From your Pastors

"Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is unwashedAnd the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, 'Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands.'" Mark 7:1-2; 5 "Life, death, hell and worlds ...

The Apostle Paul says he has learned the "secret" of being content, but for most of us, the path to contentment seems murky. We are easily drawn into discontent by advertising, comparison with friends and neighbors, and our own insatiable desires. It turns out, this secret is hiding in plain sight in the Word of God. Over the four weeks of this Sunday Class, we will explor...

In chapter 7, Mark sets the scene for a conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders over ceremonial washing. Instead of answering the Pharisees' question, Jesus addresses the true nature of defilement before God; a sinful heart. Remarkably, Jesus declares all foods clean and all human hearts unclean. As J.C. Ryle wrote, "Every man has within him the root of every sin"...

Considering the recent death of George Floyd and the increasing tension across the nation and in our own city, God's Word must inform how we, as believers, are to feel and act in response to such events. For the original audience, Micah 6:8 addresses many injustices that were taking place in Israel at the time. CJ points out that the three commands in verse eight are evide...

In our call to worship from Psalm 10, Jeff pointed us to hard-won words of faithwords that direct our hearts to God in the midst of injustice and confusion and fear. Listen again and be encouraged. ...

Preceding the commands given by these verses, we must consider Christ's atoning work, contending these commands are not done by human will. First, the Christian should "rejoice always," which is grounded in the fact that God is always acting for their good. Second, he called the listeners to "pray without ceasing." Although this command on the surface seems to be a burden,...

"People have suffered. They've been afraid. The ground on which they stand has shifted." Peggy Noonan "Through the blessings of grace, walking with Jesus is no longer a forced march of meritbut a willing response of love, gratitude, and thanksgivingOur job is not to repeat Christ's work but to honor it. We do so by trusting the adequacy of his grace and responding to it w...

On Sunday Jeff encouraged us from Psalm 103 where the psalmist helps us take our eyes off of our present circumstances and fix them instead on what is true and enduringGod and overwhelming generosity to us. Listen again and look away from the uncertainties and distractions to what is certain, what is unchanging, what is never failing. ...

Join us for our final session of the virtual Sunday Class, "Fear Not! A Worrier's Guide to Peace and Rest." In this panel discussion, Steve, Tyson, Brian, and Rich discuss how to pursue peace and rest in the midst of a world full of fear. ...

While the current pandemic may lead to divisive arguments, we turn to Philippians 2:14-16 where Paul tells us how we can be light in the darkness. First, he outlines threats to the unity of the church like rivalry and conceit. Then, he calls the Philippians to practice humility by citing Christ's example and commands them to "do all things without grumbling or disputing." ...