Christ Church Evangelical Covenant

The Father’s Character

Today, we begin a Lent-inspired journey through Matthew 6:5-13, the Lord’s Prayer. This message invites us into a rhythm of prayer that forms our identities as beloved children, kingdom apprentices, and a forgiven people—far more than a performance to impress. We’ll wrestle with the line, “Our Father in heaven, holy is Your name,” and hear how this single phrase could become a doorway to everyday faith. How might the reality of God’s holiness redraw the way you pray this week? Let’s listen for God’s voice and respond.

The Invitation and the Choice

Two gates, two trees, two houses—yet one King, one invitation. In the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, Steven Byler (introduced by Pastor Cheryl Lavornia) invites us to pause and listen for what Jesus asks of those who say they follow him. Through Matthew 7:13-27, the passage contrasts paths, tests of true fruit, and foundations that endure and those that crumble. How does belief differ from discipleship, and what does it look like to follow Jesus in daily life? This message invites us to consider how we’re forming our lives and our church around his call, and to explore practical steps toward intentional formation this week.

Wisdom in Relationships

Pastor Cheryl Lavornia invites us into the heart of Jesus' teachings on judgment, discernment, and love in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 7:1-12, she teases apart what it means to “not judge” while still discerning wisely, warning against condemnation and the beam-in-the-eye mindset. She explores Jesus' pearls-to-pigs image, the rhythm of asking, seeking, knocking, and the invitation to live out the golden rule from the inside out. How might Jesus’ wisdom reshape the way we relate—in our homes, our church, and our community—as we become more like him?

Wealth & Worry

Ryan Lospaluto leads us through Matthew 6:19-34., where Jesus creates a contrast for the listener between two paths, two masters, two ways the world tries to secure us. As we consider the ways that we think about our hearts, our possessions, and our daily lives, we are invited to pause, reorient, and consider what truly governs our next steps.

Sermon on the Mount: The Fallacy of Force and the Way of Jesus

In the next sermon from our Sermon on the Mount series, Pastor Emeritus Lyle Mook challenges us to consider the root of violence in our world, and the ways that it is always opposite the way of Jesus. Following the thread through the Jesus teachings about anger, retaliation, and loving your enemy, we are reminded that the peacemakers (as opposed to the peacekeepers) that will be called the children of God.

Sermon on the Mount: Adultery and Divorce

When Jesus teaches on sex in the gospels, He is not just teaching about physical attraction or creating a set of rigorous demands. Instead, Jesus invites us to consider sexual habits as a reflection a person's beliefs about the value of others. When our desires remain disordered, the ultimate result can often be acts of evil toward them. Jesus offers an alternative to this pain, though, offering hope instead of condemnation, and a path toward restoration through His gentle, faithful, and true love.

 

Note: this sermon addresses topics related to adultery, divorce, and sex.

Sermon on the Mount: Jesus Fulfills the Law

We're kicking off a new year with a new sermon series focusing on the Sermon on the Mount, the teachings of Jesus found in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. These teachings reflect a fulfillment of God's long plan to rescue his people, and provide a framework for living faithfully as part of God's kingdom. In this kingdom, we are not measured by what we do, but instead by what we become, allowing God to transform our motives and our relationships. Pastor Cheryl invites us to "show up" where God's people and God's presence are found.

Where Would We Be Without Jesus (Ken Bell)

Inviting us to remember much of our Old Testament focus from the fall, Ken Bell invites us to consider the portions of the Bible that would lose their truest meaning were it not for Jesus. In the same vein, we are invited to consider what it means for us to live in the midst of God's ongoing work - and to be active participants in his mission.

God With Us, Here and Now - Christmas Eve (Pastor Cheryl)

As we celebrate Christmas, Pastor Cheryl encourages us to see the contrast in the reward-bases systems of culture and the gracious gift that Jesus Christ offers - himself. In exploring the nativity through the lens of what it redefines for us, we find the way to embody mercy, justice, and sacrificial love in our daily lives.

God on the Move (Ryan Lospaluto)

In modern times, we often have a hard time waiting for the next episode of a show to premiere, or in traffic that's delaying us from getting where we want to go. But, for Israel, as they waited for the messiah, this period of waiting lasted for generations! The people who had heard the promises of God spoken directly from the prophets had long passed away. And yet, the wise men arrived to worship Jesus at his birth having anticipated that God would still deliver on his promises. In this morning's sermon, part of our Advent series, Ryan Lospaluto shares about a vision given to the prophet Ezekiel, inviting us to consider the ways that God remains with us in our waiting.