Stephen might be able to claim the title of the first church staff member - actually there were seven who started at the same time - had a life which changed the world. He was called out based on a lie about Jesus, but boldly stood his ground. Sermon Notes
Some of our high school students shared this Sunday, basing their reflections on a statement they developed: The church should be people who look beyond this world for their hope, joy and peace.
The barrier was broken, something new began - it was in the house of a soldier in a newly founded port city. Hear and learn from this important story in Acts chapter 10. Sermon Notes & Encounter Guide
Pastor Dawn Alpaugh from Wynantskill Reformed Church comes and shares a message of hope taken from Acts chapter 9, the story of a devoted woman who was raise to life - Tabitha.
A few years back there was a movement of "random acts of kindness." In the Bible we find something a bit different, we find amazing acts of kindness. Literally acts which left those who saw them filled with wonder and amazement. In Acts 3 we find one of these acts of kindness, and can learn from what happened way back then... Sermon Notes and Encounter Guide
When people hear about churches, when there is news about Christians, or a refrence is made to faith in a movie, those who don't know sometimes ask, "What does this mean?" It is not a new question, in fact, it goes all the way back to the start of the Church. How can you answer this question? Sermon Notes & Encounter Guide
It is time to find out what happens next. It is a bit of church history - ancient church history. The book of Acts is the first 30 years of the church. We even glimpse of the Church before it really came to life. Sermon Notes & Encounter Group Guide
When God tells us to GO! We need to respond to him in the affirmative. What does that look like?
Jesus asks big things of his followers, but he also makes big promises. One of the great promises is to always be with us. We are not alone. Sermon Notes & Encounter Group Guide
Jesus enters into the flow of human history and everything begins to change. While something new starts with Jesus, it wasn't a new idea. God has a plan at work, and it was first revealed to a man named Abram thousands of years ago. But Jesus' final charge to his disciples gives everyone who is devoted to Jesus an active part in the plan today. Listen to just how active our role can be. Sermon Notes & Encounter Guides
Why do churches do baptism is so many different ways? And why does Jesus even care that Christians are baptized? What does the Bible say about baptism? Sermon Notes and Encounter Guide
The "things" of Christianity: hope, peace, joy, faith, security, purpose -
come through action verbs of doing what Jesus commands. The final words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Matthew are all about action.
To get the nouns everyone wants, we need to do the verbs. The first action verb to look at is MAKE. Listen to Jesus' call to get busy making. Sermon Notes & Encounter Guide
The tomb was empty - but how did it happen? What is a trick, a lie, or the truth. And even if Jesus was resurrected, is it enough to believe in that fact or does God desire more? Allow this message from Easter Sunday encourage your faith and guide your life. Sermon Notes & Encounter Group Guide
LISTEN ONLINE: Do You Believe? (and is that enough?) 3/27/16
A final time before he is arrested, Jesus says to this disciples that he will be killed. He starts by saying, "As you know..." For at least one of his followers this truth sunk in, and she responded with an extravagent sign of love and devotion. The aroma of this act wafts through history, and guides us to be a fragrant aroma of God in the world today. Sermon Notes
Jesus willingly walks into the jaws of death. The Father intentionally sends his Son into harms way. These are risky bold moves. God calls us to be humble, but he does not call us to timid. Being courageous risk takers is the call of God on those who seek to follow Jesus. Sermon Notes and Encounter Guide
I'm not always as patient of a father as I should be, but God always gets it right. In this message we consider how God's love is seen in his patience, and what this patient love looks like. Sermon Notes & Encounter Group Guide
Grief is a very real part of life. We all face it, but what does the Bible teach us about how to make it through? There were times when Jesus' disciples we filled with grief. At those moments Jesus doesn't offer quick fixes or easy answers. He offers you something more! Sermon Notes & Encounter Group Guide
Matthew 17:22-23 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief.
This week we consider one of the strongest personal rebukes Jesus gives. But it is not given out of anger, but love. Sometimes the love of God is confusing, because God's love is focused on what we need, not what we want. If we realize where God's love is focused, it can make many things much clearer in our lives. Sermon Notes & Encounter Group Guide
Matthew 16:21-22 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN: The Cross of Christ - A confusing love - 2/21/16
As we begin the season of Lent - 40 days before Easter - we turn to consider the deep love of God. Jesus teaches about this love as he prepares his disciples for his coming death. We love because God first loved us, and this love is seen in the Cross of Christ. Sermon Notes & Encounter Group Guide
Matthew 16-13-21
Click Here to Listen: The Cross of Christ - Love of God - 2/14/16
In this message we consider the final time Jesus directly teaches about the Kingdom of Heaven in the Gospel of Matthew. But rather than say, "it is like" he changes and says "it will be like." What does he think we should know about what His Kingdom will be like? Sermon Notes and Encounter Guide
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom..." Matthew 25:1