Zion Reformed Church

Text: Matthew 18:15-20 
Title: Conflict Resolution 101 
Preacher: Kara Lepley 
Are you a human being? Have you experienced conflict somewhere in your life? We all experience conflict: in marriages, at home, with friends. We don't always know how to handle these conflicts. Often by trying to avoid the tension, we make the issue even worse. Or we come at the other person with guns blazing. In Matthew 18, Jesus outlines for us the basics of healthy conflict resolution in the church and in our lives.

Text: Matthew 18:15-20
Title: Conflict Resolution 101
Preacher: Kara Lepley
Are you a human being? Have you experienced conflict somewhere in your life? We all experience conflict: in marriages, at home, with friends. We don't always know how to handle these conflicts. Often by trying to avoid the tension, we make the issue even worse. Or we come at the other person with guns blazing. In Matthew 18, Jesus outlines for us the basics of healthy conflict resolution in the church and in our lives.

Matthew 18:15-20 - Conflict Resolution 101

Text: Matthew 18:10-14 
Title: Leave No One Behind 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
The military has a phrase: Leave no man behind. As we once again join Jesus in Matthew 18:10-14, he reminds us that this is the value of God as well. It is his desire that none of his little ones be left behind or lost. In the story of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaves the 99 on the hillside to find the one lost sheep. He risks his life to bring the wandering back home. This does not mean the 99 do not matter, but simply that God loves those we may often be tempted to write-off. God calls out to those to worldly wise to believe in old tales of Jesus, to the foolish who think they can make it better on their own, the wounded who don't dare trust God, to the doubting who long to believe. As we gather each week, we come as all different sorts of sheep, but we come because the shepherd has rescued us all.

Text: Matthew 18:10-14
Title: Leave No One Behind
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
The military has a phrase: Leave no man behind. As we once again join Jesus in Matthew 18:10-14, he reminds us that this is the value of God as well. It is his desire that none of his little ones be left behind or lost. In the story of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaves the 99 on the hillside to find the one lost sheep. He risks his life to bring the wandering back home. This does not mean the 99 do not matter, but simply that God loves those we may often be tempted to write-off. God calls out to those to worldly wise to believe in old tales of Jesus, to the foolish who think they can make it better on their own, the wounded who don't dare trust God, to the doubting who long to believe. As we gather each week, we come as all different sorts of sheep, but we come because the shepherd has rescued us all.

Matthew 18:0-14 - Leave No One Behind

Text: Matthew 18:1-9 
Title: Like a Child 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
On Wednesdays, children fill our church with laughter, energy, passion, and delight. They live fully in the moment and experience each up and down with an intensity most adults can no longer understand. They trust more fully than grown-ups do with all of our cynicism, doubts, and experience. And, they are also powerless in many ways, dependent on others for food, clothing, and shelter. In our text today, the disciples wonder how to become the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus shows them a child, likely a young girl, and says be like this trusting, but powerless. This is the counter-cultural way of the kingdom, it is through finally acknowledging our great weakness and frailty, our utter dependence on God, that we begin to experience the true joy and life of the kingdom and experience no tour greatness, but the greatness of our God.

Text: Matthew 18:1-9
Title: Like a Child
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
On Wednesdays, children fill our church with laughter, energy, passion, and delight. They live fully in the moment and experience each up and down with an intensity most adults can no longer understand. They trust more fully than grown-ups do with all of our cynicism, doubts, and experience. And, they are also powerless in many ways, dependent on others for food, clothing, and shelter. In our text today, the disciples wonder how to become the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus shows them a child, likely a young girl, and says be like this trusting, but powerless. This is the counter-cultural way of the kingdom, it is through finally acknowledging our great weakness and frailty, our utter dependence on God, that we begin to experience the true joy and life of the kingdom and experience no tour greatness, but the greatness of our God.

Matthew 18:1-9 - Like a Child

Text: Matthew 17:22-27 
Title: You are a Son 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Our world is not perfectly equal. Some people enjoy special privileges because of who their parents are, what they can do on an athletic field, or the school they attended. As followers we too experience a special relationship in our world. In Christ, we have become the very children of God and heirs of his kingdom. While this offers great privileges, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 17:22-27 that these privileges also come with responsibility. Specifically, the responsibility to know when to stand up for truth and when to let minor secondary issues go. In a world obsessed with conflict and perceived slights, we must tread carefully lest we unintentionally put up a stumbling block between a non-believer and the God who loves them.

Text: Matthew 17:22-27
Title: You are a Son
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Our world is not perfectly equal. Some people enjoy special privileges because of who their parents are, what they can do on an athletic field, or the school they attended. As followers we too experience a special relationship in our world. In Christ, we have become the very children of God and heirs of his kingdom. While this offers great privileges, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 17:22-27 that these privileges also come with responsibility. Specifically, the responsibility to know when to stand up for truth and when to let minor secondary issues go. In a world obsessed with conflict and perceived slights, we must tread carefully lest we unintentionally put up a stumbling block between a non-believer and the God who loves them.

Matthew 17:22-27 ~ You are a Son

Text: Matthew 17:14-21 
Title: Start Small 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Jesus again reminds us today that the Kingdom of God is truly the 
upside down kingdom. Everything our world values, God seems to turn on its head. Our world values strength, size, and authority, God values submission, serving, and the small. We remember today that in God's kingdom, faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.

Text: Matthew 17:14-21
Title: Start Small
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Jesus again reminds us today that the Kingdom of God is truly the
upside down kingdom. Everything our world values, God seems to turn on its head. Our world values strength, size, and authority, God values submission, serving, and the small. We remember today that in God's kingdom, faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.

Matthew 17:14-21 - Start Small

Text: Matthew 16:21-28 
Title: From Crashing Gate to Lugging Crosses 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
We are taught be our culture to look out for number 1, have it our way, be all we can be. Over and over advertisers tell us to seek our personal happiness and fulfillment. In order to reach our culture, many Christians have tried to sell Jesus as the one who can make your dreams come true or give you your best life now. But in Matthew 16?21-28, Jesus calls us to a new kind of life. A life focused not on ourselves and our fulfillment. He goes so far as to tell us that we need to lose our current life if we are to ever find the true life he offers. This true life requires submission, suffering, and ultimately the death of our old selves so the new can live.

Text: Matthew 16:21-28
Title: From Crashing Gate to Lugging Crosses
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
We are taught be our culture to look out for number 1, have it our way, be all we can be. Over and over advertisers tell us to seek our personal happiness and fulfillment. In order to reach our culture, many Christians have tried to sell Jesus as the one who can make your dreams come true or give you your best life now. But in Matthew 16?21-28, Jesus calls us to a new kind of life. A life focused not on ourselves and our fulfillment. He goes so far as to tell us that we need to lose our current life if we are to ever find the true life he offers. This true life requires submission, suffering, and ultimately the death of our old selves so the new can live.

Matthew 16:21-28 - From Crashing Gates to Lugging Crosses

Text: Matthew 16:13-20 
Title: Who Are You? 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Others often try to define us. They label us as the good child or the black sheep, as the jock or the geek, as the success or failure, and the list goes on. Reading the book of Matthew, we might look at Peter and label him the hothead, the impulsive one, the denier, but when Peter confesses Jesus as Messiah, Jesus gives him a new name: Rock. In this name, Jesus gives Peter a new identity and a new mission. As we gather at the table this morning, we remember that we come this morning not as our world might label us, but as God has called us: his children. We come with all sorts of histories and family upbringings, but we gather as the renewed family of God.

Text: Matthew 16:13-20
Title: Who Are You?
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Others often try to define us. They label us as the good child or the black sheep, as the jock or the geek, as the success or failure, and the list goes on. Reading the book of Matthew, we might look at Peter and label him the hothead, the impulsive one, the denier, but when Peter confesses Jesus as Messiah, Jesus gives him a new name: Rock. In this name, Jesus gives Peter a new identity and a new mission. As we gather at the table this morning, we remember that we come this morning not as our world might label us, but as God has called us: his children. We come with all sorts of histories and family upbringings, but we gather as the renewed family of God.

Matthew 16:13-20: Who Are You?

Text: Matthew 15:29-39 
Title: A Mission for the World 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
As Jesus feeds the 4,000, Matthew challenges us to see the vast grace of God as he calls all the nations back to him. We think together this week on the role of our story in bringing others to worship God as Theresa Beute, Cassie VanSprange, and Ashley Kooiker share stories of God's power in their lives.

Text: Matthew 15:29-39 Title: A Mission for the World Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower As Jesus feeds the 4000, Matthew challenges ...

Matthew 15:29-39 ~ A Mission for the World

Title: Clean Inside Out 
Text: Matthew 15:1-20 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Early one morning, I grabbed a cup from the dishwasher and poured a nice tall glass of water. As I began to take a drink I glanced into the cup and realized the dishwasher had not been run the night before. The cup was filled with nice clean water mixed with floaties and other refuse from a piece of silverware that must have been put in the cup. No matter how clean the water I put in, the water I poured out would be dirty until the cup was cleaned. In our text for today, Jesus challenges us to seek not only an outward purity, but an inward purity of the heart as well.

Title: Clean Inside Out
Text: Matthew 15:1-20
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Early one morning, I grabbed a cup from the dishwasher and poured a nice tall glass of water. As I began to take a drink I glanced into the cup and realized the dishwasher had not been run the night before. The cup was filled with nice clean water mixed with floaties and other refuse from a piece of silverware that must have been put in the cup. No matter how clean the water I put in, the water I poured out would be dirty until the cup was cleaned. In our text for today, Jesus challenges us to seek not only an outward purity, but an inward purity of the heart as well.

Clean Inside Out - Matthew 15:1-20

Text: Matthew 14:22-35 
Title: Fear Conquered 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Lately, when you turn on the evening news, every story seems to be about terrorists, wars, murders, protests, violence, and abuse. It can feel as if evil has run amok and Satan is having a field day in our world. Some may even begin to wonder if God can do anything about the evil we see. In Matthew 14:22-36, the disciples are caught up in a storm on the Sea of Galilee, while overwhelmed by the forces arrayed against them, Jesus comes walking across the waters to deliver them. Water, a continual symbol of chaos and evil in Jewish writing, has no power over the God who spoke and made the world. No matter the evil we might see or face, we can remember evil has no power over our Savior who walks on water and calms the seas and has defeated even death itself.

Text: Matthew 14:22-35
Title: Fear Conquered
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Lately, when you turn on the evening news, every story seems to be about terrorists, wars, murders, protests, violence, and abuse. It can feel as if evil has run amok and Satan is having a field day in our world. Some may even begin to wonder if God can do anything about the evil we see. In Matthew 14:22-36, the disciples are caught up in a storm on the Sea of Galilee, while overwhelmed by the forces arrayed against them, Jesus comes walking across the waters to deliver them. Water, a continual symbol of chaos and evil in Jewish writing, has no power over the God who spoke and made the world. No matter the evil we might see or face, we can remember evil has no power over our Savior who walks on water and calms the seas and has defeated even death itself.

Matthew 14:22-36

Text: Matthew 14:1-12 
Title: uncompromising 
Preacher: Rev. Rick VanderWall 
John the Baptist had one purpose in life: to announce the coming of a Savior. As people came and listened to him, he never lost sight of his mission. He always pointed beyond himself to the One who would come to save the world. He held fast and firm to the truth. For some, it's just not that black and white anymore. Gray simply works better. Do we, like John remaining uncompromising to the truth or do we choose to blend in and go with the "gray"?

Text: Matthew 14:1-12
Title: uncompromising
Preacher: Rev. Rick VanderWall
John the Baptist had one purpose in life: to announce the coming of a Savior. As people came and listened to him, he never lost sight of his mission. He always pointed beyond himself to the One who would come to save the world. He held fast and firm to the truth. For some, it's just not that black and white anymore. Gray simply works better. Do we, like John remaining uncompromising to the truth or do we choose to blend in and go with the "gray"?

Matthew 14:1-12 - Uncompromising

Text: Matthew 13:53-58 
Title: Who Do You Think You Are? 
Preacher: Rev. Rick VanderWall 
Ever look forward to something and you just can't wait until that time comes? Maybe it is a trip or a special event and just the thought of it brings a smile. Then, for some reason, it is not what you envisioned and disappointment does't even begin to describe your feelings. Jesus, after traveling about and telling all sorts of parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, is ready to go home for awhile. But his reception is less than ideal, especially after he begins to preach. As jesus faces rejection from his family and friends, we consider what we can learn from his example both about our God and the life he calls us to lead.

Text: Matthew 13:53-58
Title: Who Do You Think You Are?
Preacher: Rev. Rick VanderWall
Ever look forward to something and you just can't wait until that time comes? Maybe it is a trip or a special event and just the thought of it brings a smile. Then, for some reason, it is not what you envisioned and disappointment does't even begin to describe your feelings. Jesus, after traveling about and telling all sorts of parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, is ready to go home for awhile. But his reception is less than ideal, especially after he begins to preach. As jesus faces rejection from his family and friends, we consider what we can learn from his example both about our God and the life he calls us to lead.

Matthew 13:53-58 - Who Do You Think You Are?

Text: Matthew 13:31-35 
Title: Small Beginnings 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
We live in a world infatuated by bigger and better. Higher ratings. Bigger cars. Fancier homes. Larger bank accounts. Extravagant gestures and lifestyles. God, however, often works in the small and seemingly inconsequential. Jesus reminds us today that the kingdom of God, the reign of God, often begins with something as small as a tiny seed, but it grows and infiltrates and transforms and eventually makes all things new.

Text: Matthew 13:31-35
Title: Small Beginnings
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
We live in a world infatuated by bigger and better. Higher ratings. Bigger cars. Fancier homes. Larger bank accounts. Extravagant gestures and lifestyles. God, however, often works in the small and seemingly inconsequential. Jesus reminds us today that the kingdom of God, the reign of God, often begins with something as small as a tiny seed, but it grows and infiltrates and transforms and eventually makes all things new.

Matthew 13:31-35 - Small Beginnings

Title: The Patient Farmer 
Text: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
A few weeks ago, many in the Christian community of West Michigan were shocked to hear of the allegations against John Balyo, a popular Christian radio personality. When confronted with the painful reality of sin and abuse in the church, many can be tempted to throw up our hands in despair, get angry with God, or go on a crusade to clean up the corrupt church. Jesus offers another way in his parable of the Weeds and the Wheat as he invites us to be patent and await God's perfect justice.

Title: The Patient Farmer
Text: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
A few weeks ago, many in the Christian community of West Michigan were shocked to hear of the allegations against John Balyo, a popular Christian radio personality. When confronted with the painful reality of sin and abuse in the church, many can be tempted to throw up our hands in despair, get angry with God, or go on a crusade to clean up the corrupt church. Jesus offers another way in his parable of the Weeds and the Wheat as he invites us to be patent and await God's perfect justice. 

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 - The Patient Farmer

Text: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 
Title: The Generous Sower 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Everyone one has a story abut God. Some people tell a story of God as being stingy or controlling. They think God only loves certain kinds of people and makes us earn his love. Jesus tells another story about God. Jesus tells us in Matthew 13 that God is like a sower who casts his seed all over the place in both good and bad soil. He generous spreads the good news of the kingdom of God to those who respond and those who refuse. He gives everyone a chance. We gather to worship today because God has planted his seed in our hearts and now invites us to join him in sharing that seed as it produces a harvest 30, 60, and 100 fold!

Text: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Title: The Generous Sower
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Everyone one has a story abut God. Some people tell a story of God as being stingy or controlling. They think God only loves certain kinds of people and makes us earn his love. Jesus tells another story about God. Jesus tells us in Matthew 13 that God is like a sower who casts his seed all over the place in both good and bad soil. He generous spreads the good news of the kingdom of God to those who respond and those who refuse. He gives everyone a chance. We gather to worship today because God has planted his seed in our hearts and now invites us to join him in sharing that seed as it produces a harvest 30, 60, and 100 fold!

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 - The Generous Sower

Text:: Matthew 12:46-50 
Title: A New Family 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Family matters. We are often told blood is thicker than water. But in Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus chooses his disciples over his own mother. In the process, Jesus challenges us to rethink how our faith changes all of our other relationships. If our identity as disciples is primary, then it changes how we think about international conflicts and issues, because our first concern is not our nation, but our brothers and sisters around the world. If in Christ we have become a family, then there is hope for healing for those whose families of origin were less than ideal. If the church is really a big extended family, then we have even more cause to celebrate and embrace the many different backgrounds an experiences we find in the church. Ultimately, we remember that our place in the family is created by our trust in Christ and demonstrated by our obedience.

Text:: Matthew 12:46-50
Title: A New Family
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Family matters. We are often told blood is thicker than water. But in Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus chooses his disciples over his own mother. In the process, Jesus challenges us to rethink how our faith changes all of our other relationships. If our identity as disciples is primary, then it changes how we think about international conflicts and issues, because our first concern is not our nation, but our brothers and sisters around the world. If in Christ we have become a family, then there is hope for healing for those whose families of origin were less than ideal. If the church is really a big extended family, then we have even more cause to celebrate and embrace the many different backgrounds an experiences we find in the church. Ultimately, we remember that our place in the family is created by our trust in Christ and demonstrated by our obedience. 

Sermon 6-22-2014 - Matthew 12:46-50

Text: Matthew 12:38-45 
Title: Reading Signs 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
The proof is in the pudding. I've got to see it to believe it. As the Pharisees demand yet another sign from Jesus proving his authenticity as the Messiah, Jesus shuts the game down and basically says, wait until the resurrection and then you will see. Sometimes we can come to God waiting for God to prove himself. We will follow if God gets us the right job or fixes our marriage or does this or that for us. We will believe when God can answer all of our questions for us. Often, these conditions are really just a way for us to avoid making a decision about Jesus. They are a way to act open minded while refusing to choose. Jesus calls our bluff today and reminds us again, it all comes down to the resurrection Did Jesus die and rise or not? If he did, he was who he said he was and he rightfully demands our very lives.

Text: Matthew 12:38-45
Title: Reading Signs
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
The proof is in the pudding. I've got to see it to believe it. As the Pharisees demand yet another sign from Jesus proving his authenticity as the Messiah, Jesus shuts the game down and basically says, wait until the resurrection and then you will see. Sometimes we can come to God waiting for God to prove himself. We will follow if God gets us the right job or fixes our marriage or does this or that for us. We will believe when God can answer all of our questions for us. Often, these conditions are really just a way for us to avoid making a decision about Jesus. They are a way to act open minded while refusing to choose. Jesus calls our bluff today and reminds us again, it all comes down to the resurrection Did Jesus die and rise or not? If he did, he was who he said he was and he rightfully demands our very lives.

Matthew 12:38-45 - Reading Signs

Title: Get Off the Fence 
Text: Matthew 12:22-37 
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower 
Some people refuse to make a decision or take a side. They hedge their bets. They play to both sides of an issue. They tale the middle ground and if there is no middle ground, they make some. But there are times in our life when we need to take a stand. When you step into the voting booth, you have to pick one candidate or another. when you stand before family and friends to get married, you must forsake all other options. And, when you see the miracles of Jesus and hear his teaching, eventually you must decide. Is Jesus who he said he was or not? Is he the Messiah or just a good teacher? If he is who he said he was, then you must follow. You cannot sit on the fence, you must decide.

Title: Get Off the Fence
Text: Matthew 12:22-37
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Some people refuse to make a decision or take a side. They hedge their bets. They play to both sides of an issue. They tale the middle ground and if there is no middle ground, they make some. But there are times in our life when we need to take a stand. When you step into the voting booth, you have to pick one candidate or another. when you stand before family and friends to get married, you must forsake all other options. And, when you see the miracles of Jesus and hear his teaching, eventually you must decide. Is Jesus who he said he was or not? Is he the Messiah or just a good teacher? If he is who he said he was, then you must follow. You cannot sit on the fence, you must decide.

Get Off the Fence - Matthew 12:22-37

Text: Matthew 7:13-20 
Title: Choices 
Preacher: Rev. Rick VanderWall

Text: Matthew 7:13-20
Title: Choices
Preacher: Rev. Rick VanderWall

Matthew 7:13-20 - 4-6-2014 Sermon

Text: John 4:31-38 
Title: Sensing, Sowing, and Reaping 
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Doug McClintic

Text: John 4:31-38
Title: Sensing, Sowing, and Reaping
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Doug McClintic

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