Topic: Useful
-
August 3, 2025
Speaker: Pastor David Ruddat
Money. Possessions. Perhaps more than anything else, those things have the power to turn our attention away from what is truly important. It is no surprise, therefore, that Jesus frequently teaches about wealth. Christ wants us to understand that it is our heavenly Father who provides us with those useful resources. But we need to know why our Father gives them: what they are useful for, and what they are not useful for. Those resources cannot give purpose or meaning to our lives on earth. They cannot give us security for life after this earth. However, the blessings God provides can bring some joy to our lives. More importantly, our wealth is extremely useful in our efforts to serve God and others. This week let us give our undivided attention to what Christ says about the useful resources our gracious Father provides to us.
-
February 2, 2025
Series: Epiphany Moments, Sundays after Epiphany
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
Topic: Challenges, Change, Christian, Correct, Encourage, Equal, Equips, Even for this, Faith, Faithful, Forgiven, Free, God's Word, Gospel, Grace, hope, Jesus, Law, Love, Myth, New Testament, Old Testament, Opinions, Patience, Peace, Popular, Popularity, Proof, Rebuke, Remain, Saves, Success, Teach, Truth, Useful, Word
In 2009, Facebook added the “like” button. That same year, Twitter added the “retweet” feature. Interestingly, reported cases of depression began to rise sharply in 2010. It is easy to think that the more people like us, the more successful our lives must be. Likewise, it is easy to believe the more people like a church, the more successful that church is. So here is an important epiphany for both individuals and churches. Popularity is not proof of success.
Though there will be times when Christ’s gospel and those who proclaim it are popular, that popularity is never the goal. Nor does that popularity define success. If a church makes its central focus things like personal improvement, healing for the sick, or social justice, that church may draw a crowd. It just fails to carry out the true agenda Christ has given his Church. The gospel of forgiveness is to be the center of all our preaching and teaching. The agenda for Christ’s Church is set. It’s the same agenda that was followed by the Church’s Christ.
-
Improbable Not Impossible
September 2, 2025 -
Is Faith All You Need?
August 29, 2025