Posted: 03 Feb, 2019 | Author: Steve Nelson
Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away all who […]
Read More...Posted: 07 Oct, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson
It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. NIV11 You may have seen the famous poem “The Dash,” by Linda Ellis. It talks about how someday our tombstones will have two […]
Read More...Posted: 09 Sep, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be […]
Read More...Posted: 26 Aug, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson
1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. NIV11 Sometimes suffering is […]
Read More...Posted: 15 Oct, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
Christians are not just messengers of God’s plan of mercy and forgiveness, but we are witnesses of how He has worked in our lives! Each of us has a story of how God saved, healed, or met us in some critical life event. In fact, if we stop to think about it, we likely have […]
Read More...Posted: 29 Jan, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
The church in Corinth had serious issues that Paul addressed throughout 1 Corinthians. He spoke so strongly on at times that you might think his letter to them would have ended their relationship. Yet as he concluded his letter in chapter 16, instead of writing an it-was-nice-knowing-you ending to their relationship, he penned a very ordinary […]
Read More...Posted: 22 Jan, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
As we near the end of 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul reminds his audience what is of first importance: the gospel. The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ came and died for our sins, taking our place, and providing a way for us to have a relationship with God and to be with […]
Read More...Posted: 20 Nov, 2016 | Author: Dove Cranson
As we continue to look at the Higher Calling we have in Jesus, we see the example of Paul to work with extreme effort to bring the good news of Jesus to others, breaking down barriers and enduring difficulties in the process. What is the source of his dedication and sacrifice? Is he trying to […]
Read More...Posted: 13 Nov, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson
Have you ever felt judged by Christians? You vote one way, but they think you should vote another. You trick or treat, but they don’t. You have a Christmas tree and they seem to think you are worshiping the forest god in your living room. You public school and they home school. Paul addresses these […]
Read More...Posted: 16 Oct, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson
How can the church be a hospital for broken and sinful people and also hope to have a standard of behavior that reflects our higher calling? Is it possible to be loving and compassionate and yet draw a line in the sand and say that certain behaviors are not acceptable among God’s people? In this […]
Read More...Posted: 28 Nov, 2015 | Author: Dove Cranson
So often we make Christianity about a list of things to do or events to attend. And yet when Jesus walked the earth, he didn’t ask people to come to small group or prayer meeting. Instead he took his disciples on a journey of commitment and excitement. In this sermon, Dove speaks about how Christianity […]
Read More...Posted: 30 Aug, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
In this final part of the Knowing Jesus sermon series, Steve takes a look at three things that stop us as a church from working together as a team: sin and selfishness that entangles and disqualifies, failure to work as a team and to see what is small as being part of something bit, and indifference […]
Read More...Posted: 16 Aug, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
In this message, Pastor Steve speaks about the life of Paul and draws out some important lessons we can learn from his life. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:9 Download Handout: […]
Read More...Posted: 03 Aug, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
We often wear ourselves out trying to change all of our bad behaviors. But according to the passage we’re looking at in Philippians and other passages throughout the Bible, we can not only change our actions, but our thinking as well. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is […]
Read More...Posted: 25 Jul, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
God calls the church to unity—an unconditional, tightly-bound unity. So what do we do when we meet people who we don’t naturally get along with? How does God call his saints to respond when faced with a difficult relationship? “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” […]
Read More...Posted: 05 Jul, 2015 | Author: Dr. Michael Parsa
In this next section of Philippians 3, we take a look at these verses: “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a […]
Read More...Posted: 28 Jun, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
This next teaching in our series covering Philippians takes a look at a scarcely mentioned character in the Bible—Epaphroditus. By looking at the way Paul speaks of Epaphroditus, we can get a better understanding of what it looks like to live a live committed to the gospel. Download Handout
Read More...Posted: 21 Jun, 2015 | Author: Dove Cranson
“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know […]
Read More...Posted: 18 Apr, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
As Christians, we often tend to be skeptical when something amazing happens. We are quick to label these things as coincidence and slow to attribute them to God. But skepticism is good, right? After all, just because you got over your cold doesn’t mean that God has miraculously healed you, right? Well, maybe. But what […]
Read More...Posted: 25 Jan, 2015 | Author: Dr. Michael Parsa
In the second message of the Gospel of Grace series, we take a look at a dilemma which Paul faced during the writing of the book of Galatians. The message he was preaching was being contested by the message of the Judaizers. The Judaizers were preaching a message of salvation through the law and Paul was preaching the message of salvation through grace […]
Read More...Posted: 17 Jan, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
This message starts our Gospel of Grace series going through the book of Galatians. It deals with Galatians 1:1-10 where Paul talks about the importance of not straying from the truth of the gospel. Have you ever wondered if all roads lead to heaven? This message will help you find the answer! Download Handout […]
Read More...Posted: 12 Apr, 2015 | Author: Troy Roberts
As we conclude our Galatians series, we take a look at the final passage, taking a look at several important themes touched on by Paul. Among these topics are persecution, boasting, our rebirth into a new creation, peace, mercy, and grace. Download
Read More...Posted: 04 Dec, 2016 | Author: Dove Cranson
What comes to mind when you think of authority and the submission to authority? Our own experience and cultural context have inevitably shaped that view. We probably all know examples of the abuse of authority and realize the potential to be taken advantage of. As we look deeper, we see that a loving authority is […]
Read More...Posted: 23 Oct, 2016 | Author: Dove Cranson
It is the reality of life that each person gets to enjoy pleasures and happiness. Also each human being experiences loss and sadness. Through this adventure of learning to trust God we are called to a bigger perspective. We can learn to be content with what we have been given and trust […]
Read More...Posted: 02 Aug, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson
God forgave some of the nastiest people in the Bible. The compassion, mercy, and grace of God reach far even to the depths of our own sin.
Read More...Posted: 23 Aug, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson
Matthew 11:19 [Jesus said,] “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” (Parallel: Luke 7:34)
Read More...Posted: 13 Sep, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson
God is a God of new beginnings and calls us into radically different ways. He has an exciting future set before us!
Read More...Posted: 12 Jan, 2020 | Author: Dove Cranson
What is the essense of love? Can we grow in this important aspect of life?
Read More...Posted: 01 Aug, 2021 | Author: Steve Nelson
Experiencing life through forgiveness of ourselves and others.
Read More...Posted: 29 Aug, 2021 | Author: Steve Nelson
How can God help us feel with our feelings of inadaquacy and failure?
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