Testimony Sunday
Testimony SundayPs.23|Ps.24
Hear how God has been working in and through His people this last year. A closing word and prayer from Psalm 23 and 24.
God Is With Us
Advent: Turn Your Eyes Upon JesusMatt.1.1-Matt.1.23
One of the greatest expressions of love is just being with someone. As human history moves alongs twists and turns, a great question has been "is God still with us?" Generation after generation He has answered that question in a variety of…
Joy In Uncertain Times
Advent: Turn Your Eyes Upon JesusJohn.15.1-John.15.11
Jesus teaches that we can be joyful even when life tells us we can't be. John 15 tells of a time when there would have been much uncertainty in the hearts of his disciples - yet he tells them they can still have joy. John 15 teaches us…
Why We Lack Peace
Advent: Turn Your Eyes Upon JesusPs.32.1-Ps.32.7|Luke.5.1-Luke.5.11
Jesus promises peace for his followers, but yet we often find ourselves lacking peace. While there are a number of reasons why this might be true, our lack of obedience to Jesus is a major threat to our peace. Rather than run away from the…
Self-Pity
Advent: Turn Your Eyes Upon JesusAdvent: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Jesus is a good teacher and lord in that he prepares his disciples ahead of time for navigating life in this evil age. He gives wisdom, warning and guidance so that we can be prepared and not be taken out by the troubles that come…
Psalm 34
Psalm 341Sam.20.10-1Sam.22.2|Ps.34
Even when life is hard, God is good. God is great and powerful and near and kind. David's life models how a man focused on the LORD can endure seasons of difficulty or disappointment with a song of praise. This message was preached by…
Thanksgiving Focus
Thanksgiving Focus
Gratitude is life changing. Ingratitude is life changing too. When the goodness of God, mercy of Christ and coming Kingdom are our focus, we are motivated to be the people God wants us to be. We have a lot to be thankful for...will we be?
Vision Series (Part 6): Kingdom
Vision Series1Cor.6.1-1Cor.6.3|1Thess.4.13-1Thess.5.11|1Cor.15.51-1Cor.15.58|Rev.19-Rev.22|Mark.1.14-Mark.1.15
A core value of the Christian faith is the belief in the return of Jesus Christ as King of kings. This truth of the coming kingdom of God isn't just a hope for the future, it is a reality that impacts and shapes God's people today. It is…
Vision Series (Part 5): The Bible
Vision Series2Tim.3.1-2Tim.3.15|2Tim.2.10-2Tim.2.17|2Tim.4.1-2Tim.4.5
The Bible is one of the main ways we hear from God and it ought to saturate our lives and thoughts. As a church, we want the Bible to be central. We want to read, hear, love and obey the Bible. Part 5 of our 2023 Vision Series This message…
Vision Series (Part 4): Serve
Vision SeriesJohn.13.3-John.13.17|John.13.34-John.13.35|Eph.4.1-Eph.4.12|Mark.10.42-Mark.10.45
Ministry work is not for a few specially gifted pastors and teachers - God's vision for his family is that all of his people are ministers, serving their neighbors and serving each other - all to share the gospel. Each member of God's…
Vision Series (Part 3): Family
Vision SeriesMark.3.31-Mark.3.35|Acts.2.41-Acts.2.47|1John.3.11-1John.3.17|Col.3.12-Col.3.17|Mark.3.13-Mark.3.19
God's design for church is to be a new and loving spiritual family, uniting as brothers and sisters people from all different backgrounds. It is in this family unit that formation and maturity happens - if we stick it out and stick…
Vision Series (Part 2) Follow Jesus & His Way
Vision SeriesMark.1.14-Mark.1.42|Mark.2.13-Mark.2.17|Mark.3.13-Mark.3.15
Jesus Christ is the foundation and leader of our church. As followers/disciples/apprentices of Jesus, we are called to be with Jesus, become like Jesus and do what Jesus did. We don't want to just "believe in" Jesus but also follow his…
Vision Series (Part 1): Love
Vision Series1John.4.20|Jas.2.19-Jas.2.20|Lev.21.1-Lev.21.6|John.13.34-John.13.35|Luke.10.25-Luke.10.37
The Jesus teaches the story of the good samaritan to illustrate what love looks like. It's easy to know that love is the most important thing, but knowing is not the same as doing. Christ is calling his church to not just believe we should…
More Than Just A Motto
Our church motto is "Love God. Love People" but that's not a just a cute catch phrase - it's the greatest commandment of all. And the call to love God and people is interconnected - for one cannot say they love God and not love people…
Wait On The LORD
Wait On The LORDIsa.40
The LORD is the everlasting God who never grows weak or weary. He knows the number of starts in the universe, grains of sand on the seashore and the hairs on every human head. And He cares about you! A look at the majesty and nearness of…
Do Not Worry
Do Not WorryMatt.6.25-Matt.6.34
The world is filled with things to be anxious and worried about. Is this just the way it goes? Or can something be different for God's children? Jesus commands us not to worry because the worries are not our Lord, he is! Jesus teaches us…
Boiling A Frog (A Lesson In Christian Maturity)
Boiling A Frog (A Lesson In Christian Maturity)Phil.3.12-Phil.3.14|Gen.8.22|1Cor.3.7|1Tim.4.8|Phil.1.6
A key to spiritual maturity is to just stay faithful, trusting that over time even seemingly small changes make a big difference. As we seek God, gradual adjustments bring about powerful change and in the end we look more and more like…
Bring What You Have
Bring What You HaveMatt.14.13-Matt.14.33
Matthew 14 records two amazing stories in the life of Jesus - the feeding of thousands and walking on the water. What do these two stories have in common? They teach us about Jesus and his relationship to his followers. In the big and…
God Is Able! God Will! But Even If He Doesn't...
God Is Able! God Will! But Even If He Doesn't...Dan.3
Christian maturity is moving beyond what God gives you and what you can gain from God to an attitude of giving to God. It's time for us to level up beyond just the "minimum requirements" to a devotion and resolve that lives for God no…
Go With God
Go With God1Sam.14.1-1Sam.14.23
1 Samuel 14 tells the story of the power of a person stirred in their soul to live for God. Surrounded by their enemies, God's people were filled with fear and empty of hope. Yet the courage of one man changed everything. Jonathan made a…
How Are The Children? (Psalm 78)
How Are The Children (Psalm 78)Ps.78.1-Ps.78.8
To know of the welfare of a village, African tribal warriors would ask "how are the children?" It is our responsibility to show and tell of the greatness of God to the next generation that is watching and listening. Each person in God's…
A Prayer For The Blah (Psalm 77)
A Prayer For The Blah (Psalm 77)Ps.77
Have you ever felt numb, detached or "blah"? Do you wonder how you lost your fire or passion for God? Do troubles or worries about life keep you up at night? Psalm 77 models the prayer for these times and the remedy for the times of…
Guard Your Heart
ProverbsProv.4.20-Prov.4.27
The condition of one's heart is going to directly affect one's life. Proverbs 4:20-27 calls us to guard our hearts with all diligence - giving heed to who we're with, where we go and what we do.
Finishing Well
ProverbsProv.4.1-Prov.4.19|2Chr.14-2Chr.16
Proverbs 4 describes a father appealing to his son to hold fast to his instruction and not let go of the right ways of God. The father says that the righteous shine brighter and brighter as they walk on the LORD's path. With this in mind…
Discipline From A Loving Father
ProverbsHeb.12.3-Heb.12.13|Prov.3.11-Prov.3.12
Disciple isn't easy but it's important. God our Father repoves and corrects His children because He loves them. How will we respond to his correction? Turn our ears and hearts away or recognize that turning towards God's loving word, even…
Trust In The LORD With All Of Your Heart
ProverbsProv.3.1-Prov.3.10
Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to "trust in the LORD with all of our hearts and lean not on our own understanding." The LORD knows best and sees beyond what we can see. If we trust the LORD and walk in His ways, even when we don't see the…
Intentional Life
ProverbsProv.2
The spiritual life does not happen on accident. It requires effort and intentionality. Proverbs 2 outlines a parent instructing their child on the requirements and rewards of a godly and intentional life. This message was preached by…
What Are You Waiting For?
ProverbsProv.1.20-Prov.1.33
God's wisdom is calling out to all of us: "Come to me! Turn away from the world! Find life! Walk the good path!" Are we listening? Will we turn to Him? Or are we waiting for another time, a better offer or something else? This message was…
Grace In Wisdom
ProverbsProv.1.1-Prov.1.7
God gives wisdom to those who know they need it to help us navigate life. He's ready and willing to give it to all and any who ask. Do you know you need wisdom and help or are we like the fools who try and go on our own? A help look a…
Repair & Rebuild
The city walls of the ancient world served to protect the people, give boundaries for the city and create identify for the citizens. When a wall was broken those things were threatened. Through the story of Nehemiah's rebuilding effort, we…
Expectations
Pentecost PeopleActs.3|Acts.4
What are your expectations of God working through His Spirit and how do those expectations affect and shape your behavior? This message was preached by Pastor Victor Gluckin at Living Faith Christian Church in Warwick, Rhode Island.
We Want More (Pentecost)
Pentecost PeopleActs.2.37-Acts.2.47|Acts.1.4-Acts.1.8|Acts.2.1-Acts.2.24|Deut.16.16-Deut.16.17|Deut.16.9-Deut.16.12
The feast of Pentecost was the time when God's people gathered to celebrate the beginning of the harvest. Families traveled to Jerusalem with their first fruits to rejoice in what God had begun to do. But Pentecost was a celebration of the…
What's Next
Jesus dies, Jesus is resurrected - but then what? After 40 days with his disciples, he ascends - not just up from the earth out of their sight - but into the heavenly realm where is enthroned as king, seated at right hand of God. The…
May I Have Your Attention Please
Easter PeopleActs.1.1-Acts.1.3|Isa.2|Isa.11|Isa.25|Isa.35
After Jesus' resurrection, he spends 40 days talking about the Kingdom of God. Why? Because that is where his followers' attention should be. The glorious hope of God's coming kingdom keeps us from drifting, getting lost or distracted…
Sinner Saver
Easter PeopleActs.8.1-Acts.8.3|Acts.7.58|Acts.9.1-Acts.9.20|1Tim.1.12-1Tim.1.16
Saul's conversion is a powerful example of the ongoing work of the resurrected Christ. Saul was not seeking Jesus, but Jesus was seeking him. From Saul's conversion story we can find hope for ourselves and those who do not follow Christ…
You'll See It When You Believe It
Easter PeopleJohn.20.18-John.20.28|John.11.1-John.11.16
Doubts and questions are not disqualifiers for disciples of Jesus. Instead, he meets us in our doubts and helps us see and believe. In a world that says "I'll believe it when I see it", Jesus says "you'll see it when you believe it." A…
It's Time To Move On
Easter PeopleJohn.20.1-John.20.16|Mark.15.33-Mark.15.47|Luke.8.1-Luke.8.3
Mary Magdalene wept on Easter Sunday, mourning the loss of her rabbi and rattled by the empty tomb. But she also was wrestling with what the loss of Jesus meant for her personally. It was Jesus who gave her purpose and meaning, freeing her…
It’s Not Time To Move On
Easter PeopleJohn.21.1-John.21.17|John.18.15-John.18.18|1Cor.15.1-1Cor.15.5
The resurrection of Jesus is not the end of the story, it's just the beginning. When Jesus was raised from the dead, everything changed. We shouldn't just consider these truths on Easter and move on to the next thing but linger and…
Walking With Jesus
Know GodLuke.24.1-Luke.24.36|John.12.20-John.12.21
Two disciples walk away from the cross, away from the empty tomb, and away from Jesus. But though may have given up on Jesus, Jesus hadn't given up on them. As we journey with these disciples, we will discover that our eyes can be opened…
Pressing In
Know GodHeb.5.7-Heb.5.8|Mark.14.22-Mark.14.26|Mark.14.32-Mark.14.42
Sometimes we pray and God does a miracle. Sometimes we pray and we wait. Sometimes we pray and things don't go the way we hoped they would. Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane demonstrates how to pray when times are hard. When we are…
Turning Tables
Know GodMatt.21.10-Matt.21.14|John.2.13-John.2.17|Jer.7.1-Jer.7.11
In Jesus' most provocative act, he turns over tables in the temple and drives out those selling in the courtyard. Jesus' zeal for his Father's house inspired this act of removing anything standing in the way of people pursuing God. God's…
Thirsty & Hungry
Know GodJohn.7.37-John.7.53|Isa.55.1-Isa.55.9
Oh to have a passion and desire God that is comparable to a deep hunger for food or thirst for water. This kind of longing is deep and affects your whole life - like being "hangry" when your body needs food. God offers us something that…
Childlike Maturity
Know GodLuke.18.9-Luke.18.17|Matt.18.1-Matt.18.4|Ps.13|1Pet.5.5-1Pet.5.7
Honesty is an important part of our relationship with God. As loved children of God, we can come to our Father with our real and raw hearts. Christian maturity is not appearing to have it all together on the outside but actually about…
Decisive Point
Know GodJudg.6.1-Judg.6.16|Deut.20.1-Deut.20.4|Luke.3.13-Luke.4.11
The devil wants to attack and severe the truth that God loves us and we are his children. Knowing that our identity is a critical point in the spiritual battle, we out to be on guard against the things that might target our belief in God's…
Struggle
Know GodEph.6.10-Eph.6.18
The Christian life is a struggle. We are in a battle against evil spiritual forces. We cannot sit idly by as the devil tries to encroach upon the places God has given us to have authority over. In God's strength, we can stand firm and…
Pray At All Times And Do Not Lose Heart
Know GodLuke.18.1-Luke.18.8
Persistence in prayer is key and challenging at the same time. To teach how important it is for his followers to continue to pray at all times and not lost heart, Jesus teaches a parable about a widow and an unjust judge. This parable…
Asking Our Father
Know GodRom.8.28-Rom.8.32|Matt.7.7-Matt.7.11|Luke.11.5-Luke.11.13|John.16.23-John.16.24|Rom.8.14-Rom.8.17
Jesus taught us to ask, seek and knock as expressions of our prayers to God. Asking is at the core of prayer and the the depths of our asking indicates the depth of our relationship. In our relationship with God, we are children coming to…
Praying The Promises
God speaks through the Bible and we speak to God through prayer. Uniting these two together is where relationship with God floriouishs. Saturating our prayers in Scripture and the promises of God is how we pray boldly and align with God's…
Intentional & Spontaneous
Good relationships are both intentional and spontaneous. Friends and family have habitual and planned time together and also random and impromptu interactions as well. Our relationship with God is the same. Jesus models a life that is…
A Guide Is Better Than Guidance
Know GodExod.13.17-Exod.13.22|Exod.32.1-Exod.32.6|Exod.33.1-Exod.33.17
We all like to have step by step directions as we travel by car - it allows us to know what is next and where to travel to arrive at our destination. Maps can tell us the route, but not necessarily the right or best route. As we travel in…
The Tree Of The LORD
Ps.1.1-Ps.1.3
Psalm 1 describes the the life of a blessed person and speaks of their life like a growing and fruitful tree. A person becomes like this tree by rejecting wordiness and sin and meditating on and delighting in the LORD. A simple picture of…
Small Steps Towards A Big God
As a new year begins we might be discouraged by unfulfilled goals and not even want to start something new. Maybe you find yourself far from where you want or hope to be. But today is a new day and even small steps in God's direction are…
New Year Praises. New Year Prayers
Hear some of the ways God worked in the last year through testimonies from our church family. The sharing time ends with Pastor Victor sharing a prayer and longing for the new year.