Greentree Christian Church Sunday Sermon - 5.12.26

Preacher - Brenden Pristach

What Would You Do to Bring Your Friends to Jesus? | Mark 2

In this week’s devotional, Brenden shares a personal story about his son Micah’s recovery after surgery and how his older brother Lincoln stepped up to encourage and support him. That moment of brotherly love and determination reminded him of one of the most powerful stories in the Gospels — the healing of the paralytic in Mark chapter 2.

Four friends were so desperate to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus that they carried him to a crowded house, climbed onto the roof, dug through it, and lowered him down right in front of Jesus. Scripture says that Jesus saw their faith — the faith of the friends — and responded by forgiving the man’s sins and healing him.

This story highlights the power of radical friendship and determined faith. These four men did whatever it took to bring their friend to Jesus.

This devotional challenges us with an important question:

What are we willing to do to bring our friends to Jesus?

It’s a call to consider how far we’re willing to go — and what kind of love and faith it takes — to help the people around us encounter Jesus.

This Week’s Challenge:

Think about the people in your life who need Jesus. What is one practical step you can take this week to help bring them closer to Him?

Greentree Christian Church Sunday Sermon - 6.28.26

Preacher - Justin Cook

Greentree Christian Church Sermon - 7,5,26

Preacher - Chris Foster

This week we’re recording from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where our students have had an incredible week at CIY. In this devotional, we look at the powerful story in Joshua 3–4 as the Israelites prepare to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

God instructed the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant into the river, and when they did, the waters parted. Joshua then commanded the people to take 12 stones from the middle of the riverbed — one for each tribe — to build a memorial. These stones would serve as a lasting reminder for future generations of God’s faithfulness.

Just like the Israelites had physical stones of remembrance, we all have moments in our lives that remind us of God’s goodness — whether at church camp, during a powerful worship experience, through meaningful conversations, or even through simple objects like the rubber ducks that represent our friend Gajan.

This message encourages us to remember and share the stories of God’s faithfulness in both the good times and the difficult seasons.

This Week’s Challenge:

Take time this week to reflect on your own “stones of remembrance.” What moments, places, or people remind you of God’s faithfulness? Share one of those stories with someone this week.

Thank you for praying for our students and leaders as we wrap up this week and travel home safely.

In this week’s devotional, we explore Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness as recorded in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. While it’s easy to focus on the fact that Jesus resisted Satan’s temptations, there’s something deeper happening in these stories.

Jesus’ experience in the wilderness closely mirrors Israel’s time in the wilderness. Where Israel grumbled about food, tested God, and eventually worshiped idols, Jesus resisted each of those same temptations. He succeeded where Israel failed.

Luke’s account adds another layer. Right before telling the story of Jesus in the wilderness, Luke gives Jesus’ genealogy all the way back to Adam. In contrast to Adam, who failed in the abundance of the Garden, Jesus stood strong in the emptiness of the wilderness. He succeeded where Adam failed.

This is significant because it shows us that Jesus is not only Israel’s Messiah — He is humanity’s Messiah. He is the better representative. He succeeded where we have all fallen short.

The beautiful truth is this: Our standing before God is not based on how well we perform. It’s based on how well Jesus performed. And He was perfect.

This week, take comfort in the fact that you follow a Savior who is better than you — and who stands in your place.

This Week’s Challenge:

Reflect on areas where you feel like you’ve fallen short. Instead of striving harder in your own strength, thank Jesus for succeeding where you couldn’t. Let His perfect record become your confidence.

Greentree Christian Church Sermon - 6.21.26

Preacher - Chris Foster

In this week’s devotional, we take a look at one of the most unexpected and powerful moments from the World Cup so far — not something that happened on the field, but what happened after the final whistle.

After Japan’s match against the Netherlands, Japanese fans stayed behind and quietly cleaned up not only their own trash, but everyone else’s as well. This tradition, sometimes called the “Blue Bag Blessing,” has gone viral because it reflects something deeper than good manners. It’s a quiet expression of respect and responsibility for the spaces we share.

This simple act became a powerful picture of a spiritual truth: true character is often revealed not in our public victories, but in the quiet, unseen moments when no one else is watching.

Drawing from Philippians 2, we’re reminded of the example of Jesus, who didn’t cling to His status but humbled Himself and served others — even when it cost Him everything. True Christ-like character isn’t just about the big wins or the moments when people are cheering. It’s found in the thankless, behind-the-scenes acts of love and service.

This week, we’re challenged to carry our own “blue bag of blessing” — to look for quiet ways to serve others and leave the spaces around us a little better than we found them.

This Week’s Challenge: Look for one opportunity each day to serve someone quietly — without recognition or applause. Whether it’s cleaning up a mess you didn’t make, helping someone without being asked, or simply leaving a space better than you found it, let your actions reflect the humble, servant-hearted love of Jesus.

We hope this encourages you to live with quiet faithfulness this week.