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THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS Jesus is not just a teacher among many; He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). To know His teachings is to know what God values, how God loves, and what God desires for humanity. When Jesus speaks, we hear the voice of God Himself. He didn’t come to hand down abstract ideas—He came to invite us into a new way of living. His teachings are not burdens, but invitations into freedom, wholeness, and life in the Kingdom of God. As He said, “The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63). In a world full of noise, opinions, and shifting values, Jesus’ words remain timeless and true. He promised, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Knowing His teachings keeps us from being swept away by cultural trends or personal whims. And just as He challenged the worldly ways of culture, He also confronted the misguided ways of the religious, calling both sinners and saints alike to repentance and to the freedom of God’s kingdom. To follow Jesus means to be shaped by Him. His commands—love your enemies, forgive as you’ve been forgiven, seek first God’s kingdom—transform us from the inside out. Knowing His teachings allows us to become more like Him in thought, word, and deed. And His words are not only for personal growth but for the sake of the world. He sends His followers to embody His love and justice, to share the good news (real good news), and to make disciples. Without knowing His teachings, we can’t faithfully carry out His mission. That’s why we’re going to spend the next year walking closely with Jesus and His own words—His commands, His stories, and His vision for life in God’s kingdom. We’re calling this journey The Teachings of Jesus, and we’ll begin right where He began: with Real Good News and the announcement of His mission to bring hope, healing, and freedom to the world. "REAL GOOD NEWS" - SEPTEMBER SERIES In Luke 4, Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 and announces His mission: to bring good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, set captives free, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Over four weeks, we’ll explore what this good news meant for God’s people coming out of the Babylonian exile, for those living in Jesus’ day, and for us in our lives today. We’ll see how trusting and following Jesus brings hope for physical and spiritual poverty, healing for grief and disappointment, release from the chains of sin and fear, and beauty for ashes with joy that overflows. Whether you feel worn down, weighed down, or longing for something real, come and discover how the good news of Jesus still changes lives for all who put their trust in Him. As in the past, we'll also post sermon-based discussion questions on our website to help foster healthy discussion in our life groups. Sep 07 – “Real Good News” – Hope for physical and spiritual poverty. Jesus begins His ministry by announcing that God’s kingdom has come near, offering hope to the poor, the weary, and those longing for change. This good news is not only for the materially poor but also for all of us who know our deep need for God. Sep 14 – “Real Healing for Hurting Hearts” – Healing for grief and disappointment. Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted, bringing comfort where there is loss, strength where there is weakness, and new life where hope has faded. In Him, our deepest wounds can begin to heal. Sep 21 – “Real Freedom for the Stuck” – Release from chains of sin and captivity. Whether trapped by guilt, shame, addiction, or fear, Jesus offers true freedom. His power breaks the chains that hold us back and opens the door to a new way of living. Sep 28 – “Real Joy” – Beauty for ashes and gladness that overflows. Jesus turns sorrow into celebration, despair into hope, and ashes into beauty. In Him, we find a joy that the world cannot take away—gladness that overflows into every part of our lives. PASTOR JIM'S WEBSITE I want to let you know about my personal website, JimMurphy.net. This site is a place where I share many of the resources I’ve been creating and will continue to develop for our church and beyond as bible studies, daily devotionals, blog posts, and other resources to help people grow in their walk with Jesus. It’s intended not only for our congregation but also for anyone curious about Jesus, who wants to grow in their faith, or dig deeper into Scripture on specific topics. You’ll find daily devotional study guides, articles that connect faith with everyday life, and reflections on topics that matter in today’s world. I hope that as these resources grow and develop, they will be encouraging, helpful, and something that can be shared with friends or family who may be exploring faith or conversations about various topics. I invite you to take a look, bookmark the site, and check back regularly as I continue to add new content.
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Welcome to A New Way of ThinkingFollowing Jesus is not just a decision—it’s a new way of thinking, living, and seeing the world. And it's this new way of life that must take early root in the life of a new follower of Jesus.
This summer, I'm inviting you to join me as we walk through a new discipleship resource I'm working on to guide new believers through the early stages of their journey with Christ. Your feedback will be invaluable as we move toward deploying it as a finished resource to provide for new Christians. I'm also looking for a few individuals that would like to prepare to use it as a coach for new believers. A participant's guide and a leader's guide will be released this summer as well. Beginning June 8, over the next thirteen weeks, you'll explore who God is, what it means to belong to His kingdom, and how to live a life shaped by His love, truth, and purpose. In addition to weekly sermons and group discussions, we'll provide daily guidance that builds on a central theme rooted in Scripture and focuses on a key part of your spiritual journey—your identity in Christ, the presence of the Holy Spirit, the character of God, the battle against sin, and the mission of the church. You’ll discover that faith is not just about knowing more—it’s about becoming more like Jesus. You’ll also learn spiritual practices that help you grow and stay spiritually healthy—like prayer, reflection, reading Scripture, listening, and serving others. These rhythms will shape your life from the inside out. You’ll find space each day for reading God’s Word, reflecting on a New Thought for the Day, journaling, and praying honestly. This study is personal, but it’s also communal. It’s meant to be walked out in relationship with others—through discussion, encouragement, and shared growth. You’re not alone on this path. This study is called Welcome to a New Way of Thinking because following Jesus means letting go of old patterns and embracing the mindset of the kingdom. As you read, reflect, and respond, you’ll begin to see how God is renewing your thoughts, your identity, and your way of life. - Pastor Jim A BURNING HEARTLast week I went to Tucson, AZ, for a retreat designed for pastors. It's called "Deeper in Christ" and is sponsored by our denomination, the Evangelical Covenant Church, as part of their “Sustaining Pastoral Excellence” ministry. I experienced individualized spiritual guidance, evaluation of my spiritual and emotional health, and worship and prayer with communion twice a day with a group of 11 retreatants and 7 directors. And I spent lots of time alone with God in personal prayer, fasting, and time in his Word. It was such a renewing experience for me. I've been longing for more in my own spiritual journey and for a new perspective on what God is doing in my life and our church. They provided many opportunities for us to draw closer to God and reflect on our faith journeys and ministries. Multiple times each day, my heart was calmed with the rhythms of prayer and reading scripture. I even found a favorite chair to sit in each day as I prayed and read, periodically gazing over the valley and lifting my eyes up to the mountain, looking to the one from whom my help comes.  I found the Spirit stirring in my soul and drawing me closer to him during our times as a group. One moment stands out to me most prominently. I was in the middle of a 30-hour fast in the middle of the week. I hadn't planned it. I just felt called to it. At first, it was for only one meal. But then it stretched to the next and then to the next—all by some internal craving for something more satisfying than even the feasts they served us in the dining hall. In the middle of this fast, one of the directors led us through a slow and reflective reading of the story of Jesus appearing to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, found in Luke 24:13-35. As soon as she began, with my eyes closed and imagining being there with them in the text, my emotions started overwhelming me so much that I didn't understand what was happening. I found myself feeling excited when the disciples, not realizing that they were talking to Jesus, told the man about all the things that had happened. I found myself enthralled with the idea of hearing Jesus himself explain everything to them. I found myself deeply loved when they ate together in the evening. And I found myself just as shocked as they were when they realized that the man in front of them was Jesus, immediately followed by his disappearance! I didn't understand why my emotions were so on fire. Until the director read verse 32, "They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” It was then that the Lord revealed to me that he was simply giving me the gift of a "burning heart." It was such a renewing moment for me. I'm so thankful for that time I had in the desert. It was a time of self-denial and a deep longing for more of God. It was an environment rich with the Spirit's presence, the space needed for rest and renewal, and the opportunities for new friendships and experiences—the impact of which will stay with me for a long time. My friends, I encourage you to foster the flame that flickers in your hearts. Carve out the time you need to get away just to be with God. Reflect deeply on His Word. Pray with a listening ear. And allow His Spirit to give you the gift of a burning heart. Should women be pastors, preachers, and church leaders, or should they be "silent in the churches"?
Is the husband the head of the wife, or are they equal partners in a mutual marriage, leading their families together? Many Christians and churches do not allow women to be pastors, preachers, or church leaders and encourage complementarian approaches to marriage and family relationships. They point to statements from the Apostle Paul, such as the following:
These statements seem to make it very clear that God doesn't want women to be pastors, preachers, and church leaders and that husbands are their wives' God-ordained leaders...right? We in the Covenant Church say, "wrong." These conclusions come from a superficial, face-value reading of scripture that relies on a "plain sense" understanding of the Bible. This approach is fine for your personal devotions because God's Spirit can speak very easily through a simple reading of scripture like this for daily encouragement and inspiration. However, when it comes to studying scripture for doctrine, we must take a more conservative approach, ensuring that we do our best to find God's inspired meaning of the text through the original author's original intent for their original audience in their original context. This requires a deeper study of the historical context, the cultural circumstances, and the nuances of ancient idioms (phrases, metaphors, etc.). It also requires measuring statements like these against what we find in the whole of scripture (Genesis to Revelation). After this kind of study, we in the Covenant Church have found some helpful clarifications of the original intent behind these statements. Thus, we have come to a conclusion that is quite different from some other evangelical churches—one that has led to empowering women as leaders since our denomination's beginning, ordaining women as pastors for almost 50 years, and encouraging egalitarian mutualism in marriage. Some people think we should treat this matter as one of those "gray areas" under the Freedom in Christ affirmation. They propose that we embrace both convictions within the Covenant Church, allowing room for respectful disagreement. However, because the former conviction negatively impacts 50% of our population and limits them from full participation in church leadership and has a significant impact on church practice, affirming both convictions as equally supported in the church (in the same manner as our approach to infant baptism and dedication) is simply untenable. Therefore, we boldly hold to this conviction and clearly identify it within our affirmations. For two Sundays, we're addressing these two questions by exploring the biblical bases for the unrestricted ministry of women in the church on February 23rd and egalitarian mutualism in marriage on March 2nd. We hope you can join us for these two Sundays either onsite or online. If you know anyone who might benefit from these messages, please invite them to join us or share a link to the live streams with them. Give Thanks in All Circumstances
As you celebrate Thanksgiving this week, remember these words of the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Think of the rejoicing of those pilgrims in 1621 after their first successful harvest. Remember the long difficult journey they made across the ocean to Plymouth and through their first winter on these new lands. Think of their courage and their hope. But also remember their scarcity of food, meagerness of shelter, and loss of life (half of their colony). These experiences served as the seeds of humility that bloomed into gratitude during that 3-day festival in November 1621. Paul also tells us in Romans 12:15-16 to "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another." Rejoice with Those who Rejoice So, remember the help those pilgrims received from the people of the local Wampanoag and Pawtuxet Tribes who taught the Pilgrims, weakened by malnutrition and illness, how to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers and avoid poisonous plants. It was because of their help that the Pilgrims not only celebrated this "first Thanksgiving" but also invited their Native American allies to join in the rejoicing with them. But also remember how drastically the relationship between the new colonists and the indigenous people of this land changed. Remember how quickly hearts changed for evil with many atrocities to follow. Mourn With Those who Mourn Remember that while Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be a national holiday during the Civil War in 1863, the United American Indians of New England declared this same day to be a National Day of Mourning in 1970. Written on a monument established in Plymouth, MA, is the following: "Thanksgiving day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the relentless assault on Native culture. Participants in National Day of Mourning honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive today. It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection as well as a protest of the racism and oppression which Native Americans continue to experience." Some Native Americans understandably reject the Thanksgiving holiday entirely. For them, it represents pain and horror. Others like to embrace positive messages of the day and put aside thoughts about its complex history. For them, the idea of giving thanks, which is central to Native heritage and culture, is worthy of celebrating. Live in Harmony with One another As we give thanks this week for our own provisions and blessings, we rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. For Paul's command to "live in harmony with one another" requires enough humility in our own hearts to acknowledge both the joy and the pain that others experience in life. When Steven Peters, a former spokesman for the Wampanoag Tribe (the tribe that originally helped those first pilgrims), was asked about his feelings regarding what Thanksgiving Day and the National Day of Mourning mean to Native Americans, he had this to say: "I think it's great. My ancestors had four harvest festivals throughout the year. Gathering with family, enjoying our company, sharing our blessings, and giving thanks for all that we have is a good thing. I say have more thanksgiving events throughout the year. I also ask that you take a moment in that day to remember what happened to my people and the history as it was recorded and not the narrative that we had been given in the history books." So let us rejoice, mourn, pray, give thanks, and live in harmony, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth Sundays September 8, 15, and 22 This month, as we kickoff off the new school year, with all our programs and groups starting back up, we will be exploring an expression of our God-given mission as "bringing people to Jesus and heaven to earth." "Bringing people to Jesus and heaven to earth" is a statement that captures our evangelistic and missional heart. The first half captures the essence of John 1:41–42 where Andrew tells Simon, "We have found the Messiah!" and he brought him to Jesus. The second half captures the heart of the Lord's prayer from Matthew 6 where Jesus teaches us to pray "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven". We want all people to know that Jesus is our only hope. Trusting in him brings healing to our hurting lives and hope to all of humanity. By trusting Jesus, keeping his commands, and following his example, we can find freedom, healing, peace, and unity in the kingdom of God. This is the meaning of God’s “will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” There IS hope for humanity, but it only comes through Jesus. When we come to Jesus, heaven comes to earth. This is our mission. Bringing people to Jesus requires that we actively share the gospel with those who don’t have faith in Jesus. This includes publicly sharing the gospel during our Sunday services and messages and giving people an opportunity to respond. It also includes each of us personally sharing the gospel with others in our own lives—whether they be family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc. Bringing heaven to earth requires intentional discipleship of those who have put their faith in Jesus on what it means to be a follower of Jesus in the kingdom of God so that His will would be done “on earth as it is in heaven.” It includes living in community with one another and actively serving each other with love and compassion through missional ministries and partnerships both inside and outside our church. And, it reflects the beauty of heaven when we gather together to worship God. I'll be preaching about this statement over three Sundays, September 8, 15, and 22. As I do, I encourage you to explore the following resources. VIDEOS
HEAVEN AND EARTH PODCAST SERIES This podcast series from the Bible Project does a great job of explaining further what this means.  SERMONS
BOOKS Here are a few books you could read for more consideration of our mission as the church. Each of these are available for Kindle but we'll also have some paperback copies available at church.
"The King Jesus Gospel" by Scot McNight "Surprised by Hope," by N.T. Wright "The Divine Conspiracy," by Dallas Willard "Bringing Heaven to Earth," by Josh Ross and Jonathan Storment (an entry-level, easy to read book, capturing the heart of this statement for the average person) Note: Every book we read, video we watch, or podcast we listen to will likely contain various statements that are either confusing or with which you or I might disagree. Biblical study always requires personal, Spirit-led discernment, careful analysis and discussion, as well as humility to learn and the granting of charity for different perspectives.  RIVER CITY DAYS PARADE SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 1:00PM It's been a while since our church entered a float in a Red Wing parade, so it's exciting to see us enter one this year! Several people have been involved with planning, constructing, and decorating a float that represents the joy and hope of the people of First Covenant Church.
Embellished with the colors of our church's logo (gold, purple, green, and orange), this float is a symbol of new life that can be found in Christ, the diversity of the kingdom of God and it's unity around Christ, and the brightness of its light in a darkened world because of Christ. Standing on the float will be a team of talented musicians from the church band singing and playing their hearts out for the glory of God. They'll be singing "let me tell you about My Jesus." They'll be proclaiming that "The Church is Alive!" And, they'll be calling all Christians to be "a little more like Jesus and Less Like Me." Walking alongside the float will be a few of us wearing t-shirts saying "GOD LOVED FIRST LOVE GOD." We want people to know the great love with which God has first loved us, then call them to first love God in their lives. Only when we discover the joy of loving God first will our souls be restored with hope. As we toss candy to the families watching the parade, we want people to know that we see them, care about them, and invite them to taste and see that the Lord is good—even better than the sweet taste of the treats we're sharing. Those of you who will be along the parade route, watching the floats go by will also be representing, not only First Covenant Church but, Jesus Christ himself. Some of you will be wearing the same shirt as those who are in the parade. But all of you are called to "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14), to let the "message of Christ dwell among you richly" (Colossians 3:16), and bearing the Spirit's fruit of "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:23). We participate in this parade for three reasons. First, we want to proclaim the good news of the kingdom that comes in Jesus Christ. Second, we want to invite the people of Red Wing into our church community. And third, we just want to participate with our neighbors in our neighborhood activities to show our love for our neighbors. Though we are not of this world, we are still in this world and we choose to walk alongside the people of this world, sharing the hope of Jesus with all as we go. Please be praying for all those involved with the float and that the Holy Spirit would work through our presence in the River City Days Parade. AS I AM
As we walk through this summer series titled "As I Am" we are being called by God to "be holy as I am holy." Each week of this series we're exploring a different character trait of God's and how he is developing that same character trait in us. As we do, I invite you to do three things.
STAGE LIGHTING The Full Council is exploring the possibility of upgrading our stage lighting for both the center (preaching) stage and the side (music) stage. This isn't really a matter of "needing to upgrade again" after what we did in 2019. This is more of an area of remodeling that wasn't really done in the first place. Those of you who attend onsite might not notice the need very easily. That's likely because you've gotten accustomed to the way the lighting is in the room and it's a soft home-like experience. And it works. But those of you who watch online can tell the need for this because our video appears blurry and dark and washed out. That's not a problem with the cameras. It's the lighting. In lighting terms the minimum amount of "lux" needed (think brightness) for video is 1000 with 1500-2000 being better. Our current stage lighting is only 200-300 lux (which is probably about the same as your kitchen) using standard led floodlight type fixtures. We need more professional lighting to achieve the brightness that other churches have who do well with their service livestreams. When this upgrade takes place, you'll notice a significant improvement to the quality of the online video and a much brighter experience onsite. Please note, we're not talking about flashing laser lights and smoke and all that. This is just white lighting to brighten up the faces. Giving has been strong this year so we'll likely be able to cover the expenses but if you'd like to financially support that project, your gifts will help us ensure it gets done well. MORE NEW PEOPLE Last week Deanna and I enjoyed hosting half a dozen young couples (with no kids or with one baby) who are new to the church within the last 10 months. We had a great time getting to know each other and making connections. Sarah tells me that she's added 16 new families to our database within the last 8-10 months. Please, make connections with these new people by introducing yourselves and getting to know them. STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR CHURCH
As we all move into the summer with so many opportunities to get out do stuff we couldn't all winter, I'm inviting you to consider making it a priority to stay connected to your church. If you're away, watch the service online. You can always find them on our Livestream page or our YouTube Channel. If you're nearby, try to make it a priority to join us for worship! Summer is also a time when giving tends to go down. Many people only give when they're present. Would you be willing to come up with a way to continue your giving even if you're not here? Your consistent contributions to the mission of this church will help us continue to grow our staff, ministry programs, and missional impact on the Red Wing community. AS I AM Our next preaching series, June through August, is called, "AS I AM: How the Character of God Defines the People of God." In the scriptures, God commands us to "be holy as I am holy." Each week we'll explore a particular character trait of God's and how it blesses us. Then we'll explore how we can develop that character trait in ourselves, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and bless others, as well. If you happen to be away, try to catch us online on our Livestream page or our YouTube Channel. REFLECTIONS ON OUR 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION President Rev. Tammy Swanson-Draheim This last Sunday, May 26 2024, we had the honor of hosting Rev. Tammy Swanson-Draheim, President of the Evangelical Covenant Church (our denomination). Pastor Tammy's presence and message were so inspiring to all who were here! She honored First Covenant so well by acknowledging so many important parts of our church's history and the people who were part of it all. I'm so glad so many of you got to hear her message and even meet her. You were all so gracious and encouraging. I'm so thankful for such a great weekend. If you didn't get to see her message, you can watch it on YouTube or on our 150th Anniversary webpage. Superintendent Rev. Kara Stromberg We also had the honor of hosting Rev. Kara Stromberg, Superintendent of the Northwest Conference of Covenant churches on May 05 2024. I've know Pastor Kara for many years and watched her grow from being a children's pastor, to joining the conference staff as the Director of Children and Family to becoming the Associate Superintendent and now as the Superintendent. Kara and I serve on the NWC Ministerial Association's Executive Board together and I truly appreciate her leadership and pastoral heart. Pastor Kara, too, honored our church's 150th Anniversary well and she is such an encouraging person. I'm so thankful that you all have had the opportunity to hear and meet her. If you weren't in church the Sunday she was here, you can watch the service on YouTube or on our 150th Anniversary webpage. |
Pastor JimThese articles are monthly posts from pastor Jim Archives
August 2025
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About Us
First Covenant Church is part of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), which is a rapidly growing multi-ethnic denomination in the United States and Canada, with ministries on five continents of the world. Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the ECC values the Bible as the word of God, the gift of God's grace, and an ever-deepening spiritual life that comes through faith with Jesus Christ. We value the importance of extending God's love and compassion to a hurting world, and the strength that comes from unity within diversity. |
Office Hours
Monday 9 AM–2 PM
Tuesday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM Wednesday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM Thursday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM Friday 8:30 AM–2:00 PM Saturday Closed Sunday 9 AM–11:30 AM |