“Why We Worship: Gifts of Praise & Prayer”Text: 1 Chronicles 16:23-34Worship is the practice of drawing near to God. Today, we begin a short series called “Why We Worship,” where we talk about who we are at the Cape Elizabeth Church of the Nazarene and why we worship the way we do. Everything in worship…
“Breaking New Ground”Text: Isaiah 43:14-21Today, the church held its Annual Meeting, where we celebrated what God has done in our midst during the past year. Pastor Tim read for us encouraging words from the prophet Isaiah, saying that God’s promises for His people are promises for us too. When God says that He will make…
“Still Breathing Life into Dust: Sabbath Work”Text: Mark 2:23-28We continue our study of the second chapter of Mark by seeing how Jesus responds to the Pharisees questioning what they perceive to be His disciples breaking the sabbath rules. Jesus refers to an Old Testament story where David, acting on authority given to him, was able…
Still Breathing Life into Dust: Imperfect FollowersText: Mark 2:13-17Today we look at a story about those whose lives are not fully shaped the way we fully expect after an encounter with Jesus. Levi is a tax collector who began to follow Jesus, however he still has ties to his previous life, spending time and eating…
“Still Breathing Life into Dust: Forgiven”Text: Mark 2:1-12Today, we mark the first Sunday in Lent by beginning a new sermon series called “Still Breathing Life into Dust,” recognizing that God’s work did not stop when He breathed life into Adam. Even when we are still marked by the ashen moments in our lives, God is…
“Where the Kingdom Draws Near”Text: Mark 1:29-45In today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark, Jesus starts proclaiming “the Good News” but we usually think of the Good News as His death and resurrection or heavenly promises, so what is it? Jesus states that “the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has drawn near.”…
“Answering the Call”Text: Mark 1:12-20Today, we hear Mark’s account of the calling of Jesus’ first disciples. His promise to the fishermen that they would become “fishers of people” is not a promise made only to them – it is a calling for all of us who follow Jesus and the vocations we find ourselves in.…
“Finding Purpose in the Cycles of Life”Text: Eccesiastes 3:1-13We end 2023 by studying a passage from the book of Ecclesiastes. These words remind us that there are various seasons in our lives – some of them very joyous, and some of them very hard. Yet, God gives direction in the midst of all the seasons…
Joy of Every Longing Heart: “Joy”Text: Psalm 126Songs are often used to mark a specific event or recall a particular past time or season. Psalm 126 is one of the Psalms of Ascent that were sung by worshippers from memory during harvestime when making the journey to Jerusalem for annual feasts. It is a joyous…
Joy of Every Longing Heart: “Light”Text: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19We begin the season of Advent and the new church year by hearing messages from the book of Psalms. Psalm 80 is a lament filled with grief, anger, sadness, and despair, with those feelings directed at God. Despite this, it also affirms that God is trustworthy, loving,…