by Derek Fekkes | Apr 19, 2018 | Uncategorized
This past Sunday, we considered what preaching is and why we do it. We believe that the essential task of preaching is to expose God’s word and bring it to bear upon a church. And we believe this because God has ordained to both bring people to saving faith and build...
by Derek Fekkes | Apr 11, 2018 | Uncategorized
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. –1 Corinthians 1:18 Everyone judges. We can’t help it. It doesn’t matter if you’re religious or not, everyone is judging other people and making...
by Derek Fekkes | Mar 6, 2018 | Uncategorized
“What has the power to attract and change people?” If you’ve been part of a church, you’ve probably asked yourself this question at some point. I certainly have. But I am increasingly concerned with the answers we as the church are giving to this question. Not the...
by Derek Fekkes | Feb 14, 2018 | Uncategorized
The beginning of a new calendar year provides a good time to look back and consider what God has done, and also look forward and consider how to live out the calling and meet the opportunities God has given us as a church. God is always working, and He has graciously...
by Derek Fekkes | Jan 31, 2018 | Uncategorized
The biblical passage for this past Sunday’s sermon included the following: “And we devoted them to destruction, as we did to Sihon the king of Heshbon, devoting to destruction every city, men, women, and children.” (Deuteronomy 3:6) The topic of biblical holy war,...
by Derek Fekkes | Dec 13, 2017 | Uncategorized
This past week’s sermon was largely on the topic of God’s wrath and judgment. These are difficult topics. They are difficult doctrines to grasp, both emotionally and intellectually. And that’s okay. It’s no surprise that when sinful, finite human beings try to...
by Derek Fekkes | Nov 15, 2017 | Uncategorized
The gospel is a very simple message: “God saves sinners” (as J.I. Packer puts it). And in one sense, our response to the gospel is also a very simple thing: confess your sins and your need for a Savior and embrace Jesus as your sufficient Savior. This isn’t...
by Derek Fekkes | Nov 1, 2017 | Uncategorized
In preparation for a recent sermon, I did some reading up on the self-care movement. As with many movements, there is good and there is bad. To that end, I thought I’d take some of the advice or sayings of this movement and hold them up to the light of biblical truth....
by Derek Fekkes | Sep 19, 2017 | Uncategorized
In yesterday’s sermon, we spent some time talking about “the problem of evil.” If God is really good and sovereign over all that goes on in this world (as the Bible repeatedly tells us He is), why is there so much evil, pain, and suffering in the world? This is...
by Derek Fekkes | Sep 6, 2017 | Uncategorized
This Sunday Roots Church officially launches. All are welcome to join us at 5 p.m. at Stanwood United Methodist Church. Afterwards, we will celebrate with lasagna, bread, salad, and dessert (provided by Roots). If you plan on coming, could you let me (Derek) know so...
