FBC Platte City: Recent Episodes
FBC Platte City
The Greatest Commandment:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength." -Mark 12:30
How's it going with all that?
In chapter 3, Paul continues warns Timothy about being influenced by people who aren’t following Jesus. Paul urges Timothy to instead imitate the life that Paul has been developing:
- embracing the teaching of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection
- using the Word of God to instruct your way of life
- staying focused on your purpose of helping other find and follow Jesus
- developing a faith (trust in God) that endures through difficulties
- remaining patient with people and circumstances that are long-suffering
- loving others not merely as a feeling but an action to carry out
- enduring in all things
This instruction is accompanied by 3 warnings from Paul:
- Beware of what or who influences you.
- Beware of never committing to Jesus.
- Beware that disobedience to God makes you vulnerable to deception.
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused: Part 6
When Paul is writing to Timothy in the book of 2 Timothy, he says “there will be terrible times in the last days.”
“The last days” refers to the period of time from Jesus’ first arrival to his return.
In a world where wickedness continues to increase, when there are hard days, how do we respond as followers of Jesus?
- Don’t let your heart grow cold
- Don’t get pulled by the negative tide of culture
- Don’t forget the kindness God has shown you
Ultimately, there’s no room for an “I’m better than you” mentality. Because we’ve received grace, we give grace. Because we’ve been loved, we love. Because we’ve been forgiven, we forgive.
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused: Part 5Here's a few takeaways from this message:1. Rightly handle the Word of God so you have a firm foundation and aren't led astray.2. Stop quarreling and fighting over nonessentials. Your conduct matters if you want to be effective for the Lord. 3. Want to be counter-cultural? Be kind to everyone, not resentful, be patient and gentle (strength under control). Don't destroy your influence because our hope is others will come to saving faith in Jesus.
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused: Part 4Here's a few takeaways from this message:1. As follower of Jesus we endure by relying on the grace of Jesus. 2. As followers of Jesus we endure by having the proper mindset (focus, sacrifice, discipline, conduct, hardworking, patient). 3. As followers of Jesus we endure by remembering the faithfulness of the risen Lord Jesus.4. Take comfort in this: though we may waver and fall into unfaithfulness, the Lord Jesus remains faithful to you.
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused
Part 3 of 9
Here's a few takeaways from this message:
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Following Jesus involves being disappointed by other followers of Jesus.
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Hold onto the truth of God's word when others disappoint us.
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When some people disappoint you, God sends others to encourage you.
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How can you be faithful to other followers of Jesus?
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused
Part 2 of 9
Here's 3 takeaways from this message:
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The good news about Jesus can bring hostility- sometimes in our reputation, sometimes in our relationships. In the midst of hostility or indifference, there's still a hunger for the hope that only Jesus can give.
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Apply the gospel to your own life when experiencing fear, timidity, or shame. The gospel isn't just for us to give away to others. We need to be reminded daily that Jesus "has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (2 Timothy 1:10)
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The gospel of Jesus Christ is worth it. Any possible suffering is nothing in comparison to the life God has in store for us to share with him forever because of what Jesus has done for us.
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused Part 1 of 9
2 Timothy 1:1-7
We’re starting a new series called “Find, Follow, and Stay Focused.” We’ll be looking at themes from the book of 2 Timothy.
Here’s a few questions for reflection:
- What is your next step?
- How can you be engaged in investing in others to help them find and follow Jesus?
- Is there a gift of God that you need to “fan into flame”?
- Have you been too dependent on your own strength and become timid in your faith?
Peter- one minute he's saying that he'll give up his life for Jesus, the next he's denying that he even knows Jesus.
The details of our stories may be different, but the big takeaway remains: Jesus stays consistent no matter how many times we turn away from him.
Martha's Epic Meltdown
Questions:
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What are some next steps you could take to cut out distractions that are pulling you away from Jesus?
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Are you trying to earn God's love and acceptance through your "doing"?
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Are you staying busy because you're trying to avoid the Lord?
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What ways can you grow in your relationship with Jesus so your relationship is more like a friend and less transactional?
King Nebuchadnezzar's boastful pride wrecked his life until he ultimately acknowledged God. Do you have a story like that? On the other hand, are you wrecked by hopeless fear? You may or may not be driven to the wilderness in isolation until your fingernails resemble the claws of a bird, but there's likely something you can relate to in Nebuchadnezzar's story.
Feel tired? Burnt out? Overwhelmed?Elijah did, too (even after God had used him in some pretty miraculous ways). Here's a few things to keep in mind and apply to ourselves when we're struggling:1. God is tender and compassionate to those who are struggling.2. We can tend to only focus on the spiritual, but you are a created being that has physical, emotional, and relational needs.3. God is working even when it's not obvious. 4. God can and does work through big moments but so often he is working in the small moments.5. God has a next step for you, even when you feel done.
Sometimes the people in the Bible are almost too relatable. Case in point: Moses
We’re looking at Moses’ epic meltdown and asking these questions:
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Have you ever tried your best but everything went wrong?
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Ever held in together only to lose it in the end?
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What if God could give you grace anyway?
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BONUS: Are you in the midst of a slow burn right now?
We're finishing our last message from the life of Joseph with a powerful conclusion. In looking back on the extreme ups and downs from Joseph's life, he sums it all up by saying, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..." This phrase has comforted generations of Christians and it's important to clarify what it actually means as we apply it to our own lives. "God meant it for good" doesn't mean:- what happened is good (death, financial troubles, job loss -- are not good!)- there is no human responsibility- you'll see how all the dots in your story connect"God meant it for good" does mean:- evil is under the wise and gracious hand of God- God is with his people working out his saving purposes- in all things God works for the good of those who love himWe can have assurance of the love God has for us and hold onto future hope because of what Jesus has done on the cross.
Caleb Smagacz with Hope Alive shares a message with us from the book of Nehemiah. He left us with this challenge: can we be more like Jesus and live for the sake of others?For more information about Hope Alive and the work they’re doing in Uganda, visit https://hopealiveafrica.org.
As we've read through the book of Genesis, a constant theme has been waiting. Joseph's life has been no different. When he was a kid, he had a dream about being put in a position of power. Shortly after that dream, he was sold into slavery by his brothers and then later wrongfully imprisoned. Thirteen years passed until his dream came to fruition. Yet even in the waiting, God had a purpose for Joseph. Here's 3 things to consider if you find yourself in a season of waiting:1. Waiting can make you increasingly self-focused or others-focused. 2. It's natural to want out of the season of waiting, but continue to trust God in His timing.3. Obedience and faithfulness don't always lead to immediate results, but consider the long-term possibilities.
One of the lessons we can learn from the life of Joseph is that fighting temptation is possible. Here's 5 actions to take when facing temptation:1. Be concerned with how your sin affects others.2. Call sin what it is. 3. Fear the Lord. 4. Pay attention to the warning signs. 5. Run away!Hebrews 4:15-16 explains that Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are, but he did not sin. Because Jesus sacrificed his perfect, sinless life for us, our sins have been forgiven and we are able to experience God's grace and mercy.
We're starting a new series on the life of Joseph.Here's the theme verse:
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20)
Here's the New Testament equivalent of that verse:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
When you're going through dark times in your life, it can be difficult to see how God is present and working in the midst of your struggle. But we can trust in God’s unfailing love, goodness, and salvation because of the cross of Christ.
Bad news: In our spiritual journeys, all too often we find ourselves off track.
Good news: 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Where are you at in your spiritual journey?
Do you need to return to the Lord?
Do you need to reaffirm your identity in Jesus?
Do you need to recommit your life to him?
“Remember” is a verb- some memories call for worship, some apologies, others forgiveness. Almost all memories call for some sort of action. As we wrestle with our memories, we often wrestle with God.
Regardless of our circumstances, the most important thing to remember is who God is- God is good, He loves you, and lives in you.
In maybe one of the most obscure stories of the Bible, we find an account of Jacob wrestling with God. Here's a few takeaways from this week's message:1. Wrestling with God is part of your faith journey. In your spiritual journey, God will provide comforting experiences but other times he wants you to struggle with him. 2. In the wrestling, God makes himself known. 3. Wrestling with God may leave a mark, but it will change you forever.
Betrayal, deceit, jealousy, rivalry… sounds like a midday soap opera or Netflix special, but it’s actually all found in Genesis 29-30!Heres’s a few takeaways from this message:1. Your longings and desires (though often good) will never totally satisfy. Ultimately, your longing will only be met in the Lord.2. It’s easy to see what others have and miss what God has given you. 3. God has a special concern for the overlooked and hurting.
Do you have a tendency to put conditions on your relationship with God? Like, “God, IF you do ____, THEN I will ____”?
When you find yourself taking on that mindset at a low point or at a crossroads in your faith journey, remind yourself of these promises of God from the Bible:
• I will give you… the new heaven and earth (Isaiah 65:17).
• I will be with you… always until the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)
• I will keep you… from stumbling and falling away (Jude 1:24)
• I will bring you back…. after you have suffered a little while in this life, you will be restored, confirmed, strengthened, and establish you (1 Peter 5:10)
• I will not leave you… or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
• I will do what I promise… he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6)
God has already proven himself faithful to you. His love for you is unconditional, so stop putting conditions on your faith in God.
We’re beginning our first week in this series called “Wrestling with God,” where we’re looking at the life of Jacob.
Here are a few big takeaways to consider as we look at Jacob’s family:
- Even as followers of Jesus, we can be pretty messed up. Jacob and his family were considered “God’s people,” but they were still manipulative and deceitful. We are to “put away” our old self and “put on” the new self (Colossians 3:8-10).
- Unfortunately, sometimes the closer we are to people (like family), the more poorly we treat them. But we are to “bear with one another and forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven us.” (Colossians 3:13)
- Every healthy relationship (especially in a family) requires communication.
- Be aware of the danger of short-term gains leading to long-term pains.
As you’re growing in your relationship with Jesus, there’s sometimes a temptation to think, “I already know the gospel, so what’s next?”
But the good news about who Jesus is and what He’s done (what we refer to as the gospel) isn’t something we understand and move on from. The gospel is what we build our entire lives around. We won’t outgrow our need for the gospel- understanding it more deeply will be the reason our faith grows!
It can be intimidating to think about sharing your faith with someone else, but we tend to overcomplicate it.
Billy Graham, a man who has said to have preached the gospel to over 200 million people, said it takes on average 7 people involved in leading a person to faith in Jesus. So part of the good news is, it’s not all on you! You don’t have to have an answer for every question a person may ask. Share the ways God has given you hope in your day to day life. Invite them on the journey with you.
"The things I don't want to do, I do. The things I want to do, I don't do."Do you relate to that? Don't be fooled into thinking that following Jesus is easy. It's good, it's worth it, but it's not easy. Here's a few things you should know:1. Your struggle with sin is a common experience as a follower of Jesus. 2. Your struggle with sin is evidence that you are a follower of Jesus. 3. Your struggle with sin reveals the unconditional love God has for you.And most importantly: God will never love you more or less than He does right now.
When we talk about following Jesus, we mean having a relationship with Jesus that goes beyond 1 hour on a Sunday morning. What would it look like for you to invite Jesus into your daily life?
Our purpose as a church is to help people find and follow Jesus.
Last week we talked about people who are spiritually curious. Once someone decides to cross the line of faith and believe that Jesus is who he says he is, we encourage people to take the next step of baptism.
- Have you crossed the line of faith recently and need to be baptized?
- Have you crossed the line of faith in the past but haven’t been baptized?
- Have you been baptized but it wasn’t your decision?
If you’re interested in baptism, we’d love to talk to you!
Start here: https://fbcplattecity.com?nucleuslauncher=openflow&nlflow=40768256c280d26a514e
As we look at the final message in our sermon series called Trusting God, we look at the time when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son as a burnt offering.
When you put yourself in Abraham’s shoes, it’s hard to imagine any other test being more intense.
There were a lot of things Abraham got wrong in his life, but in this instance, Abraham’s trust in God was grown and revealed.
When we face our own tests, we can be encouraged by how Abraham handled this test and have faith that God will guide us through our own testing as well.
In Genesis 18, God tells Abraham he's going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of how wicked the people have become. Abraham responds by asking God to have mercy on any righteous people living in the city. The longer the exchange goes on, the bolder Abraham’s petitions become. When was the last time you prayed to God for your friends with boldness? Choose someone to commit to praying for this week and see what God does in your heart and theirs.
90 & pregnant? Not just unlikely, but impossible... right? When Sarah hears this, she laughs in unbelief. Wouldn't you? Long after Sarah passed away, she's remembered as someone who trusted God.
Hebrews 11:11 says "And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise."
Reflect on your own journey to be reminded of the seemingly impossible situations God has brought you out of. Be encouraged that no matter what you're going through right now, God can be trusted to bring you out of whatever place you find yourself stuck in right now.
2 big things happen in Genesis 17:1. God changes Abram's name to Abraham2. God tells Abraham and all of the males in his household to be circumcised. Seems like a lot to cover in 1 sermon, but we're talking about the significance of each action (and we're keeping it PG).
What areas of your life are causing you to doubt the Lord?
Is there an area in your life where you’re being impatient and not waiting on God? Maybe a relationship, school, career, health?
The Lord sees. The Lord hears. He’s right there with you. It may take time and it may be difficult, but trust God’s provision and timing.
Abraham believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. -Genesis 15:6
When God made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15, it was a foreshadowing of greater assurance we find in Jesus Christ.
Saving faith isn’t just believing in God but believing the promise of God.
In the anxieties, doubts, and struggles of life, be reminded of God’s faithfulness to Abraham and the assurance we find in Jesus.
In this next episode of Abraham's life, we see conflict arise between Abraham and his nephew Lot because there weren't enough resources in the land they were sharing to support all of their flocks and herds.
From this situation, we can see Abraham showing some valuable lessons about pursuing peace in the midst of conflict:
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Pursuing peace is a determined decision.
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Pursuing peace often involves taking the initiative.
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Pursuing peace might be to your disadvantage.
Consider someone in your life who you're in conflict with right now.
What would it look like for you to make a determined decision to pursue peace with them?
In our new series, we’re looking at the life of Abraham and what it looks like to trust God in your everyday life. God chose Abraham and promised incredible blessings for him.
Here’s a few takeaways from this message:
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Those who’ve received the promises of God are to be a blessing to others.
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When we worship God and consider all He has done through Jesus, it develops our trust in God.
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Faith (trust) is taking God at his word and taking the next step.
Where is God asking you to take a next step?
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven. -Ecclesiastes 3:1-8The circumstances of your life are not an indicator of God's presence or God's absence.
In the Old Testament, God sent prophets to proclaim truth to his people.
When the events of the Old Testament end and before the New Testament begins, there were 400 years of perceived silence from God.
Zechariah was an old man who was living in the midst of this silence. When he receives a proclamation from God through an angel, he questions whether this news can be trusted.
If you're living in a season that feels like silence from God, remember this: God has not forgotten you. Remember his faithfulness and steadfast love.
Jesus is "the dawn" that breaks into the darkness, and for all those that trust in him, there is peace.
Mary is just a teenager when she's told she's going to give birth to the Savior of the world. She's poor, not married, and probably has more questions than answers.
Her response to this earth-shattering news? Joy.
Here's 3 lessons about finding joy we can learn from Mary:
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Find joy in relationships with other followers of Jesus.
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Find joy by magnifying God in your everyday life.
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Find joy in reflecting on God's faithfulness in your life and in the storyline of scripture.
When you're faced with difficult circumstances or decisions, it's an opportunity to decide if you'll ultimately trust God... but what do you do with your doubts?Here's a few takeaways from this message:1. God uses the ordinary and often overlooked to do life-transforming work. 2. God wants to use YOU (and this is often in day-to-day faithfulness). 3. God uses honest doubts to strengthen faith and deepen obedience.-Dishonest doubt says "I won't believe..."-Honest doubt says "Help me understand so I can believe and obey..."4. God works through trusting surrender.How might God be calling you to trust Him with your plans, fears, future today?
Is there an area in your life that you are holding onto and need to surrender to the Lord?
Here are a few questions for you to consider as you listen to this message:
Are there some unmet expectations leading you away from the Lord?
Are your unmet expectations causing you to doubt God’s character and his goodness in your life?
What are some times that you’ve been faithless? Where has God continued to be faithful and gracious to you?
Takeaways:
Even those who are obedient to God will face difficult circumstances.
Trust and wait patiently in God’s timing.
God is faithful even when we are faithless.
This is a message about abiding in Christ, living in conversation with God, and being surprised by His presence. Here's a few things for you to consider as you listen:Are you ready for _______?What do you hope/fear might happen?What if God crashed your party?
In Genesis 11, we find another story where humans try to take charge instead of following through with God’s plan. After a while, it’s easy to think critically of these people because of how quickly they rebel. Yet, we’re no different. God’s people again and again found themselves in a downward spiral away from God, but each event opened up a new possibility for God’s grace. In our own failures and rebellion from God, we experience his grace each time. This grace isn’t just for your own benefit. God intends for you to join him in his work of bringing all people into a meaningful relationship with him. Will you join him in this work?
If you heard the story of Noah and the ark as a child, you may not have realized how intense and dark it actually is. God’s severity and kindness are both revealed.
Here’s a few key takeaways from the account of Noah:
- God is not indifferent to our sin- it grieves him
- Noah provides a great model for remaining faithful when those around you don’t believe
- Noah held onto the promises of God in the midst of uncertainty and God remembered him
If you read on after the flood waters receded, you’ll find a story that shows Noah’s sinful nature. The whole earth was “reset” yet sin remained.
Sometimes we think we just need another try to get things right, but the reality is we need a redeemer more than we need a reset.
The story of Cain and Abel isn’t just a story about a conflict between 2 brothers- it’s an example of how our decisions can change the course of our lives and future generations.
When you consider all of the elements at play in Genesis 4 and 5, there’s a lot of opportunity for self-reflection. Here’s a few questions from the message to consider:
- Are you giving God your best? Are you trusting him?
- Are you taking sin seriously?
- Consider the decisions you’re making. Are they bringing you closer to God or further from him?
God had a perfect design in mind for the world when He created it and one day the world will be made right again. Until then, we live with brokenness caused by the effects of choosing our own way instead of God's.
From the beginning of time, God knew that we wouldn't be able to maintain his design our own and Jesus' life, death, and resurrection would be the key to returning back to God's perfect design.
Life application:
When God asked Adam and Eve what they had done, both of them responded with blaming others for their decision. They deflected their responsibility and tried to rationalize their actions.
This week, consider areas in your life where you've tried reacted the same.
Is there something you're trying to deflect?
Someone you've been blaming?
Are you rationalizing your actions instead of turning back to God?
Jesus offers a better way.
As we get to chapter 3 of Genesis, things start to take a turn.
If you’ve ever wondered why God even allowed this tree with forbidden fruit in the garden, listen to this message.
When Adam and Eve realized they had broken the agreement they had with God, they became aware of their nakedness and hid from their shame.
Likewise, are you hiding from God? When we come to God with our brokenness, he doesn’t condemn us. He removes our shame and restores us in ways we can’t on our own.
Whether you’re in school, a stay at home parent, or clock in and out every day, most of us spend the majority of our time each year working somehow.
Maybe you’ve imagined that after life on earth as we know it, we’ll spend our time floating up on clouds in heaven and finally get a break from work. But that’s not the case! God actually created us to work from the beginning of time, it’s actually a good thing, and we’ll be working for all of eternity in the new heaven and new earth.
Here’s 3 distortions we struggle with about work:
- Work involves frustration.
- Work is our identity or our escape.
- Work can seem meaningless.
Being a follower of Jesus affects every area of your life- including your work! You reflect God by using the abilities he has given you to bring him glory and bless others.
Here’s 3 takeaways to consider as you work:
- Your identity is found in Jesus.
- You will be rewarded with an eternal inheritance.
- Your work produces influence.
This week, ask God to give you a new view of your work and the ways in which he wants to use you to impact others.
When God created the earth and everything in it, over and over he declared it all “good.” It wasn’t until after God had created man that he said something wasn’t good: “It’s not good for the man to be alone.”
Whether married, single, widowed, etc- none of us are meant to be alone. God created us to be in meaningful relationships with one another.
Here’s a few questions to consider as you listen to this message:
Are you alone?
Have you found your person (people)?
Are you hiding? Why?
When God created the world, he created it for us as a home that was good, beautiful, and complete. We were meant to live with him there in an ongoing, perfect relationship.
After sin entered the world, our relationship with God was fractured. Thankfully, that's not the end of the story.
Jesus offers us the opportunity to come home and find the peace we were created to live in from the beginning.
Are you weary, burdened, or seeking rest? Look to Jesus to find what you've been searching for all along.
Some people spend their whole lives and all their fortunes trying to find the thing that satisfies their soul but they come up short.
If you want to live your best life, you have to understand these key truths:
- You are a unique creation made in the image of God.
- You bring God joy and he rejoices over you.
- Your ultimate joy and contentment come from being in a relationship with God.
- You are a representative of God.
- God created you to be in relationship with himself and others.
- God created you to rule and reign over his creation.
- You are in need of the true image of God, Jesus Christ.
- All people have dignity and significance.
- Appreciate the gifts and talents that you and others possess.
- You will only experience full humanity by knowing Jesus.
When it comes to thoughts regarding the beginning of life on earth, most people are consumed by the “how” question: “How did the world come to be?”
But the author of Genesis directs our focus not so much on the how, but the “who” and the “why.”
The first chapter of Genesis answers both of those questions.
Who created the earth?
God, whose power is awe-inspiring and reveals his glory
God, who is purposeful and delights in order and beauty
God, who is personal and intimately involved in his world
Why did God create the earth?
Because God cares about us and wants us to share in his enjoyment.
You are not the result of random chance. He has given you purpose and meaning. God wants us to be in a relationship with him. He created us to be with him for all time and all eternity.
Are you living out your purpose in life by being in an active and meaningful relationship with God?
In this "bonus" series of Jonah, we look at the story of The Prodigal Son... but we're actually talking about 2 sons. The younger brother is selfish, greedy, and rebellious. The older brother is a religious rule keeper. The father ultimately ends up forgiving the younger brother and bringing him back to the family, but the older brother is mad that his father has compassion on his brother. Which one are you more like?
The story of Jonah gives us the opportunity to reflect on some challenging questions. As we wrap up chapter 4, here are a few questions for you to consider:
- Who have you not been willing to show compassion to?
- What comforts are you putting ahead of your concern for people that don’t know Jesus?
- Do you really believe people are lost and under God’s judgment?
- Are you willing to go where God leads?
Take it a step further:
Maybe write these questions and your responses down in a notebook or talk with a friend about your responses.
Jonah: Part 3Takeaways:1. God loves the undeserving. The reality is, none of us deserve God's love. The Bible shows over and over again how God gives grace and shows mercy to people who have wrecked their lives with darkness. God's grace is bigger than your sin. 2. God uses the imperfect and inadequate to reach the undeserving. Abraham, Moses, David, Mary Magdalene, and Paul were all chosen by God for his purposes even though they could also be called a coward, murderer, poor speaker, adulterer, bad father, demon-possessed and persecutor. God wants to use each of us to help others find and follow Jesus. Will you be obedient to God so he can use you?
Takeaways:
- Your sin is never beyond God’s grace. Doesn’t matter what you’ve done or what’s been done to you. Is there something keeping you from receiving God’s grace?
- Your distress is meant to bring you back to the Lord. When things are good we can so easily forget God, but it’s often in our distress when we turn back to him.
- Your life as a Christian is one of ongoing repentance and growth. Living out your faith means daily turning back to God, not just a 1 time event.
- Your salvation is of the Lord. Read Ephesians 2:1-9
Jonah: Part 1
If you've heard of Jonah from the Bible, your mind might immediately jump to a big fish or whale... but there's actually much more to the story. We invite you to read this short book throughout our 4 week series and continually ask yourself, "Am I being like Jonah?" as you read.
Here's a few key points from our 1st week:
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You are often not 1 BIG decision away from God, but instead 1 small downward step after another.
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Your sin and disobedience doesn't just affect you, it impacts other people, too.
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Your sin and disobedience to God never leads you to where you want to go.
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God may send storms your way because He is compassionately pursuing you to turn to Him!
Are you running from God? Where is God trying to get your attention so you will repent and turn to Him?
Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:7-8
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1
It's God's kindness that leads you to repentance. While the word "repentance" can sometimes feel like a loaded word, the intention behind it is to bring you back to a closeness with God.
If your relationship with God is feeling off or stagnant, "pay attention to the things you're paying attention to."
Reflect on the ways that God has shown you his kindness.
As Jesus wraps up his teaching on the Sermon on the Mount, he presents listeners with 2 choices. After describing a challenging (but right) way of living, he says "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise..." then continues "Anyone who doesn't obey it is foolish..."The world offers us many voices and influences that lead us away from Jesus. Some would tell you that there are many paths that lead to God other than Jesus. Ultimately, when we hear the truth about who Jesus is and the way of life that he offers us, we have a choice to make. Will you decide to follow Jesus?If you want help getting started or getting unstuck in your faith, we're here and want to help.
The Sermon on the Mount is filled with some convicting teachings from Jesus. While it may sting a little bit, the purpose isn't meant to bring us shame but to help us analyze our lives and consider things we need to address. This week's is no different. Jesus said before we judge someone else's wrongdoing, we need to examine ourselves. This doesn't mean that we are to withhold judgment in every circumstance, but there is a process we need to be willing to go through before calling out someone else's mess. At the end of this section, Jesus tells us to remember the "golden rule" - do to others whatever you'd like them to do to you. While receiving correction or judgment can be unpleasant, when done with patience, humility, and care, it can be an act of love. Is there someone close to you that you need to have a hard conversation with? Ask God to help you look inward and prepare your own heart. Pray for wisdom and guidance as you enter into the conversation.
In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, he gives 3 reasons why we don't need to be anxious:1. You are valuable to God. 2. Your worry does no good. 3. You are provided for by God. While the cares of this life tend to consume us, Jesus tells us to prioritize our attention on him. Yes, these things are easier said than done, but this is a way of life that requires practice and intentionality. Ultimately, whatever may come in this life, God's provision is eternal. Try writing down some of the biggest worries or challenges you've faced. How has God worked in your life? How have you experienced God's presence? Remember that the same God who brought you through previous trials will see you through your future ones. Disclaimer: one of the common graces of God is medical advancements and people who have devoted themselves to helping others with health issues. If you have debilitating anxiety or depression, don't hesitate to seek professional help.
Have you ever felt stuck with knowing how and what to pray? We don't have to wonder because Jesus teaches us.
In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, he talks about the spiritual practices of giving, praying, and fasting. When Jesus talks about these practices, he doesn't say "if" you do them, but "when" you do them.
When we build these spiritual habits in our lives, they have the capacity to deepen our faith in Jesus. However, we need to keep our motivations in check. Do we participate in these practices so others will think more highly of us?
At the end of the day, we have to remind ourselves that God's love and approval of us is not conditional based on our performance.
Do you have experiences with praying, giving, and fasting? Ask God to lead you as you consider how incorporating more of these habits might grow your faith.
"Gouge out your eye, cut off your hand..." Jesus gets pretty graphic in his teachings about lust in his Sermon on the Mount. This isn't an exhaustive conversation about love, lust, marriage, divorce, and singleness, but it might be a good starting place for you to have dialogue with other people in your life about these issues.
ANGER: a feeling we all know too well. When Jesus talked about anger as recorded in Matthew chapter 5, he shared some serious consequences for how we deal with our anger. Jesus equated our anger with murder.Holding onto anger, bitterness, and hatred leads to harm for ourselves and it impacts our relationship with God. While dealing with your rage may feel like an impossible task, there's hope.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls his followers the "salt and light" of the world. Salt and light are key elements of life. Salt= adds flavor, preserves food (essential when Jesus' was making this comparison)Light= comforts, provides directionWe're living in a dark and decaying world. Jesus' metaphor of salt and light remind us of the capacity we have for influencing the world around us for good. The question is, are you letting your salt lose its saltiness or hiding your light?
Words to Live By: Part 1
Matthew 5:3-12
In Jesus’ most famous sermon (the Sermon on the Mount), the first section is called the Beatitudes. Some people might be tempted to look at this as a list of exchanges, “if you do this, you’ll have this.” But Jesus is actually giving us a visual of what a Christian life should look like. While it may seem discouraging to measure yourself against this list of attributes, it’s meant to give us a picture of the areas for us to grow in as we follow Jesus.
Read through the beatitudes and ask God to show you areas in your life that He wants you to grow in as you follow Jesus.
Do you need to grow in showing mercy?
Do you need to increase your desire for living rightly before God?
Do you need to work to develop peace in your relationships?
Do you need to be bolder in your faith?
Discuss with a friend this week as you read through these verses.
"What does the Lord require from you?To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."-Micah 6:8Ultimately, following Jesus is a not a matter of the head, it's not a matter of the hands, it's really a matter of the heart.
Romans 8 includes a list of blessings and promises for anyone who belongs to Christ.
Reflect on these promises this week:
We are no longer condemned. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You are not condemned for past sins, present sins or future sins.
We are free in Christ. No longer fearful of sin or death.
We have power over sin because of the Spirit of God.
Because of the work of the Spirit, we are growing into the image of Christ. We are growing and maturing in our faith.
We have been adopted into God’s family. No longer children of wrath, but children of God.
We have a new intimacy with God. We are invited to call God our Father.
We have assurance of salvation. No longer do you need to doubt. If you have placed your faith in the finished work of Christ, you cannot lose your salvation. Rest in that assurance.
Though we will face suffering, we now live with hope in our future glory. We will receive new glorified, sinless bodies and live in the new heaven and new earth where there will be no more sin, suffering, or death.
While we await our future glory, we know that the Spirit is praying for us, interceding for us while we groan in our suffering.
Before the creation of the world, God set his love on you. He called you to be forgiven of sin and to be with him for all eternity.
God is for you and nothing will separate you from his love. You are eternally secure. Rest in the assurance of your salvation.
Alternate titles: Who's your Daddy? Do you pray to Daddy-God? The REAL Godfather
... Ok, but seriously: We're looking at Romans 8:14-17.
What does it mean to be a "child of God"?
No matter where you're at in your faith, it can be a challenge to feel secure in your relationship with God.
For those who believe in Jesus, there are 3 realities that the Spirit provides for us:
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a new identity
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a new intimacy
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a new inheritance
On a scale of 1-10, how secure do you feel in your relationship with God? What would it look like for you to be at a 10?
From Death to Life: Message 1 of 4In Romans 8, Paul writes about 2 types of people: those living in the FLESH (hostile to God) or those living in the SPIRIT (in submission to God). If you've chosen to follow Jesus, you have a new freedom, a new mindset, and a new responsibility.
A man dies, is buried, then three days later is alive again and talking to his friends. Sounds like a fantastical story, right? We’re looking at the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. It’s not just an entertaining story. This has the power to change your life.Whether you're spiritually curious or a follower of Jesus, we all have to answer this question: do you believe Jesus came back to life?If so, is it making a difference in your life?
This passage is somber but it reveals Jesus’ love for us. Jesus was mocked, weakened, unclothed, forsaken, and died. By his wounds, we are healed. What’s your response to the affliction of Jesus? We invite you to take some time this week to read through Matthew 27 and 28 as we prepare our hearts for Easter.
As Jesus prepares for the cross, he spends time praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knows he’s going to be experiencing separation from God on the cross.
While the weight of God's wrath isn’t a pleasant conversation topic, it’s necessary. Attempting to understand what separation from God means gives us a deeper appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
While Jesus was praying in the garden, he asked his friends to pray with him. Unfortunately they couldn’t stay awake.
Are you asleep to the seriousness of God’s wrath?
Are you watchful for people in your circle of influence who don’t know Jesus?
CHALLENGE: Choose 1 person to pray for every day through Easter. Pray about the details of their life, but pray specifically that they’d decide to follow Jesus.
Matthew 26: Jesus shares the Lord's Supper (aka communion or eucharist) with his disciples. For thousands of years before Jesus walked the earth, God's people shared this meal together but this time Jesus takes it to a new level.
We're talking about Matthew 21:1-17.Jesus enters Jerusalem. The city erupts with celebration. Then Jesus flips tables and curses a tree....there's a lot going on in this one!
FEAR. For some of us it's a bigger struggle than we'd like to admit. Take courage. Jesus' power in our lives isn't diminished even when our faith is weak.
DOUBT. The guy (John the Baptist) who dedicated his life to telling people that Jesus was coming struggled with it. Even when we've spent years of our lives following Jesus, we can still have doubts, too. So how do we deal with it?
Jesus’ experience with temptation is recorded in Matthew chapter 4. We all experience temptation.
Here’s some practical takeaways about how to deal with temptation:
- Realize that your life as a believer involves temptation. Being tempted isn’t a sin, it’s giving into it that becomes a problem. Pay attention to the ones that keep tripping you up.
- Recognize the threat of temptation (especially in your moments of weakness). Jesus was tempted when he was on the verge of starving to death after not eating for 40 days. When we’re not addressing our physical and emotional needs, we’re a lot more vulnerable to temptation.
- Raise your intake of the Bible to fight temptation. Jesus’ response to Satan’s offers of temptation were based on scripture. Fight the enemy’s lies with truth about who God is and who you are because of what Jesus has done for you.
- Rest in Jesus— the one who is victorious over temptation. You will mess up, but remind yourself of your true identity. Keep fighting the temptation but remember to rest in your relationship with Jesus. Because Jesus took care of your sin on the cross, when God looks at you, he sees the purity and goodness of Jesus instead of all the ways you’ve given into temptation.
Why did Jesus get baptized?
- To set an example for us
- To identify with the brokenness of humanity.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21
This is the good news: If you have turned from your sin and believed in Jesus’ sacrifice for you, then God looks at you the same way He looks at Jesus.
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” -Matthew 3:17
You have been made right with God and your baptism proclaims your identity in Jesus.
The next time you feel discouraged or like a disappointment to God, remember that you are loved by God and He is pleased with you.
Talk to a friend about baptism this week.
- Have you been baptized before? Share with them about what the experience was like when you did.
- Haven’t yet been baptized? Share with them what’s holding you back. Are you ready to get baptized?
https://fbcplattecity.com/grow--25/pages/baptism--43
The Bible was written over a period of 1500 years, but it contains 1 unified storyline. In fact, there are details about Jesus' birth, life, and death that were foreshadowed and recorded in the Old Testament more than a thousand years before it all happened. From the beginning, it was said that people around Jesus would perceive him as unremarkable. Today, that's still the case. Jesus is often despised and considered insignificant, but He is the Savior who brings deliverance (deliverance from sin and the fear of death) and hope to a broken, dark, and uncertain world.Do you believe that? Are you living your life like Jesus is significant to you?
You might be tempted to just scan through the long line of Jesus’ genealogy. If you look a little closer, you’ll find that Jesus’ family tree included women with a scandalous and shameful past. You’ll find men with significant lapses in judgment and character flaws. Yet, God chose to include these men and women in Jesus’ family line. As you think about your own story, is there something in your past that makes you feel disqualified from receiving and experiencing God’s grace? Take some time to consider this question and maybe share with a friend.
I am passing the baton of leadership to my friend, Jason Crum. It is one of the most significant events of Jason’s career and mine. It’s a moment of transition, launching into a new day for our Family of Faith.I get to offer Jason a few encouragements as he becomes the Senior Pastor of FBC Platte City. This is so much more than a moment, it’s the beginning of a new day for our church!‘I thank my God every time I remember you.In all my prayers for you, I always pray with JOY!’Philippians 1:3-4 I Have LOVED Being Your Pastor!Rusty
At just the right time, God sent His Son,Born of a woman, born under the law, Born to bring us back to God!Galatians 4:4-5 Christmas is a moment in time—‘littles’ are all about waiting for it, ‘bigs’ are all about preparing for it— but either way, it comes down to a moment, a day, a time. Ready, or not, Christmas is HERE! But we all want it to be more than a moment. We want it to be a Difference-Making Moment. Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love—that’s our prayer for you. Knowing Jesus— that’s what makes the difference.I LOVE Being Your Pastor! Rusty
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." (AW Tozer)It’s not just knowing about God— it’s KNOWING God, and being known by God. There’s no greater gift from God than knowing Him and being known.
The only line longer than the checkout line at Christmas is the return line the day after. Everyone is trying to turn what they got into what they really wanted. C.S. Lewis said “Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God that will make him happy.”I LOVE Being Your Pastor!Rusty
Celebrating Rusty & Stephanie's 32 years of ministry at FBC. Rusty's friend Jeff Adams shares a message about finishing well.
‘When you were dead in your sins, God made you alive with Christ.’ Colossians 2:13Jesus asked his disciples "Who do people say I am?" After they reported what people were saying, he asked them "What about you? Who do you say I am?"Everything hangs on that answer. We’ve been listening to Paul in Colossians explain that Christ is greater. And to have Christ in you— that’s the hope of Glory! It changes everything. How you think, feel, and act.And if it doesn’t change all that, you have to ask the "what about you?" question.We’re sharing the Lord's Supper as we set our hearts and minds on things above— on Jesus— The One who changes everything!I LOVE Being Your Pastor!Rusty
I have lived too much of my Christian life alone. Oh, there were always people around me, but I didn’t always let them in.The first thing God said was NOT GOOD was this— "It’s not good for the man to be alone." Solitude is a good thing, but if you’re not careful it crosses a line into isolation and loneliness.I believe God brings people into my life (and me into theirs) for my good and for His glory.I LOVE Being Your Pastor!Rusty
Devote yourselves to prayer— watchful and thankful.And pray for us too.Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders.Colossians 4:2-6 I want to focus my heart and efforts on what matters most— the highest return on my investment of focus and intention. Don’t you?In my mind it boils down to living a God-centered life, living in deep connection with people who value what I value, and helping more people find what we’ve found in Christ.Let's listen to the Apostle Paul as he helps us set our hearts on what matters most.I LOVE Being Your Pastor!Rusty
Marriage. Parenting. Just a few minor topics to discuss as we continue our series through the book of Colossians. Yeah, right!
Now, I’m not promising all of your questions about how to have a good marriage and raise your kids will be answered. But let’s look at what Paul has to say about living out our faith in Jesus when it comes to family life and take some steps to continue to grow and improve.
Jason
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name ofthe Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.Colossians 3:17I want a discipleship of DOING, not just a discipleship of KNOWING. Does that make sense at all? I’m tired of knowing more about Jesus than I live. I feel like a hypocrite when what I know and what I live don’t stay in sync.We want to live from the finished work of Christ and live differently because of it. Colossians 3:17 and its companion 3:23 are foundational verses in my life. I'd like to invite you to latch onto them as well.I LOVE Being Your Pastor!Rusty
Since you've been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above... Colossians 3:1I want my heart to be right. I want my mind to be focused. But much of my actual experience is of a heart that's fickle and a mind that wanders. I ask God sometimes to fix my heart and settle my mind, but He keeps telling me that's my job. We're practicing the art of fixing our eyes on Jesus-- in hopes of setting our hearts and focusing our minds. Sit with Colossians 3:1-4. There's a line that says "when Christ appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:2)Maybe we can get a taste of that now. I LOVE Being Your Pastor!Rusty
Have you ever wondered "why isn't this stuff working?"You keep trying to change. Stop doing this. Start doing that. Think differently. Act differently. Talk differently. No matter how many good deeds or days you can string together it still feels like a sham. Something deep inside is still the same and desperately needs to change. Read Colossians 1 and 2 to set your heart and mind on Jesus. That's where the mystery kicks in! I LOVE Being Your Pastor!Rusty
In our Christian journey we are going to encounter a number of obstacles. Whether confusion, disappointment, or discouragement, the list of struggles can really start to stack up.
While the journey can be challenging and difficult at times, there are some essentials that Paul provides in chapter 2 of Colossians that you need to take hold of so that you can "walk in Christ."
Jason
What are some of the factors that have helped you grow in your spiritual faith journey? In the opening section of Paul's letter to this church in the small city of Colosse, he mentions that he continually prays for this church to grow in their faith. And what's interesting is that Paul doesn't immediately give a list of things they need to do- he'll get to some of that later in the letter, but instead he directs their attention to the beauty and supremacy of Christ Jesus.
Since the day we heard about you we have not stopped praying. (Colossians 1:9)What do you pray when you're praying for the ones you love the most?What do you hope someone somewhere is praying for you?Sometimes I settle for temporary, quick fix prayers. Paul taught us to pray bigger than that, and deeper. He prayed in ways that got beyond the what and how. Paul prayed about what was going on below the surface and what God was at work to do for the long haul. I'm grateful for some people who pray that way for me. I LOVE Being Your Pastor!Rusty
So that in all things He might have supremacy (Colossians 1:18)
We're starting a deep-dive through the book of Colossians. I love this book because it keeps bringing us back to Jesus. And I'm convinced, that's the answer for EVERYTHING- putting Jesus first and seeing life & people through the "Jesus lens."
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
The older I get the more appreciative I am of Christians who remain faithful until the end. Unfortunately, there have been many Christian leaders who have not finished well and those stories can be heartbreaking.
As we conclude our series in the book of Daniel, we arrive at chapter 6. Daniel is no longer the teenager we found in chapters 1 and 2. He is now in his 80s and he is once again faced with a test of remaining faithful to God.
Jason
I was recently talking with a young man who consistently shares the gospel on college campuses and he was telling me some great stories of college-age young people placing their faith in Christ. It was so encouraging to hear. During that conversation he also shared the opposition they face for talking about Jesus.
Have you experienced hostility from others at work or in your family? When you follow Jesus, you will face opposition. It's not that we go looking for it, but we know at times it will happen. So how can we be prepared to handle this?
Did you know it's estimated we dream around 4-6 times per night but we forget about 95% of our dreams? When you do remember dreams, are yours vivid? Do you have a recurring dream?
I bring this up because as we continue our series in the book of Daniel we find King Nebuchadnezzar unsettled by a recurring dream. But this dream goes beyond just applying to King Nebuchadnezzar. As we'll discover, the meaning of this dream reveals why we should remain stable in a world that so often seems unstable.
Jason
Have you ever asked yourself the following?
How do I remain faithful as a Christian in my workplace? How do I maintain my convictions as a follower of Jesus with friends that don't agree with me? Is it worth standing firm and obeying God when God's kingdom seems so far away? Questions like these are relevant to our daily lives and we've all had to wrestle with them. Thankfully, we're not the first believers to have to face these issues.
We begin a 4-week series in the book of Daniel that will help us navigate how to live in a culture that at times seems indifferent or even hostile to our faith.
Jason
Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family that you have brought me this far?
2 Samuel 7:18
"Gobsmacked" is a slang expression in Britain. It has to do with being so surprised and astonished- like somebody smacked you in the mouth.
Have you ever felt that way when you stop to think of how incredibly blessed you are? Loved by God. Born again by His grace. Gathered into His family.
How do you live on the other side of an aha moment like that? How do you repay such incredible gifts?
You can't pay it back. You can only pay if forward.
I LOVE BEING YOUR PASTOR!
Rusty
I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14
I believe God made me the way I am on purpose.
Life has marred my understanding of who I am and how God made me.
I am in the process of becoming (once again) who God made me to be.
I believe those same things about you. 2 Peter 1:3-11 says that God has given us "everything we need" for life and Godliness and then goes on to tell us how to live that out. Peter writes that each of us should use whatever gifts we have received for the purpose of serving others (1 Peter 4:10).
I LOVE BEING YOUR PASTOR! Rusty
Who have you let into your life?
Has anyone let you into theirs?
Why would it be worth the risk, the trouble?
Everyone needs to find their people- with shared beliefs, dreams, desires, purpose.
So many of us go through life feeling like one quite "gets" us. Unfortunately, that's too often the truth.
What if it didn't have to be that way?
What if you could find a place to belong- a people to belong with?
God has plans to give you that place if you have the courage to risk knowing and being known.
God sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6)
I LOVE BEING YOUR PASTOR,
Rusty
What do I have to do to have eternal life?
Who do I have to become?
What do I have to know?
Jesus said no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again (John 3:3).
God isn't seeking scholars to explain everything or soldiers to defeat an enemy. God is seeking sons & daughters born into His family.
Indeed of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her."Psalm 87:5
I Love Being Your Pastor,
Rusty
As we continue our series Evidence, we are in John 20:24-30. This is the story that many know as Doubting Thomas. You know, I feel kind of bad for Thomas because it's like "Doubting" has become his first name. We never just say "Thomas." It's always "Doubting Thomas."
But while Thomas is stuck with that unfortunate label, as we dig into this passage, I think we'll be glad he had some doubt. Because through his skepticism we can gain confidence in the historical event of the resurrection of Jesus.
Jason
On Monday we kick-off Vacation Bible School- our biggest event of the year. First of all, thank you to everyone who is helping out. It's going to be a great week!
Our hope for VBS is that everyone involved (whether it's the kids, parents, or volunteers) experiences Jesus in such a way that they take the next step God is calling them to take. That next step may be deciding to follow Jesus or being baptized. For others, it may be growing in their commitment to Jesus.
On Night 2 of VBS, one of the stories the kids will be learning is found in the Gospel of John chapter 11 when Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead. It's such a cool story for our kids to hear about, but it's also a story that doesn't let us stay neutral when it comes to who Jesus is and what he did. Given what Jesus says about himself and the claims of him raising a dead man- it just doesn't allow us that option.
Jason
"Rejoice in the Lord, always."
"Let your gentleness be evident to all."
"The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:4-9
Join me in this prayer:
"God, please pour your love over my life!
Please restore to me the joy of your salvation!
Please bring your peace into and over me!
I'm sorry for the impatience that has invaded the most important relationships in my life.
I'm sorry for the lack of kindness that has marked my interactions.
I'm sorry when the goodness I want to walk in is replaced with harsh bitterness and anger.
I choose a life of thanks by choosing to live in faithfulness to my God, my people, and my commitments.
I choose a life of thanks by choosing a life of gentleness regardless of the disappointments, frustrations, or confusion that intrudes on me.
I choose a life of thanks by choosing self-control when everything in me wants to lash out and demand my own way."
There's a line from Paul that says "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation." Philippians 4:12
We're going to unpack that secret. You need to know this secret.
I love you, and I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
'Love is patient, Love is kind, Love is good…’ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8There’s a line from Paul that says ‘He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6)’ A few verses later Paul talks about how becoming who God called us to be is allowing what He has done inside you to work itself all the way to the surface. He says God is at work in us to fix our ‘want to’ as well as our ‘ability to’ in living the christian life. (Philippians 2:12-13)We're talking about the patience, kindness and goodness that can flow out of the redeemed center of your life—the love, joy and peace that only God can give.I love you, and I LOVE Being Your Pastor!Rusty
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...Galatians 5:22 Have you ever come into the middle of a movie and then wonder why the story doesn't make sense? That's how Christianity feels to some of us. It's like we're starting from the wrong place. I'm trying to fix my messed up life, get rid of some things that don't belong. Get a do-over... but it's not working. We're talking about some "first matters" that need to be established before it all starts to come together. It's not just behavior modification or finding some new motivation. We need to be transformed from the inside out. Spend some time with Galatians 5:13-26. Especially ask God to transform you into a person of peace whose life is marked with genuine love and deep joy. I love you and I LOVE being Your Pastor!Rusty
But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.Galatians 5:223 Big Things:1. My inability to change2. My deep longing for things to be different3. My desperate need for God's help That's what our next sermon series is about. It's a season of church life called "Pentecost" that calls to mind the birth of the church and the pouring of the Holy Spirit on all God's people. It also sets us up to discover how life is supposed to be lived. Spend some time with Galatians 5:13-26. We'll be looking to God for help to stop what needs to stop, start what needs to star, and change what needs changing. Hopefully along the way, we'll find the freedom of forgiveness. I love you, and I LOVE being Your Pastor!Rusty
You've probably wondered. You've probably been asked. We're talking about the Bible's response to one of life's biggest questions.
What must I do to inherit ETERNAL LIFE? Seeker to Jesus
That's a big question. You should definitely figure out the answer before you die. But for now, you just want to live in the moment, just get caught up and go with it.
Yeah, that never ends badly, does it?
Truth is, there is something in us that knows life is bigger than that. Scripture even says that God has set ETERNITY in our hearts.
Let's try to crack the code on what Eternal Life even means, when it starts, and how to know you have it.
I love you, and I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
Maybe you’ve had similar thoughts with other relationships in your life. Your marriage. Parenting. Does it come more naturally over time? Do we get into a rhythm eventually?
Life with Jesus- what might it look like for us in the years to come?
Whether you're new to following Jesus or it's been years, we've all got misconceptions about faith. Sometimes they're passed down from others, sometimes we pick them up along the way without realizing it.We're beginning a 4 week series where we're tackling some common questions about faith and we're starting with this one:Do my good deeds matter?
Sometimes people think as long as they do more good than bad in the world, they'll be alright.On the other hand, you have people that think as long as they've "prayed the prayer" they can go back to doing whatever they please. Spoiler alert: both of these ideas are incomplete.
What does it mean to follow Jesus? To have a relationship with Jesus? To know that you have eternal life? To know that you're ok?Is it just a prayer that someone taught you to pray?I know that I am a sinner. I ask for Your forgiveness.I believe You died for my sins and rose again.I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart.I trust You as my Lord and Savior.It's so much more than that. The prayer is a gateway to a relationship with Jesus.I LOVE Being Your Pastor!Rusty
On the Thursday before Jesus went to the cross, he shared his last meal with his friends. We’re talking about the Lord’s Supper (some people call it communion) and what it means for us today. -Jason
‘God have mercy on me, a sinner.’ —Zaccheus, Luke 18:13I’m too quick to judge people. I size them up before even realizing it. My judgments are shallow and ill-conceived. I repent.Jesus told a story about people like me, who are ‘confident of their own righteousness and look down on everyone else.’ Best prayer ever: “God have mercy on me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)Have you ever known anyone who needed to meet Jesus, but they seemed too far gone? The least, the lost, the most unlikely.But what if that’s not my call? My job is to keep praying, “God have mercy on me, a sinner.” And keep pointing people to Jesus.I love you, and I LOVE Being Your Pastor!Rusty
‘He sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God.’ Luke 9:2
Simple descriptions of inviting someone to follow Jesus. ‘Follow me as I follow Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
As Jesus’ time on earth was drawing short he began passing the baton. He couldn’t prepare them for every scenario. Instead, he gave them good Orientation, some solid ON THE JOB training, then Deployed them to begin connecting people to God.
The result: JOY. ‘They returned with JOY’ to report all that happened. (Luke 10:17).
And as Jesus listened, he was ‘Full of JOY through the Holy Spirit.’ (Luke 11:21).
It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.’ —Jesus in Luke 5:31
Nobody rushes into an Emergency Room without a crisis. Everybody who comes to Jesus knows they need him. Where were you when Jesus found you? Have you ever gone back there? Have you ever feared you can’t come back? There’s a difference between being healed and getting healthy. Not just turning over a new leaf, but becoming a whole new creation.
I love you, and I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
My heart’s desire and prayer to God is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)
Jesus asks a question we will all have to answer— ‘Who do you say I am?’ (Matthew 16:15)
Where are you?
Spiritually uninterested? Curious? New Believer?
I think once you’ve found a relationship with Jesus— real, forgiven, free— you’re going to long for the people you love to find what you’ve found.
I love you, and I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
Following Jesus means we have to acknowledge the sin in our lives, the things that make us feel unclean… but what do you do when you keep getting tripped up by the same stuff again and again?
We all follow someone or something. People on social media, TV personalities, news channels, sports talk radio. We’re influenced by what grabs our attention.
Over the next 8 weeks, we’re going to be looking at Jesus’ followers and how their lives were impacted by what he said and did. We invite you to read through the Gospels with us in a 40 day plan beginning on February 22 (Ash Wednesday) through Easter Sunday.
Turn your attention to the way, the truth, the life and see what God will do in you (John 14:6).
Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory— Forever and ever! Amen
The Kingdom of God is real. And it’s coming. And, it’s good.
You want life to make sense. You want your life to matter and make a difference. You want to build something that will outlive you.
The common denominator in all that is YOU. And you’re not big enough to bear that. So you get tired, weary, maybe even despair sometimes.
Let’s refocus on the Big-picture. The Kingdom, power, and glory are His. My life matters because I matter to God (The nearness of God is my GOOD —Psalm 73:28).
Let’s build the muscle memory that looks to the Father first— His Kingdom, His will, and His leading.
I love you, and I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
Lead us—not into temptation, but in the leading, deliver us from the evil one. —Matthew 6:13
You’ve felt the pull, right? You know how life should be (even if you can’t put it into words), and you know the disconnect with how life is. You know how you should be living, but it feels like there is some pull in the other direction. When Jesus taught us to pray, He acknowledged an evil one who would pull us away, if he could. And he told us to ask for help. Let’s build the muscle memory that looks to the Father first— His Kingdom, His will, and His leading.
I love you, and I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
Forgiveness:
It’s a relief to receive it, but often hard to extend it to someone else.
We’re talking about the forgiveness we’ve received through Jesus and how that plays out in our lives with others, too.
Do you trust God? Every day?
Jesus says that God knows what we need (Matthew 6:8; 25-26), so is it necessary to ask God for our everyday needs?
What are you trying to prove? Who are you trying to impress?
The Prayer of Surrender is about giving up the posturing. Surrendering the need to be the "smartest one in the room." No more protectionism or marking of territory.
Here’s a related question, what are you running from?
Jesus modeled the Prayer of Surrender the last night of his life. After laying out his request, Jesus finished by saying ‘Not my will, but Yours be done.’ (Luke 22:42)
That’s why we say “In Jesus’ name” at the end of our prayers. it’s a way to bow before the sovereignty of God. It acknowledges that God is God, and I am not. To say, "even if I don’t get my way, God is still in control, and I trust God."
Let’s repent of our proving and protecting, and surrender to the God who came to save us in the first place.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
Remain in me and I in you. You will bear much fruit; Apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
Have you ever wondered who you’re praying to in the first place?
Do you ever wonder if anyone is listening when you pray?
Or what is praying doing to you?
When Jesus taught us to pray, he started by spelling out exactly who is listening, who you’re praying to in the first place. He is the Great I Am, the God who gives you peace, who provides. The God who wraps the banner of His love around you. Allow God to remind you how BIG He is. Rest in His peace, and ask God to do what only He can do.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray…”
He said, “When you pray, pray like this…” (Luke 11:1-2)
Two things to become the person God has in mind; you’ve got to hear from God (Bible), and let God hear from you (prayer).
For the last year we’ve been reading through the Bible, start to finish. As we start 2023, I want to turn up the heat on prayer.
‘Teach us to pray’ is a great request. It doesn’t come naturally. Doesn’t just happen. You develop and grow in ‘conversational intimacy’ with God as you simply DO IT.
For the next several weeks we are going to worship, practice and grow in prayer.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
“Yes, I am coming soon.” —Jesus
“Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
Waiting, waiting, waiting— then suddenly it’s time! Christmas. Light shines in darkness. Angels, shepherds, stars, all of it.
When Jesus put on flesh to dwell among us it was all that and more. It changed the world. Time has been marked ever since as before, or after the coming of Christ.
Christmas is sometimes called ‘advent.’ It’s a coming. The the start of something new. A beginning. Think of a grand adventure.
The first coming, and the second coming of Jesus are both like that.
When John describes it in the last chapters of Revelation, it’s like he’s scrambling to get it all on paper, ‘I saw…, then I saw…, then I heard. An angel showed me…LOOK!’
So much waiting, then suddenly!
Every kid who has waited for Christmas knows that feeling. And so do you. What if the God who loves you so crazy much—who adopted you into His family, and knows you so well— what if He said, “It’s time!”
Time for you to receive His gift, to come home to His heart. Time for you to see, and hear, and know Him.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.’ James 1:17
Have you ever obsessed over finding the perfect gift?
Have you ever despaired of receiving the perfect gift?
Have you come to believe there’s no such thing as ‘the perfect gift’?
At the heart of it is the idea of being truly seen, truly known, ‘I get you…’ No matter your ‘love language’ there is a deep longing in all of us to be truly known. And truly, the only One who can do that is God. He’s the one who is able to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
‘Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.’ 2 Timothy 1:6
I found six bottles of Old Spice cologne in my kitchen cabinet. The Christmas party was over, the White Elephant gift exchange was a blast. But finding the cologne in the cupboard led to a new rule—“Whatever you get, You have to take it with you…’
Have you ever gotten a gift that you just put away and forgot about? I’ve had some gifts that I haven’t treasured—didn’t even realize they were gifts until later on. Some I only saved to re-gift someday.
Paul told Timothy to ‘fan into flame the gift of God that is in you.’ Apparently, some of the gifts were in danger of burning out, or wasting away.
The word from God this Sunday is RECEIVE. Take, and treasure what God has given you—is giving you. God knows the ‘good and perfect gift’ for you like no one else. He loves you so much.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
Galatians 4:4-5
Have you ever received a Christmas gift that you weren’t expecting, but it turned out to be a great gift and one you ended up using throughout the year? Maybe it was some electronic device or a tool. Maybe it was noise cancelling headphones where you could block out all the noise around you!
We're in Galatians 4:4-7, which may not be a passage you typically think of when it comes to the Christmas season. But in this passage Paul speaks about the arrival of Jesus, and a gift that he provides for us – the gift of “adoption to sonship.”
Have you ever thought about how you are an adopted child of God and the privileges that surround this new status?
-Jason
‘Let me show you a way of life that is best of all.’ 1 Corinthians 12:31
‘Love never fails…’ 1 Corinthians 13:7
LOVE is the hallmark of Christianity. The truest character trait of God. The highest ideal of humanity.
‘The Love Chapter,’ is 1 Corinthians 13. Its place in the Bible is ironic because Corinth was known more for lust than love. Ironic, too, because the people in Corinth were the ones most likely to get it wrong.
But maybe that’s the point. I have to be reminded of what love is at the very time I am getting it most wrong.
I don’t want to be presumptuous about your Thanksgiving, but sometimes expectations unfulfilled can lead to despair.
Maybe you were with people you really love—at least you wanted to. People who don’t seem capable of loving you back—at least not the way you’d hoped they could. Maybe you felt profoundly lonely—whether there were people around, or not.
Let’s allow the Apostle Paul to remind us what love is supposed to look like. Invite God to love you as only God can. That can change everything.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 1:16-17
In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul lays out his most extended explanation of the gospel, and at the heart of the gospel is the good news that we are saved. But have you ever thought, what am I saved from exactly? Or, why do I need to be saved anyway?
Jason
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6
Of all the churches the apostle Paul planted during his missionary work, the church in the city of Philippi may have been the most special to him. They cared deeply for him, and they partnered with him in the advance of the gospel.
We’re in Acts 16:12-34, where we see how this church began. This church was made up of a unique collection of individuals with different backgrounds who found themselves at different points along their spiritual engagement journey.
Jason
‘I will not leave you alone…’ John 14:18
He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ John 20:22
‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.’ Acts 1:8
I asked God what He wanted me to tell you. His answer was, “You are not alone.’
It stopped me in my tracks. I needed to hear that. It’s not that there aren’t people around, but you know what it is to feel alone. Right?
We're worshiping around the God who loves us too much to leave us alone. By the way, if you are feelingly crushingly alone, you need this more than anyone. God loves you so crazy much!
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
God SO LOVED that HE sent Jesus. Have you ever had something made for you? It’s a gift of love for someone to say, ‘I made this for you.’ Whether it’s a pie, or a piece of art. It’s special because it was made just for you, by someone who was thinking of you in the making of it. Even better when the thing that was made just for you is just what you needed. Custom-fit from someone who really knows you. Knows what you like, Knows what you need. Knows what makes you tick. God loves you so crazy much!
That’s what we’re celebrating.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:36-37
Have you ever had a confusing conversation and you’re trying to ask some questions to get clarity and you finally realize, “I’m not asking the right question.”
We are going to look at maybe the most famous of Jesus’ parables, what is known as The Parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke chapter 10.And the point of the parable is straightforward: love others. But given the implications of this parable, it may raise some questions such as, Am I doing enough? Am I loving enough?
But given the context of where this parable is found in Luke chapter 10, are those the right questions?
Jason
He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”
-Mark 5:23
One of the distinguishing features of the Gospel of Mark is how quick paced it is, but yet in chapter 5 verses 21-43, Mark slows down and intertwines two stories that show how unhurried Jesus was as he did his earthly ministry.
You know, timing is such a big deal. We get frustrated and upset in our relationships, such as our marriage, friends, at work, and one of the main drivers of our frustration is timing. Things don’t happen quick enough or it’s too slow.
And I’m sure that is how our two main characters found in chapter 5 felt about Jesus. His timing didn’t seem right, he wasn’t moving quick enough, he was too unhurried. But yet, Jesus’ timing is always perfect and he is using it to reveal himself to us.
Jason
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
-Matthew 16:24
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “There is no such thing as a stupid question.” Given some of the questions you’ve heard in your lifetime, you might disagree. But regardless of if you agree with that phrase or not, I think we all agree some questions carry more significance than others and this is true in regards to this passage.
We’ll be in Matthew 16:13-26, and from this conversation Jesus has with his disciples, three very significant questions arise: Who is Jesus?, Why did Jesus come?, and What does following Jesus mean?
Jason
I’m a simple guy. Just tell me what you want…
Some verses just boil it down for me.
‘Seek first the Kingdom of God, all the rest will be added.’ (Matt. 6:33)
When asked, ‘What are the works (plural) God requires? Jesus said,
‘The WORK (singular) of God is this—to believe on the One He has sent.’ (John 6:29)
When Thomas said, ‘We DON’T know where You’re going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus answered,
‘I AM the Way the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ (John 14:5-6)
We're looking at Micah 6:8:
‘He has shown you what is good, and what the Lord requires of you—to ACT JUSTLY, to LOVE MERCY, and to WALK HUMBLY with your God.’
And it finishes with a statement of faith.
‘But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God, my Savior; My God will hear me…’ (Micah 7:7)
Let’s worship around the God who can make it simple for me, if I will let Him.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
I love finding a promise in one place in my Bible that puts me in mind of another.
Joel 2 is famous because it’s picked up by Peter centuries later when he’s addressing the crowd on the explosive day of Pentecost in Acts 2 (this is also the event known as the Birth of the Church).
What does it even mean when God says, ‘I will pour out My Spirit’? Who is this for, and to what end?
Let me reframe those questions.
When you look to future, what do you see?
What do you dream of for the people you love the most?
God promised that He would give us ‘a future and a hope.’
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
There are people I love—that I long to see fall in love with Jesus. People I love, whose lives are hard—harder than they need to be. People who are running fast down dead-end roads. I know this because I have run fast down dead-end roads. I have made my own life needlessly harder. I long to see the people I love find what I have found in Jesus.
We're talking about the story of Hosea and his wife. It’s a hard story to hear. Even harder because we’ve all lived it. Hard because we each know someone who is living it now.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
The book of Daniel contains some of the all-time favorite scenes of the Bible— lions dens, fiery furnace, magical fingers writing on the wall.
The common thread all the way through is that the one who thinks he’s in control is only making noise. God’s plan is bigger, stronger, longer, and ultimately prevails— every time. The trouble is, you never know how long ‘ultimately’ might take.
Daniel 3 has one of my favorite lines in scripture. It says God is able to deliver us, ‘but even if He does not, we still won’t bow!’
Let’s ask God for that kind of determined commitment and faith.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
There’s something about a shaded, sun-flecked, slow moving but strong river. You can see it’s life rippling under the surface. It’s living and active. It’s inviting. More than that—pulls me into it’s flow.
Read Ezekiel 47:1-12. It’s a captivating vision. The River of Gods flows from the presence of God in this vision. Knee deep. Waist deep. Then, too deep to cross. I want to breathe its air. Wet my feet. Be carried in its flow.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. -Ezekiel 3:4
Can you imagine today being told you can’t read a certain part of the Bible until you were the age of 30? That may sound ridiculous, but there was a tradition among the Jewish rabbis that they would not allow anyone to read the book of Ezekiel until a person reached age 30 because parts of the book were so confusing. And if you been reading along, or you’ve read Ezekiel in the past, you’ve probably found it confusing and challenging given the strange visions and some of the crazy things Ezekiel does.
But though strange at times, if we take a step back, we really can understand this book that is answering the question: Is God in control? In the midst of all the craziness, tragedy and uncertainty, is God really in control?
Jason
“He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long.
-Lamentations 3:2-3
We're looking at the book of Lamentations. Now, we might think the book of Lamentations doesn’t really relate to us today because we aren’t facing the same dire situation as Jeremiah and the nation of Judah with the fall of the city of Jerusalem.
But yet, the reality of this life is that we all face hardship, confusion, and suffering at some point. And the book of Lamentations, along with other laments we find in the Old Testament are there to help us in moments of despair. The laments are there to help us when our heart is heavy.
Jason
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.”
-Jeremiah 31:31
In the book of Jeremiah, we find repeatedly this message of sin, judgement, and destruction. But toward the middle of this book (Jeremiah 30:1-33:26), we find a message of hope and restoration, and this all culminates in the description of the New Covenant. But why should we be concerned or even care about a New Covenant made with the nations of Israel and Judah thousands of years ago?
Jason
Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people.
-Jeremiah 9:1
As we continue our series, Every Word All Year, where we are working our way through the Bible, we come across some tough topics. Some topics that we might prefer to avoid. And when it comes to the book of Jeremiah, you can’t escape God’s wrath and judgement because it takes up such a large portion of the book. But when it comes to wrath and judgement, we can have some misconceptions about God and also his prophets who were tasked with delivering this hard message.
Jason
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be in the book of Jeremiah and as the book begins we find that God calls Jeremiah to be a prophet.
Now, as we read those words, it can be easy to dismiss them and think they only applied to Jeremiah. I mean after all, you may be saying, “I’m not called to be a prophet like Jeremiah.” And you’d be right.
But it would be a mistake to think that God has not given you a specific calling for your life.
Now, you may still be hesitant to believe that, so we are going to look at the call of Jeremiah (and his reluctance) to be a prophet and how his story applies to you and the specific call that God has for your life.
Jason
‘I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes.’ Isaiah 5:1-2
‘Why isn’t this working?’
You know that you’ve entered in. Life was sweet, and good, and filled with promise. But something has gone wrong…
‘God—what happened? Why have You broken down the walls?’ (Psalm 80:12)
Let's come back to the God who has begun a good work in me, who loves me and shapes me— Even when it hurts. Even when I can’t recognize His hand.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, they are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit.” John 15:5-8
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1
I long to be longed for. I LOVE to be loved.
God made me that way. You, too. All of us.
But, if we are all that needy, no one on earth can meet all that need.
I invite you to let Jesus be the one to love you like that. Truthfully, He’s the only one who can.
I long for Jesus to teach me to love Him like that. I think that’s what I am created for. You, too. All of us.
I am my Beloved’s and He is mine. He has taken me to the banqueting table, and his banner over me is love. Song of Songs 2:4
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
*I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2*
One of my all-time favorite book titles is Eugene Peterson’s “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.” It describes the life I long for as a Christ-follower.
The book is a study of the Pilgrim Psalms, 120-134. It speaks of being on my life’s journey with Jesus.
Three times each year, God’s people were called to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem—to re-set, and reconnect with God, and with their fellow pilgrims.
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, Psalm 107:1-2
We’ve all got stories… Stories of being lost, confused, giving up—giving in. We have stories about the things that keep us bound, old habits we can’t seem to break—or new ones we can’t seem to keep. We have stories about being overwhelmed, too busy to get my head above water.
But I also have stories about hitting bottom, crying out to the Lord—and God shows up. In the nick of time, with just the right help—breaking down, cutting through, saving me.
Psalm 107 tells story after story of God gathering us up, no matter where we find ourselves.Good News from Jesus!
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, Luke 4:18
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
‘Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped. Psalm 73:1-2
I can’t tell you how often I come back to Psalm 73. A ‘Psalm 73 moment’ is a moment of doubt, or fear. It’s a moment you don’t invite everyone into—because not everyone would get it. It’s a moment of truth, but it’s not THE TRUTH about you. It’s a moment to move through, but not a moment to get stuck in.
‘When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.’ Psalm 73:21-22
It’s a bitter moment that doesn’t even make sense, until you’re on the other side of it. But you can’t not go through it. We're worshipping around one of my favorite places to land in all of Scripture:
‘Whom have I in heaven but you? My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. But as for me, it is good to be near God.’ Psalm 73:25-28 (NIV)
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
‘Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love and your great compassion.’ Psalm 51:1
Psalm 51 pulls back the curtain on what makes David ‘a man after God’s own heart.’ It is a psalm of confession and repentance. We glimpse the broken heart of one who has broken the heart of God.
Sunday we’ll spend some time with an ancient prayer pattern, the Prayer of Examen. Paul has this great line in 1 Corinthians 11 about examining our own lives before God rather than waiting for judgment to fall. The promise is that if we ‘confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).’
God is so good to bring us to this psalm of repentance when Baptists as a group are dealing with a very public reckoning of sin.
Let’s seek God for His great mercy and compassion.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.”
We want to worship well in front of our kids—so they will know how. Worship with joy, and faith, and hope—so our kiddos will know what worshipping in hope looks like, even if you’re worshipping through ‘the valley of the shadow of death.’
We’ll be worshipping around Psalm 23. Quoted at every funeral, but it’s a Psalm to live with, not just die with! So, we’ll teach it to our kids. We’ll live it in front of them, with joy!
“The Lord is my Shepherd. What more could I want?”
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
“Blessed is the one…whose delight is in the law of the Lord” Psalm 1:1-2
Over the next 6 weeks we will be journeying through the book of Psalms. Now you might be asking, what does the word “psalms” even mean. It’s kind of a strange word, right? Well, it simply means “songs.” And this collection of songs was the hymnbook used in ancient Israel. But this book has not only been used for public worship, but also has been used by countless believers through the ages for private devotions to God because of its rich theology and how it touches on so many emotions we face in our life.
We're looking at Psalm 1, which has often been called the doorway into the rest of the psalms because it introduces so many of the major themes found in the rest of the book.
Jason
The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; blameless and upright, fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity." Job 2:3
Dumb Things Christians Say: ‘God never gives you more than you can handle.’ Then to break the tension with awkward humor, ‘God has overestimated me this time.’
We’re going to worship this Sunday with the story of Job. It’s a tough one because, clearly Job and his wife were burdened with more than anyone could bear.
Maybe you have been carrying that kind of burden, too. You don’t talk about it because ‘Everybody has their own stuff…’But you’re faltering.
I need God to re-tell my story to me. All I know is my own perspective, but there must be more to the story. ‘Please, let there be some redeeming purpose to the hurt, the pain, the grief, and the shame…’
‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith!’
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
‘Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14
‘You don’t know what you don’t know.’ It’s so obvious that I was offended the first time I heard it. But I keep bumping into this truth. It explains so much of my hesitation, my fears, doubts, and even shame.
Sometimes I re-frame it in my head, ‘You CAN’T know what you don’t know.’ That’s when the cliché becomes an excuse I hide behind.
So, what do you do when you don’t know what to do? Or, when there’s nothing you can do? Or, when you don’t even know what to pray?
Those are the questions we are going to worship around this Sunday.
The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We don’t even know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)
We come boldly to His throne of grace where we receive mercy and find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:16)
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
‘All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.’ Hebrews 11:13
The presence or absence of God is the determining factor in my satisfaction with life. When I’m longing for Him, and He’s nowhere to be found—I am inconsolable.
But that’s not the only thing true of me. I can live self-willed in a direction I know to be outside God’s plan. In times like that, I really wish there was a place to hide from the Presence I just want to know when I rub the lamp, the Genie will come out.
Trouble is, that’s not how God works. When I treat life with God that way—I find myself VERY alone.
‘Exile’ is part of the history of God’s people. Not only a period of time, but my spiritual reality that awaits the day I will see Jesus face to face.
Exile- (n) The state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.
Exile-(v) To expel and bar (someone) from their native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.
How can you live while in exile? How can you continue to hope when you can’t seem to find God?
That’s the kind of question that will guide our seeking. We worship the God who promises to never leave or forsake us—even when we can’t find Him.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
The Glorious Presence of the Lord filled the Temple.’ 2 Chronicles 5:13
Highest Holy Day in the Old Testament—the dedication of the Temple. The preparations, expense, artistry, the sheer labor of it all. And when the time came, the presence of God fell on the place. Fell so thick, in fact, that the priests were pushed out. The Presence of God just took up all the space.
Highest Holy Day in the New Testament—in all of human history—Easter (the Christ-event, Death-Burial-Resurrection of Jesus). Darkness fell in the middle of the day, the veil of the Temple was ripped from top to bottom. Earthquakes. Lightning. Graves opened up and people long-dead walked into the city.
Common theme—the Glory and presence of God. The ‘Shekinah’ Glory of God speaks of the presence of God that just rests heavy on a moment, on a place. Sometimes in a cloud and thick darkness, sometimes with fire-fall from Heaven.
That’s what I’m praying for this Easter Sunday. An awareness, a thick abiding presence of ‘God with us.’
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
Matthew 21:9-10
What is so great about the timing of Palm Sunday this year is that we’ve been reading through the books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles and one of the major themes of these books is the Messiah who will come from the line of David (2 Samuel 7). And as Jesus enters Jerusalem, the beginning of what we call Holy Week, he is met with joy and excitement because the long-awaited King, the Son of David, has arrived.
But even in the midst of the celebration, the crowd is still unclear about all that is taking place and they ask, “Who is this?”
Jason
Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. 2 Kings 5:1
Most of us are drawn to stories where the unlikely and the unexpected takes place. Whether it’s the unlikely love story, the unexpected act of courage and sacrifice, or some other twist we just weren’t anticipating. For whatever reason these stories just grab our attention.
This is a story where we meet an unlikely recipient of God’s grace and an unexpected hero – both of whom give us a wonderful picture of how we receive and live out the gospel.
Jason
God said, ‘I have found David a man after my own heart. He will do all I ask of him.’ Acts 13:22
I want to be all in, going hard after God with all my heart. I really do! As David’s life unfolded, I think he would admit—like Paul, ‘I don’t understand what I do! I want to do good, but I can’t carry it out. I keep on doing what I don’t want to do.’ (Romans 7:15-20)
What made David a person ‘after God’s own heart’ wasn’t just his behavior—it was how his behavior affected him.
David faced his own brokenness. He was quick to repent. And he had a high view of God. That made all the difference! I want to live that way. I gave up on getting everything right a long time ago. But I want to be quick to recognize when I get it wrong. Quick to throw myself on the mercies of God. Quick to learn from my mistakes and correct my course.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, nor take your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:10-11
Thank God for His mercy and grace!
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. Ruth 4:14
We're in the book of Ruth and looking at the character of God through the lens of one family during one of the darkest times in Israelite history.
Consider this: God has called us, his hand is at work in our lives, and (most importantly) God, through Jesus Christ, has not left us without a redeemer.
Ethan McLean
Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served, or the gods, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15
One of the most haunting verses in scripture comes at the end of the book of Judges. It says ‘In those days there was no king, so everyone did what was right in their own eyes.’ (Judges 21:25)
Scary, isn’t it? But oddly familiar.
I see a tendency in myself to keep looking until I find an ‘expert’ to tell me what I’ve already decided I want to hear. Paul talked about it as having ‘itching ears.’ The sad truth is that I can convince myself of almost anything. Or, I can choose the Lord. Submit myself to Him. Decide that I will follow Him even when I don’t understand the ‘why,’ or ‘when,’ or ‘how.’
Let’s bow to Him. Declare Him Lord of our lives, our families, our world.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Joshua is one of my favorite players in the story! He’s strong, reliable. He always comes through. He’s one of the good guys. And he’s faithful—to Moses, and to God. And then, when the time comes, Joshua steps up.
I love the way God says, ‘Be Strong and Courageous.’ Multiple times in just a few verses, God promises His presence and strength—so ‘don’t be afraid.’
I memorized Joshua 1:8 when I was just a kid, and I’ve hung onto it all these years. "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." Joshua 1:8
I want to be reminded that it’s “’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord.” (Zechariah 4:6)
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is ONE! Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.’ Deuteronomy 6:4-5
This is the 'SHEMA.' It’s the cornerstone of faith in the Old Testament. Twice-daily prayer for Israel to re-center their hearts, heads, and hands on the presence of God in their hearts and lives.
What if we could use it the same way? What if I could remind my heart, focus my mind, and set my strength to the pursuit of God a couple of times in my day? What if I could strategically remind myself to remember what is most important—WHO is most important?
At the start of every day and the end of every day to take stock and fix my eyes on Jesus would make me a better man. A man after God’s own heart.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us” -1 Corinthians 10:11
We're in the book of Numbers. Of all the books in the Bible, this one had to be given the worst title. What is interesting though, is that the most common Hebrew title for this book is, “In the Wilderness.” That sounds much more intriguing because there are a lot of good stories that we find in this book that are there for our instruction and warning – as the apostle Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 10:11.
Jason
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us”
-1 Corinthians 10:11
We're in the book of Numbers. Of all the books in the Bible, this one had to be given the worst title. What is interesting though, is that the most common Hebrew title for this book is, “In the Wilderness.” That sounds much more intriguing because there are a lot of good stories that we find in this book that are there for our instruction and warning – as the apostle Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 10:11.
Jason
“This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. -Leviticus 16:29-30
The book of Leviticus, where many a good reading plan comes to an end. Let’s be honest, the book of Leviticus can be a tough read. There are lots of laws, some of them odd. There are specific instructions about sacrifices and feasts. And what’s with all the sprinkled blood? It’s a culture and setting that is not very familiar to us.
Amidst the strangeness of Leviticus, what we find is that God is giving all these laws and specific instructions so that he can dwell with his people. We’re looking at the Day of Atonement and what it means for us today.
Jason
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.
-Exodus 34:6-7
As we continue our journey through the Bible, we find the people of Israel have just been delivered from slavery in Egypt and they are making their way to the land of promise. Things are looking good. The people of Israel have been freed from their bondage to slavery, and they’ve committed themselves to the Lord. But then everything appears to come to a crashing halt due to their sin and rebellion against God (Exodus 32-34).
Yet in the midst of this awful situation, Moses is given some of the most important words contained in the Bible (Exodus 34:6-7). But there is a tension in these verses. How can God not leave the guilty unpunished, but also be gracious and forgiving of wickedness?
Jason
"I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians."
-Exodus 6:7
What comes to mind when you think of the exodus story – the Israelites deliverance from slavery found in Exodus 1-15? Moses, the reluctant leader? The cruelty of Pharoah? The devastating plagues? Charlton Heston… let me get a little more recent… Christian Bale (did anyone actually watch that movie)?
The exodus story is the central story of the Old Testament. It’s dramatic, but why are the events of the exodus so central? How does this story that took place over 3,000 years ago relate to us today?
Jason
‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good—to accomplish what is now being done.’ Genesis 50:20
The Joseph Story, Genesis 37-50.
We know more about Joseph than almost anyone else in the bible. We know about his dysfunctional childhood. Sibling hostility and rivalry. We know the truth behind the accusations and imprisonment. We know the heart behind his leadership choices. And we see a life come full circle.
If you stop in the middle, you won’t get it. You have to read to the end.
What do you not understand about what God is doing in your life? About His timing in your life?
Read the Joseph story, Genesis 37-50. But before that, consider Romans 8:28, and Jeremiah 29:11. Those verses will give you hope of how God can redeem the time—even if the days are evil.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9
You made it through week 1, congratulations!
The first couple dozen chapters of Genesis are big and sweeping. Creation. Paradise—lost. Sons and daughters who thrill—and disappoint. The world starts so small, just two people. But even as it gets BIG—lots of people going in a hundred directions—God still deals with us ‘one by one.'
‘Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.’ Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation NLT)
New year, New plan. You know the old line about doing the same things over again and expecting different results—crazy! That describes my spiritual life for far too long. You? Time for something different—radically different.
Join us in a one-year plan to read through the Bible from beginning to end. (www.everywordallyear.com) So many have wanted to do this for so long. Even tried a time, or two. Maybe you managed it once, years ago, but that was then and this is now. It sounds hard. Like, running-a-marathon hard. But I know people who have run marathons. It takes a plan, commitment, persistence, and it helps to have a community supporting you. That’s what I’m inviting you into.
Here are some questions:
‘What’s God at work to do through His Word?’
‘What’s God at work to do IN YOU?’
‘Will you ‘let perseverance have its perfect work (James 1:4)?’
Spend some time with 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12-13, and Romans 12:1-2.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
"In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son." Hebrews 1:1-2
I believe with all my heart that God keeps speaking into my life. He keeps showing up in various ways at different times. The trouble is I usually don’t realize it’s Him until the moment is past. Sometimes not even then.
When I read the Christmas stories in Scripture, I wonder if anybody actually understood in real-time what God was up to. Truthfully, I guess I’m not sure I can grasp, even now, all that God was up to. But I want to. I want to have eyes to see how God is at work, ears to hear His whisper, a heart ready to leap at His call.
“He came to his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—“ John 1:11-12
This Sunday, let’s ask to see, and hear, and believe!
Read the story of Jacob wrestling with God (Gen. 32), Joshua’s encounter with the Captain of Angel Armies (Joshua 5), and the 4th man in the Fire (Daniel 3). Who knows, maybe God will show up with us, too.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42
Advent is a churchy Christmas word. It’s two steps removed from a plain meaning for you and me. Advent speaks of arrival— a coming into place, into focus. When Jesus talked about it, he said ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ When I hear the word, I think ‘adventure.’ And that’s what I want to invite you into!
I want us to see 3 visions of Advent; the coming of Jesus to Bethlehem, Jesus coming into my heart, and coming back to bring us home.
Meditate awhile on Luke 2:8-20, and Luke 23:39-43 (the thief on the cross). Isaiah 11:2 will help you dwell on how Jesus comes to us. Revelation 22:12-20 should help whet your appetite for Forever!
Let’s worship around all that!
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2
Everything stops for Christmas. Even things that don’t stop wish they could (think First Responders, Health Care Workers, etc.). Memories (whether awesome or awful), hopes (some reasonable, some not). But what happens when ‘hopes’ become ‘dreads’?
Last year’s celebration may have left your cup less than half full. Expectations went unrealized. Gatherings passed unattended. So, what will it take to really make it Christmas for you this year?
Have you ever needed a rescue? This Sunday let’s invite Jesus to reveal the bigger story. Christmas is not the beginning. It is God’s response to a deeper need—a longing that nothing else can meet.
Meditate awhile on Isaiah 9:2, 9:6.
Exodus 3 talks about a burning bush instead of a Christmas tree, but hear God’s heart of rescue:
· I will bring you out…
· I will free you from…
· I will redeem you…
· I will receive you…
· I will bring you to Myself…
(Exodus 6:6-8)
Let’s worship around all that!
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
This message concludes our series on “Belonging” – where over the last four weeks we’ve explored what it means to belong to the body of Christ and what it looks like to belong to our church. As we began the series we started with the grace of God, which is the underserved favor and love that we receive from God. And as we approach Thanksgiving, it is fitting that we end our series by talking about giving back to God through our resources, time and energy because of all that He has done in our lives.
Last week we saw that the apostle Paul was under house arrest in Rome and how during this time he continued to teach and share the gospel with others (Acts 28). But also, during these two years of being under arrest, Paul wrote four letters that became known as the “prison epistles.”
We are going to look at a passage from one of those prison letters – Philippians 4:14-20. And what we’re going to find is a church that gave back, and loved much because they had received much.
Jason
Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God. Acts 21:19-20
In the book of Acts, Jesus says that we are to be His “witnesses” – meaning believers are to make the invisible kingdom of God visible to our communities and around the world (Acts 1:8). And while this may seem like a daunting task, we begin to see this take place in Acts through gifted men and women who do amazing works of ministry.
But while these acts are impressive, if we are not careful, we can think that this gifting only applies to a select few – both then and now. But what we find repeatedly in the book of Acts, particularly with the ministry of the apostle Paul, is that he was working to establish churches to be these “witnesses.” And the way that these churches, and our church, are to fulfill this mission is through the diversity of gifts that God has given to us.
In this message we will be looking at what it means that each of us is uniquely gifted, and have a specific role to play in the life of our church. I would encourage you to read Romans 12:3-8, along with reading from Acts 19:21 through the end of Acts.
Jason
They devoted themselves… Everyone was filled with awe… They were all together…’ Acts 2:42-44
Sometimes church is the loneliest place of all. It shouldn’t be that way. It was never meant to be that way. In fact, it goes against everything Christianity is about. Jesus came to be ‘God with us.’ Being in relationship with Him makes us uniquely qualified to ‘be with’ each other. And that is the very thing that our Enemy fears the most. Fear, shame, and pretending separate us. But what if we could find a place where fear and shame can be released—where dreams can be shared and encouraged? That’s what we are supposed to be about! We are a family, a fellowship, a Kingdom.
Read Acts 13-19:20 along with this message. Also, meditate on Romans 12:9-18.
Pray through these three questions.
· Have you ever been part of something bigger than yourself?
· Have you ever been known and understood?
· Have you ever been there for someone else?
We want you to think seriously about your relationship with Jesus, your commitment to growing in the faith, your place with other believers, your gifts, and how you will give back.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
‘Now, Lord, consider their threats, enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
*After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.’
Acts 4:29-31*
The Early Church in the book of Acts is a sort of Camelot—‘The Summer Kingdom, where everything is as it should be, days are warm and bright, and all is well.’
Everything they touched just worked. There were even stories of people healed when Peter’s shadow fell across them.
But it didn’t take long for jealousy, threats, and persecution to darken the door of the young church. Stephen was even martyred for the faith.
At some point the question “Are you in?” yields to the question, “Are you STILL in, even if the going gets tough?”
That’s what we want to explore as we worship this Sunday. The promise of God is true, but sometimes it leads through some pretty deep valleys.
Read Acts 3-9 along with this message. Pray through those three questions.
· How is God at work in you/us? GOOD Stuff
· What is God preparing you/us for? HARD Stuff?
· Are you STILL in?
We want you to think seriously about your relationship with Jesus, your commitment to growing in the faith, your place with other believers, your gifts, and how you will give back.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty
*They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. ‘
Acts 2:42-44*
We’re beginning a new sermon series this week called Belonging. It takes the book of Acts as a backdrop. We want to talk about what it means to be part of the body of Christ, and this particular family of faith.
Read Acts 1-2 to along with this message. Pray through those three questions.
·Is this what I believe?
·Are these my people?
·Is this my place?
We want you to think seriously about your relationship with Jesus, your commitment to growing in the faith, your place with other believers, your gifts, and how you will give back.
I LOVE Being Your Pastor!
Rusty