Shows
Christ Church Evangelical CovenantHopeless to Resurrection (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As we continue our year-long look at the whole story of scripture, Pastor Cheryl helps us focus on the Exile - the period where God's presence had left the temple that Solomon has constructed, and the nation of Israel was scattered. During this period, it looked as though the promises of God had come to their end. But, we must remember that this isn't the end of the story! in the same way that Ezekiel saw the Valley of Dry Bones - through eyes of faith - Pastor Cheryl invites us to see how God continues to do the restorative...
2025-11-1623 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantListen to the Prophets (Lyle Mook)As we continue our year-long look at the whole story of scripture, Lyle Mook helps us understand the role and nature of prophets in the Old Testament -- individuals like Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah. For Israel, their job was to speak God's heart on God's behalf. But, they all pointed to something (or someone!) greater that was to come!
2025-11-0938 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantDivided Kingdom, Divided Heart (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As we continue our year-long look at the whole story of scripture, we come to the era where Israel was divided into 2 kingdoms - the Northern Kingdom (representing ten of the tribes of Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (representing the remaining two, which God declared would be the "remnant" he would keep for himself in order to remain faithful to his promises). As scripture recalls how the people fared under each king, we read about how the people more-often-than-not did evil in the eyes of the Lord. In today's sermon, Pastor Cheryl helps us understand what was at the root...
2025-11-0224 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe King We Want and the King We Reject (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)With this sermon, we launch into the next part of our year-long look at the whole story of scripture, as our focus shifts away from the law that was given to God’s people at Sinai. When the people of Israel demand a king (like all of the nations around them), God chooses to allows it, recognizing something about their motives. And so, through the stories of Saul, David, and Solomon, we see what happens as Israel places their hope of salvation from their enemies into the hands of an earthly king. (And, we see a bit about how these st...
2025-10-2629 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Law: People of the Book (Lyle Mook)This morning, as we continue our year-long look at the whole story of scripture, Lyle Mook invites us to be "People of the Word" who recognize and understand the importance of allowing the scriptures to form us. With that encouragement, though, comes an important reminder about the role of the law: it cannot in itself make us good. And so, we must instead allow the scripture to point us to the One who is truly good.
2025-10-1938 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantSinai: It’s All In a Name (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)If God were trying to get your attention, what would it take for you to notice? For Moses, God got his attention through a mysterious burning bush. And once God had his attention, what did God show to Moses? Even before he called Moses to the miraculous work of deliverance that would lead God's people through the Red Sea, God wanted Moses to know who he was: the God if his father and forefathers. As Pastor Cheryl continues our year-long series about the whole story of scripture, she invites us to look at the things in our lives that...
2025-10-1237 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantAbraham and Isaac: Where Loyalties are Tested (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Time and time again, God shows that he is faithful. And because He is faithful, we are able to believe in the promises that He makes. But, it is important to remember that God's promises are always part of His covenant -- that He will be their God.
In our story today from Genesis 22, God asks for Abraham's trust by commanding Abraham to sacrifice his promised son, Isaac. And as the story plays out, we come to learn that God was testing Abraham's loyalty to him (and, we come to learn that God is the one who provides for what...
2025-10-0524 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantAbraham: The Call to Go (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As we continue our year-long focus on the whole story of scripture, Pastor Cheryl helps us shift our focus from the creation to Abraham. Genesis recounts the call that God gave to Abraham, and highlights the blessings attached to it - God would establish Abraham's family as people who would be "set apart" to bring God's blessing to the whole world. Pastor Cheryl helps us see the promises that gave to Abraham, and invites us to consider what a life of faith would look like today. Will we respond to God with the same faith that Abraham did?
2025-09-2829 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Adventure of Being Human (Lyle Mook)Last week, Pastor Cheryl looked at the very beginnings of the story of scripture to try to begin to see how the whole story points us to Jesus. Today, Lyle Mook draws our focus into the tension between the identity we have as bearers of God's image (imago Dei) and the brokenness we come to realize in ourselves when we allow our "disordered loves" (a reference to Augustine's writings) to shape us. And so, the question is: how do we reconcile the two within ourselves? Or, perhaps more appropriately, how do we allow God to do the work of...
2025-09-2140 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantCreation: The Prologue and the Plot (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Today, we kick off our year-long walk through the entire story of scripture! Pastor Cheryl starts us at the very beginning of the Bible, where we find the familiar stories of Creation, Eden, Babel, Noah, and the generations in between. As Pastor Cheryl highlights vignettes from within the first eleven chapters of Genesis, she calls us to consider what they reveal to us about God's plans and purposes, and our understanding of the part we play within them.
2025-09-1432 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantSpiritual Family (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)In today’s sermon, Pastor Cheryl invites us to reimagine our approach to the ways we do through church through “The Moonshot Rule,” a term coined after John F. Kennedy urged people to aim to accomplish things that seem “out of the real of possibility.” The church in Acts started to reach for these kinds of things as they met together, shared what they had, and gave to those who had need. What could it look like for Christ Church, today, to embrace the big dreams of our even-bigger God for our church and our community? It might take some re-imagini
2025-08-3131 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantLiving Into Who We Are Becoming (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)God is always at work in us, helping us to become more like him, and helping us to more fully reflect his character through our lives. That sounds exciting! But, once we realize that "becoming more like him" requires us to forgive like he forgives, it can be challenging to find the ways to live up to the invitation. In the closing sermon from our Hook Line & Sinker series, Pastor Cheryl helps us understand the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and what God calls us to for each.
2025-08-2432 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantRevenge Mode (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)In week 5 of our Hook, Line, and Sinker sermon series, Pastor Cheryl invites us to consider our response when we fall for the bait of offense. When we are wronged, we all-too-easily understand the desire to take matters into our own hands. But, God has a different plan for us in Romans 12, that we might "conquer evil by doing good."
2025-08-1724 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Rock of Offense (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Being "offensive" in basketball is a good thing, but "being offensive" to others in real life is a whole different story. It places the one who is offended in a diffult place as they figure out how to respond. However, as Pastor Cheryl shares, there are times where Jesus himself actually offended entire groups of people! The pharisees, his family, and his disciples all quickly come to mind. And, the more that we reflect on these examples, the easier it is to find ourselves upset about what Jesus says and does, because for us to listen to him will...
2025-08-1029 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantWhat Am I Doing Here? (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)In the third sermon of our Hook, Line, and Sinker series, Pastor Cheryl focuses on Elijah. God had sent him to Israel as a prophet, but he soon discovered that being faithful to God's call would cause people to be upset with him - and even threaten him. As he ran from one particular situation, Elijah was confronted with something hidden in his own heart that was keeping him from being able to do what God was calling Him to do. If we are to avoid finding ourselves in the same position - running from the places and work...
2025-07-2729 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantHow Could This Happen to Me? (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)"How could this happen to me?!"
Isn't that often our first response when something difficult happens in our lives?
Whether by someone's intentional actions that hurt us, or because of our own internal voice that convinces us, we can all recognize the sense of injustice we feel that leads us to feel offended. And it is just that sense of offense that Satan often uses to separate us from God and from each other.
So, when we find ourselves offended, where do we look? What do we need to remember about God? What do we need to remember about what...
2025-07-2030 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantHook Line and Sinker (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)When was the last time you found yourself offended by what another person said or did to you? If it's not fresh in your mind, you can surely remember how upset you were. And when it comes to church, many of us carry past hurts from fellow churchgoers. Pastor Cheryl begins our summer series, "Hook Line and Sinker," unpacking why this can be such an effective tool to divide us and offers insight how we can begin to move past offense.
2025-07-1329 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantRest (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)In this sermon from our Spiritual Disciplines series, Pastor Cheryl invites us to consider how we can practice rest in themidst of a world that never ceases to demand busy-ness. Jesus invites us in John 15 to abide in Him. When we choose this, we will discover the fruit of the kingdom of God growing in our own lives.
Discussion Questions:
- What makes you and/or your family feel too busy or tired because of all you do?
- What brings you the most joy?
- If you were to start the practice of Rest, how would you plan some...
2025-07-0600 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantMissional Communities (Part 2) (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Where do we find our identity?
As we consider this, we realize it is a multi-faceted question. We have the family contexts that we grew up in, we have the cultures that have shaped us, and the places where we have lived. We have the schools we have attended, the friendships and hobbies we've enjoyed, and so much more. But as we consider the Christian faith in this question. we come to realize that we all find our identity somewhere along a four-part story arc: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and New Creation. And the more that we live into the identity...
2025-06-2935 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantMissional Communities (Part 1) (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)The gospel of Jesus Christ transformed the world in the first three centuries after the resurrection, spreading from town to town and nation to nation with great speed. The book of Acts documents the start of that amazing process. Reflecting on the effectiveness of the early church, Pastor Cheryl highlights both the urgency they felt and the grounding of their faith.
2025-06-2230 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantJust Evangelizing (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)In Acts chapter 10, after a vivid and unsettling dream about eating food that was forbidden by Jewish Law, Peter goes to meet a Roman centurion, who had already been instructed by God to look for Peter. The result of this encounter was salvation for the first non-Israelite who believed that Jesus was the messiah. Through this story, Pastor Cheryl invites us to explore the themes of consistent prayer and endless wonder as we consider our approach to God.
2025-06-1536 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantJust Teaching (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As we celebrate Pentecost today, we remember the story of Philip, who was led by the Holy Spirit to come alongside the eunuch from Ethiopia. As the eunuch studied the scriptures, Philip helped him see how they were fulfilled in Jesus, and this led to the eunuch being baptized. Philip took the opportunity to share what he new with the eunuch, and it is believed that the eunuch took the good news of Jesus to Africa, and the church was established there as a result. What could be possible in our community if we were to respond to the...
2025-06-0836 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantGenerosity (Ryan Lospaluto)Luke highlights two exchanges that involve between Jesus on the subject of generosity. On the surface, they seem to be about money, but Jesus is trying to get to something deeper. Ryan Lospaluto, a member of our Leadership Team, shares about the contrast between these two stories and helps us understand what Jesus was getting at in each of the conversations.
2025-06-0140 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantJust Shepherding (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As we continue to look at the ways that the Holy Spirit works in us today, Pastor Cheryl highlights the example of the early church in the ways that they shared the labor! As we consider this, we must recognize that God sees all of the work that the Spirit does through as vital! While it can be hard to remember sometimes, caring for one another is just as much the work of the Holy Spirit as teaching and prayer.
2025-05-2535 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantJust Pioneering (BJ Kadeg)What was it like in the earliest days of the church? The beginning of Acts documents for us the exciting growth and the challenges that came with it. As we look at the ways that Jesus's disciples became apostles, we notice that the people turned to them in amazement whenever God moved, and the apostles revealed the heart of God to them with boldness.
2025-05-1832 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Holy Spirit's Plan (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As we launch our Model & Multiply series, Pastor Cheryl focuses us on the book of Acts when the church started to grow. As the church gathered and the apostles proclaimed Jesus as Lord and messiah, the church expanded, with thousands being added to their number! And this was only the beginning ...
2025-05-1132 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantEvangelism and Outreach (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As part of our monthly series on Spiritual Practices, Pastor Cheryl shares a number of tools about how to share our faith.
2025-05-0436 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Audacity of Joy (Lyle Mook)Lyle Mook, former Senior Pastor at Christ Church, invites us to focus on the first part of Hebrews 12, which the writer of the book of Hebrews offers as an application of the stories found in the list of "heroes of the faith" in the previous chapter. As we learn what it means to cultivate 'audacious joy,' despite our circumstances, he invites us to learn from Jesus, lean into gladness, leverage our joy for the work of God, and serve God and his church generously.
2025-04-2749 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantMary (Grace Filled) (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)For our Easter sermon this year, Pastor Cheryl narrates the story of Mary, imagining her eyewitness account of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. As Mary reflects on the miracles that Jesus performed and her own doubts, she shares about what it meant to her to follow Jesus, and invites us to consider what it means for Jesus to be our Messiah, King, Christ, and risen Lord.
2025-04-2024 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantSocially Aware (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)🌿 What does true Biblical justice look like? In this powerful Palm Sunday message, Pastor Cheryl reveals how Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem wasn't just a celebration—it was a peaceful protest that challenged an entire empire.
This timely message challenges us to rethink how we engage with justice in our modern world, following Jesus's example of peaceful, transformative change.
2025-04-1326 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantBaptism (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As part of our Spiritual Disciplines series, Pastor Cheryl helps us understand the connections between the imagery of water in scripture, the significance of Christ's Baptism, and our own experience in baptism.
2025-04-0625 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantCollaboratively Led (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)How often do we come to the conclusion that it's just easier to do things on our own? While that might lead to the most immediate satisfaction, there's something about the way that God works to build His Kingdom that requires us to work together. Paul, throughout his letters, addresses the people that he partners with across the various cities he visits. and we, too, can join together for an even greater impact.
2025-03-3030 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantRelationally Aware (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As recipients of God's incredible grace and forgiveness, how are we to respond when we are confronted with the reality that brokenness still pervades our relationships? Whether a result of another person's actions against us, or our own actions toward others, the invitation to forgiveness is very real. However, it is almost never easy. Pastor Cheryl shares about the call to forgiveness, and its practical application, especially in hard situations.
2025-03-2333 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantCommunally Formed (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)When we read a scriptural text that talks about hosueholds, it’s easy for us to overlay our 21st century understandings into the text. But, when Jesus talks about the idea of households and families, he’s referring to a 1st-century idea called “oikos” in the Greek. As Pastor Cheryl helps us reframe our understanding of the oikos that Jesus invites us to participate in, it will re-shape our understandings of community, family, and the church.
2025-03-1630 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantMission Minded (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As we turn our focus toward what it means to be a people shaped by our Christian faith, Pastor Cheryl Lavornia speaks about being "Mission Minded." Our call as followers of Jesus isn't to simply receive his grace. Instead, God asks for us to reorient our lives around the values of his kingdom.
2025-03-0936 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantSpiritual Discipline: Fasting (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)We often think of our spiritual lives as having that intangible "spiritual" dimension, something we hope guides us but sometimes feels out of reach. Pastor Cheryl revisits Isaiah 58, inviting us to dive into the tangible, practical parts of our lives. Fasting becomes more than just a ritual; it's a way to bring together our mind, body, and spirit, opening up new ways to connect with God and find healing in a truly holistic way.
2025-03-0232 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantBiblically Inspired (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As a Covenant church, we approach scripture through five lenses: faithfully, communally, rigorously, charitably, and holistically. Pastor Cheryl invites us to re-consider our understanding of scripture in light of these five approaches in this week's sermon.
2025-02-2328 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantDesigned for Prayer (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Is there more to prayer than asking God to answer the lists of requests we have for him? In this week's sermon, Pastor Cheryl invites us to consider prayer in a deeper way. When we practice God's presence, our hearts are aligned with His heart. And when our hearts are aligned with His heart, our lives become a living witness to His character and His kingdom.
2025-02-1628 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantSpiritual Discipline: Communion (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Ever wonder why a simple meal of bread and juice holds so much meaning for Christians? In this eye-opening message, discover how communion isn't just about remembering Jesus - it's a pattern that can transform how we live every day. What would change in your life if you started living out the love and grace you receive at the communion table?
2025-02-0230 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Ventilation (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)When storms hit - whether in nature or in life - they reveal what lies beneath the surface. In Pastor Chery's message, we explore how God uses seasons of upheaval not to harm us, but to bring needed ventilation, revival, and transformation to His church. Through Mark's account of Jesus calming the storm, we discover what it means to stay close to Christ even when the waters are rough.
2025-01-2626 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantPositioning Ourselves for a Season of Revival (Greg Johnson)Greg Johnson, Executive Director of Revive New England, an organization dedicated to helping New England churches prepare for spiritual renewal, was our guest preacher.
2025-01-1937 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantComing Soon (Pastor Vann Trapp)Pastor Vann shares about the three things that shape us as a God's people. First, we are called to bear witness to the Kingdom. Second, we are to be people shaped by the Spirit of God. And third, we are to be people who live with great expectation of Christ's return.
2025-01-1236 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantStrong Tower (Pastor Vann Trapp)Pastor Vann shares this morning about the 8 names of God in scripture that begin with Yahweh. As we learn to trust in the character of God as he has revealed it through these names, Pastor Vann encourages us to specifically focus on one of them: Yahweh-Rohi (the LORD, my shepherd), and invites us to consider what it means for God to truly be our Shepherd and King.
2025-01-0532 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantGrace and Truth (Ken Bell)Ken Bell, one of our Deacons, shares from God's word this morning about the grace and truth found in the reality of Christ's coming. John 1 highlights the fulfillment of God's Old Testament promises, marking the grace of God's faithfulness. But, the truth of the gospel is that God's faithfulness makes things possible that would otherwise be impossible. God is working in and through the people of Christ Church. What could he be leading us to be and do in the new year?
2024-12-2934 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantChristmas Eve (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)During this Christmas Eve sermon, Pastor Cheryl encourages us to consider how "inattention blindness" can impact our relationship with God. Ultimately, this a lead us to remain disconnected from the God who loves us. Instead, she encourages us to truly behold Jesus with intentional sight, where we choose to focus on God's goodness, faithfulness, and love for us.
2024-12-2413 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantFlickers of Love (Pastor Vann Trapp)Dogs. Football. Spaghetti. All of them are very lovable things. But we inherently understand that when we say that God loves us (or that we love him), the love that we have for these other things falls substantially short. As Pastor Vann invites us to explore the Magnificat in Luke 1, we discover that God's love is both comforting and unsettling. It is a transformative force that challenges our pride and priorities while bringing us into the fullness of life He intended
2024-12-2231 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantFlickers of Joy (Pastor Vann Trapp)During the Advent season, and particularly on this third Sunday of Advent, we remember the joy that is promised to us in Christ. In the joy that the wise men experienced when they saw the star to the joy of God's deliverance, we see that it is appropriate for us to respond to the good that God works in the world. However, what could it mean for us to be a people marked by God's joy, especially in the more difficult moments and situations? Pastor Vann shares about a joy that goes beyond our circumstances in today's message.
2024-12-1532 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantFlicker of Peace (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Around Christmas, we often hear the list of names in Isaiah 9 that will be given to the promised savior: Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and, as Pastor Cheryl invites us to reflect on today: Prince of Peace. As she shares about the full picture of peace, or shalom, we consider what it means for Jesus to be the one who brings that kind of peace both to us and through us today.
2024-12-0828 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantFlicker of Hope (Pastor Vann Trapp)As we begin our Advent series, Stars of Wonder, Pastor Vann reminds us that God has placed the stars in the sky to help us understand our world. They separate day from night, they mark the seasons, and they give light to the Earth. In our spiritual lives, God has given us another gift to help us understand the world: hope. Where we place our hope tells a lot about what we believe to be possible; so, what could be possible when we place our hope in Almighty God?
2024-12-0125 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantHe Will Receive You (Pastor Vann Trapp)Over these past few weeks, we've focused on God's message to Moses in Exodus 6. It wasn't just that He promised to rescue the people of Israel from the oppression of Egypt. Better than that, he would bless them as His very own people! What does this mean for us today? When God rescues us (and He promises to rescue us!), how do we respond, and how do we live in His blessing?
2024-11-2433 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantHe Will Redeem You (Pastor Vann Trapp)How often do we find ourselves stuck? It may be a financial situation, a difficult moment in a relationship, a dry season with God, or something else. As we hear the words of God for his people from Exodus 6 and think of the story of Israel's deliverance from Egypt, we're reminded that our God is a God who draws his people out of the places they are stuck and promises them freedom, healing, and protection. We can see the story of redemption in Exodus, but what is it that God is inviting us to experience about his redemption today?
2024-11-1740 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantHe Will Rename You (Pastor Vann Trapp)3500 years ago, God's people were slaves in Egypt, seeming to be without a hope. As we think upon the story of the Exodus, we can certainly see the miraculous intervention of God to free his people from oppression, but we also realize that God didn't just free them from slavery. He gave them a new identity. God may not need to free us from enslavement today, but he does want to help us see ourselves as He sees us.
2024-11-1047 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantHe Will Rescue You (Pastor Vann Trapp)We're all too familiar with bad situations where we feel stuck or helpless. In Exodus, God's people were definitely stuck under the oppressive role of Pharaoh. God promises Moses that He would rescue the people of Israel. But have you ever wondered why? What does God lead His people into when he delivers them? And what does God invite us to experience today?
2024-11-0335 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantHe Will Reveal Himself (Pastor Vann Trapp)If there's one powerful narrative that resonates through the history of God's people, it's that God is always present for them. Just as He promised Moses that He would stand by them, He reassures us of His presence in every facet of our lives. But how can we truly sense His presence with us? How do we actually come to know him? For Moses, God revealed His name. And for us? Well, let's find out ...
2024-10-2732 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantOpen Doors (Rev. Dr. Howard Burgoyne)Rev. Dr. Howard Burgoyne, Superintendent of the East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church shares with us this morning about the impact and grace that comes when God says yes or no.
2024-10-2040 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantKeep On Keeping On (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As we look through the whole of scripture, we see themes and threads of God's call for his people. Pastor Cheryl explores the connections between Matthew 5, Matthew 25, and Hebrews 13, where God's compassionate heart invites us to care for our brothers and sisters as well as those we don't know. As we consider the ways that God is inviting us to hear from him, his call for us will always be to care for people in one or both of these directions.
2024-10-1331 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantUnder Pressure (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Revisiting our summer series, "The Good Life," Pastor Cheryl delves into the transformative healing stories in Luke 8, featuring Jairus, a prominent synagogue leader, and a socially marginalized woman suffering from 12 years of bleeding. Despite facing different societal pressures—Jairus with the urgency of his dying daughter and the woman with her prolonged social isolation—both seek Jesus's healing with unwavering faith. Pastor Cheryl challenges us to reflect on the societal pressures that shape our lives and encourages us to actively seek Jesus with faith. She offers practical steps to nurture and grow our faith, empowering us to overcome the chal...
2024-10-0634 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantLoving (an Invisible) God (Rev. Barbara Ettinger)Rev. Dr. Barbara Ettinger, Executive Associate Superintendent of the East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant, shares a powerful message that reminds us that we know what love is because God loves us first (Deuteronomy 6 and 1 John 4). Through stories of three women from scripture - Lydia, Hannah, and the woman with the alabaster jar - Rev. Dr. Ettinger helps us understand what it means to love God in response.
2024-09-2941 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantRemember God is With You (Pastor Vann Trapp)How often do you feel like you are wandering in your faith, trying to find out where God is (or even if he is real!)? God's word reminds us that He is present, and even more so that He is with us, but what do we do when our experience doesn't match that promise? Pastor Vann shares from Acts 17.
2024-09-2235 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantRemember that You Are Surrounded (Pastor Vann Trapp)How do we, as followers of Jesus, experience God’s power and presence? Pastor Vann shares about the importance of gathering together to support and encourage one another! We lean on the people around us to help us grow in our faith, but we also discover the ways that God wants us to use the gifts that he has given us in the context of community.
2024-09-1528 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantRemember the Source of Your Joy (Pastor Vann Trapp)What could a story about a war-battle in ancient Israel teach us about worship? Pastor Vann shares a story about what happened when the people of God chose to worship him first, even in the face of near-certain defeat. And he invites us today to consider what might happen in our own lives if we choose to take on the same posture.
2024-09-0827 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantRemember What You Can Do (Pastor Vann Trapp)As Pastor Vann launches us into our new series called Remember, this first message challenges us to consider the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus invites us to “do the same” as the Samaritan, and many of us aim to be compassionate - but, does our picture of compassion measure up with what Jesus’s audience would have understood?
2024-08-2538 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Final Challenge (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As we close out our series focusing on "The Good Life," Pastor Cheryl shares about what Jesus meant when he talked about the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world." She also shares a number of stories of how God has been at work in the day-to-day lives of our own congregation this summer.
2024-08-1830 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Challenge of Imitation (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As we read the Beatitudes, we get the sense that Jesus believed that “The Good Life” is something worth pursuing, but how do we live the so-called good life? Pastor Cheryl shares about how this is a life of imitation, and invites us to consider how we might follow Jesus example even in the midst of the difficulties that may arise.
2024-08-1129 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Challenge of Peacemaking (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Pastor Cheryl delves into the last triad of the beatitudes with a call from Jesus to be “peacemakers.” This peace isn’t just about silent complacency or avoiding confrontation. Instead, we are invited to do the work that will bring about true peace. And as followers of Jesus, we look to him as our example.
2024-08-0422 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Challenge of Seeking God (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Here's the blessing that Jesus lays out for us this week: he says that the pure in heart will see God. But what does "pure in heart" even mean? What was Jesus trying to get at? Are we just supposed to avoid wrongdoing, or could there be a deeper invitation that Jesus has for us here?
2024-07-2830 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Challenge of Demonstration (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Jesus came as the ultimate demonstration of mercy, but how is Jesus' idea of mercy (heed) different from our contemporary cultural understanding? (Does our understanding come from the Christmas classic "The Christmas Story"?) What sort of invitation does Jesus have for us in this call to show and be shown mercy?
2024-07-2128 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Challenge of Hunger (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)As we navigate the Good Life, what does today's passage from Matthew 5 have to say about righteousness? Surely righteousness talks about God and what he hopes for his people, but is there something more that we may be missing? Wht does this righteousness (or right-ness) have to do with living a full life? Let's find out.
2024-07-1438 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Invitation of Being Unimportant (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Pastor Cheryl reflects on grief and loss as part of the life that allows us to receive the fullness of God's kingdom. Sometimes, this is our own grief, and sometimes it is the grief of those around us. As we experience grief, we experience God's blessing. Find out more as part of our summer series on "The Good Life!"
2024-07-0732 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Great Invitation of Justice (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)This week, Pastor Cheryl invites us to consider what Jesus meant when he talked about the "poor in spirit." What kind of poverty was he talking about: a lack of money and resources? A lack of influence? A lack of willpower? As we'll find out, there is a lot that Jesus' audience would have heard - and a new way of life that Jesus was inviting his followers to experience.
2024-06-3032 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Challenge of Need (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)What did Jesus mean when he talked about the talked about the people who were "blessed" in Matthew 5? Pastor Cheryl helps us explore a deeper meaning within the Beatitudes as we kick our Summer Series, "The Good Life."
2024-06-2333 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantKeep It Personal (Pastor Vann Trapp)Pastor Vann stresses the importance of cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus. So often, Jesus surpasses our expectations in unexpected ways. How, then, do we keep our hearts and minds focused on the ways that god speaks to us? Each one of us needs a genuine, personal connection with Him, and ultimately, that has nothign to do with mere rituals or obligation.
2024-06-1640 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantFirst Things First (Pastor Vann Trapp)Pastor Vann's sermon "First Things First" emphasizes how worry and anxiety have plagued humanity since ancient times, despite our desire for carefree living. Drawing from Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, he highlights the futility of worrying about material needs and stresses the importance of prioritizing a relationship with God. In today's fast-paced world, the anxieties we face can make it feel challenging to seek God's kingdom, but when we receive the righteousness of Christ and trusting in God's provision, we will find that our worries are met with divine care and love.
2024-06-0937 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantGod's Counter-Revolution (Pastor Vann Trapp)Pastor Vann delves into the unexpected challenges we face in life and how God empowers believers to overcome darkness. By examining the passage in Matthew 16:13-19, the sermon highlights Jesus' declaration that believers have the authority to bind and loose against the forces of hell. Emphasizing the personal nature of this spiritual battle, Pastor Vann Trapp urges the congregation to actively engage in God's counter-revolution and stand firm in their faith. The sermon concludes with a call to come together as the people of God to participate in this ongoing battle with confidence in God's ultimate victory.
2024-06-0234 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantNehemiah 3 (Leadership Team)Members of our leadership team share from Nehemiah 3, where there is an account of members of the nation of Israel coming together to repair the walls of Jerusalem that had been destroyed during the period of the Babylonian exile. Ordinary individuals, like you and me, came together to work toward the restoration of the city. We, too, have the opportunity to come together as God's people to use our resources and talents to participate in what God is doing today!
2024-05-2638 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Wind and the Fire (Pastor Vann Trapp)Pastor Vann's sermon on Pentecost emphasizes the Holy Spirit's empowering impact on the early Church, enabling them to spread the Gospel. He dispels misconceptions of God as angry, stressing His desire for a personal relationship with each individual. Vann draws parallels between creation and Pentecost, urging listeners to deepen their connection with God through prayer and thoughtful practices. The sermon ends with a call for the congregation to actively engage in God's work of love and compassion, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
2024-05-1938 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Fullness (Pastor Vann Trapp)"The Fullness" sermon discusses spiritual gifts as expressions of the Holy Spirit and God's grace within individuals, urging the congregation to discover and use their gifts in the church community for the fullness of Jesus. Pastor Vann emphasizes the importance of ongoing growth and refinement of these gifts, highlighting that they reflect the character of Jesus. The sermon concludes with the reminder that the church is called to be the fullness of Jesus who fills all things, quoting Ephesians 1:22-23.
2024-05-1246 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantShorting Ourselves (Pastor Vann Trapp)Pastor Vann's sermon "Shorting Ourselves" explores spiritual gifts in the body of Christ, drawing parallels to DNA diversity. Using 1 Corinthians 12:14-25, he emphasizes the value of all members and their unique roles. He stresses the importance of recognizing and utilizing one's gifts for the unity of believers. By discussing spiritual gifts through a metaphor of the Old Testament tabernacle, he urges listeners to embrace their gifts and actively engage in the community for God's glory.
2024-05-0541 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantIn the Beginning (Pastor Vann Trapp)The sermon "In the Beginning" by Pastor Vann highlights God's invitation from creation to a new life. It mentions biblical references to "in the beginning" in Genesis, John, and 1 John. Pastor Vann discusses God's love, our choice to stray, and God's invitation back into His fullness. The sermon emphasizes the importance of making God the center of our lives for true connection and fulfillment.
2024-04-2843 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantPlaces Everyone (Pastor Vann Trapp)The greatest and best influence on humankind over the course of our history has been, without a doubt, Jesus Christ. The way He rebuked injustice. The way He modeled kindness. The way He invited us into relationship with Him. What would be better than to see that influence continue to impact our lives and the structures of our world? That is the primary goal of the Holy Spirit; continue the work of Jesus… through us. So, if we want to understand the purpose of the gifts that the Spirit has given, we simply need to look at the purpose of...
2024-04-2143 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantMoments and Movements, Seasons and Streams (Pastor Vann Trapp)What does it mean to be gifted by the Spirit of God? Does it change situation by situation? Or is it always the effect in the same way? Are we limited to one or two expressions of grace and the Spirit working in and through us? And can we grow in our how effective we are in using the gift God has given us? All good questions. All things we need to understand as we learn to walk with the Spirit in the transforming power of Jesus that He works through us. But that is the most important thing...
2024-04-1443 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantMany Gifts, Many Lists (Pastor Vann Trapp)We can think of God’s gifts to us in many ways. He gave us this world of beauty to live in and enjoy. He gave us our abilities and personalities when He formed us in our mother’s womb. He gave us Jesus to pay a debt we couldn’t pay and reconcile us to Himself. He gave us His Holy Spirit to empower us to live a holy life. But the Bible also tells us that God has gifted each of us with a unique expression of His grace in this world. People call them ministries or spirit...
2024-04-0739 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantA Hope Revealed (Pastor Vann Trapp)Pastor Vann's sermon "Hope Revealed" focuses on the transformative power of encountering the resurrection of Jesus, comparing it to blowing our minds with new discoveries that challenge our worldview. The disciples' struggle to comprehend Jesus' resurrection highlights the profound impact of this event in reshaping their lives. Jesus' resurrection sets him apart and proves the validity of his teachings, offering hope in the face of life's hardships. The sermon concludes with a call to celebrate new life in Christ through baptism and encourages believers to support one another in embracing the truth of Jesus' resurrection.
2024-03-3129 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantA Hope Obscured (Pastor Vann Trapp)Sometimes, we just need a distraction. Our situation is overwhelming, or the challenges are relentless, and we just need a break. But in taking our eyes off the circumstances, are we also missing the work that God is doing in the midst of our struggle? Because He is there. And He is good. The story of Palm Sunday is not just about how to put on a good parade. It is a reminder to keep our eyes on our God at all times, good and bad, because He is where our hope is found.
2024-03-2434 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantWhat's In Your Name? (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)The sermon "What's in Your Name?" by Pastor Cheryl discusses the importance of names in shaping our identities. She uses the story of Abram and Sarai's name changes to demonstrate how God transforms and revitalizes individuals. Pastor Cheryl connects biblical instances of name changes to emphasize the impact of embracing new identities given by Jesus. The congregation is encouraged to release old labels, embrace new names, and live authentically in their identities with God's transformative power.
2024-03-1733 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantDigging Deeper (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Let's face it, we want it quick. We want a faith that's quick and easy. We want a God who is also quick to respond and makes it super easy for us to know His will and His ways. Somehow, God both allows for this tendency AND transforms this tendency as we grow in our faith. Faith is something that takes time. It takes both jumping in and sitting back. It takes running fast and crawling forward in obedience. This is the tension of God's call on our lives. What if God allows this tension for a reason?
2024-03-1031 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantHelping God Out (Pastor Vann Trapp)Sometimes when God’s Spirit is nudging us to get involved in a project, or when we bring Him a request in prayer, we immediately begin to think about how we might accomplish the thing He or we want done. The problem is that God usually has a solution to our problem or a path to get something done that we can’t even think of. And most often, our plan won’t work would only make a mess of what God is trying to do. God doesn’t ask us to “help Him out.” He asks us to trust Him. L...
2024-03-0341 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantPlaying It Safe (Pastor Vann Trapp)There are times when we sense God calling us… maybe into a location for ministry, or with a group of people that He has made us aware of. But it feels uncomfortable, even unsafe. So, we move to a different place, or into a different group with which we are more comfortable, and ask God to use us there instead. The problem is that going where God has not called can often cause as many problems as not going at all. Learning to live a life of faith is learning that the best place to be is where God is...
2024-02-2538 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantStacking the Deck (Pastor Vann Trapp)There are times when we sense God calling us. It may be into an area of ministry or to meet a need that He has made us aware of. But when that happens, how often do we feel inadequate? So, we gather people around us who we think can help us. But God hasn’t always called them to do the work to which He has called us. And sometimes, by pulling them in, we set them up for a really tough time. Part of growing into a life of faith is letting God break the fear of failure an...
2024-02-1838 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantOne Plan (Pastor Vann Trapp)We love personalized plans. We also love that God is so personal in how He loves and pursues us. But we are mistaken in those times that we think God’s personal love means He will always adapt His plan to our personal preferences. And we all do this at times. The issue is that God knows; He knows what we need even better than we do. So, He doesn’t adapt His plan to our current whims. His One Plan is that we would not be saved simply as individuals to do our own thing, but rather as one bo...
2024-02-1140 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantSupport the Work (Pastor Vann Trapp)“Important task.” That doesn’t sound so spiritual. Doing miracles. Spiritual warfare. Teaching the truths of God’s Word. Sharing the gospel. Those sound spiritual. But often, getting to the spiritual work requires supporting that work with the necessary “important tasks.” That’s what the early church discovered when some of those who needed food the most weren’t getting the attention they needed. Ends up that things like setting up rooms, cleaning up messes, setting calendars, planning events, serving on teams, giving time, giving money, and even waiting on tables may not sound or feel all that spiritual, but they are the...
2024-02-0440 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantDo the Work (Pastor Vann Trapp)So, again, what is the church? It is the group of people who have been called together as God’s people by God’s Spirit to do the work of God’s kingdom. So, what is the work of the kingdom? What are the things that are so important that God feels that He needs to call His people together so that they will get done? Well, engaging God’s Word so that it can change us. Caring for each other. Honoring Jesus in worship. Praying together. And, of course, going out into the world to show and tell others a...
2024-01-2840 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantWhat Makes us the Church? (Pastor Vann Trapp)So, if the church is more than a building, a program, or even a group of people who believe the same things, what makes us a church? We are a church when we gather to do the business of God’s kingdom. But we are only able to do His business when His Spirit leads us and empowers us to do things that are way beyond our own abilities and understanding. The church is the gathering of those reborn in the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, led by the Spirit, and following the Spirit as He trains us to be...
2024-01-2143 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantWho is the Church (Pastor Vann Trapp)Last week, we asked, “What is the Church?” This week, we are asking, “Who is the Church?” How do I become a citizen of God’s realm? And once I do, what is my part in doing the business of His kingdom in this world? Because, as the Church, we are called, reborn, transformed, equipped, and empowered to do the work of heaven.
2024-01-1439 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantEkklesia (Pastor Vann Trapp)God’s Church. It’s more than just a building or a place. It’s more than just a bunch of people who believe the same things. It’s more than just coffee and a sermon on Sunday. The Church is the group of people that God calls together in various places and various arrangements to figure out and do the business of the kingdom of heaven together. He has called us, equipped us, and brought us together for that purpose. So, what does it look like for us to be the Church?
2024-01-0714 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantAmbassadors of Grace (Ken Bell)How might the story of the Magi help us understand God's grace and our response? The gifts they present to Jesus symbolize his kingship, as well as our worship and the mission that God has asked us to fulfill. How are we, as Christ Church, a part of that mission?
2023-12-3131 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantLove - The Embodiment of Victory (Pastor Vann Trapp)Love. Sometimes, it doesn’t look so big and strong. But sometimes, it’s the small things that make the biggest difference. When God talks about His kingdom breaking in, He talks about mustard seeds, hidden yeast, and little children. And when He demonstrates it, He comes as a newborn baby. But that baby was God’s greatest victory. It would just take some time for us to see it. But that’s usually how God works.
2023-12-2420 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Expression of Victory (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)Do you ever feel disconnected from the "joy" that is supposed to be part of the Christmas season? Where does that disconnect come from? Pastor Cheryl shares what it takes to find that sense of joy again.
2023-12-1728 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Evidence of Victory (Pastor Vann Trapp)Peace. We look for it. We hope for it. We pray for it. No one wants to live in a war zone, whether that war is outside your home. or within it. But it ends up that peace doesn’t just happen in a broken, fearful, selfish world. You have to work for it, build it, and even fight for it at times. But that sounds like a contradiction: fight for peace. That depends on how and who you’re fighting. But make no mistake, peace is the evidence of victory in a hard-fought battle to gain it. God foug...
2023-12-1040 minChrist Church Evangelical CovenantThe Expectation of Victory (Pastor Vann Trapp)Hope. It’s an essential part of our lives because hope is all about the promise of something better than what we see. And who doesn’t long for something better than what we see? But hope is also about the ability of the one who promises it to pull off what has been promised. At Christmas, God brought His promised victory into this world. Some missed it because of the wrapping God’s victory gift came in. (How can a baby save the world?) But those who know the rest of the story understand that Jesus was God’s greate...
2023-12-0331 min