Woodside Bible Church Algonac: Recent Episodes
Woodside Bible Church Algonac
Woodside Bible Church Algonac Podcast: Subscribe to listen to the latest sermons from Woodside :: Updated Weekly :: At Woodside, our mission is to Belong to Christ, Grow in Christ, and Reach the world for Christ. :: For more information, visit us at www.woodsidebible.org.
Today, we continue in our series, Elijah, reminding us how the same God Elijah served can use us to live a life of impact for His Kingdom. When we face times of self-pity or defeat, we can look to God to give us strength. Even Elijah, who was a man of great faith faced times of hopelessness. In times when we find ourselves full of sorrow, we can be encouraged that the same God that worked through Elijah, can conquer our self-pity. He calls us to his truth, to his spirit, and to live a life of servitude. Listen to our newest message of the series, Conquering Self-Pity, and be reminded of the courage God gives us.
When you pray do you ever feel like God doesn’t hear you? Have you ever wondered how you can pray in an effective way? God's word says that a righteous person's prayer is powerful. In Christ, your prayers are heard and received by God. They are filled with power, as we are His and filled with His righteousness. Today, we continue our new series, Elijah, reminding us how the same God Elijah served can use us to live a life of impact for His kingdom. We are preaching from the same passage of scripture from last week, finishing up the story of Elijah facing off the prophets of Baal. In this story we see Elijah’s strong faith in God and his prayers of fervor. Elijah’s prayers were persistent in remembering Gods promises and in accordance with the Word of God. Listen to our newest message of the series, The Prayer of a Righteous Person, and hear that the prayer of a righteous person is effective and powerful.
Have you ever been tricked into believing something that was untrue? Or maybe have paid for a duped item? It can be common among all the stories on social media and cheap items sold online. But what is the cost of getting fooled by a fake god? What is the impact on our lives if we devote ourselves to a cheap, imitation, false god? Well, as you can imagine, the stakes are much higher. We continue our new series, Elijah; A Man Just Like Us, reminding us how the same God Elijah served can use us to live a life of impact for His kingdom. What does Scripture say about false gods? How does idolatry impact our lives? In this text, we are at the peak or the high point of Elijah’s ministry. We are going to witness an awesome triumph, a spectacular demonstration of God's presence and power, and a remarkable confirmation of who the true and living God is. Listen to our second message of the series, A Theology of Idolatry, and realize the Lord is the only God who gives life.
Sometimes it is a struggle trusting God, taking Him at His word, and believing that what God wants is best for me. This comes from wanting to be in control. Because in control of life, one can be confident everything will happen how they want it to. We have just launched a new series, Elijah; A Man Just Like Us, reminding us how the same God Elijah served can use us to live a life of impact for His kingdom. When looking at this section of scripture, we see that God's people have lost their way and its unique and dangerous time to be a faithful follower of God. In all this, Elijah lives a life of faith, trusting God and taking him at his word. But what does this look like? What does a life of faith look like? Listen to our first message of the series, Elijah, A Life of Faith, and see how a life of faith is a life of trusting God and taking him at his word.
Is anxiety or being anxious, a sin? Anxiety is an issue of giving weight to the things we care about. If we give the proper weight to the proper things, then our anxiety over them is not sin. But if we give improper weight to things, our anxiety could be the kind that Jesus instructs us against. Each of us needs to ask ourselves this question considering scripture, how do I address my anxious heart? In our series, Asking for a Friend series, we’ll answer tough questions and provide you with gospel-centered answers that you can share with a friend. We all have questions, but sometimes, navigating the answers to cultural issues through the lens of the Gospel can be challenging. We need to look to God, who he is, and what he has done to help properly reorder our cares and anxieties. Listen to our newest messages, Is Anxiety a Sin?, and begin to see that reflecting on God will reorder our anxieties.
In our series, Asking for a Friend series, we’ll answer tough questions and provide you with gospel-centered answers that you can share with a friend. We all have questions, but sometimes, navigating the answers to cultural issues through the lens of the Gospel can be challenging. We encounter parts of the Old Testament that make us cringe and question if God is really loving, while comparing it to the Jesus of the New Testament that wants to love rather than condemn. It doesn’t
seem to line up. Why does the God of the New Testament seem so different than the God of the Old Testament? Listen to our newest messages, Are there Skeletons in God’s Closet?, and understand that the God of the New Testament is the same as the God of the Old Testament.
Today we concluded our message series! In Revelation: All Things New, we’ll discover a glorious description of the end of all things and the great kingdom to come. We concluded our study by examining the final defeat of sin and death, culminating with the New Heaven and New Earth where God dwells with his people forever. In paradise. If this is truly the destiny for all those who believe in Jesus, then how should we live and prepare for it? Listen to our newest message of the series, The Great Return, and choose to live in anticipation of Jesus’ return!
Today we continue our message series! In Revelation: All Things New, we’ll discover a glorious description of the end of all things and the great kingdom to come. Do you think often about heaven? In today's scripture, we’re not given a “they lived happily ever after” fairytale description of heaven. Rather, we are introduced to a glorious picture that will create a deep longing within us for our forever and eternal home. Listen to our newest message of the series, The True Eternal City, and long for and live to enter the city of God!
We all love a good story! Maybe even more specifically, one with a hero and a happy ending! It’s the classic adventure we sometimes relate and reflect within our own lives—we face antagonists, weakness, trial or even death—and then we come out of the abyss victorious, resurrected, changed. It’s the hopeful outcome of the human soul! We love stories that illustrate this because we all are asking the same question – are we going to make it? In Revelation: All Things New, we’ll discover a glorious description of the end of all things and the great kingdom to come. We find the magnificent conclusion of Christ’s work in Revelation Chapter 2, which reveals to us that through Christ, God will bring restoration to all! That’s the undeniable truth, regardless of what it looks like today. We are going to make it and we will have a happy ending! Listen to our newest message of the series, All Things New, and trust that God is making all things new!
If someone were to ask you what the word “father” means to you, your answer may be vastly different than the person next to you. In fact, everyone may have a slightly different view based on your relationship with your father or if you are a father. Our world has deeply impacted our view, but has that somehow impacted our view of our Heavenly Father? In a special message for Father’s Day, we unpack verses from Psalm 103 to answer the question; how does God care for his children? Listen to our newest message of the series, Looking Up to Our Father, and see that God shows us how a father cares for his children.
Today we continue our message series! In Revelation: All Things New, we’ll discover a glorious description of the end of all things and the great kingdom to come. In order for God to renew the world, he must rid the world of what’s ruined it. The forces of evil have wrought tragedy after tragedy after tragedy throughout our history. We may wonder, how does God deal with the forces of evil? Listen to our newest message of the series, The End of Evil, and trust that God gets the final word on sin and evil!
What will it be like when Jesus returns at his second coming? Have you ever thought about that? What’s the impact of his return, and what should our response be? Today we continue our message series! In Revelation: All Things New, we’ll discover a glorious description of the end of all things and the great kingdom to come. There is debate surrounding this section of Revelation about certain details and when certain events happen. We want to focus on what everyone does agree upon – one day, Jesus is coming back again! Does what we believe about the return of Christ impact how we live today? Listen to our newest message of the series, The Return of the King, and rejoice that Jesus will defeat God’s enemies!
Big Idea: Jesus is enough to fully satisfy everyone who comes to him 1. Jesus is never too tired to welcome those who seek him. (vv. 10-11) 2. Jesus is never too impotent to provide for all who need him. (vv. 12-15) 3. Jesus is never too limited to satisfy all who hunger for him. (vv. 16-17)
Big Idea: Our response to Jesus reveals our grasp of his grace. 1. The Woman: Grace received from Jesus results in great love for Jesus. (vv. 36 – 38) 2. The Pharisee: Grace refused from Jesus results in little love for Jesus. (vv. 39 – 47) 3. Our actions of love reveal a faith that saves. (vv. 48 – 50)
Big Idea: Following Jesus means feasting with “sinners.” 1. Jesus finds sinners. (vv. 27-28) 2. Jesus feasts with sinners. (v. 29) 3. Jesus fulfills his mission at the table. (vv. 30-32)
We all know there are “sins” and then there are “SINS,” right? Whether we want to admit it or not, we’ve created a scale in our own minds defining which sins are worse than others - then we ask ourselves, how could God possibly forgive THOSE sinners? As we close our series, Jonah: At Odds with God, we come face-to-face with God's scandalous grace, which He's in the habit of extending to those we don't think deserve it. Listen with us to our final message, Too Compassionate?, and learn how to respond to the Lord’s compassion when it exceeds our logic.
From an early age we were taught to say “sorry” after we hurt someone or make a poor choice, but as we grow up we realize just saying “sorry” doesn’t always cut it. So, what does true repentance look like? As we continue our series, Jonah: At Odds with God, we begin to understand repentance is not simply confessing one’s sins or asking for forgiveness. It's so much more! Join us as we take a front row seat to the radical transformation that took place in the ancient city of Nineveh as a result of true repentance. Listen with us to our newest message, Real Faith Repents, to see how God responds to repentance.
Over the past few decades, the issue of discipline has come into question, as society has asked, "Is discipline effective? Necessary? If so, what kind?" In a similar fashion, we can, perhaps subconsciously, question whether God should correct us when we're in the wrong. For those who view God only as love and gentle goodness, to suggest He would bring corrective discipline on His people might seem absolutely foreign. "God wouldn’t do that, would He?" As we continue our series, Jonah: At Odds with God, we begin to understand God as a loving Father who disciplines His children through what we'll call "severe mercy." Listen with us to our newest message, The Kindness of Severe Mercy, to learn how the goal of God’s discipline is to pursue, awaken, and ultimately save us!
Have you ever feared someone? Not in a fear-for-your-own-safety kind of way, but a healthy fear that feels more like respect? Maybe you fear a boss, a mentor, a parent, or even a pastor this way. In Scripture, we're taught the importance of holding this type of fear - reverent fear - toward God. As we continue our series, Jonah: At Odds with God, we come across a group of sailors who teach us what it looks like to fear God in this way - the way His power and authority deserve. Listen with us to our newest message, Who's Afraid?, as we encounter the part fear plays in genuine, submissive faith.
It comes so naturally! We see someone and our brain makes a judgement call. When you look out at the world - when you meet other people - what do you see? How do you measure the people in your life? As we continue through our message series, James: Live the Truth, James earnestly pleads with us to measure people by God's standards, not our own. Listen with us to our newest message, Seeing with the Eyes of Faith, as we recognize that a mature faith shows no favoritism, but sees others through God's point of view!
We’ve all been there one way or another - that point in life where you need to make a decision. Some decisions have easy answers, while others haunt our thoughts as we weigh our options. How often do we wonder which choice God wants us to make, but the Bible doesn’t spell it out for us? We pray and sit puzzled, asking ourselves, “How can I know what God wants me to do?” As we continue through our message series, James: Live the Truth, we're encouraged in the truth that God's wisdom is available to us, if only we'll ask Him for it. Listen with us to our next message in the series, Wisdom for Life, and discover how mature faith seeks God’s wisdom!
Just believe. Live your truth. Sound familiar? In a culture preaching the power of whatever feels right to you, it’s time to set aside positive vibes for a Truth you can stand on. The Biblical book of James is a call to counter-cultural living – the kind that rejects the latest “feel good” message for a mature faith. A faith with deep roots producing the fruit of a life lived on purpose. Join us as we spend the next six weeks journeying through our new message series, James: Live the Truth, as we're confronted with the question, "Am I living what I claim to believe?" Listen with us to our first message in the series, Surviving Seasons of Suffering, and discover how only through a mature faith in God can we survive the trials life brings.
Christmas is often said to be the most wonderful time of the year. As followers of Jesus, this is not just due to the Christmas festivities but because it’s the celebration of the Messiah’s birth. Can you imagine what it was like for those who got to witness that miraculous event firsthand? How amazing, overwhelming, and glorious it must have been! This Christmas, we invite you to watch the events of Jesus’ birth unfold through the eyes of the men and women who were there that first Christmas. Through our Christmas series, Eyewitness: Finding Your Christmas Story in Theirs, we’ll see that no matter who we are, the coming of the Christ was for us. Listen with us today for our first message of the series, Believing the Impossible, where we'll look through the eyes of Mary, the mother of Jesus, to discover that nothing is impossible with God!
Have you ever wondered if you would make it to the end? Whether it was a strenuous hike, an essay to write, or a difficult project at work, the striving, exhaustion, and frustration, just made you want to quit. We all know what it's like to feel we can't go even an inch further. But have you ever felt that way in your faith? Join us for our series, Unstoppable: Bound in His Love. Freed by His Spirit., as we venture through Romans 8 to uncover God’s invitation into an infinitely better perspective. Perhaps you’ve had a season of doubt or difficulty fighting sin and are wondering whether you’ll get to heaven. Maybe you don't understand why you're in this trial and are on the verge of giving up. If that's you, listen with us to our newest message, Destined for Glory!
What's something you're hopeful for right now? Maybe it's something trivial, like a victory for your favorite sports team or the season finale of the newest binge-worthy show. Or maybe it's something weighty like hoping for a family member to recover or searching for a new job. We're all wired to hope for - and in - something. The problem is, we often put our hope in the stuff and things of this world that bring nothing more than a shot of short-lived satisfaction. Join us for our new series, Unstoppable: Bound in His Love. Freed by His Spirit., as we venture through Romans 8 to uncover God’s invitation into an infinitely better perspective. Today we'll discover how to have hope in the midst of suffering as we're filled with expectation of what's to come. Listen with us to our newest message, A Cosmic Glory, and take hope that your present sufferings will give way to future glory!
Identity feels like the hot topic of today, when really it’s always been a subject held in high priority. Why? Because it hits each one of us so personally. Connected to why we even exist, it begs the question, "Who am I?" If you've ever wondered why you're here, join us for our new series, Unstoppable: Bound in His Love. Freed by His Spirit., as we venture through one of the most well-know chapters of the Bible: Romans 8. Here, Paul is speaking to the identity of the believers in Rome, reminding them of WHO they are and WHOSE they are. In Christ, they have a new identity - and so do you. Do you need that reminder today? Listen with us in our newest message, The Great Reversal, and experience the incredible truth that believers are no longer slaves but heirs with Christ.
These days, most of us live in a nonstop state of busyness and distraction - and we have endless reasons to justify our lifestyle. But, deep down, could it be that the reason we distract and entertain ourselves every waking moment is to keep from feeling inadequate with the true purpose of our lives? Maybe you feel desperate for something to change. Perhaps you're longing to live the life you were created for, instead of the shallow, overly-stimulated existence of today. Join us for our new series, Unstoppable: Bound in His Love. Freed by His Spirit., as we venture through one of the most well-know chapters of the Bible: Romans 8. In the pages of Scripture, you'll encounter God's power to completely transform your life, and will uncover a more enduring purpose than anything this world has to offer. Listen with us in our first message of the series, No Condemnation!, as we discover that, in Christ, we are freed, sin is condemned, and we walk in the Spirit!
In this special message, Senior Pastor Chris Brooks shares something God's laid on his heart for our Woodside Family across all campuses. Through the truths in Luke 10, he challenges us, as the Church, to the call God has placed on all of our lives: to share and show God’s perfect love to our neighbors! If today you identify yourself as a saved child of God, have you been obeying the call He's placed upon your life? Listen with us to this unique message, Sharing & Showing God’s Perfect Love, as we unpack truths about justification, the law, sin, and the perfect life of Jesus Christ our Savior!
From the beginning, laws have been an important part of society. Throughout time, laws have existed to protect people, yet history also displays the power the law has to effectuate injustice and oppression. The parasite that is sin has corrupted the purpose and power of laws, even since Biblical times. So if we can’t rely on the laws of this world (whether well-intended or not), where can we look for security and hope? We continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, to discuss this very issue that Paul addresses to the Church in Romans 7. Only God’s law is perfect, pure, good, holy and righteous. Laws of this world can only restrain evil. They can’t purge it. Listen with us to our newest message, The Law Can’t Deliver, and discover that where the law fails, Christ prevails!
The Gospel tells us all have fallen short of the glory of God and, because of our sin, deserve death. Yet it doesn't end there. In Jesus, God has given us the gift of eternal life - a brand-new life that starts today! But...can it really be that easy? Maybe today you feel stuck in your old way of life, your old habits, struggles, and vices. If that's you, join us as we continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, by uncovering how we can live "in the new way" gifted to us in Jesus. Listen with us to our newest message, A Fruitful Marriage, as we unpack the truths of Romans 7:1-6.
Whether in conversation, on the news, or plastered across our newsfeeds, "freedom" is a hot topic these days. There are countless opinions on what true freedom is and how it should look today. And, just as people are talking about freedom, they're talking about slavery - a word with deep pain packed into it. But maybe the reason these buzzwords run so deep in our culture is not only because of our nation's history, but because each one of us is engaged in a spiritual battle between slavery and freedom. Join us as we continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, as Paul reminds us that everyone is a slave to sin, but through Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, Christians are free! Listen with us to our newest message, The Freest Slave, and ask yourself the question, "Whose slave am I?"
We all see the constant conflict in our world, but did you know there’s a spiritual battle happening as well? There is a struggle between who controls our hearts, whether our sinful, fleshly desires or God's Holy Spirit. But here's the good news: If you've placed your faith in Christ, we know who wins this war! Join us as we continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, as Paul seeks to bring us to the scary realization that sin is a power that seeks to master us. But the story doesn't end there. Jesus' death and resurrection have given us victory over sin and death! The question is, does your life reflect this truth? Listen with us to our newest message, A New Master, and determine who you're allowing to rule your life!
According to Scripture, baptism is an important step of obedience after you've accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. At Woodside, when someone is baptized, we have the opportunity to hear their testimony of faith. Have you ever wondered why? Join us as we continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, to discover why Paul uses the topic of baptism in Romans 6 to remind us how we are to walk in our faith. Through baptism, we're reminded that followers of Jesus have died to sin and been given new life in Him! The question is, are you living in that new life or going back to your old ways of sin? Listen with us to our newest message, The New Life of Grace, as we determine that our walk must match our baptism!
Who is your representative? Despite your first thought, we aren’t asking about your favorite government official. Reality is, just as we're represented politically in this nation, all people are also represented spiritually by one of two individuals. Wondering who? Join us as we continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, to discover who these two representatives are and which one is ruling your life. Listen with us to our newest message, May Grace Reign, to understand how our lives are ruled by one act from one person. The question is, which one?
Are you a good person or a bad person? That’s a hard question to answer without some kind of twist in your stomach. Today we begin our new series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, with a big claim: God only saves bad people. Join us as we venture through Romans 5:1-11 to uncover the truth about God's salvation. Over the next seven weeks, we'll decipher whether we're living in the freedom available to us through Jesus Christ, or trapped in the patterns of our old life. Listen with us in our first message of the series, Only Sinners Welcome, and find hope in our new life in Christ!
Over the last five weeks, we’ve examined five different places our culture tells us to look for fulfillment in this world. Like the writer, we hope to leave a lasting mark, enjoy the best this life has to offer, and accumulate the greatest knowledge and possessions we can in our lifetime – and we find ourselves forever hungry for MORE. Today, at the close of our series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths," we come to our final question: does anything in this world truly matter? Is there any meaning to this life? Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Purpose: Nihilism, as we turn to the pages of Ecclesiastes and discover that God is life!
If you only had _________ life would be so much better, right? In a culture flooded with newer, better versions of everything we already have, we've all fallen victim to the desire for "just a little more." Today we continue our message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths," by looking to the book of Ecclesiastes, where we'll explore what it looks like to have it all, but realize it still isn't enough. Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Demand: Materialism, to enjoy the generosity of the God who shares His prize with His children!
In part 4 of our message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths," we explore Ecclesiastes, where we'll consider what happens when we look for meaning in our success apart from God. Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Ambition: Individualism, and see how our God gladly shares His victory with His people!
Have you ever fallen victim to FOMO (fear of missing out)? Since the dawn of social media, this fear has become increasingly prevalent in our society. We are bombarded with everyone else’s experiences, successes, and opportunities, leaving us with a deep desire for more and more! But when the pleasure and joy of a moment subsides, what are we left with? Today we continue our message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths," by looking to the book of Ecclesiastes' teaching on earthly pleasures. We'll come to terms with the fact that the pleasures of this world are short-lived, but God’s goodness is unending! Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Appetites: Hedonism, as we celebrate that God is good and His well never runs dry!
We live in a society of information overload! If you don’t know something, you google it. Resources are endless. Yet we find that, more often than not, more knowledge leads to even more questions. And we find ourselves frustrated when we can’t get the answer we want RIGHT NOW. Today we continue our message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths", by looking to the book of Ecclesiastes to see that a “perfect” understanding of life will always be out of reach. Where does this leave us? To trust in God! Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Mind: Intellectualism, as we encounter the wisdom of God and realize only He is all-knowing!
Have you ever felt like you're just going through the motions of life? Like you’ve lost sight of your purpose in this world? Today we begin our brand new message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths", by turning to the wisdom in Ecclesiastes. Through this book, the author unmasks the myths of human autonomy and self-sufficiency and drives us to our true meaning in this world. Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen World: Naturalism, and together we’ll cling to the truth that God is Creator and has a plan for this world!
"3 easy steps to..." Sound familiar? Culture is flooded with "quick fixes" to any and all of our problems. But, the truth is, behind that blog post, program, or subscription lies an empty promise and another letdown. Today we continue our message series - Habits: Ancient Practices for Today's World - by learning to reject culture's "new big ideas" and reorient our hearts to God's time-tested truth! Listen with us and, together, we’ll re-discover age-old practices that draw us to Him, where God alone brings us true satisfaction!
Culture is flooded with the newest “quick fix” to all our problems, and we’ve started to believe happiness is just a click away. But, the truth is, behind that product or program lies an empty promise and another disappointment - every time. Today we begin a brand new message series, Habits: Ancient Practices for Today's World, where we'll take the focus of our hearts and minds off our culture's "new big ideas" and refocus on God's time-tested truths! Listen with us and, together, we’ll re-discover age-old practices that draw us to Him, where true satisfaction awaits!
Have you ever wondered if God is still control when walking through a season of grief, pain, or suffering? Today we continue our message series - Good Mourning: Taking Your Sorrow to the Savior - by turning to chapter 5 of Lamentations, where we’re invited to turn our gaze from the rubble of our brokenness to the Redeemer of every hurt. The poet's words invite us to look toward God's promises even while we're still in pain. Listen with us to our newest message, What to Do When We’re at the End, and see how lament brings us back to God.
Don't you love a good rags-to-riches story? Certainly no one likes to see the opposite: beauty descending into ruin. Today we continue our message series - Good Mourning: Taking Your Sorrow to the Savior - by examining what happens to people when they deny God. As we begin chapter 4 of Lamentations, the writer gives us a glimpse of the streets of Jerusalem, where an idolatrous people face the consequences of their rejection of God. Listen with us to our newest message, On the Streets of Ruin, and encounter the reality that without God, people perish.
We live in a world full of hurting people who hurt people. Today we continue our message series - Good Mourning: Taking Your Sorrow to the Savior - by learning to cry out to God in the face of injustice. As we turn to Lamentations chapter 3, we'll talk about remembering the heart of God and learn to have hope as we wait on His justice! Listen with us to our newest message, How to Lament Injustice, and recognize lament as a means to grieve with those who grieve.
Do you know what it feels like to lose hope? To believe you'll never make it out of the darkness, the brokenness, the pain? In life, we all experience these "end of your rope" moments. The question is, where do we go from there? Today we continue our newest message series - Good Mourning: Taking Our Sorrows to the Savior - an exploration of an often-forgotten book in the Old Testament: Lamentations. As we turn to chapter 3, we find ourselves at the heart of this book, where we turn from suffering under the weight of our affliction to remembering God. Listen with us to our newest message, The Turning Point, and discover how lament allows us to hope again.
Often when we talk about God we focus only on His love, mercy, and grace; forgetting that God is also holy and righteous - traits that cause Him to exercise judgment over sin. Today we continue our series - Good Mourning: Taking Your Sorrow to the Savior - by examining what the often forgotten Old Testament book of Lamentations has to teach us about God's righteous anger in response to our sinfulness. Listen with us in our newest message as we discover what to do When God Becomes the Enemy.
After a year filled with so much loss - whether of your livelihood, your relationships, or even your loved ones - we're all grieving. The question is whether there's a way for us to mourn in a matter that moves us toward growth, hope, and refreshment. Today we start our newest message series - Good Mourning: Taking Our Sorrows to the Savior - where we'll explore an often forgotten book in the Old Testament: Lamentations. As we study this book over the next six weeks, we’ll be taken back to Jerusalem when the city was invaded, destroyed, and their people carried off into exile. Listen with us to our newest message, Why Lament?, to discover the powerful, yet unfamiliar, spiritual discipline of lament.
Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Brooks delivers a passionate message God has placed on his heart about grace and reconciliation! Collectively as one church, we'll explore Paul’s letter to Ephesus as he teaches how we have been reconciled in Christ. Listen with us to this special message, Better Together, as we see how grace reconciles us first to God and then to one another.
The goal of every Christian is to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ, including in how we give! So, how do we become more Christlike in our giving? As we continue our message series - Overflow: From Him, Through Us, For All - the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9 urge us to trust the sufficiency of what God has given us and pursue the deeper fruit of giving! Listen with us to our newest message, Giving & Ability, and celebrate that we can give because God gave first!
Do you give out of obligation? Does it take a lot to convince you? Or do you find yourself giving freely and cheerfully in response to God's goodness? As we continue our message series - Overflow: From Him, Through Us, For All - the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9 encourage us to not give simply out of duty, but to give cheerfully and generously because God first gave to us! Listen with us to our newest message, Giving & Ministry, as we come to the realization that being generous isn’t just about the money; it’s about the ministry!
As we continue our message series - Overflow: From Him, Through Us, For All - we are again encouraged by Paul, the author of 2 Corinthians 8, to be eager in our giving! Together we'll learn what it looks like to not give carelessly but use our gifts intentionally as an opportunity for partnering with those around us. Listen with us to our newest message, Giving & Partnership, as we discover why we should eagerly give to others and how to wisely choose where to give!
To excel in something is to do it with abundance and excellence; to go above and beyond what is “normal” in that area. In our Biblical text today, we are called to “stand out” or “surpass” the norm in a particular area of our lives: generosity. As we continue our message series - Overflow: From Him, Through Us, For All - we'll be challenged by God's Word to not simply give, but to excel in our giving! Listen with us to our newest message, Giving & Love, as we see how exceptional giving displays God’s grace, genuine love, and ultimately the truth of the Gospel!
Have you received God’s grace in your life? This is the big question we're asking through our newest message series, Overflow: From Him, Through Us, For All. The evidence that we've received that gift of grace is seen in how it overflows throughout all aspects of our lives regardless of our circumstances, beyond our own limitations, and as a giving of our very self to God. Listen with us to our first message, Giving & the Gospel, as we discover that grace received is grace given.
Happy Resurrection Day! The tomb is empty because Jesus Christ is alive! Let your memories of God’s work in your life and the salvation He won for you fasten you close to your Savior - and propel you to spread the good news of His Gospel! Today we turn to Matthew 28 as we reflect on the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ and the start of the Great Commission. Listen to our newest message, With Us, as we rejoice together that Christ is with us today!
Today we celebrate the goodness of God! Join us as we reflect upon the verses in Matthew 27 telling of the brutal trial, crucifixion, and death of Jesus Christ. Matthew’s vivid description invites us to see Jesus' crucifixion through the eyes of those who witnessed it firsthand: the governor, the soldier, and the crowd. Listen to our newest message, Opinionated, to hear how these accounts reveal the true identity of Jesus Christ.
In the closing words of Jesus' final teaching before His crucifixion, He paints the picture of a shepherd separating sheep from goats, by which He teaches us a critical lesson: our faith reveals our identity - and determines our destination. Our current series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, concludes with a hard look at our own faith in the anticipation of Christ’s return. Listen with us to this final message, The Shepherd King, as we prepare for that glorious day!
Jesus frequently used parables, or stories, to teach us important lessons. In our last message we examined a parable urging us to be ready for Christ’s return. Today, we dive into the Parable of the Talents, an illustration of what it looks like to multiply – or squander – the gifts God’s given us. We continue in our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, by learning from the decisions of three servants, whose actions invite us to contemplate the way we’re using our own giftings. Listen with us in our newest message, Being Ready Means Being Diligent, and learn what it looks like to reinvest for the Kingdom of God.
Last week we posed the question, “Are you ready?” This week we challenge you, “But really, are you?” Join us as we continue in our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, by evaluating the parable Jesus told of the 10 virgins. Together, we'll examine our hearts to determine whether our discipleship is authentic or superficial - and learn the implications of both. Listen with us in our newest message, "Really, Are You Ready?", as we look ahead to the return of Jesus Christ.
Are you ready? That question alone is enough to put us on edge. When we’re standing at the start of something new, many of us get that familiar sinking feeling in our stomach as we begin to question, “Am I ready for this?” Today we continue through our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, by examining whether we're truly ready for the long-awaited day when our Savior returns. Listen with us in our newest message, "Are You Ready?", as we uncover Jesus' teaching about the last days before His return.
Many of us have found ourselves asking, “What could possibly happen next?” We’ve lost our sense of control over the future and don’t know how the events of the world will play out. Yet in the midst of the unknown, God invites us to hold fast to His unchanging nature and steadfast promises. Today we continue through our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, where we'll see that while the things of this world are always changing, the Word of our Savior never does. Listen with us in our newest message, God’s Forever King!
For many, a key motivation in what we choose to do every minute of our day is to avoid discomfort. Our culture tries its hardest to escape any kind of suffering. No one likes to suffer, but the extremes many take to stay comfortable has become an idol to many. And the Christian church is not exempt. Today, as we continue through our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, we’re hit with the hard truth that suffering is inevitable, especially as Christians. But we have a Savior who also suffered and overcame it all for us. Listen with us in our newest message, Don’t Be Surprised.
As we've turned the page to a new year, many are wondering what’ll come next and how to navigate it when it does. Today we kick off our brand new series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, where answer the question on everyone's mind: "What do we do now?" Listen with us in our newest message, Not So Breaking News, as we explore what Matthew 24 reveals about how the Gospel should and WILL be proclaimed throughout the world regardless of the circumstances of our day!
Christians often use the phrase, "born again," but do we really understand what it means? In our culture, we've come to relate the idea of birth with a new beginning, a fresh start, a grand renewal. And such is the case with our salvation! In the next part of our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, we unpack what it means for our new birth in Jesus Christ to make us a child of God. Listen with us in our newest message, Born into God’s Family, to discover how 1 John 5 reveals that when we become a child of God, we believe in Jesus, love others, and have overcome the world!
If you're a follower of Jesus, can the people around you tell? While we don’t wear material indicators of our faith, our lives should display the radical, sacrificial love of our Savior. In the next part of our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, 1 John 4 reveals that to believe in Jesus Christ is to know God's love. Listen with us in our newest message, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, to learn how God’s love is in us, for us, and between us!
Has loving the people around you ever felt like a chore? Like you're running on an empty tank? Maybe it's because you aren't being filled with the right kind of fuel. In the next part of our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, the scripture of 1 John 4 teaches us God is our ultimate, enduring source of love because he IS love! Listen with us in our newest message, Love Defined, to discover how love begins, manifests, and is perfected through our triune God!
It wouldn’t take much searching to find harsh, hate-filled words being spoken in the name of “being right.” We may even contribute to these damaging conversations ourselves. In the next part of our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, the words of 1 John reveal how seriously God condemns hatred - to the point of equating it with murder! Listen with us in our newest message, A Tale of Two Loves, where we discover that hate only takes while love always serves.
We often hear that God is love - and He is! But our world has a way of twisting something God created into a thing He never intended it to be. And our understanding of love is no exception. In our misunderstanding of God's love, many have come to believe He's incapable of hating or judging evil and sin. Today, we continue in our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, by looking to 1 John 2 for the truth about love. Listen with us in our newest message, The Love God Hates, as we compare the love God intended for us with the worldly love that surrounds us.
When we face trials, we can lose sight of what it means to really love, as God calls us to. Today we begin our new message series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, by taking a hard look at how society, including the Church, left love behind in 2020. Listen with us in our newest message, The Old (New) Commandment, as we discover how truly knowing God transforms our understanding of love.
Big Idea: The grace of the gospel completely transforms us for God's glory
Point 1: We are all in desperate need of grace
Point 2: Conversion is God's work in our lives
Point 3: Because of grace, be faithful to Jesus
Text Galatians 1:11-16a, 22-24
Whether depicted in movies, books, or even in our imagination, when we see a king they are typically being catered to or assisted by many different servants. Between royalty, wealth, or status, those in authority seem to have many at their disposal to serve their needs and wants. So how unique and heartwarming when we witness someone who could be served by many, choosing to serve those around (especially those possibly in a lower position then them)?! This week we continue our series, Giftwrapped: From Longing to Lavished, where we will unpack the covenant that God made with David in the book of 2 Samuel. There we will learn about God's promise of a messiah king to His people and even as king, Jesus Christ came to earth to serve us! Listen with us in our newest message, The King Who Serves! And on Christmas, we can be reminded of what an amazing gift Jesus Christ was to us all!
As each new unprecedented update floods our screens and news feeds, we can’t help but wonder “why?” Some of us may question how we can escape this darkness in the world. This week we continue our series, Giftwrapped: From Longing to Lavished, where we will unpack the covenant that God made with Moses and His people in the book of Exodus. Listen with us in our newest message, Bearing the Family Resemblance, to see how God saves, equips, and establishes community for His people!
When reading the promises of God in Scripture, our minds are stirred to wonder: Will God keep these promises? Can I really trust God to do what He says? This week we continue our series, Giftwrapped: From Longing to Lavished, by answering these lingering questions. Together we'll unpack the covenant God made with Abraham in the book of Genesis - a promise He's still keeping with us today! Listen with us in our newest message, Believing in an Unseen Home.
This week we start a brand new series called Giftwrapped: From Longing to Lavished, where we will analyze the covenants God has made with His people - that’s us! Today, we start with the covenant He made to Noah in Genesis. In this covenant, God promises never destroy the earth and life on the earth by a flood giving Noah, and us, stability and grounds to trust the works of God. Learn more about how this promise still currently impacts us and how a fresh start can only be found through Jesus with our newest message, A New Beginning!
When walking through suffering what do we focus on? Often, focus is on ourselves and the situation. And our mind is flooded with a asking – why, why God? This week we hear a message from Senior Pastor Chris Brooks, where we will unpack how as believers in Jesus Christ we are going to encounter suffering. But instead of dwelling on the “why” we compel you to ask different questions that will ultimately allow you see grow deep in your faith in God and accept His saving grace! Listen with us in our newest message, Suffering for Good!
It’s time to rethink what it means to be a citizen in this country. Too often we allow politics and opposing parties to dictate how we behave and treat others around us. This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, we discuss how we are supposed act as temporary citizens of this world but eternal citizens of heaven! Listen with us in our newest message, One Nation Under God, to hear how submission, goodness, and servanthood is how God wants us to live!
All our lives are witnesses to something and someone every single day. Our passions and priorities are evident to those that get to know us. As Christians, there is nothing greater, more glorious calling than being used and empowered through the Holy Spirit to make disciples for the glory of God! This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, we discuss how internal and external spiritual battles must be fought so that our lives can point others to Christ. Listen with us in our newest message, Exiles Within The World.
Whether you are a Christian or not, we have times where we question who God is and who we are. Many are searching for their place and purpose in life and end up feeling lost and shook with doubt. This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, where our examination of 1 Peter 2 reminds us who we are, why we are here, and what God has done for us! In God's Word, we will find the answers to our deepest longing and questions. Listen with us in our newest message, God's Kinda People.
Tragically, often church culture has transformed into a spectator sport. It is something we consume once or twice a week, but then go home to live life apart from what is learned and from what God is calling us to do as His beloved children. Our whole lives should be built off of God, our foundation! This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, where we examine 1 Peter 2 and we that each of us has a place in the house of God. Listen with us in our newest message, This Is God's House.
Sometimes we hear the word "love" and imagine that deep feeling of affection or romance with red hearts and warm hugs. But love shouldn't just be a feeling. God intends for it to be so much more! Love is active, ongoing, and a daily choice. This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, by analyzing how the source to great love is truly knowing God and growing in our faith in Him. Listen with us in our newest message, Love is a Verb.
What do you hope for today? What do you hope for this year? Or even this lifetime? Hope is a powerful thing and it can guide how we choose to live each day. This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, where we make the connection of what we hope to how we act. When we know of the future grace and victory God has given us, we are transformed in how we conduct our lives! But do we truly find our hope in God alone? Listen with us in our newest message, What Do You Hope For?
This week we are starting a brand new series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World! Hope seems to be a word thrown around when our circumstances seem, well, hopeless. In this series, searching for hope, we look to 1 Peter. Here, we read of the unshakeable hope of a scattered group of Christians facing exile and persecution from the culture around them. We see that hope is active and are encouraged to praise God for the security we can find only in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Even if we are experiencing great suffering, we know that Jesus is our hope. Listen with us in our newest message, Hope Has a Pulse.
If we asked people what they have been most fearful of during this time, we may get many different answers; from COVID-19, social injustices, the unknown future, or maybe the safety of their family. But we have good news, THE good news! God is the greatest and most powerful. Period. And guess what? He’s on our side! Discover with us in our newest message, Imagined Disaster, how when God is with us, we have nothing to fear.
Unity seems very hard to come by these days. And we’ve all felt the harsh effects of what disunity causes. The Psalmist tells us of an eternal remedy - spiritual unity! God has given us the precious gift of a spiritual family. Discover with us in our newest message, The Goodness of Unity, how we can find the ultimate harmony in our Lord and Savior.
When one testifies in a courtroom, it's usually to present evidence or because they witnessed something important. When we witness God's goodness and power even during trials of life, we cannot help but testify!! We invite you to discover more on this message, Collective Testimony.
Has worship ever seemed like just a tradition you are supposed to do before a Sunday service? And now, worship seems less inspiring over a TV or computer screen? In Part 3 of our message series, Assembly Required, we are discussing the importance of praising God in every season. Worship is the key to unlocking blessings that we may have never realized. So what does happen when we praise God? Discover more in this message, Ever-present Praise.
Have you ever had to forgive someone who wasn’t really sorry? Not the easiest thing to do and ultimately that relationship will never be the same. Without repentance there is rarely a restored relationship. It's the same with God (and it’s not His fault). God wants nothing more than to have a relationship with us, with YOU! If our sin earns us God’s displeasure and separation from us, how is it possible to be restored to relationship and joy? Let's find out together as we discuss The Joy of Confession.
How do you know what your priorities really are? We prioritize what we delight in. The things that give us the greatest joy, we tend to meditate on. The same is true for the church when we gather. What we delight in most, what we value most, is what we prioritize, even when we gather as a church body. We should be asking the question, do our revealed delights match what we declare as a priority while in church? Discover more in this sermon, We Are What We Love.
When he told the Parable of the Qualified Sinner, Jesus revealed two ways people approach God. The meaning behind this story is as relevant to us today as it was to those listening when Jesus spoke it. Come away understanding how the heart matters when we approach God, and what may just be the matter with your heart.
As we study the parable Jesus told of the Open-Invite Banquet, we’ll discover what it looks like when we live as if the Kingdom of God has an open invitation. Parables are stories with intent, with the power to reveal truth we wouldn’t otherwise see. This parable asks us to stop treating Gospel invitations like an invitation to a social party and to truly consider, who are you inviting to the Kingdom?