Dec 21, 2014
The Power of Christ
Series: Comfort and Joy
Welcome to our Advent worship series, Comfort and Joy. Each service in this
4-part series focuses on a selected portion of Isaiah 40. Today’s service
is based on Isaiah 40:10-11 and reminds us that God himself came to live
among us and be our Savior, but his power was displayed in the weakness and
humility of the manger and the cross. We pray you will find calm and rest
in the soothing message that Christ came to bring us power even in our
weakest moments. Let the words, Scripture, music and prayers of this
worship service wash over you with peace that only Christ can give.
WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Dec 21, 2014The Power of ChristDec 21, 2014The Power of ChristSeries: Comfort and Joy
Welcome to our Advent worship series, Comfort and Joy. Each service in this
4-part series focuses on a selected portion of Isaiah 40. Today’s service
is based on Isaiah 40:10-11 and reminds us that God himself came to live
among us and be our Savior, but his power was displayed in the weakness and
humility of the manger and the cross. We pray you will find calm and rest
in the soothing message that Christ came to bring us power even in our
weakest moments. Let the words, Scripture, music and prayers of this
worship service wash over you with peace that only Christ can give. - Dec 14, 2014The Presence of ChristDec 14, 2014The Presence of ChristSeries: Comfort and Joy
Welcome to our Advent worship series, Comfort and Joy. Each service in this
4-part series focuses on a selected portion of Isaiah 40. Today’s service
is based on Isaiah 40:6-9 and reminds us that Christ is present with us now
and that he will come again in glory on the Last Day. We pray you will find
calm and rest in the soothing message that Christ came to bring us peace in
our troubled times. Let the words, Scripture, music and prayers of this
worship service wash over you with peace that only Christ can give. - Dec 7, 2014The Pardon of ChristDec 7, 2014The Pardon of ChristSeries: Comfort and Joy
Welcome to our Advent worship series, Comfort and Joy. Each service in this
4-part series focuses on a selected portion of Isaiah 40. Today’s service
is based on Isaiah 40:3-5 and reminds us to prepare the way of the Lord
through repentance, as the forgiveness we receive through Christ makes the
rough places of our lives smooth. We pray you will find calm and rest in
the soothing message that Christ came to bring us pardon for our sins. Let
the words, Scripture, music and prayers of this worship service wash over
you with forgiveness, and grant you the comfort and joy that only Christ
can give! - Nov 30, 2014The Peace of ChristNov 30, 2014The Peace of ChristSeries: Comfort and Joy
Welcome to our Advent worship series, Comfort and Joy. Each service in this
4-part series focuses on a selected portion of Isaiah 40. Today’s service
is based on Isaiah 40:1-2 and highlights for us that true peace comes only
through Jesus Christ and the forgiveness that he brings. He ends warfare
without and within and He is our one and only Prince of Peace. We pray you
will find calm and rest in the soothing message that Christ came to bring
us peace in our troubled times. Let the words, Scripture, music and prayers
of this worship service wash over you with peace that only Christ can give. - Nov 2, 2014Why We Give to GodNov 2, 2014Why We Give to GodSeries: Stewardship
A Christian steward (from where we get the word, “stewardship”) is a child
of God who realizes his/her role in life as a partner, a trustee, a
manager, a caretaker or a temporary custodian of gifts that belong to God.
The Christian steward receives God’s precious gifts gratefully, manages
God’s precious gifts carefully and responsibly according to his or her
vocations, shares God’s precious gifts with others generously, and returns
God’s precious gifts joyfully with increase. We have been granted the high
privilege of being God’s stewards. God created us to be stewards, and He
re-created us in Holy Baptism to be Christian stewards. It is a position
that comes to us completely by God’s grace in Christ! - Oct 26, 2014How Do I Honor God with My Finances?Oct 26, 2014How Do I Honor God with My Finances?Series: Stewardship
Honor. We hear a lot about it in terms of the government and even
corporations. People will call into question whether certain policies or
business practices are honorable. But do we think much about how honor
applies to our own lives? Do we give much thought to the honor of our own
actions? In truth, we have the ability to bring honor to God in the way
that we live. Today’s message challenges us to realize that God has
expectations concerning how we use our finances. Scripture suggests that
there are honorable ways to use our monetary blessings. We want to use our
God-given resources in a way that brings honor to God. Just how do we do
that? - Oct 12, 2014Lukewarm or Living?Oct 12, 2014Lukewarm or Living?Series: Revelation
In Jesus final letter to the seven churches, to the church at Laodicea, He
says, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline” (Rev. 3:19). Jesus
references many Scriptural themes that reinforce the truth of both the Old
and New Testament Scriptures. This reference points to Proverbs 3:11-12
which is quoted in Hebrews 12:5-6. If God needs to correct you, He will.
It’s the loving thing to do. He also says, “I stand at the door and knock”
(3:20) These words of Jesus are directed at believers. This is a call to
renew and deepen our relationship with Him. Jesus does not want to be on
the “outside” of your life! - Oct 5, 2014The Hope of HeavenOct 5, 2014The Hope of HeavenSeries: Revelation
Will heaven be a remake of what we’ve got now? Will we still be on this
planet? Some claim that heaven will be on this earth. What’s the truth?
According to the Bible, everything will be new. The old things will be
gone. “New heaven and new earth” (and no more sea) is a Hebrew way of
saying that everything we know now will be completely new and different.
There won’t be anything “same-old, same-old.” In heaven, God will dwell
with us. The majesty and wonder of heaven – including the massive
dimensions – show us that we are in store for blessing beyond our
imagination. You won’t miss anything in heaven, but rather have everything
wonderful and glorious to gain! - Sep 28, 2014The Rapture and ArmageddonSep 28, 2014The Rapture and ArmageddonSeries: Revelation
Chapter three brings two extremes of conversation from Jesus. We hear harsh
and direct words that are intended to shake believers back to reality, and
we hear words of loving persistence as Jesus brings comfort to His faithful
people. To the church in Sardis, we hear the confrontational words of Jesus
as He tells them to “wake up!” But we also hear Jesus comfort some as He
says there are some in this church who will walk with Him “dressed in
white!” For those who are asleep in their sin, Jesus’ judgment will come
upon them as a surprise like a thief. But to those whose names are in the
book of life, they will be declared worthy before the Father. Both words
of warning and comfort. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit
says to the churches. - Sep 21, 2014Understanding God’s JusticeSep 21, 2014Understanding God’s JusticeSeries: Revelation
Earlier in this series, we talked about Judgment Day. The undeniable truth
is that one day Jesus will return to judge everyone on earth. However, how
will He judge? Will He judge like we would judge? Let’s hope not. For if
He did, few would be in heaven. We humans readily receive the grace of God
for ourselves, but we are often unwilling to grant it to others. Likewise,
if God judged like we judged, there would be few in hell. We humans are
very uncomfortable with hell as a place of eternal punishment. We can
hardly fathom that a good and loving God would even create such a place,
let alone torment people in it forever. What to do? That is why we must
readily agree with God’s Word through prophet Isaiah when He says, “my
thoughts are not your thoughts.” Thankfully, God sees all things and knows
all things, and His judgments are always right! - Sep 14, 2014Defending Against EvilSep 14, 2014Defending Against EvilSeries: Revelation
What do people do when something bad happens? They say, "God, what are You
doing? Why are You letting this happen?" Or we are astonished: "How could
this tragedy take place? What did I do to deserve this? How could this
illness strike? I’m amazed that the world is in such chaos!" We live as if
evil doesn’t exist. You and I behave as if most of our intentions and
actions are basically pretty good. We even live in denial that Satan's
primary target area is the church! The devil prowls around like a lion, the
Bible warns us – seeking to devour. Until our Lord returns, evil is always
active… but there is hope for God’s people! - Sep 7, 2014Judgment DaySep 7, 2014Judgment DaySeries: Revelation
Fear. This was perhaps the central sin of the second church Jesus address
in the book of Revelation – the church in Smyrna. In the face of
suffering, poverty, and persecution from both Rome and the Jews, He tells
this church to “stop fearing!” Who better to trust, than one who identifies
Himself as “the First and Last,” The One who was “dead and came back to
life.” (2:8) In this brief letter to the believers in Smyrna, Jesus
reminds them that any suffering that comes their way, He allows. However,
their suffering will be limited, and eventually will end. But when it
does, they (and we) will receive the crown of eternal life! - Aug 31, 2014The Antichrist and Two WitnessesAug 31, 2014The Antichrist and Two WitnessesSeries: Revelation
Each of the cities mentioned in Revelation chapters 2-3 is a cultural
center with business guilds, a wide array of people and religions, and a
selection of opportunities from libraries to theaters to sports. Along with
this city life came many temptations and distractions for believers in
Christ. In addition, the strong Roman presence was putting the pressure on
believers to give up their faith. Today we consider the church at Ephesus,
and how the spirit of the Antichrist attempts to snuff out both their love
and their witness. - Aug 24, 2014A Message of HopeAug 24, 2014A Message of HopeSeries: Revelation
What is it about the book of Revelation? It draws people to it with its
mysterious intrigue – and yet people are often fearful of wading into the
depths of its content. It is our hope that through this 8 week message
series at Redeemer you will come away with a better understanding of this
well known, yet often avoided, book of the Bible … and that you will come
away encouraged. For all its talk of judgment and destruction, the book of
Revelation is ultimately a message of hope for its hearers. As a literary
work, it is unlike none other. It is full of imagery and drama, yet it is
a book intended to be understood. And while it addresses the battle of
good versus evil, it makes clear that in the end, our God is victorious. - Aug 17, 2014“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” – Whose Fight?Aug 17, 2014“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” – Whose Fight?Series: God on Film 2014
Today we conclude our God on Film message series with a movie that is
considered epic high fantasy. "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is the
work of Christian author J. R. R. Tolkien. But can we possibly find
spiritual relevance in a work of clear fiction and fantasy? Tolkien sure
hoped so, and so do we. Today's themes of victory, honor, love, friendship
and self-sacrifice are all visible in the scene from the movie as well as
our Biblical texts. Jesus didn't intend for His disciples to simply sit
back and watch evil triumph in the world. Rather, He calls us into loving
service and defense of our neighbor. Moreover, He doesn't just call us
into service, He demonstrated that loving service and protection as He laid
down His life for us undeserving sinners.
