Luke 7:34 says, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking.” Indeed, a major feature of Luke’s Gospel is that Jesus is usually going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal. If you love to eat, Luke is your Gospel. But wait a minute. The meals of Jesus represent something bigger. They represent a new world, a new kingdom, a new outlook. But they also give that new reality substance. Jesus’s meals are not just symbols; they’re application. They’re not just pictures; they’re the real thing in miniature. They’re social occasions. They represent friendship, community, and welcome. In them Jesus shows us how to live, how to teach, and how to respond.
The Book of Acts is a brief history that recounts the works of the Apostles of Jesus. It includes several bold sermons they preached throughout the Roman Empire, demonstrating how the Gospel is the power of God that saves and transforms believers. This series will delve into eight of these key sermons to uncover the Gospel's essential truths and its power to change lives. By examining each sermon's biblical context and cultural and historical factors, we aim to equip listeners with a deeper understanding of the Gospel’s transformative power, and its continued relevance for believers today.
He is Risen! He is risen indeed! You can respond like the disciples, who looked in the tomb and promptly went home. Or you can respond like Mary, who took stayed, pondered, took another look, and encountered the risen Jesus Christ.
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.
