This week we studied Mark 3:7-35, with the focus on Jesus calling the 12 disciples.  It says that Jesus called them “so that they might be with him and that he might send them out”.  The call to us today is still the same – to be with Jesus and to be sent.  What does that look like?  Listen to the audio here:  The Call of the Kingdom

In this message which looks at Mark 2:1 – 3:6, we see people asking a lot of questions about why Jesus does what he does.  Why does he seem to violate all the rules that “good religious people” follow?  What sort of molds and patterns do we think that people should fit into?  What should motivate our action s – religious obligation or love for others?  Listen to the sermon here:  Who is This Man?

This is the first in a series of sermons based on the Gospel of Mark.  Over the next few months, we will be going through the entire book of Mark up until Easter.  This will allow us to better see the book as a story, to hear the big picture that we sometimes miss when reading smaller segments.  In this message, we look at Mark 1:1-45 and ask the question, “What is the essential message of Jesus?  What did he focus on?”  Listen to an audio of the sermon here:  The Essential Message of Jesus.

How did the early church pray?  How then should we pray?  Using Acts 4:23-31, this message examines these questions and serves as the opening thoughts for a week of prayer to begin the new year.  Listen to an audio of the sermon here:  A Foundation of Prayer

This Sunday we took a brief look at the coming year.  Carl had originally conceived this as a grand vision statement for 2009.  But, that was not the ultimate shape of the sermon which centered around the question of asking what it means to be successful as a church.  Is there anything to measure and how do we measure if we are doing well as a church?  What does that even mean?  To listen to an audio of this message, click here:  Looking Back, Looking Ahead.

There is a lot of talk about peace at Christmas-time.   But, what are those things that make for peace?  This message explores the implications of Zechariah’s words that Jesus would lead us into the paths of peace in Luke 1:79 and what we understand when we say Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).   To listen to an audio of the sermon, click here:  The Paths of Peace.

Sunday, December 14th was our choir’s Christmas cantata.  We are very sorry, but copyright restrictions prohibit our placing a recording of this on our website.

This message focuses on Mark 1:1-8 and what we mean by the good news.  Why doesn’t Mark offer what we think of as a Christmas story?  What Mark wants us to see is that the good news is not just about Jesus; Jesus is the good news.   Listen to the audio here;  What is the Good News?

In this sermon on the first Sunday of Advent, we learn more about what Advent is and why our focus does not seem to be on all the happy and exciting things that is so often associated with the time before Christmas.  Listen to the audio here:  Watching and Waiting

This message was the conclusion to a series focusing on ways to grow spiritually.  In it, we hear stories from three people as they share ways in which they have been growing and ways others might be encouraged to grow: Ellen Boda, speaking on Scripture memory; Larry Crist sharing about his small group; and Millie Troyer talking about obedient living.  Listen to the message here:  A Season to GROW: Tending the Garden