Mountainview CRC

The Heart of the Law Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa continues the Sermon on the Mount series with a message entitled “The Heart of the Law.” He will begin in Matthew chapter 5, verses 17-48 . In this part of Jesus' teaching on the mountain, he addresses the law. At first glance, it appears he makes the law even harder, if not impossible to keep. However, a closer look reveals that Jesus is sh...

Blessed are those …who? Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa begins a new series based on the sermon the mount with a message entitled “Blessed are those …who?”” He will begin in Matthew chapter 5 verses 1-16. As we begin our tour of the sermon on the mount, we are called to wonder "who is blessed?" Jesus came preaching a new kind of kingdom and it starts by understanding how and with whom God work...

Worth Repeating Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa presents a message entitled “Worth Repeating” He will be looking at the book of Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8-10 . This week we look at a familiar passage to many and a core teaching of the Bible. It is important to look at the familiar and basic teachings again so that we can consider how they live among us and shape how we function. During the s...

Smelly Christians Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa presents a message entitled “Smelly Christians.” He will be looking at two passages, 2 Corinthians 2: 14-17; Ephesians 5:1-2 We are starting a new ministry season. As we do, let's avoid being focused on just getting things done. Let's take time to remember that who we are in Christ is the main thing. Paul has an interesting image for this, whic...

Praise with a Purpose Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa presents the final message in our Summer Psalm Series. Focusing on Psalm 145 “Praise with a Purpose” This Psalm calls everyone everywhere to always praise God for all his amazing attributes. Which is good and beautiful and joyful. It also has a goal: to keep us in touch with who we are meant to be as creatures in God's world.

A Psalm of Protection Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa presents the 8th message in our Summer Psalm Series. Focusing on Psalm 91 “A Psalm of Protection” This week's psalm gives a variety of images of safety that illustrate God's presence and care. These are wonderful hopeful pictures that seem to ignore the realities of tripping and falling which most of us experience. What is that about? This...

A Psalm of Deep Lament Erick Schuringa Pastor Erick Schuringa presents the 7th message in our Summer Psalm Series. Focusing on Psalm 90 “A Psalm of Deep Lament” This week's psalm is heavy. It speaks of the brevity and difficulty of life. However, it also boldly calls on God to turn things around. Such honesty and hope are expressions of deep faith.

A Psalm of Confession Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa presents the sixth message in our Summer Psalm Series. Focusing on Psalm 32 “A Psalm of Confession” This week's Psalm expresses that confession is not only good for the soul, it is good for the body. Yet confessing sin is hard. Is it because we don't know we sinned or that we are too scared to confess? Hopefully the testimony of the psalmis...

A Psalm With Range Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa presents the fifth message in our Summer Psalm Series. Focussing on Psalm 30 “All Over the Map” I choose Psalm 30 because it highlights some things I think are core to belief in God. First, that we grow through challenging experiences. Second, that we can be open and honest with God. Finally, the above things only work if there is a deep trust...

Challenging Imagery in the Psalms Pastor Jolene Pastor Jolene Veenstra presents the 4th message in our Summer Psalm Series. Focused on various passages throughout the Psalms “Challenging Imagery in the Psalms” We often quote inspirational lines from the psalms about looking to the mountains, finding God in the depths, and walking through still valleys. But our favourite psalms also contain lines a...

Interpreting the Psalms Pastor Jolene Pastor Jolene Veenstra presents the 3rd message in our Summer Psalm Series. Focused on Psalm 131: “Interpreting the Psalms” One lovely thing about the Psalms is how accessible they are to us, even though they are thousands of years old and translated from an ancient language that used specific poetic structures. One challenging thing about the Psalms is that t...

A Psalm of Confidence Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa presents the second message in our Summer Psalm Series. Psalm 27 “A Psalm of Confidence.” Psalms cover all kinds of topics. Psalm 27 is about being confident in your trust in God. But Psalms are also very honest and emotional and so in the midst of confidence there are questions and hopes and doubts to be expressed.

Broken Psalm of Brokenness Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa begins a summer series of Psalms. Starting with Psalm 25 “A Broken Psalm of Brokenness.” We begin our Summer Psalm Series by looking at a messy psalm. Both the structure and the content are broken. Yet it clearly shows us the result of sin, the way to avoid sinning, and how sin is healed and forgiven.

Trusting God in Transition Pastor Brady Pastor Brady DeBoer will present a message entitled “ Trusting God in Transition ”, focused on the second book of Kings, Chapter 2 verses 7-15 . We’ll walk through the story of Elisha becoming the new prophet of Israel. His mentor, Elijah, is one of two men in the Bible to be taken up into heaven rather than dying. Elijah is widely considered to be the great...

Learning From Two Church Fathers Pastore Jolene Pastor Jolene Veenstra will present a message entitled “ Learning from Two Church Fathers ”, focused on the book of Job 6:21; 12:12; 21:18 Late in the Gospel of John, Jesus addresses a strong, energetic, and even reckless apostle, Peter, and tells him of a day in his old age when he will stretch out his hands, and others will lead him where he does n...

Pastor Erick Schuringa will present a message entitled “ A Gift with a Goal ”, focused on the book of Acts, chapter 2, verses 1-14 . Pentecost includes the sound of violent wind and tongues of fire. Clearly, it was a surprising and powerful event. Then the apostles speak in all kinds of languages. Again amazing. But, as with all of God's miraculous interventions, there was a purpose to what was go...

Jesus Will Come Back Paster Erick Erick Schuringa presents a message entitled “ Jesus Will Be Back ”, focused on the book of Acts chapter 1, verses 1-11. Jesus' disciples stared at the sky when he had ascended and disappeared. They are told that "he will be back". This anticipation shapes the way we live. For Ascension Sunday we will consider what it looks like to live looking forward.

The Wind Blows Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa presents a message entitled “ The Wind Blows ”, focused on the book of John, chapter 3 verses 1-8 . This week we are considering children participating in communion. Communion feeds the new life we have in Christ; how that works is part of the beautiful mystery of faith that includes being born anew and blown about by the Spirit.

Enter The Rest Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa presents a message “ Enter the Rest ”, focused on Hebrews chapter 4, verses 1-11 . Last week, we looked at the fifth commandment for Mother's Day. Now we will consider the fourth commandment, on Sabbath-rest, on this long weekend. Biblical rest is much deeper than not working. Hebrews 4 will help us see this.

The Weight of Honour Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa presents a message “ The Weight of Honour ”, focused on Ephesians chapter 6 verses 1-3 For this Mother's Day, we will consider what it means to honour parents. We may be surprised at some of the connections and implications this word "honour" has.

Transformed Pasto Erick It’s GEMS Sunday, and Pastor Erick Schuringa will present a message focused on their theme, “ Transformed - From the Inside Out ”. He will look at the book of Romans, chapter 12, verses 1&2 . As we celebrate our GEMS girls’ club ministry, we look at their theme of transformation. Even while we do a lot of teaching and guiding, we ultimately believe that the transformati...

The Stone is Rolled Away Pastor Erick Easter Celebration Service with Pastor Erick Schuringa. He will be looking at the book of Matthew, chapter 28, verses 1- 10. Easter is our celebration of newness, life, restoration and hope.  We gather to sing praise, share testimony and pay attention to all the ways God is bringing new life among us. As part of our service of celebration we will witness...

Good Friday 2025 Pastor Erick We will have a Tenebrae service “a service of shadows” focussed on Isaiah 53 . During the service we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper. On Good Friday, we gather to remember and feel the depth of suffering that Jesus experienced on the journey to and on the cross.  This year we focus on how Jesus was rejected by us.  We pay attention to our painful...

Living Stones Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa continues our Lenten Journey with the 6th message in our Lent Series “ Come to the Living Rock ” entitled “Living Stones” He will be looking at passages from Luke 19:28-44; 1 Peter 2:4-10 . Palm Sunday connects with our Lent rock theme. Jesus talks about stones crying out and temple stones dissembled. In 1 Peter we hear of living stones assembling...

Soften Stone Hearts Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa present the 5th message in our Lent Series “Come to the Living Rock” entitled “Soften Stone Hearts” He will be looking at passages from Jeremiah 31:31-34 and 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 The two passages for this week share the beautiful image of having God's truth written on our hearts. But how does this happen? What do we do to best become a communi...