July 30, 2017: Blessed by being doers of the Word

This week, Pastor Hodge expounded on James 1:22-27. In his sermon today, Pastor Hodge tells us why we need to not just to be hearers of the Word, but doers, and the blessings we get by doing so, along with three how-to's, with guidance from the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus.

Pastor Hodge also did our children's sermon, and you can hear both of these recordings by cutting and pasting this link into your browser:

https://archive.org/details/03PastorMichaelHodge3howtos

And we pray you have a great week in Christ Jesus!

July 26, 2017: 2017 AFLC Illinois District Bible Camp sessions

Hello everyone,

The 2017 AFLC Illinois District Bible Camp sessions are now online for you to be blessed with. Please listen and enjoy them by cutting and pasting this link into your browser:

https://archive.org/details/AFLC2017IllinoisDistrictBibleCampSessions

July 23, 2017: In the trials of life: be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger

This week, Pastor Michael Hodge continue his series on the trials of life, and this one hits close to home. Even when things are going wrong---and then the next level of horribly wrong---Pastor Hodge reveals how it shows us our heart if we are quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Pastor Hodge tells us how important patient qualities are, and also how we are to remove evil and grow in the humility of truth.

We also had special music multiple times for our service today, in honor of Leonard Osland, who turned 100 years old this week! We honored him with some of our favorite hymns, and we included them in our recordings today. Finally, Molly Blobaum talked about shoes...and being in someone else's shoes, and what that means...and how we can honor God by trying to understand what others are going through.

You can hear all of these recordings by cutting and pasting this link into your Web browser:

https://archive.org/details/07PastorMichaelHodgeMatureinPatience

And we hope you have a great week in Christ Jesus!

July 16, 2017:Being faithful in the midst of persecution, trials and temptation

This week, Pastor Hodge continued his series in the book of James on how we are to be faithful. In this week's series, Pastor Hodge expounds upon John 1:12-18. We are to never give up, but what is the reward for standing firm? What are the challenges we may face, and how can God lead us through those trials and temptations? Listen to find out!

We also had our young adults come up and give their testimony, the Seldals sang "I'll fly away", and Diane Lizer did our children's sermon called "Flower or weed?". You cannot see the pictures she is showing, but listen to the end, the point is well worth it!

You can hear all of these sermon elements here by cutting and pasting this into your browser:

https://archive.org/details/05PastorMichaelHodgeTrialsbeingfaithfulinthemidstofpersecution

And we hope you have a great week in Christ Jesus!

July 9, 2017: Even though we may be poor, the trials of life don't take away from our heavenly riches

We had some technical difficulties recording the service, but in summary, Pastor Hodge's sermon was on James 1:9-11. Even though we can be poor, the trials of life don't take away our high position of eternal wealth! Poor Christians going through trials can find glory in their high position. Of course,rich people face many trials; their wealth withers away, both believers and unbelievers. But, spiritual riches are eternal, in trusting in and obeying Christ's commands, repenting of our sins and trusting Christ for everything.

And we hope you have a great week in Christ Jesus!

July 3, 2017: FLY conference live streaming!

The evening sessions of this year's youth  FLY conference will be live-streamed from July 3-7, 2017, starting at 8 PM CT. Copy and paste this into your browser, here:

http://www.flyconvention.org/live

We hope you are blessed by the teachings!

July 2, 2017: The paradox of trials and spiritual growth, part 2: While going through trials, confidence in God means stability

This week, Pastor Hodge expounded on James 1:5-8; this week, I've included the sermon notes along with the church bulletin, so feel free to follow along there). In his series, "The paradox of trials and spiritual growth", this week his title says it all: "While going through trials, confidence in God means stability". Indeed, as we walk with God through trials, we must ask of God (what must we ask? Listen to find out! :-) ), and God will give generously, and without reproach. And we must ask in faith, or else we will be double-minded.

We also included the prelude this week, in addition to our special music from the Seldals and the pastor's sermon, which you can listen to, as you copy the following into your Web browser:

https://archive.org/details/03PastorHodgeWhilegoingthroughtrialsconfidenceinGodmeansstability

And we hope you have a great week in Christ Jesus!