The Rescue Church

Sometimes people let us down when they don't follow through or do what they say they'll do. But what about God? Can we trust Him to be faithful? This weekend we'll explore the story of Sarah and Abraham to see that even when doubts creep in and timing seems off, God always keeps His promises. It's who He is. Join us as we explore His unwavering faithfulness - then, now and forever - and see what this means for us.

This week we will wrap up our series through the book of Jonah. It's an incredible story of life's struggles, forgiveness, repentance and second chances. In the final chapter of the book of Jonah, God has still another lesson to teach our friend Jonah before ending the chapter with a proverbial mic drop.

Legendary UCLA Men's Basketball Coach John Wooden once said, “Failure isn't fatal, but failure to change might be.” This week, as we continue our series through Jonah, we'll dive into Jonah 3 and see how Jonah's second chance led to a life-changing impact on over 100,000 people.If you've ever felt like you've failed and need another chance—or if you're striving to make the most of the life you've been given—this message is for you. Don't miss it! 

At times, life seems to throw us into situations where we feel powerless and uncertain about what comes next. In our series on Jonah, we'll explore how he faced a moment completely out of his control—and how his response can teach us something valuable. Join us this weekend as we dive into his story and discover what it means for us today. 

Join us this week as we hear a message from Dr. Scott Peterson!

We have been talking the past 4 weeks about our vision to see 100% of the people in our communities know they are loved by Jesus, 100% of the people in our communities know about having a personal relationship with Jesus and 100% of those who have a relationship with Jesus being connected to a local church. But, the vision is bigger than our communities. We'll talk more about the places beyond our communities and why they matter this weekend.

Does your Faith, your relationship with God, truly impact your life or is it just a label you embrace? You likely want it to make a difference, but can you name one way your relationship with God has impacted your life this past week? This week we are going to see how the decisions we make can lead to incredible, positive impact on our lives and from there, on the lives of those around us.

We are in week 2 of the series we are calling “100.” Throughout this series we are exploring what it looks like to see 100% of the people in our communities know they are loved by Jesus,, 100% of the people in our communities know what it means to have a relationship with Jesus and 100% of the Christians in our communities experience the benefits of connecting with the Church. This week we're exploring what it looks like to have an authentic love like Jesus. Hopefully you can join us. 

Using the vineyard metaphor, Jesus invites us to join Him in a mission to impact the world. This weekend we're talking about our incredible opportunity, as well as our possible reactions. How have you reacted up till now? What is your reaction moving forward? Our prayer is that over these next four weeks, you will leave encouraged to impact your community and beyond…because of Jesus.

Gift giving is a common occurrence during the Christmas season. The best gift givers find ways to give gifts special and significant to the person receiving it. When we give well, we impact the people around us in incredible ways, so this weekend we are looking at John 3:14-18 and talking about becoming a giver who makes a positive impact on others. Chances are, you want to positively impact the world around you, so you should come and be a part of our conversation.

Have you ever been challenged to do something or try something? Of course you have! And if you tried it, what happened next? You likely told people about the experience. This weekend we are going to look at John 1:35-42a and talk about something you might want to try. Hopefully we see you there.

What happens when a tourist in Jamaica is offered a winter coat—or a freezing South Dakotan is handed snorkel gear? The absurdity highlights an important truth: context matters. In this week's message from John 1:29-34, we'll explore how understanding our sin deepens our appreciation for God's gift of grace through Jesus. Only when we realize our need for a Savior can we truly grasp the significance of Christmas.

At times it can be tempting to think “I'm better on my own” or “I can do this by myself.” As Jesus was getting ready to leave his closest friends, he knew they needed help. If they were going to do what he was asking of them, they couldn't do it alone. Even bigger than that, if they were going to become the people he knew they could be, they couldn't become that version of themselves on their own. You can't do all you could do or be all you can be if you're doing it on your own. Good news: you don't have to.

Wonderful has become an old word. It's definitely not wonderful. One likely doesn't hear high schoolers yelling, “that's wonderful!” when something great happens. Merriam-Webster says it means “unusually good.” So when God through the Psalmist says we were “wonderfully made” it is as if he was saying the way we were created was “unusually good.” This is significantly better than an average creation by a typical creator. You are an above average creation, wonderfully made! We're exploring this truth when we meet this weekend.

There can be a lot of pressure to find the right person to date as a teenager, an adult in one's twenties or at any time, really. Like Tom Cruise's character in Jerry Maguire there is a feeling we need someone else to “complete” us. We think we need our Dorothy. Join us as we explore the topic of singleness this weekend, see what Jesus had to say about it and learn how the Church can better support those who are single.

One of the criticism of Christians and those who attend church has been the rules. From the outside, and often from within, it can seem Christianity is full of do's and don'ts that are preached about in church services, but not lived out throughout the rest of the week. It's a fair critique and not unique to the 21st century. Jesus addresses rules based religion in one of his earliest recorded sermons with a variety of topics, including divorce. Hopefully you can join us and learn how this applies to your life…even if you are currently single.

In a blog post, Carey Nieuwhof reviews some information coming out of a study done by Barna Group which shows only 21% of those identifying as Non-Christian have a positive perception of the local church. As a whole, only 44% of males and 49% of females surveyed have a positive perception of the local church. While the goal of the local church may not be to make everyone like it, what should the goal be? It's likely not what culture at large suspects. This is what we will discuss in this week's message.

We are excited to have Pastor Zach Bauer preaching this weekend as we continue our CounterCultural 2024 series.

As a world, we are more connected than ever. The internet, cell phones and other technology have helped make it possible. Unfortunately, in a connected world, division and fighting are prevalent. Many people are getting tired of it but can't seem to get away from it. This weekend we will see what God has to say for the Church in a divided time.

Many people around the world enjoyed watching the Olympics this past summer. There were some amazing performances, including Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson in the 100m dash finals. Both ran the race with a time of 9.79 seconds, but it was Lyles edging out Thompson in a photo finish. We all love a good ending! As we wrap up our Mentored Pt 2 series, Paul is approaching the end of his life with a message to Timothy about finishing well and not quitting. Join us this weekend as we talk about what it takes to finish well.

Dr. Henry Cloud and others have been advocates of healthy boundaries in life. He's written at least four books on the subject that have the word “boundaries” in the name. This week we are continuing Mentored, Pt 2 and will see Timothy's mentor, Paul, stress the need for healthy boundaries. We'll see the type of people Paul instructs Timothy (and us) to avoid. We'll also see how to not be or become those people who need to be avoided.

Productivity has been a buzzword for years. In training for the decades old Franklin Covey Planner, they encouraged a person to write down their tasks for the day and note the importance of completing them in descending order. Since then, and probably before then, productivity experts have taught about prioritizing tasks and then addressing them in priority order. The we don't do this, we can find ourselves distracted by less important things and fail to accomplish the most important things. The same is true in many areas of life, including our conversations. If we want to make the biggest impact, we need to focus on the most important things. 

Jason Russell is a film director who helped start the organization Invisible Children in 2004. One of Invisible Children's primary focuses is on bringing awareness and an end to the abuse and abduction of children in Central Africa. He was Las key to creating the (controversial) film Kony 2012 focused on bringing to light the horrendous crimes of Ugandan rebel leader, Joseph Kony. Kony 2012 gained rapid notoriety and in 2013 was called the most viral video ever. As Kony 2012 gained attention, Jason Russell, its director, experienced what was called a “brief reactive psychosis” and a naked Russell was detained by San Diego police walking and yelling naked in the street.Since then, Russell has recovered and is back serving with Invisible Children and supporting work in Central Africa focused on local programs there. One of his worst and most well known moments, doesn't appear to be who he really was. Thankfully, there were people in his life who knew that and walked with him through this challenging time. We need people in our lives helping navigate the hard times as well. We will see that from Paul's example with Timothy from 2 Timothy as we begin Mentored Pt 2. 

In the book Strengths Finder, Tom Rath explores the idea of discovering one's strengths and developing them. This week we are going to explore an area that has been a strength within The Rescue Church at different periods of time, including recently. We're going to look at how God can use this strength to make our lives better while impacting our communities for their good.

We're continuing to look at the Core Values of The Rescue Church, why we have them and if they really matter. Are these things that simply make us feel good or are they truly important for the lives we live today? The question has been asked of church leaders, “If your church was to close its doors today, would your community notice?” The idea this person was conveying is that the local church truly should make an impact on a community. It shouldn't only be about the people who are part of that local church. Is that idea biblical and what could it mean to us and our communities? This is what we are talking about this weekend.

Oscar Wilde once said, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...” Flattery can make a person feel good, but is there any value in it? At the same time, do we want others to copy us, to imitate us. It's likely we only want people to imitate the good stuff. If you have kids, you've likely experienced one of those moments when your kids say in public something you said in private and wouldn't want repeated. Or you've heard someone say, they are a mini version of you. Or someone tells you your kids do something just like you. In those moments we cringe. This week we are going to talk about how we can leverage imitation for the good of ourselves and others as we continue talking about core values.

You have had some great things happen in your life. We are in graduation season when students are graduation from schools of many kinds: High School, University, Tech School, Grad School, etc. You've likely been invited to celebrate with someone or seen the celebrations on social media. When great things happen, we want others to know about it. This weekend during the Breakfast Church service, Miles Davenport will talk about something amazing he experienced and how he is sharing it with his community in Iowa. Not only is it an incredible story, but there is something for you take from it as well. Hopefully you can join us.

If you have been in the upper midwest part of the United States, you have likely seen the large wind turbines used to generate energy. Some are 295' tall, nearly as tall as the Statue of Liberty. To support them a base as wide as 68' is needed at a depth of more than 11'. This is a lot of concrete, but it makes sense. No one wants these giant windmills falling over.  What we value, what we build off of, needs to be solid as well. This is what we are talking about this weekend.

Sometimes our kids and others close to us are making decisions that concern us or even cause us pain. It can feel like there is nothing you can do, but there is hope. Join us on Mother's Day to be encouraged and learn more.

Each of us has a past. Our pasts look different, but we all have one that impacts our present and future. We're going to see this weekend how that past, even some of the not-so-good parts, can positively impact the present and future, both for us and for those around us.

Have you ever driven down a country road? If you have then you probably have came across a crossroad. A 4-way stop where you decide which way you are going to go. Whichever way you go, it's a choice you have to make. This Sunday, Bill Britton is going to be giving our message and talking about a few stories of people who were at a crossroad when it came to Jesus and had to make a decision on which way to go. 

This past week we discussed the importance of confrontation as well as several keys to healthy confrontation. The message then led into some discussion in the following hours and days about conflict and how to work through conflict. At the risk of stating the obvious, conflict is all around us. We experience it in our relationships. For those of us in the United States the upcoming elections will potentially elevate levels of conflict in our communities. With all this in mind, we will transition from addressing issues with other people, groups and organizations to healthy ways to work through conflict.

People can be harsh, mean even. Some say they are simply calling it like they see it. Others can be really critical. But, you know this already. Unfortunately, Christians sometimes are unnecessarily harsh and overly. We may excuse it as “addressing sin” or “pointing out sin.” Is this really what is shown in the early church? What if this isn't what Jesus would do?

We're kicking off our series on 1 Timothy by exploring the bond between Paul and Timothy. This friendship lasted for years and influenced many. Through their connection, we'll learn how people and relationships play a vital role in creating thriving organizations.

As people we are often drawn to people a lot like us. This week as we wrap up our series Colossians: The Power of Healthy Relationships, we will look at some of the people from the early church. It will give the opportunity to discuss the value, power, and challenges coming out of diversity in the church

When things get challenging or when something looks more enjoyable, it can be tempting to move on from whatever we are doing. Imagine, however, that you were focused on the thing(s) that had the power to bring incredible results. If you could know what this thing was, would you purse it total commitment? We'll be talking about this on Sunday. Hope you can join us.

Does what we read in the Bible and hear in sermons have any relevance to our every day life? The answer is a resounding YES! The amount of impact it has, however, is affected by the way it is lived out, the way it is applied. This weekend we will discuss some of the ways the Truth of the Bible can impact what happens in our homes, away from many eyes from the community and our local church. We'll see how our home lives, when lived God's way, is great for all involved.

Since the first church 2,000 years ago, there has been a tendency of people to look for, or create, rules about what it means to be a strong Christian. Why do we do this? Is it good or bad or can it be some combination of the two? This weekend we are going to see how this tendency towards rules impacted the church in Colossae and how it can impact us.

We have a number of roles in our lives and those roles intersect with other people. Often when that happens there is tension (sometimes below the surface and other times in the open) over who is the most important. This can be at work, between siblings, in a community, on a team or in any number of places. Sometimes it's healthy. Often it is not. When everyone knows their role, however, we can make a much bigger impact then when there is confusion regarding who does what. We'll try to clarify some of this confusion in this week's message.

Over the next five weeks we will go through Paul's letter to the church in Collosae. As we do, we will see the power of healthy relationships and explore the ways we can make the most of our relationships. We start this weekend. Hopefully you can join us.

There is something about going into a new year and looking to the future thinking about what could be in the months to come. There are dreams that could be realized, goals that could be achieved and great experiences to be experienced.   We don't need to be afraid to take the right chances, especially when we are starting from a solid place. We're talking about what this looks like on Sunday.

There is something about going into a new year and looking to the future thinking about what could be in the months to come. There are dreams that could be realized, goals that could be achieved and great experiences to be experienced. As exciting as this, 2024 will not happen in vacuum without impact from the years before or inconsequential for years to come. This week we will see God working in the details to accomplish his purposes while looking back on 2023.

We are continuing our series Untold Stories of Christmas this week with a part of the story we don't often talk about. To do so we will move away from the traditional places in the Bible where we read the Christmas story. Instead, we will be in Revelation and talking about winning in life. Hope to see you this weekend!

We are continuing our series Untold Stories of Christmas this week with a part of the story we don't often talk about. To do so we will move away from the traditional places in the Bible where we read the Christmas story. Instead, we will be in Revelation and talking about winning in life. Hope to see you this weekend!

Sometimes it can seem as if God is nowhere to be found. It feels like prayers are heading off into the abyss and no one is listening. Or you are looking for direction and it seems Holy Spirit is silent. If you've felt this way before, you aren't alone. In fact, the Christmas Story actually provides encouragement for when we are in seasons like this. We're talking about it this weekend.

People (maybe even you) are dealing with fears and anxieties. For more year there has been the ongoing war with Russia and Ukraine. Now we have the attacks on Israel and the subsequent declaration of war. Those are international issues, but they have many people wondering what is next. There have been numerous stories and conversations about inflation and the possibility of recession leading to financial concerns about how this will impact us. There are also personal issues specific to people and families. This week we will wrap up our series about the Church by seeing how the Church has been equipped to provide help and support to our communities in times of chaos, fear and uncertainty.

When it comes to eating healthy and taking care of ourselves, those who know about these things would tell us to be careful what we put into our body. Apparently the same is true for our pets. There are commercials now for healthy dog food with only natural ingredients. This isn't only for our physical bodies and our pets. It also applies to the what the church is teaching and what we are applying to our lives. What does this look like and how does it impact you? That's what we'll talk about this weekend.

It may surprise you to know that all the people in the local church are imperfect. It's not only in the church you are connected to. In ever single church gathering since Acts 2 there have been as many imperfect people as there have been people. This week we will explore some of those imperfect groups and see how you, and the community around you, can still benefit from the local church.

Over times things change. This isn't anything you didn't know. Our roles change. Our health changes. Our communities change. Things change, but if we aren't intentional, those changes often aren't for the better. This week we are going to look at some of what we can do to move towards a better future instead of drifting into something less than God's best for our lives.

It's likely your life if busy. You have a lot going on. Even if your life isn't busy, you may be one of those Type-A people who driven to succeed and accomplish your goals. Some of you may simply feel like you are trying to survive. Regardless of the reason, we often fail to celebrate the good things in our lives. The Bible has a lot to say about celebrating. We're going to look at some of what it says this weekend and see how it relates to our lives today.