Christ Church Evangelical Covenant

Places Everyone (Pastor Vann Trapp)

The greatest and best influence on humankind over the course of our history has been, without a doubt, Jesus Christ. The way He rebuked injustice. The way He modeled kindness. The way He invited us into relationship with Him. What would be better than to see that influence continue to impact our lives and the structures of our world? That is the primary goal of the Holy Spirit; continue the work of Jesus… through us. So, if we want to understand the purpose of the gifts that the Spirit has given, we simply need to look at the purpose of the life of Jesus.

Moments and Movements, Seasons and Streams (Pastor Vann Trapp)

What does it mean to be gifted by the Spirit of God? Does it change situation by situation? Or is it always the effect in the same way? Are we limited to one or two expressions of grace and the Spirit working in and through us? And can we grow in our how effective we are in using the gift God has given us? All good questions. All things we need to understand as we learn to walk with the Spirit in the transforming power of Jesus that He works through us. But that is the most important thing we need to remember: these gifts are not about us; they’re about Jesus.

Many Gifts, Many Lists (Pastor Vann Trapp)

We can think of God’s gifts to us in many ways. He gave us this world of beauty to live in and enjoy. He gave us our abilities and personalities when He formed us in our mother’s womb. He gave us Jesus to pay a debt we couldn’t pay and reconcile us to Himself. He gave us His Holy Spirit to empower us to live a holy life. But the Bible also tells us that God has gifted each of us with a unique expression of His grace in this world. People call them ministries or spiritual gifts, but the Bible calls them “charismata,” bits of grace. And when we come together as God’s people and gather all these bits of grace together in one place, people can begin to see the full picture of who God is. They begin to see Jesus in us together. That’s the multifaceted grace of God.

A Hope Revealed (Pastor Vann Trapp)

Pastor Vann's sermon "Hope Revealed" focuses on the transformative power of encountering the resurrection of Jesus, comparing it to blowing our minds with new discoveries that challenge our worldview. The disciples' struggle to comprehend Jesus' resurrection highlights the profound impact of this event in reshaping their lives. Jesus' resurrection sets him apart and proves the validity of his teachings, offering hope in the face of life's hardships. The sermon concludes with a call to celebrate new life in Christ through baptism and encourages believers to support one another in embracing the truth of Jesus' resurrection.

A Hope Obscured (Pastor Vann Trapp)

Sometimes, we just need a distraction. Our situation is overwhelming, or the challenges are relentless, and we just need a break. But in taking our eyes off the circumstances, are we also missing the work that God is doing in the midst of our struggle? Because He is there. And He is good. The story of Palm Sunday is not just about how to put on a good parade. It is a reminder to keep our eyes on our God at all times, good and bad, because He is where our hope is found.

What's In Your Name? (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)

The sermon "What's in Your Name?" by Pastor Cheryl discusses the importance of names in shaping our identities. She uses the story of Abram and Sarai's name changes to demonstrate how God transforms and revitalizes individuals. Pastor Cheryl connects biblical instances of name changes to emphasize the impact of embracing new identities given by Jesus. The congregation is encouraged to release old labels, embrace new names, and live authentically in their identities with God's transformative power.

Digging Deeper (Pastor Cheryl Lavornia)

Let's face it, we want it quick. We want a faith that's quick and easy. We want a God who is also quick to respond and makes it super easy for us to know His will and His ways. Somehow, God both allows for this tendency AND transforms this tendency as we grow in our faith. Faith is something that takes time. It takes both jumping in and sitting back. It takes running fast and crawling forward in obedience. This is the tension of God's call on our lives. What if God allows this tension for a reason?

Helping God Out (Pastor Vann Trapp)

Sometimes when God’s Spirit is nudging us to get involved in a project, or when we bring Him a request in prayer, we immediately begin to think about how we might accomplish the thing He or we want done. The problem is that God usually has a solution to our problem or a path to get something done that we can’t even think of. And most often, our plan won’t work would only make a mess of what God is trying to do. God doesn’t ask us to “help Him out.” He asks us to trust Him. Let’s talk about it this Sunday.

Playing It Safe (Pastor Vann Trapp)

There are times when we sense God calling us… maybe into a location for ministry, or with a group of people that He has made us aware of. But it feels uncomfortable, even unsafe. So, we move to a different place, or into a different group with which we are more comfortable, and ask God to use us there instead. The problem is that going where God has not called can often cause as many problems as not going at all. Learning to live a life of faith is learning that the best place to be is where God is and where He calls us, not the place that looks the easiest for us.

Stacking the Deck (Pastor Vann Trapp)

There are times when we sense God calling us. It may be into an area of ministry or to meet a need that He has made us aware of. But when that happens, how often do we feel inadequate? So, we gather people around us who we think can help us. But God hasn’t always called them to do the work to which He has called us. And sometimes, by pulling them in, we set them up for a really tough time. Part of growing into a life of faith is letting God break the fear of failure and inadequacy in us so that we are content and confident to work with as little or as much as God gives us.