Christmas / Sunday Sermons

Dropping Hints Part 2 – Hope in the Darkness

Have you ever been on a treasure hunt?  A hunt where you follow a string of clues to eventually arrive at the treasure?  In the Old Testament of the Bible God has given us a treasure hunt of sorts.  Throughout the books of the Law, the Poetry and Wisdom books, and of course, the Prophets, God has laid down all kinds of clues, “hints”, of the coming Messiah.  In the book of Matthew, in the New Testament, we see some of these clues highlighted, but the real blessing is going back to the beginning and following the treasure hunt to …

Christmas / Sunday Sermons

Dropping Hints: Key Old Testament Prophecies of Messiah

Evil, pain, and suffering fill the pages of the Old Testament and all of human history.  Evil men commit evil acts that bring death and destruction.  Is there any hope in all that?  Can God bring good from that? Last week we began looking at the roots of the Christmas story and why it was needed.  We looked at the beginning of sin and suffering – how death entered God’s perfect creation.  In this message, we will continue to look stories of the after-effects of sin but also the redemption in them.   We will see the hope God brings not …

From the Pastor's Desk / Sunday Sermons

In the Beginning – The Roots of the Christmas Story

Why Christmas? Why did Jesus come to earth as a baby?  Why did He die on the cross?  To understand the importance of Christmas and why it even exists, we need to go back to the beginning.  Not the beginning where the angel appears to Mary. Not even the account of John the Baptist’s birth being announced, nor the prophecies of Isaiah.  I am talking about going way back, to the very Beginning, to Genesis, to understand why we needed a Christmas. In this first installment of a 6-part Christmas series, it is my desire that we will all grasp …

From the Pastor's Desk / Sunday Sermons

The Praise Solution for Hard Times

What is your natural response to difficult times?  How do react with the going gets tough?  If you are like most of us, your response is not rejoicing!  It is not giving of thanks.  What if I told you, however, that those things are the right response? Now some of you might be thinking of the Bible’s teaching from James 1 where it says “my brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different trials, knowing that the testing of your faith works patience”.  That verse is true, but it might lack the depth of explanation you are looking …

From the Pastor's Desk / Fun Stuff / Sunday Sermons

Shoebox Sunday!

Today is a special day!  Each year we fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and have a special Sunday where we pray for them and send them off.  We expect to have over 100 boxes to pray over this year!  The service is both a celebration and a time of prayer. We pray and ask God to guide the boxes to just the right places, connecting the right box with the right child.  We pray for God to already be working in the hearts of these children so that they will not only enjoy this physical expression of God’s love, …

From the Pastor's Desk / Political vs. Biblical / Sunday Sermons

Is it Political or Is it Biblical? Part 4

This final message in the series will complete our look at 5 key topics of our time.  We have been looking at what God says about the Economy, Immigration, Law and Order, and Sexual Issues, now we will look at the topic of Abortion.  Following a brief survey of God’s teaching on that critical topic, we will finish up by talking about hopes and ambitions.  Where does our hope really lie – in a perfect government?  In converting the country to our way of thinking?  Where is our confidence and what are our dreams?  What should we be seeking as …

From the Pastor's Desk / Political vs. Biblical / Sunday Sermons

Is it Political or is it Biblical? Part 3

According to a recent poll, 30% of the population believes that Christians should be silent on the issues of politics.  While 61% disagree with this sentiment, it has still led many to choose to be silent for fear of being censured.  It has also led many pastors to shy away from topics that are anything close to being labeled “political”.  Sadly, the result is that many Christians are now illiterate on crucial biblical topics because they have been stamped with the label “political”. This is the third message in a series meant to address this problem by asking the question …

From the Pastor's Desk / Political vs. Biblical / Sunday Sermons

Is it Political or is it Biblical? Part 2

If you listen, watch, or read just about any daily news report, it is obvious there is much division in our world.  The ever-present political ads that election season brings highlights this division.  Is there a wrong or right in all of this?  Are the issues that divide us simply preference issues?  Are they philosophical issues?  Is there a clear wrong or right in any of them? These are the very questions I want to address in this message, part 2 of “Is it Political or is it Biblical?”  Some would say the problem is the division and that we …

Sunday Sermons

Guest Speaker Tim Madiera

We are glad to have Tim Madiera with us this week and he will be preaching from Ephesians chapter 4.  Tim has been serving as General Manager of WRGN Christian radio for 11 years but has worked at the station since its founding 38 years ago, starting as a volunteer at the age of 18 while still in college. He also spent many years serving in youth ministry at his father’s church in Dallas, Pennsylvania. He has the privilege of having his wife work with him at the radio station, where they met in 1989. Tim and Heather have three …

From the Pastor's Desk / Political vs. Biblical / Sunday Sermons

Is it Political or Biblical?

When I went to college in the 90’s, dialogue between two opposing sides was very much encouraged.  It was encouraged in private colleges and in public ones, by liberals and conservatives.  It was generally agreed on as a hallmark of a democratic free society and necessary for higher, critical thinking. Unfortunately, things have changed.  Cancel culture has made everyone afraid to politely disagree and discuss any topic that is even slightly divisive.  No longer are you just afraid of getting mocked or receiving a snarky remark, you are in danger of being censured, cancelled, or worse. This has led to …