Faith Reflections

Text: I Kings 19:3-14 / Date: 11-10-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Can you hear God through all the noise in your life? He demonstrates his presence and power to Elijah again. This time in the silence.

Text: I Kings 18:16-39 / Date: 11-3-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) God calls his people back to him by demonstrating his power and superiority over the idols that turn our attention away from him.

Text: Romans 6:1-8 / Date: 9-29-2024 / Location: Pease Christian Reformed Church (Pease, MN) What does baptism symbolize and signify? What should we be reminded of as we remember our baptism? Romans speaks of sin and grace, burial and resurrection, old life and new life.

Text: Exodus 14:21-15:21 / Date: 8-18-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) God makes himself known through the waters delivering the Israelites from the Egyptians. Do we trust God in our uncertainty during our Red Sea moments?

Text: Exodus 13:17-14:20 / Date: 8-11-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) The Israelites are released from Egypt but find themselves pursued with their backs against the water. In this liminal time between slavery and the Promised Land do they trust in God to direct their path?

Text: Galatians 5:22-25 / Date: 8-4-2024 / Location: Bethel Christian Reformed Church (Princeton, MN) We are called to live in step with the Spirit and not the sinful nature. Our call to bear fruit is explored using the Fruit of the Spirit and other passages referencing the fruit in our lives.

Text: Exodus 4:29-5:21 / Date: 7-14-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) How do we respond when things get difficult? Moses' message to the people is well received until Pharaoh makes it harder for the people.

Text: Exodus 3:16-4:20 / Date: 7-7-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) God demonstrates his power to a Moses who remains reluctant to carry God's message and instructions to his people and those oppressing them.

Text: Exodus 2:1-10 / Date: 6-16-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Moses is drawn out of the Nile and into Pharoah's palace demonstrating the ways God uses what is intended for evil for his good. He redeems us for his purposes.

Text: Matthew 9:1-8 / Date: 6-9-2024 / Location: Pease Christian Reformed Church (Pease, MN) Revisiting this passage with a new congregation. Jesus shows himself capable of healing the physical, the natural, and the supernatural. But more important than these is spiritual healing.

Text: John 4:3-30, 39-42 / Date: 5-26-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Jesus crosses boundaries to offer the Samaritan woman living water. An evaluation of the opportunities and obstacles we create that draw people to Christ and keep them from meeting him.

Text: Isaiah 40:28-31, The Book of Esther / Date: 4-28-2024 / Location: Pease Christian Reformed Church (Pease, MN) Lessons from the Book of Esther about God working behind the scenes in our life and encouragement for all to rise up and serve him.

Text: Matthew 4:1-11 / Date: 3-24-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Jesus temptation in the wilderness and his obedience during Holy Week illustrate to us the trust we must have in our trials.

Focus: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 21 / Date: 3-17-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Revisiting the catechism's question "What is true faith?" with another congregation two years later. This question and answer points us to knowledge, truth, and trust by the power of the Holy Spirit through the merit of Christ's sacrifice for us.

Text: Luke 11:5-8 / Date: 2-25-2024 / Location: Trinity Hill (Chanhassen, MN) The parable "A Friend Comes at Midnight" provides insights into the culture Jesus was speaking into and our call to be shameless in praying to God.

Text: 2 Samuel 12:1-15 / Date: 1-28-2024 / Location: Pease Christian Reformed Church (Pease, MN) Nathan confronts David with his sin through a story of an abuse of power. In repentance David finds grace amid the consequences of his actions.

Text: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 / Date: 1-21-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Part Three of a series on building relationships and sharing our faith. A focus on Paul's willingness to meet people where they were and encouragement to love our neighbors through sharing life with them.

Text: 2 Timothy 1:7 / Date: 1-14-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Part Two of a series on building relationships and sharing our faith. Encouragement to take confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Text: I Peter 3:15, Ephesians 2:10 / Date: 1-7-2024 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Part One of a series on building relationships and sharing our faith. How is God preparing you and preparing moments for you to tell your story and his story?

Text: Exodus 19:3-8, 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 7:6-13 / Date: 12-17-2023 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) In a series on Old Testament covenants, God rescues his people from slavery in Egypt through the leadership of Moses. Grace and deliverance precede the covenant at Mount Sinai. God chooses his people in love and remains faithful to his promises.

Text: Psalm 103:17-19 / Date: 11-19-2023 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) An introductory message to a series on God's promises to his people highlighting redemptive safeguards in the Old Testament family structure and some similiarities between sacred covenants and secular treaties.

Text: Matthew 9:1-8 / Date: 11-12-2023 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) In faith, a paralyzed man is brought to Jesus by his friends. He is healed physically and received more than the restoration of his body.

Text: Psalm 139 / Date: 10-22-2023 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) The Psalms are emotional expressions of highs and lows. Psalm 139 tells us that we are fully known by God and surrounded by his presence and Spirit wherever we go.

Text: Luke 15 / Date: 9-24-2023 / Location: Calvary Christian Reformed Church (Edina, MN) The three parables of Luke 15 show us the search and celebration in finding what's been lost. Will we intentionally seek the lost and valued souls that need to be redeemed to God's family?

Text: Matthew 6:25-30 / Date: 7-30-2023 / Location: Faith Christian Reformed Church (New Brighton, MN) Part of a seven message series for the Twin Cities SERVE event under the theme of "What Do You Want?". The week explored what we really want, worth, freedom, hope, love and acceptance, signficance, and making a difference.