Casas Church

Celebration Sunday - Love Our City/March 2, 2025/Glenn Barteau

Oftentimes we choose to love others because it’s “what a good Christian should do.” And that’s not bad, but as we mature spiritually, we can take a deeper look at what perspective Jesus modeled for us. When we take opportunities in our community to volunteer we become a part of the fabric of the city. It becomes ours. And, as outlined in Jeremiah 29:7, “…if it prospers, you too will prosper.” This is an encouragement to be involved in the city we live in and to be a difference maker where and when we can. 

People Aren't Projects/February 23, 2025/Stacie Bartels

When we look at Jesus, we get to model our lives after Him. He interacts with people in ways that they feel seen and valued. Jesus does this in two distinct things: He gives love a name and a story. We see this in action with the woman Jesus heals in Mark 5:24. He shows love and care, but doesn’t stop there. He sees the person first. 

Epiphany - Week Three/February 16, 2025/Glenn Barteau

Epiphany primarily celebrates three significant events that revolve around Jesus’ life: the visit of the Magi, Jesus’ baptism, and Jesus’ first miracle. In this final week of the series, we took a brief look at the meaning behind the Magi’s visit and how it was cause for hope. How does this hope translate to our day-to-day especially when we may be wrestling with hopelessness?

Epiphany - Week Two/February 9th, 2025/Glenn Barteau

In John 2, we are witness to Jesus’ first miracle. He turns water into wine at a wedding, which may seem unusual, but hospitality was paramount in that time and that culture. This first miracle of Jesus has a lot of parallels to Moses’ first miracle. However, there are a lot of differences as well. By comparing and contrasting both miracles, we learn that with Jesus we always have more than enough.

Epiphany - Week One/ February 2, 2025/Ryan Kramer

The season called Epiphany often includes commemorating the three wise men visiting Jesus, the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and Jesus’ first miracle at a wedding. Epiphany is the result of waiting and hoping for the Messiah. Today, we are not hoping for Him because He is with us. We have Him and the church can be the powerful expression of hope lived out and what goodness comes from living in the hope we have and can share with everyone. 

Renovating Religion- Week Four/January 26, 2025/Seth Kreimeyer-Kelly

How do we experience a God who is invisible to us? We know that God loves us, but we might not feel it with all that is happening in our lives. There are two ways that God shows His love: God makes Himself visible by manifesting Himself in Jesus and God makes Himself visible by manifesting Himself in us. As stated in 1 John 4:12 - we are the ones who can show God’s love for us by loving one another.

Renovating Religion - Week Three/January 19, 2025/Ryan Kramer

When we come to know and believe the unconditional love God has for us, we are assured that it will drive out fear as it says in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” Life is full of hurts and in those moments, it can be easy to leave love and reach for something else. However, love will transform us. We are encouraged to choose to trust the love of God and remain in that love. Let’s not let fear sit in the driver's seat of our faith, but let love be there and stay there. 

Renovating Religion - Week Two/January 12, 2025/Ryan Kramer

If what you’re being taught isn’t moving you to be centered in Christ and living out love then it’s not God. Keep testing what you hear against what John teaches us in 1 John 4 and keep testing it. It’s ok to wonder and ask questions when it comes to building your spiritual life. Everything God does flows from love and that’s how you know it’s God. If that’s not what you’re experiencing then maybe it’s time to renovate your spiritual life and test your foundation against who God is and what Jesus lives out in scripture. 

Last Sunday of the Year/December 29th, 2024/Glenn Barteau

There’s a theme running through scripture about how God remembers certain things and forgets others. This is asked of all of us too. Remembering includes holding on to the larger story of what God is doing. And forgetting, or letting go, includes stepping into the new thing God is doing. As we begin 2025, how do we end this year well and enter the new year embracing how God might use us as part of His larger story? 

Renovating Religion - Week One/January 5, 2025/Glenn Barteau

We often talk about the love God has for us and the love of Jesus we can share with others. However, we might forget that God actually likes us! In Genesis, God declares creation - including us - very good. He created us and wants to have a relationship with us. In Isaiah 43:25 He doesn’t say, “I will blot out your sin for your sake.” He declares, “I will blot out your sin for my sake.” He forgives our sins and remembers them no more because He wants a relationship with us. As we move forward in our spiritual life, it’s better to build a foundation on that knowledge rather than attempting to earn anything from God. We can’t earn His approval and we don’t have to worry about losing it either. He gives it freely.