Last year many Christian themed movies made it big in the theaters: Noah, Exodus, Son of God, God's Not Dead, Heaven is for Real.  One that isn't on most lists that should be is the animated film Frozen.  With powerful cinematic metaphors of the Christian faith, this blockbuster is a great entry point into key aspects of following Christ.  Listen as Philippians 3 and Anna & Elsa come together in one sermon.

What do we have to "Let Go" in order to see what we can become in this world?  

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. Philippians 3:7 

AUDIO FILE: Let it Go - Getting Real - 1/4/15

Things never go as perfectly as we plan - but that is the way life goes.  So how can we celebrate Christmas in ways that make it meaningful, memorable, and true to the spirit of the holiday?  Start by watching this video:  Simple Christmas Video  

Then listen as Pastor Dirk shares about making Christmas meaningful.

Luke 2:13-14  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 

AUDIO FILE: No Perfect Christmas - 12/14

In thinking what Christmas is not (It is not your birthday), it is important to realize that Christmas is not magic - it is miraculous.   What is the difference between Magic and Miracle?  

This is a critically important distinction to make as we understand God.  If God is like Santa Claus for grown-ups, you will not have a God which can see you through everything life throws at you.  We need a bigger, wise, more miraculous power in our lives.

Are you ready to expect a miracle this Christmas?

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:1-7

AUDIO FILE: Magic vs. Miracle at Christmas - 12/7

What can all the craziness of Christmas add to your life?  
Are you complete or do you need more?  

After spending some great time giving thanks, how do we have the best Christmas possible?  It is the perfect time of the year to take steps right now to make this the most wonderful time of the year.

Give Thanks - Seek Goodness - Choose Wisely

1 Corinthians 1:5-9  For in him you have been enriched in every way-- in all your speaking and in all your knowledge--  because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.  Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

AUDIO FILE: Christmas is not Your Birthday - 11/30

God is working in the world through His children gathered together and working together - as local churches.  Local churches are made up of individuals.  While is not a solo affair, Christianity definitely has a very personal aspect to it.  For a church to be healthy, for you to be part of something bigger than you, you need to make some important decisions for yourself and how you are going to live.  Jesus extends the offer, "Follow Me."  Who is this Jesus?

Colosians 1:19-22 
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [his Son], and through him to reconcile to himself all things... by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

AUDIO FILE: Who is Jesus? - 11/23

A highly dysfunctional church cannot serve God well - so what does a healthy church look like?  It isn't so much about organizational structure, history, or even specific doctrine - it is about people.  People bound together by Jesus, and fit together as God intends.  We are called to actively engage in being the Body of Christ.  

This is life, this is work - and it produces something wonderful: JOY!  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Romans 12:10-13

AUDIO FILE: Life, Joys and Work of the church - 11/16

In the right column of this page is our church mission statement.  If a church is going to serve God, it must be what God uses to get things done.  God is active in the world through local churches - congregations who are vital and healthy.  

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:16

AUDIO FILE: Serving God in Changing Churches 11/9

We know so much, but we are known so little.  We keep up false fronts, try and fit in, and have few (if any) people who truly know us.  This isn't good for us in the long run.  We are designed to be known, it is a cry of our soul to be known.  The good news is that God knows you, and even with this knowledge, God loves you.  

It is actually a good thing, a freeing reality, it is life giving once you realize you can't hide from God.  God sees everything - and that's okay.  

Psalm 139  O LORD, you have searched me and known me. 

AUDIO FILE: Known by God - 11/2

Sermon from Rev. Dr. Gregg Mast, President of New Brunswick Theological Seminary on being those who truly love their neighbors.

1 Kings 17:7-16 & Luke 10:29-37

AUDIO FILE: Relationship with Others

Is it better to be a servant or a master?  In 1979 Bob Dylan released the song, "Gotta Serve Somebody."  We are all going to end up serving somebody or something - and what we serve impacts our whole lives.  But we can also be a master.  When following Jesus, we are not supposed to be pushed around or driven by the things of this world, we need to take control and serve our Master well.

Matthew 25:14-46 “enter into the joy of your master” & “inherit the kingdom prepared for you”

AUDIO FILE: Relationship with Stuff 10/19

Jesus boils it all down to: Love God, Love your Neighbor.  Implied in this is a healthy, holy love for yourself.  The command is to love your neighbor as yourself, so we need to know the right kind of love, one that moves away from selfishness, if we are going to follow the way of Jesus.  It doesn't matter who you are, you can be lovable for one profound reason.

AUDIO FILE: Relationships that Matter - Self 10/12

We are to be clothed in love - and that new clothing is part of a new identity with God.  Where does this take us in life?  Listen to this message to hear about the amazing life which comes with the new wardrobe.  (If you didn't hear Pastor Dawn's message from last week, you may want to listen to that first)

AUDIO FILE: A Better Life, clothed in love.

How quickly do we size people up by the clothes they are wearing?  The spiritual guidance given to us as we seek a better way is to "clothe ourselves in love."  What does love look like and how do we get dressed properly?  Listen as guest pastor Rev. Dawn Alpaugh shares on this central theme from Colossians 3.

Colossians 3:14  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

AUDIO FILE: CLOTHED WITH LOVE

If we want to head in a better way, in God's way, we have to get rid of those things which are incompatible with it.  The better way God has for us is contrary to some of our natural desires.  Often what we write off as "human nature" is in direct conflict with what God would have for us.  In Colossians 3, we are told to deal with it in an extreme manner - put it to death.  So how do we put to death that selfish part of human nature called greed?

Colossians 3:5   Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: ...greed, which is idolatry. 

AUDIO FILE: Dealing with Greed

Forgive and forget is easy to say, but often hard to do.  Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself.  A past decision, a hurtful comment, a missed opportunity; replaying the past can keep us from moving forward.  The Way of Jesus is better, and it starts with forgiveness.  Not only accepting God's forgiveness, not only forgiving others, not only accepting the forgiveness of others - but also forgiving the person you see in the mirror every day.  

We all have a past - but in Christ, we can all have a better future.

   You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.  
...forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:7 & 13

AUDIO FILE: A Better Way - Forgiveness

If you read through the life of Jesus, he askes many questions, but he is also constantly bombarded with questions.  He doesn't seem to mind, however.  If you had a chance to have lunch with Jesus, what would be your questions?  If you had the opportunity to ask just one question of Jesus what would it be?  

What you ask Jesus might reveal more than you realize.  Let's think about your question and how it might guide spiritual growth.

Matthew 16:13-27

AUDIO FILE: What is Your Question?

There is something better than this.  God promises that there will be a new earth someday.  Some look at this claim with great skepticism, others want to have all the answers and now when, and others say, why do we still have to wait?  Why is God taking so much time to make things right, and what do we do as we wait?  Peter, one of the first church leaders, wrote two letters to believers who were suffering.  Looking at the end of his second letter, we find some helpful answers.

"The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you..."

AUDIO FILE: Something Better

What if Jesus came by to evaluate all the churches in upstate New York?  After his anonymous visit he then sent his review via a trusted messenger.   What would he say, and how would he present his findings?  Something like this happened in the very earliest days of the church, as people became followers of Jesus throughout the Roman Empire.  

In a vision Jesus came to John on a prison island in the Mediterranean, and he gave seven reviews of seven churches.  And one message comes through: there is no perfect church.  Let's look at these messages from Jesus and what they might be saying to churches today.  

Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. (Revelation 2-3)

AUDIO FILE: No Perfect Church

For those of you who regularly listen online, I don't want you to miss out on this message.  However, the final few minutes were not recorded.  Here is the end:  But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. (1 Cor 15:20), and this clearly demonstrates that good is stronger than the evil which killed the perfect One, and tried to keep good in the grave.  Good is stronger than evil, and with this knowledge you can have hope.  

Preaching from 1 Corinthians 15

Audio File: Good is Stronger than Evil

Was Jesus perfect?  Am I really that bad?  Why did Jesus have to die?

This sermon touches on these themes and more as Pastor Dirk examines the crucifixion of Jesus.

AUDIO FILE: The Prefect Sacrifice