Lent to Easter 2016 (2 of 7) / February 21, 2016 by

Sermon Series: Living Ink: Learning to Live in God's Story
Sermon Title: Wherever He Leads I’ll Go (2 of 7)
Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:1-3, 7, 12-17; Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 14:22-33

Lent is a 40-day season when the church commemorates the time Jesus spent in solitude, in silence, and fasting in the wilderness. Jesus prepared himself in the wilderness for what the Father had for him in his life and ministry. In this season of wandering and preparation, we are invited to make room for God’s Spirit as we allow him to become the source of our strength and the Lord of our lives. In our Living Ink worship series, we will discover through the Scriptures that God is the Author of a grand narrative—a tale that encompasses all our struggles, pain, joys, and victories. This Author calls us to co-authorship, using our very lives to continue the Kingdom mission and vision of Jesus in a world poised for resurrection.

Once we have entered into God’s story, we learn to live in the grand narrative by allowing the Spirit to lead and guide us. We show our dependency and faith in God when we ask him to go before us, even if it means we must walk through a dark valley or weather the storm. In Wherever He Leads I’ll Go (2 of 7), pastor David calls us to trust in Jesus as our shepherd in good and bad times.

Listen to David and view the slides here.

Lent to Easter 2016 (1 of 7) / February 14, 2016 by

Sermon Series: Living Ink: Learning to Live in God's Story
Sermon Title: Entering the Story (1 of 7)
Scripture Reading: Luke 4:1-13; Matthew 16:21-27; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6

In Entering the Story (1 of 7), pastor David explains how we must come to the end of ourselves if we want to begin learning to live in God’s story and experience the redemptive plan he has for us and the world. Listen to David and view the slides here.

The Call of Our Identity / February 7, 2016 by

Guest Speaker: Shawn Green
Sermon Title: The Call of Our Identity
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-25; Matthew 28:19-20

1 Peter 2:9 is often used to indicate and encourage our identity as believers. However, as with most aspects of our identity in Christ, it must draw us to a response in order to become an integral part of our life. So if as a royal priesthood, we truly are God's possession, and we are called to proclaim the excellence of He who has called us out darkness into His marvelous light, what would this look like? Are we all called to be missionaries, evangelists, preachers, leaders in the church, or is God able to use people in His plan of redemption in more ways than we may think?

In The Call of Our Identity, Shawn Green, missionary to Italy, challenges us to consider what it means to be the priests of Christ in the world where we live.

The Freedom of Forgiveness / January 31, 2016 by

Sermon Title: The Freedom of Forgiveness
Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 6:36-38; Colossians 3:12-14

Jesus healed people and forgave their sins. His own people scoffed and said, “Only God can forgive sins!” While it’s true that God is the ultimate judge who pardons, and Jesus was and is God in the flesh, he calls those of us who are created in his image to imitate our merciful God by forgiving the sins of others who have wronged us. As disciples of Jesus, our own spiritual and physical health is at stake if we do not learn to practice forgiveness.

In The Freedom of Forgiveness, pastor David challenges us to consider where we might be harboring bitterness and then encourages us to come into the freedom that flows from forgiveness.

Listen to David and view the slides here.

Living A Life Of Faithful Presence / January 17, 2016 by

Worship Theme: Covenant & Commitment Service
Sermon Title: Living a Life of Faithful Presence
Scripture Reading: Genesis 17:1-5; Daniel 3:13-14, 16-18; Ephesians 5:8-11, 13-17

The Bible is full of characters who were faithful in their commitments to God. Through their stories we learn that God doesn’t simply desire that we have moments or events in our journey that display great faith, but rather that we live a predictable life of faithful presence in the world through all situations.

What might that look like today? How is God calling us to be a faithful presence in all areas of life, especially in our covenant with him and his people, the Body of Christ?

Listen to pastor David and view the slides here.

Cultures of Generosity / January 10, 2016 by

Sermon Title: Cultures of Generosity
Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-19; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Philippians 4:15-20

Teresa Boshart Yoder is the new Church Relations and Charitable Services Representative with Everence in Harrisonburg, VA. She is tasked by Everence to work with individuals, organizations and congregations to plan for philanthropic goals that integrate their faith and values. In addition, she provides stewardship education resources, connections and support to area congregations.

In a message entitled, Cultures of Generosity, Teresa speaks to us about how our giving is related to our belief in the Gospel, and how we can create a culture of generosity within our church, which is set apart to be a local expression of Christ to our community.