First Congregational of Hamilton
by First Congregational of Hamilton
Welcome to our church podcast and thanks for tuning in. We hope you will be enriched and inspired in your spiritual journey. Our church exists to rejoice in God, grow in the gospel, and point people to Jesus. Our vision is to be a house of refuge, a community of joy, and spiritual catalyst for personal and cultural renewal along the North Shore of Boston and beyond.
Episodes
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Silent Before Him
As we read the book of Habakkuk, we continue to ask the question, “How do we keep the faith in troubled times?” Last Sunday, Kevin helped us to consider expectant waiting and living by faith. This week, we’re given a sobering picture. In response to Habakkuk’s second complaint God gives a...
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Is Faith a Tightrope?
If you have not read through all of Habakkuk, I encourage you to do so this week. It is short enough, so that you can get the whole picture in one sitting. I am so thankful to be learning together from this book, it has many resonant themes for us locally as well as globally. This week, we will...
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Women's Bible Study - Week 7
Join us for week seven of the study of the book of Romans.
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Holy Discontent
Paul said to Timothy, “in the last days there will come times of difficulty” (2 Timothy 3:1). Indeed, history has continued, unrelenting, to throw up all kinds of strife. We don't know what the future holds for us, what is around the corner, but a reasonable assessment of geopolitics, climate,...
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Women's Bible Study - Week 6
Join us for week six of the study of the book of Romans.
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Witnesses
Central to our vocation of "pointing people to Jesus" is our church's commitment to missions. This Sunday is Missions Sunday and a great opportunity to be refreshed and encouraged in God's heart for the nations and our call to go. Pastor Jonathan Lugo from Iglesia Cristiana Centrados en el...
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Women's Bible Study - Week 5
Join us for week five of the study of the book of Romans.
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Pointing People to Jesus: Salt and Light
More than something we do, church is something we are. The gospel of Jesus Christ transforms us - you are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14). We are by our new nature a distinct community. We need reminding of our distinctiveness. But we also need to heed the...
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Women's Bible Study - Week 4
Join us for week four of the study of the book of Romans.
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Growing in the Gospel: In All Things
As we continue in our short series, This Is Our Story, looking at key themes in our mission as a church, we return again to Growing in the Gospel. This Sunday, we will look more closely at how the good news shapes and guides us everyday. Let’s pray together that God will open our eyes to see His...
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Women's Bible Study - Week 3
Join us for week three of the study of the book of Romans.
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This is Our Story" Growing in the Gospel
The next two weeks, we focus in on what it means to Grow in the Gospel. Sometimes we think of the gospel as a summation of what Jesus has done for us, which is a great thing to know, share, and believe, but God's Spirit is at work in us to transform us by the work Jesus did. This transformation…
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Women's Bible Study - Week 2
Join us for week two of the study of the book of Romans.
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Rejoicing in God: The End in Sight
We began our new sermon series last week framing our story as a church in light of the character of God and what he has done for us in Christ: “In this you rejoice”. This week, for our second part on “Rejoicing in God” we look to the end and culmination of our story. For us to consider our…
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Women's Bible Study - Week 1
Listen in on the Tuesday morning SonLight Bible study covering the "Introduction to Romans".
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Rejoicing in God
This week we consider what it is to "rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory" (1 Peter 1:3-9) and why that becomes core to who we are!
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The Shape of Ministry
This Sunday is our final meeting in the Heritage Hall and concludes our series on Colossians. I do pray that the Lord has encouraged your heart with the wonderful glory of Christ. May we all, as we received Christ as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and established in this faith,...
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Jesus, Lord of My Relationships
We've been asking how our union with Christ changes us (remember the waddling geese?). This week, we continue to uncover the radical implications of our new identity in Christ for all of life in Colossians 3:18-4:1, Paul's instructions to Christian households. There are certainly many questions…
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In Whatever You Do
This week, we will continue our study of Colossians 3 and exploring how Christ impacts every area of our lives. In verses 15-17, we are encouraged by Paul to let the peace of Christ rule in you, through the Word of God dwelling among you, so that in everything, you may bring glory to God.
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The Renewed Life
Is it an exaggeration to say that Christ is everything; all that truly matters? What kind of change should we expect in light of knowing Christ? Surely the answer is the “absolute” kind of change – a radical and comprehensive transformation. But that seems intense, doesn’t it? What does change…
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Sunken Gardens
A look at God’s counter-story of new creation in Isaiah 65.
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Part 3
In this week’s captivating story, we see in the people at Babel a resistance to “be scattered across the face of the earth” (Genesis 11:4), the same driving impulse in humanity’s quest for comfort and parochialism. Yet God had a much more expansive vision in his story: the blessing of all…
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Part 2
Last week we explored how Babel is an archetype of empire in its quest for control. We were challenged: Instead of innovating a tower for the sake of independence and control – we humble ourselves under God, in the pattern of Christ who humbled himself for us (Phil 2:1-11), and see our neighbors…
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Part 1
For the next three Sundays we pause in our study of Colossians to dissect a little deeper Paul’s instructions to be on our guard against deceptive philosophies that distort the gospel (Col 2:4). What might be the stories, ideas, and messages of our time that threaten to “take you captive” (Col…
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The Confidence for Renewal
It's tick season. Ticks are awful parasites that sneak onto us and often carry disease. What do we do? We've been keeping to paths and doing our tick checks. What do ticks have to do with Colossians? Well, we come to the very heart of Paul's letter (Colossians 2:6-15) as he warns the church not…
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How to Face Uncertainties
There are no shortage of uncertainties in life. As we imagine the future and think about the dangers that could be awaiting us, or the needs that we will have, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with worry and angst—what if this happens or that happens? How does our Christian faith help us to face…
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Contending For Renewal
I hope you are staying cool during these warm days. The heat and heavy circumstances can quickly sap us of energy and spirit. But there is refreshing hope from Jesus! We were reminded last week of our place in the grand cosmic story of God, as those once alienated, now reconciled, with a glorious...
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Steadfast in Renewal
It was such a delight last week to gather for our first summer worship service of the year, all together in Heritage Hall. (Not to mention the fantastic burger I enjoyed at the picnic afterwards!) Glenn gave us a spectacular vision of the cosmic preeminence of Jesus Christ. As we pray for...
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The Preeminence of Christ
Colossians 1:15-20 displays the multifaceted preeminence of Christ, but in a manner often foreign to our way of thinking. Careful attention to the text helps us to understand Christ's humility and glory in a foundational manner for salvation and Christian life. Dr. Glenn Butner
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A Picture of Renewal
Colossians is a wonderful letter towards this end, as Paul encourages the church there not to be swayed by wayward philosophies (more on these later!), but to be fixated on Christ and his supremacy and sufficiency in all things. I’ve been praying for this to be a summer of spiritual renewal. This...
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The Hope of the Resurrection
This week we will be concluding our series on "God's Welcome" in the Gospel of Luke. We will spend time in Luke 24 which tells of the resurrection of Christ. We will look at the evidences of the resurrection and how this brings hope to our lives today!
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The Crucifixion
We’re coming close to the end of our journey through Luke’s Gospel. I wonder, through the months of studying Luke, what has stood out to you? What are some themes or encounters that have been memorable for you? What grabs you most about Jesus? Take a moment now and reflect on how God has spoken…
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Agony in the Garden
Earlier in Luke’s gospel Jesus climbed a mountain with his sleepy disciples (Lk 9:32) to pray. It was a spectacular revelation of his glory in his transfiguration! As we approach the summit of Luke’s gospel, Jesus again goes to a mountain, to the mount of Olives (Lk 22:39). He goes to pray and...
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The Lord's Great Desire
This week, we move from the very public debates and teachings of Jesus in the temple courts to the intimate gathering at Passover before his arrest. Luke's gospel, uniquely, adds the note that Jesus greatly desired to eat this Passover with them. Why? What does Jesus' innovation say about who he…
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A Trap for Jesus
What does Jesus mean by "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" (Luke 20:19-26)? Come find out how this might shape our own understanding of our relationship with the state, and indeed, our own sense of meaning and identity.
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Jesus, Jerusalem, Judgement
As Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, he lamented the doom he saw coming for the city he loved. We will reflect this week on how Jesus’ proclamation of looming judgment on Jerusalem carries a message for ourselves as well. Please read Luke 19:41-48 (and time permitting, Luke 21:5-36) to prepare for…
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Zaccaeus
The 'fog of war' is the uncertainty in situational awareness experienced in military situations. As we contend with the 'fog' of information in our world, how do we see clearly? In Luke 18:35-19:10, the final stop before we reach Jerusalem, Jesus passes through Jericho and encounters two men…
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The Last Leaving
This week, we begin the final weeks of our survey of Luke's gospel. Jesus continues to show the depth of God's love and the "all-in" nature of joining his Kingdom. Things that are valuable often have a high cost. A common question for Christians is what does following Jesus take? What is the cost...
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Walking in the Resurrected Life
Easter certainly is a high point in the life of the Church calendar. But it can't be just a special weekend - it changes everything. We will pause this week in our usual Luke preaching series in order to consider a follow up to Easter - how then do we live in light of the Resurrection? You may…
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Death Undone
Death is a dastardly villain, a merciless conqueror. The Bible calls it the last enemy. But the hope of Easter is that the conqueror is conquered! Join us Sunday as we explore what it means that "God raised Jesus up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by…
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Principles of Praise
Passion Week begins! Jesus rides into Jerusalem to the shouts of the people: Hosanna! They were quoting from Psalm 118 and would soon reject the chosen “stone.” But as the same psalm states, God would make him become the “cornerstone.” Welcome to Palm Sunday.
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Home Financing
Two of the most important questions we ask throughout our lives are: Where am I going to live? and How am I going to pay for it? This week we will ask related, but even more important, questions as we explore the parable of the unrighteous steward (aka the parable of the shrewd manager) in Luke...
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The Lost Sons
This week we turn to Luke 15. Come, be found and refreshed by our compassionate God who invites you to his table. But caution: you might be surprised who is there with you.
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Following Jesus: The Cost of Discipleship
This last month, we have been exploring more of what it means to follow Jesus through the Gospel of Luke. This week we will consider the cost of following Him. Is Jesus really worth giving our entire life to and what does that look like?
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Following Jesus: Banquet Lessons
Do you see the gospel as an invitation and extension of God’s hospitality to all kinds of people? What people in your life need to hear of that welcome from you? Through actions and stories at a dinner, Jesus shows the extravagant and surprising hospitality of God and how it marks our lives as…
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Following Jesus: Where is Your Treasure?
This week, we turn to Luke 12:13-34 and consider how following Jesus shapes the way we think about our wealth. Jesus beckons us to give to the needy (Lk 12:33). Sounds hard, but remember, he says this after the amazing assurance and comfort that it is already the Father’s good pleasure to give us...
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Following Jesus: The Father's Good Gifts
How do you feel when you talk with a close family member? You probably approach your boss differently when you are reporting on your job or asking for extra time off. Telling someone you made a mistake is almost always hard. When we talk with someone, our confidence, tone, and ease in the...
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Following Jesus: At His Feet
Have you chosen the good portion? This week in Luke 10:38-42 we continue our journey with Jesus to Jerusalem, learning to follow him. We’re given a picture from Mary of what it is to “love the Lord your God” (Luke 10:27). Not long ago, Pastor Jeff preached on Luke 10:25-37 on loving our neighbor…
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Following Jesus: On Mission
Are you following Jesus? What does that mean for us? We turn in Luke’s Gospel to Jesus’ travel journey, his face set upon Jerusalem, calling his disciples to follow him. For the next few weeks, we will be uncovering different aspects of our call to follow Jesus, beginning with his sending of the...
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Following Jesus: Look and Listen
This week, put on your hiking boots as we ascend a mountain together, beholding the glory of Jesus transfigured in Luke 9:28-36. Why does Jesus give his disciples this glimpse and at this point in his ministry? Answering this question will help us see how immensely relevant this glorious...
About this show
Welcome to our church podcast and thanks for tuning in. We hope you will be enriched and inspired in your spiritual journey. Our church exists to rejoice in God, grow in the gospel, and point people to Jesus. Our vision is to be a house of refuge, a community of joy, and spiritual catalyst for personal and cultural renewal along the North Shore of Boston and beyond.
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First Congregational of Hamilton
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