Waukee Community Church

Series: unFaithful

Title: Irrelevant

Scripture: Hosea 6:11-7:15

Preached: 11/15/2009

For me, one of the weightiest verses in the Bible is Hebrews 13:17.  The author of the book of Hebrews describes godly leaders as those who “keep watch over your soul” and those “who must give account [to God].”  Anyone involved in leadership in the church should be haunted by these verses.  In our culture, we’re used to having our leaders fail us.  News of various scandals continually populate the headlines.  We, who view ourselves as part of a democracy, usually demand that our leaders represent us well.  But we’re never surprised when they let us down.  Is there such a thing as a truly faithful leader?

As we continue our series on the book of Hosea, we’re going to look at faithful and unfaithful leaders.  Hosea 7 is going to point us to an idea that may seem shocking and counter-intuitive.  Faithful leaders are irrelevant.  I hope that statement sounds a little funny.  Irrelevant??  In order to see why faithful and irrelevant leaders are essential to God’s plan for the church, well, you’ll just have to come on Sunday…

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Series: unFaithful

Title: Empty Religion

Scripture: Hosea 6:1-10

Preached: 11/8/2009

If you’ve ever followed business trends, you’ve noticed that the concepts of “employee loyalty” and “company loyalty” have drastically changed over the last 30 years.  Not too long ago, it was common to run into people who had worked for the same company for over 40 years.  For their entire career, those employees had been loyal to their company.  They did what was required of them.  They towed the company line.  Thus, the phrase “company man” originated.  A “company man” is someone who says what he’s supposed to say, even when it goes against his beliefs and even his fellow employees.  He says what he knows he’s supposed to say because, in the end, he believes it will serve his own interests best.

Some people think that, when it comes to religion, God is looking for “company men.”  They think He’s looking for people to do what He says regardless of what they think or feel.  In Hosea 6:1-6 we see something very different.  This Sunday, as we continue our series in Hosea, we’re going to see that God wants to shake up religion’s “company line” and radically engage people in a new religious paradigm.

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Series: unFaithful

Title: Knowing God

Scripture: Hosea 4-5

Preached: 11/1/2009

I know my dog.  I know his name is Wrigley.  He like treats.  He hates to go out in the rain.  He has bad breath. I know my acquaintances.  I know their general appearance, and how they carry themselves.  I might even know their names. I know my friends.  I know what they like and dislike.  I know how to make them happy and mad. I know my kids.  I’ve known them in every phase of their lives.  I can predict how they are going to react in any given situation. I know my wife.  I know her best of all.  I know the things she loves, and the things she doesn’t like so much.  

Every relationship I have in life could be defined by how well I know that person.  So, it begs the question: How well do I know God?  For some of us, that’s a scary question.  For some, God seems etherial…aloof…distant.  This Sunday, as we continue our series in Hosea, we are going to look at ways to really know God - in a deep and meaningful way.

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Series: unFaithful

Title: Crazy Love

Scripture: Hosea 3:1-5

Preached: 10/25/2009

Years ago, I used to tell my Sunday School kids that the answer to every Sunday School question was “Jesus.”  And, if the answer wasn’t “Jesus,” it was “God loves me.”  How many times have you heard that phrase?  Sometimes we hear the phrase “God loves you” so much that it’s easy to take God’s love for granted.  Right now, stop!  Take a few seconds and let this fact pour over you: the Almighty God of the Universe loves YOU!  He doesn’t have to, but He does.  And what’s more, He chose to love you even when it cost Him the greatest price imaginable.  He loved you with the life of His son.  Now that is love.

Sunday, as we continue our series in Hosea, we are going to see that God is radically in love with His people.  And, in spite of all our failures, He is in love with you and me!

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Series: unFaithful

Title: Mirror

Scripture: Hosea 2

Preached: 10/18/2009

As a dad, I take great joy in watching my kids grow up.  The other day, I was walking toward the bathroom and I noticed that the door was cracked.  As I glanced through the crack, I saw one of my daughters standing on a stool in front of the sink.  She was examining herself in the mirror.  It cracked me up to watch her look at her face, arms, and legs.  She was pinching, pulling, and contorting her body into the funniest shapes to examine her body.  My first thought was: “Wow, she’s too young to be caring about her body image in this way.”  My second thought: “Wow, I’m getting old.”

We often think such types of examinations aren’t healthy.  But did you know that God thinks they are?  In God’s eyes, the mirror is vitally important tool for those who are seeking to be followers of Jesus Christ.

This Sunday, as we continue in our series on the book of Hosea, we are going to see God’s heart for His people in the present and future, and we’re going to see how God can use a mirror to transform your life.

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Series: unFaithful

Title: What’s in a Name?

Scripture: Hosea 1:1-2:1

Preached: 10/11/2009

How would you feel if you read the following news report: “Billy Graham Re-Marries Prostitute in Vegas!“?  Now that did NOT happen (just so there’s no confusion).  But, imagine if it did.  What would be the reaction of Evangelical Christians around the world?  No doubt, it would be the latest scandal!

That situation is the exact equivalent of what God instructed His prophet Hosea to do.  Hosea, a very godly man, was instructed by the Lord to marry a temple prostitute and to father children with her.  Talk about a scandal!  But God was doing more than just creating a scandal.  He was establishing a living illustration of the unfaithfulness of His people, and the deep love He has for them.

This Sunday, we’re going to continue our series on the book of Hosea by digging into chapter one and seeing what this living illustration means for our lives as followers of Jesus Christ.

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Series: unFaithful

Title: Introduction to Hosea

Scripture: Hosea 11:1-12

Preached: 10/4/2009

I love the Bible.  I love the WHOLE Bible.  I love every part (even the genealogies in the book of Genesis).  But, every so often, I come across a passage that grabs my attention and grabs my heart more than other passages I read.  Such is the case with the book of Hosea.  Hosea was a prophet of God who was told by God to do some very unorthodox things.  They were God’s creative way of getting His message across.  Hosea is a story of love, betrayal, forgiveness, and renewal.  It’s a story of God’s faithfulness and His people’s unfaithfulness.  Hosea is the kind of story that I read and ask: “What would I do if I were in his shoes?”  This weekend, we’re going to start a new series of messages based on this book.  And, it’s my prayer that you’ll be able to put yourself right in Hosea’s sandals as we focus on the love of a faithful God!

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Preached: 9/27/2009

Title: State of the Church Address

This Sunday will mark the fifth time we’ve had an annual meeting.  Now, normally, upon hearing the words “annual” and “meeting,” most people don’t jump up and squeal like a little girl.  Normally, those words don’t generate excitement.  Then again, very few people have ever accused Pastor Dave of being normal.

I get excited when I think about the upcoming annual meeting because, during the service that occurs before, I have a chance to deliver the “State of the Church Address.”  This Sunday, we will have an opportunity to look at three things: 1) Where we’ve been, 2) Where we are, and 3) Where we’re going.  I relish every chance to remember God’s faithfulness and to ask the Holy Spirit to challenge us for the future.

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Preached: 9/27/2009

Speaker: Bill Allison, Cadre Ministries

“Whenever there are people involved, life gets messy.”  Do you find this axiom to be true?  Isn’t there always at least one relationship in your life that is messy?  This Sunday morning, Bill Allison, from Cadre Ministries, will be sharing about “How to Clean Up Messy Relationships.”  If you’ve ever needed some help with messy relationships, this Sunday is for you.  Relationships are especially vital because, here at WCC, we recognize that they are the key to doing effective ministry.

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Pastor Dave’s Ordination Service

Date: 9-13-2009

Seven years ago, I started a process that culminates this Sunday in a celebration.  Ordination in the Evangelical Free Church is a symbol of a pastor’s desire to enter into an accountability relationship with the pastors and leaders of the EFCA, and it’s a chance for the church and the denomination to affirm a pastor’s call to ministry.  For me, all of this is happening in a celebratory service this Sunday at 10 am at Prairieview School.

Cal Swan, our District Superintendant, as well as others from our district will be here for the occasion.  Still, what would be the most meaningful to me would be for you (the WCC Body) to be there to help me celebrate!

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