Deliverance | Unquestionable Victory

Deliverance | Unquestionable Victory

Technology has significantly changed the world we live in. One of the areas it’s changed is sporting events. Back in the day, we watched teams battle it out on weary-looking grass under incandescent flimsy filament bulbs on pixelated screens with clunky rotary knobs. Overweight and out of shape, umpires and referees were forced to make split-second decisions with no backup, inevitably leading to the cheers of fans positively impacted and the boos of fans who felt ill-treated! Today, we have instant replay scrubbing every angle of every play, reviewed on LED screens by officials stopping the game to review the action and make the absolutely correct call. Guess what, even with the latest and greatest tech, we sit back and question every call made in light of which team we prefer. He was out! That goal counted! Foul! NO FOUL! In this message, we continue our journey through the Exodus account, looking at the Red Sea. God’s victory over the enemy is decisive, final, and resolute! No questions should remain, but somehow they persist! This weekend, we will be reminded of the powerful Savior, JESUS CHRIST, who is more than able to set us free from bondage and lead us into new life, with no room to question the result. Pastor Matt McCarter

Deliverance | The Lamb

I've been painting for several years now, and I like to think I'm aware enough of the dangers in the workspace. And yet, despite being aware of the dangers around me, I am THE GUY who inevitably hurts myself on something I shouldn't have. Something I've warned everyone else about a handful of times. Something where honestly, I could have done differently to ensure my safety. There's something about familiarity that makes you feel exempt. Seeing the danger or knowing the danger should be enough. In this message, we're looking at Exodus 11-12, the Passover. Nine plagues have fallen on Egypt, while plague after plague, God's made a distinction between His people and the Egyptians. And Israel witnessed that. This last plague is different. And what's different is how God makes that distinction. This time the line is drawn not by boundaries or family lines, but by the blood of a spotless lamb on a door frame. Looking forward to walking through this central passage with you all on Sunday. Pastor Tylar Webster

Deliverance | Say I Won't

My first year of college was a wild ride. Move-in day was interesting, deciding on what belongings to bring, setting a bed that wasn’t mine, meeting my roommate, and then meeting the guys on my hall. It was an excitingly odd experience. During orientation, the administration says to all the freshmen, “Look to your left and look to your right, one of you will not graduate college.” Fast forward a couple of years, and I was attending my roommate's funeral. Another year or so, and I’d gotten news that my hallmate had died. Both men passed away in drunk driving accidents. Its not often that we consider our mortality when meeting someone for the first time, especially at such young ages. Both of these men made decisions that led to their demise, and it's easy in the moments after to blame, ask questions, and judge, particularly of God’s involvement in loss like this. In this message, we examine the narrative of the Plagues God uses to set His people free, addressing the hard heart of Pharaoh, who refuses God’s plan Israel. I hope that we will walk away with a better understanding of how God invites, loves, and executes His will even when we don’t like His plan. If you want to read ahead, we’ll be in Exodus 5-10. Pastor Matt McCarter

Deliverance | Introdus to Exodus

I recently posed this question to several members of our staff, “When did you first imagine your life to be what it is today?” The answer that made me chuckle was, “Yesterday!” Maybe you feel the same, many unexpected twists and turns along the way. But either way, here you are. And what bends my mind is to think back on the thousands of details that conspired perfectly to lead me to what is my life today. In this message, we are going to build a bridge between the story of Genesis and the incredible drama of Exodus. If you want to prep, take some time and read from Genesis 45 into Exodus chapter 1. What I find fascinating is that all of the good and bad in the story of Joseph and his family proves to be the precisely refined components setting up the epic of Exodus. This story has been greatly expanding my concept of the power and sovereignty of God which has immediate bearing upon the way I see my world. Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

The Intentions of God | Bitterness Divides

“Hello darkness my old friend I’ve come to talk with you again”. How many of you remember "The Sounds of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel? We are showing our age on this one! Art Garfunkel (yes, that’s his real name) said, “the song is fundamentally about the inability to communicate and, consequently, the inability to genuinely love one another.” Joseph experienced his own “Sounds of Silence” and darkness, his old friend. Nearly killed, thrown in the pit, sold into slavery, tossed into prison, and then the “sound of silence” waiting 2 years for a former prisoner to remember him before Pharaoh. Can you imagine the level of frustration? I mean we get frustrated when someone doesn’t respond to our text right away. The nerve of some people! What was Joseph’s response to the “sound of silence” he endured? Hmmmm. It’s amazing how God had a plan and a purpose through it all to raise up one man, to save his own family and ultimately God’s people. Read Joseph’s story again in Genesis. I dare you! Bill Wilkinson