Sunrise Ministries

Congregational Care Pastor, Bill VanderWerp's gives a message focused on the right way to listen to a sermon. He uses Jesus' Parable of the Sower to compare listeners to different types of soil, representing varying receptivity to God's word. To ensure the message falls on "good soil," Bill shares George Whitfield's five essential directions for preparing one's heart, focusing on applying the Word rather than judging the preacher. ...

In this week's sermon, we explore the response of Zophar to Job, focusing on how we handle offenses and challenging beliefs. The message discusses the danger of holding onto rigid assumptions that prevent us from showing compassion and understanding to others, especially those who are suffering. We must root our identity in God's love and be open to his work beyond our limited understanding.

Worship Setlist:  • Praise You Anywhere ...

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you knew something, but didn't truly understand it? Possessing knowledge is different from truly connecting with its meaning. This distinction between knowledge and understanding is at the heart of a profound spiritual lesson about empathy, hope, and experiencing God's presence in our darkest moments.

Worship Setlist:  • House of the Lord  • Who Else  • Though You Slay Me  • Son of ...

Have you ever felt like you're carrying more than you can handle? Like the weight of your circumstances is crushing you, and you're not sure how much longer you can hold on? If so, you're not alone. Many of us have heard the well-meaning phrase, "God won't give you more than you can handle." But is this really true? And more importantly, what do we do when life feels like it's too much?

Worship Setlist:  • Glorious Day  • Make Room...

Today, Pastor Dennis continues our exploration of how we respond to those experiencing deep suffering and uncomfortable laments. We examine Bildad's (Job’s second friend) well-intentioned but ultimately unhelpful approach to Job's pain and considered how we might better support those in distress. The sermon challenges us to reconsider how we offer comfort and theological truths, emphasizing the importance of relationship and compas...

This week’s sermon explores the danger of presuming to speak for God, drawing from the story of Job and his friend Eliphaz. It reflects on how easily advice or comfort can miss the mark, and the importance of humility and self-awareness in difficult conversations. Ultimately, the message reminds us that our presence often speaks louder than any words we offer. Worship Setlist: • Your Love Never Fails • Hosanna • 'Til I See You • C...

In the depths of our darkest moments, when those we love are suffering, we often find ourselves grappling with a profound question: Where is God? This question runs deep in human experience from ancient times to our present day. It's a question that demands our attention, not just for theological discourse, but for the very real and raw moments when pain seems to overshadow everything else.

Worship Setlist: • Raise a Hallelujah  • ...

Pastor Cory explores the importance of prayer in our lives. Delving into Luke 11:1-13, he examines Jesus' teachings on prayer through the Lord's Prayer and the parable of the persistent friend. Prayer is not just about making requests, it's about building a relationship with our Heavenly Father, waiting in his presence, aligning ourselves with His kingdom purposes, and being persistent as we seek Him.

Worship Setlist: • Glorious Da...

In the depths of our darkest moments, when pain and loss seem overwhelming, we often find ourselves questioning God's goodness. We may wonder if our faith and righteous living have any bearing on the trials we face. The story of Job, a man of exemplary character and unwavering faith, challenges our assumptions about suffering and reveals profound truths about God's nature and our response to adversity.

Worship Setlist:  • I Thank G...

Life often throws us curveballs that leave us reeling, questioning everything we thought we knew about God and His goodness. In these moments, it's tempting to rush past the pain, seeking quick resolutions and easy answers. But what if there's value in slowing down and sitting with our discomfort? What if God has something to teach us in the midst of our suffering?

Worship Setlist:  • Battle Belongs  • Firm Foundation  • Great Are ...