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We are a gathering of imperfect people who have been and are being changed by the work of God in us. Most sermons in this podcast are preached by Pastor Paul Sausser, who is a lifelong learner, especially in the area of biblical literature and ancient biblical culture. He has a M.Div. degree from Calvin Theological Seminary and a D.Min. degree from Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, and served at three other churches leading up to Discovery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m ...
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A big welcome to our new Specialized Transitional Minister, Neil Jasperse! Genesis 27:30-41; 28:10-15 Transitions can be full of uncertainty and anxiety; God meets us in them. Watch the full service: https://youtu.be/WseOWUq0O60 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Genesis 21:8-21 We live in a society that loves to throw people away. But sometimes, one person’s trash turns out to be God’s treasure. View the full service on our YouTube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This is Pastor Tim's final week with us. We're so grateful for his interim leadership these past 6 weeks! In the second coming of Jesus, the church is inseparably linked with the victory of Jesus: in salvation, resurrection, and the restoration of all things. Key congregational question: to what end is all our faithfulness in the Lord directed? Adu…
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The gospel of Jesus creates the church that Jesus builds. Acts 2:1-47; Matthew 16:18 Key congregational question: Are we aligned as a church with the church’s architectural design? Adult unlearning: empowerment in the Spirit moves us from the seats to the streets Watch the full service here: https://youtu.be/jbfIixIP-sA Hosted on Acast. See acast.c…
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Pastor Tim mentions the 50 Commands of Christ in the beginning; here's where you can find that document: http://discoverycrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/50-Commands-of-Christ.pdf Today's talk is based on Acts 1:1-8; Matthew 24:14. Every fully surrendered disciple of Jesus to his Lordship can experience the greatest prophet’s greatest prophecy ab…
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Hebrews 1:1-3; John 1:3, 10; Matthew 9:35-38 Every Christian can become a disciple-maker that Jesus relies on by multiplying generationally the content of the Commission. View the full service on our YouTube channel. We had some glitching this week; apologies for the technical difficulties. Preached by Pastor Tim Vink (interim pastor) Hosted on Aca…
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Preached by Pastor Tim Vink, interim pastor Colossians 1:15-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18 Every Christian reconciled to God through Christ can participate in his global reconciliation movement. View the full service on our YouTube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Pastor Tim Vink leads us for the next 6 weeks as interim pastor. Text: Ephesians 3:14-21 Theme: God made you to love you. (Eph. 1:4-6) l. God made you to love you. Christian family formed in the blood of Jesus’ atonement at the cross…new identity in our name/nature. Rooted and established in love, v. 17. Water of baptism thicker than blood of earth…
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This is Pastor Paul’s final talk before sabbatical and retirement. Placing oneself under the Lordship of Jesus (the Kingdom of God in me) means the complete denial of self and a total commitment to Christ. It begins with someone’s pursuit of something valuable—God’s Kingdom. Let us joyfully let go of all competing claims on our lives and make pursu…
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Rev. Neil Jasperse joins us this week. He is a candidate for our Specialized Transitional Minister position that will begin in November. Matthew 6:25-34 The secret of worry-free living is proper perspective and trust in God. Watch the full service: https://youtu.be/Pi889ahjgyo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
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The Bible teaches that the motivation to serve others, all others, selflessly is not from duty or guilt, but because of grace. Because of all that God has done for us, and it is all because of His grace, we are not free to pick and choose who we are to treat with kindness and grace. Our relationship with Jesus prompts us to respond to all others as…
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This Sunday, 9/1/24, we gave our tech team the week off and didn't record the service. Enjoy this throwback episode you may have missed when it first released. The Bible is truthful and reliable. We can believe this but not live it out—the Bible should guide the way we think, act, and live. The way of the Bible is for our and our neighbor’s good— l…
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Isaiah is given a glimpse into the majesty of God up in heaven, and the praise of angels to God because of His holiness. Viewing God as He truly is shouldn’t scare us but lead us into a deeper relationship. This depth is brought about by our confession of sin and God’s abundant grace of forgiveness. This growing relationship of grace should prompt …
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Pastor Mary continues the series on Worship focusing on the Presence of God. We explore God’s Presence in the Old Testament, the New Testament, and God’s Presence among us today. God’s Presence is always with us. One way God manifests His Presence is in and through our worship of Him. Psalm 139:1-12 with focus on vs. 7 Watch the full service on You…
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We know we should be more like Mary rather than Martha, and we want to be more like Mary. Of all the dishes to fix in life, the dish of worship is better than the rest. When we gather for worship, it is an expression and growth of the relationship of God and His people. In fact, it can be helpful to think of worship as a mutual pursuit of each othe…
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In our daily life, our purpose is to bring glory to God in all we do. When we do this, we become the people God intended us to be, and He blesses our lives. In the sphere of corporate worship, this too is aimed to bring glory to God. In the Old Testament, God kept saying that He was tired of sacrifices during Temple worship—for what He wants is a p…
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As Jesus has broken down walls that bring division, God’s Spirit unites Jesus’ followers, who are so very different from each other, together. Ephesians 4:1-7 Watch the full service here: https://youtu.be/sK_NOEbeWu8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Things that don’t change we can view as boring—same-o, same-o. But Jesus is anything but boring. Digging deep into Jesus unearths great truths with life changing insights about His love. Following Him leads us to new and exciting ways to experience Him and His love. Hebrews 13:8 Watch the full service on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/qmrlXH…
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While the Christian’s calling includes not conforming to the world, we do live life touching the world. We are not to be in isolation from the influences of the world but live out what it means to bring God’s grace and love to the world. In this way we serve as priests to those who need to see our Jesus. Verse: Keep on loving one another as brother…
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We had technical issues recording July 7's talk, so please enjoy this rerun instead. Deuteronomy 4:5-8 Being a community is more than a gathering of people. It is living out together the wisdom and ways of God. As a faith community does just this, its neighbors see God and His people as something they need and want. Living out God’s way of life tog…
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In Hebrews 11 we see people demonstrating incredible faith, we see God showing up in incredible ways, and we begin to think that there is a causal relationship between our faith and God’s actions. But what happens when one doesn’t have incredible faith? Or what happens when one does have faith and God doesn’t come through as we want Him to? Sometim…
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Once per month, Discovery has a Discipleship Emphasis Sunday which focuses on a video from The Bible Project instead of a talk. Therefore, there is no new talk this week. The talk we're sharing today was preached June 5, 2023. Ephesians 3:14-21 “The gospel is inherently selfless and builds a community where we are all able to thrive.” View the full…
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Moses’ faith, beginning as it did with his parents who by faith gained some inkling of the child’s destiny, (Moses’ faith) compelled him to forfeit the immediate for the future, the seen for the unseen, to choose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than enjoying the pleasures of sin for a moment. He regarded disgrace for the sake o…
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Hebrews 11:8-13 Having spent decades growing stable faith in Abraham and Sarah, we see how stable faith works. In four instances, God calls this couple to move forward in faith based on the promises God gave to them. Because these promises will be experienced in part and not in their totality, their faith trusts God to ultimately fulfill all His pr…
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Faith is setting our heart on the true and sure reality of who God is, what He has done, and what He promises. A steady faith follows these invisible realities of God, not the visible things we see with physical eyes. This chapter of Heroes of the Faith begins with defining how firm faith in God differs from walking by trust in the things of this w…
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Today is Pentecost, 50 days after we have celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. On Pentecost God poured out His Promised Holy Spirit on those who believed in Jesus, with no restriction. This pouring of the Spirit still continues today. Joel 2:28-29 View the full service on our YouTube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa…
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Christ is the foundation of our faith. We live by faith and not by sight. So many of the heroes of faith did not see what was promised, yet they persevered. Through Christ we have the ability to persevere with the greater hope that we will see what He promised. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Heb…
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Because of Jesus, His one sacrifice for us is all we need for forgiveness and new life in Him. As we cling to these promises, we encourage each other to hold on to this hope that is found only in Christ. Because Jesus is fully committed to us, we take that and be fully committed also to one another. Verse: For by one sacrifice he has made perfect f…
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This week (April 28) was Discipleship Emphasis Sunday, which involves a Bible Project video and small group discussion, so there is no new talk to share. Please enjoy this old but still relevant talk from 2022, preached by Pastor Paul Sausser. Galatians 6:1-10 In giving a picture of true love for one another, Jesus’ law of love includes carrying ea…
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God wants us to properly consider these small but valuable diamonds in the form of habits and principles, for our Christian life at its highest level. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 This talk is primarily in Spanish, with English interpretation. Watch the full service on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/NZn2MVT1zlM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv…
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Heaven is more real than the broken world we see around us. Christ’s sacrifice sets us free to live in his presence, allowing us to start to experience that eternal reality even now in the body of Christ. Hebrews 9:11-14, 23-28 Pastor Matthew Wright joins us as Pastor Paul and Renae are on vacation. Watch the full service on our YouTube channel: ht…
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This week, worship began with communion. A short pause is included in the podcast where communion was served before the talk begins. Because of Jesus, we have access to what is better than what this world has to offer. Being the better high priest and offering a better sacrifice, we have access to a better life, a life that has its totality in Jesu…
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The resurrection of Jesus is so profound, such a pivotal point in history, that because of it, everything is different. Because Jesus rose from the dead, He offers us a fresh start as He has the power to change everything! Mark 16:1-8 Watch the full service: https://youtu.be/Q7o7LK9MOOA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
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At different times in our lives, we all need some sort of rescue. To “be saved” is to “be rescued.” The stories and ceremonies within the Old Testament all point towards the One and the way that Father God would provide rescue—through His selected Lamb. We are saved by the blood of the Lamb. Exodus 12:1-6; John 1:29-31 Watch the full service: https…
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This week was Discipleship Emphasis Sunday, which involves a Bible Project video and small group discussion, so there is no new talk to share. Please enjoy this old but still relevant talk from 2022, preached by Pastor Paul Sausser. Acts 8:26-40 Our society is highly polarized, especially with political differences. Humans are good at division. Phi…
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Just as we need mediators in many parts of our lives, we need a spiritual mediator to be the go-between between us and God. In Old Testament times, God provided the High Priest. Now, Jesus is the only High Priest we need to mediate on our behalf before God. He is the only One who clicks all the boxes of what is needed in a spiritual mediator. Hebre…
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Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Fulfilling the requirements of every priest that ever existed, Jesus became the high priest (the one who offers the sacrifice), the altar (where the sacrifice is made), and the sacrifice (the actual offering) once and for all, for us. He is solid and stable, never moving, so on Him we can place o…
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On Discipleship Emphasis Sundays, we have a shorter talk to make time to watch and discuss a video from The Bible Project. Watch this month's video here: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/priests-of-eden/ Adam and Eve, our first parents, were made in God’s image. As God’s image bearers, they represented God to all of creation, working and wors…
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The role of the High Priest was to be the highest representative of God to His people, and God’s people to God. Because of this, the qualifications of the High Priest were high. Jesus fulfilled all the human qualifications of being a High Priest, but more than that, He was appointed as Father God. Hebrews 4:14-5:10 Watch the full service here: http…
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Guest preacher Rev. Matthew Wright joins us for this 4th installment of our Snapshots of Greatness series. Hebrews 4:12-16 The word of God cuts us to the core and lays us bare before our judge. But in Jesus Christ we have a great high priest who has brought our humanity into heaven and represents us before the Father, so we may approach his throne …
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In Christ we have a calling to persevere against unbelief. Throughout Israel’s history, the repetitive behavioral pattern of chasing after other gods and forgetting the promises of God is a prominent theme. Through Christ, our hearts of stone can become hearts of flesh—being in communion with Him, and in community with others, to press against the …
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Rev. Peter Gordon shares the work of Jabez Ministries and inspires us to include people with disabilities in leadership and ministry. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 View the full service on our YouTube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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All Christ has done for us took place because He became one of us to save from ourselves and transform us to be like Him. In Jesus, God is showing us what it is like to be fully human as Jesus wears our skin without our sin. Hebrews 2:9-18 Watch the full service on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/aHMeCD0VjAo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri…
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A new year brings a new series: Snapshots of Greatness, in which we'll explore many names and characteristics of Jesus as told in the book of Hebrews. The Living Jesus is all we need to find fulfillment in our lives. Jesus is Father God’s full and final picture of what He wants to reveal about Himself to us. In these opening verses, 9 snapshots of …
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The Bible is full of stories of men and women who had doubts and fears, yet trusted that God was bigger than those doubts and fears. Jesus’ final words were to a group of young men that doubted. Yet they obeyed and God used them to change the world. Will we trust God today in the midst of our own doubts and fears? Matthew 28:16-20 Ryan Waalkes is a…
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Christmas is here. We love love stories, and so we might think on this day of the love story between Joseph and Mary. But this day is not about their story, but His love story. Today is about God fulfilling promises to bring His love in His Son down to earth for us. Luke 2:1-20 Watch the full service on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/VRc2QUt…
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Christmas is about God’s salvation for us. Strip everything else away from Christmas but this truth, and it will still be a great Christmas. John’s birth tells what this child will do—announce God’s plan of salvation. Zechariah’s song, his response to God’s goodness, is praising our Lord and also proclaiming God’s salvation. The central message of …
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God’s great plan of new life should be responded to by incredible joy—spontaneous joy. The ARRIVAL of Mary at Elizabeth’s place brings joy to their home. Jesus does that to people. Elizabeth is blessed by having this Child and being in a relationship to the mother of the Messiah. Mary breaks into ADORATION about her own happiness and the joy of new…
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God fulfills His promises in miraculous ways that mystify us. When we are confronted with God’s miraculous and mysterious ways, we need to be obedient and accept God’s coming to us—first, in receiving His Christmas gift of a Savior, and second, with a willingness to be used in His service. Luke 1:26-38 Watch the full service on our YouTube channel:…
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God is not quiet in working His plan to bring salvation and joy through His people to the world. This is the time that God is at work behind the scenes with Zechariah and Elizabeth. The priest Zechariah was placed in a spot to bear the news that God is at work to bring His joy and redemption to humanity. Zechariah’s silence (after he questioned God…
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