icon__search

Rest Despite Noise

Rest Despite Restlessness

November 11, 2018 • David Cotner

Augustine once said, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O God, and our heart is restless till it rests in Thee.” In today’s final installment in the “Rest Despite Noise” mega-series, we will unpack Augustine’s famous quote by asking the question: “How is it possible to truly get our restless hearts to rest in God alone?” Indeed, King Solomon searched high and low for true rest, but only found true rest in one location. Join us as we unpack Solomon’s discovery in the final two chapters of his most puzzling, but practical book – Ecclesiastes!

Rest Despite Restlessness

November 4, 2018 • David Cotner

As we continue our series finale, “Rest Despite Restlessness”, we come now to the proverbs of Solomon in his book, Ecclesiastes. What is a proverb, you ask? Well, a proverb is a pithy statement that showcases a general truth about life in order to give you clarity and direction in life. In today’s segment, we will showcase King Solomon’s most important proverbs about life, wisdom, and foolishness. Yes, join us as King Solomon acts as our personal Life Coach, explaining to us his miscellaneous musings about life “under the sun.”

Rest Despite Restlessness

October 28, 2018 • David Cotner

In today’s message, we come now to a most timeless subject. Can you guess what it is? Here’s a riddle from J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythical creature, Gollum, in regards to today’s topic: “This thing all things devours: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers. Gnaws iron. Bites steel. Grinds hard stones to meal. Slays king, ruins town, and beats high mountain down.” What’s the answer, you ask? Time. Yes, welcome to installment three of our current series finale, “Rest Despite Restlessness”, in which we investigate King Solomon’s timeless thoughts on time.

Rest Despite Restlessness

October 21, 2018 • David Cotner

In our series finale, “Rest Despite Restlessness”, we come now to our second installment entitled, “The Quest For Meaning.” This message is anchored in King Solomon’s story in Ecclesiastes 2. In this magnificently entertaining, albeit depressing chapter, King Solomon undertakes a grand experiment in which he searches for meaning and purpose in this life. Indeed, he searches not only for the meaning of life, but pleasure and joy in the meaning. So, is there meaning to this life? Is there pleasure from the meaning? What is life “under the sun” all about? Join us as Peggy Lee (1969), King Solomon (930 BC), and C.S. Lewis (1952) try to explain…

Rest Despite Restlessness

October 14, 2018 • David Cotner

Let me ask you some questions. What’s the meaning and purpose of life? Does any of this really matter? We all die anyway, so does life really matter? If these questions leave you feeling somewhat confused, depressed, and maybe a little irritated, then you are exactly where King Solomon wants you to be. In our series finale, “Rest Despite Restlessness”, we will weave our way through one of the most interesting, but challenging books of the entire Bible – Ecclesiastes! Welcome to installment one of this fascinating series, a message entitled, “Meaningless Mess?”

Rest Despite Barriers

September 30, 2018 • David Cotner

Today we land the plane on our current mini-series, “Rest Despite Barriers”, by looking at the barrier of distressing conflict, specifically, relational conflict. Indeed, there is perhaps no greater pain than the pain of relational conflict. Think about it. Haven’t most of the deepest pains in your life revolved around some sort of relational conflict that you could not or would not resolve? In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul tackles the issue of conflict in a very startling, but practical way. Join us as we unpack truths from this great chapter and discover God’s joy, presence, and peace in the midst of any conflict.

Rest Despite Barriers

September 23, 2018 • David Cotner

In today's sermon, we discuss the barrier of a distracting past as we carry on in our mini-series, "Rest Despite Barriers." Looking at Philippians Chapter 3, we will discover that our past, far from being the focus of our lives, is nothing more than a platform to launch us into our future. Indeed, the Apostle Paul is very clear in this text, that what we press into, whether it be our past or future, makes a big difference in terms of who we become in this life.

Rest Despite Barriers

September 16, 2018 • David Cotner

Today we carry on in our current mini-series, "Rest Despite Barriers", by focusing our attention on the barrier of disappointing people. Have you ever met someone you just didn't like? Indeed, here's a better question, have you ever been hurt or disappointed by someone - someone close to you? Chances are, we all have, and in Paul's second chapter to the Philippian believers, we'll unpack how to deal effectively with all people, but especially the difficult, disappointing people in our lives.

Rest Despite Barriers

September 9, 2018 • David Cotner

Today we launch a new mini-series entitled, “Rest Despite Barriers.” Have you ever had a barrier that seemed insurmountable? Most of us have as barriers are a constant theme in this fallen, broken planet and often surface in places like our marriage, career, or finances. So, how does one achieve true rest despite frustrating barriers? Well, in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we catch a glimpse of how to overcome barriers with true joy and confidence. In our first installment, we will examine how to overcome the barrier of depressing circumstances.

Rest Despite Questions

August 26, 2018 • David Cotner

Today we land the plane on our current mini-series through Habakkuk by examining how we should respond when the will and way of God are difficult to understand. Ever been there? Has God ever given you clear direction, but (at the same time) it’s difficult to understand how it’s all going to work out in the end? In Habakkuk 3, we learn that our difficulty to understand God’s methods and plans should motivate us to prayer and praise, and not with some pie in the sky attitude, but with true faith and focused determination.

Rest Despite Questions

August 19, 2018 • David Cotner

In our second installment through the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, we catch a glimpse of the “rhythm of the righteous.” In other words, in the middle of your pain, with all your questions asked, what do you do? Well, in Habakkuk 2, we learn that one should wait on the Lord, trust in the Lord, and worship before the Lord. Join us as we discover what all of that means, how we can practically do these things, and why it all matters in the end.

Rest Despite Questions

August 12, 2018 • David Cotner

Today we launch a brand-new mini-series through the Old Testament book of Habakkuk. In this series, we will examine a feisty prophet who questions God on issues of timing, justice, fairness, and mercy; and God actually responds back with some answers! Indeed, in our first segment, we will learn from both Habakkuk’s questions and God’s answers and discover some truths about godly people, God, and the pain that all of us feel from time to time.

Rest Despite Culture

July 29, 2018 • David Cotner

Today we land the plane on our current mini-series, “Rest Despite Culture”, by looking at the topic of “Feelings.” Indeed, sometimes our feelings can be so intense that they drive us to action, but should they? In today’s segment, we will dive into the world of Psalm 31 and discover what David did with his intense feelings. In the end, we will all be motivated to funnel our feelings through our knowledge of God and our belief in God to the point that we can trust God, love God, and stay strong in God!

Rest Despite Culture

July 22, 2018 • David Cotner

As we continue with our current mini-series, “Rest Despite Culture”, we come now to the issues surrounding the LGBTQ Community. Indeed, issues in this community are difficult to process and think through, but God’s Word gives to us some clear direction. Join us as we discuss how to approach both the issues of this community as well as the persons inside this community. As we do, you’ll be encouraged to think and act relationally, biblically, and holistically.

Rest Despite Culture

July 15, 2018 • David Cotner

In today’s sermon, we will carry on in our current mini-series by examining the issue of race. Yes, despite the difficulties and division that currently surrounds this issue, God gives to us true hope. Indeed, God is calling us, as the Church of God, to stand up and speak up on issues of race. Scary? Most definitely. But join us as we examine the Scriptures and see race through the lens of our redemptive past and glorious future. As we do, we will walk inspired to engage our culture on issues of race with confidence and hope.

1
2
3