Faith Reflections

Text: I John 4:13-19 / Date: 7-27-2025 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Recognizing the beautiful in the broken and the broken in the beautiful. A message from our summer SERVE event where we explore the tension between the two, having eyes to see them both, and God's presence in it all.

Text: Ephesians 6:10-24 / Date: 6-1-2025 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Paul closes his letter with strength for spiritual battles. Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Spirit, and prayer to stand firm against the distractions and attacks of the devil.

Text: Ephesians 5:22-6:9 / Date: 5-25-2025 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) In a world of power dynamics Paul speaks to mutual submission. He calls his readers to seek the best for the others, show respect in both directions, and fufill their responsibilities.

Text: Ephesians 4:1-5:21 / Date: 5-18-2025 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) We are called to a worthy life, using our gifts to build up each other and the church, as we pursue purity, maturity, and unity. God is calling us to a new way of living.

Text: Ephesians 2:11-3:21 / Date: 5-11-2025 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Christ, the cornerstone, breaks down the barriers between the rival Jews and Gentiles. Are we willing to reconcile with outsiders and make plain to them the message of the gospel?

Text: Ephesians 1:1-2:10 / Date: 5-4-2025 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians emphasizing spiritual blessings and being brought from death to life in Christ. What do we know from God's word (doctrine) and what do we do with it (duty)?

Text: Romans 12:1-3, Isaiah 53:4-10 / Date: 4-27-2025 / Location: Pease Christian Reformed Church (Pease, MN) Isaiah 53 features The Servant who endured suffering for those who had turned from God. An offering for the sins of the people and an image of God's grace.

Text: Luke 24:13-35 / Date: 3-23-2025 / Location: Bethel Christian Reformed Church (Princeton, MN) Old Testament prophecies point to Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. He tests two travelers on the Road to Emmaus. Who do you say he is?

Text: Luke 5:29-32, Matthew 5:43-48 / Date: 3-16-2025 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Does our self righteousness get in the way of the healing Jesus came to bring? Do we recognize his grace for us as the same he offers to our enemies? A call to love like Jesus loved.

Text: Matthew 5:13-16 / Date: 1-26-2025 / Location: Pease Christian Reformed Church (Pease, MN) In a world full of decay and darkness Jesus calls us to preserve truth and bring his light.

Text: Luke 1:67-80 / Date: 12-1-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) With the arrival of John the Baptist his father's silence is broken. So to is the silence of God, as a prophetic voice returns to his people for the first time in 400 years.

Text: I Kings 19:3-14 / Date: 11-10-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Can you hear God through all the noise in your life? He demonstrates his presence and power to Elijah again. This time in the silence.

Text: I Kings 18:16-39 / Date: 11-3-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) God calls his people back to him by demonstrating his power and superiority over the idols that turn our attention away from him.

Text: Romans 6:1-8 / Date: 9-29-2024 / Location: Pease Christian Reformed Church (Pease, MN) What does baptism symbolize and signify? What should we be reminded of as we remember our baptism? Romans speaks of sin and grace, burial and resurrection, old life and new life.

Text: Exodus 14:21-15:21 / Date: 8-18-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) God makes himself known through the waters delivering the Israelites from the Egyptians. Do we trust God in our uncertainty during our Red Sea moments?

Text: Exodus 13:17-14:20 / Date: 8-11-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) The Israelites are released from Egypt but find themselves pursued with their backs against the water. In this liminal time between slavery and the Promised Land do they trust in God to direct their path?

Text: Galatians 5:22-25 / Date: 8-4-2024 / Location: Bethel Christian Reformed Church (Princeton, MN) We are called to live in step with the Spirit and not the sinful nature. Our call to bear fruit is explored using the Fruit of the Spirit and other passages referencing the fruit in our lives.

Text: Exodus 4:29-5:21 / Date: 7-14-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) How do we respond when things get difficult? Moses' message to the people is well received until Pharaoh makes it harder for the people.

Text: Exodus 3:16-4:20 / Date: 7-7-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) God demonstrates his power to a Moses who remains reluctant to carry God's message and instructions to his people and those oppressing them.

Text: Exodus 2:1-10 / Date: 6-16-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Moses is drawn out of the Nile and into Pharoah's palace demonstrating the ways God uses what is intended for evil for his good. He redeems us for his purposes.

Text: Matthew 9:1-8 / Date: 6-9-2024 / Location: Pease Christian Reformed Church (Pease, MN) Revisiting this passage with a new congregation. Jesus shows himself capable of healing the physical, the natural, and the supernatural. But more important than these is spiritual healing.

Text: John 4:3-30, 39-42 / Date: 5-26-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Jesus crosses boundaries to offer the Samaritan woman living water. An evaluation of the opportunities and obstacles we create that draw people to Christ and keep them from meeting him.

Text: Isaiah 40:28-31, The Book of Esther / Date: 4-28-2024 / Location: Pease Christian Reformed Church (Pease, MN) Lessons from the Book of Esther about God working behind the scenes in our life and encouragement for all to rise up and serve him.

Text: Matthew 4:1-11 / Date: 3-24-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Jesus temptation in the wilderness and his obedience during Holy Week illustrate to us the trust we must have in our trials.

Focus: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 21 / Date: 3-17-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Revisiting the catechism's question "What is true faith?" with another congregation two years later. This question and answer points us to knowledge, truth, and trust by the power of the Holy Spirit through the merit of Christ's sacrifice for us.