October 31, 2021 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • Hebrews 10:23–25, Revelation 19:6–9, 1 Peter 2:1–11, Matthew 5:14–16
October 31,2021 / Heb 10:23-25, Rev 19:6-9, 1 Pet 2:1-11, Mat 5:14-16
Weddings are beautiful moments of celebration. The union of a man and woman becoming one is an incredible symbol of hope for the Church. We eagerly await the wedding of the Lamb that is depicted in the second coming of Christ, the union of Christ and His bride. Christ loves His bride. Do we? What if we loved Christ's bride in the same way He does? The results could be special.
How to Resolve Conflict
October 24, 2021 • Pastor Kevin Moore • Romans 12:18
Conflict is something we all face. Many times we experience conflict in our families, our friendships, our places of work, and even places of worship. We want to help. We want to give you the inspiration and information you need to reconcile and resolve your conflicts.
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October 17, 2021 • Pastor Dave Engbrecht • Colossians
In a time of strong opinions, harsh rhetoric, and polarizing ideas, the gospel cries out for us to do “one another” with intentionality and excellence. It’s not an option. Consistently and clearly we are called to do “one another” as Jesus did. Walking "with" Jesus means that as brothers and sisters, we learn to walk "with" one another. Isolation and self-protection aren’t an option. Walking "with" one another well is the desired outcome of truly walking "with" Him.
Life With God...Yeah, But How?
October 10, 2021 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • Luke 10:38–42, Revelation 2—3, 1 Samuel 3:8–10
It is one thing to know something, but it is a whole different thing to put that knowledge into practice. We now know that doing life WITH God is the better way to relate to God, but how do we practically live out that knowledge? The Word of God lays out a very simple path to the posture of WITHNESS, but one that takes a high level of intentionality.
Life For God
October 3, 2021 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • Luke 15:25–32, Matthew 7:21–23, Luke 10:38–42
Life for God sounds like a great posture to take in our relationship with God, but is it the best? Could it be that in such a posture our motivations may be distorted, as well-intentioned as they may be? A life for God posture can quickly place the mission over the Master, significance over salvation and performance over presence. May we reorient our hearts to choose what is better, like Mary did in the presence of Jesus.
Life From God
September 26, 2021 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • Matthew 5:1–12, Matthew 6:9–13, Matthew 7:24–27
Could it be that sometimes we have the tendency to view our relationship with God similarly to the way we view our relationship with a vending machine? God becomes someone that we get things FROM. Consumerism is a ME-focused universe where everything’s value is determined by its usefulness to me, even when it comes to God. What if we traded building the “Kingdom of My” with the “Kingdom of Thy”?
Life Over God
September 19, 2021 • Pastor Dave Engbrecht, Pastor Tim Veenstra • Micah 6:8
So just who is in charge? Our natural tendency is to want to be in control. We tend to minimize God and maximize ourselves. We want a relationship with God, but we want one where we are in control. We find ourselves trusting more in the natural than the supernatural. Life WITH God is the only way to complete joy and fulfillment.
Life Under God
September 12, 2021 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • Ecclesiastes 8:14, Job 4:7–8, John 9:1–3
Living life under God seems like a proper way to relate with God, right? We ought to live under God’s authority, but what happens when this posture gets distorted and the motivations muddled? Living under God can quickly become a means to manipulate God through obedience to secure blessings and avoid calamities. What if we traded the posture of life under God for a posture of life with God?
Withness
September 5, 2021 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • John 1:1–5, Matthew 1:23, Revelation 21:1–4, John 1:14
One of the mega-themes of the Bible is the very idea of God with us. God never abandoned His creation. He does not dwell in the heavens apathetic and uninvolved in the affairs of humanity. He is God with us, manifested most powerfully through the incarnation of Jesus Christ—Emmanuel. Here’s the catch though: God, in his infinite goodness and greatness, has chosen to do life with us, but have we reciprocated? Or have we chosen a potentially more manipulative relationship with God, driven by fear and control?
