Resources
We want to help you go deeper with God beyond our weekend services. Find sermons, discussion guides, devotionals, and podcasts—all in one place, all designed to help your faith take root and grow.
Resource Archive
Sermons
Jacob
Pastor Aaron Buer continues our EPIC sermon series by exploring Jacob's journey from wrestling with destiny to finding his place in God's plan. Through Jacob's story of deception, bargaining with God and family dysfunction, we see how patterns of sin and brokenness can be passed down through generations. We discover that even in the midst of our wrestling and striving, God is faithfully working to fulfill his promises. This message challenges us to stop trying to control our circumstances and instead trust in God's character, knowing that our wrestling ends when we turn to Jesus, who came to redeem our broken stories and restore us to friendship with God.
The Dream
Pastor Jeff Manion discusses Jacob’s encounter with God at Bethel. Through this conversation, God meets Jacob when he’s alone and afraid—to bless not only Jacob, but others too. We are challenged to remember that no matter our past, God calls us to trust him and make our faith our own. Genesis 28:10-22
Family Reunion
Pastor Jeff Manion leads us through the reunion of Joseph and his brothers in Egypt. We learn how God works in, through and around difficult situations, even when it can feel like everything is stacked against us. We see that Joseph goes from hurt, to healing, to healer. Genesis 45
Sermon Series
Finding Hope in Family Conflict
In Finding Hope in Family Conflict, Pastor Jeff Manion and other teachers examines the life of Jacob. This series helps us see we make many of the same mistakes as Jacob. Like God does with Jacob, he is patient with us and continues to draw us closer to him. When we learn to rely completely upon God, we are more able to successfully navigate the conflicts in our own life.
Sermon Guide
Beyond the Weekend Devotionals
Prepare
God tells Israel to get ready. Joshua and the people wait to cross the Jordan River and enter into the promised land. Israel is bursting with anticipation. There is no turning back this time! The promise God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is about to be fulfilled. Still, something must happen before this climactic event can occur: Israel needs to consecrate itself. To consecrate means to prepare spiritually. The people of Israel must wash themselves and abstain from certain activities. They must focus their hearts and minds on God. Once finished, Israel will be ready for God to move among them.
The Creativity of God
After twenty-two years and Jacob's death, Joseph's brothers fear his revenge. The memory of how Joseph pleaded and begged to be let go echoes in their minds. However, Joseph sees something they cannot. Through time, healing and perspective, he recognizes God's creative ability to use the awful, ugly and disastrous to bring about good no one could predict. God used unwise favoritism, venomous hatred, treachery and betrayal to position Joseph to save his entire family from famine. The place of his deepest pain becomes the place of great blessing for his family...
Joseph’s Family
Joseph's family troubles begin long before his birth. Joseph is Jacob's eleventh son but the firstborn of Jacob's most-loved wife, Rachel. Jacob doesn't hide his favoritism and affection for Joseph. When Joseph receives the ornate coat, his ten older brothers, from three other women, hate him even more. The coat looks managerial, making them wonder if Jacob is putting Joseph in charge of them. Joseph's dreams about his family bowing down to him intensify their hatred. They can't say anything nice to him. It's hard to imagine any good coming from their dysfunction and jealousy...
