The power of humility
Pastor Jim Fikkert
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and […]
Affection and sympathy
Pastor Jim Fikkert
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in […]
Certainty and uncertainty
Pastor Jim Fikkert
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. | Hebrews […]
How will they hear?
Pastor Jim Fikkert
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet […]
Mission Guilt
Pastor Jim Fikkert
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not […]
Being your Pastor’s Joy
Pastor Jim Fikkert
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. | Hebrews 13:17 In the sermon Sunday, I spent some time going […]
Instruments
Pastor Jim Fikkert
This last Sunday of Advent, we read one final poem from Madeleine L’Engle. It captures the challenge of living in this time between Jesus’ comings, and the continued anticipation we have; it then channels that anticipation into something beneficial. Instruments (2) Madeleine L’Engle Hold me against the dark: I am afraid. Circle me with your […]
First coming
Pastor Jim Fikkert
A good reminder of joy in the midst of chaos, which could be a description of the Christmas season! we tend to sanitize the Christmas story, and with it, we sanitize Christ. His coming is seen as clean and simple, when in reality the incarnation was an act of great power to create joy in […]
VISION 2018
Pastor Jim Fikkert
One of the most difficult things about putting together a VISION for the church is simplifying it. The reason this is hard is because the church is not a simple thing. You can’t just decide that we are going to focus on and ignore everything else. As the church, we are called to: WORSHIP Gather […]
The birth of wonder
Pastor Jim Fikkert
This is the ADVENT poem we read Sunday to open the service. The Birth of Wonder | Madeleine L’Engle As I grow older I get surer Man’s heart is colder, His life no purer. As I grow steadily More austere I come less readily To Christmas each year. I can’t keep taking Without a thought Forced […]
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