107 Coldren Street, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15904, United States
Upcoming Sermons & Devotional Message
May Sermons 2026
Mother’s Day
5-10- A Mother’s Vow
1 Samuel 1:11 Proverbs 31:10 + Proverbs 31:30
Ascension Sunday
5-17 What Goes Up Must Come Down
Daniel 7:13+14 Acts 1:6-11
Pentecost Sunday
5-24 A Holy Ghost Pour Out
Joel 2:28-32 Acts 2:1-4
Memorial Day Sunday
5-31- Never Forget
Exodus 12:14 Mark 14:3-9
Devotional Message : These will change 1-2 times a week. Stop by often to read the new message.
Some Thoughts About Freedom and Constraint
Freedom is a wonderful thing—but we don't receive freedom from constraints. In the Bible, God offers His children the gift of a relationship with Him that's defined and guided by His Law. God's laws aren’t restrictions without reason, but are intended to guard and guide His children in their journeys of obedience.
I often refer to God’s offer of relationship as a journey through this life to the next—and His laws as the “guardrails” intended to keep our lives out of the ditch. But when we break God’s Law and our lives wind up in the ditch of sin’s consequences, His grace forgives and restores us when we repent and turn toward Him.
God’s people often found themselves in the ditch of breaking God’s Law—and they suffered the consequences.
“In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. He carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace” (1 Kings 14:25, 26a).
“The prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, ‘This is what the Lord says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak’” (2 Chronicles 12:5).
Rehoboam allowed evil to flourish in Judah—so God sent the king of Egypt to attack them.
When Rehoboam heard this, he humbled himself and said, “The Lord is just” (2 Chronicles 12:6). Then God softened the punishment, saying,
“My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands” (2 Chronicles 12:7b, 8).
Rehoboam loved freedom so much that he wanted to be free from God—but when he was free from God, no one could protect him from Shishak. So instead of serving the King of Heaven, he was forced to serve the king of Egypt.
The same is true for us as well. If we refuse to serve God, no one will protect us from the one who hates us most. Perfect freedom comes from serving the God who made us and who will love us unto death.
Enjoy your freedom within constraints, my friends!