When Disillusionment Hits

Listen to "When Disillusionment Hits" by Greg Sidders, Sunday, 3-26-17

"Be everywhere, do everything, and never fail to astonish the customer." That's the motto of Macy's, and it also sums up what I expected from Jesus when I first began to follow Him.  I thought He would be everywhere and do everything I wanted Him to do with astonishing power.

He has astonished me, all right--by not doing what I expected. Everyone who follows Jesus will at some point hit the this-isn't-what-I-signed-up-for wall of disillusionment. Why should we keep following Him when He doesn't exceed our expectations?

This Sunday at White Pine, we watch as Jesus astonishes His disciples, and not in a delightful way. We see most turn away and a few keep following. And we discover what fueled the endurance of the minority, so that we too will have what it takes to follow our unpredictable Lord all the way to the finish line.

Notes and Discussion Questions - When Disillusionment Hits

Notes and Discussion Questions, "When Disillusionment Hits" by Greg Sidders

When Wealth Strangles

Listen to "When Wealth Strangles" by Greg Sidders, Sunday, 3-19-17

It is impossible to follow Jesus in a society as prosperous as America without ever wrestling with the question of what He wants you to do with your money.

 

Unfortunately, answers to that question--even by those who claim to teach the Bible--vary so dramatically that, lacking clarity, we gravitate toward our preferences ... or, to use the language of the apostle Paul, we gather around us a great number of teachers to say what our itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3).

 

But I dare you to find a prosperity preacher who regularly quotes the Gospel of Luke. Why? Well, let's just say Luke doesn't scratch where we itch.

 

But integrity demands that we brace ourselves and let Luke speak, because his Gospel contains far more words of Jesus on the subject of money and possessions than any other New Testament book. So this Sunday at White Pine, we highlight every quote of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke that has financial implications.

 

I promise you this: Clarity.

Notes and Discussion Questions - When Wealth Strangles

Notes and Discussion Questions, "When Wealth Strangles" by Greg Sidders

When Jesus Calls

Listen to "When Jesus Calls" by Greg Sidders, Sunday, 3-12-17

Picture two roads diverging in the woods. One is broad, level and crowded with hikers. The other is narrow, steep and occupied by one lone figure--Jesus. 

 

Why follow Him instead of them? 

 

Between now and Easter Sunday, we are going to study the map (the Gospels) to see what we can expect if we continue to follow Jesus every time we come to a fork in the road. Knowing both the cost and the reward will prepare us to take the less traveled route all the way to a destination like no other.

Notes and Discussion Questions - When Jesus Calls

Notes and Discussion Questions, "When Jesus Calls" by Greg Sidders

Stepped-Up Faith in a Messed-Up World

Listen to "Stepped-Up Faith in a Messed-Up World" by Ric Ochsner, Sunday, 3-5-17

How will your faith hold up when it's put to the test? When it's under fire?

It's one thing to believe something.  It's quite another to put it to action!

Listen to this week's sermon to understand how YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST IS NOT TESTED TRUE UNLESS IT'S BEEN TEMPERED UNDER FIRE.

Notes and Discussion Questions - Stepped-Up Faith in a Messed-Up World

Notes and Discussion Questions, "Steppe-Up Faith in a Messed-Up World" by Ric Ochsner