Forks Community Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Tim Zuck
The concluding message of the "Enough" series and some moving testimonies of thanksgiving.
The key to contentment isn't a greater treasure. The key is much simpler and will give you greater stability.
We all know we can't take anything with us when we die, but why not pursue a life of pleasure while we still have time? It's a fair question this message engages and answers.
Grief is one wound in which time does not heal. It is not even something one ever really gets over, but you can get through it with God's healing hand.
No one likes to fail. Yet, failure is a great opportunity for learning and growth. Your failure might just be something Jesus uses for your own good.
We don't have to live in uncertainty regarding whether we are a child of God. We can have assurance. This series sets forth the major evidence of God's residence in the lives of His people.
Although God doesn't need us, He delights to use us to accomplish His purposes in the world. So, don't sit back. Get in the game and serve the Lord with all of your heart!
Faith isn't a currency which we pay and immediately receive the goods of joy and peace. Instead, faith is like a muscle we have to exercise. As we exercise that faith in Christ, we can enjoy rest, even in the middle of distress.
Feeling blah? It's not an uncommon feeling even among the most mature followed of Christ. Follow the road map of Psalm 42-43 to see your way out of the void of meh.
The Church isn't a place where we show up. The Church is a team that exists to follow Jesus' game plan for His glory.
Christianity is a different kind of religion in which the Triune God transforms us from the inside out.
When it seems like God has forgotten you, make these two moves to avoid slipping into despair.
In the midst of life's storms, we can choose to live in the "what if" or live in the reality of the God who is a shield.
Jesus doesn't want us only to be filled with His blessings. He expects that His blessings will flow through us to those who are far from God.
Jesus calls the Church to break the huddle and scatter into the world as His sent people. Learn what it means to live sent!
We can have hope that no matter how bad things are or how bad we have been, we have a Savior who knows when to show up.
In a year plagued with a pandemic, it's easy to react to all the losses with much grumbling. Instead of grumbling, however, we can choose to be bright in dark times.
Regardless of whether your candidate wins or loses, you can have confidence in the triumph of the Lamb.
You can’t make people like you who don’t vote the way you do. But, you can choose to live at peace with them.
Why do we get so passionate about politics? More importantly, what does it reveal about our identity? As we prepare to cast our vote, Pastor Tim challenges us to evaluate whether our passion for Jesus is greater than our passion for politics.
We have a bad habit of seeing the worst in those who don't vote the way we do. It's a bad habit we need to break. Jesus tells us why and how.
To see God’s power at work, sometimes we must put our faith in action and make a bold move.
Getting ready to launch out in God's mission requires that everyone pulls in the same direction.
Jesus' coming marks the end of an era and and the beginning of a new one. Listen and find out what does that mean for you!
Our Christmas celebrations are all about being together with family at home. And yet, the true spirit of Christmas is about leaving home.
Meddling with mediums is more mainstream than ever. This sermon examines the appeal and activity of mediums. Most importantly it answers the big question: are mediums factual or fraudulent?
Many people struggle with religion. The Old Testament prophet Elijah struggled with it too. If the struggle is real for you, listen what you can learn from Elijah.
Pain. We all struggle with it. Elijah did, too. He dealt with it. Learn how you can prevail over your pain.
Time. It's the one "math problem" we struggle to solve. Busy is the new default. Check out what Psalm 90 says about how to manage your time and make your life count.
Like each Lego brick, every Christian is designed for connectedness in the body of Christ. Value your connection and get building up the body of Christ!
When life pushes your buttons, don’t stuff your anger down or spew it out. Listen to learn how you can manger your anger in a constructive way.
Note: Due to technical difficulties, the initial portion of the sermon was omitted.
Fear asks “what if.” Faith rests in the God “who is.” Turn your fear into an opportunity to grow your trust in the Lord.
Dads, live out your royal calling by walking the walk and “talking the walk” of God’s kingdom
Commencement is one of those joyous milestones in life which we celebrate the consummation of years of diligent study. It’s not something that is just handed to us. Commencement requires commitment. Listen as Pastor Tim shares about the commitment required for Forks Community Church to graduate from Church Extension Ministries and become a self-governing and self-supporting church.
Children instinctively trust. They are supremely confident of their parent’s love and power. The same should be true of prayer. In prayer, we are to approach our heavenly Father with supreme trust in his infinite love and power. What that means for prayer is that you and I can pray our hearts out to him.
Ever feel stuck? If we’re honest, maybe we feel that way about the resurrection. When the Bible speaks about the resurrection it speaks of it as a past event as well as a future event for all who have a relationship with Christ. So, where does that leave us now? Are we just waiting? Should we just long for the resurrected life? No. According to Colossians 3:1-17, we shouldn't just long for the resurrection, we can start living it right now.
Perception vs. Reality. People and events don’t always pan out the way we expect. Maybe you feel the same away about Jesus, too? If so, you might just want to listen to this message.
The Transfiguration gave the disciples a preview of Jesus' resurrection glory. The goal was to transform their vision of His mission. How's your vision of Jesus' mission? Listen and find out if you're seeing Jesus clearly!
Philadelphia sports fans have a less than impressive reputation. The Church of Philadelphia fares much better in Revelation 3. What the church lacked in style, it made up in substance. Listen to hear the vital sign about church size and strength.
Is your life all about memories and monuments? Do you only ever look back but rarely look forward to new milestones? It’s not just a people problem; it’s also a church problem. Learn how to get unstuck and live passionately for Jesus' name.
Jesus wants his people to have warm hearts filled with His love. But, we need not forget our brains. A vibrant and healthy church is one that has a warm heart and a sound mind.
Tension is a tough reality in life, isn’t it? Most of us probably spend a portion of our time trying to avoid tension in life. We tend to think of tension as something harmful to our lives and even our faith. We’re wrong.
Think about it. Tension within a team pushes them to better perspectives and deeper relationships. Tension between the parties and branches of a government creates a needed system of checks and Tension has critical value in every phase of our lives even as followers of Jesus. Jesus calls us to engage the culture without caving it to it. Jesus calls His to Church to a life and service of no compromise.
Why? It’s our one word response to God when life hits us hard. This message provides a reason why God often allows us to experience tough times.
How's your spiritual pulse? In Revelation 2-3, Jesus provides us some standards by which we can measure our health as Christians and churches. Jesus wants us to love and adhere to the truth but not at the expense of loving people. Jesus wants us to be high on truth and heavy on love.
In our social media platforms, we love to share our story--our memories and milestones. Jesus wants his followers to share His story of new life. In John 3, Jesus shows us how to share His story of new life. Don't by shy, but share the life changing story of Jesus.
How's your serve? And we’re not talking about tennis or volleyball. We’re talking about serving people just like Jesus did. To live on mission with Jesus, must have a mind to serve.
Ordinary meals can serve as extraordinary opportunities to showcase the mercy of God and live on mission with Jesus.
Living on mission with Jesus requires that we lead with our ears. We must listen to learn where God is at work in the lives of people who cross our path.
Getting started is the hardest part whether it's exercise or living on mission with Jesus. Start where Jesus did. Start with prayer.
Each new year is an opportunity to hit the reset button and reach those goals we call resolutions. Proverbs 16 provides wise instruction so that we can have the right approach towards our goals.
Not everyone who saw the ⭐️ followed it to the Son. Only one group grasped its significance. Do you?
The wonderful Christmas Carol, O Come All Ye Faithful, invites us to "Come and Adore" the Christ child. Why? Isaiah 9:1-7 provides the answer. Jesus ushers in a kingdom like no other.
What will heaven be like? Revelation show us. It will be a glorious city in which God dwells with His people for all of eternity.
"There's no place like home." For Christians, that home isn't in this world, but heaven. As a result, our citizenship in heaven places us at odds with surrounding society who pressures us to conform to their ideals. We don't feel at home. Instead of protesting, God calls us to praise Him here and now for our coming heavenly home.
Ever feel like your approach to parenting isn't working very well? Sometimes we need to go back to the basics; step back and see the big picture.
Leadership in any organization or government is vital to its health. As the leaders go so goes the institution. The same is true in the local church. In 1 Timothy 3, Christ sets forth the qualifications of godly leaders through whom He leads His Church. This sermon examines the offices of leadership in the local church, the qualifications, and finally the process for training, testing and electing leaders in the local church.
Ever feel like you never have enough or are never enough? Not enough money. Not enough time. Sound familiar? We keep looking for the one thing that will make us happy but we search in all the wrong places. Happiness isn’t about finding the right place or possession but trusting in the right person.
Together people can accomplish more per capita then they can separately. We’re stronger together. That is especially true in the church. God has gifted the church for his glory. This sermon explains how God has gifted his church and why it matters.
We are to give generously to God because God gave His best in Jesus Christ. By Guest speaker John Elias.
Everybody wants the dream church-heated chairs, valet parking and a sermon that isn’t too long. Everybody wants a church to serve us. That’s the American way, but . . . it’s not Jesus’ way. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45). If You want a dream church then, strive to become the dream saint! A dream saint strives to serve the church rather than simply be served by the church.
Jesus gives every Christian a gift to know and use to build up the Church. Are you using your gift?
Everyday our minds are molded by the messages we hear, and the images we see. What's molding yours? For Christians, Jesus has broken the hold that the mold of this world had on our minds. In Christ, we have a new and better mold. In Christ, we have renewed minds. And continual renewal of that mind is essential for a transformed life.
Each one of us has an innate desire to succeed. Whether in marriage, parenting, athletics or vocations, we want to succeed. When we want to succeed at something we often look up to someone and follow their example. Next to Jesus, the Apostle Paul was the most devoted servant of the Lord. In this message, we follow his lead and learn some lessons on our labor so that we can lead well for the Lord.
Change. We tend to roll with it or resist it. What about change in the church? Should a church undergo any change, ever? After all God is immutable-His character never changes; His truth never changes so does that mean church is unchanging—no! While the functions of the church never change, forms and methods do change. So how do we navigate such change? When do we make these changes? We find the answer in Acts 6:1-7.
Is seeing always believing? Apparently not. In John 9, Jesus shows us what happens when His light shines: the sightless see and the sighted become sightless.
Bread gets such a bad rap because of gluten and genetically modified ingredients. Maybe due to health issues you don’t eat bread. Maybe you cut it out of your diet. There’s one bread you dare not live without, and that’s the Bread of Life.
Live your life to lead thirsty souls to drink of Jesus, the Living Water. In John 4, Jesus shows us four steps to leading thirsty souls to drink of Living Water.
Every family has an “Uncle Eddie.” He is the skeleton of the Griswold family closet. Likely there is an uncle Eddie in your family tree. He is the disheveled, aimless, train wreck of a person that we want to drive out to the middle of nowhere. He or she is that dysfunctional family member who is high maintenance at family reunions. Maybe you are that person. You’re the person with all the skeletons in the closet. And you keep wondering, “There are so many skeletons in my closet, can God ever use me?” Jesus' family tree in Matthew 1 answers this very question.
How can I make my life count? It’s one of life’s burning questions. It’s a burning question because one of life’s harsh realities is its brevity. We only have so much time to make it count. Ecclesiastes shows us how to do it.
Men, sometimes it’s hard to know whether we measure up as fathers isn’t it? We wonder, have I, or am I doing enough? Maybe we’re even confused about what metrics to use. Fortunately, God has provided Dads sound metrics to help one determine if he is a full grown man.
In our woes, we can lose sight of God's ways. Based upon Ezekiel 33, Pastor identifies three ways our view of God can become distorted when the waves of woe come crashing against us.
Moms, the name of your game is the fame of Jesus’ name. To excel in your game, you need the help of the whole team—a team of godly moms to serve as maternal mentors.
Is there any hope for real and lasting change for such a dark, and confusing world? There is. Our hope for a real hero is fulfilled in Christ the righteous King.
Ultimately the story of David and Goliath isn’t about “how” but “whom.” It’s about the conquering hero in whom I should trust.
Ever feel like you are succumbing to the same pitfalls of temptation? We all do. We can avoid falling into sin by watching where we step.
Ruth is a wonderful story of God’s redeeming love reflected in the lives of his redeemed people in a very dark and difficult time. The narrative shows how God weaves small loving acts of faithful followers into a beautiful and grand story of redemption.
in 2017 we heard a lot about fake news—maybe more fake news than real news. With fake news trending on social media further, faster, and deeper it’s hard to know what’s a hoax and what’s history. Could the same be said of Easter? Is Easter fake news? This sermon answers this very question.
Timid. Reluctant. Insecure. These aren't your normal characteristics of a hero. They are the deficiencies of Gideon, an unlikely hero of the Bible. The Gideon narrative is for us because it showcases that God’s abundant grace is sufficient for our ample deficiencies.
How successful are you? It’s a simple question with a not so simple answer. Your answer depends on your angle. Do you view success through the lens of your vocation or the lens of health, wealth or how well you parent your children, treat your spouse? Here’s another angle, which is of ultimate importance—am I successful in the eyes of God? Today’s passage will not only help you answer that question but provide you with the key to success.
Whether we consider ourselves religious or not we have a sanctuary. It’s a sacred space where we retreat for solace and some sort of ritual. Whatever your space is, it seems human beings have a hardwired proclivity towards sacred space that goes back to Genesis. In this message, Pastor Tim unpacks how God's presence dwelt with His people in the Old Testament. He concludes with an explanation concerning where and how we can find God's presence today.
"What's my role?" Fortunately, the Christian doesn't have to live in the dark about this question. God reveals His regal role for the redeemed in Exodus 19:1-6.
Do you ever wonder what's wrong with the world? It all goes back to one bite. One small bite of the forbidden fruit resulted in one big fall for humankind.
How do you see yourself? God made us to see ourselves as a reflection of Himself since He made us in His image. Discover who you are and why you are here.
Act I of the biblical drama opens with the Sovereign King who establishes creation. He establishes creation through His powerful word; by His supreme wisdom, and for His glory.
God’s grace doesn’t exempt the Christian from effort or hardship. God’s grace enables us the Christian to persevere unto the end.
Have you ever been dissatisfied with your performance as an employee? Maybe disappointed by how you parent? Or, you stepped on the scale and said, " I need help.” We all can relate to one of more of these scenarios. What each of them has in common is the recognition of the need for change and growth. The same is true for the Christian life. Most of us want to grow in Christ, yet are frustrated by the lack of growth in Christ. We’re wondering what I am doing wrong? This message will hopefully help you unlock the door to growth in Christ.
Each day each social media users update their status on various social media platforms. We inform our social network what we're up to and how we're feeling. Have you ever given thought to what your status is before God? Let me help you out--it's either guilty or righteous. This message provides a basic introduction into the doctrine of justification-- the act of God’s grace whereby the sinner is declared righteous solely through faith in the redemptive work of Christ. You will discover why it is necessary, its basis, and how one can be justified.
Has someone ever told you,“I’m changed!” only to later discover that the professed change was superficial? Those moments hurt. They leave us disappointed, maybe even betrayed and skeptical of such declarations. Maybe we wish we could know how to evaluate real change. We can. Luke 19:1-10 is a portrait of a real change that Jesus brings. When Jesus turns the heart of a sinner into a saint, he turns around the whole life.
The secret to change is a total renovation of the heart. In this message, Pastor Tim explains who needs this change, why we need it, and how it is accomplished.
Any election is filled with uncertainty and anxiety, especially when the stakes are high. One election that isn’t shrouded in uncertainty but certainty, is divine election. Divine election is a sure election that gives comfort to the Christian.
Close the door on temptation by learning how to recognize and resist the tricks and treats of the devil.
Is your posture like Jesus? Are you standing like a star or kneeling like a servant? Check out this message to see how you measure up against Jesus' pattern of service.
Unity in the body of Christ is the responsibility of every member. Learn why unity is important and how we can maintain it.
When the storm surge rises so do many big questions about everyday life. Will we be safe? What will life be like tomorrow? How will we move on? Storms also force us to wrestle with some big questions about God.
The smallest change in fact can be a big deal. The same is true when it comes to the primary spiritual disciplines of the Christian life like prayer, Bible reading and reflection, and corporate worship. In order to grow as the Lord’s disciples, we need to give of ourselves to the Lord’s Day.
This message answers four big questions about mankind: who are we, why are we here, what is our problem, and how can we be restored.
This message relates how the doctrine of Christ informs and shapes how Christians are to relate to one another for the purpose of unity.
God designed the Church to be on the move. Are you moving out to make a difference for Christ in the world?
In this message on baptism we answer the big three questions about baptism: 1) Who should be baptized? 2)How should they be baptized (mode)? 3) What is the meaning of baptism?
Luke 15 is pictorial collage comprised of three parables which vividly depicts the extraordinary love of the everlasting Father towards sinners. This picture explains Jesus attitude and actions towards the sinners. Secondly, it invites us to examination regarding our relationship to the Father as well as our attitude towards sinners. Thirdly, it provides the disciple of Jesus a pattern to imitate.
The work of theology isn’t reserved for a select few. It’s the privilege and duty of the whole Church. In this message we review the basics of Christian theology: the source, teacher, and goal of theology.
Weakness besets each and every one of in varying degrees. We feel the weight of physical infirmities, relational struggles, financial burdens, work related tension and more. We feel a sense of incompleteness and frustration in this life. Romans 8:18-30 reminds Christians that even though Christ has secured victory for us, we still must wait out the weight of momentary weakness by the power of God's Spirit.
In the Christian life we often encounter times when we need reassurance. We ask questions like, “Do I really belong to God? Is heaven my final home?” “Can I really know for sure?” Well, the good news is that you can. According to Romans 8:14-17, the Spirit gives evidence of His residence. What we need to do is to look for it.
Ever feel like you just can't win? We sometimes think that we can’t win when it comes to following Jesus. It seems no matter how hard we try; the allure of sinful temptation always seems to get the best of us. And so we adopt a defeatist mentality, that says, “we just can’t win over sin.” According to Romans 8:12-13, the Christian has been given a dynamic, life-giving power in the person of the Holy Spirit to win over sin.
Do you ever sense that you’re stuck in neutral? Not moving? Little fruit bearing? That there is so much more potential but you’re not utilizing the power available to you. It could be that you need to get better acquainted with the Spirit, the empowering presence of God.
One universal question of every person in every corner of the world in any time period has been, “What happens when I die?” What’s next? Is there an afterlife? If so, what is it like? The Bible actually gives us glimpse into life after death. It tells us not only what to expect but how to comfort those dealing with grief.
God wants us to know the power of Jesus' resurrection in the everyday stuff of our everyday lives.
In Part 2 of the Origin of Marriage, we showcase the pattern of marriage. If you want to have the dream marriage, then abide by God's pattern for marriage.
Instead of asking God to fulfill your dream for your marriage, a more important question to ask of God, the maker of marriage is, “What is your dream for my marriage?” The wonderful truth is that we don’t need to wait on an answer. God has revealed his dream for marriage in Genesis 2:18-25.
True freedom isn't the absence of restrictions but the presence of the right ones. Real freedom is found within God’s loving boundaries.
The creation account invites us to ponder the greatness of God and the goodness of His creation.
The first verse of Genesis and of the entire Bible introduces us to both the subject and hero of the Bible. In the Biblical narrative, the hero is no mere human. The Hero of the Bible is a supernatural being without beginning or end. The most amazing reality is that God allows us to privilege to behold the Maker of heaven and earth.
In this introductory message,we assess our assumptions about the origins of life, acknowledge the assumption of Scripture, and apprehend the form and purpose of Genesis.
In a pluralistic society, such as ours, in which moral relativism reigns supreme, people question authority—they question everything including the Bible. Yet many people who dismiss the Bible have never personally read it and examined its claims. This message provides two reasons to trust the Bible. It may not change your mind but it will challenge you to doubt your doubts about the Bible.
Christian transformation requires sticking with a commitment to Scripture. Listen for the three reasons disciples of Christ should stick with Scripture based upon 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
The true test of our love for God is not measured by how well we argue a pro-life position, but how well we act on our pro-life convictions.
The Bible can be a puzzling book. If only there was something to help us put all the pieces together. There is. The secret lies within the pages of Scripture. The interpretive key lies right here in Acts 13.
The lights of Christmas are seasonal, but the light of Jesus shines year round. The light of Jesus shines through the works of His followers. Here are 8 ways to let the light of Christmas shine all year round.
The truth of Christmas is that this world really is a dark place. It lies not only "out there" but in each and every human heart. However, there is hope. The way to come out of the darkness and bask in the glow of Christ is to trust in Jesus. He is the greatest gift you will ever receive.
The birth of a Christ was the beginning of a victorious conquest over the kingdom of darkness. Jesus came to destroy the works of devil through the cross. Christmas, then is a time to celebrate Jesus’ conquest over evil through the cross as we anticipate his complete conquest at the end of the age. Until that that time comes, we must remain vigilant in our fight against the devil by Jesus’ power.
In our world today, there are so many problems. People suffer from economic injustice, racism, radical Islam, sexual trafficking, pollution, drug and alcohol abuse, poverty, cutting, starvation, mental illness, etc. These are all very real issues that require our attention. Yet, these ills are are symptoms of a greater plight from which Jesus came to save us.
We debrief our recent faith challenge based on Luke 10 and give thanks for God's blessings.
How do disciples of Jesus engage a culture that has little or no religious memory? Acts 17 shows us how. In Acts 17, the apostle Paul encounters a godless culture yet effectively conveys the message of the Gospel. Listen for three things we must do to help those out of touch with God get connected to Him.
Before the nation goes to the polls, we're exercising our right to presidential prayer. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 provides 5 Reasons to Engage in Presidential Prayer for a Politically Polarized Nation.
How do we engage difficult people who seem callous to Christ? Do we simply write them off? Acts 16:16-34 provides the key. We warm them up by walking and talking like Jesus.
In the face of adversity we can flee or fight. Acts 4 provides a portrait of the Early Church's response to adversity--they chose to fight. However, they fought not with the power of military or political might, but with prayer. Prayer was the key to their success of making disciples. If we want to become a church that speaks up, we must be prayed up.
To speak up for Jesus, disciples must draw their power from God above, rather than from within the human spirit. This message explores what can happen when faithful followers humbly depend upon God as their only source of power to effect spiritual transformation.
In this message, we consider the importance of memorials as we celebrate a momentous occasion in the life of Forks Community Church.
Knowing Jesus often requires overcoming misconceptions, distortions, and confusion we have about Jesus. In such moments, we need someone with a listening ear and a biblically informed mind to guide us to clarity. In this episode, Acts 8:26-40 shows us the proper approach and address with individuals who are stumped on the gospel.
A brush with greatness is cause for speaking up. When Philip brushed with the greatness of Jesus, he told others. In this installment of our current series, we learn three best practices of engaging others so that they can have a brush with the greatness of Jesus.
A brush with greatness is cause for speaking up. When Philip brushed with the greatness of Jesus, he told others. In this installment of our current series, we learn three best practices of engaging others so that they can have a brush with the greatness of Jesus.
Christianity is a verbal faith. It speaks. It speaks up for Jesus. According to Acts 1:8, speaking up is the Spirit-empowered mission of every disciple wherever we go.
Self control is perhaps one of the most unpleasant but necessary virtues of the Christian life. This message explores what it is and why it's so important.
It seems these days, everywhere we turn people are angry. People are angry on the road. Parents are angry with teachers and coaches. Presidential candidates are angry. Are we getting swept up in the rage? Here's how we can live a life of gentleness in angry world.
Steady. Reliable. Consistent. This is what we all want from our friends, our transportation, our co-workers, and our teammates. We desire steady performance. Have we ever bothered to look in the mirror and ask of ourselves, "Am I a person others can rely on?" Am I imitating the likeness of God who is faithful? In this message, we sharpen our focus on the virtue of faithfulness. Take a listen to see how you measure up and how to become a faithful servant of a Faithful God.
Guest Speaker Mark Shaeffer shares about the revolutionary kindness that ought to characterize followers of Jesus Christ.
In God’s economy, living the good life is not a life free from adversity. Living the good life is finding good and even doing good in the midst of hostility.
The Bible depicts the Christian life as a race. In order to go for the gold of eternal life, one must run well. This message provides the training to help the follower of Jesus to run for the prize!
What is it about waiting that can bring out the worst in us? Why are we so driven by efficiency and contemporary standards of productivity. This message explores these questions and helps us see that waiting may not be a waste of time. Rather, waiting may be an opportunity to become a productive person.
Peace of mind--we all want it but seem to rarely have it. Maybe we have been going about it the wrong way? Philippians 4:6-8 prescribes the plan for peace even in the midst of unpleasant circumstances.
Christian joy is possessing deep gladness in the good and bad of life. In Acts 16, joy breaks out in the most unlikely places and breaks in the must unlikely of persons.
One of the inevitable aspects of life is that we all have baggage from the past and present, which we carry with us. What we do with the baggage is key. Do we grasp it or give it up to Jesus?
It's refreshing when someone notices something positive about our appearance or accomplishments. Encouragement is the emotional fuel that fills our tanks and keep us running. Likewise, in the Christian life, encouragement helps us stay on course in following Jesus until He comes again.
Have you ever been taking a trip and missed your turn? It's a frustrating experience! When we veer off course in following Jesus we need help to get back on track. In this message, we gain insight into how "instructing one another" is an important element of Christian community.
Real freedom is not license to live as I please. Rather, genuine freedom in order to function properly, must do so with the right constraint. The right constraint is love, which expresses itself in service to others. Jesus Christ is the pattern of love who lived to serve others. Christians are called to follow his example and "serve one another."
Living in Christian community requires each disciple of Jesus to accept one another for the glory of God.
Living in unity with one another requires not the dismissal of authority but living under the right one---the loving reign of Jesus Christ.
We aren't meant to live alone. We were created for community. Just as we cannot thrive as individual persons apart from a family, so individual followers of Jesus cannot thrive apart from His family, the Church. To thrive as a Church, we must function as a dynamic unit of individual members.
Relationships require hard work whether in the home, workplace, or in the locker room. When it comes to relating well to one another in the church, we need more than "emotional intelligence." We need the presence of God's Spirit to empower our living so that we can reflect His character before a watching world.
We love food! Food brings people together. Food was so central in Jesus' ministry He left His family of followers a meal to eat in His honor until He comes again. If we want to savor this meal then we need appreciate its significance and follow proper etiquette.
Doubt. Cynicism. Perplexed. This is how many react to the idea of the resurrection. It defies our assumptions and convictions about how the world works. It even challenged the convictions and worldview of Jesus' disciples. The way to know if Jesus rose from the dead is to examine the eyewitness testimony. Go ahead, give a listen and examine the evidence for yourself.
Life is hard. Even Jesus, the Son of God was not exempt from hardship. If Jesus faced it, we will too. Here's how we can persevere the hardest hardship.
Sometimes the biggest gift comes wrapped in the smallest package. One need not possess great wealth to be rich towards God.
To imitate the relentless love of God, disciples ought to pursue sinner. In Luke 15, we hear Jesus model and teach the way of pursuit.
Prayer. It's so simple and yet so hard to do well. Like Jesus' disciples, we realize if we want to thrive in our faith, then we, too will ask, "Teach us to pray." In Luke 11, Jesus teaches us how to speak Our Heavenly Father's language–the language of prayer.
Guest Speaker: Mark Shaeffer We are busy people. We have so much to do! But, Jesus desires us to make listening to His voice a priority. When we do, it's amazing how everything else falls into place.
Jesus raises the bar on love to an extraordinary level. In this message, we learn whom we are called to love, how we are to love them, and why.
Unselfie isn't a trendy social media campaign. It's a timeless quality of followers of Jesus.
To reach our potential in Jesus Christ, we must remain committed to a lifetime of training. This sort of training involves not reliance upon human grit, but divine power. The goal is not a great physical figure, but an image conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ.
One of the most common responses to the greeting, "how are you?" is "busy." Since when did hurry become evidence of one's importance? One of the most remarkable observations of Jesus' life is that he was never in a hurry despite being heavily invested in the lives of people. In this message, we learn how to slow down to truly live.
What was Jesus' baptism all about and why should Jesus' followers 'take the plunge?' Give a listen to find the answer to these questions and more!
What are you following? We all follow someone or something, whether we realize it or not. Whatever is big in our lives reveals what consumes our time and attention. Yet, Jesus issues a summons to all to follow Him. Discover the enormous and life changing significance of the two small words, "follow me."
The key to engaging with the Christmas Story may be right under your nose. Discover how to see Christmas in a whole new way.
The silent night of the first Christmas was broken by a stirring message and an angelic song. When you hear and believe it, it will stir your heart, too.
A musical score accompanies any great drama. The drama of Jesus' birth narrative is no different. Listen to the score of Christmas in the very first Christmas Carol, Mary's Song.
Each and every Christmas season, many voices in our culture increasingly claim the Christmas story is merely a fairy tale with no basis in history, whatsoever. What should we make of such claims--uncritically accept them or dismiss them? A much more reasonable approach is to investigate their claims and go to the source of the Christmas story, the Gospel accounts. Luke's preface (Luke 1:1-4) provides sound reasons to believe the Christmas story is a credible account of an incredible Savior.
Giving thanks for the good things is easy. But what about for the bad and ugly, too? If our hope is in Christ we can have assurance that God is up to something good and glorious, even in our pain.
The final message in the series, "Fading Dreams." Perspective is everything. We all view the world through a lens which we look to provide perspective about life. Discover how beholding God through the lens of faith allows one to see life in whole new way!
When broken people rub shoulders with one another sparks fly, which can erupt into a blazing inferno. When this occurs, we can feed the flames, flee the flames, or fight the flames with grace and truth. Learn how you can fight the flames and pursue God's path to peace in relational conflict.
Success is often the occasion for pride and corruption to take root. When a dream comes true we can forget the people who got us there. We can forget God, the reason for our success. At the pinnacle of success, Joseph remained loyal to the Lord. When our dreams come true, be true to the Lord.
We don’t like to wait especially when we feel we have been wronged or when someone promises a favor and they don’t deliver. When our dreams tarry, we need to wait on the Lord.
To live a life of lasting significance, put your hope in the Lord of the Dreams! #fading dreams