June 9, 2024 - How to Inspire and Demonstrate Extravagant Love

06/10/24 • 50 min

In less than a week, Jesus would be crucified. He was returning to Jerusalem to become the paschal lamb that would take away the world's sins. Even though this action had not happened yet, Jesus’ self-giving extravagant love inspired devotion and a similar heart in the lives of others. One such person was Mary from Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Jesus arrived in Bethany, the village just 2 miles on the outskirts of Jerusalem, where an amazing expression of extravagant love and devotion became a prophetic picture of Jesus’ upcoming death. How do we inspire extravagant love? How can this love be demonstrated through our lives to Christ and those around us?

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June 2, 2024 - How to Have Hope in the Devastating Moments of Life - Pastor Paul Vallee

John Series, John 11:1-40

Shattered dreams are difficult to handle. Tragedy and losses come in many faces: it can be an overwhelming health issue or a relational one. It can be huge financial reversals or the loss of a loved one to death. When tragedy strikes, life can quickly lose its luster and meaning. We can struggle with the desire to move forward because life, as we know it, will never be the same. One of the great sermons of all time was preached by a Scottish minister named Arthur Gossip, who, the Sunday following the sudden and unexpected death of his beloved wife, entitled his message, ‘When Life Tumbles In, what then? We all need to answer this question in our hour of trial and tragedy. I want us to look at an event that triggered what was about to happen to Jesus, his death and ultimately, his resurrection. An hour of great victory would trigger one of the most tragic moments, the cross. John tells us that the resurrection of Lazarus was ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back.’ it triggered the course of events, which we call the passion week, or the suffering of Jesus. This incident is found only in John’s gospel, and we discover something disturbing and delightful about this story. This incident raises both painful questions and gives comforting answers. The story shatters dreams but ultimately restores hope in life’s most devastating moments.

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June 16 - How to Find Hope in Times of Crisis

Our response to every incident in our lives is a revelation of the true nature of our heart’s condition. So, how do we respond to crises when they come? Where do we find hope to sustain us in that time? We see that Jesus knowingly went to Jerusalem to face the greatest challenge to his life.

So why did Jesus go to Jerusalem knowing this would lead to His death? What is the real significance of Jesus's entrance into Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday? I see three things that will help us find hope in times of crisis.