Powell Butte Christian Church

SERVANTS WHO LEAD / LEADERS WHO SERVE: Week 2 - The QUALIFICATIONS of Elders

What kind of people are the elders of a church supposed to be? Are they to be stubborn and authoritative? Are they to operate under the power of their own wisdom and strength? What qualifies a person to serve as an elder in the church? It’s interesting to see the list of qualifications which the US Constitution has established for anyone who wants to be President. 35 years old, natural-born citizen, permanent resident of the US for 14 years. That’s it. No intelligence test, no moral require...

SERVANTS WHO LEAD / LEADERS WHO SERVE: Week 1 - The ROLE of Elders

As the elders developed our mission statement, we also began to understand the role of the elders in the discipleship process at church, because ultimately discipleship is the outcome of that mission. And so it’s important to know that our elders have buy in to the mission, and to the direction of discipleship at PBCC. Next week we will be having our annual congregational meeting. It’s at these meetings that the official members of the church vote to affirm a couple of things: 1) the budget...

THE GREAT ESCAPE: Week 2 - Coming Out of the Dark

Today we’re talking about debt. This one hits home. Jenny and I are on the road to sinking our debt. This means there are decisions to make: hard decisions. This is part 2 of a series we’ve entitled The Great Escape. We are trying to find GOD’S way out of the traps of consumerism and materialism and debt. Remember last week – this isn’t about the church needing money. In fact, through this congregation God provided for our needs once again. In 2019 our offerings were above what we had expec...

THE GREAT ESCAPE: Week 1 - Whose MINE Is It Anyway?

In 1347, the Black Plague was raging through Europe and thousands of people died. Many people saw it as God’s judgment; so, hoping to appease Him, the citizens of Lubeck, Germany surrounded the monastery of their city and offered the monks enormous amounts of money and such in order to protect them from God’s wrath. The monks though, fearful of contamination, barred their gates and didn’t allow the citizens to enter. The persistent crowd started to throw their gold and jewels and resources ...

Mission Sunday!

Missions are an important part of PBCC's ministry.  In today's message we hear how we are making a difference and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ locally and globally.

ADVENT 2019 Week 4 - The Gift

Youth Pastor Ethan Waud

ADVENT 2019: Week 03 – “Let It Go” Luke 1:39-56; Matthew 1:18-19

LET IT GO. Perfect song for this season. Think about it…. It’s the middle of December - and has it hit you yet?   You know what I’m talking about… the Christmas RUSH. The way Jesus gets kinda pushed to the side so we can get the meals cooked and the goodies baked; we can get to all the pageants and plays we need to get to; and we take out a second mortgage just to make sure everyone gets exactly what they want…  And at the end of it all - another Christmas has come and gone and all you have ...

ADVENT 2019 Week 2 - Joyful Obedience

Associate Pastor Andy Buchanan

ADVENT 2019: Week 1 - The Dragon at the Manger

I love nativity scenes.  As a kid I would rearrange the characters every other day, it seemed. I loved how the little lamb in our main porcelain nativity had a broken leg that made it always bow towards the manger. I even love how my kiddos decided a couple of years ago to ADD to the nativity scene, and – running the risk of being a bit sacrilegious – I brought a picture of the additions.  (There’s Luigi, and the troll doll, and of course Nemo. I like how the angel is laying down in front ...

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 44 – Writing the Next Chapter (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)

Have you ever wondered about the ending of the book of Acts? We just finished the book of Acts last week – and many of you would have had no clue. There’s no big finish, no “and they all lived happily ever after.” Be honest: if I had begun this morning by saying, let’s all turn to Acts 29 --- how many of you would have gone to look for a chapter that isn’t there?? Or is it? In a way, there is another chapter in the story of Acts, an Acts 29, if you will – but it wasn’t written in the first...

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 43 – Guaranteed to Succeed (Acts 28)

We have seen the story of the mission of God starting small and multiplying beyond what anybody would have dreamed imaginable, and it's been one story made up of smaller stories - faithfulness and unfaithfulness - opportunities and obstacles - difficult circumstances wrapped up in the sovereignty of God. Each story is woven into the bigger story by these consistent themes of the Reign of Jesus, the Power of the Holy Spirit, and the Kingdom of God advancing through the Church. From 120 f...

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 42 – The Storm, The Shipwreck, The Snakebite – Acts 27:1-28:5

In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart – I have overcome the world.” In this world you will have trouble – not one of those promises from God that you’d want to put on your coffee mug, right? This is a reality check for those who claim that by becoming a Christian, you are magically protected from anything going wrong in your life. Jesus is saying that, especially as a disciple, if you’re o...

Words for an Overwhelmed Heart - Psalm 25

Associate Pastor Andy Buchanan

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 41 – The Almost Disciple – Acts 25:23 - 26:32

In 1871, five years before his death, Philip Bliss published a song based upon a sermon in which the preacher said, “He who is almost persuaded is almost saved, but to be almost saved is to be entirely lost.” The song was appropriately entitled, “Almost Persuaded.” “Almost persuaded” now to believe; “Almost persuaded” Christ to receive; Seems now some soul to say, “Go, Spirit, go Thy way; Some more convenient day on Thee I’ll call.” “Almost persuaded” come, come today; “Almost persuaded,” t...

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 40 – About a Dead Man Named Jesus – Acts 25:1-22

As we are nearing the end of this year’s study in the book of Acts, this amazing story of the unstoppable power of the church of God, you’ll start to see that it begins to blur together. Whereas earlier in the book, you get the specific individual stories that stand out, now – though there will be separate trials that Paul has to go through on his way up to Rome – it all seems like one long drawn-out trial. But don’t give in to the temptation to just turn this next few weeks off thinking, “...

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 39 - Rejected, But Never Defeated - Acts. 24:22-27

Associate Pastor Andy Buchanan

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 38 – Your Life on Trial – Acts 24:1-21

The American Legal system can drive you NUTS. The Apostle Paul understands. As we come to Acts 24, he’s in it up to his neck! This chapter begins one court-room after another - each time, proven innocent...but when has THAT stopped the legal system ever?  His life is on trial. Reminds me of Impact Brass & Singers: “Evidence”. Could they put you away?  If it was against the law to be a disciple, is there enough evidence in YOUR life to convict you?  What if YOUR life were on trial? What evi...

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 37 -There's No Place Like Rome - Acts 23

Hinds Feet on High Places. The story of “Much-Afraid,” a shepherdess employed by the Great Shepherd. Longs to accompany the Great Shepherd up to the mountains where he leaps with feet like a hind. But she’s crippled - physically: deformed feet and face; and emotionally: paralyzing fear. No courage. But longs to be loved, to be changed, to be able to leap with hinds feet on high places.  I think in fact we want the courage to face all of life's hang-ups, problems, issues and circumstances th...

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 36 – This is GOD’S Church – Acts 20:28

It was just an ordinary bush; a nondescript desert thorn-bush that, no doubt, Moses had seen many, many times in his 40 year career as a shepherd. I’m sure Moses had gotten familiar with every rock and tree and bush by the time he saw this bush. This ordinary bush. But there was something different... And no, it wasn’t the fact that the bush was on fire… I’m sure Moses had witnessed a wilderness fire or two over those 4 decades of tending his father-in-law’s flocks. No - what made it differ...

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 35 – What’s In YOUR Story? – Acts 21:37-22:29

Church, WE have good news. That’s what GOSPEL means. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is GREAT news. It’s the hope of the world. And here’s the deal: it was MEANT to be shared. There is a world out there that is STARVING for eternal hope - and we have what they need; but part of our sinful nature makes it difficult for us to share at times, right? Acts 21:37 through chapter 22 is a great picture of what it means to know your story, and to know what God wants you to DO with your...

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 34 – How Do I Know? – Acts 21:1-36

Who gets to determine how the message is to be understood? Who is right? HOW DO I KNOW?? Is it a sense of peace? Is it the majority vote? Is it the thing that makes me happy? Are there principles found in the Bible that can help us determine for ourselves if what we’re hearing is from the Spirit or not? I believe there are - and I want to share a few of them:

Worlds Collide - Week 33 - No Quitting After the Riot - Acts 20:1-24

Associate Pastor Andy Buchanan

Worlds Collide - Week 32 - More Than Anything Else - Acts 19:1-41

Associate Pastor Andy Buchanan

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 31 – Well….Keep Thinking – Acts 18:24-28

Learning and growing. Also called DISCIPLESHIP. Remember Jesus didn’t call us to make converts, but disciples. There’s a difference. “Want to be a Christian” is different than “Want to be a disciple?” Disciples are disciplined. They learn. They grow. They follow. They change. Learning and growing. In other words, there’s no “arrival” in the Christian journey - not ‘til heaven, really.  But even though we aren’t there, God’s design is that we continue on a journey towards “there.” But chec...

Worlds Collide: Week 30 – CORINTH: The Ultimate Team Sport – Acts 18:1-18a

 “Pull, Nellie, Pull” Try pulling by yourself - it’s hard. Just like Ministry. Ministry is amazingly satisfying. Ministry is amazingly hard. And we tend to make it harder than it really should be. When approached in the wrong way, ministry will burn us out. But God designed it differently. His design was to make it amazingly encouraging - but only when we approach it as the Ultimate Team Sport. No Lone Ranger Christians. Today as we come to Acts 18, there is a transition where we see Paul ...

WORLDS COLLIDE: Week 29 – ATHENS: Making Him Known – Acts 17:16-34

As we have traced the 2nd Missionary Journey of Paul over the past couple of weeks, we now come to the city of Athens. And it’s a pretty amazing story we find in Acts 17. But first a little background: Athens was the cultural center of the world: Politics (birthplace of democracy) Philosophy (Plato, Aristotle, Socrates) Art (Parthenon, statuary – think of Greece? You’re thinking of Athens) This all leads Athens to be a place committed to PLURALISM In many ways, 2000 years later, we sti...

Worlds Collide: Week 28 - THESSALONICA & BEREA: What Is Truth? - Acts 17:1-15

The Bible is GOD’S STORY - a full narrative arc; a beginning, middle, and end; You can’t just pop into the middle of it, expecting to understand. What is Truth? You gotta learn how to REALLY read your Bible - not in part, but the whole. Today we come to Acts 17. Paul and the Gospel are now in Greece, setting foot for the very first time on a brand new continent. Last week we studied his stop in at Philippi and learned something about worship on this first leg of the European Tour; and this...

Worlds Collide: Week 27 - PHILIPPI: Jailhouse Rock - Acts 16:22-40

Paul and Silas are in the dark this morning in our study in Acts. Paul set a demon-possessed girl free in the name of Jesus, and what does he get?   What do you do when life is unfair? Pout? Lash out? Close yourself off from the world? Get on Facebook, hoping to find people willing to join the pity party? How about singing? Why sing? Does it matter when we do? And if so, to whom does it matter? Why sing? Why worship? Because God desires it and he deserves it.

Worlds Collide: Week 26 - Freedom Fighters - Acts 16:16-21

This morning, we are talking about freedom - and the opportunity to become freedom fighters in our world - not for civil liberties, but for spiritual liberties. In our country, where we are free to choose many things, unfortunately many people have chosen to give UP their spiritual freedom as they have walked into the enemy’s trap and find themselves in bondage. This is what happened in Acts 16, so let’s turn there and see what’s going on, and what inspiration we might gain from these events...

Worlds Collide: Week 25 - When God Interferes - Acts 15:36-16:10

What do you do when God has other plans? You think you know which way is best; you even are pretty sure it’s not a matter of a sinful choice! You think this is the right direction, and God says, “NO”? In our study in the book of Acts, Paul is now REALLY excited to take the message to the world (BTW, this happens… talk to ANYONE who has been used by God to make a difference in someone’s life, whether here in our own community, or overseas or across the border; kinda like a drug - hard to get...

Worlds Collide: Week 24 - Jesus Plus Nothing - Acts 15

What do you think of when I say the word “alone?” Images of solitude, feelings of loneliness. But what about that word in another context: “The BIBLE, yes that’s the book for me, I stand alone on the word of God, the BIBLE.”  What about the phrase “In Christ alone…” Where does THAT phrase take you in your mind, your heart? Does it bring comfort or anxiety… release or indignation? I know believers who this phrase is the heart of the theology that literally saved their lives; I know some who ...

Worlds Collide: Week 23 - No Middle Ground - Acts 14

Let me begin with this question: Is the Gospel you believe the true Biblical gospel - or for those of you who have been skeptical about God and Jesus and the Church and Christianity and all that...is the Gospel message actually the true Biblical Gospel? Or have we either put our faith in, or have outright rejected, something that we have actually very different...something we have MISUNDERSTOOD? That’s an important question to ask. British theologian J.I. Packer made an assessment of modern...

Worlds Collide - Week 22 - The Battle for Men's Souls (Acts 13)

In the early 50s, the US government constructed an $78 million troop carrier for the navy. The purpose was to build a ship that could quickly carry 15,000 troops in times of war and was designed to outrun any other ship and travel non-stop anywhere in the world in less than ten days. The SS United States was the fastest, most reliable troop carrier in the world. The only catch is, she never carried troops. Instead the SS United States became a luxury liner for presidents, heads of state, an...

Worlds Collide - Week 21 - God Wins ~ And So Does His Church (Acts 12:1-25)

Associate Pastor Andy Buchanan

Worlds Collide - Week 20 - How to Grow a Kingdom (Acts 10-11)

The problem, truly, is one of perspective.  And, ironically enough, it was through the Perspectives on The World Christian Movement course that I took almost 20 years ago that I began to understand the purpose of God's church much more clearly than I ever had.   I have come to believe that the Bible is really a book that has just ONE story.  Sometimes the individual stories IN the Bible obscure that fact.  Perhaps people find the Bible boring or irrelevant because they only see the trees, a...

Worlds Collide - Week 19 - Kingdom Come (Acts 9:32-42)

"Where's MY miracle?" "Why don't I get a miracle?" Preachers promise miracles - but not everyone GETS a miracle. So what is the purpose of miracles anyway? Perhaps our focus needs to change; perhaps the point isn't the miracle itself, but what the miracle points to...

Worlds Collide - Week 19 - Kingdom Come (Acts 9:32-42)

"Where's MY miracle?" "Why don't I get a miracle?" Preachers promise miracles - but not everyone GETS a miracle. So what is the purpose of miracles anyway? Perhaps our focus needs to change; perhaps the point isn't the miracle itself, but what the miracle points to...

Worlds Collide - Week 17 - Not JUST About Us (Acts 8)

The Church is a movement. Our piece of the PBCC history and heritage is exciting - an opportunity for US to be a part of the movement. This is what we are all about. Let's consider the power of the Gospel to Save and to Sanctify through the working of the Spirit in this movement.

Worlds Collide - Week 16 - How NOT to Get to Heaven (Easter Sunday) (Acts 7)

Truth is there are a lot of ideas people have as to how to get to heaven. The important question for us today is what about OUR afterlife? In what have we place our trust to get to Heaven? This question is important because of what Easter represents. Resurrection Sunday was evidence that there IS life after death - so where does that leave YOU?

Worlds Collide - Week 12 - Balanced part 3 (Guest speaker Darin Hollingsworth)

Investing in God's Kingdom

Worlds Collide - Week 1 - When Worlds Collide (Acts 1)