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entrance to a rock cave with a round stone rolled partway across the entrance. The cave is all dark inside.

On Easter morning, some women went to the Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body for burial. They worried about how they would get to him past the stone that blocked the entrance. That day, angels came and rolled away the stone. What are the stones in our lives that keep us from Jesus? And who will roll them away?

“Who Will Roll the Stone Away?” by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Mark 16:1-8 (NLT) ; 馬 可 福 音 16:1-8 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Fr. Daniel Ciucci on Unsplash

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We all know the story of Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. But what were the praises really about?

“Through the Lens of Hosanna” by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (NLT) ; 詩 篇 118:1-2,19-29 (CUVS)
Luke 19:28-40 (NLT) ; 路 加 福 音 19:28-40 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Zach Lucero on Unsplash

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 Jesus taught by his words and actions that giving to the poor and needy was of top importance. Yet, when Mary poured a whole jar of super-expensive perfume on his feet in a most unseemly display of outlandish love and gratitude, and Judas objected on the grounds that the money could have been given to the poor, Jesus defended her. How are we to understand this seeming contradiction?

“Jesus First”, by Pastor Ryan Emmons

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Malcolm Lightbody on Unsplash

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A panel of three people from our congregation talk about their journey with giving and trusting God. These are the questions they posed and answered:

  • Why do you give?
  • How did you learn about giving?
  • What challenges do you face with giving?
  • Is there a point of encouragement or a teaching you would like to share?
  • Is there a story of giving in your life or someone else’s that has been particularly impactful to you?
  • Is there a Bible passage that especially shapes your thinking about giving?
  • Where do you give, and what is your perspective on where God calls us to give?
Panel on Giving (David, Joleen, Moses)

Psalm 112:1-10 (NLT) ; 詩 篇 112:1-10 (CUVS)
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (NLT) ; 歌 林 多 後 書 9:6-10 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device.

Photo by Jan Canty on Unsplash

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God made a promise to Abraham, then to his son Isaac. Then, when Isaac’s son Jacob was running for his life after cheating his brother out of his birthright, God made the same promise to him. What can we learn from Jacob about God’s promise to us, and about what should be our response?

“Giving as Good as You Get”, by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Genesis 28:10-22 (NLT) ; 創 世 記 28:10-22 (CUVS)
Proverbs 3:9-10 (NLT) ; 箴 言 3:9-10 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

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picture of a peeled tangerine with orange segments in front

The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, and it grow in us through the presence and working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives. It is not a collection of fruits, but rather part of one larger fruit, like the segments of an orange rather than a bunch of grapes. Pastor Ryan gives a deep dive into these segments in this series from the winter of 2025.

January 12 – Being Fruitful – Introduction
January 29 – Love
January 26 – Joy
February 2 – Peace
February 9 – Patience
February 16 –Kindness
February 23 – Goodness
March 2 – Faithfulness
March 9 – Gentleness
March 16 – Self-Control

Pastor Ryan led us in this prayer by John Stott:

“Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

One book Pastor Ryan is using as a basis for this sermon series is Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: Growing in Christlikeness, by Christopher Wright.

Image by NoName_13 from Pixabay

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Self Control is the last part of the fruit of the spirit, and the only one that is not part of God’s character. God does not need self control because He is not tempted to do things he shouldn’t. Still, self control grows in us through the work of the Holy Spirit.

“Being Fruitful: Self Control”, by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) ; 加 拉 太 書 5:22-23 (CUVS)
1 Peter 3:15-16 (NLT) ; 彼 得 前 書 3:15-16 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Jordi Zamora on Unsplash

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God is gentle as our good shepherd. Jesus too. Pastor Ryan gives examples of both and talks about how we can show this trait in our interactions with others.

“Being Fruitful: Gentleness” by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) ; 加 拉 太 書 5:22-23 (CUVS)
1 Peter 3:15-16 (NLT) ; 彼 得 前 書 3:15-16 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

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picture of a man walking through woods with his dog. The forest floor is covered in purple and gold flowers illuminated by sunshine, with long shadows.

God is faithful to his people and to his promises. We are also called to “a long obedience in the same direction”. What does this look like?

“Being Fruitful: Faithfulness” by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) ; 加 拉 太 書 5:22-23 (CUVS)
Matthew 25:14-30 (NLT) ; 馬 太 福 音 25:14-30 (CUVS)
Lamentations 3:22-27 (NLT) ; 耶 利 米 哀 歌 3:22-27 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Benjamin Wedemeyer on Unsplash