Cutlerville East Christian Reformed Church
Episodes
584 episodes
The “Rest” of the Story
We wind up the story of Ruth, a story about a couple of women looking for “rest” — that is, a sense of security and peace. But Naomi also represents Israel, restless in the time of the judges. How will God bring them rest? A good story generall...
Trials and Temptations
We begin the fall with a look at the book of James. In launching an overarching case that real faith produces genuine works, James begins with an opening argument that many preachers would prefer to relegate to a closing remark: the probl...
Mark's Portrait of Jesus
This church year, we will explore the life of Jesus as it is depicted by the gospel writer, Mark. Mark, arguably the first Gospel written, is the shortest, the most action-oriented. Mark is clearly writing to a mixed Jewish and Gentile Ch...
Face or Grace?
Accepting people is not the same as approving, condoning, or even tolerating bad behavior. Acceptance is an act of the heart in which we recognize that, despite someone’s behavior, he or she has value in God’s sight, and we honor that. But this...
Thunderstruck by the Kingdom
Mark introduces us to Jesus. When he does so, people are wondering about Jesus what many wondered about the Lone Ranger and countless superheroes: Who is this masked man? When he speaks about God’s kingdom come, His words ring true in our minds...
Faith That Works
What do James and Paul, Martin Luther and contemporary society all have in common? All are part of a controversy, a problem, over faith. Faith is a key doctrine in the Christian life. But notice what Paul and James say about i...
Touched by God
God created us to live in a tangible world. As humans, we respond to tactile stimulation: touch! We live in a world in which we touch and respond to touch. It is a natural response to someone who is hurting, to show conc...
Tongue Control
Have you ever said anything you’ve regretted? Do you ever wish you could take words back that hurt someone or made you look like a fool? Throughout the book, the probing question James is asking is: “If you say you believe like you should, why ...
Doctor Jesus
The air was charged with electricity. This young rabbi – Jesus – was wowing them with not only his preaching, but his healing. The Pharisees and other religious leaders had the duty to check out his orthodoxy. In this house in Capernaum there w...
Two Kinds of Wisdom
In a way, James' question is rhetorical: "who is wise and understanding among you?" Everyone would like to think of themselves as wise. But James is saying: "You think you're wise and understanding? Let's check the quality of your wisdom....
A Taste of New Wine
In Mark 2:1-17, we found Jesus on a collision course with the religious leaders twice: 1) with the paralytic, showing his power and priority for spiritual healing vs. the indifferent and skeptical Pharisees; and 2) with Levi the tax collector, ...
Day-Timers or Deo Volente?
In our society today, we seem obsessed with personal planning. But James, in 4:13-17, says that maybe we shouldn’t be so obsessed with this. He even warns his churches about giving into having a Day-Timer attitude: people living ...
Grace Under Pressure
One variation of an old spiritual goes: “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen... nobody knows but Jesus.” But sometimes we may wonder: does Jesus really understand the pressure we’re under? The demands of our job, with long ho...
Living in the Light of Jesus’ Coming
A common theme in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, is the idea that God is going to set things right in the end, the Day of the Lord which brings about the coming of his kingdom. Those who do evil are warned and those who suffered be...
What’s Your Opinion of Jesus?
“It’s a matter of opinion,” we may say when in an argument with someone. We live in a world that attempts to value everyone’s opinion, yet the most popular opinion wins. French philosopher Voltaire once said: “Opinion has caused more trouble on...
The Prayer of Faith
An army chaplain asked: "Is there such a thing as getting the "breaks" in prayer? What about the fellows who pray regularly, but get killed regularly? What is the deciding factor?" Do we ever ask the same questions? Espe...