Upcoming Messages
"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." (Psalm 119:105)
We offer this tentative listing primarily for our worship leaders and their preparation. However, we also hope it will encourage everyone to read the Scripture passages in advance as you listen for God to speak.
Nov 5 – ASK, Seek, Knock: Asking – Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 18:1-8 (the importance of continuing to ask in light of relationship with our heavenly Father; “how much more will your Father in heaven give…”; Humility; Admitting your dependence; Making your requests known; see also James 1:5-6; 4:1-3; Colossians 1:9 & Eph 1:17; Philippians 4:4-9; Ephesians 6:18)
Nov 12 – Ask, SEEK, Knock: Seeking – Matthew 7:7-11; Matthew 6:25-34 (Actively listening by seeking out wise sources of where God speaks; Scripture; fellowship of believers; humbling asking others/admitting we don’t know instead of spouting off what we think we know to impress; seeking wisdom and not just passively waiting for it to drop on you; see also Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 6:33; Jeremiah 29:13; Prov 15:14 Psa 119:2; Seeking by obeying what you know while you seek what you don’t know)
Nov 19 – Ask, Seek, KNOCK: Knocking – Matthew 7:7-11; Acts 16:1-10 (Persistence; making decisions with an openness to the leading of the Spirit; confidence with flexibility; seeking God’s will through actions)
Nov 26 - TBD
Dec 3 – The Second Advent of HOPE - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (Hope in our grief; Christ is victorious over death, and He enables us to participate in His victory; we are not forgotten or left behind, but will be together with the Lord; the hope of Simeon and Anna – they have seen, and their hope is secure that, though they will die before the Messiah grows up to complete his mission, they will not miss out on anything)
Dec 10 – The Second Advent of PEACE – Matthew 24:1-14 (Don’t be deceived, but hold to Jesus; Don’t be alarmed/afraid; Don’t turn away, but stand firm to the end; stay on mission to preach the Gospel; the peace of the Shepherds, Mary & Joseph despite the trials they face; shepherds on mission to share the Gospel)
Dec 17 – The Second Advent of JOY – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 (Don’t become easily unsettled or alarmed; “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction”; “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”; “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”; Joy that the anti-christ is doomed and we are saved by God’s power; the joy of the Magi despite Herod’s evil plans and deeds)
Dec 24 (one service at 10:00am) – The Second Advent of LOVE – 1 Peter 4:7-11 (“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”)
Dec 24 (one service at 5:00pm) – (Christmas Eve service at 5:00pm) – Luke 2:1-20 – (“This will be a sign to you”; – Holy moments; Life is not measured in time, but in moments; the power of a sign understood; the danger of a sign misunderstood; the frustration of a sign not comprehended; communion is a sign of the reality of Christ’s work accomplished for us, His presence with us, and His return sure to come)
Dec 31 – (one service at 10:00am) - Hebrews 13:7-19 (“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”; “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”; Volunteer Recognition Sunday; Life Group Leaders, Ministry Team Leaders, Deacons, Elders, Trustees)
Jan 7 – He’s Been There (Hebrews 4:14-16): “When You Feel Unappreciated” – John 5:31-47 (Trusting the Father’s affirmation; “the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me…I do not accept glory from human beings”; Jesus rejected at Nazareth; only one of the 10 lepers comes back to give thanks; experiencing the pain of being unappreciated without being driven to seek human approval; overcoming people-pleasing by hearing the Father’s blessing on us)
Jan 14 – He’s Been There (Hebrews 4:14-16): When You Experience Neediness - Matthew 4:1-11 (Trusting the Father’s provision; from fullness to emptiness; God’s provision is not in the absence of neediness, but in due time; neediness is the only true test of what we treasure the most)
Jan 21 – He’s Been There (Hebrews 4:14-16): When You Have to Wait – Luke 12:49-50 (Trusting the Father’s Timing; Jesus waited until he was 30 to start his ministry; Mary wants him to act at the wedding feast before his time of revealing; Waiting time is not wasted time; sometimes we wait because circumstances aren’t yet right; sometimes we have to wait because we aren’t yet right and ready for what God has planned for us—more character work is needed)
Jan 28 – He’s Been There (Hebrews 4:14-16): When You Are Given a “No” to a Prayer – Mark 14:32-42 (Trusting the Father’s Plan; Jesus knows all things are possible with the Father, and this makes the “No” even harder to take; trusting that God’s plan is the best of all possible plans for our lives; making our requests known, but stepping fully into God’s plan)
Feb 4 – He’s Been There (Hebrews 4:14-16): When You Fail – Isaiah 53:1-12 (Trusting the Father’s Justice; taking on the weight of our sin, guilt, shame, and punishment; the weight of shame and guilt crushing Christ in Gethsemane; Romans 10:8-13; Christ our Advocate and Defender; 1 John 2:1-2)
Feb 11 – Feasting on Jesus: Passover (Pesach); Commanded in the Old Testament: Leviticus 23:5; Observed in the New Testament: Matthew 26:2, Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 2:41-42; Luke 22:1; Luke 22:7-20; John 2:13; John 2:23; John 6:4; John 13:1-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; JUSTIFICATION
Feb 18 – Feasting on Jesus: Unleavened Bread; Commanded in Old Testament: Leviticus 23:6-8; Observed in the New Testament: Matthew 26:17; Mark 14:12; Luke 2:41-42, Luke 22:1; Luke 22:7; Acts 20:6; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; SANCTIFICATION
Feb 25 – Feasting on Jesus: First Fruits; first fruits of the barley harvest (Yom HaBikkurim); starts the "Sfirat Haomer" – the counting of the sheaf; Christ is the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor 15:20); We are chosen as first fruits to be saved (2 Thess 2:13); We are given the first fruits of the Spirit (Romans 8:23; James 1:18; Rev 14:4); RESURRECTION and NEW LIFE
Mar 3 – Feasting on Jesus: Pentecost/Feast of Weeks (Shavuot); first fruits of the wheat harvest; Commanded in Old Testament: Leviticus 23:15-22; Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament: Acts 2:1-21; Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 16:8; HOLY SPIRIT
Mar 10 – Feasting on Jesus: Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah – “head of the year”); Commanded in Old Testament: Leviticus 23:23-25; Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament: Matthew 24:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 11:15; blowing of the Shofar; 2ND COMING OF CHRIST
Mar 17 – Feasting on Jesus: Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur); Commanded in Old Testament: Leviticus 23:26-32; Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament: Acts 27:9; this feast stands alone as a biblical fasting day, with the fast being broken by a meal following sundown; final blast of the shofar; ATONEMENT and REGENERATION
Mar 24 – Feasting on Jesus: Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot); Feast of ingathering when remaining crops planted from the previous winter are harvested; Commanded in Old Testament: Leviticus 23:33-43; Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament: John 7:1-2; John 7:8; John 7:10; John 7:14; Revelation 21:4 – the dwelling place of God will be with His people; NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH
Mar 31 – EASTER (5th Sunday, but we'll still have 2 services; no meal afterwards)