We find ourselves in between the already and not yet. We wait in between what has happened or begun and what will be finished. Jesus has come but we wait for him to come again. We wait in the middle of a pandemic. We wait for God's work to…
Reflections on the birth of Jesus Christ from scripture and song.
The world is longing for peace. According to Scripture, peace is more than just calm and tranquility, but something deeper and richer. So what is it? How do we find it? And what should we do with it? This message was preached by Pastor…
Genesis 3 gives us historical information which helps us understand why the world is the way it is today. After the devil's treachery and humanity's rebellion, the creation was cursed. This curse affects human relationships, spiritual…
We often busy ourselves with decorating, shopping and social gatherings during the Christmas season. But in that bustle we often miss the point. The most place to prepare is our hearts for Christ. How are your Christmas preparations going?
The Christmas story is messy. But within the mess we learn about the character of our God. He doesn't wait till our mess is cleaned up, He steps into our mess to pull us out. This message was preached by Pastor Victor Gluckin at Living…
Scripture calls us to give thanks "in everything." Really?! In times of trial and seasons of challenge, do we have things to be thankful for and take joy in?! Do we have reason to give thanks in 2020? Yes we do, and yes we must! This…
Christian love is more than just a feeling. It is an active love that gives, shares and responds in deeds. These actions are evidence of our own acceptance of God's love and a signal to the world that we are disciples of Jesus Christ.
The church is a family. But, why does it seem so less connected than a healthy biological family? Part of that is because we are all adopted! And in an adoption situation, more effort, patience, and love is required to bring the family…
God's people must look at life through spiritual eyes. God is working something that we can't always see in the circumstances of our world. Ask God to "open your eyes" today.
We grow when we're in community. When we isolate, in body or in heart, we're in the danger zone.
A family is made up of many different personalities and preferences, but that doesn't mean the family isn't united. For Jesus' disciples, the differences abound, but their mutual devotion to Christ brought them together. For the family of…
Jesus didn't come to start a new religion, he came to call people to be a part of God's family. This family model is more than just a community of kindness and fellowship - but a love and loyalty to each other as brothers and sisters. Our…
As the children of Israel say steps away from the promised land, they made the choice to not go where the LORD had promised and was leading them. They exchanged God's promise for their own plans. Before we look at their story and laugh it…
When we look at our circumstances, there are good and bad things happening. Having faith doesn't just mean focusing on the "positive", it's about believing the promise of God about your life. We must make the choice to complain or believe…
Are you a grumbler? There's plenty to grumble and complain about, but do we realize what our grumbling is doing to our souls? The Bible teaches us about how grumbling, though it seems small can have serious consequences in our lives.
Politics, pandemics, schooling, relationships, social media, fake news, and whatever else seems to be the issue of our day is really not the issue of our day. Christians must remember that our battle is a spiritual one. Though we deal with…
We know we're supposed to love each other - but what does it look like to love each other as we navigate disagreements and differences in the church? Four things to remember as we do life together.
"Cancel culture" is the idea that some mistakes or opinions are too difficult for other to overcome. It fosters a mindset that looks to reject and remove rather than one of repentance and restoration. Differences in others can be looked at…
Russell and Joelle Brown share their story of a family living during pandemic, racial turmoil and the storms of life. When their family contracted COVID-19, their trust in focus on God was their hope and comfort. They share their…
Love is the great motivator as a follower of Jesus. It is what motivates us to give our time and heart for others. Sadly, when our heart is feeling weary, our habits can dry up. The key to godly action and lifestyle is a heart that loves…
Being a disciple is about following Jesus. But what does that mean and look like in our day? Looking at how Jesus interacted with people gives us some insight into his mannerism, attitude and posture - both in body and heart. Considering…
Though most people who believe in Jesus today are called "Christians", the earliest followers of Jesus were called "disciples." A disciple is an apprentice, learning from their teacher how to understand and practice their ways. So what…
Do you have people in your corner? In a world that even before the pandemic was growing isolated, having friends who can help bring you to Jesus is a necessary part of life.
If you continue at the pace and direction you are currently on, will you arrive where God wants you to be? What is helping you run with endurance and what is slowing you down?
As we plan to regather and relaunch our in person services, we're looking at what we want to bring along and leave behind from our pandemic lessons. One thing we've all discovered is how the church gathering is important, but secondary to…
The most critical points of space exploration are the launch and re-entry. As we move towards regathering as a church we have a moment to consider how we will relaunch and re-enter the post-pandemic season as disciples and a church. What…
We're in a difficult season where we're no longer in major crisis but we haven't yet reached conclusion. Many are feeling "blah" and tending towards disengagement. We're like kids in the minivan asking "are we there yet?" If you're feeling…
In a time of unrest, confusion and seemingly ever changing news, many of us are asking "what should I do?" If we ask "what does God want me to do" we find that throughout Scripture God called His people to do justice. That's exactly what…
We are living in quite the moment in our world, nation and state. Racial tensions, social unrest, and oh yeah, a global pandemic. Confusion and polarization abounds. How do we respond? What should we do or say? The first step must be to…
Following Jesus doesn't happen on accident. Being his disciple takes practice, discipline and grace. Like a trellis supports the life of a vine, spiritual disciplines help hold up a disciple so that the life of Jesus can flow to and…
The word "terroir" refers to the combination of factors including soil, climate, and sunlight that gives wine grapes their distinctive character. Every disciple out to look at the factors of our lives so we too can be fruitful. God has…
What is the source of life and power to have a fruitful life? Jesus uses a picture of a vine and branches to teach how his disciples must order their lives around him. We cannot produce fruit unless we're connected to him - in practice and…
Jesus' disciples should live fruitful lives. In his most important parable, Jesus teaches us what to look for and respond to as we follow him. What will help us? What will hurt us? What will help us thrive? What will threaten growth?…
What kind of life do you want? The Bible tells us that whatever a person sows, that is what they will reap. Small, daily choices and actions affect the direction of our lives. These are like seeds we "sow" which eventually bring about a…
It's easy to get stuck focusing on the troubles and lose focus on the goodness of God. King David's life on the run and hiding in a cave teaches us that when God is your refuge, you can glorify Him no matter what's happening around you.
King David went from celebrity to cave dweller in a few short chapters. He found himself quarantined in a cave with a crew he didn't choose. Yet during his time in the cave, He learned who he was and what really mattered. We currently lack…
We all go through life navigating its many twists and turns. Some days we seem to have a handle on things, other days we feel upside down. Why is "this" happening? How long will it last? In one way, that's life. But for the disciple of…
An evening of praise, prayer and reflection on the sacrifice of Jesus. Our service includes worship music, prayer and a brief sharing leading into communion. With Passover this year coinciding with our communion service, we consider the…
When Jesus approached his disciples on the stormy sea, he did not immediately calm the waves. In fact, it was the crashing waves that Jesus used to get to his disciples and call them to deeper faith and trust in him. The storm eventually…
The Coronavirus pandemic has been a wake up call for the world - but a wake up call to what end and for how long? Will we soon create a "new normal" that tunes out what God is trying to say to our hearts or will we answer His call?
What should we do while confined at home during the COVID-19 pandemic? The Bible has some answers from a record that shares some similarities to this historical moment. God's people were under siege and they responded in 3 important ways…
A word of encouragement for this season. With our church service canceled because of the Coronavirus, the church of God is not shut down. We have a mighty God who is with us and a very present help in times of trouble. We also have a light…
Jesus was all about connecting with the people around him. In our modern age, we often sacrifice connection for convenience. As followers of Jesus we must fight the cultural current to be connected and yet disconnected at the same time.
Did you know that God loves you before you do things for Him? He loves you even when you're at your best and when you're at your worst. God's love for us is the defining truth that makes us who we are. Will we slow down and accept, believe…
Things in life are moving fast but that doesn't mean we have to. Our world looks at "slow" in a negative way, but could it be that slowing down will allow us to not only walk in step with God but also love others better?
Do you view rest as essential for your relationship with God and discipleship to Jesus? In a world of hurry, tech and entertainment, we do not prioritize sleep, rest and sabbath. Yet, we can't really love God and others well when we aren't…
The world is noisy, busy and in a hurry. God is not like that. God speaks to us in a whisper more often than not, yet we must take the time to be quiet to hear. This takes intentional action and goes counter to everything in the world…
Do you live within your limits? Do you add on to your already full schedule? Are you always on the go? We often think of limits as a bad thing but many of our limitations are gifts from God. The key is to prioritize our lives so that the…
How do you deal with interruptions in life? Jesus was often interrupted and never responded like we tend to do. His life was full yet he was able to be present and welcome interruptions as invitations to join God in His work.
We long for the things Jesus had a part of his life - love, peace, patience - but do we stop and think about the lifestyle he had which fostered those things? As disciples we are called to follow our teacher. Jesus would often spend time…
Being a disciple of Jesus has its own challenges in and of itself, but following Jesus in a world of distraction, busyness, hurry and more as extra challenges to overcome. We often find ourselves busy and missing what really matters. But…
Jesus asks if we only love those who love us. But what about if someone we know and love has doubt? And are we aware of how we might be choosing the splendor of this world rather than God? Jesus asks us to examine our hearts and actions to…