The Harbor

Why should we fast? It's a difficult thing to rationalize for those of us who rarely go without the things we need. Spiritually, there is a certain communion with God that is found in fasting as we remove the things from our lives that distract us from Him. Not to mention the benefits to our prayer life. In this message, Pastor Jeff Maness teaches from Isaiah 58:3-12 about the true fast and e...

Forgiveness matters to God. Matthew 6:14-15 tells us that if we forgive those who have sinned against us, our heavenly Father will forgive us, but if we refuse to forgive others, He will not forgive us. By His mercy, we are not regarded for the evil things we've done against God and others. It's not that God is unaware of our wrongdoings, but He loves His children in spite of the sins we...

Heaven is real. God’s Kingdom is real! When we pray, we engage in the reality of Heaven here on the earth. In this week’s message, Pastor Justin Ruszkiewicz sheds some light on how God brings about His kingdom and does His will right here in our every day lives. He is provider, freely giving what we need. He is the one who forgives us of all sin by the blood of Jesus. He is the protector, keeping...

In this week's installment of our current sermon series "It's Deeper Than That," Pastor Justin Ruszkiewicz begins to teach on The Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. In learning to pray like Jesus prayed, our lives are transformed to align with His. Prayer is not about God's existence transforming to meet our needs. In His famous prayer, Jesus models what it looks...

In the second week of our series, "It's Deeper Than That,"  Pastor Jeff Maness teaches on Matthew 6:5-7. This message unpacks the makings of a powerful prayer. Contrary to the way we may feel, the power of a prayer is not found in the answer. Rather, it can be found in the way we pray. Things like a desire to be seen, self-sufficiency, a hypocritical attitude, or the temptation to s...

What are you motivated by? What inspires you to do good deeds? If your motivation was seen by everyone, would it be obvious who you are trying to please? Paul says in Galatians 1:10 that if pleasing people was his goal, he would not be Christ’s servant. Are you unsure of your motivations? In the first installment of our new series “It’s Deeper Than That,” Pastor Jeff Maness teaches on how to know...

In today's stand-alone message, Pastor Jeff Maness teaches from Romans on what God's ultimate calling is for our lives. By presenting our whole selves as a living and holy sacrifice, we truly worship God and can be restored. By meeting together and being diligent to surround ourselves in biblical community, we can be refueled. By being ready to help one another in their time of need and...

Contrary to what we may feel from time to time, work is not a result of sin. In fact, we were made to work. If we obey the words found in Colossians 3 to work from the heart as “something done for the Lord, and not for people,” we can begin to view our workplace as a mission field and our jobs as callings. Pastor Ryan Akers and Pastor Dana Aaronson encourage the church in this week’s message to “l...

Our bodies need rest. Our hearts need healing. Our souls need the presence of God. On the seventh day of creation, God implemented rest which is a ceasing from work, a rhythm that Adam enjoyed immediately. The Israelites in the wilderness were commanded to collect extra food ahead of their sabbath day and trust that God had given them enough. In Matthew 11, Jesus invites us to reorder our hurried...

Love is more than a feeling! This is especially true of the love we’re called to have for our enemies. Matthew 5:43-48 sets the record straight even going as far as telling us to pray for those who persecute us. Pastor Jeff Maness teaches this week’s message on the right posturing of someone who carries “enemy love.”  Click here for message notes. Click here for the discussion questions for this e...

We are called to seek the good of our enemies? If an enemy is someone who is hard to love or someone who has a hard time loving you, that makes our responsibility pretty broad. When we live as Jesus teaches, and his life and love radiates in and through us, the world takes notice. That kind of a life creates longing for Jesus in others. Pastor Jeff Maness teaches from Matthew 5:38-42 and shares wi...

Jesus calls Himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Matthew 5:33-36 shows us that our living as people of truth matters to Jesus. It’s the life to which we are called. In Ecclesiastes 5:1-5, King Solomon emphasizes this idea, sharing wisdom given him by God about making vows to God, and the truth is we would all do well to listen more, let our actions speak, and fear God.  Click here for message...

In this weeks message from our series titled "Unfiltered," Pastor Jeff Maness teaches on what Jesus has to say about divorce and remarriage. Many have been or will be affected by divorce. That has been the case for generations. Jesus understood it to be a cultural norm even as He walked the earth. In His teaching, He defines marriage to His listeners without falling into the verbal traps...

In this week’s message from Matthew 5:27-30, Pastor Jeff Maness shares Jesus has to say about lust. Without condemning desire, He addresses lust not as an act, but as a matter of the heart. He calls us out of compromise and into the fullness of life made available to us by grace alone.   Click here for message notes. Click here for discussion questions for this episode. Find us on: YouTube: YouTub...

Anger isn’t necessarily a sin. Paul warns us in Ephesians not to sin by letting anger control us. Harboring anger gives a foothold to the enemy. As Pastor Jeff Maness teaches, anger can typically be driven by a need to be right, that is, self-righteousness. However, scripture frequently calls us to let it go, consider one another, and pursue reconciliation. In this message from Matthew 5:21-26, we...

In the first week of our new series, “Unfiltered,” Pastor Jeff Maness teaches on the Matthew 5:48 command to be “perfect” through the lens of grace. Jesus came to fulfill the law, something it couldn’t do on its own. His grace empowers us to live godly lives, and as we grow in likeness to Christ, we are promised that He will continue the good work He began in us until it is finished on the day Jes...

What type of kingdom is God calling us to build? In this Sabbath Sunday Devotional, Justin Ruszkiewicz dives in to what it means when Jesus points to His heavenly kingdom.  ________________________________ Sabbath Sunday is an occasional day of rest that we build into our annual schedule as a church to remind all of us that resting in the presence of the Lord is beneficial to us as believers. On t...

Not only will the world tempt us to keep our faith quiet, it will also tempt us to abandon it altogether - to compromise. Culture will try to dictate your identity. Society may pressure you to conform. Even your circumstances will tempt you to believe that God isn’t present. However, scripture speaks a better word. Isaiah 43 tells us God stays with those in “deep waters” or in the “fires of oppres...

Fear focuses on what can't be done and what remains unknown. Daniel, as Pastor Ryan Akers points out, responds in this week's passage (Daniel 2) to an otherwise dangerous situation with wisdom and discretion. His confidence is anchored in the King of all kings, not dictated by his circumstances. Because he knows this, Daniel is all the more capable of pointing people to God, not himself....

Is your identity attached to what you do? Are your values dictated by the world? If your life is centered on God, it means you’re going to do things differently. We’re called to lead with a God-centered conviction, commitment, and courage. When we do that, we become a blessing to the world around us. If we don’t, we slowly become just like it. Pastor Justin Ruszkiewicz teaches this week’s message...

What did Jesus mean when He called His followers “the salt of the earth”? In this message, discover the powerful purpose behind that statement and how it still applies today. Just as salt preserves what would otherwise decay, enhances what is already there, and creates thirst for something more, God calls His people to make a lasting impact on the world around them. Watch and be encouraged to live...

Join us as we celebrate the wit, wisdom, and faithful service of Pastor David Miller on his final Sunday at The Harbor after 11 years as our Community Care Pastor and 45 years in ministry. In this special conversation, Senior Pastor Jeff Maness sits down with David to reflect on the journey God has led him on, the lives he has touched, and the lessons he has learned along the way. You'll laug...

In the last message of our series B(less)ed, the founder and executive director of Ananias House , John Samara shares powerful stories of hope and transformation from the persecuted church in the Middle East and North Africa. You will be challenged and encouraged by these moving stories of God's love changing hearts and lives in this Muslim area of the world where faith often comes at a great...

Many say they want peace. Few are willing to take the steps required to bring it about. Contrary to what it may seem, peacemakers do not avoid conflict. They move into it humbly by seeking understanding, asking God as David did in Psalm 139 to search their hearts, and a steady determination to remain unified in the church. As for those who are divided, they lose the war within themselves while cre...

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. In fact, they see him everywhere. Purity of heart allows us to see the Kingdom of God invading the earth. Praise God, it is NOT about living perfectly! Rather, the pure in heart are living with purpose. Pastor Jeff Maness teaches from Colossians 3:1-15, revealing from scripture just what that purpose is. Hint: it’s all about Christ. Do you want...