April 13, 2025
Series: Confirmation, Dead and Buried, Palm Sunday
Speaker: Confirmation Class, Pastor James Enderle
Topic: Arrive, Buried, Confirmation, Cross, Daily, Dead, Exalted, Focused, forgiveness, Go, Here, hope, Humble, Identity, Jesus, Love, Other, Peace, Perfect, Prideful, Purpose, Redeem, Relationships, Seizure, Self-Centered, Servant, Serving, sin, Sin-Bearer, Sky, Struggle, Substitute, Surrender, Truth, Why
As we begin Holy Week, we see Jesus bury humanity’s endless attempts at seizing power. In our world, power dynamics are almost always in play. Those who don’t have power want it, often more than anything else. Those who have power are willing to do anything to keep it. In contrast, Jesus–who possesses all power as the Son of God–willingly surrendered His power and placed Himself in the hands of His enemies. Why? What He wanted more than anything else was not power, but you.
So, Jesus begins this Holy Week riding into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, knowing full well that He was riding to the cross. He would surrender Himself to the punishment that our sins deserved, so that through Spirit-wrought faith we might seize the glory and heaven that only He deserves.
April 13, 2025
Series: Dead and Buried, Palm Sunday
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
As we begin Holy Week, we see Jesus bury humanity’s endless attempts at seizing power. In our world, power dynamics are almost always in play. Those who don’t have power want it, often more than anything else. Those who have power are willing to do anything to keep it. In contrast, Jesus–who possesses all power as the Son of God–willingly surrendered His power and placed Himself in the hands of His enemies. Why? What He wanted more than anything else was not power, but you.
So, Jesus begins this Holy Week riding into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, knowing full well that He was riding to the cross. He would surrender Himself to the punishment that our sins deserved, so that through Spirit-wrought faith we might seize the glory and heaven that only He deserves.
December 24, 2024
Series: Candlelight Worship, Christmas, The Gift of God
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
God Gives Heaven’s Best Gift in Earth’s Unlikeliest Place
December 1, 2024
Series: A Real Christmas..., Advent
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
Advent marks the start of a new Church Year. We begin at the end, watching Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, knowing full well that He would be killed before the end of the week. The events of Palm Sunday serve as a microcosm for all Jesus’ work, proving the Son of God was willing to humble himself and endure anything for our salvation. That is precisely why Christ came. And a real Christmas requires remembering why Christ came.
September 22, 2024
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
Humility and pride are polar opposites. Pride exalts self at the expense of God and others. Humility exalts God and others at the expense of self. Pride is the essential vice, for it increases one’s hunger for all other sins. Humility increases one’s hunger for the forgiveness and healing found in Christ. The one who is proud demands to be served. The one who is humble is not content unless serving others. St. Augustine described it this way: “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”
As we see all Christ did to serve us, our hearts melt. Within us grows a Christ-like obsession to serve others, without counting the cost, without any desire to be repaid. Those who are in positions of Christian leadership understand that their leadership can only be achieved through service. For followers of Christ are humble servants.
February 21, 2024
Series: God on Trial, Lenten Midweek
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
Topic: Accusations, compassion, Enemy, forgiveness, Humble, Love, Restraint
We live in an emotionally charged, partisan world. It is important to remember that those against us, like Malchus, are fellow sinners with names and souls, themselves being led astray. There’s no need to attack. If Jesus is in control, as He clearly demonstrates, we can show restraint, even love, just as He did, without sacrificing what matters most.
February 4, 2024
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
Topic: Alert, Alone, Care, Devil, Enemy, Grace, Humble, Protection, Self-Controlled
Martin Luther once said, “Where God built a church, there the devil would also build a chapel.” Satan and the other demons hate God. They demonstrate hatred by hurting those that God loves in any way they can. The epiphany Christ wants us to have is this: demons are real, they are plenteous, and they are dangerous. But Christ would also have us see that He is continually undoing the devil’s work. More, through his Word, Christ Jesus gives us the power to resist the devil and stand firm in the faith.
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
“I bring you good news of great joy…. A Savior has been born.” Think of what the angel’s statement means. If you believe you are basically a decent person—not perfect, but good enough—you can still enjoy the carols and appreciate the pretty lights. You can still relish giving presents and gathering with family. But you will not have “great joy” this Christmas. For the angel said that the “good news of great joy” was the fact that “a Savior has been born.” One cannot truly celebrate Christmas unless one believes he needs salvation.
March 22, 2023
Series: "Acceptable Sins", Lenten Midweek
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
Topic: Christ-Centered, Humble, Myself, Others, Self-Centered
Selfishness shown… – __________ ________________ – in __________ ______________ Not _________-_________________ but __________-_________________ Remember to… read more