Messages

We live in a world where prejudice is rampant. From the way one speaks to the color of one's hair, the neighborhood they live in to what job they work, the shape of one's body to the color of one's skin. However, it should not be that way among the people of God. We have been given a very specific command from God, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Your big neighbor, your black neighbor, your rich neighbor, your ugly neighbor, your Republican neighbor, your homeless neighbor, and even your pastor neighbor. In the end, we are not going to be the judge, we are going to be judged. The way we judge now will impact how we are judged then.

Most Christians thoroughly enjoy hearing good teaching. We are often wowed by truths that good teachers and preachers bring out of the text. The problem is, far too many of us don’t do anything with what we learn. In the words of James, we “deceive ourselves” by thinking that simply hearing the word does us any good. This week we are going to talk about actually doing what the Scriptures say.

There are three forces that lead us into temptation: The Devil, the world, and our flesh. James clarifies that God cannot and will not tempt us, our temptations come when we "are dragged away by [our] own evil desire and enticed."

How can we consider it "pure joy" when we face trials? It's not that the trials are joyful, but rather it's what the trials produce that we should take joy in. Trials test our faith and produce perseverance. Therefore we should be joyful in the perseverance that is produced through trials, which strengthens our faith.

For our annual Family Meeting, we review all that happened at QuadCity during 2023 and discuss upcoming things to look forward to in 2024.

We've all heard of the "New Year New Me" mentality regarding New Year's resolutions. This year, instead of starting a diet, a workout routine, becoming more productive, or other self-focused improvements, maybe we should shift our focus to God and work to become more like Him. If you've already dedicated your life to the Lord, this year could be "New Year, New EVERYONE ELSE" as you focus on sharing the gospel and making more and better disciples of Jesus. Everywhere. Always.

Over the last few weeks as a church, we have been focusing on some parts of the Christmas story that often get skipped, namely the four songs recorded for us in the Christmas story in Luke chapters 1 and 2. Today we will look at a few thoughts about the least known song from the first Christmas, the song of Simeon, a guy who knows what it means to wait.

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
This is one of the most famous lines connected to the Christmas story, "Peace on Earth". This phrase is written in lights, crocheted on pillows, and painted on coffee cups. We love to talk about peace this time of year. Peace on earth is a message that everyone can get behind. But don’t miss this, the peace that Jesus came to give isn’t for everyone.

Zechariah was a priest and the father of John the Baptist. He and his wife were very old and unable to have children. Then one day the angel Gabriel visits Zechariah to tell him that God has chosen his family to fulfill the final promise of the Old Testament, that they would give birth to the "prophet of the power of Elijah" who would declare and pave the way for the Messiah. Because of his doubts, Zechariah was made mute (and possibly deaf as well) until the birth of his son. When Zechariah names him John, his tongue is released, and the response is praise and thanksgiving in the form of Zechariah's Song.

We don't know a lot about Mary, but we do know from the Book of Luke that she was highly favored by God. But why was she so "highly favored?" Why did God choose her as the one to birth and raise the Messiah? What made Mary so special? The answers are found in "The Magnificat" also known as "Mary's Song of Praise" in Luke 1:46-55.