Wawasee Bible Sermon Audio

Part 16 - SERIES: Redemption Once again the Israelites are faced with a choice. They were on their way to Mt. Sinai. God was directing them along the way when he again lead them to a place with no water in order to test them. They could choose to trust him in the face of their trial or they could choose to grumble against him. God will direct your life as you trust him. But often he will lead you to places you’d rather not go just as he did the Israelites, but Jesus will always go with you. Will you trust him?

Part 15 - SERIES: Redemption We pick up our series in Exodus again this week. God’s people have crossed the Red Sea and are setting out for Mount Sinai. Despite all that they’ve seen God do for them, the people begin to complain and grumble when things get difficult. They grumbled against Moses, but ultimately it was against God. God hears our grumbling, yet responds with grace so that we’d choose Jesus and obey. When we choose to obey, we choose blessing. But when we choose to sin, we’re choosing to suffer. The antidote to sinful grumbling is thankfulness.

Glenn Blossom - "Getting" from God This week our guest is Glenn Blossom. Getting from God. We learned in Luke 5:12-16 that the man with leprosy comes broken to Jesus, as we all do. Because of his belief in the healing powers of Jesus, he was made whole again. This is applicable to all of our lives as we come to Jesus with our broken selves but, him makes us whole as no one else can.

Rick Thompson This week we hear from Rick Thompson. The passage of Matthew 7:7-11 gives us three promises in prayer to counteract our human nature. The act of asking Jesus for our needs, with faith and according to his will, is an act of drawing near to God. Seeking and searching for the answer that seems hidden is against our tendency to wander. However, continuous knocking will open God’s door! What are you asking God to give you today? What are you seeking today? What is the door that you’re knocking on today?

Part 14 - SERIES: Redemption This week we wrap up the first half of our series in Exodus. In Exodus 15, after crossing the Red Sea, God’s people worship him. Moses writes a song of worship known as “The Song of Moses” that shows up at multiple times in the Bible, including Revelation 15. Our God is great and greatly to be praised! He is to be praised for what he has done, for who he is, and for what he will do!

Part 13 - SERIES: Redemption This week we get to one of the best known stories in all of Scripture, the crossing of the Red Sea. God miraculously parts the Red Sea to allow his people to escape from Pharaoh and then drowns Pharaoh’s army chasing behind them. God is working a plan. Yet (like the Israelites here) we often forget that fact when we should be exercising faith. Biblical faith is believing God’s Word and acting upon it, no matter how we feel, because God promises a good result—and Jesus always follows through on his promises.

Part 12 - SERIES: Redemption As God’s people are leaving Egypt, we get a glimpse into a unique aspect of how God leads us. God could have easily taken them the short route to the Promised Land, but instead he takes them the long way around. God’s way is often the long way, but he has purpose in it, and he is always with us!

Part 11 - SERIES: Redemption The Exodus is the defining act of salvation in the Old Testament, all of it pointing forward to Jesus. This week we look at the Passover and death of the firstborn. Jesus is the final Passover Lamb. Jesus takes God’s wrath for our sin. He takes away our sin. And Jesus leads us to freedom.

Part 8 - SERIES: Redemption Moses was God’s representative to Pharaoh. In fact, God literally told Moses that he would “make him God to Pharaoh” as Moses would be used powerfully as God’s representative. Similarly, we are all sent by Jesus to represent him to others. As Paul writes, we are Christ’s ambassadors. We represent Jesus to others—for better or worse—so do your best and leave the results to Jesus. Moses obeyed, did his best, and left the results to God.

Part 7 - SERIES: Redemption The Exodus gives us a vivid picture of how Jesus saves us, how he redeems us. Each step toward redemption in someone’s life is often met with greater affliction. It was for Israel in Egypt, and it is for us today. Religion/Oppression says, “It’s not enough! Work harder!” – implying that somehow if you do enough you will earn God’s love and favor. This week we see the Israelites forced to work harder to try and please their taskmasters. Jesus’ Gospel says, “You can never do enough… let me do it for you.” God’s favor isn’t earned, but it is a gift of his grace through Jesus. When you face affliction in the midst of following Jesus, remember that God can and will turn your troubles into triumph. Trust Jesus, and keep moving forward.

Part 6 - SERIES: Redemption Moses makes his way back to Egypt, but not without some difficultly. In one of the more bizarre passages of Scripture, we find God about to kill Moses for his disobedience. Jesus wants to use you (for his glory, others’ good, and your joy!), but requires repentance and obedience before he’ll accomplish his will through you.

Part 5 - SERIES: Redemption This week we pick up the story in the middle of Moses’ interaction with Jesus at the burning bush. Jesus calls everyone to repent and trust him. Those who respond, he then sends out on mission. And he promsies to go with everyone he sends. Moses was called, and sent to Pharaoh to rescue God’s people, and Jesus promised to go with and be with him. But Moses had his doubts. When Jesus sends you, it’s okay to raise your doubts—he is patient and willing to answer—but the sooner you obey and go the better!

Resurrection Evidences - Easter 2019 Jesus Christ, a man who was clearly dead, has risen from the grave. His life—and his resurrection in particular—stands center stage as the single most significant event in the history of the world. This year on Easter Pastor Josh unpacked some of the primary biblical and circumstantial evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. It cannot be dismissed or ignored. It demands each of us answer individually who we say that Jesus is. Who do you say that he is?

Good Friday Community Service - 2019 On Good Friday Jesus atones for our sin on the cross so that we could be made right with God. Jesus’ work on the cross is the only acceptable way we can enter God’s presence and be saved. In the Old Testament there is an annual event where God commanded his people to make atonement for their sin, giving instructions for the only way to enter God’s presence. This day is known as the Day of Atonement and the instructions for it are found in Leviticus 16. — The Day of Atonement foreshadowed Good Friday. Everything that happened on the Day of Atonement pointed forward to Jesus and was fulfilled completely by his work on the cross.

Part 4 - SERIES: Redemption Jesus does the same thing with every person who puts their faith in him and chooses to trust him with their life. First Jesus calls them to follow him, and then he sends them out on mission. We articulate this as a church family by saying we are sent to love people and invite them to follow Jesus with us. In Exodus 3 we see Jesus call Moses to follow him (from a burning bush), then send him to Pharaoh to rescue the people of Israel, and finally Jesus promises to go with him as Moses obeys.

Part 3 - SERIES: Redemption The hero of the Exodus is Jesus. But this week we’re introduced to the secondary hero, Moses. Moses was born into a climate of great affliction and oppression towards God’s people. In the face of affliction, trust Jesus. He’s always working his plan—even in the midst of our failure. God’s plan was for Moses to deliver his people, and his plan continued even after Moses became a murderer and fled for his life. We see that God is always working his plan, even in the midst of our failure, and even while we’re waiting.

Part 2 - SERIES: Redemption The Exodus is the defining act of salvation in the Old Testament, pointing forward to Jesus’ work of redemption on the cross where he delivers, ransoms, and renews his people. Like the Israelites in Egypt, we are living in enemy territory under a taskmaster who afflicts us. Affliction is any problem or condition that produces suffering or pain. This includes things out of our control and things we’ve sinfully and/or foolishly chosen. Additionally religion is a major source of affliction for many Christians. But Jesus sees us and knows our affliction, and he ultimately rescues those who trust him.

Part 1 - SERIES: Redemption The Exodus is the defining act of salvation in the Old Testament. This week we set up the book of Exodus by covering the history leading up to, and the theme of Redemption. Redemption can be understood in three themes: Deliverance, Ransom, and Renewal, and Exodus must be understood through this lens of Redemption. Ultimately, it all points forward to Jesus, who is our redemption.

Worry Exposed Do not worry! We can be so quick to worry. Worry about the future. Worry about finances. Worry about our family. Worry about anything! Jesus instructs us to not be anxious about our lives. Worrying is unreasonable and unbecoming in our relationship with Jesus. He would like nothing better than to have us rely on him for our every need and believe that He will take care of us. God knows our every need and every worry. We just need to trust that He is good and will take care of us!

He Who Has Ears to Hear Our response to God's word has everything to do with our heart condition! The different conditions of our heart can sometimes make it difficult to respond and receive God's word. How we respond to God's word has everything to do with what we learn and how we reflect the love of Jesus!