God liberated the people of Israel from Philistine oppressors through the feats of strength of the well-known Judge Samson, but Samson’s story includes not only displays of his divinely-given strength but also his self-destructive sin. Consider with us on Sunday all that his story means for us as we seek to live faithfully before God as his people today.
Hesitant Faith — John Mangrum (16 Jul 2017)
Judges 4:1-10. Barak was reluctant to obey God’s command to rally troops and attack Sisera’s well-fortified army, but he did step out in faith and is named as one of the faithful in Hebrews 11.
Faith: The Improbable Way — Dan Waugh (9 Jul 2017)
What does a group of escaping slaves, a conquering army, and a prostitute have in common? According to Hebrews, faith. Not only faith, but faith that allowed them to experience the deliverance God had prepared for them. This week we look at these three episodes and the distinct qualities of the faith on display, praying to have our faith in God’s promised deliverance, in all its dimensions, strengthened.
Faith in Egypt — Dan Waugh (2 Jul 2017)
Hebrews 11:23-29. Moses found his faith living in the hostile land of Egypt, and his faith led him to make some remarkable choices. While we don’t worry about Pharaohs and crocodiles in the Nile, we have a lot to learn from Moses and his faith-based calculations regarding what is truly valuable.
United in Christ — Bob Whitaker (25 Jun 2017)
From 1 Corinthians 1:10-25. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6). Surely this statement is true, but it also prompts more questions about faith. What is the nature of faith? What are the essentials of Christian faith? How can our faith unite us? How might it divide us?
A Faith Shaped by Adversity — Bob Whitaker (18 Jun 2017)
Genesis 50:15-21. Most people don’t like adversity. We usually prefer ease and tranquility. We all know it is not realistic to expect this all the time, so it’s important to ask questions about how to deal with adversity. If there was ever an expert on living with adversity, it was Joseph. Let’s learn from him this week.
God’s Unexpected Method of Forming Faith — Josiah Leuenberger (11 Jun 2017)
Hebrews 11:1-2, 20-22. This week’s message explores the life of Jacob – the self-reliant deceiver who eventually becomes the namesake of God’s family of faith. Join us as we explore how God worked blessing into Jacob’s life in the midst of his sin and shaped him into a person who depended on Him amidst the struggles of his life.
A Story Within the Story — Bob Whitaker (4 Jun 2017)
Each time a Christian looks at the Scripture, he or she is encountering Jesus. No matter what the passage, the larger narrative of the Bible is always about the Word. Sometimes Christ is hidden deeply within the story, but he is always there. Come encounter the story within the story as we look at the life of Isaac.
Stages of Faith — Bob Whitaker (28 May 2017)
Hebrews 11:8-19. Faith doesn’t come to us all at once, it is a growth process. Let’s look at the stages of faith in the life of Abraham.
Faith When the Creek Is Rising — Dan Waugh (21 May 2017)
What does it mean to walk in the faith-steps of Noah? Noah believed God and acted accordingly. What does this look like today?