Growing and Witnessing

We can learn much from Mary and her example of faith. She was humble, grateful, faithful, knowledgeable, and committed to the promises of God. We can emulate her as she placed her faith in her God and sought to serve him with her life.

Join us for our annual Christmas Message Video. This year, we think about Jesus's kingship from Psalm 93.

God began something new with the birth of John the Baptist. In this sermon, we discuss the event leading up to his birth and his father's prophetic song about the reason for John's birth. We learned the value of faithfulness and waiting on God to fulfill his promises, which he is sure to do.

For what are you thankful is the question from Psalm 9 as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. 

Why is acting rashly dangerous for Christians? It has bad consequences, which can be severe if a pattern of rashness is established in our lives. Saul is a prime example. In this sermon, we look at three rash decisions/actions and their consequences in his life. Prayerfully, we'll learn to be patient, rely upon the Lord, practice self-control, and repent of our sins.

Saul was a reluctant king. He didn't want to serve Israel after he was anointed by Samuel. But God had a purpose, and it wouldn't be thwarted.

Is God involved in all things? Yes, without question. The story of Samuel anointing Saul greatly illustrates God's providentially working out his purposes in all things. He brought Saul to Samuel, heard the cries of his people, and used Saul's reign to show them they didn't know what was best. He still works the same way today. 

Why do we prefer substitute gods? They meet our immediate needs pragmatically. They enable us to be like everyone else. And they promise to make our lives easier. However, they can do none of those things. They ultimately enslave us by forcing us to worship them while treating us harshly. We should embrace the freedom of following God even though it is often hard to live free.

Though we cannot force God's Spirit to move toward revival, we can do three things to prepare our hearts and lives for it. We must put away the idols of our hearts, devote ourselves fully to the LORD, and serve him alone. These were Samuel's instructions to the Israelites, and they are God's to us today. 

Is the God of the Bible the supreme God of all gods? Yes, he is. He is supreme in his victory, supreme in judgment, supreme in grace, supreme in providence, and supreme in holiness. May we know this supreme God through faith in Christ. 

Like the ancient Israelites, we are tempted to turn our faith into superstitions. We fall prey to the false ideas of our world regarding why things are the way they are. We must learn to trust God as he is and rest in him alone for our hope in this life. Superstitions come from our pretentious pride and idolatrous hearts.

What must a prophet possess if he is to be used by God? How does God use each of us? Should we have the same qualities as the prophets so God can use us to proclaim his gospel? Yes. We must know our Lord, have a willing heart, understand the gospel, and have the courage to proclaim it.

Will you be faithful to your God? is the question that 1 Samuel 2 asks us by contrasting Hannah and the priests, Hophni and Phinehas. She was faithful, humble, and pure. They were not. How will we respond to God's call on our lives? 

What will you give God? Will you give him everything? Will you give him your all? Will you fully surrender to him in faith? Are you willing to surrender your life to him?

1 Samuel 1:1-20 confronts us with four challenging questions. They are: How do you deal with your grief? Are you honest with God, or do you let it fester in your heart? Do you believe that God can and does work in chaos? Do you know that God honors the worship of his people?

The Lord gives abundant life to his people. In him, we find refuge, protection, triumph, and satisfaction. May we know the blessed and eternal life of Christ.

Psalm 90 is a song that starts in the mire of death, focuses us on God's everlasting dwelling place, and teaches us the wisdom of numbering our days before God. Join us as we work our way through the psalm's story.

Psalm 89 is a song about the faithfulness of God and the guarantee that he will keep his promises in Christ Jesus. God's love is his foundational virtue, as it governs every action he takes. Out of his love, he keeps his covenantal promises. He has the power and the righteous character to ensure the outpouring of his love. This makes him worthy of our faith and trust.

Psalm 88 is a lament suited for a person who is so overwhelmed with troubles that even his friends shun him, and who wrestles with the dread that comes from suspecting that the Lord has shunned him as well. We learn the truths of God's care and the way we should minister God's grace to one another in the midst of hardship.

Chapter 19 of the Confession discusses the purpose of God’s law and its application to our lives. God gave the law to Adam, fulfilled it in Christ on our behalf, and empowers us to keep it through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This week's video explains.

We are blessed to be a part of the people of God, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Understanding this blessing gives us a vision to sustain and encourage our hearts as we strive to live for Christ in the present age.

Chapter 18 of the Westminster Confession of Faith teaches us that we can have assurance of God’s grace and our salvation in Christ. We can live in unwavering confidence that we will be with the Lord in eternity. It’s not in question.

How do we pray when we are in distress? David shows us in Psalm 86. We remember our relationship with God, plead our case before God, and praise him intentionally for his goodness to us.

The doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints encourages our souls in the grace and mercy of God. We will make it to our eternal home because God will ensure we do so through his grace, love, and Spirit. We must press on in faith and rest upon him alone, even when we don't feel he is working. He will complete the good work he has begun in each of his children.

This video answers four questions about good works and their relationship to the Christian faith. What makes them good? Are they necessary? Are good works enough? Can unbelievers do good works?