Sometimes it is not popular to follow Jesus.  He asks things of people, challenges the status quo, and can make people uncomfortable.  Jesus can even make Christians uncomfortable at times.  

Once when he was doing just that, Jesus asked his disciples if they also were going to leave.  Peter has a great response, "Lord, to whom else would we go?"    There is no better place to be than walking with Jesus, and allowing him to be with and in you as you go through life.

John 6:60-61  Many of Jesus' disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”  Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you?"

Audio File: Nothing Better than Jesus

Part of our disapointment with God comes from a mis-understanding of what God is up to in this world.  Pastor Dirk examines a time when Jesus disappointed both the crowds and his new disciples - because they were expecting the wrong things.  

The work and mission of Emmanuel Reformed Church should be lined up with what God is doing in the world, and helping people participate in eternal life starting now.  Clarity about what God wants and the strength to see it through is a gift of prayer.  Prayer and purpose are tied together - listen to learn how.

Mark 1:38 And [Jesus] said to them, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came.” 

Audio File: Prayer and Purpose

Everyone has eternity written in their hearts.  We sense there is more - and we long for it.  That "more" is eternal life, but we don't have to wait!  Through belief we can participate in eternal life now.  One of the elders of Emmanuel Reformed Church, Rhonda Van De Wal, shares from the story of Lazarus.  Listen as she gets to the heart of the matter.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Audio File: Eternal Life - Rhonda Van De Wal

We read about the amazing miracles of Jesus and they can seem so far removed from our daily lives.  What is the purpose of miracles?  What can we learn from them, and how can they give us hope?  Guest Pastor Tom McCrossan from Schenectady City Mission shares an important message of how miracles of signs of God's true intentions -and some very good news.

Audio File: Miracles - Tom McCrossan

Important to understanding Jesus - is understanding what he means when he talks about the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God.  Not only is God's kingdom something we should care about, it is something which is changing the world.  

The Kingdom of Heaven:
Where Jesus is
What God wants
Where we should be heading

Matthew 13:31-36, 44-53  The kingdom of heaven is like; a mustard seed, yeast, a treasure, a pearl, a fishing net.... 

Audio: Kingdom of Heaven

Sometimes we ask the wrong questions.  We want God to tell us what we should "go and do."  So we ask, what must I do?  But that isn't the question Jesus really wants to answer.  Rather than stand and ask Jesus what's on our mind, there is great wisdom in changing our approach.

Only 'go and do" after you "sit and listen."

Luke 10:25-37  One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"  

Audio File: Become the Neighbor

When we hear stories of Jesus we hear wisdom, we hear power, we hear love.  As Jesus began his ministry on earth the account says that the Holy Spirit was with Jesus.  Amazingly, Jesus promises the same power to those who believe in him and seek to follow him.  I encourage you to listen to this sermon by Linda Baker (ERC staff), and consider how you can open yourself up to the power God offers.

Luke 4:1-2  Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

AUDIO FILE: The Power of the Holy Spirit (Linda Baker)

There are some messages which can't be easy be shared in the holiday season of Christmas.  The birth of Jesus is so filled with tradition, to think of what might have actually happened based on Middle Eastern culture and the writings of the Bible, can be hard.  

In this message some of your traditional images of Christmas will be challenged, but hopefully it will open you up to what God is doing in the world.  What's wrong with the way you think about Christmas?

Luke 2:7  And [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 

AUDIO FILE: A Different Picture of the Birth

Unfortunately this week you can only listen to half the message - but half a message is better than none.  700 years before Jesus was born in a stable, Isaiah shared a message of both judgment and hope to the people of Israel.  Woven throughout his message are countless prophecies about the coming Messiah.  

Not only do we gain clarity about the role of the Messiah in chapter 42; those who are seeking to follow Jesus can gain clarity in regard to our work in this world.  As the body of Christ, we are to bring both justice and instruction to the world (that's the punch-line that didn't get recorded).

Isaiah 42:4   He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.

AUDIO FINE: Isaiah - Messiah & Justice

On patriotic holidays we ask for God's blessing.  God desires to bless more than America, the ancient covenant calls for a blessing on "all the families of the earth."  How does this come about, and what does it mean for our lifes?  

Click on the link below to hear about God's plan.

Genesis 12:1-3
Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.  I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 

AUDIO FILE: Blessed to be a Blessing

When you are facing challenges, criticism, or being picked on - where is the hope?  By finding Jesus in the poetry of Psalm 69, we can realize how close Jesus is; even in our hardest times.  

Click on the link below to hear a message of hope.

AUDIO FILE: Jesus in the Psalms

Can you separate the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New?  What happens when we pick and choose what we think God should be like?  These are important questions which will impact your life.  By starting with the introduction to the Gospel according to John, you can start to have a framework to understand Jesus.  And as we understand Jesus, we know God.  

Click on the link below to hear the sermon from Pastor Dirk

John 1:1-18

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning..."

AUDIO FILE: Essential Jesus Introduction

On Palm Sunday, Pastor Tom DeVries was at ERC to share a message on allowing listening to make a difference.  Pastor Tom is the General Secretary of the Reformed Church in America.

Click on the Link below to listen to the head of the RCA at ERC.

Matthew 21:1-11

The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" 

AUDIO FILE: Sermon - When Listening Makes a Difference

If you are seeking to follow Jesus there is more work beyond forgiveness.  We are called to be ambassadors for Christ and be committed to the ministry of reconciliation.  In this message Jennifer Gieser (pastor Dirk's wife), shares about this call which is placed upon your life when you become a Christian.  

Click on the link below to listen.

John 14:6-21

"Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them."

AUDIO FILE: Sermon - Reconciliation

We are loved by God and offered a brand new life through Jesus - but then life happens.  How do we respond when we are hurt, wronged, or mistreated?  Jesus has some guidance on how to respond - forgiveness.  This is easier said than done.  How do we forgive?

Click on the link below to listen to this sermon from March 30 at ERC.

Matthew 6:5-15  
"When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.  But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.   "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.   Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!   Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.   May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.   Give us today the food we need,  and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.  And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.  
"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.   But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."

AUDIO FILE: March 30 Sermon - Forgiveness