East Bend Church

In our candle light service, we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, on that Holy Night 2,000 years ago. Pastor Luke shared how looking a candy cane can show how much Jesus loves you.

Pastor Luke preached about Jesus being the greatest gift to savor, save and share. He said, "Because Jesus came to us, we get to go and share His love with others."

This East Bend Christmas Program includes monologues from the characters in the story of Jesus' birth, special music, and testimonies of how the Lord has transformed their lives.

Pastor Luke preached about the angels appearing to a group of ordinary shepherds, to announce the birth of Jesus, the Savior. Shepherds were usually rejected socially and often rejected spiritually, but these shepherds experienced God's favor and His peace. The main idea was, "All people can experience the peace that Jesus brings."

Pastor Luke began an advent series about the announcements from the angels. In this first message about what the angel said to both Mary and Joseph, we find that "Hope is possible for believers, because nothing is impossible with God."

The book of James was closed out by a message from Jim Phillips of Live Your Mission.

Executive Director of Seek N Find Ministries, Mike Roberts, preached about what it looks like to live being mission minded.

Pastor Luke preached from James 5 about how believers are to have patience, no matter their circumstances. The main idea was, "Believers patiently receive eternal treasures rather than take temporary pleasures."

In this message, Pastor Luke preached James 4 about how we need to submit to the Lord. He said, "Living for ourselves always opposes living God’s way."

Brian Zeifang from Jesus Is The Way Ministry, came and shared how God is working and preached about living a new way of life in Christ. Michael, from Jesus Is The Way, shared his testamony.

Pastor Luke preached from James 3 about two types of wisdom: wisdom from above and earthly wisdom. The main idea was, "Wisdom from above doesn’t exalt those below."

Pastor Luke preached from James 2:14-26 about faith. Claiming faith doesn’t mean it’s saving faith. Faith without actions is dead and useless. The results of a saving faith are evident by actions. The main idea was, "Actions are the proof of genuine faith."

Our Evana Network Regional Pastor, Don Patterson, continued in our series from the book of James. He preached from the first half of chapter 2, as James addresses favoritism in the church.

Pastor Luke preached from the end of James 1 about being doers of God's Word. True faith humbly receives God's Word, continually obeys God's Word, and actively lives out God's Word. The main idea was, "How you live outside usually reveals what's inside."

Pastor Luke preached from the book of James about temptations. The main idea was, "Don't trick yourself that God's good isn't good enough."

Pastor Luke began a new series on the book of James, called "Active Faith." In the first part of the book James is about the trials that believers face. Trials can produce perseverance and can lead to prayer, and can give perspective. The main idea was, "Enduring trials reminds believers to think eternally."

Pastor Luke preached Apostle Paul's benediction in 2 Corinthians about the Lord's blessing of being with us. The main idea was "God’s grace, love and fellowship is everything we truly need."

Pastor Luke concluded the series about the parable of the sower by preaching from Jeremiah 17, what a thriving life looks like. He said, "A life trusting in the Lord cultivates a life that thrives."

Pastor Luke preached from Matthew 13 about having listening ears to Jesus' message. He said that "God's message is not hidden to those who are listening."

Guest speaker and former pastor, Paul Thomason, preached on the importance of forgiveness.

Pastor Luke preached about the plants that were fruitful, from Jesus' Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. He said, "God's message greatly multiplies when it's truly understood."

Pastor Luke preached from Matthew 13:7 and 22, about the worries and worldly pleasures that choke out God's message. He said, "God's message gets choked when it's not embraced."

Pastor Luke preached about the second part of Jesus' parable of the sower in Matthew 13. He said, "God's message gets scorched when it's not well grounded."