We live in a broken world that is lost and hurting. As followers of Christ, we often can see how this world is flawed and how sin has corrupted parts of our society. But how do we respond? What do we do when we see injustice in the world and when our hearts grieve (or lament) over the brokenness we find? This Sunday we will look at a corporate lament found in Psalm 12 to see how the Bible addresses these issues. Ultimately, we will discover that God has a plan and God is always good.

We will take a pause this Sunday from our Old Testament study on the Lament Psalms so we can center on the season of Advent. During this Christmas series, we have been looking at the concept of light. The Advent Candles remind us about light each week as we light an additional candle, and the light grows brighter. This Sunday we look at the reality that God is light, and we have fellowship with Him and fellowship with one another. What a timely reminder this Christmas season to focus in on the Light of the World!

This week we kick off our Christmas series entitled “Christmas Light.” Over the next few weeks, we will look at different passages that reveal the true light and revelation of Christmas—Jesus Christ. I look forward to being with you Sunday! See you soon.

When we pray and call out to God, does He hear us? Does He answer us? What does it mean when God doesn’t answer our prayers in the ways we were wanting? As we continue our “second” sermon series looking at the Old Testament Lament Psalms, we will be exploring Psalm 5, what it looks like when we cry out to God, and how the Lord truly does hear us. I look forward to this Sunday as we draw our attention to a loving God who truly does care for His children.

Many people often mistake the Lament Psalms as a series of depressing, down-in-the-dumps-Psalms that are only meant for those struggling with their faith or struggling with life. But the reality is the Lament Psalms offer a rich depth of theology and trust in a God who is both near and present in all seasons of our lives. This Sunday as we look at Psalm 3, we will see that there is hope and great joy in the victory we receive from God. That in the times we feel pressed on all sides, and also in the times of quiet prayer, the Lord meets us with deliverance. “May Your blessing be on your people” (Psalm 3:8).

Joshua was an amazing leader for the people of Israel. Under his leadership, God used Joshua to bring the Israelites into the promised land and to expand its territories. But Joshua was not a perfect leader. In Joshua 9, we read of a time when Joshua used his own wisdom and self-reliance to lead in a way that he thought was right, without first consulting the wisdom of God. Contrasting Joshua with Jesus, we see that Jesus gives us the full picture of a perfect leader who serves with humility and seeks the will of the Father.

In 1937, Walt Disney dazzled the world with the first ever colored full-length animated film: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. There’s a delightful scene in the movie where Snow White discovers the messy house of the Dwarves and decides to clean it. Keeping a joyful and positive attitude the whole time, Snow White and her animal friends clean the house singing and whistling while they work.

Colossians 3 speaks of a similar idea of keeping joy and doing all our work unto the Lord with joy in our heart. “Whatever you do… do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (3:17). 

It’s a common thing in 2023 to have to replace things, especially with technology. It seems these days you need to replace a phone or device every few years just to be able to access the latest apps. Whether replacing technology, replacing parts in your car, or replacing appliances in your home, we are familiar with the concept of replacing old things with new things. In Colossians 3, Paul issues a challenge to put away old things. But what is important to note is we are not just called to put away the “Old self”, but to replace the old things with new things. Join us this Sunday as we explore what Christ calls us toward in our pursuit of replacing old with new.

We often talk about attributes of God that center around love, mercy, and grace. And rightfully so! These are important attributes that are central to our faith and help us understand the loving and gracious nature of Jesus Christ. But there’s other attributes that aren’t always preached. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we see some deeper theological terms that deserve attention. Join us this Sunday as we dive into some of the deeper theological attributes of Christ: His preeminence, His sovereignty, and His aseity.

We often talk in church about giving our praise and worship to Jesus. And rightfully so! Jesus is certainly worthy of our praise. But sometimes it becomes automatic, or “routine”, to praise Him on Sunday during a worship service. What about the rest of the week? What about when things aren’t going that great? Or what about when God answers a simple request such as, “God, help me find my keys!” Do we stop and give praise to God when we find them? Jesus is worthy of our praise in all sorts of times. Join us Sunday as we explore the mercy of Jesus, how He heals in many ways, and the praise He deserves because of all these things.