Powell Butte Christian Church

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 20) - THE DUDE FROM DEUTERONOMY

Who was your hero growing up? Your dad or mom; a baseball star; a teacher? For the Jewish community, Moses still is a great hero. In fact, you could say that for the Jew, Moses was all of those guys rolled into one. He freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt… He showed God’s power through miracles, providing miraculous food and water in the desolate places, he gave the law, creating the social and religious structure for the nation of Israel. Essentially he gave the Jews their constituti...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 19) - THE MAKING OF A MOVEMENT

Up until the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, we have seen Jesus doing a LOT of things. Just last week we read how Jesus cast out a legion of demons, healed a woman who had been unclean and diseased for twelve years, and raised a little girl from the dead. By now, the disciples have known something significant about Jesus: he has power to do the impossible. The miracles have validated his message in regard to the Kingdom of God being at hand. But up until now - this has been a JESUS thi...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 18) - ALL OUT OF BUBBLEGUM

We’re studying through the Gospel of Luke and today we’re in chapter 8. We have a lot of information to cover today - probably actually three sermons in one. But these three are together for a very specific reason. Three stories in the ministry of Jesus - but just ONE POINT. So this morning, sit back and listen. See if you can figure out what the thread is that ties these three stories together.

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 17) - WHEN I’M SCARED

I’ve got a few things here this morning to show you. First of all, I have a toy boat. This reminds me that we are approaching Summer (starts officially Tuesday). In past summers, when the reservoirs were a little bit fuller, I know people who love to take their boats out there and have a great time. (I even remember a good friend from PBCC who had told me he wasn’t going to be at church - I believe it was last summer - and while we were outside for church, I saw him drive by, towing his boat...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 16) - COMING IN LOUD AND CLEAR

Is it just me, or have you noticed that it's getting harder and harder to hear things correctly? There's lots of noise going on around us. Hard to hear - and to hear correctly. In the book of Revelation, as Jesus sends the various messages to the seven churches, he would end his message with the following: He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Now what does THAT mean? Of course we all have ears. There’s only one guy in scripture we hear of being earless - Malchus, the servant of the chie...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 15) - HOLY BROKEN

We are in Simon’s house. We are in Simon the Pharisee’s house. We are in Simon the Pharisee’s house in Galilee. Implication: the house of a wealthy, prestigious man living in the luscious, green, mountains land of Galilee. This guy is well-off in every aspect in that culture - financially, socially, even religiously. A man who definitely was living the blessed life. A man who seems to have it all together. And Jesus is there, reclining at the table, sitting among the religious elite - the ...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 14) - WHEN WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

We all have formed an image of God, or of another person, or ourselves after certain experiences. Perhaps your image of God was shaped by a particular preacher or book. Your image of yourself was most likely shaped by your peers, your parents, and the media. The image of others certainly is shaped by your interactions with people. I want to look particularly at the image you may have formed about God throughout your life. There’s a reason that Commandment #2 given through Moses forbade any ...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 13) - THE ALTER CALL

If you're new with us we're going through the Gospel of Luke verse by verse and we're in what some call the Sermon on the Plain which essentially is chapter 6 of Luke’s gospel and it all began when Jesus went up on a mountain to pray and he pulled an all-nighter spending time with the Father and then selecting his apostles. He then descended from the mountain to a level place (a plain) and there proceeded to give a sermon to those who were following him. And the sermon - like the Sermon on ...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 13) - THE ALTER CALL

If you're new with us we're going through the Gospel of Luke verse by verse and we're in what some call the Sermon on the Plain which essentially is chapter 6 of Luke’s gospel and it all began when Jesus went up on a mountain to pray and he pulled an all-nighter spending time with the Father and then selecting his apostles. He then descended from the mountain to a level place (a plain) and there proceeded to give a sermon to those who were following him. And the sermon - like the Sermon on ...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 12) - OF PLANKS AND SPECKS

We all make judgments - what is safe, what is healthy, what is true… But often  - the judgments we make are off. Especially when it comes to dealing with people. As humans we are at a bit of a disadvantage because people tend to be mask-wearers. And what we see when we interact with others MAY NOT be who they really are… And this can go two ways, BTW… In one sense, you know as you are relating to people that somewhere deep inside, there is baggage, and that baggage makes communication diff...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 12) - OF PLANKS AND SPECKS

We all make judgments - what is safe, what is healthy, what is true… But often  - the judgments we make are off. Especially when it comes to dealing with people. As humans we are at a bit of a disadvantage because people tend to be mask-wearers. And what we see when we interact with others MAY NOT be who they really are… And this can go two ways, BTW… In one sense, you know as you are relating to people that somewhere deep inside, there is baggage, and that baggage makes communication diff...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 11) - BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING

Mother’s Day - yay! Proverbs 31 woman: her children will rise and call her blessed. Moms are blessed: gift of nourishment, understanding, protection, LOVE. Moms have been blessed:  why? Perfect example of being blessed to be a blessing… Just saw a video of a sermon: moms take what they are given and multiply it: give them a house, they make it a home; give them groceries, they make a meal; give them a blessing, and they turn right around and multiply it and give it back abundantly. So we...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 11) - BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING

Mother’s Day - yay! Proverbs 31 woman: her children will rise and call her blessed. Moms are blessed: gift of nourishment, understanding, protection, LOVE. Moms have been blessed:  why? Perfect example of being blessed to be a blessing… Just saw a video of a sermon: moms take what they are given and multiply it: give them a house, they make it a home; give them groceries, they make a meal; give them a blessing, and they turn right around and multiply it and give it back abundantly. So we...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 10) - YOU KEEP USING THAT WORD…

 I HATE when people don’t understand the word they are using. There are Christians who fall into this trap. They use words that they really have no idea what it truly means… Justification, Sanctification, Elect, GRACE… Today I want to challenge our thinking the way Jesus challenged the religious culture of his day. Last week we saw him challenge the Pharisees on their idea of traditions like fasting, but this week we’ll see that the very next challenge Luke records revolves around something...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 10) - YOU KEEP USING THAT WORD…

 I HATE when people don’t understand the word they are using. There are Christians who fall into this trap. They use words that they really have no idea what it truly means… Justification, Sanctification, Elect, GRACE… Today I want to challenge our thinking the way Jesus challenged the religious culture of his day. Last week we saw him challenge the Pharisees on their idea of traditions like fasting, but this week we’ll see that the very next challenge Luke records revolves around something...

Easter - Dangerous Wonder - Associate Pastor Scott Buchanan

Happy Easter!  He is Risen!  Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Today is the Super Bowl of the Christian faith; we can rest on the promises made by God to us.  You get today, you get Christianity.  If you don’t get today, you don’t get Christianity.  A sign from high school: Three types of people – Make things happen, Watch things happen, Wonder what happened. In any given situation, aren’t we in one of the three categories?  In...

Easter - Dangerous Wonder - Associate Pastor Sign Scott Buchanan

Happy Easter!  He is Risen!  Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Today is the Super Bowl of the Christian faith; we can rest on the promises made by God to us.  You get today, you get Christianity.  If you don’t get today, you don’t get Christianity.  A sign from high school: Three types of people – Make things happen, Watch things happen, Wonder what happened. In any given situation, aren’t we in one of the three categories?  In...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 8) - RESTORATION PROJECT

RESTORATION… Whychus Creek in Sisters - Government spending millions of dollars. First part of the restoration started back in 2016, and now they are starting on a new section called the Rimrock Ranch section. What’s going on? Why are we spending money on a restoration project? Well, because many years ago, WE sanitized it, we made it pretty. We made it flow “better” so that we could have more recreation activities… What’s the problem? That’s not what its purpose is. We are restoring to the ...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 8) - RESTORATION PROJECT

RESTORATION… Whychus Creek in Sisters - Government spending millions of dollars. First part of the restoration started back in 2016, and now they are starting on a new section called the Rimrock Ranch section. What’s going on? Why are we spending money on a restoration project? Well, because many years ago, WE sanitized it, we made it pretty. We made it flow “better” so that we could have more recreation activities… What’s the problem? That’s not what its purpose is. We are restoring to the ...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 7) - DISCIPLESHIP: IN IT FOR LIFE!

Don’t know if you’ve ever thought of this or not, but as disciples you and I have been branded in a sense; marked; called by Jesus to follow Him. And at times the process of branding seems pretty intense. The cinematic series “The Chosen'' does an amazing job at portraying the call of Jesus on the lives of his followers. Among those whom Jesus called to be His disciples was a tax collector (despised by his countrymen), fishermen (tradesmen who did not possess a particularly high level of edu...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 7) - DISCIPLESHIP: IN IT FOR LIFE!

Don’t know if you’ve ever thought of this or not, but as disciples you and I have been branded in a sense; marked; called by Jesus to follow Him. And at times the process of branding seems pretty intense. The cinematic series “The Chosen'' does an amazing job at portraying the call of Jesus on the lives of his followers. Among those whom Jesus called to be His disciples was a tax collector (despised by his countrymen), fishermen (tradesmen who did not possess a particularly high level of edu...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 5) - THE YEAR OF THE LORD’S FAVOR

Debt is nothing new, is it? Most of us, if not all of us, have had to deal with (or ARE dealing with) debt to some degree… Our nation in particular and much of the global community in general are in the midst of dealing with the effects of crippling debt, both corporate and government. There are many reasons for debt: unforeseen circumstances like emergency surgeries or loss of a job, out-of-control spending (often on things to satisfy our desire for immediate gratification) and over-use o...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 4) - PRIVATE PREPARATION

So here’s a question: is there anyone here who has been tempted?  Here’s one of the things you can take to the bank: you will be tempted. It’s part of our humanity, it’s what we inherited in our sinful nature. But you can also bank on the fact that, for those who trust in and follow Jesus, God is in the business of changing us, chipping away at that sinful nature, re-creating us through His Spirit in the image of Jesus. IOW, God accepts you for who you are - but His plan is to not LEAVE yo...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 3) - PUBLIC PREPARATION

 Watching a video of Tony Evans, one of the pastors featured on RightNow Media, a thought came to me about preparing for something important… Imagine…if someone told you that the time has come… Jesus is returning this week...and he is going to start with you. He will come to your place….within days. Would you be concerned about how tidy your place is? Would you make sure that big family Bible is dusted off and sitting on the coffee table? Would there be any rooms you would be embarrassed f...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 2) - PROVISION OF HOPE

Luke 2:8-15 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in...

LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 1) - PEOPLE OF HOPE

We are beginning a new Bible book series this week - the Gospel according to St. Luke. What is cool about Luke’s gospel is that Luke, a doctor (we learn that from his second volume entitled “The Acts of the Apostles”) has decided to do some investigative reporting about Jesus. Luke acknowledges he is NOT personally an eye-witness; BUT he has eye-witness accounts available to him and has put in a lot of time and effort to check out the claims and the stories and the timeline to put things in...

THIS IS US - WEEK 4 - HOW IT HAPPENS

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." “Make disciples” … When you look at what a church is supposed to be about, people can talk about a lot of things: preference in music style, service time, buildings, order of service, etc. Ultimately everything we do hinges on making discipl...

THIS IS US - WEEK 4 - HOW IT HAPPENS

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." “Make disciples” … When you look at what a church is supposed to be about, people can talk about a lot of things: preference in music style, service time, buildings, order of service, etc. Ultimately everything we do hinges on making discipl...

THIS IS US - Week 3: No More Plastic People

THIS IS US - WEEK 3: NO MORE PLASTIC PEOPLE

This Is Us - Week 2: On the Move

THIS IS US - WEEK 2: ON THE MOVE

My Biggest Fear

Youth Pastor Ethan Waud

ADVENT: WEEK 4 - SEEK PEACE

This Advent season we have been looking at how we can have all we need for Christmas. The first week we heard that Christmas needs to be a time for reflection as we slow down the pace of the season and focus on God’s purpose in our lives. The second week we heard that this is a time for simplifying; the manger stood as God’s declaration that the plan of salvation shouldn’t be complicated; and that the path to Jesus must always be presented as being simple. Last week we heard that Christmas s...

ADVENT: WEEK 3 - SERVE

This year millions of people will open millions of gifts. Some won’t fit. Some will be the wrong color. Many will be returned or exchanged ‘cuz it wasn’t just right. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a gift that doesn’t need to be returned because it really is the perfect thing, the thing that is most needed? ‘Tis the season, really, of giving. And when it comes to the Biblical account of Jesus’ birth, you can’t help but associate giving gifts with a certain group of men… The Magi from the East w...

ADVENT: WEEK 3 - SERVE

This year millions of people will open millions of gifts. Some won’t fit. Some will be the wrong color. Many will be returned or exchanged ‘cuz it wasn’t just right. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a gift that doesn’t need to be returned because it really is the perfect thing, the thing that is most needed? ‘Tis the season, really, of giving. And when it comes to the Biblical account of Jesus’ birth, you can’t help but associate giving gifts with a certain group of men… The Magi from the East w...

ADVENT: WEEK 1 - SLOW DOWN

The Christmas season has a way of suddenly taking off on us. Each year we think we have it under control, but that usually doesn’t happen. And when Christmas Day has come and gone, we wonder why we can’t ever just slow down and enjoy the season. It’s an uphill battle, you know. In America we rush everything, don’t we? Stores now have Christmas items up as early as October. For weeks now, we’ve been getting Christmas catalogs in the mail. Christmas has become more and more about the almighty...

ADVENT: WEEK 1 - SLOW DOWN

The Christmas season has a way of suddenly taking off on us. Each year we think we have it under control, but that usually doesn’t happen. And when Christmas Day has come and gone, we wonder why we can’t ever just slow down and enjoy the season. It’s an uphill battle, you know. In America we rush everything, don’t we? Stores now have Christmas items up as early as October. For weeks now, we’ve been getting Christmas catalogs in the mail. Christmas has become more and more about the almighty...

THANKS LIVING WEEK 2: MORE THAN A HEALING: The Power of a Thankful Heart

Most of us know that gratitude doesn’t always flow like we know it should. As a kid, my mom trained me to say thank you. But there have been times when I have forgotten to acknowledge a gift, either by sending a card or expressing through my words how appreciative I was for what had been given. The tragic part of those times (gratefully, they have been few) is how my relationship with the person who had given me the gift was affected. When I would run into those people, say for instance at ...

THANKS LIVING WEEK 2: MORE THAN A HEALING: The Power of a Thankful Heart

Most of us know that gratitude doesn’t always flow like we know it should. As a kid, my mom trained me to say thank you. But there have been times when I have forgotten to acknowledge a gift, either by sending a card or expressing through my words how appreciative I was for what had been given. The tragic part of those times (gratefully, they have been few) is how my relationship with the person who had given me the gift was affected. When I would run into those people, say for instance at ...

THANKS LIVING WEEK 2: More Than a Healing

THANKS LIVING WEEK 1: When It Seems There’s Nothing to be Thankful For

It’s easy to say Praise the Lord and be thankful when things are going well, like when we ace the test, when the annual physical turns out well, when we get the raise, when our family is healthy and doing well. It’s not so easy to give thanks when we fail the exam, when the prognosis is not good, when we get fired, when there are struggles on the homefront, and when tragedy strikes. In sports — I have yet to see a slugger point his finger to the sky after striking out or a quarterback do so...

THANKS LIVING WEEK 1: When It Seems There’s Nothing to be Thankful For

It’s easy to say Praise the Lord and be thankful when things are going well, like when we ace the test, when the annual physical turns out well, when we get the raise, when our family is healthy and doing well. It’s not so easy to give thanks when we fail the exam, when the prognosis is not good, when we get fired, when there are struggles on the homefront, and when tragedy strikes. In sports — I have yet to see a slugger point his finger to the sky after striking out or a quarterback do so...

Gideon = Just Wingin It

Youth Pastor Ethan Waud

What’s YOUR Acre?

This Saturday is one of those rich traditions PBCC celebrates during the Harvest, the Lord's Acre, which has been around for 75 years. All of you have HEARD about Lord’s Acre - new people means you might not know WHAT/WHY... You can read about it - but you might be surprised to find its roots in the Old Testament. Love harvest festivals? The Israelites were given THREE! Beginning of the grain, the end of the grain, and the beginning of the grape. Lord's Acre is connected with the first - ...

What’s YOUR Acre?

This Saturday is one of those rich traditions PBCC celebrates during the Harvest, the Lord's Acre, which has been around for 75 years. All of you have HEARD about Lord’s Acre - new people means you might not know WHAT/WHY... You can read about it - but you might be surprised to find its roots in the Old Testament. Love harvest festivals? The Israelites were given THREE! Beginning of the grain, the end of the grain, and the beginning of the grape. Lord's Acre is connected with the first - ...

MAKING 77 LOOK GOOD Week 5: God’s Wealth Wisdom

Making 77 Look Good involves many things - one of which is to make sure you have invested resources wisely. Especially if you have retired from your career, a lot depends on how wisely you invested the resources you earned throughout that career!! On top of that, you have to think about what you’re going to leave to the next generations… what kind of legacy - financial, relationally, spiritually - are you bequeathing to your kids and grandkids and great-grandkids. Now I want us to start tod...

MAKING 77 LOOK GOOD Week 5: God’s Wealth Wisdom

Making 77 Look Good involves many things - one of which is to make sure you have invested resources wisely. Especially if you have retired from your career, a lot depends on how wisely you invested the resources you earned throughout that career!! On top of that, you have to think about what you’re going to leave to the next generations… what kind of legacy - financial, relationally, spiritually - are you bequeathing to your kids and grandkids and great-grandkids. Now I want us to start tod...

MAKING 77 LOOK GOOD Week 4: Going RVing

This morning, we are in the fourth sermon in this series entitled Making 77 Look Good - essentially a spiritual check-up series for a church that just turned 77 years old a couple months ago. And today, I want to share a story of another “seasoned citizen” whose story is found in the OT. We find this story in two OT books - the book of Numbers, chapter 13 (which we will refer to from time to time) and the OT book of Joshua, chapter 14. Turn there as I tell you the background of this amazing ...

A Heart For the Lost

Elder Gabe Bales