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: 04 Apr, 2021 | Author: Dove Cranson
For those who are willing to believe, the truth of life after death is evidenced in the past, the present, and the future.
Read More...Posted: 15 Sep, 2019 | Author: Steve Nelson
A counterintuitive approach to a fulfilling life is to live for God and spend your life loving his people. Then you can truly take hold of life!
Read More...Posted: 22 Aug, 2021 | Author: Dove Cranson
Jesus has overcome the fear of death.
Read More...Posted: 26 Jun, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson
God’s not just after our obedience; he’s after our hearts! Do you ever feel guilty, dirty, and like you have nothing to offer to God? And then, to feel better, do you start doing things like going to church, reading the Bible, or giving money at church? An amazing illustration from Haggai helps us see […]
Read More...Posted: 17 Apr, 2022 | Author: Steve Nelson
Because of the resurrection, death has been conquered. Instead of living in fear, we can live in confident hope!
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: 10 Nov, 2019 | Author: Steve Nelson
In the midst of the heartache of life, we are loved by a God who gives us a living hope. And for that, we can give thanks.
Read More...Posted: 19 Apr, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson
God doesn’t just promise life in the next life after we suffer and struggle through this life. He promises life in this life as well as life in the next.
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: 01 Apr, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson
Jesus came into this world to restore our connection to God: A connection one day in a restored world and a connection now through His life in us. Christ died and was resurrected, to overcome death that we might live forever, and that we might experience his life now. There is more beyond just this […]
Read More...Posted: 07 May, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
The religious leaders tried to trap Jesus by bringing before him a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. Would he withhold mercy and have her put to death, or would he show mercy and ignore the law? One response would put Jesus in a horrible light with the people, and the […]
Read More...Posted: 25 Aug, 2019 | Author: Dove Cranson
Sometimes life is impossible and overwhelming. Because God is with us, those times can refine us like gold into something beautiful.
Read More...Posted: 03 May, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson
Darkness will be vanquished by light, we will leave suffering behind as we begin a new life, and God will eternally embrace us in love.
Read More...Posted: 09 Apr, 2023 | Author: Steve Nelson
Easter 2023 - Thinking about death in a way that give hope!
Read More...Posted: 18 Nov, 2018 | Author: Troy Roberts
We accept Christ’s death on the cross as payment for our own sins we enter into an amazing relationship with our Father. Then what? What happens when we blow it, struggle, and doubt? This message looks at the examples of the prodigal son, David, and Peter to show the depth of God’s ongoing commitment and […]
Read More...Posted: 25 Mar, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson
Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ESV Sometimes in the midst of difficulty we can feel like something must be wrong. We aren’t naive. We know life is hard; but we don’t expect it to be this hard. When we try to make […]
Read More...Posted: 18 Feb, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson
After a short introduction reviewing our goals, Dove talks about a part of what makes us human, emotions. The conclusions he comes to are that emotions are an important part of being human, made in the image of God. We can learn to use our emotions in healthy ways, not be used by them. One […]
Read More...Posted: 03 Dec, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my […]
Read More...Posted: 03 Sep, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
We all find plenty to complain about, whether it is genuine hardships like sickness, suffering, and death, or it is the little stuff like having to eat the same thing for dinner that we had for lunch. As we see in the example of the Israelites (Numbers 11:1-6), complaining leads to misery, even in times […]
Read More...Posted: 26 Feb, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
We should never be surprised when we find ourselves discouraged or even despondent. After all, we live in terrible times. Yet God offers hope in the midst of our trials. Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” We can find life from God even […]
Read More...Posted: 09 Oct, 2016 | Author: Dove Cranson
Are you chasing after an elusive pursuit to be somebody? What do you think others think about you? What do you think about yourself? It’s easy to think our worth is wrapped up in our own accomplishments and the praise of others, but what really counts is that you belong to Christ. In 1 Corinthians […]
Read More...Posted: 24 Apr, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson
In this second installment in the There Is series, Steve talks about the mission of the church. Why do we do what we do? What are we as a church doing to accomplish our mission? From small groups to lunch after church, everything we do is designed to accomplish our mission to be disciples and make […]
Read More...Posted: 20 Feb, 2016 | Author: Dove Cranson
In this message, Dove takes a look at Jesus’ parable of the sower from Luke 8 and how it relates to our lives today. “While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed…” Download Handout
Read More...Posted: 23 May, 2015 | Author: Dove Cranson
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient […]
Read More...Posted: 02 Feb, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson
In in times of struggle, it helps us to take heart when we remember the power, sovereignty, and compassion of God.
Read More...Posted: 30 Aug, 2020 | Author: Dove Cranson
Jesus sets us free from sin by transforming us from the inside out.
Read More...Posted: 22 Nov, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson
We must refuse to be okay with the way things are. Jesus wants to bring people into life and out of death and darkness.
Read More...Posted: 29 Nov, 2020 | Author: Dove Cranson
The good news of Jesus is a joyful gift to receive. It is also a joy filled gift to share.
Read More...Posted: 23 Sep, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson
Proverbs 23:19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path. NIV11 Once, when I was a kid, my family went to church at a drive-in theater. My dad pulled up, put the speaker on his partially rolled-down window, and we quietly sat through the service. We were on vacation […]
Read More...