God's Word with Pastor Tom Smith: Recent Episodes
Tom Smith
Pastor Tom Smith shares his weekly sermons straight from God's Word for the purpose of glorifying God while edifying and encouraging God's people. Each weekly sermon will usually be uploaded by the following Monday afternoon.
Every Christian has a real part in the advance of the gospel. Some carry the message into new places; others welcome, support, encourage, invite, serve, and make room for that work. Gaius shows outward-facing discipleship that opens doors for the truth. Diotrephes shows how self-importance closes doors and obstructs the mission. Demetrius shows the credible life that should accompany the message. A disciple asks not only, "How am I growing?" but also, "Who am I helping move toward Christ?"
2nd John calls believers to hold truth and love in balance. Love by following God’s commands and truth by holding onto Jesus’ truths.
Malachi speaks to the spiritual condition when circumstances cause us to doubt God’s love, leading to halfhearted worship.
The ending of Revelation is a series of affirmations about the truthfulness of the book, warnings about concerning the book, and invitations.
The letter from Paul to Philemon is not only a lesson in Christian reconciliation, but a picture of the greater mediator, Jesus Christ, on the cross.
Revelation moves from a descritption of the city to life in the city centered around the life and light giving throne of God.
In Habakkuk, we get to hear the private conversation between the prophet and God. Habakkuk comes to God honestly and ends in worship and trust.
The imagery of the bride, the New Jerusalem, starts to clarify. But rather than get caught up in the architectural details, we need to stand back and understand the glory and majesty of what's being seen through the imagery.
A major shift happens from Revelation 20 to 21. The book is no longer showing conflict, struggle, judgment, and final judgment. Revelation 20 completed the work of God that started back in Genesis 3. Now, Revelation shifts to the new creation, returning us back to Genesis 1 and 2, but better. We start with New Jerusalem, a direct contrast to Babylon. But don't get caught up in the physical description, although it is beautiful. The main message is God's permanent dwelling with humanity.
The call from God through Haggai is “Think carefully about your ways.” God calls us to keep our priorities in order by not getting distracted by other concerns. He calls us to work. But, the central promise from God is “I am with you.”
Revelation 20 moves from the Saintt's reign with Christ and Satan's binding to judgment. All of the negatives that came from the fall in Genesis 3 finally are reversed and the world is prepared for the new creation.
To become the men God calls us to be, the answer isn’t “try harder,” it’s “draw nearer to Christ.” The Bible shows us how to embrace the responsibility God has given men for the good of others.
We all desire belonging. It is a trait God has built into us. But the counterfeit promise of belonging on our own terms fails every time. We have been given belonging in God’s family through Christ and the things that we try to avoid turn out to be the very things that exist in deep belonging.
Revelation 20 opens by giving us a glimpse of Christ's reign and Satan's binding, an assurance to believers that their faithfulness is worth it.
We all pursue truth. What we must be careful of is where we obtain that truth. Max walks us through where truth can be found and the counterfeits offered by the world that we must be cautious of.
As we finish Revelation 19, we move from the worship scene and marriage supper of the Lamb to battle.
Comfort promises a counterfeit truth: get enough and you will find rest for your soul. But Jesus counters this counterfeit with an invitation, "Come to me... and I will give you rest."
We close Revelation 18 and turn from earthly mourning to heavenly worship in Chapter 19.
The world is full of counterfeit love. Jesus shows us what true love looks like. It is sacrificial giving for the good of another.
We begin Revelation 18, which shifts the focus from unveiling Babylon in Chapter 17 to revealing the cause of her judgment and the results of her destruction.
There are not many counterfeits bigger than what surrounds the question “Who Am I?”. Identity is critical to every area of life. We refute the counterfeit of self-determination by looking at who God says you are and who Christ is restoring you to be.
As Chapter 1 closes, we get a surprise twist that the evil alliance turns on itself and destorys Babylon.
The world tells us how to find a woman’s worth. But it can only offer counterfeit solutions to people's real needs. We examine the counterfeits and then reveal God’s truth about the value of women.
Babylon has been revealed as attractive yet corrupted and in league with the Beast. The Beast is now shown to be aligned with worldly political systems, rulers, and powers who are coming together to fight the Lamb. Yet the Lamb conquers because He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
The ascension is the precursor to Christ’s reign and the sending of the Holy Spirit. How should we respond to the reality of the Risen King and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit?
After restoring and teaching his disciples, Jesus commissions them to take the Gospel to the world. Discover what the Great Commission meant for the first disciples and what it means for us.
Chapter 17 takes us back for a closer look at Babylon. What is she? Why is she being judged so severely? This chapter also will set up a deliberate contrast between two women (cities): Babylon, the Prostitute and New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ. We peel back the outward appearance of Babylon to see that appearances can be very deceiving.
Jesus has restored his broken disciples, but to prepare them to take his message to the world, Jesus must teach them. His teaching transformed the disciples and it should transform us.
As we complete Revelation Chapter 16, we study the 6th Bowl judgment which prepares the way for the united earthly powers to face God and the terrible consequences of the 7th Bowl. Amazingly, people still do not repent. The divide between those who worship the Beast and those who worship the Lamb has never been greater than what we see in these judgments.
Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples after the resurrection. He used this time for more than proving he was alive. In today’s text, Jesus restores his broken disciples.
Chapter 6 begins the bowl judgments, the complete outpouring of God's wrath on the evil world. Tonight, we cover the first five judgments and hear confirmation that God is just and righteous in judging evil.
The resurrection of Jesus is the center of Easter. An empty tomb is not the end of the story. The presence of the living Christ is what resurrection provides. We don’t have to believe in the resurrection through blind faith; the evidence points to its truth.
This week, slowly read the story of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection in the Gospel of Luke. Imagine the movement of the story, walk with Christ, see what He died for.
Suggested passages:
• The Last Supper – Luke 22:14–23
• Gethsemane – Luke 22:39–46
• The Trial of Jesus – Luke 22:63–71
• The Crucifixion – Luke 23:32–49
• The Burial – Luke 23:50–56
• The Resurrection – Luke 24:1–12
As you look upon the cross realize:
The cross reveals the seriousness of sin
– Jesus did not die for small mistakes or minor failures
– He died for the real bondage of sin that enslaves humanity
The cross reveals the depth of God’s love
– Christ willingly bore our sin
– He took the judgment we deserved so that we could receive forgiveness
The resurrection reveals the victory of God
– Sin is forgiven
– The power of sin is broken
– Death is defeated through the resurrection
Respond personally as you read the Passion narrative.
Repent honestly
– Bring any sin into the light before God
– Confess without hiding or minimizing Trust the finished work of Christ
– Forgiveness is not earned
– Jesus’ sacrifice is complete Receive the freedom Christ offers
– The same cross that forgives sin also breaks its bondage
– Followers of Jesus are invited to walk in new life Live a Cruciform Life
The cross does not only save us — it shapes how we live.
Following Jesus means taking up our cross – A life marked by humility, sacrifice, and love.
The resurrection empowers new life – Because Christ lives, we are free to live differently.
John 12 provides details on the triumphal entry that help us understand the glory of Christ being displayed in that moment.
As we move toward Palm Sunday, Lent invites us to contemplate what kind of King we are receiving in Jesus. Is he the True King that directs your life, or a king of your own making?
Receiving the True King reshapes the heart in several ways: It exposes our expectations. It calls us to surrender control. It deepens our trust in God's kingdom. In the time and space that Lent allows this week, practice one of the following:
Spend time in prayerful contemplation, reflecting on how you relate to Jesus. Where might you be expecting Jesus to serve your agenda rather than submitting to his? Are there teachings of Jesus that you admire but resist obeying? What area of your life have you not fully surrendered to his authority?
Read the Triumphal Entry passages slowly.
Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-11
Luke 19:28-44
John 12:12-19
Notice how the crowd responds and what they expect. Notice how Jesus presents himself. How are you responding to Jesus that might be different than the king that he shows himself to be?
Practice surrender. Identify one area of life where Jesus' teaching challenges personal preferences. Consciously choose obedience in that area this week.
Prayer practice. Spend time acknowledging Jesus as king. Ask God to reshape desires so they align with Christ's kingdom.
1 Peter 5 calls for humility and dependence on God’s grace to endure the suffering in this world and promises glory in Christ.
After the interlude of chapters 12-14, Chapter 15 returns to the cycles of recapitulated judgments. But instead of being shown the judgments taking place, John gets a vision that prepares us to understand the judgments as ordered, directed by God, righteous, and just.
This week shifts outward: following Jesus leads to serving others. Serving and generosity are not simply good deeds — they are practices that shape the heart. The Christian life moves from receiving God's grace to expressing that grace to others. This week, choose one outward expression through serving or generosity to allow God to form Christlikeness in you
Biblical Foundation Jesus’ model of service - Mark 10:45
Jesus defines greatness through service.
The Son of Man came to serve and give his life.
Disciples imitate the posture of their King.
The generosity of the early church - Acts 2:44–45
Shared possessions.
Needs met through sacrificial generosity.
The gospel changed how they viewed ownership.
Giving as an act of trust - 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
Generosity tied to faith in God’s provision.
God supplies what his people need.
Generosity becomes an expression of dependence on God.
Serving and generosity shape the heart in several ways:
They weaken self-centeredness Serving trains attention toward others.
Moves disciples away from an inward focus.
They develop trust in God Giving resources requires faith.
Releasing control reinforces dependence on God’s provision.
They align the heart with Christ Jesus’ life was marked by sacrificial love.
Practicing generosity forms Christlike character.
Lent uses sacrifice to reshape desires.
Practical Suggestions:
Serving Help someone in a tangible way.
Offer time or labor to meet a need.
Volunteer or assist someone who is struggling.
Generosity
Give financially beyond normal habits.
Support someone in need.
Give toward ministry or charitable work.
Time generosity
Invest time in someone who needs encouragement or presence.
Hidden service
Serve quietly without recognition.
Connect to Jesus’ teaching about serving without seeking attention.
Serving and generosity are not peripheral to discipleship. They train the heart to trust God and love others. Sacrificial practices reveal where our security actually lies. This week, identify one concrete opportunity to serve or give during the week and do it intentionally as an act of discipleship.
As chapter 14 closes, we get two pictures of God's final judgment. This is both a warning to remain faithful and promised vindication for the persecuted saints.
The focus this week is on active obedience. Obedience is expected of followers of Jesus (John 14:15; Matthew 7:24-27; John 6:38). Faithful obedience will form you spiritually as you actively follow Jesus' footsteps and commands. Small acts of obedience are how faith is grown.
This week, choose one command of Jesus and be intentional in obediently following.
* Forgiveness: Matthew 18:21-22
+ Identify someone you need to forgive.
+ Release the offense in prayer.
+ Choose not to rehash the grievance.
* Generosity: Luke 6:38
+ Give intentionally this week.
+ Support someone in need.
+ Give time, encouragement, or resources.
* Loving Enemies: Matthew 5:44
+ Pray for someone difficult.
+ Speak well of them.
+ Refuse to return to hostility.
+ Show them hospitality.
* Abiding in Christ: John 15:4-5
+ Set aside daily time with Jesus.
+ Read a short passage.
+ Remain in His presence.
* Fasting: Matthew 6:16-18
+ Skip a meal or fast for 24 hours.
+ Let hunger remind you to pray and spend time in God's Word.
+ This is in addition to your Lent practice.
Peter tells us that the underlying issue in suffering is lordship. What rules our hearts will control how we react.
We move from the image of the victorious Lamb to proclamations. There are three angelic proclamations that intensify the coming judgment and an encouragement from heaven for believers to endure.
As we near the mid-point of Lent, we are focusing on listening prayer this week. Use the time and space your Lent fasting provides to spend time listening to God. Guardrails: Don't go into this time with specific expectations. Don't judge how it went. Simply place yourself before God and practice listening to Him. We recommend four practices:
1. Reflective Prayer - Spend 10 minutes reading one short gospel passage. Ask God to reveal what the passage says about Jesus, yourself, and how He wants you to respond. Ask the question and sit in silence listening for God.
2. Listening Prayer - Spend 10 minutes of silence before God. No distraction. No repetitive talk from you. Just, "Lord, I'm listening."
3. Scripture-Guided Prayer - Pray through a Psalm. Ask God to reveal where this applies in your life and turn the verse into a personal prayer.
4. Examen (End of Day Reflection) - Where did I sense God today? Where did I resist him? What am I grateful for? What do I need to surrender?
After the call to be witnesses to the world, Peter walks us through four spheres of relationships. We are told to submit and endure, to take the same path that Jesus walked, to display Him to the world.
After the apparent victory of the beast in chapter 13, the perspective of John's vision shifts from an earthly one to a heavenly one. And the first thing John sees is the victorious Lamb standing at the center of God's kingdom surrounded by all the saints. We also dive into the question of whether the vision's that John sees translate into actual seen acts on earth.
In week 2, we suggest you use your time in the "wilderness" to focus on repentance and dependence. Ask yourself, "What am I relying on that isn't from God?" Repent of any sinful habits or addictions and turn to God's Word. We suggest reading and meditating on Matthew 4:1-11; Psalm 51; Deuteronomy 8; Luke 15; Hebrews 12:1-11; John 15:1-11; and/or James 4:6-10.
1 Peter 2:1-12 builds on what God has done through Jesus Christ and the call to holy living. But before we read how to live a holy life, who we are told who we are in Christ. Identity comes before mission.
The Beast from the sea commands an idol to be built to the first beast, demands worship under the penalty of death, and uses allegiance as seen in our actions and thoughts (a "mark" upon our hand or forehead) to apply economic pressure.
Tom and Max discuss the origins of Lent and the purpose behind this practice. We invite everyone to join us in this season of preparation for Easter.
1 Peter 1 tells us what God has done through Christ and calls us to be grateful for and live in our salvation by being holy, as God is holy.
We reveiw the beast from the sea who represents empire and find there's a second beast, this one from the earth, who the dragon will use to persecute the people of God through ideological, cultural, and political pressure to worship the first beast. We must be vigilant and discerning, but not paranoid, about the dangers of this second beast.
Acts 2:42 describes the normal rhythms of church life. We must be intentional in these practices at our church and take personal responsibility to move us toward being a devoted church.
The dragon is raging against God's people. Chapter 13 shows us that he does not wage war directly, but conscripts a "beast," the world's empires and political systems, to persecute the people of God.
Revelation 12 has shown us that the struggle is cosmic. We see the defeat of the dragon at the cross of Jesus as the reason behind his rage. Now, in this final section, we see a recapitulation of the first six verses where the viewpoint moves from cosmic, to earthly consequences. We see why persecution is so fierce after the cross and God's promise to sustain his people.
Revelation 12 provides the cosmic perspective behind earthly persecution. The Messiah has come, he has defeated Satan, and is reigning. Satan is thrown down from heaven and is raging against the people of God.
Prayer is placed alongside the other practices as a core activity of the church. Prayer is what confesses and lives out our dependence on God for everything.
A reveiw of the basis for Studying Revelation, chapters 1-11, and a preview of this semester's study.
Acts 2:42 shows us that fellowship is much deeper than social, it is a shared life centered around the cross, which the Lord’s Supper repeatedly brings us back to.
Acts 2:42 gives us the Spirit-formed practices that were the priority of the early church. We seek to understand these practices to give us the why behind what we do, starting with being devoted to the apostles’ teaching.
How do we live a faithful life in between Sundays, in between the highs and lows of life, and in between Jesus’ advent and his return?
Matthew 2 presents three responses to Jesus’ kingship. These aren’t just historical reactions but reveal how the human heart responds to Jesus.
Luke 2 provides the royal announcement that God has moved and the promised King has come. Our response to this news is joyfully receiving it in humility, experiencing the peace, and proclaiming the news because of what God has done through Christ.
Peace is the theme of the 2nd week of Advent. We see in the story of Mary how an interruption of her life plans could have destroyed her peace, but her surrender led to peace. And through her surrender, God was preparing to send the King to the world.
Advent invites us to look back at God’s fulfilled promises, which give us hope as we look forward to his promises to be fulfilled.
Jonah is a story of self-centered desires and hearts not aligned with God’s mercy and mission.
The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal isn’t about spectacle but God calling his people back from divided worship to himself.
Daniel and the lions’ den is a story of faithfulness and vindication that points us toward the gospel of Jesus Christ.
David & Goliath provides more than good morals and needed encouragement in our struggles. It points us to Christ and his victory, the reason we can trust God's presence and power in our trials.
The exodus is both an echo of creation and a foreshadowing of salvation in Christ where God’s people are transformed and set free. How do we walk in that freedom for God’s purposes?
The story of Joseph points us toward Jesus and shows how God can use for his good purposes what man meant for evil.
Noah's Ark - The truth behind this familiar narrative is God’s judgment on sin and his mercy and grace seen within that judgment. The deeper story is how the ark points toward Jesus and his offer of saving grace.
We are called to be holy. We are promised an abundant life. How are these two seemingly contradictory calls reconciled? What we'll see today is that the call to pursue holiness is the gateway to life.
Judges closes with Israel in worse shape than where it began. But this cycle of disobedience is a lesson for us. We must trust in and follow God lest it be said of us “They did what was right in their eyes.”
Sampson was rebellious, yet kept turning to God. In turn, we see God's patience and faithfulness to his servants. Sampson's pride led him to forget that his gifts were from God and repeatedly caused him to rebel.
Are you guilty of bringing cultural and worldly practices into religion? Are you listening to God and trusting that Jesus is enough?
God uses three faithful people to accomplish his purpose. It’s often not about one person doing everything, but a community coming together to accomplish a lot.
The story of Ehud shows us that while we might want to use our deficiencies as an excuse not to serve the Lord, God wants to work through our weaknesses.
The Book of Judges shows the importance of living faithfully and raising a new generation to Faithfulness. But regardless of what we do, God remains faithful and has sent us the perfect Judge in Jesus Christ.
Baptism is a sacrament that connects us to Jesus and proclaims our faith. Have you obediently followed Jesus in baptism?
Communion is a sign of the new covenant, instituted by Jesus. We look at the biblical understanding of communion and the precedenct for receiving communion weekly.
Paul brings everything together as he closes the letter to the Ephesians. He blesses the church in God’s grace to walk worthy.
Our Christian walk is on a battlefield, not a stroll through the park. But God does not leave us unprepared. He offers his own armor for this fight, but we must choose to put it on every day.
Paul adds another layer to the worthy walk, walk in wisdom. This Holy Spirit enabled call shapes our relationships and allows them to preach Jesus to the world.
Ephesians 5:1 calls on us to be imitators of God. Paul then outlines sins that are not compatible for kingdom living and not appropriate for a child of God. Instead, we are to pursue holiness as we live out the identity that Christ has given us as we follow Him.
Because of the grace that’s been showered upon those who are in Christ, our walk should be in response to and glorifying of Christ.
Through grace, you’ve been gifted and invited into something bigger than yourself. You’ve been empowered to participate in building Christ’s Church. One of the easier ways to participate is to just show up.
Ephesians 4:1-6 turns from the “what,” all that God had done, to the “what now?” Paul tells us our response to God is to walk worthy of His calling. The first mark of a worthy walk is to make every effort to keep the unity.
Paul closes his theological section with a prayer for the church. He prays not for circumstances to change, life to be easier, or for more success, but for us to be strengthened, for Christ to dwell in our hearts, to know God’s love, and be so filled with Good that there’s no room for anything else.
The second half of Revelation provides the theological and literary center of the book. God vindicates his church, the faithful witness, and the people of the earth are in awe and give glory to God. It wasn't God's judgments that brought repentance, it was the sacrificial witness of his church and God vindicating his church in full view of the world. This sets the mission for the church, provides the encouragement to not compromise, and shows that the path to glory is to follow the way of the cross.
Ephesians 3:1-13 recounts the mystery that had been revealed, God’s previously unknown plan to include Gentiles in the family of God, and Paul’s calling as a steward of that mystery.
Revelation 11 is all about the church's mission in a world opposed to God. The two witnesses called by God are the Holy Spirit empowered Church. These witnesses complete their prophetic and priestly mission and are then killed by the beast, the organized systems and institutions of the world opposed by God. Their death sets up the heart of Revelation.
Ephesians 2:11-22 show us that salvation is about more than personal rescue. It also includes forming a new humanity “in Christ.” Jesus died to make his church one family. The only way we don’t have peace and unity is if we reject what Jesus gave us.
The mighty angel informs us that God's final judgment is imminent and God's plan for the world will be fully revealed. But before the final trumpet blows, John is recomissioned as a profit. But no longer is he just an observer, he must take in the words of the prophecy and be an active participant in revealing God's word.
Ephesians 2:1-10 displays God’s grace and power in raising believers from death to life. We need to realize what God has done and walk in the life he’s given us.
As the terrible judgments of the 5th & 6th trumpet come to a close, we are prepared to hear the thunder judgments. But surprisingly, God calls a halt to this revelation. He creates space and time to, as we will discover in the coming passage, recommission John to take his message to the world.
In Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul prays that “the eyes of our heart be enlightened.” We need to see the real hope, worth, and power that are ours in Christ.
Ephesians 1:1-14 glorifies God for the spiritual blessings he has given us. These blessings are already ours and form our identity, an identity we must live from.
The shocking truth. Even though judgments are escalating, people's hearts are so hardened that they refuse to repent.
The resurrection of Jesus changed everything. See the empty tomb with the awe and holy trembling of the women that first Easter morning.
The 6th trumpet blows and God releases four fallen angels who bring an overwhelming demonic army that kills 1/3 of the earth's population. These terrifying creatures are being used by God, under his sovereignty, to not only bring judment but as a final warning to repent. Unbelievably, the world still refuse to turn to God.
The Triumphal Entry is designed to demonstrate the attributes of the king. Unlike other kings, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem tells a story that confronts the expectations of the people. The true King Jesus still confronts us today. The question isn’t just whether you’ll accept Jesus, it’s will you bow to the King.
In the previous passage, John tells us what the demonic locust hoard does. He now switches to a descriptioin of the locusts. This description cannot be read as purely physical appearnce because each item in the description is an image to help us be able to understand and discern who this demonic hoard really is.
Jesus has laid out what a generous life looks like. It is time to put them into practice and begin living a generous life by taking the next step in faith.
The 5th Trumpet demands careful exegesis of the text because of the apocalyptic imagery and OT references, images, and allusions if we are to hear what God is saying to us through the text and not get caught up in the sensationalism.
A central theme throughout the Bible is caring for the poor or those who have a need. Jesus talks about the foolishness of storing up excess treasures on earth for tomorrow and missing the joy of being generous today.
The Parable of the Talents shows that God gives to each person and we are accountable to our Master in how we use his gifts. Jesus teaches us about stewardship.
As the trumpet judgments unfold, we see God's all consuming fire for judgment and purification as well as his sovereign authority. Learning to read these judgments as apocolyptic literature using Old Testament imagery is the key to understanding what's taking place.
Jesus warns us to be on guard against greed because he knows that greed tells us lies that it can’t fulfill and chokes our trust in God and ability to live generously.
As the 7th seal is broken, worship and prayers are transformed into judgment as God acts and prepares to unleash the trumpet judgments.
Jesus turns assumptions upside down and one of his most counter intuitive statements was “It is better to give than receive.” Living a generous life glorifies God, reflects God’s generous nature, and brings us joy.
Understanding how the series of judgments are not chronologically ordered but are progressive intensification of the same events is a key to properly understanding Revelation.
Worry about nothing. Pray about everything. The Psalms can guide our prayers when we face life’s difficulties. Our prayers should lead us to gratitude and praise for who God is and what God has done, is doing, and will do. Psalm 107 is our guide for bringing gratitude to God.
John is given an image as to the full extent of the church and the praise and worship in heaven due Christ because he has brought his people through the great tribulation and safely into their heavenly home with him.
What do we pray when sickness strikes? Why do we get sick? Was sickness and death part of God’s design or is there something else at work? Jesus came not just to provide temporary relief, but to defeat the root cause of sickness.
Loneliness is real and very painful. Psalm 42-43 gives voice to the isolation, loss, opposition, and fear of loneliness but also provides a path to move forward.
In an age of technology and services, we are more worn out than ever. What we need is true spiritual rest and Psalm 62 is our guide to finding rest in God alone.
In this first interlude, John is shown two visions that answer the question from Chapter 6 of who can stand under these judgments.
There is justified anger when it is modeled after Christ’s heart. But how that anger is handled determines whether it is honoring of God. Psalm 4 serves as our guide to take our anger to God.
Jesus has broken the first four seals and unleashed trials and tribulations upon the earth for the purpose of bringing judgment to the unfaithful and persecutors and to purify the faithful. Those who have live a martyred life now cry for God's justice to be done and John is given imagery of future judgment that will come.
Psalm 32 helps guide our prayers when we’re experiencing the guilt of sin into confession and renewal.
Revelation 6 shows Jesus' authority over evil forces. What they meant for evil, he used for good by bringing judgment to the unfaithful and purifying the saints.
When our desires don’t align with God’s will, it is natural to feel disappointed. How do we take our disappointment to God? There’s a Psalm for that. Psalm 74 guides us in praying honestly and remembering God’s faithfulness so we can move forward with trust in God.
John's vision in the throne room of God now shifts focus from the One seated on the throne to the Slain Lamb who is worthy of all authority and worship because of his sacrifice.
The Psalms provide an opportunity to pray God’s words back to Him. Fear is a common and universal emotion. Psalm 27 provides the truths we need to take our prayers to Jesus to overcome our fears.
Do you live each moment of your life with the imminent return of Jesus in mind? This time we have has been ordained by God for his purposes. The hyphen between Jesus’s first coming and his return matters to God, so it had better matter to us.
A group of shepherds were the first to share the good news of Jesus’s birth. The gift of Jesus is a gift we need to share with others.
John is taken to the throne room of heaven where he is shown that God alone is worthy of worship and praise because he is sovereignly in control of history.
What do we do when our plans are interrupted? God can use the interruption or God might be the interruption to move us from our plans to his purpose.
We see Jesus's willingness to protect his true followers during trials and how Jesus never gives up on a Christian but desires to have fellowship.
As we place ourselves in the shoes of Mary, we can see how she responded to God and let that be a fitting example for how we should respond when God calls on us with a promise to enter His plan.
God will give us hope in the form of meeting our deepst needs at the lowest points in our lives.
While affirming the essential beliefs of Christianity is vital, being a Christian is more than a belief system. We describe what it means to be a Christian.
Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, eteranlly and fully God. He was sent to be God's presence within us.
As we dive into the seven letters, we find that every word spoken by Jesus is telling us something. Learning how to read these seven letters not only tells us the state of the church, but prepares us for reading the remainder of Revelation.
John 1:1-3 and 14 provide evidence as to the person of Jesus. As Christians, we must know the person we follow.
Revelation 1:9-20 is John's first vision of the magnificent risen Lord that sets the stage for the rest of the book.
God created this world and humanity, and called it very good. But it’s clear that something happened. What went wrong?
Revelation 1:1-8 provides some essential grounding principles for the book. We see that Christ is sovereign over history and currently ruling from his throne to guide his church.
God chose humans and formed them for his purposes. We are made in His image. Genesis 1:26-28 provides our understanding for what makes humans special.
An exegetical study of Revelation. Lesson 1 introduces the historical context of the letter and discusses how to read apocalyptic literature.
To know the essential beliefs of Christianity that unify and define us as Christians, we must start by answering the question, “Who is God?”
After we’ve seen God’s faithfulness, the nature of his promises, and our need to remain faithful, it’s time for us to make choices. Joshua 22 encourages us to remember God, what he’s done through Jesus, and our commitments to him.
Joshua 18-21 shows God’s faithfulness to his promises. His ultimate promise is himself. Many lessons come from these chapters when we dig into them.
Joshua 16 & 17 show that God is faithful to his promises, but that God often asks us to join in the work.
The story of Caleb teaches us that while we can always trust God’s promises, they may take time to fulfill. We must learn to be expectantly patient while we wait for God’s perfect timing.
Joshua 11 and 12 complete the conquest of Canaan. Amidst the lists are the critical things that God wants us to know. We’ll see that no matter what is arrayed against you on your journey, by faithfully following and depending on God, he will give you victory. We’ll also see that the command to tell others about Jesus is a necessity on our journey.
Are you comfortable with the image of God the warrior, Christ the Warrior King? Joshua 10 provides a clear picture of God fighting for his plan and his people. Are you asking God to fight your battles with you and for you? Are you fighting the battles that God has called you into?
Joshua 9 shows the dangers of not consulting God. But we also see the mercy and grace of God.
Joshua 7 shows how seriously God takes sin. His judgment is upon Israel, and they are defeated in battle at Ai. But God’s mercy is seen in Joshua 8 as Israel repents and God gives them victory.
The Battle of Jericho provides the example of how obediently following God provides our victory. We also take a look at understanding the violence seen in Joshua.
Joshua 5:1-12 provides an example of how our faith can affect seeing God’s faithfulness. God’s promises won’t change, but our trust is a variable.
Joshua 3 demonstrates God’s faithfulness to overcome any obstacle. Joshua 4 tells us of the importance of remembering God’s work. What obstacles are you facing? Will you give them to God to overcome for you?
Joshua 2 pauses the conquest to bring us a beautiful story of faith in action, individual faith that allows God’s faithfulness to be seen. And what God can do with our faith and action together is unimaginable.
Joshua 1 provides the tools we need to remain faithful to God during change. We will surely see God’s faithfulness through God’s promises, presence, Word, and people.
How do you feel about your work? With a God-centered understanding, you will see your work as missional and God-glorifying. In 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul gives us a theology of work.
2 Thessalonians 2 warns the church based on the man of lawlessness but provides hope grounded in Jesus Christ during times of rebellion.
2 Thessalonians 1 provides hope for the Christian in the Day of Judgment. When is this day? Who is judged? What happens? We get answers to our questions and warnings about God’s wrath.
1 Thessalonians 4-5 is a challenge for the church to grow. We dive into these challenges to live daily for Christ and what our motivations are for meeting them.
1 Thessalonians 1-3 is a celebration of the church’s faithfulness. We enter the conversation between Paul and the church to discover what ministry should look like and how we should understand suffering.
How should we respond when God calls us to a role or purpose? We look at God’s call of Mary to be a mom for answers. We must respond with trust, submission, and reliance.
In the time of Exile, God’s hand can be seen at work to fulfill his plan of redemption.
The period of kings teaches us about God’s judgment and his patience, mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
As we continue our survey of the Old Testament, we come to the period of settlement, Joshua—Ruth. These books contain many things to learn about God and ourselves. But we are going to focus on the encouragement that God provided Joshua and why we need that same encouragement today.
The first five books of the Old Testament tell us about the beginnings of this world and God's plan of redemption. As we look at the overview of God's story, we'll focus on the story of the flood to see what we can learn about God and about us.
He is Risen! We look at the resurrection of Jesus, why we can believe it, and what it means for us.
Jesus visits Jerusalem as the conquering king. But he doesn’t fit the Jews expectations. We must see the Triumphal Entry against the background of our own worship and acceptance of Jesus as the king.
Where is your hope? Biblical hope is a confidence in the surety of things to come. The Bible points us towards the end of God’s revealed plan as our ultimate hope when God will make all of creation new and we will receive our resurrection bodies. What is this hope like and how can we grab hold of it in a way that will impact how we live today?
The Bible describes what church should be. It is our responsibility to understand and apply those truths to be God’s visible presence in the world.
The Holy Spirit is the 3rd person of the Trinity whose ministry is to teach us God’s truths and bring God’s presence into our daily lives.
Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God to earth. We must believe fully in his completed work of incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and his future return in glory.
Who you say Jesus is… is a matter of eternal significance. We are not allowed to sit on the fence on this one. We look at the theology of the person of Christ, apologetic arguments for his deity, and why this matters to you.
God is the eternal creator of all things, from nothing. He is also God the Father that desires a relationship with you and has made that possible through Jesus Christ.
The Nicene Creed provides the outline for the “Foundational Truths” that our church must be built upon. In the first sermon in this series, we look at understanding the doctrine of the Trinity through relationships. 2 Corinthians 13:13 (14) serves as our primary text.
What happens after we die? This question from the church has been asked by everyone. 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 provides the answers as we discuss life after death.
WHAT? Three questions from the church in one week. Oh, yeah!
1. How can we know that we are saved?
2. What does sanctification look like, and when are we considered fully righteous?
3. Can wrestling with sin make you undeserving of salvation?
We're answering questions about the life of the redeemed.
How should a Christian view Israel today? We go to the Bible to see what God says about the Jewish people and the country of Israel to lay a foundation for deciding how we are going to answer all the questions surrounding modern-day Israel.
2 Peter 3:1-11 gives us a proper perspective on the Last Days and living in the Already-Not Yet kingdom.
“Joy to the World” points us to Psalm 98 and the victory of God through Christ. It also provides a great tool for appropriately praising the King.
We look at the theology of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and how that points us to the Bible to learn about God.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel provides great theology to point us to the Bible to learn about Hope this Advent season.
Giving thanks gives God glory. Giving thanks is also critical to the mission to spread the gospel to the world, increasing the glory to God.
A survey of the letters of the Apostle Paul to study thanksgiving and see the biblical view of giving thanks.
2 Samuel 7:17-29 is a prayer of thanksgiving from King David that we can use to model our prayers of thanksgiving.
John 20:19-31 provides the narrative for what a saving belief in Jesus looks like. We find that true belief involves a confession and commitment and results in living in the blessings of God.
As John describes the resurrection, we get a glimpse of the radical change that event represents and the aftershocks of the resurrection in people’s lives. John 19:38-20:18.
Pastor Tom Smith delivered a sermon titled "Blind Faith and Works Not Needed" at Rockin' M Cowboy Church in Perkins, Oklahoma on October 8th, 2023. The sermon focused on the continuation of John's record of Jesus' trial and crucifixion, highlighting the proclamation of Jesus' kingship, the sovereignty of Jesus, and the fact that it does not take blind faith to come to faith in Jesus. Smith discussed the importance of fulfilling prophecy in strengthening faith and convincing others of the truth of Christianity. He cited four fulfilled prophecies in the text and argued that fulfilling prophecy is unique to Christianity and provides evidence for the truth of Jesus' identity as the Messiah. Smith also discussed the mathematical improbability of Jesus fulfilling all the prophecies in the Old Testament, citing extra-biblical sources to prove the existence of Jesus as a real historical figure. He emphasized that faith in Jesus' finished work on the cross is necessary for salvation and warned against trying to earn and keep one's own salvation. Smith invited listeners to come and talk to him or other elders if they felt called to believe in Jesus. The sermon provides insight into the importance of prophecy and faith in Christianity.
As Jesus is put on trial before Pilate, one thing becomes clear, Jesus is the King. God sovereignly uses Pilate and the Roman soldiers to coronate and proclaim Jesus as King.
In John 18:1-32, Jesus is seen in control of everything happening. In his control, we see his sovereignty.
In the last section of Jesus’ prayer, He prays for unity in his church. “Unity in Christ” from John 17:20-26.
Jesus’ prayer from John 17:6-19 shows that God has saved us, is keeping us, and has sanctified us. It is up to us to respond appropriately to what God has done.
In John 16:4-15, Jesus calls on His disciples to continue His mission of spreading His message to the world. But this mission is bigger than the disciples, so Jesus promises supernatural help in the person of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus continues to prepare his disciples for life in this world without his physical presence. In John 15:18-16:4, Jesus tells us why we should expect hatred from the world. More importantly, He teens is how we should respond.
John 15:7-17 provides the four fruits that a disciple of Jesus who is abiding in him can expect. Jesus also reveals a new relationship between himself and his disciples.
John 15:1-8 provides a religion shattering “I am” statement from Jesus that flows into an illustration of how disciples are to grow and be fruitful.
John 14:15-31 sees Jesus continuing to comfort his disciples. He promises the Holy Spirit and His peace. These promises are for those who love Jesus and show that love by keeping His commands.
John 14:8-14 challenges disciples to believe in who Jesus is, charges them with carrying his mission forward, and gives them reassurance of their mission.
In John 14:1-7, the Disciples are in a whirlwind as Jesus prepares them for the cross. Jesus moves to comfort them by telling them to continue to trust him and look to a time when he will reunite with them in heaven. The same comfort is available to followers today.
John 13:31-38 provides a narrative of fundamental changes brought on by the cross that affected Jesus’ 11 disciples then and continues to affect His disciples today.
Through washing the disciple’s feet, Jesus provides an example of humble service, an illustration of his service on the cross, and an act to follow. In John 13:1-17, we also learn five key facets of serving.
John 12:37-50 provides three reasons why people don’t believe and then Jesus explains what unbelief is.
John 12:20-36 provides instructions for disciples of Jesus, shows that the cross glorified God, and invites us into God’s kingdom through a different kind of victory.
The Triumphal Entry from John 12:12-19 gives us a warning about trying to have Jesus the way we want him and not following the true Jesus.
John 12:1-11 provides a beautiful example of devotion to Jesus and giving him our very best because he is worthy.
It's easy to overlook the final greetings in letters. But when we dive into why Paul listed the people he did, and why he gave his final instructions, we see this final greeting has a lot to offer.
John 11 provides a narrative for why Jesus had to die, and it turns out the reasons are different based on whose perspective you’re looking through. This challenging Scripture causes us to look inward to ask how we understand and respond to Jesus’ death.
Colossians 4:2-6 provides a missional call and challenges us in our evangelical efforts.
Colossians 3:18 - 4:1 represents Paul's instructions for households. In these instructions, Paul gives specific instructions that are to serve as a picture of how a home that is under and has been redeemed by Christ should function.
We've all had plans that failed, and we've all felt the pain of the death of a loved one. In today's message, we look at how we should respond to failed plans, how Jesus has the power of death, and why Jesus is our hope that we must hang onto. Today's message is from John 11.
People often wonder why Good Friday is good. In this message, we dive into what really makes it so good.
Colossians 3:5-17. Because our old selves have been put to death with Christ and raised to new life in him, Paul instructs us to put off our old sinful ways and put on attributes that are befitting Christ.
The Triumphal Entry was a statement from Jesus about his Messiahship, kingship, and upcoming victory. And the Good News is Jesus shared that victory with those who believe in him.
Colossians 2:16-3:4. Paul begins his instructional section by denouncing the false teachings threatening the Colossians and encouraging them to change the way they think and act because of what Christ has done for them.
With Easter only two weeks away, we look at 1 John 5:11-21 to be reminded of what Jesus did for us over Easter weekend to prepare our hearts and minds to praise and worship him more.
Colossians 2:6-21 provides a look at the walk in Christ that we are commanded to have and provides deep theological promises as to the transformation that takes place in Christ. Recorded live.
John 10:22-41 shows how the Jews missed seeing Jesus for who he really was because of their presumptions about the Messiah. People today can be just as guilty. Presumptions are dangerous because they can cause us to miss who Jesus is.
This live recording of our Colossians class covers Colossians 1:21 - 2:5 as we dig deep into some theological heavy hitters that Paul presents.
John 10:1-21 provides two more identity statements from Jesus as he continues to reveal who he is. And who he is, is the Good Shepherd we need.
In our third lesson, we look at 1:9-1:20. We hear Paul's prayer for the Colossians and the lofty Christ Hymn of verses 1:15-20. This is a live recording of the class.
John 9 is the story of a blind man healed by Jesus. But his physical healing is indicative of what Jesus does spiritually. Like this man, we all have a story to tell. And like the man, our story is really a story about God.
In our second lesson, we look at 1:1-1:8 and see how Paul outlines the rest of the letter and dive deep into each verse to see what God is saying. This is a live recording of the class.
John 8:12-59 is a dialogue between Jesus and the Pharisees in which Jesus tries to convince them, and us, to believe in him as the Son of God for salvation.
As we begin our study of Colossians, week 1 will look at the background and context of the letter so that we can rightfully interpret the author's intended meaning. This is the live recording of our in[-person class. It is recommended that you watch The Bible Project's overview video of Colossians at https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/colossians/?utm_source=web_social_share&medium=shared_video
Jesus perfectly brings truth and grace and demonstrates how this balance has the power to save and overcome sin. John 7:53-8:11.
We all thirsty for something. The truth is revealed that only Jesus can truly satisfy our need. Through Jesus, we are redeemed to God which meets our ultimate need. John 7:37-52.
Knowledge is essential. But having right knowledge, truth, is what’s important. But even some truths are more important than others. As we study John 7:25-36, we hear from Jesus what truths we must know because they will lead us to Him.
Why do you do what you do? Jesus provided the example of how we are to walk in our daily lives in everything we do and say. John 7:1-24 is our text as we resume our study of the Gospel of John.
We look back at the history of Rockin' M to see God's faithfulness to move us forward with hope, confidence, and trust in God.
God is love. His love was most demonstrated in sending his Son to earth. Jesus brought love to this world and commanded and exemplified how we are to love one another in order to make this The Best Christmas Ever.
The Christian life is one marked by joy. But even Christians can sometimes have a lack of joy in their life. As we look at how we can make this the best Christmas ever, we will look at the unending and profound joy that Jesus brought with him and how we can pursue that joy in our lives.
Jesus came to bring peace to Earth. But with so much conflict surrounding us, just what kind of peace did Jesus bring? We answer that question and show why Jesus' peace is needed to make this the best Christmas ever.
We want this to be the best Christmas ever. So, we are looking at the gifts that only Jesus can bring beginning with true hope.
Many of Jesus’ disciples have left him, so he challenges his Twelve in a way that will grow their faith. From John 6:60-71.
In John 6:41-59, Jesus tells his audience that we must "eat his flesh and drink his blood." That was as confusing a statement then as it is now. In this message, Pastor Tom explains what it means and how Jesus should impact the life of a follower.
Jesus says, "I am the bread of life." This declaration in John 6:22-40 is deep and meaningful. In today's message, Pastor Tom unpacks what this means and how we are required to respond to God's grace in salvation.
As Jesus gives his 4th and 5th signs, he makes a clear identity statement about who he is and his mission. As we dive into John 6:1-21, we will see his use of Old Testament imagery to paint a clear picture that he is The Messiah, the Son of God, and God himself. As Jesus makes his identity known, he forces us to ask ourselves the question, "Do we know Jesus?"
Jesus ordained the practice of the Lord's Supper. But what is its significance? In this message, we explore what the Bible says and discover many aspects and the depth of meaning in Communion.
Jesus has made extraordinary claims about being equal to God and on God's mission to redeem and restore creation as God's chosen divine agent. But is there any evidence to support what he has said? As Jesus responds to his Jewish opponents, that is the question addressed in John 5:31-47. And what we find is that there were, and still are, witnesses to what Jesus claims. But, to see the truth about Jesus, we must look for him and remain humble.
In John 5:19-30, Jesus gives us some eternal truths we must believe. Because missing these truths has eternal questions. So, these eternal truths, with eternal consequences, lead us to ask an eternal question.
Your perspective changes how you see everything. But, it does not change the truth. We see how perspective matters as Jesus performs his third sign in John 5:1-18 and will be challenged to examine how we view everything, especially Jesus.
John 4:43-54 gives us a picture of the obedience Jesus expects from his followers. And what we find out is that when we are obedient, God uses that to produce fruit in our lives, for those around us, and to make himself known to the world.
Jesus demonstrates the fulfillment of God's plan of redemption is upon them, and the fields are ripe to be harvested. He invites his disciples and us into that harvest. "Get In Those Fields" from John 4:27-42.
John 4:1-26 provides a wonderful story of how Jesus leads a most unlikely candidate through all her obstacles to grow her faith in him.
John the Baptist sets an example for all believers in their ministry of Jesus. In John 3:22-36, he responds to a dispute within his disciples by teaching them the heart for Jesus every Christian should have.
Is God a merciless judge allowing "good" people to perish? How does the loving God shown in John 3:16 align with Jesus coming to earth? As we continue our walk through John, we'll discover the love, mercy, and grace of God offered in Jesus.
John 3:16 is a verse most are familiar with. But in today's message, Pastor Tom peels back the layers of this verse to discover the depths of God's love and the required response from us. What we find is that true faith results in actions that correspond with our stated beliefs.
John 3:1-15 provides a discourse with Nicodemus, who is representative of everyone who had a shallow faith built on seeing signs. Jesus explains to Nicodemus what must occur to see the Kingdom of God and how he must be made fit to enter that kingdom. This discourse is a valuable teaching tool for all of us to examine our level of faith and a comfort to know that Jesus has provided the solution for our lack of belief.
Jesus' clearing of the temple in Jerusalem is a well-known story. But today, we're going to use the text from John 2:13-25 to challenge us to grow the same kind of passion for the Temple of God that Jesus showed in this passage.
Jesus' first sign in his public ministry displays God's glory and abundant grace. In this message, we see that Jesus is bringing something new, unexpected, and better than anything previously experienced, and we are invited to partake in what Jesus offers. The Wedding at Cana from John 2:1-12 is the focus of our study.
How do people respond to meeting Jesus? Just what does it mean to be a disciple? These questions are answered as we look at how four men responded to who Jesus is in John 1:19-51.
In the prologue to the Gospel of John, John 1:1-18, we are introduced to "The Word." John's opening is a decisive text about who Jesus is and why the world needs Jesus. In this message, we explore why Jesus should be the one voice that we listen to for answers that plague this broken and darkened world.
Change is not just possible but is promised through the life-changing truths of Jesus Christ. This message focuses on transformation through Christ as we look at Ephesians 4:31-5:2.
Today's Father's Day message encourages all men to be able to say, "Follow Me as I Follow Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12, 19 is the text today as we see the Apostle Paul's example of a Biblical Fatherhood.
Singles are an essential and vital part of any church that can find blessings and focus right where they are. The Apostle Paul provided instructions for singles in 1 Corinthians 7:25-35. We use his text to see how this stage of life should be viewed in the sermon "Blessings on Singles."
Psalms 25 provides direction for our life in how we, as followers of Christ, should react when trouble strikes our family.
The Lord's Supper, or Communion, is an ordinance of the Church initiated by Jesus Christ. We look at the past, present, and future significance inherent in The Lord's Supper from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. As followers of Jesus, we must fully understand Communion as it relates to our lives, the testimony about Jesus to the world, and how it brings glory to Jesus.
As we continue our Family Matters series, we look at the "Power in Your Words" and the effect they have on our relationships. We use the wisdom of Proverbs to understand the power of life and death that are in our words and how we can tame our tongue. Proverbs 18:21 is our focus verse for the day.
As we continue our Family Matters series, we look at the most important relationship on earth, marriage. We will explore Ephesians 5:15-32 to discover God's design for marriage and what marriage can exemplify for the world in "The Marriage Example."
Happy Mother's Day. In today's sermon, Pastor Tom preaches from 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9 on the characteristics of a Godly Mother and why all Christians should emulate and learn these traits from mom. This is the 2nd message in the "Family Matters" series titled, "Be Like Mom."
Today Pastor Tom starts a series on Why We Can Trust the Bible by looking at what the Bible claims about itself and the internal consistency of the Bible.
As we begin a new series called "Family Matters," Pastor Tom looks at the importance of a multi-generational church and how each generation fits into the church. The emphasis of this message is the responsibility of the older generations to teach the newer from Psalm 78:1-8.
Don't let your spiritual awareness of the risen Jesus slide this season after Easter. Pastor Tom looks at Jesus' 40 days of ministry on earth after his resurrection in Acts 1:1-11 and challenges us to have the same experiences with Jesus that his disciples did.
This Easter, Pastor Tom walks us through the same Gospel message that has been shared for 2,000 years as the story of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection is told from Luke 23:44-56; 24:1-12. He is risen! How are you going to respond?
What will our resurrection bodies be like and why is the transformation necessary? Pastor Tom takes a look at what happens after we die and provides the answers to these questions from 1 Corinthians 15:35-58.
As we begin preparing for Easter, we look at the significance of correct beliefs about resurrection from 1 Corinthians 15:1-34 and how those truths should impact our lives today.
In Matthew 12:49-50, Jesus sweeps his hand towards his disciples and says, "This is my family." In this message, we explore why the church is family and how that should dictate our relationships and interactions with one another.
Jesus teaches his disciples about prayer using the parable, "The Friend at Midnight," from Luke 11:5-13. In this message, we explore why we should confidently and persistently come to God and prayer and how prayer is an avenue of transformation for us.
Jesus lays out the Cost of Discipleship to the great crowd that was following him. In this parable, Jesus tells us that he is not looking for superficial followers but those dedicated to following him as Lord. From Luke 14:25-35.
As we continue to look at Jesus' Parables, we come to the Two Foundations found in Matthew 7:24-27. In this parable, Jesus gives us the key for our spiritual life, our faith, to survive when faced with the defining moments of life.
Jesus continues to use parables to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven. Today, we look at five analogies from Matthew 13:31-33, 44-45, 51-52 that Jesus used to give us understanding and challenge our response.
Continuing our series on Jesus' parables, we look at the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds from Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43. We will see how Jesus told his true followers what this world would look like until he returns in power and glory and how that knowledge should affect us today.
Continuing our look at Jesus' parables, we examine The Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 and take a fresh look to see how this parable can challenge us as to how we hear the message of Jesus.
Continuing our series on Jesus' parables, we look at Luke 10:25-37, The Good Samaritan, and find that Jesus might have a much deeper lesson for us in this story beyond what we may remember.
Jesus often used parables to teach. As we start a sermon series on Jesus' parables, Pastor Tom provides some valuable insight into studying the parables and walk's through the Parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15. We'll discern what we can learn about God's truths and his kingdom and how we can apply those lessons to our lives.
As we head into the new year, you are invited to leave the restrictions of the past behind you and step boldly step into maximum Christianity to live the abundant life that Jesus calls us to. The Apostle Paul paints a vision for us as to what living in Christ looks like as he heads into a new season of his life.
Psalm 46 provides encouragement for God's people during chaotic times. We need not fear because of God's power. God is our stronghold. And God wins. This message dives into Psalm 46 to set the stage for a great year in 2022.
Part 4 of our Christmas Series looks at the birth of Jesus from Luke 2 and what we can learn from the people in the Christmas story to help us to live a life of faith in Jesus today.
A message about the sovereignty of God in executing his perfect will and plan to glorify the Son and redeem humanity by having Christmas planned from before the beginning of time. A message of comfort that we can trust God's plans and promises.
Part 2 of our Christmas series, "God's Christmas Plan," looks at how the promises of God to provide a Savior required a time of waiting. We will look at the life of Abraham and Sarah and how God's promise to bless the world through them required them to wait in faith. We'll see how we can live a life by faith when God is asking us to wait by looking at Christmas as a fulfillment of God's deferred plan for a Savior.
As we continue to look at God's plan for Christmas, we'll explore Mary's role in God's plan from Luke 1 to see how we can be encouraged to say "yes" to what God has planned for our lives.
Continuing our series, "Another Go-Round," we look at the importance of prayer. Using James 4:1-10, we look at the difference in someone living their life for this world versus living a life in Christ and how that can impact our prayer life. Specifically, we are looking at the spiritual condition of the pray-er in this message.