Out-n-In
March 10, 2024 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • John 17:13–19, Exodus 4:24–26
Life is full of highs, lows, and everything in between. Moses, one of the key figures of the Old Testament, gives us access to his story, both the highs and the lows. Do you see your story in his story? Stuck between different worlds, Moses is faced with a decision. To what or whom will he identify himself with and how will that affect every part of his life?
Be
January 14, 2024 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • 1 John 2:12–17, John 15:1–10
Abide. Remain. Dwell. Live in. Stay. Over twenty times, John writes of this idea in his short letter to the church. This state of being or concept of remaining directly connects to John 15, where Jesus also encourages his followers to stay connected to him. So, Church, what does it look like to abide, remain, dwell, live in and stay with Christ?
The Master
May 14, 2023 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • John 21:18–22
Jesus’ words to Peter are simple: “FOLLOW ME.” Yet, almost immediately, Peter gets sidetracked, unfocused, and off mission. Sometimes we have the tendency to make following Jesus harder than it needs to be. Let’s fix our focus on the Master and follow Him.
The Lord
May 7, 2023 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • John 21:1–17
For a third time, we get a glimpse of Jesus encountering His disciples in John 21. Specifically in this passage, we're given access to an intimate moment between Christ and Peter. Peter has had quite the journey leading up to this encounter; he’s had a lot of high highs and low lows. This encounter with Jesus will, again, forever change his life. All it takes is one encounter with Christ.
The One With Holes in His Hands
April 30, 2023 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • John 20:24–31
Do you believe? Is believing without seeing difficult for you? Thomas, commonly referred to as Doubting Thomas, may be unfairly nicknamed. We, today, are in a similar place as Thomas was before seeing the resurrected Christ. Do we believe, without seeing, that Jesus is in fact resurrected from the dead? All of Christian faith rests on this belief.
The Gardener
April 23, 2023 • Pastor Gabe Reed • John 20:11–18
We all have a story to tell. A story filled with pain, heartache, failures, mistakes, victories, joy, happiness, and the list can go on. What happens when Jesus steps in and rewrites our story? How do our lives change course and redefine our purpose? Mary Magdalene’s life was changed by Jesus, and this change propelled her onto mission. Encountering Jesus leads us to an empowered purpose.
Monday
March 6, 2023 • Brad Bullock • John 13
Almost nothing marks the life of a follower of Jesus more than the love they show for the world around them. Yet, if we're honest with ourselves, there are certain moments in life where love is incredibly difficult. Each of us knows what it's like to have a person that's hard to love or a behavior that's challenging to respond to in a loving way. Jesus knows exactly what this is like, and He also knows that the renewal of our spiritual lives often involves a revival in our capacity to love. In John 13, Jesus not only gives us an example of the love we need, but also a simple principle for living it out. --- Brad Bullock grew up in a non-Christian home, but his life was radically transformed as a teenager when he attended NMC with a friend. As he grew in his relationship with Christ, he felt the call to full-time ministry. Brad, his wife Kelsey, and their three kids live in Fort Wayne, IN where he serves as the student ministries pastor at Pathway Community Church.
Do You Know What Time It Is?
August 14, 2022 • Pastor Dave Engbrecht • John 16—17
Timing is absolutely essential is most areas of life. Whether cooking, comedy, investing, or athletics, to miss proper timing is the path to disaster. The Bible constantly teaches on the importance of knowing the times. Life throws changes at us, and changing times require wise responses. The question is simple: “Do you know the times?”
Increase My Ability
May 22, 2022 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • John 15:12
3. Increase My Ability May 22, 2022 / John 15:12 The most meaningful thing in life is relationship. Our greatest and lowest moments are tied to relationships. If relationships are so important to life, why is it so difficult to truly love people—not just people that are easy to love, but all people? We are commanded to love people the way God does, so let’s explore how He loves us.
Overcomers
April 24, 2022 • Pastor Dave Engbrecht • John 16:33
April 24, 2022 / John 16:33 Jesus does a remarkable feat in preparing the disciples for triumphant living in the midst of chaos and turbulence. He teaches that possessing courage and peace while walking through dark valleys is more than an abstract possibility. It’s a living reality. No matter what our future may hold, we can live with complete peace and His joy.
The Discipleship of Jesus 101
March 20, 2022 • Matthew 28:18–20, John 1:37–39
There are hundreds of different definitions on what is a disciple of Jesus. There are hundreds of strategies on how to make disciples. Have we overcomplicated the calling to make fully committed disciples? What can we learn from Jesus and how He discipled His disciples?
A Conversation with the Samaritan Woman
March 6, 2022 • Pastor Tim Veenstra, Pastor Dave Engbrecht, Pastor Joe Focht • John 4:15–26
In her conversation with Jesus, the Samaritan woman is brought face-to-face with God and with herself. Jesus had a way of exposing the longing in a person’s soul. He reveals to the Samaritan woman her lostness and His ability to find her. What would it look like if we came face-to-face with God and ourselves today? What kind of worship would flow from that revelation?
A Conversation with Pilate
February 27, 2022 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • John 18:37–38
February 27, 2022 / John 18:37-38 In his conversation with Jesus, Pilate asks a deeply profound question, “What is truth?” It is up for interpretation whether Pilate asks this with a cynical, sarcastic tone or a wistful, wearied one, but either way, the question remains the same. What is truth?
Freedom in True Discipleship
February 20, 2022 • Pastor Gabe Reed • John 8:31–47
February 20, 2022 / John 8:31-47 If you grew up in the church, you have become very familiar with the verse, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” It has become an anchor for many who believe in Jesus. Jesus enters a conversation with those who believe, and He invites them in to more. We understand the key to freedom when we step into true apprenticeship with Jesus.
Learning From the Master
February 13, 2022 • Pastor Dave Engbrecht • John 3
There’s so much to learn from the conversations of Jesus. As apprentices, His conversations give us clear guidance on how to interact with people. His conversations teach us that there’s so much that precedes speaking. Learning from the Master positions us to be used by Him for His purposes and to fulfill His calling on our lives.