This first message in the series is an attempt to deconstruct the traditional American church model. Unless we are convinced of it’s deficiency we won’t have the conviction or courage to step into new waters. The message of the gospel does not change from generation to generation, however, methods and models must adapt with the times. The Christian movement in America is in decline. Many churches are dying. May God awaken us to the urgency of making drastic changes in the way we structure church life.
Rhythms: Solitude
Hi Ren family!
I hope you are in a warm place enjoying the beautiful snow out your window. It's nice to be shut in once in a while. Life rushes along at such a fast pace. We need time to slow down and even come to a still.
It’s fitting that my message to you this morning is about the practice of pulling away into an unrushed secluded place.
Click the graphic above to read the whole letter.
Read MoreRhythms: Fasting + Feasting
There are times to lament, and there are times to feast. Pastor Scott goes through the theology behind celebrating as well as for fasting. This message focuses on not only practical wisdom for how to fast but also why we would fast and how to tell what the motives are behind your fasting.
Rhythms: Spiritual Reading
Reading spiritual books is more than gaining information—it’s about transformation of the mind. Spiritual books interpret scripture for us in meaningful ways, or they can give fresh insight to faith in our day and age. Over time spiritual books will cultivate the way we think, which affects the way we live, so it is important to wisely choose which books we read. Pastor Scott offers ways to discern what and how we read, sharing his own list of book suggestions.
Rhythms: Studying Scripture
Pastor Scott addresses various habits we tend to have when we read the Bible and goes through a list of practical ideas to help us study the Bible more deeply.
Rhythms: Communicating with God
We exist for the purpose of knowing God and enjoying Him. In this message, Pastor Scott offers wisdom to confront obstacles to our prayer times, such as a crowded mind, theological knots, or disordered affections, which deter us from gaining traction in our communication with God.
Advent 2021: Love
For this week’s advent theme, Pastor Scott focuses on the love of God. The message looks at the demonstration of God’s love through the voluntary death of Christ, as well as the manifestation of God’s love through the Holy Spirit in us, which enables us to love with His own love.
Advent 2021: Peace
Isaiah 27: 1 - 6
We all know the feeling of what it is to be in a world that feels like it’s in some way ordered but also have things that are completely in chaos. Youth director Chris Waugh looks at Isaiah 27 to give us three reasons for peace this Christmas: God’s destruction of the world’s chaos will be the most peace-giving experience imaginable, God communes with those who follow Him, and God’s harvest sets us free from the expectations we put on ourselves. This Christmas let’s be people who understand what our purpose is and have peace.
Advent 2021: Hope
Psalm 42: 5 - 6
We begin our Advent sermon series with the theme of “hope.” During this season, many of us hope for many things— a new Christmas sweater, a new iPad, new experiences, new relationships, etc., but these worldly hopes are not based on assurance.
Scriptural hope, on the other hand, is all about assurance because it is founded upon faith in Jesus the Messiah. While God’s hope looks forward to victorious life on earth, most importantly, Advent reminds us of the best promised hope— the return of Jesus in all His glory.
Standalone Sermons: Thankfulness
Philippians 4:8
Pastor Scott highlights different practices of gratitude that we can apply in confronting our natural habit to complain.