Messages

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.

God once resided with His people in the sinless garden, and later in the Holy of Holies. But today, when the Holy Spirit dwells in us, our bodies become the Holy of Holies. We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. How should that affect the way we live our lives?

People get fixated on the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. Some say those supernatural gifts don’t apply to us today, while others say that spiritual gifts like healing, prophecy, speaking in tongues, etc, are the only way to know that the Holy Spirit truly dwells in us. Which is correct? What does the Bible say about it?