Crossroads Community Church: Recent Episodes
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This podcast catalogues the weekly sermons authored by Pastor Morris Sapp, Pastor Chris Bailey, and guest speakers at Crossroads Community Church in Athens, Georgia.
While imprisoned in Roman jail cell, Paul & Silas at midnight started singing and praising God! They could have complained, cried, moaned & groaned, gotten angry, yelled, or any other negative expression of their fate, but they didn't, Instead, they praised God and sang songs of rejoicing! Their hearts were full of the love and the joy and the peace of God! If you need that, in your darkest hour, pray, praise God, and sing praises to the Lord! Watch what God will do then tell someone about His goodness!
Based on 1 Peter 5:8-9
Listen to Pastor Chris share how Peter is "flashing his lights" at us to warn us of impeding attack(s) AND what to do about them!
We need to be prepared to share the truth - to share about Jesus - with someone when they ask. Our society abounds with lies. As believers, we have the responsibility to tell the truth to those who don't know it. HOW DO WE PREPARE? HOW DO WE ANSWER? Pastor Chris' sermon outlines those answers so that you can be strengthened in the Word and be able to confidently answer questions about your faith and walk with the Lord and provide the Truth our faith to the world!
We apologize for the technical difficulty we experienced that prevented us from being able to post a recording of today's service. But you can visit our Facebook Page to HEAR AND SEE a video recording of today's service! Search for Crossroads Community Church! https://www.facebook.com/crossroadschurchathens
What Do We Deserve? Learn from God's Word in Luke chapter 1 exactly what we do deserve and how it is the most wonderful news EVER!!!!!
THE GIFT OF LAZARUS (John 11:1-44)
"I am the Resurrection and the Life..."
Have you ever thought about Lazarus and his death and how Jesus PURPOSEFULLY delayed going to him until he had already been dead four days? Have you ever wondered WHY Jesus waited?
The death of Lazarus was a GIFT to Jesus' disciples, his sisters Martha and Mary, and now to us and other believers. BUT HOW, you may wonder? It was a gift...
(1) for COMPOSURE, (2) in CONTEXT, (3) to emphasize Jesus' CAPABILITY, and (4) as a CATALYST.
Listen to Pastor Chris go into a clear and understandable explanation of WHY Jesus' delayed to Lazarus, the meaning of Mary's & Martha's as well as the disciples' responses, why Jesus wept, and what happened after Lazarus was raised from the dead. Listen now and find out WHY each of Jesus' actions was a GIFT to all of us!
When we are lonely, Satan's plan is to isolate us, make us feel that others are rejecting us, and to confuse us. However, God's purpose is for us to participate in His suffering, to prepare us for God to use us according to His plan, and to help us to know that we aren't perfect... but different... but that we are to strive to be perfect like Christ.
What are the benefits of following God rather than giving in and going along with what the world expects and calls "right?" We will be satisfied and have joy as we struggle and face sacrifices for Him, we have security in following Him, and we will reap the benefits of solidarity,,, standing together for the cause of Christ. We are not alone sometimes when we think we are!
EMBRACE THE LONELINESS OF HOLINESS!
Finishing up this month's series on Jonah, Pastor Chris delivers a powerful sermon about God's mercy. God commanded Jonah to go preach against the sinful people of Ninevah. At first Jonah disobeyed - he ran from the Lord by sailing away with others in a boat, but was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. When he was in the belly of the fish, Jonah repented of his disobedience to God. Afterwards, the big fish spit Jonah up on dry ground. Jonah went to Ninevah and obeyed... he did as God asked and preached against Ninevah. As a result, the people repented and then God relented.
Listen to this meaningful sermon to find out how Jonah reacted to the people's repenting and God's relenting, why he reacted as he did, how God responded to him, and the final outcome.
Why did Jonah get a second chance? Jonah was running away from God's call to go to Ninevah. However, God wasn't taking NO for an answer. He gave him a second chance to obey him and go to Ninevah and "preach against them." Why did God do that? What were His thoughts about Jonah and His thoughts about the Ninevites?
Jonah obeyed, went to Ninevah, and preached a hard word to the Ninevites. How did they respond?
Listen to Pastor Chris' message to find out about Jonah's second chance, how the Ninevites responded, why God gives US second chances, and how important it is for us to respond in obedience.
THIS MONTH: JONAH SERIES
Hear more truth and wisdom from God's Word from Jonah as you listen to this week's message shared by Pastor Chris. Find out about the three points of this lesson (3 P's): Provision, Prayer, and Puke!
Due to technical difficulty, this is PART 1 of the following (be sure to listen to part 2):
Pastor Chris Bailey is installed as the new Senior Pastor by Pastor Morris Sapp
Due to technical difficulty, this is PART 1 of the following (be sure to listen to part 2):
Pastor Chris Bailey is installed as the new Senior Pastor by Pastor Morris Sapp
Psalm 81:10 - "I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it!"
The LORD will FILL our mouths, FIGHT our battles, and FEED our hunger! All He asks is for us to LISTEN and FOLLOW His Ways. If we fill our mouths with complaints and criticisms, we won't have room for what He has for us!
He WILL FILL us as we listen to Him, follow His Ways, and OPEN WIDE to accept all that He has for us!
Romans 8:31-39 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God! All throughout the Word, we are told about the goodness of God and the Love of God and how each is eternal and unending. He love endures forever! Let the redeemed say so!
Listen to Pastor Morris' sermon and learn about the four categories of people outlined in Psalm 107: wanderers, prisoners, foolish, and weary.
Remember... God hears us! He gives us His: undivided attention, unqualified acceptance, and unequaled power!
In our humanity, we tend to walk away from situations where we feel uncomfortable... danger, bad relationships, awkward situations, embarrassing moments, trouble, etc. In other words, we walk away from negatives. The problem with that is we ALL have negatives in our lives. We are ALL sinners. The problem worsens... we tend to project ourselves on God. In other words, because we know that we walk away from sinners & negative situations, we may think that He will walk away from us and our sin. When we think that, we avoid approaching God at all rather because we don't want to be chastised or rejected by Him. We need to know the TRUTH: He will NEVER walk away from us. NOTHING we have done disqualifies us from God!!! He WANTS to be with us ALWAYS, even in our time of need... ESPECIALLY in our time of need. His desire is to WELCOME us (Luke 15:2), BEFRIEND us (Prov. 18:24), ILLUMINATE what we cannot see (Ps 123:23-24), FORGIVE us (1 JN 1:9), RESTORE us (1 Peter 5:10), EDIFY us (Col. 2:6-7), ACTIVATE us (Acts 12:2-3), and SEND us (John 20-21) out into the world to minister to others. LISTEN TO PASTOR CHRIS' SERMON... you will be glad you did! The world is SEARCHING for people who will not walk away! God desires to empower us to be Jesus to others... to love and comfort and minister to them in their time of need.
It is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL that we put our trust in the Lord! "Trust" appears in the Bible over 200 times... over 50 times in the book of Psalms alone! Listen to Pastor Morris to learn about what people often trust in that will sometimes fail them and how we KNOW that the Lord is trustworthy!
If you do something over and over, people will begin to associate you with that thing. Do you pray a lot? People may consider you a prayer warrior. Do you love, watch, and play sports every chance you get? People may consider you a sports expert or even a sports fanatic. How much do you have to sin to be considered a sinner? God's Word tells us that we ALL fall short... we ALL sin... therefore, we are all sinners. But His Word also says that if we come to Him, call upon His Name, confess our sins, and ask Him to come into our hearts to be our Lord & Savior, that we are saved... we are born again... we are sanctified and justified... and therefore, we cannot remain in sin. Some things in the Bible about sin, salvation, and heaven & hell can be confusing. Listen to Pastor Chris' sermon about what it means to live in sin and how you can KNOW, not just HOPE, that you are going to Heaven. He explains WRONG ANSWERS about sin that we should all be aware of. He also gives us the RIGHT ANSWERS about what Christians need to know about sin and how you can be CERTAIN that you are going to Heaven.
"To seek" means to go after, strive for, worship & bow to something. We need to SEEK the Lord first. Seeking the Lord is an every day event... not just something we do on Sundays. Matthew 6:33 - Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you!" God will take care of us! Life is better when we seek the Lord! People see how we act, how we give, how we treat others, etc. and form their opinions about God based on what they see. Let the world see us seeking God!
Life is Better Together!
Even when we think that we want to be alone, things are usually better when we are with someone. In Nehemiah 3:17-21, there is an explanation of work that is being done, and the prophet Nehemiah goes into detail about who was working next to whom. "And next to him..." is repeated many times here and throughout the entire chapter. Satan's strategy is to isolate us. Scripture gives much evidence about how "two are better than one" (Eccl 4:9-12). There are many benefits to working with someone vs. working alone. Working together: 1) is more effective, 2) is helpful, 3) helps make each of us accountable, 4) is crucial, and 5) provides defense. Take some time our of your busy day to listen to Pastor Chris' message. After all, our cause is to build the kingdom, but we cannot do that if we aren't a part of it!
The book of Joshua is a historical book, a practical book, and a typical book. We can glean so many important life lessons from this book - relevant to our lives today - by looking deep into the messages of the passages. Listen to Pastor Morris' sermon and find out WHY after hearing the reports of 12 men sent to scope out the land that God had promised to them that instead of claiming that land, the people wandered around for 40 years. Find out what WE can do when odds do not look like they are in our favor. Remember, there is a fine line between FAITH and FEAR so it is essential to find out why it is so important to "Be Strong and of Good Courage."
People leave things when they meet Jesus:
Simon and Andrew left their fishing boat.
Matthew left his tax collector booth and his rich life of luxury.
Paul left the Sanhedrin
The crippled left their crutches.
The Samaritan woman at the well left her waterpot.
Listen to Pastor Morris' sermon about the woman at the well which illustrates how JESUS is the only thing that can fill the God-shaped vacuum in your heart that cannot be filled in any other way.
Matthew 7:13-14 tells us that the wide path is the road that leads to destruction and that it is the narrow path that leads to life. Does that make sense? Our own senses tell us that the wide path is the one that most people go on. Are most people wrong? The narrow path is traveled very much... and it does not look like the right way to go. What is right? What is wrong? How do we know which way to go? What do we do to avoid danger? Listen to today's sermon by Pastor Chris and know that YOU can know which roads lead you to disaster and which ones lead you to the life you truly want.
Think about this... when we go on vacation and rent a condo, everything there is ours to use... EXCEPT what is in the locked closet. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we invite Him into our heart, our life. We give Him all that we are... or do we? Do we allow Him access to EVERY PART OF US... or do we have a locked closet?
Pastor Chris delivers a POWERFUL sermon that will help you identify and open up areas of your life where you may be putting God in a beautiful cage instead of giving Him access to your "locked closet." Listen to the message, and draw nearer to God as you give Him all of yourself!
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!! Just as most earthly fathers like to give good gifts to their children, our Father in Heaven wants to bless us with what is good for us!
Do we always know what's best for us? Do we sometimes want something that is not in alignment with what God our Father wants for us... therefore, not in our best interest?
We may not know what's best for us in every situation, but most people do know that they would like to have more of the Presence of God in their lives.
But why? What are the benefits? His presence is our PROTECTION... it offers us PEACE & COMFORT... and it offers us CONTENTMENT, JOY, and PROSPERITY. HOW??? What are examples in the Bible of who DID and who DID NOT obey God and follow His commandments??? What happened to them? To find out, listen to Pastor Chris' awesome sermon. And be sure to share it with the people you love!
You have read or heard a sermon preached about the first miracle Jesus performed: turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, yes and no... it was simple for Jesus to look to His Father in Heaven and ask Him to do this through Him, but it was highly significant - not only to the master of the ceremonies, the brides' parents, and the entire wedding party - but also for us! This first miracle Jesus performs teaches us six things... Six things that if we we knew them and embraced them will change our lives forever. Listen to Pastor Morris' sermon to hear this priceless Word of God!
When we read Luke 18:35-43, we learn of a blind man who heard that Jesus was passing by. Jesus was in Jericho on His way to Jerusalem for the Passover. The blind beggar started crying out to Jesus to have mercy on him. Others tried to silence him, but the beggar cried out all the more! Jesus asked that the man calling Him be brought to Him. He asked the blind beggar what He wanted, then He performed a miracle... He gave that for what the man asked! He restored the man's eyesight! This man's example of faith teaches us five things that we need to know in order for us to receive the miracles that we want in our lives. Listen to this sermon and find out!
What are your priorities? Your priorities determine how you spend your time. In Psalm 63, David did not ASK for anything, but Psalm 63 helps us to peer into David's heart. Listen to today's sermon to know how to answer these questions:
1. What does it mean to seek after God?
2. What does the person look like who seeks after God?
3. How does a person seek after God?
The Bible recognizes many special women... and among those, many special moms. One in particular was Manoah's wife. In the Bible she was not names, yet she is honored because she fulfilled what God called her to do. What was she called to do? What happened in her life that was unusual? How was she a model of faith? Who was her son and what did he accomplish? Listen to Pastor Chris' Mothers Day sermon to find out the answers to these questions and to learn more about this special mom.
Everyone WANTS to be happy... but WHAT makes us happy differs from person to person. What is happiness? What is meant by "happiness is a perspective?" What is the difference between BEING HAPPY and BEING BLESSED? What are the things I need to DO and NOT DO to be happy? We find all answers in the Word of God. Read Psalm 1:1-6 then listen to Pastor Morris' sermon, BE BLESSED, and share that happiness with others!
HAPPY EASTER! Jesus has risen from the grave. He lives!!!
The number "seven" has great spiritual significance.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, as He hung on the cross to die for our sins and reconcile us to the Father, spoke seven words or messages. The first, fourth, and seventh were words that He spoke to the Father. The other words were spoken to the people around Him, including His mother Mary and one of His disciples, John.
Listen to Pastor Morris' Easter Message to find out about these seven times that Jesus spoke and the significance of each.
There are many people, especially women, who own and wear a cross. But, the cross is MUCH MORE than just a beautiful piece of jewelry. Listen to Pastor Chris' sermon to learn the details about four very important reasons why THE cross - the cross where Jesus gave His life up for us - is so very beautiful. The cross is foundational, available, powerful, and inevitable!
Why do we do the things that we do? Sometimes we do things out of tradition, but we don't know why we do them. Passover is one of the feasts of the Jewish people... Exodus 12 explains this miracle and the purpose for it. In Luke 22, Jesus shares the last Passover meal with His disciples. In what ways was this Passover meal different from those before? What did they talk about? What new meaning did Jesus bring to Passover? What are the "4 cups?" Why do we take communion? Learn the answers to these questions and much more by listening to Pastor Morris' sermon entitled, "The Passover."
The Word of God provided for us in Isaiah 43:16-21 lets us know that we should:
NOT HOLD ON to the past,
BEHOLD the wondrous things in store for us from the Lord, and
*TAKE HOLD of God's will for our lives ad be obedient in the big things and in the small things.
Listen to today's sermon to learn the many ways that the NEW THING is a BETTER THING and is specifically for YOU!
Who are you when no one is looking? What is the condition of your heart? When God says no but we keep asking Him, are we seeking His will or our own will? In Number 22, why did God allow Balaam to go to Moab, then immediately punish him for going? Find out the answers to these questions and many more by hearing today's sermon!
We WILL go through tough times. It's so easy to lose heart when we do. There are actually several things that can cause us to lose heart: discouragement, oppression, distress, weariness, bewilderment, etc. How can our hearts be strengthened during these trying times? Listen to Pastor Morris' sermon for the Biblical proof that there are things we can do so that we do not lose heart!
Today was a special service dedicated to two individuals. First, Rev. Bob Armstrong with Love-Link Ministries is one of the missionaries we support. He shared a PowerPoint presentation and spoke about his involvement in the Middle East. He helps pay for the rescuing of girls and young ladies from the horrors of sex trafficking by ISIS and other terrorist groups. Second, Lamar Sapp was honored by our church for 40+ years of service here. He has served at Crossroads Church in a variety of capacities from maintaining a tape ministry, publishing a church magazine, maintaining the grounds, and running sound. Pastor Morris honored him by discussing how he has served and awarded him with a plaque.
Roans 3:23-28
Unfortunately, it seems that the Gospel has been "watered down" to match the culture we live in. For our own good, however, and the good of our society, we need to realize that the TRUE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST is the only thing that can save us from our sinfulness.
When the Gospel is presented and embraced, we go through three stages of acceptance:
(1) MENTAL - this is where we UNDERSTAND IT. We know what it says.
(2) EMOTIONAL - this goes a step further than understanding to BELIEVING. We not only understand what the Gospel says, but we believe it.
(3) VOLITIONAL - this is where we understand is, believe it, and ACT ON IT by submitting ourselves to the Lord in every way and serve Him however He may call you to serve.
We all need to REPENT... to open our eyes to the Gospel and see the darkness of our sin and the brightness and goodness of God and His love for us.
Genesis 37
What's your favorite roller coaster? Some roller coasters go way up and then way down. Life has its highs and lows, too. Joseph, son of Jacob, had a life full of ups and downs. Listen to Pastor Chris' sermon to learn about how God used the ups and downs in Joseph's life to not only be a blessing to him, but to his family and others as well.
Psalm 27
David had a lot of adversity, but he knew that God would lift him up.
HOW are we lifted up? HOW will YOU be able to hold your head high?
(1) by keeping your eye on the greatness of God
(2) by filling your mouth with praise
(3) by filling your life with the Word of God
(4) by standing your ground and fighting back
(5) by believing God is in charge of your seasons
I WILL LOVE THE CHURCH
Psalm 27:1-5
David says that the Lord:
1. is his light - Col. 1:13;
2. guides his steps - Ps 119:105;
3. is his salvation - John 5:24;
4. is his strength - 1 Cor. 15:57;
David became very confident in the Lord - Psalm 84:1-4; Heb 10:25
He was committed to:
1. lingering near the Lord God
2. loving the Lord
3. learning of the Lord
David knew that the Lord has a: (Ps 40:1-2)
1. sheltered place for us
2. secret place for us
3. secure place for us
BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD, Pastor Morris agrees that saved people should:
1. go to church
2. love the church (the body of Christ/body of believers)
3. linger near, love wholeheartedly, and learn from the Lord
Luke 2:15-20 We are challenged to do four main things beginning the day after Christmas: proclaim..., wonder..., ponder..., and glorify. Listen to today's sermon to get all the details!
You have a choice. We all have a choice. We can settle for comfort or we can remember where our true citizenship is and allow God to stretch us as we hope in faith for His promises to be fulfilled in our lives.
"The Ultimate Giant Slayer" is the last message in Pastor Morris' sermon series entitled "The Giants in the Land." Based on the scripture from Hebrews 12:1-2 along with others, listen to this sermon hear about how critical it is for us to realize that Jesus is our ultimate giant slayer. No matter what we face... no matter how real the struggle... no matter how serious or disturbing the troubles that come our way... listen to this message to be assured that: (1) Jesus IS our ultimate example; (2) He faced the intolerable - enduring hostilities, ridicule, and death on the Cross - enduring it all because He loves us; (3) Jesus focused on the joyful; and (4) HE FINISHED HIS ASSIGNMENT! Praise His Holy Name!
When we are overwhelmed, we tend to tell ourselves, "I cannot do this." Well, we are right! We cannot... in our own strength. However, we CAN face the giant of overwhelming odds when we remember and allow God to fight the battle. Gideon did, and he was victorious.
Listen to today's sermon to learn the four keys to overcoming overwhelming odds. Hint, hint: all four have something to do with God!
~Romans 8:37, Judges 7
Based on the scripture found in 1 Samuel, Pastor Morris shares how fears can be irrational and debilitating, how they can breed squabbling, and how fear requires conquering. We all know that David slew Goliath... but how? He used THREE things... his memory of past victories, his personal assets, and most of all His belief in and reliance on His powerful God! Listen and learn how you can apply every single fact about fear to your own present, personal life and conquer your fears, in the Name of Jesus!
As the next message in the sermon series "The Giants in the Land," this lesson on apathy starts out with Scripture of Rev. 3:14-22. The prophets of old as well as people in our society today had to combat apathy. We become apathetic because of self-centeredness, indifference, the current culture, and familiarity. Listen to today's sermon and learn what we can do to battle apathy. Our lives and our children's lives will depend on it!
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, overtook Jehoiakim, king of Judah, then took some of the Israelites from the royal family. His intention was to train them and teach them their ways and beliefs in order to make them ready to serve in his palace. They were commanded to indulge themselves in the king's decadent food and fine wines.
BUT DANIEL DID NOT WANT TO DEFILE HIMSELF.
Listen to today's sermon to find out what Daniel requested and the result of that request.
Life is full of disappointments! Pastor Morris' sermon will give Biblical examples of disappointing times, even times when the saints of old were tempted to give up. However, with God's help, we can overcome disappointment and stand strong on His promises. Listen to today's sermon to find out how!
Jon Campbell is the son of Mark & Janet Campbell. Jon and his wife, Erica, are moving to Los Angeles because they feel burdened to serve Jesus by helping connect His church to her priority mission: namely, to make disciples of every nation. Whether in Western or Majority World contexts, Jon and Erica desire to train young leaders, explore innovative forms of ministry, teach the Word, share the Gospel, and seek justice for the oppressed. Using their passions for leadership, teaching, humanitarian efforts, and marketplace ministry, they long to turn the hearts of God's people toward a Great Commission lifestyle. Together, they are excited to plant The Awakening’s International Base in Los Angeles, where they will focus on building young leaders, providing domestic and international mission opportunities, and networking with ministry organizations and churches.
Jeremiah 39:1-8; Lamentations 4:4-11
Today's sermon included Scripture about King Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans/Babylonians and King Zedekiah and Jerusalem. The Babylonians surrounded the walls of Jerusalem and besieged them for 18 months... who would outlast the other? King Zedekiah was blind to so many things of the Lord.
BLINDNESS BEGINS:
~when we do not do what God asks, but we still want God to do what we ask;
~when open faith becomes hidden faith;
~when we stop doing the right thing in favor of doing the popular thing; and
~when we are too proud to surrender.
Listen to this wonderful sermon and search your heart.
Psalm 116:15 - Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Pastor Chris shared that Pastor Morris just got a call that morning just after he got to church that he dad, Mr. Gene Sapp, had just passed away. He ministered to the congregation by saying that Gene was in Heaven and no longer in pain. And most importantly, that he was in the arms of the Lord. He shared many Scripture that was good to reflect upon and to be assured of the goodness of the Lord!
This is the second in the series by Pastor Morris entitled, "Don't Be."
We are challenged not to be like a hypocrite in at least these three ways:
when it comes to giving, when it comes to praying, and when it comes to fasting.
We often point out others we see as hypocrites... but there is hypocrisy in all of us towards others, towards self, and towards God. Don't depend on others... depend on the Truth of the Gospel and the Faithfulness of God to resist hypocrisy. It is important to be taught of the Lord, to walk in His Truth, to have singleness of heart, to be a worshipper, and to never forget His mercies. Don't be a stumbling blovck... be a stepping stone!
Listen to today's sermon for all the details!
Pastor Morris began a new series today called "Don't Be..." and today's message is entitled "Don't Be Slothful." Slothfulness is defined as the failure to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. There is an inherent danger in each of us to become slothful (lazy, complacent) with our walk with the Lord. Slothfulness caused deterioration, failure, excuses, and shame. We need to "stir up" the gifts of God within us. We need to sing, stretch, and strengthen our faith. And we need to be like a tree - growing deep roots (for our spiritual nourishment) and abiding (in our faith). Listen to Pastor Morris' sermon for all the details !
There are lots of routes to take from one place to another... some are treacherous, some scenic, some bypass cities & their traffic, and some are the fastest. Routes matter. But when it comes to God, all routes to NOT lead to Him. Listen to today's sermon to find out what the Word of God tells us about the path to God and what we need to understand on our way to Him.
The Book of Malachi is the last in the Old Testament. Malachi was the last of the 12 minor prophets and the last prophet to prophesy before the 400 years of silence was broken by Jesus Christ coming into the world and the writing of the New Testament. Israel had grown spiritually apathetic and morally lazy (as has our current generation). They had three main areas of neglect: Ministry, Marriage, and Money. Listen to today's sermon to find out how the people of Israel failed to keep the Lord's commandments in these three areas. Then, very importantly, each one of us need to ask ourselves, "What is the condition of my heart in each of these three areas?"
Zechariah 1:1-4
DO YOU KNOW HIM?
To know Him, He says we need to draw near to Him.
Zechariah was a young man who knew God. His name means "the Lord Remembers." His father Berekiah's name means "God will Bless." His grandfather Iddo's name means "in the appropriate Time." Put them all together: The Lord remembers and blesses in His Time.
The human race has two main needs: to be right with God and to know where we are going when we leave here! The old testament prophet Zechariah provided us with more prophecy than any other prophet except Isaiah.
Listen to today's sermon to find out the details of the MISSION and MINISTRY of JESUS CHRIST: He was a Meek Messiah, our Suffering Savior, and the Coming King!
Haggai is known as a prophet or messenger of God. The book of Haggai is the second shortest in the Bible. "Haggai" means "festive" which is appropriate for him because he brings a positive message to the Jewish people to motivate them to finish the rebuilding of the temple. Ezra 4:1-5 explains that they had quit because they had become discouraged. Haggai delivered the Lord's message that it was time to rebuild!
The Lord's message to all who are discouraged is:
-God is with you.
-God's got this!
-Be strong.
-Do not fear!
Listen to today's sermon for how the Lord spoke through Haggai to motivate His people to be motivated to rebuild His temple! They started within a month and they finished it within 5 years!
What can we learn about motherhood from the animal kingdom? Listen to this captivating sermon about how the alligator teaches moms about training and instruction, how the koala bear teaches about nourishing, how the orangutan is a great example on nurturing, and how the meerkat helps a mom know how to prepares and protect. Looking at specific mothers in the Bible - Jochebed, Hannah, and Mary - and how they sacrificed, we learn how all that eventually points to how Jesus sacrificed His life for us.
Obadiah, a minor prophet with a major message, prophesized to the Edomites. Edom had been picking on Israel for many generations and God decided enough was enough! This story has a background that goes back to Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25). Esau was later called Edom (Genesis 25:30) and Jacob was later called Israel. Read Obadiah (only one chapter), vs. 1-15, watch this video and learn how Obadial's prophesy directly relates to us today.
Habakkuk is a "minor prophet" because that book of the Bible is a short book - just three chapters - but he has a LOT to say! Today's sermom goes into depth about Habakkuk's dialog with God. Habakkuk's dialog goes through three distinct stages.
STAGE I - SCREAMING
Habaakkuk called loudly out to God questioning Him. He asked why He didn't hear him and why He was going what He was doing.
STAGE II - SEEKING
In the searching stage, Habakkuk developed determination, he isolated himself, he expected to hear from God, and he trusted God.
STAGE III - SINGING
Finally, Habakkuk rejoiced! When you question, seek, and worship God, you will have peace in all circumstances.
Who are you when no one is watching? Who you are when no one is watching is a great test of your character... but, even more so, it is a test of your faith! What do you think about God watching you? Option 1 - God is out to get you -or- option 2 - God is watching you to protect you, help you. When you read Luke 12:4-7, it seems as if we are told to fear God and not to fear God. How can that be? Actually, we need to have a healthy fear of the consequences of sin, but we do not need to fear God because He is for us! We are God's masterpiece!
God SCANS us.
God SURVEILS us.
God SURROUNDS us.
God SCULPTS us.
Listen to today's sermon to find out all the glorious details!
Jesus told His disciples that he would be scourged, spit upon, and killed... AND rise from the dead! What does the resurrection prove?
(1) Jesus is who He claimed to be.
(2) Jesus has all the power He claimed to have.
(3) Jesus did what He promised.
This good news means:
(A) My past can be forgiven.
(B) My present can be managed.
(C) My future can be secure.
Our time on Earth is limited, so each of us needs to get to know Jesus, our Savior, who prepared THE way for us to live forever with Him in Heaven, our eternal home!
Easter is more than one day to be celebrated once a year... it is something to rejoice over every day... and always! Today's sermon is the first in this new series Pastor Morris is preaching about Easter. Listen and find out the details of how the disciples were calmed, and received peace, in five ways. They were calmed:
1. By His Presence,
2. By His Words,
3. By His Wounds,
4. By His Mission, and
5. By His Spirit.
When you hear the word "holiness," what do you think of? Most people think of a lifestyle that restricts them FROM doing things that are bad. Holiness is so much more. There are three parts to Happy Holiness:
(1) Saying NO to sin. The key to that is to realize we cannot do that in our own power, but must ask the Holy Spirit to help us seek holiness.
(2) Saying YES to God. Seek His will for our lives. Realize that we are set apart for God and for His purpose in our lives.
(3) God makes us holy. He is the source.
Without holiness, we lose our:
(a) potential, (b) influence, (c) motivation, (d) power, (e) peace, and (f) freedom.
Listen to today's sermon for all the details!
Like a kitchen pantry has everything you need when preparing meals for your family, your prayer closet has everything you need to intimate prayer with the Lord - YOU and HIM. Jesus taught His followers to pray, not like a hypocrite, but by going in their quiet place and shutting the door to be alone in prayer. It's not the length or the elegance of our prayers that matter, not our heart. Prayers should be brief, frequent, and intense. TIME and PRESSURE makes something beautiful - a diamon, straight teeth, and a devoted Christian. The rewards of prayer: validation, formation, information, motivation, power, and protection. Listen to today's sermon to get all these details and grow in your prayer life!
Based on the Word of God in 2 Samuel 6:1-23, we learn about how three different people - Uzzah, Michal, and David, acted differently in regards to the Presence of the Lord. Find out what they thought, find out what they did, and find out the Lord's response to each of their actions.
Four take-away points:
1) Don't let failure stop you.
2) You are never more vulnerable than in victory.
3) What you see is what you get.
4) We need to dance to the sound of the music of the King!
Why are there "gray areas" in the Bible? Why does some Scripture say that drinking is bad and some say it is good? Why did some people think that eating food sacrificed to idols was bad and some think it didn't matter because they knew that idols did not exist? Why does some "evidence" say wearing masks is beneficial and other "evidence" says it is not... or even that it is bad? And as if these grey areas or inconsistencies aren't confusing enough, there is often division among God's people because of their differing opinions.
Today's sermons addresses all of this and helps us to make sense of it all and conclude that:
(1) God accepts both sides of the issue of the gray area.
(2) Whether we do, or don't, it's ok if we believe what we do glorifies God.
(3) We must not pass judgment on others because their opinions are different from ours.
(4) Peach among believers is far greater than "being right." We must not become a stumbling block to others simply because of our "right" to believe what we want... even if we are right.
Therefore, let's agree to:
(1) not criticise or judge one another.
(2) sacrifice for and give grace to each other.
(3) seek unity with those with whom we disagree.
It is Satan's desire to divide us and he will use any means necessary. He tries to sow discord, even in our churches.
Remember Psalm 133:1-3 and how good it is when God's people live in unity.
Sermon based on 2 Kings 6:24 - 7:20.
The people were starving. Things were desperate. They resorted to eating donkey heads, bird poop, and boiled babies. But, things did change.
Sermon Points:
Sometimes life is just awful.
When things are awful, don't lash out... don't blame others.
There is always a Word from the Lord - that is why we should always wait upon the Lord!
God always has a surprise for you. In the chaos, He want to surprise You.
Change can happen overnight.
Sharing is caring.
Doubt Destroys.
Don't be unbelieving... be BELIEVING!
Today's sermon is based on the Scripture from 2 Kings 6:8-23.
Three things that caused fear:
1. Unexpected appearance of the enemy,
2. Being unprotected and in the dark, and
3. Having an "undetermined plan" or no plan... we don't know what we are going to do.
But remember, when you are surrounded, God always surrounds what is surrounding you!
Take home truths:
See the invisible to believe the impossible.
Fear is dispelled when our eyes are opened to the presence of God.
*Pray to see another dimension, not just another miracle.
The key to 2 Kings 6:8-23: Elisha PRAYED.
In Mark 10:45, Mark combines the SAVING SAVIOR with the SERVING SAVIOR. Jesus came to save us from our sins, but He also came to serve. In Mark 10:46-52, we learn of how Bartimaeus called out to Jesus and even though the crowd tried to make him hush, he cried out ALL THE MORE. Jesus was on His way to the cross, but he laid aside purpose for a person! Don't be silent, cry out to Jesus ALL THE MORE!
Each of us has an assignment: to guard ourselves. We are to watch ourselves and make sure that what we are doing is what we should be doing. We need to keep ourselves on course and be what Jesus wants us to be. We need to make sure that we do not give in to distractions. We need to make sure that we do not give up and resort to doing things that can control us. There are many things that this world calls "comfortable" and "acceptable" that God's Word speaks about and speaks against very clearly. Are you guarding yourself?
The year 2020 may be over, but concerns of COVID-19, racial tension, political turmoil, and economic difficulties are still realities that people face. Even in the midst of these, Jesus wants to give us REST. That is His promise. We may be struggling, but we CAN find REST in Him. Read Matthew 11:28-30 and resolve to REST in His promises today!
To wrap up the year of 2020 which was full of so many trials and tribulations, today's service was one of praise and thanksgiving to our Good, Good Father. All the worship songs were to glorify the Lord and give Him thanks for His goodness. After the uplifting praise & worship, six couples shared for 3-4 minutes each testifying how God blessed them in 2020: Mike & Kay Dillard, Matt & Kerrie Lang, Mike & Lisa Nash, Dave & Nariman Crouch, Curtis & Tricia Parker, and Todd & Lisa Boyd. Happy New Year, everyone! God is so good!
(Note: the first couple of minutes of the sermon did not get recorded)
When Jesus was born, who missed Christmas that night?
1) The innkeeper
2) Herod, the king
3) The religious folk
Let's ask ourselves these three questions:
1) Is there room for Jesus in my life?
2) Who do I have on the throne of my life?
3) Is He worth going after?
When we are stuck, we need to learn how to more forward! We need to move:
From Paralysis to Peace,
From Sitting to Standing, and
*From Waiting to Walking!
More than just giving thanks, each of us should pursue a life of Thanks-Living!
Luke 17:11-19
How you come out of a battle is determined by what you do before the battle. Consider these four people with whom David talked before he went out to battle Goliath!