If January is a month of fresh starts, February is a month of excuses. Well-crafted, plausible, and oft-repeated, these excuses often keep us imprisoned to being and doing all that God desires. It’s time to find victory instead of excuses.
Everyone everywhere understands basic plant biology, even in a concrete jungle like Hong Kong. The Parable of the Sower shows us how we can cultivate a faith that doesn’t easily wither and die, one that lasts and bears fruit for Christ.
Stumbling and falling is the #2 cause of accidental deaths. As dangerous as a physical fall may be, Jude gives us advice on how to not fall spiritually.
We’ve been through a lot over the last few years - and our world has been through a lot since the dawn of time. Every generation has struggles and hardships. However, the key to navigating these challenges is by remembering the hope we have from God.
Jesus invites us to come to Him in our weariness in order to receive rest. Let’s face it, many of us are exhausted and on the brink of burnout. However, when we try to come to Jesus, we don’t feel rested. In fact, many of us feel more burdened and stressed. So is it possible to find our rest in Jesus? If so, how can we practically do it?
We deeply crave connection. Both to God and to people. But most of us settle for a cheapened version of life, leaving us disappointed and disjointed. Don’t settle. Make Christ your life.
A Woven Story concludes with Mary, “the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.” Mary is one of the greatest examples of faith in all of Scripture. Her faith is a key part of the Christmas story and in God’s plan for the salvation of all humankind.
It’s a chapter we’d rather skip. A sordid tale that blemishes a hero and leaves us traumatised. But the sin of David and Bathsheba is redeemed, reminding us that there is no regret in our lives that isn’t covered by our repentance.
Continuing in this series that looks at the women woven into the story of Jesus’s birth, we examine Ruth, one of the most memorable Bible heroines. Known for her loyalty to her mother-in-law and her loving relationship with Boaz, there is much more to Ruth for us to encounter.
Among the 5 women listed in the genealogy of Jesus, Rahab makes a surprise appearance. Her story is sordid, but her faith is exemplary. Sometimes standing up for your faith means standing alone with your convictions.
To kick off our sermon series on the important women in the genealogy of Jesus, we focus on Tamar. Tamar’s story is filled with prositution, death and incest. Her actions are not examples of the way we should live, yet at the end of her story she is regarded as “righteous.” How is that possible? And what can we learn from her story so that we can live righteous lives?
Aswe wrap up our Open series, we’re talking about a faith that allows for open skies living. Dismantling the borders of fear and sin in our life enables us to live the abundant life designed for us by God, one that is embodied by openness and freedom.
When God closes a door, He opens a window. Hmmm. Is that true? It’s not actually a bible verse, but how does God use open doors to lead us in our lives?
Having a vision for life helps us navigate times of difficulty and times of triumph, it also helps us understand the purpose of our existence. For some of us though, we’re unsure of what that vision is. This sermon will look at Ephesians chapter 1 to see what the Bible says about the vision we are to have for life, and how we might start integrating it into our lives.
Most of us live our lives with emotional caution. Editing our emotions and nervously navigating relationships with fear of rejection or other misguided motives. But real freedom in Christ ushers in a lightness of living that is marked with emotional openness.
Following Christ demands our life and our all. He calls us to be fully surrendered to Him, but we hesitate. We make our own plans and try to control our destinies. Today we will see how we can be open to God by releasing the grip on our lives.
In an increasingly intolerant and screaming world, the church has a great opportunity to be a refuge for those weary of the tension. By being teachable, we exhibit an awareness of who we are in Christ, able to take on new input and ideas without being threatened or diminished.
If we sense a lack in our lives, we are tempted to create alternate systems (idols) to fill in the gaps, but this never works. Living in our completeness is the only way to live a life without striving and insecurity.
Control is a chameleon idol. It’s sometimes hard to spot. It can be particularly deceptive when it comes to ministry or actions with a spiritual purpose. When we learn to be secure in Christ, we can let go and let God be in control.
Our lives are short. Many of us spend our whole lives seeking approval from the society or people around us, not knowing that we are already approved by God and ready to do great things. How can we live our lives so that when we look back, we will not regret?
Often the word power comes with negative connotations, and understandably so. However, a look at how God uses and intended power to be used will give us a hopeful framework to not miss the gift that it is.
The idol of comfort plagues all of us as it is a desire to be without pain. However is that the life that God has called us to live? If not, what is the calling that He has placed on us and how should we pursue it?
Few of us would say we struggle with idolatry: bowing down to another god isn’t likely your greatest temptation. But if you view idolatry as more subtle – as replacing God with other greater loves – then maybe idolatry is a temptation after all.
Jesus commended people for being able to predict the weather. But in stark contrast, He points out that they are incompetent in predicting the greater things of life.
Spiritual dryness can occur even when our outward circumstances look just fine; but how do we climb out of a spiritual drought?
We all experience certain “not-so-wild fires” in our lives that God uses to refine our souls; but how exactly do they show up? Through the story of Jacob, we learn about what the discipline of God can look like and how we should respond.
Life can be confusing. Surprisingly, sometimes life with God can be confusing too. Still, there are some keys in knowing how to navigate life when the way forward is unclear.
In our lives, we will encounter all kinds of weather. Most of us look forward to the sunny days and clear skies because those are the days where we find the most enjoyment. But just like the weather, life is unpredictable and sometimes frustrating – as the author of Ecclesiastes points out. Today we’re going to explore this perplexing book to find the key to happiness in our days “under the sun.”
Bad weather, storms, and hardships happen! What can we do to prepare for these? This sermon uses the lens of weather to show two foundational spiritual principles that can be applied to all types of storms in your life.
We each bring a vibe to every situation we’re in. People often adapt to your very presence. They become more at ease, more uptight, more nervous, more joyful. Knowing your vibe, and managing it, can be a great blessing to every circle you enter.
