1 Peter 3:13-16, Deuteronomy 5:12-15 What do you think of when hearing that someone lives a “questionable lifestyle?” What if we are the ones who are called to live by this description? Guest preacher Pastor Kim Richardson joins us and asks these questions, using 1 Peter and the book of Deuteronomy to discover how living a life that puts God first …

“Breaking New Ground” Text: Isaiah 43:14-21 Today, the church held its Annual Meeting, where we celebrated what God has done in our midst during the past year. Pastor Tim read for us encouraging words from the prophet Isaiah, saying that God’s promises for His people are promises for us too. When God says that He will make a new way in the wilderne…

Text: Mark 16:1-8 He is risen! On this Easter Sunday, we read the Gospel of Mark’s account of the resurrection of Jesus. The story of Easter is that God is pleased to raise one who is absolutely forgotten and rejected from the dead. This is our experience as well; no one is forsaken or forgotten. Each of us is invited into the resurrection story an…

“Still Breathing Life into Dust: Sabbath Work” Text: Mark 2:23-28 We continue our study of the second chapter of Mark by seeing how Jesus responds to the Pharisees questioning what they perceive to be His disciples breaking the sabbath rules. Jesus refers to an Old Testament story where David, acting on authority given to him, was able to feed thos…

“Still Breathing Life Into Dust: Living in the New” Text: Mark 2:18-22 We continue our Lenten series from the Gospel of Mark, where the Pharisees ask Jesus why His disciples do not fast. His reply reminds us that the grace of God is not determinant upon our preconceived notions; like new wine in old wineskins, it bursts through old expectations. As…

Still Breathing Life into Dust: Imperfect Followers Text: Mark 2:13-17 Today we look at a story about those whose lives are not fully shaped the way we fully expect after an encounter with Jesus. Levi is a tax collector who began to follow Jesus, however he still has ties to his previous life, spending time and eating with other tax collectors and …

“Still Breathing Life into Dust: Forgiven” Text: Mark 2:1-12 Today, we mark the first Sunday in Lent by beginning a new sermon series called “Still Breathing Life into Dust,” recognizing that God’s work did not stop when He breathed life into Adam. Even when we are still marked by the ashen moments in our lives, God is still working and doing His w…

“How We See Jesus” Text: Mark 9:2-13 As we prepare to enter the season of Lent, we read about Jesus’s transfiguration on the mountaintop before His disciples. This story allows us to recognize that the faith that we have in our Lord Jesus Christ can be something more than just something to hold onto each day but the impetus to how we are going to l…

“Where the Kingdom Draws Near” Text: Mark 1:29-45 In today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark, Jesus starts proclaiming “the Good News” but we usually think of the Good News as His death and resurrection or heavenly promises, so what is it? Jesus states that “the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has drawn near.” In Jesus, God is breaking int…

Authority for Freedom Text: Mark 1:21-28 We continue reading the Gospel of Mark to gain a better understanding of who Jesus is. In the story of Jesus driving out an evil spirit at the synagogue, we not only find that there is no power greater than God, but also that God is present and willing to walk beside and work among us in the midst of the wor…

“Answering the Call” Text: Mark 1:12-20 Today, we hear Mark’s account of the calling of Jesus’ first disciples. His promise to the fishermen that they would become “fishers of people” is not a promise made only to them – it is a calling for all of us who follow Jesus and the vocations we find ourselves in. Wherever we are, we can share the good new…

“Longing for the Savior” Text: Mark 1:1-11 We begin a year-long focus on the story of Jesus, specifically as recorded by the Gospel of Mark. The book begins with the baptism of Jesus and a simple statement about who He is; God is pleased to burst forth from the Heavens and make Himself present among us. We are invited to open up our lives to what G…

“Finding Purpose in the Cycles of Life” Text: Eccesiastes 3:1-13 We end 2023 by studying a passage from the book of Ecclesiastes. These words remind us that there are various seasons in our lives – some of them very joyous, and some of them very hard. Yet, God gives direction in the midst of all the seasons of our lives toward His creative and rest…

Joy of Every Longing Heart: “Peace” Text: Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 As we transition from the season of Advent to celebrate the coming of Jesus, we read about the story of God’s steadfast faithfulness in Psalm 89. Through Jesus, the story of God’s covenant found in this psalm becomes the story of all of us who are called to love and spread peace and good…

Joy of Every Longing Heart: “Joy” Text: Psalm 126 Songs are often used to mark a specific event or recall a particular past time or season. Psalm 126 is one of the Psalms of Ascent that were sung by worshippers from memory during harvestime when making the journey to Jerusalem for annual feasts. It is a joyous psalm which commemorates the God who h…

Joy of Every Longing Heart: “Love” Text: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 We continue looking at the book of Psalms this Advent season. Psalm 85 is a lament that is focused on faithfulness and in recognizing that God desires to restore relationship with His people. God’s salvation is not just a future that we look forward to. It is also the present experience of…

Joy of Every Longing Heart: “Light” Text: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 We begin the season of Advent and the new church year by hearing messages from the book of Psalms. Psalm 80 is a lament filled with grief, anger, sadness, and despair, with those feelings directed at God. Despite this, it also affirms that God is trustworthy, loving, and good, and that t…

“Second Chances” Text: Ezekiel 34:11‐31 As we mark the end of the church year with Christ the King Sunday, we testify to God’s primary place in our lives through Jesus Christ. This passage from Ezekiel emphasizes that our God desires to be known to His people and, like a good shepherd, is always seeking for us. God’s promise of a “second chance” to…

“Season of Faithfulness” Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 This week we study a passage from Thessalonians, and as much as it is a passage that hints at the time when Christ comes again, is actually a passage that does not have that have a whole lot to do with the end times. Rather, it has far more to do with how we live today. Concerning the time and t…

“Giving Grace vs. Manipulating Magic” Text: Acts 8:9-24 This week, we review the story about Simon the Sorcerer, a trickster magician who tries to take advantage of the Gospel and the disciples to gain power for himself. In an unconventional message, Pastor Tim expresses a concern about the number of “Simon the Sorcerers” that exist in the world to…

“Redemption Story: Now Our Story” Text: Ruth 4:1-17 We wrap up our study of Ruth by looking at the fourth and final chapter. This story shows us a vision of what it might look like as we live into and walk the path that God has for us. It shows us that when be believe that the situations that surround us are too difficult to overcome and there is n…

“Redemption Story: Surprised by Grace” Text: Ruth 2:1-13 We continue our series on the book of Ruth by studying chapter 2, where Ruth first meets Boaz. Hearing of Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi, Boaz extends grace to her in the grain fields. Like Boaz, we have the opportunity to lavish “hesed” — grace and loving kindness — to a world that desperately…

“Redemption Story: Identification & Committment” Text: Ruth 1:1-22 Today we begin a multi-week study of the book of Ruth. It’s a story of redemption, a story of deliverance, and a story of finding one’s place in the grace of God. This week we are going to learn about identification and commitment – about knowing who we are.…

“The Kingdom: Ready to Feast” Text: Matthew 22:1-14 This week, we study the Parable of the Wedding Banquet. God invites all to His celebration by name, and when we respond faithfully to that invitation, we become His servants. As servants, we become those are called to go out and invite anyone else to come and share in the celebration as well. As t…

“The Kingdom: In God the Son” Text: Matthew 21:33-46 This morning we study the parable of the landowner and the vineyard. His tenants did not give the landowner the produce and instead killed his servants and even his son. The parable was a warning to the chief priests and Pharisees and a reminder to us that we are called to produce spiritual fruit…

People of Grace: “Loving Accountability in Action” Text: Acts 4:23-31 We conclude our series on being a people of grace; learning what it means for God to love and be gracious to us, and how we reciprocate and live into that grace. In this week’s scripture passage, instead of praying for the destruction of their enemies, the believers pray for heal…

“People of Grace: Participating in God’s Mission Text: Romans 8:18-30 We continue our “People of Grace” series by reading encouraging words Paul wrote to the early Church in Rome. Paul takes a moment to compare the early Church’s sufferings to those of Christ and reminds us that whatever me might struggle with now, nothing compares to the glory tha…

People of Grace: “Why is Discipleship So Difficult?” – September 17, 2023 Text: Acts 2:42-47 We live in a very busy and stressful world; one where there is always something pulling us one way or the other. It can be difficult to fully commit to discipleship in these moments, both individually and as a group. This week’s scripture passage, occurring…

“People of Grace: What is a Disciple?” Text: Matthew 4:18-22 This week, we look at the calling of Jesus’ first disciples. The invitation to follow Jesus is a personal one, with the disciples being mentioned by name in the scripture for one of the only times. This passage shows us that God reaches out and calls His people in whatever walk of life th…

“People of Grace: God’s Mission – My Purpose” Text: John 4:27-38 In the Gospels, the disciples are often shown as trying to safeguard Jesus from those who they might think are unworthy or slowing Him down. This passage, which follows Jesus’s encounter with the woman at the well, is a notable exception where the text specifically states that they di…

“People of Grace: The Reach of Grace” Text: Ephesians 2:8-10 We officially start our “People of Grace” series by examining the second chapter of Ephesians. This passage, which may be the most often quoted portion of Paul’s letter, addresses sin and our desire to draw close to God by removing our separation from Him. It shows us that the grace of Go…

“People of Grace: Surprised by Grace” Text: Matthew 15:21-28 Pastor Tim introduces a new series called “A People of Grace,” which is designed to complement the church’s book study on Sam Barber’s book of the same name. In this first sermon, we examine what initially appears to be the least grace-filled passage in the Gospels. Jesus’ first words tow…

“Finding Jesus Among Us” Text: John 5:1-15 Today we hear an encouraging word from the Gospel of John, where Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. After the healing, He could not be found, slipping into and being among the crowd. Pastor Tim reminds us that Jesus is not found in repetitive, anecdotal moments. Sometimes, Jesus shows…

“Jesus’s Invitation: ‘Be the Grown-ups!'” Text: Matthew 5:43-48 We are pleased to welcome back former CECN pastor Rev. Dr. Jeff Barker as our guest preacher. He brings us a message from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’s call to perfection – “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” – comes after He describes how His disciples are t…

Text: John 14:15-24 Pastor Kim Richardson joins us this week while Pastor Tim is on vacation. Today’s passage from John is about obedience. When we know what God expects and we obey what He is asking us to do, it is a demonstration of our love to Jesus. As we love Jesus, He makes Himself known to us. As a result, if we want to know Jesus better, we…

Sermon Text: 2 Peter 3:1-18 Having finished our recent sermon series on the Old Testament minor prophets, we turn to a passage from the book of 2 Peter that has also been read as a prophetic word. Peter tells his audience to not listen to a world that suggests that God is not interested in how they live their lives and what they do. Instead, Peter …

Text: Haggai 2:1-9 We continue our series on the minor prophets by studying the second book of Haggai. In Haggai, we find encouraging words to the people of Israel while they prepare to return to the Promised Land. Haggai shows us that God’s grace meets us where the trials of life are.โดย Cape Elizabeth Church of the Nazarene

“God Greater than Our Adversary” Nahum 1:1-11 Continuing our series on the minor prophets, we look at Nahum’s prophecy for the city of Nineveh. Taking place after the events recorded in the book of Jonah, Nahum’s harsh words of judgement are for those who continue to abuse power and take advantage of God’s grace. For those who come from a position …

Text: Obadiah 1:1-21 We continue our study of the minor prophets by looking at the book of Obadiah. This short book contains harsh words to the nation of Edom, criticizing them for their battles with the people of Israel, with whom they had a common heritage. Yet these harsh words are a reminder for us as well – we should never look at another grou…

“Speaking Truth into Danger” Amos 7:7-17 We continue our sermon series on the minor prophets; ones we may not read from often but who nevertheless remind their people of the call that God has placed on their lives. This week’s passage from Amos is a hard prophetic word of judgement coming down against the people of Israel. While we can read this lo…

Text: Hosea 2:14-20 Today, we begin a multi-week series on the minor prophets. These voices are often overlooked but can still speak to us today. Through them, we are reminded that we are all called to speak the good news of God and that role is for everyone. The first passage from the book of Hosea depicts God as one who “woos us” to His plan for …

Text: Psalm 13:1, 5-6/Romans 4:13-18/Matthew 9:9-13/Genesis 12:1-5/Hosea 6:6 With Pastor Tim away at the 2023 General Assembly for the Church of the Nazarene, we welcome back Zahira Grunwald as our guest preacher. All of Scripture is connected. It is a series of stories, poems, and proverbs all designed to be interconnected in their revelation of G…

Text: Matthew 28:26-30 Last week we celebrated Pentecost, the event where God gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to the early Christians. This week is Trinity Sunday, where we recognize the holy mystery of the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our passage today is the Great Commission, Jesus’ directives to the early Church and to us to make d…

Pentecost Sunday Text: 1 Peter 5:1-14 We complete our reading of 1 Peter, which ends with a promise of deliverance; that “the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.” On this Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that does ju…

Text: 1 Peter 4:1-19 During Jesus’ capture in the Garden of Gethsemane, the apostle Peter armed himself with a sword and violently used it in an attempt to protect Jesus. In the book of 1 Peter, he tells the early church to arm themselves not with weapons, but with the intentions of Jesus, who “fought” with love, grace, and forgiveness. Jesus compl…

Text: 1 Peter 3:8-22 Pastor Tim returns and we resume our look at the book of 1 Peter. If Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and earthly powers lost their authority because of the resurrection, what does this mean for the early Church? With the thought that Jesus would return within their generation, it is not difficult to imagine that th…

Text: Genesis 1:27-28 This morning we are joined by Zahira Grunwald, who has answered the call to ministry and is currently taking classes at Nazarene Bible College to fulfill ordination preparation. She brings us a message from the book of Genesis. The prevailing opinion of most cultures at the time Genesis was written was that there were many god…

Text: 1 Peter 2:11-25 Our study of 1 Peter continues. As Peter looks at the suffering of those scattered about, he starts to compare it to the suffering of Christ; a suffering that led to Jesus’s death. It is a bold reminder for us that faithfulness to God is an absolute trust in the Holy Spirit to sustain us today, no matter what comes at us. The …

Text: 1 Peter 1:13-25 We continue our study of 1 Peter; in this passage we hear Peter calling everyone to holiness. Peter recognizes that God the Father has sent us out into a broken world. The call to holiness incorportes a personal, social, and an interpersonal aspect – as Nazarenes, we recognize this call to holiness and take it seriously. Our s…

Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9 As we continue celebrating the resurrection of Jesus and what that means for us, we begin a study of the book of 1 Peter. This letter was written for the early Christians who were scattered and wondering how to live out their faith in a world that was not always receptive to who they were or what they were about. Peter reminds b…