Harvest Liberty Lake Church

How does God make Himself known to us? And how should we respond? In this children's message, we continue our study through the Baptist Catechism by exploring Questions 60–61 on the Third Commandment: *"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain."* Children learn that because God is holy, we should honor everything that tells us about Him. Together we discover three ways God reveals...

Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved passages in all of Scripture. It has comforted God's people for centuries, from childhood memorization to the bedside of dying saints. But why has this psalm endured as such a treasured source of hope? In this sermon, we discover that Psalm 23 is not merely a comforting poem—it is a profound declaration of who God is. The eternal, holy LORD reveals Himself as th...

What if someone described the crucifixion of Jesus 1,000 years before it happened? Psalm 22 is one of the clearest and most remarkable Messianic prophecies in all of Scripture. Long before crucifixion was even practiced, David wrote of pierced hands and feet, mocking crowds, divided garments, and the cry that Jesus Himself would utter from the cross: **"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"**...

How can we know God is real if we cannot see Him? In this week's kids message, we explore the Second Commandment and learn why God forbids making images of Him. God is spirit, and no drawing, picture, or statue could ever truly show what He is like. Instead, God has revealed Himself through His Word, through people made in His image, and most perfectly through Jesus Christ—the image of the invisib...

Psalm 21 is a song of victory, thanksgiving, and worship. Following the prayers of Psalm 20, David now rejoices because the Lord has answered the king's cries for help. Yet as we examine this royal psalm, we discover that it ultimately points beyond David to a greater King—Jesus Christ. In this sermon we consider: * The King who rejoices in God's strength rather than his own. * The King whose desi...

How does God want us to worship Him? In this children's message, we explore the Second Commandment and learn that God not only tells us **who** to worship, but also **how** to worship Him. Using the illustration of a chocolate chip cookie recipe, children learn that just as recipes work best when we follow the instructions, God has given us His "recipe" for worship in His Word. **Core Truth:** *We...

As Paul continues instructing Timothy on the life and order of the local church, he turns his attention to the ministry of elders. In this passage, we learn how churches should honor faithful pastors, address accusations against leaders, and carefully appoint future elders. This message provides a practical and biblical framework for church leadership while reminding us that Christ lovingly shephe...

The church is not simply a gathering of individuals—it is the household of God. In this passage, Paul instructs Timothy how to relate to older men, older women, younger men, and younger women within the church, emphasizing honor, gentleness, and familial affection. Paul then gives extensive instruction concerning the care of widows, revealing God's deep concern for the vulnerable and the church's...

How can we tell the difference between the real thing and an imposter? In this children's message, Pastor Sam uses a simple object lesson with real and fake money to teach an important biblical truth: many things in life try to take God's place in our hearts. The Bible calls these "idols"—things we love, trust, or value more than God. Toys, money, sports, video games, phones, and other good gifts...

What makes a faithful pastor, teacher, or Christian leader? In this sermon through 1 Timothy 4:6–16, Pastor Sam Kraemer explains Paul's powerful charge to Timothy to faithfully teach the Word of God, avoid distractions and false teaching, and live as an example before the church. In a culture filled with opinions, entertainment, and endless distractions, God calls His church to remain devoted to S...

In this week's Kids Message at Harvest Liberty Lake Church, we explored the First Commandment: "You shall have no other gods before Me." — Exodus 20:3 Using medals and the idea of "first place," we taught our children that God alone deserves the highest place in our hearts. Just as only one person receives the gold medal in a race, only God is worthy of our worship, glory, and devotion. Together w...

What does it mean to "fall away" from the faith? Why do some who once profess Christ eventually abandon Him? And how can believers guard themselves against false teaching in an age of deception? In this sermon from 1 Timothy 4:1–5, Pastor Sam Kraemer examines the biblical reality of apostasy and the dangers of false teaching. Scripture warns that in the "later times" some will depart from the fait...

Why did God give the Ten Commandments? Did He expect His people to obey first so they could earn freedom? In this week's Kids Message, Pastor Sam Kraemer uses a fun and memorable object lesson to teach children an important gospel truth: God saves His people first, and then teaches them to obey. Looking at the introduction to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, kids learn that God rescued Israel ou...

What is the church—and why does it matter? In this sermon from 1 Timothy 3:14–16, Pastor Sam Kraemer explores three powerful biblical pictures of the church: • The Household of God • The Church of the Living God • The Pillar and Buttress of the Truth In a culture that increasingly treats church involvement as optional, Scripture reminds us that the church is not merely a building, event, or organi...

In this week's Kids Message at Harvest Liberty Lake Church, we explored how the Ten Commandments teach us to do two simple—but life-changing—things: love God and love people. Using a fun illustration with two cups, the kids learned how Jesus summarized all of God's commandments in Matthew 22:37–40: "Love the Lord your God" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." While those commands are simple to un...

In this week's kids message, Pastor Sam uses the classic game "Simon Says" to teach an important truth about obedience, sin, and the good news of the gospel. Just like in the game, we are called to listen to the right voice and obey God's commands. But the Bible teaches that all of us eventually fail. We disobey, wander, and listen to the wrong voices. Yet there is one person who perfectly obeyed...

In this sermon from 1 Timothy 3:8–13, Pastor Sam Kraemer explores the biblical office of deacons and why servant leadership is essential to the health of Christ's church. What are deacons? What do they do? And who is qualified to serve in this important role? Drawing from Acts 6 and the qualifications laid out by the Apostle Paul, this message shows that deacons are not "second-class elders" or me...

What does God actually require of a pastor? In this sermon from 1 Timothy 3:1–7, we contrast modern expectations of church leadership with the biblical standard. While the world often looks for charisma, vision, and measurable success, Scripture places the emphasis somewhere deeper: character. Through a careful, verse-by-verse exposition, we explore what it means for elders (pastors/overseers) to...

In this week's Kids Message at Harvest Liberty Lake Church, we tackle a serious but important topic: hell, judgment, and the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Through a simple but powerful illustration, kids learn that warnings—even when they sound scary—are actually acts of love. Just like a parent urgently calling a child out of danger, God lovingly warns us about sin and its consequences. But...

What does the Bible actually teach about men and women in the church? In this sermon from 1 Timothy 2:8–15, we walk verse-by-verse through a passage that is often misunderstood—and sometimes avoided altogether. Paul calls men to lead in prayer with lives marked by holiness, not anger or hypocrisy. He then gives instruction to women regarding modesty, godliness, and their role in the gathered churc...

In this week's Kids Message at Harvest Liberty Lake Church, we introduce our children to a foundational truth of the Christian faith: what happens when we die—and the hope we have in the resurrection. Using a simple (and memorable!) Oreo illustration, Pastor Sam explains how God has made us as both body and soul, and what happens at death for those who trust in Christ. When a believer dies, their...

What does it mean to grow as a Christian? In our first kids teaching segment, we introduced Baptist Catechism Question #38 on sanctification—a big word with a simple and important meaning. Sanctification is a gradual growing in righteousness, becoming more like Jesus over time. Using the illustration of physical growth, kids learned that just like eating healthy food and getting good sleep helps u...

What is the most important thing the church can do? In this message from 1 Timothy 2:1–7, Pastor Sam Kraemer makes the case that before anything else—before preaching, serving, strategizing, or even discipling—the church must be devoted to prayer. Prayer is not a last resort; it is the first priority. It is the means by which God works, builds His church, and brings about true spiritual fruit. Thi...

What does it really mean to be a pastor? In this message from , Pastor Sam Kraemer walks through 1 Timothy 1:18–20 and shows how this passage functions as a kind of job description for church leaders—and a guide for the whole church. The Apostle Paul charges Timothy to "wage the good warfare", reminding him that ministry is not passive—it is a calling marked by responsibility, courage, and spiritu...