In this third week of Advent the theme of love is explored by young preacher Nia Campinha-Bacote who is a campus missionary at Yale University. Nia talks about God's great love for us demonstrated in the cross and that our love for God in response is a choice lived out in tangible ways. This is a message of hope for those who need to be reminded of how good God is.
Advent 2016 | Peace
This message was given by Pastor David Rodriguez of Church of the Community on the Advent theme of "Peace". Pastor David beautifully describes the peace we can have with God and the effects it has on our relationships with each other and even our enemies. The truth is that we live in a broken contentious world but God has called us and empowered us to be peacemakers. We are agents of peace in a world of strife.
Advent 2016 | Hope
Pastor Charles Berkley of Providence Assembly on Elmwood Avenue in the neighborhood was a special guest with us to open up the Advent season preaching a message on hope. Charles has pastored in the city for many years and is considered a mentor and spiritual father to many. Ren Church and Providence Assembly have partnered on many occasions with worship gatherings and city outreaches. This message by Charles is a great encouragement especially to those who are running low on hope. It's also a reminder that our hope is rooted in eternity.
Advent 2015 | Joy
We live in a world that is hurting in so many ways. We are created to yearn for joy, but where can we find joy in a world that is full of so much pain, fear, violence, and depression? Pastor Scott exhorts us to find our joy in Christ. Everything the world can offer is only fleeting and temporary, but joy in Christ is a promised eternal blessing, and transcends our circumstances.
Advent 2015 | Love
There's a craving in each of us to be close to God, but sometimes it's hard to comprehend and feel His presence and love. It's easier to focus on people and tangible things. Even for people who follow Jesus, we can struggle to feel and know that it's really true that God loves us personally. Scott encourages us to understand that the love of God can become real to us, and be experienced deeply in this present life. We're invited by God to open the eyes of our hearts and understanding to comprehend who He is, and to grasp the depth of His great love for us. The love of God can be experienced powerfully if we open our hearts wide to it, and ask God to make it real for us.
Advent 2015 | Peace
The world is full of turmoil, fear, and anxiety; we crave peace, but cannot seem to find it. We look for peace in all the wrong places. Pastor Scott explains that the real issue is a heart-problem: we need a new heart to hold the peace of God. Before we can experience God's peace, we need to be at peace with God. The path of peace is a lifestyle, and we have to walk in it. The key is learning to trust God, and placing every area of our lives into His hands.
Advent 2015 | Hope
On the first Sunday of Advent, Pastor Scott preaches about hope. Our hope of an eternity with Christ is much more than wishful thinking, it is a blessed assurance and a conviction that burns in our hearts. The hope we have is radical in a world where people are in bondage to the fear of death.