The CCUPC Cutting Room Floor

What responsibility do you have for the growth of your own faith? Pastor James talks about why it is so important that we take charge of our spiritual lives. (Original Sermon 9/22/2024)

When you think about the ideal community, what characteristics would it have? Does Christian community in the US pass muster as to working towards an ideal community? How do Christians create a community that reflects the redemption and intention of God in Christ? Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss the characteristics of direct, open, and caring and the difficulties in each of them.

Pastor James discusses the importance of authentic friendships and the characteristics that define deep relationships, emphasizing the ability of true friends to speak candidly to one another. Using Paul's farewell address to the elders in Ephesus as a model, he points out that relationships in Christ should be direct, open, and caring, reflecting a consistent character both in public and private...

In the season 3 opener, Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss Paul, commitment to the lost, and leadership lessons from Paul's experience with the synagogue in Ephesus. How do we live a life on mission? What do we do with the roughly 112 hours per week we're awake? All of this is discussed in this week's episode.

The apostle Paul is well known for his missionary journeys around the Mediterranean. To the reader of Acts, it can sometimes seem like he's popping in and out of areas, establishing churches and fixing problems. However, Paul was very intentional in his ministry and following the prompting of the Holy Spirit. In preparing for our series on Ephesians, Pastor James explores Acts 19:1-10 and how Paul...

Season 2 Finale! Pastor James and Pastor Dena explore the difficulties of Jesus praying to keep us in this fallen world. What does it mean for our outlook on the world? What does it mean for our daily interactions? Join us for the series two wrap.

This summer, we’ve been exploring the difference that Jesus makes in our lives. In the final sermon of the series, Pastor James looks at what the commonalities have been this summer. Jesus’ prayer for his disciples and for all believers in John 17 helps us to tie all of this together. Are you living out God’s mission in this world?

"Lies and oaths and lunatic demands are regular occurrences..." Great words from Andrew Lloyd Weber's Phantom of the Opera , but sadly they too often can be applied to the life of the church and our individual lives. How do we throw off grumbling and arguing and become blameless and innocent? What's the line between processing and grumbling? Pastor James and Pastor Dena explore this and more in to...

As we come to the close of the Why Jesus? series, we continue our exploration of what it means to have no other purpose than Christ formed in us. Continuing in Philippians 2, Pastor James looks at Paul's concern for believers to work our their salvation and what his immediate concern was in that work. (Original Sermon: 18 Aug 24)

How much is relationality in the Bible? Is it simply a list of rules, or is there more to it than that? Pastor Dena and Pastor James dig further into the end of Colossians and the list of names that Paul mentions. The application for life, discipleship, and ministry might surprise you!

What's in a name? Or a list of names? Paul closes the letter to the Colossians with a list of greetings that we often just skip over. But, when we dig deep into who these people were, we understand a little bit better about who we've been created to be. Pastor Dena digs in to Colossians 4:2-18 as we figure out how our relationships can help us to live as Christ is formed in us. (Sermon 8/4/2024)

Gospel integrity is the concept of aligning the convictions of the Gospel with our own identities, values, attitudes, and behaviors. Pastor James and Pastor Dena reflect on how to make this more of a reality and critically engage our culture for the advancement of the Gospel.

What are the values and the convictions of the Gospel, and how do they differ from the values we inherit growing up? If we want to live lives that reflect Jesus in our society, how do we do that? Pastor James reflects on the concept of Gospel integrity from Philippians 1:27-2:4 and how it should inform our living. (Original sermon: 28 July 2024)

Telling our stories is not an aspect of the faith the American church is exceptionally familiar or comfortable with. Pastor James and Pastor Dena reflect on bringing this out in worship and what some of the strengths and weaknesses are.

We're taking the summer to discuss what difference Jesus has made in our lives. Today's sermon is a reminder of why we give our testimonies and what value they have. Pastor James recaps the Revelation 12:10-12 text. (Original Sermon: July 21)

Discussion Summary: What does it look like to live out a life of humility and humiliation? How does humiliation fit into the Christian life? Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss some nitty-gritty about living out the faith we profess as we begin to pivot to "no other purpose but Christ formed in you" in the "Why Jesus?" series.

Living the Christian life sometimes feels a bit like being a door mat. But what does it mean to "take the low road" as Jesus did? Pastor James explores Paul's great admonition in Philippians 2:5-13 to have the same attitude as Jesus. (Original sermon date: 14 July 2024)

As Christians, how do we live in the tension between loving God and loving the good things of this world? When Paul talks about the good things of this world being crap in comparison to knowing Jesus, how do we live that out? Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss this and more in this week's episode.

What is most valuable to you? How does that intersect with your relationship with God? Pastor James explores what the Apostle Paul calls "boasting" and shows us that maybe all we value isn't so important. (Original Sermon: 30 June 24)

What is the difference between comparison and perspective? How can we live a life of perspective instead of comparison? How does that interact with our faith in God? Pastor James and Pastor Dena explore this and more in today's episode of the Cutting Room Floor.

What are you afraid of? Do you trust God with you fears? Pastor Dena takes a look at Psalm 56, particularly our Vacation Bible School Theme Verse, as we remember that we all struggle with fear and doubt and suffering.

How do we sense God's presence in our day-to-day life, especially when things seem out of control? This is difficult for every believer (and non-believers, as well!). We face it on a daily basis. Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss this and more on today's episode.

How aware of God's presence in your life are you? Do you sense God's presence even in the most difficult of times? Pastor James opens up Psalm 46 to discuss how we can know God's presence in every area of our lives. (Original sermon: 9 June 2024)

How does sharing our story help us show God's peace to the world? How do we work through the problems of finding the peace of God in our lives? Pastor James and Pastor Dena explore this and more in today's episode.

What kind of peace do you feel in your relationship with God? Did you know that peace with God is a direct outworking of the Gospel? Pastor James explores this in today's sermon from Romans 5, and Cindy Miller gives her testimony immediately following. (Original sermon date: 2 June 2024)