Kingdom Lessons from the Sabbath

On Sunday, February 27, 2022, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live. Pastor Stuart continues our series in the Gospel of Luke, encouraging us to set aside the Sabbath for relationships, pausing, and building trust with the Lord and those closest to us.

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Luke 6:1-5 (NIV)

Developing a New Hunger for the Lord

On Sunday, February 20, 2022, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live. Pastor Stuart continues our series in Luke 5, encouraging us to explore habits that lead to better relationships, realizing that some of our old ways of relating need to be retired, because they are not useful any longer. The Lord also uses relationships to highlight areas of growth and reveal new things God wants to develop in us.

They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”

Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”
Luke 5:33-39 (NIV)

Sinner in the Hands of a Gracious God

On Sunday, February 13, 2022, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live. Pastor Stuart continues our series in Luke 5, reminding us that Jesus sees us and calls us to follow him. The reason he came was to bring healing to the sick and a new life for those who are lost.

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 5:27-32 (NIV)

What is Jesus Calling Us To? – Forgiven and Forgiving

On Sunday, February 6, 2022, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live. Pastor Stuart continued the story of Jesus’ healing of the paralytic man, focusing on forgiveness. Jesus finds himself in a conflict over his statement about forgiveness and takes the opportunity to declare his authority as the Son of Man with the proof of healing along with forgiving the paralyzed man. Jesus offers himself to us as the one who forgives, heals, and is our example to do the same in our world today.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
Luke 5:20-26 (NIV)

What is Jesus Calling Us to this Year? – Seeing Our Faith

On Sunday, January 30, 2022, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart highlighted the faith of a paralyzed man’s friends. They heard the news about Jesus, came together, and stepped out in faith by placing their friend in front of Jesus to be healed. Pastor Stuart shared that today we can join our faith to the faith of our family and friends and then step out together in the way that the Lord is leading us, trusting that the Lord will meet us there and carry us through.

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 5:17-20 (NIV)

What is Jesus Calling Us to this Year? – Come to Me

On Sunday, January 23, 2022, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shared an encouragement to spend regular time with the Lord. He used Jesus’ example or withdrawing often, reducing distractions, and creating a rhythm of intimacy.

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)

What is Jesus Calling Us to this Year? – Compassion

On Sunday, January 16, 2022, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart explored three kingdom lessons regarding compassion. 1) Recognize the Savior is here and is our source of compassion. 2) The leper’s desperation is a model for us to keep an open heart to come to Jesus as our Savior and Healer. 3) Compassion must lead when we desire to help others who are hurting.

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
Luke 5:12-15 (NIV)

What is Jesus Calling Us to this Year?

On Sunday, January 9, 2022, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart led us in an exercise to evaluate what we feel Jesus is calling us to this year. We looked at Jesus calling the disciples in Luke 5:1-11, NIV. To make the task more manageable, we looked at God’s calling in incremental stages.

• The little asks

• The unusual tasks

• A courageous calling

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:1-11 (NIV)

Reflecting Back and Praying Forward

On Sunday, January 2, 2022, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart leads us in an exercise to evaluate what has come before, create a focus toward what we would like to accomplish, and then step out into the Lord’s promises for what lies ahead.

Yet, my brothers, I do not consider myself to have “arrived”, spiritually, nor do I consider myself already perfect. But I keep going on, grasping ever more firmly that purpose for which Christ grasped me. My brothers, I do not consider myself to have fully grasped it even now. But I do concentrate on this: I leave the past behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal—my reward the honour of being called by God in Christ.
Philippians 3:12-14, J.B. Phillips New Testament

Come and See

On Sunday, December 19, 2021, Gio Serrato shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Gio encourages us to examine what we are seeking when we come to the Lord. Jesus uses our seeking to create an invitation for others to seek the Lord and get to know Jesus for themselves. When we spend time with Jesus, he will faithfully reveal himself, his love for us, and how we can best express our love for him.

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour… 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

John 1:35-39, 45-51

Possibilities, Prophecies, and Partners in Faith

On Sunday, December 12, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart encourages us through the story of Mary and Elizabeth to trust in the possibilities of God, be with people so in order to build one another up in faith, and speak forth the encouragements given by the Holy Spirit toward those closest to you.

And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.

Luke 1:36-45, 56 (NASB)

Embracing the Difficult Assignments

On Sunday, December 5, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shared an encouragement that we will at times receive difficult assignments from the Lord, much like Mary did. We can gather strength from the fact that we are highly favored by the Lord and that our strength comes from the Holy Spirit when we fully give ourselves to the Lord.

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. …For nothing will be impossible with God.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:34-35, 37-38 (NIV)

Trusting Jesus in the Darkness

On Sunday, November 28, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shared an encouragement that even though times can seem dark, Jesus is our light. With that in mind, we must have open hearts to recognize Jesus and receive the gift of his grace, becoming God’s children.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
John 1:9-12 (NIV)

Embracing the Days Ahead: Cultivating Gratefulness

On Sunday, November 21, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart led us in a reflective practice of gratitude by reminding us that gratitude is a practice that starts in our hearts and is expressed toward those closest to us and as well to the Lord.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

Embracing the Days Ahead: Regaining Perspective

On Sunday, November 14, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shared an encouragement to realign our perspective by worshiping the Lord, choosing to meditate on the Lord’s goodness toward us, and partnering with the Lord’s people to see the Lord’s plans come to fruition.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

Embracing the Days Ahead: Accountability to Opportunity

On Sunday, November 7, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shared an encouragement to walk in accountability as a key component of growth by granting permission for others to speak into our lives so that we can step into new opportunities afforded us by the new areas of growth. Lastly, we are reminded that we need each other. Our personal, spiritual, and community growth depends on our relationships with one another.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Ephesians 4:14-16 (NLT)

Embracing the Days Ahead: Firming Up the Foundation

On Sunday, October 31, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shares a message about taking next steps to ensure we have a firm spiritual foundation. We are encouraged from 2 Peter 1:5-8 to make supporting our faith a priority, revisiting the process listed here, and committing ourselves to possess the qualities so that we will be productive in our faith.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

Embracing the Days Ahead: What to Do Now?

On Sunday, October 24, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shares a message about taking the next steps by evaluating what we have been entrusted with on a personal and corporate level. From there we ask, “Am I fully invested in these things?” By prayerfully asking these questions, we can receive discernment from the Lord as to what our next steps should be.

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.”
Matthew 25:14-19 (NIV)

Embracing the Days Ahead: When Jesus Comes Near

On Sunday, October 17, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shares a prophetic view of our current season and the season to come. This week’s message encourages us to focus on Jesus, seek to become a different type of disciple, and have a new way of thinking.

They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”
Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”
He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”
Luke 5:33-39 (NIV)

Spirit Empowered Living: Outward Spirituality vs. Jesus

On Sunday, October 10, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart concluded our series on the Spirit-empowered life. This week’s message encourages us to not depend on outward credentials or affiliations and to rather lean on Jesus by resting in the Holy Spirit, returning to the cross, and remembering that it is the Spirit at work within us to make us more like Christ.

See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.
Galatians 6:11-16 (NIV)