Christ Church Evangelical Covenant

Including the Kitchen Sink (Pastor Vann Trapp)

Even the everyday details of our lives should remind us of the grace God has shown us. For the prodigal son, every time he looked down and saw the shoes on his feet, he remembered what his father had done; every time he had a meal (whether it was a party or not), he remembered what his father had done; every time he did business in his father’s name, he remembered what his father had done. The reality is that those things in our lives that do not have “God stories” and “grace stories" attached to them tend to become idols that draw us away from God rather than toward Him.

Home Economics (Pastor Vann Trapp)

God’s grace doesn’t always make sense to us; especially when we have to apply it in our own circumstances. One of the places we see this most clearly is when it comes to forgiveness. Sure the father forgave the prodigal son. But how are we supposed to keep forgiving people without just simply being taken advantage of? How can we keep forgiving people for the same thing without simply becoming enablers of their bad behavior… which is only going to hurt them over the long run? What does it even mean to forgive someone seven times, let alone seventy times seven times? And how does this help move forward what God is trying to do in this world and in our lives?

The Best Seat in the House (Pastor Vann Trapp)

God’s grace is always over the top. It starts before we even turn to Him. The love He shows while we are still at odds with Him is what gets our attention, and His abundant kindness leads us to turn our hearts back to Him. But then, it just keeps coming. Once we do come home, when we have nothing to offer Him, He gives us the best robe, the ring of His authority, shoes of freedom, the name as His child, and the prized calf to celebrate with. God’s grace is over the top. It’s hard to believe sometimes. But it is where we live now.

A House with Character (Pastor Vann Trapp)

When we come to our senses, we know we need a plan. But when we come to the Father, we realize that His plan is so much better. What is it about our God, His person, His character, that shatters our fears, our doubts, even our best plans?

Jesus and Rembrandt Bring it Home (Lyle Mook)

The Prodigal Son parable of Luke chapter 15 could more fully be titled, “The Compassionate Father and His Two Lost Sons.” I have had the joy over the years of pointing people of all ages — disciples, seekers, and skeptics to Jesus in this parable, often with the aid of Rembrandt's last painting. Sunday, we will listen deeply to Jesus — as He shows us God’s heart and poses questions that can bring us closer to “home” and to the heart of the Father.

Homesick (Pastor Vann Trapp)

Gravity. As far as the history books go, it was “discovered” around 1665. But I’m pretty sure everyone knew about it before then. Gravity is what makes apples fall to the ground, what keeps planets orbiting our sun, and what holds our galaxy together. But there are other kinds of gravity in our lives as well. There is the gravity that pulls us to be with people we love. There is the gravity that pulls us toward activities we enjoy. And there is a gravity that pulls us toward God… even when we are trying hard to get free of Him. What is that gravity?

House Fires (Pastor Vann Trapp)

Have you ever experienced the warmth and love in a family home or felt the serene atmosphere in a particular house? God's house is meant to leave a lasting impression too. What is God's heart for his house, for his church, for his people?

Can’t Leave Home Without It (Pastor Vann Trapp)

What is the one thing you’d never leave at home when you go out? Or what is the one thing that you would absolutely turn around to go back and get if you realized you had left it somewhere? These things speak to what we value! In the two stories at the beginning of Luke 15, Jesus talks about how God seeks after what He loves (us!). But how does God respond when we’re the ones who choose to become ‘lost’?

On the House (Pastor Vann Trapp)

The story of the prodigal son, at first glance, is a story of a wayward son who returns home to the loving graces of a good Father. On second look, though, we see that there's much more to this story. Beyond the younger son's share of the inheritance, what did it cost the family for the son to leave? And what did it cost for him to return?

Vision (Pastor Vann Trapp)

What does it mean to have faith? God says that without faith, it is impossible to please Him. But, how do we keep ourselves focused on what is important to Him? As we choose to align ourselves to Jesus, what might he be calling us to leave behind?