Ccc Sermons

Have you ever thought about why Peter denied Jesus that fateful Thursday night? After all, just minutes (or perhaps hours) beforehand, he had swung his sword at the head of Malchus in the Garden of Gethsemane in order to defend Jesus! So what changed? What led him to deny the same Savior he’d just tried to defend? As we look at John 18:12-27, we will find out. We’ll see that what motivated Peter to deny Christ was the same motivation that led the Jewish leaders to crucify Him–namely, expediency. I’m confident as we look at this text, the Spirit will shine a light on the danger of expediency in our own lives too and help us strengthen our resolve to press back against it.

What’s the most awful thing that you’ve ever willingly consumed? Perhaps a local delicacy in a foreign nation so you wouldn’t dishonor your host? Maybe a bitter medicine that you choked down so you could start feeling better? This Sunday, as we gather for worship and look at John 18:1-11 together, we’ll hear Jesus talk about a “cup” that He was being called to drink. And though it was a figurative (not literal) cup, its contents would be incomprehensibly awful. So what was in that cup? How would Jesus approach it? And what can we learn from Him as we are called to drink from bitter “cups” ourselves? Join us to find out!

“I’ll be praying for you!” Do you find that somewhat encouraging? Yes, hopefully. Yet, we know that sometimes we forget to pray after we’ve said those words. But what if a friend says, “Let me pray for you right now,” and then does so – right here, right now. What could be more encouraging than having a thoughtful friend or loving family member pray for you in your hearing? Well, how about this: What if we could hear JESUS praying for us? Wouldn’t that be astonishingly reassuring? Join us in John 17:6-26 as we explore Jesus’ prayer with you this coming Sunday. I hope you can be with us for our worship service.

Moses heard God’s voice coming from the burning bush, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). This verse comes to mind as we soak in John 17 over the next two Sundays. This passage allows us to eavesdrop into the personal, profound, and passionate prayer of God the Son talking to God the Father on the night before the crucifixion. This is holy ground.

We’re excited to have theologian, professor, and author, D.A. Carson, share with us on the topic of relativism. The Q&A time is included in the recording, though the last two questions did not get recorded.

While all passages of Scripture are equally inspired and fully profitable for us as God’s people, there are some portions of God’s Word that subjectively seem to carry added weight and should be approached with an added sense of reverence, if that’s even possible. As we come to the end of John 16 (verses 25-33) and look ahead to the next several chapters, we are entering into such “holy ground,” where we’ll read about the events that unfolded in the Garden of Gethsemane, in Jerusalem, and at Golgotha that weekend. In this passage specifically, we’ll get to read what John records as Jesus’ final private words to His disciples that Thursday evening before praying to the Father, being arrested, and getting swept away to face trial. Holy ground indeed. So what did He say to them in that moment? And what can we learn as we listen in? Join us to find out!

Some people consider this past Monday to be “the most depressing day of the year” and refer to it as “Blue Monday.” It comes in the midst of a season where daylight is limited, temperatures are frigid, motivation is waning, and tax bills are looming. Christmas has come and gone; we have often failed at our resolutions; and no vacation is in sight. In all seriousness, many people may be filled with sorrow right now. But thankfully, this Sunday’s passage arrives in timely fashion. In John 16:16-24, we hear Jesus say “your sorrow will turn into joy!” What did He mean when He said that? And how can our own sorrows be turned into joy even two thousand years later? Join us this Sunday morning to find out!

Wouldn’t it have been great to have been there in Galilee when Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount? Wouldn’t it have been great to have been there in Judea when Jesus healed the blind man? I mean, what could be better than to have been present during Jesus’ earthly ministry? But, Jesus himself said, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, (John 16:7, ESV). What? Jesus’ departure would be for our advantage? Why would that be? Join us as we look at Jesus’ words to his followers on the night before his crucifixion as recorded in John 16:5-15.

The Witness Protection Program is something we’ve all heard of, but that we hope to never learn about first-hand. It’s an important program established several decades ago to provide protection to witnesses in court cases where they are under real or suspected threat of harm because of their testimony against highly powerful people. It seems a bit odd then, that if our secular government is willing to use vast resources to shield (sometimes sketchy) witnesses from potential harm, our Lord Jesus, who has all power and authority, would tell His disciples that their witness about Him would leave them under serious threat, even leading to death for some. While at first glance it may seem that Jesus was leaving His disciples vulnerable and exposed, we’ll see in John 15:18-16:4 that Jesus was indeed protecting His disciples–but that it was against something worse than death. Join us to find out what that is and to be encouraged to be a witness for Christ yourself.

The turn of a calendar year provides us with an opportunity to take inventory of our lives, evaluate, imagine, strategize, and plan. We often do this as individuals, making resolutions; or as companies, establishing goals. But this is something we’d like to do as a church family this year! This first Sunday of 2019, we want to pause, and go to God’s Word together to establish a few primary focal points for the year ahead. Join us as we look at Acts 2:37-41, highlighting how some of those earliest priorities of the ancient church are ones that we want to emphasize in the year that lies ahead of us.

How can we have joy when we face trials in our lives? How does the good news of Jesus help us through suffering? Join Student Ministries Director Jake Osborn as we look at James 1.

This Advent season, as a church family, we’ve been looking in Scripture to see how God sent Christ to bring “joy to the world.” A question that’s important to ask, if Jesus is supposed to bring us joy (but that we might not think to ask), is whether He experienced joy in His own life? We know that thousands of angels were rejoicing over Bethlehem when He was born, but His life that ensued was marked by suffering, sorrow, and hardship – culminating in a shameful public execution. Not exactly a recipe for joy! Yet as we open Hebrews 12:1-2, we’ll see that our Savior truly has experienced joy, and that He is more than capable of sharing it with us.

How would you fill in the blank: “I think I would be truly happy if _____________ .” Most of us don’t have too much trouble coming up with something – a change in a relationship, better health, a more enjoyable job, or maybe more financial security. But are any of those things it? Do any of those things bring true joy? God’s angel came to some unsuspecting shepherds one night with this attention-grabbing message: “I bring you good news of great joy.” What news had the capacity to bring great joy? Join us as we look with fresh eyes at the familiar story of the angel’s message to the shepherds that we read from Luke 2:1-20 nearly every Christmas. “Good news of great joy.” Now, that’s something worth hearing about!

Join us as we are challenged by Chris Jones, who has been working alongside his wife Evie and their team with the Pei people of Papua New Guinea the last several years. Chris will share with us from Philippians 2:3-11 about “The Cost of Incarnation,” helping us to see the price Christ paid to come to earth and the privilege we have to take His gospel to the world.

Joy to the World. We’ll hear this phrase countless times this month – in stores, on the radio, and likely from our very own lips. We’ll see it on ornaments, cards, and maybe even on advertisements. As a church family, we want to pause as we approach Christmas and consider what is being communicated in those simple lyrics. The birth of Jesus, His taking on of human flesh, took place in order for God to reconcile sinners to Himself and to bring eternal joy to those who had previously been under His judgment. The scale of this joy, the magnitude of this gift, was not intended to be small; it was to be lavish and widespread! Join us as we kick off the Advent season and revel in the gift of JOY that we have received. We’ll remember together what a wonderful responsibility we’ve been given to be heralds of that message to the world.

Join us in John 15.

Is being a Christian kind of like yogurt? You know, you can get it with fruit or without fruit. We might have some lively discussions on that topic, each with his own opinion. But, clearly, what really matters is what Jesus said on that important issue. Join us as we listen to what Jesus said that night before the cross as recorded in John 15:1-11.

Most of us have probably shared in that awkward social experience of being “on the outside looking in.” At some point we’ve all probably had a friend group, a club, or a team that seemed to be so wonderful that we desperately wanted to be a part of it, yet we could never figure out a way to break into it ourselves. When we consider the Trinity (the Father, Son, and Spirit), we see a “group” whose love and delight in each other is so beautiful that we can’t help but want to join in! Yet, because of our sin, left to ourselves, we could. However, in our passage, John 14:15-31, we’ll see that we actually can become insiders with the Triune God, wrapped up in the incredible, incomprehensible love that they share with one another. Join us as we take a look together at this glorious text and contemplate what an amazing privilege we’re given to fellowship with Father, Son, and Spirit.

We’re so thankful for God’s kindness to Christ’s Covenant Church in giving us Marc Goodwin as our new Lead Pastor. Join us as Pastor Ken Mellinger, the director of our region in the Sovereign Grace family of churches, brings a challenge to Pastor Marc as he “officially” begins his new ministry, and Pastor Larry follows with a message to our church on how we are to receive and support Marc as our Lead Pastor.

It must have seemed as if dark clouds of confusion and uncertainty were looming over the small band of men gathered around Jesus in that upper room. Over the course of the evening Jesus had announced that a betrayer was among them. If that weren’t enough, Jesus then told Peter, of all people, that he would deny even knowing Jesus before that very night was over. And, now, Jesus was also saying that he would be leaving them. Oh, how the men’s hearts were troubled. But then, Jesus gave this gracious command, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Why would he say that? What cure is there for a troubled heart? What cure is there for our troubled hearts? Join us as we listen to the comforting words of Jesus in John 14:1-14.