We all drift from God at times. After 3 years with Jesus, the events leading up to Jesus’ death caused the disciples to drift away. Yet, when Jesus rose from the grave He came to His disciples in peace to restore them and empower them to rejoin Him in His mission to change the world. For all who have wandered from God, the good news for the disciples on that day is also great news for us on this day.
Sermons by Dean Wertz (Page 31)
Even though there are no commands in the Bible for us to celebrate Palm Sunday, once a year the word “Hosanna” is sung, palm branches are waved and millions of people celebrate the day when Jesus rode on a colt into Jerusalem. Why is this? In this message we uncover the big announcement that Jesus made on that day; news about Himself that is so significant that its implications reverberate beyond our annual celebrations into every aspect of life.
From our first step and our first words we all are imitators. Then comes Jesus’ invitation, “Follow me.” This week we are reminded of Jesus’ summons to live with him, learn from him and unite with him and a company of friends in his mission to help others come to know and follow him.
Students of Jesus who interact with people who do not love Jesus can expect to be misunderstood. With an increasing number of neighbors, classmates and co-workers who hold diverse moral viewpoints, how can apprentices of Jesus be loving to others and faithful to Christ? How can we be kind in this world and true to God’s Word at the same time? Is…
If I love God and can worship Him anywhere I go on any day of the week (including Sunday), why should I be a part of a church? This is a great question! For those who sincerely seek an answer to this common and legitimate question this message presents several reasons why it is good, wise and beneficial to our world for…
Jesus was a man of prayer so we can learn much from Him when it comes to conversing with God. In this message based on what many people call The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us a framework for prayer that honors God and includes several key priorities to be included our prayers.
Psalm 1 is more than the 1st song in the Jewish song book. It is a clear declaration that we all have a choice to make. When we come to moments in life when we need guidance, to whom will we turn? On this 1st Sunday of 2015 we are reminded that God’s Word is a gift to all who long for…
King Jesus was born in Bethlehem not Rome. His arrival in this small unnoticed town demonstrates that our king came to shunned places and overlooked people in order to be with and exalt them. Do you ever doubt God’s presence and love? This 4th week of Advent be encouraged, Jesus has come to be with YOU! Do you know someone who is…
In this 3rd week of Advent we consider, “What is it we are waiting for?” In other words, what is God’s vision for the future? Jesus and the whole Bible reveal that God’s vision for the future is a second advent of Christ followed by a renewed cosmos free from destruction, racial division, injustice and everything else that disrupts the harmony that once existed in Eden. Once this picture becomes clearer a second question must be addressed, “In light of this hope, how shall we now live?” This week we hear God’s invitation for us is to participate in making earth look more like Heaven while we anticipate Christ’s 2nd advent after which He will make all things new.
Has life been more difficult than you expected? If so, December may be a tough month as you see others celebrating while you struggle. On this second Sunday of Advent we recall a series of disappointments in Joseph’s life and we discover how these difficulties were used by God in a way that Joseph could have never imagined. His setbacks paved the way for the coming of Christ for the good of the whole world. In his first advent (“coming”), Jesus also modeled bowing in the midst of unexplainable difficulty and He taught His disciples to do the same. Therefore, we bow to our Sovereign God to plead our case, worship in our pain, and trust with full confidence that our difficulties in this damaged world will contribute (most likely in ways that only God currently knows) to God’s glory, our future joy and the restoration of all things.