the Vine

Doug Warren visited us again on August 16th to share a crisp and vivid message based on the introduction of Paul's letter to the church at Philippi. Doug's message focuses on God's faithfulness, God's promise to redeem us as His own, and the coming completion of His promise as Jesus will return, as promised.

A rumination from Etna Church member Mark Hardy on a small piece of Paul's epochal epistle to the church at Rome, on the essential nature of hearing and understanding the Good News (i.e., accepting and believing in the redemptive work of the Jesus, the Messiah) as the path to "get right with God".

Dale Edwards visited us to deliver a powerful meditation based on the first two parables found in Luke 15. Dale's message focuses on God's resolute desire to seek and to save the lost.

Lindsay Whaley, professor of Classics and Linguistics at Dartmouth College and a founding member of Christ Redeemer Church, was our guest preacher on July 26, 2026. Lindsay's message focuses the third epistle written by the apostle John. 3 John, the shortest book in all of Scripture (in the original Greek) packs an essential and timeless Gospel message into its 15 verses. You'll want to watch this sermon, especially if you're wondering what Rodney Dangerfield has to do with 3 John (or vice versa)! 

Our own Eric Wadsworth delivers a memorable message, built around 1 Kings 19:11-14, in which the prophet Elijah learns something about listening for (and to) God.

Guest preacher Malcolm Hamblett joined us with a thought-provoking message based on the stirring and challenging words of Jesus to the Pharisee Nicodemus, as recorded in John's Gospel (John 3:1-8).

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.["] – John 3:2b-6 (ESV)

Guest preacher Craig Parker delivered a powerful sermon identifying the three aspects of God and of our Christian faith that are essential in helping people along the road to embracing the gift of the Gospel that God makes freely available to all who would receive it. Best of all, Craig shares practical advice for application of these ideas.

Our congregation's own Mike Clarke delivers a powerful, beautifully crafted exploration of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, using Jesus' own teaching on the topic from Luke 12.

“Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” (from John 9:2, NLT). Guest preacher Bob Wyand shares a Fathers Day-themed sermon based on Jesus' "impertinent" (from the Pharisees' perspective) healing, on the Sabbath, of a man born blind.

Guest preacher Thom Christian returns with a sermon using the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) to discuss the deftness and flexibility sometimes required by Christians to follow Christ's Great Commission to "go and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19-20). There are important things!