The Brook Sermons: Recent Episodes
Eric Rivera
From his birth Jesus had a bullseye on his back. But the Christmas story is a much-needed reminder that God prevailed not only at Jesus birth, but also at his death & resurrection!
Come to Jesus with an unrivaled pursuit. In the wise men, we see their devotion to worship Jesus letting nothing get in the way. Today, we do not have a star that leads us to a house, but a message that leads us to the cross. Will you be a worshiper of Jesus?
El Kanna: The LORD Whose Name is Jealous, is justified in his jealousy becaue he alone is worthy of worship.
Everyone faces adversity. Jesus is the one to guide his followers through the storms of life. In this message Nick Rivera provides lessons for Christian living through life's most difficult times.
When we attempt to rush God's will, we'll quickly find that shortcuts become road trips. Thanks be to God, who sees us even in our affliction.
When we remind ourselves of who God is, and are reminded of what He does, then we are moved to trust him. He is El Olam, the Everlasting God!
God has a bone to pick with those who abuse or abdicate their authority. He cares about matters of injustice! Justice is close to the heart of God. Because of that God has a once-for-all plan to make things right because he is the LORD our Righteousness.
The Lord of Hosts is with us. He is our Refuge. He is our Strength. He is our very present Help in Trouble. So don’t fear. Be still, and know that He is God.
Jehovah Nissi: The LORD is my Banner, which means the LORD will fight your battles. God is calling you to trust in him while surrounding yourself with people who will inspire your faith in Jesus.
Jehovah Jireh: The LORD will Provide - These words are the fruit of the lips that hang on the branches of faith attached to the tree of God's character.
Yahweh is the I AM, the self-existent One, the eternal creator and sustainer of everything. This is his name forever and let it be remembered throughout all generations!
"Prodigals: God's Extravagant Grace" - Important lessons and a fresh look at the story of the Prodigal Son
God is good, and our good God is the supplier of what we need in each and every circumstance.
Anxiety and stress begin to win when they convince you that you should do anything but pray. However, prayerlessness leads to peacelessness.
Do you have any hatchets you need to bury? Here is God's solution for working through conflict and disagreement.
Our friend Pastor Wilson, from Liberia, shares with us the glorious inheritance and hope that God gives to all who trust in Jesus.
Follower of Jesus, let where you're from inform where you're at remembering that you're living in a colony of heaven.
Don't get caught up looking back on either past achievements or past failures. The past is there for us to learn from but not live in. God's call on every Christian is to press on and strain forward in their faith, refusing to run off the learnings of yesterday which produces living off of fumes today.
God’s anecdote for selfish ambition is the selfless example of Jesus who looked not only to his own interest but also the interests of others. In other words, you’ve been given the mind of Christ to imitate the life of Christ. And when we look at Jesus, we see God for who he is and those truths about God (theology) make a difference on how we live. That's when theology meets the street.
What do you do when life feels like a Catch-22? What do you do, when it feels like no matter what you do, you lose? What do you do when it feels that every direction you go has a "dead end" sign on the road? When in prison for his faith, awaiting a verdict, Paul is confronted with a tough situation. If he's guilty, he will be executed. If he's released, he will likely return to prison because of the faith that got him behind bars flowed through his veins. Is this a lose-lose sitaution? Listen in to see Paul's persepctive in an apparent Catch-22.
Regardless of the outcome of your present circumstance, let your aim be that Jesus is honored in your body whether through life or death.
God has "put" you in the sphere of influence you have. The opportunity is there for every follower of Jesus to leverage that sphere to make known the goodness of God. That's a call to Seize the Gospeltunity.
The Anatomy of Sin - A coveting heart brings hurt, pain and destruction. But God, has a solution.
How do we know that God is really good? That's the question guest preacher and friend Kerwin Rodriguez takes on in this message.
Strong and Courageous Faith says, “God, I’m all in.” In this message, we see the example of an amazing woman
In Jesus, God's love was made visible. It's a kind of love that's as big as the world. It's also the kind of love that calls for a decision from everyone who hears of it.
Christmas is a rescue mission, when God entered into humanity to save the very people he created and rebelled against him.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
When life takes unexpected turns, remember that nothing of what you are experiencing takes God by surprise. In our pain, remembering that He is greater than our grandest thought is one way He comforts us...truly, we can trust in this God.
When Job was suffering, he didn't know what to say. He did know that he held on to his integrity and had not sinned against God. So he questions God's justice and demands an answer. What is amazing is that God doesn't cut him off, but meets him in this place of sorrow and confusion. This section in Job tells us how God holds our hand in unexpected ways during the midst of life's storms.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
When you're broken and battered, confused in the chaos, place your frail faith in the hands of your strong God.
When Job was pushed against the wall, and his comfort and family taken from him, he refused to let go of his integrity. And when his health was taken away and his wife told him to, "Curse God and die," even still, he would not turn away from his God. How is Job able to hold on and what does that look like? Listen in.
Suffering doesn't play favorites. All of us experience it. Listen to Part 1 in our Job series, on responding to pain, and you'll see that your suffering never escapes the loving eye of God and never is useless because of the loving hand of God.
In October 1517, Martin Luther crafted his 95 theses, which challenged the authority of the pope and the substance of church beliefs. He nailed his 95 theses to the front door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany igniting what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. Church Reformers taught and defended foundational Christian beliefs called the “5 Solas” and made clear that salvation comes by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. 1. Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority. 2. Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ. 3. Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone. 4. Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King. 5. Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for the glory of God alone.
In early 2013, a group of about 15 adults set forth to follow God's leading to start a new church in the Montclare neighborhood that would reach the surrounding communities and city with the good news of Jesus. That fall, The Brook celebrated its first public worship gathering. Fast forward 4 years and we've see God's faithfulness in countless ways.
"We are Christ's ambassadors" the Bible says of the church. Earth is not our home, but we are here to share the good news about our King, Jesus. It's Jesus who makes us right with God and with each other by paying for the penalty of our sin.
We, the Church, are uniquely designed as living stones built upon Jesus, the Cornerstone, for God's mission.
The Bible is God's Word and is sufficient for life and belief. Listen in to this theology workshop on what the Bible is, how we got it, and what to do with the Scriptures.
The Bible likens the Church to the "Body" of Christ. In the metaphor, Jesus is the head and each follower of Jesus has an important "part" to play. God has given his children diverse giftings and passions to accomplish his kingdom mission. What's your gift? For what purpose were you made? Listen in.
When we say that the church is family, we mean something profound and valuable. What exactly? Listen in.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
The Church is God's idea, uniquely poised to Glorify him, Magnify his name through his people on mission, and Sanctify believers helping them persevere through accountability, instruction, and discipline.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
Prayer and revival go hand-in-hand. This is also true with revival and repentance. A genuine heart of prayerful repentance accompanies revival.
God still speaks! The Bible is His word for us drawing our hearts back to him. Through the good news of Jesus found in the Bible, God restores legacies, exposes hidden idols in our hearts, and directs our lives back to him.
You can be fervent in doing God's work but still be in dire need for revival. To avoid the trap of business in ministry followed by a drifting heart, heed the call of Revelations 2, "return to the love you had at first."
We often hang on to our sin, feel shame over them, hide them, justify them, or minimize them. The result of each of these is that our sin begins to eat away at our lives. God's solution is found in Jesus, and our joy comes when we confess our sins to Jesus and live for him. Listen in to discover more about the power of forgiveness.
There are times in life where we might feel abandoned by God. What's is comforting in those moments is to know that you're not alone. In fact, the book of Psalms is filled with expressions of "lament" where the writer is wrestling with his/her emotions before God. In fact, about 45% of the Psalms are laments, depicting the anguish of the soul.
Pastor Eric shares about his recent trip to Liberia and God's heart for peoples in all places.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
Devotion to Jesus is a "beautiful thing" in God's sight. This Mother's Day message opens up with a testimony by Kim Riggs, a poem by Lymari Navarro, a devotion from Eric Rivera and reflections from Erikah Rivera.
In this message, you'll hear about Jesus' kingdom and what it means to have your name written in the Book of Life. You will find that eschatology (teachings on the end times) is water to the thirsty (Rev 22:17) and a warning to the rebel (Rev 22:18-19).
Spoiler alert! Jesus wins. The Bible tells us that a time of great tribulation is coming culminating with the second coming of Jesus and his victory over Satan, the Antichrist, and False Prophet.
Are we in the end times? Are we living in the last days? Questions like these surround us daily. Listen in and see what the Bible has to say about the end times.
Good Friday Service: Our greatest need is for God to create a way for us to have a relationship with Him. That was made through the cross of Jesus that dark "good" Friday.
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. In his distress, he teaches us that prayer, surrendering our will, and trusting the Father is the what is needed especially when following God's will is most difficult.
Ever forget something? The milk, keys, meetings, birthdays, anniversaries...Jesus? Here's how to remember Jesus.
Jesus isn't impressed when we want to make a name for ourselves and flaunt our accomplishments. He sees beyond the surface and peers into our hearts. When we realize this, we're able to move beyond people-pleasing and remember that we are ordinary people serving our legendary God through this momentary life in extraordinary ways.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
What did Jesus say about God & government and Life after death? Check out how he responded to these questions.While these different questions seem worlds apart, they remind us that this life matters in teh after life and that the after life informs the matters of this life.
Jesus doesn't get trapped in absurd arguments, but he's always willing to engage the sincere soul that's searching. While sometimes the questions that come our way are intimidating, God has given us what we need to be equipped to give an answer for our faith. Know what you believe, and be prepared to defend your faith.
In this message, Pastor Eric talks about the heart of worship and the kind of worship that aggravated Jesus and in turn, the kind of worship that pleases God.
Jesus came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. In the same way, He calls all of his followers to serve others with that same gospel-driven purpose.
What belongs to us belongs to Him so that what's been given to us is given to "them" (others in need). In other words, it's the Almighty's dollar to be invested into the Almighty's mission. In this message, Pastor Eric unpacks 4 Practical Principles of giving from 2 Corinthians 9.
Generosity is a loving response the joyful Christian cannot resist. Let's give together!
Pray that God would send more "laborers" into His harvest. Pray it up, and let's go together!
Getting worked up will lead you to getting stressed out. Getting prayed up will lead you to be peace-filled. Through prayer, God grants us the grace to say, "peace ✌
Pray it up! We kick off 2017 with a focus on prayer. We as a church want to excel in our prayer life that we would faithfully Grow, Go, & Give. In this message, we pray along that God would cause us to grow in our love for one another, in our experience of God, and in our understanding of his will for our lives. If this is your desire, then pray it up!
When you feel pressed in on every side because of your sin, Jesus is the ruler who defeated your greatest foe...sin and death.
Our world is dark as it was 700 years before Jesus. The prophet Isaiah calls it a time of
Jesus said, "Let the children come to me." These words about the faith of a child has applicational points for the big picture of parenting that points our children to Jesus and loves them with God's grace. Listen in as Bruce Olson shares personal experiences and life lessons on the topic of parenting.
God's perspective on health is much different than what is commonly understood in our society. Our cultural infatuation with wealth, prosperity and comfort is actually a major hindrance for many people to put their faith in Jesus. In this message, we look at Jesus' teaching on wealth why it's important for the Christian life. Wealth has implications on discipleship. Discipleship has implications on wealth. Wealth will reveal what really owns our heart. Discipleship will leverage God’s wealth for God’s purposes.
From Perspective to Praise: How recognizing God's goodness in our lives moves us to worship with all that we are.
Marriage is precious in God's Sight, and what God a has joined together, let no one separate.
Regardless of the political climate we find ourselves in 2016, all Christians must realize that they live in a time of "war and peace."
How do you define greatness? How would Jesus define it? In this message, you will see that our societal perceptions of greatness may not be the measurement by which God measures greatness. God's definition exposes our hearts and frees us to live a life of true greatness filled with joy and satisfaction because of Jesus.
Strongholds and bondage come in a variety of forms. We often become familiar with these sinful struggles and view them as a
On Sunday we celebrated The Brook's 3 year anniversary. Our heartbeat is to help people see the glory and majesty of God in the person and work of Jesus. This message unveils this passion giving God glory for where we've been, where we are, and where we believe he's takingus. Soli Deo Gloria!
A Savior who doesn't suffer is a Savior who cannot save. This proper understanding of Jesus' mission gives his followers clarity regarding their own. Listen in to discover what it means to be a true follower of Jesus.
Perhaps the most important question you will ever answer is the question Jesus posed to his disciples. It's a question that narrows what "others" say to what you yourself think. It's the answer to this question that has transformed the lives of men and women throughout the ages. It's the answer to this question that can change your life. Jesus asks, "Who do you say that I am?"
Like a bowl of oatmeal left unattended, our hearts can gradually become hard and stubborn when left spiritually unattended. Beware of the company you keep and the voices you listen to because that company and those voices left untested by the truth of the Bible can you lead you down a path of doubt and unbelief and will steal your joy and rob you of your wonder. God's remedy for a hard heart, as with a bowl of oatmeal, is to soak...soak in the gospel, soak in God's presence, and soak in the Scriptures letting the Word of God renew your mind.
When the locus of authority in our lives shifts away from the Bible, it usually shifts onto us. But our own opinions, traditions, or laws cannot address the deepest needs of the human heart. Only God's Word and the gospel within it can. In God's Word we see that God sets the standard of what is pure or impure, clean or unclean, and shows us that only through Jesus can we understand true cleansing in our sinful hearts. So rather than putting on masks and being afraid of being (or actually trying to be) a hypocrite, let's humble ourselves before God and receive His solutions for the sin problem of our hearts.
There are moments in life when we are perplexed by what is going on. We expect God to answer in a way he chooses not to, or move in a way he doesn't. In all of life, we must keep in mind that God is at work even in the storms and even when we feel he is distant. At those times, Jesus reminds us that he is our God and that we can trust in him.
The Bible describes our predicament without Jesus as being "sheep without a shepherd." Lost sheep seek lost solutions to their lost situation that ultimately will leave us...lost. Whether it's drinking away life's challenges with another round, or lighting up weed to fit in, or needing more money to feel secure, or seeking the approval of others at the cost of your own dignity, or ignoring our broken hurts, we ultimately need something, Someone, who is greater. Only Jesus can deal with our sin problem. Only Jesus can heal our brokenness and lead us to the Father because he is our Shepherd who compassionately leads and feeds his sheep.
Prayer is a vital part of the Christian life because when God's people pray, they are personally communicating with the God of the universe who invites his children to come to him in prayer. Prayer with fasting is a unique expression of our deep desire for God to do something among us. Fasting is a means of seeking God’s unique blessing and expressing our hunger for his hand to move and intervene in our lives. David Mathis, a Christian writer, defines fasting as "voluntarily going without food—or any other regularly enjoyed good gift from God—for the sake of some spiritual purpose.” Another writer, theologian Wayne Grudem, adds, “Fasting expresses earnestness and urgency in our prayers…fasting says to God that we are prepared to lay down our lives that the situation [for which we are praying] be changed rather than it continue…Most western Christians do not [regularly] fast, but if we were wiling to fast more regularly—even for one or two meals—we might be surprised how much more spiritual power and strength we would have in our lives and in our churches.” At The Brook, we believe God is calling us to step out in faith in our individual lives, families, and collectively as a Church. As a church, we believe God is calling us to multiply Real Communities and multiply our sending capacity to start more churches in the years to come. So we are calling the churhc to pray and fast asking God for clarity as we seek to obey his mission for our lives and for His church. So we turn to Ezra 8, where we learn 7 Keys to true Prayer and Fasting:
To pray effectively, we must know how. Open up your Bible to 1 John 5:13-15 to learn what it means to experience answered prayer.
This week we studied what it means to forgive and bear with one another as a family to the glory of God. This may be difficult, but necessary and freeing.
In this sermon, we learn what it means to love one another out of the overflow of God's love for us.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
When we take a step back and look at the big picture of life, that God made us for His glory to spread His fame everywhere we go, the rest of life makes more sense. The big picture reminds us how our Big God uses little people to make a big difference little by little.
There is a courageous remnant of men who respect, treasure, and even tremble at the title father. Listen in to see the greatest point a father could ever make when teaching his child.
No Matter What may come your way, will you follow Jesus? Consider the powerful life of John the Baptist.
Have you ever felt rejected by those closest to you? That was a common feeling in Jesus' life. After being received in various villages and towns, coming home spelled something entirely different. What kind of resolve will you have when you are rejected for your faith in Jesus? Listen in and learn how Jesus and his disciples responded.
The various hurts and disappointments in life can create a wedge between us and our pursuit of Jesus. We've at different times felt rejected by God, have had wrong-exepectations from God, or don't think we need Him, leading us to not come to Him in our times of need. In this message, we're reminded that Jesus is the one we need most in the ups and downs of life. Let nothing hold you back fromn pursuing Jesus and making life revolve around Him.
Self-Hate is a "secret epidemic" writes one Huffington Post journalist. Behind the epidemic is the spiritual battle that wages against humanity. Satan's desire is to steal, kill, and destroy as a roaring lion in search of its next meal. Satan speaks lies to humanity that aim at our destruction. Lies such as: Lie #1: Death is better than life Lie #2: Misery is your destiny Lie #3: Hate yourself and hurt yourself Lie #4: You are not worth it. You're not worth anything. Jesus, on the other hand, brings truth that reminds us of God's unfailing and unconditional love that brings freedom, forgiveness, and hope to all who trust in Him. Jesus not only crossed the sea to save a man stuck in bondage, but he crossed heaven and came to earth to save His people from their sins. There is hope in the name of Jesus, because He still breaks chains!
In this Mother's Day message we see that God, through the Bible, gives wisdom and direction for moms in this great calling of being a mother. In particular, we see in the book of Proverbs the great influence and life-giving power of a mother's tongue.
The Kingdom of God is not an imaginary place to be ignored but a present reality to be adored and a future certainty to be hoped for.
Jesus reminds us that the gospel message will not be received by all. Some people will reject it while others will hear it, accept it, and produce fruit in their lives.
In Jesus' day, no one questioned the truthfulness of his ability to perform miracles and power to cast out demons. It was in plain sight for all to see. What people did question was the the "how" he was able to do such things. In this message we see Jesus deliver a stern warning to those who rejected him while at the same time encouraging God's people about His power over Satan.
Jesus and His followers are no strangers to opposition. Even when crowds gathered, Jesus knew that His mission was about making disciples (committed followers of him) and not simply attracting droves of people (some who would reject him even though attracted to things he did). For us today, a mark of being a disciple is the reality of mixed reviews with your choice of following Jesus. Sometimes the affirmation you desire doesn't come from those closest to you. This is why God has made the church into a family where we can spur one another on to obeying God and following Jesus.
Jesus demonstrates how God's Laws were meant for the purpose of giving God glory and for the benefit of God's children. However, the religious leaders in Jesus' day hardened their hearts where glorifying God and doing good for others became peripheral. Ultimately, in this passage we see Jesus choose life for others even at the expense of his own.
When Jesus rose from the dead, Hope rose from the dead making available for hope to rise in our hearts. Jesus' resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith from which we can experience forgiveness, new life, and hope through faith in Jesus.
How could God let this happen? Was Jesus no longer in control? Although hope was seemingly lost when Jesus went to the cross, all happened precisely according to God’s plan. Jesus didn’t come to save himself, but save humanity.
Jesus refused to be painted into a corner of "religious" duty and made it clear that he came to bring something new from what the religious leaders in his day had come to know. What was true then is often true now. The "old" ritualistic ways of seeing our relationship with God are not the dynamic pictures that Jesus gives us. He brought a new way of celebrating who God is, a new understanding of what it means to have a relationship with God, and a new meaning of living out one's faith...different than what some in his day had come to know.
Doctors treat the sick and not the healthy. In the same way, Jesus came for the sinful and broken...everyone! Because of this, He had the reputation of sharing meals with people that others thought weren't "worthy" of his attention. That's the beauty of God. None is too far from the reach of his powerful and merciful hand.
Prayer cannot be a mere footnote in life, nor can it be a marginal comment in our days. Prayer must be interwoven throughout the pages of our lives.
With two simple words, "Follow me," Jesus reveals the heart of what it means to be Christian and his disciple.
At just the right time, God sent Jesus, the Son of God, to this earth. Jesus is the one true God who came with a mission to save people from sin bringing them into his Kingdom. It all begins when we raise or white flags and surrender our lives to him.
People often ask, "What the big deal with Jesus?" Listen in as Ashanti Pettaway unpacks the greatness of Jesus from Hebrews 4:14-5:10.
What do are some of your resolutions for 2016? Keep atop your list this thought: Resolve to fight for the faith in the face of opposition.
Jesus didn't die to purchase a building, but to purchase a people. Here's what it looks like to live life as the Church. Listen to one of our deep passions at The Brook, living life in Real Community!
Reflecting on the past is important, though sometimes difficult. However, remembering God's goodness in our lives and remembering Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf gives us perspective. When we set our eyes on Jesus, we can stay the course through the storms and sunny days of life.
For the Christian, every Christmas is a White Christmas because of Jesus. Listen in and find out why.
Christmas is about more than gifts & tags and ribbons & bags. Christmas is about the gift God gave to us when he sent Jesus. God offers, through faith in Jesus, an unspeakable joy to all who worship Him.
A wonderful life is a wonder-filled life, a life that's lived in awe of God because of what he did that first Christmas. Listen in to last Sunday's message: "It's a Wonderful Life...In Christ"
The Christmas story begins with God, and the miraclous ways he works in the most unlikely of people in the most unlikely of place and in the most unlikely of ways. God worked in miraculous ways in order to miraculously save! The true miracle of Christmas is not a man fro the North Pole riding a slay drawn by reindeer. Christmas is about a greater miracle beginning with God. Listen in!
God has given men the mission of being faithful leaders who take the responsibility of training up other men to be devoted followers of Jesus. Let the remnant rise!
Arthur Kok is the Program Coordinator for The Orchard Network that is committed to growing gospel leaders and churches. We are thrilled to have Arthur open Psalm 91 with us at The Brook and unpack the rest that our gracious God provides even in the midst of of life's chaos.
The same God who has called men to holiness has also empowered men for holiness. Purity is possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. But purity is not sustainable alongside of passivity. In this message we explore the pathway to purity which begins with a life of surrender to Jesus and has its focus set on the gospel.
One of the first places a man must reject passivity, is with his spiritual life. Men don't simply know God's design by chance, but it comes by a man's surrender to God's authority. In the Bible God has spoken, therefore a man must be a man of the Word of God. As a man consumes the Word, the Word will begin to consume him. Let the remnant rise!
Will a remnant rise? Here is a call for men to rise from the dust & follow God's design for manhood.
Although the 23rd Psalm is well known, it's daily applicable. It's beauty describes the loving care of God over his people and provides an example to follow by way of application.
On Sunday, October 4, 2015, The Brook celebrated 2 years of God' faithfulness. This is why we celebrate: It's easy to fixate on our frustrations and focus on our failures. However, God calls his people to reflect and remember his goodness. In particular, he calls his church to savor his salvation and delight in his deliverances. Worship that is properly aimed is worship that'll be unrestrained.
What do you do when the waves of regret, guilt & shame come crashing in? Listen to Psalm 51 and discover the freedom God offers to all who turn to Him.
What do you do when life doesn't make sense? We have a variety of options that lead to resentment, bitterness and hurt. What God desires is that we would bring our complaint to God and let Him give us a new perspective on life. When life doesn't make sense, give it to God so He can make change.
Jesus is the ultimate example of giving 100. He gave all in order to give us all through faith in him.
God's not done with us, even when we're done with us. Peter learned this important lesson in the midst of his greatest of failures. Through God's abundant grace, turn to Jesus and follow Him.
Let your life be marked by the fragrance of devotion and unrestrained love for Jesus. Devotion to Jesus is when we order our days and nights--our lives--around Jesus choosing to look at all of life through the lens of the gospel.
Familiarity can lead to Forgetfulness and stifle Fascination. When it comes to God, Moses didn't let this happen. His example of passion for God and a heart for prayer serves as an example for us to follow. Let the Lord do a work that will recover the wonder of His majesty and renew the pursuit of His presence as we give 100 for the fame of God's name.
Our confidence in God’s power working with our confidence in God’s wisdom will produce confidence in God’s will.
Giving all and Receiving Jesus, far surpasses the value of Keeping All and Rejecting Him. This is the
Is the Bible relevant today? This message from Brenton Smith, Campus Pastor at Park Community Church in Edgebrook, will lead you to respond with an overwhelming, "yes!"
Decision Time: We are often faced with important decisions in life, and when we are, Jesus teaches us to Get Serious, Get Alone, and Get Praying.
Rather than relying on the ways we used to do things, God calls us to come to him in prayer in a fresh way each day expressing our dependence upon him.
God praises persistence in prayer and delights in shaping us as we press through to Him.
In prayer, we've been given the gift of talking with God. Listen in to hear the way that Jesus taught his followers to pray.
What things get you fired up? What are the things that make you pound the table and weep? In this message, you will get a closer look at the things that drive our passion at The Brook: Our Message, Our Mission, the Means, and Multiplication.
God designed love and passion to grow with time in marriage, and not fade into a faint flicker. For love to deepen with time, the couple must grow correctly. In this final message from the Song of Solomon, we learn lessons for enduring marriages as well as steps to make as a single to prepare for what might one day be.
Conflict is a normal part of marriage and, if approached correctly, can be productive. In this message, we learn do's and don'ts of conflict and best practices for communication. At the end of the day, the peace that can be enjoyed through patience, humility, and forgiveness within marriage is a small glimpse of the peace God offers to everyone because of His patient and enduring love and forgiveness.
A legacy of sincere faith begins with a courageous choice and continues on with the determination to point our children and spiritual children to the gospel.
God is the creator of marriage and sex and has given us the Song of Solomon to instruct us about the beauty and intense delight in what He has created. In this message we see these important truths: 1) Marriage is a Sacred Celebration, 2) Let Tender Words rule your Wedding Day and All the Day's You're Wed, 3) Husbands, your Wife is a Garden to be Tended and not a Yard to be Trampled, and 4) Sex is a God-given Gift for marriage where Two become One
Every relationship will have its thrilling ups and discouraging downs. It's part of the ebb and flow of love and romance. Cultivating ongoing romance in relationships take intentionality and perseverance. It takes catching the little foxes that can spoil the vineyard.
Romantic love keeps passion and purity in focus. It understands the importance of compliments and complements, of the man being the protector and provider. As passions grow, though, it also understands the importance of knowing when to put on the brakes and not awaken love until it is time.
These are messages from The Brook church in Chicago, where Eric Rivera is the Pastor. Visit www.thebrookchi.com for more details about The Brook.
If the tomb is full, then our hearts remain empty. If the tomb is empty, then our hearts can be full. The empty tomb addresses empty hearts! Jesus live, died, was buried, and rose from the dead to bring forgiveness, fullness, joy and satisfaction as a child of God. Listen in!
The road to the cross carried great weight, most visible in the Garden of Gethsemane in the agonizing prayers of Jesus.
You can pray without standing (physical posture) but you can't stand without praying (spiritual posture). Ephesians ends with this important reminder that prayer is our greatest asset in the spiritual battle. Therefore, our spiritual struggle demands a life of prayer.
Life is war. God has created his children to Stand in this midst of this spiritual war and to fight armed and dangerous showing no mercy to our sinful desires and showing no mercy to the tactics of Satan. God's call for His children is to Fight! Fight for the sake of the Glory of God, the advancement of the gospel, the good of your family, and the care of your soul.
Prosperity cramps a war time mentality and blinds people to the realities of the spiritual war that wages around us. However, Satan wars against the glory of God. When a person surrenders their life to Jesus, they are delivered from Satan's domain darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God. This means war! The spiritual battles of the week, will make you spiritually weak. Depend on God's strength - Stand! Don't take a seat!
Rooted people are growing in gospel fluency. Gospel fluency revolves around God-centered answers to these 4 important questions: 1) Who is God? 2) What has He done? 3) Who am I? 4) What do I do? Ephesians is like Rosetta Stone, bringing gospel fluency to those who receive its message and surrender themselves to Jesus. Let's grow deep, and live tall!
Don't get worked up about work, because chasing dollars doesn't make sense. Instead, clock in for the glory of God remembering that you ultimately work for Jesus.
This sermon was preached on a baptism Sunday, where 7 people entered the waters of baptism. This message reminds us that God is the great "repurposer" who takes lives that may be in the deepest of pits and redeems them because of the shed blood of Jesus. For all who are children of God, these words ring true, "Jesus set me free!" This is the message that God wants you to hear today. He can set you free and give you a new life.
To Moms, Dads, Single Moms, Single Dads, and Spiritual Parents, the Bible teaches that at the heart of parenting is parenting to the heart. Beyond behavior modification, God calls parents to speak to the heart of their children with their primary message being the grace of God and the power of the gospel to bring about substantive life change.
Marriage takes two in order to live as one. This means husbands leading their wives through loving sacrifice. This also means wives respecting their husbands in loving submission. As husbands love and wives submit, God's precious design for marriage begins to be in full view. There is no picture perfect marriage, but every marriage is meant to point to the picture that is perfect, namely, Jesus.
Time is valuable. Time wasted can be painful. Time redeemed is God's plan. Don't waste your life trying to buy back time, spend it living for Christ. Jesus alone, makes this possible.
Sexual purity is ferociously under attack in our culture while the beauty of God's design has been "greyed" and the lines between light and lust blurred. God has given His children, saints, this pleasure-filled victorious identity, to Stand for the God of Light rather than Bow to the Idol of Lust.
When Jesus transforms the person who trusts in him and gives them a new life, he does so in order to renovate not only who they are in public, but also in private. God, by the Holy Spirit, has made possible a true integration between faith and life.
The gospel makes dead people live and through that new life, God calls the Christian to put off the old way of living and put on the new self created. This taking off and putting on is a work of God enabled through the cross of Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
God has given Spiritual Gifts to every Christian for the purpose of glorifying God as the Church grows toward spiritual maturity. Listen in to learn more about these gifts and to see how God views spiritual maturity.
What kinds of results would a Google search of your spiritual life this past year render? As we look ahead to the New Year, we see that God's call for his church is to walk united as one living life together on the mission to which Jesus has called us. As we walk in this unified mission three essential components are that we would each grow in character, maintain unity, and treasure truth.
In this final sermon of the series on Christmas Eve, we see the Wise Men searching for the baby who is the King of kings in order to worship Him. Their pursuit brought about great joy, the kind of joy Jesus still brings to those who surrender their lives in worship of Him.
Peace in the Bible is a rich topic. It’s not limited to feeling at ease or feeling based on external circumstances, but really carries the idea of wholeness--To be complete in God. In this message we will unpack the kind of peace Jesus came to bring and why we desperately need Him this Christmas.
Christmas is about so much more than a birth of a baby, but the coming of God himself to defeat his foes and offer life to all who would trust in Jesus.
When we come to God in prayer, we come to a God who is able to deliver on His promises and provide His children with more strength from His Spirit, more faith in Jesus, more understanding of Jesus' love, and ultimately, more of God Himself.
We live in a day when we're confronted with the sobering reminder of the still-existent but often-ignored and sometimes-denied racial tensions that remain not only in our land, but also in our hearts. If that's the cultural climate, then what should the thermostat read within the church? Here's a look at God's passion for Christ-exalting diversity within the church.
The church is made up of people who are citizens of heaven, people who are a part of God's family, and people among whom God dwells. But this wasn't always the case. In this passage, Paul describes the depth of humanities alienation from God apart from Jesus before unpacking how it is that we can be at peace with God. Here we find the anatomy of the Church.
While moral teachers seek to make dead people good, God's amazing work makes dead people live. Listen in to see humanities chaotic condition apart from Jesus and God's radical display of mercy and grace to save people from His coming wrath.
We might agree that prayer is good and important, but many would honestly say it doesn't come easily. Prayer is conversation with God and in this message you'll hear the most significant and foundational prayer you can have for someone. Listen in!