Waynesburg Christian Church: Recent Episodes
Jay Vanderbur/Keagan Jewell
If we were honest, we may only picture heaven as an unending church service – a never-ending sing-along in the sky... one great song after another... forever... and ever... and ever... and ever... and our heart sinks. That’s it? That’s the good news? That actually sounds kind of boring! Heaven will be anything but boring, and because heaven is real we can have tremendous hope!
The last half of the book of Acts features the message and ministry of Jesus continuing to go forward through the missionary journeys of Paul. Paul has faced beatings, imprisonment, dangers, and hardships untold. He has preached the Good News of Jesus, planted churches, defended the faith, and written letters to the churches to continue to teach and instruct them in The Way of Jesus. As we conclude our time in Acts, there is one more lesson for us to learn from Paul – and that last lesson teaches us how to finish well.
Life with God begins with discovery, excitement, and anticipation. Life with God is SO GOOD! But inevitably, some sort of “storm” comes our way – we experience the brokenness of this world in a loss, a betrayal, a disappointment, etc. and we have a hard time getting our bearings. We want to avoid the storm, go around the storm, have God take us out of the storm, but the only way out is through. The storm hurts. The storm will bring tears. The storm raises some very uncomfortable questions. Do you find yourself in the midst of a storm today? The Apostle Paul has some wise words for you.
Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ triumph over death and the grave! Want peace? Look at Easter. Want hope? Look at Easter. Want to know that your shame, your mistakes, and even death itself doesn’t get the last word? Look at Easter! Jesus relentlessly pursues our hearts and dares us to trust in Him!
Looking into Acts 20 and hearing Kyle Cooper share about his own missionary journey with Hope2 to Uganda!
Apostle Paul communicated the story of Jesus in a compelling, culturally relevant way to people who weren't always open, and we can do the same!
“I’m not really the Christian type.” Maybe you have heard this statement before. In Acts 16 we meet three people that may have been likely to say such a thing, but by the end of the story, all 3 are followers of Jesus! This cross-section of the Bible gives us a fascinating case study in the idea that the way of Jesus is for all sorts of people – even those that we would least expect!
In C.S. Lewis’ book, Surprised by Joy, he talks about how the phrase “chronological snobbery” was introduced to him. Chronological snobbery is the idea that earlier times in history are inherently inferior to the present – that since civilization has advanced in certain areas, that the people of earlier periods were less intelligent. This Sunday we will continue to examine the church at Antioch and consider the advice they would have for us today. We may wonder what in the world could a church from a couple thousand years ago teach us.
What should you look for in a church? The New Testament speaks of several churches, but the church in Antioch was a model church in many ways. What made the church at Antioch special? Why does it matter for us today?
The early church was marked by prayer. Prayers for boldness in the face of opposition. Prayers for the message of Jesus to be carried forward faithfully. Prayers for those who would be sent out. What do the prayers of the early church show us about how we can be praying today?
Has Amazing Grace become ordinary to you? Have we forgotten how amazing God's grace is and are we are just going through the motions? Chris Bell walks us through Saul's conversion in Acts chapter 9 and the church started to form with urgency, God calls us to have the same urgency in today's church, to not let his grace just be ordinary, but amazing!
God doesn’t ask us to go share the good news about Jesus for Him, but with Him. He is always working – even when we don’t see it or expect it! As we walk through the Book of Acts, we will witness God’s incredible move toward people right where they are. If you know Jesus, then you may look with wonder and remember the lengths God went to in order to make Himself known to you. If you are seeking to know more about Jesus, then you may have already experienced God’s answers to your seeking in some unexpected ways!
As we walk through the Book of Acts and see how the church was born, how it grew, and how it overcame powerful opposition we will come across many people that God used in incredible ways to propel the mission and message of Jesus forward! Join us Sunday at 9:30am as we continue our “Unstoppable God: Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth” series by considering the story of Stephen and receive fresh inspiration to join God on His mission today!
On the very first occasion when someone stood up in public to tell people about Jesus, he made it very clear – this message is for everyone! It was a great day – often referred to as the day that the church was born in Acts 2. The Holy Spirit had swept through Jesus’ followers and filled them with new joy and a new sense of God’s presence. Their leader, Peter, who just weeks before had wept in shame after he denied even knowing Jesus, was now on his feet in front of a large crowd explaining that something had happened which had changed the world forever! What God had done for Peter, He was beginning to do for the whole world... new life... new hope... forgiveness... was available and it was for everyone! “The promise is for you,” he said, “and for your children, and for all who are far off” (Acts 2:39). While the Book of Acts tells the story of the beginning chapters of the Church, it is not only the story of the apostles and earliest churches, it is the story of the Church – the church that Jesus established, the one that He promised the gates of hell would not prevail against, and the one that carries the message, “This promise is for you... and for all who are far off!” It’s a story that continues in our church and churches all over the world!
Looking into the new year we come to a crossroad and we are given a choice to live in the past or choose to do something new for God. God is doing something today, He will meet us at the crossroad and gives us hope for the future!
n the first stanza to the song, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” we sing these words:Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.Sometimes the world is a dark, scary, and broken place. If you’ve lived long enough you’ve probably endured some obstacles or hardships. Christmas compels us to choose which narrative we will live by when these things occur - Do we believe that Jesus really is the answer to all of our “hopes and fears” or do we believe that we go it alone? May this Christmas be a persistent reminder that even though we find ourselves in dark and weary places, we don’t have to endure it alone. Christmas tells us of God’s amazing move toward us in Jesus! It tells us that Jesus entered the brokenness and darkness of this place and that He has overcome! Christmas tells us to believe and hope and rest in Him! Merry Christmas!
The Christmas season has so many layers. There is a lot of hustle and bustle - special programs at school and church, preparing for special gatherings and parties, decorating, and some shopping too. This season is also tied to a lot of nostalgia- family memories of past Christmases, special family traditions that are passed along, and some new traditions that may be created as well! This is also a season of family - gathering with close family members and some that you only see this time of year. With all these layers to Christmas, it would be easy to miss the heart of Christmas. What is the heart of Christmas? We find the heart of Christmas in a manger of Bethlehem. In the miraculous move of God to come near - to be Immanuel, God with us! At the heart of Christmas is Savior who invites us to pause...to take a deep breath...and come to Him.
Where's your Christmas spirit? A quick internal search about the definition of "Christmas spirit" returns all sorts of ideas - generosity, kindness, and charity toward others; a spirit of "togetherness;" a sense of joy and general cheer, etc. These all sound very wonderful, but the idea of "Christmas spirit" by its very name, sound temporary and fleeting. The routines of "real life" reappear in early January and the joy of Christmas season always seems to fade away. But the true story of Christmas - the real Spirit of Christmas - doesn't have to fade away!
There are some beautiful things about winter, but the winter season brings less daylight and less warmth - we see all around us creation going dormant. It's fitting for us that the season of Advent coincides with the season of winter, God's creation gives us a powerful reminder each year as we go through winter that spring is coming - light is coming, warmth is coming, new life is coming! This what our hearts long for - for God to come, to show up - to show up in the hard things and joyous things, the planned for things and the extraordinary things. Advent reminds us that deep under the surface and out of our sight, God is working - He always has been, and He always will and one day He will come again!
When the Church was born, a building didn't miraculously come bursting out of the ground! From the beginning, the Church wasn't a building but a people whose lives have been captured by Jesus. These lives are often fragile always imperfect...but never abandoned! The Church has outlived empires and will be around long after political parties and factions fade away. Jesus said that He would build His Church and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it...if you are ready to be part of a movement that will last forever, if you want to be known, loved, and encouraged, then you are invited to put your roots down in the soil of the local church! There is a part for you to play!
Listen as we hear examples from Nehemiah and Esther as they put God first and their trust in the Lord.
"You had to be there..." Sometimes words fail to fully describe something we have experienced and this is our only reply. The gathering of the local church can be one those things. The church gathered is a unique and special occurrence that Christians are instructed not to neglect. There is a special grace when the body of Christ comes together to sing, hear, read, declare, and remember Jesus and all he has done.
Why attend the corporate gathering of the local church? Because life is hard, and we need hope - and hope that is embodied by Jesus 2000+ years ago and hope that is embodied in His people - the Church now! The gathered church is where we are reminded of the promises of God and where the Good News of Jesus is sung, declared, and seen in baptism and the Lord's Supper.
What is the Church about? Culture has all sorts of ideas about what Church should be focused on...so does Jesus! What measuring stick does Jesus use for the Church?
I will never forget something I saw on one of the first trips I made to see my oldest daughter at college. There alongside the interstate was a church. The church had a large sign that everyone passing by could see. What did the church sign say that day? It said, “Church shopping? We’re open Sundays at 9am!” That is kind of a funny thing to say, but it reflects a cultural attitude that has seeped into modern American church life – that Church is a product to consume (i.e., you can consume it in-person or online as long as you consume it) and that you can treat Church like a consumer (as long as the product is appealing and the costumer service is excellent, then I am in, otherwise easy come, easy go). I am painting with a broad brush with my examples here, and I know that finding the right church family to belong to can be a challenge, but the Church is so much bigger – it’s too important – to treat with a consumer mindset!What is the Church? The Church is the vehicle of God’s grace – loving, caring, and demonstrating God’s grace toward one another and sharing hope with a broken world! The Church is the body of Christ – where each member is valuable and has a purpose! The Church is the bride of Christ – sacrificially loved and cared for by Jesus and eagerly waiting to be united with Him! Join us Sunday at 9:30am as we begin a new sermon series called, “Love Your Church.” In this series we will consider NOT how to treat the Church like a consumer, but instead will answer the question, “How can I LOVE my church?”
We will hear a testimony of calling, sacrifice, and God's goodness from Randy Tempest and Lindsey Jeffers.
Hard times can sap us of our enthusiasm and use up our reserves. These hard times require something more than willpower and optimism. We need strength...but it's got to be strength from beyond our human resources. Where can we look to find strength?
Billy Graham said, "A spirit of thankfulness is one of the most distinctive marks of a Christian whose heart is attuned to the Lord." Listen in with Larry Stump as he talks about what ungratefulness looks like and how the Bible calls us to be grateful in all we do.
Apathy....Indifference...Meh...Maybe the greatest danger for the Church is not people denying Jesus but people growing bored with Him. How can we move ways from indifference toward zeal?
It's one thing to read about prayer....study prayer... or memorize some facts about prayer. It's another thing to show up honestly before God with all your doubts, dreams, disappointments and details...over and over again. What's the secret that keeps followers of Jesus showing up in prayer? This week we will continue looking at how to persevere in prayer.
What do John McClane, sports fans, and a story Jesus tells about a persistent widow have in common? Listen and find out!
Some of you have questions... Is this God thing real? Is there an infinitely loving and good Author behind this grand story? If so, is God knowable? The answers to those questions can only be discovered... and you and I are invited to be found by God in the place he’s most faithfully been found throughout history - through prayer. Join us Sunday morning at 9:30 as we consider God’s invitation to know Him through prayer.
When does a boy become a man? This is a question that every boy wrestles with. There are all sorts of loud voices these days, but our Heavenly Father has some direction for every young man and every father.
Children long for the blessing of their fathers. That reality makes these words from Genesis 25:28 so haunting. “Isaac loved Esau... but Rebekah loved Jacob.” Esau grows up with the blessing and approval of his father while Jacob does not. Jacob goes to great lengths to fraudulently gain a positive declaration from his father. The aftermath is a mess... but somehow God transforms the mess into a message.
At the end of Genesis 21, life finally seemed to be settling down for Abraham... But in Genesis 22, God showed up asking for the unimaginable - to literally offer Abraham’s son, Isaac up to God. Abraham had to be experiencing anguish and agony as he and Isaac go on a father/son road trip. In the end, God steps in to provide a substitute. Hundreds of years later, another son of promise is placed on the wood and offered up, but this time it is God’s one and only Son. God spared Abraham and Isaac, but He did not spare himself to rescue us!As we begin our next sermon series titled, “Daddy Issues: God’s Amazing Grace for Fathers.” This series will help us to see how various fathers in the Bible were deeply flawed, but amazingly used, often in-spite of themselves.
Mary, the mother of Jesus. There may not be a better example of a mother in the Bible who personifies grit and grace. Unexpected twists and turns... promise and pain... God meets Mary in these things and can meet you too in the midst of your trials and in the midst of the moments that you treasure.
When we meet Hannah in the book of 1 Samuel, the first impression could simply be described as painful. She longs to have children, but she can’t. Her rival is constantly taunting her. Her pain is private and public, and the Bible tells us that this went on year after year (1 Samuel 1:7). But Hannah takes charge of her situation, and everything turns. Her face is no longer downcast (1 Samuel 1:18), and finally her dream of becoming a mother is realized (1 Samuel 1:20). What was Hannah’s secret? How did she take control of her life? The surprising answer is found in one word... surrender.
Imagine being in her shoes... There were no good options to choose from... Behind door number 1: Allow her newborn son to be put to death... Behind door number 2: Disobey the political superpower of the day and invite their wrath. Courage is rarely born of nice, neat, and tidy circumstances, but Jochebed (the mother of Moses) met this moment with courage, creativity, and faith - and God miraculously provided! Could God be calling you, in the midst of challenging circumstances, to respond in the same way?
I love how honest and raw the Bible is. If it were mere legend, the main characters would not be so rough around the edges. But the Bible gives us real people who encountered a real God in real life. In our next series, “Grit & Grace: A Biblical Look at Some Tough Mothers" we will look into the lives of some mothers and we will see some very high highs and some very low lows. We will also see how God met them in their circumstances and demonstrated His grace and love in powerful ways.
Stephen Spielberg, the acclaimed film producer, said in a television interview years ago that nearly all of his films deal with the underlying theme of homesickness because people are disconnected and pining for a place where they will feel safe and loved - like the extra-terrestrial in the film ET, we too long to go home. The Gospel of Luke concludes with the ascension of Jesus - but where does He go? In John 14, Jesus told His followers that He would go and prepare a place for them and come back to bring them to be with Him. The Bible talks about this home - in this place God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). We access this beautiful promise through faith in Jesus! He invites you and me into relationship with Him - where we can be fully known and fully loved. And when you get homesick, you can be reminded that Jesus can walk with you all the way... home.
Easter Sunday is in the rearview mirror. But the POWER or resurrection lives on. What did the resurrection of Jesus mean for Jesus’ earliest followers? What does it mean for us? How do we live in light of the resurrection?
In Luke 24 we meet two people walking down the road leaving Jerusalem heading to a town called Emmaus. They face real obstacles to continued belief in Jesus. For them the reality of Roman crucifixion meant the end of the hope that Jesus brought. They have heard some wild speculation about strange occurrences at His tomb, but how do they know what to believe? On the road they meet a stranger - He explains to them a different perspective - they had been hoping that God’s long story would redeem his people FROM suffering, but the stranger explained that God’s story was about how he would redeem his people THROUGH suffering! Eventually their eyes were opened, and their hearts were set ablaze - Jesus had risen from the dead and nothing would be the same again! Maybe you are on your own road to Emmaus - disappointed and disoriented - not really sure what to believe. Could it be that Jesus has been there all along and you haven’t recognized Him?
On the night that Jesus is to be arrested He shares a Passover meal with the disciples. In Luke 22, Jesus says that He has “earnestly desired” to share this meal together. For Jesus, this wasn’t just another Passover meal, or just His final Passover meal before His arrest, it was the moment when he would explain to his followers, in deeds and words rich with meaning, what He was about to do and how it was for them... and really for anyone who would believe. On this night Jesus injected the Passover meal with a new meaning and from that point forward, followers of Jesus have been inviting others to come to the table. There is a seat for you too!
Calendars. Bank Balances. Daily commutes. Tick. Tick. Tick. The metronome of life ticks by steadily and repeatedly... it can lull us into a malaise, distract our hearts, and dull us to the greater reality of God’s plans and purposes in our lives. In Luke 12, Jesus tells a series of stories that encourage us to wake up and be watchful for His Kingdom to come! Do you need a wake up call?
What is God really like? This is a question that Jesus is constantly butting heads with the religious leaders about in first century Israel. One day the crowds gathered to hear Jesus and He tells one of the most beautiful stories that captures what the heart of God is like - the story of the prodigal son. The prodigal son tried to find satisfaction away from home. He tried to find himself away from the father’s house. But the very things that the prodigal was hoping would fulfill him... well, they failed him. When he reached the bottom, he came to his senses and started to make his way home. Burdened with questions about how badly he had messed up his life, filled with insecurity about how he would be received, the last thing he expected was to see his father running toward him with open arms, welcoming him home. This was forgiveness. This was grace. This was overflowing, unconditional, steadfast love. This is the story that Jesus told to make clear the heart of our Heavenly Father for you and me and all who will listen to His voice! Maybe you have looked for fulfillment apart from the Father’s love... Maybe you have wondered if you are too far gone... Maybe today is the day to turn your heart back toward home.
Does prayer ever feel like a combination lock? Does it feel like if you can just crack the code, then you can unlock greater things for your life and greater intimacy with God? You have probably been encouraged by others to pray. You have most likely heard other people pray countless times. And yet, for so many, prayer is a struggle. In Luke 11, when Jesus’ disciples say, “Lord, teach us to pray” we need to listen to His answer! In short order, Jesus shares a model for prayer, shares a story, and gives a promise that we can all lean into!
The first eight and a half chapters of Luke answer the really big question, “Who is Jesus?” by showing us over and over again that Jesus, full of love, beauty, and truth - is God’s promised rescuer. The next several chapters answer a second really big question, “What are you going to do about it?” Luke 10 gives us a component of that answer - that those who have been transformed by the love of Jesus are to live as messengers, neighbors, and worshippers.
The first eight and a half chapters of Luke answer the really big question, “Who is Jesus?” by showing us over and over again that Jesus, full of love, beauty, and truth - is God’s promised rescuer. The next several chapters answer a second really big question, “What are you going to do about it?” Luke 10 gives us a component of that answer - that those who have been transformed by the love of Jesus are to live as messengers, neighbors, and worshippers.
Have you ever experienced “the thing underneath the thing?” Maybe your child had a hard day at school, and you are on the receiving end of it. Maybe your co-worker blew up at you, and it really doesn’t have anything to do with you at all. There are always motivations and assumptions, blessings and wounds, underneath our behavior - sometimes they are healthy and sometimes not so much. At the end of Luke 9 Jesus says some hard things. Initially it seems as if Jesus is pushing people away, but Jesus is always aware of “the thing underneath the thing.” Rather than mute the words of Jesus, let’s lean in and receive them - they just might be the smelling salts of truth that awaken us and jerk us back into seeing Him and worshipping Him.
Luke 9 is a training session for the disciples. One of the things that Jesus teaches them comes towards the end of the chapter after he had miraculously healed a tormented boy. Understandably, people were “amazed” and were “marveling at all that Jesus did” (v. 43). It seems that this incredible display by Jesus got the disciples wondering and arguing about their own greatness and status in the kingdom of God. Jesus was aware of what was going on and he brought a little child to stand beside him and said:“Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” - Luke 9:48What is Jesus saying here? A child has no power, no money, no recognition, and no accomplishments. It’s easy to show kindness to those with power, money, and status - they can bless you back. But Jesus is calling his disciples to imitate him by challenging them to love even the least of these. Most of us have some sort of inclination to achieve. But often we don’t just want to achieve, we want to be recognized and be perceived as great by others. Jesus brings forth a child to challenge this impulse inside of us. Greatness, as God sees it, is a call to humility and service - a call to love what Jesus loves and do what Jesus does. Luke has already flipped the script by holding up the marginalized and insignificant as models of faith - a pregnant virgin (Luke 1), a tax collector (Luke 5), a woman with a bad reputation (Luke 7), and an unclean woman (Luke 8:44). Genuine greatness may look different than what we may naturally think! Are you ready for Jesus to redefine greatness for you?
Interruptions are everywhere. Conversations are interrupted by others chiming in. Travel is interrupted by weather. Can you imagine the list of all the things in life that our phones interrupt with texts, notifications, etc. In the final scene of Luke 8 we meet two people who couldn’t be more different - one is affluent and powerful and the other is isolated and poor. Despite their differences, their lives have both been interrupted by tragedy, and at the same time, in the same place, on the same day, their lives intersect with Jesus. How does Jesus respond to them?
It was a SCANDAL! One of the cultural elites, Simon, had invited a young rabbi to dinner for a public roundtable discussion. The evening was going fine until an uninvited guest “crashed the stage” weeping at the feet of the Rabbi. Let’s just say this woman had a reputation. Simon was surprised that the young rabbi would even allow such a person to touch him. The young rabbi’s response to Simon was even more surprising. Simon’s questions about who Jesus was and who Jesus welcomes were answered that day. If you’ve ever wondered who Jesus was and who Jesus welcomes, then Luke 7 has some answers.
The prefix “en” in the word encourage means to put into, and the prefix “dis” in the word discourage means to separate from, expel, or deprive. So, to encourage someone literally means to put courage into them, and to discourage someone means to drain courage from them. In Acts 4 we meet a man who specialized in putting courage into people and into the early church. His name was Barnabas and he shows us just how powerful encouragement can be!
The early church boldly stepped out to share the message of Jesus. Many responded to the message, but some opposed it. In an early encounter with the authorities Peter and John were warned not to speak or teach again in the name of Jesus... or else! The pressure was on! Their response wasn’t political... and it wasn’t philosophical. It was awe... awe at what they had seen this Jesus do and awe at what they had heard him say! They had seen things that they couldn’t un-see and heard things that they could not forget! They were eyewitnesses to God’s move in their midst and no matter what pressure was put on them - no matter the odds stacked against them, they could not be quiet! “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” - Acts 4:20
In first century Jesus was not the only person who claimed to be the promised messiah - many of these individuals had their lives ended the same way Jesus’ did. But we do not hear any mention of disappointed followers claiming that their hero had been raised from the dead. When your leader dies (and you have escaped arrest) you either give up the cause or find another leader. Claiming the original leader was alive again was not an option...unless he actually was. Jesus’ followers go from hiding in fear to boldly proclaiming the message of Jesus publicly! What can make sense of this transformation?
ONE is a big enough number for God! In Acts chapter 2 God moves in a miraculous and powerful way and 3,000 people are born again into God’s family! Acts chapter 3 serves as a bit of a contrast because God once again moves in a miraculous and powerful way, but it’s not on behalf of a crowd, it’s on behalf of a disabled, poor man begging in front of the temple. The man that could not walk had a need and his need was obvious, but Peter is quick to point to the truth that we all have a need - we all desperately need Jesus! A crowd gathered as witnesses of a miracle, but they too had the opportunity to experience a miracle of their own - their guilt could get in the way, their pride could blind them to their need, their ignorance could leave them just as helpless and hopeless as the lame man, but if they would dare to hope in Jesus, then their lives’ too could be transformed! How about you? Would you dare to hope in Jesus? You may be surprised at what you find if you take that step of faith!
After His death, burial, and resurrection Jesus’ followers were sent out to tell others the Good News of another kingdom and another King. Their message of Hope and Redemption in Jesus changed the world and it continues to change the world today. But how did they do it? These were unschooled, ordinary people. How were they equipped to change the world? Well... they had a Helper. And that same Helper is available to us today!
The story of Jesus demonstrates God’s amazing power, His amazing love, and His amazing grace – God among us teaching, healing, praying, dying on the cross, conquering the grave, and ascending into heaven! Yet, the story of Jesus doesn’t end with Jesus! It continued as His earliest followers lived it into the next generation and the Church was born! Even now, the story of Jesus continues in the lives of those who believe in Him! It has always been God’s intention to choose normal, everyday people and to show His amazing power and love through them. Are you ready to be part of the greatest story ever known?
Congratulations Graduates!!! This week is a special Sunday! We get to celebrate our graduates and give them a message on “Making Memorials."
Is this world situation feeling more and more challenging to navigate? Are you feeling the weight of it all more and more? How do you move forward in faith? How do you persevere? God’s Word has some encouragement for you!
We all have a picture in our mind of what we think the ideal or “perfect” family is... and it is not us! Families faced all sorts of challenges before the current world situation, and some of those challenges have multiplied in the last few weeks. We all need to be reminded that God isn’t holding up a perfect picture for us to measure up to, but He is asking us to invite Him to write a bigger story with our lives and with our families.
We are surrounded by bad news these days – Coronavirus coverage, failing health, unemployment... it is easy for the bad news to steal our peace and rob our rest. What if there was Good News that said... There is hope in your storm... There is rest for your restlessness... There is peace for your circumstance... ... The Lord has Good News for us to hear and believe these days! This is the first message as we begin a new sermon series, “Good News Home In A Bad News World”
Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ triumph over death and the grave! Want peace? Look at Easter. Want hope? Look at Easter. Want to know that your shame, your mistakes, and even death itself doesn’t get the last word? Look at Easter! Jesus relentlessly pursues our hearts and dares us to trust in Him! We can’t wait to celebrate the Risen King Jesus with you!
You don't have to have all of the answers to have faith! If you are struggling with doubt Jesus can meet you right there where you are at! He is for people just like you! This message shares some principles to help you if you are passing through the valley of doubt!
Do you ever feel like God is running late? Do you ever wonder how Jesus responds to your pain? Well, there is this scene in the book of John where Jesus meets some people that have some emotions that you may identify with – they are hurt, disappointed, frustrated, and grieving... How does Jesus respond to them? Jesus, meets these individuals and offers them an incredible message and an incredible moment... Is that what you need in these days? – a message – a moment with Jesus that can change everything?