Early Church of Christ

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." –Colossians 3:12-14 The New International Versi...

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not l...

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. The New International Version. (2011). (Col 3:1–4). Grand Rapi...

The apostle Paul warned against the dangers of getting caught up in the performance traps of traditionalism and empty philosophies, and called the church to the way of love and the example of Jesus.

9 All of God lives fully in Christ (even when Christ was on earth), 10 and you have a full and true life in Christ, who is ruler over all rulers and powers. 11 Also in Christ you had a different kind of circumcision, a circumcision not done by hands. It was through Christ’s circumcision, that is, his death, that you were made free from the power of your sinful self. 12 When you were baptized, you...

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwell...

Jose's lesson and presentation on Missions Sunday.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21, NIV

As we see in the example of Jesus in Mark 5, showing love and compassion to those suffering from illnesses is a part of "being Jesus" for one another, and a mark of a true disciple.

Colossians 1:27–28 (ESV) 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

A message on the power of the cross, the resurrection, and the nature of Christ.

The apostle Paul would traditionally open his epistles with a prayer, and these prayers can be quite moving, and quite revealing. The prayer at the beginning of the Colossian letter is not only a beautiful prayer, but opens up to us what this brother in Christ hoped all churches and believers would experience--a life worth living, and worthy of God.

We are beginning a new series on the letter of Colossians, and we kicked it off with a flyover introduction and reading of the letter. Theme: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27)

On the surface, this is a strange occurrence in Jesus' ministry: as he heals a blind man, the first try doesn't fully work, and Jesus has to give it another (successful) shot. Why wouldn't Jesus, the Son of God, have been able to do this on the first attempt? Is his power limited? What's going on? (Or, could Jesus have been up to some sort of "Jedi mind trick" kind of thing?)

This week we had the privilege of hosting an Adventures In Missions team for their Challenge Week. These young men, Tyrus, Adam, and Isaac, will be moving to N. Ireland this summer to work with the church there for a year and a half. We asked them about what lead them to the mission field, and what challenges and lessons they encountered as they prepare.

If pride and jealousy were the pathway life took to get Joseph into the pit, humility and selfless service would be the way forward into freedom.

Joseph was anything but a "hothouse tomato". His faith, his character, and his patience were all being tested through slavery, family rejection, false accusation, imprisonment, and ingratitude. He could have broken. He was only human. But something kept the dream alive, despite some pretty dark detours along the way...

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Joseph lived nearly 2,000 years before Jesus uttered these words in John 16:33, but his faith knew them. Through all his trials--from sibling hatred to slavery, sexual harassment, and a false rape accusation and imprisonment--he held on to his faith in G...

It's a weakness we have as humans, that we constantly seek to create blessing for ourselves through favoritism, manipulation, and control--and it eventually blows up in our faces. All along, God is standing by, waiting for us to realize that true blessing comes from trust, integrity, and leaning on His promises. Joseph learned this early in life, and we'll look at how it helped him in this second...

Jacob favoritism of his son Joseph backfired. Instead of bringing blessing, it created jealousy, anger, and even hatred among his siblings. But even in the midst of all the hardship this created, God had a plan...

New Year's Prayer Service 2018

It just isn't Christmas until we've sung "Joy to the World", but did you know this hymn isn't about Jesus' birth or Christmas at all? So what is it all about? That's the message this week, as we wrap up this present series, The Gospel According to Christmas Carols.

What do the prophet Elijah, an impoverished widow, a 13th century hymn, and you all have in common?

O come, all ye faithful, joyful, and triumphant O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold him, Born the King of angels; O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

O holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks A new and glorious morn