Greentree Christian Church Sunday Sermon - 7-19-26

Preacher- Chris Foster

This week Justin Cook shares a story from a recent family beach vacation in Florida. While walking along the shore, he saw a young boy who had built an impressive sandcastle complete with towers, a moat, and seashells. Moments later, another child came through and completely destroyed it, leaving the little boy devastated.

That moment became a powerful picture of how we often live as adults. Even though we grow older, many of us still spend our lives building “castles” — out of our careers, our families, our possessions, and even out of other people. These castles can look impressive, and others may admire what we’ve built. But like sandcastles, they are temporary.

Drawing from the words of Jesus and the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12), Justin contrasts building castles with building the Kingdom of God. Castles are built to protect and impress, often keeping people out and punishing those who fail. The Kingdom, on the other hand, is marked by grace, inclusion, and eternal purpose.

This devotional challenges us to examine our priorities: Are we building castles that will eventually wash away, or are we investing in the Kingdom that will last forever?

This Week’s Challenge:

Take some time to reflect on what you’re building with your life right now. Ask yourself honestly: Am I building castles for temporary approval and security, or am I building the Kingdom of God?

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.