Raintree Community Church

One of our elders, Sid Werges, preaches to us from John 15:12-13.

Text: Ecclesiastes 5   The Posture of Intentional Worship (5:1-7) As we worship God, we are called to guard our steps carefully, take our vows seriously, and approach God humbly in awe.   The Poverty of Loving Money (5:8-17) We must recognize the fleeting and unsatisfying nature of pursuing wealth.   The Pleasure of God-Centered Contentment (5:18-20) We must learn to be content in the Lord and fin...

Text: Ecclesiastes 4   Oppression Without Comfort (4:1-3) Oppression without comfort leads to misery and despair.   Envy With Anxiety (4:4-6) Envy with anxiety leads to a dissatisfied restlessness.   Wealth Without Contentment and Community (4:7-8) Wealth without contentment and community leads to loneliness and emptiness.   Life With Companionship (4:9-12) Life with companionship leads to communi...

Text: Ecclesiastes 3     God's Rule Over Time is Eternally Comprehensive (3:1-8) The statements in these verses give the full range of the human experience after the Fall in Genesis 3. From birth to death and everything in between, there are no gaps in God's sovereignty and His plan of redemption.   God's Rule Over Time is Eternally Providential (3:9-15) God has created everything for His glorious...

Our Youth Director, Drew Erickson preaches on Revelation 1: Christ the Son of Man is the ruler over the kings of the earth and will build His Church and save His people from every tribe, tongue, nation, people and language.  Christ, the Son of Man will return in glory, and all those who have rejected Him will be judged.

Text: Ecclesiastes 2   The Emptiness of Worldly Pleasure (2:1-3) The pursuit of pleasure apart from God may lead to momentary happiness, but ends in permanent emptiness.   The Futility of Worldly Achievement (2:4-11) The pursuit of finding life's meaning in worldly achievement may take you to the top, but it will ultimately end in gaining nothing.   The Limitations of Worldly Wisdom (2:12-17) The...

Text: Ecclesiastes 1   Life is Short in Light of Eternity (1:1-7) Our lives are the equivalent of a vapor that appears for a brief time. When our lives are centered on God, then our focus is not on the brevity and emptiness of this life, but on eternal life.   Life is Wearisome Under the Sun (1:8-11) Our lives can feel exhausting, monotonous, and futile. When our lives are centered on God, then ou...

"Ecclesiastes: Living in Light of the End" (Book Overview)     The Author of Ecclesiastes The human author is announced in 1:1 as the "Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem." This is most likely referring to Solomon, who also wrote the Book of Proverbs and the Song of Solomon. When Solomon became king, he asked God for wisdom instead of wealth and honor, which God granted to him in abundan...

The Priority of Obedience - Psalm 119:1-8   The perspective of all the faithful on the priority of obedience (vv. 1-3)   They experience the happiness of obedience (vv. 1-2) They experience the practicality of obedience (v. 3)   The perspective of God on the priority of obedience (v. 4)   His standard concerning obedience (v. 4a) His burden concerning obedience (v. 4b)   The perspective of the psa...

Text: Colossians 3:15-17   Our Hearts Must be Gratefully Governed by the Peace of Christ. (3:15) The peace of Christ comes to us through the blood of Christ which reconciled us to God. We are called to rest in the peace of Christ to rule every moment of our lives and build unity within the church.   Our Hearts Must be Gratefully Filled by the Word of Christ. (3:16) We must let the Gospel of Christ...

Text: Colossians 3:12-14   The New Life Begins in Christ (3:12a) As believers, we are chosen, sanctified, and loved by God. This new life does not rest on our merits, but on Christ and His work in us.   The New Life Looks Like Christ (3:12b-14) As believers, our life should reflect the grace we have received in Christ. This new life is characterized by Christlike love which gives way to Christlike...

Text: Colossians 3:7-11   We Must Cast Off the Sins of the Old Life (3:7-9) Christ calls us to turn from our former life of sin and never look back. Christ equips us to comprehensively target all forms of ungodly behavior and put them to death.   We Must Put On the Identity of the New Life in Christ (3:10-11) The new life in Christ has replaced the old life of sin. The new life in Christ is create...

Missions Focus Sunday Dr. Joshua Paxton preached to us from 3 John 5-8, which called us to send missionaries out in a manner worthy of God so that we may be fellow workers in the Truth. He taught us how we can "hold the rope" with missionaries through meaningful involvement in training, sending, and supporting.  (Dr. Paxton is the Director of the Burnham Center for Global Engagement and Professor...

Text: Colossians 3:5-6   God's Grace Empowers Us to Make War on Sin (3:5) Because we are raised with Christ, we are empowered to put our sin to death. Because we are raised with Christ, we must no longer worship our desires.   God's Wrath Sobers Us to Think Rightly About Our Sin (3:6) For sinners outside of Christ, the wrath of God will be coming upon them; therefore, we need to take sin seriously...

Text: Colossians 3:1-4   We Must Earnestly Prioritize Christ and His Kingdom (3:1-2) Because we have been raised to life in Christ, He is our chief consideration in all things. We value Christ and His eternal kingdom over the things of earth.   We Must Purposefully Embrace Our Identity in Christ and His Kingdom (3:3-4) In Christ, we have died to ourselves and have been raised to a new identity in...

Text: Colossians 2:16-23   Consider the Insufficiency of Legalism (2:16-17) Following religious rules does not produce godliness; it can lead to self-righteousness and judgmentalism. Look to Christ as the substance of your faith!   Consider the Insufficiency of Mysticism (2:18-19) Worshipping angels and searching for visions will lead us away from the truth of the Gospel. Hold fast to Christ, the...

Travis Thompson preaches from 2 Peter 1:19-21.

Text: Colossians 2:11-15   In Christ We Are Given a New Heart (2:11-12) Because of Christ, we are given a new life with a transformed heart. Life Application: Because Christ has given us new hearts, we are now empowered by Christ to follow Him.   In Christ We Receive Complete Forgiveness (2:13-14) Because of Christ, we experience total forgiveness of all our sins as we are made alive in Him. Life...

Text: Colossians 2:6-10   We are Established in Christ (2:6-7) We look to Christ as our Lord and Savior in salvation. We are given new life in Christ through His work. We rest on Christ as our foundation with thanksgiving.   We are Steadfast in Christ (2:8) We must resist the lies of false teaching and cling to the Truth. These lies are deceptive, man-centered, and enslaving.   We are Fulfilled in...

Text: Colossians 2:1-5   Treasuring Christ Leads to True Community (2:1-2a) We have mutual encouragement in Christ because our hearts have been united in love by Christ.   Treasuring Christ Leads to Understanding the Wisdom of Christ (2:2b-3) In Christ, we have access to the abundance of His sufficient wisdom and knowledge.   Treasuring Christ Leads to Steady Resistance to Error (2:4) Because we p...

Text: Colossians 1:28-29   Proclaim Christ's Message Exclusively (1:28) The content and substance of our message is Christ alone. When Christ is proclaimed, the church will be warned of error and taught in wisdom . When Christ is proclaimed, the church will grow to maturity in Christ.   Depend on Christ's Strength Fully (1:29) We work for the sake of Christ through the power of Christ. The power o...

Text: Colossians 1:24-27     Suffer For Christ's Name Joyfully (1:24) We have been called to endure suffering with joy for the advancement of Christ's church. It is an honor to share in Christ's suffering for His Name.   Steward Christ's Word Faithfully (1:25-27) We have been entrusted with the Gospel of Christ and called to make it fully known to the world. The mystery of God's plan has been reve...

  Text: Colossians 1:21-23   What We Were Before Christ (1:21) The need for reconciliation: We were alienated, hostile in mind, doing evil deeds against God.   What We Become in Christ (1:22) The means of reconciliation: We become holy, blameless, and above reproach before God.   How We Live Because of Christ (1:23) The outcome of reconciliation: We continue by grace with steadfastness, holding on...

Text: Colossians 1:19-20   He is Preeminent in Completeness (1:19) Jesus possesses all the fullness of God Himself. Jesus lacks nothing as sovereign and supreme over all things.   He is Preeminent in the New Creation (1:20) Jesus brings complete and comprehensive reconciliation to His creation and His people. Jesus is the ultimate Restorer, making all things new in His eternal Kingdom.