Pastor Jake Stirnemann

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Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 What is the will of God for you? Most believers have asked this question. The apostle Paul encouraged the Thessalonian believers to be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances, for Keep reading…

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“Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.” These words written by John W. Work Jr. need to be reiterated again and again in a world that has almost forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is not just a celebration Keep reading…

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Before I address the title question, I would like to ask another question which has been asked by many self-centered individuals and that is “What’s in it for me?” The cross that Jesus died on and asked us to take up daily would not interest the individual who would ask “What’s in it for me?” Keep reading…

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Being the season of the birthday of our nation, I thought I would address our nation. My title being “God Bless America.” I believe that “God Bless America” is perhaps the most spoken phrase in America and even abroad, in many nations of late, in light of the catastrophes that have fallen on our land. Keep reading…

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Allow me to back up a few years into modern history to what we have experienced and are still experiencing yet today. Throughout most of the known world, “Covid 19” has made its appearance and untold numbers were affected with some part of this virus. Most generally, when the Bible addresses situations like this, they Keep reading…

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Repentance is absolutely necessary, and is indispensable to salvation. Whenever this subject it taught or preached, it brings forth fruit. Faith in Christ is the goal of teaching and preaching, but teaching and preaching must stress repentance. Webster defines repentance as “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life; to Keep reading…

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You may ask the question, “What is the meaning of Christmas?” The late John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what can you do for your country.” Jesus said in his teachings on giving and receiving, “It is better to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Our heavenly Keep reading…

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Have you ever thought about the nature of God or the attributes of Jesus Christ and tried to compare them with us? As ridiculous as this may sound, there is much Scripture compelling us to be like Christ. Paul encouraged the Corinthian believers to be like-minded, having their mind or attitude the same as that Keep reading…

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I’m special. In all the world there’s nobody like me. Since the beginning of time there has never been another person like me. Nobody has my smile, nobody has my eyes, nose, my hair, my hands, my voice—I’m special. No one can be found who has my handwriting. Nobody anywhere has my tastes for food, Keep reading…

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The late President John F Kennedy, in one of his best-noted addresses to the people of the United States of America, said, “Ask not what my country can do for me, ask what I can do for my country.” I see several principles, biblical and otherwise, within a statement of this caliber. For clarity, I Keep reading…

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Another year has come and gone and many of the aspirations we had have fallen short. We just did not get the job done, so to speak. Often at the threshold of a brand new year we make resolutions, things we decide upon, generally on the spur of the moment, without giving much thought to Keep reading…

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It’s hard to believe that another year has come and gone and so many things have transpired to us as a congregation that we feel have made us stronger as a family. We take this special time of the year to express our love and gratitude to our church family for another year of faithfulness. Keep reading…

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To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like all Keep reading…

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When we think about love, it is good to consider what love is. As complex as we think it is, love is very simple. God is love. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us, demonstrating his love for us. The love that God showed to us extended to the uttermost parts of the Keep reading…

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In situations like we are facing in our world today, we usually are reminded of 2 Chronicles 7. We usually quote verse 14, but I believe we should also include verse 13: “When I shut the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among Keep reading…

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About seventeen years ago, while I was driving down the highway, I was taken by surprise because of what was happening. As I approached an intersection the traffic light began to blink red, like a warning that something was about to happen. By the time I reached the next main intersection the signals were out Keep reading…

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This season closes a year of rehabilitation of my injuries which I had incurred from my accident over a year ago. Once again I want to express my gratitude to everyone for your prayers and all the love that you have shown to Judy and me throughout this past Keep reading…

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My article this month is a spin-off of Pastor Brian’s message a few weeks ago, Every Follower is a Fisher. I spent several years of my ministry in a certain persuasion that basically believed that almost all disciple making was the responsibility of the ministry, a select few. Matthew 28:19 clearly tells us “Go therefore Keep reading…

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Those who know me would know at a glance that this is the title of one of my favorite hymns of the church. What also excites me are the stories behind the song that inspired the author to pen such beautiful lyrics. Perhaps the title, “It is Well with My Soul,” is an affirmation to Keep reading…

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Hope is one of three graces that Paul uses quite frequently in the books of Romans, Corinthians and Thessalonians. These three graces faith, hope and love often appear together making it seem that they are inseparable. I’ll attempt to separate them, if possible, as I try and single out hope and how it is beneficial Keep reading…

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This season closes a year of the most significant developments within the history of my life, culminated with the assistance of “The Jaws of Death.” Most of you are cognizant of the tragic event I have experienced in the last four months of this year, in which I have Keep reading…

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One must take into consideration the timing of these particular writings to the Thessalonians. First Thessalonians is understood by many to be the earliest of the Pauline Epistles. One unique aspect of Paul’s relationship with the Thessalonians was how successful his ministry was in establishing this “infant” church in the time frame of three Sabbaths, Keep reading…

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We all realize that the Psalms, generally in a poetical manner were Scripture, sometimes with harmony that encourages us to come into worship as we meditate on the WORD. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness Keep reading…

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After viewing the movie, The Passion of Christ, several years ago, I realized how little I really knew about what Jesus went through as he endured the cross. Several years ago someone wrote a song entitled, Who am I? The words of the chorus helped me realize how great He was and how insignificant I Keep reading…

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According to 1 Cor. 13:13, hope is a companion with love and faith. It reads, “So now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” It is not surprising that hope should often be mentioned as a companion of faith. The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 are also Keep reading…

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Twenty years ago on March 19, 1998, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of Troy Christian Chapel, known then as Oak Park Christian Chapel. We sounded the trumpet with hundreds of members, current and past, as well as the honored presence of many friends. It was a time of rejoicing with a great Keep reading…

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Divine revelation has declared marriage to be honorable. It is an institution of God, ordained in the time of man’s innocence, before he had sinned against his maker. It was given in wisdom and kindness to repress irregular affection, to support social order and to provide that, through well-ordered families, truth and holiness might be Keep reading…

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First of all, I would like to establish that the building we worship in is not the Church. God has, by His word and Spirit, formed one holy and universal Church. The Church consists of those who have been called out of sinful humanity, born anew from God and separated for Christian service. As seen Keep reading…

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“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9). Christian character, biblically defined, is Keep reading…

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As a child growing up, one of the first songs I learned to sing was Jesus Loves Me. Jesus loves me this I know For the Bible tells me so Little ones to Him belong They are weak but He is strong Yes, Jesus loves me Yes, Jesus loves me Yes, Jesus loves me The Keep reading…

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First of all, on the back page of our weekly bulletin there is a statement pertaining to this subject. It reads, “Troy Christian Chapel does not have a dress code per se, but we do encourage our worshipers to dress with modesty and good taste. Christian worship is sacred time in sacred space, and it Keep reading…

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Probably one of the most used explanations would be, first of all, when they come to an accountable age—when they can understand their need for baptism. Baptism is one of the two ordinances of our church by-laws, the Eucharist being the other. To believe that either is not important would be misrepresenting Scripture. A child Keep reading…

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Throughout my fifty years of ministry I have been asked this question by the believing spouse in a marriage. Other times I wish they had asked for counsel. First of all, to avoid these situations, as pastors we advise believers not to marry unbelievers. In 2 Cor. 6:14, the Apostle Paul admonishes us to, “Do Keep reading…

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Before I answer this question let me share a real experience our family witnessed. In 1977, my father-in-law, Wilfred Downey was 86 years old and in the hospital with heart failure. As we were visiting him that evening, and we were about to leave, the doctor and nurse told us to say our good-byes to Keep reading…

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Can a Christian be saved without going to church? This is somewhat of a loaded question. First of all, going to church doesn’t save anyone. The Bible encourages in many ways the importance of coming together, whether it be in a church, synagogue, in one another’s homes, down by the riverside or anyplace where two Keep reading…

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