March 22, 2024
by Jared Cochrum
Have you ever tried to keeptrack of how many times you think about yourself in a day? If you haven't, trykeeping count today. It won't be a pretty result.
Our text for Palm Sunday will be Philippians 2:1-11. In it, Paul instructs us to do nothing (NOTHING!) from selfish ambition or conceit, but instead, count others' interests as more significant than our own. It's a chal...
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March 15, 2024
by Pastor Eric Channing
On Sunday we have the privilege of celebrating Pastor Jared's ordination to gospel ministry. You may be wondering, "What is ordination and why is it important?" Let me briefly explain.
Ordination is the church's way of testing and approving those who are called by God to serve in pastoral ministry (2 Tim. 2:15). Essentially, through ordination the church is saying, "We wh...
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March 8, 2024
by Pastor Eric Channing
How do we obey the command to "Pray without ceasing?" (1 Thess. 5:17)
Examining the commands that come before and after will move us closer to the answer. Paul says, "Rejoice always" in verse 16 and "give thanks in all circumstances" in verse 18. Even so, if you're like me, the absolutes of these commands can make them seem daunting, if not impossible.
Friends, our Savio...
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March 1, 2024
by Pastor Eric Channing
When you pray, what do you find yourself asking God for most often?
For many of us, that is an easy answer. Current life circumstances dominate our conversation with God:
Health issues.
Relational difficulties.
Stressors at work or at home.
While these are important (and valid) issues to bring to our Heavenly Father, we must pay attention to the fact that the Apos...
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February 23, 2024
by Pastor Eric Channing
When was the last time you felt unworthy to come before God? Do you have a nagging sense that you must "clean up" before entering his presence? If so, Jesus fully understands your struggle.
If you are a follower of Jesus, dwell upon this glorious truth about your Savior today: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who i...
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February 16, 2024
by Pastor Eric Channing
If we want to flourish, we must make a habit of giving thanks. More specifically, we must make a habit of giving thanks to God. That's how God has wired every human being.
Bad things happen when we deny God the thanks that He is due. We lose perspective. We naturally turn inward, and we forget the big picture. Long-term, neglecting thanksgiving leads down a perilous path ...
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February 9, 2024
by Pastor Eric Channing
Whenever we do something wrong, our natural tendency is to minimize, cover up, or ignore the wrongdoing. This is foolish and unwise. Why? It's because you cannot prosper without confessing your sins.
Does that sound a bit extreme?
If so, listen to what God says in Proverbs 28:13: "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes the...
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February 2, 2024
by Pastor Eric Channing
When we typically talk about adoring someone (or something), it means we hold whatever it is in high esteem. We adore newborn babies. We adore our favorite pets. We adore our special friends and loved ones. However, the word "adore" means much more. According to Webster's Dictionary, to "adore" primarily means, "to worship or honor as a deity or as divine." That means that...
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January 26, 2024
by Pastor Eric Channing
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name."
What is your relationship to the Lord's prayer? If you've been in any Christian context throughout your life, you have almost certainly been exposed to it. Some of you recited this prayer each week, without much thought about the actual words. Others of you know the prayer, but it hasn't affected your life. Still others of yo...
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January 19, 2024
by Pastor Eric Channing
If you are like many Christians, there's a good chance that talking about your personal prayer life fills you with guilt and/or shame. You have a sense that you "should" be praying more, butyou aren't. You wish you had more of a desire to pray, butyou don't. What is the way forward?
A good place to start is Jesus' teaching on prayer from the Sermon on the Mount. This Sund...
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