“His Eye is on the Sparrow” Texts: Romans 4:1-17; Luke 12:6-7; I Kings 18:16-45; Psalm 121 Just as winter gives way to spring, God breaks in upon our sorrow and sadness with joy, darkness gives way to light, and death submits to life. Psalm 121 reminds us that God is watching over us and cares…
“Where Do You Hide?” Text: Psalm 32 Humans have been good at hiding since the beginning of time. Like Adam and Eve, King David, and the prophet Jonah, we tend to hide from our problems and from those we have wronged. David offers us the solution to our guilt in Psalm 32, by suggesting that…
“Laodicea: Stop Kidding Yourself” Text: Revelation 3:14-22 After summarizing the lessons from the past six weeks, Pastor Jon concludes our study on the letters to the Seven Churches of Revelation with a look at the letter to the church in Laodicea. By properly understanding the drinking water situation in Laodicea, and by looking that the…
“Philadelphia: Through Open Doors” Text: Revelation 3:7-13 Pastor Jon continues our study on the letters to the Seven Churches of Revelation with a look at the letter to the believers in Philadelphia. While Jesus knows that they are a church with “little strength,” He places an open door in front of them that nobody can…
“Sardis: The Importance of Keeping Watch” Text: Revelation 3:1-6 Pastor Ken Wish looks at the historical backdrop of the city of Sardis to shed some light on the call of Christ for them to awake from their lethargy. The modern-day healthy church must remain alert and focus on their purpose of rescuing the lost.
“Thyatira: When Salt Loses Its Saltiness” Texts: Revelation 2:18-29 Pastor Ken Wish helps the modern-day church negotiate the waters of tolerance and plurality that are so prevalent in our culture today. Jesus reminds the believers in Thyatira to hold fast to the truth, not compromising their faith in the face of teachings of tolerance and…
“Pergamum: Accept No Counterfeits” Texts: Revelation 2:12-17, I Corinthians 13, Numbers 22-25:3 & 31:16, Hebrews 4:12-13 Pastor Jon Twitchell continues our journey through the Seven Churches of Revelation with a look at the cultural and religious practices in Pergamum. By looking at the cults of Demeter, Dionysus, and Aesculapius, we can better understand the cryptic…
“Smyrna: Hold Fast to Your Faith” Texts: Revelation 2:8-11 Pastor Ken Wish continues this seven week series on church health based on the letters to the seven churches of Revelation. By looking at the letter to the believers in Smyrna we find encouragement to hold fast despite persecution or tribulation.
“Ephesus: Remember Your First Love” Texts: Revelation 1; Revelation 2:1-7 Pastor Jon begins a seven week series on church health based on the letters to the seven churches of Revelation. During this first week of the series, he looks at the letter to the believers in Ephesus and explores what it may have meant that…
“Never Alone” Texts: John 1:1-14; Hebrews 1:1-8; Matthew 1:23 While Christmas is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year,” for many it is truly the loneliest. Author Taylor Caldwell writes that the meaning of Christmas is that “we are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world…