Sunday’s Sermon: “The Heart of Christmas”

The Heart of Christmas
December 10, 2023
Sermon by Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff
12.10.23

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6, 41:10

The wilderness and the desert will be glad,
And the [a]Arabah will rejoice and blossom;
Like the crocus
It will blossom profusely
And rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
The majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the Lord,
The majesty of our God.
Encourage the [b]exhausted, and strengthen the [c]feeble.
Say to those with anxious heart,
“Take courage, fear not.
Behold, your God will come with vengeance;
The recompense of God will come,
But He will save you.”
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened
And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
Then the lame will leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy.
For waters will break forth in the wilderness
And streams in the [d]Arabah.

Isaiah 41:10

‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Sunday’s Sermon: “Grace Beyond Measure”

Grace Beyond Measure
December 3, 2023
Sermon by Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff
12.3.23

Scripture Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

“For the kingdom of heaven is like [a]a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers for a [b]denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the [c]third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. Again he went out about the [d]sixth and the ninth hour, and did [e]the same thing. And about the [f]eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ They *said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He *said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’

“When evening came, the [g]owner of the vineyard *said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a [h]denarius. 10 When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; [i]but each of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye [j]envious because I am [k]generous?’ 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

Sunday’s Sermon: “The Fear Factor”

The Fear Factor
November 26, 2023
Sermon by Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff
11.26.23

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Sunday’s Sermon: “The Faithful Foreigner”

The Faithful Foreigner
November 19, 2023
Sermon by Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff
11.19.23

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:11-19


While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing [a]between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; 13 and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16 and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18 [b]Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith [c]has made you well.”

Sunday’s Sermon: “Two Great Names — One Great Savior!”

Two Great Names-One Great Savior!
November 5, 2023
Sermon by Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff
11.5.23

Scripture Reading: 1st Peter 2:1-9

Therefore, putting aside all [a]malice and all deceit and [b]hypocrisy and [c]envy and all [d]slander, like newborn babies, long for the [e]pure [f]milk of the word, so that by it you may grow [g]in respect to salvation, if you have tasted [h]the kindness of the Lord.

As Living Stones

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is [i]choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, [j]are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in [k]Scripture:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in [l]Him will not be [m]disappointed.”

This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the very corner stone,”

and,

“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Sunday’s Sermon: “Get Off My Lawn”

Get Off My Lawn
October 29, 2023
Sermon by Pastor Dave Buckley
10.29.23

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:12-14

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Sunday’s Sermon: “The Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids”

The Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids
October 22, 2023
Sermon by Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff
10.22.23

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:1-13

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

Sunday’s Sermon: “When You Need Shalom”

When You Need Shalom
October 15, 2023
Sermon by Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff
10.15.23

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 26:1-4, John 14:27

in that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

“We have a strong city;
He sets up walls and ramparts for [a]security.
“Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter,
The one that [b]remains faithful.
“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.
“Trust in the Lord forever,
For in [c]God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Sunday’s Sermon: “When the Least is the Greatest”

When the Least is the Greatest
October 8, 2023
Sermon by Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff
10.8.23

Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:7-13

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

‘I know your [a]deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I [b]will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down [c]at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept the word of My [d]perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of [e]testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole [f]world, to [g]test those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’