Date: 5/6/2018 Title: God’s Controversial Grace Speaker: Pastor Darryl J. Stalter Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16
“That’s not fair.” This is a phrase we hear and use all the time. We see God apparently working in or blessing someone else and we feel it is unfair. As a result we often struggle to see the goodness and fairness of God. The main reason that we struggle is that we truly do not understand the controversial nature of grace. Grace is “the free and unmerited favor of God.’Because it is free and unmerited, it will be controversial because our performance does not necessarily determine the outcome.
Date: 4/29/2018 Title: Today’s Man Speaker: Pastor George Gracie Scripture: Matthew 19:16-30
We often view our relationship to God in terms of commands, a list of dos and don’ts. In Matthew 19 Jesus reminds a rich young ruler that it is more a matter of the heart. It is a heart that is willing to give up the comforts and riches of this life for a higher love and calling.
Date: 4/22/2018 Title: Children Welcomed Speaker: Pastor George Gracie Scripture: Matthew 19:13-15
We often wonder when it is appropriate to bring our children to Jesus. Jesus’ answer in Matthew 19 is to let the children come onto him and not to hinder them. We are called to bring our children to Jesus from birth and to not be a hindrance to them in doing so.
Date: 4/15/2018 Title: Marriage and Divorce: God’s View Speaker: Pastor George Gracie Scripture: Matthew 19:1-12
Divorce. It is an unfortunate reality in our world. There is much confusion concerning God’s view on the subject. In Matthew 19 Jesus clarifies God’s view on the matter.
Date: 4/8/2018 Title: Freedom in Forgiveness Speaker: Pastor Darryl J. Stalter Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35
Forgiveness is supposed to be at the center of the Christian faith. Yet, even as believers we seem to struggle with granting forgiveness. As such, it is often difficult to see any difference in the Church when it comes to forgiveness. We should be the most joyous and forgiving and grace filled people in all the earth, yet we often project bitterness and hurt. We live in a fallen world, with fallen people. As such, we are all going to experience hurt and disappointment in our lives. What separates us as believers is how we are to deal with that hurt and disappointment. In Matthew 18 Jesus calls us to forgive, because there is freedom in forgiveness.
Date: 4/1/2018 Title: The Reality of the Resurrection Speaker: Pastor Darryl J. Stalter Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-28
In our world of naturalistic and materialistic preconceptions, it is often difficult to wrap our minds around the resurrection. Yet, in 1 Corinthians 15 the Bible makes it clear that the reality of the resurrection is central to the Christian faith and the foundation of the gospel message.
Date: 3/25/2018 Title: An Intervention Speaker: Pastor Darryl J. Stalter Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20
When a fellow Christian sins we have a tenancy to not involve ourselves, believing we are to “mind our own business”. And if a fellow Christian sins against us, we have a tenancy to just stay away from that person believing that “avoidance is better than confrontation”. These practices may sound good, but that is not to what Jesus calls us. In Matthew 18 Jesus calls us to intervene in order to bring about the restoration of the brother or sister.
Date: 3/18/2018 Title: Loose Rocks Ahead! Speaker: Pastor Darryl J. Stalter Scripture: Matthew 18:7-14
When hiking it is not uncommon to come to a warning sign cautioning of loose rocks ahead. If not heeded, the hiker may find themselves stumbling down the side of the trail. Likewise, in Matthew 18 Jesus warns us of the inevitability of stumbling blocks in our walks with Christ. Warnings if not heed can result in us finding ourselves in our spiritual lives stubbing our toes, slipping off gravely slopes, or worse yet being buried alive.
Date: 3/11/2018 Title: Greatness in Humility Speaker: Pastor Darryl J. Stalter Scripture: Matthew 18:1-6
Greatness. It is something to which our culture holds in high regard. Greatness is something to which we all aspire, or at least told we are to aspire. A greatness founded in our self effort, our achievements, and our self promotion. In Matthew 18 Jesus challenged this view of greatness by showing the way to greatness in His kingdom is found in humility.
Date: 3/4/2018 Title: Freedom Speaker: Pastor George Gracie Scripture: Matthew 17:22-27
In Matthew 17 Peter commits himself and Jesus to paying the Temple tax in accordance to the religious traditions of men. Here, Jesus reminds Peter and us that in Christ were are free from such regulations. But, he also reminds us not to use that freedom as a stumbling block for others.
