Calvary Church | Messages

In a world that seems so discontent, how do we find lasting contentment in our relationships, identity, possessions, and desires? Today, we kick off this five-week series where we'll discover how to embrace The Content Life and experience joy and freedom that can only be found in trusting God.

As we begin 2025, we are reminded of what unites us—not preference, tradition, or opinion— but what we believe about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Our faith is not built on feelings or changing circumstances but on the unshakable foundation that God’s creation, revelation, and redemption come from the Father, through the Son, and by the Spirit.

The Advent season celebrates the profound news that God sent His Son to rescue humanity from sin. Today, we will be reminded that we are not just recipients of the good news—we are messengers privileged to proclaim it to the world. 

Advent is a coming or arrival, a season marked by hope, reflection, and preparation. We're invited to enter into God’s eternal story, joining with God’s people, past and present, waiting together. Waiting in a world of darkness, yet holding to the promise of Jesus, the Light, who shines in the darkness and cannot be overcome. In the waiting, we watch.
 In the waiting, we prepare.
 In the waiting,...

As we light the third candle of Advent, we reflect on the theme of rejoice. The promise of the Advent—Messiah—is seen throughout the Scriptures, and the people of God have been waiting and preparing for Him. Now, the fulfillment has arrived in Jesus. As Mary, the angels, and the shepherds show us, the miraculous coming of Jesus should restore our wonder and lead us to rejoice together, even in a w...

As we light the second candle of Advent, we reflect on the theme of prepare. John the Baptist prepared people for the coming of Jesus, and Jesus prepared John as he struggled and doubted in prison. Let’s look to their stories to prepare our lives for Jesus and allow our hearts to be prepared by Him.  

Advent means a “coming” or “arrival”— a watching and waiting for the coming of Jesus. Advent begins the church year as we're invited to enter God’s eternal story, joining with God’s people— past and present—waiting together. As we begin our series today, we light the first advent candle, and we understand what it means to actively watch and wait for Jesus.

Today, God’s Word will help us to see how God works when His people are persecuted for their faith and witness.

James taught us about trials and temptation, wisdom and speech, faith and works, truth and sin, wealth and poverty, and patience and prayer. As this sermon series ends today, will we be a hearer only, deceiving ourselves? Or will we put into practice what we have learned, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts? If we do, James promises we will be blessed in our doing.

James continues to confront us with practical, yet convicting, truths on how to live with steady faith in a troubled world. Last week, he showed us a life marked by true humility—one that submits fully to God. Today, he warns us of the dangers of arrogance and boasting, reminding us to steward our plans and riches with humility and dependence on God.

As James continues to emphasize full integration between our beliefs and actions, he encourages us to cease from quarreling and fighting. Instead, he urges us to humbly submit ourselves to God and His ways. 

As we continue today in our study through the book of James, the author will ask his readers, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” In doing so, James will present two different approaches to wisdom and invite us to live seeking the wisdom from above.

In the first two chapters, James calls us to live fully integrated lives where our beliefs and actions align. He continues this theme in chapter 3 by specifically addressing the importance and the power of our words. If our heart (the source) has been changed by Christ, this should be evident in our words. 

In this text, James shows us the relationship between faith and works, reminding us that that true saving faith will, by nature, produce good works. In contrast to a workless, dead faith, a living, dynamic faith is revealed through our actions. Today, James challenges us to examine the genuineness of our faith to see if it has produced fruit in our life. 

In chapter 1, we explored how a steady faith helps us navigate trials and temptations while fostering an attentive heart—quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. As we turn to chapter 2, we continue to be challenged to be doers of the Word and not hearers only by not showing partiality towards others based on external appearances. 

A steady faith is quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger—not only in our interactions with others, but also in our approach to God and His Word. As we receive His Word with an attentive heart, we are not hearers who forget, but doers who act. This is then demonstrated in our controlled speech, active mercy, and pure living. 

Last week, James challenged us to keep a steady faith, especially in the face of the many trials that come our way. This week, he goes one step further, helping us recognize that temptation is a unique kind of trial—one that doesn’t come from God, but comes from within ourselves. 

In a world full of trials, temptations, and conflict, how do we remain unshaken? The book of James gives us practical wisdom for living out a faith that doesn’t just endure but thrives. We begin today in chapter 1, as James calls believers to find joy in trials—not because suffering itself is good, but because trials can bring about a steady faith.

Who do you trust? Another contentious election season is upon us, and there will be a flurry of ads, debates, signs, billboards, commercials, and non-stop news coverage. Some of us will retreat, while others will fight. Many will experience anxiety, stress, and even fear. Let’s look to the Scriptures as our foundation and guide so we can confidently say, “in God we trust.

Let’s always remember to never forget our identity in Christ through the gospel. When we do, we understand we are being joined together and built together into the dwelling place of God by His Spirit.

We are prone to forget, so when the church gathers together for the gospel, God provides us with physical, tangible reminders to anchor us in Christ. Baptism serves as a one-time declaration of our identification with Christ and His body. Communion is an ongoing practice that allows us to give thanks, remember, and proclaim the Lord’s death.

People naturally gather together—whether it's with family or friends, or over shared interests, meaningful causes, or global events, like the Olympics. But have you considered why we come together as a local church? We unite together for the gospel. Over the next three weeks, we'll explore how this truth can transform our lives and impact the world.

Intentionally caring for and investing in what we value is a regular part of life, yet our relationships can often be overlooked. Today, we will explore five key bonds designed by God to help us pursue health in our marriages and relationships. 

Today, we will explore the journey of marriage through four distinct phases and the opportunity we have on the path of transformation. We will seek to find practical insights and biblical wisdom to navigate the highs and lows of relationships and embrace a Christ-centered approach.

As we conclude this sermon series on prayer, we continue to wrestle with important questions: If God is sovereign, why pray? Do our prayers make a difference? What does it mean when prayers seem to go unanswered? Today, we’ll look to God’s Word for insight into these challenging questions.