Good friendships matter for a good life. Proverbs gives guidance on what kind of friends we should choose, but then how do we develop those friendships?

God gives us a lot when we say "Yes" to Jesus: we’re also called to live without some things.

Peter shows us how to be faithful Christians in our times: 1st Century Discipleship in the 21st Century. And Jesus calls all of us “Follow Me”, even in times that make it hard to be Christian.

God's well known words to Joshua are also his words to us, especially when we face challenging seasons in our lives.

When all other options are exhausted in the wilderness, God will provide. The wilderness is where miracles happen.

There is no shame in not knowing how to pray - even the most mature sometimes simply do not how to bring their concerns to God, and what would be most pleasing to God. In this time the Holy Spirit will pray for us in accordance with the will of God.

The Christian must learn to wait. God's great work in us has only just begun. We are "washed" in Christ's blood, yet "waiting" for the full blessing of new life that will be ours in New Earth.

When we are anxious and worry about the future, it is good to fortify ourselves with a review of the Bible’s teaching on hope. In Romans 8:24-25, Paul lays out four things to know and do: 1. We were saved in hope (24a). 2. We do not hope for what we see (24b). 3. We hope for what we do not see (25a). 4. We hope with endurance (25b). And beware: the two great enemies of hope, despair and presumption, are lurking around any hope we can manage. But also be consoled: God is at work in us to get us from our first beginning to our last end.

[Media of this message is coming soon.] We can be as certain of the Resurrection and heaven as the early Christians were.

We can turn adversity to advantage, by making it an occasion for exercise of faith and resulting blessing for ourselves and our family.

Life is hard. The Bible knows it. The Bible speaks to it. We have great hope in the redemption of our bodies: our resurrection.

Romans 8 says we are children of God and fellow heirs with Christ. What does that mean? And what does it mean for us right now?

Jesus assures the Philadelphians in Rev 3:7-13 of the hope of eternity with God so they will faithfully endure persecution and suffering. An eternal perspective and a God-ward focus is needed in all of our lives to keep us rightly oriented, keeping priorities and perspective when things are going well, and to give us hope and assurance when we are dealing with trials and hardships.

In the world we will have tribulation and suffering, but Christ commands us to overcome tribulation and suffering in the strength that He alone can supply.

In the face of utter calamity, such as the calamity the world felt when the United States was attacked on September 11, 2001, how can we respond? When the foundations are destroyed, when not only physical things are disintegrating, but when a nation's moral, ethical and religious moorings are dissolving, what can the follower of Jesus Christ do? The Psalmist in Psalm 11 teaches us how the righteous can respond. The righteous woman or man is to 1) remain righteous; 2) trust in the Lord; and 3) preach the Gospel.

As we remember the day when the towers fell, the Pentagon burned, and a plane falling from the Pennsylvania sky cut an untimely grave, the Scripture directs us to a vision of a White Horse and its Rider.

What’s the secret to being content in all circumstances? Paul tells us, and it’s at the same time comforting and challenging.

How can all Christians live faithfully to God in an oversexed and permissive culture, particularly if they are single?

Along our Lenten way, looking ahead to the great drama of our redemption which we will shortly be celebrating at Holy Week and the Easter feast, we pause to sing a song of ascents which paradoxically begins “out of the depths.” How can that be? By waiting for the Lord. Why? Because he is God and we are not. Yes, but how? First, we wait actively, as St. Paul directs us in our capacity to set our minds on the Spirit and not on the flesh. Secondly, in our incapacity, we wait passively, like Lazarus. His contribution? It was twofold: he was dead and he stunk.

God loves me and has designed me to draw life from him as I remain connected to the vine which is Jesus Christ. As a loving Father, he prunes back areas of my life that may potentially become the things from which I draw my ultimate satisfaction, security and fulfillment. And he does this so that we can draw more deeply from Him and be more fruitful, reflecting the character of Jesus Christ.

In following Christ, he surely will sometimes take us where we don't want to go.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Acts 1:1-11, sharing that God sometimes uses circumstances that seem disadvantageous to actually achieve his purposes.

In the gospels, when people recognized who Jesus was and came to Him in humility they were transformed. Like them we are called to recognize who Jesus is, to come to Him and to be transformed by Him. And having experienced Him, like those who experienced Him in the gospels we are called to bear witness by telling others what He has done for us.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from John 14:12-31. The sermon looks at the plight of orphans (& widows) in the ancient world in order to more fully understand the gospel promises for a family and home that Jesus gives to his disciples in John 14.

The Christian response to suffering for Christ is to rejoice. How can this be? The Rev. Bill Haley explores four reasons in this sermon given to The Falls Church .

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Peter 4:8-11. Peter gives explicit instructions on how to live in the Christian community, focusing on love and service. One way the community is to love is to be generous to each other and to be a good steward of God's gifts by using them for each other.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Peter 4:1-7. Growing up in Christ requires us to learn to think like Jesus - we are to learn to pray with a mind that is anchored in reality (not appearances) and a heart set on discovering and doing the will of God. This is particularly true in praying about how to handle our money.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Peter 1:1-9. The foundation for holy living and for trusting God in hard times is the living hope of our imperishable inheritance through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, “kept in heaven for you…the certainty of Heaven assures us of joy.”

The Rev. Kathleen Christopher speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Peter 1:1-9. The foundation for holy living and for trusting God in hard times is the living hope of our imperishable inheritance through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, “kept in heaven for you…the certainty of Heaven assures us of joy.”

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 13:1-6. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Robert Watkin speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 12:3-17. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Sam Ferguson speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 12:3-17. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service.

John Bishop kicks off our series for 2010-2011, "Challenges Men Face"

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 12:1-2. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church from Jeremiah 2:11-18, 15:16-21, and 17:13. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Rick Wright speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:29-30. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:23-28. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Kathleen Christopher speaks to The Falls Church from Genesis 18:9-15 and Hebrews 11:11. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:17-22. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:8-16. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:1-7. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 10:19-30. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 10:1-18. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 9:27-28. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Mugford speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 9:1-10. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 8:1-13. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Right Rev. FitzSimons Allison speaks to The Falls Church from 2 Corinthians 3:2-6. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 7:1-28. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 6:13-20. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 6:1-12. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. Kristen Yates speaks to The Falls Church. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service.

The Rev. Jim Byrne, Director of TFC Student Ministries, speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:11-13. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service, the Sunday 9 a.m. service, and the large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:14-5:10. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Right Rev. David Bena, Suffragan Bishop, speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:1-13. This message was given at the large 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Confirmation services.

The Rev. Nicholas Lubelfeld speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:1-13. This message was given at the Sunday 11 a.m. Rite II Holy Communion service held in the Historic Church.

The Rev. Kristen Yates, Deacon, speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:1-13. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 3:7-19. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Wright Wall speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 3:7-19. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service.

The Rev. Robert Watkin speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 3:1-6. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 2:5-18. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 2:1-8. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Wright Wall speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 2:1-8. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 1:1-4, in the first message in the church's series on the book of Hebrews. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. James Swynford speaks to The Falls Church from 2 Corinthians 3:2-6.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from John 20-19-23.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 2:1-20 during the Christmas Eve service.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 6:10-24 and describes the spiritual battle that Christians have with Satan.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 5:21-6:9.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 4:1-16.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 3:14-21.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 2:11-20.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 2:1-10. NOTE: This message followed a reading from John 3:1-8.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 1:15-23.

The Rev. Chris Hancock speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 1:1-14.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Acts 19, setting the stage for the fall series on the book of Ephesians.

The Rev. Rick Wright speaks to The Falls Church from Acts 19, setting the stage for the fall series on the book of Ephesians. This message was given at both the Saturday 5 p.m. service and the Sunday 11 a.m. Rite II Morning Prayer held in the Historic Church.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Mark 8:22-30, the healing of a blind man at Bethsaida.

The Rev. Bobb Fickley speaks to The Falls Church from Mark 8:22-30, the healing of a blind man at Bethsaida. This message was given at both the Saturday 5 p.m. service and the Sunday 11 a.m. Rite II Holy Eucharist held in the Historic Church.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 15:17-32, the parable of The Lost Son.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 15:1-10, which includes the two parables which precede The Prodigal Son: The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 18:18-29, the encounter between Jesus and The Rich Young Ruler.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 16:19-31, the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus, about generosity as a check for materialism.

The Rev. Robert Watkin speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 12:13-21, the parable of The Rich Fool.

The Right Rev. Martyn Minns, missionary bishop for the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, speaks to The Falls Church on the Sunday of Pentecost, at a service of Confirmation. He speaks from Romans 8, about God's Holy Spirit as an "power source" for living.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. He speaks about what God has in store for the faithful after the resurrection.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 about how to overcome discouragement when living out the Christian faith and ministering to others.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 about the real-ness of the resurrection and the implications for eternity.

The Rev. Jim Byrne, Director of Student Ministries, speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Corinthians 15:12-28 about the reality and essentiality of the resurrection.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church on Easter Sunday from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. He talks about the reality of the Resurrection, its accompanying gospel message, and its implications on our lives.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Mark 10-35-45, about Christ's example and call that we serve each other.

Dr. Dennis Hollinger speaks to The Falls Church from Mark 3:13-21 about Jesus' call for his followers to spend quality time with him. Dr. Hollinger is president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

The Rev. Robert Watkin speaks to The Falls Church from Mark 1:16-20, about the call to be and the cost of being a disciple.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from John 1:35-46. This message was given at both the Saturday 5 p.m. family service and the Sunday 11 a.m. Rite II Holy Eucharist held in the Historic Church.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church, unpacking the Beatitudes and how they relate directly to Biblical Manhood.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church about the role a mother plays in the development of boys as they grow to become men.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church in the first message in his preaching series on the crisis in masculinity.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church about the call of Christ to His Church.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Matthew 2:1-12 about the significance of the appearance of a star and the visit of the Magi.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks briefly to The Falls Church from John 1:1-14 at the service of Advent Lessons and Carols on December 21, the Fourth Sunday of Advent.