Turning to chapter 2 in the book of Joel, the prophet foresees an impending calamity, the very army of God. What is the significance for us? Pastor Chris digs in.
Scraps for Dogs
Elder Bryan Pummel begins a series on several "hard sayings" of Jesus. Here he looks at the faith of a Gentile woman who paints herself with very sharp words.
A Time to Mourn (Joel 1)
In the aftermath of what appears to be four successive locusts plagues, the land was decimated. Drought, fire, and locusts had eradicated plant life. Both domesticated and wild animals were parched for thirst and wandered aimlessly for pasture. The people began to starve. Hopelessness set in. Amidst the scene, the prophet Joel reminds us that calamity is a call to repentance.
Slaves and Saints (Philemon 8-25)
Pastor Chris looks into a the subtlety and profoun d theology behind an enormous request of the Apostle Paul from his friend Philemon, a request that shatters the way we look at human relationships.
Brotherly Love (Philemon 4-7)
Paul has a fairly large request to make of Philemon, but before he gets to it, he offers a prayer of thanksgiving for Philemon's brotherly love and a prayer that his gospel commitment might be activated by some unexpected news.
Identity (Philemon 1-3)
The Epistle to Philemon, a short letter from an apostle to a slave owner, begins with a rather lengthy introduction that is heavy on identity. In pointing to the identities of prisoner, brother/sister, worker, and soldier, the letter makes the case that a Christian’s identity is radically shaped by Jesus.
Boldness in Mission (Acts 4)
Arrested, accused, beaten, and warned, the Apostles faced a potentially harrowing situation in Acts 4. Bryan Pummel unpacks what might be a surprising response: a prayer for boldness.
A Small Prayer for Big Things (1 Chronicles 4:10)
An obscure figure in an obscure book prays an enigmatic prayer, and God answers it. Why? Pastor Chris looks at how and why God answers the prayer of Jabez. The answer might surprise you.
Worthy Is the Lamb (Revelation 5)
Amidst a world of chaos, it's a fair question, "Who is in charge here?" Revelation 5 tells us that Jesus rose victorious, and he alone is worthy to give direction to human history, to reign in over all of creation.
Prayers for Hard Times (Habakkuk 3)
The old adage, "there are no atheists in foxholes" is a pithy reminder that we often turn to God in our darkest moments. Bryan Pummel, one of our elders, looks at the Old Testament prophet of Habakkuk whose prayer in the midst of great trials is a model for our own dark hours.