The Struggle of Legalism
by Kyle Wendel, Connections Pastor on December 23rd, 2025
Acts 15 Have you ever played a board game with “house rules”? Each board game gives you a clear list of instructions on how to play the game exactly as it was made. A “house rule” is when someone adds a rule, takes away a rule, or changes a current rule. A common house rule in Monopoly is that any time you have to pay a tax or fee, the money goes to the middle of the board. If you land on the Free... Read More
The Salvation Story of Cornelius
by Alec Hraba, Youth Pastor on December 22nd, 2025
Acts 10God is so good! The Salvation Story of Cornelius is truly an amazing one, full of the Spirit and the work of God, and how he works to take care of those who seek Him. The first thing we find out about Cornelius is that he is a God-fearing man, even as a Centurion. He is not a Jew; he did not grow up hearing and believing the same things as the Jews or hearing about Jesus, but God knew Corne... Read More
“Everybody’s Gift”
by Kyle Wendel on December 21st, 2025
Main Point and Overview: What is beyond human comprehension is that Jesus loves us in spite of us! He didn’t die on The Cross for the wealthy or the talented only; in fact, he died for each of those, plus the poor, abused, rejected, and everyone in between. Over and over again, the Acts of the Apostles proves this reality. The Gospel was not only for the Jews, but it was also for the Gentiles, a... Read More
I Have to Be Ready
by Christina Cain, Women’s Ministry Director on December 20th, 2025
Acts 16:1-5One of the greatest experiences in my life was a mission trip to Ukraine. Admittedly, I responded with a forceful “no way” when asked to consider going. The excuses, which were all valid to me, were plentiful in my mind; My four children ages 6-11 can’t be without me for 18 days, I don’t know how to speak Russian or Ukrainian, our finances or lack thereof won’t permit me to go, I don’t ... Read More
I Have to Count the Cost
by Manning Brown, Care Pastor on December 19th, 2025
2 Timothy 1:7-12One of my favorite Christian artists is the singer Steve Camp. He was popular in the late 80s and early 90s. I was a fairly new Christian at that time, so I was just “discovering” Christian music. A standout song of his is called “Consider the Cost.” The chorus goes, Consider the cost of building a towerIt's a narrow way that you must comeFor to do the will of the FatherIs to follo... Read More
I Am Not From Around Here
by John Scally, Lead Pastor on December 18th, 2025
Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 13:14 I stood in the Kolkata airport in India, and I experienced something for the first time in my life – I WAS THE FOREIGNER! How many times have we walked around in malls, restaurants, sporting venues, and many other places only to see people who don’t speak the same language as we do? Probably a lot. In that moment, did you ever think that it must be awkward at times ... Read More
