CREATION CARE CHURCH
Sermons (Talk + Q&A) by Craig Wescoe about God's love for animals throughout the Bible and our responsibility to care for God's created world.
FNL #190 – Are You Sighing and Crying Over Animal Suffering?
In Ezekiel 9, God marks those who "sigh and cry" over the abominations of the land. Craig asks whether our hearts are broken by the suffering around us - including the suffering of animals - and what it looks like to grieve what grieves the heart of God.
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FNL #191 – Did Jesus Ride a Donkey into Jerusalem?
On Palm Sunday, Jesus may have entered Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy of a humble king who brings peace and "cuts off" the weapons of war. Craig explores the meaning of this deliberate act and what it reveals about the kind of kingdom Jesus came to bring.
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FNL #192 – Are You Following the Way, the Truth, and the Life?
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Craig reflects on what it means to actually follow that way - not merely to affirm it - and how the path of Christ calls us into truth, mercy, and abundant life for ourselves and for all creation.
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FNL #183 – Are You Listening to the Prophets?
The prophets spoke again and again of a world made right - swords into plowshares, the wolf lying down with the lamb, and an end to violence on God's holy mountain. But are we actually listening to them? In this talk, Craig looks at what it means to take the prophetic vision of peace seriously and let it shape how we live today.
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FNL #184 – How to Receive Abundant Blessings This Year
Scripture ties blessing to obedience, mercy, and walking in step with God's heart for all creation. As a new year begins, Craig explores what the Bible actually says about receiving God's abundant blessings - not as a transaction, but as the fruit of aligning our lives with the Creator's good design.
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FNL #185 – Good Friday Talk
A Good Friday reflection on the cross - the innocent Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Craig meditates on Christ's suffering, the meaning of sacrifice, and how the death of Jesus speaks to God's mercy toward all who suffer.
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FNL #186 – Who Is a Child of Peace?
Jesus told His disciples to speak peace over every house and to look for the "child of peace" who would receive it (Luke 10). Who is that person today, and are we becoming people of peace ourselves? Craig unpacks what it means to be a child of peace in a violent world.
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FNL #187 – Who Is Leviathan?
Leviathan appears across Job, the Psalms, and Isaiah as a mysterious and fearsome creature. Who - or what - is Leviathan, and what does this imagery reveal about God's power, the created order, and the defeat of chaos? Craig digs into the Scriptures to find out.
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FNL #188 – You Must NEVER Eat Any Flesh or Blood!
From the Garden to the covenant with Noah and the Law given to Israel, Scripture speaks pointedly about flesh and blood. Craig examines these passages and what they reveal about God's original design, His concessions to human hardness of heart, and the call to compassion.
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FNL #189 – Is It Blaspheming the Holy Spirit to Speak Against Veganism?
Jesus warned about blaspheming the Holy Spirit - the one sin He called unforgivable. Craig takes up a provocative question: what does it mean to resist the Spirit's work of mercy and life, and how does that warning bear on how we speak about compassion for God's creatures?
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FNL #182 – Permission & Going the Extra Mile
FNL # 182 – Permission & Going the Extra Mile
Nearly a decade ago, Craig wrote a popular blog post entitled, “Permission & Going the Extra Mile.” The post questioned whether we really have permission to kill and eat animals. It ended with a call to action to stop using permission as justification for failing to do the will of God. Join us LIVE this Friday at 4 PST / 6 CST / 7 EST / 12 MIDNIGHT UK as Craig turns his popular blog post into an FNL message.
“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matthew 5...
FNL # 181 – God's Love Language
FNL # 181 – God's Love Language
Pastor Gary Chapman wrote a book about the 5 Love Languages (1992), the 5 ways we show love and feel loved. What ways does God express His love for His creation? And what ways does God call us to show Him love? Join us LIVE for this new FNL Talk on YouTube or Facebook this Friday and invite a friend to watch with you!
“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15, NKJV).
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FNL # 180 – Pastor vs Priest Debate Veganism
FNL # 180 – Pastor vs Priest Debate Veganism
Have you ever tried talking to a priest or pastor about veganism? How did that conversation go? Do you feel equipped to have such a conversation? Join us this Friday at 4pm pst / 7pm est / midnight UK (on Facebook or YouTube) for a brand new FNL Talk where Craig responds to a letter written by a priest in rejection of veganism.
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reas...
FNL # 179 – Are You a Friend of God?
FNL # 179 – Are You a Friend of God?
Abraham is called God’s friend. What does the Bible say about friendship? How can someone be a friend of God? The opposite of a friend is an adversary. What would constitute someone being an adversary of God? Join us LIVE on Facebook and YouTube as we examine these questions. And stay for the Q&A portion, followed by Zoom fellowship.
“And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s frie...
FNL # 178 – Reclaiming Your True Identity
FNL # 178 – Reclaiming Your True Identity
Who are you? Who did God create you to be? Are you living as the person God designed you to be? If not, how can you henceforth live life as your authentic self? How can you reclaim your true identity? Join us LIVE on YouTube or Facebook to find out who God created you to be and how to claim that identity for yourself. And stay for the Q&A portion, followed by Zoom fellowship.
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the imag...
FNL # 177 – The Greatest Commandment
FNL # 177 – The Greatest Commandment
Jesus taught the golden rule, also known as the royal law—to love your neighbor as yourself. But He says there is one command that is even more important than that! Join us LIVE this Friday on YouTube or Facebook as we dive into the greatest commandment and its connection to the golden rule and to veganism.
Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38, NIV).<...
FNL # 176 – Are You Believing Righteously?
FNL # 176 – Are You Believing Righteously?
Why was Abram’s belief credited to him as righteousness? What does it mean to believe righteously? How can we know if we are believing righteously? Join us LIVE on Facebook and YouTube this weekend for a new FNL talk about believing righteously.
“Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6, BSB).
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FNL # 175 – Casting Out Demons
FNL # 175 – Casting Out Demons
Casting out demons can be dangerous if not done correctly, but not casting out demons can be even more dangerous! Join us LIVE on Facebook or YouTube for a new FNL Talk about how to make yourself and others permanently immune to demonic influence.
"Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name'" (Luke 10:17, NKJV).
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FNL # 174 – Are You Serving God’s Kingdom?
FNL # 174 – Are You Serving God’s Kingdom?
Jesus is the King, and He calls us all to serve in His Kingdom. He even tells us how to do so, and He leads by example. Join us LIVE this week as we examine what it means to serve the Kingdom of God and how this ought to apply to our own lives individually and also how it applies to Creation Care Church for the upcoming year.
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28, NKJV).
FNL # 173 – The Importance of Community
FNL # 173 – The Importance of Community
The Mission Statement of Creation Care Church is “to provide a welcoming Christ-centered community for people to experience and share the love of God while learning about God’s plan of salvation and restoration for the whole world.” Join us LIVE on Facebook and YouTube as we look at what the Bible says about the importance of community!
“And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us...
FNL # 172 – There will be no more tears!
FNL # 172 – There will be no more tears!
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4, NKJV).
God promises there will come a day when death and tears of sorrow are no more. Join us LIVE as we examine what the Bible says about this promise, and what it means for animals and for those whose hearts break for the suffering of animals.
Supp...
FNL #171 – Rebuking Satan
FNL #171 – Rebuking Satan
"But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, 'Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men'" (Mark 8:33, NKJV).
Satan is described as the adversary of God who roams about like a roaring lion, seeking to tear apart the works of God. How can we protect ourselves from His influence? Join us LIVE as we show how to stand against Satan by powerfully rebuking him.
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FNL #170 — Is Human Wickedness Responsible for Animals Perishing?
FNL #170 — Is human wickedness responsible for animals perishing?
Animals are dying by the millions each day. Rainforests are being bulldozed. Oceans are being depleted. Who is responsible? And more importantly, what is God calling us to do about it? Join LIVE on Facebook or YouTube as Craig shares what the Bible says about our divinely ordained responsibility of stewardship.
“How long will the land mourn, And the herbs of every field wither? The beasts and birds are consumed, For the wickedness of those who dwell there, Because they said, ‘He will n...
FNL #169 — How to Rebut the Accusation "Vegans Worship the Creature Rather than the Creator"
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise!" (Romans 1:25, BSB)
Has anyone ever cited Romans 1:25 and accused you of worshiping the creature rather than Creator because of your vegan lifestyle? How did you respond? In this talk, Craig equips you with the reasoning and Biblical support to defend against such a claim.
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FNL #168 – Good in the Bible
After creating the world, God called it very good. And Jesus says God alone is good. In this talk Craig examines what the Bible says about goodness, and what bearing this knowledge should have on our lives.
“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8, NIV)
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FNL #167 – Are you searching the scriptures for life or for death?
When you open the Bible, do you search for justifications for causing cruelty, pain, and death? Or do you search for justifications for showing love, kindness, and mercy? In this live message Craig shares his insights on reading the Bible with the right attitude.
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39, NKJV)
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FNL #166 – Experiencing God's Presence
Do you long for God’s kingdom to come, on earth as in heaven? Do you wish to stand in the presence of God? What if I were to tell you that both of these things are possible in this life? In this talk, Craig shares how to experience the presence of God right now!
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them” (John 14:23, NIV)
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FNL #165 – Is the church speeding the kingdom of God?
What does Jesus call His church to do in preparation for the kingdom of God? Does how we treat animals speed or delay the coming kingdom? In this talk we examine what Jesus says to do to prepare for His kingdom.
“What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Peter 3:11-12, NIV)
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FNL #164 – Pentecost and the Peaceable Kingdom
According to the account in Acts, the Holy Spirit descended from Heaven on Pentecost and filled everyone in the room and they began speaking with tongues ablaze! This was in fulfillment of the Joel 2:28 prophesy about all flesh (kol basar) being filled with the Spirit of God. In this talk we honor the annual weekend of Pentecost and show how the outpouring of the Holy Spirit points to the Peaceable Kingdom.
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of...
FNL #163 - God Preserves Both Humans and Animals
It says in Psalm 36:6 that God is the Savior of both humans and animals. As His hands and feet, created in His image and likeness, are we doing the same? Are we rescuing and preserving animals from their plights or are we doing the opposite? In this live talk we examine this important topic.
“Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, LORD, preserve both people and animals” (Psalm 36:6, NIV)
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FNL #162 - Enoch's Flood and Fire Prophecy
The Book of Enoch describes a flood prophecy and a fire prophecy. Genesis, Job, and various other Bible texts likewise discuss these same two prophecies. In this talk we look at what these prophecies say, including the demonic origin of eating animal flesh and of sacrificing animals.
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41, NIV)
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FNL #161 – Living by Faith
The prophet Habakkuk says the just shall live by faith. What does this mean and how can one live by faith? In this talk we examine what the Bible says about living by faith, and what bearing this knowledge should have on our stewardship of animals.
“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4, NKJV)
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FNL #160 - Jesus Disrupting the Templ
Why did Jesus disrupt the temple? Was it all about the money changers ripping people off or was there a more important purpose? How was this act connected to the message of all the prophets? In this talk we examine why Jesus disrupted the temple and what it meant for animals.
“So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables” (John 2:15, NIV)
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FNL #159 - The Bread of Life
Why does Jesus call Himself the bread of life? How is this connected to His overall message in the Gospel of John and to good stewardship of animals?
"And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst’" (John 6:35, NKJV)
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FNL #158 - The Good Samaritan
What point was Jesus making in the Good Samaritan parable? What can it tell us about Jesus and His opposition to animal sacrifice? In this talk we examine the significance of the Good Samaritan!
"’So which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’ And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise’” (Luke 10:36-37, NKJV)
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FNL #157 - Repent from Animal Cruelty!
Jesus taught to repent from all forms of unrighteousness and to seek the kingdom of God. Is animal cruelty something to be repented from? In this talk we discuss the kingdom of God and how animal cruelty hinders us from revealing the kingdom of God to the world around us.
“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17, NKJV)
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FNL #156 - Are humans the reason animals live in fear?
Why do animals run in fear from humans? Was this by God’s design? Why are animals afraid of each other? In this talk we examine what the Bible says about the source of animal fear and what bearing this knowledge should have on our lives today!
“For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you, And the plunder of beasts which made them afraid, Because of men’s blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it” (Habakkuk 2:17, NKJV).
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FNL #155 - What does the Bible say about milk?
What does the Bible say about milk? What was the purpose behind God designing some creatures to produce milk? What can we learn from the Bible about what milk is for and what it is not for? In this talk we discuss these questions!
“And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!’” (Luke 11:27, NKJV)
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FNL #154 - Are we reaping the violence we sow toward animals?
Violence toward animals is so normalized in the world we live in. Are we reaping the effects of this violence? In this talk we explore what the Bible says about reaping what we sow.
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we...
FNL #153 - The Seventh Day of Creation
What is the significance of God resting on the 7th day of creation? Why was it set apart as holy? Why is it the sign of His covenant? How do we enter into that rest? Can animals enter it too? In this talk we consider the 7th day of creation!
“Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished” (Genesis 2:3, BSB).
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