Pastor Chris Ansell of Restoration Community Church conclude our series looking at the church of Jesus Christ. This week he addresses the "why" question, by helping understand the purpose of the church. The church is a place of equipping meant to unleash the followers of Jesus Christ upon the world in order to seek the kingdom of God in their midst.

Passages: Deuteronomy 5:15; Ephesians 4:7-12; Psalm 68:18

Pastor Chris Ansell of Restoration Community Church continues our series looking at the church of Jesus Christ. This week he addresses the "how" question, by walking through the rhythms of the church. Like musical themes in a movie, the rhythms and melodies we learn at church are meant to be taken with us outside of the walls to help us connect with God through the remainder of our weeks.

Passages: Acts 2:42; Isaiah 55:1-2; 1 Corinthians 11:27-29

Pastor Chris Ansell of Restoration Community Church continues a new series looking at the church of Jesus Christ. This week he addresses the "who" question, who is the church? What are the defining characteristics of the body of believers and what makes this community unique to others in the world?

Passages: Romans 12:4-5; Revelation 7:9; Galatians 3:26-28; 1 Corinthians 12:14-20

Pastor Chris Ansell of Restoration Community Church begins a new series looking at the church of Jesus Christ. This week he addresses the definition of the church. What is it? Is it merely the building we have our worship services in? Is it an event we attend? Or is it something more?

Passages: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Hebrews 10:23-25

Mike Matthews, associate pastor of Evangel Community Church, fills the pulpit. Mike shares the secret of contentment. In the words of Elizabeth Elliot, "the secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances."

Passage: Philippians 4:10-13

Dennis Allan, co-pastor of Garden City Church, fills the pulpit. Dennis walked us through what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. He compares the stories of Jesus in the synagogue in Capernaum with his hometown of Nazareth.

Passage: Mark 6:1-6

Shaq Hager, co-pastor of Garden City Church, fills the pulpit. Shaq walked us through the psalm of lament (Ps 44) which occurs right after a military defeat. Shaq encouraged us that while we may not know what God is doing in our present circumstances, the past points to his enduring faithfulness which gives us hope for his continued work in the future.

Passage: Psalm 44

Mike Matthews, Associate Pastor at Evangel Community Church in New Castle, fills the pulpit. He shared from his own experience of disability to provide insight into our suffering. Faithfulness in times of suffering is for the glory of God or our own character development in Christ.

Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:7-10

Dave Bindewald fills the pulpit, providing a compelling look at the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus did come to save sins, but the restorative light of God goes far beyond merely the problem of sin.

Passages: Luke 4:16-22; Mark 1:40-45; Genesis 3:15

Pastor Chris Ansell of Restoration Community Church continues our walk through the narrative portions of Scripture. This week is part 2 of the flood narrative (Gen. 9). In this segment we look at the parallels between the first few verses of chapter 9 and the creation mandate (Genesis 1:28-30), the sign of the covenant with God (the rainbow), and some family drama.

Passages: Genesis 9:1-29; Genesis 1:28-30; Romans 8:19-21; Genesis 10:15-19; Deuteronomy 7:1