Six:Eight: Recent Episodes
Six:Eight
As the culture wars rage Christians are upset at the loss of our Christmas freedoms. Now it’s ‘Happy Holidays’ not ‘Merry Christmas’. But maybe God’s dismantling that culture to return His people back to the majesty of a tale we’d never have written ourselves. Slowly weaning us off our addiction to nostalgia which does nothing but bury the story, and do little to retell it. To brush away the old boughs of holly, tinsel, fake snow & twinkling lights to recover the biblical Jesus once more.
Today we look at what it means to be adopted into the family of God by way of the final sacrifice of Jesus! Two gifts, adoption & forgiveness reconcile us to the Father!
In this series we’re looking with anticipation at the reality of God becoming flesh at Christmas with a particular focus today as to what it means that Christ made His dwelling among us.
When John wrote his gospel, he intended for the whole book to be read through the lens of John 1:1. Today we study why that is so important.
As God calls these people back to the true heart of worship, He warns them not to be spiritual imposters. To do the things they need to do just to gain blessing, and not for the joy of having God’s presence among them.
In spiritual drift, personal desire eclipses worship and we do not practice the presence of God. God lovingly confronts our waywardness. Our only acceptable response is repentance leading to faithful obedience. God draws us back to our dual purpose of worship and mission where we find satisfaction. The end goal of mankind is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever - eternal worship! Our time limited call is ‘mission’ - to make God known among all peoples.
Worship requires heart evaluation. Sometimes personal desire takes priority over God, and He confronts our errancy, drawing us back to purpose and the actions which further it.
Today we address what’s the reason for, and what happens when a pastor takes a sabbatical?
In thinking on the problem of evil, we must remember, God’s working a long game of redemption - our hope’s in trusting the character of Him who made us & loves us. He’s present with us & creation all along, feels our grief & carries our burdens. We can find comfort in a trusting relationship with the One who went to the cross for us & will ultimately wipe every tear from our eyes.
'Katartizo' is the Greek word first used in the gospel to mean mending fishing nets. How else does Scripture use that word and what can we learn about how Jesus wants to use us?
Today we address the question: How can Christianity claim there is only one way to God?
In the eyes of the Creator God, all creation and human life, is valuable. So, being pro-life isn’t just being anti-abortion. Rather, it’s exactly as the moniker implies: Pro-Life across the board. Believers live to honor creation and the dignity of all humans, regardless of political policy or societal norms.
Today we address the questions... Can you believe in science and also believe in the Christian faith? Are the two strictly opposed to one another, one an antiquated view of the world and the other the contemporary and educated view of how things are?
How can we trust the Bible? We can trust the Bible’s God’s Word because of its enduring message. The Bible remains the primary way God teaches, encourages and guides humanity. As believers, we can be confident the message of Scripture is reliable & relevant to our lives - and live in that confidence.
Eric gives us a follow up to our Galatians series finished a few weeks back by looking at the 'Judaizer in Our Minds.'
What would it look like this week not to participate in the struggle for approval and success in any way? How would that make you different? What would it do to your emotional health and well-being? To your relationships? The answer comes in walking in the Spirit!
God has brought us into His household. Adopted as sons & daughters, everything is okay between us now due to Christs death & resurrection! The question is, do we live our daily lives as if that’s true?
Do you share law or grace with others? Are you a rule-keeper who judges others by how well they keep the rules, or a grace-giver overflowing with good favor & forgiveness? We must remember, only the God of all grace saves. Our witness must be focused on His grace.
We are justified by faith in Christ & nothing else. Are the challenges & decisions in your daily life clarified & guided by the faith you have in Christ, or do you pray occasionally but most of the time go it alone?
The message of the gospel is of utmost importance. Paul’s passion reveals the gospel is what he cares about most. As you listen today, think, if someone were to gauge what you care about most, based on the passion you have for it, what would that be?
The resurrection of Jesus shows us there’s re-creation to come. The signs in John show us God’s active in the world; now God calls us to be His sign to those around us.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. God loves you so much that He is willing to experience the suffering of humanity so you can live with Him. God is at work in this world through Jesus for our salvation, and part of that salvation is that the dead in Christ shall rise.
Jesus is the Light of the World. When He encountered suffering, His focus was on compassion, rather than judgment. If we follow Him, this dictates we do the same.
The feeding of the five thousand reminds us that Jesus is the Bread of Life. The question is, are we, or someone we know, requesting more signs as a delay tactic to avoid placing our trust in Jesus?
Today we continue our study of the signs of Jesus. According to John a sign is a visible experience of God working through Jesus in the world for our salvation. The healing of the invalid in this story shows that God seeks out the lost to save them - that’s the work of God. He’ll accomplish His mission regardless of what we say, think, or do.
The focus of this story, as with others in John, is on ‘believing’. This story illustrates the new dimension of believing without the immediacy of seeing.
Today we start a new series called ‘Signs’, looking at eight moments in the Gospel of John which are signs pointing to Jesus’s identity and saving work for us. Signs in the Gospel of John which show the way to new life in Jesus. Like signs on a roadtrip, these signs of Jesus show us something very important: that God is at work in the world through Jesus for our salvation. We start today with the Wedding at Cana.
Our words are powerful for good or evil. Look through your latest social media posts. Do they reflect truth, respect, and fairness? How have you responded when someone has corrected you for your speech - with listening and prayer, or with defensiveness? Is there anyone you need to apologize to for your behavior online?
Today’s message looks at what Proverbs has to say about being happy, joyous, or content, but it’s important to understand, we aren’t talking about happiness in the sense of ignoring or suppressing sadness. The happiness Proverbs speaks of is deeper, more profound.
The job of Christian parents is to instruct their children in wisdom and the fear of the Lord. To introduce them to Jesus, through both word and lifestyle. Mainly through them being able to witness your own walk of intimacy and conviction with Christ. This week, find ways to invest wisdom in your children and then place them in God’s hands, trusting that He’s in control.
A wise person is patient with others and mature in handling anger. When you experience anger, pray, slow down, breathe, listen, be patient and remove yourself from the situation if you need to cool down. As far as possible, extend mercy and forgiveness to the other person, remembering how God handled his wrath against sin.
Wise relationships are rooted in a relationship with God. Are your relationships self-serving or loving?
God is the Creator and Source of all we have, and as Christians we honor Him with our “first-fruits” and by using our money in generous ways and avenues of service.
The book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings primarily from King Solomon. This 7 week series we begin today looks at wisdom and themes within it, considering practical areas where God’s wisdom can shape and change how we live. We’ll see that a well-ordered life brings contentment. The question today is, what are our life priorities? And a followup question may be, if someone took inventory of our lives, would they be too crowded for Jesus?
New opportunities await those in the new year who keep their eyes on Jesus by developing healthy habits of turning the pages of Scripture to find our place and purpose in the story of God. As Believers, we’re given God’s manual on finding hope and are invited to turn the page to unpack its message, valuing the opportunity to receive new life in Jesus, and appreciating the gift of growing in biblical knowledge.
Have you weighed the short term opportunity cost with the longterm benefit of life in Christ!?
We’ve been talking about the Exiles returning to Jerusalem to relearn how to worship God during the time of Nehemiah. The exiles had come back to a world that seemed quite foreign. What they needed was a reminder of how to celebrate God’s work and all the new ways He was showing faithfulness to provide them hope. We will find our way back to worship and trusting God’s presence when we learn to open our eyes to the marvelous ways God has brought us victory, both now and in the future!
We’ve been talking in this series about the Exiles returning to Jerusalem to relearn how to worship God during the time of Nehemiah and Ezra. Worship which requires the proper perspective of God’s character. Until we can see God as glorious, we can’t possibly approach Him in worship. We must trust God is active in everyday life if we’re to sense He’s called us into His presence.
The story of Ezra speaks to the need for genuine repentance when sin has nearly ruined us. Acknowledging that their sin had left them spiritually bankrupt, the exiles had to admit their failures and go to extreme measures to correct them. When God calls us to turn back toward Him so we can accomplish what He has set for us, we must be willing to make significant changes to honor Him.
After the exile, the people were hungry to worship God fully and correctly. The rebuilding of the Temple wall afforded the people the opportunity to honor God’s Word in ways that hadn’t been experienced in years. When God calls us from exile into community centered around His Word, there’s reason to worship - when our hearts are committed to honoring the Lord, we celebrate Him as never before.
When Israel returned from exile, they had to relearn how to worship God. Nehemiah had rebuilt the wall in Jerusalem; now it was time to restore worship. In these verses, the exiles are reminded that true worship is both volitional and rooted in deep appreciation of the Scriptures. If we are to worship God as He deserves, then we must consistently open our hearts to hear the Scriptures.
Today we talk about the 3rd circle in our 3 Circle model, the Gospel, which allows us to recover and pursue God’s design for our lives & help others do the same.
God has a design for our lives, but we depart from His design & end up in brokenness. Last week we saw how Jesus left us with a mission to make disciples of all peoples. To tell them the good news that God made a way for them to live the way they were designed to live. We’re learning a relational, conversational way to bring them the help they need through the Gospel of Jesus.
God has a design for our lives. Everything Jesus did & said is of utmost importance; we make it our goal to be as familiar as possible with Him & His teaching. But, if last words are important, His last were our call to be His witnesses to all peoples. Today’s the beginning of 3 weeks of simple training to do that by way of the 3 Circle model.
In the exciting short book of Haggai, we see God’s call on Israel to get back to the building of His HOUSE. In this we see parallels to ourselves, how we’re called away from building our own kingdom, and back to the building of God’s. Join us as we explore this vital short story in the history of Israel, and what it means to us now as the Church of God.
God wants us to use His gifts, not hoard them, being willing to take wise risks with His money. We’re urged to do something with what God entrusts to us! When we finally stand before Christ, we want to be able to say, “Master, this is what you gave me, and this is what I’ve done to grow it for you.”
There’s work to be done, the Day of the Lord is before us, and we don’t know the hour of its coming. So, in the meantime, the church is called to witness for Christ in the world - otherwise, it’s not the church. Some are called witness to people groups oversees, some just right where they are, but wherever you find yourself, that’s the mission field God’s called you to serve.
With biblical assurance, Gods people endure in awaiting Christs 2nd coming, even when others mock, perceiving it to be aimless & purposeless. Faithful Christian living enables us to await the coming of Christ with patience, humility & endurance.
The original church fathers fought for the good of the Church & preserving the excellencies of Christ found in the Scriptures. In the first few centuries the Church saw heretics arise with errant ideas undermining the nature of Christ, and the Gospels core message. Which do we face now?
The Scriptures/Bible are trustworthy because of the eyewitness testimony of the apostles to the historical event of Christ's death & resurrection, but also because of the trustworthiness of the Law & Prophets found in the Old Testament. Believers can read the Bible knowing what is written within its pages has been tested & true!
Purity in Christ is more precious than life! The Church must be diligent in recognizing false teachers and doctrine while trusting fully in the Bible. By learning to recognize false teachers, we are able to identify those who teach Truth and by living into God's Truth we can grow in grace including Christian virtues.
Due to deconstruction of the Scriptures, and a divorce of God from all things in our culture, we are experiencing a great trial in the church. Devotion is called into question, how will we be prepared to endure actual suffering as God preserves the remnant to worship & witness to the lost in this world!?
This is the tenth sermon in our series Ten on the Ten Commandments given by guest speaker, Steve Munz.
This is the ninth sermon in our series Ten on the Ten Commandments given by guest speaker, Steve Munz.
This is the ninth sermon in our series Ten, on the Ten Commandments given by guest speaker, Steve Munz.
God doesn't want us to steal anything from anyone. Yet instead of viewing this command in the negative, let's see this commandment in the positive as God's desire for His people to work for the good of others.
God wants us to love one another, and we can’t love one another if we’re actively breaking trust in those relationships. God cares about your faithfulness. Infidelity horrifically impacts large circles of people.
Exodus 20:13...You shall not murder...simple straightforward statement. Don’t murder, don’t kill people, period - ‘full stop’ if you’re British. Au contraire mon frere, we’re adept in getting around a word, are we not!?! Whenever we want to get around something we just redefine things.
God calls His people to observe the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a gift from God - the high point of the week.
The Third Commandment is about the importance of understanding a name and using it correctly. By doing so, we avoid a situation that, as followers of Jesus, we should never find ourselves in!
This week we look at the 2nd Commandment from Exodus 20 where God calls us to worship Him alone uncompromisingly, and not to involve ourselves with false idols which only bring destruction.
This ten-week series looks at the Ten Commandments God’s given to all who love Him. As we look each week at a different commandment, we see how there’s a corresponding passage in the New Testament; reminding us, God’s way of living for us is still valid & relevant today. The Ten Commandments have not changed, and they still remain in place for us today, to follow God well, and live our best life possible.
Ephesians 3:8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given to me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Today we look at the fact that God has prepared the way for the Gospel to go out to all peoples. He’s planted a redemptive analogy among peoples in their cultures to bridge them to the Gospel! This is illustrated in Acts 17, and in many other missionary stories! The first church proclaimed that the unknown God had become known through Jesus. All truth is God’s truth; there are many things in this world which can encourage faith & lead unbelievers to Jesus.
Sometimes things don’t go as planned. No matter how faithful you are, no matter how much attention to detail you put into your next step, the unexpected can still happen, and you can find yourself far from where you thought you’d be. The first church proclaimed salvation came through faith alone. When you’re faced with great failure, remember: all you need to do to be saved is believe in Jesus.
How people are saved is still an important question today as it was for the early church. From the writings of Paul & in Acts 15 we see certain Jewish believers were following Paul around & after he left they’d tell the gentile converts they weren’t fully saved unless they were circumcised & followed the Law of Moses placing upon them unnecessary requirements for salvation. Today we explore more clearly the answer to the question, how are we saved?
The theme of Messianic prophecy deeply appeals to people - many a story is written with that theme. The Gospel’s from the beginning, God defines our worldview from the start. From the beginning of Scripture we see the Good News, Glad Tidings, what we call the Euangelion. How does this give us an eternal perspective & bring hope in our time of need? How are all our hopes & fears of all the years met in Jesus?
The Gospel is for all peoples & the Christian is called to Proclaim Christ to them. Who do you consciously, or unconsciously deem as unclean or unworthy of the Gospel? Who do you avoid sharing Jesus with?
Today we look at what God can do through ordinary people in the simple proclamation of the Gospel!
This 7 week series, Proclaim, looks at what the early church proclaimed about Jesus. We’ll discover a consistent message of sin, grace & salvation in the name of Jesus, showing the crucifixion & resurrection to be central to faith. If you’re a follower of Jesus, the crucifixion & resurrection of Jesus must be central to faith. Testimony of what He’s done in power through history according to the Scriptures & in us - the mission of all Christians - to tell His Story!
Christ the Lord is risen! Christ’s death & resurrection has freed us from sin & condemnation. We’re called in this freedom to live in the light of His resurrection glory. Resurrection brings salvation, and with salvation comes a new identity in Christ & a hope that surpasses everything. Live into the hope of the resurrection by proclaiming “Christ is risen!” Allow Him to restore your soul through salvation - find in Christ your originally intended purpose & identity once more.
Jesus redefines power by entering Jerusalem with a demonstration of both humility & divine authority. He was not what people expected. We model the humility of Jesus whenever we sacrifice part of our own privilege & power to serve others in Truth & Love of the Gospel.
In this story Jesus exorcises a demon from a young boy. One which the Disciples were unable to drive out. As a result, Jesus reprimands them for their failure to trust the One to whom they ought to be praying, but don’t. It would seem they may act in religious ways, but their faith was not placed rightly in prayer - theirs was demonstrated in the reliance of self. But prayer in relationship with Jesus demonstrates a relationship of practical trust in His power to accomplish more than we might ever imagine.
When Jesus walks on water & invites Peter to do the same, He proclaims He’s the Son of God and, in so doing, strengthens the faith of His disciples. Practicing our faith in new uncomfortable ways forces us to set our fears aside & put our trust in Jesus. We can trust that Jesus is the Great ‘I am’ who comes to us through the darkest storms of life.
Jesus’s power to resurrect the ruler’s daughter announces God’s limitless power over life & death. When we believe God possesses power over life & death faith produces courage - we’re free to put our hope for the future in His hands.
In declaring the paralyzed man’s forgiven, Jesus declares His authority equal to His Father’s. The forgiveness of sin wrought by Jesus on the cross confers on us a responsibility to extend it to others as we give witness to His authority in our lives.
By healing the centurion’s servant, Jesus establishes His power over the material world, but it’s the spiritual reality of faith to which Jesus draws our attention. We give witness to Jesus’s authority in our lives by our obedience to His teachings & our willingness to live in submission to God’s Word.
Have you known a Debbie Downer, a wet blanket? What they say is true, just negative. No one wants to be called a 'Doubting Thomas' who never believes anything and always looks at the negative. However, just like Thomas, for whom that term was coined, our doubt can show how close we actually are to God; we can be transformed by Jesus in our state of doubtfulness. Christian maturity allows our doubts to be challenged by God's truth and faithfulness.
We can believe God & struggle to believe at the same time. And Jesus will accept us, even in our struggle. It’s wise not to hide doubt, but bring our unbelief before a loving God even if in guarded hope & expectation. Because when disappointment becomes the norm, doubt may be our natural reaction.
We can become doubtful when God doesn’t meet our expectations. But God wants to change our limited view of Him. We will let God change our perspective & expectations in order to walk with Him well.
This four-week series examines doubt in Christian life. Faced well, the experiences of certain biblical characters reveal doubt to push believers towards deeper faith - revealing God desires we walk with Him in such seasons. Like John the Baptist, Christians go through seasons of doubt - opportunities to pursue & press further into Jesus.
Cultivating spiritual habits fuels change & growth. Though Christian growth isn’t just about self- discipline, habits are a powerful part of our change as believers. We strive as the Scriptures teach to cultivate habits which bring spiritual change.
Change is hindered when we put off responsibility. We can't allow procrastination to hinder spiritual growth. But sometimes we avoid the necessary difficulties, conversations, or responsibilities God places before us which would bring it. Passivity is fear and lack of faith, having dire effects on spiritual growth. It stands in the way of that to which God calls, His glory, and which would otherwise grow us.
This is a PG-13 sermon. We’re going to talk about everyone’s favorite subject today, sex. We’ll be candid, because we need to speak clearly on this subject in church. I’ve done my best to word this in a mature & palatable manner.
This four-week series explores the difficulties of change in the Christian life. Through understanding procrastination, sanctification, and the power of cultivating spiritual habits, we see the life-giving process of change in the Christian life. Change is a part of life; it will either bring us closer to God or take us further away. We will take responsibility to follow God in every season of life.
As we start the new year, let's remember God's grace brings salvation to everyone, giving us the ability to grow in faith and holiness. We can trust in God's grace to grow us in righteousness this year, with assurance of salvation because God is the god of second chances - every new day brings new mercies!
Today we celebrate Christmas...the fact that we were helpless to save ourselves, so God entered our reality in the person of Jesus Christ to save us. As a result of Christmas we live with the confidence of God's presence.
Today we explore the questions, what is PEACE? What does it mean to serve a Prince of Peace?
The testimony of Christ’s life & the power of the Holy Spirit aren’t limited to a select few; all who are in Christ are called into ministry of spreading the gospel - in our homes, in our communities & throughout the world. We don’t have to be trained pastors or teachers in order to share the work God has done in our lives with others.
The call to follow Christ isn’t easy. We’re bound to fail. But God’s call on our lives remains unchanged, and He offers full restoration & forgiveness which empower us to carry on when we fall short. The repentant believer’s never disqualified from serving the Lord; rather, our shortcomings can encourage & equip others who may be facing similar struggles.
As believers, we’ll have times when we’re at odds with the world when we must choose between fear or hope. Just as the two disciples ran to encourage the Eleven in the story we read today, we should be ready to do the same for those sitting in fear or grief when their faith’s been shaken, or when simple misconception holds them back from Jesus.
The story of Christ’s resurrection remains one of the most renown & controversial stories ever told. When sharing the gospel, it’s important to listen & understand how others view Christ based on what they’ve been told.
Today we study how being new in Christ means living in light of God’s Word. By studying Scripture in community, we grow to maturity in Christ with the help of fellow Christians.
God’s Word is the believer’s source of truth & wisdom. It should be prized & valued in the believer’s life. Today we explore how memorizing Scripture helps followers of Jesus to lean on its truths in all seasons & situations of life.
Dallas Willard said, “To dribble a few verses or chapters of Scripture on oneself through the week, in church or out, will not reorder one’s mind & spirit - just as one drop of water every five minutes will not get you a shower, no matter how long you keep it up. You need a lot of water at once & for a sufficiently long time. Similarly for the written Word.” TRUE THAT!
Today we peek into a conversation between Jesus & the Samaritan woman at the well to allow Jesus to teach us what true worshippers are as He did her.
In this discussion of worship being out of an all encompassing gratitude toward God overflowing to others, we find grateful worship translates to giving community.
Today we explore who we are in Christ further, and what that means to our worshipful witness.
This series focuses on the heart of worship, addressing the need to love God & others while living worshipfully in every day life. The way we live reveals what we value most. God calls for worship of our entire being, what we do in life reflects our worship of Christ, or otherwise. Today we learn, worship is all-encompassing gratitude, overflowing to others.
Does it feel like the Enemy’s winning as you look around at life? Maybe there’s a story behind the story where God is working, and His purposes & promises are being fulfilled over time, but that we must simply remain faithful, even in difficulty.
Will we recognize that sometimes bad news is good news bringing God’s healing? Will we answer in faith as Jeremiah did at his worst hour with no support from anyone?
God communicates His love before, during, and after discipline. He is consistent and never leaves us. He chooses mercy and gives us hope.
God’s not pleased with hypocritical ritual. He desires wholistic worship seen in life-transformation. Where are we tempted to go through the motions just to appease God? Since Jeremiah reminds us, God’s interested in the true state of our heart & life-transformation which comes out in very practical action of care towards others.
We begin this series looking at the overwhelming call of Jeremiah to take God’s word to rebellious people of God, and the nations beyond them. Jeremiah will find that he’s totally inadequate to the task, but that God’s power & presence will enable him! Amen!
Overflow includes all that we are. We were bought with a price, and have become the bondservants of Christ. God has entrusted all that we have to our care, do we regard everything we have and are as His? And what difference does that make in the area of finances for us?
Baptism, an outward symbol of an inward reality. A visual image & statement of our being sealed & washed clean in Christ! Today we celebrate the overflow of Christ in the lives of two of our own!
The Holy Spirit at the top filling us up, overflowing first to family & friends, then to local community, then the nations of the world. Overflow, a natural process of being filled, not forced or awkward, just happens.
We’re centering our thoughts on desiring overflow...Romans 15:13...May the God of hope fill you with all joy & peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We long to be filled to overflowing, but to be filled, we must desire it. We do nothing without desire. How are we filled? How do we, like David said, taste & see that the Lord is good?
Are we S.A.D.? Do we have Separation Anxiety Disorder. What if we were so secure in Christ that it would transform us totally at the core. That world view would enable us to trust & the God of hope would fill us like a five tiered fountain to overflowing with hope by the power of His Spirit. Joy,
Flowing out of an intimate relationship with Jesus, we will make disciples who walk in intimacy with Jesus. Jesus calls us to cross the boundaries of the different people groups in our world to make disciples among them.
In Mark 12:30, we’re told to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind & strength. Today, we’re going to focus on loving God with our minds by thinking through creation, asking ourselves the question, “Is this world really all here for us?” (This material is largely derived from UnveilinGLORY’s YouTeach series.)
Today we look at six distortions resulting from Cat Theology. (1) The life goal of a Cat, (2) how their view of ‘who God is’ becomes distorted, (3) their assurance of salvation may actually be on shaky ground, the we look at 3 Church leaders who may have Cattitude & what that may produce. (This material is largely derived from UnveilinGLORY’s YouTeach series.)
We don’t want to be the Selfish Bride, marrying for only what we get out of it. Today we look at 6 symptoms of the cancer (Cat Theology) in the church, comparing them to a Dog’s Theology. (This material is largely derived from UnveilinGLORY’s YouTeach series.)
Dogs say, “You pet, feed, shelter & love me,” and conclude, “You must be God!” Cats say, “You pet, feed, shelter & love me,” and conclude, “I must be God!” These characterize Christian theology. Today we explore primarily why Jesus came, if you have Cat Theology, the answer may surprise.
Today we explore four practical ways we can be involved in impacting the nations for God’s glory - being Senders, Welcomers, Mobilizers, or Goers. (This material is largely derived from UnveilinGLORY’s YouTeach series.)
The call to missions is an exception, not the rule. The call is corporate, for all of us, and we simply need to be obedient to God’s call to reach the nations! You can decide to ‘go’ - God would accept your effort!(This material is largely derived from UnveilinGLORY’s YouTeach series.)
Sometimes Christians are sent out to other ‘nations’. Sometimes God brings them to us! Let’s become aware of all the opportunity God has provided right among us to reach the nations.(This material is largely derived from UnveilinGLORY’s YouTeach series.)
At times individuals & whole groups of people miss something so glaring right before them. Are we missing half the message God wants to speak to us?(This material is largely derived from UnveilinGLORY’s YouTeach series.)
Today we linger, looking longer as to what it means to be saved, from what, from who, to what & to whom? To appreciate the light we have to understand darkness. To understand life, we have to understand death. Which will we choose in the end depends on our simple response to Jesus now.
Is Jesus King? If so, king of what? What happens to those who will not humbly bow their knee to his kingship? Is Hell real & necessary? If so, what are our misconceptions of it, and why? Join us as we explore these questions this Palm Sunday leading into Easter.
How do we see Jesus living out the foundational principles of the Abrahamic Covenant in His ministry to both Jew & Gentile? What did that mean for His disciples, and for us now? We answer these today by looking at 6 different passages.
Today we look at how Israel was always meant to be a Great Commission Nation, and how that legacy is continued by the Church today. We look at 6 different ways God communicates this to Israel & us... Swearing (making an oath), Repetition, Imagery, Nature, Strategic Growth & finally, Leadership.
We think through two questions today as we continue to look at the complete Story of the Bible. Firstly, what reveals God’s greatest glory? And secondly, what brings about our greatest joy? The answer may surprise you!
Many view the Bible as 66 independent books with various messages & themes throughout. Rather, it’s one book with an introduction, story & conclusion. Today we begin to understand the Story of the Bible. The question being, what’s the central overarching theme throughout the Scriptural Story?
Do our prayers center on personal comfort or the desires & calling of Jesus? Do we see ourselves as on a battlefield with a walkie-talkie connection to our Commander & Chief with unlimited firepower, and strategic planning from above as Paul did? Or is God a golden retriever we’ve simply trained to get us a beer out of the fridge?
Paul takes us on a journey of qualities of true spirituality as seen in 3 significant relationships in life... husbands & wives, parents & children, and slaves & masters (employer & employee). Join us as we explore these qualities together.
Christianity is community, and community is both joy & difficulty. What values govern our community as Christians, what is the central thing which enables us to have health? We explore these questions in todays sermon.
In art, when heart & mind commingle in the work, masterpieces are born. Paul says here our hearts & minds coming together in Christ produce a masterpiece of the Christian Life.
Continuing with the idea that we live what we ‘know’ to be true of Jesus, we explore further Paul’s wonderful image of Christ in this passage and how that should affect our lives!
Today we begin a short series in Colossians. In this introduction we glean that we live what we believe to be true of Jesus, and ask, are we growing deeper in Christ & having Him flow out to others?
This is our last sermon in this short series. We’ve looked at the Inner, Family & Work Life, and now we will look at the Called Life. In this sermon we will wrestle with the question, “Do you have a mission in life – or does a mission have you?” In a day when our sense of calling is often rooted in our need to feel special & unique, isn’t it odd that Jesus, in the Great Commission, seems to give every Christian who ever lived the very same calling?
Colossians 3 urges us in...’whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’ How do we view our work lives in light of our calling as Christians. Do we work to live, or live to work? Do we recognize the influence we have through our work life? Do we understand our call to serve as if we are serving Jesus himself?
Everyone in a family has needs, dreams, and a unique calling which demand “sacred care” from those who will walk with them across a lifetime in their role as a family member. When we begin to see our family as our “First Church,” we can care for one another with the backing of heaven. They will only follow those who model Jesus well, how do we do that in our family lives?
We become our habits. Like someone suffering from heart disease, arteries don’t get clogged from eating one fatty meal. They build up in minute deposits over time from all the many choices we make throughout life. Our spiritual lives get clogged when we choose other things over & above intimacy & vitality with Jesus. There’s an individual & corporate call to care for our inner lives, to help our community become like Jesus! A call to commit ourselves to a daily rhythm of Morning Prayer, Scripture Reading, Frequent Prayer, Evening Prayer, and a Daily Examen which could change everything. New habits mean a new you, and new a you means a new community!
You are what you eat...fill your heart & mind with the thoughts of God, take on the mind of Christ & you will find peace, contentment & become a powerful witness for Jesus!
Today Paul gives us 5 healthy imperatives to deal with the pressures of conflict & culture, which if practiced well, these imperatives will guard our hearts & minds, and preserve the unity of the Church!
Run as if to win the prize for which you’ve been called heavenward in Christ! The race isn’t over until it’s over, what’s behind is behind, don’t look back - stay focused on Jesus!
Paul gets intense, but what is so important? As we study this vital passage, we’ll see, there’s no compromise in the gospel message & it must be guarded in its purity.
If you can do nothing to earn your salvation, and it’s absolutely a work of Grace by Jesus, then why work out your faith with fear & trembling? And, what does it mean to ‘work out’ your salvation anyway? Good questions which we seek to address today.
In following Christ, we’re not just unified in Spirit, but we take on the Mind of Christ leading us to humility, sacrifices & to empty ourselves to be filled with Him for the sake of salvation in others!
Paul says amazing things in these few verses. For Paul, being precedes & entails doing, and only then can doing in turn confirm our being. We’re called to live what we already are in Christ no matter the costs. We are citizens of heaven, therefore we live accordingly, in a manner worthy of our king.
Let’s explore this statement in the life of Paul today: “The glory of Christ ought to be the end of our life, the grace of Christ the principle of our life, and the word of Christ the rule of it. The Christian life is derived from Christ & directed to Him. He is the principle, rule & end of it.”
What’s the one simple & great thing we can practice for spiritual growth & unity? Read on to find out.
We begin today a study of Philippians, join us as we explore what is generally referred to as the Epistle of Joy as it teaches us lessons of joy & unity undergirded by our shared faith in Christ. An appropriate series during this time of lockdown where we, like Paul did with the Philippians, long to be reunited in encouraging fellowship.
Pastor Joe Guynes, Jason's brother, and the Pastor of The Redeemers Place in Weston, Florida, shared a message of church unity and purpose. He focused on Colossians 3 as his foundational text.
We enjoy this message from Dawn Woods on praying for God's will in our life and avoiding temptation.
How do we respond when by chance we cross the intersection on the road of life with others to hear their need serving them in the message & practical love of Christ. We learn from Jesus that we don’t serve to live in Him, but because of Him we serve in love.
Today we look at Matthew 23:23 where Jesus challenges Jewish Leaders. We’re asking are we heavy in the outwardly religious things, but light in the more weighty immaterial issues relating to the heart of God?
In a world where the temptation is to be dragged away & enticed by our desires, or to be blown & tossed by every wind of teaching, we need to FOCUS. To focus on God’s Word to us, Jesus, the leading of the Holy Spirit pursuing unity as the church in faith & practice.
We have to let God finish His sentence to us, to hear, receive & believe all that He has to say about life & His purposes for us.
God demands justice. Injustice is sin. What does the current social justice movement deem as moral & fair as compared to the biblical justice view? Are they congruent?
As we reenter gathering together (at least some of us) it’s good to continue our thoughts on how the church operates in continued unity.
True identity & justice must flow from the throne of God. How do we live out of a Christian worldview and practice issues such as justice in light of God’s good authority & direction?
Jesus restores Peter after his three denials - preparing him for a future life of loving sacrifice in the name of Christ to be a fisher of men!
What does it mean to live in doubt of Jesus? How is our doubt assuaged, what is the answer to it? Is it a logical argument, or better yet, can it come from choosing to believe leading to an encounter with Christ?
What did Jesus actually suffer for us? What did He mean by, “It is finished,” when He died on the cross? What’s the difference between the message of Christianity in this story as opposed to all the ‘good advice’ we can get from others out there?
Can we have objective truth as it pertains to God? How does He communicated Himself? And can all religions lead to God if He communicates His personhood in a certain way?
Jesus was a bridge builder to God, going as far as giving His own life to finish the work!
We ride a spiritual tricycle - Father, Son & Holy Spirit, but often the Spirits influence is lost on us. What does the Holy Spirit mean in the life of the believer?
What does Jesus mean when talking about the Vine & the Vine Dresser? Will I be cut off? Will I be included? Let’s look at some encouraging & powerful insights to His words today in John 15.
As Jesus prepares to leave His Disciples, He promises two things. Firstly, hope for the future, and secondly, help in the present. Let’s see what that means together in John 14 today.
Israel wanted a conquering leader, but Jesus is a Servant King. How does He show this, and what does it mean for us as His followers?
This is Jesus inauguration ceremony & Kings are to be followed. But sometimes we make kings out to be in our own image, puppets on a string. How’ve we done this as Christians, and how can we truly follow Jesus, our King? This is what we explore in John 12.
Is there something in life which seems insurmountable? Do you believe Jesus can overcome all things in life except this one thing? Let’s see what happen to Mary & Martha in John 11
The concept of sheep is a good metaphor for us. Sheep are interesting, goats have to be herded, whereas sheep listen to the Shepherds voice & follow. We have a God who died on our behalf, and rose from the dead to conquer sin & death - why wouldn’t we follow that voice?
John paints his next portrait of Jesus as the Light of the World. We can choose to walk in the light or stay in the darkness, and that is the question we struggle with throughout life.
Do we live in prideful religiosity which judges others, and therefore judges Christ? Or, do we practice loving confrontation out of a stance of grace & mercy with the desire to build up & not to shame?
Today we see the Holy Spirit as the Living Water, and Christ as the Fountain which provides it! Do we have a vibrant life in the Spirit? Read along and see where the Spirit takes you!
Many don’t mind a Savior, but Lord is a different story. Do we just want Jesus to get us through the door, or do we rely on Him as our daily sustenance in all things?
Do we really want freedom since it comes with responsibility & life-change? Jesus brings it, we need only say, “Yes!”
Feuds start, and by the end we may not even know what we’re feuding about. There comes a time to surrender, to just give up our search for fulfillment & meaning in ways which don’t work. To finally have our thirst satisfied by the Living Water, Jesus!
How does salvation occur? What does it mean to be reborn? What does it mean to look up to Jesus for hope & help throughout this life? These are questions we address looking at the conversation between a religious leader, Nicodemus, and Jesus.
Last week we heard the Divinity of Jesus as Word. This week we peer into His humanity, and just how personal, close & caring He is in the mundane details of our lives.
Who is Jesus to the world? Does God suffer from multiple personality disorder? Or, does He communicate Himself in one way as you would communicate yourself through your unique personality?
We live in the already & not yet of the kingdom of God. Jesus has left us with answers & direction. Living out of solid truth in an unsure world brings us hope & joy! A message we’re called to proclaim to all peoples!
Operating out of our identity in Christ allows us to live out of a biblical worldview even when it is unpopular & to be able to lead others without vitriol or division due to our possible faulty opinions.
Today we look at how the Church can find unity even where it seems impossible through counsel of Word, Spirit, and the hard work of solid Christians.
It’s been said ‘Love without Truth lies, Truth without Love kills.’ We explore this concept today from 1 Corinthians 13:2. We find that being right & being loving are both important in the Christian life for the sake of the well being of others and the life giving message of the Gospel to the world.
God knows all Truth, we have access to all we need as we grow into His likeness. How do we stand on the Truth we know, but in humility realize at times we can be wrong? How do we communicate with those we may disagree with in healthy ways?
We live in a polemic polarized world. As Christians, with Scriptural convictions & values, we need to learn how to speak in Love & Truth. Our unity is reflective of God & a witness to the world. Today we introduce 5 affirmations to help communicate well with others who may differ from us.
Elizabeths story is one of a person who may feel past their prime, but in whom God works & does great things anyway! Can God use you at any stage of life for great things in His kingdom!?!?
Joseph seems to find peace in acting in faith, and in doing so becomes an image of godly love. Let’s explore this largely silent characters contribution to the Christmas story.
What did Simeon hope for, and why did they need consolation? What do we hope for, and why do we need consolation? Questions we explore in the 1st sermon in our Christmas Series.
Why does the Church exist? How did it come about? What is God’s plan for the world & for you?
How do we raise our kids? How can we build into them, and train them up? We scratch the surface here with a few ideas. In trying to make better Sundays we find our families gain great benefits.
Two-thirds of young people leave the church when they are college aged. How are we at Six:Eight going to give our kids a faith they don't want to walk away from?
Today we look at the question of making our Mondays better, means beginning with our Sundays.
In the parable of the soils, where do you fall? What’s your great desire? How does your desire define your effort towards spiritual formation?
How is church community unique, how are you unique in it? What does it do for you, and what do you do for it? These are the questions we wrestle with in this sermon.
How is church community unique, how are you unique in it? What does it do for you, and what do you do for it? These are the questions we wrestle with in this sermon.
Is our spiritual formation just between us & Jesus? Or does it lead to taking on His heart for the world & doing the things which He did, and calls us to do? The question may be rhetorical, but let’s explore the statement that our spiritual formation is for the sake of others together.
Today we address the question, what does it mean to be transformed into the image of Christ?
Practicing the Presence of Christ leads to our Spiritual Formation as we are simultaneously being called to mission for His glory! Today we focus on how our Doing should flow from our Being as we are formed into the likeness of Christ.
A conquering Roman General would lead his captives on display through city streets filled with incense. Paul uses that imagery concerning us, saying we are Christs captives spreading everywhere the aroma of Jesus! Can we view ourselves in such a light being responsible with our calling?
We only have the moments before us to make a difference in someone. Acting wisely & graciously making sure our conversations are seasoned with salt is necessary to reflect Jesus & see change.
Paying attention, being welcoming to others opens the way for the Gospel to flourish - who needs attention around you? Live as wise people out of the purpose to which God’s called His people!
From the beginning of Christ’s ministry He began to choose people to continue the work of kingdom building. He chose, equipped & called them. They came under his Lordship & experienced a life set apart for holiness, fidelity & faithfulness. That continues today, the wonderful call to live the life of Jesus in worship in all ways in order that His Glory would be shown among all people!
It’s not about us, it’s about God’s Glory & God’s Mission. We unify under Jesus for the sake of this unique calling which rises above all the blowing winds of teaching & emotion in culture!
We begin a 4-week series on Why Church Matters today. And we begin by seeing that the Church matters because it represents Jesus - and in that, our whole perspective gloriously gets turned on its head!
James Cordrey, author, speaker, and leader of Intentional Warriors ministry, shared a message about how God's playful nature, displayed in many of Jesus' interactions with his disciples, invites us into a place of true rest and grace. James refers throughout his message to The Message version of Matthew 11:28-30 the text of which is
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Do we live with the end in mind in delayed gratification for the sake of Christ in the world? Or, do we mask our desire for instant gratification in the loose fitting shirt of Christian Culture? Hard questions!!
Our final leadership lesson comes from Paul to Timothy training him to live in grace, modeling & multiplying the life of Christ in others!
Continuing with our lessons on Leadership, today we have our lesson from the Disciples: Good leaders empower servant leaders.
Continuing with our lessons on Leadership, today we have our lesson from Moses: Good Leaders Identify Spiritual Gifts in Others.
Moses learns a great lesson in leadership from his father-in-law, Jethro. One in which we also must employ in times of transition as God takes us further into His vision for us as a church!
In the story of Joshua before Jericho we see God moves through our faith! He comes to take over, and take us through our internal & external walls whatever they may be!
Today we look at Barrier Breaking Faith in light of Abraham & Isaac - learning 3 vital lessons!
How can we get to the next level of faith at Six:Eight, which breaks barriers to others hearing the Gospel & truly grows us into being the church God longs for us to be? Radical trust in God to create something out of nothing, defining what a new level of faith looks like for our church, which crushes barriers & defies expectations. Going beyond what we see now, bringing hopeful expectation of what God will do!
What is really mine? Scripture speaks of us moving from being slaves to sin to slaves of righteousness. Becoming Bondservants of Jesus, who manage, steward & oversee the Master’s resources. Do we view ourselves, and all our resources in this light?
Do we find meaning in Christ, or in financial resources? What makes for true happiness, extrinsic or intrinsic goals?
Life from death. From hopelessness to hope. So let all things rise & bless Your Name, all things made right & new again! That is the hope of Christians due to Jesus work on the cross & His resurrection from the grave!
God’s not put off by weakness, or offended by weak people. Which is good, because if we’re honest, we’re all, occasionally, if not exclusively, weak. Instead, He chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise & the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
What does love do? How is it shown? Where does it originate from? What is it? These are the questions addressed in todays sermon.
Pastor Mohammad Yamout of Tyre Church in Lebanon visited to share about all that God is doing and the lives being changed in the Lebanon/Syria region. He also challenged us with ways we can support the ministry: through prayer, sending members on short term missions, and supporting financially.
God is good, from beginning to end in the Scriptures. God’s goodness is free & boundless, found everywhere, and cannot be separated from His Justice & Holiness. We can wake up to His Goodness, and begin to view life through a different narrative rather then the violence & vitriol we are consistently fed in this world!
What can we learn from Jonah, a man who ran from God’s call? We see the term ‘missionary’ isn’t reserved for the few, but the all - we are all called to live as missionaries in God’s purpose. Charles Spurgeon was correct, “Every Christian is either a missionary, or an imposter.”
We are a SENT people in the purpose of God to bring glory to Christ. The Gospel calls us to both proclamation & demonstration. How have we usurped the Missio Dei (the Mission of God) to become the Missio ME (My mission)?
We live in a culture which seems hostile to the message of Christ, at the least in perception. Will we choose to obey Christ, or accommodate? Today we look at how Peter & the Apostles responded to the same pressures.
We all live called to the Great Commission, how we go about that individually is always being revealed. But we can be assured of attack, distractions & discouragement along the way. This comes in many forms, but great purpose diminishes all distraction. Nehemiah shows us how to stay on task.
We’re setting our minds on God’s purpose for our lives in His mission, exploring the principle of missional decision-making & how to live in light of God’s glorious mission. Moses bears witness that decisions made in faith, honor God!
10 minutes to speak about 10 things learned in 10 years which will continue to inform & define our future as a church!
How does our World View affect how we see God & his interaction in our lives? What is the difference in a Biblical World View as compared to an Individualistic Western World View?
This week we look at the false teaching labeled the Faith Formula. The Faith Formula defines faith as ‘the human will to believe’; the dominant feature is its human-centeredness. Its focus has ceased to be on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith, shifting to the individuals ability to believe, and their own self-righteousness.
To say ‘God allows’, is to say we’re devoid of responsibility in our actions & choices & denies the evil forces at work in the world. Today we explore how Divine Determinism hamstrings our ability to, like William Carey said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God!
Francis McNutt said, “When we say that God sends sickness or asks us to endure it, we are creating for many people an image of God they must eventually reject.” How can we begin bring our view on sickness & healing in line with how Jesus viewed it is our question to wrestle with in this sermon.
In this new year, let’s take off those things which are incongruent with the Life of Christ, and put on those which are reflective of Him. Let’s do this not only for our own spiritual formation, and intimacy with Jesus, but also for our witness to others!
Heaven & Earth meet in one divine moment at a certain time & place in history; the birth of Christ. Humility & Power co-exist in the same person, the person of Jesus declared to be the Lord of lords & King of kings.
Learning to love others isn’t about agreement on every little detail of life, it is rather about being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit & of one mind as Philippians 2:1-2 dictates. How can we learn to love well?
We’ve talked about Humility leading to Hope, and we cannot talk about Hope without Peace - what does it mean to live in it, and practice it in light of the Gospel?
How are humility & hope connected? How does the humility of walking in Christ birth a hope giving a solid foundation enabling us to show concern while still living in freedom & joy? This is what we explore in this sermon.
This is our first sermon in this series, an intro into looking at Pride in comparison to Christ’s Humility.
Our true passion drives all choice. Passion is synonymous with worship. To be driven by passionate worship of Jesus is to have all of life to become a sacrifice to him - to become childlike in trust but not childish in demeanor.
This weeks sermon is intimately tied to last week's. What does it mean to honor & live out of the Story of God’s Grace? Grace which preceded Law, and has always been the point of relationship with God from the very beginning pages of Scripture. We greatly value the Story of God in HIStory as revealed in the Holy Scriptures which inform us of who God is & His purpose & direction for humanity.
How do we live out of grace, not only for initial salvation, but applying it inwardly making us effective lovers of God & others? That is what we explore in this second value of Six:Eight today - Grace Matters.
Today we look at our mission statement; to be the hands, feet, & voice of Jesus’ on the Eastern Main Line & beyond - To manifest Jesus. When we speak of ‘manifesting Jesus’ we’re speaking in the language of the kingdom - demonstrating God’s kingdom reign & power. In this sermon we explore what that looks like.
Last week we looked at our purpose statement, in short, to follow Jesus, in the context of Micah 6:8, our signature verse for this church. Today we look at our vision statement which says, ‘To live as Jesus did, in word & deed. Awakening others to their own spiritual journey with him - To live as Jesus did.’
If you want to know more about the heart of Six:Eight as a church, we begin exploring that in depth in this new series. We begin with our ‘Purpose’, basing our discussion around Micah 6:8, the signature verse for our church.
Are you listening to the Master Teacher, emulating ministry? Do you want your own stories of kingdom life & ministry among others? Do you want to see your witness validated by the Spirit of God moving in peoples lives through healing, be it emotional, spiritual, or physical? Six:Eight does! We want everyone to play in the kingdom of God, all ministers of Christ’s healing message & life to others!
Everyone gets to play in the building of the Kingdom of God. No matter if you’re introverted, extroverted, small, tall, educated, or not - all of us are called, empowered and being equipped to do the work of the ministry as a body!
Everyone gets to play in the building of the Kingdom of God. No matter if you’re introverted, extroverted, small, tall, educated, or not - all of us are called, empowered and being equipped to do the work of the ministry as a body!
In the process of spiritual formation the Body must come to serve us as a primary ally in Christlikeness, this week we explore this very important topic.