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...
by Derek Fekkes | Aug 15, 2017 | Uncategorized
This past Sunday’s sermon considered Jesus’ command, “Do not resist an evil person.” The big idea of His teaching here is that the people of God should be the kind of people who refuse personal revenge and retribution, both in their actions and...
by Derek Fekkes | Jul 27, 2017 | Uncategorized
Many voices today, religious or otherwise, push us to see ourselves as basically good people. We are told to believe in ourselves, get rid of any negativity in our lives, and only put ourselves around those who affirm us just as we are. Against this widespread belief,...
