Sermons

Bible Text: 1 John 1 | Today we’re making the shift in our Bible-in-a-year readings to the New Testament – finally, we get to the Jesus stories! But Jesus stories and His presence, when understood well, don’t help us to be content to have come this far. They should call us farther. Deeper into God’s purposes. More broadly into light and life, and away from the darkness of sin.

Bible Text: Zephaniah 3:9-20 | Family reunions are an occasion for all kinds of good and bad. Goofy people you’d rather pretend not to be related to, old wounds resurfacing, awkwardness because of who is there, yet also renewed warmth, finding out to your relief that you have grown up, and rejoicing that the long-lost relative has made it back. How much more so the grand reunion among God’s global family and their King? God will be singing and rejoicing over you.

Bible Text: Haggai 2:1-9 | Nostalgia has its place. It’s fun to revive old sitcoms, and remember that hilarious Johnny Carson skit. Oh, and the last real Harry Potter movie came out eight years ago. But then there are the real losses that nostalgia can chain us to. That erodes our hope and our ability to act. In Haggai 2, the Lord tells a few of His worn-down servants to “Be strong.” Why? “Because I will be with you.” God’s people, to be people of faith, must remember not only the past, but also the future, when God has promised glory.

Bible Text: Daniel 7 | Daniel 7 corresponds closely with Daniel 2 – two dreams, each of empires and a kingdom. But Daniel 7 is scarier. And more honest about the real world in which we live. But courage has a chance when we’re honest about the danger. And courage has a reality when God makes His Kingdom real here below

Bible Text: Ezekiel 47:1-12 | Ezekiel is a prophet who went through an awful lot – the death of his wife as a prophetic sign, the destruction of his homeland by the Babylonians, and being forcibly moved to Babylon. His life and ministry had scarred him deeply. Could there be hope? God takes him to a river.  

Bible Text: Matthew 2:13-23 | New Hope welcomes Calvin Theological Seminary student Kelsi Jones.  Kelsi grew up in Grand Rapids Michigan and is a member of Oakdale Park CRC. Kelsi graduated from Grand Valley State University with a BSW and worked for three years before entering seminary.  Kelsi will graduate this Spring with a Masters of Divinity.   “God Speaks” God speaks to each of us in different ways, how does God get your attention? God has spoken to his people in scripture and he speaks in our lives today as well. Join us as we dive into scripture to see how God has spoken to his people. (Matthew 2:13-23)