Christ Church Evangelical Covenant

The Father’s Forgiveness

In today’s sermon, we are invited to lean into Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness — “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Borrowing from the prodigal son, we explores how God’s forgiveness is enacted, how we move from recognition to release, and how letting go can free us to invest in the Kingdom here and now.

The Father’s Provision

Pastor Cheryl invites us into the idea of daily bread as more than a meal request. In part three of Becoming the Kind of People who Live the Prayer, she helps us ask: how does provision shape who we become? Drawing on Matthew 6:11 and Exodus 16:4–5, the message explores trusting God for today’s needs, how fear can creep in, and how a communal posture can redefine generosity for neighbor near and far.

The Father’s Kingdom - ”WE ARE BOLD TO SAY...!”

Pastor Emeritus Lyle Mook shares as we continue our series on the Lord's Prayer, guiding us through the lines that long for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done. Grounded in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-4, with haiku-inspired reflections, we are reminded that prayer is more than words—it's a necessary breath, a pattern for formation, and a shared vocation. How might our prayers become a doorway to transformed living?

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.