Deceptive Appearences - Ezra 4

As often happens in life, what begins with good intentions and great expectations gets bogged down in the messiness of life. God’s people begin biblical worship anew in Jerusalem with joy and weeping, but as progress is made, opposition comes. In Ezra 4, inhabitants in the land offer their help to build and worship with Israel, but are met with a quick rebuff by Zerubbabel. Appearances of aid are deceptive, as the offer to help quickly morphs into fierce opposition that lasts fifty years. We too, live in a world where we must discern between inclusion and opposition. 

Read Online: Ezra 4

Ezra 3 Worship Priorities

   Today, we discuss how God’s people make their trek from Babylonia to Jerusalem in 538BC, returning home from generations of captivity, they express an important priority in their life by their actions. Soon after arriving, they set the altar in its place and began the worship as God had prescribed through Moses. Ezra 3 sets before us the importance of priorities in life, not just in how worship is prescribed, but our perspective in worship as well.



Read Online: Ezra 3:1-13

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Ezra 1 - When God Brings Us Home

We begin a journey out of Captivity back into the Promised Land wherein we have the privilege to worship our God who keeps His promise. We are launching an eight week study of Ezra, the story of the small remnant of Judah who returned to Jerusalem in 538 BC to reestablish the Temple. While centuries and culture may separate us, we are joined with our ancestors in the faith with the high calling to worship our redeeming God in the midst of a confusing world.



Read Online: Ezra 1

Psalm 2 "The song of the Anointed"

In this message – This morning we are taking a week to look at Psalm 2. This Psalm is one of the most frequently quoted in the NT and shows the picture of the rule and reign of the Messiah who was to come from the family of King David. We will see how God’s Anointed King will be ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.  He will rule over all nations and in the end will be the one before whom all others will bow and in whom we can take our refuge!

Read Online: Psalm 2

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Zephaniah 3:14-20

Today in Worship – This morning we look at Zephaniah 3:14-20.  Judgment is not something that we love talking about because we don’t like being judged.  Judgment brings all of our faults before us and often creates in us a sense of shame.  How can one even stand under the judgement of God?  Zephaniah describes the Christian’s approach to the Day of the Lord as one not to be marked by shame but rejoicing, not fear but confidence, and ultimately to be hidden in Christ.

Read Online: Zephaniah 3:14-20

The Cross of Christmas Galatians 4:4-7

Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Our text is Galatians 4:4-7, which ushers us into a story, a true story, of the history of God’s redemptive plans culminating with the birth of Christ, but not stopping there.  Christmas is Christ’s first step to the cross.   We can’t separate them from each other.  At the heart of the Gospel is an adoption.  One pays the cost that the adopted could never pay, but in so doing the adopted is welcomed into a new family with full rights as heirs.  This is the family of God and our identity is radically shaped through Christ’s birth, born of a woman, born under the law, and his purpose, to redeem those under the law, that we might have adoption as sons. 

Read Online: Galatians 4:4-7

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Longing For Light - 1 John 1:5-10

This morning our service, and especially the preached word, will be centered on what it means to embrace Christ as the Light who broke into our darkness. This is a central theme of the Advent season. In our passage in 1 John 1:5-10 we will be learning more what it means to have fellowship with a God who is light and in turn to live in the light as those united to Christ and cleansed by His blood!

Read Online: 1 John 1:5-10

"Longing For Joy" Habakkuk 3:17-19

Today in Worship – This morning we remain in the season of Advent.  Advent calls the church and her people into a season of waiting with the purpose of developing within us an acute recognition of God’s purposes and work in this world, specifically sending His Son, Jesus Christ into the world, the Incarnate Word made flesh.  But we also look forward to what is to come, the return of Christ, the renewal of all things.  This morning we focus on Joy, as we look at Habakkuk 3:17-19.  Joy is not simply an emotion, but an inner, settled, confident rest in God that doesn’t allow circumstances to rob or increase my experience of it.  Joy is praising God in all of life, regardless of circumstance, regardless of situation, regardless. 

Read Online: Hab.3:17-19

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"Do you want peace forever ? Then be willing to lose it now. " Matthew 10:34-39

Today in Worship – This morning we begin the season of Advent.  Advent calls the church and her people into a season of waiting with the purpose of developing within us an acute recognition of God’s purposes and work in this world, specifically sending His Son, Jesus Christ into the world, the Incarnate Word made flesh.  But we also look forward to what is to come, the return of Christ, the renewal of all things.  This morning we focus on Peace as we look at Matthew 10:34-39.  Earthly peace can be elusive but eternal peace is ours already in Christ and will be fully enjoyed when all things are made new. 

Read Online: Matt.10:34-39


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Living as Hopeful Exiles 1 Peter 5:5-14

We conclude our Fall sermon series in 1^st Peter looking at the final verses 1 Peter 5:5-14.  Peter brings the book to a conclusion by tying together God’s care for his people, the battle with sin, and the restoration and renewal of Christ in that he will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish us.  For those scattered in the Dispersion, and even for us today, leaning on the promises of God and resting in the peace of Christ is crucial for living well. 

Read Online: 1 Peter 5: 5-14

Living as Exiles: Shepherds and Sheep 1 Peter 5:1-5

In this message - We continue in our series in 1^st Peter looking at Chapter 5:1-5. Peter is continuing his final words to the elect exiles now as he hones in on the leadership of church.  The church's leadership, the elders/shepherds, is to be a radically counter-cultural position and to expend themselves quite different compared to the leaders around them.  The Elders have a call to shepherd as examples to the flock and the church is to be subject to the elders, clothing themselves in humility.  Living in light of 1 Peter 5:1-5 allows the church to be a refuge for the needy, sick, and lost while also advancing the mission of the gospel..]



Read Online: 1 Peter 5:1-5
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Living as Exiles: Suffering as a Christian - 1 Peter 4:12-19

We continue in our series in 1st Peter looking at Chapter 4:12-19. Peter begins his final words to the elect exiles here as he looks at suffering. Being a minority voice, an exile will most certainly mean suffering. Peter lays out a brief theology of suffering in these 8 verses speaking to the meaning of suffering, the response in suffering, the reason for suffering and finally how to withstand suffering. To suffer well one must be fully convinced both intellectually and relation-ally that of God’s character and his goodness.



Read Online: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Watch Online: Living as Exiles