Silver Creek Church: Recent Episodes
Silver Creek Church
Thankfulness is obviously the theme every November, but why do we need to be thankful? The truth is that there are way more reasons that thankfulness is important than can be discussed in just one morning, but the truth is we are called to be thankful! For the Christ follower, it's a non-negotiable!
Sometimes we have to choose to be thankful. Just like our children can often miss the bigger picture or just how fortunate they are, we can do the same! The tendency to become impatient when waiting for God's plan to unfold in our lives can keep us from being thankful in the meantime! This morning we welcome a friend of Silver Creek Church, Claudia Ngafeeson, who encourages us in Waiting On An On Time God!
The ultimate and at times last way we can Get In The Game is in the form of leadership. Too often times we feel as if there's no way God can use someone like us, but when we look at Scripture we a different story. God never shied away from using imperfect people to do what He wanted to accomplish and he's not going to start now!
When we talk about getting into the game, being involved in what God is doing around us and in our own lives, it takes more than just being present. Sacrifice is something that comes into play regularly as we serve God. Not only are we called to give of ourselves but of what we have to further the hope of Jesus!
If you've been around Silver Creek Church for any period of time, you know that serving is important to us. Serving our community, our church, our family and most importantly serving God! While serving can and is enjoyable, it's not why we do it! We serve because we've been called to and given the example by Jesus Himself!
Football is on the brain, so this morning we're looking at sharing our faith using a variety of Sports idioms. While the comparison is silly, we are called to be involved in sharing the love of God, serving others and leading our world to Jesus! It's the most important "game" we can be involved in, and we need to be ready to make a difference for God!
Thanks for joining us in church this morning! Today we welcome special guest, Jim Duflo! Jim serves as our Silver Creek Thrift Director and is an awesome part of our team!
We can't talk about the Supernatural without talking about person of the Holy Spirit. For many, the Holy Spirit can be hard to fully comprehend, but when it comes to a full understanding of who God really is, we have to have faith and realize that He will continue to show us more of who He is!
We cannot look at what is at work beyond our visible and observable universe without looking at Heaven and Hell. The reality is that one day we will experience one or the other. God's will and desire for us to join Him in Heaven and He has done everything to make it available and accessible to us. This morning we look to what Scripture says about each of these supernatural places.
As we look to further understand the supernatural aspect of God we have to look at other supernatural aspects of Scripture. The presence and purpose of Angels can be seen all throughout the Bible and we can learn much of their purpose in our lives if we take the time to observe their role throughout those Scriptures!
Too many people believe the lie that sys you have to have your life figured out before you can draw near to God. Put simply, that's one of the most blatant lies the enemy can ever tell us! Jesus spent His ministry pursuing those who were a wreck, not avoiding them! The moment we invite Jesus into our lives, He begins to transform us from the inside out!
Too many people believe the lie that sys you have to have your life figured out before you can draw near to God. Put simply, that's one of the most blatant lies the enemy can ever tell us! Jesus spent His ministry pursuing those who were a wreck, not avoiding them! The moment we invite Jesus into our lives, He begins to transform us from the inside out!
Having character is essential to our growth as Christ followers, but it's not always easy. This morning we look at some practical steps we can each take to develop our character each and every day!
We live in a culture that's focused on the external - what you can see is most important. But when we consider what is important to God, things are a little different. When it comes to our character and how God wants us to function as Christ followers, it's what's on the inside that counts. Our convictions, commitment to Him and His commands are what matters to Him!
Life is full of challenges, that is for sure. How we come through those difficulties speaks to our character as people, friends and Christ followers. If our character is going to be that of the kind God would desire for us to have, it will ultimately cost us something!
Water Baptism is something we see and have even talked about, but it's easy to forget the significance of what it means. Today we look at some of what water baptism is and what it isn't - our prayer is that we would all be drawn to the act of obedience in water baptism!
The idea of a gift of treasure can be hard to wrap our minds around, especially when we feel like we never have what we need. At the end of the day, all that we have comes from God - are we going to trust Him with what He has given to us? This morning we we look at some truth's of God treasure.
God has equipped us uniquely and specifically to be used by Him, the question is can we identify those attributes, skills and passions that He's given us? Once we do that, we have to choose to make use of them for His glory and the benefit of His plans for our lives!
Time is something we seem to never have enough of, but could it be because we try to cram too much into the time we do have? No matter the reason, God has given us time and time is important to Him, so what are we going to do with it?
The altar is ultimately a place to experience God - this morning we take some time to look at establishing a family altar. Ultimately, God should be at the center of our families, and the family alter is a systematic approach to doing just that!
There are plenty of concepts throughout Scripture that we may think we have a complete understand of, but as we spend more time in the Word, we get a clearer understanding of what those mean to us all! Altars are no exception - this morning we look at the functions of the altar throughout Scripture.
Dads are our heroes! Part of being a hero is acting the part. This morning, we want dads to leave encouraged and reminded of the role they play in the lives of their families!
Want to be successful in everything you do? Make sure you're connected to God! Whether you're graduating from high school or just in a new stage of life, stay connected to your source of hope!
One thing is universal - Jesus is in fact our hope. Whether you're here in Marquette or across the world, the same is true. This morning we welcome some amazing missionaries who are making sure the name of Jesus is known far and wide!
Freedom is anything but free and has been paid for at a price! This morning we take time to honor the men and women who paid the ultimate price to ensure our freedom! At the same time we remember that it was Jesus himself who did the same thing for us through His life and death on the cross. Today, we remember!
Family is important and no matter your role you play or hold in your family, it is crucial! As we navigate family dynamics we have to be willing to dedicate our families to God and allow him to be part of the chaos. If we hope to see God's best for those closest to us, He has to be part of the equation!
Family is something that we're kind of just stuck with, but we can't forget that God created the family unit and His intention is for it to be something amazing! Just because it was created perfect, doesn't mean it always is. Today we look at Scripture on working through family challenges in a God honoring way!
A community should be connected to its own vision - it should be part of the makeup of its people! This morning we look at what it means to be connected to our source as Christ followers!
For community to be what God intended it to be we have to make sure and be connected to its purpose! As a community of people who love God, we need to remember that His intention for community is to be together, to worship together and to sharpen each other!
Biblical community sounds like it ends up being perfect but because we're involved, it's far from it! It's hard to know how to handle broken relationships, especially when it involves other Christ followers. Today we talk about how we can work to restore and reclaim this broken friendships according to Scripture!
Often times we can look at church and community as two different things when in reality they should be one in the same! God's purpose for us as Christ's followers is to live life alongside one another, realizing that we're not in it alone! Join us as we begin our April series looking at the community we can have as we navigate through life's challenges!
The words the angel said to the women at the tomb in Matthew 28:6 are still true today - "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay." Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, who through His death and resurrection extended salvation and the promise of eternity in Heaven with Him! We are so glad that you are celebrating Easter with us this morning!
The final week of Jesus' life was full of many things, but one of the prominent things was suffering. We can learn much from His suffering, both about Him and how He lived his life but also how we can handle our own suffering today! Ultimately His suffering led to our freedom that came with Easter Sunday!
Some days seem to drag on forever no matter what you do. Our longest days don't come close to an eventful Thursday night that Jesus had during the 8 Days That Changed the World. Over the course of just 18 hours Jesus was betrayed, denied and tried. The next time it feels like our world is collapsing, we can remember that Jesus overcame more than we can imagine and He promises to bring us out of our own time of desperation.
As people, we may not be able to agree on much, but one thing we can all agree on is the importance and value of special meals. For us it may be Christmas or Easter or the celebration of an anniversary that brings those meals to mind, but in the last days of Jesus' life here on Earth He took time to break bread with those closest to Him. There's a special connection that takes place when we share something as simple as a meal together and Jesus understood that.
The final week of Jesus' life led way to the most significant chain of events in human history! Throughout the month leading up to Easter Sunday, we will be looking at 8 Days That Changed the World - there is so much we can learn about the person of Jesus by seeing how He carried Himself when He knew His time on earth was coming to an end.
Jesus may have not been a lawyer but He too never asked a question He didn't know the answer to. The questions He asked led to true and miraculous life-change in the people who He came into contact with. Sometimes the question He can ask is as simple as, "Are you willing to listen?" This morning we have the chance to be encouraged by a few people in our Silver Creek family that answered that question with a yes and it's changing not only them but their family as well!
Fear is real - it can be crippling and overwhelming. When we find ourselves in a situation where fear is the natural reaction it can be hard to separate the emotion of what we're experiencing and what Jesus instructs us to do in those times. This week we look at His question of His own disciples, "Why are you so afraid?"
We serve a God who not only truly loves us but knows how to show His love in tangible ways. As the topic of love is at the top of our minds this week, we look at some ways that God shows His love for us and in turn helps us further understand what love truly is!
If you have ever had or been around a toddler, you can understand how questions are a natural part of life. We usually think of all the questions we want to ask God one day, but what about some of the questions that Jesus asked of us when he was here on earth? Today we look at a challenging question Jesus asked when it comes to falling victim to judging others.
The only thing harder than rebuilding something that has been destroyed is thinking about rebuilding something that is in fact dead. Death seems final to us, but to God death that still has to submit itself to His authority. Put simply, nothing that's dead is beyond God's ability to bring it back to life.
Looking to rebuild something that has been completely destroyed in our own eyes is no easy task. Not only does it take faith, vision and determination, it requires us to rely on God's help and provision to see it come to pass. Nehemiah is the perfect example of how God wants to walk us through a rebuilding phase in our lives!
Failure is hard enough to deal with but when you add onto it the idea of rebuilding what you failed at, it becomes even overwhelming. This week we begin looking to Scripture to see how we can rebuild when things fall apart in our lives and believe that God has a plan for us coming out of those painful times!
The New Year brings all sorts of excitement and hope but can also bring with it some feelings of fear or anxiety as well. The best way to tackle the New Year is with the help of Jesus and being rooted in prayer! Join us this morning as we look at 3 words that will transform your prayer life not only in the New Year but at any point in your walk with Christ!
As we conclude 2023 we should take a moment and reflect on all that God has done over the last year and use it as a reminder of what can take place in the New Year to come. Join us this Sunday for a time of reflection and encouragement as we look to God for what is in store for His church this year! Happy New Year, Silver Creek!
Merry Christmas to you and yours! Thank you for joining us this Christmas Eve as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus!
It's easy to get things upside down in life - our perspective can be skewed and we can miss the point! Christmas, however, is not an area where we can afford to get things turned around!
Most of us understand the purpose of camouflage - it's used to hide something or someone in plain sight. There are times however when something can be inadvertently camouflaged when instead it should be front and center. Christmas can be like that at times, hidden by the unimportant and distracting things around this time of year. The birth of Jesus is far too important to allow it to be camouflaged by anything!
There are plenty of things that come into play throughout life that can cause us to miss something else important and Christmas is no exception. In fact, the first Christmas was missed by all the religious experts and leaders who should have known the importance of such an event! We can't afford to miss the meaning of Christmas in our own lives today!
Is it possible to actually miss Christmas? It may be hard to miss something like Christmas today, but in fact many almost missed the first Christmas for one reason or another. It's easy in our world today to miss the true meaning and reason for Christmas and this month we're reminded that it's not something to be missed!
Certain things in life just go together with one another, don't they? As we wrap up our series Heart of Gratitude, Pastor Kevin highlights an important quality that just seems to go along with gratitude in our lives!
Believe it or not, but gratitude is a powerful quality to possess and is in fact God's plan for us as Christ followers! This morning Pastor Kevin provides us some encouragement that we see from Paul in Ephesians about the importance of living a life of gratitude!
While it may seem comical, it's possible to discuss how to develop a heart of gratitude by simply describing what it means to have an attitude of in-gratitude. This morning we look at gratitude in a little different light than you may think.
While the church is more than just a building, this morning we're going to compare it to just that. As we conclude our series 'The Church As' we see that all throughout Scripture metaphors to help us understand God's intent for us as Christ followers and ultimately, His Church!
You may have heard the church described as a flock, but why? At the end of the day, we as people need the care that a shepherd provides His flock. God offers us guidance, direction, protection and security as His followers, just as a shepherd does his flock!
What does the church mean to you? There are many definitions as to what the church is but throughout Scripture we see many metaphors that are used to describe the church! Today we look at the idea that the Church is a body!
What does the church mean to you? There are many definitions as to what the church is but throughout Scripture we see many metaphors that are used to describe the church! Today we look at the idea that the Church is to be the bride of Christ! Pastor Kevin unpacks what Scripture means in this instances this morning.
What does the church mean to you? There are many definitions as to what the church is but throughout Scripture we see many metaphors that are used to describe the church! As a church body, we are called to be a Household of Faith!
Human nature is drawn to power and even at a young age we desire to have power over our lives. The question is though, where does true power come from? The answer isn't found in a political position or status at work, but from someplace else. So are you using that power to it's fullest potential in your life?
The Great Commission can seem overwhelming to carry out as a Christ follower but it's God's plan for us each! This morning we look at some of the practical steps we can take to be obedient to what God has called us to do!
As we continue in our "Great" series, this morning we look at the Great Commandment, which is to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Loving our neighbor can be complicated at times but the two are joined together for a purpose and this morning we look at why Jesus tied these to one another.
A lot of things in our world are labeled as 'great', when in reality they may just be ok or above average. We often are in danger of losing sight of what it means when something is truly great. Throughout this month, we will be looking to Scripture to focus on 4 things we see in God's Word that are in fact, great.
As we conclude our look at the book of Philippians, we dig into chapter 4 we look at contentment and how it comes into play in our lives as Christ followers. Paul outlines how we ought to be content in all circumstances, relying and trusting in God for all the we need!
If we are going to live as citizens of Heaven while here on Earth, we must truly know Christ and who He is! This morning Mike Murray challenges us to make sure we truly know Christ!
Despite what people make think, humility is one of the strongest qualities that we can have as people, especially as Christians. The life of Jesus was modeled by humility and Paul outlines what a humble heart looks like in Philippians 2!
Living here on earth is a complicated endeavor, especially as Christ followers. This month we're looking at the Book of Philippians and how we can live here on earth as citizens of Heaven!
As we wrap up this month's series, we can't miss out on the role anxiety plays when it comes to Winning the War in Your Mind. God's Word has much to say about an anxious mind and if we're going to win the war in our mind, we need to win in the area of anxiety in our lives!
Negative thoughts are something we all struggle with, some more than others! If we're going to stand a chance in the war in our mind, we have to frame our thoughts in a way to point us towards Jesus!
Our mind is a battlefield and the enemy wants to use that warzone in our minds to keep us from God's plan for us. As we begin this new series, we're given a few points on how to to train our mind to engage in the battle of the mind!
Our mind is a battlefield and the enemy wants to use that warzone in our minds to keep us from God's plan for us. As we begin this new series, we're given a few points on how to combat what we are all prone to do as humans and to win the war in our mind!
Jesus is our best example when it comes to showing honor to those in authority. Jesus himself, being God, still showed honor to those that he calls us to honor as well! As we see today, honor is a crucial part of being a Christ follower!
It can be hard to slow down at times. Life demands all the time we have our disposal, but God outlines the importance of honoring the Sabbath. This week Pastor Kevin will take a look at what that means for each of us and why it's so crucial for us to do so.
The role of dad is a crucial one, but isn't always easy. Many love the sport of racing but if you ask anyone who's done it before, they'll tell you it's a challenge! This morning, we encourage dads with some ways to "win the race"!
Honor is not something that is given freely but instead it is earned. We are called to honor God and our parents but we extend the same honor to those who serve and protect us, our country and our freedoms! Today we continue to look at ways we are called to honor God as Christ followers.
Join us this morning as we welcome 41 West and Dr. Madison Ngafeeson for an exciting morning! We are so glad that you are part of Silver Creek Church!
We see a change in us as people when we step into what God has called us to be and Peter is not exception! As the Day of Pentecost takes place, we see a change in Peter - he quickly becomes the mouthpiece and foundation of the early church that God created him to be!
Although Peter was a critical part of the early church, he certainly wasn't perfect! As we take time to dedication children to God this morning, we're reminded of a time where Peter himself missed the importance of little ones in the eyes of Jesus. Today we learn from Peter's mistakes!
It's easy to overlook all that mom does, since there are so many important roles she plays in our lives! In the same vein, it's easy for mom to feel overlooked, overworked or under appreciated simply from the challenges of being mom. Today we chose to celebrate the role of motherhood!
Nicknames have a tendency to stick, even when we'd rather they didn't. What about a nickname that Jesus gives us? We start our new series called The Rock, looking at the life of Peter and a unique nickname that he received from Jesus.
We all want to feel like we have purpose, don't we? We may, at times, have a hard time identifying the purpose God has given us but it doesn't change the fact that we have been uniquely created by Him with a specific purpose to be used by Him!
Death is a part of life that brings out a lot of questions. The end of earthly life leaves us feeling anxious at times and we are often led to ask God why. This morning we are going to look at a few of those questions that run through our minds when faced with the reality of death and ultimately answer some of your questions about what happens when we die.
A lot of things we experience in life leave us asking, "Why?" and at times we find ourselves asking that question of God. This morning Pastor Kevin will start to look at some of those situations in which we may be tempted to ask, "Why, God?" If you've asked that question before, don't worry, you're not alone!
He is Risen! The pain of Friday brings the joy of Easter morning and we are so grateful to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with you this morning! Many have tried to deny the truth of the resurrection but the miracle of the empty tomb is undeniable!
This morning we have the privilege to welcome Dan Herod to Silver Creek! Dan serves as the Youth Alive Director for Wisconsin/N. Michigan and not only has a passion for young people but believes in the younger generation! He will share some of what God is doing through his ministry as well as some of his personal story of dealing with life's trials and incredible pain that God has worked in the midst of!
As we wrap our our "Small" series, we look at 3 truths that are crucial for us all to understand and apply to our lives as we navigate life with a desire and responsibility to trust God in those areas we feel small!
They say comparison kills but when we look at what we need God to do in our lives, comparing what we have at our disposal to what we need done can simply tear us up and discourage us. It's in these times that God can and does intervene and we realize that nothing is too small for Him!
We always think of small as insignificant, but thankfully God doesn't think the same way! This morning we look at Elijah and his response to things in life that seemed too small to be impactful but were just the opposite in reality!
It's an important thing to remember that God doesn't place the same importance on things that we as people do. God is never concerned with the appearance of a person, situation or problem because He sees the whole picture. It's safe to say that what God didn't give mankind in size, He gave in strength and wisdom!
Children can often be the source of challenges throughout life and David was no stranger to family issues. For David though, his children were often a blind spot in his leadership as king as we'll see this morning. We can learn from these situations and make sure we're not falling victim to blindspots within our families!
Sometimes we have to give up some things to move into what God has for us in life - David was no different! Some very specific things happened in David's life to allow him the success and favor he had from God. Let's learn from him together!
One of the greatest reasons David is an enigma is the fact that God calls him a man after His own heart, despite the major shortcomings we see in David's life! Today we look at some aspects of David that played a part in God continuing to give David that title despite his failings.
David is one of the most compelling figures in all of Scripture! He was a giant killer, King, a musician, an author and a man after God's own heart. With a resume like his, it's hard to imagine that he'd simultaneously be known for some of the biggest failures we see throughout Scripture, one of which was his Cover-up found in 2 Samuel.
This morning we take some time to look at some of the Hebrew words that describe Worship. Often times, the Hebrew definitions provide a more expressive look at the word being defined. We'll be challenged by the differing ways we can look at the meaning of worship!
It would seem that the practice of worship would have changed greatly since the Old Testament and while there are certainly elemental differences, the fundamentals of worship are greatly unchanged. Worship is only who we sing, but how we live, honor God and love others!
Worship is a heart decision that ultimately comes down to gratitude. This morning Pastor Kevin touches on the connection between worship and gratitude and challenges us with some practical ways we can grow a Heart of Worship.
Worship can be one of those things that we've participated in or observed but maybe if you stop to think about it, you're a little unclear what it actually is. Pastor Kevin starts our new series with a look at the simple question, "What is worship?" We hope you're encouraged and challenged as we look at worship together!
There are many aspects of the birth of Jesus that can be overlooked or forgotten but still hold an important place in what His birth means for us all. Today, Pastor Kevin looks at a few of these, at times, overlooked yet important details.
Every aspect of the birth of Jesus was miraculous in nature, none of which more so than the fact that he was was Born of a Virgin! As we begin our new series, "With Us", we start with the miraculous arrival of the person of Jesus!
Every aspect of the birth of Jesus was miraculous in nature, none of which more so than the fact that he was was Born of a Virgin! As we begin our new series, "With Us", we start with the miraculous arrival of the person of Jesus!
It's often tempting to give in to offendedness, especially in our social media driven world, but God wants more for us than to allow the trivial actions of others steal our joy. Pastor Kevin concludes our First Responders series with some encouragement on dealing with offendedness.
What does responding to difficult situations with thankfulness do for us? We have to look no further than the story of Joseph - while he wasn't thankful for the pain he endured, he was thankful for God's hand and plan during those times! His thankfulness helped set the trajectory of his future!
Disappointment is an unfortunate part of life but the question is this - what do we do in the midst of the disappointment to put ourselves in a position to overcome it? This week Pastor Kevin encourages us and gives us some practical points to overcome that disappointment.
If we are called to build the Kingdom of God, we first need to understand what His Kingdom truly is. It can initially be a challenge to comprehend since we apply our logic of a kingdom in human terms but once we understand the heart of God we can begin to understand His Kingdom and our responsibility to grow it as Christ followers.
Strategy is critical to making a mission come off without a hitch. This morning we look at the strategy we need when implementing the mission of the church!
Something that is Mission Critical is a task that is essential to the survival of an organization. Every organization has Mission Critical times and the church is no exception. That being said, what is essential to the survival of God's church?
As we take a closer look at our mission as Christ followers, we have the opportunity to welcome some very special guests this morning. We are so excited to have Brandon and Rachel Powell, missionaries to Thailand, with us this morning to share what God is doing in and through their ministry!
Sacrifice is important in any relationship and our relationship with Jesus is no different! There are a number of ways that we can grow and develop as Christ followers through the act of sacrifice and this week Pastor Kevin highlights a number of them!
Vision is something that helps us set a course in our lives, so if that vision is stale we'll never reach our potential. As we conclude our Fresh series, this morning we will look at the necessity of Fresh Vision!
The Bible commonly used the term "Fresh Oil" as a reference to the Holy Spirit because people of the day understood the value and importance of that fresh oil. The Holy Spirit is a gift that God gives His followers and has many important roles to play in our lives!
We can all use a Fresh Start from time to time. As we head into fall we look at what kind of Fresh Start God wants for us each to have!
When something is fresh, it can be thought to have a renewed vigor or being returned to its original qualities. This morning, Pastor Kevin beings our Fresh series looking at a few areas of our life that we are called to use for the Kingdom of God. As we continue to grow as our Christ followers, these actions will serve to freshen up our connection with all that God is doing!
Names are important - just ask someone who's been called the wrong one! Jesus has many names, all of which refer to different qualities of who He is to us. This morning we continue by looking at 3 of Jesus' names and how they impact our lives!
Names are important - just ask someone who's been called the wrong one! Jesus has many names, all of which refer to different qualities of who He is to us. This morning we continue by looking at 3 of Jesus' names and how they impact our lives!
Names are important - just ask someone who's been called the wrong one! Jesus has many names, all of which refer to different qualities of who He is to us. This morning we start by looking at 3 of Jesus' names and how they impact our lives!
This morning we have the privilege of welcoming a Missionary we support through Kingdom Builders here at Silver Creek Church! David and Karmi Buckley serve in Budapest, Hungary and are excited to share what God is doing through their ministry and to challenge us this morning!
As we conclude our Shaped to Serve series, we look a number of Characteristics of a Servant that we all can and should have as a Christ follower.
When we serve, we must remember that in its very nature serving is supposed to focus outward. Jesus came to serve others, not Himself and that's what are to do as Christ followers! This week we look at a few ways to help us remain outwardly focused as we serve!
This morning we welcome Greg Colegrove from Convoy of Hope as part of Serve Week! Join us as Greg shares a message entitled 'Fighting For Our Prodigals'!
We can often be guilty of allowing ourselves to think that we can't serve for any number of reasons - age, gender, politics or income. The fact of the matter is that no matter where you are in life, there are opportunities for you to serve others! This morning we highlight the ways that Jesus helps us to do this!
Serving is often misunderstood - the perspective of the world can be that serving is something that is beneath us when in reality Jesus modeled and spoke on the importance of being a servant. This morning we will look at a number of misconceptions regarding serving as Christ followers.
Today as we conclude our Anxious for Nothing series we look at the role that connection can have in dealing with anxious periods of our lives. We'll be left with some action steps we can work through, alongside others, to give those situations to God!
Happy Father's Day to all the dads this weekend! We are so grateful for your presence and influence in the lives of your families and here at Silver Creek! Join us as we celebrate dad this morning!
Times of anxiety or depression are accompanied or brought on by situations of discomfort or pain. If we know part of the cause, how can we work through those situations? This morning we look at some examples in Scripture of 'Praying Through Pain' to encourage us as we deal with the pains of life.
We all walk through the difficulties of life differently but one thing is for certain - the enemy wants us to succumb to those anxious thoughts and allow them to consume us. This month we are going to look at what God has equipped us with to overcome those anxious times!
The freedom we enjoy every single day was made possible by the men and women who were willing to make an uncommon sacrifice for their nation. This morning we look at 5 things we can be thankful for this Memorial Day weekend. To all who have served or perished in the name of our freedom, we remember you today.
In looking at what it takes to be Uncommon as Christ followers, endurance is something to set us apart! Too many times we see people throw in the towel when things get tough but with God's help, we can be known for Uncommon Endurance!
This morning we take some time to look at 3 Paradoxes of strength - in our spiritual lives, strength can and does come through some uncommon places!
Join us as we celebrate Mom, this morning! We are welcoming special guest Dr. Claudia Ngafeeson to share with us and to encourage moms this weekend!
As we start our new series, Uncommon, we welcome Madison Ngafeeson as he challenges us to look at Uncommon Faith!
The road to Jericho posed many threats in Jesus' day but it also brings us 4 lessons we can learn as we navigate life as followers God. Join us as we conclude our series, On the Road Again!
He is not here, He is risen! Join us this morning as we celebrate what Jesus did for us through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave! Happy Easter!
Join us as we continue in our Series 'On the Road Again' as we welcome Pastor Mike Murray who will take us "On the Road to Jerusalem". It's a great day to be in church!
In life we are faced with a number of options getting from one place to another - backroads, freeway or the 'long cut'. In our spiritual life, however, not all roads lead to the same destination. We kick off our new series by looking to Scripture and at a number of destinations those choices can lead us to.
Much like our children, we never like to hear "no." Often times, the reason doesn't even matter much to us in the moment when we don't get the answer we thought we needed. This week, we look at what's at play when God say "no".
Daniel has one of the most unique stories of waiting throughout all of Scripture and there are a number of things we can learn through his life. Specifically, there is much we can learn about prayer as it is can and should accompany our waiting.
Waiting is no fun but it's part of life. The way we wait makes a difference on the process of waiting. This week we are going to look at how we can improve our waiting and trust God in the middle of it!
No one likes waiting - but just becasue we don't like it doesn't mean there isn't something to learn or take away from those times. As we kick off our new series we look at the life of Joseph and what he learned from his times of waiting.
A fringe benefit is generally one that can go overlooked or forgotten about but ultimately still is a benefit nonetheless! Prayer has many benefits for us as Christ followers and today we'll look at a few of those benefits that we may ordinarily forget about.
This morning we look at another prayer we find in Scripture, this time it's Solomon's Prayer. It's safe to say there is much we can learn from the prayer of a man who asked for wisdom above all else!
As we kick off February with a closer look at the value and practical implementation of prayer, we begin by looking at the most popular prayer in all of history - The Lord's Prayer. Throughout the month we are excited to see what happens "When You Pray".
When we walk out of captivity towards our promised land, we need to make sure we don't turn back. This morning Pastor Kevin shares the 4 steps to "No Turning Back".
This week we continue our series called "Let My People Go" as Madison Ngafeeson shares a message called "Not a Hoof Shall Be Left Behind".
God's promises never change, even when our circumstances do. Are we looking for Him at work in the middle of our desert or focused on the sea that's in front of us?
Join us as we continue our series called "Let My People Go" as Pastor Kevin shares a message called "Negotiating With the Enemy".
As we start off looking at the Israelites and how God delivered them, we need to start to see what He delivered them from. Ultimately He brought them out of bondage - from a place where they were captive to a place of freedom!
Family can be the best part of holidays like Christmas and it can be the worst part of Christmas, if we let it! Fortunately, the Bible has plenty to say about our family relationships and how to make the best of them!
It's safe to say that the giving of gifts around Christmas is the #1 tradition for most people. There is often the hunt for the 'perfect' gift for that special person we're shopping for. This morning, we look at the Best Gift, the First Gift and the Perfect Gift for us all that can be found in Jesus!
Music is a powerful tool and often time connects us to memories or traditions that have significant meaning for us. Christmas music specifically goes a step further. Not only does it have the ability to cause us to connect to meaningful times as a family or a child, but ultimately real Christmas music exists to celebrate the birth of Jesus!
Food creates meaningful memories and connections to certain events or people - but why? Christmas is no different and as we enter the Christmas season, we can learn some important lessons from our sentimental attachment to things like 'Figgy Pudding'.
The Thanksgiving holiday can bring up plenty of challenging situations amongst our families and friends, especially in a day like to day when everyone has a different opinion and they're each right in their own mind. Forgiveness can be a timely topic this time of year and an important part of working through imperfect relationships is the practice of forgiveness.
Gratitude has many scientific benefits that are crucial for us all! Beyond that, God has some commands for us as it pertains to that gratitude! If we can master these 5 Commands in our own lives, we will experience an even greater level of gratitude in our lives!
Is our gratitude situational or have we made the decision to thank God no matter the circumstance? No matter what is happening, there are areas in our lives that deserve an attitude of thankfulness - sometimes we just need to be reminded of it!
As we begin our Give Thanks series, we welcome Madison Ngafeeson who starts us off on looking at the Power of Giving Thanks!
Today we'll conclude our Through the Fire series by looking at the book of Acts and the recounting of the Day of Pentecost. God's desire for us all is that we are Baptized by Fire!
Daniel 3 contains perhaps the most well know fire stories that we find in Scripture. While we know what the outcome was, this week we are going to look at some of the facts about the fires we experience throughout our lives. There are times where are our miracle takes place in the midst of that very fire!
It goes without saying that God knows when our attention must be grabbed by any means necessary and fire comes into play at crucial moments. Twice in Scripture, an answer from God quite literally came through fire - today we continue to look at how He Answered by Fire.
Fire is the ultimate test of something - how does it respond to the process of going through such a potentially destructive process? More specifically, how do we respond when we go through the fires of life? We hope you're encouraged this morning and remember that the fire brings out the purest form of precious metals - the same can be applied to our lives!
Join us this morning as we kick off our series called Through the Fire as we dig into the significance the element of fire plays throughout Scripture.
Join us this morning as we highlight how we can be that church who loves our university! Today we welcome NMU Chi Alpha Director, Mike Murray as he shares with us!
Throughout the Bible we can see God's willingness to use people who experience the same weaknesses, shortcomings and failures as we do. In that same vein, however, we see the restorative actions of God at work in their lives as well. We want to be known as a church that is full of grace and eager to see God restore the lives of those we encounter!
The church cannot afford to be on the side of neutrality when it comes to what eternity can and should look like. This week we look at what we must do to become "That Church" that does all it can do to emulate the words of Jesus when He said He came to seek and save the lost.
As a church, we want to be known for loving God, loving people and making an impact in our world. While that is our hope, what do those who observe us from a distance think? Are we 'That Church' that does in fact love God and others?
As we conclude our "True Worship" series, what better to look at than the characteristics of Jesus' worship? Throughout the life of Jesus we can learn much about what True Worship should look like!
It's fair to say that there are many misconceptions about worship. Why do we worship? How should we worship? These kinds of questions can bring out a number of responses, but ultimately the answers are to be found in Scripture! This weekend we will look at a few of the misconceptions surrounding worship.
Worship takes many forms and this week we will look at Mark 12 to look at how the poor widow worship in a way that we don't always think of. There is much we can learn from the type of worship we see this woman display!
As we continue to look at Biblical examples of True Worship, we look at someone who wasn't even invited to the gathering who gave us an incredible example of worshipping Jesus! There is much we can learn from Luke 7 about worship!
Worship can often times be misunderstood and throughout the month we will be looking at what True Worship really is and how we are called to be people of worship! This weekend we'll look at what worship is and what it isn't!
Life today is all about connections - so what happens if we feel disconnected from something? Simply put, we have to reconnect! This weekend, we are going to look at ways that we can each reconnect with God beyond Sunday morning each week!
As we take the church beyond the walls of the building, there will be times when we will need to go over and above! Our love and compassion for our world should go beyond our instincts and do everything we can to make a difference in the lives of others by showing the love of God!
Join us this Sunday as we begin our July series, "Beyond the 52"! We'll be looking at how we can be the church outside of just Sunday morning and how we each have a role to play!
Join us THIS Sunday, July 4th as we welcome special guest, Adam LaVigne! Adam has served as a police officer and is currently a chaplain in the Michigan Army National Guard. We are looking forward to hearing what God has place on his heart for this weekend!
Throughout Scripture, we see God change the names of a number of people - but why is that so significant? Often times those 'names' reflect the words, lies or hurts that other have spoken over someone. This weekend, we look at how God may want to change some of the 'names' that others have spoken over you!
Join your dad in church this weekend for Father's Day! We're looking forward to celebrating dads and being reminded of why God put them in our lives!
We'll be in-person at 9:30 & 11:00AM and online at 9:30! See you then!
Join us as we welcome special guests, Greg Colegrove this Sunday! Greg is a UP native and works with Rural Compassion which is a department of Convoy of Hope! Greg is going to share the heart of Rural Compassion and how they work to equip churches in rural communities!
Join us for CHURCH this Sunday! We'll see you at 9:30 for worship and the Word! See you then!
Week 2 in our 'Ready' series is all about the tribulation - this week we look to Scripture for what can be expected following the rapture.
As we begin our 'Ready' series, we start by looking at what Scripture says about the Rapture [1 Thessalonians 4:16-18] and how we can be ready for what the Bible tells us we can expect during the end times.
Join us as we celebrate mom this Mother’s Day! We welcome Cindy Asher, former director of the Care Clinic, as she encourages moms and women this Sunday!
In the middle of our storms, it can be hard to take our eyes off of the actual storm, but what happens when we shift our focus to Jesus in the midst of the storm? This week we look at a few truths we must realize about Jesus and how he interacts with our storms.
When we think of Jonah, we instinctively think of the whale - but what about the storm? This weekend we will pull out some things that can be realized about the storm that Jonah found himself in and be challenged to look at our own storm for similarities.
This weekend we look at the story of Paul's shipwreck in Acts 27 and pull out 4 things that will help us navigate and get through the storms in our lives. As always, we hope you are encouraged today!
If we have any hope of making it through a storm in our lives, our foundation must be one that is as steady and firm as possible! While storms are inevitable, having the right foundation is what makes the difference as we navigate the challenges of live. A little hint - that foundation is JESUS!
Join us this weekend as we celebrate the joy of Easter Sunday and what it means for us all! We look forward to seeing you for Easter this Sunday!
As Holy Week begins, we look to the Scriptures and at Jesus' being referred to as 'The Lamb' and why that's so significant for you and I. Through Jesus being The Lamb, we each have the ability to experience all of the blessings, security and life that comes with it!
In today's day and age, controversy sells and we are drawn to the outrageous. Believe it or not, Jesus was and still is controversial to many in our world. Through His life and death He challenged was was considered normal or acceptable in life, leaving us with an impeccable and perfect example of who God is!
Light is a crucial aspect of our lives - it brings joy, sustains life and helps us find our way. Scripture refers to Jesus as the light of the world and one thing is for certain - we are in need of joy, sustained life and to once again find our way in Him. Join us this week as we look at how Jesus is our True Light.
We live in a world of imitation and it gets more and more difficult to know what is actually real and what's not. This Sunday we are beginning a series called "The Real Jesus" that will look at who Jesus really was, is now and who He will continue to be to us all. Join us in person [9:30am or 11:00am] or online [9:30am] this weekend for church!
When we talk about struggles that we deal with each and every day, it's fair to say that one of the most difficult to overcome is the 'Battle of the Mind'. Simply put, the enemy want to pollute our minds and our perception of how others and God views us. This week we look at a strategy for winning that internal battle with the power of God and Scripture on our side.
Struggle and difficulty can easily lead us to deal with bitterness in our lives. This week, Pastor Kevin will look at the life of Ruth who makes a choice to not allow bitterness to control her and allows God to work in the midst of her struggle!
Grab your valentine and join us for church this weekend! This week we are looking at the value of and struggle with developing healthy friendships.
Division has no place in our families, our communities or our churches. This week we look to Scripture for guidance on dealing with the division around us and replace it with unity!
Close out January the right way - in church! Join us in person at 9:30​ or 11:00​ or online at 9:30​!
Join us this weekend as we look at what it takes to go "All In" as it pertains to excellence in our lives! Too often we strive for perfection, but excellence is what we should aim for!
If we're going to be able to establish a New Normal in our lives, we have to take time to look, and potentially change, our priorities!
Renewed purpose has the ability to transform our new normal! This week Pastor Kevin looks at a number of things we must remember in order to find renewed purpose!
Start the new year off right - in church! Join us this Sunday at 9:30AM as we begin our January series, "New Normal".
Join us for Christmas Eve as we celebrate the birth of our Savior! We hope to see you at 3PM, 5PM or 7PM for the Christmas story, carols, special music and a Christmas message for the kids!
Despair can easily take over our hearts and minds if we let it. This morning, Pastor Kevin reminds us that hope is a battle in our lives! Thankfully, we know that our hope comes from Jesus and he wants to turn that despair, anxiety and grief upside down!
Often times in our culture, Biblical and Godly truth can be considered socially unacceptable. This morning, we look at the carol O Holy Night, and how in it's day, it was considered to be just that. At the end of the day, however, the truth, grace and hope of God always wins!
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is thought to be the oldest Christmas carol that we have today. This week we look at the core message of this classic as it points to the mystery of God being revealed to all through the story of Christmas.
This week we look at the connection between gratitude and generosity both in our own lives and what we see modeled by Christ. Not only does generosity in our own lives bring God great joy, but it opens us up for even further blessings He has for us all!
Gratitude can be and often is a choice, but how do we choose to live a life of gratitude? This week of Thanksgiving, we focus on a few practical steps we can apply to our lives to be intentional about living a life of gratitude.
The character of God is something that can and does keep us in the mindset of Thanks Living. This week we look at a few aspects of His character that help us remember His blessings in our lives. Join us in person, online or from your deer stand this weekend!
It's all too easy to focus on the negatives - the negatives of 2020, of life, work or relationships. What if we were willing to focus on the areas in which we have been truly blessed by God? Paul tells that we should have hearts of gratitude and if we're willing to follow his line of thought, we may realize we have more to be thankful for than we originally thought!
Life is not easy - plain and simple. Often times we can fall victim to forgetting to be thankful in difficult times. This weekend we look at a number of things that can remind us to be thankful even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Being in community with one another gives us the ability to have better understanding and more wisdom. This week we look at 3 things we need to do in order to have Better Understanding.
Scripture tells us that 'two are better than one', but why is that statement so true? This week we look at how we have Better Odds when we are in community with other Christ followers.
When we face a difficult situation or task, the better equipped we are for it, the better the outcome! This week we look at how we, as Christ followers, are better equipped when we're part of the church!
There are a number of things in life that could benefit from being "Better" One thing is for sure, we are in fact better together. This morning we will be challenged to think on some ways that we can be better connected as Christ followers.
We talk about how God loves us each very specifically, but can we know the love of God? It may be hard to comprehend, however He gives us plenty of examples of His love throughout the Scriptures.
Jesus has promised to one day return, although we don't know when that will exactly be. How do we handle thinking of that "Unknown Hour"? Join us this morning as we look to Scripture for some answers.
Is it possible to know God? Absolutely it is! In fact, He wants to make Himself known to us! Join us for week 2 in our Unknown series with a message entitled "Unknown God".
In a time where very little feels as though it is known, there are a number of things that are important for us to remember about who God is! He never abandons us and is always walking with us, even through the most difficult experiences of life. He knows the way and He desires to lead us through those times with hope, purpose and confidence in who He is!
We see times in Scripture where a miracle is connected with the faith they have in the midst of their situation. Today we look at a father who was desperate - he had faith but he also realized that he struggled with unbelief which left him at a point of contradiction. Be encouraged today if that's where you are, there is hope!
Desperation will drive to do things that we ordinarily wouldn't do. Today we look at a woman in Scripture who was desperate for a miracle and she risked everything to get her miracle. The question today is this - are you desperate for a miracle? We are challenged to consider what we would do to put ourselves at the feet of Jesus while believing for that miracle to become a reality.
The question we are asking today is simple - what do you have? Throughout His ministry, Jesus showed us that it doesn't matter how much you have or how the odds seem to be stacked against you, but instead what matters is where you put what little you have. So today, look at what you have to give to God and see what He is willing to do with it - it just may surprise you!
We can believe in something without taking the time to understand it to the best of our ability. This morning we continue to look at the miracles of Jesus and begin to ask some questions about them to broaden our understanding of what's really taking place. Specifically, we look at what the Bible says about miracles, why Jesus performed them and how faith comes into the play with the miraculous. Our prayer is that you would be encouraged to believe in a miracle for your life this morning!
Have you ever witnessed something miraculous? Whether or not you have, it's safe to say that most of us have an area in our lives we could use a miracle. Our series for the month of August is looking at some of the miracles of Jesus. This morning we look at a man who Jesus healed of blindness and deal with a question we may have asked of our own situation - who is responsible for this situation? Jesus' answer may surprise you and gives us hope in the midst of our own situations.
Family is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us, but family can be tough. This morning we look at a few different ways that we can pivot for the benefit of our families! Regardless of your role you carry in your family, God has created you to be an agent of hope, love and leadership!
Just as we need to pivot as a nation and as individuals, we also need to be able to pivot as a church! Today, we look at some of the reasons we need to to look to pivot continue to relevant and effects as Christ followers!
As people, we can be involved in the change that takes place in our lives at critical moments! This morning we look at some of our role in those very situations and what Scripture has for us to learn!
As we begin our July sermon series called "Pivot", we look at a number of instances in which a shift to a new strategy payed off big dividends. Just as in the business world and throughout Scripture, our nation is at a crucial moment in which a pivot is absolutely necessary. We must continue to lift up our home in prayer and ask God to reclaim it!
Cover ups are something we seem to encounter far too often in our world today. Generally speaking, those cover ups are trying to hide or provide some misdirection regarding something that was wrong or immoral. This morning, however, we are looking at the single greatest cover up of all time and how God works to cover our shortcomings with forgiveness, grace and restoration!
Love is an incredible thing. Not only is it an emotion, action and a choice, but it has the ability to overcome evil in our world. Jesus showed us the ultimate example of love that overcomes our shortcomings as humans and that same love is what will overcome all the difficulties and pains of life!
In Matthew 22, Jesus gives us the outline to follow to live a life that honors God - to love God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. We see throughout Scripture that our neighbor, whom we are to love, includes anyone and everyone. We are called to love those we agree with and those we don't. We're called to love those we've never met and those who are persecuted or oppressed. The commandment that Jesus gave us to love has no parameters. Plain and simple, love wins.
As we start our June series, we look at 4 things that Love Does. God's command to love doesn't come with an opt out clause - we are all instructed to love one another. We all need to be reminded how the love of Christ should be on display in our daily lives and today we look at Scripture that shows just what Love Does!
We all have a desire and a need for freedom in our lives. We need spiritual freedom the same that we need physical freedom. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross freed us from the debt that we have incurred through sin in our lives and His plan is for us to live free from the bondage of that sin!
Freedom is and grants us a lot of things but there is also a number of things that freedom isn't. As we continue in our May sermon series, Freedom, and approach the Memorial Day holiday, we take time to be reminded of some truths about our freedoms that we hold dear.
Change doesn't always leave us with feelings of hope, especially when it's a change we weren't prepared for. Today we look at a few areas in life that can bring about good change and are part of God's way to give us hope as we navigate life. You may be running low on hope lately and our prayer is that you would be encouraged during this time!
God has given us the ultimate freedom in life - the freedom to choose. We all have the opportunity to choose to have a life altering relationship with Jesus or not. It's a simple as that. There are no tricks, hidden terms or prerequisites, we simply have to choose Jesus. This morning, Pastor Kevin reminds us that we are indeed Free to Choose.
There is so much to be learned from moms. The word mom generally is associated with selflessness, gentleness and a nurturing presence which is part of God's intention for motherhood. Moms are, in fact, human too, which means they have the opportunity to bring joy, life and love with them should they choose to do so. This week, we look at a number of lessons that can be learned from motherhood in the Bible and how we can all apply those lessons to our lives. Happy Mother's Day!
Realizing and understanding that God has a plan for our lives and that it is in fact good can be one of the most reassuring things we can experience in our lives. We may need to look closer for what that plan may be but it is there! This morning we look at some areas that we can work on to open ourselves up to God's hope and to encourage others to receive the same gift!
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As Christians, our hope comes from Jesus and the understanding of what His death and resurrection mean for us! With that knowledge comes a burden - a burden that we can joyfully fulfill especially in days filled with fear and uncertainty like today. Simply put, Jesus is our hope but the church is called to extend that hope to those who have yet to experience the love and joy that God has for them! We are to be hope bringers to our world!
Join us as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ this Easter Sunday! The church building may be empty this morning but so is the tomb! In our world today we are desperately in need of hope - it just so happens that hope has a name and His name is Jesus!
Feel free to share this with a friend to invite them to join you in church online this morning. Happy Easter!
New at Silver Creek? - https://silvercreekchurch.org/connect Made a decision to follow Jesus? - https://silvercreekchurch.org/decide Need prayer? - https://silvercreekchurch.org/pray Give Online - https://silvercreekchurch.org/give
There aren't any earthly kings that experienced the path to kingship that Jesus did. He was proclaimed a King hundreds of years before His birth and then He was born a King! He was celebrated as King and then He was convicted for being a King! The people who had Jesus crucified did so in calling Him the "King of the Jews". His kingship was true, even though it didn't look like people imagined it would. Earthly kings don't always bring hope, but Jesus did. Jesus gave hope a name.
New at Silver Creek? - https://silvercreekchurch.org/connect Need prayer? - https://silvercreekchurch.org/pray Give Online - https://silvercreekchurch.org/give
In a time where it's tempting to only look out for ourselves and what we have, we are in need more than ever of a church that looks beyond its doors for opportunities to be generous. In order to be an outward focused church we have to make a choice to be magnanimous - intentionally generous to those less "powerful" than ourselves. Pastor Kevin shares some important things that we must figure out about generosity in order to truly be an outward focused church!
As we continue to focus on how we can continue to be an Outward church, this morning we look at our need for multiplication. To see a multiplication of what God is doing in our own lives, it will take us out of our comfort zone and challenge our faith but it will be worth it! When we multiply, it gives us an increased chance to change our world!
Ministry at its heart means to serve. As Christ followers we are called to serve others as Jesus did. It doesn't mean it will always be easy or appreciated but if we are to think Outward, beyond the doors of the church, we have to think about those who are not yet here. Our prayer is that we are all challenged to take a step and serve those around us with the purpose of showing them the love of Jesus!
As we look outward, beyond the walls of the church, it's important for us to experience some personal growth and maturing. This morning, Pastor Kevin looks at some of the incredible benefits of growing alongside other Christ followers. We believe that Connect Groups and things like them are important keys to our our spiritual growth!
As we conclude our February series, we look at the importance of growth in our lives as we strive to make an impact in our families, place of work and our world. Without growth, our sphere of influence and our potential for impact is severely deterred. The idea of growth can be scary but it is in fact a prerequisite for the impact we hope to have in our lives!
If we're hoping to have an Impact for God it's safe to say that we have to indeed be committed to what He's calling for us to do! Commitment starts in the heart and is the foundation for forward movement in our lives. Today we are challenged to live a life that is committed and engaged in what God has for each of us!
If we're hoping to make an impact on something or in a situation, it's easy to assume that we first must be open and available to doing what it takes to make that impact. If we really want to be used by God, we have to be willing to experience all that may come our way as a result. Today we look at some encouragement that is beneficial when we're looking to make an impact for the Kingdom of God.
Today we begin our series looking at areas in our lives that we must pay special attention to if we are to make an impact in our world. Sometimes it's easy to forget that our physical, emotional and relational health go hand in hand with the impact that God has for us to make in our spheres. Pastor Kevin provides encouragement from Scripture regarding these crucial areas of our lives!
David spent most of his life in the wilderness, but he also spent a great deal of time experiencing the loneliness, anxiety and fear that comes from "the wilderness". This week we look at 3 things that David did during his wilderness experiences that can and will benefit us during our own. We should be encouraged by what the story of David can teach us!
Today we look at a time when Jesus was physically in the wilderness and found Himself being tempted by Satan. From this account we can see there are times when God will lead us into the wilderness but it's for the purpose of His ultimate plan for our lives. Jesus was tempted in this place of barrenness but He clung to the words of Scripture to help Him through it. We can be encouraged by the example of Jesus on how to handle our times in the wilderness!
This morning we continue to look at the life of Moses, we see 5 things that we will all learn when we are in the middle of those wilderness times in our lives. The important thing to remember is this - whatever you are facing in front of you and whatever is behind you, you are not alone. Just as God did with the Israelites, He will go before us as He guides us through the wilderness!
There are times we find ourselves in a place resembling the wilderness and we're not sure how we got there or what we're doing there. Often times though, it's in those times that God is preparing us for some extraordinary. This morning we look at the story of Moses and the literal and figurative wilderness he found himself in and how God was using that time to prepare him for God's purpose for his life!
There are many arguments that people have tired to make over the centuries since Jesus' life that say He wasn't exactly who He said He was. They have tried to say the fulfillment of prophecies through His life were just a coincidence or that Scripture had been falsified or that Jesus intentionally made choices and decisions to fulfill Old Testament words about the Messiah. At the end of the day all those accusations are left as they began - empty. Instead, we continue to see irrefutable proof that Jesus was in fact the Son of God!
The story of Jesus' birth as celebrated at Christmas can bring up a number of questions or doubts in our hearts and minds. There is however, a great deal of proof from a historical perspective that shows us the validity of the Scripture account of Jesus' birth. While our faith in God is just that, faith, we can add these verifiable facts to what we what hold as truths as Christ followers!
As we continue to look at the scientific proof of the birth of Jesus, this morning Pastor Kevin looks at the archeological evidence that can be seen throughout history that helps corroborate what we read in Scripture. While it is thought that what can be found through archeology cannot prove or disprove spiritual truths, we do see that it can help to determine the validity of the facts that go to support those truths!
As we begin our series called "Believe", we're looking at the evidence of Jesus' birth - born to the virgin Mary just as Scripture said he did! Just because we aren't able to verify how it happened with our own eyes doesn't mean that it did not in fact pass The Eye Test from the historical witnesses that have verified what we read in Scripture!
Pastor Kevin continues this morning, giving us a few more Words to Live by from the book of Proverbs! Some of the most important words we can apply to our lives aren't that enjoyable, but they serve a greater purpose if we will let them!
The book of Proverbs as a whole is written much like a conversation between a father and son. As a father would give his son specific advice to live by, this morning we discuss a few of those important important words that we can all live by or that we should avoid all together!
As we continue to look at the words of Proverbs, this morning we look to answer a simple question - what's the difference between wisdom and folly? There are times in life where things that are wise seem foolish and others where thins that are foolish seem wise, so how can we tell them apart? Pastor Kevin compares the two and encourages us to weigh them in our own lives!
This morning we begin our November series called "Foolproof". Throughout the month we will look at the book of Proverbs and all it has for us with regards to wisdom. Pastor Kevin starts us off by looking at how wisdom is found and kept in the person of Jesus Christ. If we want wisdom, we must have a personal relationship with the one who holds it!
This morning we welcome a very special guest speaker as we conclude our Crucial Conversations series. Diane De La Santos is the Executive Director of City on a Hill in Milwaukee, WI. City on a Hill exists to save the children, reach the parents and change the city of Milwaukee! Diane shares the importance of listening to the still, small voice of God as He speaks to us on a daily basis and the eternal impact that can be made through that attentiveness!
Many of us know the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace but today we are challenged by the Crucial Conversation they had with King Nebuchadnezzar. They had every opportunity to abandon their convictions in favor of their own lives but they didn't do it! In fact, their crucial conversation with the king led to incredible changes for the people of Babylon!
As we look at Crucial Conversations, Pastor Kevin looks at the story of Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3. Nicodemus was in the Valley of Decision himself - even though he was a Pharisee, he was at a point where he was believing in who Jesus said He was! We should be ready when we encounter people who are looking for hope in their lives and are waiting for someone to introduce them to the love of Jesus!
This week we start our Crucial Conversations series and we start out by looking at the most crucal conversation in all of history! Eve's conversation with the serpent wasn't the act of disobedience that introduced sin into the world, but it was the gateway that led her to disobey what God had commanded her. Our conversations have more weight than we can imagine - put simply, your world can change with a conversation!
As we look to welcome back and encourage NMU students, staff and faculty this morning, NMU Chi Alpha Director Mike Murray shares an encouraging message from Mark 2. We are challenged by the faith of the friends who brought the paralyzed man before Jesus and their willingness to do anything to get him where he needed to be. How can we be like those determined men today, ultimately bringing others closer to Jesus?
It's no secret that more can be accomplished together than on our own and this is no clearer than when we, as Christ followers, attempt to make an impact on our world! It can seem scary and overwhelming but at the end of the day, God isn't looking for us to be superheroes, but rather willing to be part of His plan. Put simply, together we can change the world!
The theme of this month's messages is the fact that we are indeed better together! This morning, on Back to Church Sunday, we look at and celebrate the reality that as a group of Christ followers, we grow in strength alongside each other! The Church is a living, breathing, life giving organism and our involvement in it helps it grow stronger as well as ourselves!
There are times, as the church, that we misrepresent the message that God intended us to carry out. At it's core, God commands us to share His message of love. Not one of personal preference, judgement or hypocrisy, but love. At the end of the day, His plan is love and it's that love that binds us together as Christ followers.
We have a habit of secluding ourselves on a daily basis - often times it can be passed off as self-sufficient. when we allow that seclusion to happen we forget about the simple fact that God has created us to be better together! Sure we may feel insignificant at times, but together we come into a much greater picture. A single LEGO looks small and useless, but it is designed to be used with others and when it is, the possibilities of what can be made are endless. We can and should find peace as we experience life together!
Today Pastor Kevin and special guests, Madison and Claudia Ngafeeson, share some exciting stories from their recent trip to Cameroon. Their ministry was made possible through the Kingdom Builders giving and prayers of Silver Creek Church! Finally, they share how we can be used by God even ithrough things that seem insignificant at the time if we make ourselves available!
We can learn a lot about positioning oursleves in a position to be used by God as we continue to look at Extraordinary Nobodies. Just like Esther, we can find ourselves in a position of importance, but we are unsure why we are there and what it could mean. Just as Esther's obedience and sensitivity to what God was doing saved the lives of her people, we too can be used by God in mighty ways, right where we are today!
Today our Extraordinary Nobody is someone that is only mentioned in Scripture once, yet her legacy is one that far outreached what we would have guessed! Eunice raised her son Timothy to love and honor God and as a result he found himself among other great men of God like Paul! In fact, Paul tells Timothy that he remembers the faith that lived in Eunice! In that culture, she was a nobody, yet she served God where she was at and her obedience went on to impact the lives of many people! The point is this - wherever you find yourself today, your position is significant and God desires to use you in His plan for the masses, just like Eunice!
As we begin our series looking at some of the unlikely heroes in the Bible, we begin with the story of Bezalel in the book of Exodus. God had instructed Moses in the construction of the Tabernacle but He also had a role for Bezalel! He wasn't who you would have guessed God would have called on - after all, he was a tradesperson! We are reminded that God puts us in a specific place for a specific reason, regardless of how insignificant we feel at the time! He has a plan and wants to engage us in that plan!
As we conclude our July Sermon Series, we look at what Jesus tells us is the most important commandment found in Scripture - to love God with all your strength and to love others as yourself. While it sounds easy enough, there are times it can be difficult! However, Jesus gave us the perfect example for how we ought to live out His love in our lives!
Baptism plays an important role in our lives as Christ followers - it's a public declaration of what God has done and is doing within us! Today we look at what baptism is and isn't and are challenged by Scripture to consider not only what it means for us but how we can live out Jesus' commands!
Jesus commands us to do some very specific things throughout Scripture, but He shows us the example of Him living the way that He commands us to live. This morning we look at how Jesus served those around Him and how we are commanded to do the very same!
We're all forgetful, aren't we? There are times in life that we all deal with forgetting something important! This morning Pastor Mike Murray encourages to remember the importance and truth of communion. We see Jesus also tell us about our need to participate in communion as a way to remember and honor His sacrifice for us!
We all have a unique story of God at work in our lives, even when we can't see that story unfolding! Today, we're reminded that we do have a story, it's still being written and that we have a responsibility to share our story with others!
As we continue to look at the "Basics", Pastor Kevin reminds us that's easy to overlook those initial building blocks in our spiritual lives and instead look towards the bigger, more exciting elements of our walk with Jesus. We're reminded however, that before a baby can walk, it must first crawl. It's the same in our spiritual lives - we can't forget the basics of seeking God that lay the groundwork for the future!
As we celebrate dads today, we take time to look at the importance of the legacy that we each create and leave to our families. Creating a godly legacy doesn't happen on purpose and it isn't easy, but it's worth it! Pastor Kevin welcomes a few special guests to share about what it can look like to create a legacy!
This week Madison Ngafeeson challenged us to make a difference in our world, our families and in our community! We were reminded that until God introduced Jesus as a correcting force into our lost world, we were headed for destruction. Not only did Jesus provide salvation for us, but He also shows us that we too, can make a difference in the lives of those around us in His name!
This morning we begin our June series, "Basics" by going back to some of the foundational elements that should be applied to our lives as Christ followers! Pastor Kevin starts us off reminding us that we have a commission to "Stay Engaged" to the church body! There are times where it's easy to check out for a little bit while we travel or rest, but there are things we miss out on when we don't prioritize being engaged in His church!
We know, perhaps better than most, that freedom isn't free. Our earthly freedom has been bought by the lives of the men and women who have sacrificed the ultimate price for us. Our spiritual and heavenly freedom was bought with with the blood of Jesus! This morning, as we honor the fallen, we look at several spriritual correlations and an incredible story of a man who sacrificed more than most to save more than most did!
There are times that we feel honor is something that must be earned, but we read in Scripture several places that it is commanded of us. The commandment to honor our father and mother can be difficult for some of us, depending on the relationship we have with our parents. This morning, Pastor Kevin challenges us with several ways that you can be reminded of to "Honor Your Parents" even when it's something that may not come easily!
This morning we welcome Aimee Tippen as our special Mother's Day guest speaker! Aimee is the Teaching Pastor at North Ridge Church in Marshfield, WI.
Aimee shares her story of motherhood and specifically, mothering through brokenness. Our prayer is that you would experience Godly encouragement as her story is one that can challenge all who listen! We see through Aimee's life and others like Paul, that God desires to use our brokenness for His glory!
This morning we begin our May sermon series "Honor Bound" with a message about honoring God. Pastor Kevin looks at a number of reason as to why we are called to show honor to God and why it has nothing to do with anything He's ever done but rather because of who He is! Our prayer is that we all would be challenged to look for even more ways to live out honor towards God in our lives!
As we conclude our April Series we look at the the final hours "Before His Departure." Before ascending into Heaven, Jesus spent time visiting His friends and disciples and took time to encourage them and tell them what to expect in the future! That future entailed instructions on His Great Commission to spread the gospel far and wide! His final promise to His followers was to return again - not in the timetable they would have liked or hoped for, but they were spurred on by His instructions and promise for the future!
As we celebrate the miracle and freedom that comes with Easter, Pastor Kevin shares a message called "In the Tomb". It's important to realize that there was a great deal of verifiable facts about the death and resurrection of Jesus that even the Roman government couldn't refute! The most important fact is what the angel said to the women in Matthew 28:6 - "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." Our God has risen from the grave and forgiven of us of all sin in the process!
As we approach Easter, we take time to look at the final moments of the Passion of Christ. Throughout those final days and hours, Jesus said some amazing things that truly expressed His love and devotion to each and every one of us! As we remember His sacrifice, we must remember how He carried Himself during such an indescribable experience.
As the month of April arrives, so does our April Sermon Series, "The Final Hours". Throughout the month, we will be looking at Jesus final days and moments here on earth before His death on the cross! There is much to be learned and taken from this period of Jesus' life and this morning, Pastor Mike Murray looks at Jesus' final moments "Among His Friends". We see how Jesus came to serve those around Him, including those who called Him master.
This morning as we wrap our our "Destined to Dream" we look at the story of King Jehoash in 2 Kings. This story shows us God's plan to use Jehoash to completely defeat the Arameans but that plan didn't come to completion due to some actions by the king. We look at how God is already at work, even before He calls us to do something, how we can't afford to take shortcuts and even when we fail, that God is still merciful! In the end, we need to "Keep Swinging"!
There are times where God will place a dream in our hearts with some specific, less than comfortable steps that must be taken along the way. This morning we look at Isaiah and how the dream he was given by God helped provide some necessary steps for the the Israelites to follow as they worked their way back to God. Sometimes we have to experience some testing times to put us in the right position for those God dreams to come to fruition!
Throughout Scripture we see that God uses dreams in various ways. Some dreams were used as warnings while others were a means of communicating to his Old Testament prophets. The same way some were to disclose a personal future destiny or as a way for God to answer requests or prayers like God did for Solomon. This morning we look at the dream that God gave to Peter and how specifically He directed Peter as it pertained to His plan! Peter's dream was challenging to Him but God proved Himself in a way that Peter could follow with no real hesitation! He realized that God had positioned him in a place to act!
While looking at God dreams given to people throughout scripture, it's hard to miss the dream that God had given to Abraham and Sarah to have a son. It's said that there were multiple times where they both laughed when they heard God's intention to give them a child and could you blame them? After all they were closer to death than they should have been to raising a child! Regardless of what they thought, God came through with the dream He gave to them and we too can be challenged by their story!
Dreams can take different forms throughout our lives - some happen while we're sleeping, others are in fact the desires of our heart for our lives and the lives of others and finally dreams can be God given direction and vision! This month we will be looking at a number of dreams that God gave to people in Scripture and how those dreams came to pass! This morning we look at a number of dreams that occurred around the life of Joseph and how God used Joseph to interpret them and to help them come to pass!
God has the desire to take us from where we are to where He has planned for us. However, there are times where we find ourselves in a place where we cannot fathom God still having the desire to use us. Part of God's plan for each of us is to be restored with Him and whatever situation, habit or place we find ourselves in at the moment is never too far to experience His forgiveness and acceptance. This morning we look at the book of Joel as we see God's restorative desires at play!
In Amos we see God use some interesting terminology as God spoke to Amos about some things He planned to do in relation to the Israelites. Ultimate, God used the term "plumb line" to illustrate the fact that we have been given something true in our lives to use as a tool to see how our lives line up to God's intention. Pastor Kevin looks at how Scripture is in fact how we can gauge our lives in accordance to God's plan for us!
God's desire it to bless each and every one of us and as we follow Him closer and closer, those blessings become more evident in our lives! Once we realize that all we have comes from God and that He want to use those resources He's given us for even more, we are challenged to open up our hearts for that 'more'!
This morning we begin our February sermon series called "Major in the Minors" that looks at big lessons that can be learned from the Minor Prophets in Scripture. Today, Pastor Kevin shares a message called "Some Assembly Required" and looks at how as Christ followers we too require a little assembly to get us to the place God has for each of us!
As we aim to be Kingdom Builders, we have to understand that it will take some "Strategic Focus" on our part. This morning Pastor Kevin lays out 4 things that we must do to play an effective role as a Kingdom Builder!
Nehemiah was faced with more than just an uphill battle -- in fact a "Build Battle." As we endeavor to become "Kingdom Builders" we will encounter difficulties like Nehemiah did. Pastor Kevin looks at several important things that we can learn from Nehemiah's story as it pertains building the Kingdom of God!
As we look to be Kingdom Builders, Pastor Kevin takes some time to look at several Keys of the Kingdom that Jesus lays out for us in Scripture. Be encouraged as we aim to grow together and to grow the Kingdom of God!
This morning Pastor Kevin begins our January Sermon Series "Kingdom Builders" with a message called "Whose Side Are You On?" Before we start to build a kingdom, we first need to understand that there are two kingdoms! There is the Kingdom of Heaven and of this world! Pastor Kevin challenges us in a few areas as it pertains to building God's Kingdom!
This week we wrap up our "Christmas at the Movies" series by looking at the iconic Christmas movie "It's a Wonderful Life"! Pastor Kevin spends time highlighting some of the key elements from the movie while looking at 6 lessons we can learn from it!
This morning we look at the Christmas classic, "A Christmas Carol" and learn from the experiences of Mr. Scrooge! At the end of the day we are reminded that part of our responsibility as the church is to help care for those in need and we can learn from the torment Scrooge experienced as he pursued selfish gain!
This week we begin our December Sermon Series called "Christmas at the Movies" and all throughout the month we will look at different Christmas movies and some of the the connections that can be drawn to the birth and Jesus! This morning Pastor Kevin looks at the story of the Grinch and compares it to the role of King Herod in the birth of Jesus. We're challenged to look at some of the opposition Herod had to Jesus and decide whether or not those same feelings our in our own lives!
When we ask go through difficult times in our lives, it seems people around us are all too willing to help us "understand" what is going on. Often times their intention may come from the right place but they actually discourage us from drawing closer to God during those times. This morning, Pastor Kevin shares a message called "Answer the Question". Sometimes after asking "Why Me?" we're left looking for the answer!
We know that we all experience those situations in life that make tempt us to ask, "Why Me?" Ultimately, those questions are brought on by pressure we experience in life! This morning we look at the life of Paul and some of the things we can learn from his life and the pressure that he experienced when he was shipwrecked on the island of Malta!
We've all asked the question, "Why Me?" It could be at work or just in life, but this question usually follows some sort of difficulties in life. this morning we start to look at this question through the life of Job. Difficulty and pain are an unfortunate part of life but Job shows us how to make it through those times even stronger than before they occurred!
As we pursue the Greater Things that God has for each and every one of us, we must also go after Greater Engagement with God! Today we look at the story of Gideon and learn from how he was willing to engage with the difficult challenge that God laid out before him!
As we pursue the Greater Things God has for each and every one of us, a key component is to develop Greater Reach. This morning Pastor Kevin outlines why we must reach up, reach in and reach out as part of our spiritual growth!
Faith can seem like a funny thing - believing in someone or something that you can't necessarily see or comprehend. This morning, Pastor Kevin looks at Abraham and Sarah, who were promised a son, even though they were both over 100 years old! Talk about needing to have faith in the promises of God! We learn from their situation how we can develop Greater Faith in our own lives!
As we start our October sermon series, "Greater Things", we begin with a message called "Greater Vision". We believe that God has even greater things for each and every one of us - in our lives, relationships, families and in our church! Greater Vision gives us passion and a desire to follow what God has laid on our hearts!
Jesus was the first person to ever talk about the church and in reality, it was an amazing gift that He gave to us! This morning we look at what the church is and should be and what our role is within the church!
Prayer is one of the most important tools that we have at our disposal for life as a Christ follower but it's often times underutilized! This morning, Pastor Kevin looks at several of the benefits of prayer in our lives and the life of the church!
This morning we look at some things that can prove to be important as it pertains to our involvement in and relationship with the church. Jesus gave us some instructions and guidance on what our role in the church should be and the benefits of being involved in spreading the hope of Christ! The question is this - will you defer to Jesus' vision for the church and leave behind things that may hold it back?
Unity is one of the most impactful and powerful traits of how Christ created the church. This morning, Pastor Kevin looks at the importance of unity within the church and at some of the things that can affect that unity negatively. We have the opportunity to choose to be united in what God is calling us to do!
This morning we begin our September sermon series "I Will" and Pastor Kevin began with a message called "I Will Function". Today we look at the function of Jesus as it pertains to the church and what our function is within the church as well! Ultimately, we should be encouraged and humbled to understand that our function is to take the church to a world that needs Jesus!
It's fair to say that Jesus' disciples were considered ambassadors for him. They were at his side, carrying out ministry with Him and even were able to speak on His behalf. This morning Pastor Mike Murray challenges us to look at ourselves as Christ's ambassadors with three easy steps to put us in the right place to do just that! It's a Scriptural mandate that God has for each and every one of us regardless of age, our job or whether or not we feel qualified to do it!
All day every day, we are plagued with voices. Some tell us that we will never be good enough while others tell us we are a worthless failure. There are times though where it seems like the voices are our own, when in fact they are not! This morning, Pastor Kevin encourages us with ways to deal with these voices when we encounter them!
When things go wrong, often times our first response is to ask God "Why?" While it's a natural reaction, it certainly doesn't help our situation! This week, Pastor Kevin looks at some important things to remember when we are experiencing situations that make us ask, "Why?"
As we think about what God wants to do in our families, communities and around the world, it's easy to assume that He has someone else in mind to make it happen. This morning, Madison shares with us that WE are in fact God's strategy! As St. Augustine put it, "Without God, man cannot, and without man, God will not." Our prayer is that you would be encouraged as you realize that we are God's plan to reach our world!
We wrap up our July series with a message called "Reach Together" taking time to look at the role we each have as Christ followers to reach our community! The good part is were not alone and it's not as scary as it may sound! We are so much more impactful when we Reach Together!
Everything that God as created is meant to grow! On the other side of that is this thought - if something isn't growing, it's dying. God designed each of us to grow, both physically and spiritually. This morning we looked at the fact that if we're not growing spiritually, we're dying spiritually. It's something that we all face, so we should be growing together! Be challenged as we sort out this issue of growth!
This morning we spend some time looking in Scripture at our need to connect with one another! If church is and should be a place where we all belong, it's going to involve being connected with people along the way! God's design for our lives is not have go through life alone, but with each other!
Giving can be a difficult subject to touch on in the Church, but the fact is that Jesus talked a lot about it throughout His life! This morning we take a look at the subject of giving and take time to debunk some believes that we may have had with regards to giving! At the end of the day we must remember that we give out of what we've already been given and must remember where our source is found!
There is a scientific acknowledgement that being in church is beneficial to each of us! Throughout Scripture, we receive instruction for to be connected and committed to God's church! This morning, we look at some of the benefits of being part of a church family the way God intended!
The story of the Prodigal is one of redemption and is truly applicable to each and every one of us! This morning we look a question that the son must have asked himself at one point or another - "How Can I Get Home?" This question ultimately represents the question that we may ask ourselves about how we will be able to get back to the place God has for us! We pray you are encouraged and challenged this morning through this message of returning home!
This morning Pastor Kevin looks at the story of the woman who lost a silver coin and all that she did to recover it! The comparison is simple - the way she searched for the coin and how she rejoiced when she finally found the coin is much like how God searches for us when we are far from Him and His response when we are brought back! God is actively pursuing each and every one of us passionately!
Jesus spoke in parables to get a complex idea across to the person who had not been exposed to religious teachings like the Pharisees had experienced. This morning we look at the Parable of the Lost Sheep in which Jesus explains to us just how much He cares about us and will never give up on us!
Moses was the picture of a failure! We see that though he failed several times throughout his life and leadership God still had a plan to use him in a mighty way! As we learn today from the Moses' life there are things we need to come away with when we experience failure. One of those things is that God still wants to use us for His glory!
Samson had an appetite, but not the kind that we may be thinking of. He was always walking a line that was dangerously close to or slightly over the line. That being said, we see from his life, that God was able to use him mightily whether he was honoring God or not. In fact, God used Samson even in his death to accomplish His purpose.
There are times where we can be tempted to believe that God can't used us based off who we are or what we've done. That could not be further from the truth. John tells the story of Jesus speaking with the woman at the well, who despite her "Epic Fails", was used by God after Jesus demonstrated His power to her! Her life can be defined by her comeback from those failures!
This morning we began our May Sermon Series, called "Epic Fails"! Throughout this series we will look at a number of Bible character who were used by God even though they experienced some incredible times of failure! Today we look at the life of Mark who quit on Paul and Barnabas but was still used by God in the recording of Scripture and other areas in his life. It's proof that no matter what, God can use us, even if we've been labeled a quitter!
As we look at the exponential growth of the early church, one thing can be said - it didn't have much to do with them. Yes, they were all in. Yes, some even paid with their lives. The fact remains - if God was not at work, they would have not succeeded! Along with the Great Commission, Jesus left His disciples the promised gift of the Holy Spirit to empower and strengthen them to spread the good news! That gift is available to each of us today as it was for His disciples!
We we look at the exponential growth of the early church, this morning we look at how it was in part due to their desire to be "All Together". They were part of a growing family and they cared for and treated each other along those lines. This morning we're challenged to make every effort to be all together in life, ministry and what God is calling us to!
Throughout Scripture, we see story after story of people who answered the call that God made in their lives! Sometimes that call put them in a position that made them uncomfortable or in harms way, but in the end they were part of God's plan! This morning we are challenged to see if we are willing to go "All In" on the call that God has put on our lives!
This morning we begin our April Sermon Series "All In" with a message from Pastor Kevin called "Ultimate Buy In". As we look at how the church exploded following the death and resurrection of Jesus, it's easy to see that it was because Jesus' followers bought into who Jesus was! Some of these men were so committed to the cause of Christ that they were willing to give their lives up for it! That is being all in!
He is Risen! This Easter, we look a little at chances - specifically what are the chances that everything that was prophesied about Jesus could actually have come true! While the odds weren't in favor of those prophecies, God was! Pastor Kevin shares some personal experience to connect us with a simple truth - if we're still here on earth, then God isn't finished with us! We pray you are encouraged and challenged this Easter to take a look at your own chances of an eternity in Heaven!
As we wrap up our "Fixer Upper" series, Pastor Kevin shares a message that is meant to challenge each and every one of us! Often times we are ready to go and fix up someone else who may need it, but how often are we willing to see that we are the ones who need to be flipped? The answer to that question is more often then we care to admit!
After the death of Jesus, He experienced an Extreme Makeover! There are some parts about that makeover that don't make sense to us at first but we see that Jesus knew what His disciples needed! He knew the Thomas needed to see the holes in His hands and side to believe! The truth is that in all of Jesus' relationships, Jesus always put in more than He got out! This morning, Pastor Preston Tippen challenges us to have at least one relationship that is for the benefit of another person while practicing hospitality!
Sometimes as it pertains to relationships, we feel like we're forced to "Love It or List It". Sometimes it seems like we have to be all in on a relationship or cut it loose! While it can feel that way, Jesus modeled for us that some relationships we must fight for while not allowing the negative aspects of them gain a foundation in our own lives. This morning's message should encourage you if you're wondering which relationships to love and which you should list.
This morning we began our March sermon series called "Fixer Upper"! Throughout the month we are looking at relationships - specifically some of the relationships we have that could use some work! Our sermon title today is called "Rehab Addict". This popular show aims to bring houses back to the way they were intended when they were originally constructed! Along the same lines, some of our relationships need to be restored, while others we may need to move on from! At the end of the day, God is in the rehab business and we are proof of that!
This morning we wrap up our "Shift" series with a message titled "Advancement". Dr. Madison Ngafeeson shares with us the importance to advance ahead in the midst of change. Looking at Jeremiah 29:11, we are challenged to remember that in Christ our future is bright, our past is cleansed, and our today is full of possibility!
Change is challenging, but often times our reaction to a change that will bring about good is the same as a change that will bring about something bad. But why is that? For whatever reason, we resist almost anything new or different, but we're left with a choice. Are we going to present the issue that we have as humans to God, to allow more of His best in our lives, or are we going to continue to struggle to avoid any type of shift? Our prayer is that we can work towards removing our natural resistance to the things of God!
Our February sermon series is "Shift" and at the core of that series, we are looking at changing parts of our life in order to make room for God's best! This morning we look at our need to develop certain areas in our lives to make more room for God's plan and to keep us focused on Him! Development isn't always easy or fun but it's always worth it! We pray that you are encouraged to look at developing some of these areas of your life!
As we begin our February sermon series, "Shift", we begin with a look at what transformation can look like in our lives. If we're making room for God's best to take place our lives, then some things are going to have to change and by the end of that process, we may be a whole new person! Pastor Mike Murray kicks off February with a message called "Transformation"!
It we want God's best for us, we have to make more room - plain and simple. That doesn't matter if we want God's best for our personal lives or for His church! This morning, special guest Madison Ngafeeson challenges us to look at making more room for the best of God!
This morning we welcome special guest Dr. Howard Young as he continues in our January sermon series with a message called "More Reach"! Our reach increases not only as we invest more time and resources but more of ourselves! Allow yourself to be encouraged today to give more of yourself!
Try as we may, we cannot do life alone! The simple fact is that we're better together! This morning we look at how God has designed each of us for more connection, specifically within the body of Christ [the church]. Amazing things happen when we connected with other believers and as a church we are then able to accomplish even greater things!
There are a lot of things that God wants more of for each and every one of us, the only problem is this - to add more of one thing, it often requires less of another. This morning Pastor kevin looks at our need for more presence of God in our lives and how that may affect some areas that we need less of!