Messages by Al Stoltzfus
The wheat and the tares…making sense of evil & suffering as a healing community
What is the cause of evil and suffering in our world? Can we fix it? Or, will it always be this way? To answer these questions, Jesus parable of the wheat and the tares presses us deep into the character and purposes of God and points forward to the cross where the love of God, seemingly so weak, ends up victorious and ultimately destroys the power of evil. Text: Matthew 13: 24-30
God’s Excellence for All
Where on earth does God display his excellence and majesty the most? Certainly the splendor and vastness of the universe speak to the majesty, power, and excellence of God, but more significantly God displays his excellence in human beings He sent his son Jesus to die for so that we can be restored. Text:Psalm 8:1-9; Exodus 3:13-15; Hebrews 2:5-9
What Four Little Creatures Tell Us About Wisdom
What is wisdom? Wisdom is the skill of living life in a God-honoring way. The writer of Proverbs invites us to consider carefully four seemingly insignificant and vulnerable creatures, and by observing these little creatures, to discover our own vulnerabilities and learn how we can navigate life wisely, that is in a Christ-centered, God-honoring way. Text: Proverbs 30:24-28; 1 Peter 3:8
Celebrating Radical Generosity
The solution to a life that is leaning away from God is to return to God, and one of the ways we return is through our giving. Giving is an expression of worship which reflects trust in God’s steadfast love and gracious provision in Jesus. Where the Old Testament speaks of a tithe, the New Testament looks to the self-giving, sacrificial love of Jesus inviting us into a life of generous giving.Text: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:6-15; Psalm 24:1
Healthy Sexuality -and its impact on marriage, family & children
The restoring grace of God redeems every area of life, including the the most intimate of relationships in the home. This Scripture text (letter) invites us to consider how following Jesus shapes marriage, family life, and children. Text: Ephesians 5:21-6:4
Celebrating God’s complete character manifest in womanhood and femininity
God honored us by making us in His own image, male and female. Both male and female reflect the image of God. God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are referred to in the Bible with the the male personal pronoun “He.” Jesus, in his human nature was male. However, God also has attributes which are uniquely female, like comforting, caring, fiercely protecting, nurturing, longing (to name a few). Text: Genesis 1:27, 2:18, 23-24, Isaiah 66:13; Luke 13:34, 15:8-10
Why God’s Good News is so Exciting – 2nd Service
The story of Jesus is God’s Good News. It is a story of restoration that becomes our story “by faith.” God’s good news in Jesus is good news for all people. It solves a problem we all have and gives us something we do not have but which we all need. Text: Romans 1:1-17
Why God’s Good News is so Exciting-1st Service
The story of Jesus is God’s Good News. It is a story of restoration that becomes our story “by faith.” God’s good news in Jesus is good news for all people. It solves a problem we all have and gives us something we do not have but which we all need. Text: Romans 1:1-17