Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 13 - A Special Temple

• Jesus is God's Temple.
• Jesus has all authority.

The special temple tat Jesus was referring to in these Bible passages was himself, the physical embodiment of God and his very Son.  He, and he alone, is the special temple of God.

So when he says something, we can believe it to be true no matter how impossible it may sound.

Pastor Tim Patoka

Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 12 - A Tower

• There IS a cost of following your Savior.
  • To bear our cross means to accept whatever suffering comes our way because we are committed to Jesus and following Him.
• Realize that the price tag is worth it!
  • What a blessing it is to go to Jesus when we stumble in our following and know that we are forgiven.

Pastor Ron Koehler

Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 11 - "Bigger Barns"

• What does it mean to be rich toward God?  It means to recognize how rich God has been to us and then:
  • To be thankful and content with what God gives us.
  • To be more interested in the things that are eternally important than in those things that are good for nothing beyond this brief life..
  • To be use our material possessions not just for our own needs but also to serve others and to honor God

Not only in these ways, but in all ways, as we consider God's riches to us, may he lead us to be rich toward him.  May he guide our focus away from stuff that doesn't last and toward those gifts that are eternal.   Amen

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 10- The Second Temple

• God's forgiveness for sins is great:  We have Jesus' clean and perfect slate given to us so that it is as if we've never sinned in God's sight.  And that includes the great sins that bring you to sorrow and regret
• Our joy is seen from far away:  We do all things because of the joy that God has given us, the great forgiveness he lavishes on us for our great and many sins.

God is good; his love endures forever.   Amen

Pastor Tim Patoka

Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 9- Houses in Babylon

• Peace in trying times:  God will continue to lovingly forgive us all our sins regardless of the good or bad times we're going through in this world.
• Hope for the future:We can look forward to the future with hope that God will continue to fulfill his promises for our eternal well-being.

May the Lord help us take to heart his peace in trying times so that we can always look forward to our future with hope.  Amen

Pastor Tim Patoka

Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 8- The Temple built by Solomon

Pastor Ryan Heiman

Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 7- A House for David

• God announced an alternate plan for the Temple.
• He announced the building of a different kind of "house."

It is an unexpected and undeserved privilege to be part of God's kingdom.  We are part of the 'house' of God---not a physical building, but a spiritual one and one that will last eternally.

Pastor Ron Koehler

Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 6- Fine Homes and Blessings

• Avoid the path that leads to destruction
• Remember the Lord who has blessed you.
• Let these Bible passages remind you of God's blessings
  • Psalm 23:1:  The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing
  • Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose
  • James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
  • Philippians 4:19: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
  • John 1:16: From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another

We live under the love and blessing of God who has provided for us in the past and promises to do so going forward.  May the Holy Spirit work that recognition and thanks and praise in our hearts. Amen.

Pastor Ron Koehler

Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 5- The Tabernacle

• Where is God? The reason most people ask that question is that things don't seem to be going their way.
• The Tabernacle was not just a teaching tool about God's presence; it was the place where his people would worship.
• The Tabernacle stood among God's people because he was with them and because he was worthy of their worship.

We don't have a Tabernacle any long but God is with his people so we still gather at a place that represents his presence among us and we still learn more about his promises and his keeping of those promises.

God is always with us.  Let us worship him!

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 4- The store cities of Pithom and Rameses

• God allows hardships to come to his chosen people
• God stays with us through the hardships

God always promises to be with his chosen people as they go through their hardships in life.  May God help us to rely on this promise whenever hardships come our way.  Amen.

Pastor Timothy Patoka

Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 3 - Abram's Altar to the Lord

• Abram was in a tent because of an impressive promise from The Lord
• The altar was by his tent because of a wonderful promise from The Lord.

No matter what we call our home, whether it be a tent or a house, all Christians benefit from the Lord's promise and that leads us to "build our altar," to realign our priorities so that our focus may be on and come from our promised home in heaven. Amen.

Pastor Timothy Patoka

Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 2 - The Tower of Babel

Defiance against God won't be tolerated

The Lord is a God of justice and mercy.

Leave those half-built, humanistic projects behind and move on to live the life that God seeks from his people.  Follow his direction and build a life that honors him.  Amen

Pastor Ron Koehler

Build on the Rock - 2018 Summer Series - Week 1

Jesus explains that a wise builder builds his house on a rock because physical buildings need good foundations.

Our entire lives are a building project so let us, with God's help, build on the rock of Jesus our Savior who provides a firm and lasting foundation.

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Holy Trinity Sunday

• We are freed from sin's slavery by the Holy Spirit.
• We have the Father's ear in all our prayers.
• We share in the Son's suffering and glory.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.

Pastor Timothy Patoka

The Day of Pentecost - The Coming of the Holy Spirit

• The Holy Spirit helps us by teaching us about Jesus
• His teaching unlocks Jesus' eternal peace.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people, and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Pastor Timothy Patoka

Ascension Sunday - What is Jesus doing in heaven right?

Jesus blesses his church

• by assuring you his saving work is complete.
• by organizing his church
• by equipping his people to serve

Pastor Ron Koehler

Sixth Sunday of Easter - Love each other as I have loved you.

Jesus said:

• As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
• My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Pastor Timothy Patoka

Fifth Sunday of Easter - Jesus is the true vine - Abide in Him

• Jesus explains that fruits of faith are produced because we are connected to him and because he gives his life-giving love to us.
• Our fruits of faith demonstrate our love to others, not to our glory, but to God's glory.

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Fourth Sunday of Easter - Good Shepherd Sunday

• Jesus will not abandon his sheep when danger comes
• Jesus and his sheep know each other well

Pastor Tim Patoka

Third Sunday of Easter

• Christ's resurrection removes fears
• Christ's resurrection creates bold messengers

Pastor Ron Koehler