By Pastor Stephen Hess – Throughout the history of the church, there have been two things that God has used more than anything else to build, renew, and revive his church. These two things are the Word of God and prayer. Pastor and author Kevin DeYoung once said, “If a church’s supposed success is ultimately […]
bible, holy week, scripture, spiritual disciplinesBy Pastor Stephen Hess – For 2,000 years, Christians have affirmed a belief in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The Apostles’ Creed—one of the earliest creeds of the Christian church—states, “On the third day he rose again from the dead.” But in recent years some have asked whether it really matters if Jesus […]
easter, resurrectionBy Pastor Stephen Hess – If you walk into a grocery store during the month of February, an entire section of the store will be filled with chocolates, flowers, and pink greeting cards. The stores are preparing, of course, for what is commonly known as Valentine’s Day—a day celebrating romantic love and relationships. Many people […]
HolidaysBy Pastor Stephen Hess – When you think of “good news”, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s the birth of a child. Maybe it’s a raise or a promotion at work. Or maybe it’s a biopsy that comes back negative. These are all certainly types of good news, but the Bible says that there is […]
By Pastor Stephen Hess – The top selling book on the topic of pregnancy for the last few decades has been a book called What to Expect When You’re Expecting. As of last year, it was estimated that 93% of expectant mothers who read a pregnancy guide consulted this book and over 22 million copies […]
advent, christmas, sermon seriesBy Pastor Stephen Hess – In recent days I have seen a multitude of news articles and videos covering the trial of Darrell Brooks. Brooks is the man who drove his car through the Waukesha Christmas Parade in 2021, killing six people and injuring dozens more. The trial has received national attention not only because […]
current events, reformed theology, theologyBy Pastor Stephen Hess – Numerous studies have shown that church membership and attendance have been declining in the United States for the past several decades. A recent study from the Pew Research Center found that as of 2020, 64% of Americans identify as Christians. Fifty years ago, that number was 90%. If “religious switching” […]
evangelism, outreachBy Pastor Stephen Hess – I remember learning in elementary school that there are several things every plant needs to grow. Five of these things include: Sunlight, soil, water, air, and space. While having these things does not guarantee that a plant will survive (most plants also need proper maintenance and temperature control) it is […]
sanctification, sermon seriesBy Pastor Stephen Hess – Earlier this summer the United States Supreme Court handed down one of its most historic decisions in decades. In the case known as Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization the Court decided that the constitution of the United States does not confer the right to abortion, thus overruling the 1973 […]
abortion, current eventsBy Pastor Stephen Hess – This summer we have embarked on a 12-week prayer journey focused on the theme of “awakening.” Awakening is a term that refers, first and foremost, to the work of the Holy Spirit where he brings a sinner from death to life, from unbelief to belief, and from darkness to light. […]
prayer, the christian life