Morning Service Live Stream

This week's service features an in-depth message on returning to the house of God and resting in His unconditional grace. Preaching from Genesis 35, Pastor Bruce Gordon explores Jacob's journey to Bethel, examining how God sovereignly accomplishes His purposes in our lives without overriding our free will. The message challenges believers to put away personal idols, let go of past failures, and stop striving under a performance-based mindset to instead embrace true worship in the presence of God Almighty.

Service Breakdown

- Worship and Music: The service opens with the congregational hymn "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus," followed by hymn #336, "There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood." Special music includes an uplifting selection led by Faith, Kristen, Charlie, and the choir, reminding the church that our true identity is found in who God says we are.

- Bible Reading: The congregation hears an opening scripture reading from Isaiah 1:1–20, a powerful passage calling God’s people away from empty ritualism and rebellion, offering true cleansing with the promise that though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow.

- Children’s Corner: Miss Abby shares a lesson on what it means to be a good friend, using the story in Mark 2 of the four friends who lowered the paralyzed man through the roof to reach Jesus. She teaches the children that being a faithful friend means helping others, praying for them, and leading them closer to Jesus.

- The Message: Returning to the ongoing study of Genesis, Pastor Bruce focuses on Genesis 35:1–15, where God commands Jacob to arise, return to Bethel, and build an altar. The sermon emphasizes that God works through our flaws and stubbornness, showing that our relationship with Him is rooted in unmerited grace rather than human performance. The message details Jacob's call to purify his household, bury past baggage, and erect a pillar of worship with drink and oil offerings, illustrating how true believers are called to meet God Himself in His house.

Key Moments & Themes

- Sovereignty and Free Will: The sermon addresses the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility, illustrating through Jacob’s poor decisions and God’s unchanging promises that the Lord brings about His perfect will while patiently loving His children through their mistakes.

- A Grace-Based vs. Performance-Based Walk: Using the illustration of an impossible "marriage recipe book," the message reminds believers that God does not love us based on our performance or merit. We are saved and kept entirely by His grace through the blood of Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit.

- Returning to Bethel (The House of God): Pastor Bruce highlights the difference between settling on the edges of God's will (Succoth and Shechem) and dwelling in the center of His presence (Bethel). Believers are urged to clear away modern idols—pride, self-reliance, and worldly attitudes—to encounter God directly.

- Leaving the Past Behind: Jacob's burial of foreign idols and the mourning of Deborah represent the vital spiritual step of burying the past under the oak tree and stepping forward into God’s promises as a newly named worshiper of God.

Call to Action

The service concludes with an invitation to the hymn "I Surrender All," calling listeners to stop trying to earn God's favor through exhausting self-effort. Believers and seekers are challenged to lay down their idols, bring their burdens to Jesus, and fully rest in His grace, mercy, and presence today.