Damascus Road Community Church

Can God really create beauty out of a mess? The answer is a resounding YES in chapter four of Ruth. As Ruth remained devoted to God and trusted Him with risky faith, God’s sovereign control over the circumstances of her life brings her to a place of safety and provision. The famine has been turned into a harvest. In the next scene of this marvelous story, we will see a series of events and actions...

We continue our study of the book of Ruth, reaching a pivotal climax where Ruth will risk it all to make a bold request. In so doing, she places herself in a position of vulnerability, at the mercy of a man who has the power and opportunity to take rather than give. We will see how this story turns out very differently from earlier stories in the Bible. And we will look at how Ruth embodies the ho...

In a defining moment, Ruth proclaims these unforgettable words, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” God often uses ordinary people—who are fully committed to Him—in extraordinary ways to change the world. If Ruth chapter 1 makes us sad, chapter 2 will make us glad! A period of famine will be turned into a season...

We start the second section of our focus on two Old Testament books—Jonah and Ruth—this weekend. Join us as we take a look at Ruth, which is a fascinating little book involving some mega themes like love, loss, disappointment, pain, intrigue, marriage, loyalty, family, and faith. It reflects so much of our own lives and the remarkable redemption story God can weave in the midst of our mess if we l...

Everyone has influence and everyone wins when a leader gets better! This annual conference is for anyone interested in becoming a better leader or discovering how God has wired you to lead. Be refreshed, renewed and sharpen your leadership skills. Session 1 is a Q & A with Pastors Richard Fredericks and Rajendra Pillai, with an insightful look at Leadership Lessons. Session 2 featured guest speake...

Okay, this is it. We are about to come up for air after our deep dive into a little Bible book about an angry, stubborn prophet asked by God to do something big that “by God--he just doesn’t want to do!” And the reflection in the mirror is unsettling. In Jonah’s final chapter it is God’s turn to come into sharp focus: His character, His concerns, His compassion and His last question to Jonah. A qu...

Jonah confronts places in our life we don’t easily surrender to God as God. All of us. We love our faith in Jesus as long as it is a comforting idea that doesn’t interrupt our preferred routine, lifestyle, or altar our control of our preferred plans. But if we are truly following the risen LORD, He will, for our sake, interrupt our desire to have all of life on our terms--guaranteed. God does not...

When Jonah was on the run from the LORD—the LORD used whatever means He deemed advisable to stop His prophet’s downward descent. First, the LORD “hurled” a great storm at Jonah’s ship, then the LORD determined the roll of the sailors dice (lots) so they pointed to Jonah, then He defeated those seasoned seafarers’ best efforts to save themselves and Jonah, and finally the LORD provided “a great fis...

Imagine a situation when suddenly all eyes were on you—and serious questions started coming at you: “Who are you? Why are you here? What is your mission in life? What group or community do you define yourself by? What is your story?” Those are key questions in any life and Jonah faced them while on the run from God. That led to a terrifying ride in a submarine of grace—that brought him right back...

Ever run from God? Ever tried to head west when He says east? Tried to duck out when He says stand up? Are you running now? New Year’s Eve weekend Senior Pastor Richard Fredericks launches our January series on the tiny, powerful book of Jonah with this challenge: “It’s really not about the whale.” The heart of Jonah is about: “Running from God—how, where and why we do it.” In 48 verses total, Jon...

This is it! Christmas Eve. Our fifth candle, the Christ-Child, the promise fulfilled: “the rising Sun has come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death—to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:78-79). We can so celebrate—because our role in this great story is not to generate the Light that dispels darkness or transforms death into a passing shadow...

We continue our Advent series this weekend on the Real Gifts of Christmas by looking at Joy and Peace. Advent means the anticipation of the arrival of something or someone. There is this longing, a yearning, an ache for Someone to enter into our world to set things right. So we wait in anticipation for the coming of Christ. His arrival promises us joy and peace, which can strike some of us as odd...

The flame of our second Advent candle symbolizes the Source of all other light. It is the light of love. Line up the greatest virtues of the Christian life: faith and hope and love, and the Bible is unequivocal: “the greatest of these is love “ When God defines Himself, He does it by His love. But what exactly is this love of God and how do we live in it? The Answer arrived in Bethlehem, and this...

Nietzsche said that with the death of hope comes the hope for death. Hope is vital. In Luke 1:45, Elizabeth, in a rare occurrence of a woman pronouncing a prophetic blessing on another woman, tells Mary: “Blessed is she [he] who believes that what the LORD has promised to her [him] will be accomplished.” FAITH is being confident we will receive what God tells us to HOPE FOR. This weekend the Adven...

It's not only amazing how God showed His love, but when He showed His love. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8). Join us to hear the powerful truth of when God saved us.

Many members of our church, especially those who have attended the annual Willow Creek Leadership Summit, have asked about our heart for the Refugees of the world. Their plight is the single biggest humanitarian crisis on the planet, with over 20 million people driven from their homes, jobs, families and roots, often with no notice, now packed into huge, subsistence level camps. This weekend at ou...

In his marvelous series, Rajendra Pillai spoke about the special talents God gives every human masterpiece. In addition to our unique talents, the biblical author John the Elder teaches that there are two gifts every person possesses. In fact, John says each follower of Christ must manifest, above all other qualities, TRUTH and LOVE. How are we to develop our gifts of truth and love today? Does te...

Imagine you had a disease that you had found the cure for. You were also healed by using this cure. Suddenly, you knew of a loved one or a friend who had come down with the same disease. Wouldn't you do everything you could to share the cure you found and to put your friend's and loved one's needs first? The world and so many souls are dying. We have the cure. And that’s GOOD NEWS! This weekend yo...

We wrap up our series Unearthed this week by talking about The Gallery! When Jesus proposed the building of God's kingdom not in a political arena, but in the hearts of men, women and children, it was a radical idea. Two thousand years later, the strategy hasn't changed. The idea is that if we truly experience the zest for life that the Spirit of God can bring into our souls (abundant living that...

Last weekend, we saw the power of God breaking down our old frames. In Part 3 of our series Unearthed, we will take a look at the death to life transition that Jesus makes possible for every soul that turns to Him. And that’s not all – we are given a divine mission—to do the good things He planned for us long ago. What are these good things? How has He equipped and empowered us to do them? How do...

We look at Frames this weekend. Frames are what shrouds and obscures the masterpiece of you in a dismal, discolored, damaged, disgraced, dirty disguise. We can learn to live behind a false painting bound by deceptive frames and our true and most authentic selves remain unknown. Maybe you have traded the masterpiece God created you to be for a poor, stained, inferior, dusty version of yourself—an o...

Like any healthy church, Damascus Road aims to be a prevailing regional church committed to making disciples through a biblically-functioning community - known for its clarity in presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ in creative, contemporary ways. After a year of prayer, multiple discussions and meetings, our elders, in consultation with trustees and staff, have identified three strategic goals f...

We're excited to introduce this series on Unearthed, based on a manuscript Rajendra Pillai started working on five years ago (even though the book came out this summer!). We kick off the series by examining the idea that God created us to be a masterpiece! Too often, we shrink back when confronted with that idea – me, a masterpiece? I am too young, I am too old, I am too inadequate, I am not brave...