Cutlerville East Christian Reformed Church
Episodes
584 episodes
Angels and Shepherds … in the Shadow of Herod
Matthew and Luke intentionally set Jesus’ birth in the context of world and local history. Caesar Augustus heads a Roman Empire known for peace and prosperity and a glorious culture. Herod, as client-king over Judea, is known for his power and ...
Magi … in the Shadow of Herod
While Luke begins his Christmas story “in those days Caesar Augustus,” Matthew narrows the focus to “during the time of King Herod.” Last week we noted that all the characters in the Christmas story fell under Herod’s long shadow, and that incl...
Standing Stones
Ancient cultures had ways to remember; in Canaan/Israel they did this with standing stones. If one of their “gods” (or so they believed) caused an important event or provided a significant benefit, a stone was erected as a testimony to the acti...
What Christians Know About 2021
God is in control and works out everything for good for those who love him.
Adventuring with the I AM
We are at the beginning of a new year. A time like this is often an excuse, or perhaps a good reason, to make a fresh start. I’d like us to begin the new year with a reminder that the Christian life is an adventure. It’s not about how often you...
Resolutions for Spiritual Vitality
Many of us have the habit of coming up with New Year’s resolutions, liking losing weight, exercising, applying ourselves better at school or our job. We have good intentions, but they often don’t last very long. And if we’ve done it enough, we ...
A Question of Truth
Pilate calls Jesus into his court, possibly to intimidate him with a “trial.” But he finds Jesus strangely silent, until forced by law to respond. Then he says things like: “The reason I came to earth was to reveal to all the Truth” and “If you...
Jubilee: Proclaiming Freedom for the Enslaved
The theme of Jubilee runs through the Bible. It’s not a word we use much today; when we do, “jubilee” mostly depicts a joyful celebration, specifically a 50th anniversary. It might surprise you that “jubilee” means neither “joy” nor “50.” Rathe...
Does God Have a Body?
Suppose you ran into a Mormon who, in the course of conversation, says that God has a physical body. After all, the Bible talks about his eyes, hands, mouth, ears, arm, etc. And we are made in the image and likeness of God, and we have bodies. ...
Samuel: Learning to Listen to God
We’ve looked at Joshua and the people of Israel taking possession of the land. They were supposed to become a community that was a blessing to the nations and to live according to God’s Torah, his teaching. But during the time of Judges, they c...
Where Is God When I Need Him?
We often refer to Jesus as Immanuel, which means “God with us.” But how can he be with us all at the same time? Last week we talked about God as being self-existent, the source of our life, actions, and being. But what good is this if God is no...
Saul: Where Is Your Confidence?
God had given Israel a promise through Abraham: they would be a great nation, ruled by God, that would be a blessing to other nations as they lived in the land of Israel, at the crossroads of the world. But once they got in the land, they faile...
If God Knows Our Needs, Why Pray?
As we go on the adventure of the Christian life with God, we are learning more about who this God is through his attributes. One of those attributes is his omniscience, that God knows everything. As David seems to be saying in Psalm 139, God’s ...
David: Developing a Heart for God
Despite his military victories, accomplishments as king, and the praise of people, he seems at his best in the furnace of the Judean wilderness. The dry air cracks his lips; the heat zaps his energy. But in this arid, desolate place, David meet...
Heir to the Vineyard
The chief priests, scribes and elders were the authorities. They couldn’t just let anyone enter the Temple courts, claim to be Messiah, and stir up the people into a dangerous, revolutionary Messianic fervor: “By what authority are you doing th...
Solomon: Extreme Wisdom
Do you do unwise things that you end up regretting on a fairly regular basis? Would you like to cut down on those things? We’re going to talk about how to grow in our ability to live wisely. At the beginning of 1 Kings, David is dying, which le...
Readiness for the Kingdom
Imagine with me for a moment: The President stares out in disbelief. After ceremoniously sweeping down the stairs of Air Force One, he realizes that there is no one there to greet him. No dignitaries, no bands, no limo, not even a cab driver to...
Divided Kingdom: What Puts Community at Risk?
In Kings and Chronicles, we are introduced to 39 kings. There’s a formula that’s followed for almost every one: length of reign; his reign synchronized with the reign of the corresponding king in the north or south; and each king is evaluated b...