TFRC Sermons

Matthew 5:13-16 How we live is the light we shine. As the old saying goes, “Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary use words”. Even the most mundane activities in life can be opportunities to be salt and light.

Matthew 5:1-12 Believing in Jesus means we will do what He says. If we are going to heed the teachings of Jesus, we need to see the world as Jesus sees it. In the Beatitudes, Jesus sets the parameters for who is “blessed” - how does this match up with who we see as “blessed”.

Acts 20:22-24 In his farewell address to Ephesus as he prepares to leave for Rome, Paul displays passion to do whatever God has before him. He approaches the future with a perspective of humility. He demonstrates a willingness to persevere through difficulty. And he knows, understands, and is committed to living out God's purpose for him. As we live out our own calling, we would do well to personify Paul's commitment.

John 15:9-17 Jesus invites us to remain in his love, and in doing so, become a part of His legacy of love. In this passage He invites us to do so by commanding us to love each other the way He loves us. We do this by laying down our lives for one another. In His love for us, Jesus chose us to bear the fruit of His love to continue his legacy.

1 Corinthians 12:20-27 We all make up the body and Christ and each of us has a part. Celebrating how each new person who is being added to our community is a blessing to us; reminding ourselves that we need others and that others need us. God has made us a part of this community of faith for a reason.

Psalm 16:1-11 In the Lord we can find safety and security. He is our refuge, portion, and source of security. As a response we should praise him, keep our eyes on him, and find him being the source of our joy. How can we live in a way that helps us provide security to others?

Acts 17:22-29 God did not create us and then leave (Deism) – God is near us and active in the world. The Greeks had many gods who were each in charge of different parts of life, but our God is interested and active in every part of our lives (even something as mundane as finding a parking spot).

Luke 10:2 Missions Director Kristy Pickett welcomes representatives from some of TFRC's mission partners to discuss the harvest God has placed before us locally, to the ends of the earth, and everywhere in between.

Ephesians 2:1-10 The claim of the resurrection is incredulous to many. It's easy to say “That's not possible." But what if it is possible? What if we have been set apart? What if we have been delivered? What if we have been redeemed? What if we have been restored? What if it is possible that the resurrection delivers us from death? What if it is possible that God has prepared good works just for us to do? What if we are restored from objects of wrath to objects of mercy? Believing the resurrection sets us apart from the rest of the world. When Jesus exited the tomb, the impossible happened and the world would never be the same.

Luke 19:32-44 God made the people of Israel into a nation - yet they lost their identity of what that meant. So when Jesus came as king, they did not recognize him as the kind of king He came to be. Jesus came to restore what their identity was originally meant to be.

Matthew 9:9-13 Jesus calling Matthew to leave his life of being a tax collector, to be one his disciples, is a story of redemption. Tax collectors were despised by society for collaborating with the Roman government and having a reputation of greed, extortion, and corruption. Through Jesus's invitation to follow him, Matthew's dignity and purpose/calling were redeemed. When Jesus was asked why he was eating with tax collectors and sinners, his answer would also shed light on who he had been sent to redeem; sinners like each and every one of us.

Luke 8:26-39 God tells the Israelites that He will set them free from the bondage of slavery to the Egyptians. Later, Jesus sets the demon possessed man free from his bondage. What is the bondage that we need Jesus to set us free from?

Matthew 4:18-22 When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He set them apart as His people - redirecting their purpose. When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John, He was setting them apart to be His disciples. He was giving them a new purpose; a more meaningful life. God continues to bring us out of our mundane lives to sanctify us for His purposes.

Exodus 6:6-7 The Passover tradition includes drinking from four cups - representing each of the four promises the Lord made to His people in Exodus 6:6-7. These promises would eventually be mirrored and fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Matthew 4:1-11 Lent is the time we prepare our hearts for the resurrection of Jesus. We do so by reflecting on the life of Jesus, repenting from our sins, and self-discipline (usually through some kind of fasting). Jesus, Moses and Elijah all spent 40 days in some kind of wilderness fasting in preparation for the next step in their ministry.

Ruth 4:11-22 Ruth and Boaz take part in a story greater than our own. After the elders bless them, Ruth and Boaz have a son named Obed - the grandfather of David, Israel's greatest king. The circumstances that led to their marriage were not by chance, but by God's providential hand. Likewise, our relationships are not by chance. God has brought the people in our lives to us for a reason.

Ruth 3:1-13 In Chapter 3 of Ruth, Naomi comes up with a plan to make sure Ruth is taken care of through marriage with Boaz, Boaz fulfills his obligation as redeemer to Ruth, and ultimately God Looks out for both Ruth and Naomi. Similarly, we are all called to look after and care for our friends and family. Sometimes we have to be willing to accept and embrace other's efforts to help us, and other times we have to be willing to know when to step up for others.

Ruth 2:8-18 Having heard about Ruth's kindness to her mother-in-law, Boaz in turn shows incredible kindness to Ruth. He encourages his workers to be extra kind to her as well. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit that is relatively easy to practice, as well as one the world most desperately needs. God's kindness to us should spur us to be kind to both our friends and enemies.

Ruth 1:8-18 After significant tragedies hit their family, Ruth and Orpah are determined to stay with their mother in law Naomi. Naomi wants what is best for them, which is to go back to their homes in hopes of finding another husband. Orpah does, but Ruth doubles down on staying with Naomi. Ruth is willing to sacrifice her best future to remain loyal to Naomi. How loyal are we in our relationships? How loyal are we to God based upon our obedience to Him? Do we appreciate God's loyalty to us?

1 Peter 2:4-10 TFRC's 1st Peter standing stone reminds us that Jesus is the living stone upon which the church is built, and the cornerstone of our lives and faith community. As a faith community we are part of God's chosen people called to declare our praise and devotion to him, partnering with him to build his kingdom.

John 7:37-38, Jeremiah 2:13 In Jeremiah's day, the people had to rely on God to provide rain water for them to survive. It was much less stressful for them to build cisterns to store water for whenever they needed it. The problem water in a cistern, though, is that it eventually goes bad. When we try to control our lives in our own power, they eventually go bad too. The challenge is to live life God's way rather than our own ways.

Exodus 16:14-27 If Egypt was Pharaoh's land and Israel was the promise land, then the desert could be considered God's land. The desert is the place you need to wholly depend upon God. It is the place where God gives you just enough to keep going.

Luke 9:18-24 Jesus asks his disciples; “Who do you say I am?”, before predicting his death and telling them what it will mean to follow Him. When we look at the TFRC Cross Hill we remember our answer to that question.... He is our savior. The Cross Hill standing stone reminds us of the crucifixion of our savior, Jesus, and the great sacrifice he offered on our behalf. It is also a reminder of the invitation to faith and servanthood we are given because of his sacrifice.

Luke 17:11-19, Philippians 4:6 We often make prayers of supplication to God. God doesn't always answer them in the way we asked Him to but when He does, how often do we take the time to acknowledge Him? TFRC's Prayer Stone is meant for us to take the important step to remember and acknowledge when God answers our prayers.

1 Peter 3:13-18 Guest preacher Brian Vriesman unpacks the Apostle Peter's outline for Christian living.

Luke 1:46-55 In the Magnificat, Mary lifts up a song of praise in response to learning she would be bearing the Son of God. She reflects on and remembers what God has done for her, she remembers his attributes, she remembers his sovereignty, and remembers God's faithfulness to Israel. The Christmas season is also a great time for us to stop and remember everything God has done in our lives. This is especially true because of the impact the good news of Christmas has on our lives. The Christmas story is a reminder of God's mercy, faithfulness, love, and sovereignty.

Luke 2:8-18 There are 3 instances where listening/hearing occur in this passage; the shepherds hear the message from the angel, the shepherds hear the angels praising God, and the people hear what the shepherds had to say concerning the child. The challenge we face every Christmas is to hear both the message of Christmas and what God may be saying to us this year.

Luke 1:26-33 Just as our traditional Christmas season brings about a time of anticipation, so the declaration to Mary of the conception and birth of Jesus begins a period of anticipation. Jesus' name meaning “the Lord is salvation” spurs anticipation, and the complete fulfillment of the messianic promises of Jesus' kingdom is something we continue to anticipate.

Mark 14:12-26 Pastor Chuck Swoboda takes a deep dive into the sacrament of Communion: its meaning, invitation and response.

Romans 12:9-13 As years go by, it is easy to become less enthusiastic about the faith and the faith community. But we are called to never be lacking in zeal. In order to maintain our spiritual fervor, we need to maintain our commitment to the community - apathy to the community leads to apathy in the faith.

Ephesians 4:29-32 One of the major killers of a community is Gossip. Paul instructs us to make sure that what comes out of our mouths is not something that will tear others down. We are instead instructed to lift them up according to their needs and speak in a way that will benefit those who listen. We are instructed not to grieve the Holy Spirit and by getting rid of any rage, anger, slander, or any form of malice. We are called instead to express the kindness, compassion, and forgiveness we see in Christ.

Romans 2:1-4 There is a reason why God is the ultimate judge and we are not; we are not worthy to judge all of humanity. Because of our imperfections we make for imperfect judges, so let's leave judgment to God and worry more about how we are living our own lives. How great is it that we have a judge who is rich in kindness; a kindness that can lead us to repentance and restoration!

1 Corinthians 11:17-29 There are many things that divide us. In this passage it seems like socio-economics were the cause, keeping the church from coming together to celebrate the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner. Whatever the cause of our own divisions, they keep us from being the people of God we are called to be. As a community of faith, we are called to come together to be faithful witnesses to our Lord.

John 6:1-15 Guest preacher Pastor Brian Vriesman reminds us to measure the potential of ourselves and others through the lens of what Jesus can do in and through us.

Philippians 2:1-5 Paul calls for the church to be like minded, having the same love, and being one in Spirit. He calls them to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Selfish ambition hinders the unity of the body - by placing myself and my interests above what is best for everyone, I destroy the Spirit of unity in the body. What is best for everyone should be the priority of everyone.

1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Jealousy and quarreling in the early church kept the people worldly and unable to grow in their faith because of the envy they had. We all have a role to play in the body of Christ, and will be rewarded according to our labor. The irony is that wanting to be considered “greater” in the faith, actually keeps us from growing in the faith.

Romans 12:17-21 Conflict in our lives is inevitable, but when we find ourselves in the midst of it we are called to be peacemakers. Are we doing what we can to avoid conflict by doing what is right in the eyes of everyone; are we living our lives above reproach? The first step to conflict resolution is thinking about others before yourself. We must also not respond to conflict with retaliation, but rather overcome the evil in our life with Good.

Titus 3:3-8 A grudge is a feeling of ill will towards someone due to a real or perceived insult/injury, that leads to malice and hatred. Paul says that this was the way we used to live, but God saved us because of His mercy. We have been washed and renewed by the Spirit through Christ, so we are called to let go of our hatred and do what is right.

Ephesians 5:21-6:4 Church community starts with the individual family unit. If there are unhealthiness and dysfunction in the family, it impacts the body of Christ. Paul instructs the Ephesians on how a family should treat one another; the parents are the anchor and foundation of setting the tone for a healthy community within the family.

Ephesians 2:1-10 Sometimes it is important for us to go back to the basics faith - when we do we are reminded of who we were and what our reality was before Jesus. When we come back to the basics we will more greatly appreciate what we have been given through Christ and the mission his gift places on our lives. The basics are that we were dead in our sin, until God who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ. Because we are his handiwork, our lives serve as a picture or message of who Jesus is and what he is capable of doing.

3 John The importance of welcoming fellow believers, especially those who are doing work on behalf of the Gospel.

2 John John is warning us not to let false teachers corrupt our faith. There are those who intentionally and unintentionally deceive us from embracing the truth of Christ. John warns us to be careful who we let into our life to influence us, as we often become the people we surround ourselves with.

1 John 5:13-21 As John finishes his 1st letter his final words should point us toward having confidence in our faith, even in a world controlled by the evil one. We can find confidence as we come to God in prayer and in our identity in Christ.

1 John 5:1-12 God's commands are not burdensome - they are meant to give us life. By believing in and following Jesus, we are able to overcome the world which is set up to steal, kill, and destroy.

1 John 4:10-21 Fear not, for Love drives out fear! We have confidence in the day of judgment because in this world we are like Jesus. Even though Jesus was rejected by the world, He never lived in fear because He knew the Father loved Him. Likewise, despite all the troubles of the world, we can live without fear because of God's love for us.

1 John 4:1-9 Every generation the world has a new belief that denies the truth of Jesus. But we can stand firm in our faith because the one in us is stronger than the one in the world. And we stand firm because of the love of God, which He showed by sending his one and only Son into the world.

1 John 3:11-24 In Genesis, Cain took his brother's life. But in the Gospel, Jesus would lay down his own life out of love. As followers of Jesus we are called to follow his example; to lay down our own lives by living a life of sacrifice, humility, generosity, and forgiveness instead of hate. Love is laying down our lives, but doing so with a pure heart or good intentions. Laying down our lives is done with action not words.

Hebrews 11:32-12:3 In a brief departure from the "Right Before Revelation" series, guest preacher Brian Vriesman reminds us that following Jesus is more than simply a personal decision. Instead, it's a calling into a movement revolution/transcendent cause.

1 John 2:28 - 3:10 We are children of God meaning we belong to God. This passage includes 3:6 which is a difficult passage to interpret since it seems to contradict other parts of the letter. But verse 3:6 is teaching that the habitual nature of sin should not continue. Thus in the life of a true believer, the fruits of transformation become visible.

1 John 2:15-27 Living in Denial has a negative connotation. But to remain faithful to our calling as a disciple of Jesus, we are called to remain in him and live in denial of our love for the world (lust of flesh, eyes, and pride of life) and all that keeps us from Christ. This also means denying those that deny Jesus.

1 John 2:3-14 John outlines the characteristics of a follower of Jesus; we are called to live as Jesus did, called to love fellow believers and called to have the Word of God live in us and overcome the evil one.