Grace Community Church Sunday Morning Messages
Grace Community Church, Loveland, Colorado
Grace Community Church exists to know Christ and make Him known. Our Sunday Morning messages are primarily expository teaching from Scripture.
Episodes
Fruit of the Spirit - Forbearance | Sermon 10/11/26
The Greek word; "makrothumia" found in Galatians 5:22 can be translated as patience, long-suffering, or forbearance. The idea of bearing up under and of waiting. To grasp a true understanding of what this means one need only think about how the Lord has dealt with them. He is patient, and His patience means our salvation! Paul writes to Timothy; "...I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life" (1 Timothy 1:16)We live in a very fast-paced culture which cultivates in us the opposite of patience, long-suffering, or forbearance. We want instant results, instant gratification, instant comforts. As we abide in Christ and yeild to His Spirit, He grows our ability to wait, to trust, to endure, and to be patient.> We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have **great endurance and patience**, ---Colossians 1:9-11Prepare for this week’s teaching by **reading Galatians 5:22-26, Colossians 1:9-14, 1 Timothy 1:15-17, Romans 2:4, 1 Peter 3:9-15**
Fruit of the Spirit - Peace | Sunday Service 10:30am
In this world of trouble, Jesus has instructed us to take heart and let His peace rule our hearts and our minds. His peace is nothing like what can be found in this world - and just as we are lerning with the fruit of love and joy, true peace is found only in Jesus. As we abide and yeild, the Holy Spirit gives us His peace. (see Romans 8:6)Prepare for this week’s teaching by **reading Galatians 5:22-26**
Fruit of the Spirit - Joy | Sermon 9/27/26
“Believers are not dependent upon circumstances. Their joy comes not from what they have, but from what they are; not from where they are, but from whose they are; not from what they enjoy, but from that which was suffered for them by their Lord.” – Charles SpurgeonOur joy’s foundation is God Himself and can be found as a result of experiencing His grace. Jesus promises in John 16 that there is a joy that cannot be taken, He prays that we may have the full measure of His joy within us (John 17). Psalms 16:8-11 speaks of a Joy that comes from the presence of God. While we may not feel God’s presence or experience the full measure of Jesus’ joy, we can, whatever the circumstances, dwell on the reality that Jesus has come, that He has brought God’s presence near through His death, resurrection, and gift of the Holy Spirit. Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Galatians 5:22-26 with John 16-17 and Psalm 16
Fruit of the Spirit - Love | Sermon 9/20/26
We use the word ‘love’ in many contexts, so what is an accurate, biblical definition of love? We are commanded to love our enemies and that love must be sincere (Matt 5, Romans 12). Practically, what does this look like? As we learned last week, in order to bear any fruit we must abide and keep in step with the Spirit. It can also be helpful to think about what love is not alongside learning about what love is. 1 Corinthians 13 and Romans 5:8 are a great place to start in seeking to understand love. Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Galatians 5:22-26 with 1 Corinthians 13 and Romans 5:8
Fruit of the Spirit - Introduction | Sermon 9/13/26
We are beginning a new sermon series on the Fruit of the Spirit;> But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is not law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.--Galatians 5:22-26Prepare for this week’s teaching by **reading Galatians 5** to more fully understand the context for Paul's instructions about the way the Holy Spirit bears fruit in the life of a Christian.
Summer Week 13 - Psalm 131 | Sermon 9/6/26
The 3 verses in Psalm 131 are poignant and profound in their meaning, revealing the means of calming and quieting ones soul through a childlike trust in the Lord. Maintaining a childlike trust is not an easy thing to do – for there are so very many things within sight to cause us to question God’s goodness, His care, His power and His presence. While Jesus walked this earth, He instructed His disciples that they needed to change their thinking and become like children; to be trusting, humble, and forgiving. (see Matthew 18:2-4) While this requires repentance and trust – it truly does encapsulate the glory of a rested soul. Let us take our restlessness, discouragement, fears and distresses to our Father, placing the full weight of our hope in Him who alone is strong enough for all that we carry.---------To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.If you have not yet memorized a psalm this summer, 131 would be a good one to attempt as a culmination of all the ground we have covered through the various psalms we have studied. And it is only 3 verses!---------Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 131
Summer Week 12 - Psalm 46 | Sermon 8/30/26
Disorder, turmoil, disarray, and chaos cease under the authority and command of God. We see this iIn the beginning of time when God creates order within the heavens and earth (Genesis 1). We see this In the midst of stormy seas when Jesus rebuked the wind and waves, commanding them to be still. (Mark 4:35-41). Psalm 46 expresses this overarching truth of God’s power and glory through descriptive imagery and real world examples. Our God is a well proved help in times of trouble. He is mighty and impenetrable. At the uttering of His voice, the earth melts. This is why we can find refuge in Him. As we grow in recognizing and understanding the power, authority and command of God in the midst of our turmoil our worship of God will deepen. Let us direct this psalm to our doubts and our fear. The Lord of Hosts is truly with us. He does in fact love us. Jesus has proven this to be true. ---------To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.Every summer in Grace Airways the children memorize a psalm. Click here for a video from 4 years ago when they memorized Psalm 46!!---------Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading psalm 46
Summer Week 11 - Psalm 110 | Sermon 8/23/26
If one were to use their best Jack Nicholson voice and declare; “You can’t handle the truth!”, those of us who have seen the movie would have a depth of knowledge to pull from in that conversation. There are phrases in this psalm that are like that – those who have read and understood the corresponding scriptures have a depth of knowledge to pull from in their understanding of these poetic and prophetic words of David. Hebrews 7 gives us insight into Genesis 14 and how Psalm 110:4’s statement “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” relates to Jesus. Additional insights from the New testament can be found in Matt 26:64; Acts 2:34; 1 Cor 15:25, Col 3:1, Heb 12:2, Rom 11:26-27; Heb 5:10. The point of it all is that Psalm 110 is all about Jesus! Jesus as Messiah, Jesus as King, and Jesus as Priest. Let us sit in awe at the character of our God who has given us His word so that we can know Him. He has crafted scripture in a magnificent and beautiful way and revealed so much about Himself within its pages. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever – all for the praise honor and glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!---------To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.---------Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading psalm 110
Summer Week 10 - Psalm 136 | Sermon 8/16/26
Psalm 136 is bookended with the exhortation; “give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His mercy and steadfast love endure forever.”In our attention deficient culture the repetition of this psalm requires intentional focus so as not to tune out or skim over one of the most important statements in all of scripture. The mercy and steadfast love of God endures forever! - His love and His mercy *endures* – it bears up, sustains, holds up under. - His love and His mercy are *steadfast* – fixed, firm, resolute, unwavering. - His mercy and steadfast love endure *forever* – it remains the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and for all of time.As the psalmist rehearses the God of creation and His redemptive activity upon this earth so we too can rehearse the magnitude of the God we worship and the redemptive activity He has worked on our behalf. As the psalmist rehearses the God of creation and His redemptive activity upon this earth so we too can rehearse the magnitude of the God we worship and the redemptive activity He has worked on our behalf. “After I die I will have no more chances,to love You from impossible circumstancesso even if all of my prayers go unansweredthank You for all of these days.I praise You, praise You, praise You, God. ” - Andy Squyres---------To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.---------Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading psalm 136
Summer Week 9 - Psalm 34 | Sermon 8/9/26
Do you have a favorite brand? We all have a favorite brand in some aspect of our lives. This is a brand that we don’t have to think about. If given the option, the default choice is this brand. What would it take for you to convert to another brand? Not just try it once or twice, but fully convert to another brand, making it your favorite. This new brand has become your default. You no longer buy the previous brand, and are even encouraging others to switch to the new brand. We are wired to prefer the familiar, from a favorite type of coffee to a favorite seat. Because we don’t like change, it takes a lot to fully convert to something different. In Psalm 34, David is challenging us to consider converting to fully following God. This is more than just an intellectual ascent to historical events, but a full commitment to knowing and following God as the chief goal in life. Just like David, we can realize who God is and commit to becoming people after His heart. Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 34
Summer Week 8 - Psalm 90 | Sermon 8/2/26
After many weeks learning about psalms that relate to our suffering, this week’s psalm is a reminder that God is working and this earthly life of struggle is not all there is. Psalm 90 is one of the oldest psalms given that its author is Moses. The eternal nature of God is highlighted contrasted with the temporary nature of wilderness wanderings in this world. Moses prays to be satisfied by the Lord’s love which cannot fail and for God’s beauty to reign as He establishes the work undertaken by His children. It is refreshing to remember God’s eternal nature, power and glory. Like Moses we too can receive comfort from the eternal nature of God, be humbled as we consider the frailty of mankind, and commit ourselves to the One whose mercy and grace is beautifully given throughout all generations. ---------To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.---------Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading psalm 90
Summer Week 7 - Psalm 27 | Sermon 7/26/26
Wait! Such a frustrating command and discouraging place it is to be when called upon to wait. One definition of ‘wait’ is to remain neglected for a time. An additional definition is to look forward to something eagerly. Both ideas are woven throughout Psalm 27. Here David builds a case for God’s goodness, trustworthiness, faithfulness, and care based on past experience and reliable promises. It is from these truths that a child of God draws strength in their own wait. The pattern David models for us in this psalm is:· Declared confidence in who God is, “The Lord is my light and my salvation”, · Desperate pleas for God’s needed presence; “Do not hide your face from me”, · Seeking guidance and help; “Teach me, Lead me”,· Encouragement; “I remain confident I will see the goodness of the Lord…Take heart and wait for the Lord.”When we are in need we can use this pattern as we form our own songs and prayers. And when words fail us we can use the words of this psalm as our own prayer and heart’s strengthening. ---------To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.---------Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading psalm 27
Summer Week 6 - Psalm 63 | Sermon 7/19/26
Poetry can speak volumes through imagery and an economy of words, it truly is a beautiful art form. Right off the bat we are told that this psalm was written by David when he was in the desert, or wilderness. Whichever word you choose, this is a place of loneliness, of danger, thirst, and difficulty. It is a desperate place and a place of vulnerability to many types of threats. One of David’s conclusions in this psalm is that God’s love is better than life. It is the one thing that cannot be shaken, it is the one thing that is secure, steadfast, and unfailing. The desert places cannot touch the love of God no matter how it feels at the time. Like Paul, David seems convinced of this truth – we cannot be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8) When we find ourselves in wilderness seasons – when all seems hopeless and the land of our souls is dry, weary, and without refreshment – let us remember God is here. God is with us. God loves us. He has not forsaken us. His love will not fail us. He will see us through and none of this will last forever. We will one day be satisfied in His presence and know His love face to face. In the meantime, let us cling to the One who is strong enough to save us and tenderly holds us close –Jesus—our Shepherd, our Comfort, our Living Water. ------------To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.------------Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 63.
Summer Week 5 - Psalm 42 | Sermon 7/12/26
During the time of Moses, the tribe of Levi was given the role of service in God’s tabernacle. One of these men, Korah, was dissatisfied with his role in the temple and wanted the place of honor that Moses held. Korah led a rebellion which resulted in disaster and death for Korah, his family, and all those who had sided with him against Moses’ leadership. (See Numbers 16) But not all perished that day, there were some who sided with the Lord and were spared. Fast forward to the time of David and these descendants of Korah are serving in the temple focused on the praise and musical aspect of worship. In Psalm 42, these descendants of Korah give an honest complaint from a state of discouragement. They hunger for more of God (rather than more status among men) but God feels distant.In the life of a Christian there can also be seasons of spiritual dryness and times where our soul thirsts for God to make Himself known to us. We hunger for His nearness, yet He feels so very far away. We long for His touch, yet day in and day out we feel numb, empty, and discouraged. It is very trying and can be quite unsettling when this type of season thrusts itself upon us.The words recorded in Psalm 42 models for us honesty in the midst of real hunger, honesty in the ache that comes from waiting, and honesty in the reality of God’s faithfulness that can be counted on in spite of and in the midst of our discouragement. We can confidently put our hope in God, our Savior, for we will yet praise Him.---------------To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.---------------Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 42.
Summer Week 4 - Psalm 31 | Sermon 7/5/26
David Guzak writes; “This psalm is simply titled To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Charles Spurgeon rightly said regarding the title of this psalm,“The dedication to the chief musician proves that this song of mingled measures and alternate strains of grief and woe was intended for public singing, and thus a deathblow is given to the notion that nothing but praise should be sung.” We have no definite marking place in David’s life for this psalm because he was so often in trouble. It resonates with deep and personal trust in God in the depths of difficulty.Psalm 31 is a good one to memorize – for all who walk this earth will suffer and need words when there are no words. (Jesus did tell us; *“In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”*) In Psalm 31 David calls out and names his deep distress alongside truths that enable him to take heart in the midst of the pain. One of the common traps set for us is to believe that God has forsaken and that His love has failed. David's cries and pleas for help are based on the reality of God’s unchanging and unfailing love – a love that exists outside of and on a completely different plain than David’s troubles. The pattern David gives for our own impossible circumstances, crises of faith, sickness, distress, depression, despair and death is this: “this is *how things are*, this is *who You are Lord*, *please move* according to the character I know is true of You but do not see, *for the sake of Your name lead and guide me, free me from the traps that are set for me*.” While we wait for the Lord’s deliverance, and especially for those for whom the wait is long, do take heart – none of this can last forever. Jesus has overcome and He loves us. His mercy is new every morning. He is a strong fortress and able to save.Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Psalm 31-------To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.
Summer Week 3 - Psalm 73 | Sermon 6/28/26
“Water has tremendous erosive power, particularly when carrying large amounts of sediment and rock, like the Colorado River does with flooding.” So says the National Park Service when explaining the role the Colorado River has had in the forming and carving out of the Grand Canyon. They go onto describe; “When large amounts of water are moved through a river channel, large rocks and boulders are carried too. These rocks act like chisels, chipping off pieces of the riverbed as they bounce along.”Isn’t that how life feels at times? Trials come our way like a flood followed by doubts, discouragements, and despair chipping away at our faith causing us to lose our footing. In Psalm 73, Asaph begins; “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.”The cause of Asaph's struggle was seeing how those who love Jesus suffer while those whose worship and love are for themselves seem to prosper. It is a real and raw question – if we have found favor in the Lord’s sight, why then is life so dang hard? The thing that lifts us up out of the flood and sediment that follows is to gaze on our Shepherd. He is our sanctuary, He is our strength, He is near and He is good. How wonderful it is to know that our faith may falter, our hope may dim and our strength may fail, but God is steadfast, His love is unfailing, His grip is strong. Jesus alone is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great Joy. Jude 24-25Let us shift our gaze onto the Comfort and Care of our Shepherd who promises us mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 73
Summer Week 3 - Psalm 73 | Sermon 6/28/26
“Water has tremendous erosive power, particularly when carrying large amounts of sediment and rock, like the Colorado River does with flooding.” So says the National Park Service when explaining the role the Colorado River has had in the forming and carving out of the Grand Canyon. They go onto describe; “When large amounts of water are moved through a river channel, large rocks and boulders are carried too. These rocks act like chisels, chipping off pieces of the riverbed as they bounce along.”Isn’t that how life feels at times? Trials come our way like a flood followed by doubts, discouragements, and despair chipping away at our faith causing us to lose our footing. In Psalm 73, Asaph begins; “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.”The cause of Asaph's struggle was seeing how those who love Jesus suffer while those whose worship and love are for themselves seem to prosper. It is a real and raw question – if we have found favor in the Lord’s sight, why then is life so dang hard? The thing that lifts us up out of the flood and sediment that follows is to gaze on our Shepherd. He is our sanctuary, He is our strength, He is near and He is good. How wonderful it is to know that our faith may falter, our hope may dim and our strength may fail, but God is steadfast, His love is unfailing, His grip is strong. Jesus alone is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great Joy. Jude 24-25Let us shift our gaze onto the Comfort and Care of our Shepherd who promises us mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 73
Summer Week 2 - Psalm 24 | Sermon 6/21/26
Psalm 24 lifts our eyes up to the grandeur of God and His rule over all that exists in His creation. If not read through the lens of Christ, our eyes drop in discouragement over the next set of verses—for who can enter the presence of their Creator but only those with clean hands and a pure heart! This statement is a universal qualifier. There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, slave or free, rich or poor, Republican or Democrat. Who can say that their heart is pure and their hands are clean? According to scripture – no one! But also, anyone and everyone – no matter where they are from or what they have done, is invited in to stand before the King of the Universe with confidence based soley on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is the door by which we enter into the presence of Almighty God. (John 3:16, John 10:7, Acts 10:34-35, Romans 10:12-13, Hebrews 4:15-16, Revelation 3:20)Because of Jesus this psalm is a song of victory and praise, of unity and celebration! In all His grandeur, might and strength, He is near to His people who exist all over the globe! Let us be mindful of the psalmist’s call to acknowledge that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. Let us allow the depths of this truth to permeate into every facet of our being such that the King of Glory can be welcomed into our hearts, homes, and neighborhoods!Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 24 with the scriptures highlighted above.---------To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23, feel free to join with them or choose a psalm to your liking. There are 12 weeks of summer – breaking the psalm down into manageable portions and then building on them week by week is a helpful strategy when taking on longer portions of scripture.
Summer Week 1 - Psalm 2 | Sermon 6/14/2026
In a well produced film, the soundtrack accompanies the story in an honest and appropriate way. Likewise, God has not left us without a soundtrack to accompany us on our own journey. The life of every human includes a storyline of joys and sorrows, health and pain, mountaintops and valleys, for which God has given us the Psalms: a hymnbook for every occasion and every emotion.This summer our sermon series will return to the Psalms to build upon last year and add to your repertoire a deeper understanding of a few more that we have yet to uncover. Remember that the Psalms are poetry and contain structure and rhythm. Some are designated to be sung with instruments. Taking on the practice of reading poetry can enhance your understanding and familiarity with this art form. We will begin in Psalm 2 – a messianic poem declaring the unshakable hope that is found in Christ who is Israel’s Messiah and true King. Psalm 2 is the second part of the introduction which began with Psalm 1. This psalm is quoted directly in the New Testament 4 times (Acts 4:25-27, Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews 5:5) and alluded to in Revelation 2:27, 12:5, and 19:15. Prepare for this week’s teaching by reviewing Psalm 1 and reading Psalm 2 with its new testament quotes in their context (Acts 4, 13, Hebrews 1, 5)To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23, feel free to join with them or choose a psalm to your liking. There are 12 weeks of summer – breaking the psalm down into manageable portions and then building on them week by week is a helpful strategy when taking on longer portions of scripture.
Letters to the Churches Week 8 - Laodicea | Sermon 10:30am
Laodicea, an important city of the Roman Empire, had a serious issue with drinkable water. Hot Springs filled with impurities were a main source of water for the city. Archaeological excavations have revealed an attempt to bring water from an outside source in through stone pipes containing limestone deposits which would have contaminated the water for drinking. Just as lukewarm water is useless, the church in Laodicea is useless to Jesus. Dependency is a sign of maturity for a Christian. The danger of wealth is that it has the potential to create independent people. They may feel competent and successful but they are in actuality poor, and pitiful. Jesus strong words are a love gift to wake them up and reset their lives onto a new trajectory. They need only to repent, turn away from self-sufficiency and turn back to Jesus!------------------------By now we can see each church named is located in a real place with real temptations, hardships, and opposition. This is how it is for all Christians in all centuries – for we do have a very real enemy and this world is not our home. Additionally we have also seen how Jesus uses illustrations from the reader’s own environment to communicate deep spiritual truths for greater understanding among its hearers. He did this all throughout the gospels as well! In Summary:• **Ephesus – drifting church:** right doctrine but did not have love• **Smyrna – suffering church:** going through persecution—encouraged to stay faithful• **Pergamum – compromising church:** held to the truth—exhorted to not compromise• **Thyatira – tolerant church:** tolerance led to unfaithfulness• **Sardis – defeated church:** apathy and material wealth lead to defeat• **Philadelphia—suffering church:** going through persecution—Jesus reminds them of His love.• **Laodicea—lukewarm church:** apathy and material wealth lead to uselessnessThe pattern laid out in these letters is: *who Jesus is, who the church is, exhortations and promises.*Let us take to heart the condition of each church, examining our own walk and the culture of our own church against each possible state. Let us receive both Jesus' words of encouragement in suffering and His warnings in apathy. Above all else let us wake up to and rejoice in our “great need for a Saviour and a great Saviour for our need!” (Spurgeon)Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Revelation 3:14-22
Letters to the Churches week 8 - Laodicea | Sermon 5/31/26
Laodicea, an important city of the Roman Empire, had a serious issue with drinkable water. Hot Springs filled with impurities were a main source of water for the city. Archaeological excavations have revealed an attempt to bring water from an outside source in through stone pipes containing limestone deposits which would have contaminated the water for drinking. Just as lukewarm water is useless, the church in Laodicea is useless to Jesus. Dependency is a sign of maturity for a Christian. The danger of wealth is that it has the potential to create independent people. They may feel competent and successful but they are in actuality poor, and pitiful. Jesus strong words are a love gift to wake them up and reset their lives onto a new trajectory. They need only to repent, turn away from self-sufficiency and turn back to Jesus!------------------------By now we can see each church named is located in a real place with real temptations, hardships, and opposition. This is how it is for all Christians in all centuries – for we do have a very real enemy and this world is not our home. Additionally we have also seen how Jesus uses illustrations from the reader’s own environment to communicate deep spiritual truths for greater understanding among its hearers. He did this all throughout the gospels as well! In Summary:• **Ephesus – drifting church:** right doctrine but did not have love• **Smyrna – suffering church:** going through persecution—encouraged to stay faithful• **Pergamum – compromising church:** held to the truth—exhorted to not compromise• **Thyatira – tolerant church:** tolerance led to unfaithfulness• **Sardis – defeated church:** apathy and material wealth lead to defeat• **Philadelphia—suffering church:** going through persecution—Jesus reminds them of His love.• **Laodicea—lukewarm church:** apathy and material wealth lead to uselessnessThe pattern laid out in these letters is: *who Jesus is, who the church is, exhortations and promises.*Let us take to heart the condition of each church, examining our own walk and the culture of our own church against each possible state. Let us receive both Jesus' words of encouragement in suffering and His warnings in apathy. Above all else let us wake up to and rejoice in our “great need for a Saviour and a great Saviour for our need!” (Spurgeon)Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Revelation 3:14-22
Letters to the Churches Week 7 - Philadelphia | Sermon 5/24/26
This week’s church is in Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. Yes that’s the tagline for the Philadelphia in the US, but we didn’t coin the phrase. Brotherly love is what Philadelphia means in the Greek. This is a place along a trade route linking Europe to Asia and where earthquakes are common. This little church was harassed by what Jesus refers to as “the synagogue of Satan, those who claim to be Jews but are not” Jesus’ reassurance to this ‘church of little strength’ is poignant; “I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.”To be loved is a basic human need – we must have it and we try all sorts of ways to get it. When feeling crushed under the weight of pain, rejection, and suffering one of the most jarring accusations, whether it be from within or without, is the thought that God has forsaken, that I am not loved by Him. Alternately, one of the most strengthening, courage giving realities is that God does in fact love me – regardless of what the circumstances may be. God has loved me with an everlasting, unfailing, secure and steadfast love. This truth is often under attack when trials come our way. This question of being loved is common for us to ask when we are hurting. There is one place we can go for assurance of God’s love and that is the cross of Christ. It doesn’t answer our confusion or the why of our pain. But it does prove that we are in fact loved. We can trust Jesus because He has loved us. Let this truth sink in and give you strength to keep His word and declare His name.Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Revelation 3:7-13 with Romans 8:31-39------To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”-----
Letters to the Churches Week 6 - Sardis | Sermon 5/17/26
Jesus has told us; "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me….apart from Me you can do nothing. ---John 15 “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.” ---John 6:60After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before doing anything else. We know that it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that anything a church or a pastor does bears any fruit that will last. And yet, the wealth we have as Americans enables us to function within our own power and strength – even Christian things can be powered by the flesh instead of the Spirit.This was the problem the church in had. Wealth, pleasure, luxury, and decadence are words that have been used to describe Sardis. Theirs was a culture of ease and comfort which prioritized earthly pleasures and afforded them easy money. If we can’t relate, we aren’t paying attention!The church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive, but this reputation was not accurate. From the outside it appeared everything was good and fruitful. A church may appear sound and successful, they may say the right things and do good deeds – all by the power of their own flesh and intellect rather than by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus saw through all of this into what they really were – dead! Jesus reminds this church of His authority and that it is from Him the Holy Spirit is made available to them as the Father’s gift. They need only to repent and receive Him! So it is for all of Jesus' disciples. We must remain connected to the giver of Life and we must be diligent about doing so.------To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11: “*They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”* ---Revelation 12:11-----Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading **John 15 with Revelation 3:1-6**
Letters to the Churches Week 5 - Thyatira | Sermon 10:30am
Lydia was from Thyatira and was a dealer in purple cloths. She was converted in Philippi when she heard Paul speak (Acts 16:1-15) Paul accepted her invitation stay with her in her home and he and Silas returned to her home when they were released from prison. (Acts 19:16-40) Thyatira was a small and insignificant area famous for the dying of cloth. The trade guilds were places of idolatry and sexual immorality yet essential for all who conducted business in the arts and trades. This posed a significant problem for the Christians there as they would need great fortitude to continue in their trade and earn an income while abstaining from the idolatrous practices that were so prevalent among the guilds. Jesus knows that they have been growing in their love, faith, service, and endurance. He knows the level of idolatry they are facing and it is reassuring to know He addresses it with authority and with mercy. He quotes from Psalm 2 when He encourages the overcomers and this Psalm is a reminder that He is more powerful than any nation on this earth. This knowledge would help the church of Thyatira to endure and stand strong in the midst of their trials and is a comfort for us in the midst of all that is wrong in our world today. Repentance is available to us for the areas we have compromised along with strength for maintaining loyalty and commitment to Christ above all else. When our livlehood is threatened, we can remain faithful by the power of the Holy Spirit and by remembering that our time on earth is short. Our trials are temporary and our God is mighty. He will forgive us when we repent, He knows how hard it is and what we are up against. His mercies are new every morning and His love does not fail. ------To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”-----Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading **Psalm 2, Acts 16, and Revelation 2:18-29**
Letters to the Churches Week 4 - Pergamum | Sermon 5/3/26
Pergamum sits north of Smyrna and about 16 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. Their massive library rivaled the library in Alexandria housing thousands of works. It was in Pergamum where the use of more expensive and longer lasting parchment was developed (1). In addition to three temples dedicated to the emperor, Pergamum also had a temple for Asclepius, god of healing; Dionysius, god of “wine and ecstasy";(2) Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare, along with the great alter to Zeus(3) (considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world)The Christians here stood strong in their faith in and worship of Christ, but struggled with tolerance and compromise over wrong teachings about Him. Living in such a hostile environment towards the things of Christ would have been difficult. The belief systems and practices surrounding them were idolatrous and immoral and to hold fast not just to declaring Christ as Lord but also discerning practically how that applies to daily life would require courage and fortitude. Allowing idolatrous and immoral teaching and practice to creep into their church hindered their ability to fully honor Jesus and maintain faithfulness to His word. The church needed to take these things seriously and stop. -------To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11:They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.-------Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading **Revelation 2:12-17**
Letters to the Churches Week 3 - Smyrna | Sermon 4/26/26
Smyrna was a city of wealth, trade, and deep loyalty to Rome. In 195 BC Smyrna built a temple to Roma, the goddess of Rome. Theirs was a city for whom Emperor worship was central, in AD 12 a temple was built to honor the Emperor Tiberias and during Domitian’s time (A.D. 81-96) it was a requirement for every Roman citizen to give worship, allegiance, and loyalty to Rome’s emperors. For a Christian to give allegiance solely to God alone would be unacceptable and punishable by death. The temptation to compromise would be great, wouldn’t it? At the yearly feast, why not just say the words to the Roman officials without actually meaning them? Is it so wrong to call Ceasor ‘Lord’ – what are words anyway? It’s what is in the heart that matters, right? When facing poverty, hardship, and death these rationalizations would sound convincing. Though living in this wealthy city, Jesus tells us that the Christians there were poor. It appears their commitment to declaring *Jesus only* as Lord has cost them. To this suffering church, Jesus reminds them of His deity (I am the first and the last) and His conquering of death. He has seen their suffering – they are not alone or unknown in all that they have been facing. What comfort these words must have been!------To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”------Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Revelation 2:8-11 with Isaiah 44:6
Letters to the Churches Week 2 - Ephesus | Sermon 10:30am
What would it mean to you to have someone know you – to know your strengths and your weaknesses and to know this accurately? All of us carry a fear of being found out and rejected. The beauty of the gospel is that Jesus does Know us Completely *and* has not rejected us. No! On the contrary He loves us more deeply than we can even comprehend. Remember: *Jesus is who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father – to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Rev 1:5-6)* This is the One who is moving in His church even today. And this is the One who is speaking through His word given to us in our Bibles. And this is the One speaking to these churches in Asia. Ephesus was a seaport city and a place where the Apostle Paul founded a church. The temple of Artemis (or Diana) was ranked among one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Apostle John also spend time in Ephesus ministering to the Ephesian church there. In Acts 19:1-10 we read of how the gospel went forth out of Ephesus and in Acts 19:23-41 we read of how the silversmiths feared a loss of income from their sale of idols by the rise of Christianity there.To really make the most out of this week’s message (and this series) we encourage you to read Acts 19, the book of Ephesians and Revelation 2:1-7. It would take about 30 minutes, less then a podcast episode!, and will greatly enhance your understanding of the church in Ephesus, give insight into what they were facing, how God has been at work among them, and the means of maintaining Love and Devotion to Jesus – who is Worthy of it all.Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Revelation 2:1-7, with Acts 19 and Ephesians 1-6
Letters to the Churches Week 1 - Introduction | Sermon 4/12/26
**Through the Resurrection all who trust in Jesus can live Victoriously.** Seven churches in Asia minor were each given a letter with encouragements, corrections and promises to those who overcome. How do we overcome and live victoriously? It is by faith alone, through grace alone. Jesus' victory is ours through faith in His work on our behalf. All Praise, Honor, and Glory to Jesus, the Living One who was dead and is alive for ever and ever!!**A Note on the book of Revelation:**Revelation is a letter of prophecy written to seven churches in Asia minor. There are differing perspectives among Biblical scholars as to how Revelation is to be read and understood. This is true of not yet fulfilled prophecy in all of scripture, both Old and New Testament alike. We need not be afraid of reading this portion of scripture because of all the controversy. As with every text of God’s word – Jesus is both the One revealed and the One who is doing the revealing. Jesus makes Himself known to us and as long as we keep our eyes focused on magnifying Jesus and resting in His consistent character we can allow room for mystery and our own limitations without losing heart or getting off track.Our sermon series will focus on each individual church's letter found in chapters 1-3. These first-century churches in the Roman province of Asia (currently western Turkey) are mentioned; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. We'll begin with the Apostle John exiled on the island of Patmos where he sees Jesus in all His glory. John does his best to record what he has seen and heard within the limitations of human language. (Chapter 1)To help us maintain our focus over the next eight weeks, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”To help you begin, take time to write the memory verse on notecards and place in an ideal location for your daily review.Additionally, as you prepare for this week’s teaching, read Revelation 1:1-20 and your study Bible’s introduction (if applicable, or Click here for the ESV Global Study Bible’s Introduction to Revelation)
Victorious Christ! - Easter Service, 9:00am 4/5/26
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. All Praise, Honor, and Glory to our Victorious Christ!!
Palm Sunday - Jesus Enters Jerusalem | Sunday Service 10:30am
We begin our last week of preparation walking with Jesus as he enters Jerusalem to the praise of an adoring crowd. Looking at all that transpires between this triumphal entry and Jesus' death we notice such Grace, patience, fortitude and forgiveness from our Victorious Christ. We also see people whose understanding is incomplete and who 'know not what they do' - be it shouts of "Hosanna!" or shouts of "Crucify!" Let us take time this week to meditate on Jesus' life, character, and the hope held out in the gospel. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Luke 19:28-44. For your continued pursuit, use our Holy Week Devotional for daily readings and join us for our Good Friday Service at 5:30pm or 7:00pm
Easter Sunday - He Is Risen! | Sunday Service 10:45am
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.1 Peter 1:3-5
Palm Sunday - Jesus Enters Jerusalem | Sunday Service 04/13/25
Today marks the beginning of Holy Week - Jesus enters Jerusalem on His way to the cross. The disciples and the crowds don't understand, they have a completely different perspective on all the things happening in what to them is the yearly celebration of Passover. Pages 17-18 of our 40 days guide gives space for you to walk with Jesus from Palm Sunday, to the cross, culminating with Easter Monday. Carve out time this week for extra prayer, study, and fellowship with your Savior to deepen your understanding of all that He accomplished each day of this very intentional and purposeful week.
Easter Sunday Kids Choir
Our Grace Airways Children participated in our Easter Morning Worship with a song, dance and praise to our Risen King!
Easter Risen Celebration || Sermon 3/31/24
The psalmist pleads; "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." Paul urges his beloved church to remember the gospel he preached, which they received and upon which they have taken their stand. While we walk this earth, where can we turn when we get bogged down with the weight of our sin, become discouraged by relentless circumstances, or forget the implications Christ's resurrection has on our every day? The power and love He displayed in securing our future through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead fuel a joy, strength and endurance unlike any other thing!Join with us as we remember and rejoice over our Risen Savior, Lord, Overcoming King, and Faithful Friend!
Palm Sunday || Sermon 03/24-24
Holy Week is a week set apart for deepening our grasp of Jesus’ work on the cross and resurrection from the dead. On Palm Sunday we remember Jesus’ entering Jerusalem to shouts of Hosannah, riding on a colt to signify a king coming in peace. Prepare for this week’s message by reflecting on Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29, Luke 19:28-44, Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, & John 12:12-19Download our Holy Week Devotional to enhance your understanding and celebration of Jesus' work of salvation for us!
Colossians Week 11 - Investing in the Kingdom | Sermon 3/22/26
What a journey we have been on in this letter to the Colossian church! And what a final exhortation we are given to devote ourselves to prayer, to be wise, and to seek every opportunity to proclaim the glory of Jesus. It is all for Him. All our service, choices, gratitude, and love poured out into the world is for the praise honor and glory of Jesus. Take some time this week to read through the whole letter, noting the grandeur and supremacy of Jesus and the implications His work on our behalf has for our daily lives. May His all sufficient Grace be with us as we seek to live lives worthy of the hope we have been given in the gospel. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading all of Colossians, giving special attention to Colossians 4:2-18
Colossians Week 10 - The Working World | Sermon 3/15/26
We’ve looked at how the gospel impacts our behavior and what it means to live into the new nature we have been given. We studied how this impact makes its way into our homes and families. This week we will look at how the gospel applies to our working lives – both as employers and employees. Ultimately we all answer to Jesus and it is Him that we seek to honor in the way we conduct ourselves out in the world. It must be said again and again and again – as we seek to grow in Christlike behavior we must never be moved from the hope held out in the gospel to which we have been called! Let us devote ourselves to prayer, being on guard against the things that trip us up and thankful for a God whose Grace is sufficent and whose Strength surpasses all human effort.Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Colossians 3, giving special attention to 3:22-4:2
Colossians Week 9 - Building a home | Sermon 3/8/26
All Christians are invited into a new way of relating to one another. This section focuses in on families. Just like the traits we are told to live into in the previous verses, marriage relationships and parent-child relationships are different for the child of God. The contrasting natures we have been studying in chapter three have the most bearing on our closest relationships within our homes. Living out God’s call to consider other’s interests ahead of our own, to love as we have been loved, to give over or yield to the power or authority of another is impossible without His help and power at work within us. God desires health and wholeness for us individually and healthy patterns of relating to one another. As we look at these verses, prayerfully consider where you are feeling challenged, confused, or convicted. Let us tread with care that we not misunderstand or misapply what God is asking of us. Always and above all, let us not be moved from the hope held out in the gospel.Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Colossians 3, giving special attention to 3:18-21
Colossians Week 8 - Worship & Gratitude | Sunday Service 10:30am
In contrast to the list of things Paul asks us shed, he provides us a list of things to wrap our hearts and our lives in. These characteristics are standards that can only be met by ones who understand that they are holy and dearly loved. This is fruit that the Holy Spirit must produce within us and are traits demonstrated within relationships. As you ponder the high calling to which God’s children are called, be sure to keep sight of the source and sustainer of it all – Jesus Christ. Remember, He is before all things and in Him all things hold together – He has reconciled us to himself and we need not be moved from the hope held out in the gospel. May we grow to be more and more like Jesus as we walk daily by His strength and for His glory. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Colossians 3:12-17
Colossians Week 7 - Change | Sunday Service 10:30am
Our identity in Jesus is distinct and living into that identity means to live contrary to the values, principles, and practices of the world. Among the list of things we are to reject, there is no one who could say that these don’t apply to them. Paul is clear about the equality of these sins and their association with everyone who does not belong to Jesus. All of these are in the past for those who are in Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit living within, a Christian behaves differently. While we will continue to battle with our old nature, our new nature will grow in influence and impact more and more as we submit to Jesus’ rule in our lives. Sexual integrity, a right attitude towards material things and love for all people will become markers of our personalities. These things carry a different difficulty for each of us. Do you struggle with sexual immorality? Are greed and covetousness hard for you to overcome? Do you love as the world loves, being selective in who you give honor and behaving hatefully towards others? The first step in victory is honesty. As you review Paul’s list of named sins, ask the Lord to open your eyes to anything you are practicing, to give you understanding as to how grievous it is, and to empower you to live into His Grace and to be renewed by His love. May we all have the courage to rid ourselves of perspectives and practices that compete with Jesus’ nature within us. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Colossians 3:5-11
Colossians Week 6 - Freedom | Sunday Service 2/15/26
Thus far Paul has explained who Jesus is and what Jesus has accomplished through His work on the cross. Now his letter transitions into application of those truths. As a result of Christ’s supremacy and His completed work on the cross, we are set free from earning anything or paying back what is owed. This is great news! Anything we participate in along with anything we abstain from need only be motivated by gratitude for all we have in Christ and commitment to His rule and position of center stage in our lives. Since we belong to Christ and His kingdom, it is to His power and authority we now yield—not the world’s or mankind’s. It is for freedom that we have been set free! Let us stand firm and guard against being yoked back into slavery. As Pastor Erik shared with us previously, the Old Testament is Jesus concealed, the New Testament is Jesus revealed. So the feasts and festivals all pointed to Christ and have been fulfilled by Christ. Anything we now participate in is merely a means of helping us run our race and grow in our faith. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Colossians 2:16-3:4
Colossians Week 5 - Learning to Walk | Sermon 2/8/26
Paul uses a number of metaphors in the same sentence that seem at first glance to be contradictory; live (or walk) in Christ, be rooted and built up. How can you walk and be rooted? It’s more of a both/and, we are to be firmly grounded in Christ’s work on our behalf and also to keep growing in our faith journey towards Christ-likeness. While on this earth we battle between our old nature and our new identity in Christ. Our battle comes from the outside through deceptions and heresies and from within through temptations and selfish desires. This is a common theme throughout Paul’s writings (see also Galatians 5, Romans 7-8, Ephesians 4-5) Having our faith strengthened leads us to gratitude. For our God showers us with His Grace and gives us His Spirit so that we have everything we need for life and godliness. Prepare for this week’s message by reading Colossians 2:6-15
Colossians Week 4 - Faithful Servants of Christ | Sermon 2/1/26
To Contend means to struggle for victory and also to earnestly dispute. Paul is laboring hard, at times to the point of exhaustion, for this church, many of whom he has never met. Why? And what is he contending for? To put it simply, Paul is committed to magnifying God and maturing His people. He understands that God’s people include Gentile believers and he is working for their encouragement and unity. He longs for the mystery of Christ in them and their hope of glory, to be understood to the effect of real transformation and strong protection from arguments that sound logical but are deceptive and untrue. There are times in our faith walk when we need leaders to help us mature and grow in the skill of biblical discernment. There are also times when we need to step up to the task of helping another brother or sister in Christ along. In whichever season we find ourselves, may we grow into men and women who are steadfast, relying on Jesus with a confident trust in His power, wisdom, and goodness. Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Colossians 1:24-2:5
Colossians Week 3 - Christ Hymn | Sermon 1/25/26
To state that Jesus is Creator and over all Creation addresses a specific heresy of the Colossian church and heresies we encounter today. Jesus as Creator means that angels are created by Him and are subject to Him. People are created by Him and subject to Him. The earth itself is created by Jesus and subject to Him. This is a bold and profound statement and the implications into our lives is significant. If Jesus is holding all things together, the earth and its gravitational pull, the angels and their activity, then He is powerful enough for the daily needs of our lives. Since Jesus has proven His love for us through the cross, I can trust that He is wielding this power through His character of love. The fact that Jesus is the initiator and source of my reconciliation, I can rest in the knowledge that He will faithfully keep me and carry me through this life. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading through Colossians 1:15-23, taking in the beauty of the truths Paul states about our Savior, Shepherd and King Jesus.
Colossians Week 2 - God's will for your life | Sermon 1/18/26
Paul's prayer reflects a desire for the church to grow in knowledge of Who God is and in experience of the Holy Spirit's equipping as the means of understanding what His purpose and will for our lives is. Which Paul summarizes with a few key phrases: - to bear fruit - to grow in knowing God - to be strengthened by God - to give thanks to GodThis will of God resides over, under, and within the specific details of our day to day. It is not so much as discovering which career to pursue, etc, as it is learning what it means to live as a child of God and citizen of His kingdom. "‘Fruitful in every good work.’ Here is room and range enough — in ‘every good work.’ Have you the ability to preach the gospel? Preach it! Does a little child need comforting? Comfort it! Can you stand up and vindicate a glorious truth before thousands? Do it! Does a poor saint need a bit of dinner from your table? Send it to her. Let works of obedience, testimony, zeal, charity, piety, and philanthropy all be found in your life. Do not select big things as your special line, but glorify the Lord also in the littles — ‘fruitful in every good work.’” ---Charles Spurgeon
Colossians Week 1 - Welcome to the Family | Sermon 1/11/26
The letter from Paul to the Colossians reveals Christ as preeminent - first and foremost over everything - and encourages Christians toward a life that reflects that priority. The church in Colossae was a predominately Gentile church and the heresy threatening it combined elements from Greek speculation (2:8-10), Jewish legalism (2:11-17), and Eastern mysticism (2:18-23). To address these heresies, this letter is a very Christ-Centered letter, stressing the completeness of the salvation Jesus provides. It extols Christ's sufficiency for every spiritual and practical need and encourages submission to Him as the source and worthy ruler of our lives. Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Colossians chapters 1-4 giving special focus to Colossians 1:1-8
Joy to the World Week 5 - Second Advent | Sunday Service 10:30am
We have wrapped up our season of waiting for Christ's first coming and have celebrated His birth. Still, we are in a lifetime of waiting for Christ's return. What will His return accomplish? How can we be encouraged to perseverance with joy while the world remains dark and Him setting all things right seems far removed from our daily reality? Join us Sunday as we rejoice that Christ has come to save us now and look forward in hope to His coming again!Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Genesis 1-2 with Revelation 21-22
Christmas Eve Service 4:00 pm
On this eve before Christmas, join with us in Worship of our God who came to save us. May the Joy He has brought to the world be our anthem as we go about our festive activities!
Joy to the World Week 4 - Our Praise | Sermon 12/21/25
Who is this Savior, this King of Heaven, this baby born in a manger? What difference does His birth make in the midst of all the things our lives entail? What miracle is required for us to grasp the extent of His love?As we enter into our Christmas celebrations, let us remember what Joy it is that our Lord has come and that He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love!Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Luke 2:1-7 with Colossians 1:15-23 & Hebrews 1:3For your continued pursuit, utilize our Advent Reflections each week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Joy to the World Week 3 - Shepherds & Angels Praise | Sermon 12/14/25
Shepherds and Angels, ordinary men among magnificent heavenly hosts. This story is remarkable, the characters are unexpected, God’s plan of salvation and the way it is carried out by the creating and sustaining God is challenging for us to fully grasp. Still, we don’t have to grasp it completely in order to join with the shepherds and angels in singing praises to our worthy and mighty Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Luke 2:8-20 with 1 Peter 1:3-12For your continued pursuit, utilize our Advent Reflections each week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.