Standalone Sermons: At Home with the Lord

On November 15, 2025, our beloved Jackie Plante went home to be with the Lord. Pastor Scott shares about the way she loved and ministered to people even in her final hours in the hospital. 

The good news is that Christ followers can mourn Jackie’s passing with grounded hope. To process this as a community, Pastor Scott preaches from 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, reflecting on what happens when a believer dies—how our earthly bodies, like tents, give way to an eternal home crafted by God Himself. What is mortal is ultimately “swallowed up by life.” Scripture assures us that believers pass immediately into the presence of Christ, clothed with a body fashioned by Him. With that confidence, we live—and die—with unshakable courage and hope. 

Philippians: The Humility of Jesus

Philippians 2:5-11

We all want to make something of our lives—but what if the path upward actually begins by going down? In this message from Philippians 2:5–11, we see Jesus, who had every right to stay above it all, choosing instead to stoop low and serve. His humility not only reveals God’s heart but shows us a different way to be human.

Philippians: Loving Like Christ

Philippians 2:1–5

This message calls us to love with the same humility and selflessness that Christ displayed. Paul’s words in Philippians 2 remind us that nothing is more beautiful than a life poured out in love for others. True Christlike love doesn’t come naturally—it’s cultivated through daily choices to serve rather than be served. As we consider the example of Jesus, we’re invited to let His mindset shape how we relate to one another, our church community, and even other churches in our city.

Prayer & Revival: What Fills Us, Spills From Us

Guest speaker Pastor Emily Cordon Drainville from Sanctuary Church shares how God is stirring renewal in the Church through prayer and bold witness. Drawing from Acts 4:23–31, she teaches that there is no revival without resistance—and that spiritual pressure reveals what’s really inside us. The early church prayed not for safety but for boldness, and Emily encourages us to do the same—to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that the renewal happening inside the Church fuels mission beyond its walls.

After the message, the church gets in small circles to discuss these questions: 

1. Describe what you imagine it felt like to be in the prayer room that was shaken. 

2. How did being in this prayer meeting change their perspective about what was happening in their lives?

3. Instead of asking God to keep them safe, they asked for boldness to keep sharing about Jesus. What could being “bold” for Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit  look like in your life? 

Philippians: Unstoppable Joy

Philippians 1:12–30

What if the very things meant to silence faith actually make it stronger? In this message, Pastor Scott unpacks how Paul’s imprisonment—and even the selfish motives of others—became unexpected catalysts for the spread of the gospel. Drawing from Paul’s deep joy amid suffering, we’re reminded that God can use opposition, hardship, and even death itself to move His purposes forward. This message invites us to see our own trials through the same lens of unstoppable joy.

Philippians: Affection + Prayer

Philippians 1:1-11

This message reflects on Paul’s warm affection for the church in Philippi and uses his prayer as a model for how Renaissance Church should pray in this season of renewed corporate prayer. It emphasizes that prayer must be more than activity—it must align with God’s will, flow from a right understanding of His character, and be supported by a righteous life. This is a call to the church to abound in a love grounded deeply in truth in order to be a radiant witness in the world that brings glory and praise to God.

Prayer & Revival: Maturing the Church for the Harvest

How do you prepare to get ready for an influx of new believers as a result of prayer? This week, guest speaker Tim Zulker—executive director of New England Urban Church Planting and longtime mentor to leaders across Rhode Island—shared a message from Ephesians 4:1–16 about preparing for revival through unity and maturity in Christ. He reminded us that the gospel follows a specific pattern—what Christ has done first, and then how we respond. Following the pattern can we live lives worthy of our calling. A unified and growing church, marked by humility, gentleness, and love, is the best preparation for new believers God will bring. Tim urged us to reject cultural divisiveness, pursue reconciliation, and use our gifts to build up the body—because the local church is the most important thing happening on earth.

Prayer & Revival: Persistance in Prayer

Luke 11

In this sermon on prayer and revival, Vicky Griffiths encourages us to rethink how we approach God. Drawing from Luke 11, the teaching emphasizes bold, persistent, and shamelessly audacious prayer—asking, seeking, and knocking until we see results. Jesus models a relationship with a loving Father, assuring us that God delights in giving good gifts, especially the ultimate gift: the Holy Spirit. Through stories—from the disciples learning to pray, to a personal family tale of tending tomato plants—the sermon highlights that persistence in prayer, fueled by love and faith, develops patience, humility, and trust. The message closes with a call to reflect, share, and pray together, putting persistence into action in our own spiritual journeys. Here are two discussion questions that the congregation answered in small groups after the sermon:

Reflect on how you feel about prayer.

1. Is there something that’s encouraged you recently?

2. Is there an area where you are feeling resistance?

Prayer & Revival: This Kind Comes Only By Prayer

In this message on Prayer and Revival, Pastor Scott reminds us that revival isn’t just emotional hype but a move of God that awakens us to His presence and reshapes everyday life. Looking at examples like the Moravian prayer movement and Isaiah’s vision of God’s holiness, he shows how revival begins with repentance, brokenness, and a fresh awareness of God. Scott challenges us to ask, “What is my assignment?”—whether that’s foster care, refugee ministry, local service or whatever—and to increase our prayer intensity because some strongholds only break through prayer and fasting. With unusual hunger for God rising in our region, the call is clear: contend in prayer, push back darkness, and build a lifestyle of prayer that fuels lasting transformation.

Prayer & Revival: How to Sustain

In part two of our Prayer and Revival series, we focus on how to keep the fire of prayer burning once God has lit it in our hearts. We look at the importance of abiding in God’s love—rejecting condemnation and coming boldly to Him even when we feel weak or unworthy. We also talk about the need to persevere through struggle, since distractions, disappointments, and spiritual resistance often try to quench our prayer life. This message is a call to keep seeking God no matter what we feel, trusting Him to use every trial to deepen our fire and draw us closer to Him.