days. If you had five days to live. What would you do with them. What’s on your bucket list?
The willingness to forgive can bring people through the deepest kinds of pain and transform their lives into something beautiful, propelling them into their destiny. The unwillingness to forgive shrivels up a person’s soul, physically destroys their health, and produces all kinds of spiritual bondage. • Forgiveness is the power to heal wounds and right wrongs. • It is the power to overcome offenses. • It is the power to show grace and mercy. • It is the power to restore relationships. • It is the power to heal memories and walk in new freedom. Of all the spiritual traits, the one that is the most important and probably the hardest is the ability to forgive. If you want to live a joy-filled life, a spirit-filled life, and a life that makes a difference, it is important to walk in forgiveness toward others.
This morning is a unique morning in that we will be talking about a subject that feels very private and we don’t typically address to such a broad audience. That is the topic of sexuality, and what is healthy sexuality, and how can broken identity lead to unhealthy sexuality? To help me with our topic I’ve invited Ben & Marci Dodd to join me. Ben & Marci often share on marriage and sexuality at various churches, seminars, conferences and so on. Ben also serves as the head of our Counseling Department here at Petra so he brings a unique perspective.
Today we wrap up our series on Living Supernaturally. In this series we have been exploring what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Being a follower of Jesus is much more then praying the sinner’s prayer, trying to live a good moral life, and going to Heaven when we die. When we follow Jesus, we don’t just become good people. We become kingdom citizens empowered by our king to live supernatural lives. If we as followers of Jesus are going to make a difference, we need to know how to walk and live in the supernatural. Our mission assignment is to continue to do the works of Jesus of seeking the lost, setting those in bondage free and proclaiming the good news of Jesus. To do the works that Jesus did we need the same spiritual power tools that Jesus used. And the good news is they are still available to us today.
Living supernaturally is not just living spiritually. Living supernaturally means that the spiritual world and the physical world are one, and the spiritual world affects the laws of nature. We never know when God has set up a divine appointment or a “chance” encounter that could potentially change the course of history. So when God is doing something supernatural, how can we be sure not to miss it?
We are continuing our series on Living Supernaturally. Kara Sensenig and I will be tag teaming on this message. In this series, we are talking about what normal Christianity looked like in the early church. And since Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever it is how normal Christianity should look like in our lives today as well. We are presently exploring the subject of healing and how to pray for the sick. The goal in this series is to keep these concepts simple and doable for all of us. Everyone in this room can be used of God to pray for someone who is sick and see them healed.
In this sermon series we are focusing on the reality of the supernatural in the life of the believer. In this message we want to look at the topic of supernatural or divine healing; specifically a Biblical foundation for healing.
This morning we are beginning a new message series focused on how to experience the supernatural in our lives on a regular basis. The supernatural is not some weird ghostbuster fictional movie. It is a part of our daily reality whether we are aware of it or not. We live in both a physical and spiritual world. They can’t be separated. It is easy for us to see the physical realm that we can touch. The spirit realm is just as real even if we can’t see it as easily. It is a little like the wind. We can’t really see wind but we can see and experience the effects of the wind blowing.
As we talk about praying for the nations, there is a key foundational truth we need to understand. Beyond what we see on CNN and Fox News, beyond all of the rumors of wars, political craziness and all the rumbling of problems, there is a greater roar that is happening from the depths of the nations. That roar is their desire for Jesus. We need to understand the people have a need and longing for Jesus.
Senior Pastor Lester Zimmerman brings the second message in our series Powerful Prayer. Today's message is also the official launch of our church-wide fast starting Monday January 16 through Sunday January 22.
Today we’re going to unbox what prayer is, and then talk about the two basic forms of prayer: praying by yourself, and praying with others. And both are profoundly important but also very different. What is prayer? It's our direct-line of communication with our loving Father. It’s all about relationship. We need to stop making it out to be something we only do during our morning devotions. It’s not just asking God for something. Prayer can be a joy, it can be thrilling, it can be raw and uncomfortable, but prayer is absolutely essential for the thriving Christian.
Welcome to a new year. A year full of destiny and purpose. We don’t know what lies ahead for anyone of us or for our nation and world this year. But I want you to lift up your heads today and put your hope in our God who is advancing his kingdom and his purposes on the earth. This is not a time for fear but a time to be bold, for the Lord is strong and mighty on our behalf. Every year we ask the Lord to give us a theme for the year that would reflect what is on his heart for our church. Something for us to focus on and go after in the Spirit. Our Theme for 2017 is … Empowered by God for Daily Encounters Let me unpack this and share what we feel God wants to do in our lives this year.
One of the themes of Christmas is gift giving. In addition to all the lights and festivities the giving of gifts is a special part of the celebration. There is a certain joy in giving a gift and seeing the person excited about receiving it. It is also a joy in receiving a gift from someone you know cares about you. It’s true Christmas has become commercialized but the exchange of gifts is a great reminder of the greatest gift of all which was wrapped in a blanket and laid in a manger on that very first Christmas. The baby Jesus was God’s gift to us!
Today is one week before Christmas 2016. Undoubtedly you’ve been hearing many ideas about the “true meaning” of Christmas for several weeks. This morning I want us to understand Christmas from a Biblical perspective, but more than Biblical, but what I am calling a Biblically cosmic perspective. What I mean by this is; I want us to consider Christmas in relation to the meaning and purpose of the existence of the universe, most especially the existence of the human race. That is to say to see Christmas as a revelation into understanding our world, the human experience and the cosmic plan of God.
This Topic is so important for us because there is a reason we are not Jewish, and there is a reason we are not Muslim. There is a reason that we are not any other deistic religious system. And that’s because the primary purposes of the Old Testament is to prepare people to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
Missionary Darryl Henson begins our Series Jesus from Genesis to Bethlehem with the message of God's love and His plan of Rescue.
For those who follow the Christmas calendar you know that today is the first day of Advent. Advent is a four-week period before Christmas where people prepare their hearts to celebrate the birth of Christ. Leading up to Christmas and throughout the Christmas story we see a lot of angelic activity. So, I thought I would take some time this morning to talk about the reality of angels in our lives today. An angel visited Mary with the news of her being the chosen one to give birth to the Christ child and angels announced the good news to the shepherds. Angels are seen all over the bible carrying out the purposes of God and helping God’s people. Angels are mentioned at least 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament. They continue to be very active today. In our western intellectual world view we tend to dismiss angelic encounters in our lives as coincidences. We say things like we were really lucky that we survived an accident. Or it was a coincidence that a stranger showed up to help us.
Let’s talk about the wrath of God- We don’t talk about the wrath of God often because it isn’t fun. But the more we understand it, the more we will become thankful. To fully understand God’s wrath we must start with His holiness.
Larry Kreider, the International Director of Dove International, shares with us that praise and thanksgiving is the Language of the Kingdom and that speaking the Language of the Kingdom opens the door for God's intervention.
Jim Kearsley, the Pastor of Freedom Path in Akron, PA, brings us the final message in our series, Beyond the Selfie.
Today we continue the series called “Beyond the Selfie” where we are exploring what it means to have meaningful relationships in a superficial world. This morning we will talk about building relationships with those who have not yet put their faith in Jesus. When we become a Christian we become part of God’s family. We attend church, enter into relationships with other Christians who help us grow in our faith and help us break off old unhealthy patterns in our lives. We find we now have more in common with followers of Jesus then our old set of non-Christian friends. There is both an upside and downside to this. The upside is our old sinful lifestyle has less and less of a pull in our lives. The downside is we begin to lose opportunities to reach our non-believing friends for Christ. It is a challenge to know how to break out of our old lifestyle without losing our relationships with our non-believing friends. - Sometimes they cut us off because we don’t indulge in their ungodly behavior. But let’s not cut them off unless we are in an unhealthy relationship that keeps pulling us down. - Sometimes that is the case when we are trying to come clean from drugs and addictive lifestyles. We need to break away from the old crowd for a while. We will look at God’s heart and our heart motivations when it comes to developing friendships with those we want to reach for Christ. This is so important.
We’ve been asking the question: How do we develop meaningful relationships in a superficial world? Apply that question to our Family & Friends. – deeply enriching relationships. Ruth 1:1-11, 14-18 Hard to find a more powerful and moving story in all of scripture and in ancient literature. Ruth’s affection and faithfulness to her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth’s commitment to her family changed the course of history. This outsider became the great-great grandmother of the King David. Ruth clearly did something right. Today, we will learn three simple ideas that will build that kind of history-changing relationships and families.
Ben Dodd, Petra's Counseling Ministry Director, challenges us to consider these questions and what God says about our true value and worth. Who are you when you are alone? Who or what is your source of value and worth? Does the idea of caring for yourself seem prideful or selfish? How do you treat your body on a daily basis? Are you in tune with your body? How do you want others to see you…and how closely does that line up with how you see yourself? What is the first thought that pops into your head right after you make a mistake? What thought about yourself do you focus on the most often? What is your earliest memory of becoming consciously aware of your own value and worth? Was it positive or was it negative? Who influenced it? What is the state of you spirit…Content? or chaotic? How do you think God views you? And does that view agree with all the many scriptures that speak to who we are in Christ?
“God’s answer to the relational vacuum in the 21st century is the church. God calls us beyond the selfie world of social media, and the hectic world of busy activities into relationship with each other as the church community. Church is much more than a Sunday activity that you attend. It is a family you belong to and share life with.”
In this six week study we’re hoping to help you develop habits that will improve five different types of relationships. Your relationship with God. With yourself. With family and closest friends. With your church community. With the world around you.
How do we advance God’s kingdom in practical ways. God’s kingdom is not political in nature. God’s kingdom advances across the earth no matter if a dictator, prime minister or king is in power. It advances in countries closed to the gospel and those open to the gospel. In fact, the church is often more strong and pure where there is resistance to the gospel and biblical values. We see that being played out in our day. God is sorting out the wheat and the chaff right now in America. It is becoming clear who the real church is and the compromising church.
Today we are beginning a three-part series on the Kingdom of God. The understanding of being part of a kingdom is central to our Christian faith but is often not emphasized or understood by much of the church. We talk about being saved and born again but that is just part of the gospel message. We are not only called to be saved, we are called to embrace and participate in the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth. - The understanding of the kingdom lies at the very heart of the gospel. The way you and I live our lives is directly related to our understanding of the Kingdom of God. As a young Christian I was not taught about the kingdom of God. My spiritual goal was to endure until Jesus comes and make it to heaven. Our goal in this study is that we would become more kingdom minded in how we think and how we live our everyday lives. - We want to seek first the kingdom. Live and breathe the kingdom. - We want to become kingdom people that confront the forces of darkness and advance God’s agenda on the earth. Jesus message is not just about being saved it is about us becoming part of a kingdom that is invading the earth. Wherever Jesus went he talked to the people about the Kingdom of God. That was his main message. But he didn’t just talk about the kingdom he also demonstrated the power of the kingdom.
Today is the second of a two-part series called Tough Questions. We invited all of you to submit questions you would like us to respond to. So today we will talk about some of these questions. We decided to use a panel discussion approach with Pastor Gary and Pastor Brain and myself tackling these questions. For this series we received over 20 questions. More than we can tackle in two Sundays, so if we don’t get to your question we will hold on to it and keep it in mind for the future. Thank you for taking the time to ask some very good questions. Some of the question were similar so we were able to combine some of them. We only have about 10 minutes for each question so we are only scratching the surface but hopefully it will point you in a direction and give you some things to reflect on. So keep in mind we can’t get into all the various angles and deep theology discussions which some of these questions deserve but we will try to give you the bottom line answer we hope will be helpful.
Pastor Chris Hayward from Cleansing Stream Ministries presents this message, The Ring & The Robe.
A. THE COMPASSIONATE FATHER – Luke 15:18-23
B. THE ROBE - COVERS OUR SHAME - REPRESENTS HONOR - REPRESENTS VALUE
C. THE RING - AUTHORITY & PROPHETIC DECLARATION - IDENTITY & DESTINY - ABUNDANCE & PROSPERITY
D. THE OLDER BROTHER - REPRESENTS THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT - TRIES TO KILL THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - HATES REJOICING - PRODUCES NO FRUIT
E. RECEIVE THE ROBE & THE RING - AUTHORITY - IDENTITY - DESTINY
Today is the first of a two-part series called Tough Questions. We invited all of you to submit questions you would like us to respond to. So today and then again in two weeks we will talk about some of these questions. We decided to use a panel discussion approach with Pastor Gary and Pastor Brain and myself tackling these questions. For this series we received over 20 questions. More than we can tackle in two Sundays, so if we don’t get to your question we will hold on to it and keep it in mind for the future. Thank you for taking the time to ask some very good questions. Some of the question were similar so we were able to combine some of them. We only have about 10 minutes for each question so we are only scratching the surface but hopefully it will point you in a direction and give you some things to reflect on. So keep in mind we can’t get into all the various angles and deep theology discussions which some of these questions deserve but we will try to give you the bottom line answer we hope will be helpful.
We have been working our way through the gospel of Mark in the Bible and rediscovering the character and person of Jesus. Mark gives us these snap shots or portraits of Jesus throughout his gospel. He wants to introduce his readers to this amazing man and his amazing works. He is hoping that as we see the kind of person Jesus is and the amazing things he does that we will be convinced that he is more than a man. He wants us to grasp that Jesus was truly the son of God and is worthy of surrendering our lives to and following. Mark portrays Jesus as being in close relationship with God as his Father. He paints a picture through his stories of Jesus as a man of power and great authority. Yet this man of authority was a servant to all and was willing to suffer a cruel death on a cross so Father God would forgive us and allow us to walk in freedom and live all of eternity with them in Heaven, As we come to chapters 14- 16 and the end of the gospel of Mark he begins to focus us in on the cross and the resurrection and ends with Jesus commissioning us to go - and tell the whole world of his love and salvation. Last week Pastor Brian talked about the suffering of Jesus so this morning I would like to focus on the Extravagant Love that propelled Jesus to endure the cross to the very end. The players in this passage can be summarized as - those grateful followers who ministered to Jesus -disciples and others - those who thought they were too good and didn’t need what Jesus had to offer – religious leaders - those who thought they were too bad like Barabbas and the thieves crucified with Jesus - those broken, struggling with shame who had a hard time forgiving themselves like Peter
If you’re just joining us this morning I want to invite you into a conversation we’ve been having about Jesus as he is portrayed through the gospel of Mark. Last week we looked at the authority of Jesus in chapters 7-9. This week we are looking at chapters 10-12. By chapter 10 Jesus has left the region of Galilee, home to most of his ministry. He’s now traveling the 100 miles south to Jerusalem in the region of Judea. (roughly Harrisburg to Philadelphia). We still have six chapters left in Mark, but we’re looking at the last two weeks of Jesus’ life on earth. In these three chapters we have roughly 16 different stories of Jesus. Each depicting a wonderful aspect of his character and ministry. Which of His characteristics should we focus on this morning? Which one is what makes him amazing? - In chapter 10 he’s having a conversation with other Jewish lawyers about the complex legal issues surrounding divorce - lawyer - Jesus the discipler reaches down to the next generation and blesses them and prepares them for success – leader of a movement - In chapter 12 Jesus gets put to the test by a series of four questions from the different theologians The Southern Baptists, the Pentecostals, The Presbyterians, and the Catholics We see how smart Jesus was. Not only was he conversant in the religious conversations of the day, but he was truly innovative, he was on the cutting edge of defining the conversations. - teacher - In chapter 11 we see the public crying out for his political candidacy – Messiah King. - Just before that he heals a blind man by the side of the road. - Healer In these chapters we see a pictures of Jesus the lawyer, Jesus the discipler raising up another generation, Jesus the teacher leading people into truth, Jesus healer bringing wholeness to the broken, Jesus the Messiah King, Jesus bringing justice to disorder. This guy can do anything he puts his mind to. Which aspect of Jesus should we focus on this morning? He is on the Who’s Who list. He’s doing so many things right. This guy is an all-star in leadership, in his people skills. You can take any part of his lifestyle, cut and paste it into your family, into your business and it would flourish. He’s so amazing that this guy seems to be freak of nature. He’s almost untouchable. Which one is these talents makes him so extraordinary? The skeptic could say, he’s God. He can do whatever he wants. None of these are extraordinary then. So what makes him so amazing.
As you know we are in sermon series on the Gospel of Mark. We are looking at Mark by over all themes and with broad strokes. So this morning as we consider Mark chapters 7 through 9, I believe the over arching theme of these chapters is the authority of Jesus Christ. Before we look at Mark, I want to attempt to define what we mean when we use the word authority. I think to have a good working definition of authority it is helpful to also think about the word power. Sometimes these two words, authority and power, are confused or used interchangeably, but they are fundamentally different. By power, we mean might or ability. By authority, we mean the right to use power or the lawful use of power.
Mark is a fascinating book. One of the reasons scholars believe Mark’s writing is that of an eyewitness is because of the detail in the writing. Back when this text was written writers did not add a lot of unnecessary detail if it didn’t advance the plot. Mark adds narrative detail that only an eyewitness would bother recounting or remembering. And Mark was the eyewitness account of Peter, and Mark was his secretary. The first three chapters of Mark reads very much like the prologue to a story. It’s setting up foundational truths about who Jesus is, about his character and his early ministry. Portrait of Jesus- Jesus is Lord of the waves and the wind. And this is a profound portrait that will build us up in our faith and open our eyes.
The life of this historical figure named Jesus was so unique that the shocking affects of his life are still being felt 2,000 years later. Jesus is of course now the most famous Jewish rabbi who ever lived, and the most famous human being who ever lived. By now everyone has diverse opinions of him, and filters through which we perceive him. Wouldn’t it be amazing to clear away all that clutter and confusion and hear from an eye witness who saw all of his greatest miracles and listened to his teachings. Wouldn’t it be amazing to get the inside scoop from the one who knew him best- his right hand man, Peter?
This message is for both parents and non-parents alike. I want to share some insights about influencing others in such a way that our faith becomes contagious and is passed on to others. I will be using examples of parenting but you will see that these insights apply to our other relationships as well. I believe the primary goal of parenting from a biblical perspective is to pass on the Christian faith to our children. It is not to make them successful although we want that too. The Bible says “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” We realize in parenting that eternity is at stake. It is also the goal of our lives as followers of Jesus to pass on our faith as we rub shoulders with a hopeless world around us.
Learning from the sacrifice and selflessness of the first responders within our community, how do we learn to be a first responders community to people like Dahav, that seek and save and rescue the lost; that are the first on the scene of human wreckage.
First Timothy is a letter from a spiritual father to his son. It is a letter from a mature leader to a young leader, a mentor to an apprentice. Paul is writing to Timothy to instruct him on how to lead the believers in Ephesus. That’s what this letter is. So, in chapter one Paul instructs Timothy to teach certain men to stop teaching strange doctrines, chapter he tells Timothy how to instruct believers regarding prayer, chapter 3 he tells Timothy what character traits to look for in new leaders, chapter 4 he instructs Timothy to read the scriptures publicly and to exhort and teach, chapter 5 he give Timothy practical instructions about how to care for the poor among the believers. This brings us to chapter 6, our text for today. Here in chapter 6 Paul tells Timothy how to instruct followers of Jesus in regards to money. How believers should think about money and use their money, and this morning this is our purpose as well. Now you will see in this text, that right in the middle Paul leaves the topic of money for a moment and then comes right back to it. This is what we will do as well.
Luke 24 & Acts 1 – We’re going to be learning about the Holy Spirit. These two books are a continuation of one another. The author Luke is trying to show us is that the ministry that Jesus started on the earth, in the gospel of Luke, is continued through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. In fact, Jesus didn’t even start his ministry until the Holy Spirit came upon him in power in Luke 3. Jesus himself was dependent on the H.S. When you are born again and the Holy Spirit lives inside of you you become a continuation of his life and ministry on the earth.
When we think of the forefathers we often thing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But we often forget the importance of the fourth father of our faith, Joseph, the 11th son of Jacob. The Hebrew name Joseph means “to add to”or “repeat.” I know there are a lot of you with large families, and by the time you get to child 6, 7, 8, 9….picking names gets tough. So when Jacob got to his 11th son he basically said, “Let’s call him “Rerun.” But saw this “rerun” as a one of a kind and would use this him to save many nations. Joseph was also a dreamer. God prophetically gave him dreams and so he knew from an early age what God’s destiny was for him and his life.
We are in the midst of a series in which we are looking at the lives and legacies of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Today we are looking at the life of Jacob. - Jacobs father was Isaac and Abraham was his grandfather. - Rebecca was his mother - Jacob became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel Jacob was a twin and his brother Esau was born just seconds before him. He actually was holding onto Esau’s heel as they came through the birth canal. This meant that Esau was the oldest and had the right to the birthright which granted him a greater portion of the inheritance and also the greater blessing. - Esau was a rugged outdoorsy, hunter and adventuresome type and was his father’s favorite. - Jacob was more of a homebody and favorite of his mother. - Because of the parents playing favorites with the kids it set up the kids to hate each other. Jacob and Esau lived most of their lives in conflict with each other. Even in their mother’s womb they were struggling with each other. Rebecca felt this pushing and shoving going on inside of her. So she asks God about it.
We are in the second week of a four-part series called Four Fathers—an intentional play on words recognizing the four main characters of the second part of Genesis who also would be the forefathers of our faith. We often refer to these men as the patriarchs. They were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Last week Pastor Lester began our series taking a look at Abraham who is the main character in Genesis chapters 12 to 25. Isaac, Abraham’s son, is our focus this morning. Isaac doesn’t get nearly the print space that Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph have, but his story and the lessons we can learn from him are fascinating nonetheless. Many of you may be familiar with much of Isaac’s story—his long-promised and then miraculous conception, his date with destiny on Mount Moriah, finding Rebekah his wife, and then finally the embodiment of the term “sibling rivalry” with the births of the twins Jacob and Esau. As I dug into Isaac’s story, I was struck by something that I hadn’t really considered before: One of God’s primary purposes for Isaac was simply to keep the faith of his father Abraham. Think about it. God began by calling Abraham out of a pagan land to journey with God the rest of his life as a nomad in another pagan land. God began teaching Abraham what it meant to worship Him, follow Him, and trust Him. Abraham became a man of faith who served God wholeheartedly.
We are beginning a new series called Four Fathers. We will be talking about four of the patriarchs of our faith - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. The title is a play on words. They are four of our forefathers. Abraham is the first patriarch of Israel. A patriarch is a leader or ancestor of a family. Abraham became the patriarch of the Hebrew nation as well as other peoples. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all refer to Abraham as their father. Gal 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Because we are in Christ, Abraham is our father. The blessings of Abraham continue down through the generations to us today.
As Christians, what sets us apart from secular scholarship? As a believer it’s not enough just to believe in a historical event. This isn’t just a doctrine. For the believer, the death and resurrection of Jesus is an active force in my life. How do I access that force/power/life for myself? I want to answer that question this morning.
We’ve been learning how God our father doesn’t want his children to live lives clamped by worry and fear. We’ve been learning how to live courageously in the face of fear laying siege to our hearts. - Rejection in our relationships - In our financial calamity - Fear of failure, disappointment with myself - Fear for our families - Apprehension about death There’s one last topic we want to address. There seems to be a growing fear among Christians in the United States. The American church is feeling more and more like the outsider at the table. In our television shows and in our judicial decisions Christians are more frequently being painted into radicals who are infringing on the rights of others. Who are standing in the way. Fundamentalist is code word for radical. Evangelical is code word for judgmental. Christians are feeling this mounting sense of scapegoating, cultural labeling and ostracism. People are asking “where is this all heading.”
Fear of mounting societal ostracism, and impending persecution. If we’re not careful, we can pick up the shame attached to these accusations. Victim mentality. And we can let fear cramp us into a corner. Shame, Victimhood, Fear. Since when have those three been our friends. The Bible tells something completely different.
Today's message will specifically speak to parents and their fears for their children. But I do want to say that “Fearless about our Family” includes much more than the temptations that parents face regarding worrying about their children. You might be a young teenage worrying over your last remaining grandparent because of recent health issues, perhaps you have a cousin who you love like a brother, or maybe you are knees pleading with the Lord to change her husband’s heart. Or great-grandparents who are watching their family in the 3rd and 4th generation drift away from the Lord—no matter if you are single or married, parent or grandparent, childless or just a child—you have family that you love and care for. So I trust that as I share, God will apply my words to your specific life situation and challenge you and encourage you towards a life that is free from worry and anxiety regarding your loved ones.
We are going to talk about some of the fears and worries that surround the issue of finances. Rob Heagy is joining me in sharing some insights and about he and Tara’s journey in the area of trusting God with their finances. Rob works for High Concrete and Tara has a hair salon. The fear surrounding finances is one of the top fears and causes of anxiety in people’s lives. The fear of not having enough or the fear of losing what you do have is something people struggle with. Jesus talked a lot about money. He taught 38 parables that dealt with money management. He talked more about the role of money in our lives then he did on prayer. I believe he did this because he knew the power money can have over us if we don’t learn how to handle this issue in our lives. One of these teachings of Jesus about material things in our lives is found in Matthew 6.
Isaiah lived around 700 B.C. He was called to the southern Kingdom of Judah. The northern Kingdom had already collapsed and been taken captive by Assyria and know Assyria was threatening Judah. Judah had reason to be afraid, their fortified cities were attacked and captured by Assyria and now they were coming to the capital city, Jerusalem. Isaiah was a prophet, a seer which meant not only did he see the current situation and what God’s word was for that situation but he also saw into the future. He is seeing about 100 years into the future when the Jewish people would be slaves in Babylon and is speaking to these people as well.
Today we begin our 6-week series called “Fearless”. In addition to the many great passages in the bible we are also using the book called “The Fearless Life” by Jentezen Franklin as part of our personal devotional and small group discussion guide. This study is about helping each of us to embrace a courageous faith. God our father does not want we his children to live lives full of worry and fear. It is possible to experience peace in the midst of all the pressures of life that come at us. Max Lucado writes about the power of fear. He writes…. [Fear] turns us into control freaks … [for] … fear, at its center, is a perceived loss of control. When life spins wildly, we grab for a component of life we can manage: our diet, the tidiness of our home, the armrest of a plane, or, in many cases, people. The more insecure we feel, the meaner we become. We growl and bare our fangs. Why? Because we are bad? In part. But also because we feel cornered….. Fear releases the tyrant within.
Today is the last part of the series about our identity in Christ. Having a good understanding of our position in Christ is key to living a life of victory. Identity is so important. None of us wants to just feel like a number. We want to have a sense of worth and value. We feel violated when someone steals our identity and identity theft is a big criminal enterprise today. Well the Devil has stolen our identity and Jesus came to restore it back to us. Jesus gives us a brand new identity in him and invites us to sit with him in heavenly places. In other words, we no longer need to walk in defeat, instead Jesus gives us a new name and a new power to become more then conquerors. In this last message I would like to focus on some of the titles and names God uses to help us understand both our roles and relationship we have with him. These names our powerful, freeing and life changing when we grasp the truth in them. How we view ourselves is so important both in the natural as well as the spiritual. In the natural if we see ourselves as failures and victims we will tend to respond to life that way. If we see ourselves as holy and as overcomers we will rise up in strength. These images of ourselves become self-fulfilling prophecy in our lives.
Today is part four of the series we are doing about our identity in Christ. We are answering the question “Who am I”. We have embraced the truths that ….. - We are designed and created by God. - We are chosen and adopted by our Heavenly Father. - We have been born again and given a new nature – the old self or old nature has been crucified with Christ and we have a new nature that desires to please God. - We have been set free to live in the newness of the Spirit –We are set free from earthly ambitions and given spiritual ambitions. We are here on a mission from God. To walk in our freedom and to fulfill our mission assignment on earth we need to have our minds renewed or transformed by the power of God. If we try to live the Christian life with an un-renewed mind we will live a life of frustration because we keep hitting the wall. Our un-renewed mind keeps us locked into old patterns and mindsets. It keeps us bound to a form of godliness or spirituality without the power to go with it.
Today is the third message in our series on our identity in Christ, helping each of us to have a clear sense and understanding of who we really are because of our belonging to Jesus Christ; helping us to see ourselves in light of what God has done for us and in us in Christ Jesus. Today we are focusing specifically on our freedom in Christ. We are free in Christ is something often said. This sounds wonderful, but what does it really mean. What are the practical implications for our lives? I want us to look at four passages of scripture that will help us to understand more fully what freedom in Christ actually means. Three of these passages use the same Greek word translated free, freedom or liberty. The idea conveyed by this word is literally “unrestrained”, that is to say, to come and go at your pleasure, not a slave, exempt from obligation. As the redeemed of Jesus Christ this is our standing, freedom, unrestrained by outside forces, no longer a slave.
Today is part two of the series we are doing about our identity in Christ. In this series we are going after a foundational core issue of how God sees us and how we see ourselves. I believe that our spiritual growth, authority in prayer and ability to walk in victory is directly related to our understanding of who we are in Christ. The devil knows if he can keep you from understanding who you are in Christ, he can keep you from experiencing the victory and freedom which is your inheritance as a child of God. This is so important because how we perceive ourselves affects our behavior. The devil knows if he can deceive us in this area he can more easily trip us up. For instance…. If we see ourselves as weak we will give in more If we see ourselves as failures we will fail more If we see ourselves as poor we will have a poverty spirit If we see ourselves as victims we will continue to act like victims If we see ourselves as inadequate we will walk in fear If we see ourselves as having little worth we will live in insecurity If we see ourselves as sinners we will act like sinners Here is a good theological question. In our present identity in Christ are we sinners saved by grace or are we saints who still sin at times? There is an important difference.
Christian faith is not about what I need to do or believe, per say. You can do all the right things and believe all the right doctrines and still miss the very essence and spirit of our faith. At it’s core our faith has to do with relationship and personhood. Who do I belong to, and how does he relate to me and see me. Out of that core truth will flow these six messages that touch on: - Our relationship with God - His victory over sin, and freedom in us - His authority to conquer darkness under us - His purpose and ministry flowing through us