Walnut Creek Downtown

"The truth will set you free." - John 8:32, one of the Bible's most famous verses. Pastor Dan Rude explains what Jesus means and how he can offer such freedom. In this message, Pastor Dan will discuss the reality of false believers, the marks of true believers, what it means to be enslaved to sin, and how, in Christ, we are offered true freedom.

Pastor Dan Rude answers two questions that arise from Genesis 50: “What do you do with guilt?” and “How do we forgive those who have deeply hurt us?” As Genesis comes to a close, Joseph’s brothers continue to struggle with the guilt of what they have done to him, while Joseph demonstrates his established forgiveness through his words and actions toward them.

At the end of his life, Jacob gathers his 12 sons for a final family meeting. Pastor Dan uses three words to describe what is happening in Genesis 49: blessing, poetry, and prophecy.

God's ways are not our ways, and this is clearly evident at the end of Genesis. In Genesis 48, we find Jacob at the end of his life giving a blessing to Joseph's sons. In this chapter, we see the first mention of God as a shepherd. Pastor Dan explains how this blessing reveals Jacob's view of God and his obedience to Him. It also shows Joseph's immense faith in choosing to align his family with Israel instead of Egypt.

In Genesis 46, Jacob makes the hard decision to leave the Promised Land and go to Egypt, where he will finally be reunited with his son Joseph. Pastor Dan Rude teaches how we follow the Lord when we are afraid and how God used the nation of Egypt to build up His people.

Reveal, Reassure, Reconcile, Return, Revival. These are the 5 words that summarize Genesis 45 when Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers. Pastor Luke Hukee delves into what forgiveness is, what reconciliation entails, and how, as Christians, we have reason to hope and be optimistic, regardless of the circumstances.

In Genesis 44, we see the fruit, the proof of Joseph’s brothers’ transformation. The longest recorded speech from Joseph's brother, Judah, and some say the most manly. Pastor Luke walks us through this chapter, highlighting how it reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice for us and the transformative power of God’s grace.

Envy is a darker side of coveting, born out of an obsession with what someone deserves. In Genesis 43, Joseph encounters his brothers again and has another test for them to reveal whether these envious men who threw him in a pit and sold him into slavery had changed. Pastor Dan Rude discusses the cure for envy and how it is illustrated in the story of Joseph.

Joseph encounters his brothers for the first time, and instead of choosing to forget about them. He chooses to try to get to know them, understand them, and create an opportunity to potentially seek reconciliation. Pastor Dan Rude explains how sin haunts, how forgiveness works, and how reconciliation is different than forgiveness.

The experience of pain is different when there is hope. In this sermon, Pastor Dan Rude gives 5 facts from our passage that help us understand that the resurrection really did happen. He then reviews 3 implications Jesus' resurrection has for our lives. Understanding these realities produces in us a Joyful Trembling.