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

Love Never Fails

Text: Various
Pastor Kairis Chiaji
Pastor Kairis explains how the love of God can sustain us through challenging trials and transform our response to injustice to be like Christ's. Kairis included two video clips: Facebook: https://fb.watch/v1AtG9HAwA/?mibextid=0NULKw&fs=e&s=TIeQ9V YouTube: https://youtu.be/ULMos-e7Qt8
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

Praying for People

Text: James 5
Pastor Emeritus Mike Swagerty
In his sermon, Pastor Emeritus Mike Swagerty shows how we share the love of God and in each others lives when we pray for one another. Prayer brings us together as a family.
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 22, 2024

Out of Breath

Text: Various
Pastor Kairis Chiaji
The breath of life is the most essential ingredient of our physical life. Pastor Kairis Chiaji explains how the Holy Spirit given us when we come to Christ likewise grants us spiritual life, opens up our relationship to God and enables us to serve Him with joy.
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

Who Can Tame the Tongue

Text: James 3:1-12
Pastor Mike Smith
Pastor Mike Smith covers what God says about the power of our words ... both for good and for evil. No one can tame the tongue without the help of the Spirit of God. We must seek His assistance at all times.
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 8, 2024

Geezers

Text: II Cor. 4:16 and various others as well
Dan Cook
Dan Cook explains that God is with His children even as they get older and may suffer from failing health. As we walk through life with Him, He wants us to become legacies to the next generation, not only through material means, but also in character and in examples of godly living. We apologize for serious flickering in the video. Hardware issues with our computer's video display will hopefully be resolved next week.
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

September 1, 2024

Fault Lines

Text: Various
Pastor Kairis Chiaji
In her sermon, Pastor Kairis Chiaji explains the fullness of God's forgiveness. While being crucified, Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who where nailing Him to the cross ... even before they repented of their deeds. Our Savior was a model for us in how we should forgive, too.
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

High Challenge, High Support

Text: Various
Pastor Kairis Chiaji
Pastor Kairis Chiaji shares the high challenge and high support we as disciples have to love others.
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

Living Life by Wisdom

Text: Ephesians 5
Pastor Emeritus Mike Swagerty
Pastor Emeritus Mike Swagerty explains God's intention for us to live out our lives serving Him with the wisdom He provides. We obtain that wisdom by simply asking Him, paying attention to His word, heeding the prompting of the Spirit and through fellowship with others in the body of Christ.
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 11, 2024

Together

Text: Ephesians 4
Dan Cook
Dan Cook explores three aspects of Christian living that are important components for the body of Christ to be healthy together.
August 5, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3036 | Having Only A Natural Relationship With A Supernatural God

Distant judge, vending machine, genie in a bottle – these are a few views that we see played out in our interactions with God, both in the Bible and in everyday our lives. In John 6, we see Jesus’ response when people ask God for too little. In these verses, Jesus highlights God’s generous nature and abundant love for us. We have a God who offers us more than we can ask or imagine.

August 4, 2024

All for One

Text: Ephesians 4
Pastor David Houck
Pastor David Houck explores chapter 4 of Paul's letter to the Ephesians and its emphasis on humility and grace as we strive for unity.
July 29, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3035 | King David’s Foil

The word “foil” or literary foil is usually associated with a character in a story that brings out or challenges the protagonist’s character. This is what happened in 2 Samuel when Uriah continues to challenge David’s character, exposing his weaknesses. In the midst of any challenges, God continues to transform us to be more like Christ for our good and his glory.

July 28, 2024

Rooted and Grounded in Love

Text: Ephesians 3:14-21
Pastor Mike Smith
Pastor Mike Smith details Paul's prayer for believers found in the last group of verses in Ephesians 3. This prayer reveals much about God's love for us. When we fully understand the Father through this prayer, it will change our way of viewing God and relating to Him.
July 22, 2024

Speaking Of Life 3034 | Walls of Hostility

Walls can either be a symbol of peace and protection or they can be an image of division. With all the confusion that is happening in our world today, Ephesians 2 shows us that Jesus came to our chaotic world to restore us, even if it means tearing down walls.

July 21, 2024

Made Alive in Christ

Pastor Emeritus Michael Swagerty
Pastor Emeritus Mike Swagerty asks the question, Do we really appreciate our calling in Christ? In this message, he contrasts what we have and what the world around us has. Enjoy this song referenced at the end of the sermon by Tommy Walker. https://youtu.be/FJGJ1PT-wgo?si=WyxFLqAI-CogXDYs
July 14, 2024

In the Heavenly Realms

Text: Ephesians 1
Pastor David Houck
Pastor David Houck explores the blessings shared by God with us through Jesus Christ.