On Sunday mornings Pastor Dirk and other guest speakers take the Bible and provide inspiring, encouraging, and often challenging messages to help you grow spiritually and discover good news from Jesus for your life.
If you are going to participate online, you can get the sermon notes and bulletins for each week below. Also there are links to the specific sermons, and an audio player for most Sunday messages.
In the Old Testament book of Numbers there is a surprising gem. Tucked among counts, instructions and strange details is a blessing. Maybe "The Blessing" - God's instruction on what his priests are to say over his people. This sermon illuminates what this passage might look like in your life today.
Numbers 6:22-27 - May the Lord bless you and keep you...
New Sermon Series for December
Sometimes we give up, we stop hoping, we don't see how things could possibly work out. This is nothing new. The people of God, the Israelites, knew the promises, but did not see how King David's (their greatest king) would have a reign which would last forever. That was the promise, but it was far from reality. But we can find hope for our lives in the amazing history of a new branch from a dead stump.
How are you? It is a common greeting in these parts - honestly most of the time it isn't even heard as a question. But if you were to greet someone with "How is your soul?" you would most likely get some strange looks. So, how is your soul? Do you know peace? Do you have security? Does the foundation your soul is resting upon feel solid? In Psalm 23 we can sense the rest of a stable and trusting soul. How do you grow that within your life? I hope you are blessed by this message. Sermon Notes
The Bible doesn't shy away from talking about government and how we should we relate to it. In this election season, it is good to dig into some of what the Bible says about God, Government and us. Sermon Notes
1 Samuel 8:1-9 - verse 5, They said to him, "...now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."
We make decisions constantly. A child makes a thousand or so decisions everyday, as we mature that number balloons to tens of thousands. At the peak, we are making over 35,000 decisions every day! How can you make good decisions? Listen to this powerful sermon we seek to answer this question. Sermon Notes
Have you ever lost confidence that you are traveling in the right direction? It is a little less common today as we are guided by smartphones and GPS units, but it can be very unsettling as you start thinking, "I'm not heading in the right direction." It can happen in life as well, we think God led us to make a decision - to take our lives in a particular direction, but then we can lose confidence. Am I still heading in the right direction? Well, God has a solution for this - stones. Stones which help us remember and guide us into the future. This message by Rev. Gregg Mast speaks to this important way of God. Sermon Notes & Encounter Guide
You cannot understand the Jewish faith without understanding the Exodus. Through the power of God, a nation of slaves was brought out of Eygpt and into freedom. They needed God's power, they needed a plan, they needed a leader, but they also needed to take the first step. God could do absolutely everything, except for take their first step. They had to step out in faith. What is a first step God is calling you to take? Sermon Notes
There are always ups and downs in life - how do we deal with them? How do we live God's way when things are great, and when things are horrible? The amazing life of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) teaches us as we read about someone who experienced the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. The heart of the message on Sunday was "Serve no matter what you deserve." Sermon Notes
Now there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that the sermon was not recorded. The good news is that in the wedding the day before at ERC I summarized the sermon. So, if you want a quick summary and an encouragement for your life, you can listen to what I shared with Dave and Erica from Romans 12:9-18 and Colossians 3:12-16 - two passages I used on Sunday as well.
On the family front, things are not functioning as well as they once did. Divorce and depression are at levels that were once unthinkable. But the reality is, there is nothing new under the sun, and there have never been perfect times, because there have never been perfect people. But faith can overcome our faults. Inspired by the life of Abraham, and guided by Romans chapter 4, this sermon can change your life. Sermon Notes
You have heard of Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, and the other classic stories from the beginning of the Bible? It is easy to think they are simply children's stories which don't matter today, the alternative is to get so focused on the details and how they interact with modern science that we miss why they are there. The first stories of the Bible are so important if you want to understand everything else in the Bible. Hear why in this message. Sermon Notes
If it was simple, everyone would do it. People don't read the Bible for many reasons, but there a few main reasons.
1 lack of time
2 not knowing where to start
3 is not getting anything out of it
Listen to this message to help get you going in reading the Bible in a way that changes your life. Sermon Notes.
How is this for a great image of a wonderful life:
"…like a tree planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season, with leaves that never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
This line is from the first poem in the book of Psalms in the Bible. It is surrounded by great advice to have a rich and prosperous life. Sermon Notes
How good is your memory? God has many desires for you, and one of them is for you to remember. To remember what God has done, what God has promised, what God has commanded. Because when we do things God's way, it just works better. This message get's to God's message which calls out to you, "Don't Forget." Sermon Notes Deuteronomy 6:1-9
God never calls people to be brave, but you are called to be courageous! What is courage, where does it come from, and how does it grow in your life? You are encouaged to listen to this message, and be more courageous in the face of fear! Sermon Notes
Does Jesus matter in day to day life? There are spiritual blessings, but what about everyday blessings which impact what's happening right now? This sermon lays out why Jesus is relevant today. See what you think.
The name is Emmanuel Reformed Church - What does Reformed mean? It ties into history, it is definitely a theological matter, and it impacts how people function as a church. In this message Pastor Dirk takes on a huge topic and gives you the highlights. What does Reformed mean, and more importantly, how can this branch of Christianity guide you to a great life with God. A life of gratitude not guilt. Sermon Notes
Pastor Dirk's working definition of Reformed:
A historical movement within the Church which sought to realign belief and practice based on reverent and thoughtful study of the Bible, and continues today; highlighting the sovereignty of God with people who recognize their guilt, receive God’s grace, and live in gratitude as local churches governed by assemblies with Christ at the lead.
Trusting God can be hard. It is easy to quote verses about trusting God, about God having good plans, but when push comes to shove - we actually have to trust God if we are to find the peace and prosperity God can give. Do you struggle with trust? Whether you have known God for a long time, or are just awakening spiritually, this message can guide you to trust better. Sermon Notes
How to build relationships - How to build community. These are important topics in today's fractured world. While most people start looking for techniques and methods, the Bible points to something deeper. If you want to do it God's way, you need to listen to God's advice - and "Love your Neighbor as Yourself" contains an important truth we often skip over. Take time to listen to this sermon on relationship building, it might just change your life!
With decades of ministry experience, Pastor Chuck Gieser comes to share reasons why we should pray. Are we changing God's mind when we pray? Are we changing ourselves when we pray? What difference does prayer make in the world? Listen to this helpful message.
