In this short Psalm the question is asked in so many words, “How can we experience depth of intimacy with God?” In one sense, no one is worthy or holy enough to come close to God, but through Christ we can! Once we are adopted into the family of God the way we live will determine our relationship with God. If we cultivate bad character our prayers will be hindered. If, however, we practice virtues like humility and meekness, honesty and mercy, we will find ourselves enjoying close fellowship with God. The end of this message contains a strong warning to Christians who disregard the clear commands of God.
Psalm 84
There are many places around the world that we might describe as lovely but there is none more lovely than the dwelling place of God. The psalmist tells of the glory of the presence of God. It’s so incomparable that he says he’d rather spend one single day in the house of God than one thousand days elsewhere! This message is a reminder of the great worth of being near to God and all that flows out of it. Scott also discusses the common experience of feeling distant from God in the valley and yearning for the embrace and whisper of God that brings inner strength and joy. This message is especially relevant to those who find themselves in a dry and weary place. God will bring forth springs of living water in our desert in due season!
Psalm 139
It seems to be the human condition to struggle with anxiety, fear, panic and worry. These things rob us of the joy and peace the soul craves. Psalm 139 contains truth that can serve as a wonderful remedy for excessive anxiety. David, who wrote the Psalm, tells of God’s intimate knowledge of us, God’s presence with us at all times and God’s care. The reason God puts so much attention on us is because we are designed and crafted by God Himself. We are His living, breathing, animated works of art, His treasured possession. When we begin to understand these great truths, we find rest. Why worry when we are in the everlasting arms of God?
Standalone Sermons: CityLove 2019 Recap
With the first year of our CityLove urban missionary initiative coming to a close, Pastor Scott and the CityLove missionaries each share about what they learned during this year of serving the city. Hear from Chris Waugh, Ayisha Jackson, Christina Strachoff, Asa and Heather Sohn, Jack Heibner, and Lianna Wittick as they share inspiring testimonies and unexpected lessons learned through this experience.
Baptism: April 2019
This is a short and simple message from Proverbs 1 to help those getting baptized to stand firm till the end. It reveals one of the most important qualities we can have as Christians, namely, the fear of the Lord. The fear of God is a hatred for sin and keeps us close to the heart of God. It prevents us from hardness of heart and drifting away.
Easter 2019
Coming to a place of deep conviction about the reality of Jesus Christ sometimes takes time. Many people, both seekers and Christians, struggle with doubts or feelings of unreality. Pastor Scott walks through the Luke 24 resurrection narrative and shows that those who were the mighty pillars of faith in the first church were weak, doubting and frightened. Jesus didn’t turn away from them for struggling to believe. He didn’t scold them. He didn’t hate them. Rather, He came to them as a merciful teacher to help them. And when they encountered the risen Christ they were transformed. The end of the message answers the question of what we can do to have an encounter with Christ that transforms our lives into people who are fully persuaded.
Psalm 118
This Palm Sunday message sets the table for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. In this message, from Matthew 21 and Psalm 118, we explore how Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem leads up to our future triumphal entry into the New Jerusalem. We look at how Jesus overcame sin and death, and now by His Spirit enables us to see how God works all things, especially hard things, for our good as Jesus prepares us for that Day of our glorious entrance. Jesus conquered sin and death for the whole world, and now we follow Him in this world as overcomers to the glory of God.
Psalm 1
Guest preacher Nick Fatato teaches on Psalm 1. This psalm includes a warning against aligning our lives with destructive tendencies and an encouragement to intentionally root our lives in the Word and the power of God. We can choose to live by default or by design.
Baptism: Be Baptized!
This is a basic teaching on the meaning and significance of baptism. What is baptism? Is baptism really necessary? What must we do before getting baptized? Is total immersion necessary? What about infant baptism? These are some of the questions addressed. This teaching is perfect for anyone who has identified as a Christian but has not been baptized since making a conscious decision to trust in Christ for salvation.
Psalm 145
This psalm is typical in that it expresses praise for the goodness of God and calls us to speak out the excellencies of the Lord. The psalm is unique among psalms in that it tells us about God’s love and care for every person in the world. Despite God’s love for all, not all are saved. Only those who call out to God in truth, fear God and love God will be brought near, heard and preserved. And those who reject God will be destroyed in the end. Scott gives a strong encouragement from the last verse to pray for and reach people who are spiritually lost around us.