Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, MI Senior Pastor Dr. Jim Samra (616)956-9377
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Divine Reconstruction | Eternity in Our Hearts
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In Ecclesiastes 3:9-14 and John 1, Pastor Jim explains how the eternal God places eternity in our hearts. Everything God does lasts forever, and that includes the endurance of our souls. We recognize that our response to Jesus is directly linked to how we spend eternity.Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim SamraPassage: Ecclesiastes 3:9-14This wa…
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Divine Reconstruction | Times and Seasons
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In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Solomon points out the many different seasons of life. Through this teaching, we discover the importance of discerning what season we are in, how to accept the season, and when to ask God to change our season.Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim SamraPassage: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8This was recorded live in Grand Rapids, MI on O…
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Divine Reconstruction | The Transition from One Generation to Another
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In this message from Ecclesiastes 2:12-26, we find that the best legacy is living a life that is pleasing to God.Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim SamraPassage: Ecclesiastes 2:12-26This was recorded live in Grand Rapids, MI on October 13th, 2024.By Jim Samra
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Divine Reconstruction | Overcoming a Spirit of Accumulation
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In this sermon, we find that obedience to God and the fear of God are the solution to a spirit of accumulation. We discover that this is the path to experiencing fullness of joy.Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim SamraPassage: Ecclesiastes 2:4-11This was recorded live in Grand Rapids, MI on October 6th, 2024.…
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Divine Reconstruction | I'll Be Happy When...
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This week’s message explores the theme of true happiness and satisfaction, using the biblical story of Solomon from Ecclesiastes. We reflect on how people often seek happiness in temporary pleasures—such as wealth, laughter, projects, or relationships—but find them unfulfilling. We find through the scripture that lasting happiness can only be found…
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In this message we study Ecclesiastes 1:12-18. We read that Solomon finds wisdom to be burdensome. We are reminded that just like our inability to obey the law, we are also unable to walk out our wisdom. We are invited to experience the wisdom of God through daily communion with Christ.Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim SamraPassage: Ecclesiast…
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Divine Reconstruction | Be a River, Not a Lake
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In Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, Solomon declares that he feels like everything is meaningless, a sentiment we can all resonate with. As explore this passage together, Pastor Jim helps us see that God is always doing something new, he meets us where we are, and he wants to transform our lakes into rivers.Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim SamraPassage: …
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In this message, Pastor Jim began a new sermon series on the book of Ecclesiastes. The story of Naaman and Elisha, found in 2 Kings 5, is used to reveal the message of Ecclesiastes. Through this passage, we find that true meaning for our lives is found in faith and obedience to God.Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim SamraPassage: Second Kings 5…
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Race and Ethnicity | The Church in God’s Plans
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Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim SamraPassage: Acts & Ephesians 2:11-19This was recorded live in Grand Rapids, MI on September 1st, 2024.By Jim Samra
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In this message, we look at how Jesus demonstrates for us true love for neighbor, which asks what is the most that I can do for someone and still meet the other obligations that I have. Pastor Jim walks through multiple examples in the life of Jesus that show how he loved his neighbors with regard to race and ethnicity. As we leave, we are encourag…
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Race and Ethnicity | Obedience in the Present to Heal Injustices of the Past
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In this message, we have the opportunity to be able to see how in God’s grace he allows obedience in the present with regard to the issue of race and ethnicity to bring healing for injustices in the past.Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim SamraPassage: Second Samuel 21This was recorded live in Grand Rapids, MI on August 18th, 2024.…
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Race and Ethnicity | Israel in Egypt: The Sin of Slavery and the Rescue of God
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The Bible testifies to the truth that God absolutely hates racial oppression and is always at work to overcome it. In this message, we see that He was at work in Joseph’s life amid great suffering. And He was at work in the nation of Israel amid even greater suffering. And He is at work today in all the racial oppression that has happened and is ha…
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Race and Ethnicity | From Genesis to Revelation: God's plan for Race and Ethnicity
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This sermon begins a five-week series on a Biblical Theology of Race and Ethnicity. Through passages from Genesis to Revelation, we see that God’s plan for humanity to diversify, allows us to collectively reflect His image more fully. Through this series, we are called to align our thoughts and actions with God’s heart for multiethnic unity and to …
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In our last sermon in the gospel of Matthew, we hear Jesus giving his disciples the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. These are Jesus’ last words to his disciples in the closing section of the gospel of Matthew. In these words, Jesus assures us of his power, he explains the commission, and he promises his presence.Speaker: Minister & Lead Pasto…
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In this sermon, we look at Matthew 28:16-20, what is commonly known as the Great Commission. We hear the answer to this question: What does it actually mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Through examples from the original disciples and passages throughout Scripture, we learned some of the distinguishing characteristics of a disciple.Speaker: Minister …
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In this sermon, we see what God has to say in Matthew 27:62-66 regarding the Pharisee’s false claim that Jesus’ real, physical resurrection was alternatively deception. We considered some of the responses to refute this false claim and some of the evidence of the real, physical resurrection of Jesus. We are reminded that what you believe about Jesu…
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Death is a reality of life in this world. What is our response to it? As we see in this message, through Jesus death is defeated. However, we must decide if this is a fictional story we disregard or a historical event that changes our lives forever.Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim SamraPassage: Matthew 27:27-66This was recorded live in Grand …
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In this message, we follow along with Jesus at his trial before Pilate in Matthew 27:11-26. Jesus shows us the positive value of silence; that silence truly can be golden. During His trial, we see Jesus is silent because of three things: because he knows his Father, because He submits to his Father’s plan, and because He is committed to his Father’…
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In this sermon, we read Matthew 26:36-56 depicting Jesus and his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. We get a peek into Jesus’ prayer life in one of his darkest of hours. Through this we see how he shares his big emotions and desires with God the Father in prayer. And ultimately, we learn how Jesus’ example can speak into our own darkest moments…
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In this sermon, we read Matthew 26:17-30 which describes Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. Through this text, we discover the important contrast between Judas and Peter. We looked at Jesus’ institution of Communion with a focus on the blood and the cup. There is significance in Jesus telling us to drink his blood, which is poured into us, not …
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This message looks at Matthew 26:14-16 and 27:1-10. In it we see how Judas takes his eyes off Jesus; laying his gaze instead on one of the three Ps of temptation. We see how we should deal with our guilt by looking at how Judas dealt with his. This is an example of how our worship can become disordered.Content Warning: This message mentions death b…
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In this sermon, we read Matthew 26:6-13 about Mary of Bethany's extravagant act of worship. We learn more about the source of Mary's worship, how the disciples responded to witnessing her extravagant act, and about how Jesus affirmed Mary in her worship of him.Speaker: Minister & Lead Pastor, Tom OlssonPassage: Matthew 26:1-13This was recorded live…
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This message comes from Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus’ teaching of the sheep and the goats. Framed with a more positive view of judgement we are drawn deeper in love and knowledge of Jesus through this teaching. Pastor Tom draws upon the image of a courtroom where we see a judge, defendants, evidence, verdict and sentence, to help us better understand ou…
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In this Pentecost Sunday message, we look at the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.By Tom Olsson
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In this message, we read and considered Matthew 25:14-30, which is the Parable of the Bags of Gold. We are reminded that God provides us as followers of Jesus with unique abilities and opportunities. We learned that God expects us to use them to serve His kingdom in this world.By Tom Olsson
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In this message we are called to think deeply about what it means to be ready for the second coming of Christ. This is a posture that can be somewhat complicated and scary to consider. However, it doesn’t have to be. Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t leave us to fend for ourselves in this matter, and through this text you’ll see that Jesus is for us and wi…
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God’s Plan for Israel and His Love for Wayward Children
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With this message, we are still in Matthew, but taking a detour through Romans 11. We want to better understand what Jesus is saying will happen in the end. And we want to feel God’s heart for the lost people of Israel; to be encouraged that he has chosen to be faithful to them and to those we love even in the midst of their unfaithfulness to him.…
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In this sermon we read Matthew 24:1-35 and hear Jesus’ words to his disciples about end times. We hear the answer to the disciples two questions: when will the end come and what will happen when it does?By Jim Samra
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Social Media, Influencers and Brand Marketing
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This message looks at Matthew 23 wherein Jesus confronts the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus critiques their culture in three ways that we mirror in our current day through social media, influencers and brand marketing. As we examine these areas, we learn how God would have us not simply avoid culture but engage in it His way.…
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In this sermon we learn through Matthew 22:41-45 that instead of asking “how do I make the right decisions?” we should be asking “who is making the decisions?” We are reminded that our decision-making should be closely connected to who Jesus is, not only as Savior but, as Lord of all.By Tom Olsson
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This message looks at the resurrection of Jesus as written about in Matthew 28:1-10. As we examine this passage, we learn how we can live without fear of death or fear in life.By Jim Samra
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In this message, we hear Jesus in Matthew 22:34-40 reiterate the two greatest commandments to love God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. We also learn that Jesus is more interested in having disciples than he is in having a crowd.By Jim Samra
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Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, MISenior Pastor Dr. Jim Samra(616)956-9377By Tom Olsson
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Polarization, Politics & Paying Your Taxes
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This message looks at Jesus’s response to the Pharisees attempt to trap him, in Matthew 22. As we examine this interaction, Pastor Jim helps us learn about the benefits of tax season when we consider it another opportunity to choose God’s way.By Jim Samra
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Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, MISenior Pastor Dr. Jim Samra(616)956-9377By Steve Richardson
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Parable of the Tenants and the Situation in the Middle East
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In this sermon, we read Matthew 21:33-46 – the Parable of the Tenants. We learn that God has something to say about current world events through the Bible. And, we are reminded of our need to view current events through a biblical worldview.By Jim Samra
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This message from Matthew 22:1-14 looks at the parable of the wedding banquet. We see Jesus telling this parable in the context of answering a question about his authority. The parable itself gives us a picture of how God is to rule and reign in this world and in our lives.By Tom Olsson
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This message looks at the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21, teaching us about confession and repentance. Pastor Jim makes five observations to see a simple parable more clearly and answer the question, “which of the two sons are we?”By Jim Samra
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In this sermon, we witness Jesus teaching on His own authority and our repentance. Pastor Jim explains how these two truths are intertwined as we live out our walk as Christians.By Jim Samra
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In this message, we read from Matthew 20:17-34. The mother of the sons of Zebedee ask Jesus if her sons can sit at Jesus’ left and right hand. Jesus’ response tells us that there are positions in the Kingdom of God. We then learn what greatness in His kingdom looks like.By Jim Samra
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In this sermon we are reminded of God’s great generosity. Whether you’ve been a Christian for a long time or short while, Jesus gives us a parable in Matthew 20 that fully demonstrates this aspect of God’s character.By Jim Samra
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In this sermon we walk through Matthew 19:16-30 and hear about Jesus’ exchange with the rich young ruler. Rather than simply answering the rich young ruler’s question: “what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”, we see Jesus emphasize ensuring God is the top priority in our lives.By Jim Samra
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This passage opens with Jesus healing people. Out of that Jesus answers a question from the Pharisees meant to test him that speaks on marriage, divorce, and singleness.By Tom Olsson
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This sermon looks at forgiveness as seen in Matthew 18:21-35. This passage is a follow up to previous messages in Matthew 18, in wherein we looked at forgiveness when someone is unrepentant. This message discusses what Jesus has to say about forgiveness when repentance is present. He tells the parable of the unforgiving servant and we are given thr…
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In this message, we read Matthew 18:15-20. We walk through what Jesus taught about the local church. We are provided with an answer to the question many find themselves asking as they navigate the role of the gathered assembly in their lives, “why church”?By Jim Samra
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This week we are in Matthew 18:10-14, a passage wherein Jesus tells the story of the lost sheep. We learn through this how God loves the most vulnerable. In our message, we see how the ongoing verses of Matthew 18 widen the scope of focus, applying these particular verses to a spectrum from the unborn child, to the young adult.…
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This message examines Jesus’s stern warning against causing our fellow believers to stumble. It helps us under what a stumbling block might look like in our own lives and how we can ensure we don’t create one for others.By Josh Karhan
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Getting in and Thriving in the Kingdom of God
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In this message, we see God teach us what the kingdom of heaven is like and how we live in it.By Jim Samra
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God With Us in the Mundane Things of Life
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In Matthew 17:24-27, God provides an example of how Jesus is present and can relate to us, not only in the highs and lows but in the mundane things of life as well.By Jim Samra
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In this passage of Matthew, Jesus has to cast out a demon his disciples were unable to. The disciples ask Jesus why they could not and Jesus tells them it is because of their little faith. Out of this comes the question: Where does faith come from? We then make some observations in the passage, define faith, and find a missing key to unlock the ans…
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