The right way to understand Scripture is not to look at every passage as a stand-alone story but to seek to understand the story in the context of the bigger story of the Bible. That was the goal of our sermon this week as we read of Abraham's deceit about Sarah being his wife. Why is it important for us to know this story? What is there that we can learn from this story that we can apply to our lives today?

Jeremy Bossard was raised by godly parents and attended church growing up. But that is no guarantee about what to expect as one becomes their own person as they begin to leave home and learn life lessons for themselves. While Jeremy had a firm foundation, it was his years in college when his personal discipleship really took off and he learned to make the faith of his family his own. We're thankful for Jeremy and his story of how God has and is transforming his life!

In Genesis 18 God pays a visit to Abraham and Sarah and once again confirms the promise of a son to them. But as Sarah hears that she is to give birth, she laughs to herself in disbelief. God addresses her doubt by asking if anything is too difficult for Him to do. It's a great question! One that applies to your life today!

What is freedom? Most identify it as no limitations or the ability to do what you want. But the greatest freedom comes in the context of a relationship with Christ and in Christ, we are not free to do as we please. We are free to serve others, which means a great deal of self denial. What does it mean to be free in Christ then? Todd Domke walks us through an understanding of the freedom we have in Christ.

This Sunday, as John Ashton leads us in the Word, we are privileged to have over 100 CEF student workers in our service as they prepare for a week of ministry in the greater Philadelphia area. John teaches us on the ministry of reconciliation and how it is at the heart of the Gospel message as man is reconciled to God. But reconciliation goes further as God expects us to be reconciled to one another as well.

"Only God" -- that is the theme of the story of how God has intervened in the life of Linda Brescia. Time after time, Linda shares how circumstances looked impossible in her life only to watch God open doors that she didn't know existed and present solutions no one imagined. Her story is the story of God's faithfulness in her life.

This week one of our student ministry teams did a cardboard testimony sketch before the sermon -- which was a perfect lead-in to Genesis 17. In chapter 17 God restates the nature of his covenant with Abram and even states when the child will be born and that Isaac will be his name. But there's more! God institutes circumcision as the sign of the covenant. Abraham demonstrates how changed lives are shaped by our obedience.

This is the second of a two-part series on the Judgement Seat of Christ. Scott Brubaker highlights how the Apostle Paul's greatest concern was pleasing the Lord Jesus and gaining a "crown that lasts forever." His sermon does a great job of helping Christians understand the eternal value of living an intentional life here on Earth. He breaks it down into three elements: What we do. Why we do it. How we do it. He also touches on the way we view our money and how we do and don't use it in ways that reaps eternal rewards.

Many Christians might appear before the judgement seat of Christ and wonder why they didn't know that the things they did on Earth as a Christian mattered when they arrived in Heaven. In a two-part series, Scott Brubaker unpacks the truths around this significant event that every Christian will experience when they arrive in Heaven. He does a great job at distinguishing between eternal rewards and eternal life and explaining why it matters so much about how we live our earthly lives.

This week our sermon time followed our baby dedication, which is appropriate as we study chapter 16 and Abram and Sarai's ongoing unmet desire for a baby for themselves. But instead of waiting in faith for God to provide, Abram and Sarai took a 'shortcut' to having a child. Shortcuts never work out. They are always our effort to fulfill something that was God's job to begin with. Waiting is never easy, but it's always best!