The Game Is Not Over

February 4, 2024 • Ted Buck • Acts 2:44–47

Reading In The Dark

February 11, 2024 • Ryan Shervik • 1 John 1

Pastor Ryan emphasizes the importance of walking in God's light to avoid spiritual darkness by intentionally practicing faith and seeking God's truth. In reading 1 John, we see that he highlights the significance of living out one's faith and "practicing the Truth" while also seeing the need for community in the church to spread hope and light in the world. We should actively engage in spiritual disciplines and embrace the challenges that come with practicing faith. No matter where we are in our journey with Christ, we are all called to hold onto faith, actively practice it, and be a beacon of light in a dark world.

ROOTS

February 18, 2024 • Ryan Shervik • Colossians 2:6–7, Ephesians 4:11–16, 2 Peter 1:3–15, 2 Peter 3:11–18, Matthew 23:25–28

Drawing from the ways we see roots and their role in growing some of the largest trees on the earth we can see parallels for the ways that God has called to grow and live some of the largest lives on the earth. In the sermon titled "ROOTS," Pastor Ryan Shervik emphasizes on building a strong spiritual foundation, synonymous to the roots of a tree. This foundation, he stresses, is crucial for growth in faith. In his sermon, he cites passages like 1 John 1:6-7 and Philippians 4:8-9 to encourage practicing truth and virtue, key elements, for deepening faith. The Bible is an invaluable resource to guide believers in walking the path of truth, as defined by God, but beyond scripture study, Pastor Ryan accentuates the role of relationships and communal support in a believer's spiritual journey. He draws attention to the struggle of loneliness in our hyper-connected society and underlines the necessity of genuine relationships. Faith goes beyond tenets – it is about active demonstration of love and compassion. He uses the metaphor of tree roots to explain spirituality. Like roots providing a tree with stability and nutrients, followers draw stability and nourishment from their faith and relationship with Christ, which prepares them for enduring tough times. He concludes the sermon with the idea that, similar to how tree roots enhance the soil, believers can positively influence others and contribute to community growth and wellness. As followers of Christ, we need to consciously develop our spiritual root system to increase our resilience and be a beacon in society. it is so important that we assess our spiritual health while giving hints on strengthening our faith and deepening our bond with God.