It is Palm Sunday! What do we learn from Jesus as he entered a very threatening situation. Yes, there were great cries of celebration, but Jesus knew what was coming…
God is a God of mercy, and God is a God of justice. We get to be involved with both, but maybe not in the way you might think. You are part of God’s plan for justice in a surprising way.
In troubled times like these, what do we learn from the Bible which can make a difference?
The Bible devotes three chapters to a story like no other in the Bible. A foreign prophet, a talking donkey, and a series of blessings and curses. It is a normal response to read these chapters in the Old Testament book of Numbers and wonder, “What is going on here?” So that is what we are going dig into in Sunday’s message.
God did some amazing things for his people in the wilderness, and his people did some pretty stupid things in the wilderness. What lessons can we learn from the mis-steps of the Israelites? The Apostle Paul outlines a few of them for us in 1 Corinthians 10.
We have received so much from God, yet miss out on so much more that God wants to give. How do we get stuck in between the start and the end? We can definitely learn something from the Israelite’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.
LEVITICUS - A book with few stories and much detail - what do we take from this book of the Bible? Well, the book points to exactly what each person needs still today to have a great relationship with God.
When you read through the Old Testament Jewish Scriptures it can be a challenge to figure out how some of it applies to our lives. Really, when are you going to build an tabernacle? But there are powerful lessons contained in these ancient accounts. God’s glory came to the freed slaves camping out in the desert - and God’s glory can still come to us today - but we have to prepare! (sermon coming 2/16/20)
It is easy for many of us to rebel when we are told what to do. This can happen with God as well. Instead of realizing that God has our best interest in mind, we can allow our heart to get hard. However, God’s love is constant, and the commands He gives guide us into ti.
The story of a group of slaves escaping to freedom is inspiring. Especially if they have been enslaved for generations, literally hundreds of years. This is the start of the nation of Israel. There are some clear lessons for us today from this ancient story. (Sermon 2/2/20)
Okay, this isn’t a sermon from ERC, but this is the message from Pastor Dirk Gieser to the Classis of Albany (our regional governing body) of which he is currently serving as president. Delivered on Saturday, Feb 1, at Blooming Grove Reformed Church.
Maybe, we are doing the wrong “right” things?
At the end of the Book of Genesis there is a great line from a man who lived an amazing life. What others meant for harm, God meant for good. It was a summary of his life and God’s faithfulness. But this man, Joseph, had a part in it all. How can we be part of the good God intends?
(Happy to say that we have resolved our issued with the audio recording, so those should be back on a regular basis!)
What does God want us to offer to Him? Faith is a key component. (sermon coming 1/12/20)
The first 11 chapters of the Bible are filled with things which can be hard to wrap our heads around. But then again, there are things which we can completely understand - like brothers not getting along. What can we learn from the first sibling rivalry in the Bible?
Second place is the First loser - if God is not first in your life, you are making God a loser. So how do you make God first in your life in 2020?
Sorry - audio recording is not available for this message.
It starts with God reaching to us, all of us. But then it becomes very personal - You with You. Are you willing to let God live in every part of you, and then connect with others. It is in the personal AND the group that we experience All of God.
What does it mean to have God with us? Some people think of God as a higher power, distant in the universe. Some people experience God as a personal Spirit within them. Others focus on a relationship with Jesus Christ. The reality is when we hear the promise of God with us, it is all of God. It is God as a tri-unity. Three distinct aspects of one unified God. This Christmas let us be open to All of God - Father, Son and Spirit. (sermon 12/8)
Sometimes we need a sign. Maybe we are lost, maybe we are in trouble, maybe we just don’t know if we can keep going on. God wants to give you a sign. Emmanuel is that sign. God is with you - stand in faith.