Zion Reformed Church

Text: Philippians 1:12-26 
Title: To Live is Christ 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
The short book of Philippians is one of the most quoted in the Bible, yet Paul wrote it not for the popular sound bites, but to paint a picture of a mature Christian faith. While many give their lives to Jesus, few then go on to live a life of truly vibrant faith. Rather than painting a picture of good morals, Philippians reminds us again the goal of true discipleship is Christ, not moral perfection. Even in times of suffering and trial, Paul stays focused on the mission of God, trusts in his deliverance through Christ, and keeps his eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. We remember again today that for a Christian: to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Text: Philippians 1:12-26
Title: To Live is Christ
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
The short book of Philippians is one of the most quoted in the Bible, yet Paul wrote it not for the popular sound bites, but to paint a picture of a mature Christian faith. While many give their lives to Jesus, few then go on to live a life of truly vibrant faith. Rather than painting a picture of good morals, Philippians reminds us again the goal of true discipleship is Christ, not moral perfection. Even in times of suffering and trial, Paul stays focused on the mission of God, trusts in his deliverance through Christ, and keeps his eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. We remember again today that for a Christian: to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:12-26 ~ To Live is Christ

Text: Philippians 1:1-11 
Title: Carried to Completion 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
The short book of Philippians is one of the most quoted in the Bible, yet Paul wrote it not for the popular sound bites, but to paint a picture of a mature Christian faith. While many give their lives to Jesus, few then go on to live a life of truly vibrant faith. Rather than painting a picture of good morals, Philippians reminds us again the goal of true discipleship is Christ, not moral perfection. In Philippians 1:6, Paul reminds us that salvation rests not on our works, but on the faithfulness of God.

Text: Philippians 1:1-11
Title: Carried to Completion
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
The short book of Philippians is one of the most quoted in the Bible, yet Paul wrote it not for the popular sound bites, but to paint a picture of a mature Christian faith. While many give their lives to Jesus, few then go on to live a life of truly vibrant faith. Rather than painting a picture of good morals, Philippians reminds us again the goal of true discipleship is Christ, not moral perfection. In Philippians 1:6, Paul reminds us that salvation rests not on our works, but on the faithfulness of God.

Philippians 1:1-11 ~ Carried to Completion

Text: Hebrews 4:9-11 
Title: #struggles: rest 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
As you scroll through your day, does it feel like everyone else has it all together? Someone always has the best job, cutest kid, or happiest relationship. We’re pressured to measure up to other people’s social media status updates and left with more #struggles. As we conclude this 5 week series on the challenges of social media to a Christ-like life, we remember social media is a great servant, but a terrible master.

Text: Hebrews 4:9-11
Title: #struggles: rest
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
As you scroll through your day, does it feel like everyone else has it all together? Someone always has the best job, cutest kid, or happiest relationship. We’re pressured to measure up to other people’s social media status updates and left with more #struggles. As we conclude this 5 week series on the challenges of social media to a Christ-like life, we remember social media is a great servant, but a terrible master.

Hebrews 4:9-11 ~ #struggles: rest

Text: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 
Title: #struggles: compassion 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
As you scroll through your day, does it feel like everyone else has it all together? Someone always has the best job, cutest kid, or happiest relationship. We’re pressured to measure up to other people’s social media status updates and left with more #struggles. As we continue this 5 week series on the challenges of social media to a Christ-like life, we remember caring is not liking a post, but loving a person.

Text: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Title: #struggles: compassion
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
As you scroll through your day, does it feel like everyone else has it all together? Someone always has the best job, cutest kid, or happiest relationship. We’re pressured to measure up to other people’s social media status updates and left with more #struggles. As we continue this 5 week series on the challenges of social media to a Christ-like life, we remember caring is not liking a post, but loving a person.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 ~ #struggles: compassion

Text: Exodus 34:30-35 
Title: #struggles: authenticity 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
As you scroll through your day, does it feel like everyone else has it all together? Someone always has the best job, cutest kid, or happiest relationship. We’re pressured to measure up to other people’s social media status updates and left with more #struggles. As we continue this 5 week series on the challenges of social media to a Christ-like life, we remember that when we veil our face, we eventually veil our hearts. While many try to manage their image on social media, when standing before Christ there is no need for a mask for we are accepted unconditionally by our gracious God.

Text: Exodus 34:30-35
Title: #struggles: authenticity
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
As you scroll through your day, does it feel like everyone else has it all together? Someone always has the best job, cutest kid, or happiest relationship. We’re pressured to measure up to other people’s social media status updates and left with more #struggles. As we continue this 5 week series on the challenges of social media to a Christ-like life, we remember that when we veil our face, we eventually veil our hearts. While many try to manage their image on social media, when standing before Christ there is no need for a mask for we are accepted unconditionally by our gracious God.

Exodus 34:30-35 ~ #struggles: authenticity

Text: Philippians 4:12-13 
Title: #struggles: contentment 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
As you scroll through your day, does it feel like everyone else has it all together? Someone always has the best job, cutest kid, or happiest relationship. We’re pressured to measure up to other people’s social media status updates and left with more #struggles. As we begin this 5 week series on the challenges of social media to a Christ-like life, we remember we will always struggle with discontentment until we let Christ be all we need.

Text: Philippians 4:12-13
Title: #struggles: contentment
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
As you scroll through your day, does it feel like everyone else has it all together? Someone always has the best job, cutest kid, or happiest relationship. We’re pressured to measure up to other people’s social media status updates and left with more #struggles. As we begin this 5 week series on the challenges of social media to a Christ-like life, we remember we will always struggle with discontentment until we let Christ be all we need.

Philippians 4:12-13 #struggles: contentment

Text: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 
Title: What Christians Believe: The Holy Spirit 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

Text: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Title: What Christians Believe: The Holy Spirit
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ~ What Christians Believe: The Holy Spirit

Text: Luke 22:39-46 
Title: Olive Press 
Preacher: Rev. Rick VanderWall

Text: Luke 22:39-46 
Title: Olive Press
Preacher: Rev. Rick VanderWall

Luke 22:39-46 ~ Olive Press

Text: Mark 12:28-30 
Title: Dusty Worship: Love God 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Religion teaches us that we must obey and worship God in order for God to love and accept us. As disciples of Jesus, we have heard a different message. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We love because Christ first loved us. As Dusty Worshippers who followed in the footsteps of Jesus, our worship flows out of the confidence we have in God's love. At its heart, our worship is simply the act of loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Text: Mark 12:28-30
Title: Dusty Worship: Love God
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Religion teaches us that we must obey and worship God in order for God to love and accept us. As disciples of Jesus, we have heard a different message. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We love because Christ first loved us. As Dusty Worshippers who followed in the footsteps of Jesus, our worship flows out of the confidence we have in God's love. At its heart, our worship is simply the act of loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Mark 12:28-30 Dusty Worship: Love God

Text: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 
Title: Dusty Bibles 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Almost everyone who goes to church hold the Bible in high esteem. Over 90% of people who attend church believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. And yet, most Christians do not read their bible everyday. Over half of all Christians read their Bible outside of church once a week or less. Last week we talked about the call to be people who are covered in the dust of our Rabbi. We thought about how our lives should so resemble Jesus that when people meet us they get a glimpse of what Jesus was like. Disciples are called to be a dusty people, but we can't be dusty people when we live with dusty Bibles. As we consider the first point of the compass, Scripture, we commit again to be a people shaped by the word of God.

Text: 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Title: Dusty Bibles
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Almost everyone who goes to church hold the Bible in high esteem. Over 90% of people who attend church believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. And yet, most Christians do not read their bible everyday. Over half of all Christians read their Bible outside of church once a week or less. Last week we talked about the call to be people who are covered in the dust of our Rabbi. We thought about how our lives should so resemble Jesus that when people meet us they get a glimpse of what Jesus was like. Disciples are called to be a dusty people, but we can't be dusty people when we live with dusty Bibles. As we consider the first point of the compass, Scripture, we commit again to be a people shaped by the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 ~ Dusty Bibles

Text: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 
Title: Dusty People 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Dust covered first century Palestine. Everywhere you walked, people kicked up dust. It covered your clothes, your face, your hands, your feet. You could not avoid becoming dusty. And yet, one of the greatest blessings you could offer to a disciple was: "May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi." The hope for a disciple was to walk so close to their rabbi, imitating everything he did, hearing every word from his mouth, that by the end of the day, they would be covered with the dust their rabbi had kicked up throughout the day.The gospel invitation calls us to a dusty life, to live so close to Jesus and others who follow him that we are covered in his dust. And then, when we are fully dusty to go out and show others how to live like Jesus did. We all get dusty. We all follow someone. Some follow musicians or politicians, others celebrities or athletes, but we all follow someone. And over time, we get covered in the dust of their life. Whose dust covers you?

Text: Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Title: Dusty People
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Dust covered first century Palestine. Everywhere you walked, people kicked up dust. It covered your clothes, your face, your hands, your feet. You could not avoid becoming dusty. And yet, one of the greatest blessings you could offer to a disciple was: "May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi." The hope for a disciple was to walk so close to their rabbi, imitating everything he did, hearing every word from his mouth, that by the end of the day, they would be covered with the dust their rabbi had kicked up throughout the day.The gospel invitation calls us to a dusty life, to live so close to Jesus and others who follow him that we are covered in his dust. And then, when we are fully dusty to go out and show others how to live like Jesus did. We all get dusty. We all follow someone. Some follow musicians or politicians, others celebrities or athletes, but we all follow someone. And over time, we get covered in th

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Dusty People

Text: Matthew 20:29-34 
Title: What Do You Want 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Susan Scott tells a story of her brother trying to kill the moles in their yard as a child. Every Saturday was filled with a new adventure in mole whacking, but the moles always came back. Each week was filled with new debates about the best way to drive the moles away. Only as an adult did he learn he had been asking the wrong question. Rather than asking how to drive the moles away, he should have been asking what brought the moles to the yard. Then, he could have tackled the much easier job of killing the grubs the moles were coming to eat. We spend much of lives asking all the wrong sorts of questions: What do people think of me? How can I get ahead? How can I be a better person/student/athlete/parent/salesperson? Most of our questions focus on us and meeting our felt needs, but in our text today, Jesus asks the only question that really matters: What do you want from Jesus?

Text: Matthew 20:29-34
Title: What Do You Want
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Susan Scott tells a story of her brother trying to kill the moles in their yard as a child. Every Saturday was filled with a new adventure in mole whacking, but the moles always came back. Each week was filled with new debates about the best way to drive the moles away. Only as an adult did he learn he had been asking the wrong question. Rather than asking how to drive the moles away, he should have been asking what brought the moles to the yard. Then, he could have tackled the much easier job of killing the grubs the moles were coming to eat. We spend much of lives asking all the wrong sorts of questions: What do people think of me? How can I get ahead? How can I be a better person/student/athlete/parent/salesperson? Most of our questions focus on us and meeting our felt needs, but in our text today, Jesus asks the only question that really matters: What do you want from Jesus?

Matthew 20:29-34 ~ What Do You Want

Text: Matthew 20:17-28 
Title: Identity Issues 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
As he draws near the end of his life, Jesus talks about issues of power and service. He began by calling a young man to sell all he had and then follow Jesu. The next week, he questioned the blessedness of the wealthy, even questioning their ability to enter the kingdom of God. Last week, he said God gives everyone the same reward. And now this week, Jesus reminds us that the path to glory and honor is the path or service and suffering. Our world may tell us to find our identity in our achievements, our success, our reputations, our abilities, but God calls us to find our identity in the one who suffered and died. Perhaps, Jesus speaks to these issues of power and wealth so repeatedly because he knew the great pull we would feel toward the values of our world and away from the values of his kingdom.

Text: Matthew 20:17-28
Title: Identity Issues
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
As he draws near the end of his life, Jesus talks about issues of power and service. He began by calling a young man to sell all he had and then follow Jesu. The next week, he questioned the blessedness of the wealthy, even questioning their ability to enter the kingdom of God. Last week, he said God gives everyone the same reward. And now this week, Jesus reminds us that the path to glory and honor is the path or service and suffering. Our world may tell us to find our identity in our achievements, our success, our reputations, our abilities, but God calls us to find our identity in the one who suffered and died. Perhaps, Jesus speaks to these issues of power and wealth so repeatedly because he knew the great pull we would feel toward the values of our world and away from the values of his kingdom.

Matthew 20:17-28 - Identity Issues

Text: Matthew 19:16-22 
Title: Going All In 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Native tribes in Africa have a unique way of catching monkeys. Rather than chasing the monkey, they dig a hole with a narrow opening just big enough for the monkey to squeeze his hand through. Then, the place some treat like fruit in the hole. When the monkey reaches in to grab the treat, he makes a fist and his hand no longer fits through the hole. Rather than let of the treat and be free, the monkey holds on desperately trying to pull his hand out unaware of the hunter about to trap him. In our text today, Jesus encounters a man with his hand wrapped so tight around his treasures he can't follow Jesus and receive eternal life. We wonder today, what might we need to let go of so we can grab hold of Jesus?

Text: Matthew 19:16-22
Title: Going All In
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Native tribes in Africa have a unique way of catching monkeys. Rather than chasing the monkey, they dig a hole with a narrow opening just big enough for the monkey to squeeze his hand through. Then, the place some treat like fruit in the hole. When the monkey reaches in to grab the treat, he makes a fist and his hand no longer fits through the hole. Rather than let of the treat and be free, the monkey holds on desperately trying to pull his hand out unaware of the hunter about to trap him. In our text today, Jesus encounters a man with his hand wrapped so tight around his treasures he can't follow Jesus and receive eternal life. We wonder today, what might we need to let go of so we can grab hold of Jesus?

Matthew 19:16-22 ~ Going All In

Text: Matthew 19:1-12 
Title: Love, Marriage, and Divorce 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Have you ever heard the statistic that 50% of all marriages end in divorce? It gets thrown around a lot by pastors and new media. Another statistic often cited is that Christians are just as likely to divorce as non-believers. On this Valentine's weekend, we consider together what God has to say about Love, Marriage, and Divorce in a culture that often treats each one casually. We also will see if recent studies back up these demoralizing stats or if there might be some good news about marriage both in the US and in the church.

Text: Matthew 19:1-12
Title: Love, Marriage, and Divorce
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Have you ever heard the statistic that 50% of all marriages end in divorce? It gets thrown around a lot by pastors and new media. Another statistic often cited is that Christians are just as likely to divorce as non-believers. On this Valentine's weekend, we consider together what God has to say about Love, Marriage, and Divorce in a culture that often treats each one casually. We also will see if recent studies back up these demoralizing stats or if there might be some good news about marriage both in the US and in the church.

Matthew 19:1-12 ~ Love, Marriage, and Divorce

Text: Leviticus 23:3 
Title: Economic Atheist: How to Sabbath 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Throughout the Economic Atheist series, we’ve tackled the defining questions of how we work and who we honor. This week we conclude the series with a look at how we Sabbath. The Sabbath is built into the economic cycle by God’s design: “There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the LORD.” Just like a care needs both an accelerator and a brake, we too need times of work and striving and times for rest and relationship. God gave us the Sabbath to build those brake times into life. Too much accelerator and not enough brake is a recipe for crashing our lives. Let's Sabbath today.

Text: Leviticus 23:3
Title: Economic Atheist: How to Sabbath
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Throughout the Economic Atheist series, we’ve tackled the defining questions of how we work and who we honor. This week we conclude the series with a look at how we Sabbath. The Sabbath is built into the economic cycle by God’s design: “There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the LORD.” Just like a care needs both an accelerator and a brake, we too need times of work and striving and times for rest and relationship. God gave us the Sabbath to build those brake times into life. Too much accelerator and not enough brake is a recipe for crashing our lives. Let's Sabbath today.

Leviticus 23:3 - Economic Atheist: How to Sabbath

Text: Leviticus 27:30-33 
Title: Economic Atheist: How to Honor 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
We have all been blessed. Some of us have more and some less. But, we all have more than most people in the history of the world. Who do we give the honor for all we have? Some might give themselves the credit: they made the right investment choices, they worked hard, they sacrificed. Others may give credit to their families: I was born into a good family, I inherited my wealth, my parents helped me get launched in life. Others give credit to the economy: it is the free market economy, I was born at the right time to get into computers or biochemistry. For some, it is just good fortune. But for Economic Theists the only true answer is that all we have comes from God's hand. And, as Economic Theists, we honor God by returning a tithe to God of what he has given us.

Text: Leviticus 27:30-33
Title: Economic Atheist: How to Honor
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
We have all been blessed. Some of us have more and some less. But, we all have more than most people in the history of the world. Who do we give the honor for all we have? Some might give themselves the credit: they made the right investment choices, they worked hard, they sacrificed. Others may give credit to their families: I was born into a good family, I inherited my wealth, my parents helped me get launched in life. Others give credit to the economy: it is the free market economy, I was born at the right time to get into computers or biochemistry. For some, it is just good fortune. But for Economic Theists the only true answer is that all we have comes from God's hand. And, as Economic Theists, we honor God by returning a tithe to God of what he has given us.

Leviticus 27:30-33 ~ Economic Atheist: How to Honor

Text: Philippians 3:1-14 
Title: Staying on the Path 
Preacher: Rev. Rick VanderWall

Text: Philippians 3:1-14
Title: Staying on the Path
Preacher: Rev. Rick VanderWall

Philippians 3:1-14 - Staying on the Path

Text: Psalm 105:1-10 
Title: A Story to Tell 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
We celebrate 60 years of ministry by God's grace at Zion Reformed Church.

Text: Psalm 105:1-10
Title: A Story to Tell
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
We celebrate 60 years of ministry by God's grace at Zion Reformed Church.

Psalm 105:1-10 - A Story to Tell

Text: Isaiah 9:1-2 & 6-7 
Title: Gifts of Christmas: Expectancy 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Does it ever feel like Jesus gets lost in the Christmas shuffle? Hidden somewhere under the wrapping paper or behind the fruitcake? In the busyness of the season, all of us can at times lose sight of Jesus. The season of Advent offers us a time of expectancy, anticipation, of waiting for the arrival of Jesus. Over the next four weeks, we will make the time together each Sunday to find Jesus again in the gifts God offers at Christmas.

Text: Isaiah 9:1-2 & 6-7
Title: Gifts of Christmas: Expectancy
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Does it ever feel like Jesus gets lost in the Christmas shuffle? Hidden somewhere under the wrapping paper or behind the fruitcake? In the busyness of the season, all of us can at times lose sight of Jesus. The season of Advent offers us a time of expectancy, anticipation, of waiting for the arrival of Jesus. Over the next four weeks, we will make the time together each Sunday to find Jesus again in the gifts God offers at Christmas.

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