"It's Christmas time already." It appears to sneak up on us each year. As we approach Christmas day we strive to intentionally slow our lives down to prepare our hearts for Jesus' arrival. Pastor James reminds us of how we can prepare and be ready for Jesus' coming this Advent season.

David was a "man after God's own heart." He is remembered as the greatest king in Israel's history. His faith humility in adversity with Saul seems unattainable. Yet, David faced his own struggles in life. He fell into his own sin. Discover how God was able to use a man who had such great highs and such deep lows.

Though David was and remains the most well known and important king in Israel's history he may best be described as "a man after God's own heart." Continuing in our series "The Story" Pastor James explores what made David's faith and character exceptional among the names of scripture.

Israel is in the Promise Land and have decided they wanted to be more like the nations that surround them than the covenant people of God. Against stern warnings the Israelites decide to have a king rule over them, a king like their neighboring nations. How difficult it is to be in the world but distinct from it! How are God's people to deal with such temptations? Pastor James explores the difficulty of being in the world but not of the world.

In the midst of Israel's tumultuous 300 years under the Judges comes a suprising story of great faith and faithfulness. If the report of sincere faithfulness during this time period isn't shocking then the person who displayed it most certainly could be, a foreign woman named Ruth. Becky explores the four acts of this short story illuminating the love and faithfulness of God and a few of his people and, most importantly, that of the gospel.

After entering and taking control of the Promise Land Israel's relationship with and faithfulness to God began to wane. The younger generations were unaware of God's work in and through their ancestors. Other gods became much more desirable. The vicious cycle of sin, suffering, crying out to God, and deliverance became clock work in the book of Judges. Pastor James helps us learn how we might avoid such a spirituality in our live as the people of God.

Continuing in our series The Story Pastor James introduces us to a new character, Joshua. It is through this man that God's people will finally enter the Promise Land, but the journey to get there will not be as easy as some may have expected.

What are God's people to make of circumstances that are changing for the worse? How are they to respond when it seems like things aren't going to be quite as easy as they once supposed? Using the wilderness wanderings of Israel Danny teaches how God's people can remain steadfast regardless of circumstance, how a life of faith can keep one focused on God.

Exodus 19:1-8Fresh out of Egypt, where they had been enslaved for over 400 years, the Hebrew people found themselves free but without a clear identity. They were God's people, but the question remained, what kind of people would they be? In this sermon we hear of God's plan for "community development" among his people and in particular how he would use the Ten Commandments and the Tabernacle to give shape to this nation.

Exodus 3:1-12Though the people of Israel were enslaved in Egypt, God had an "exit strategy" in mind to set them free. Moses would be a key part of that strategy and this week we get to hear God's call on his life. We also get to hear about not only what God would do, but more about the kind of God this was who would deliver his people.