The CCUPC Cutting Room Floor

What does worshipping God look like when we are experiencing pain or loss? What does it mean to praise God when there are tears in our eyes? Pastor James explores this through Ezra 1:1-4, 3:1-4, and 3:10-13. (Original sermon date: 17 Dec 23)

What would a prepared heart for Christmas look like? This is a question that many of probably have not considered. We probably have a better vision of what a prepared house looks like. Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss this and more on today's episode.

When you think of what you need to do to be ready for the holidays, what do you think of? Chances are you have a large number of things on your list to make Christmas "magical". Pastor James talks about preparations for Christmas and how we might have missed something important. (Originally aired: 10 Dec 23; Isaiah 40:1-11)

Isn't all of this sin talk depressing us for no reason? Aren't things bad but not that bad? How do we see the reality of our own world and lives? Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss this and more on today's episode. Jeremiah 33:10-18

After weeks of discussing the problem of sin, what is the future hope that we have? Why is it important to keep that in mind, and what will it look like? Pastor James discusses this and more in this week's sermon on Jeremiah 33:10-18. (Original sermon date: 3 Dec 23)

What does it mean to be a faithful follower of Jesus in our culture? Is it simply ignoring the bad? How does Josiah's faithfulness give us insight on how to live? Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss this and more in this week's episode. 2 Kings 22:1-20; 23:1-3

What is the role of grace in the midst of consequences? Do we imagine God having a "burn it all down" approach? Do we imagine God having an "it's okay" approach to virtually everything? Pastor James explores God's grace in the midst of wrath in this sermon from 2 Kings 22-2 Kings 23:1-3. (Original sermon date: 26 Nov 23)

What does it mean when we've done all that we could, yet our best isn't good enough? What would surrender look like? Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss this and more in this week's episode. Isaiah 5:1-7; 11:1-5

We like to think that we can take care of ourselves. What happens when we come to the realization that we need help? What happens if we realize that we can't take care of ourselves? Pastor James explores our need for a savior in this week's sermon on Isaiah 5:1-7 and 11:1-5. (Original sermon date: 19 Nov 23)

How do you think about the idea of God's compassion controlling God's wrath? Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss the implications for our faith about this concept from Hosea 11.

It's probably fair to say that most people would describe God's wrath as something that would take a great strength to control. We often struggle to control our own feelings when we're passionate about something or if we feel we've been wronged. So what is it that controls God's wrath? Pastor James gives the surprising answer in this week's sermon from Hosea 11:1-9. (Original sermon date: 12 Nov 2...

What are the signs of the health of your faith? What are the things that give you meaning and purpose? Pastor Dena and Pastor James discuss this and more in today's episode.

Just like symptoms of a cold or the flu tell us what the condition of our body is, there are symptoms and conditions that tell us the condition of our relationship with God. Pastor James explores these through the story of Elijah confronting King Ahab and the people of Israel in 1 Kings 18:17-39.

Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss decision-making when the world has one set of values and Christ has another.

What is it that guides your decision-making process in life? What are the considerations that you make when doing this? Pastor James discusses decision-making from the life of Solomon's son Rehoboam, who ended up splitting the kingdom. Sermon text: 1 Kings 12:1-17, 25-29.

When discussing David's life of waiting, Pastor James talked about the process and the pain of waiting. What if there was also power that came from waiting? Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss this and the sermon.

Pastor James explores the pain and process of waiting through an exploration of David's life. A simple passage can contain so much meaning when we look intently at its context.

Pastor Dena and Pastor James talk about how the story of Ruth and Naomi applies to our lives today.

Sermon on Ruth 1.

Join Pastor Dena with Dale and Diane as guests as we discuss the 10 Commandments, the Shema, and the call to Israel to reaffirm the covenant that God had made. Deuteronomy 5:1-21 and Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

Join us as we discuss the 10 Commandments, the Shema, and the call to Israel to reaffirm the covenant that God had made. Deuteronomy 5:1-21 and Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

How has God uniquely equipped you for service to the world? How do we reframe our history through the lens of God's redemptive love? Pastor James and Pastor Dena explore this through the sermon and the story of Moses' call.

How does God reveal himself in the Old Testament? What can we learn from the story of Moses' calling about the nature and operations of God? Pastor James explores this from Exodus 1 & 3.

What does it mean to have an identity that comes from outside of yourself? What are the pitfalls in choosing your own identity? Pastor James and Pastor Dena discuss this in terms of the life of Jacob.

What happens when we have an encounter with the living God? Can we walk away from such an encounter the same as we walked into it? Pastor James discusses this in the life of Jacob from Genesis 32.