From the Pastor's Desk / Sunday Sermons

Jesus Our Gracious High Priest – Dr. Tim Bertolet

This week we are pleased to have with us Dr. Tim Bertolet with us from ABWE.  He will be sharing with us from Hebrews 4, encouraging us regarding our gracious high priest, Jesus Christ. Tim Bertolet serves at the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) developing strategies for equipping missionaries,  creating missionary training, and coordination of our worldwide theological educators. He served as a pastor for 16 years before going to ABWE. He is passionate about international theological education, pastoral training, and writing material that will help people grow in their faith. Tim also serves as an adjunct professor …

From the Pastor's Desk / Sunday Sermons

Delighting in God’s Design

So much of the turmoil that we experience in life has a single root problem.   The hymnwriter Joseph Scriven wrote in famous hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” these words: “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer!”  He is correct, but that still isn’t the root problem.  The root problem to so many of our issues is that we have a too-small view of God.  Many factors contribute to this; it may be ignorance, it may be disillusionment, it could be a …

From the Pastor's Desk / Sunday Sermons

Communion Sunday

The observance of Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is one of two “ordinances” that God gave the church, the second being baptism.  Anyone with a Protestant or Catholic are familiar with both, though they are often looked at different ways.  In the message today, leading up to our observance, we are going to discuss a specific aspect of what is being pictured through this ordinance, the very one it get’s its name from. The word “Communion” is actually a synonym for fellowship.  It refers to sharing in or participating together in something.  In our study we will see that two …

Revelation / Sunday Sermons

The End of the Story

This week I was at a church building where I had performed a wedding for a young couple 15 years ago.  Tragedy hit that couple about 9 years after that wonderful, happy day, and I thought to myself, “We never know the end of a story, we never know how things turn out.” But then, I corrected myself.  You see, death, which is what we often refer to as the end of the story, is not really the end at all.  We call it the end, because those of us who say goodbye to friends or family when they die, …

Revelation / Sunday Sermons

The New Jerusalem

After all the judgment covered in Revelation 20 and the preceding chapters, we are enjoying a glimpse into heaven and the eternal state for followers of Jesus.  Here in Revelation 21 God reveals a taste of those eternal blessings for those who are followers of Jesus.  It is a trailer for the grand unveiling of the good things He has been preparing for us. This message will focus especially on the capitol city of heaven, the New Jerusalem.  While all our questions don’t get answered, God does give us some pretty amazing details, enough to cause awe and wonder.  Join …

From the Pastor's Desk / Sunday Sermons

He is Risen!

The lynchpin of the Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Join us as we walk through Luke 24 in God’s Word and look at the proofs and reactions to Christ’s resurrection on that very first Easter Sunday.  Consider together what it would be like to have the man you considered to be the savior of the world die.  Struggle together with the disciples to believe the good news of the resurrection, then reflect with them on some of the predictions regarding it that Christ gave throughout the Bible.  Process together with us how Christ’s resurrection not only provides …

Revelation / Sunday Sermons

He Makes All Things New

The final message on Revelation 20 was about judgment and the final purging of all evil from earth.  It was full of bad news for those who have rejected the Gospel, but it paved the way for something better for those who follow Jesus Christ. Here in Revelation 21 God reveals a taste of those eternal blessings for those who are followers of Jesus.  It is a trailer for the grand unveiling of the good things He has been preparing for us.  As you read it, you will catch a glimpse of the excitement He has, anticipating the day He …

Revelation / Sunday Sermons

First Resurrection or Second Death?

Revelation 20 is one of the hardest passages in all of Scripture. Not because it is difficult to understand, but because it is very clear regarding an final judgment that will condemn all those who have not chosen to follow Jesus.  In stark language, free from unnecessary modifiers and detail, the damnation of all unbelievers based on their works is clearly presented. I encourage you to listen to what might be the most important message you will hear, because what happens at the end of Revelation 20 doesn’t have to happen to you. God is showing a different way.  I …

Revelation / Sunday Sermons

The Reign of Christ Part 2

Have you ever imagined what it would be like if all the rulers were just?  If all crime was judged instantly and equitably?  If there was no war, and the land was prosperous?  Today we are going to look at the nature of the Millennial Kingdom foretold in Revelation 20 and we find out it is all those things.  We will be looking at some of the many descriptions of it that is scattered throughout the Scriptures.  I hope you will join us for this very interesting and important study of what God has in store for His saints and …

Revelation / Sunday Sermons

The Reign of Christ

We have now reached chapter 20 in our study on the book of Revelation.  It is the place where many themes of Scripture converge.  While the main theme is the establishment of the reign of Christ on earth, topics like the resurrections, where will I go when I die, and the judgment of the dead will all be covered in the next couple of messages.  We will also see how Christ fulfills the many promises He has made to Israel in this series of messages.  I hope you will join us for these very significant studies.  It is my desire …