James, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

In James 1:2-4 James addresses the posture of our hearts during trial. He says to,”count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds”. We can be comforted knowing we are not saved or made right with God by how we handle trouble, rather, trials have a way of helping us move from an abstract view of God to an encounter with Him. Trials are God's way forward in our lives. As our faith is tested and given the chance to grow we have a choice in how we experience our trials. They can either soften us or harden us. We choose if our highest good is that we become comfortable and have a life that works, or to become spiritually great in Jesus.

James, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

This morning we are beginning a new series through the short, fast-paced and immensely practical New Testament letter of James. It is filled with vivid exhortations, colorful metaphors and strong admonitions to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (1:22) His purpose is not merely to give us new information, nor leave us in the theological clouds, but to urge us to build a certain kind of life – a life in which Jesus’ people actually apply what they say they believe. He leaves no room for pretend Christianity or empty ritual. The question that faces us all is: What kind of life am I building?

Lamentations, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Today, in Lamentations 5, we have a prayer of the people of Jerusalem reaching out to God for help and hope amidst the dark times they found themselves in. Even though this is an ancient book, it is deeply relevant because nothing transcends time like pain, heartache and disappointment. Today, whether you’re stuck in darkness or trying to help someone through theirs, we get help on how to walk in the dark with hope.

Lamentations, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Lamentations chapter 4 continues the accounting of the raw and painful aftermath of the destruction and exile of Jerusalem. The grief expressed in this book speaks to our deepest needs in a powerful way. As we look at common questions raised when humans experience suffering, we can take comfort in who God has declared himself to be. He is holy, and as such has a just and measured wrath against against sin. He is working all things, even suffering, together for our good, will walk through our suffering with us, and will do what he must to root out our destructive self-dependence. God's wrath helps us forgive, knowing that He will execute perfect justice. And, God's wrath helps us grasp how much Christ loved us through His costly, wrath bearing sacrifice.

Lamentations, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Today we will move into Lamentations 3, the third poem of Lamentations. This chapter is utterly unique among the rest of the book. Why? There’s actually a glimmer of hope amidst the carnage of a destroyed city. This section offers us some serious help in how to face suffering, difficulty, disappointment and heartache – with hope.

Lamentations, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Lamentations chapter 2 focuses on the sovereign calamity that was the destruction of Jerusalem. This sobering and humbling poem reminds us of our great need for a great savior. It is clear throughout the book that God has sovereignly used Babylon to discipline His wayward people of Israel. This brings to the forefront several questions of God's nature and what we believe about Him, specifically concerning His sovereignty and wrath towards sin. We have a holy, incomparable, incomprehensible God who is sovereign over all life. History and future belongs to His good, right, and just will. Because of His holy and eternal nature, God has a settled, measured wrath against sin that carries eternal weight. We see through God's discipline that He is after our hearts at whatever cost, and ultimately sent Jesus to deliver us from the wrath we deserve.

Lamentations, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Today we are beginning a new study through Lamentations that will take us through the next five weeks leading up to Good Friday. In this sermon we will cover Lamentations 1:1-22. Lamentations chronicles the painful aftermath of the destruction and exile of Jerusalem in 587 BC by the Babylonians. As we will see over the course of the next month, this book is still very relevant today. It is raw and real – a bit unnerving – which is why we need it. We need it to wake us up from our 21st century American spiritual slumber and help us get real with God and for God to get real with us.