The logo for the harvest community church is a wheat ear.

Previous Sermons

Off and Running!

April 21, 2024 | Passage: Acts 13:1-4/ Pastor: Ben Ridder

As we continue in our series on the book of Acts, we come to the place where the “official” ministry of the apostle Paul begins. It
marks a major shift in both the book and the history of the early  church, as the gospel is going out to the ends of the earth. This
morning we are focusing on Paul and Barnabas being both called and sent by God, and the necessity of the church recognizing both
the calling and the sending.

NOTE: During the audio, it may be necessary to increase the volume to hear the voice of Pastor Ben during the sermon.

What You Need to Know

April 14, 2024 | Passage: Acts 12:11-18 | Pastor: Ben Ridder

As we continue in the book of Acts, we find Peter, newly escaped prisoner, knocking on the door of prayer warriors who are surprised their prayer has been answered in such a wonderful way. That’s not the only surprise in the story. Perhaps the bigger surprise is why Peter takes the time to search these folks out before going into hiding to let things cool off a bit. In the midst of all the “humanness” found in this story we discover timeless principles of church body life. 

Spiritual Reflexes

April 7, 2024 | Passage: Acts 12:5–17 | Pastor: Ben Ridder

This morning we go back to our series in the book of Acts. Before us is that remarkable story of God’s delivering of Peter from certain death, while the church is involved in continual and earnest prayer. The question for us today is what is our spiritual reflex? When something wonderful or troubling is present, what is our automatic go-to response?

The Work of Christ in the Resurrection (Easter 2024)

March 31, 2024 | Passage: Corinthians 15 | Pastor: Ben Ridder

He is risen! He is risen indeed! Welcome to Harvest Community Church. This morning we remember and celebrate what lies at the center of the Christian faith: the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul stated it so clearly: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. And if Christ has not been raised from the dead, you are still in your sins. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (I Corinthians 15: 14,17, 19).

Made a Curse

March 24, 2024 | Passage: Galatians 3:10-14 | Pastor: Ben Ridder

This morning we take a break from our series in the book of Acts to focus on one element of the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. This morning, and then again at the Good Friday Service we will be looking at how Jesus frees us from the curse of God by becoming a curse for us. What does it mean to be under God’s curse and how did the work of Jesus free us from that curse and bring upon us instead the blessing of God?

A Model for Prayer

March 17, 2024 | Passage: Kings 18:36-46 | Pastor: Duane Nieuwsma

This morning we welcome to bring us the Word of God, Pastor Duane Nieuwsma. Pastor Nieuwsma is a retired Christian Reformed Pastor who stays active in the church through various means. He recently finished a stint at Restoration Christian Reformed Church in Middleville while their pastor was on sabbatical.

I Set My Hope

March 10, 2024 | Passage: Samuel 17:1-50 | Pastor: Caleb Horjus

This morning we welcome to bring God’s message to us Mr. Caleb Horjus. Caleb is currently studying at Calvin Theological Seminary and serving as the Director of Youth at Caledonia Christian Reformed Church.

The Folly of Fighting Against God: Part 2

March 3, 2024 | Passage: Acts 13:18-25 | Pastor: Ben Ridder


This morning we continue our look at the history of the early church as it is found in the book of Acts. Today we will finish our look at a particular King Herod and his attempt to put an end to the Christian Church. He serves as an example of the folly of fighting against God, whose might cannot be contested, whose punishment cannot be avoided, and whose purposes cannot be foiled. We serve a wonderful and mighty God!

The Folly of Fighting Against God: Part 1

February 25, 2024 | Passages: Acts 12:1-5, 18-25 | Pastor: Ben Ridder


This morning, as we continue in our walk through the book of Acts, we run into a familiar name of a not so familiar figure, King Herod. King Herod comes from a long line of King Herods; the Herodian dynasty which can be identified as enemies of God. Everywhere they show up in the New Testament they are true to their identity, to both their folly and their shameful deaths. They serve us as an example of the foolishness of going against the Sovereign Lord God.

A New Beachhead in the Kingdom

February 16, 2024 | Passage: Book of Acts | Pastor: Ben Ridder


As we continue in our series in the book of Acts, we see for the first time the gospel message purposefully going out to the Gentiles. Up until this point, the church was almost exclusively made up of those of Jewish descent or religion. We also find a monumental shift as the city of Antioch becomes the new beachhead city in the ongoing war against sin and darkness.

Not So Fast

February 11, 2024 | Passage: Acts 10:11-18 | Pastor: Ben Ridder

As we continue in the book of Acts, we find Peter going back to Jerusalem where news of the Gentiles “receiving the Word of God” has preceded his arrival. Not everyone is happy about this and are quick to express their objection. Do we have our own criteria as to who is fit to be a part of the Christian church, or do we rejoice in gladness that the one lost sheep is found?

Walls Coming Down: Part 2

February 4, 2024 | Passage: Acts 10:23b-48 | Pastor: Ben Ridder

Having watched God give two different men two different versions concerning the other, we turn this morning to the power meeting God has prepared them for. With this Gentile Cornelius coming to faith in Jesus Christ, the walls of division between Jew and Gentile continue to crumble. As Paul would later confirm to the church at Galatia: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28-29

Walls Coming Down: Part 1

January 28, 2024 | Passage: Acts 10:1-23 | Pastor: Ben Ridder

As we continue in our walk through the book of Acts, we arrive at a critical point in the book and in all of church history.  One of the hardest truths to accept by the early church is that salvation was not only for the Jews.  For 2000 years they had seen themselves exclusively as the people of God, and in their wildest imaginations they could not imagine the non-Jewish likes of you and me as having any place at the table of God.  The story of Peter the apostle and Cornelius the centurion shows God in His bringing the walls of separation down.  What God has brought down, let us not seek to build back up.

Saved to Serve

January 21, 2024 | Passage: Acts 9:32-43 | Pastor: Ben Ridder

This morning we continue our series in the book of Acts.  Our passage today reintroduces Peter to the center stage of the early church history.  Peter is the number one leader of the church currently.  Instead of sitting on a throne in a place of exaltation, he puts his sandals on and hits the dusty road, ministering tremendous understanding of doing what he does by the power of his Lord and for the glory of his God. He serves us as a pointed example of the principle that anyone who has been saved by the blood of Jesus, has been saved to serve.

Winning Debates, Bearing no Fruit

January 14, 2024 | Passage: Acts 9:19-31 | Pastor: Ben Ridder

As we continue our series in the book of Acts, we find the newly converted Saul eager to get on with the work he is sure the Lord is calling him to.  Turns out even the greatest evangelist the world has ever seen outside of Jesus Christ needed some time of preparation, and not just a class or two.  Most likely Saul (Paul) was in preparation for 14 years before entering full-time ministry for the gospel of Christ.  That’s a big difference from what happens in the Western Christian Church world where someone with name recognition is thrust behind pulpits and into ministry positions shortly after conversion.

a field of wheat is growing in the wind on a white background.
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