November 4, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3049 | The Jesus Subtext

Jesus was surrounded by his adversaries waiting for him to make a mistake when one of the scribes asked him a question to challenge his authority. Jesus’ response of love and invitation, reveals his heart for us

November 3, 2024

How Much More

Text: Hebrews 9:11-14
Pastor Steve Schantz
Today, our focus is only on four verses. Even so, this short snippet of Hebrews can serve to remind us, as the author intends, of the greatness and far surpassing sufficiency of Jesus and his work accomplished on our behalf. This section alludes to a lot of details that were covered in the ten verses leading up to it. Chapter 9 begins by revisiting the first covenant and the many regulations contained in it with special attention to the tabernacle and high priest. An important aspect of these regulations is that they were intended for worship. This is a critical filter to consider when looking back through Israel’s history. From the start, God intended to enter into a relationship with Israel. This relationship would be characterized by worship. Is my relationship with Jesus first and foremost characterized by Worship? Israel was to know this God who had called them to himself, and in that knowing, they would respond in worship, which is the only fitting response to a God who is worthy of worship. However, this worship would have to be a mediated worship on account of their sin and guilty conscience. One difference between our worship and theirs is that we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, whereas they only experience the influence of the Spirit, and not as an abiding presence.
October 28, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3048 | Refuge in the Storm

Being caught in the middle of a terrible storm is one unimaginable experience that you hope not to endure. The unavoidable devastation can leave you helpless. The Psalmist reminds us that Jesus brings peace to our chaotic storms in life. And even after the storm, he is there to guide us, restore us, and surround us with his love.

October 21, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3047 | Upside-Down Selfie with Jesus

Selfies have become the new autograph of the 21st century. Nowadays, we try to be shameless when grabbing a quick selfie with anyone we admire or look up to. The time you spend doing a selfie might only take a second with someone but Jesus invites us into experiencing his loving presence beside us for all eternity. He is always there for us with arms wide open.

October 20, 2024

The God Who Is Sufficient

Text: Exodus 4:1-17, 29-31
Pastor Steve Schantz
Just a brief introduction to get our bearings in the life and calling of Moses. In chapter 3 The LORD grabs Moses’ attention from within a bush that doesn’t burn up. Moses understands what burning wood is. How often during his 40-year wilderness excursion must he have gathered twigs, dried branches and firewood to start or to rekindle a campfire for warmth or cooking while tending his Father-in-law’s flocks at night. Even today, with the wide variety of energy sources available in our modern world, firewood is still in short supply in Israel & Palestine.
October 14, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3046 | The Midas Touch

From buying products that we don’t need online to keeping up with the latest in fashion and technology, consumerism has consumed humanity more than ever. The story of King Midas tells us how material things can easily take our eyes away from what is important. God reminds us in Mark why surrendering everything we have can be a blessing and embracing the truth that Jesus is more than sufficient.

October 7, 2024

Ordinary Time: Hebrews

We turn to the Book of Hebrews during Ordinary Time to celebrate Jesus and discover how he exceeds all our wants and needs, bringing us eternal hope and salvation.

October 6, 2024

You Are Here

Text: Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12
Pastor Steve Schantz
Our sermon text today from Hebrews is like that spot on a mall map that tells us “You Are Here.” Just as the mall map shows us where we are in relationship to our shopping reality, so the book of Hebrews reveals that our starting point is Jesus Christ, where humanity is positioned securely within the divine in relationship and grows into the maturity of Christ. Our sermon text reveals “You Are Here,” explaining how we are included in the loving relationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let’s read it together.
September 30, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3044 | How Enemies Become Friends

United in Christ, we all reflect who God is. Whether it is evident to us or not, each of us is a conduit of grace with the ability to share God’s love and kindness with one another.

September 29, 2024

Everything is Better With God

Text: James 5:13-20
Pastor Steve Schantz
There is a saying from Euripides, “Friendship doubles your joys, and divides your sorrows.” Most of us would agree that life is better when we get to share it with a friend who loves us. Perhaps James had a similar thought in mind when writing what we find in chapter 5, verses 13-20.
September 23, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3043 | An Unlikely Object Lesson

Jesus wholly welcomes us as we are. He accepts the beautiful, messy, and brutal parts of us. He takes it all, heals us, and makes us holy.

September 16, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3042 | Who do You Say I Am?

Our perception of who God is shaping the way we see the world and the way we move in it. It is easy to picture God as the self-serving changer of our circumstances, but the reality of who Jesus isour sacrificial rescuer, transforms not just our environment but the very core of who we are.

September 15, 2024

How Does a Christian Live

Text: James 2:17-27
Pastor Steve Schantz
How Does a Christian Live? James 1:17-27 NIV Whether it’s in the movies, on TV, or in other forms of media, Christians are often portrayed in a negative light. Many times, we are presented as people who are judgmental, narrow minded, and hypocritical. Not all of this criticism is undeserved. Sometimes, someone needs to point out when we are living in error, someone to correct our thinking about how it looks to live as a Christ follower. Enter James, the half-brother of Jesus. Although he was a half-brother of Jesus, he was a “full” disciple. No one could question his commitment to the gospel, as he was also the leader of the church in Jerusalem. As such, he had an urgent message to the Jewish believers who were being spread out due to persecution and famine.
September 9, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3041 | Jesus Interrupted

We’ve all experienced interruptions to our best-laid plans. But what if what we perceive as interruptions are really invitations from God to participate in shining his light and sharing his love with our world? Life does not have to go perfectly for Christ’s perfect love to be the main idea of our stories.

September 2, 2024

Ordinary Time: James

As we continue with Ordinary Time, we remember that our relationships shape our lives, especially our relationship with the Creator of the universe. By drawing close to God through Jesus Christ, we find transformation, wisdom, and guidance to speak with love, care for the marginalized, and reflect Christ’s light in our daily lives.

More about the GCI Worship Calendar here: www.gci.org/articles/the-churchs-worship-calendar

August 26, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3039 | The Songs of Home

Did you have a memorable family trip while you were growing up? If you were to journey those familiar roads, the sights may take you back to a different season of your life and perhaps bring comfort and hope. Church practices of prayers, praise, and communion can be familiar roads for us, pointing our hearts and minds to God’s faithfulness and the hope we have in him.

August 25, 2024

Armor Up and Stand Firm

Text: Ephesians 6:10-20
Pastor Steve Schantz
In our pericope today, we will be looking at the most important and inspiring battle speech contained in the Bible. And no, oddly enough, it is not found in the Old Testament. It was written by the apostle Paul, while being chained to a Roman soldier as he was being closely guarded under house arrest. The letter was transcribed and was to be delivered to and read by the Ephesian church. It was a battle cry that was meant to inspire courage and loyalty to Christ against another enemy, who is also not of this world. Though these words were penned nearly two thousand years ago, it is a timely masterpiece of our faith meant to ready the soldiers of Christ.
August 19, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3038 | The Comfort and Connection of Bread

Research shows that breadmaking offers stress relief and a means of self-expression. When the final product is shared with others, it becomes a way to connect with them, even at a distance. This describes Jesus as our bread of life, the one who sustains, comforts, and connects us with God and one another!

August 18, 2024

Pray Without Ceasing

Text: Colossians 1:9-13
Pastor Steve Schantz
Let us take a closer look at what Paul’s means when he admonishes us to Sermon Title: “Pray Without Ceasing”. Scripture: Colossians 1:9-13 9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
August 12, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3037 | Under the Broom Tree

Broom trees or similar desert shrubs show up at pivotal moments throughout the Old Testament. They usually provide shade and relief in places known for being barren lands and having unrelenting heat. Have you experienced dessert seasons in your life? Take some time to reflect on the ways God has sustained you during these difficult times. Rest in the provision he is casting over your life.

August 4, 2024

Are You Praying Wrong

Text: Ephesians 3:1, 14-21
Dr. Dan Rogers
God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles and Prayer for the Church Ephesians chapter 3 which we're going to look at verses 1, 14-21 it is actually begins one very long rhythmic sentence as is usual and Paul's sentences tend to be very long some are over 200 words that's a long sentence this one we're going to look at today is a short sentence only 86 words and verses 16 through 19 are a prayer which conclude in verse 20 and 21 with a doxology now the book of Ephesians is filled with a trinitarian view of Paul's theology he understands the Triune God and he presents the Triune God in his prayers and in his theology in the book of Ephesians so in a trinitarian pattern he prayer begins with the kneeling before the father followed by a request for strengthening from the spirit and then for the indwelling of Christ the son and then ultimately the experience of the fullness of God now with that bit of background let's now take a look at Ephesians 3:1. Ephesians chapter 3: 1, 14- 21 3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.