Listen to, "Unfailing Love" by Greg Sidders, Pastor, White Pine Community Church // 12/18/11
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Does God Give Second Chances?
Of all the things we're thankful for, few compare to the grace of God. Aren't you glad He gives second chances?
But because we are repeat offenders, we can't help but wonder whether He gives third chances, or 30th, or 300th. At what point does grace expire? Just how many times is God willing to forgive us before wrath replaces grace?
There's a story in the Bible that answers that anxious question. We'll be reading it in this podcast, and I think it will intensify both your gratitude for God's grace and your passion for purity.
Greg
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Difference God Makes - Part 2
Click here to listen to: "The Difference God Makes - Part 2" by Greg Sidders
If you have ever come face-to-face with someone who is larger than life, you know that it can be an unsettling experience. With that it mind, how do you think you would react if you saw God?
It actually happened a few times in the Bible, and there is a lot to learn from how people reacted. This Sunday at White Pine, we'll discover the difference it would make in our lives if we could see God. My hope and prayer is that our study will prepare all of us for that day when we will see Him face-to-face.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Give Love Away - Part 5
Give Love Away Day is just 9 days away! On Sunday, October 23, we are canceling church to give love away in the communities of Cumberland, North Yarmouth, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Freeport and Portland. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SIGNED UP TO BE PART OF A TEAM, YOU CAN DO SO RIGHT NOWlibrary.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102051926859-332/Project+Summaries.pdf
But before we hit the streets, we need to finish up our study of what the Bible teaches about love. And we've saved the hardest for last:"Love your enemies." How does Jesus want us to give love away to those who dislike us and mistreat us? And what's in it for us? That's what we'll find out in this message.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Give Love Away - Part 4
"Love your neighbor as yourself," Jesus said--and I know you want to do that. But you are a finite human being with limited time and energy, so you can't love every neighbor all the time. Which neighbor does God want you to love first? // That may sound like an unanswerable question, but it's not. The Bible prioritizes the people to whom we are called to give love away. This Sunday at White Pine, we'll learn why and how to love ... guess who?
Monday, October 3, 2011
Give Love Away - Part 3
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Give Love Away - part 2
From Sunday 09-25-11 // White Pine Church
When you think about giving love away, who do you think about giving it away to? If you're anything like me, your thoughts instinctively go horizontal--toward other people. But Jesus taught us to think vertically first. Remember the first and greatest commandment? It's not to love our neighbor, is it? It's to love the Lord our God.
But how do you know whether you love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength? How do you measure something as intangible as love for someone as invisible as God?
In this message, you are going to learn how to diagnose the intensity of your love for God. And if, in that process, you find that you have lost your first love, you'll discover how to get it back.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Give Love Away / Part 1
On Saturday September 17th, the White Pine Community Church community celebrated our 10th anniversary with the Grand Opening of our new between-Sundays ministry center. Even though the renovation of the building is not yet complete, were able to tour the facility and envision what the finished project will look like.
Then, on Sunday morning at Greely Middle School, we kicked off our fall series, Give Love Away, by studying what the Bible teaches about God's love for us. If you think you already know everything there is to know about the love of God, you're in for a shock! This is one study that will stretch and challenge you, and take you deeper into God's love than ever before.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Help Make White Pine Famous
This message is from Huddle Sunday, White Pine Community Church's once-a-year church family gathering in which we commit ourselves to the vision the Lord has given us for the coming 12 months. Listen as Greg asks the question, “What does God want us to be famous for?” His answer will shape everything we do for the next year. We hope you will listen and then help make White Pine "Famous."
Monday, September 5, 2011
Listen to Greg Sidders deliver his message, "Hurting" // Sunday, 09-04-11
There is nothing more disillusioning than pain.
There is nothing more disillusioning than pain.
As Christians, we believe in a God who is full of compassion of abounding in love, yet we live in a world that is filled with suffering. Right now, you are hurting in some way,
aren't you? And whether it's merely irritating or utterly debilitating, pain tests our faith. We can't help but wonder, What is God doing when I am hurting?
aren't you? And whether it's merely irritating or utterly debilitating, pain tests our faith. We can't help but wonder, What is God doing when I am hurting?That's a good question. And the Bible answers it. In this episode, we are going to learn why our good, compassionate God allows us to suffer. It won't relieve the pain, but it will give you perspective that will help you to persevere. My prayer is that those of us who need to be encouraged, and those of us whom God wants to use as encouragers, will be transformed by the truth we learn together.
Friday, September 2, 2011
08-28-11 // Will Truesdell, InterVarsity Director, Northern New England
Listen To Will Truesdell, from InterVarsity, from his message at White Pine Community Church. Sunday, 8-28-11
I had everything I needed for my cross-country flight neatly organized in my aluminum briefcase, but I also had a problem: Someone had rotated the dials of the three-digit combination lock, and I couldn't remember the combination. I was locked out of what I needed to survive the trek.
What I felt at that moment is what I have sometimes felt while reading what Jesus said in John15:5: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." There is so much power packed into those words, but how do I unlock that power? "Abide in me," Jesus says--but how do I do that? What combination of things must I do to abide in Christ?
In this episode we are going to learn how to abide in Christ from someone who, in my opinion, has figured out the combination. Will Truesdell is the director of InterVarsity Northern New England, a ministry to college students in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, and the time we have spent together has given me great confidence that his teaching ministry will be very enriching to our church family.
I had everything I needed for my cross-country flight neatly organized in my aluminum briefcase, but I also had a problem: Someone had rotated the dials of the three-digit combination lock, and I couldn't remember the combination. I was locked out of what I needed to survive the trek.
What I felt at that moment is what I have sometimes felt while reading what Jesus said in John15:5: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." There is so much power packed into those words, but how do I unlock that power? "Abide in me," Jesus says--but how do I do that? What combination of things must I do to abide in Christ?
In this episode we are going to learn how to abide in Christ from someone who, in my opinion, has figured out the combination. Will Truesdell is the director of InterVarsity Northern New England, a ministry to college students in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, and the time we have spent together has given me great confidence that his teaching ministry will be very enriching to our church family.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
It's Alright To Dream Again
Listen to Randy Reynolds message, "It's Alright to Dream Again" // Sunday 08-21-11 // White Pine Community Church
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
The Root Cellar
Listen to Kurt Holmgren, the director of the Root Cellar, to speak at White Pine Community Church, Sunday 08/14/11
I'll bet few of us feel wealthy, but riches are relative. We may have less than we'd like, yet, on average, those who live in the communities north of Portland possess more than the vast majority of Mainers. In light of all that the Bible teaches about caring for the poor, I'm sobered by that reality.
But I'm also thankful that the White Pine family has taken that calling seriously. Your ongoing generosity to community food pantries, as well as our collective commitment to the Root Cellar in Portland, are Christlike expressions of compassion for those who have less than we do.
I think it's a healthy thing for us to know how our donations to the Root Cellar are being used, and to dream of new ways to partner with that strategic ministry. That's why I asked Kurt Holmgren, the director of the Root Cellar, to speak at White Pine this Sunday. (I will be speaking at a church in Southern Oregon before beginning a 10-day vacation.) Kurt is a passionate follower of Jesus who has a God-given vision for bringing "Shalom" to Portland. If you wonder what that means, don't miss church this Sunday.
I'll miss you, and I'll be praying for you as God speaks to you through Kurt.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Superheroes Part 4
Listen to Greg's Message: Superheroes Part 4 From Sunday 08-07-11
Facing any giants these days?
I don't mean the flesh-and-blood kind. I mean, are you facing any overwhelming challenges--at home, at work, at school, in your body, in your mind? Is there anything in your life that is so big and so bad that it's scaring you to death?
If you'd like to know why has God allowed that giant to threaten you, and how you can slay it, don't miss this podcast. You'll learn from a biblical boy wonder how to get a head of your giant!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Superheroes Part 3
Don't you wish life always made sense?
I think we all want to believe that everything happens for a reason, but sometimes it feels like God is not quite as personally and purposefully involved in our lives as we'd hoped, doesn't it?
If you're feeling that way these days, I think you'll be encouraged by this message. We're going to look at the life of someone who thought she was far from God, only to find that she was smack dab in the center of His will--which just might be where you are right now. Listen and learn how to live a purpose-filled life even in the midst of seemingly purposeless circumstances.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Superheroes Part 2
Listen to Greg Sidders in, "Superheroes Part 2"
I had been a follower of Jesus for only a few months when I attended a retreat with this theme:Make a Mark That's Hard to Erase. The words were carved into wood--and into my heart, because they spoke to my deepest longing: to live the kind of life that, in some small way, would change the world for the better.
But I wondered (then, and many times since), Could God really use someone like me? I think that feeling of inadequacy is one of the most common barriers to a life of significance. We assume our ambitions exceed our abilities.
But the Bible is full of ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things, and in this message we're going to learn from one of those biblical superheroes what it takes for an average Joe/Jane to make a mark that's hard to erase.
I believe God's plans for you are bigger than you can imagine, and I'm excited to share with you some nitty-gritty steps you can take to make His dream for your life come true.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Super Heroes / Part 1
Listen to "Super Heroes" part 1 / Greg Sidders, White Pine Community Church
Do you think your best days of serving God are a) behind you or b) ahead of you?
The older we get, the more likely we are to circle "a"--because with age comes the residue of past mistakes and the obstacle of deep ruts, both of which make many people stop dreaming and start settling.
In Part 1 of our summer series Superheroes, you will meet a man who thought he was past his prime right before God handpicked him to change the world. If you've been wondering whether God can use someone with wrinkles and a regrettable track record, you're going to get a second wind in this message.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Run To Win
Listen to Doug Erdmann in his message, "Run to Win"
From Sunday, 07/10/11 // White Pine Community Church
From Sunday, 07/10/11 // White Pine Community Church
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
In God We Trust
It's stamped into every coin and printed on every dollar bill, but for how many of us is it really true?
"In God we trust."
There are vast differences in the extent to which we trust God, and the reason is simple: We all observe and experience a lot of things that make trusting Him hard. Why should we trust Him? What rational basis is there for believing that, when we draw near to God, He won't let us down.
In this message Greg uses three strands of biblical truth to braid a rope that we can use to strangle whatever doubts we may have about God's trustworthiness. If you have trust issues, this is one message you need to hear. Trust me :-)
In this message Greg uses three strands of biblical truth to braid a rope that we can use to strangle whatever doubts we may have about God's trustworthiness. If you have trust issues, this is one message you need to hear. Trust me :-)
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Swimming Upstream
Monday, June 20, 2011
Thank God for Dads // Father's Day 2011
Listen to Greg Sidders as he shares his message, "Thank God for Dads" // Father's Day 2011 at White Pine Community Church // Why is it that Mother's Day services are more well-attended than Father's Day services? One theory is that, when you ask your mom, "What would you like for Mother's Day?", she says, "I'd like for the whole family to come to church with me"--but when you ask your dad the same question, he says, "I'd like to sleep in." // But I think there may be more to it than that. I think the tone of the church's message to moms and dads tends to be different. On Mother's Day, we say to moms, "You're doing great!" But on Father's Day, we say to dads, "You need to do better!" Who wouldn't want to sleep through a spanking? // Dads need encouragement as much as moms do, and so this Sunday at White Pine we are going to honor our fathers by focusing on the unique and powerful ways they reveal God to us. So wake dad up, bring him to church, and promise him an afternoon nap this Sunday!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Reaching a Withered World / Randy Reynolds
Listen to Randy Reynolds as he delivers part 5 of, "Beyond Facebook" // Sunday 06/12/11 / White Pine Community Church.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Friendship Test
Listen to Greg Sidders deliver his message, "The Friendship Test" Part 4 in his series, Beyond Facebook.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Never Defriended
Have you ever been defriended?
It's a relatively new word; in fact, it made its debut in the Oxford Dictionary of English just last year. But it describes an experience that has been wounding people since the beginning of time, not just since the beginning of Facebook. To see a friendship that you thought would last a lifetime end abruptly is among life's most painful experiences. We ache for relationships that last.
But what is the glue that holds a friendship together?
This Podcast is Part 3 of Beyond Facebook. In it we will find the answer to that question by observing a friendship in the Bible that withstood every threat to its longevity.
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Blessing Zone
Listen to, "The Blessing Zone" by Greg Sidders, Pastor, White Pine Community Church.
In this podcast we are going to discover the most powerful secret to better relationships.
I know, that sounds like hype. "Secret" is a word so often used as a tease--a promise of some kind of previously-hidden nugget of revelation that will make what you thought was a complex problem surprisingly simple to solve. Too often those who say they know "the secret" over-promise and under-deliver.
That's not the kind of secret I'm talking about. I'm talking about a biblical principle that that is obscured by the fact that it is rarely stated explicitly. It's an implicit principle--the skeletal frame underneath the skin of so many of the Bible's relational commands. Supporting all those passages about how to forge better relationships is a ... well, a secret ... and when you discover it, it won't make all your relational challenges magically disappear, but it will light the path to a more satisfying social network. I promise.
I know, that sounds like hype. "Secret" is a word so often used as a tease--a promise of some kind of previously-hidden nugget of revelation that will make what you thought was a complex problem surprisingly simple to solve. Too often those who say they know "the secret" over-promise and under-deliver.
That's not the kind of secret I'm talking about. I'm talking about a biblical principle that that is obscured by the fact that it is rarely stated explicitly. It's an implicit principle--the skeletal frame underneath the skin of so many of the Bible's relational commands. Supporting all those passages about how to forge better relationships is a ... well, a secret ... and when you discover it, it won't make all your relational challenges magically disappear, but it will light the path to a more satisfying social network. I promise.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Beyond Facebook // Risk
Listen to Greg's Message "Risk" the first part in a 5 part series titled, "Beyond Facebook: Building 3-D Friendships.
According to a recent news report, more people in the world now use Facebook than those who don't. Its popularity highlights the fact that our social network is an important part of our lives. We need friends--even if they're only Facebook friends. But nothing in the 2-D online world can compare to having 3-D friendships--side-by-side and face-to-face companionship with others who are on the same journey. We don't often talk about friendship in church, but that's not because the Bible doesn't talk about it. It does. The Scriptures are filled with principles that we can apply to our friendships, and for the next five Sundays at White Pine, we'll be exploring many of them. I hope you will come and see how very much God cares about your social network.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Survivor Motherhood // Mother's Day 2011
Listen to Survivor Motherhood by Greg Sidders, Pastor, White Pine Community Church
I don't know of any job with a more lopsided rewards-to-labor ratio than that of motherhood. In what other profession do you get paid nothing for work that's never done? If anyone deserves a special day of recognition, it's moms. This Sunday at White Pine, I will be sharing a message designed to give those who have embraced the holy calling of motherhood a glimpse of God's perspective on their work.
If you are a mom, listen and be encouraged.
If you love someone who is a mom, invite her to listen with you and echo God's words of affirmation to her.
Then take her out to lunch!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Christianity Light - Outline
Click for the PDF outline for "Christianity Light" by Greg Sidders, Pastor, White Pine Community Church.
Christianity Light
Listen to Christianity Lite, by Greg Sidders, Pastor, White Pine Community Church // If you're someone who wants to do everything God wants you to do, I'll bet you have something in common with everyone else at White Pine who shares that desire: You're hoping for a short list. Whether you're a pre-Christian, a new Christian or a veteran Christian, you long for simplicity, don't you? But what are the chances of finding it in a 66-book, 1,000-page Bible? Better than you think. // In this podcast we are going to watch Jesus shrink the hundreds of scriptural dos and don'ts into a tiny, memorable package that has the power to revolutionize your life without putting you under a pile. I think it's just the right passage for the Sunday after Easter, and I hope you'll find it both liberating and life-changing.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Easter 2011 White Pine Community Church
Click here to listen to Greg's message from the Easter service at White Pine Community Church. // Sometimes something happens in our lives that changes everything. It happened to many people on the very first Easter Sunday, and we believe it will happen to many more people this Easter Sunday. Thank you for praying, inviting and serving so that together we can share with our families, friends and neighbors the best news they'll ever hear. |
Monday, April 18, 2011
Why Jesus Died
Watch "Why Jesus Died" by Greg Sidders, Pastor White Pine Community Church // Last fall at White Pine we invested 12 weeks studying the life of Jesus, but we suspended our study right before the most significant three-day period of His life, the days spanning His death and His resurrection. This Sunday and next, we will finish our Jesus Encounter, not just by watching Him die and rise again, but by seeking answers to the question Why? This Sunday we will be reminded of both the meaning of and the motivation behind His death on the cross.
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Invitation - Chapter 1
Listen to Author and Pastor, Greg Sidders, read the first chapter of his newly released book, The Invitation: The Not-So-Simple Truth About Following Jesus // Click here to listen.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Soul Scan // 03-27-11
Soul Scan, by Greg Sidders, White Pine Community Church // In this podcast we will conclude our study of the Book of Philippians. In the last 12 weeks we have learned that the life we were created to live has Jesus at the center of it, and that the more we get into Him, the more we will get out of life. // But is there any way to detect whether we are any more Christocentric today than we were three months ago? Is there anything visible we can look at that will help us to diagnose the condition of our relationship with Jesus Christ, invisible as that relationship is? // Yes, there is. The last major section of this book teaches us a very practical way to gauge our spiritual health.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
In The Eye of the Storm
In The Eye of the Storm, by Greg Sidders, Pastor, White Pine Community Church // Some people's emotional state is like a rubber life raft in the ocean of their circumstances; there is as much turbulence inside them as there is all around them. Others live in the eye of the storm, at peace in the center of the cyclone that swirls around them. // Which are you? Which would you like to be? // In this Podcast we are going to learn how our soul can be an island of calm even when our circumstances are an ocean of chaos. If you'd like the get out of the life raft and onto the island, listen in!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Against The Wind
Against The Wind, with Greg Sidders, Pastor, White Pine Community Church // You don't have to follow Jesus for very long before it dawns on you that you are swimming upstream. The current of this world is moving so rapidly and so powerfully in the opposite direction that we face the constant temptation to stop resisting and start drifting. // How to we withstand that inclination toward capitulation? To use a different analogy, how do we stay on the narrow, uphill road that leads to life when it would be far less strenuous to join the masses on the broad road that leads to destruction? // In this message we will learn from the Book of Philippians two practical strategies for standing firm on the slippery slope. Much is at stake, so I hope you'll join us.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
One Thing
One Thing, by Greg Sidders, Pastor, White Pine Community Church // Every once in a while, you meet someone who seems to have cracked the "purpose in life" code. They exude joy because they know why they're alive. They're not searching for who-knows-what; they've found it. // People like that are easy to admire but tough to emulate, because we don't know how to get what they've got. But what if someone who was utterly fulfilled shared his how-to secrets with you? And what if they turned out to be less mysterious and more doable than you ever imagined? // This message is Part 10 of The Life You Were Created to Live. In it we are going to spend time with a man who is as satisfied as God wants us to be, and we are going to learn from him how to make progress in our own spiritual quest. I'm looking forward to learning from him and growing with you.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Outline: Best Trade You'll Ever Make
Outline and discussion questions // The Best Trade You'll Ever Make
The Best Trade You'll Ever Make
The Best Trade You'll Ever Make by, Greg Sidders, Pastor, White Pine Community Church // If there's any question you want to have the right answer to, it's this one: What does it take to go to heaven? But there are, even among churchgoers, multiple answers to this all-important question. // a) Believe in Christ b) Obey God's laws c) Both of the above d) None of the above // Thank heaven we have an answer key! We'll take a peak at it in this podcast, and it will give us the clarity we need to refute every wrong answer we are fed for the rest of our lives. This is one message that both you and the person you most want to help live forever need, so invite your friend to listen to part 9 of The Life You Were Created to Live.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The Power of One
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Why Obey When No One's Looking?
Why Obey When No One's Looking, with Greg Sidders, Pastor, White Pine Community Church // Tell me you're not tempted to let your guard down morally when you think no one is watching. Uh-huh. I thought so. Me too. // It's part of our sinful nature to be less vigilant about obedience when those who encourage us and hold us accountable are out of the picture. So why should we obey when no one is looking? And where do we get the will power to do it? // Those are the questions we'll find answers to this Sunday as we continue our series The Life You Were Created to Live.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
WWJT - What Would Jesus Think?
WWJT with Greg Sidders, Pastor, White Pine Community Church // If you could become like any other person, who would it be? Not to sound overly spiritual, but I'd pick Jesus. I just can't think of anybody whose character I admire more. // Actually, I have been trying to become like Jesus for almost 30 years--ever since I decided to follow Him. But progress has been slow, and I think I know at least one reason why I often fail to act like Him. It's because I don't think like Him. Thoughts fuel deeds, so if I want to be like Jesus, I have to think like Jesus. // If you desire to become like Christ, this message will help move you one step closer to your goal--because in this message you are going to discover the Christlike thought process that leads to a Christlike lifestyle. I hope you will listen and be transformed by the renewing of your mind. - Greg
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Shine
Shine, by Greg Sidders, Pastor. White Pine Community Church // Remember the Motel 6 ad campaign in which Todd Bodett said, "We'll leave the light on for you"? Why did the hotel chain use that slogan? It's because there's nothing more inviting to a weary traveler than a porch light - a beacon that says, "You're welcome here." // Did you ever think of yourself as a porch light for God? If you are a Christian, that's exactly what you are. You have the opportunity (and responsibility) to make the message of Christ and the family of God inviting to those who travel through darkness. // But how do we create that warm glow? That's what you'll find out if you listen to this podcast. // We'll leave the light on for you.
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Key to a Positive Perspective
The Key to a Positive Perspective, by Greg Sidders, Pastor, White Pine Community Church // On each end of the happiness spectrum, there are two very different kinds of people. On one end is the person who seems to have every reason to be content, yet they are mysteriously and chronically unhappy. On the other end is the person whose circumstances in life are so dark you couldn't blame them for being discontent, yet they exude inextinguishable joy. // What does the one know that the other doesn't? What is the secret to circumstance-transcending satisfaction? // In this podcast, we'll find out in Part 4 of, The Life You Were Created to Live. I think this is one podcast when it's more than a cliche to say that, if you listen, you'll be glad you did.
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