SPEAKER: Pastor Martin Chang TEXT: Rom. 1:11-12, Prov. 11:25 INTRO: We are often trained to see the world through a zero sum lens. In other words, where in order for one to gain, there must be a corresponding loss. However, when it comes to the community of Christ; could it be that it all works another way? What if making another strong, through th…

Speaker: Pastor Martin Chang TEXT: 1Peter 4:7-10 INTRO: Whether sought, or seen on the screens; we just can't get enough of love. But love is only real when it is sincere; whole hearted. Today as we look at a defining characteristic of authentic community in Christ, how can we appropriate the call to love truly; even to the point of boiling in love…

Speaker: Pastor Martin Chang TEXT: Acts 2:42-47 INTRO: Appearances can be deceiving. The beauty and nature of a thing isn't always fully grasped through external lenses. Rather, they often only pointed to through symbol, and revealed through experience. Today as we continue to look at doing community God's way, how might we understand and leverage …

Speaker: Pastor Martin Chang TEXT: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 INTRO: Amidst an epidemic of loneliness, many find themselves on a quest for community. But what does community look like, and why is it so hard to find and build? Today as we start a new series on "Forging Community," we will reflect on how we might tap into our hunger for connection toward bu…

Speaker: Pastor Martin TEXT: Psalm 139: 23-34; Philippians 3:12-14 INTRO: Life feels like it speeds by so fast that we don't know where we've come, much less where we ought to be going. Today as we note the end of this year, and the coming start of the next; what would it look like to practice the discipline of prayerful reflection and self examina…

Speaker: Pastor Martin Chang TITLE: Proclaiming Jubilee TEXT: Luke 4:14-21 INTRO: Celebrations are usually tied to an occasion, e.g. a birthday, or a holiday. But there are special occasions that call for grand celebration, e.g. a 50th year anniversary. Now imagine how you would celebrate if you were diagnosed with terminal case of cancer, but then…

Speaker: Pastor Martin Chang TITLE: Gifting Hospitality TEXT: Luke 14:12-14; Leviticus 19:33-34 INTRO: Hosting family and friends; or being hosted is a central part of our holiday celebrations. But as we reflect on the true nature of hospitality in Christ, what would it look like for us to gift expressions of hospitality to the vulnerable this seas…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin Chang TEXT: Luke 2:1-7; Matthew 2:13-14 INTRO: The season of Christmas has been largely taken over by nostalgic, if not straight up consumer agendas. But at the heart of Christmas is the stunning advent of God in the flesh, into our broken lives and world. Today as we start out our Advent season proper, how might we take into…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: James 1:22, John 14:21INTRO: For most of us, initiating change in our lives is hard enough. But a good start only gets us so far. The real test for lasting change comes with the follow through. Today as we finish out our GRACE group series on Practicing Devotion, what will following through look like in our first h…

SPEAKER: Pastor Richard LeeTITLE: The Liturgy of LifeTEXT: Exodus 20:8-11INTRO: From the way we think about time, to the way we use it, God cares. As we continue in our series on Practicing Devotion, we'll consider what it means to leverage our time and life rhythms for worship.

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: John 14:26, Isaiah 30:21 INTRO: If a stranger declares that God talks to them, most of us are inclined to quickly diagnose mental health issues. However, what we see in the Bible is that God is always talking to His people. Today as we continue on in our Practicing Devotion GRACE group series, how can we open our a…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: Romans 14:12, Hebrews 10:24INTRO: When it comes to our leaders, or even our peers; we generally like the notion of someone being held "accountable" for their actions. However, it's not always clear how that is supposed to happen, especially when it comes to others keeping us accountable. Today as we reflect on the …

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: Psalm 1:1-2, Joshua 1:8INTRO: Given all the information that comes across our minds each day, our attention spans grow all the more short and shallow. Close and careful reading is training that few possess, much less practice. But what if the Scriptures were not meant to just be accessed, but rather meditated upon:…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: Luke 4:16, 5:16.INTRO: They say that 40% of all that we do is out of habit. Depending on whether these habits are good or bad, our lives are profoundly affected. Today as we look at the lifestyle of Jesus, and how he habitually worships and prays; how might we leverage the power of habits in our lives; for greater …

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: 2Timothy 2:15, John 16:13INTRO: While some might claim that "truth isn't truth", when it comes to living Knowing what is true and what is not can make all the difference in the world. Today as we start our GRACE groups proper, how can we practically get into the daily rhythm of infusing our thoughts with God's Word…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: Job 42:5-6 [The Message]INTRO: In a courtroom, hearsay is the situation where second hand information is deemed inadmissible. There is a validity about a first hand experience that trumps anything second handed. Today as we start a new series, we want to look at the incredible experience of knowing and walking with…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: Luke 7:44-47INTRO: Many of us grew up with the operating system of merit, i.e. you get what you deserve. But what if the way God meets and treats us works another way? Today as we talk about how God finds the low, humble, the broken; how can we respond to the gravity of His grace?…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: 1Peter 4:10, 1Corinthians 12:12-20INTRO: While most people want the life of a "baller," with everyone around serving you hand and foot, the life in Christ means that we get to serve! Today as we talk about the call and benefits of a life of service, in the church and in the world; how might we join in teamwork at N…

SPEAKER: Pastor Marting ChangTEXT: Matthew 6:33, Phil. 3:20INTRO: We have the dubious honor of living in an "unprecedented time," particularly in regards to politic discourse and policy. What does it look like to be both an earthly and heavenly citizen? How should a Christian think through policy issues and navigate through the world of politics in…

SPEAKER: Pastor RichardTEXT: 1Tim:6:11-16, 20-21INTRO: In his letters, Paul often uses the image of sport to illustrate what it looks like to live out our faith. Here, he calls us to fight the good fight, to persevere in our faith. Today we consider what that fight is, how we participate, and the reason behind it all.…

SPEAKER: Pastor RichardTEXT: 1Tim:6:9-10, 17-21 INTRO: Money is deeply intertwined into our culture and the way we understand and engage the world around us. Christ calls us, not to detach ourselves from money, but to be aware of the dangers that come with a love of money.

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: 1Tim:6:3-8INTRO: Whether in business or in a consumer transaction, the goal is to gain as much as we can for the investment we make. What does this look like in the Kingdom of God? Today as we look at what it means to accrue the greatest gain, how should investments in godliness and contentment transform the way we…

Speaker: Pastor Richard LeeTitle: Dealing with SinText: 1Timothy 1Tim: 5:17-6:2Intro:

Speaker: Pastor Martin ChangTITLE: Church-FamilyTEXT: 1Timothy 5:1-16INTRO: These days, the sense of family is something that is so prized, but hard to find. Family is still the strongest, and truest expression of community that we are called to build. Today as we jump back into the book of 1Timothy, what does Paul have to say about treating others…

SPEAKER: Pastor MartinTEXT: Prov.27:17; 2Tim.2:2INTRO: Growing spiritually mature in head, heart, and hand is not automatic, or easy. Rarely do we get there alone. Today as we round out our Together in Worship season, how can we engage in mentoring relationships to stir our growth in Christ?

Speaker: Pastor Richard LeeTITLE: HeartTEXT: Matthew 15:1-9INTRO: In a fast-paced, constantly busy world, learning to worship God with our hearts might be the most time-consuming and difficult of the Head, Heart, and Hands trio. Addressing the heart helps keep us from blind legalism and arrogant self-righteousness, and points us from simply knowing…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: Matthew 22:37, Philippians 4:3INTRO: Some Christians say that we should shut off our brains, and just have blind faith. But God is a God of truth, who commands us to grow mature in our thinking and understanding! As we continue on in our Together in Worship month, how can we love God with all of our minds?…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangeTEXT: Galatians 4:19INTRO: For any living organism, growth can be exciting! But it also comes with stretching; even pain. Today as we start our month Together in Worship, how might we see the full path to spiritual maturity marked out for us? And how can we manage growing pains associated with becoming like Jesus; in he…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: 1Timothy 4:11-16INTRO: We often hear much talk that doesn't jibe with one's lifestyle. Though "walking the walk" is rare, it is that which we in the household of God are called to devote ourselves. How can we respond to Paul's encouragement in 1Timothy to set our lives as examples; watching our life and doctrine cl…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: 1Timothy 4:1-10INTRO: Happy Father's Day! Today as we honor our fathers, we also continue on in our trek through the book of 1Timothy. As Paul underscores the value of godliness training, how might we grow in our focus and skill in godly living?

Speaker: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: 1Timothy 3:1-16INTRO: What makes a great leader? Corporations and communities alike wrestle with this question with greater intensity as future challenges increase. Today as we continue on in the book of 1Timothy, what are the core qualifications that we are given for leadership in the church? How can we build into…

Speaker: Pastor Martin ChangTITLE: ENGENDERED WORSHIPTEXT: 1Timothy 2:8-15INTRO: Since the fall, the war of the genders have left persons and communities in turmoil. Today as we look at the fault lines in the Ephesian church's gendered approaches, how might we gain a better understanding of how men & women can lead and worship in the church?…

Speaker: Pastor Martin ChangTITLE: Pressed for PrayerTEXT: 1Timothy 2:1-8INTRO: When it comes to prayer, it is often the last option; when we feel pressed for God's help. But as we dig into the book of 1Timothy, we see Paul's immediate emphasis on prayer as a pressing demand. How can we respond to God's heart as He presses us for our prayer.…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: 1Timothy 2:1-8INTRO: When it comes to prayer, it is often the last option; when we feel pressed for God's help. But as we dig into the book of 1Timothy, we see Paul's immediate emphasis on prayer as a pressing demand. How can we respond to God's heart as He presses us for our prayer.…

Speaker: Pastor Martin ChangTITLE: Fight for FaithTEXT: 1Timothy 1:1-6, 18-19INTRO: Almost everything suffers the effects of degradation. This includes our relationship with God. What is called for is an active, and intentional fight. Today as we start a new series covering the book of 1Timothy, how might we respond to the charge to fight for a lif…

Speaker: Pastor Martin ChangTITLE: Never Forsaken TEXT: Isaiah 49:14-16INTRO: Happy Mother's Day! Today as we reflect on and celebrate, how might our hearts be attentive to God's unbreakable, unconditional love to us that transcends even that of our mothers?

Speaker: Lisa PlunketTEXT: 1Samuel: 17:42-50INTRO: In our challenging world, true courage is a commodity that is both precious and in short supply. Today our guest speaker Lisa Plunket will speak to the nature and source of true courage as we walk through once again the story of David and Goliath. Particularly, we will be challenged to step into th…

Speaker: Pastor MartinTEXT: Isa.60:15-22 INTRO: Different persons and cultures have different ideas of what eternity in heaven will look like. Today as we round out our series, Gospel in Life; what picture does the Bible portray? As we look at the vision of the eternal city that awaits us, how can we live in preparation and hope?…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTITLE: Justice: A People For Others TEXT: Micah 6:8; Isaiah 58:6-8INTRO: These days, it's "fashionable" to wear badges of social justice and advocacy on our social media chests. But as we look to how God identifies with the poor and oppressed, what does doing justice and loving mercy look like for the people of God?…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTITLE: Work: Cultivating The Garden TEXT: Mat.6:19-21; Col.3:23 INTRO: New Yorkers work more than those from any other American city; on average more than forty nine hours a week! Occupying more than just our time and energy, work speaks into our sense of identity and purpose. Given all this, how does the gospel change t…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: Ephesians 1:18-21, Matthew 5:14INTRO: For many, one's religion is a private choice and lifestyle. But Jesus tells his disciples that they are to be together, a light unto the world, a "city on a hill" that is shines amidst the world. What does it look like to be a "city on a hill," an alternate city that actively i…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: 1Peter 1:3INTRO: He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! This morning as we once again celebrate Jesus' resurrection, how might we understand the significance of His being raised from the dead? What does it mean to us, and how might we step into the path of new life that He's blazed?…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: 1Pet. 2:9-12INTRO: Even non Christians have quipped that genuine community is as basic a need as food and shelter. But more than supplying a mere commodity, communities that are built off of Christ and His gospel are distinctive and deep. How might we intentionally look to shape gospel community here, in and around…

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin ChangTEXT: Romans 1:18-25INTRO: Those who understand human nature end up paying attention to ulterior motives. The Bible points to sin not just in terms of external behavior, but the motivation that drives our actions. How do we identify our idols, and how do we experience heart transformation through the gospel?…

Speaker: Pastor Martin ChangTITLE: Heart: Three Ways to LiveTEXT: Luke 15:11-32INTRO: We live our lives, inside out. Our behavior is not just determined by our thoughts, but at the level of our heart; i.e. how we interpret what is significant at the core. Today as we discuss the three different ways of operant living, i.e. the religious, the irreli…

Speaker: Pastor Martin Chang TEXT: Jeremiah 29: 4-15 INTRO: People are not just visiting the great cities of the world, they are moving to them. As the world rapidly urbanizes, what is to be our understanding of God's purposes for the city? Today as we start our GRACE group season proper, how might we seek the prosperity of our city?…

Speaker: Pastor Martin ChangTITLE: Gospel: The Reign of GodTEXT: Mark 1:14-15INTRO: For some, the word "gospel" evokes images of African Americans singing passionately together in robes. For others, it's the idea that Jesus died for us on the cross, and that if we believed in Him our sins would be forgiven and that we would secure a ticket to heave…

Speaker: Pastor Martin ChangTITLE: Living WalkTEXT: Genesis 5:21-24INTRO: One of the more cliche' metaphors for being in right relationship with God is that of walking with HIm. Despite its shallow overuse, there is something deeply valid and centering in the metaphor that is worth our deepening attention. What does it mean to walk with God, and ho…

Speaker: Rev. Howard Burgoyne [East Coast Conference Superintendent of the Evangelical Covenant Church]TITLE: Eyes Wide OpenTEXT: John 1:43-51, Mark 9:2-10 THEMES: Discipleship is a new way of “seeing” in the world (Jesus came to bring ‘sight to the blind’) — seeing as He sees…a great revelation...Discipleship is a new way of “being” in the world (…

Speaker: Pastor Martin ChangTITLE: Venturing TogetherTEXT: Joshua 3:9-17INTRO: As the old cliche goes, "nothing ventured, nothing gained." For those grappling with fear, or loss; the call to step forward into uncertain waters may seem too daunting. But God has a way of empowering us with courage via faith; as we step forward with Him and the family…