| The Lenten Journey by Dr. Gary Stratman |
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| March 11, 2007 |
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The Traveler’s Perspective- Psalm 8 |
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| Last week’s psalm, shaped by the "wisdom" tradition of scripture, advised us of the way we should walk in very practical terms. Psalm 8 is a song of praise which lifts our eyes to the beauty of creation. Yet it is ultimately a call to worship the Creator, who is both revealed and hidden in nature. Think of a time when the beauty of God’s handiwork left you speechless. Can you relate to the psalmist's question of how God could care for us, given our smallness and the immensity of the universe? What is our place in God's plan for creation? Think about this psalm's mandate for our stewardship of the earth. Does the ending of the psalm, with the same words as its beginning, give you hope? |
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| March 4, 2007 |
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| The Two Ways- Psalm 1 |
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| Psalm 1 is not only the introduction to the psalter (the “hymnal” of Israel), it is also the best place to begin a Lenten journey through the psalms. The image of the road, path or way is dominant here. What was it the spiritual pilgrim to walk? The answer is seen in the structure of the psalm. The subject of the way is explored negatively in verse 1, positively in 2 and 3, and comparatively in 4, 5 and 6. The way of the Lord is fed by delighting in God’s word and being nourished by God’s spirit. This way will prosper over the course of life and bear the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace). The way of “prosperity” based on a frenzied pursuit of individualism and materialism goes nowhere. |
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| February 25, 2007 |
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| Temptation Along the Way- Luke 4:1-13 |
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| The story of the temptation of Christ is often retold on the first Sunday of Lent. A season of 40 days to prepare us for a true celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection is based on Jesus’ fasting in the wilderness for 40 days. We admit our temptation to find a quicker, easier way of being Jesus’ disciple. There is no easier way. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, not around it. How do the temptations described here correspond to the ways we are tempted? What resources for responding to temptation are shown here? Think about the way Luke ends the story (vs. 13). How does temptation continue after the 40 days? |
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| February 18, 2007 Dr. Charles Suhayda |
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| Certainty in Uncertain Times - Exodus 24:12, Exodus 24:15-18, Luke 9:28-36 |
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| February 11, 2007- Dr. Gary Stratman |
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Growing in the Word- Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Acts 2:42 |
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| February 4, 2007- Dr. Gary Stratman |
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The Conclusion of Worship- Isaiah 6:1-8, Revelation 4:9-11 |
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| January 28, 2007- Dr. Gary Stratman |
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| Now, This Message- Mark 1:14-20 |
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| January 21, 2007- Dr. Gary Stratman |
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| Return to Worship: The Joyful Exercise - Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; I Corinthians 12:12-13 |
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| January 14, 2007- Dr. Gary Stratman |
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| Does the City Have a Prayer? - Revelation 21:22-27 |
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| January 7, 2007- Dr. Gary Stratman |
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| The Anointed One- Luke 3:15-17, 21, 22 |
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| December 31, 2006- Dr. Charles Suhayda |
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| Blueprint for Life - Luke 2:41-52 |
A Series of Messages on Advent by Dr. Gary Stratman, Interim Pastor |
| 4th Sunday of Advent- Dec. 24, 2006 |
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The Great Reversal- Psalm 80:1-7, Luke 1:47-55
Christmas Eve evokes thoughts of pleasant places and times. Often it means the warmth of families and churches making final preparations for the celebration of a “traditional” Christmas. Yet these two songs from sacred scripture give us a picture of what it means for God to dwell with us. It means God’s blessing upon the world, but through God’s agenda, not our own. The proud will be brought low and the lowly will be exalted. Is this the Christmas present we seek?
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| 3rd Sunday of Advent- Dec. 17, 2006 |
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Glad to Be- (text Phil. 4:4 CEV) Isa. 12:3-5, Phil. 4:4-7
“Always be glad because of the Lord” is a text that begs to be lived out in all of our lives. Paul knows from his own experience that happiness is not always possible. He was not happy about being separated form those he loved in Philippi. He was not happy about the false teaching that hurt the young churches in the region of Galatia. Yet his deep gladness was that in even the worst of situations the Lord is at work. Happiness is dependent on what we have or who we are with. Gladness is based on what the Lord has done. (Isa. 12:3-5)
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| 2nd Sunday of Advent - Dec. 10, 2006 |
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The Interim Life - Phil. 1:3-11
The first Sunday's scripture highlighted the fact that as Christians we are living between the fulfillment of God's promises. The coming of Christ (incarnation) has been fulfilled. His coming at the end of time is still before us. How are we to live between these two great events? Christ was born and ministered in the flesh, was crucified and is now risen. How are we to live, bearing witness to what is completed for our redemption, and anticipating the fulfillment that is yet to come?
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1st Sunday of Advent –- Dec. 3, 2006
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Promise Kept, Promise Made - Jer. 33:14-16, Luke 21:25-28
“Advent reminds us that God promised a salvation that would be through the coming of the Messiah. This gracious promise was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus . . . the incarnation of God. Because Christ lives in us we live in the hope of His coming again. The culmination of our redemption is drawing near. |
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| Messages on the Book of Ephesians 10/8-11/26 2006 |
Messages on the Book of James- 8/20-10/1 2006 |
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Please contact our Media Ministry To order Recordings of Sunday Morning messages, as well as teachings by Dale Bruner and the speakers at our Men's Breakfasts.
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