Because of an audio glitch, we were only able to record the final 17 minutes of the sermon. We've attached the sermon manuscript for the first 2/3rds of the sermon. There is also a video that was shown during the message. You can view that video at http://vimeo.com/4733514

Because of an audio glitch, we were only able to record the final 17 minutes of the sermon. We've attached the sermon manuscript for the first 2/3rds of the sermon. There is also a video that was shown during the message. You can view that video...

As Christians, loving each other is important. If we're going to learn to serve the world around us, we first need to make sure we are serving and loving each other. In his book, Discipleship Essentials (p.152), Greg Ogden recounts the following story: “Mary Rutan tells of...her church in Alaska [which] was hosting missionaries who were to live in the homes of the parishioners and rotate among the churches. Just before their house guest was to arrive, the flu arrived first. Her whole family was ill. Before they had time to make other housing arrangements, there was a knock on the door. Mary’s husband was the only one well enough to stagger to the door. He explained the situation and suggested that it would be best for the missionary to stay elsewhere. The man’s face became serious with concern, but not for himself. He didn’t just step through the door, but he strode in with a firm, “Oh, no! You need me here!” To their amazement he put down his luggage, took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves and began to wash the dishes. Mary said she had heard many sermons on servanthood but none so eloquent as those six words, “Oh, no! You need me here.” His eyes were on the lookout for how he could be helpful. A servant doesn’t wait to be asked but restlessly looks for unmet needs.” On the surface, loving each other within the body of Christ doesn't seem that difficult. But as we will see this Sunday, giving our lives away to each other can be one of the more challenging obstacles in living our lives the way Jesus asks. Sunday should be fun. It'll be a chance to be challenged in the way we live. As always, I can't wait to see you then! P.Dave

As Christians, loving each other is important. If we're going to learn to serve the world around us, we first need to make sure we are serving and loving each other. In his book, Discipleship Essentials (p.152), Greg Ogden recounts the following...

As WCC strives to be a missional church, one of the things we have been seeking to do is to send people "out" of the church to make an impact in the world. In 2012, we are going to focus on the "S" of the BLOSM: Service. I am excited to hear how, already, God has been challenging individuals in our church family to serve. One family organized meals for a family that lost everything at Christmas. Another family brought a Muslim student from Drake to join them for Christmas. And yet another family is caring for refugees by teaching English. The list goes on and on! I keep hearing story after story of people who are giving their lives away in service of others. For the next six weeks, on Sunday mornings, we will be focusing on a new sermon series: "Give Your Life Away." This first week stands as the foundation for the whole series. In short, we give our lives away to others because God gave his life away to us! Even as I write this email, I can't wait to deliver this first message. I love what God is doing in the lives of the people of WCC. And I can't wait to see you Sunday! P.Dave

As WCC strives to be a missional church, one of the things we have been seeking to do is to send people "out" of the church to make an impact in the world. In 2012, we are going to focus on the "S" of the BLOSM: Service. I am...

What if I told you that I could give you a 100% guarantee that in 2012 you could have the desires of your heart? You may say that is too good to be true. You would probably say it is impossible. "I have some pretty big desires," you might say. But I can promise you that if you follow my steps, you too can be full of joy in 2012. Would you be interested? I hear you now - if it's too good to be true, then it probably is. We have become a nation of skeptics and cynics. Worse, we know people who have twisted Scripture to dupe people into giving them a lot of money or to buy their latest book. Trust me, I don't want your money and I haven't written a book (yet!). But I can promise you that if you come to celebrate the New Year with me on Sunday, I will share with you the secret to a joyful and satisfying 2012. Are you interested? I know that Sunday is New Year's Day, but the bowl games aren't until Monday and the NFL doesn't kick off until noon. So go to bed right after you ring in the New Year and join the family of WCC to not only worship our incarnate and risen King, but to learn more about gaining the desires of your heart. Can't wait to see you then! In Christ, Thomas

What if I told you that I could give you a 100% guarantee that in 2012 you could have the desires of your heart? You may say that is too good to be true. You would probably say it is impossible. "I have some pretty big desires," you might...

I can't wait for Christmas. Its such a great day. Every Christmas morning, the first thing that happens is that all 5 kids pile in bed with us. There, crammed in our bed, we set Christmas morning right by reading the Christmas story together from Luke 2. All the while that we're reading the story, I know the kids are thinking, "what kind of present is downstairs for me! Let's go, let's go, LET'S GO!" Downstairs, they know there awaits the promise of something good. In Jeremiah 23, God's gives his people the promise of something good. But he doesn't says "Something good is coming right now." Instead he says, "The days are coming…." How would my kids feel if, while we are piled in my bed, I said, "The days are coming when you'll get to open Christmas gifts." They would say, "What? You mean not today?" God's promises to us are good. But if there is anything that we should learn from Christmas, its that we should loves God's gift of righteousness no matter what the timing. This Sunday, I'm looking forward to unpacking the Christmas message through the eyes of the prophet Jeremiah. I can't wait to see you then! P.Dave

I can't wait for Christmas. Its such a great day. Every Christmas morning, the first thing that happens is that all 5 kids pile in bed with us. There, crammed in our bed, we set Christmas morning right by reading the Christmas story together from...