Ecclesiastes 9 gave us examples of wisdom but started transitioning into discussing its limitations, and this section builds on that teaching by contrasting wisdom with folly.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

After several chapters laying out his perspective on life, the Teacher uses this chapter to reiterate human inability to control our destinies and to give positive advice about how to respond.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

After focusing on obedience to authority in the first part of Ecclesiastes 8, the Teacher continues to reflect on and wrestle with some of the discrepancies between what he sees and what he knows by faith.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

The teacher is giving instruction on how someone should respond to a king's authority. He's teaching his original readers how to behave in the court of a king.Door Corey Mode

Ecclesiastes 6 concluded by asking the question, "Who knows what is good for anyone in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow?" As chapter 7 opens, the Teacher begins to answer that question by focusing on wisdom.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Immediately after affirming that God gives some people good gifts to enjoy (5:18-20), the Teacher turns in chapter 6 to mention other scenarios where satisfaction is not found.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Today's sermon continues the series, Ecclesiastes: Living with the End in Mind. Today's message is given by Harvester Steve Thompson and is based on Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 and titled, "A Legacy of Contentment."Door Stephen Thompson

Ecclesiastes 1-4 has revealed that human beings cannot find ultimate fulfilment or solve life's issues on their own. Immediately after pointing out several evidences that the world is broken, the Teacher turns in chapter 5 to address how we should approach God.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

At the end of Ecclesiastes 3, the Teacher spoke with strong emotion about injustices he saw in his world. Chapter 4 continues that theme by adding more observations about things that are difficult in a broken world.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

So far in Ecclesiastes the Teacher has described his quest for fulfillment through specific life experiences, and now he turns to reflect more broadly on how to make sense of the dilemma described in verses 9-11: "bound by time but wired for eternity."Door Dr. Jerry Barber

The Teacher reflected on wisdom earlier in the book (1:12-18) and now returns to that topic, adding something very important to the equation: the "trump card" of death.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

In Ecclesiastes 1:12-18, we saw the Teacher begin his search for what is good, for what satisfies under the sun, with wisdom. Now his search continues as he turns his attention to pleasure and work.Door Corey Mode

Door Dr. Jerry Barber

After the opening prologue to the book by the narrator (1:11), this passage begins a very long section (1:12-12:17) consisting of a monologue by the Teacher.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Today's sermon begins a new series, Ecclesiastes: Living with the End in Mind. Today's message is based on Ecclesiastes 1:1-11.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Jesus and the disciples have just crossed the Sea of Galilee where Jesus calmed the sea (Mark 4). When they arrive on the other shore, in the region of the Gerasenes, they are greeted by a demon possessed man.Door Corey Mode

Today we celebrate the culmination of our annual Vacation Bible School with a special service. Senior Pastor Jerry Barber will be sharing a message from Psalm 90 titled, God's Honest Truth.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

This parable is framed by the Second Coming, as Jesus leads into it after teaching on his return in Luke 17 and concludes it by asking whether he will discover faith when he returns.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Today's sermon given by Senior Pastor Jerry Barber continues the series, Stories for Life: Finding Wisdom in Jesus' Parables with a message on The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus from Luke 16:19-31.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Today's sermon given by Senior Pastor Jerry Barber continues the series, Stories for Life: Finding Wisdom in Jesus' Parables with a message on The Parables of the Lost Sheep, Coin, & Son from Luke 15:1-32.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

One of the most difficult of Jesus' parables to grasp comes in Luke 16, where He told his disciples a story about a shrewd money manager.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

In Luke 12, Jesus was teaching his disciples about the importance of fearing God when a man interrupted him to request that he arbitrate a personal financial matter. Jesus responded by issuing a stern warning and telling a powerful story.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Shortly after the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke's Gospel, Jesus uses another parable about a neighbor to teach his disciples how to pray.Door Corey Mode

The immediately preceding passage, Luke 10:1-24, was about Jesus sending 72 out to do mission in the world, while this one is about "another kind of sending"—i.e., how to love and meet needs as we are sent out into daily life.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

The immediately preceding parable that opened Matthew 25 stressed always being ready for the return of Christ, while this one emphasizes what believers are to do right now to be ready for that return and final judgment. veryDoor Dr. Jerry Barber

In the previous chapter (24), Jesus stated that since nobody knows the timing of the return of the Son of Man, his followers should watch and do what the master wants even if there is a long delay. Matthew 25 opens with a parable that gives a graphic picture of that.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

In Matthew 19, Peter asked Jesus a question about rewards for those who had sacrificed for him. Jesus then discussed rewards and noted that the values of God's kingdom are opposite those of the world, which leads right into this parable in Matthew 20.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Jesus began teaching through parables in Matthew 13 by sitting in a boat so the crowds could hear him. As we look at his final parable in this chapter, Jesus closes with a fitting parable of fishermen sorting fish on the shore.Door Corey Mode

Jesus used these two short parables to continue shedding light on the nature of the kingdom of God.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

On the same day as he taught the parable of the sower, Jesus taught the crowd about the kingdom of heaven with the first of his parables that began "the kingdom of heaven is like..."Door Corey Mode

Right on the heels of the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders in Matthew 12, Jesus told a story that explains why there are different responses to his message.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

After Jesus Christ had been put to death and buried, his followers were crushed, and Luke 24 gives us one of several accounts of his resurrection.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

On Palm Sunday, the humble King with great authority entered Jerusalem with actions and words that revealed who he is and what he values.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

After Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, Peter and some of the disciples had gone fishing, and Jesus appeared to them to reveal more of himself to them and reinstate Peter.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Today's Sermon continues the series, Head Values, Heart Values: Learning to value what Jesus values. Today's message given by Senior Pastor Jerry Barber is based on John 15:9-17 and is titled, "The Value of Biblical Community."Door Dr. Jerry Barber

After telling the readers of Jesus' temptation, Matthew introduces Jesus' public ministry with a summary of the message of his preaching and teaching (v. 17), the call of his first disciples, and a summary of his ministry to the crowds (v. 23-25).Door Corey Mode

Setting: On his way back to Galilee, Jesus went through Samaria and encountered a woman at Jacob's well (1-6).Door Dr. Jerry Barber

After Jesus was announced publicly to be the Son of God at his baptism, but before his public ministry began, he was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

In this section, the Apostle Paul wraps up his letter to the Colossians by giving some commands about prayer and mission and sending final greetings to the church.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

After urging believers to live with an eternal perspective and naming attitudes every Christian should exhibit, Paul now shows how those values play out in Christian households and relationships.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Week 6—Colossians 4:2-18—Pray that believers (specifically, our church) will be devoted to prayer.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Paul teaches the Colossians, and all believers, to live focused on eternal matters. He gives us instructions on how to live as those who have been made alive in Christ.Door Corey Mode

After expressing his desire to the Colossians to have a complete understanding of Jesus Christ in the immediately preceding verses, Paul elaborates in this passage on what spiritual fullness involves.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Week 5—Colossians 3:18-4:1—Pray that believers will please God by the way they relate to their families and to others.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Week 4—Colossians 3:1-17—Pray that believers will set their priorities on eternal matters and allow the life of Christ to flow through every area—and do it togetherDoor Dr. Jerry Barber

Week 3—Colossians 2:6-23—Pray that believers will continue to live their lives closely connected to Christ rather than trying to fulfill human rules.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

After mentioning in 1:23 that he was a servant of the gospel, Paul now expands on his work of evangelism and disciplemaking (aka spiritual formation) in this passage.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Week 2—Colossians 1:24-2:5—Pray that believers will share the riches and glory of Christ with others, warning them and working through God's power to help mature them in their faith.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Paul opens his letter to the believers at Colossae by greeting them and telling them exactly how he and Timothy pray for them.Door Dr. Jerry Barber

Listen in as Pastor Jerry talks with Carol Garrott and Amy Granata about our annual 24-Hour Prayer Vigil.Door Dr. Jerry Barber