It is so easy to accept God's blessings and move forward without pausing and worshipping Him. However, we are warned in Deuteronomy to remember Him, even when everything is going well. This special sermon breaks from the series to recognize the unbelievable blessings God has poured on the Mosaic family and the building project. Pause with us as we worship Jehovah Jireh: The Lord Will Provide.
In Jesus' time, many of the religious leaders believed he was faking his miracles and routinely demanded him to prove he was God by producing more signs and wonders. The problem for them, and for us today, is that no matter what God has done or will do, we're always going to struggle with doubt. How can we embrace the hope of the gospel in such a way that we turn from yelling “Prove it!” to God toward “I trust you.”
It doesn’t take much to recognize that our world is broken, and filled with things that we just can’t fix. But where we can’t, Jesus can. The story of the Roman centurion from Matthew 8 reveals not only that Jesus is willing to receive our brokenness, but he’s also more than able to heal it too.
Jesus called his disciples and told them they would have a shift in their purpose: from fishing for fish to fishing for lost, hurting people. When we focus on the gospel, we find our purpose is the same as theirs over 2000 years later. How do we embrace this calling from Jesus and live on mission in our daily lives?
Many people believe that a real relationship with Jesus can change lives. However, so many of us are timid or afraid to even share our faith with our friends. This idea is challenged when we look at four friends who were willing to cut a hole in the roof to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Is church meant to be a comfortable place for you, or a place for your community to come in contact with the Savior?
Samson had a special calling on his life. He was set apart by God to lead Israel and bring them back to Him. However, he over and over again rejected that calling, choosing his ways over the Lords. In the end, the aftermath of sin his led to his ultimate destruction. How can we avoid the same fate and fulfill our calling before it is too late?
We’ve all been in situations where we’ve wanted to get even when someone hurts us. We want revenge. However, in those moments God has a better way. The story of Samson reveals how we can choose to do right when we’ve been wronged.
Have you ever prayed and prayed for something only to feel like God isn't listening to you? In 2 Corinthians, Paul shares how he had been praying over and over, for God to say "no." God's response gave Paul and all of us a new perspective on prayer: in our weakest place we are strongest when we fully rely on the Lord. How can we look at prayer through this new perspective and worship God, regardless of the responses to our prayers?
If we are honest with ourselves, when we REALLY want something, we are willing to compromise our standards…if we believe it is not that big of a deal. But these small compromises add up over time and become our character. What can we learn from Samson who compromised his special calling to gain what he wanted instead?
Let's face it, some people are born with advantages that others do not have. Athletic, academic, financial...the list could go on and on. It would seem some people are simply set up to win. That is where the story of Samson begins. He was given all the advantages, beginning in the womb, to have a life set apart and on mission for God. However, we are going to learn a godly upbringing does not guarantee godly behavior.
No one imagined what was coming as we celebrated the New Year in 2020. It turned out to be a year of global struggle, heartache, and loss. However, as we move to 2021 many enter with fear and uncertainty. Others hope to return to the glory days before COVID-19 to find normalcy. Regardless, God has instructed us to trust Him, to look forward for the new work He is doing, and to not dwell in the past. Regardless of how 2020 landed for you, he is calling all of us to move forward.
At Christmas we think often think of a bright star, angels singing, the manger, and the Messiah being born. Rightfully so. But perhaps we need to change our perspective. Have you ever thought of what Jesus had to give up to born that day? The King of all creation willingly laid aside everything to come as a child to a poor family from Nazareth. That cradle led to a cross, and the cross back to His throne.
Let's face it, finding joy these days can be really difficult. But the good news of the Christmas story is that God offers a deep and abiding joy to everyone that isn't based on our circumstances.
The prophet Isaiah wrote about it hundreds of years before. God was going to send a Messiah to save them. However, the message became murky as many believed he was going to save them from the political rule of Rome. The promise of one who would be the Prince of Peace was, and still is, so much greater than a political figure. He brought shalom to all of humanity.
Our Christmas stories have often presented a pregnant Mary, about to give birth with door after door being slammed in her face. However, through a different lens we see an outpouring of hospitality and a welcoming family that invited Mary and Joseph a home to stay in. That generosity and welcoming heart laid the groundwork for Jesus to be born and worshipped by shepherds and wise men. The story of Jesus began with, and continues to be one where all are welcomed and invited to a relationship with...
Loving the people who are just like us is so easy that everybody does it. But what about the people who are hard to get along with, or who vote differently than we do, or even people who insult us? Do we REALLY have to love them as well? Find out what Jesus says, and why who you love is so important in His kingdom.
Sexuality is all around us. So much so, that we have become lazy, even accepting to allowing our minds to engage in lust and pornography. It has been proven that lust changes the way we view others and what we view as valuable. Jesus warns us in the Sermon on the Mount that what we allow to be seen with our eyes, builds and grows in our hearts, that leads to actions with our hands.
We all have them. Those people who have betrayed, damaged, and broken us. If not careful, a small seed of anger towards that person can grow into an all consuming hatred. Jesus taught about this in the Sermon on the Mount and brought a new Kingdom principle that we would never have seen...unrighteous anger towards another is as deadly as murder.
What does a successful life look like? The American ideal says that our success is defined by the acquisition of possessions, prestige, and power. But in the Beatitudes, Jesus invites us to a new way. His way offers a world where we can experience joy and success, bot for ourselves and for others. Through the Beatitudes we find a life worth living.
Have you ever said this sentence: "If only (fill in the blank) would happen...then I would be happy." We all have at some point, but we all know it isn't true. Happiness is snatched away by another problem or need. Jesus knows this, and began the Sermon on the Mount with setting a standard of what character in His kingdom would bring contentment and happiness. But, it is not what we would think. Jesus began the "greatest sermon ever given" by flipping our world and standards upside down to show ...
Do you ever feel like you don’t measure up in life? Yeah, us too. It happens to us at work when we fail to meet a quota. It happens to us at home when we let a family member down. It also happens in our faith journey. But according to Jesus' teaching from the Sermon on the Mount, our faith is one area we don’t have to try and measure up. We are worthy because Jesus makes us worthy.
The church, when it is functioning as Jesus intends, is the most healing, loving, and caring community in the world. When not, it can become dysfunctional and cause pain to people both inside and out. This special message for the one year anniversary explores what could happen to the church, community, and the world if we unite to become a true family.
One of the top complaints of people towards churches...they are fake. The people walk into church, pretend to have it all together, but inside they are falling apart. In one sense, they are right. Many people do approach church that way, afraid to be honest about their struggles. However, the church has another side. When the people function as a caring, healing community it produces a radical love that changes lives forever.
When life doesn’t turn out the way we planned or hoped, where do we put our focus and trust? Is it on our circumstances, or on God? Hear how the story of Esther encourages us that even in midst of unplanned circumstances, God is still working.
"It's no big deal." A common phrase uttered before a bad decision is about to be made. Often times we think our decisions only impact ourselves, but it isn't true. The choices we make sends out waves that collide with others in our life... both good and bad. Jonah made one bad decision after another, and it almost cost him and others their lives. How can the story of Jonah and his decision to run from God gives us a new insight and challenge us today?
Needless to say, 2020 has been a stressful year. We have been struggling with difficult situations that have brought out some unhealthy responses. However, it is in difficult situations that our true character comes out. How can the responses of the people in the story of Elisha and Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-19 challenge and inspire us as we navigate these unprecedented times?
David didn't fit the mold. He was too young, inexperienced, and the youngest in his family. However, he was crowned king of Israel and saved the nation in the middle of a war. When we are looking for leaders, we are always looking at outside qualities. But God has a different criteria...He looks at the heart.
When we think about the story of Samson, we tend to picture a mythic man who was a cross somewhere between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Fabio. A man of superhuman strength, capable of ripping apart lions with his bare hands. And yet despite all his power, in the end he was undone by something very small. Compromise. What can Samson’s tragic downfall help teach us about overcoming the power of compromise in our own lives?
After God had rescued the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt, they were once again faced with insurmountable odds. The people buckled and wanted to run in fear. But two leaders, Caleb and Joshua, did not. They believed with God, they could win. These men put their life on the line when everyone was against them. How can their stand impact our faith and leadership today?
In Matthew 25, we see a parable by Jesus that explains what He expects His followers to do. He shares that those who are with Him take on His mission to love and care for the marginalized in our world. But what if we don't? Is it possible to be a follower of Jesus and still focus on ourselves over others?
