Date: 12/24/2016
Title: The Greatest Gift Ever Given
Speaker: Pastor George Gracie
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-23

Christmas time is often referred to as the season of giving. It is with great joy and excitement that we wake up Christmas morning and see a bunch of wrapped gifts underneath a lit tree. No matter how great these gifts might be, they pale in comparison to the first Christmas, where God gave the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ.

Date: 12/18/2016
Title: New is Better than Old
Speaker: Pastor George Gracie
Scripture: Matthew 9:14-17

In Matthew 9 Jesus is questioned why his disciples did not follow the Jewish stringent tradition of fasting. Jesus responded by stating that he did not come to patch up Jewish traditional religiosity with the grace found in Him. Rather, the grace found in Christ stands alone. Likewise, when Christ comes into us he gives us a new life rather than being added to or patching up the old one.

Date: 12/11/2016
Title: Life Changing Call
Speaker: Pastor George Gracie
Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

In Matthew 9 Jesus meets Matthew where he is at and calls him from his sinful life to “follow me”. This resulted in accusations against Jesus because he associated himself sinners. Yet, Jesus points out that his entire ministry is to show mercy to sinners, calling them from their lives of sin into following after Him. As followers of Christ, we should be so blessed to have the same charge leveled against us.

Date: 12/4/2016
Title: The Charge Given
Speaker: Pastor George Gracie
Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

In 2 Timothy, Paul charges his young protégé Timothy to “always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” Although it is easy to treat this passage a merely being applicable to young pastors, it is actually a charge to all believers to fulfill whatever ministry to which God has called them.

Date: 11/20/2016
Title: Four Things to Know About Demons
Speaker: Darryl J. Stalter
Scripture: Matthew 8:28-34

When it comes to demons, people often fall into one of two extremes. One elevates the power of Satan and demons to a form of dualism (being equal with God), seeing them around every corner, behind every sin, and requiring a theatrical power encounter on par with Hollywood films. The other extreme is to dismiss the concept of Satan and demons completely as a primitive concept of mental disorders. Yet, the Bible and Jesus treat demons as real. Our text today suggests that a biblical approach to the demonic is to recognize their existence, but not live in fear of them because our Lord Jesus Christ has power over even the demonic realm.

Date: 11/13/2016
Title: What to Do When the Storms Come.
Speaker: Darryl J. Stalter
Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27

At one time or another we all find ourselves in a storm of life. In Matthew 8 the disciples find themselves in a literal storm that threatens their very lives. It is through this storm that the Lord teaches his disciples about faith and about who he is. Like to disciples, we too can find solace in the storms in Jesus Christ who is even Lord of the storm.

Date: 11/6/2016
Title: Following Jesus
Speaker: Darryl J. Stalter
Scripture: Matthew 8:18-22

Jesus calls us to follow him. Yet, for many of us we are not exactly sure what this means, or what it may cost. In Matthew 8, two people show an interest in following Jesus, but are unwilling to pay the cost. Like us, they wanted to follow Jesus, but on their own terms. Jesus challenges them and us to weigh the cost of following him. Although salvation is free, bought with the precious blood of Jesus, following him may and does cost us everything. But he is worth it!

Date: 10/30/2016
Title: The Lord My Healer
Speaker: Darryl J. Stalter
Scripture: Matthew 8:1-17

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah promised concerning the coming Messiah, “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Unfortunately, this precious promise of Scripture can be a source of division, condemnation, and doubt if not taken in its context. Although Jesus physically heals individuals in this passage, his desire is for so much more. He does not desire mere physical healing, but a complete healing that is a result of our faith in his completed work in the cross and resulting in our service for his glory.

Date: 10/23/2016
Title: Two Foundations
Speaker: Pastor George Gracie
Scripture: Matthew 7:24-29

The most important, yet least discussed, part of a house is its foundation. The same is true of our lives. Whether or not we acknowledge it or not, we build our lives on some kind of foundation. The question is on which foundation are we building. In the closing of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us that the only sure foundation is found in his word and our obedience to it.