Elder Bryan Pummel takes a look at the life of the biblical judge Samson, which shows us the danger of loving God's good gifts more than God himself.
False Witness (Exodus 20:16)
The ninth commandment shows us that God’s people must be radically committed to the truth because God is radically committed to the truth. And that commitment must be political, personal, and prophetic.
Steal (Exodus 20:15)
That God enshrines a command for us to not steal is significant. It means that God entrusts his creation with property and that he does so for his glory.
Adultery (Exodus 20:14)
The command prohibiting adultery reminds us of how fundamental the creation institution of marriage is for a society. But even more, it pushes us to recognize that God is faithful, and a faithful God demands a faithful people.
...but God (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Zac Rybak, one of our deacons, preached his first ever sermon. Zac challenges us to take a fresh look at the extend of God's great salvation by showing that in Ephesians 2:1-10, the Apostle Paul breaks down just how desperate and hopeless our lives are apart from God, how great is God’s grace and mercy in rescuing us, God's purpose for our new life.
Murder (Exodus 20:13)
Ask a number of people how well they do at keeping the ten commandments, and you'll find that if there's one that most feel confident about, it's that they haven't murdered anyone. But is that really true? What really counts as "murder"? When unpacked, it becomes clear that loving God demands an unwavering commitment to the sanctity of human life.
Honor (Exodus 20:12)
God's people are to be marked by an honor for their parents. Having been drawn into the family of God by adoption, the Christian obligation to honor is much wider than mere biology. And the ramifications are huge: Unless we honor our earthly parents, we cannot rightly claim to honor our heavenly Parent.
Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11)
We again accept apologies as we failed to record this week's sermon. Adjustments in our A/V setup are causing some (hopefully) temporary glitches.
The Name (Exodus 20:7)
Many of us were taught not to "swear," that it was somehow inappropriate--though we didn't know why--to shout "God" or "Jesus Christ" in frustration. Is that really what it means to take the name of the Lord in vain? Or is there something a lot deeper? (Note: Sermon audio forthcoming.)
An Old Couple and Their Laughter (Genesis 21:1-7)
Laugher can be a mark of scorn, surprise, and unbridled joy. The story of Isaac's birth is a story of laughter in many forms that points us to our greatest joy and contentment in Jesus Christ.