Calvary Church

In this message we look at the story of Abraham and Abimelek in Genesis 20. We see how a lack of faith on Abraham’s part leads him to sin and leads Abimelek to almost commit sin. We learn once more that sin always comes with a cost, while obedience always comes with blessing.

In Genesis 18, we see that God promised to bless Abraham and Sarah, but that Sarah had not yet accepted God’s blessing. Meanwhile, Abraham was at a place where he had accepted God’s blessing and was therefore in a place to bless others through his hospitality. Through this message we are encouraged to identify with one of these characters and move ourselves closer to God’s purpose in being a bless...

In Genesis 18, we see that God promised to bless Abraham and Sarah, but that Sarah had not yet accepted God’s blessing. Meanwhile, Abraham was at a place where he had accepted God’s blessing and was therefore in a place to bless others through his hospitality. Through this message we are encouraged to identify with one of these characters and move ourselves closer to God’s purpose in being a bless...

This message looks at the ways in which God’s love is made known to us. As God chose Abraham and made a covenant sign through circumcision, so God chose baptism as a sign of the covenant that we have with Jesus. Since all blessings can only from Christ, and since God has gifted us baptism as a sign of our union with Christ, then baptism is important because it signifies that God’s blessings come t...

In this message, we see Abraham is able to demonstrate faith that God will fulfill His promises because Abraham believes in the character of God. God covenants Himself to Abraham so that Abraham will know that he will indeed inherit the land. This foreshadows the way in which God will covenant Himself any who believe in Him, through the sacrifice of the cross. We are reminded to think of ways in w...

In this message, we see Abraham is able to demonstrate faith that God will fulfill His promises because Abraham believes in the character of God. God covenants Himself to Abraham so that Abraham will know that he will indeed inherit the land. This foreshadows the way in which God will covenant Himself any who believe in Him, through the sacrifice of the cross. We are reminded to think of ways in w...

At the beginning of a new year we pause to celebrate that God is a God of new beginnings. May you be encouraged to embrace what he’s starting in your life this year and approach it with faith.

In this message we look at Abraham’s greatest desire and how God meets him in that longing and blesses him beyond his expectation.

In this message, we look at Abraham’s meeting with Melchizedek. This meeting can be considered one of the first worship services in Scripture. What we learn from this encounter is how God prepares us in worship for the tasks for the rest of the week. God pauses the busyness of life, meets with us, prepares us for the coming days, and provides the blessing of allowing us to give back to God.

In this message, we discuss three decisions faced by Abraham and Lot. As Abraham is faced with these decisions, we see that he knows that he will be blessed regardless of what decision he makes. With this knowledge Abraham is willing to allow Lot to decide what land he will call home, knowing he can trust God to bless any outcome. We also talk about how in Christ we have all things and how that ca...

As we shift our focus to the next major section in the book of Genesis, we see how God will bless humanity through the life of one human and his household. The initial story of the call of Abram to go where God is sending him, is a story where God calls, blesses, and then as the final step gives an opportunity for Abram to obey. We see how God’s love for us is great and trustworthy solely because...

God has blessed the world with diversity. He has purposed it, and commanded Noah and humanity to spread out and cover the earth. It is against this command that the rebellion at Babel happens where humans don’t spread out and so instead, they are scattered by God when He confuses the language of the people. We are reminded that God intends for us to spread out and embrace His diverse creation.

God gives us an amazing symbol in the sky to demonstrate his long-suffering patience and kindness towards us. Through the story of Noah, Shem, Japheth, and Ham we see how we can be more loving and less judgmental like God is with us, each and every day.

This message looks at how Noah and his family entered into the ark and were then found in the ark. However, this is not just about the mechanics of going into the ark, but is a picture of salvation. Just as Noah and his family entered into the ark and found salvation in it, we to enter into Christ and find salvation in Him. We ought to live this out to day be accepting Christ i.e. entering into th...

Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, MI Senior Pastor Dr. Jim Samra (616)956-9377

The story of Noah and his life gives us a simple picture of how we can honor God and preach Jesus through the way we work, study, and live. While Noah’s tasks were simple, they were meaningful and they preached God to an unbelieving people. In this message, we’re reminded to work faithfully with God in mind in all we do, to be conscious that God is near when we work, to inquire of God as we work,...

As we read about Adam and his descendant’s death, we are reminded that death looms about for all of us. Despite this fact, we are encouraged by the stories of Enoch and Noah to walk with God so that we make the most out of the time God has given us here. We are also encouraged to reflect on our Christian walk and see if we are walking with God daily, or if we are treating Him as one we approach on...

Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, MI Senior Pastor Dr. Jim Samra (616)956-9377

In this message, we look at how sin entered the world and brought condemnation and death. Despite the rebellion of Adam and Eve, God promises to give all of us grace through the promise of a seed that will crush the head of Satan. Through this we see how obedience to God far outweighs the effects of sin in the world because of God’s goodness and love.

In part one of a two part series on biological sex and gender, Pastor Jim examines the creation of two different biological sexes in Genesis 2. The message then walks through four common questions about biological sex and how the Bible addresses these complexities.

In part one of a two part series on biological sex and gender, Pastor Jim examines the creation of two different biological sexes in Genesis 2. The message then walks through four common questions about biological sex and how the Bible addresses these complexities.

In Genesis 2 we learned that God has created rest. Rest (or Sabbath) is a means by which we get to enjoy God’s creation and ultimately, God Himself. Rest is not about doing, but about being. Ultimately, Day 7 is not about what God produces, but who God is.

On the sixth day God caps off His creation with the highest creature on earth, humans. This message highlights the uniqueness of humanity compared to other creatures. It also covers the practical implications of being creatures made in the image of God.

Genesis starts off by telling us that God created space for us to live, and then proceeded by creating light. Light is the source of life and as John 1 tells us, Jesus is light and Jesus was there in the beginning creating all things. As a result, we can see how God’s first act is most representative of His character of being life giving, and loving.

s we begin in Genesis, we are reminded that the very first line of the Bible gives us a framework from which to understand God, and all of life. The opening lines of the Bible will help us realize that God is in the midst of all sorts of circumstances that we may find ourselves in, and that while God is there, He is also loving and caring for us. By reading Genesis we can go back and understand fr...