Who is responsible for our success? How does our work relate with God's work? This Sunday's sermon text might seem foreign to us. It's an ancient business deal involving herds, breeding, and a little superstition, too. And yet at the foundation we'll see two men not unlike us today who are striving for material success no matter the cost.
This Sunday's passage is another bizarre and incredibly sad one. We'll learn from Jacob's two wives--Leah and Rachel--who each experience an unfulfilled longing for their deepest desire. And we'll see how God can bless despite even the worst kind of mess.
Scripture is clear that the Lord leads his people into difficult circumstances to grow our faith in him. Do you remember a past faith-refining season in your own life? This Sunday's passage is a particularly bizarre and painful expression of that. We'll observe both the Lord's kind providence and his refining discipline in Jacob's life and apply it to our own lives.
Our passage this week finds Jacob in the consequences of his sin: alone, running for his life, and with an uncertain future. Perhaps you can relate to some or all these feelings in your own life. Yet it is in this dark, lonely place where God graciously meets Jacob--and delights to meet us--with his amazing grace.
Favoritism. Greed. Deception. Despair. Our passage is full of ugliness—all within one family, and the family of promise no less! God's blessing perseveres even in the midst of this mess, and our messes, too. This Sunday, Genesis 27 offers us a strong warning against sin and a consolation of God's undeterred plan of blessing for his people.
How do you persevere amid the ups and downs in life? God's word consistently points us to his presence with us. Often we may ask God to be with us, but what does this really mean? And how does his presence practically help us? In Sunday's passage, we'll learn the significance of God's presence with us as we learn from the ups and downs of Isaac's life.
We all have choices to make, but how do we make sure we make the right ones? This Sunday we begin a new sermon series in Genesis 25-35, following "the generations of Isaac." In this new section, we'll observe how the Lord preserves his redemption plan through his chosen family. We'll see God's grace in his own sovereign choice, while also the significance of our own choices to follow him.
We've said throughout this sermon series that God's law is an expression of his love to bring us freedom. But freedom from what? And for what? This Sunday we wrap up our series on the 10 Commandments considering them as a whole. We'll see how God's law frees us to love Him and love one another.
In a season when many resolve and desire for more, God's word for us this week is to consider the danger of coveting and the freedom of contentment. This Sunday we'll conclude our sermon series in the 10 Commandments from this past fall with the final word: You shall not covet.
This Sunday we'll rejoice in the incarnation of the Son of God together. We'll consider how Luke's account of our Lord's birth reveals who this child is--human and divine; sufferer and savior; Son of Man and Son of God.
This Sunday we continue in the next scene of the Gospel of Luke in our short Advent sermon series. In a curious meeting of two expectant mothers, we'll see what we can learn from Elizabeth and Mary so that we might experience the joy that Jesus offers.
This Sunday we have the joy to welcome Rev. David Thompson, Parochial Vicar (Associate Pastor) of The Church of the Advent in Beacon Hill. Rev. David will begin our three-week Advent sermon series in Luke's Gospel.
The ninth commandment shows us impact of our words in loving our neighbors. We are charged in the previous commandments not to take our neighbor's life, wife, or property. The ninth command tells us not to take our neighbor's reputation—to honor those around us with truthful words. We'll see on Sunday how we can be faithful, not false, witnesses in all of our lives.
Today is Black Friday, a day to "get a steal" or a good bargain. But in God's eyes stealing is never a bargain. Few people would admit to violating the 8th Commandment in a significant way. And yet we'll see this Sunday not only what so many of us often steal, but why we do it, and finally who our treasure is for anyway.
We dive back into our sermon series on the 10 Commandments this Sunday. We'll see why faithfulness in marriage is so crucial to the health and holiness not just of individuals but of the entire community of God's people, whether married or not.
Pastor Josh is ill this weekend, so in God's providence, we have the opportunity to hear God's word from Dr. Jim Harrell. Jim is an elder at Christ Community Church in Taunton, MA. He has more than 40 years of ministry experience, has a heart to see churches revitalized, and is a personal mentor to Pastor Josh. He'll preach from Acts 1 about avoiding the danger of distorting our witness so that we might be faithful, empowered witnesses to our neighbors.
"You shall not murder." Well that's pretty simple and easy, check! Finally we come to one of the 10 commandments that we don't have to worry about. Right? Not so fast. Sunday we'll see how these four little words have vast application not only to our world but also to our own hearts.
The 10 commandments cover some pretty important topics: worship and idolatry, killing and stealing, adultery and lying. But why does God uses one of the "big ten" to tell us to listen to Mom and Dad? Of course it seems good to do that, but why is it such a big deal? We'll explore this on Sunday as we dive back into our How Free People Live sermon series.
This week is our Missions Sunday. We’ll explore God’s blessing for the nations from Genesis 12:1-3.
It's healthy to take a day off from work and to take a vacation once in a while, too. And yet, God uses one of his famous 10 Commandments to require his people to rest, every week. As we study the 4th Commandment this Sunday, we'll see the significant spiritual reason why God commands you to rest.
