by Derek Fekkes | May 7, 2025 | Uncategorized
As a pastor and teacher, I want to not only read books supporting my convictions, but also ones that present opposing viewpoints. I don’t assume whatever theological “camps” or positions I align with get everything right; I know that I am susceptible to reading my own...
by Derek Fekkes | May 5, 2025 | Uncategorized
I recently read a book title Scrolling Ourselves to Death. It is an edited work by a number of Christian authors and thinkers, in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the influential book Amusing Ourselves to Death, by Neil Postman (which was about the affect of...
by Derek Fekkes | Apr 8, 2025 | Uncategorized
In preparation for our upcoming series through the Old Testament book of Genesis, our sermon Sunday responded to the question, “Why read the Old Testament?” In showing that the OT is God’s word (and thus pure as well as powerful and life-giving), I made a couple quick...
by Derek Fekkes | Mar 11, 2025 | Uncategorized
I mentioned in the sermon Sunday that the Bible has much to say about the topic of anger, and that we could spend a lot of time unpacking it. One aspect of the Bible’s teaching on anger that can be very fruitful to consider is the anger of Jesus, and how this relates...
by Derek Fekkes | Feb 18, 2025 | Uncategorized
We have been introducing a “new” hymn, “I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow.” These lyrics were written by John Newton, author of Amazing Grace, in 1779. You may have found yourself a bit taken aback by some of the phrases of this hymn, so I wanted to give a little...
by Derek Fekkes | Feb 12, 2025 | Uncategorized
This past Sunday, we began Ephesians 4, which transitions from the proclamations of God’s grace and glory in chapters 1-3 to the ethical and moral commands for the church of chapters 4-6. It begins: “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner...
by Derek Fekkes | Jan 29, 2025 | Uncategorized
This past week in our Roots 101 class, we discussed the doctrine and beliefs of Roots Church. Part of what we cover in this session are the Doctrines of Grace, aka Calvinism or Reformed Theology. It is always a challenge trying to sufficiently explain these doctrines...
by Derek Fekkes | Jan 9, 2025 | Uncategorized
This past Sunday we jumped into a new section of Ephesians, as Nate preached on Ephesians 2:11-18. This section (which we’ll continue in this coming Sunday) deals with the relations of Jews and non-Jews (known as Gentiles) and how those relations are transformed in...
by Derek Fekkes | Dec 11, 2024 | Uncategorized
John Mark Comer is one of the most widely-read Christian authors currently, if not THE most widely read. While formerly a pastor in Portland, OR, he now seems to be focusing primarily on his writing. I have only read one of his books, Practicing the Way, but this book...
by Derek Fekkes | Oct 30, 2024 | Uncategorized
There is, understandably, lots of conversations about politics happening right now. At work, around the dinner table, at gatherings and parties, online, and in the news. But what about in the church? Should political conversations within the church be any different?...
