Jesus Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed. This proclamation is at the heart of the Easter message. The hope of Easter is that the Crucified One has been raised - death has been conquered, sin erased, and the way into the bosom of the Father opened for all who belong to Christ. The fact... Continue Reading →
Love One Another: A Midrash on John 13
A man was walking down the road, praying and praising God. He said, “Lord, you created all things and you know all things. What is your will for my life?” Just then, he came upon a stranger on the side of the road. The stranger said, “Sir, my life is filled with troubles. Can you... Continue Reading →
Sermon: Given for you
This morning is the beginning of Holy Week. As we saw earlier with the children waving the palm branches, this week we remember the week that lead to our Lord’s crucifixion. We remember how he entered to shouts of Hosanna and how he wept over Jerusalem. We remember the cleansing of the temple and the... Continue Reading →
Sermon: The Word in the Wilderness
[This sermon was given as part of a series of ecumenical, community Lenten services.] Good evening. I am Pastor Stephen from the Reformed Church of Stout. Way back at our first Lenten evening service this year, Pastor Robby remarked that Colfax Center is often listen as being in rural Holland. Well, we live in urban... Continue Reading →
Sermon: Messy Hospitality
I invite you to turn in your bibles with me to Luke, chapter 14, beginning in verse 1. Luke 14, beginning in verse 1. Luke is in the New Testament - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. If you do not have a bible with you, feel free to grab one from the pew in front... Continue Reading →
Sermon: 1 Kings 19:1-18 (A Time of Doubt)
[this sermon is a part of a community lenten evening series) I invite you to open your bibles with me, this evening, to the book of 1 Kings, chapter 19. 1 Kings is in the Old Testament, after 1 & 2 Samuel, and before 2 Kings. If you don’t have a bible with you, feel... Continue Reading →
Sermon: Jesus Provides A Banquet
I invite you to open your Bibles with me to the gospel of Luke. Luke 9, beginning in verse 1. Luke is in the New Testament - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Luke 9, beginning in verse 1. This Lent, we are joining Jesus around the table. We have been exploring the meals of Jesus... Continue Reading →
Sermon: The World’s Worst Dinner Party
According to Robert Karris, “In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.” It seems that Jesus, like the people of Stout, doesn’t do anything without food. He enjoyed eating and drinking with people so much that he was called ‘a glutton and a drunkard, a... Continue Reading →
Sermon: Feasting with Jesus
Three times in the gospels, Jesus begins a sentence with “The Son of Man came…” If you were with us last week, can you remember any of those three? The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10) The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve... Continue Reading →
Sermon: Remember the Mission
This last Wednesday, we entered the season of Lent - the 40 days before Easter where we intentionally join our steps with the steps of Jesus as he heads to the cross in Jerusalem. At all times, our worship is about Christ, leads us to Christ, is empowered by the Spirit in union with Christ,... Continue Reading →
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