2 Corinthians: Now This is Our Boast

2 Corinthians 1:12-22

One day, followers of Christ will receive praise from Him for pursuing a life of righteousness. In the mean time, our present need is to motivate each other to seek Christ’s righteousness in the midst of trials and temptations. Following the model of church leaders encouraging believers in 2 Corinthians 1:12-22, Mark Skillin encourages us today to live in such a genuine way where Jesus is Lord over our politics, our homes, our work, even our meal times—every aspect of life, until the day when He tells us, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt 25).

Standalone Sermons: A Pastoral Talk

Pastor Scott shares thoughts and updates for the Ren community this season related to Lent, the move out of the 184 Broad St building, and Core membership in 2024. Chris Waugh closes out with a brief word on communion and the full measure we can have of Jesus in our lives.

2 Corinthians: Relying on God through Trials

2 Corinthians 1:8 - 11

In our own strength and wit, do we really have what it takes to live the way God wants us to live? Can we really rid ourselves of pride? God will help us get to a point of humility, endurance, and trust in Him when we’re in circumstances beyond our ability to handle on our own. When He calls us to do impossible things, He will give us what we need, but we must rely on Him. This message looks at the circumstances Apostle Paul faced that drove him to the Lord to get through, and Pastor Scott unpacks how we can approach our need for God in our everyday lives.

2 Corinthians: God's Comfort in Our Suffering

2 Corinthians 1:1-7

We’ve all had our share of suffering—it’s part of the human experience. It’s a reality that we struggle to understand, and it frustrates us because we know what suffering can do to the human spirit. Suffering can lead us to despair; it changes us for the worse—or for the better. Trials can lead us to lose faith or could bring character, even intimacy with God. Suffering provides an opportunity to experience divine comfort, which in turn equips us to comfort others in similar circumstances. In this message, dive deeply into what the opening of 2 Corinthians says about the unexpected gift of suffering.

Standalone Sermons: Essentials for 2024

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?