Sermons Pine Lake Covenant Church

The disciples had been with Jesus, they were formed to become like Him, and then it was time to do what Jesus did. But, what does that look like without Jesus? How could we do what Jesus did? How do we spread the message of Jesus to our neighbors and community? We still have the same questions the disciples had. The book of Acts is the second volume that answers the questions of how the Kingdom is launched to reach […] The post The Mission of the Church appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

Easter morning we celebrate the risen Jesus, who conquered sin and death! What do we do, though, for those of us who struggle with our unbelief? What does Easter offer the curious, the doubters, and the faithful? It is a call to come and see. Join us as we explore the implications of Jesus’ call to his disciples and us to take notice of his wounds! The post Easter: Come And See appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

This week we consider the last words that Jesus spoke right before he took his last breath. These words are especially significant when we consider that just one week prior, Jesus entered into Jerusalem heralded as king. In the midst of Palm Sunday and in anticipation of Holy Week leading into Easter, we consider this one simple question from the cross: why did Jesus have to die? The post Into Your Hands appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

What was so important about Jesus’ thirst that it needed to be recorded for us to hear? To hear Jesus’ cry of thirst is to understand the suffering He was enduring. Join us as we explore the living water that Jesus offers for our suffering and thirsty souls. The post I Thirst appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

Jesus’ final declaration from the cross to the people was, “It is finished.” In this pronouncement, Jesus is saying so many things about his life, his work on the cross, his ministry, and his calling on earth. Come and explore this joyous assertion that Jesus is victorious over sin and the implications for how we now live in light of God’s victory. The post It Is Finished appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

Matthew 27:46 may be the most honest and weighty OMG in history—“…and Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” With the help of God’s Holy Spirit, we will sit with this difficult ‘last word’ of Jesus from the cross. The post My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

This week, we continue our Lenten journey from the cross to the tomb as we explore Jesus’ last words, “Woman, behold your son,” and to his disciple, “behold your mother.” These are words Jesus spoke to his mother, Mary, and his disciple, John. These words are a message of compassion, provision, and a new relationship forged in faith. This Sunday we are going to take some creative license and, through scripture’s stories, we will enter Mary’s first-person narrative in a […] The post Woman, Behold Your Son appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

As we enter this Lenten season, we journey with Jesus from the cross to the tomb. In the final hours of His earthly time, as Jesus was dying, He spoke seven times from the cross. Last words can be very revealing. Jesus’ last words of forgiveness, salvation, relationship abandonment, distress, triumph and reunion enable us to look into eternity and see the heart of God. This Sunday we begin with Jesus’ words: “Father forgive them; for they know not what […] The post Father, Forgive appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

This week we conclude our series, “The Power to Change,” as we reflect upon how change can actually last for a lifetime. The roadmap to change prescribed by our culture is one of “trying harder” or “giving that little extra…” While that might work in some capacities, Jesus prescribes a different roadmap for lasting change: one rooted in changing our rhythms. The post Our Rhythms appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

Our worship might not seem like it needs to change, but God wants more than just our worship; He wants our lives. In this prophetic word from Amos, God makes it clear that He is not pleased with the Israelites worship and wants their righteousness and justice along with their worship. Come and reflect on what God wants our worship and our lives to resemble, as we find and follow Jesus together. The post Our Worship appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

It’s great to have a routine or rhythm for our days, but when it gets too comfortable or too routine, our world around us often gets smaller. However, when we shift our focus off ourselves and our comfort zone, instead looking to God and his fullness, he reorients us to his purposes. Join us as we explore where Jesus may be desiring to shift your focus in this season. The post Our Focus appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

This week we continue in our series, “The Power to Change,” as we consider the ways in which change actually occurs. From the very beginning, God was focused on relationship with creation, even in the midst of brokenness and uncertainty. This week, we will explore the ways in which relationship will always be the vehicle for reconciliation in our lives and in our world, bringing change in a powerful way. The post Our Relationships appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

The power to change begins with surrender and repentance, both corporately and personally, but deepens with trust when the wheels fall off. The post Into the Wild appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

As we look to God and the world around us, where do we even begin to make a positive change? We can try harder and make more plans, but will they amount to anything? Instead, Jesus reorients us—changing our relationships, priorities, and even our worship. He is the Power to Change. The post Our Future appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

As we set our intentions and resolutions for the New Year, or choose a word to guide us to new possibilities, are we actually setting ourselves up for disappointment or failure? What if, instead of declaring these ideas to God, we sit before him, listen, and maybe ask a different question? Join us as we are challenged into moving out of our heads, into our hearts, and into alignment with Jesus and his plans for our lives. The post The Needs of your Heart appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

Joy bursts onto every scene of the nativity story in scripture. It is the shared experience of all who are encountering the good news of Christ’s birth. The shepherds hear the declaration of this great joy from angels, and this changes their lives. They encounter God’s glory around them; explore the meaning; experience God with them; express their newfound joy by giving glory back to God; and then share it with others. We are invited to a similar journey—to unwrap […] The post The Gift of Joy appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

Peace is a word we throw around during the Christmas season. We sing carols that talk about a peaceful time where a baby was born in Bethlehem, but the peace that Jesus brought was not a platitude. It was a new order: God’s shalom and God’s kingdom. Come as we celebrate Peace Sunday this Advent and learn more about God’s shalom that leads us to His kingdom and abundant life together. The post The Gift of Peace appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

Before the birth of Christ, there were almost 500 years of waiting for a sign or word from God. Yet the faithful clung to the promise of and hope for the Messiah. Today, do we rush into the holiday season and the finish line called Christmas morning or do we intentionally slow down and look for the ongoing promises of God? Join us Sunday as we explore the waiting and struggle in our own journeys which point us to the […] The post The Gift of Hope appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to lose sight of the simple truth of Christmas—the extraordinary gift of God’s love. As we enter the season of Advent, we embark on a journey of anticipation. Come with us as we unwrap the layers of hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus brings to our lives through the ultimate gift bestowed upon humanity. The post Advent Together appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

Worry is something we all deal with on some level, and in response, humans have come up with tools like breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques to help us cope. Yet as Christians we receive this simple command from Jesus: “Do not worry.” How can we live in step with the way of Jesus if our lives are filled with worry? Come this week as we discover the power over worry that we can only find in Jesus. The post Do Not Worry appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.