The Great Equalizer – February 12, 2012

“The Great Equalizer”Text: Mark 1:40-45Pastor Jon explores a couple of texts related to leprosy.  We are reminded that God has the power to cleanse lepers… and to forgive us of our sins.  The great equalizer is neither leprosy nor cancer, but the sin that so easy entangles us.

The Good News of Repentance – January 22, 2012

“The Good News of Repentance”Text: Mark 1:14-40Repent.  It’s an important word in Christianity… but it’s a word that carries an awful lot of baggage… both inside and outside the Church.  Pastor Jon attempts to get through the some of baggage, exploring how we might see the call to repentance as a call full of hope…

Seeking the God who Sees – January 15, 2012

“Seeking the God who Sees”Text: John 1:43-51Hagar.  Samuel.  Nathaniel.  We are reminded that we are seeking the God who sees–the God who sought us before we knew enough to seek after Him.  The God who saw Hagar by the spring in the desert is the same God who called out to Samuel in the middle…

New Years: What are you Waiting For? – January 1, 2012

“New Years: What are you Waiting For?”Text: Luke 2:22-38Pastor Jon concludes our Advent and Christmas series with a look at the accounts of Anna and Simeon. After considering their patient faithfulness, we are invited to consider the ways in which others have demonstrated those qualities to us, and the ways we can be a Simeon…

Advent (#4): The Promise Draws Near – December 18, 2011

“Advent (#4): The Promise Draws Near”Text: Luke 1:5-25, 57-79Imagine… if you could only speak one sentence, once a year!  Talk about choosing your words wisely!? How would you choose what to say, if you could only speak one sentence, once a year?  How would you economize your words?  What priorities would drive your communication?  What would…

Advent (#3): Fixing our Eyes – December 11, 2011

“Advent (#3): Fixing our Eyes – December 11, 2011”Text: Hebrews 11:1-2, 32-40; 12:1-3It seems that the great stories in the Bible are the ones where God intervenes—where new life is brought forth out of barrenness… where the blind see… the deaf hear… the mute shout… and the lame leap for joy. But what happens when…

Advent (#2): In the Meantime – December 4, 2011

“Advent (#2): In the Meantime – December 4, 2011”Text:  Genesis 29-30As we look at the story of Jacob being tricked by his uncle, we learn about waiting.  One of our Advent lessons today is that we wait like Jacob waited… we live out our lives—working for the Kingdom of God… because of our love for…

Advent (#1): Waiting for the Promise – November 27, 2011

“Advent (#1): Waiting for the Promise”Text: Genesis 11-21This Advent season, Pastor Jon tells stories about people who had to wait.  As we hear these stories, we identify with them, because each of us is waiting for God to break in upon our circumstances, to heal our brokenness, and to fully redeem our lives. We look…

Paul (#16): Finishing the Race – November 20, 2011

“Paul (#16): Finishing the Race”Text: Acts 27-28Pastor Jon concludes our 16-week study on Paul’s life by looking at his final journey to Rome.  Even though Luke doesn’t give us the details of the end of Paul’s life, we can infer that he finished well.  Preaching and writing while in prison, Paul made the most of…