Mark 5
Dr. Mike Caparelli is an author, public speaker, and a leader of a nonprofit, Unmuted, that helps trauma victims recover on a path toward healing. While much psychological activity is biological, there is a facet of mental health that involves a battle of the soul. Mike’s message looks at the story of a man with a demon that was healed by Jesus (Mark 5) and discusses the interplay of mental health with demonic forces.
1 Kings 18:16-39
This message comes from Greg Johnson, a local ministry leader who is launching a church training initiative called Revive New England. Greg discusses the need for God’s fire, the manifestation of God’s presence, to see revival in New England today, looking at the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18 as an illustration.
2 Timothy 3:14 -17
In this sermon, guest speaker Jacob van Sickle, a church planter in Providence, helps us to think about God Himself: who He is, the kinds of things he likes, the sorts of things He does, and how we can know Him. Jacob walks us through 2 Timothy 3:18 to show how God reveals himself to us through His Word and uses the scriptures to teach and equip us every day of our lives.
Luke 19:28-48
This message tells the story of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, his weeping over those who rejected him, and the cleansing on the temple. What comes through these accounts is the fact that the glory of Jesus separates. Some receive him. Some do not. One day Christ will judge all humanity. It will be a great separation of sheep and goats, the redeemed and the lost. Scott gives an urgent admonition at the end of his talk to be ready.
Luke 9:51
Many of us are familiar with Jesus’ birth and final week of His life, death and resurrection, but rarely do we consider much of his final road trip from Galilee to Jerusalem. Much of the Gospel of Luke is devoted to this final journey that would climax at Jesus’ death of the cross. And He knew it. During the journey, we consider the emotional, mental and spiritual pressure He must have felt. Jesus knew He was born to die. So even amidst the stress, the distractions, the confusion, the rejection, the sorrow, sadness and agony, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, He set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51). With steely determination, Jesus fulfilled what He came to do. He was clear about His mission. Jesus also exemplified how to fulfill our ultimate mission and how to walk forward in our faith journey.
Philippians 4:8
Pastor Scott highlights different practices of gratitude that we can apply in confronting our natural habit to complain.
Acts 14: 1-7
Guest speaker Dexley Dorcely, assistant pastor of Faith Community Church in Providence, shares a message about staying faithful to the mission of preaching the gospel even when it gets hard.
Ren Elder Mark Skillin preaches a Palm Sunday message, highlighting the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection for our lives. Jesus not only rode into Jerusalem on a colt, died for our sins and rose from the dead, but these also function as prophetic signs of God's future for His people and for the world.
For Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday I have a message on Jesus and justice. Our nation is deeply divided, and the divisions have spilled over into the American Church. Political extremism has strengthened the problem of segregation amongst the churches. Don’t expect my message to win the applause of either the Left or the Right. It will be a pastoral talk with a prophetic element aiming to help all of us to represent Jesus well amidst the present politically polarizing climate.
This message is not so much of a sermon or teaching but is what I call a pastoral talk. There is a prophetic element to the talk, as well. In other words, there's a strong sense that this is a timely word from the Lord for the Church. The message was birthed out of an unshakable burden I've carried during this pandemic over countless believers who are drifting away from the Lord. The enemy of the Church (Satan) is taking advantage of the pandemic to push God's people into addictions, doubts, discouragement, fear and other snares. The message is intended to be call to the Church to stand firm. And also a call to pray for our dear brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling.