We have two parts to our Bibles—the Old Testament and the New Testament.  We say that both are the Word of God, but how do they relate to each other? How much of the Old Testament are we supposed to follow if we are Christians? This mornin...

Pastor Arek O'Connell explains that suffering is a real, complex, and deeply personal experience—and there are no simple answers that fit every situation. He emphasizes that God is not the cause of suffering; instead, suffering exists because s...

We have just finished learning, through the beatitudes, what the blessed life in the Kingdom of Heaven looks like for faithful disciples. And while the future promises of inheritance, comfort, satisfaction, and mercy are things we can hang our ...

We’ve recognized that the beatitudes of Jesus are upside down and counterintuitive to the wisdom of our world. This morning, we’ll finish up the beatitudes with what is perhaps the most counterintuitive beatitude: Blessed are those who are ...

In this session, Kirk Kingsley teaches that believers can have assurance of salvation because salvation is God’s work from start to finish, not something we earn or keep by our own effort. He says the real fear behind this question is often, “W...

In the fourth statement about those who are blessed in the Kingdom of God, Jesus promises that when we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we will be filled.  The next four “blessed are” statements go on to describe what a person who is f...

As Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven in the Sermon on the Mount, He invites us to think about what we desire, about what we dream about, about our hunger and thirst.  And He tells us that we are blessed when we hunger for righteousness...

Pastor Morné Marais teaches that doubt is a normal part of the faith journey—not the opposite of faith—and shows from Scripture that even the disciples worshiped Jesus and yet some doubted (Matthew 28:17). He uses Thomas in John 20 to ...

In our series through the book of Matthew, we've just seen Jesus call His first disciples and begin His public ministry. The central theme of Jesus' teaching at this time was all about the Kingdom of Heaven. This morning, Jesus tells the discip...

As Jesus begins His ministry, there are several groups that follow Him.  There are His disciples, His committed followers, and the crowds.  This morning, we’ll see how Jesus gathers these folks and ask ourselves an important question:...

Faith Stults oversees an organization called Science with Faith, in which she partners with schools, churches, and nonprofits to help people experience science not as a threat to faith but as a powerful tool for knowing, worshiping, an...

Up to this point in the book of Matthew, we’ve been watching Jesus getting ready to begin His ministry time.  This morning, we’ll see Jesus start His work, and we’ll see when He starts, where He begins His ministry, and what His main messa...

Satan knows that Jesus has come to reclaim His Father’s world, and Satan is not happy about it.  He will do anything in his power to derail Jesus, to make Jesus unable to do what He came to do.  This morning, we’ll look at the attack ...

This morning we’re going to see John the Baptist being surprised.  His cousin Jesus, the Messiah Himself, shows up to get baptized.  John isn’t sure what to do.  Jesus doesn’t have any sins to confess.  Why does He need to g...

Have you ever had someone stop by your house unexpectedly? If you have, maybe you thought to yourself, “I wish I had known. I would have put everything away. I would have cleaned up the house. I would have vacuumed and dusted!” This morning, we...

Pastor Arek O’Connell addresses the question, “Why would a loving God send someone to hell?” by breaking it into three parts—hell, a loving God, and “sending” someone—and stressing that people usually ask it from a place of pain. He explains bi...

Christmas often brings us a warm feeling–peace on earth, goodwill to all. But not everyone felt that way on the first Christmas.  Matthew tells us that while Jesus came to save us, not everyone wants the salvation He brings.  For some...

By now, we're all pretty familiar with the classical manger Nativity scene. The baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Shepherds, and Wise Men. While the addition of the 'Wise Men' doesn't seem so odd or important to us today, to Matthew's audience, it w...

Pastor Ron Kool

Your name is an important part of your identity. It is the first bit of information others learn about you, and for some it is all they will ever know about you. In our story this Sunday, we see how Jesus received His name. And we'll discover h...

We began looking at what Matthew is telling us about Jesus in his genealogy last week, and we’re going to continue that this week.  As Matthew continues to name ancestors, he continues to tell us who Jesus is and why He came. This week, we...

Matthew is going to tell us the amazing story of Jesus the Messiah, the King of kings and the Savior of the world.  He’s got so much to say. But he starts with a list of names—a genealogy.  It’s not something that many of us find very...

In this second session on “How Can There Be One True Religion?” Pastor Ron Kool focuses on how Christians should respond when someone they love says, “I don’t believe what you believe anymore.” Instead of rushing into arguments, he urg...

In the wonderful Christmas carol Joy to the World, we sing the words, “Let every heart prepare Him room.” We need to do that! This morning, we begin the season of Advent—a time when we prepare room in our hearts for Jesus to come to us...

Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect on the goodness of God in our daily lives, provisions, relationships, and in God's faithfulness. This Thanksgiving, Pastor Morné Marais will share on being thankful for hope.