During a recent drive to Florida with three of my grandsons in the back seats, I heard these words many times: 'ARE WE THERE YET?' To which I was tempted to reply, 'DO I NEED TO PULL THIS CAR OVER?' But eventually we arrived at our destination. Life is about the JOURNEY and the DESTINATION. And we can learn much about BOTH from some of our spiritual ancestors as we begin our own journey through the fascinating Book of Joshua, and the new series titled--you guessed it--'ARE WE THERE YET?'
Jan 06, 2019•32 min
Jesus once said “Out of the overflow of the heart the fingers tweet.” … ...Ok , maybe He didn’t say it exactly like that, but He did warn us about the way in which we use our words. Words are extremely powerful and if mishandled can cause much more harm than any amount of sticks or stones ever could. It’s no secret 2018 has been a rough year, so let’s not just start the new year out on the right foot, but more importantly with the right words.
Dec 30, 2018•35 min
Dec 23, 2018•4 min
He seems to be almost a bystander--an 'extra' in familiar Nativity scenes. We don't really know what to make of him--or do with him. And the fact that we have no 'words' from him doesn't help. But it turns out that Joseph, though a silent witness, is a real CHRISTMAS HERO.
Dec 23, 2018•33 min
Her name was a variant of the Hebrew name MIRIAM. The Aramaic rendering (from which our Anglicized form comes)is MARIAM. We know her as MARY. Or do we?
Dec 16, 2018•32 min
This is a season of joy, but for many that joy is tempered with complicated feelings of sorrow. It's complicated.
Dec 09, 2018•33 min
As we move into the final month of the year, Pastor Stokes will share a message this Sunday titled: 'THE CASE FOR CHRISTMAS.' Each message this monthly will highlight specific aspects of the Biblical narrative surrounding the advent.
Dec 02, 2018•32 min
Nov 18, 2018•52 min
One hundred years ago this weekend - November 11, 1918 - the guns of an August four years earlier collapsed into sudden silence. It was the end of THE GREAT WAR, referred to back then as 'the war to end all wars.' Of course, we know that it didn't actually end all wars. In fact, the fragile peace became fertile soil for horrific conflicts to come. Today, we know this day as VETERANS DAY. It's a time to remember. It's a time for honor.
Nov 11, 2018•38 min
President John F. Kennedy said, 'A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.' The same can be certainly said of the men and women equipped and sent out by the Body of Christ for the work of the Kingdom of God. This month at EXPECTATION CHURCH we REMEMBER. And we begin with REMEMBER GOD'S SERVANTS.
Nov 04, 2018•34 min
A GRATEFUL life is a GREAT-FULL life. Without gratitude everything spirals out of control. Yes, it's THAT important.
Oct 28, 2018•35 min
Ministry is not a spectator sport. But far too many people see it that way. Jesus left this planet and empowered others to take up the task of reaching the world with the good news. That plan is still operative and relevant all these centuries later.
Oct 21, 2018•29 min
Human beings have a tendency to over-complicate things. Whether it's governmental bureaucracy, which grows exponentially, or even churches. Bigger is not always better. It's important to realize that we need to keep our priorities straight and our methods simple.
Oct 14, 2018•41 min
The Eiffel Tower, the Sistine Chapel, The Washington Monument -- all three of these iconic landmarks have one thing in common. A solid foundation. This week we will go through another piece of the DNA that forms Expectation Church and one that is at the heart of it's foundation -- Honor.
Oct 07, 2018•36 min
The late Evangelist Vance Havner said,'Christians, like snowflakes, are frail, but when they stick together they can stop traffic.' Biblical unity is not uniformity, nor is it unanimity, but it is vital.
Sep 30, 2018•31 min
As we mark an important milestone in our ministry, it's appropriate that the value we'll explore is part of our church's very name. WE EXPECT GREAT AS WE ATTEMPT GREAT: It's About Active Faith.
Sep 23, 2018•35 min
As we come to the second of the eight values we'll be discussing in the 'I LOVE MY CHURCH' series, we're going to tackle an elephant that lurks in many rooms: GROWTH & CHANGE. We can't have one without the other--personally and collectively.
Sep 16, 2018•34 min
The seven words that will kill any organization are, 'we never did it that way before.' That's why we are so clear about how at Expectation Church 'the message never changes, but the methods do.' As we begin a new series called, 'I LOVE MY CHURCH,' we start with the ultimate focus. 'IT'S ONLY EVER ALWAYS ABOUT JESUS!'
Sep 09, 2018•33 min
Sep 02, 2018•44 min
When VICTIMS become VICTORS it can be a cause for rejoicing. But it's also important to remind ourselves that snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, while awesome, can also bring its own complications and sorrows. So we need the right VICTOR MENTALITY.
Aug 26, 2018•33 min
Even when we sense the tide is turning, we must remain focused and vigilant. Never spike the ball on the two-yard line. Never get ahead of God. D-Day, the Day of Deliverance, will come--in HIS time. And there is so much we can learn when victory is actually realized.
Aug 19, 2018•41 min
God doesn't play games, but He does play chess--for real. His providence governs every move on the board. The board is history. The players are people. The plan is His.
Aug 12, 2018•33 min
All of us have faced critical times that have changed things and changed US. They are called DEFINING MOMENTS. They come in all shapes and sizes. Are you ready for the next one?"
Aug 05, 2018•36 min
A very evil man named HAMAN became Xerxes’ Prime Minister — the second most powerful man in the world about 479 B.C. His hatred for the Jews was deeply-rooted and fueled by generational enmity. He planned to do what Adolf Hitler tried to do 75 years ago — exterminate them. BUT GOD had other plans.
Jul 29, 2018•35 min
Have you ever felt that the entire world seemed to be working against you? Well, actually there is a conspiracy--but it's a DIVINE one.
Jul 22, 2018•33 min
It's been said that 'God plays chess, while we play checkers.' As we begin a journey through the fascinating book of Esther this Summer, we're going to discover some fascinating things about how God works.
Jul 15, 2018•28 min
Every great step in life requires thought. And more often than not, we're faced with the prospect of CHANGING OUR MINDS. It's not always easy, but there's no growth without it. CHANGE YOUR MIND, CHANGE YOUR WORLD. It all begins when we individually commit to developing A BEAUTIFUL MIND.
Jun 24, 2018•36 min
Living Biblically in the 21st century means to saturate our lives with God's thoughts and ways. Spiritual growth is not just about making us better people, it's about conforming us to His image. This means that there will be some tough lessons along the way. But anytime we trust God, we enter the zone of the 'SURE THING'.
Jun 10, 2018•38 min
Should you take the Bible literally? Pastor Stokes' answer may surprise you.
Jun 03, 2018•37 min
The Bible is filled with prophecy. Prophets of old spoke as they were moved by the Spirit of God. But what is the greatest prophecy in the Bible?
May 20, 2018•31 min
