Spencerville Church
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Our minds are our greatest tool, yet they can be our greatest weakness if untrained and undisciplined. Are your thoughts “obedient to Christ,” as the Apostle Paul inquires in 2 Corinthians, chapter 10? Do you take time to “renew your mind” daily, as he suggests in Romans 12? This week, Pastor Chad returns to the pulpit for the first in a three-part series titled “Summer Health.” Listen in as Pastor Chad shares, “Capture Your Mind, and the Rest Will Follow.”
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we're inclined to focus on being thankful. And while it's great to be thankful this season, we should be thankful year-round. Is that even possible? How can we position ourselves for being thankful no matter the season we're in? Listen in as Pastor Crystal E. Ward shares a message titled, "In Everything, Give Thanks."
This week we emphasize the integrated mission of our church and hospital network as we celebrate what God is doing through Adventist HealthCare. Terry Forde, President and CEO of the Adventist HealthCare network, shares our message titled “The Moment of Truth.”
It's Halloween week. It's likely that you've noticed an increase in images of ghouls and ghosts, even from cute little neighbor children who knock on our doors asking for candy dressed in Halloween attire. These things can make spiritual warfare seem playfully imaginary. However, as Christians, the Bible tells us that spiritual warfare is very real. Listen in as Pastor Matthew shares a message titled “Battling Our Demons.”
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be a witness and make disciples. Join us for the final sermon in our series titled “Words Matter,” as Pastor Crystal E. Ward shares why the power of our witness is not based on the eloquence of our speech or our theological prowess but solely on the power of the Spirit.
God speaks to us through many avenues, including nature, prayer, relationships, experiences (both good and bad), dreams, and convictions. However, of all the ways God speaks to us, it is the pages of Holy Scripture that provide a revelation of Jesus. This week, Pastor Chad shares the third message in his "Words Matter" series, titled "The Words that Matter Most."
Each of us is just a breath away from our words being life-building (from God) or life-destroying (from Satan). So what determines which words come out of our mouths (Proverbs 18:21)? Listen as Pastor Chad Stuart shares the second message in the Words Matter series titled "Speak on These Things."
The words we choose (along with where and when we use them) frame our understanding of the Gospel. Jesus never left sin unaddressed but always spoke to the person with love and compassion. As we begin a new four-part sermon series titled "Words Matter," we'll start by looking at the example set by Jesus in the New Testament book of John, chapter 8. We invite you to join us as Pastor Chad Stuart delivers the first message in this series, "Write in the Sand, Don't Drag Through the Mud."
This week, we'll ponder how individuals like Steve Jobs, who dropped out of college, and Henry Ford, who possessed only a few years of education, achieved much more than the educated elite of their day? Is knowledge really power? Or is knowledge simply power that is acted upon? We invite you to join us in worship as we explore how the Bible clearly answers these questions (along with so many more). In this two-part sermon series, Pastor Chad Stuart encourages us to push against cultural trends by going back to the Bible, which is most definitely the book for us.
The Bible is the most owned, yet least read, book in history. According to the American Bible Society, the average home in the United States has 4.4 Bibles, yet only 19% of Americans engage in scripture reading outside of the church setting. If this is the reality of our lives, can we sing with honesty, “The B.I.B.L.E.—Yes, that's the book for me?” In this two-part sermon series, Pastor Chad Stuart encourages us to push against cultural trends by going back to the Bible, which is most definitely the book for us.
Jesus utilized the most unlikely strategy to establish his kingdom on earth. Instead of recruiting society's most powerful or privileged as the leaders of his Church, Jesus called average men to serve as equals within what was essentially a small group.
As we read through scripture, we're faced with the reality that we only have two options as humans—to let Jesus gather us into His arms, or to resist His gathering and be destroyed for eternity (as a result of our own choice). While that may seem harsh, consider God's heart, his pure motives of love, and know that He will literally do (and has done) everything He can to gather us to an eternity with Him.
What you see is not always what you get, right? Most of us know this. However, humanity is great at self-deception. Even what we see of ourselves is not always who we are. However, there is One who sees us and knows us intimately. What would happen if we invited God to search us? Will He be scared away by what He sees? No! But submitting ourselves to be searched may help to grow us more than anything else.
Last week, we looked at a story from Matthew 23, and gave examples of how a disoriented view of the gospel has a significant impact on how we witness. This week, we'll examine how a disoriented view of the gospel can impact the truths (doctrines) we do (and sometimes don't) live by.
How does it feel to have the door slammed in your face, both literally and metaphorically? Not good! How does it feel to be promised the imitation is as good as the real thing, only to discover it isn't? Again, not good! This is the story of Matthew 23:13-15. We invite you into worship as we attempt to understand the impact of Jesus' words on our day-to-day interactions.
This week, Pastor Chad begins a new five-part series that grew out of his visits to Spencerville Adventist Academy. He asked the students questions about their faith—what they wanted and needed to be addressed from the Spencerville pulpit. One word kept rising to the surface: hypocrisy. Oft misused, many people think hypocrisy is only a challenge for those who are ultra-conservative or legalistic. However, we are all in danger of living as hypocrites. In the first sermon of this series, Pastor Chad cites Jesus' words from Matthew 23:1-12 to contrast a religion of the heart against a heartless religion. Why is it imperative to know the difference? One leads to hypocrisy, and the other protects us from hypocrisy.
The love we have for each other—even with the best of intentions—fails to match the unrivaled love of Jesus. Sometimes, we wrongly equate our love for each other with God’s love for us. However, the Bible presents a more compelling picture of God’s love, a love that is larger, unrivaled, and incomparable. We invite you to listen this week, as Pastor Matthew Piersanti shares why choosing to accept and abide in God's boundless love will change your life, even when you feel like you're at your worst.
God has an interesting way of teaching us powerful lessons. Sometimes they come from the unlikeliest of circumstances and from the unlikeliest of people. In this message, Pastor Crystal E. Ward explores Luke 23:39-43 to look at a powerful takeaway from the thief on the cross. Listen in and you may never see the infamous thief the same way again. Pastor Crystal E. Ward presents our message titled "The Power of Prayer."
At the cross, Jesus faced ridicule and rejection from those He came to save. What was it that prevented them from understanding and accepting Him? After all, Jesus himself was the most beautiful manifestation of the grace of God! Ironically, that which prevented others from accepting Jesus almost 2000 years ago is also what prevents many from accepting Him today. We invite you to listen as Pastor Matthew Piersanti shares a message on the importance of understanding and accepting the grace of God for ourselves.
What would you be willing to give up to follow Jesus? Is it worth it? In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus says if any person comes to me and hates not his father or mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even their own life, they are not worthy to be my disciple. We invite you to join us this Sabbath as Pastor Crystal E. Ward shares why discipleship with Jesus is the best decision you could ever make.
A sign on the side of the road reads, "Believe in God and be Saved." Could this statement be true, yet incomplete? The New Testament book of James (2:19) tells us even the demons believe in God—and tremble! So there must be more than just belief for the Christian. This Sabbath, Pastor Chad Stuart shares why belief in God falls short as a measuring stick for the church, and what we as Christians should be cultivating in our families and church community instead.
As we contemplate what God has given us (everything) we must consider the concept of grace. What is grace? It's been described as "unmerited favor." Something that prefigures a love so good, so pure, that there's nothing we can do to earn it. It's given freely. It's the best possible news, and this week, Pastor Matthew Piersanti tells us why.
What would you be willing to give up to follow Jesus? Is it worth it? In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus says if any person comes to me and hates not his father or mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even their own life, they are not worthy to be my disciple. We invite you to join us this Sabbath as Pastor Crystal E. Ward shares why discipleship with Jesus is the best decision you could ever make.
Some of us have been blessed with great Dads and, unfortunately, some with Dads who aren't so great. No matter which category we find ourselves in, we're all in need of adoption by a perfect Father. Let's celebrate our good good Father and the eternal freedom from sin that His love affords! Worship along with us as Pastor Chad shares a message titled "A Perfect Father."
The pursuit of happiness is often tied with the pursuit of riches and power in modern culture. Yet, the Bible presents a different message entirely regarding happiness which is uniquely tied to the mission of Jesus. Listen as Pastor Matthew Piersanti uncovers how happiness is best pursued from the perspective of Jesus.
School's out and summer is here! We're pleased to welcome back Pastor Kandace Zollman to the pulpit as she shares a message titled, "Common Sense, or God Sense?" Over the next few weeks, many from our pastoral team will be traveling to church meetings and taking some much-needed vacation time. We solicit your prayers and ask that you will also pray that Pastor Kandace's message will reach those God needs it to reach. We're grateful that you've chosen to spend your worship time with us and pray that God blesses you today, this weekend, and in the week ahead!
When we hear a "bad take" on the internet, or see someone blow up an opposing political position, our tendency is to want to add fuel to the file—to pile on. But is this the right move even if the person is in the wrong? In a message from the short Old Testament book of Obadiah, Pastor Chad Stuart shares why it's not only beneficial, but Godly to hold our tongues.
Have you wondered how the Gospels were written with such care that they can speak broadly to many different people groups over many centuries? And yet, they also seem to address specific sub-groups to show them they're divinely seen? One Gospel book especially demonstrates Jesus's value of women, which is what we'll be looking at this week. Listen in as Pastor Chad Stuart shares a special message on that will be especially relevant for women and mothers, but hang with us, guys, it will be relevant to you as well!
If there's a single word that's become a mainstay in communication since the onset of the pandemic, it's the word "unprecedented." You don't have to look far to find many "unprecedented" problems in the world; issues of famine, war, environmental disasters, and yes, pandemics. But are these events really without precedent? Listen as Pastor Chad Stuart shares a stand-alone message titled "Is it Really Unprecedented?
There are times, as followers of Christ, when we may experience an emptiness or a lack of purpose in our lives. In this week’s message, Pastor Matthew Piersanti looks at the creation story in Genesis 1. Can the creation narrative help us as we search for deeper meaning as disciples of Jesus?
