Jesus, the word made flesh, showed us the glory of the Father, full of grace and truth.  We can enjoy the peace, hope, joy, and salvation of Christ(mas), because Jesus concealed his glory for a time so that he might bring us to glory.

Jesus came to give joy, but we don’t always experience that each moment in this life.  When he returns, he will give us joy eternally. So what do I do in the here and now? Pastor Mollenkopf explains.

During the month of December, Jeremy Mollenkopf and Keith Pond will be looking at the words that we have come to associate with Christmas. This morning, Pastor Jeremy looks at "Peace." Due to our sin, peace was lost with God, with humans, and with the world. Jesus came to bring peace and restore it in each of these areas.

This passage tells of two stories that mirror stories of Elijah’s actions in 1 Kings 17:8-24. We see that God has blessed Elisha as he did Elijah, and thus, we see God’s power working through him. We look at people and we see their beauty. We see their wealth. Does God see such things? Will he treat me different if I am rich or poor? Pastor Mollenkopf brings clarity to God's word.

We see two kings both seeking success but neither seeking it from God. Tragically, both serve as negative examples of how far we can fall when we define success outside of God and pursue it outside of His will.

Diotrephes' pride of wanting to be number one is a cancer to a church. So what is the alternative? John exhorts the saints to imitate the good. Keith Pond explains how we are to do that in a culture reticent to imitate anyone, and points to the person John points out as exemplifying what it means to live out the Truth in the church today.

John has rejoiced greatly in Gaius living a life anchored in the Truth, exemplified in his assistance to Gospel missionaries and in the testimony of those men to Gaius faithfulness to the Truth. But problems lurk within the church manifest in the pride and self-absorption of Diotrephes. How can today's church learn from Diotrephes' corrupt character, to prevent such cancer destroying our churches? Keith Pond explains

[This sermon was originally preached October 31st in continuation of Pastor Mollenkopf's series through First and Second Kings]

One of the great Old Testament leaders and prophets, Elijah, is about to be taken away, but God has planned for his mission to continue.  God’s work is not dependent on us, but He graciously calls us to serve Him.

Ahaziah tragically follows the “like father, like son” adage. Yet, his continuing in sin and seeking after other gods leads to God’s merciful judgment. But since Ahaziah won’t learn and repent from God’s warning of judgment, God's sword of justice falls.

When should the believer separate himself from the world? Should a believer ever separate from other Christians? When does tolerance become sin? These and other questions come to light in looking at the King of Judah's relationship with the King of Israel. Jehoshaphat and Ahab. A problematic relationship or one we should emulate? Pastor Mollenkopf wades into these applicable waters.