Through and To

You are blessed to be a blessing. In Genesis 12:1-3, God says to Abraham - and to us, “However I have blessed you – I want you to use your blessing to bless others. But, where do we begin? 

Prayer. 

This is the first message in a five week series about how to love your neighbors. Originally shared February 2, 2025. 

When you live in a house for any period of time, it’s going to need some attention. Floors need to be refinished or carpet replaced. Walls will need painting. Eventually, nail holes, dings, nicks, and cracks will need to be repaired. Sometimes, major issues arise and significant renovation is needed.

Church is like that. This final message in our Good Bones series talks about making plans, picking up tools, and starting the renovation work. 

Originally shared 01.26.25. 

Methods change, but the mission stays. Our past as a local church shapes our present and influences our future. Originally shared as week three of the Good Bones series at Eaton Rapids Church of the Nazarene, January 19, 2025. 

Who are we? We are a people, gathered and scattered in the name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father on a mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We are also Nazarenes. As such, we embrace seven characteristics that range from theology to worship to church development, and more.

Our identity as a biblical church is our foundation. Our identity as a Nazarene church is our frame. These are the Good Bones upon which all of our work stands. 

Welcome to our new sermon series called Good Bones. There’s a show on HGTV called Good Bones where a home renovation company in Indy buys condemned houses that still have workable foundations and solid frames, they identify what to keep, what to restore, and what to replace. Then, they turn these homes into modern reflections of their former glory. They protect as much character and charm from the original design as they can and endeavor to always incorporate original elements into the renovation.  

The end result: honoring the past while bringing new life to the home – all by building on the existing foundation and the original Good Bones. 

We have really good bones. This is the Lord’s declaration to us, if we obey him, trust him, and follow him: God will rouse our spirits and as He rebuild this church by honoring our foundation in Scripture and our history as a Nazarene church and a local church while embracing the future he has for us by leaning into where he has us in this present moment. 

As a result of Jesus' life and sacrificial death, the Good News of peace is proclaimed to a worldwide audience, through those who receive his gift of peace and live in a covenant relationship of loyalty and love with him. Not only is it proclaimed, it is available to YOU! That's right. You can experience biblical peace as you trust in Christ and grow in your faith. 

This message was originally shared as the final week of our 2024 Advent Series.

Names are important. They mean something. That's true of Jesus and the four names he was given by God through the prophet Isaiah. One of those names can be a little confusing, though: Everlasting Father. How can Jesus, coming as a baby, be the Son and also the Father?

Isaiah doesn’t say the Messiah will be The Father, it says he will be called “Everlasting Father.” This name describes Jesus. It helps us know him, as in how to experience him, relate with him, learning how to be with him by knowing how he is with us. 

This message, which was originally given December 15, 2024, connects some dots between God, our Heavenly Father, the prophet Isaiah, Jesus, and us today. 

Have you ever been stuck in your life? In school, work, relationships, routines, or just stuck overall? Isaiah said the Savior's name would beMighty God...and the word "mighty" means "powerful leader."

Jesus commanded demons to flea, called Peter to walk on water, taught as one with authority, raised up the marginalized, healed the sick, elevated the poor, and practiced radical inclusion and generosity. People gathered to see and hear – not because he bulldozed his way through social structures and systems, but because he led in a way that was just plain powerful.

There's something about that name: Mighty God. Who better to get you unstuck?

This message was originally share 12.08.24, as week 2 of the Advent series at Eaton Rapids Church of the Nazarene, "There's Something About That Name." 

Names are significant. They have meaning. Whether your parents chose your name because of its meaning or not, your name means something. My middle name, Ian, means “God is gracious,” and that is my testimony. God has been so gracious throughout my life and is teaching me to be increasingly gracious all the time.

This message was originally shared as the first sermon in an Advent series called, “There’s Something About That Name.” Over the next four episodes, the messages will consider the qualities of Jesus reflected in the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, and, on Christmas Eve, Immanuel.

Praise has many voices, each suited for different seasons and circumstances. Sometimes, praise sounds like a whisper. Sometimes, it's more like a conversation with a close friend. Still, other times, it's an exuberant shout! Whatever we're going through, God is king forever, he is our ever-present help in times of trouble, and his love endures forever. That covers pretty much every circumstance, so whatever it sounds like, we can respond by saying, "Praise the Lord!"

This message was originally shared at Eaton Rapids Church of the Nazarene on 11.24.24 as the culminating sermon of the -ever- series.