As followers of Jesus, how do we prioritize our love for God, our love for one another, and our love for neighbors in our spheres? Pastor Scott gives a pastoral talk on the most important essentials for Christian living to set us in the right direction for how we live and how we are a church together in 2024.
Standalone Sermons: Pursuing Jesus in 2024
Matthew 2:1-12
There is no one God is not willing to pursue. The wise men, doing their job as well-off astrologists, followed an unusual star and discovered the true King of the Jews—Jesus. It’s worth looking at our own stories to ask, how might God today meet us in our communities and in our passions and interests? By studying the Magi story in Matthew 2, Ren Church member Vicky Griffiths helps us reflect on how we can pursue Jesus in 2024.
Advent 2023: Joy
Listen for a short word on the joyous arrival of Jesus and the way God included shepherds as part of the celebration.
Advent 2023: Love
We may know in our mind that God loves us, but this truth does not always move to our hearts. We may feel our flaws are too much for God, or the experiences of being failed by others may affect our view of love. In these moments, we can ask God to help us with a fresh revelation of His love. As you listen to this message, let the truth of God’s depth love for you sink into your heart.
Advent 2023: Hope
We kick off the 2023 advent season by dwelling on the hope Christians have because the arrival of Jesus, who came like the dawn piercing the darkness. The Christian hope of eternal life is not a vague experience but is one grounded in reality. In this message Pastor Scott goes through several reasons for why we can anchor our hope in Jesus.
Letters to the Churches: Revelation 3
Revelation 3
In Revelation, Apostle John receives a vision of what Jesus has to say on the condition of various churches. Letters in chapter 3 write to a dead church, a weak but highly-honored church, and a lukewarm but greatly loved church. While these letters are to specific churches, Pastor Scott challenges listeners of Renaissance Church to consider the warnings Jesus gave and look within: are our hearts truly burning for Christ, or are they lukewarm?
Letters to the Churches: Revelation 2
Revelation 2
This is a 2-part series that studies the seven letters to the churches in the book of Revelation. The letters reveal what Christ cares about, what impresses him and upsets him, what He wants to see His Church become. Though these are written specifically to churches in 95 AD, the principles about love, endurance and commitment to the truth can be applied to our church today.
Acts: God's Strange Ways
Acts 28
Throughout the book of Acts there’s a pattern of demonstrations of the supernatural bringing people’s attention to Jesus and the gospel message. In the final chapter of the series, God uses a shipwreck, a snake bite, and countless healings from fatal sickness on the island of Malta, in order to break through to the Maltese toward belief and repentance. God used a variety of strange ways to capture the attention of people in the 1st century Mediterranean region—how can you ask God to demonstrate his supernatural power and presence to people in your community today?
Acts: Wit's End
Acts 27
Act 27 is the story of God and Paul working together to awaken a crew of hard-hearted sailors, soldiers, and prisoners out at sea when a horrific storm interrupts their trip to Caesarea. The human heart is full of pride, and God often uses hardships to reduce our pride and bring us to the low place where we can hear His voice and receive grace.
Acts: Just As I Am
Acts 26
Making his appeal to Caesar, Paul shares the gospel message and his conversion story to Festus and King Agrippa, who respond to Paul in different ways from each other. Acts 26 exemplifies how to boldly share the whole gospel in averse environments and expect for some to refuse the gospel and some to be drawn in by the message of Jesus.