These days it is easy to be offended. Usually we take offense, not because of something actually done wrong to us, but because our perception was off. In this passage, Jesus says, "Blessed is the one who is not offended by me" — a warning not come to the our Lord with preconceived ideas about what kind of Savior He should be, and a promise of blessing to those who receive Him as He is. Advent 2024 

In this message, we learn that Christian thankfulness is the result of being given a new self. This new self must be "put on" in our pursuit of holiness, but it is first given to those whom God has chosen and loved. In this message on the even of Thanksgiving 2024, we re-tune our hearts to the Christian calling of giving thanks.

Exod. 4:18–23
Job 37:14–24
Mark 14:32–36
Gal. 4:1–7
Prayer is one of the greatest privileges and struggles of the Christian life. It is a struggle because, as we say in the prayer of confession, “our minds are dark and are assailed by doubts.” Jesus has given us the Lord’s Prayer to help us. In this message, we learn that true prayer requires an “awakening” in us "that through Christ God has become our Father" (Q&A 120).

Isaac’s birth is next major moment in God's redemption plan. Because Isaac comes into the world through God’s power and promise, not through human effort, his story teaches us that salvation is the work of our sovereign God, and that no obstacles actually stand His way to accomplishing that salvation.

Gen. 12:1–9 
Ps. 145:14–21 
Matt. 7:7–11 
Rev. 8:1–5 
Christian gratitude is not just about obedience to the commandments, but also prayer. In fact, Q&A 116 teach us that “prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness God requires of us.” In this message, we look at prayer from the last several verses of Psalm 145, especially anchored to v. 18: “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” 

In the passage, Abraham the “man of faith” comes into contact with an outsider—an unbeliever—Abimelech, king of Gerar. Abraham’s behavior toward this outsider causes a serious problem. This story posts a particularly challenging lesson for Christians: since Jesus Christ is the Savior of all kinds of people from all over the world, Christians must live out their faith in a way that helps, not hurts, those outsiders to see what a great God we have.

November 10, 2024
Deut. 12:1–12
Zech. 8:18–23
John 17:20–23
Heb. 12:18–23
Guest preacher John Punt (Bloomington RPCNA) opens God's Word to Psalm 122 in the evening service to speak of delighting in God and His people by serving them through Jesus, who is the King and Head of the Church.

From our Election Day 2024 prayer service. No matter how the election goes, no matter what direction the United States takes, we set our hope on the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, which is "not of this world."

Lev. 19:13–18 
Prov. 1:8–19 
Luke 10:25–37 
Eph. 5:1–14 
In this message on the second table of the Law (commandments 5–10), we learn who our neighbors are, and why the Lord requires us to love them. They are our fellow image-bearers, and they are our fellow sinners, in need of redemption just like us.

Jesus & the apostles said that the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah was like a preview of the great Day of Judgment and the toppling of the Serpent's reign. Like the angel's rescued Lot from the destruction of the city, so Christ will return and deliver His people from the condemnation of the world. But this tragic story teaches also how to live in the meantime: warning and praying for the lost and guarding ourselves from the lies of the devil.