April 12, 2026 God is ready to do a “New Thing," a “new thing” in each of your lives. It doesn’t matter how old you are…how young…how rich…how poor…how good…how lost…how long you’ve been a Christian…or how short a time you’ve known Jesus.   God is ready to do a “New Thing” – “ something you wouldn’t believe ” – “ to give you a future and a hope ” – “ Do you not see it? ”   Unfortunately, many times we are afraid to allow God to do a “New Thing” in our lives.   Carole Lewis wr

Easter Sunday - April 5, 2026 Why did the angel move the stone?  For whom did he roll away the stone?  For Jesus?  Did the stone have to be removed for Jesus to exit?  Was the one who conquered death so weak that he couldn’t push away a rock?    Max Lucado writes, “ The God who spoke still speaks.   The God who forgives still forgives.   The God who came still comes.   He comes into your world…He comes to do what you can’t…He comes to move the stones you cannot budge …”   God

Palm/Passion Sunday - March 29, 2026 The crucifixion is six days away. Jesus is coming to Jerusalem despite the danger, because there are some things he must say, things he must do. Perhaps the most important thing that he said publicly, he said symbolically. He rode a donkey into town. And why is this so significant? Prior to this day, Jesus always walked with his disciples. He ate and slept and sweated in their midst. Often he drew apart from them for prayer, but he never e

5th Sunday of Lent - March 25, 2026 In ancient Phoenician mythology a phoenix was a mythical bird with beautiful gold and red plumage . At the end of its life-cycle the phoenix would build itself a nest of cinnamon  twigs that it then ignited; both nest and bird burned fiercely and were reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix arose. The new phoenix was destined to live, usually, as long as the old one.   Isn’t that the message of the Gospel?  Out of the ashes, Go

4th Sunday of Lent - March 18, 2026 During the Vietnam War… …David Roever went through rigorous training to become part of the ultra elite Special Forces team the Navy used on dangerous search-and-destroy missions. During a nighttime raid on an enemy stronghold, David experienced the greatest trial of his life. When he and his men were pinned down by enemy machine-gun fire, he pulled a phosphorus grenade from his belt and stood up to throw it. But as he pulled back his arm, a

3rd Sunday of Lent - March 8, 2026 A young boy finally got to go on a voyage with his father. They set out with hundreds of others for the New World. The young boy was excited to finally be of age to help his father—to work on the ship—and he jumped at the opportunity when asked if he wanted to help by climbing the mast and keeping a lookout from the crow’s nest atop. The young boy ran to the rope ladder and began to climb, but halfway up the ladder he looked down and began

2nd Sunday of Lent - March 1, 2026 Some years ago, musicians noted that errand boys… …in a certain part of London all whistled out of tune as they went about their work.  It was talked about and someone suggested that it was because the bells of Westminster were slightly out of tune… …Something had gone wrong with the chimes and they were discordant.  The boys did not know there was anything wrong, and quite unconsciously they had copied their pitch.  We tend to copy the peop

1st Sunday of Lent - February 22, 2026 Every conscientious parent recognizes how difficult it is to exercise his God-given authority over his children. The delicate balance of being tough yet tender is not easy to maintain. Many parents intensify a rebellious spirit by being dictatorial and harsh. Others yield when their authority is tested. When a strong-willed child resists, the pressure to give in for the sake of peace and harmony can become overpowering. I am reminded of

February 18, 2026 Have you not only trusted Christ for salvation, but also allowed Him to begin the process of transformation — the process of change — as it says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 , which changes you “ into his likeness from one degree of glory to another ”? If you have given your life to Jesus, Jesus has given Himself to you and has made your heart His home. As Paul says in Galatians 2:20 , “ Christ lives in me .” Are we truly tapping into Christ? Are we allowing Him to

February 18, 2026 Selfishness or Sacrifice?  Which will characterize your behavior, your action, your walk with God in this New Year?   It is in the Book of Esther we find a tremendous example of sacrifice…   The Book of Esther tells the story of how Esther... ...a Jew, became queen of Persia and thwarted a plan to commit genocide against her people.  This is the background to the Jewish celebration of Purim or the Feast of Lots.  The day of deliverance is celebrated with “fe

February 11, 1026 Fear. Many times we are afraid… afraid of what we cannot see, afraid of the future, afraid of taking that next step, afraid of failure, rejection, heartache… Fear paralyzes us, holds us back, imprisons us, and kills our dreams…   Jesus’ response to fear:  “ Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid. ” Matthew 14: 22-27 ( NIV ) - Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.    Af

February 4, 2026 I believe Noah would say confidently that the only approval he needed was his heavenly Father’s. As Paul writes in Galatians 1:10 (VOICE): “Do you think I care about the approval of men or about the approval of God? Do you think I am on a mission to please people? If I am still spinning my wheels trying to please men, then there is no way I can be a servant of the Anointed One, the Liberating King.” Unfortunately, many Christians cannot say the same. Many tim

January 28, 2026 Hopefully many of you have seen the film, Evan Almighty , a story of a young politician whose plans are suddenly disrupted when God appears to him and asks him to build an ark. Evan attempts to get out of this calling, but God will not let him off the hook, which leads to several embarrassing predicaments—including having the lead congressman enter his office to find multiple pairs of birds sitting on Evan’s shoulders and desk. After porcupines, mountain lion

January 21, 2026 God is ready to use you…unworthy and unable as you are…to change the world, to impact this community, to help this church reach people for His Son, Jesus Christ.  Take the focus off the task at hand…off the fear…and PUT IT ON GOD.  This is what prayer does…prayer puts our focus on God. There are many times I do not FEEL like being a pastor…I do not FEEL like taking the next step, fighting the next battle, making the next phone call, or going on the next visi

January 14, 2026 Jonah 1: 1-3 ( NIV )  - The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai:    “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”   But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. “Jonah ran away from the Lord.”   Why?  Why did Jonah flee?  What was

January 7, 2025 – Epiphany Sunday Matthew 2: 1-12:   Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod.  About that time some wise men   from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”   King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.   He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Wh

December 31, 2025 - 4th Week of Advent Luke 2: 8-20 ( NIV ): And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.    An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.    But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.    Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

December 24, 2025 Christmas Eve “All Because a Child Was Born…” I want you to think for a moment this Christmas Eve how the world was forever changed by the child whose birth we celebrate this night. D. James Kennedy, in his book , What if Jesus Had Never Been Born , writes: “He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.

December 17, 2025 – 3rd Week of Advent Matthew 2: 1-12 ( NKJV ) -   Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people togethe

December 10, 2025 - 2 nd Week of Advent Matthew 1: 18-25 ( NIV )  – This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.    Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to hi