TFRC Sermons: Recent Episodes
Twin Falls Reformed Church
Acts 16: 22-33Silas was a significant leader in the church, and he accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey. In Philippi they encountered an evil spirit, were slandered, arrested, flogged and imprisoned. But even through all of that, Silas and Paul help the jailer and his household come to faith. Silas went on to be listed as a co-author of some of the epistles as well as the bishop of the Corinthian church.
Acts 15:36-41John Mark was relationally connected to key members of the early church, but his first attempt to participate in the spread of the gospel ended in failure. This led to such a sharp dispute between Paul and Barnabas that they went separate ways. However, when Barnabas gave Mark a second chance, he became a faithful partner in the ministry to the point of writing one of the Gospels.
Acts 9:26-30Barnabas was someone who believed in and encouraged Paul, even when others doubted him. Barnabas sought Paul out, advocated for him, and believed in him. But as Paul’s ministry continued, Barnabas was willing to let him take the lead. In our own lives we all have people like Barnabas that believe in us and encourage us as we try to live our lives for Jesus. But who are we called to do that for in our lives - what sidekick role are we called to take in someone's faith journey? Where are we called to believe in someone that others don’t and walk with them? Are we willing to follow when it's their time to lead?
1 Samuel 28:5-20As Saul continues to rely on himself rather than God, he allows fear to lead him astray. When the Philistine army set up camp at Shumen, Saul was filled with a fear that distorted his perspective and tempted him to compromise. When we give into fear rather than putting our hope in God and relying on him we too can be led astray by our fear..
1 Samuel 22:9-19As King Saul’s obsession with killing David grew, it drove him further away from God. Upon learning that the priests of Nob had helped David - not knowing that the King was after him - King Saul was ruthless in killing the priests and all the residents of Nob. Unchecked anger only grows and becomes more violent.
Matthew 13:44-47Brandon Craig from Operation Mobilization explores the parables of the hidden treasure, the priceless pearl, and the net and how they apply to global mission field.
1 Samuel 15:7-15The Amalekites were a people whose animosity towards Israel began in Exodus. Because of this, King Saul was commanded to eliminate them as a threat. However, he disobeyed and spared King Agag (and probably others) as well as sheep and cattle. He did not do this out of mercy, but out of greed. His greed led him to disobey the Lord and then claim that he did what the Lord commanded (which today would be called gaslighting). We need to do what the Lord commands even when it costs us.
1 Samuel 18:1-9 Theme: Jealousy - As David became more and more beloved and influential, King Saul became jealous of what he had. He lived into his own insecurities, lacked contentment with who he was, began listening to the outside noise of the world, and ended up losing sight of what mattered most. Rather than ruling the way God had called him to, he became obsessed with being Greater than David. When we find ourselves living with a jealous heart, we too can find ourselves acting like Saul, but if we see ourselves for our strengths, live with contentment, tune out unnecessary noise, and keep our eyes on what matters most we can keep ourselves from falling into the trap of jealousy.
1 Samuel 13:5-14Theme: Impatience - 1 Samuel 13:1-14 (Didn’t wait for Samuel) We often like to work and live at our own pace and schedule, but God often works on his own timing. So what happens when we are impatient with God’s timing?... We make a fool of ourselves; we keep ourselves from living out the potential of who God has called us to be. In our passage King Saul was impatient with God’s timing because of his ambition for accomplishment, being consumed by the chaos of his life, and because of his fear of failure. These same things have the ability to influence our impatience and keep us from Trusting in God’s Timing.
1 Samuel 11:6-14We all have great potential, but it is our character flaws that keep us from reaching it. Saul showed great leadership, character, and courage in this passage - it was a moment where the people saw the king he could be. However, Saul’s flaws would eventually keep him from being the king Israel was hoping for.
Mark 9:14-24As we celebrate graduates this time of year, Youth Director Tanner Smith reminds us that with regard to faith (and other things), it’s okay to not have it all figured out. The key is to make progress and make your faith your own, relying on Jesus to perfect your faith as you move into whatever's next.
Acts 2:1-4Pentecost was the remembrance of the Israelites receiving the Law of God at Mt. Sinai; given as a guide since they were delivered from Egypt. But In the book of Acts, God gives the disciples the Holy Spirit to guide believers since they were delivered from sin. The Spirit is an improvement from the law and fulfills what the law started.
Psalm 103:19-22God rules over all things; there is not one aspect of creation that is not under his rule. Angels and mighty ones do His bidding. Thus the blessings of God are ever-present and never-ending. His sovereign rule makes Him praiseworthy by all things.
Psalm 103:15-18Scripture teaches that our lives are fleeting; like the grass and flowers, we are here and then gone and remembered no more. But God doesn’t forget those who fear him. He remains faithful to the children’s children of those who fear Him. Our faithfulness to God will benefit our descendants who come after us.
Esther 4:10-17We are linking our mission partners and our congregation to a deeper connection in God’s mission; reminding everyone that they are made for such a time as this in God’s plan.
Psalm 103:6-14Our sins put us in a position deserving God’s anger and wrath; they have put us in a place of distress and chaos. But even though God is the one we have sinned against, He sees our distress and wants to alleviate us from it. So God relents from His anger and does not respond to us as we deserve. Rather He removes our transgressions from us to give us relief from our suffering in this chaotic world.
Psalm 103:1-5Our passage starts by framing our hearts for how we should respond to God’s blessings - we are to praise him with all our inmost being! We are encouraged to do this through remembering that God renews, forgives, heals, redeems us, and satisfies our desires with good things. When we remember the renewal God provides, we live and praise him with greater gratitude.
Matthew 16:24-27Jesus tells his disciples to not focus on worldly gain since it is temporary. The path to life is not fulfilling our desires, but being willing to give them up. Even if we gained everything the world had to offer, that would still not be worth the sacrifice of our souls.
Mark 10:17-22When the rich man asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life, he was hoping that his conduct alone would get him there. But Jesus revealed that the true path to eternal life was not based around good behavior, but instead surrender and sacrifice. We have to be willing to surrender our pride, our security and our life.
Matthew 9:1-8While healing a paralyzed man, Jesus also forgives the man’s sins, displaying His authority over sin. The Pharisees did not think Jesus was allowed to speak forgiveness into that man’s life, so their thoughts were evil because they did not recognize Jesus’ authority. How do we refuse Jesus’ authority in our lives?
John 6:61-69There are some things in the Christian faith that are just a “bridge too far” for us. What are some of those things? Are we still willing to follow?
Mark 4:35-41In this story, the disciples have plenty to be afraid of - they are traveling in a boat at night; a storm comes and water is coming into the boat to the point it is nearly swamped; and Jesus is asleep in the back of the boat. There are lots of things we are understandably afraid of. However, Jesus expects us to not despair because He will address that which causes us to fear.
Daniel 6:10-13,16-17,19-23Faithful living often gets us in trouble in our world. It can get us fired, create tensions in friendships, and even confront us with our mortality. When we live faithfully to God we will experience persecution, whether great or small, but how does God call us to live in the face of it? We are still called to put our trust in the Lord even in the chaos of the lion’s dens of life. But, doing so will require steadfastness, patience and fortitude, even when God’s faithfulness doesn't end up looking the way we hope or expect.
Daniel 5:22-31Knowing the story of his father humbling himself before God, King Belshazzar still chooses to pridefully set himself up against God. He chose not to honor God with his living and paid the price with death. We have to choose to die to our pride, or we will die from it. Last week we talked about the hope of restoration when we submit to God, this week we see the consequences of continuing to live in prideful rebellion against God even when you know the truth. We must quit being the rulers of our own lives and allow God to reign over us. What are we pridefully putting ahead of God’s rule over our lives?
Daniel 4:28-37Daniel 4 revolves around King Nebechudnezzar; a character study that highlights what happens to our humanity when we embrace the sin in our lives and the restoration that is possible when we live the way God designed us to live. We live in a world that can easily bring us to act like animals, giving into our carnal desires, but we can experience restoration when we choose to submit to God’s design for living. Will we choose to live into our carnal desires or God’s design?
Daniel 3:16-27Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to betray their God by worshipping the gods set up by Nebuchadnezzar. Even under immense pressure, they refused to yield. Their faithfulness does not come with an expectation of God’s deliverance, but they will not betray their God regardless of what happens to them. That is the kind of loyalty that God values and displays.
Daniel 2:19-29While we are in the world but not of the world, we sometimes forget how temporary life is. God is the God of history as He changes times and seasons, raises up and deposes kings, and knows what lies in the darkness. It is easy to get caught up in the latest trend the world has to offer, but everything the world offers is simply a mist: here today and gone tomorrow. We remain faithful to The Kingdom, because it is the only one that lasts.
Daniel 1:8-16Daniel exemplifies what it looks like for us to courageously stand up for our faith and convictions in foreign land, or a land that goes against Christian values. Daniel blends conviction with wisdom and tact; he doesn’t compromise truth, but he communicates it humbly, respectfully, and creatively. Courageous standing up for our faith doesn’t need to be combative. Godly conviction should be accompanied by grace and discernment in approach.
2 Kings 20:1-11God doesn’t always answer our prayers like we want. However, there are many times He does. In Hezekiah’s life, God comes through for him in big ways. When God comes through for us, we experience a deep sense of gratefulness, feel like we matter to God, and feel closer to God. When we don’t feel this way, it is likely we are taking God’s goodness for granted.
John 13:34-35Exploring the teachings of Jesus on relationships that transcend cultural expectations of servanthood, forgiveness, and peacemaking.
Luke 2:13-16Christmas is a season of anticipation, but in our excitement, we often move too fast to try and get there. We move at a fast pace trying to get all the shopping done, attend all the parties, watch as many Christmas movies as possible, and prepare the house for all the family coming over. In our anticipation we can easily miss the christmas message of the heavenly hosts - “Peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests.” Even in our anticipation, Christmas is a season where we should be slowing down to experience and live into the peace of God.
Luke 2:8-12On a night just like any other, the shepherds found themselves confronted with a message of good news in the middle of the ordinary; the middle of the mundane. They would be presented with the good news of the messiah’s arrival; news that should elicit a heart of joy and celebration! They were told he would be wrapped in cloth waiting for them in the mundane of a manger in a stable. Jesus is waiting to bring joy and be celebrated this holiday season, even in the mundane. Are we taking time to slow down and celebrate him in the midst of it? Are we slowing down enough this holiday season to hear the message that God has for us in the mundane?
Luke 2:1-7 A census is declared; Joseph has to make the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. By the way, he is engaged. By the way, his fiancé is pregnant. By the way, there is no room for them in the guest room. Jesus’ birth forced Joseph to stop. How can we find a time to stop this Advent season?
1 Corinthians 15:1-6If God is all powerful and good, then why do bad things happen? This is the classic question of the problem of evil. There are two ways to approach this question: from the head and from the heart. From the head the answer is God allows evil to either prevent a greater evil or bring about a greater good. However, that will not make anyone feel better. The heart issue is that when we suffer, we need God to comfort us. The challenge is to trust in the God who allowed us to suffer.
Luke 15:17-24The prodigal son realizes that home had everything he was looking for and made the decision to go back. But before he even made it home, his father saw him and ran to him. The son repents and the father responds by celebrating with a feast because his son went from being dead to alive. Similarly when someone professes Jesus as their Lord and Savior, there is reason to celebrate because they have gone from dead to alive.
Revelation 5:11-14While we strive to be contemporary in our music, worship is not about the songs. It is not about whether I like a song. Worship is not about a particular emotional experience. Worship is about acknowledging God’s worth. We do that corporately on Sunday mornings when we sing, listen, give, and pray. We are called to live our whole lives as one act of worship.
Exodus 9:13-16God was going to use Pharaoh to proclaim His name in all the earth. That was God’s plan, and nothing was going to stop it. Pharaoh however got to decide how he would be a part of God’s plan. He could humble himself before the Lord and declare to the world that “The Lord is God”. Or he could defy the Lord God in which God’s acts of judgment would become Pharaoh’s testimony. God’s purposes cannot be stopped - we just get to decide what role we play in God’s story.
Jeremiah 31:31-34The prophet Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant that was to come; one where the law will be written on hearts and minds rather than stone. This new covenant would ultimately be fulfilled through Christ.
Acts 15:1-6When it comes to leading the community of faith, God does not entrust it to one individual. Rather, God raises up a community of leaders in the form of pastors, elders, and deacons. It is not about a charismatic leader, but collective wisdom.
Galatians 1:6-8, Romans 5:8Pastor Greg Alderman, Executive Director of the Alliance of Reformed Churches, joins TFRC to highlight the importance of holding the true Gospel by keeping ourselves rooted in the inspired Word of God.
Acts 22:17-21God wants us to share our story. True, some people won’t listen to your story, but God will send you to people who will because no matter how exciting or mundane our story is, there are people who need to hear it.
Acts 22:4-16Few things are as convincing than the power of a changed life. Paul shared how his encounter with Jesus transformed his whole life. Likewise, others must see how our faith in Jesus changes us. When people experience how we are different, it makes our faith more persuasive.
Acts 21:37 - Acts 22:3A key part of our story is that someone can relate to us. It could be our church background, where we grew up, what we do for a living, or hobbies we enjoy. Paul begins his story by sharing with the people how he was one of them. Making that common ground connection helps make our faith more relatable to those we share our story with.
Acts 9:1-15Paul was the biggest evangelist in Scripture, and a primary part of his evangelism was his story. His encounter with Jesus shaped the trajectory of the church. What about your story? What could your story shape? In this series we will highlight why our stories are so effective.
Hebrews 10:19-25This passage is an exhortation to draw near to God, hold unswervingly to the faith, and spur each other on towards good deeds. It ends with “and all the more as you see the Day approaching”. How do we as a church community do these things “all the more”?
Matthew 7:21-29As Jesus wraps us His sermon to His disciples, HIs bottom line is that they do what He says. Similarly, we are to be doers of His Word, showing our appreciation for His grace through obedience.
Matthew 7:13-20As we strive to enter through the narrow gate, who are the people we are allowing to influence us?
Matthew 7:7-12Jesus encourages us to approach God and make requests for things we need/desire. He tells us that God is much more generous than our parents. He then connects this with the golden rule. When we do unto others as we would have them do unto us, we become the conduits for God answering the asking, seeking, and knocking of others. We get to play a role in answering the prayers of others.
Matthew 7:1-6Jesus said we will be judged by the same measure we judge others. Hence, we need to be merciful with both. We need to be self aware of our own weaknesses when trying to help others. Be wise not to correct someone when they are not ready to hear it.
Luke 2:41-52Guest pastor Brian Vriesman explores the importance of the only story of Jesus between the nativity and the start of his ministry.
Matthew 6:25-34Jesus tells us not to worry about life’s necessities. However, He is not giving us permission to be lazy or irresponsible. What does it look like to not worry and yet be responsible with our lives? Jesus tells us to make the Kingdom our first priority.
Matthew 6:19-24Jesus teaches us to focus on the right thing; if you focus on the wrong thing your whole life will be dark. It's not possible to focus on both the right and wrong thing at the same time, you must choose one or the other.
Matthew 6:5-15We are to go to God in prayer, but when we do, it is meant to be an intimate experience between us and God where the attention is solely on Him. In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us an amazing blueprint for what to pray for, and how to pray. Jesus sets the foundation for his prayer by acknowledging God’s holiness and asking that everything be done within his will. He then goes on to pray for provision, forgiveness, and strength and deliverance. What does our prayer life and rhythms look like? What is the heart behind our prayers? Are we praying to glorify ourselves or God? Are we praying from a place of humility?
Matthew 6:1-4, 16-18One of the greatest threats to the faith is pretense - pretending to be something you’re not (like a wolf in sheep’s clothing). Jesus warns against doing acts of righteousness to be seen by others. By doing these things in secret, you know you are doing them for the right reasons. It also helps protect against self-righteousness.
Matthew 5:38-48In Old Testament Israel, you could only retaliate to the extent that someone wronged you; hence the phrase “eye for an eye”. The point was to keep the conflict from escalating. Jesus takes the idea a step further by de-escalating conflict with His teachings on non-retaliation. He takes this concept to another level when He says “love your enemies”. What would it look like to be a peacemaker like Jesus in our lives?
Matthew 5:17-20Jesus proclaims that he has not come to get rid of the law, but instead fulfill it. The law had been corrupted and many had gone away from the heart of the commandments. Jesus was saying that to live the law correctly, we need to get back to the heart behind it and avoid finding loopholes to living out our faith. He would illustrate this by highlighting murder, adultery, divorce, and oaths. Jesus was the fulfilment of the law because he followed the letter of the law, but also embodied the spirit of it. We can easily be guilty of living into the loopholes of the Christian faith, but it is important that we follow Jesus' example and make sure we get back to the heart behind it.
Matthew 5:13-16How we live is the light we shine. As the old saying goes, “Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary use words”. Even the most mundane activities in life can be opportunities to be salt and light.
Matthew 5:1-12Believing in Jesus means we will do what He says. If we are going to heed the teachings of Jesus, we need to see the world as Jesus sees it. In the Beatitudes, Jesus sets the parameters for who is “blessed” - how does this match up with who we see as “blessed”.
Acts 20:22-24In his farewell address to Ephesus as he prepares to leave for Rome, Paul displays passion to do whatever God has before him. He approaches the future with a perspective of humility. He demonstrates a willingness to persevere through difficulty. And he knows, understands, and is committed to living out God’s purpose for him. As we live out our own calling, we would do well to personify Paul's commitment.
John 15:9-17Jesus invites us to remain in his love, and in doing so, become a part of His legacy of love. In this passage He invites us to do so by commanding us to love each other the way He loves us. We do this by laying down our lives for one another. In His love for us, Jesus chose us to bear the fruit of His love to continue his legacy.
1 Corinthians 12:20-27 We all make up the body and Christ and each of us has a part. Celebrating how each new person who is being added to our community is a blessing to us; reminding ourselves that we need others and that others need us. God has made us a part of this community of faith for a reason.
Psalm 16:1-11In the Lord we can find safety and security. He is our refuge, portion, and source of security. As a response we should praise him, keep our eyes on him, and find him being the source of our joy. How can we live in a way that helps us provide security to others?
Acts 17:22-29God did not create us and then leave (Deism) – God is near us and active in the world. The Greeks had many gods who were each in charge of different parts of life, but our God is interested and active in every part of our lives (even something as mundane as finding a parking spot).
Luke 10:2Missions Director Kristy Pickett welcomes representatives from some of TFRC's mission partners to discuss the harvest God has placed before us locally, to the ends of the earth, and everywhere in between.
Ephesians 2:1-10The claim of the resurrection is incredulous to many. It’s easy to say “That’s not possible." But what if it is possible? What if we have been set apart? What if we have been delivered? What if we have been redeemed? What if we have been restored? What if it is possible that the resurrection delivers us from death? What if it is possible that God has prepared good works just for us to do? What if we are restored from objects of wrath to objects of mercy? Believing the resurrection sets us apart from the rest of the world. When Jesus exited the tomb, the impossible happened and the world would never be the same.
Luke 19:32-44God made the people of Israel into a nation - yet they lost their identity of what that meant. So when Jesus came as king, they did not recognize him as the kind of king He came to be. Jesus came to restore what their identity was originally meant to be.
Matthew 9:9-13Jesus calling Matthew to leave his life of being a tax collector, to be one his disciples, is a story of redemption. Tax collectors were despised by society for collaborating with the Roman government and having a reputation of greed, extortion, and corruption. Through Jesus’s invitation to follow him, Matthew's dignity and purpose/calling were redeemed. When Jesus was asked why he was eating with tax collectors and sinners, his answer would also shed light on who he had been sent to redeem; sinners like each and every one of us.
Luke 8:26-39God tells the Israelites that He will set them free from the bondage of slavery to the Egyptians. Later, Jesus sets the demon possessed man free from his bondage. What is the bondage that we need Jesus to set us free from?
Matthew 4:18-22When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He set them apart as His people - redirecting their purpose. When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John, He was setting them apart to be His disciples. He was giving them a new purpose; a more meaningful life. God continues to bring us out of our mundane lives to sanctify us for His purposes.
Exodus 6:6-7 The Passover tradition includes drinking from four cups - representing each of the four promises the Lord made to His people in Exodus 6:6-7. These promises would eventually be mirrored and fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Matthew 4:1-11Lent is the time we prepare our hearts for the resurrection of Jesus. We do so by reflecting on the life of Jesus, repenting from our sins, and self-discipline (usually through some kind of fasting). Jesus, Moses and Elijah all spent 40 days in some kind of wilderness fasting in preparation for the next step in their ministry.
Ruth 4:11-22Ruth and Boaz take part in a story greater than our own. After the elders bless them, Ruth and Boaz have a son named Obed - the grandfather of David, Israel’s greatest king. The circumstances that led to their marriage were not by chance, but by God’s providential hand. Likewise, our relationships are not by chance. God has brought the people in our lives to us for a reason.
Ruth 3:1-13In Chapter 3 of Ruth, Naomi comes up with a plan to make sure Ruth is taken care of through marriage with Boaz, Boaz fulfills his obligation as redeemer to Ruth, and ultimately God Looks out for both Ruth and Naomi. Similarly, we are all called to look after and care for our friends and family. Sometimes we have to be willing to accept and embrace other’s efforts to help us, and other times we have to be willing to know when to step up for others.
Ruth 2:8-18Having heard about Ruth's kindness to her mother-in-law, Boaz in turn shows incredible kindness to Ruth. He encourages his workers to be extra kind to her as well. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit that is relatively easy to practice, as well as one the world most desperately needs. God’s kindness to us should spur us to be kind to both our friends and enemies.
Ruth 1:8-18After significant tragedies hit their family, Ruth and Orpah are determined to stay with their mother in law Naomi. Naomi wants what is best for them, which is to go back to their homes in hopes of finding another husband. Orpah does, but Ruth doubles down on staying with Naomi. Ruth is willing to sacrifice her best future to remain loyal to Naomi. How loyal are we in our relationships? How loyal are we to God based upon our obedience to Him? Do we appreciate God’s loyalty to us?
1 Peter 2:4-10TFRC's 1st Peter standing stone reminds us that Jesus is the living stone upon which the church is built, and the cornerstone of our lives and faith community. As a faith community we are part of God’s chosen people called to declare our praise and devotion to him, partnering with him to build his kingdom.
John 7:37-38, Jeremiah 2:13In Jeremiah’s day, the people had to rely on God to provide rain water for them to survive. It was much less stressful for them to build cisterns to store water for whenever they needed it. The problem water in a cistern, though, is that it eventually goes bad. When we try to control our lives in our own power, they eventually go bad too. The challenge is to live life God’s way rather than our own ways.
Exodus 16:14-27If Egypt was Pharaoh's land and Israel was the promise land, then the desert could be considered God’s land. The desert is the place you need to wholly depend upon God. It is the place where God gives you just enough to keep going.
Luke 9:18-24Jesus asks his disciples; “Who do you say I am?”, before predicting his death and telling them what it will mean to follow Him. When we look at the TFRC Cross Hill we remember our answer to that question.... He is our savior. The Cross Hill standing stone reminds us of the crucifixion of our savior, Jesus, and the great sacrifice he offered on our behalf. It is also a reminder of the invitation to faith and servanthood we are given because of his sacrifice.
Luke 17:11-19, Philippians 4:6We often make prayers of supplication to God. God doesn't always answer them in the way we asked Him to but when He does, how often do we take the time to acknowledge Him? TFRC's Prayer Stone is meant for us to take the important step to remember and acknowledge when God answers our prayers.
1 Peter 3:13-18Guest preacher Brian Vriesman unpacks the Apostle Peter's outline for Christian living.
Luke 1:46-55In the Magnificat, Mary lifts up a song of praise in response to learning she would be bearing the Son of God. She reflects on and remembers what God has done for her, she remembers his attributes, she remembers his sovereignty, and remembers God’s faithfulness to Israel. The Christmas season is also a great time for us to stop and remember everything God has done in our lives. This is especially true because of the impact the good news of Christmas has on our lives. The Christmas story is a reminder of God's mercy, faithfulness, love, and sovereignty.
Luke 2:8-18There are 3 instances where listening/hearing occur in this passage; the shepherds hear the message from the angel, the shepherds hear the angels praising God, and the people hear what the shepherds had to say concerning the child. The challenge we face every Christmas is to hear both the message of Christmas and what God may be saying to us this year.
Luke 1:26-33Just as our traditional Christmas season brings about a time of anticipation, so the declaration to Mary of the conception and birth of Jesus begins a period of anticipation. Jesus’ name meaning “the Lord is salvation” spurs anticipation, and the complete fulfillment of the messianic promises of Jesus’ kingdom is something we continue to anticipate.
Mark 14:12-26Pastor Chuck Swoboda takes a deep dive into the sacrament of Communion: its meaning, invitation and response.
Romans 12:9-13As years go by, it is easy to become less enthusiastic about the faith and the faith community. But we are called to never be lacking in zeal. In order to maintain our spiritual fervor, we need to maintain our commitment to the community - apathy to the community leads to apathy in the faith.
Ephesians 4:29-32One of the major killers of a community is Gossip. Paul instructs us to make sure that what comes out of our mouths is not something that will tear others down. We are instead instructed to lift them up according to their needs and speak in a way that will benefit those who listen. We are instructed not to grieve the Holy Spirit and by getting rid of any rage, anger, slander, or any form of malice. We are called instead to express the kindness, compassion, and forgiveness we see in Christ.
Romans 2:1-4There is a reason why God is the ultimate judge and we are not; we are not worthy to judge all of humanity. Because of our imperfections we make for imperfect judges, so let’s leave judgment to God and worry more about how we are living our own lives. How great is it that we have a judge who is rich in kindness; a kindness that can lead us to repentance and restoration!
1 Corinthians 11:17-29There are many things that divide us. In this passage it seems like socio-economics were the cause, keeping the church from coming together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner. Whatever the cause of our own divisions, they keep us from being the people of God we are called to be. As a community of faith, we are called to come together to be faithful witnesses to our Lord.
John 6:1-15Guest preacher Pastor Brian Vriesman reminds us to measure the potential of ourselves and others through the lens of what Jesus can do in and through us.
Philippians 2:1-5Paul calls for the church to be like minded, having the same love, and being one in Spirit. He calls them to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Selfish ambition hinders the unity of the body - by placing myself and my interests above what is best for everyone, I destroy the Spirit of unity in the body. What is best for everyone should be the priority of everyone.
1 Corinthians 3:1-9Jealousy and quarreling in the early church kept the people worldly and unable to grow in their faith because of the envy they had. We all have a role to play in the body of Christ, and will be rewarded according to our labor. The irony is that wanting to be considered “greater” in the faith, actually keeps us from growing in the faith.
Romans 12:17-21Conflict in our lives is inevitable, but when we find ourselves in the midst of it we are called to be peacemakers. Are we doing what we can to avoid conflict by doing what is right in the eyes of everyone; are we living our lives above reproach? The first step to conflict resolution is thinking about others before yourself. We must also not respond to conflict with retaliation, but rather overcome the evil in our life with Good.
Titus 3:3-8A grudge is a feeling of ill will towards someone due to a real or perceived insult/injury, that leads to malice and hatred. Paul says that this was the way we used to live, but God saved us because of His mercy. We have been washed and renewed by the Spirit through Christ, so we are called to let go of our hatred and do what is right.
Ephesians 5:21-6:4Church community starts with the individual family unit. If there are unhealthiness and dysfunction in the family, it impacts the body of Christ. Paul instructs the Ephesians on how a family should treat one another; the parents are the anchor and foundation of setting the tone for a healthy community within the family.
Ephesians 2:1-10Sometimes it is important for us to go back to the basics faith - when we do we are reminded of who we were and what our reality was before Jesus. When we come back to the basics we will more greatly appreciate what we have been given through Christ and the mission his gift places on our lives. The basics are that we were dead in our sin, until God who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ. Because we are his handiwork, our lives serve as a picture or message of who Jesus is and what he is capable of doing.
3 JohnThe importance of welcoming fellow believers, especially those who are doing work on behalf of the Gospel.
2 JohnJohn is warning us not to let false teachers corrupt our faith. There are those who intentionally and unintentionally deceive us from embracing the truth of Christ. John warns us to be careful who we let into our life to influence us, as we often become the people we surround ourselves with.
1 John 5:13-21As John finishes his 1st letter his final words should point us toward having confidence in our faith, even in a world controlled by the evil one. We can find confidence as we come to God in prayer and in our identity in Christ.
1 John 5:1-12God’s commands are not burdensome - they are meant to give us life. By believing in and following Jesus, we are able to overcome the world which is set up to steal, kill, and destroy.
1 John 4:10-21Fear not, for Love drives out fear! We have confidence in the day of judgment because in this world we are like Jesus. Even though Jesus was rejected by the world, He never lived in fear because He knew the Father loved Him. Likewise, despite all the troubles of the world, we can live without fear because of God’s love for us.
1 John 4:1-9Every generation the world has a new belief that denies the truth of Jesus. But we can stand firm in our faith because the one in us is stronger than the one in the world. And we stand firm because of the love of God, which He showed by sending his one and only Son into the world.
1 John 3:11-24In Genesis, Cain took his brother’s life. But in the Gospel, Jesus would lay down his own life out of love. As followers of Jesus we are called to follow his example; to lay down our own lives by living a life of sacrifice, humility, generosity, and forgiveness instead of hate. Love is laying down our lives, but doing so with a pure heart or good intentions. Laying down our lives is done with action not words.
Hebrews 11:32-12:3In a brief departure from the "Right Before Revelation" series, guest preacher Brian Vriesman reminds us that following Jesus is more than simply a personal decision. Instead, it’s a calling into a movement revolution/transcendent cause.
1 John 2:28 - 3:10We are children of God meaning we belong to God. This passage includes 3:6 which is a difficult passage to interpret since it seems to contradict other parts of the letter. But verse 3:6 is teaching that the habitual nature of sin should not continue. Thus in the life of a true believer, the fruits of transformation become visible.
1 John 2:15-27Living in Denial has a negative connotation. But to remain faithful to our calling as a disciple of Jesus, we are called to remain in him and live in denial of our love for the world (lust of flesh, eyes, and pride of life) and all that keeps us from Christ. This also means denying those that deny Jesus.
1 John 2:3-14John outlines the characteristics of a follower of Jesus; we are called to live as Jesus did, called to love fellow believers and called to have the Word of God live in us and overcome the evil one.
1 John 1:1 - 2:2John himself fellowshipped with the Word made flesh. He invites others into that fellowship with Jesus through walking in the truth (faith and obedience). We also have fellowship with God in spite of our sin because of forgiveness that comes through the Son.
2 Timothy 3:10-17As Paul faces imminent death he writes Timothy to carry on the ministry and faithfully guard the Gospel. As we face the challenges of our faith head on it will not always be easy .But, when we remember what we have learned and continue pursuing our faith in Jesus (and the word), we will be equipped for every good work. Like Timothy, all of us are in a position to take part in carrying on the ministry of the Gospel. Regardless of age, we are all the next generation of something and are meant to continue pursuing what God has next for us and the future of his church.
Exodus 2:23-25, Numbers 15:37-41While God never forgets anything, the Bible will often talk about God “remembering”. When God remembers it means that God is going to intervene on behalf of the one remembered. He calls us to remember His actions and commands and act in response to His goodness.
Acts 28:17-31Paul is waiting to see Caesar, during which time he preaches the gospel to many who come to visit him. Some believe, others don’t. This is the reality of faith - at some point you choose to believe or not to believe. Paul continued to give witness to Jesus to anyone he had a chance to. He wanted to preach to Caesar to convert him to Christ, but that did not happen. However, there was a purpose to everything that happened on the journey even though the end game he sought did not come to pass.
Acts 27:21-26In the adversity of Paul's sea voyage to Rome, he continued to be courageous and encouraging. He continued to listen to and rely upon the presence of God in the adversity. When facing our own adversity, it’s about courage, God being with us, and God’s guidance in it.
Acts 26:19-32Paul preaches the gospel which is a stumbling block for Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. But he remained passionate about the gospel despite the skepticism of his audience.
Acts 4:29-33Peter and John pray for the power of the Spirit and for the church to be one in heart and mind as they speak boldly about the resurrection of Jesus. What stirs our hearts in missions so that we can share that the Gospel is real and the Gospel changes everything?
Acts 25:1-12Festus replaced Felix as procurator of Roman Judea, and the Jews tried to take advantage of a new ruler looking to gain favor with his subjects. But Paul outmaneuvered them by appealing to Caesar; using his rights (as a Roman citizen) to advance the Gospel. We should be reminded to use our own rights while we still have them rather than only fighting to keep them.
Acts 24:22-27During his mission to preach the gospel in Rome, Paul was held under house for 2 years. Paul seemed kind of stuck, but was willing to wait it out in limbo. He had to be patient, trust God, and be faithful. Sometimes as we live our lives faithfully for God, it doesn’t always move fast - it involves waiting patiently on God’s timing
Acts 23:1-11Paul receives his calling to bring the Good News of Jesus' resurrection to Caesar in Rome, setting off one of the greatest missionary trips in all of history.
John 20:19-23After the greatest comeback in history, Jesus breathed the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit onto his disciples.
John 7:33-39At the festival of tabernacles Jesus would say ”Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” The rivers of living water flowing in us are the Holy Spirit, and Jesus is the source. The Holy Spirit becomes our ever-flowing, constant source of life that connects us to Jesus. He fills, sustains, and refreshes us.
Matthew 12:22-32There is a battle between good and evil; a battle between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. Jesus attributes the healing of the demon-possessed man to the Holy Spirit, thus the Spirit of God brings the Kingdom of God. But the Pharisees attributed the work of the spirit to Satan. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the direct refusal to acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 4:14-21Isaiah (61:1-2) talks about the anointed one (Messiah) bringing salvation. When Jesus quotes Isaiah in the temple, He takes the passage from talk into action. Jesus’ focus is on troubled people - the poor, prisoners, blind, and oppressed. The Spirit moves Jesus to fulfill the Isaiah passage and restore broken people to their rightful place.
Luke 4:1-13As we find ourselves in the wilderness of life, the holy spirit lights our way to help us navigate its terrain. As we embrace and follow the leading of the spirit we can become a beacon of light and hope for others who are in the wilderness with us. As we look at how Jesus handles being tempted by Satan it sheds light on how we too can rely on the Holy Spirit to get us through our wilderness.
Luke 3:21-23aJesus does not start his ministry in his own timing, but rather waits for the Spirit to come upon him. The Spirit coming down like a dove implies the kind of ministry Jesus is going to do - one of reconciliation, not one primarily of judgment. And along with the voice from heaven, the coming of the Spirit shows God’s approval of Jesus for the role to which He was called.
John 16:7-15Paraclete is the word used for “comforter, helper, counselor, advocate” - some of the roles the Holy Spirit plays. The Spirit also comes to lead into all truth.
Psalm 18:43-50When God exalted David, David responded out of gratitued and exalted God in his praises. We are called to do the same.
Psalm 18:25-36God was gave David confidence through His character, providing a fortress for David that went with him wherever he went. He does the same for us through Jesus, who is "surely with us always, to the very end of the age."
Psalm 18:16-24God takes hold of us in the chaos, God delights in us, and God cares for us.
Psalm 18:6-15God hears our cries and responds, and is awesome - He brings it! When we need Him, God will do something. He will advocate for us.
Psalm 18:1-5Masada was a desert fortress used by Herod the Great as a palace. However, there is a good chance that hundreds of years before Herod built his palace, David used the location as a fortress site as well. “Masada” comes from the Hebrew word “Masud” which in Psalm 18 gets translated “fortress”. God is our fortress, and as a church we are called to be a “Masada” where people can find refuge.
Luke 1:5-22We are quick to offer prayers to God, but what is our reaction when God answers prayer? Many times it is thanksgiving, however, there are times when it is disbelief. What have been the times that God has answered your prayers and you didn’t believe it?*Note - we experienced some audio difficulties for the few half of this sermon. Our apologies for the choppy audio.
Joshua 1:1-9Guest Pastor Brian Vriesman brings encouragement for 2024 with three promises given to Joshua as the Israelites prepared to take the promised land.
Isaiah 9:6-7For to us a child is born! Jesus’s birth brought about the advent of a New King, a king unlike any that had ever come before or after him. Pastor Brett Vriesman explores who Jesus is as king and how his ruling transforms the way we live our lives.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21In Christ we are given a new purpose, to be His ambassadors who live with intention. Just as Jesus’ birth is a key moment in God reconciling the world to Himself, our new intention is the ministry of reconciliation: letting others know that in Christ, God does not count our sins against us. Our whole lives are to be lived with the intention of communicating that message.
John 1:9-13Because the light of the world came to us and conquered death, we are given the opportunity for a new identity. Those who believe in Him are given a new identity as a child of God. But what was our identity before and why does it matter? Christ in our lives transforms us from a slave to sin, to a child of God. Instead of shackles we have freedom, instead of death we have life.
Romans 7:18-25 - In light of the 10 commandments series, we want to remember the importance of grace. Living with a never ending struggle to do what is right vs doing what is wrong, God’s grace offers mercy and forgiveness for when we fail to live in the way God has designed us to live. The purpose of grace is not so we can continue to do whatever we want whenever we want. Rather it is to give us the space to grow into becoming more like Christ.
Exodus 20:17, Psalm 16:5-11Coveting, like the rest of the commandments, comes down to a heart issue. God calls us to be content with what He gives us, find joy in what we have, and be faithful with what He puts before us.
Exodus 20:16, Acts 6:8-13"You shall not give false testimony." By lying about someone’s behavior you are denigrating their reputation and taking away their true identity. This is a command about safeguarding the truth about someone. By slandering someone you are attempting to destroy them, which is exactly what happens to Stephen when he is slandered. God is a God of truth and expects us to tell the truth about each other.
Exodus 20:15, Ephesians 4:28Stealing is a violation of others, placing value of things about the value of the people in our lives. Ephesians tells us that the opposite of stealing is charity, thus the giving of things we own is a way of giving a part of ourselves to others.
Exodus 20:14, Matthew 5:27-30The cultural understanding of adultery is a physical act of infidelity, but to Jesus it is a heart issue. When an extra person is added to the equation of marriage it negatively impacts its final outcome. Are we practicing self-awareness and self-control?Programming note: Pastor Brett's message was briefly interrupted by a medical event in the congregation. He concluded his remaining point after the closing song just prior to the blessing.
Exodus 20:13, 2 Samuel 11:14-17 The value behind the command to not commit murder is to honor the existence of others even when it is a problem for us. Honoring the existence of others is fundamental to loving our neighbors. Jesus applies this principle to anger/hatred; if you consider another a fool you have diminished their existence.
Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1-4The commandment to honor our father and mother challenges us to treat them with respect and obedience. Paul's letter to the Ephesians expands that challenge to parents to cultivate a culture that breeds children that honor them. Children should honor their parents, but parents need to make sure they are honoring their children.
Exodus 20:8-11, Exodus 16:23-30The command to keep the Sabbath holy stems from the creation story; God takes a day of rest, so we should take a day of rest. But why does God need to rest? God rests so He can enjoy His creation. Enjoying the fruits of our labor is a key part of the rhythm of life.
Exodus 20:7, Matthew 5:33-37Swearing falsely in God’s name associates His name with something deceitful or immoral. Like all names, God’s name is a representation of God. When we misuse it, we are taking God’s name and damaging His reputation. Our character reflects God’s name and our lives should represent who God is.
Exodus 20:4-6, Jeremiah 10:1-11The second commandment is to have no graven images or Idols. Just as the Israelites were challenged with not placing any idols in their life, we too, sometimes struggle with making things idols in our lives. Are we compromising our worship of the one true God to different idols in our lives?
Exodus 20:3, 1 Kings 18:16-21Elijah challenges the people to stop wavering and choose who they will follow, either the Lord or Baal. They cannot serve both. The Lord desires worshippers who will worship Him only. What other “gods'' cause us to waver? What other things are we holding on to that compromise our devotion to Jesus?
1 Corinthians 12:12-21 As TFRC kicks off its 2023-24 ministry year, Pastor Chuck Swoboda takes a moment to call us back to involvement. No matter our gifting, the Body of Christ has a place for us.
Exodus 7:15-21 The Nile turning to blood was a statement against the Egyptians for the atrocities they committed against the Hebrew babies recorded in Exodus 1. Covering up our sin will always come back to haunt us. Jesus’ blood was not meant to cover up our sin, but to acknowledge and forgive our sin. Confession and repentance brings our sin out into the open which always leads to forgiveness (1 John 1:9-10)
John 21:1-11 Jesus would appear for a third time after his resurrection, but his disciples would not recognize him initially. He would need to jolt their memory of him and remind them of their purpose. Sometimes we find ourselves trying to do things on our own and forget that we are supposed to follow the direction of Jesus to live out our calling and haul in a big catch. In God’s mercy, he continually gives us opportunities to be reminded to trust, rely, and follow him.
Jonah 1 Jonah was disillusioned because he didn’t believe God was a God of justice. God was gracious and merciful, but Jonah wanted him to stand up for what was right and punish the Ninevites for their evil. He was so disillusioned by God that he didn’t want anything to do with Him or anything else. But his running away led him down a path where he was willing to give up his life rather than live with a God who doesn’t do what he thinks is right. Even so, when Jonah went as low as he could go, God was there with him.
Matthew 17:24-27 In this passage Jesus is confronted on whether or not he pays the temple tax. Jesus responds by telling Peter to catch a fish with money in its mouth to pay for the tax. Through the experience, Jesus would display his divinity and teach a valuable lesson on humility to his disciples. Jesus’ kingdom is bigger than any kingdom here on earth, yet he still paid a tax he didn't deserve to pay to not cause any offense. He would humbly submit in a way that still highlighted his authority. As we live our lives for Jesus how can we live humbly, in a way that doesn't cause any offense, yet still honors and glorifies God and his word or authority?
1 Kings 12:25-33 King Jeroboam, the first king of Israel, was afraid to allow people to go back to Jerusalem to worship because he didn’t want them to turn away from his rule. So he instituted his own places of worship, which led the nation of Israel to a constant state of worshiping other gods. As Jesus points out to the Samaritan woman, Who and how (In spirit and truth) we worship matters.
2 Kings 23:19-25 King Josiah is best known as the boy king, becoming king at 8 years old. During his reign, the book of the law was found, and Josiah led a spiritual revival in the land. The basis for the revival was the Word of God, remembering what God has done, and recommitting to the covenant.
2 Chronicles 20:31-37 King Jehosephat was known as a good king of Judah, but he was not perfect. Although he was a king that had his heart set on God, his kingdom and family didn't fully follow suit. What was it that created the repercussions of his reign, and are we living in a way that could be creating repercussions for ourselves down the line and for the ones we love?
1 Kings 21:4-15 King Ahab is a good example of “Bad company corrupts good character” (or makes bad character worse). Ahab was reckless when he married Jezebel who led him to establish Baal worship in Israel. In the story of Naboth’s vineyard, Jezebel leads the way for Ahab to kill Naboth to take his vineyard. Ahab serves as a reminder that we need to be careful who/what we allow to have influence in our lives.
Acts 2:1-13 Pastor Jon Opgenorth, President of Words of Hope, brings an encouragement to share the Good News of Jesus to all people. Regardless of our station in life, God has a plan for us to spread His kingdom.
Matthew 22:1-14 Retired Pastor Brian Vriesman unpacks the parable of the wedding banquet and its reflection of both the history of Israel and of our own hearts toward God's invitation to us.
Exodus 32:11-13 In this prayer, Moses prays to God on behalf of the Israelites after the golden calf incident. He asks a strange question, “Why should your anger burn against your people?” The answer should be obvious - they just been worshiping the golden calf! But Moses is bold in appealing to God to show mercy. While we need to be humble in our approach to God, He wants us to be bold in our asking. This is especially true when our requests are consistent with God’s character.
2 Kings 19:14-19 There are many things we can learn about prayer as we look at how people prayed long ago. King Hezekiah prayed with desperation for God to deliver him from his enemies. We can refocus our prayers and trust that God hears them.
1 Timothy 4:12-16Don't discredit or take for granted the influence that you have. We have the opportunity to stand out and have influence on those around us when we truly embrace living a life of following Jesus. As we stand out in our actions, it is also important that we stand strong and protect the beliefs that inform the way we live our lives.
Acts 2:32-39On this day of Pentecost we remember and celebrate the day where the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to those who believe. Sermon Outline:• Impact of Pentecost (Acts 2:41)• Convicts sin (John 16:8)• Guides to Truth (John 16:13)• Enables Hearing God’s Word (John 14:26)• Transforms Lives (Titus 3:4-7)
Ephesians 4:14-16As TFRC welcomes over 30 new members and celebrates over 20 baptisms, Pastor Chuck talks about what it looks like to grow up in a community of faith.
Genesis 21:1-7God is many things, but one of His amazing attributes is His faithfulness. Throughout scripture we see that God consistently follows through on His promises and is never changing in His approach and promises to us.
Isaiah 46:9-11God is not dormant. We have hope because our God is not an idol, but is an active God who is at work in the universe. Our faith enables us to recognize that God is bringing about his purposes in a fallen world. God will deliver us because he is an active God.
Matthew 5:14-16TFRC's Director of Missions, Kristy Pickett, shares the missional vision of the church and converses with three college ministry representatives about the impact the Gospel is having on their campuses.
Psalm 107:1, 10-16, 43God’s goodness includes both his justice and mercy; because God is good, he upholds what is right and destroys what is wrong, and because God is good, he is slow to anger and abounding in love. Believing that God is good allows us to trust him even when we experience hard times.
1 John 7-21God is many things. One of his most vital attributes is love. Once we understand and embrace the sacrificial and unconditional nature of God’s love, we are called to live into it and reflect it to others. We love God, and we love others, because He first loved us.
John 20:11-18Oftentimes Jesus shows up and we don’t even realize it - Even Mary Magdalene thought He was the gardener. Jesus shows up in our lives and we think He is coincidence, luck, or we don’t even think twice about it. However, Mary knew Jesus well enough that all he had to do was say her name, and she realized it was him.
Mark 10:46-52There are a lot of obstacles or adversities in our lives that seem to blind us from seeing and meeting Jesus. What we can learn from Bartimaeus is that despite being blinded, when he relentlessly pursued Jesus, his eyes were opened to the hope and restoration Jesus provided as messiah. When we relentlessly pursue Jesus in faith, Jesus will meet us and give us eyes to see the hope and restoration only he can provide.
Luke 9:57-62One of our biggest temptations is to follow Jesus as efficiently as possible; we prefer to follow Jesus without making major sacrifices. But Jesus tells these would-be followers to make him more important than home and family. What is the one thing you find yourself not willing to sacrifice?
Luke 17:11-19Too often we take God’s saving and healing grace for granted. In this parable it is the outsider that returns to Jesus, recognizing the significance of what he has done for him. We cannot take our faith for granted but must realize what the cross means for us, and when we do we will live differently. Rarely does meeting Jesus look like what we think it will.
John 8:2-11When a group of Pharisees confront Jesus with an adulterous woman we find that when we meet Jesus in our sin, he meets us with compassion. That being said, after experiencing compassion from Jesus, we see the woman also instructed to change her ways and sin no more. With Jesus’ compassion there also comes a conviction to repent and return to the path God has for us.
John 3:16-21Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, goes to meet Jesus under the cover of darkness. He recognizes that there is something special about this man that has come and wants to know why Jesus has come. Yet when Jesus tells him he has not come for earthly deliverance from Rome, but eternal deliverance from sin, Nicodemus struggles to understand. John then writes one of the most famous passages in the Bible John 3:16-21 explaining Jesus as the Light of the world who shines through the darkness that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.This sermon contains a clip from Angel Studios' The Chosen web and TV series. Watch The Chosen on their free app: https://thechosen.tv/app
Matthew 3:13-17John sees Jesus as greater than himself, so in his view Jesus doesn’t need John’s water baptism, but John needs Jesus’ Holy Spirit and fire baptism. However, for Jesus, identifying with the penitent community was a vital piece of his role as the Messiah who submits.
Revelation 3:14-20God blesses all of us in a number of different ways, but are we using his blessings to partner with Him in furthering his kingdom? We begin to compromise our Christianity when we choose to use our gifts/resources to further our kingdom or instead of God’s.
Ephesians 4:22-32 We live in privilege and in doing so we have learned to justify our self-righteousness. At some point we have to recognize the plank in our own eye just as the prodigal son's older brother does in order that we would forgive others in order that God would forgive us for our sins.
Philippians 4:7-8 tells us to think of things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. How do the music, movies, television, news, social media, etc that we consume measure up to these criteria?
Mark 7:14-23It’s not just the world that values things contrary to God - our hearts do too. The challenge is being obedient to God’s calling on our lives against what the world and our hearts push us to do.
Hebrews 10:19-25God created all of us to live in, and long for community. The church, the body of Christ, was created to be our primary source of community that would fill that longing in our lives. We find ourselves compromising our Christianity when we allow for other communities (work, athletics, etc) to take priority over the one that should anchor our faith. When we look at what Hebrews 10 says about persevering in faith, we are given a blueprint on avoiding compromising our community.
1 Kings 18:20-39With our faith, with our politics, with our culture - in our self-centeredness we quickly lose sight of God and create our own idols that we chase and lust after instead of following God. We try to do both and in doing so we compromise our faith just as the prophets of Baal and people of Israel wavered between two opinions.
Exodus 24:15-18Pastor Chuck Swoboda highlights incidents of the presence of God represented by fire: the burning bush, dedication of tabernacle and temple, pillar of fire, Pentecost, baptism of Holy Spirit and fire, etc. What does the fact that the presence of God is represented by fire tell us about Him?
Isaiah 26:3-4; Philippians 4:4-9What is biblical peace? Shalom living is how life is meant to be. Our Scripture tells us that those who trust in God, whose minds are “stayed” on him, he will give perfect peace.
John 6:25-33We celebrate Christmas by opening presents and by eating large delicious meals. As we feast this season, let us remember who can truly fill us to the point of never getting hungry, Jesus, the bread of life.
Matthew 2:1-12Who are the Magi? Why do they seek Jesus at his birth? Why are they overjoyed to find the “king of the jews”? What is the significance of their gifts? All of these questions point to the anticipation of Jesus’ kingship.
Luke 2:1-7As Mary and Joseph prepare for the birth of Jesus, have outside forces acting upon them and must get to where God wants them to be. Then they have unexpected surprises when they arrive. Their journey to Bethlehem has all the marks of a typical adventure - God’s acting in our lives is no different.
Luke 2:8-15 The shepherds were greeted by an astounding presence of angels, telling them of the birth of Jesus. Despite not being told directly to visit the newborn Savior, the shepherds were compelled to go on an adventure to see this new baby. What compels us to go in the name of Jesus?
Romans 14:17-18 Paul writes that “The kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking”. While eating and drinking are fundamental to our holiday celebrations, the kingdom is about doing what is right, with peace and joy. As we enter another year of holidays let’s hit the reset button and focus on the kingdom.
Ephesians 2:19-22 We can encounter God wherever we go. But to truly experience the life-changing power of God means meeting with Him in the temple he has set up for us - the body of Christ.
Mark 5: 11-20 When we experience the transforming power of Jesus there is power in our story. In our passage Jesus radically changes the life of a man and then directs him to tell others about what has happened to him. His faithfulness to do so had a domino effect that led to 4,000 people following Jesus when he returned to that region. When we are faithful in sharing how Jesus has changed our lives there can be a domino effect of people longing to learn more about who he is.
Matthew 25:14-30 God has given each of us a unique set of “talents,” spiritual gifts, and expects us to invest them for his kingdom. Are we utilizing the gifts we have been given? We have no way of knowing the domino effect and impact using our gifts will have for the kingdom, but God invites us, and expects us to participate in his kingdom work. The reward is more than we can imagine.
Acts 17:16-23 - The missional impact Paul had on the early church was unbelievable. One of the tipping points of his amazing ministry was his ability to become all things to all people. His ability and willingness to do this allowed for him to reach a broader audience and expand the Kingdom of God, and helps us see the domino effect of people coming to faith when you proclaim the Gospel in a way that meets others where they are at.
Ephesians 4:22-29 Because of Christ, we put off the old self and put on a new self. That new self results in a transformation of how we live and we go from falsehood to truth, anger to patience, stealing to charity, and unwholesome talk to edifying. Pastor Chuck Swoboda encourages us in our transformation and challenges us to intentionally find a situation to be either truthful, patient, charitable, or saying something edifying to someone.
In John 1:35-42, John the Baptist points his disciple, Andrew to Jesus, the Messiah. Andrew then brings his brother Simon to meet Jesus, who renames Simon “Peter”. Peter becomes the key leader in the early church.
Introducing others to Jesus has a domino effect. The impact they have for the kingdom is a domino effect of your impact on them.
John 11:38-44, 12:17-19. The calling of Lazarus from the tomb had a domino effect for many, especially the crowd that gathered and witnessed the raising of Lazarus. In chapter 12 we see how this domino effect played out and reached even beyond the Jewish community. As a safe haven, the church is called to be a place that invites those outside, in, that cares for and encourages one another, and that intentionally creates communities in which lifelong transformation happens. This is best exemplified in grace-filled and authentic relationships.
In Acts 9:10-19, after Jesus appears to Saul on the road to Damascus, God calls on a disciple named Ananias to go restore Saul’s sight. Ananias is hesitant because of Saul’s reputation and past actions., but is faithful to the vision and goes to Saul, setting in motion the beginning of Saul’s ministry for the Gospel. The rest is history. Following the leading of the Spirit has a domino effect.
Pastor Brett Vriesman explains how Joshua's obedience at the Jordan River had a domino effect on the rest of his leadership over the nation of Israel. Obedience to God should be the first step in all of our own leadership opportunities. Joshua 3:7-13
Pastors Chuck Swoboda, Devon Rook and Brett Vriesman introduce our fall sermon series - The Domino Effect - looking at the effect one person's faith and obedience can have on the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Devon Rook explores Deuteronomy 9:6-19, in which Moses intercedes for the stiff-necked Israelites. Similarly Jesus intercedes for us, and calls us to stand in the gap for others.
In Genesis 28:10-22, Jacob needs to fall asleep to realize the reality of God's presence in his life. A lot of us are sleepwalking through life, too, and need to be stirred up to the presence of God in our own lives.
It's easy to fall from faith when we become exhausted in life. Spiritual exhaustion can set in in our lives when we are stressed or anxious, when we are tired or lonely, or when our selfishness keeps us from living into our faith. The story of Eutychus falling from the window (Acts 20:7-12) serves as a warning shot about what happens when spiritual exhaustion or spiritual laxity set in, but more importantly it is the story of the amazing depth of God’s grace.
We all have seasons that seem dark and hopeless or times where we feel imprisoned to our circumstances.But there is an important message to remember in those times - our God is one who rescues! In Acts 12:5-11, Peter is woken up to be rescued. What in our lives might we need to be woken up from to be rescued?
Brett Vriesman kicks off our August sermon series - While You Were Sleeping - looking at the call of Samuel, and how we can avoid falling asleep on our own calling. 1 Samuel 3:1-10
The cruelty of Assyria was well known, casting dread upon the nations because of their brutality. Just as God was against them because of their gruesomeness, we must not become callous to the brutality we see in our day. Nahum 3:1-7
Pastor Devon Rook preaches about the importance of remaining faithful to our faithful God even in times of significant doubt. Malachi 3:13-4:6
Pastor Chuck Swoboda explores God's requirement that we carry out His justice and mercy (Micah 6:1-8). We are also joined by Carl Ralston and Nhu from our mission partner Remember Nhu to hear about the justice and mercy found in ending child trafficking.
Pastor Devon Rook explores the vigilant faith and prayer life of Habakkuk as he wrestled with God's judgment on Judah. Habakkuk 2:1-4
Pastor Chuck Swoboda kicks off our Minor Prophets series in the book of Haggai, reminding us to prioritize the work of God in our lives. Haggai 2:3-9
What does it look like to be driven to thrive instead of just survive? Pastor Chuck Swoboda explores the Proverbs for wisdom in diligence. Proverbs 10:5, 12:24, 13:4, 16:26, 24:33-34
Brett Vriesman shares biblical wisdom for slowing down and calming our anger before speaking hurtful words.
Pastor Devon Rook continues our exploration of the Proverbs, discussing pitfalls of pride, and what humility looks like, especially in the ultimate act of sacrifice - Christ on the cross. Proverbs 16:18-19; 19:23; 15:33; 22:4
Pastor Chuck Swoboda begins our series on Proverbs. Being open to correction and instruction is a key to life. It is okay to be wrong, but it is not okay to not be willing to admit it when you are wrong. Jesus said, “Repent for the kingdom is near”. The first step to repentance is being open to correction. God is gracious with us in our sin, we just need to confess it. Proverbs 6:23, 12:1, 10:17, 13:18, 15:12
Pastor Chuck Swoboda looks at our human nature of rejecting the leaders God sends us. God sent Moses back to the people who rejected Moses. Moses continued to lead them as they fought all along the way. He stayed with the Israelites in spite of their rejection and disobedience. Similarly, God stays with us or keeps coming back to us in spite of our rejection and disobedience. From Stephen's speech in Acts 7:23-37
Brett Vriesman encourages the graduating class of 2022 (along with the rest of us) to remember the overwhelming love of God as they move onto the next chapter of their lives.
Pastor Chuck Swoboda welcomes new members and reminds us of our own roles in the faith of others. 1 Corinthians 13:5-11
Pastor Chuck Swoboda examines the moments that God places in front of us, and the resolve it takes to live out his calling in our lives. Esther 4:10-17
Pastor Chuck Swoboda explores the immeasurable greatness of God's power and love in our lives. Ephesians 3:14-21
Director of Missions Kristy Pickett leads our annual Inspire Sunday, highlighting TFRC mission partners throughout the world. This year she welcomes Brandon Craig from Operation Mobilization and their work reaching the unreached.
Jesus' resurrection restores our identity in Him and our purpose in God's plan, just as it did to Peter in John 21:15-17. Pastor Chuck Swoboda brings a message of hope and restoration on this Easter Sunday.
Pastor Chuck Swoboda reflects on the sense of loss the night Jesus died, and how despite our sense of loss, we can re-center our faith around the communion table.
Luke 19:28-44 tells the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem as the King that the Jews didn't expect. Brett Vriesman examines the humility of our true King and encourages us to re-examine how we see Christ in our own lives.
The Transfiguration was undoubtedly a monumental moment for Peter, James and John to witness. But what was Jesus teaching them by allowing them to witness it? Pastor Chuck explores Matthew 17:1-9.
Jesus sent out his disciples with nothing more than a staff and the clothes on their backs. While they did the work he called them to, they were forced to rely on Him for provision. Mark 6:16-23
Pastor Chuck Swoboda examines Jesus' encounter with a leprous man in Luke 5:12-16. He reminds us that when we do the work God calls us to, we too might encounter ugliness, but Jesus shows us how to handle that with compassion.
Pastor Chuck Swoboda preaches from Luke 9:10-17. Just like the disciples on the hill feeding the 5000, when God performs wonders, it's time for us to get to work.
Pastor Chuck Swoboda reflects on Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness as we enter the Lenten season, and reminds us of the meaning of sacrificing something during the 40 days before Easter. Matthew 4:1-11
Pastor Chuck Swoboda reminds us to weigh what is pleasing to us against what is pleasing to God. Esther 1:1-8
Pastor Chuck Swoboda explores Philippians 2:1-4 and reminds us to put down our own egos in favor of unity of the body of Christ and lifting up our brothers and sisters.
Brett Vriesman gives us 4 things to rework in our attitudes to avoid the negative impact of holding a grudge. Genesis 4:3-8
Pastor Chuck Swoboda reviews the fierce faith of the old testament heroes found in Hebrews 11:32-40. He also reminds the TFRC community of the faith found in our own church over the past 45 years and encourages us to live our own lives in the same way.
Pastor Chuck Swoboda preaches about the generational impact our faith can have. Hebrews 11:20-31
Brett Vriesman reminds us to rely on the unbreakable promises of God as we look ahead in faith. Hebrews 11:8-19
Pastor Chuck Swoboda opens our January sermon series - Famous Faith - reminding us of the importance of being faithful to God despite not seeing Him face-to-face. Hebrews 11:1-7
Pastor Chuck Swoboda encourages us to focus on what we have to look forward to in the new year. 2 Kings 2:9-18.
Brett Vriesman encourages us to look up and face the obstacles in our lives with the strength we find in God. Psalm 121
Pastor Chuck Swoboda explores the history and importance of Bethlehem as God's chosen place to bring Jesus to the world as a baby. Micah 5:2-3
Pastor Chuck Swoboda explores the ancestry of Jesus found in the line of Judah (the first to offer his own life for someone else's). Genesis 49:8-12
Guest speaker Devin Rook preaches about the Love of God found in the gift of Jesus Christ being sent as a child to save us. Isaiah 9:6-7
Pastor Chuck Swoboda steps us into the Advent season looking at the origins of the Gospel. This week he looks at the curse that required Jesus' earthly birth, life and sacrifice in the first place. Genesis 3:8-15
Brett Vriesman reminds us to stay focused on Jesus as we embark on the notoriously busy holiday season. Luke 10:38-42
As we prepare to welcome new members, Pastor Chuck Swoboda looks through the lens of Acts 2:42-47 to examine what it takes to be a healthy church community.
Pastor Chuck Swoboda finishes our sermon series about the 8 directives behind our new vision, reminding us that God's Kingdom is always growing. And because of the Gospel, we are constantly growing in faith and ministry. Matthew 13:31-33
Pastor Chuck Swoboda reminds us to build off our past as we look to our future, and to always keep the next generation in mind in our ministries. Genesis 17:1-8
Pastor Chuck Swoboda uses Paul's example from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 to encourage us to bridge gaps and form impactful relationships when engaging unbelievers.
Brett Vriesman examines the transformations of both Saul and Ananias in Acts 9:10-19, looking at what our own lives can look at when transformed by Jesus.
Pastor Chuck Swoboda further explores TFRC's new vision and direction - encouraging the church to be a place where unbelievers belong and area accepted, so that they can come to their own faith in Jesus. Mark 2:13-17
Pastor Chuck Swoboda challenges the church to model the love of God in being a place for the lost and broken to find peace and healing through Christ and community. 1 John 4:14-21
Brett Vriesman looks at the second directive behind TFRC's new vision and mission statement, challenging us corporately and individually to more regularly seek guidance from the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16-26
Pastor Chuck Swoboda introduces the 8 directives attached to TFRC's new vision and direction with a study of Biblical Obedience. (Matthew 4:1-4)
Labor day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer. We move from one season to another. After the Israelites eat some of the food from the promised land, the manna which they received every day for the previous 40 years stops. And just as Moses led the Israelites into one new season of their lives, Joshua will lead them into another. Joshua 5:10-15
Brett Vriesman looks at the importance of relying on God for provision, just as the Israelites found in the desert (Exodus 16:11-18).
Pastor Chuck Swoboda encourages us to lean less on knowing God's full plan, and to instead trust that He is with us and leading our steps. Numbers 9:15-23
Pastor Jon Opgenorth, President of Words of Hope, joins us to talk about the power of the Gospel, especially as it plays out in Words of Hope's mission in Iran. Acts 11:19-30
Pastor Chuck Swoboda examines the the community that develops on the journey, just as the Israelites found on their journey to the Promised Land. As we get ready for what God has next for us, are we ready to become closer as a community? Exodus 12:31-39
Pastor Chuck Swoboda begins our August sermon series, "Road Trip," with a study of Exodus 3:16-17. In order to go anywhere, you have to know two things: Where you are and where you are going. Do you know where you are in your faith journey? Do you know where God wants to take you? After you have answered those two questions, you then need to ask, “Am I willing to get on board?”
Pastor Chuck Swoboda preaches about allowing space in our lives for God encounters, looking at Abraham's encounter in Genesis 18:1-10
Reverend Bob Abel, Director of Staff & Pastoral Care for Remember Nhu, shares stories of the impact that organization is having saving children from the sex trafficking industry. Luke 4:14-21.
Brett Vriesman looks at what the story of Jonah reveals to us about God's character. Jonah 4:5-11
Pastor Chuck Swoboda preaches about how we react when the pressure is on, reflecting on the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego found in Daniel 3:16-28
Pastor Chuck Swoboda preaches about the importance of impressing faith in Jesus on our kids using Jesus' words in Mark 10:13-16.
Brett Vriesman explores Deuteronomy 6:4-9, addressing the responsibility of parents in impressing our faith on our children.
Pastor Chuck Swoboda talks about the ongoing callings from God starting when we're kids, just like Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1-11)
Pastor Chuck Swoboda opens our "What About the Kids" series looking at why Kids Matter in the Kingdom of God, using Matthew 18:1-6
Director of Youth, Brett Vriesman, preaches about including God in our future planning using three guidelines found in James 4:13-17
Pastor Chuck Swoboda uses Ephesians 2:19-22 to explain why membership matters - that without the community, we cannot fulfill our purpose in the faith.
Pastor Chuck Swoboda preaches about the different types of compassion displayed by the women in Exodus 2:1-10
Director of Missions, Kristy Pickett, welcomes Tim Gregor from Remember Nhu and shares about missions at TFRC.
Youth Director Brett Vriesman examines the gospel through the pictures Jesus shares in Matthew 9:14-17
Pastor Chuck Swoboda preaches about the passionate love Christ has for his church using Ephesians 5:25-32 as a foundation.
Pastor Chuck Swoboda preaches about reactions to Jesus' resurrection using passages from Matthew 28 in this Easter message.
Pastor Jon Austin bids farewell to TFRC with a message of thanksgiving, challenge and blessing from 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
Pastor Chuck Swoboda preaches about the hope found in resurrection stories, using the story of the Shunammite's son found in 2 Kings 4:27-37
Pastors Chuck Swoboda and Jon Austin addresses issues facing the Reformed Church in America
Missions Director Kristy Pickett and Lead Pastor Chuck Swoboda are joined by Words of Hope President Jon Opgenorth for TFRC's annual Inspire Sunday, focusing on missions.
Director of Missions, Kristy Pickett, and Impact Campus Ministry's Marty Solomon share about missions.
Pastor Chuck Swoboda brings the Good News of Easter while preaching from Philippians 3:10-14
Pastor Eddy Aleman, General Secretary of the Reformed Church in America, preaches from Acts 1:8
Pastors Chuck Swoboda and Jon Austin invite the congregation to a deeper level of commitment and community with a look at Joshua 24:14-28
Pastor Jon Austin preaches from Matthew 26:26-30 while congregation members share stories of God revealing himself to them through their trials.
Pastor Brian Vriesman reflects on his 34 years at TFRC as he retires from ministry. Friends, staff and congregation members share their own thoughts on the impact he has made.
Brett Vriesman (Director of Youth Ministries) celebrates graduating seniors and preaches from 1 Samuel 12:19-25.
Staff and new members share in the excitement of Pentecost, dozens joining the church and over 25 baptisms!
Pastor Brian Vriesman starts our new sermon series "Getting Ready for the End of the World" by preaching from Matthew 24:36-51
Pastor Brian Vriesman encourages worship as a community, and we celebrate Connections Sunday testimonies and stories.
Pastor Jon Austin speaks with Worship Directors Lori Ann Lee and Ryan Demlow about the importance of corporate worship
2017-10-22 | Fake News: Universalism - Many Paths or One Path to God by Twin Falls Reformed Church
2017-8-5-6 The Challenge to Impact a post Christian Culture by Twin Falls Reformed Church