Advent is a season of great joy when we celebrate Jesus’ arrival as a baby. The God who loves us came to be with us as one of us to reconcile us to God the Father. Yet, this season of hope and joy, can often feel overwhelming as we face increasing busyness and debt along with relational conflict or reminders of the loss of loved ones. We aren’t alone in the tension between joy and anxiety. When the good news was first announced it came hand in hand with the phrase: “Do not be afraid!” These divine encounters brought fear, but also an invitation to witness miraculous births and the arrival of the reign of Jesus.
Join us as we listen to the stories of Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds who have incredible encounters with angelic beings. They are called to lay down their fears to accept a divine invitation into the story of the coming of the King.
Toward the ending of his book, the Apostle John tells us that Jesus performed a lot of signs that were not recorded, but that he picked these seven "so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 21:31) In this series of sermons, we will look closely at each one of the signs that John chose. What do they specifically tell us about Jesus? What do they tell us about life in his name? Both skeptics and believers can find great wisdom in this Gospel!
After seventy years in exile, the books of Ezra and Nehemiah record a series of returns of the Jewish people from captivity in Persia. They return to rebuild the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem that were left in ruins by the Babylonians. But the promise of return is quickly met with opposition and the spiritual renewal of the community is not sustained. Yet the hand of God is evident and at work in protecting the people and calling them back into relationship. As the community of Countryside Community Church this series will help us understand God's faithfulness in sustaining his covenant and people throughout the story of Scripture. As we step into the new year and further out of the pandemic it will also challenge us to seek God's work in rebuilding our own ruins in our lives and relationships, knowing he is faithful.
At the start of 2023 we all have high hopes for the coming year. One hope many have is to deepen your relationship with Jesus? Using the familiar story of the "walls of Jericho," we look at what spiritual victory looks like and what it takes to achieve, both in our corporate life as a church and in our personal lives.
God has created the church, a fellowship of His flawed followers, to carry out his purpose and will in the world. (see Matt. 16:18 and 28:16-20) When we consider the biblical teaching on the church, we realize the church is vitally important for growing in Christ. Like a branch that grows because of its connection to the tree, we thrive when we stay connected. The book of Ephesians provides rich theological teaching on the value of the church and its importance in our Christian faith and to a full understanding of the Gospel.
It is not good for us to be alone (see Gen. 2:18)— for us to be isolated from other human beings. Why? Because we are created in the image of a relational God for loving relationships with God and each other. Yet even in the church of Jesus Christ—where loving relationships should have the best chance of flourishing— the cultivation of community remains a constant challenge. And so, an obvious question arises: Is community worth pursuing? The Bible’s answer is yes, yes—a thousand times, yes. We were created for community!
The last words of the Apostle Paul included this admonition to the church via Timothy: Preach the Word. This series is a collection of sermons that do just that. As pastor Paul transitions to a new phase of ministry in retirement, these sermons represent the foundational truths he has tried to emphasize over the first 30 years of Countryside's ministry.
The book of James is unlike most others in the Bible. It has been loved by many for its straight talk about faith, and it has been questioned and even marginalized by some for its apparent lack of grace and emphasis on the work of Jesus. Written by the brother of Jesus who himself was a key leader in the early church, this book "gets up in our business" and challenges us to practically live out what we believe in the real world that tests that faith at every turn. It's a book we all need to return to time and again as we strive to become better followers of Jesus.
Why does God permit the righteous to suffer and the wicked to flourish? The small but important book of Habakkuk answers this question. Does God know about the injustice of our world? Does He care? How are we to respond when injustice abounds in our world? How are we to respond when our prayers seemingly go unanswered? This series is full of good news that addresses these questions.
