Building a Future, Building Hope

Posted on by May 17, 2022

Our sermon on Sunday, May 22 is about the book of 2 Chronicles. This book was written to help the Israelites deal with their return from exile. They were asking questions like: Does God still love us? Are His covenants still in force? Can we worship God without the temple? Will we survive as a nation, as God’s chosen people? Today, we ask many similar questions, when we see the world changing so dramatically. 2 Chronicles lets the Israelites—and us—know emphatically: There is hope! Join us at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

The Heart of Worship

Posted on by May 11, 2022

Please join us on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for worship and Dr. Wayne Cook’s sermon on “The Heart of Worship.”

A few years ago there was a little song called, “The heart of worship.” The chorus says,

“I’m comin’ back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus.”

There is a similar theme of “the heart of worship” in First Chronicles. First and Second Chronicles were originally one book. First Chronicles focuses on King David and Second Chronicles on King Solomon. A “chronicle” is a story arranged in a specific order. The people were looking back to the greatest time of the Kingdom of Israel when David and Solomon were kings. 1 Chronicles was written about 100 years after 1 and 2 Kings. The southern Kingdom of Judah had been conquered and the people carried off into captivity. As some were being allowed to return, they still carried the pains of their captivity, and even now they were in desperate circumstances. So the author, perhaps Ezra, is saying let’s avoid pain and hardship by getting back to the heart of worship.

God’s promise to King David

Posted on by April 19, 2022

We’re continuing our series of sermons following each book of the Bible. In this week’s sermon on 2 Samuel, we will see how God established David’s line and promised a messiah through his descendants. It’s a compelling story of loyalty and intrigue, breakthroughs and setbacks—showing again how God uses flawed people to fulfill His will.

How (not) to choose a leader

Posted on by April 5, 2022

We’ve reached 1 Samuel in our sermon series on the books of the Bible. If you’re a history buff, you’ll appreciate this pivotal moment in ancient history. As 1 Samuel begins, Israel was at a low point spiritually. The priesthood was corrupt, the ark of the covenant was not at the tabernacle, idolatry was practiced, and local rulers, the judges, were dishonest. The nation longed for a king to lead them—a desire they developed through watching the surrounding nations—so that they could protect themselves. Here’s a fascinating account of how a people transitioned from tribalism to monarchy—with intriguing insights into power we can learn from today.

Learn more on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. during our worship service.

What happens when you have faith in yourself?

Posted on by March 21, 2022

On Sunday, March 27, Associate Pastor Carolyn Hansen will preach on “Judges: What Happens When You Have Faith in Yourself.” Many people commend trusting our own judgment. Believing in ourselves. Going with our gut. The book of Judges tells us, in detail, how doing that worked out for the Israelites after they entered and took control of the Promised Land. Several times in the book, we read, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” The King James Version says, “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” It didn’t go well. And the stories are more lurid than a true crime TV show.

God Keeps His Promises

Posted on by March 15, 2022

The next book in our sermon series is Joshua. The Hebrew people had escaped from slavery in Egypt, wandered for 40 years in the desert, and we’re now ready to receive the land that God had promised. Standing on the western bank of the Jordan River, God instructed them to possess the land. All they had to do was cross a river at flood stage, defeat all the inhabitants of the land, and then walk in obedience to the Lord.  No problem, right? Join us on Sunday, March 20, at 9:30 a.m. for the rest of the story!