I’ve recently been asked if Christians are allowed to be happy. It may seem like a strange question to some while a valid one to others, so I thought I’d share a little of my insights on the matter. Let’s start by looking at both sides of the matter: Continue reading
Author: Derrick Hurst (Page 148 of 152)
I am husband to Carrie, dad to Matthew, Lucas, and Natalie. I have a desire to see people grow in their relationship with Jesus. My personal mission is to move people forward in their faith life.
We believe that when God speaks into our lives there is a natural reaction in us. Several things happen in our lives when God’s word penetrates our hearts – we see. Listen this week as Pastor Derrick shares how new sight is possible as we interact with God’s word.
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y wife loves to take pictures. It’s really the only thing she really cared about at our wedding was that we had a great photographer. Pictures have a way of freezing something in our minds. The moment becomes frozen in time.
But what happens when you don’t have a camera handy? What do you do if you’re somewhere that taking a picture would just not be appropriate? How do you keep that memory alive? How do you freeze a moment without a digital or paper photograph? Continue reading
There’s a story in the bible about a
man named Jonah. He’s probably most well-known for his failure to follow God’s command. He was supposed to go to a place called Nineveh, but he really didn’t want to. As a matter of fact, when he was called to Arise and go to Nineveh, he decided to board a boat going in the opposite direction. Eventually the captain of the boat finds Jonah, realizes that he’s the reason the storm is so bad, and throws him overboard. God then sends a fish to swallow him whole! Continue reading
When God speaks, things happen. Not only do God’s words have power to accomplish things in the world but they also bring a response from us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Listen as Pastor Derrick shares the importance of trusting the words and promises of God.
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t’s been nearly 12 years since my boys were born. I remember that day however like it was yesterday. I can remember when my wife told me, It’s time. I remember that it was nothing like the movies or television shows depict it. I didn’t almost forget her at home. I was just concerned, scared, and nervous. Continue reading
This sermon series is an acknowledgemnent that when God speaks, things happen. Over the next four weeks, we’ll dive into the results of God speaking. This week listen as Pastor Derrick shares the importance of listening when God speaks.
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f you’ve ever worked around food, even if it was for your own children, you’ve undoubtedly heard of the 5 second rule. The rule says if food hits the floor it’s still usable as long as it is picked up within 5 seconds. That idea is just disgusting! And having worked in multiple restaurant chains in my life, I would like to assure you that many restaurants (even though we joke about it) don’t actually practice the 5 second rule. If it hits the floor, it doesn’t go out the serving door! Continue reading
Water is all around us. We drink it. We use it to clean ourselves and our possessions. We even use it in churches for a different kind of cleaning. Listen to a portion of Pastor Derrick’s message titled There’s Something in the Water.
Perhaps you’ve heard some of the church people in 
your life referring to something called Epiphany lately. Maybe you are a little cloudy on its meaning. Don’t worry you’re definitely not alone. I would venture to guess that many followers of Jesus don’t even know what it really is all about.
Here’s a quick look – Epiphany – We use the word to describe the moment when we finally understand something. It’s like the whole lightbulb going on moment.
Epiphany is actually an event in the history of the bible. It’s the event known by the church as the visit of the wisemen, or more accurately the Magi. These were men who weren’t part of the Jewish heritage. They were outsiders or what the bible calls Gentiles. The word Gentile is a description of people from other nations.
Epiphany is the day when the church celebrates the visit of the wisemen to the place where Jesus was living. They saw the star (a light in the sky) and it revealed to them a new thing. Much like an idea is marked by a lightbulb today!
So all in all this day known as Epiphany is a day of a new idea or a new thing coming to the world. This new thing was Jesus. Epiphany is the marker for the time when God revealed himself to people outside of the Jewish tradition. It was God intervening in the history of the world in his son Jesus.
Whether you are a churched person or not, Epiphany is for you! You see Jesus came to the world to show you a new way of living. He came to show you a new thought, idea, life. Perhaps today you can turn on a light and be reminded of the light of Jesus that came to the world to show you his love. If you’re a Jesus follower, then you are a light to the people around you.
So there it is, Epiphany. Today take a moment and relish the new idea!
