Powell Butte Christian Church

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) FOUNDATIONS - WEEK 9 - ETERNAL LIFE, PART 1

It’s been said that an essential key in life... is the wisdom to navigate life WITH THE END IN MIND. IOW, when we understand what we want our life to lead to, we are able to form a life that is consistent with that end. So it’s vital that as a believer you bear in mind WHERE are you headed? What is the end aim for your life? Is there an aim - or are you just shooting your arrows at trees and then going up and painting the target on the tree where the arrow hit? Where are WE going? What is t...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) SUBSERIES: FOUNDATIONS - WEEK 8 - LAYING ON OF HANDS, PART 4

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) SUBSERIES: FOUNDATIONS - WEEK 7 - LAYING ON OF HANDS, THE HOLY SPIRIT - ATTENTIVE , PART 3

Easter Sunday 2024 - History's Greatest Grand Opening

70% of Americans (or right around that number) believe that Jesus rose from the dead. But the reason there isn’t a spiritual awakening in this country is that what was ALSO determined from research was that for a good majority of those people who believe Jesus rose from the dead, those who acknowledge the truth of Easter, they don’t see how it makes any kind of difference to their lives. And so, they do not live resurrected lives. They remain dead in their sins; their faith in Jesus’ resurr...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) SUBSERIES: FOUNDATIONS - WEEK 6 - LAYING ON OF HANDS, THE HOLY SPIRIT, PART 2

 I hope you’re ready today for a doozy!  There is a skyscraper in Chicago known as Willis Tower. And one of the features of the tower is a glass sightseeing box extending from the 103rd floor. It attracts 1.5 million visitors each year.  Pretty trippy, if you ask me. BUT, what’s even scarier is that back in 2019, the protective layer covering the glass floor of the Skydeck shattered into millions of pieces. No one knows really why - but it just shattered. Apparently it happened when a woman...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) SUBSERIES: FOUNDATIONS - WEEK 5 - LAYING ON OF HANDS, THE HOLY SPIRIT, PART 1

For a variety of reasons, I am excited about this message. Have you ever said this: I can hardly wait to get my hands on that person!  I’m pretty sure that’s NOT what the Bible means when it speaks of this “laying on of hands.” But I also am pretty sure that this is one of those really confusing ideas we read in Scripture and don’t automatically understand what it’s talking about. I mean - on one hand, you have pentecostal preachers out there (some on tv) who claim to have the gift of heal...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) SUBSERIES: FOUNDATIONS - WEEK 4 - BAPTISM

This morning I want to talk to you about Baptism. Baptism is one of those things we talk about here at PBCC - but I don’t remember the last time we had a study on the basics of baptisms. This is one of those issues that was clearly important to the early Church. In the New Testament book of Acts, for instance, it might surprise you to see that there are absolutely NO unbaptized believers. Baptism is brought up time and time again by the writers of the New Testament, beginning with the gospel...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) SUBSERIES: FOUNDATIONS - WEEK 3 - FAITH PART 2

I want to start this morning with a question. Does your faith have any value at all? In other words,  once you come to faith in Jesus, does that mean anything? Once I become a follower of Jesus, should there be anything different about what I do with my life? Should there be a different focus for the way I live than what I had before I confessed my faith? FAITH in Jesus can not just be something to acknowledge. FAITH should have a profound effect on our lives. This is at the heart of Hebre...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) SUBSERIES: FOUNDATIONS - WEEK 2 - FAITH PART 1

This past week I was doing a lot of thinking and meditation and discussing with other people about the concept of faith. You know, even if you claim to be a person without faith, the fact remains that you have faith in SOMETHING. And you can have 100% of faith in something.   Don’t believe me? People do it everyday when they get on an airplane…this multi-ton metal tube that hurtles through the air at an insane speed. And it comes to land on three points of rubber… don’t tell me you don’t hav...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) SUBSERIES: FOUNDATIONS - WEEK 1 - REPENTANCE

I want to begin by mentioning an important event that will happen this week for many, many churches around the world. Now, in our tradition, in the Restoration Church, where we don’t follow many of the High Church events on the Church calendar (i.e., Epiphany, All Saints’ Day, etc.), we haven’t ever really focused on this event - much less ever really mentioned it; BUT it is a day that has been held as sacred for many Christians over the past centuries. The day is Ash Wednesday - a commemor...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) WEEK 12 - MILK, MEAT, & MOVING AHEAD

When people don’t mature like they should, we recognize that there is something wrong with that. What’s even worse is when people experience a real psychological phenomenon called Personality Regression. Personality regression is a mental state in which one suddenly adopts an identical or similar personality, thought structure, mannerisms and behaviors to that of their past self from a younger age. During this state, the person will often believe that they are literally a child again and be...

ADVENT 2023 - WEEK 4 - THE KING OF KINGS

What makes a King? Is it merely the title? Some people operate like that. Not great leaders. What makes a King is the power he has AND HOW HE USES THAT POWER… Today’s culture - LOTS of politicized things. Driving a wedge between people, where there doesn’t seem to be much middle ground. There’s an explanation - and it has a lot to do with the kind of leaders we have in power… Today as we approach the Christmas story, we will take a look at power and how things haven’t really changed much i...

ADVENT 2023 - WEEK 3 - THE LORD OF LORDS

Today I want to talk about words. Words are powerful ways to communicate ideas. And some words are beautiful. Majesty. Creation. Life. Forgiveness. Home’s a good word . Some of you have confirmed that word for me in the last few weeks. There are some beautiful words. There are also words that make us a little uncomfortable, aren’t there? Tests. Moist. Submission. Obedience. LORDSHIP. Start using these terms with people and they tend to bristle… or not even truly understand what you’re tal...

ADVENT 2023 - WEEK 2 - THE LAMB OF GOD

 Last week we closed by looking at a passage in Revelation - Revelation chapter 5, where we read about how the Lion of the tribe of Judah had the strength to open the seals of the scroll of eternal life. This was the Lion of Judah prophesied in Genesis 49 by the patriarch Jacob as he was blessing his sons on his deathbed. And I told you that we would be continuing to look at that passage this week. So, let’s finish up the thought there in Revelation 5. The Lion of Judah had the strength - ...

ADVENT 2023 - WEEK 1 - THE LION OF JUDAH

Many of you know that I am involved in the theater scene in Bend.  One famous playwright that I have never done a play by - nor really even have the desire to do so - is a Russian playwright named Anton Chekov. He is famous for plays like Uncle Vanya and Three Sisters. But he is also famous in the theater world for a literary device known as Chekov’s Gun. In a nutshell he was saying that it was important for the playwright to strip everything down to the bare essentials - get rid of anythin...

ADVENT 2023 - WEEK 1 - LION OF JUDAH

Many of you know that I am involved in the theater scene in Bend.  One famous playwright that I have never done a play by - nor really even have the desire to do so - is a Russian playwright named Anton Chekov. He is famous for plays like Uncle Vanya and Three Sisters. But he is also famous in the theater world for a literary device known as Chekov’s Gun. In a nutshell he was saying that it was important for the playwright to strip everything down to the bare essentials - get rid of anythin...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) WEEK 09 - GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN

Ever have a job where you feel like the conveyor belt just gets faster and faster and you can’t keep up with the demands? Ever feel like that when it comes to other areas of life? Like maybe your religious experience, where the rules just keep coming at you, and you feel overwhelmed by all the things you THINK you have to do to please God? This morning I hope to clear the air of what God has called you and I as believers into - the kind of relationship that benefits us and pleases Him. And ...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) WEEK 08 - THE MESS AT MASSAH

Question Authority. Ever hear that? It was a mantra  of the peaceniks of the 1960s. Free love; peace, love, and dope. Oddly enough - now those people are now in Authority, and how they’ve changed their tune: Don’t Question Us. We know what we’re doing. But back in the day, rebellion against authority was turned into almost an art form! You can’t tell me what to do. My opinion is right - and you can’t convince me otherwise. Well what was fashionable in 60’s counter-culture society, if it’s ...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) WEEK 07 - TRADITIONS THAT BIND AND BLIND

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) WEEK 06 - DARING TO BE DIFFERENT

Today, really is going to be about just one verse - and, really, mainly only one word. It’s a powerful word - but one that I think we don’t fully understand in many Christian circles. I think it would benefit us greatly to take this time before we barrel ahead in the Book of Hebrews to makes sure we get what the NT authors meant when they use this particular word. So here’s the verse:  HEBREWS 3:1 “Therefore holy brothers you who share in the heavenly calling, consider Jesus the apostle an...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) WEEK 05 - THE PERFECT MAN FOR THE PERFECT PLAN

Before we get to our text today (and I geek out again), I want to lay some groundwork as we proceed with our study of an ancient Hebraic document - the New Testament Letter to the Hebrews. Hebrews, remember, is a different kind of animal. It’s rabbinical in nature - with concepts taking the forefront, rather than systematic logic. It’s challenging - especially for modern thinkers. We like to figure things out nice and easy. This means this, that means that, etc. But the ancient Middle Eas...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) WEEK 04 - DANGEROUS DRIFT

 For those of you who are joining us for the first time - or the first time in a while - let me quickly give you a synopsis of the study we have undertaken in the NT Book of Hebrews… What the Book of Hebrews is, is a letter written to Hebrew converts to Christianity in the First Century. And the REASON the letter was sent as an encouragement for these converts to stick with their new-found faith. Persecution had arisen, things were getting difficult for Christians. Add to that the fear that...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) WEEK 03 - SON VS. SERVANTS

The man of God, Moses, has led a host of Israelites to the foot of Mount Sinai. Jehovah, the God that rescued them from bondage in Egypt called Moses up onto the mountain to receive His Law for His people. We speak of awesome things - nothing was more awesome than the sight of a mountain, terrible, smoking and fiery. Thunder pealed from the clouds that enveloped the top of the mountain and a strict warning was given: the God who had come down to this mountain was so holy that if even an ani...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) WEEK 02 - OH WHAT A SAVIOR

What have the Romans ever given us? What have they ever done for us? When I read the first three verses of Hebrews 1, this is what I think of. We live in a post-christian world. No longer do people recognize one absolute truth. Here’s the danger for believers today — unless we fully understand WHO Jesus is and the benefits he brings, we could easily be swayed to accept other ways to be made right with God. That’s the issue with these First Century Hebrew converts to Christianity. They did...

GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) WEEK 01 - THE GOD WHO SPEAKS

KOINONIA: WHY LIFEGROUPS, WEEK 2

I don’t know about you but there are some things I’d LIKE to change. There are sins, habits, hang-ups that exist that keep me from walking closer to Jesus. I KNOW I’m supposed to deal with these things - but I’ve tried…and I’ve failed…and sometimes I don’t WANT to change - though I know I’m supposed to… And the things I know I’m supposed to do, I DON’T do - and some of the things I’m NOT supposed to do, I end up doing. Who’s gonna help me?? BTW, in case you think I shouldn’t be your pastor...

DEVOTION NOT DIVISION: WHY LIFEGROUPS, WEEK 1

The Music Man… a con artist selling a boys band in River City, IA. Problem - he didn’t know music at all. Used a con called “the THINK system.” There was no practice; he just told the boys to THINK the Minuet in G (la de da de da de da de da…). And when they all came together, it was obvious they had no clue what they were doing! What happens when you don’t put things into practice - what happens when things stay mere theory - when you approach reality with something as bogus as the THINK ...

The Gospel in Three Gardens

The God Who Provides

Elder Larry Andrews

Birth of Isaac

Youth Pastor Ethan Waud

Covenants and Signs

Elder Steve Pitman

God is Enough

Associate Pastor Brian Hall

ABRAHAM WEEK 2 - HELP MY UNBELIEF

Mark 9 captures a story of a man who had a son possessed by a demon.. When the boy was brought to Jesus the spirit threw him to the ground and he began foaming at the mouth. And the father says to Jesus: (Mark 9:23-24) “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us! And Jesus said to him, ‘If You can? All things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief.” What a statement. An acknowledgement, really, of the esse...

PSALMS SERIES: WEEK 11 - PSALM 150 - HALLELUJAH!

Some discoveries as a child… Mom and Dad have lives outside of my life (even a romantic life! - shiver!!) Certain mythical creatures are indeed mythical Boys and girls are different Where our burger really comes from The Submarines at Disneyland don’t really dive The answers are in the back of the book! Once they knew that WE knew, that’s when they assigned just the ODD numbers! Grrr. The Bible is like that. A lot of the preliminary stuff - things you read in the OT, they have their ...

PSALMS SERIES: WEEK 10 - PSALM 84 - THE VALLEY OF BACA

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that we don’t want to be in - situations we would never CHOOSE to be in. I remember in my 20’s, after a lifetime (albeit a SHORT lifetime) of wanting desperately to find someone to love and to be married to, I remember being hopelessly single. I’ve known couples who have tried and tried to conceive, desperately wanting a family, but to no avail. I know of people, even here in this congregation, who live in constant pain - literal pain - who would giv...

PSALMS SERIES: WEEK 09 - PSALM 95 - WHOLE-HEARTED OR HARD-HEARTED?

This morning will be different from other Sundays - and that’s okay. It’s good to be jarred from the routine from time to time in order to catch something that you might have become numb to. And it’s good that we are messing with the order of WORSHIP - because really what I believe would be good for us to wake up to is our attitude towards worship; but not ONLY what is thought of by people when the term WORSHIP comes up in conversation. Whenever a church begins to talk about worship, churc...

PSALMS SERIES: WEEK 08 - PSALM 51 - THE SINNER’S GUIDE TO REPENTANCE

Let me ask a philosophical question: is perfection the main thing God wants of His people? It’s an interesting question, if you think about it. God gave His people the law - so it would seem obvious that God wanted them to be obedient to the law, thereby desire perfection of His people, right? Here’s an issue that arises from that standpoint: and if you are acquainted with the history of God’s people as we read in the Old Testament, you’ll see that there are two distinct patterns that emerg...

PSALMS SERIES: WEEK 07 - PSALM 62 - WAITING IN SILENCE

This morning, I'm going to talk to you about the theme of silence. What is the place that silence has in our lives and in a special way in our praying to God? Eugene Peterson once wrote that: “Language consists in equal parts of speaking and silence.” Equal parts…that’s significant. What does this mean then about prayer? If prayer is our language, our communication with God, then according to Peterson’s insight, prayer must include more than just what we say to God. But how often do we act...

PSALMS SERIES: WEEK 06 - PSALM 121 - ONWARD AND UPWARD

Have you ever seen the verse from Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future.”?  You can’t miss it, since we put it on posters and coffee mugs and t-shirts! It’s one of the Christian’s favorite Bible verses because it just makes us feel so good about what’s happening in our lives. It’s funny how we often grab hold of verses that SOUND great in one way - but we don’t really see the CONTEXT of t...

PSALMS SERIES: WEEK 05 - PSALM 61 - HIGHER THAN I

When I was growing up, back in 1978, my family moved to a home in South San Jose. Our family was growing with the impending birth of my little sister, and so we found a larger home that we would stay in until I graduated from college. It was a nice home, good neighborhood, some good friends. But for the first time in my life we lived by a pyracantha bush.  This bush was characterized by very small red berries. And thorns. And their dense thorny structure makes them particularly good in situ...

PSALMS SERIES: WEEK 04 - PSALM 23 - “THE GOOD SHEPHERD”

There are some memorable numbers. 1492, December 7, 1941, Y2K, 9-11.  9-11 is a number we won’t soon forget. But so is 23 - as in the 23rd Psalm. Most everyone has heard of Psalm 23. It’s been called the sweetest song ever sung. Abraham Lincoln read it when battling depression, we read it during memorial services, President Bush chose to quote part of it when bringing comfort and direction to a nation reeling from an unprecedented terrorist attack. It’s one of the most familiar portions o...

PSALMS SERIES: WEEK 03 - PSALM 5 - “PERSUASIVE PRAYER”

Psalm 5 is an interesting psalm to study. The things of this world that the Psalmist brings up in prayer to God have a tendency to “stink” to many people. Injustice - the bad guys win and it doesn’t seem fair - in fact we even sometimes use the phrase “well, that stinks.” And yet as you proceed through the Psalm, as we will do, it becomes clear that there is an attitude and there is a course of action that can change the aroma from something confusing and repellant to something that draws u...

PSALMS SERIES: WEEK 02 - PSALM 136 - “HESED”

I want to talk today about a Hebrew word that adds richness and depth to our faith - and it’s sad that far too many believers have no idea of the word because they don’t read Hebrew. It’s the word “chesed.” This word appears 250 times in the OT. You’d think it's kind of important, right? And what’s intriguing to me is that (talk about getting our attention!) 127 out of those 250 times, over half the time the word appears in the Bible, it’s here in the book of Psalms. Last week I misspoke in...

PSALMS SERIES: WEEK 01 - PSALM 100 “HIS LOVE ENDURES”

Sometimes I think we come into this place and we leave our stories outside. Sometimes I think we come in here and we try to separate ourselves from the things that have distracted us or overpowered us all week. And yet, that’s not being true to what it means to be fully devoted to following Jesus. Yes, there are times when following Jesus makes you feel on top of the world - and you experience a season of blessing, and it’s all good. But those times can make you feel like the times where th...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 51): RESURRECTION PEOPLE

My wife, Jenny, has just a few shows that she records and does not miss. One of these is the show “Survivor,”  a “reality” game show in which people are “marooned” on an island where they compete for a million dollars at the end of the season. It’s now in its 44th season. The show uses an elimination system, where contestants in teams compete in a variety of challenges,  and then are made to vote off other tribe members until only one contestant remains and becomes the "Sole Survivor." Why ...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 50): MISSION DRIFT: LOSING YOUR FOCUS

A book called Mission Drift  explores why organizations such as Harvard University or the YMCA that BEGAN as Christian organizations eventually wind up “drifting” from their original goal and even landing in direct opposition to the mission of Jesus.  The authors believe that, without making intentional choices, faith-based organizations can easily drift from their founding mission, never to return to their roots. But, you know, Harvard and YMCA didn’t drift off course overnight - the drift...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 49): BECAUSE HE LIVES

To be honest, as I was trying to put together the message for today, it hit me how mundane, how routine, this story may be to some. For preachers, it’s hard to find a new angle, or an exciting new way to tell the story of the resurrection. I spoke with my dad, who is also preaching an Easter message today, and he confirmed how difficult it can be at times to go from the Yawn to the Yahoo!, or - as I put it, from the Yada Yada Yada to the Yaba Daba Doo! If you think through some of the great...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 48): GOD’S LOVE LETTER

Last week I mentioned the most unfair, illegal trial you could ever imagine. And if you’re like me, when you begin to read what’s happening at this point of the story of Jesus’ life and ministry, you think, “This ain’t fair. This REALLY stinks!" In the movies we are accustomed to the guys in the black hats getting what’s coming to them, right? The guy in the white hat - the hero - we’re used to HIM winning. Movies typically wrap things up nicely and justice is served and you feel good about...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 47): THE FULL COURT PRESS

March Madness. A defensive play in basketball - the Full Court Press. Things get tight, lots of intensity. A good chance of giving up possession and letting the other team score. This morning we will look at a place where you could say that Jesus was facing a full court press. It all happens in a place called the Garden of Gethsemane. This Garden of Gethsemane is significant to those who follow Jesus because it is here where the final battle was fought for our very souls. It is here that th...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 46): YOUR TABLE IS READY. COME THIS WAY

On Thursday of the final week of Jesus’ life, he and His disciples would share a special meal together. This meal was special because it celebrated the Jewish feast known as Passover. It was a very special time for the Jews - a time of remembrance, a time of celebration. It was a meal the disciples had celebrated with Jesus before - but this time it would be different.  There has been a suggestion that Jesus didn’t specify publicly where the meal was to take place because he didn’t want dis...