Fusion Christian Church: Recent Episodes
Fusion Christian Church
Welcome to the encouraging weekly podcast of Fusion Christian Church. Here you can listen to the latest message by Pastor Zac Elliott and the teaching team at Fusion. Fusion Christian Church is located in Temecula, Ca.
What is God like? How does who he is impact what we do with our lives? In "Now Showing," we walk through some of the attritbutes of God and why they matter for our daily living. In Part 2, Pastor Matt teaches about God's power, presence, and knowledge.
Omniscience - God Knows Everything.
God possesses perfect, complete knowledge of all things—past, present, future, actual, and possible. Because of this, he knows exactly what is happening in our minds and hearts at any moment. Nothing is invisible to him. While this can be a terrifying realization if we are not right with God, it can also be a comfort. If we reject God, his perfect knowledge means he knows all our wrongdoing. However if we have accepted Christ as our Lord then his perfect knowledge means he is able to comfort us perfectly. He knows our struggles and can help us through them.
Omnipresence - God Is Present Everywhere.
God is fully present everywhere; there is no place in creation where God is absent. As with the last attribute, this can be a terror or a comfort depending on your perspective. If we reject God, his inescapable presence is cause for trembling and fear. For Christians, his ever-present guidance is a delight. God is always near to us and able to help us in times of trouble. Because of this, we can trust him with our fears.
Omnipotence - God Is All-Powerful.
God possesses unlimited power and is able to accomplish everything consistent with His nature and will. As has been a consistent theme, this too is either terrible or magnificent news depending on our relationship to God. Those who rebel against God rightly fear punishment, knowing that God has the power to administer it. Those who trust in God rightly rely on his strength to defend and uphold us in our weakness.
Because God is Omni, submit your life to Him.
These three attributes reveal an incredible binary between those who follow God and those who reject him. On one hand, the one who rejects God knows God's reach is inescapable, that he sees all sin, and that he can punish that sin. The Christian, on the other hand, rests safely in the knowledge that those infinite attributes are on his side. God's power, presence, and knowledge are a comfort, not a curse to the one who trust in God. Will you place your trust in God today?
What is God like? How does who he is impact what we do with our lives? In "Now Showing," we walk through some of the attritbutes of God and why they matter for our daily living. In Part 1, Pastor Matt explains how God's eternal, unchanging nature makes him worthy of our hope and trust.
God reveals his nature to us.
A fundamental tenet of Christian belief is that God has revealed himself to us both through scripture and through nature. Because God upholds the universe by his power, his fingerprints are all over it. Through the marks he as left we can discover many truths about him. We can broadly separate the attributes of God into two categories: communicable and incommunicable. The communicable attributes are attributes reflected, in finite measure, in humans who bear God's image. The incommunicable attributes belong uniquely to God and he does not share them with any of his creatures.
God is Eternal.
The eternality of God means he has no beginning or end. Some people ask the question "Who created God?" but this is a nonsense question because God had no beginning. The bible is clear that God has no beginning or end and therefore stands before all things.
God is Immutable.
Immutability means that God does not change. The unchanging nature of God is essential for Christian belief because it means God is always faithful and always keeps his promises. The Christian who understands this can take courage and hope from it.
We live with eternal hope.
An eternal God has eternal promises. Knowing that God is eternal and unchanging gives the Christian confidence in the hope we have. We know that God will keep his promises and complete our salvation. He will keep us secure and deliver us from evil. The promises of God offered to us in Christ Jesus are guaranteed to be fulfilled. Take heart and trust in God's promises!
We are in the middle of spiritual combat. "Dressed For Battle" is our series at Fusion Christian Church about winning that combat by wearing the Armor of God. In week Seven, Pastor Zac teaches about using prayer to power your armor.
Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The first key to an effective prayer life is to pray in the Holy Spirit. Christians have the unique honor of having God's Holy Spirit live inside of us! Because of that, everything we do should be in submission to the Spirit and in recognition of his power. If you have ever tried to do things under your own power, you should know that it is not enough. Christians need to stand in God's power in order to "power up" our spiritual armor and achieve spiritual victory.
To pray in the power of the Holy Spirit is to pray in alignment with the will of God.
Praying in the power of the Spirit falls under the broader category of submission to God's will. Jesus set the perfect example for us by repeatedly emphasizing "thy will be done" in his prayers. When we pray, we must always remember that God works things together according to his infinite wisdom and grace. Knowing this, we should remind ourselves that God will grant our prayers when they align with his will and refuse them when we pray selfishly.
To pray in the power of the Holy Spirit is to follow the Spirit’s leading.
To have an effective prayer life, we must be open to the Spirit's guidance. This will not always be obvious, but through much prayer and through knowledge of scripture we may discern his leading. When we feel the Spirit leading us in one direction, we should affirm that it is him by aligning the decision with scripture and wisdom and then follow it. Sensitivity to the Spirit's leading comes with spiritual maturity.
To pray in the power of the Holy Spirit is to pray for the family of God.
Once again, we must not pray selfishly. It is acceptable to ask God for personal blessings, but a healthy prayer life includes prayers for all of God's people. Remembering to pray for others inclines our hearts in love toward those very same people and creates a healthy attitude within us. By praying even for our enemies we can keep ourselves from becoming bitter and foster a heart of love instead. What steps can you take this week to build a better prayer life?
We are in the middle of spiritual combat. "Dressed For Battle" is our series at Fusion Christian Church about winning that combat by wearing the Armor of God. In week four, Pastor Zac teaches how to hold the line with the shield of faith.
Faith holds the line.
This means that faith gives us the strength to stand our ground. The enemy will always try to attack our hearts. He shoots fiery darts of many kinds toward us, but faith allows us to extinguish those arrows. When things seem hopeless, faith keeps us in the fight. Believing that God's promises are true and that he will rescue us keeps us together. If we know that, then we will be able to press on.
The strength of your shield isn't determined by the size of your faith, but by the object of your faith.
Some of the greatest believers started with just a mustard seed of faith, and that is all God needs. A little scrap of faith is all God needs to accomplish great things in our lives. This is because the amount of faith we have does not matter as much as who our faith is in. Since Christians put our faith in Jesus, the one who is stronger than all, our faith becomes powerful. The power comes from the object of our faith, not the size of it.
Share your shield.
Your shield is not meant to protect you alone, it is meant to protect your comrades. When you maintain your shield of faith you are ensuring the defense of your allies as well. This is because faith is personal but not isolated. Your faith should be deeply personal, since it comes from your relationship with Jesus. But that does not mean you should walk the walk of faith alone. Doing so leaves you vulnerable to attack. Build up your faith alongside other believers and you can all keep each other going.
We are in the middle of spiritual combat. "Dressed For Battle" is our series at Fusion Christian Church about winning that combat by wearing the Armor of God. In week three, Pastor Joel teaches about the importance of setting your feet spiritually.
Set your feet on the Rock.
The most important step to setting your feet is to set them in the right place. Spiritually, the only place where it is secure to set your feet is on God himself. God is the rock of our salvation and when we plant our feet firmly in him we are prepared to defend any spiritual attack. Jesus Christ, being God, is also the rock of our salvation and the chief cornerstone of our faith. This is because Jesus is not just a sure foundation, he is the only foundation for our lives. There is salvation in no other name than the name of Jesus Christ.
Never stop learning.
The scriptures command and the spiritual trials of life demand that we grow spiritually. If we do not grow, we will remain spiritually immature: like babies. If we want to be effective witnesses of the gospel as God has commanded us, then we must continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. Just as one must sharpen a knife to make it useful for cutting, so a Christian must sharpen himself to be useful for God's work.
Never stop sharing.
Just as it would be a waste to sharpen a knife and never use it, so too is it a waste to sharpen yourself and never evangelize. All the learning in the world will never make a difference if we do not actually use it. Christ commanded us to go into the world and make disciples, teaching them everything he commanded. A faithful servant of God will share the gospel no matter the cost. If we want to live according to God's word, we must never stop sharing.
We are in the middle of spiritual combat. "Dressed For Battle" is our series at Fusion Christian Church about winning that combat by wearing the Armor of God. In week two, Elder Reuben teaches about the Breastplate of Righteousness.
The winner has already been determined.
In the context of spiritual warfare, the tide has already turned. God has already struck the decisive blow against the spiritual forces of darkness. Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the dead together mean he has already won. Jesus Christ won the victory, and we now continue fighting with the knowledge that we will win the final battle in Jesus' name. The battles we fight now are the last desperate attempts of the enemy.
Don't fight alone.
Spiritual warfare is a group effort. God's intent is for Christians to fight together. When we try to fight it alone, we have no one to defend our sides. When we fight together, we have brothers in arms who defend our flanks from the enemy. Spiritually, fighting together means bearing one another's burdens; it means mutual prayer; it means encouragement. Find other Christians who will protect your flank and remember to protect their flank as well!
We are in the middle of spiritual combat. "Dressed For Battle" is our series at Fusion Christian Church about winning that combat by wearing the Armor of God. In week one, Pastor Zac teaches about the belt of truth.
The power to fight comes from God!
The first thing to know about spiritual warfare is that the power to fight and to win comes from God. Before we put on a single piece of armor, we must learn to rely on the Lord for our strength. If we try to trust in our own power, we have failed before we even set out. If we trust in God instead, we are certain of victory!
You’re in the war of lies.
A massive swathe of the spiritual battlefield we face is filled with lies and deception. If we are to succeed as Christians, we must learn how to discern the real from the counterfeit, the truth from the lie. The key to this has two halves. The first half is knowing God's word, which trains our minds to discern God's truth from the deception of the enemy. The second half is to rely on the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us in the truth and remind us of what is true. If we can couple knowledge of God's word and a relationship with his Spirit, then we will set ourselves up for victory.
God gives us the belt of truth because truth has already been decided.
The thing about truth is that it is unchanging. Truth is what aligns with God and the reality he has created. Because God is unchanging so is truth. This is important in a world that constantly seeks to undermine the truth of what God has said. We can rightly call Satan, who rules this world, the father of lies, as Jesus did. Since he is our great enemy, we must expect that he will try to deceive us at every turn. The good news is that God has spoken clearly what the truth is. If we trust in him and his word we will find victory.
"Take A Stand" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on having the courage to stand strong in the faith. From the book of Daniel we will learn what it takes follow God in a world that doesn't. Pulling from chapters 7-12, Pastor Zac teaches about the final judgment and how we can be right with God.
One day the books will be opened.
God has a record of everything we have ever done. If we stand before God based on the works recorded in that book, we will not enter heaven. However, God has another book, one that contains a different record. That book has the names of those saved by the blood of the lamb. If we stand before God based off our record in that book, we will surely enter in. The question is, how do we know if God has written our names in it or not?
Our deliverance is in Christ.
God will write your name in the Book of Life if you put your faith in Jesus Christ. That is the only way to make sure your future is secure. No amount of good deeds will save us, because only Jesus lived a perfect life. Because of that, we must trust in His righteousness and not our own. Good deeds will save you, but only Christ's good deeds, not your own!
Take your stand at the end and aim for heaven.
With this in mind, we must aim to live a life worthy of the calling God has placed on our lives as Christians. Jesus called us not just to trust in him, but to repent of our sin. Repentance is a lifestyle that continually rejects sin and turns toward righteousness. As Christians do that, we prepare ourselves throughout life to ultimately enter into heaven. How are you aiming for heaven in your life?
"Take A Stand" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on having the courage to stand strong in the faith. From the book of Daniel we will learn what it takes follow God in a world that doesn't. In chapter 6, Pastor Zac teaches us about the necessity of godliness and the influence it has.
Godly people can stand out even in an ungodly world.
In the story of Daniel 6, the Persian officials all become jealous of Daniel because of his success. He not only was one of the three men in charge of all the other officials, but King Darius planned to promote him even over the other two. This illustrates an important principle for Christians: that we can succeed in an ungodly atmosphere. Even though Daniel was surrounded by worldly influences and away from his people, he was still able to rise to high station.
Stand on prayer and thanksgiving.
Because of their jealousy, the scheming officials set a trap for Daniel. They convinced the King to pass a law that made Daniel's prayers to God illegal. However, despite the law, Daniel continued to pray openly. He knew that he had to honor God above this wicked law. He continued to pray and give thanks for God so that the only crime he committed would be righteousness. Even so, Daniel is caught in the trap and Darius is forced to throw him into the Lion's Den.
Your godliness will point people to God.
Because of his godliness, God spared Daniel. Daniel survived the night and came out of the den alive. Darius then released a proclamation praising the God of Israel as one who rescues and saves. He recognized the miracle God had done and drew attention to it. Ultimately, Daniel's faithfulness and godliness set an example for the King and then the world to see. What steps can you make toward godliness in your life?
"Take A Stand" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on having the courage to stand strong in the faith. From the book of Daniel we will learn what it takes follow God in a world that doesn't. In chapter 5, Pastor Matt teaches about the Fear of the Lord and what happens with or without it.
No Fear of the Lord.
In the story of Daniel, the King of Babylon, Belshazzar chose not to fear God. In fact, he chose to spite God by using the holy items from His temple for a party. Because of this behavior, God writes on the wall in the middle of this party a prophecy of impending doom. Even then, Belshazzar feels fear not of the Lord, but only for his own potential downfall.
Refusing to listen to wisdom.
To make matters worse, God had already demonstrated his greatness to Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar knew about it. Instead of learning from the mistakes of his predecessor, Belshazzar acted foolishly. He chose to mock the Most High God instead of honoring him. While the Persian army was waiting at the gates, Belshazzar threw caution to the wind and threw a party. Even when the prophecy was given, Belshazzar refused to change his ways. He chose to die in his sin and in rebellion against God.
We will all be numbered, weighed, and judged.
King Belshazzar's days were numbered, his actions were weighed, and his choices were judged. We will not escape this measuring by God. This is why it is so important for us to live in the Fear of the Lord. This means we recognize that God will hold us accountable for our decisions and live accordingly. Even so, we must recognize that living rightly will not save us. We are not good enough to earn our salvation, so part of the Fear of the Lord is trusting in him for salvation. Only Jesus lived a perfect life; we must trust in him. Our good works are a result of our faith in him; they do not save us.
This impacts your life now!
When we do all of this, we can see that the Fear of the Lord changes our lives now. This is not a distant reality, but a way of living. Choosing to live in the Fear of the Lord will affect every other choice we make in our lives. Honor and revere God first and you will begin to walk in wisdom.
"Take A Stand" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on having the courage to stand strong in the faith. From the book of Daniel we will learn what it takes follow God in a world that doesn't. In chapter 4, Pastor Zac teaches about the pride of the King and the humbling lesson he learned.
Always start your story by giving God the glory.
Instead of being told from Daniel's perspective, Daniel chapter four is actually narrated by Nebuchadnezzar. While describing the most humbling experience of his life, King Nebuchadnezzar chooses to start by acknowledging God as Most High and worthy of worship. When we reflect on our own lives and our own stories, we ought to do the same. God must be first in our lives.
Start your story with repentance.
As the King tells his story in Daniel 4, he noticeably fails to repent early on. If he had changed his ways when God gave him a dream of warning, he would not have needed the extreme humbling later. Instead, because the King failed to repent, God cursed him to become like a dumb animal for seven years. Fortunately for Nebuchadnezzar, God gave him another chance to repent at the end of those seven years. Eventually, the King's sanity returned to him and he looked to God and changed his ways.
Your story isn't about you; it's about God working in you and through you.
At the end of Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar once again acknowledges the greatness of God. This is an important lesson for us because we should recognize that our stories are also mere windows through which God displays his glory. The purpose of your life and your story is to give glory to God. Even for people who reject God, the bible teaches that their lives will still eventually demonstrate the glory of God. However, it is always better to choose to acknowledge God's greatness yourself. How can you choose to give God the glory in your life this week?
"Take A Stand" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on having the courage to stand strong in the faith. From the book of Daniel we will learn what it takes follow God in a world that doesn't. In chapter 3, Pastor Zac teaches about the courage to stand for God by refusing to bow for anyone else.
This world will never stop asking you to bow to it.
Idolatry does not always take the form of bowing to physical idols. In our modern culture, it more often takes the form of compromise or misplaced priorities. In other words, we are more likely to commit idolatry by submitting to the demands of the culture around us rather than to God. Alternatively, we may commit idolatry by prioritizing other aspects of our lives above God. This temptation never ceases and we must constantly be alert to it.
Never bow to fear.
One of the greatest temptations for every Christian is to submit to fear. Often when we are challenged on our faith we desire to compromise our beliefs and surrender out of fear. Instead of standing firm on what God has told us, we take the easy way out and surrender to avoid difficulty. Christians are to hold fast to what God has given us and trust in his ultimate plan. We should fear disobeying God more than we fear the threats of the world.
We will never bring the world to Christ by becoming like it.
The primary mission of the church on earth is to bring it to Christ and we can never do that if we are not different! If we surrender and bow to the world we will not succeed in our mission. Christianity shows a better way of living, but if we don't live it ourselves, how will others see the better way?
Only one God has the power to save.
Ultimately we must remember that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. We cannot be saved by following any other way and we cannot try to take two roads at the same time. There is only one road and one doorway leading to eternal life: the man Christ Jesus. We must follow him and teach others to do the same. How can you use your words and your actions to teach Christ to others this week?
"Take A Stand" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on having the courage to stand strong in the faith. From the book of Daniel we will learn what it takes follow God in a world that doesn't. In chapter 2, Pastor Zac teaches about the advent of God's Kingdom on earth.
There are problems in life that human wisdom cannot fix.
In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar asks for his wisemen to interpret his dream. The problem is, the King knows that his wisemen might make up an interpretation from their own wisdom, so he tests them. He wants them to tell him what the dream was in the first place! None of the wisemen with their human wisdom could do this. What they needed was a word from God himself. None of the Babylonian wisemen were able to interpret the dream. Only Daniel, because God told it to him, was able to ultimately give the interpretation.
Don’t stand alone, stand in prayer with godly people.
Before God revealed the answer to Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to kill all of his wisemen! Hoping to avoid this, Daniel went to his three godly friends and they all prayed together. This is an important lesson for Christians today, because we need to remember prayer as well. Prayer is a practice of turning to God, and we should be turning to him every day. We also need to go to other believers and pray with them as well. There is power in the prayers of God's people.
Don’t take credit for things only God can do.
When God responded to Daniel's prayers and gave him the interpretation, Daniel could have taken credit. Daniel could have gone to the king and pretended that the wisdom and insight came from himself. Wisely, he refused to do this, instead, he gave all the glory to God alone. He did not speak of his ability to interpret, he spoke of an interpretation God had given him. In all things, we should give honor to God and not try to steal it for ourselves.
Jesus the cornerstone.
In Nebuchadnezzar's dream, he saw a statue representing earthly kingdoms destroyed by a stone from heaven. The bible speaks in many places of the "stone" from heaven being Jesus Christ. When Jesus came, he came to establish the Kingdom of God, and that kingdom will never fade away. This is the ultimate meaning of the vision in Daniel 2: that God's Kingdom will reign forever. So the question is, where will you stand? Will you stand in the kingdoms of this earth? Or will you stand in the Kingdom of Heaven?
"Take A Stand" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on having the courage to stand strong in the faith. From the book of Daniel we will learn what it takes follow God in a world that doesn't. In chapter 1, Pastor Zac will teach about committing to honor God in everything we do.
If you’re going to take a stand, there’s no prize for compromise.
Taking a stand means being resolute in your decision. If you claim to be resolved but you compromise around the edges, you won't win any prizes! Taking a stand means refusing to compromise, knowing that doing so will forfeit your benefits. God wants people who are all in on his mission and won't cave to the world. God wants people who will commit to him even when the world wants us to lower our standards.
If we keep choosing the world over God, eventually God will give us over to what we keep choosing.
Sometimes people become angry with God's judgments, but we really have no right to feel that way. When God chooses to punish us, it is only because we chose to sin. Because God is merciful, he often does not punish us right away. However, if we continue to sin and reject God's correction, eventually he will give us over to the consequences of our sin. If we think we can cheat the consequences of our sins, God will eventually punish us.
Honor God in the small things.
In the story of Daniel and the three Hebrews, they took a stand over their diet. God had given them restrictions on what they could eat and drink, and they chose to abide by those rules. Even though the culture around them was eating all sorts of other foods, Daniel and his friends decided to honor God even in something as small as their diet. Choosing to honor God in small areas of our lives shows him that we are willing to honor him in much bigger areas as well.
God honors those who honor Him.
God is gracious and fair. He will always reward those who seek and honor him. Taking a stand as a Christian means choosing to follow God and to honor him with our lives. We offer him everything and he honors us for doing so, knowing that it will cost us in this life. How can you choose to honor God in your life this week?
"Victim to Victor" is our series at Fusion Christian Church about overcoming through Christ Jesus. No matter how bad your wounds are or how great your challenges, victory belongs to the Christian through Christ. In Part 3, Pastor Zac talks about how to heal from our hurts, horrors, and hangups.
Let Jesus bind up your wounds.
The most important way to handle our hurts is to let God tend to them. Jesus suffered in every way that a human can suffer, which means he knows what you are experiencing. Jesus is able to perfectly address every hurt we have and to bind them up. If you take your pain to Jesus, know that, as a man, he intimately understands it, as God, he is able to heal it.
Forgive as God forgives you.
Forgiveness is not easy, but it is expected. For the Christian, it is important to constantly remember God's forgiveness to us so that we can offer it to others. Remembering that we needed forgiveness from God helps us offer forgiveness when others need it from us. Whether or not they accept our forgiveness, we are still to offer it and to forgive in our hearts. If we’ve truly experienced God’s forgiveness, we’ll be ready to forgive others. Humans need forgiveness from God far more than anyone else needs it from you. If God has forgiven, you must also forgive.
Release the hangup of bitterness.
Bitterness is more than just an emotion: it's a mindset. Bitterness happens when we hold onto the wrong others have done toward us until it sets us against them. The original offense may have been serious, or it may not have been, but bitterness will make it serious. When we hold onto the wrongs others have done, we only harm ourselves more. Like an alcoholic who refuses to quit his habit is the embittered man who refuses to let go. By refusing to let go we not only slowly poison ourselves, but we prevent any possible reconciliation. It's time to let go of your hurts, horrors, and hangups and to give them to Christ.
"Victim to Victor" is our series at Fusion Christian Church about overcoming through Christ Jesus. No matter how bad your wounds are or how great your challenges, victory belongs to the Christian through Christ. In Part 2, Pastor Matt teaches about four biblical steps to overcome the Victim Mentality.
Take every thought captive.
As Christians, we are not meant to let our thoughts be ruled by worldly influences. Instead, we are to renew our minds and take control of our thoughts. The Christian who does not make his mind obedient to Christ will fall victim to temptations. That temptation might even be the temptation to play the victim when you aren't! Regardless, we are to take our thoughts captive and submit them to Christ's authority.
Fix your mind on heavenly things.
We very often focus on wordly and negative things but God wants us to focus on him. We must get a heavenly perspective if we want to beat the victim mentality. When we start to see things as God sees them we start to see things as they are. This means keeping what's most important first in our minds and refusing to focus on the negative.
Change your outlook.
Beating the victim mentality is not about delusionally ignoring bad things in our life. It is recognizing the bad but choosing to look at the good instead. The bible teaches that we will suffer and we will have trouble. The bible also teaches that Jesus has overcome these things. Because of this, the Christian knows that God wins in the end and so we win too. Looking past the difficulties of life is key to overcoming them.
Be content.
Lastly, it is crucial to be content with what we have. It's very normal for us to desire more, and it is even healthy to desire good things. However, we must cultivate contentment. Contentment does not mean settling for less, but rather recognizing that God is in control. This means that if God provides less, then less is all we need. True contentment is being secure in the knowledge that we have everything we need in Christ. Anything on top of that is just icing on the cake!
If you follow these four steps, you will be well on your way to beating the victim mentality in your life.
"Victim to Victor" is our series at Fusion Christian Church about overcoming through Christ Jesus. No matter how bad your wounds are or how great your challenges, victory belongs to the Christian through Christ. In Part 1, Pastor Zac talks about how Jesus won the most important victory by defeating death.
We can never be good enough to make our sins right.
We all know from experience that we are broken people, and the bible confirms it. God tells us that all of us are guilty of sin, and that no amount of trying will fix that problem. Many people try to justify themselves, but God is clear that it will never actually be enough. God is perfect and he cannot accept anything short of perfection.
The good news is that God didn’t leave us in our sin—He sent Jesus to give us victory over it.
Because of his love for us, God didn't want us to die in our sins. That is why Jesus came to defeat death and sin and share his victory with us who believe. That is the message of the gospel, the good news. Although we deserved punishment, Jesus took it for us to set us free.
Jesus paid the debt for our sins on the cross.
One way to think of our sins is as a debt. Every time we sin, we add on to that debt. The cost for just one sin is more than any of us would like to pay, but we sin much more than that. Because of that, the debt of our sin is massive, and we can never pay it off. That is why it is so important that Jesus paid it all.
The BEST NEWS OF ALL ...Jesus didn’t stay dead.
Not only did Jesus pay for our debt on the cross, but he rose from the dead as well. Not only do we not face death in the way he did, but we have the hope of never ending life in him! The cross is a symbol of God's mercy: we don't face the punishment we deserve. The empty tomb is a symbol of God's grace: He gives us eternal life that we didn't deserve!
Eternal victory can only be found in the risen Jesus.
Because Jesus defeated death on the cross he will reign forever. That means the victory belongs to him forever. If we believe in Jesus, we get to share in that victory. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Are you ready to share in his victory?
“Eyewitness” is our series at Fusion Christian Church about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the people who saw it happen. These were real people, in real moments, who had real encounters with Jesus. In Part 4, Pastor Zac teaches about the thieves who were crucified with Jesus. One chose repentance in his final moments while the other chose his sin.
Jesus did not die for His own sins, because He had none; He died for our sins.
The gospel is simple, but not always easy to accept. The trouble is that we don't want to accept that we are sinful. The bible is very clear that all humans are sinners by nature. Because of that, we all spend our lives accruing debt against God. The debt we owe comes from committing crimes against him, which is what we call sin. The punishment for sin is death, which is a problem most of us don't want to face! The beauty of the gospel is that Jesus came and lived the perfect life so that he could take our place on the cross. He deserved blessings but took punishment. We deserved his punishment, but got his blessings.
One thief held onto his sin to his last breath. The other turned to Jesus with his.
We are all, like the thieves, presented with a choice. We can either recognize our sin and turn to Jesus, or reject Jesus and choose our sin. One of the thieves realized he needed Jesus while on the cross. At some point, while he was hanging there, his heart changed and he chose to acknowledge Christ as his Lord. The other thief chose to deny Jesus in his final moments. His heart hardened as he hung on his cross. The choice to accept Christ is before you. Will you accept him?
“Eyewitness” is our series at Fusion Christian Church about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the people who saw it happen. These were real people, in real moments, who had real encounters with Jesus. In Part 3, Pastor Zac talks about the crowd that saw Jesus enter Jerusalem on a Donkey. Some of those same people would call for his death only a few days later, so what changed?
Let Jesus be the Savior of your soul—not just the solver of your problems.
When Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, many recognized that he was fulfilling a prophecy as Messiah. The problem for them is that they were looking for Jesus to fulfill their vision of the Messiah. They expected the Messiah to be an earthly king who would fight off the Romans. Ruling their own kingdom again was all that this crowd had in mind when they waved Jesus into Jerusalem. They celebrated him while they thought he would solve their immediate problems. When they realized he wasn't going to do that, they turned on him.
What these people needed was to trust in Jesus as their savior. They needed to realize that Jesus' kingdom is not of this world, and that his mission was greater. He did not come to merely give them a hope in this life, but a hope in the next. We, too, must be careful not to treat Jesus like a genie who fixes our problems. We must see him as Lord and Savior of our lives.
Passion starts when Jesus is first—no matter the cost.
The crowds in Jerusalem were only interested in what Jesus could give them short-term. They weren't interested in the promise of eternal life. As Christians, we choose to put Christ first in our lives no matter what happens. A true believer will not abandon God when the promise of temporary gains seems to vanish. A true believer in Christ follows him at all costs and does not let anything take priority over Jesus. Are you living this way? Do you treat Jesus like number one all the time? Or do you do it only when he gives you good things? How can you make Jesus a priority in all circumstances in your life?
“Eyewitness” is our series at Fusion Christian Church about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the people who saw it happen. These were real people, in real moments, who had real encounters with Jesus. In Part 2, Pastor Zac teaches about Judas, who saw Jesus and still betrayed him. Judas chose Greed over God, how do we make a different choice?
Choose worship over wealth.
Before Jesus was crucified, Mary chose to wash his feet as an act of worship to our Lord. Judas, seeing her devotion, sneered and thought only about the "waste" of money. He suggested the perfume used could have been sold and the money given to the poor. In truth, Judas was greedy, wanting to skim from that money for himself. For someone greedy, it is unfathomable that others might choose to sacrifice in order to worship. Judas couldn't get his mind around someone spending money to worship God.
Surrender to Jesus as Lord.
The reason it was unthinkable for Judas to put money toward worship is that money was his god. At the last supper, when all the other disciples acknowledge Jesus as Lord, Judas only called him Rabbi. To Judas, Jesus was a nice guy who taught good things, but he wasn't his Lord. If you want to put your greediness to bed, you need to submit to Jesus as Lord. To become godly, it is not enough to recognize Jesus as a good moral teacher. You must recognize him as Lord of all and make him Lord of your life.
Guard your heart from small compromises.
Disastrous moral failings do not spring out of nowhere. They happen when someone makes little compromises along the way. When we begin to think "It's not that big of a deal if I..." then we are on a road to trouble. Chipping away at the rock of our moral integrity will always leave loose gravel at our feet. Once we are standing on gravel instead of stone, one slip can send us rolling down the slope we have created. Choose not to compromise in the little things, and you will set yourself up not to fall in the greater things.
“Eyewitness” is our series at Fusion Christian Church about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the people who saw it happen. These were real people, in real moments, who had real encounters with Jesus. In Part 1, Pastor Zac teaches about Peter's encounter with Jesus that brought him from denial to destiny.
Exchange self-confidence for God-confidence.
If we are to fulfill God's purpose for us, one thing we must learn is humility. We have to realize that self-confidence can only take us so far. Often, it can even get us in trouble. Putting our confidence in God, on the other hand, will take us where he wants us. Confidence in God will never get us into trouble that God can't deliver us from. We must remember that God is the one in control, not us.
Exchange the world’s weapons for God’s sword.
The world tells us to fight with all sorts of weapons. However, if we want to win the spiritual battles, we need to fight with God's word instead. The bible is called the "sword of the spirit" because it is the best weapon for spiritual warfare. As God's people, we should equip ourselves and become familiar with the sword he has given us. The bible is what God has given us so that we might have victory. Why would we let it collect dust on a shelf?
Exchange past failures for God’s future.
We may learn much from Peter's life, but perhaps the greatest lesson is that our failures do not define our destiny. Peter denied Jesus three times, but God still made him a pillar in his church. All of us are going to fail. All of us are going to sin and feel that we have failed God. Luckily for us, that is not the end of the story! God loves to use broken people to accomplish his purposes. You would be hard-pressed to find many people who messed up worse than Peter, but God still used Peter. God will use you too. All we need to do is to get back up when we fall and be willing to continue chasing after God.
"It's Complicated" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on relationships. Everyone knows our relationships are messy, but not everyone knows how to navigate them. This series will provide godly, biblical principles for keeping your relationships much less complicated! In Part 7, Pastor Zac teaches about how to handle our relationships God's Way.
Protect the unity.
One of the things God wants from Christians is for us to be unified. Jesus prayed for this specifically before his death, and we should take it seriously. We must not allow petty divisions within the body of Christ. One of the reasons for this is that being unified helps us to accomplish God's mission better. God told us to preach the gospel, and that gospel message is harmed by disunity in the church. Let us be gracious to one another and not separate over minor problems.
Value people the way God does.
God valued humans so much that he sent Christ to die on a cross for us. Do we value other people that much? Would we be willing to sacrifice for the same people that Christ sacrificed himself for? If Christ gave up his own life, the least we can do is give up a little time or a little comfort. If we want to have good relationships, we need to treat other people as though they matter as much to us as they do to God.
Have the same attitude as Jesus.
Jesus left his throne in heaven, giving up every privilege, to be born as a servant. He made himself nothing because of his great humility. If we are to be like Christ (we are), then we must be humble like Christ. Pride has no place in the heart of the believer. Instead, like Jesus, we should make ourselves like lowly servants in God's kingdom.
Start seeing your relationships as a ministry.
Ministry often sounds like it is only for pastors or professionals, but this is not true. Ministry is for all Christians. This is because ministry can be summed up in one word: sacrifice. Since we are to be like Christ, humbly sacrificing the gospel, ministry is therefore for all of us. The pastors and professionals can't do it alone! They need everyone in God's kingdom to be doing their part to spread the gospel. This starts with our relationships. We need to view every relationship as an opportunity to serve other people. These are the people that Christ died for, and we need to show them the light of the gospel. How can you minister to your friends and family this week?
"It's Complicated" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on relationships. Everyone knows our relationships are messy, but not everyone knows how to navigate them. This series will provide godly, biblical principles for keeping your relationships much less complicated! In Part 6, Pastor Zac teaches about how to lead yourself so that you can have better relationships.
Wherever I go, there I am.
Have you ever noticed that the common denominator in all your relationships is you? That means if you want to improve your relationships, you need to improve yourself. You need to choose to be godly and to follow God's designs. Regardless of how other people treat you, you can still choose to win in your relationships by doing things God's way.
Be the person who overlooks an offense.
People are going to do wrong to you. You cannot control that. What you can control is your response. One thing that God teaches through the scriptures is that it is good to be able to overlook an offense. Instead of focusing on how you have been wronged, try to forgive and not hold those wrongs against people. Learning how to be gracious to others will ultimately reflect God's grace in your life.
Be the person who loves instead of hates.
The only thing God calls us to hate is sin, and we have plenty of that within ourselves. When it comes to others, God tells us to love them. Loving others does not even mean that you have to like them, but it does mean you have to treat them well. To love someone is to act with their best interests in mind. This means you choose to treat them as God wants them treated even if you don't feel warm and fuzzy toward them. The warm feeling may or may not come later, but choosing to love our enemies is the Christ-like way to live.
"It's Complicated" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on relationships. Everyone knows our relationships are messy, but not everyone knows how to navigate them. This series will provide godly, biblical principles for keeping your relationships much less complicated! In Part 5, Pastor Zac teaches about how to win in our relationships.
You can’t win with people if you forget who you represent.
The most important aspect of winning in our relationships is remembering Jesus. As Christians, we represent Christ in what we do and sometimes we forget that. If we remember that we are ambassadors for Christ it can help us to maintain a Christlike attitude. When we do forget, we will find ourselves acting selfishly rather than selflessly. Love others as if you were Christ himself!
Get the right surround sound in your life.
The company we keep is incredibly important for every aspect of our lives. It is especially important in our relationships. Who you choose to spend your time will impact the success of your relationships more than almost anything. It will affect who you are in relationship with and how those relationships go. If you choose ungodly people, you will act like them and think like them. You will become more ungodly yourself. Choose, instead, to surround yourself with godly people who will encourage you. By surrounding yourself with godly people, you will become more godly through their influence. Why fight against the cultural current among worldly people to be like the world? Opt to spend most of your time with godly people that want to pursue Christ.
Always fill the tank of others.
Filling the tank is all about being an encourager. Have you ever been around someone who is always negative? They tend to leave you feeling drained: like your tank is empty. Don't be like those people! Instead, be an encourager and a life-giver through your speech. Uplift people with your words and actions and leave them feeling refreshed rather than parched.
"It's Complicated" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on relationships. Everyone knows our relationships are messy, but not everyone knows how to navigate them. This series will provide godly, biblical principles for keeping your relationships much less complicated! In Part 4, Pastor Zac teaches about honoring your parents.
We honor our parents, even when it’s complicated, because it’s right.
Honoring your parents is what God calls us to do even when it is difficult or confusing. Sometimes understanding honor properly is easier when we define what honoring our parents is NOT. Firstly, honoring your parents does not mean blind obedience throughout your life. As a child especially, obedience is right and even necessary. As an adult, you are no longer required to blindly obey everything your parents say, but you are still called to respect them.
Honor also does not mean approving of sinful or destructive choices. Sometimes your parents will do the wrong thing, you do not have to approve of that. Honor also does not require you to remain in an abusive situation or relationship. If it is not safe, you are not required to stay. Finally, honor is not compromising your own marriage, faith, or calling in order to make your parents happy. Within these limitations, do your best to show respect to your parents in all situations.
Choosing respect over disrespect.
This can be most difficult when you disagree with your parents. However honor does not require agreement. You can still show respect for your parents even if you end up choosing something other than what they would. It is up to us to choose to respect rather than disrespect our parents.
Choosing care over caring-less.
As parents age, it is important for their children to take care of them as best they can. We should not put off care of our parents onto others when we are able to do it. Showing honor and love for our parents means ensuring they are cared for in their old age.
Choosing forgiveness over bitterness.
Family can hurt us worse than anyone else. The wounds are deeper and harder to mend. Christians are still to forgive. Forgiving others does not mean we must allow them to hurt us again, but it does mean we cannot cling to bitterness. Unforgiveness has destroyed millions of relationships. Christians should not allow this to happen with our relationships by harboring an unforgiving attitude. Christ calls us to forgive, and if we cannot forgive our parents, who will we forgive?
"It's Complicated" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on relationships. Everyone knows our relationships are messy, but not everyone knows how to navigate them. This series will provide godly, biblical principles for keeping your relationships much less complicated! In Part 3, Pastor Matt teaches about the right approach to parenting.
We must equip our children rather than enable them.
Often parents don't equip children to succeed in life, but enable them to misbehave. Instead of learning discipline, the children learn to do whatever they want. One day, the parents won't be able to keep their kids' lives on track anymore. When that happens, the kids will have to make their own choices. Then it will truly be revealed how well they were raised.
Equip them with your Example.
What kids learn from their parents is more "caught" than "taught." What this means is that they will learn more from your example than what you tell them. This means parents cannot be hypocrites! If you speak one way and live another, your kids will see right through it. This means we should focus on the example we set before anything else.
Equip them with the Word.
Learning the word of God is the most important education any person can receive. That means parents should make it a priority to keep their kids in the scriptures. This also means that parents should know the scriptures. It's hard to equip someone else with God's word when you are not equipped yourself.
Equip them with Discipline.
Children need discipline. This is an unpopular position in modern culture, but children are not perfect and need correction. Out of love, out of a desire for what's best, children must be given discipline. If parents refuse to discipline their children, their children will almost never grow up to live healthy lives.
Equip them with with Grace.
On the flip side of discipline, parents must also offer grace. God is perfect in justice, but also in mercy and grace. In the same way, parents need to try to strike a balance between discipline and grace. Your children need to see both of these modeled because it will affect the way they relate to God later. If you can strike a balance between the two extremes, you will be on your way to godly parenting.
"It's Complicated" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on relationships. Everyone knows our relationships are messy, but not everyone knows how to navigate them. This series will provide godly, biblical principles for keeping your relationships much less complicated! In Part 2, Joel Pierce (our worship director) talks about how to have a godly influence on the people around you.
Influence is wasted if it does not point to Christ.
We can influence people in many ways, but unless we point to Christ we are wasting our time. People might remember you fondly for telling good jokes and being a fun person, but these things are temporary. By pointing people to Christ in all we do we can have an impact on their eternity, not just their present.
Give God the Glory.
In leadership, as in all things, we must learn to give God the glory. Any time you attempt to influence people, you are attempting leadership, even if you have no official position. By giving God glory, we not only recognize our creator, but we help keep ourselves out of the spotlight. in that way, giving God glory is really about keeping ourselves humble. If you desire influence in order to make yourself look better, you have the wrong attitude. Glorifying God instead maintains a humble attitude.
Start Small.
If you're trying to have a positive impact on others, it's important to focus on the people around you first. Stop worrying about the people who are not in your sphere of influence and focus on the people who are. If you are faithful with the few people God has placed around you, God will reward your diligence and increase your influence according to your abilities.
Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy.
Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy refer to right teaching and right practice, respectively. When you combine them, they encapsulate what we believe and how we live out that belief. If we can maintain those two things effectively, then we are on our way to setting a right example in our lives. God calls all Christians to set an example for those around us. If we can keep our doctrine and practice sound, then we will encourage those around us through our example.
"It's Complicated" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on relationships. Everyone knows our relationships are messy, but not everyone knows how to navigate them. This series will provide godly, biblical principles for keeping your relationships much less complicated! In part 1, Pastor Zac teaches how to honor God with our sexuality both in dating and marriage.
Fall in love with someone who loves Jesus.
The most important decision any person makes after deciding to follow Jesus is deciding who to marry. For those of us who have decided to follow Jesus, marrying someone else who loves him too is of utmost importance. The bible is very clear that those who follow God should not marry people who don't follow him. If you have, the best thing to do is to honor God in that marriage. But if you are an unmarried Christian, you should not marry anyone who is not Christian.
Honor God with your sexuality.
God designed sex for marriage and designed marriage to be between one man and one woman. To honor God with your sexuality, therefore, means to maintain purity outside of marriage and faithfulness within it. Pornography, adultery, and extra-marital sex are all dishonoring to God and should be avoided.
Lifelong marriage is God’s design from the beginning.
Part of God's design is also for marriage to be lasting. Although the bible allows for divorce in certain limited circumstances, God hates divorce, and desires that reconciliation happen instead when possible. Marriage is meant to be for one man and one woman to be joined for life. When this happens it allows marriage to properly mirror the relationship between Christ and the Church.
Move from selfishness to selflessness.
The single biggest obstacle to healthy relationships is selfishness. If we can teach ourselves to put the other person's needs above our own, we will find that selfishness disappearing. When both partners in a relationship do this, the relationship becomes healthier. How can you put others above yourself in your relationships?
Before Jesus left earth, he told his disciples to let the whole world know about the gospel. That's why our vision at Fusion Christian Church is to "Tell Everyone" the good news of Jesus Christ. On our Mission Sunday, we celebrate the ways in which we participate in that mission locally and globally. In this sermon, guest pastor, Mark Blum, teaches about our role in carrying the gospel to everyone.
If you are a believer, you ARE qualified.
God doesn't always use the most impressive and qualified people to carry his message. In fact, he prefers to use people who are lowly in the world's eyes. The truth is, anyone who has been saved by Jesus has a story to tell about how the gospel changed them. Sharing that story is enough to get started with telling everyone. You'll learn more along the way, but if you have a Jesus story, you are qualified to start sharing it!
Love God, Love Others, Tell Everyone.
These three simple commands comprise our mission statement at Fusion Christian Church. They are drawn from Jesus' summary of the law into two commandments as well as the Great Commission. Part of the simple beauty of this mission is how each part of it logically flows out of the command before it. If we begin be loving God, the natural overflow of our love for God will be love for others. If we love others, the natural expression of that is to tell them the good news of Jesus.
Live a life of LEGACY.
Most people live their lives in survival mode. They are barely scraping by and don't have time to think much about the future. Fewer people live life in success. These people are comfortable. They don't have any major struggles and are usually content. This is better, but is it what God has for us? Fewer people still life a life of legacy. These people have moved beyond success and are living a life with a goal of making a difference in the world around them. It's not enough for these people to have success for themselves, they need to expand God's kingdom and leave a legacy behind them that will affect others for generations.
At Fusion Christian Church, Loving others is a major part of our church vision. This is because Jesus told us it is the second most important commandment, only beaten out by loving God. While this could easily be its own series, Pastor Matt will summarize some ways to love others in this message.
We love people equally.
God hates partiality. Partiality is when you show favoritism and don't treat people fairly. At Fusion Christian Church we strive to treat all people with justice and fairness, as God instructs. The bible leaves no room for us to be unfair. We must love all people equally.
We love people by serving them.
Serving others can take many different forms, but it is an essential way to show the love of Christ. All Christians need to be serving in one way or another, because that is an irreplacable way to show love. Just as Jesus showed his love by washing the disciples' feet, we too must show love by serving.
We love people by forgiving like Christ.
If serving is sometimes difficult, forgiveness can be even more difficult! Much could be said about forgiveness, but in short, Christians must not hold grudges. Whether or not another person accepts forgiveness, it is our place to offer it. If we refuse to offer forgiveness when God has forgiven us so much, we make ourselves hypocrites. Don't cling to bitterness, but forgive others as God forgave you.
Three ways to embody love:
-We love people in the gathering of believers.
-We love people in the small groups.
-We love people in relationships.
What these three points encompass is three different levels of relationship. Christians need to love at the church level: we cannot neglect church! We also need to love at a small group level, participating in close-knit community with other Christians. Finally, we need to love individually, maintaining one-on-one accountability and familiarity. If we do these things, we will be well on our way to embodying the love of Christ.
Love God is the first part of our mission statement at Fusion Christian Church. We believe that everything we do and believe starts there. So how exactly are we to love God? Listen in as Pastor Zac answers that very question.
We must go to the source.
In order to Love God we must draw near to him. He is the source of all things, especially love, because God is love. If we are going to learn how to love God properly, we need to know what love is. The only way to do this is to get to know him for who he is. Knowing God's character on a personal level gives us a personal understanding of love and enables us to reciprocate it. When we know God, not only do we experience his love for us, but we will be able to love him in return.
To love God is to delight in listening to Him and obeying Him.
Loving God is not an idle exercise. Loving God means we choose to listen to and obey him. If we say we love God but we don't listen to him, we make ourselves liars! If we say we love God but we don't obey him, we make ourselves hypocrites! Loving God includes following his commandments. We don't do this merely out of obligation, but in joyful adoration of our King and Savior.
Where there is love, there will be service and obedience.
This is the natural state of a believer. Because God is our Creator and King, it is natural for us to serve him. Because he is good, it is a service of love. If we truly love God, service and obedience will flow from that spring. Service will not be a burden, but a joy. The Lord is not a harsh taskmaster, but a loving Father who desires close relationship with his children. Loving him is the greatest endeavor of the Christian life.
Clear, Focused, and Godly describes our Fusion Christian Church vision for the year 2026. On Vision Sunday, Pastor Zac teaches about how to expand God's kingdom through serving at the church.
God’s plan A has always been to build his church.
Jesus told us his plan for the gospel before he left earth, and that plan is to spread it through the church. Building the church means going out into all the world and making disciples. As we add more disciples to our number, the church grows, because the church is not a building, it's the people. The spreading of the gospel and the building of the church are ultimately the same mission.
When you grow, WE can grow more.
Pastor Zac is fond of saying, "We will never be corporately what we are not individually." What this means is that if individual church members do not grow, the church will not grow either. Every Christian must take it upon himself to grow spiritually. This is the only way for a local church body to stay healthy, because if you aren't growing, you're dying.
When you step up, WE can serve more.
Similar to growing, the church is more limited on the service it can offer to people when the congregants don't get involved. The church needs its members to step up and serve so that more ministry can happen. There are needs all over the place just waiting for someone to step up and fill them. If you aren't involved, you need to be!
When you give, WE can do more.
Ministry doesn't happen for free. The reality is that everything costs money, and it probably costs more than you think. The church relies on the generosity of God's people for ministry to happen. If people are not giving, ministry is not happening. Prayerfully consider giving to your local church body and help support the work of the gospel.
When you go, WE can reach more.
Fusion Christian Church is involved in missions projects both locally and globally. We believe in spreading the gospel both near and far, but we need people to carry that gospel out. Will you join the mission and go where God needs you?
"How to Have the Best Year Ever" is just that: a quick guide on having the best year ever! At Fusion Christian Church, we believe that living a godly life is the way to have the best life. In this year's end sermon, Pastor Zac teaches through the principles of godly living and how to have the best year ever by applying them.
Train yourself to be godly.
Godliness requires training; it doesn't happen by accident! There are no short cuts or easy routes to spiritual maturity. Instead, growing in godliness takes discipline and training. Here are four ways to sum up what training this way means:
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Training means preparing in private for what God wants to do in public.
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Training means developing godly, healthy habits that produce kingdom results.
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Training means preparing today for the life God is calling you to live tomorrow.
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Training is what separates intention from transformation.
Training for godliness requires God's training plan.
If we are to train, we need to know how to do it. God gave us instructions for growing through his word. This is the first place we should turn to when we are trying to learn how to train. God hasn't left us feeling around in the dark for answers, but has given us the light of his word to guide us.
The eight spiritual muscles of the Christian life.
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Bible reading and study
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Prayer and fasting
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Worship—both private and corporate
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Generosity
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Serving
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Witnessing to others
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Faithfulness to God’s house
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Loving God and loving others
Nine benefits of training in godliness:
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You’ll become more like Jesus.
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You’ll grow in patience.
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You’ll experience less guilt and shame.
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You’ll experience less fear, worry, and anxiety.
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You’ll become a more loving person.
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You’ll become better at your work.
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You’ll become wiser with your money.
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You’ll build a stronger family and relationships.
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You’ll become the person God is calling you to become.
The Greatest Story Of All Time is our Christmas 2025 series at Fusion Christian Church. In this series we look at some of the ways God foreshadowed the Christmas story throughout the bible. In part 4, we conclude our series with a teaching on how Jesus Christ is our great High Priest.
Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice.
The priests in the Old Testament had to offer sacrifices constantly in order to atone for the sins of Israel. This is because the animal sacrifices could never truly take away the sins of the people. What the sacrifices did was point forward to the future sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Jesus, by offering his own body up on the cross, did what all the priests who came before could never do. He made a once for all, perfect sacrifice that could finally make people clean.
Jesus entered the perfect place.
Under the Old Testament system, the High Priest entered the "Most Holy Place" once a year on the Day of Atonement. The Most Holy Place was the room in the Tabernacle (or later the temple) that housed the Ark of the Covenant. Here the High Priest would act as a mediator between God and his people, making peace between them. The Most Holy Place, however, was only a shadow of the true Most Holy Place in heaven. Jesus, as the perfect High Priest, passed through the heavens himself, and therefore entered the "perfect place." By doing so, Jesus was able to reconcile God's people to him in a way no other high priest could.
Jesus sat down on the perfect seat.
On the Ark of the Covenant, which sat in the Most Holy Place, there was a space between two angels called the "Mercy Seat." This is the place where God's presence rested and where he would meet with the High Priest. Like with the Most Holy Place, this Mercy Seat was a shadow representing God's throne in heaven. According to the bible, after Jesus had offered his perfect sacrifice (himself) he sat down at the right hand of God in heaven. What this means is that Jesus can sit in the seat reserved only for God (because he is God). Jesus sits in heaven's Mercy Seat because he is the one who gives mercy to his people.
You are now part of the priesthood.
If you have been saved by Jesus, then his blood has washed you clean and set you apart for his service. God has a job for all of us to do, and that is to serve him and his gospel. All Christians are part of a priesthood where we live in service to our Prophet, Priest, and King Jesus Christ. How will you serve him?
The Greatest Story Of All Time is our Christmas 2025 series at Fusion Christian Church. In this series we look at some of the ways God foreshadowed the Christmas story throughout the bible. For part 3, Pastor Zac talks about how Jesus speaks as a prophet and we need to listen.
Chapter 5 – The prophet speaks, and we must listen to Him.
Throughout redemptive history, God has used prophets to get his messages across to people. God had five main duties for his prophets.
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To preach his word - at the most basic level, God's prophets were to tell what God said.
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To confront sin - God's prophets were to call out the wickedness of the nations.
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To call people to repentance - beyond just pointing out the sin, doing so was meant to be coupled with encouragement to repentance.
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To announce either judgment or forgiveness - the prophets were to warn of impending judgment from God or to tell of his wrath turned away.
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To reveal God's present and future plans - God meant for his prophets to foretell of future events.
How does God speak?
There are two primary ways God speaks to us today. The first is through his word. The best way for us to know what God is saying is to read what he has written down for us in the scriptures. The second is through the Holy Spirit, who lives inside each believer and helps guide them in daily living. Beyond these, there are a few ways that God has given us to confirm what he has said. Great confirming voices are biblical preaching, prayer, worship, and godly counsel.
How do I hear from Jesus?
Here are three practical steps to hear what Jesus is saying and better apply what he says to your life:
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Stop listening to the mockers, haters, and dissension creators.
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Stop listening to your doubts and fears.
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Start listening to God’s word.
If you do these things you will be equipped to hear God speaking and put his words into practice.
The Greatest Story Of All Time is our Christmas 2025 series at Fusion Christian Church. In this series we look at some of the ways God foreshadowed the Christmas story throughout the bible. For part 2, Pastor Zac teaches about the ultimate end of the story, when Jesus returns to rule the nations.
What you bow to has command over your life.
We often allow the wrong things to run our lives. Sometimes our schedules make us feel like passengers on a train that runs itself. What we choose to bow to will control us. That is why we must choose to submit to the right throne, and Jesus' throne is the one above all others. What are some reasons to choose to submit to Jesus?
Jesus is the everlasting king.
The bible clearly teaches that Jesus is eternal and will be king forever. If his kingdom and throne are established forever, then he is the ultimate ruler. So the question is: why do we stop following him? Why do we continue to rebel instead of submitting to Jesus? This question is brought into more light by the next point.
Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
There were many kings and many lords on earth when Jesus came the first time. They did not want to submit to him. The same is true now, There are many rulers on the earth, but Jesus is Lord over all of them. This does not mean they all recognize Jesus' authority. They deny it for the same reason the average person does. We want to keep control for ourselves. We don't want to bend the knee to someone else.
Jesus is the King who is coming.
The bible does not end with Jesus leaving his followers behind. Instead, not only does he promise to send the Holy Spirit to us, but he promises to come again. This is the hope of Christianity: that our savior will return as Lord and King to rule the nations and set all things right.
The Greatest Story Of All Time is our Christmas 2025 series at Fusion Christian Church. In this series we look at some of the ways God foreshadowed the Christmas story throughout the bible. For Part 1, Pastor Zac teaches about the earliest promises of Jesus found in Genesis.
Chapter One: Before Once Upon A Time.
Before Jesus was ever born, before anyone ever wrote a letter of the bible, God had a story in mind. From before he even created time, God knew what he wanted to do. Like a skilled author, God used foreshadowing throughout his scriptures to point to what was coming. He has designed all of history to culminate in his specific plan for the salvation of his people. The bible is a collection of books that tells us about it.
Chapter Two: In the Beginning - The Conflict of Christmas Begins.
All the way back in the Garden of Eden, we see the central plot of God's story begin to develop. The serpent deceived Eve, and our ancestor Adam fell into sin. In that story, we see that God cursed the snake and promised his ultimate demise. Eventually, the offspring of the woman would crush the head of the serpent and gain victory for all of us. As the story goes on, God will begin to fill in the details about this future champion.
Chapter Three: The Promised One.
Later in Genesis, we see God's promise to Abraham to give him a son. Through this son of the promise, God would eventually bring about the blessing of all nations and the salvation of many. When Abraham's faith is tested by God asking for his son to be sacrificed, Abraham believes that God will provide a lamb for the sacrifice instead. God kept Abraham's son, Isaac, safe, and promised again that there would be a future savior. Through this we see the ways Jesus' birth and even death are foreshadowed even back in Genesis.
This is part 4 of "Thanks & Giving," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we reflect on how to be both grateful and generous in our lives. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about "True Religion" vs. "Fake religion."
Real religion is your inward faith made visible.
The bible teaches that good works are the fruit of a good tree. If a person has true faith in Christ, good works will result. Works do not happen by accident, but are the natural outgrowth of faith. True, real religion, then, is the visible part of someone's invisible faith. No one but God can see into the hearts of men, so the only way we can know if someone's faith is real is by their outward expression of it.
True religion starts with love for Jesus.
Loving Jesus is what kicks it all off. If we don't have a genuine love for Jesus Christ underneath our good works, then it is all worth nothing. Maybe our good works help others, but they do nothing to help us with God. God is not interested in our good works if they are not resting on a relationship with him.
True religion proves itself in your love for others.
We see true religion proven when we see a Christian loving his neighbors. Christian love is not an idle feeling, but a decision to do what is best for someone else. As Christians, God calls us to love those around us. This means we must choose to do what is best for them even when it costs us.
True religion demonstrates itself by meeting the needs of others.
Finally, actually doing the good works is where the rubber meets the road. Our love for others and desire to have the best for them propel us to meet their needs. Good Christians love God first, love others second, and demonstrate both of these by meeting their neighbors' needs. How can you meet the needs of your neighbors this week?
This is part 3 of "Thanks & Giving," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we reflect on how to be both grateful and generous in our lives. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about the dangers of greed and the need for gratitude.
There's only ONE provider.
God is the ultimate source of all things. Everything we have comes from him, which means we should be grateful to him for it all. Generosity should spring from that gratitude, and that will help us to combat one of the more sinister vices: Greed.
Greed always gets in the way of what God wants to do in your life.
A greedy attitude seeks to hoard wealth for itself, but ironically, it actually becomes a thief. When we give into greed, it actually keeps us from being used by God to bless others, which should be the desire of every Christian. Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive, but a greedily clenched fist can do neither.
Worry shifts your focus from God to yourself.
When we worry, it is because we have stopped trusting God to be a provider for us. This can result in greedy behavior, because we seek to provide for ourselves instead of relying on God. We attempt to hoard wealth so that our future will be secure, but only God can guarantee our future.
Faith shifts your focus to God as your true provider.
If we choose to trust God instead of worrying, we can rest easy knowing he will provide for us. God is faithful to keep his promises, and he will be faithful to supply all the needs of the Christian as he sees fit. Choosing to rely on God's faithfulness instead of our own abilities will ease our anxieties about tomorrow.
This is part 2 of "Thanks & Giving," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we reflect on how to be both grateful and generous in our lives. In part 2, Pastor Zac teaches about what we choose to invest in.
Kingdom Generosity is the only investment that lasts.
As part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that we should not expend ourselves storing treasure on earth. Instead, we should devote our time to storing up treasure in heaven by living for God's kingdom. It's far too easy to spend our time collecting and amassing wealth and comfort for ourselves. What Jesus encouraged us to do is to spend our time and our treasure to further his kingdom.
Investing in Kingdom Generosity reveals your heart.
When we choose to spend our treasure on the kingdom, we demonstrate that God has changed our hearts. Other people will be able to see that we genuinely love God through our generosity. By contrast, refusing to be generous or to give to God indicates a heart that is not God's at all. It is our job to help spread his kingdom here on earth. If we aren't contributing, then do our hearts really belong to God?
Investing in Kingdom Generosity reveals your health.
What we focus on affects our health. When we focus on the light, it enables us to see and fills our whole body with light. When we focus on the dark, the opposite happens. Choosing to follow the light reflects throughout our whole body. We should keep our focus on things of heaven and not just things of earth.
Investing in Kingdom Generosity reveals whom you serve.
When we choose to be generous with our limited time and resources, we show we are truly devoted to God. Why do we claim to follow God in every way except in generosity? Jesus taught that we cannot serve both God and money. We deceive ourselves if we claim to serve God but refuse to put him first in our finances. How can you choose to put God first this week?
This is part 1 of "Thanks & Giving," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we reflect on how to be both grateful and generous in our lives. In the inaugural sermon for the series, Pastor Zac discusses the relationship between gratitude and generosity.
Thanks leads us to generosity because everything we have comes from God.
When we reflect on God's nature as the source of all things, we should become grateful as a result. We ought to know that everything we have comes from God, and as such it does not truly belong to us. This should naturally lead to generosity. If what we have is not truly ours, giving it away should be easy!
Thanks leads us to generosity because Jesus gave up everything so we could gain everything.
When Jesus came down to earth he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. By becoming man, he gave up the privileges of divinity and took on the infirmities of being human. Not only this, but he died the death of a sinner even though he was perfect. He did all of this so that we could have access to the grace of God. He took the punishment we deserve so that we could have the rewards he deserved. By foregoing the advantages of being the Son of God, he made a way for us all to be adopted as children of God.
Thanks leads us to generosity because love always gives.
Love is generous by its very nature. To love is to will the good of the other, and one of the main ways to will another's good is to give of yourself. If you love someone you give them your time, your talent, your treasure, and your talk. You make an effort to give them the best of what you have in order to ensure their good.
Thanks leads to generosity because its not an option: its obedience.
Jesus said that those who love him keep his commands. If we love him, we will choose obedience, and choosing obedience means being generous. To be obedient to God means we must cultivate an attitude of generosity in our lives. How can you choose to be generous this week?
This is part 7 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In this week's message, Pastor Matt closes out this series by teaching about God's presence in times of need.
He is the God of both the mountaintop and the valley.
There are few stories which demonstrate the ups and downs of life as clearly as that of Joseph. He was the favorite son of Israel, but this created jealousy among his brothers, who sold him into slavery. When Joseph arrived as a slave in Egypt, he earned favor in his master's house through his diligence and faithfulness. Unfortunately, he also earned the favor of his master's wife, who attempted to seduce Joseph. When Joseph rejected her advances, the spurned woman falsely accused him and had him thrown into prison. Finally, God provided a way out for Joseph by giving him an opportunity to interpret dreams for the Pharaoh of Egypt. Pharaoh raised Joseph to second in command over all Egypt.
God is always faithful to his promises.
Throughout all of this, Joseph recognized that God had been there with him. Joseph knew that God had orchestrated events to put Joseph in a place where he could eventually save his family and all of Egypt. Scripture is filled with promises from God, and filled further with examples of God keeping those promises. God has never once broken a promise to his people, and knowing that, we can trust him to never break one in the future.
God's presence is not proven by the absence of suffering, but by his faithfulness through it.
Though God has promised many things, he has never promised that we will not suffer. What God has promised is to see us through our suffering. Not only that, but by living a human life in the person of Jesus, God has experienced our suffering. We do not have a distant God who does not understand, but we have a God who suffered and died like any man did on the cross. For that, we can be grateful and confident that he sympathizes with us in our weakness.
This is part 6 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In this week's message, Elder Reuben teaches about what's fair in light of God's justice and grace.
God's Just Grace.
Reading through the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, we see that God's standards don't line up with ours. The owner of the vineyard hires many laborers to work for him throughout the day. At the end of the day, he pays each the same wage regardless of how long they worked. Some complain, but the owner responds that they received the agreed upon amount. In addition, the owner's riches are his to dispense as he chooses. This story ultimately depicts the grace of God in giving out salvation to all people.
When Life Feels Unfair.
Job provides an example of how we ought to respond when life feels unfair. Job had every reason to complain about his treatment, but instead he chose to praise God. He chose to trust in God's plan rather than accuse God (at least until his friends gave him some bad advice!). When we feel life is unfair, we should make the same choice and bless God rather than blame him.
Making It Make Sense - God's Faithfulness.
When life feels unfair, we can trust that God is still faithful. He doesn’t promise that everything will feel fair, but He promises that everything will work for good. What seems unfair to man is often the perfect justice of God working through grace. Be thankful that God may not seem fair to us, but He is always just. That’s our greatest hope.
This is part 5 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In this week's message, Pastor Zac teaches about overcoming sin as a Christian.
Why do I still struggle with sin?
There are two main reasons believers continue to struggle with sin. The first is that we have not come to terms with the fact that we are at war. There is a real spiritual war going on within us: a battle against our sinful nature. If we do not recognize it, we cannot take the proper steps to ready ourselves against it. The second reason we struggle is simply that we like our sin! If sin was not pleasurable it would not be tempting! Because sin is fun for a time, we must remember the consequences of sin later.
How can I overcome the sin in my life?
The first thing to do is to train and discipline yourself spiritually so that you are ready for the battle against sin. The next step is to pray over the battle, knowing that you need God's help to win it. Thirdly, you need to get dressed for battle by putting on the full armor of God. Once you have prepared for the battle, remember that your battle with sin is to the death. Our goal in fighting sin is not merely to manage it or reduce it, but to kill it entirely.
To go back to sin, after surrendering your life to Jesus, is to go back to death.
We, having been raised to life, must not go back to death! Sin kept us in death and bondage, why would any of us return to it? Thankfully, Jesus has set us free and given us the power to overcome through him. These are the final pieces of the puzzle in the struggle against sin. First, to fight with that power which only Jesus gives. Second, to allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives. If we will continue to do these things, sin will not ensnare us, but we will overcome.
This is part 4 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In this week's message, Pastor Zac explains what the bible says about heaven and hell.
What was hell created for?
The bible teaches that God prepared hell for the devil and the angels that fell with him. God didn't create hell with humans in mind, and he wants none of us to end up there. If we choose to reject God, he will give us what we want and send us there. God's justice is perfect, which means he must punish sin. If we do not want to accept that Jesus took that punishment for us already, then we can pay the penalty ourselves. But why choose that when salvation is free?
For love to be love, it must be freely given.
As stated, if we choose to reject God, he will give us what we desire. He will send us to hell, separated from his goodness. God has decided, in his grand calculus, that he values our free will. Therefore he will not force us to love him. If God were to try to force us to love him, it would not be love because love can only exist as a result of a free choice.
Hell is a quarantine of evil.
Because God is perfect and holy, he cannot coexist with evil. That is why heaven will be a place without any evil whatsoever. Instead, God will cast all evil and all evildoers into hell, sequestered for eternity. There, in hell, God metes out just punishment to those who deserve it. Hell is separation from God in that it is a separation from his goodness and mercy, but God's presence is inescapable. In hell, God's presence persists, but it persists in the fullness of his wrath.
God does not want anyone to perish in hell.
In light of the terrifying prospect of hell, it is important to remember that God does not want to send any of us there. God sent Jesus to be a sacrifice in our place so that we could escape hell and go to heaven instead.
Heaven was custom-built for you!
Unlike hell, which God prepared for the devil and demons, heaven exists for all of us to enjoy God forever. When Jesus comes back, God will renew heaven and earth so that all of us might live there with him. Jesus is there now, preparing a place for all those who trust in him for salvation. If you believe in him, all of us from the least to the greatest will go to heaven to experience unspeakable joy and fulfillment forever. This is God's plan; this is God's endgame. The only question is: will you be a part of it?
This is part 3 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In our First Wednesday installment of the series, Pastor Matt teaches how to navigate faith and feelings.
God's presence isn't based on our feelings but on the truth of God's word.
Every Christian feels far from God sometimes, so it is important to know what to do when we experience that. The most important thing to remember is that God is not distant only because we feel he is. In fact, God is not distant at all, but is near to all of us.
The Lord is our shepherd.
God is like a shepherd who watches over his people, his sheep. When we feel far from God, we can know that our shepherd is still there by the scriptures that promise it. This means that God leads us, feeds us, and protects us. He preserves his people because he cares for them. He restores and refreshes our souls when we are weary. If we go through the valley of the shadow of death, we know that God is there to comfort, to guide, and to keep us from evil. When you feel far from God, remember what he says in his word and look to him for strength.
This is part 2 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In week 2 of the series, Pastor Zac teaches how to deal with suffering in our lives.
Suffering follows evil.
Suffering is a consequence of the fall of creation as described in Genesis 3. Because humans sinned, we all experience the consequences of that sin through suffering and pain. While some choose to blame God, each of us has committed more than enough sin to deserve our own pain. Though choosing to blame God is tempting, there are some things we should remember about the God we would accuse.
Jesus entered our suffering on the cross.
The God who some choose to accuse of evil is the very God who entered into creation to suffer an excruciating death on our behalf. We do not have a God who is distant or uncaring, but a God who experienced human suffering in full. Therefore God is able to understand our weaknesses and sympathize with us. Not only this, but God can strengthen us in our time of need. Remember that God is able to take what was meant for evil and turn it for good. In light of this, how should we respond when we face suffering?
Worship God - in suffering and in joy.
When we experience intense suffering, the last thing we may want to do is praise God, but it helps. As shocking as it may be, choosing to praise God through the trials instills hope when we would otherwise despair. To help in times of trouble, train yourself to praise him in the hills so you are ready to praise in the valleys.
Let suffering open your heart and eyes to see God more clearly.
Paradoxically, God's goodness is revealed most clearly in our suffering. If we choose to praise him through it, we can feel his comfort and learn to know him more closely.
Don't let suffering crush you - let God use it to make you stronger.
Suffering can easily cause us to turn bitter. That temptation is strong. Choose, however, to let God strengthen you through the experience instead. Trust God to lead you through it and you will end up stronger in faith because of it.
Remember: suffering in this world is temporary for the Christian.
This world is not all there is, but rather the Christian has hope for the next one. There will come a day when God will wipe away every tear and set all things right. God is loving and just, and he will both establish justice and save his people.
Use your experience to comfort others.
When we experience trials, we should remember them so that we might comfort others in the same situation. Our trials are not ours alone, but they equip us to help others when they face similar circumstances. Whatever the pain you face, trust in God to deliver you through it.
This is part 1 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In the first week of the series, we look at the problem of evil and ask how a good God can allow it to persist.
Sin is real, but so is salvation.
Many people struggle to believe that God exists in the face of so much evil. However, if you remove God from the equation, we still face evil but now we do it without hope. In truth, evil is evidence that God does exist. The fact that we recognize evil in the world means we have some notion the world ought to be different. We all intuitively know the world ought not just to be different, but to be better. Simply recognizing that the world ought to be better forces us to ask: What do we mean by better? At that point, we must realize that without an ultimate standard of right and wrong, we have no grounding for our idea of "better." That ultimate standard comes from God, and it cannot come from humans.
Evil exists because we can choose.
God created the world and instilled it with the freedom of choice for mankind. Man needed the ability to choose in order to be able to love. Love is a decision, an act of the will, and without free will it cannot exist. Evil exists because when God created beings with free will, we used that will to turn against him. Humans, like some of the angels before us, violated God's law and introduced sin and death into the world.
God will destroy evil.
Fortunately for us, the introduction of evil into the world is only the beginning of the story. God sent Jesus to break the power of sin and conquer death by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. The time is now coming when Christ will return and deal the final blow to sin and death, putting them to an end. God will not allow sin to continue forever, but will destroy it for good at the second coming. Because of the work Christ has done, nothing can separate us from God's love. Therefore we must choose life in Jesus in gratitude for what he has done.
This is part 22 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In our series finale, pastor and missionary to Peru, Nick Balcombe, teaches about the evangelist attitude all Christians should have.
Mars Hill and the Unknown God.
In Acts 17, Paul visits Mars Hill in Athens where he spots an altar to an "unknown god." Observing the Athenian desire to honor a god they don't know, Paul uses that very altar as a starting point for sharing about the one true God. By paying attention to the culture he was entering into, Paul was able to connect with the people he desired to reach and share the gospel in a more accessible way. By learning about the culture he was evangelizing, Paul demonstrated a deep love and care for the Athenians.
Look, Listen, Love.
Paul made himself aware of what was important to the Athenians and thereby showed his love for them. Christians should follow Paul's example in our own efforts to evangelize others. No matter who we are targeting with the gospel, Christians should try to understand who we are trying to reach. When we understand our audience, we can apply the gospel to their lives in an effective way and we can show them why it matters to them. The gospel is a message that everyone needs, and it is our job to help people see that need. By applying the three simple words: look, listen, and love, we become more effective evangelists.
This is part 21 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches how to live life according to God's will.
Ask God for his will for your entire life.
Often people will surrender a part of their lives to God but try to reserve portions for themselves. This is not enough. Christianity is not a part-time faith and that means we must surrender all to God. If we want to live in God's will, we must submit fully to his will. God knows better than we do anyway!
Ask God to close every door no man can open and open every door no man can shut.
What this means is to recognize that God's decisions are final and not changed by the whims of men. If we make this our prayer, we also recognize the wisdom of God's will. If God intends on keeping a door open, it is a fool's errand to oppose him. Likewise if he keeps a door shut, there is no use trying to worm our way in anyway.
Align your life with God's word.
Perhaps the most straightforward way to live according to God's will is to apply his word to your life. God's will never contradicts his word and vice-versa. The bible is more accessible now than it has ever been, and we should not let it sit on a shelf. There is no substitute for reading it and applying it to our lives.
Start trusting that God has a better plan than you do.
It is sometimes very difficult to see God's plan in the chaos of life. It can be equally difficult to humble ourselves and admit that we don't make the best plans. However, if we do this, we will be better off for trusting in God's plans, which are perfect.
Surround yourself with people who want God's will too.
Christianity is not practiced in isolation, but in community. If we want to continue in God's will, we should surround ourselves with other Christians seeking the same thing. In this way we may all push each other toward the same goal.
This is part 20 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac reads from the story of the first church council and teaches how we are saved.
We are saved from God's wrath.
The bible is clear that all men have sinned and that the wages for our sin is death. Because God is righteous, he cannot allow unrighteousness to be near him. Because he is just, he cannot allow injustice to continue. God has every right as a perfect and just creator, to deal with humans as he sees fit. Fortunately for us, God does not desire to punish but to save us.
We are saved by the blood of Jesus.
God's chosen way of saving humanity was through the willing sacrifice of his own son on the cross. In the Old Testament, he established the principle that without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. In the New Testament, Jesus died as a perfect sacrifice, shedding perfect blood, that there could be perfect forgiveness for all time.
You're never saved by works.
All the religions of the world and sometimes different versions of Christianity will make salvation about works. This is not how God designed it. Rather, God gave us our salvation as a free gift and we do our own good works as a response to that gift. Salvation can sometimes seem simple and sometimes complicated. At a basic level, salvation is for good works and not because of them. Salvation is fully dependent on God's grace and there is nothing which we do to contribute to it. If you have not believed in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, perhaps it is time to give your life to him today.
This is part 19 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Matt uses the Apostle Paul's teaching in Acts 13 to explain how we should be like King David.
A heart after God trusts.
David learned from his youth to trust in the Lord through his trials. Trusting God in battles against wild animals gave him the confidence to challenge Goliath, knowing that God would be with him. If we are to have a heart after God like David did, it starts with trusting in him.
A heart after God worships.
When David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, he danced with all his might. David was fully committed to praising God in that moment and declared that he would become even more undignified for the sake of the Lord. This ought to be the attitude of all Christians. With a heart after God, we are dedicated to praising God.
A heart after God repents.
Perhaps most importantly, David exemplified a lifestyle of repentance. Repentance is not a one-time event, but a continual choice for every person. Since we will not be able to stop sinning before death, we must keep repenting each time we do stumble. David did this throughout his life, and it is why he was called a man after God's heart.
What God promises he will fulfull.
For those who put their faith in Jesus, God has promised to finish the work of salvation within them. Like repentance, salvation is not a single event, but an ongoing process completed at the final resurrection. God gives the Holy Spirit to believers as a guarantee that he will complete our salvation. In the meantime, there are a few ways we can and should serve God's purpose.
Work hard.
Christians should not be lazy. Our actions represent Christ to the world and we ought to reflect him well.
Work intentionally.
When we work, we work with purpose. Christians are called to make the most of every opportunity and do all our work as though it is directly for God.
Live with joy, prayer, and gratitude.
Christians who maintain these three things will shine like stars in a dark world. Joy, even in sorrow, is a great testament to the hope Christians have in Jesus. Prayer keeps our thoughts continually on God. Gratitude keeps us humble and positive by helping us to hold God's blessings in mind. How can you cultivate these three in your life?
This is part 18 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches that God is worthy of all glory and warns about what happens when we don't offer it to him.
The downward spiral of being a glory hog.
Glory hogs start with pride, chase applause, are left empty, and end in death. When we pursue our own glory instead of God's it stems from a place of pride. It starts by thinking that we are greater than our creator. The result is that we continue in a neverending pursuit of something that will never satisfy us anyway. We were made to worship God, and worshipping ourselves does not fill that void. Ultimately, those who worship themselves and live as glory hogs will die apart from God.
Glory hogs steal what belongs to God.
Part of the reason worshipping yourself leads to death is that we are stealing from God what is rightfully his. It is crazy for us to steal from God and think that there will not be consequences. Of course, by trying to take glory from God, we also starve ourselves of joy bit by bit. So how can we avoid stealing the glory for ourselves?
Redirect the praise.
By redirecting our praise toward God, we place him back at the center. When we praise God above all else, we are choosing to focus on him. By deciding not to play our own fanfare and instead to prioritize God, we recognize that he is greater and eliminate our own pride.
Don't just give God more glory, give him ALL glory.
It's not enough for us to give God just a little bit of praise, because he deserves all the praise. We must choose daily to give God all glory, honor, and praise, because reserving any of it for ourselves creates a bastion of pride. We owe God everything simply because he created us and sustains our every breath, and much more because he sent Jesus to die for our sins. It is only right for us to pay what we owe.
This is part 17 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this message, Pastor Zac continues the "series within a series" by teaching five more ways to identify a real Christian.
You believe and participate in global missions.
The church is not just a place you go on Sundays, but all of God's people around the world. Participating in global missions means being a part of growing the church even in far off places. Whether that means going to those places or supporting financially, Christians should be involved in growing the church worldwide.
You intentionally learn the bible.
God's word is the bedrock for the Christian church and it needs to be a bedrock for our lives too. Although it is easy to get distracted from studying the bible, a healthy Christian life requires the discipline to stay in the word. Learning what God says on Sundays is not enough. We need to be in the word during the rest of the week as well.
You care for the well-being of the church.
This point applies to both the local and global church. All Christians are part of the church, which means all Christians should care about the health of the church. We, the church, are the bride of Christ, and we need that bride to be as healthy as possible. This means praying and serving so that the church can thrive.
You give generously.
This is a difficult area for many, but Christians are called to be generous with their resources. We must remember that everything we have ultimately belongs to God, and it is only right that we give back to him.
You belong to a local church family.
Too many people claim to be Christians but refuse to participate in local fellowship. Just as a tree needs roots to grow, so does the Christian needed to be rooted in community. Likewise, as a hand cut-off from the body can do nothing, so too is the Christian cut-off from the church. How can you get involved in your local church?
This is part 16 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac begins a two-part series within the series about what makes a Christian stand out.
You believe in the good news of Jesus Christ.
The most basic marker of a Christian is that Christians believe in the gospel. Everything in the Christian life begins with faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in accordance with the scriptures. If someone does not believe in this, they are not a Christian. This is a very simple mark of a Christian.
You take Jesus with you everywhere.
In Acts 11, the followers of Jesus took their beliefs to Antioch, where they were first called Christians. No matter where his followers went, Jesus went right along with them and became known to the people in that new place.
You tell other people about Jesus.
Just as Christians take Jesus with us everywhere, we also should talk about him all the time. Christianity is not a private faith, and it is the duty of Christians to share our faith with the world.
Your trials make you stronger.
Christians are not like the world when we suffer, but rather we are to consider it a joy when we face trials for Jesus. Jesus promised his followers that we would face persecution, but also that he would be with us through it. Since Jesus suffered for us, we should consider it a great honor to suffer for him in turn.
You earn a good reputation because of your godly life.
We, Christians, are called to be like Christ. As we grow to be more like him, the world should see our godly character and recognize the change that comes from God. Godly character is one of the best markers of a Christian, because without Christ there is no hope at living a life that pleases God.
This is part 15 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches from Acts 10-11 and explains how we can move past the spiritual walls in our lives to reach God.
Start seeking God and you will find Him.
This statement is a promise direct from God himself: that if we seek him with all our heart and mind we will find him. God desires to have a relationship with us, and he sent Jesus to make a way for that to happen. God is not distant, but he remains close so that if we reach out to him we can find him. When you are up against a wall, the first thing you should do is look for God.
Let God get you ready.
Neither Peter nor Cornelius knew exactly what God was doing with them in this story. Both, however, were willing to let God make them ready. They both trusted that God had a plan for their situation, and God used them to open the door for the gospel to be spread throughout the nations. Before this, the apostles ran into barriers preaching to gentiles, but God broke down that wall.
Focus on Jesus.
Jesus said to "seek first the Kingdom of Heaven," and how better to seek the Kingdom than to focus on the King? Jesus rules all; he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When we focus on Him, he takes care of all our needs. If you are hitting a wall in your life, focusing on Jesus one of the best ways to break through it. If God is for us, who can be against us?
This is part 14 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Matt teaches through the conversion of Saul and what we can learn from it.
Without Christ I am considered an enemy of God.
Before Saul's conversion, he was an enemy and persecutor of the church. He approved Stephen's execution, he dragged Christians from their homes to put them in prison, and he was on his way to Damascus to do even more damage. What many people don't realize, is that without Christ, we are enemies of God just like Paul was. We might not have hunted down Christians like Paul, but sin makes us all enemies of God by nature. Fortunately, we don't have to stay that way.
God loves me as he finds me.
Despite being God's enemies, God made a plan to reconcile us to himself. He demonstrated his love for us by sending Jesus to die on the cross even though we were dead in our sins. God loves us even at our worst.
God's love is too good to leave me there.
The next part of God's plan to save us is to actually change us from the inside out. He makes us alive and sends the Holy Spirit to guide us so that we might become more like him.
Nobody is beyond the grace of God.
Paul called himself the worst of sinners, and what his dramatic conversion story shows us is that nobody is too far gone to be saved. As long as we draw breath there is time for us to turn back to God.
I change from adversary to ambassador.
When we do change, when we do believe in Jesus, we go from being God's enemies to his emissaries. Instead of fighting against him, we fight to deliver his message to everyone who will listen.
Paul's story can be your story.
If you have been far from God, or if you feel like the worst of sinners, it's important to remember that God can change you too. If you repent and put your faith in Jesus, God will adopt you as his own and begin to change you from the inside out. Will you make that choice today?
This is part 13 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches through the story of Philip and the Ethiopian, explaining how God appoints circumstances.
How God Works Through Divine Appointments
The story of Philip and the Ethiopian is one that shows how God works behind the scenes. Philip is traveling on the road when he encounters the Ethiopian reading a prophecy about Jesus in his chariot. First asking if he understands it, Philip then offers to explain it when the man says no. The Ethiopian was far from home and in the perfect position to receive the gospel message from Philip, and Philip was in the perfect position to give it. God orchestrates events so that encounters like this can happen, and not just in the bible. God does this today, and Christians need to be ready for it when it does happen.
Listen for God's leading.
There are a few questions we can ask ourselves to confirm that something we should do is godly. First is: Does it contradict scripture? If the answer to this is yes, then what we are thinking of is never from God. God will never contradict himself, so anything that contradicts his word is automatically wrong. The second question is this: Does it bring peace or fear? God gave us a spirit of courage, not fear, and his perfect love casts out fear. If there is no sense of peace about something, it may not be from God. The third question is: Does it encourage obedience or excuses? Often when we are faced with a decision, one option will lead us into obedience to God and the other will lead us to making excuses for not following him. We should always choos the option that makes us obedient to God. Lastly: Does it point you to Jesus? This question is simple, but we often get distracted by issues that don't point us to Jesus and must be careful to stay focused.
Be ready with an answer.
When Philip found himself in front of the Ethiopian, he seized the opportunity to explain the gospel. He didn't let the situation pass him by, he didn't make any excuses, and he didn't leave it for someone else. No, Philip jumped right in and asked the man if he needed an explanation. Then he used the very passage the man was reading to explain who Jesus was and how he had fulfilled it just a few months prior. The bible tells Christians to always be ready with an answer for the hope that we have. How can you prepare that answer in your own life?
This is part 12 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches that God can turn and use evil situations for good purposes.
God can turn it for good.
The bible is full of stories where God takes a terrible situation and flips it around for the good of his people. Acts chapter eight is one of those stories. The church began to face its first real wave of persecution following Stephen's death, scattering the believers. As it happened, this scattering forced Christians to carry the gospel outside of Jerusalem. The result was that people in neighboring cities began to hear the good news and Jesus' kingdom began to spread. We see that God can turn things around for good, but what are some ways in which he does it?
God turns grief into joy.
When we picked up our story in Acts 8, we saw a church that was mourning the loss of Stephen, one of its leaders. By the time we reach the end of the passage, however, we see great joy in Samaria because of the gospel being brought there. Just like the early church, modern Christians are not immune to sorrow. The promise of God is that sorrow is not the final word, and that when we enter his presence there will be fullness of joy.
God turns opposition into open doors.
We have already seen that God arranged for the gospel to be preached because of the scattering of believers. God does the same sort of thing now. Often we complain about any opposition we face, but if we remain patient, we may see God work wonders. Make it up in your mind to wait on God and trust that he will be faithful through our trials!
"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about Stephen, the first martyr, and how we can stand to the end like he did.
Ask God for His Wisdom.
Before his death, Stephen answered every question with God-given wisdom. Both the old and new testaments advise us to ask God for wisdom and tell us that if we seek it we will find it. Christians are to use wisdom in all that we do. Seek wisdom from God, the source of it all.
Let your light shine.
When Stephen sat before the Sanhedrin, his face shone like an angel. In the same way, Christians are to shine the light of God's grace in our daily lives. The gospel is a light to all who hear it, and Christians who don't share it through word and deed are neglecting their responsibility. Make sure to let your light shine for all to see!
Know where you’re headed.
When Stephen knew his life was over, he was able to remain at peace because he knew what his destination was. Stephen knew that he was on his way to the arms of Jesus, and that emboldened him at the end. When you know the future is secure and your hope is in heaven, you can live confidently for Christ.
Take no grudges to the grave.
With his last words, Stephen asked God to forgive the very people who murdered him. Like Jesus on the cross, Stephen did not harbor any bitterness toward his enemies, but instead forgave them. Stephen's desire, even in death, was that his enemies would repent and that God would forgive them. We, too, should live our lives free from grudges and bitterness. When we let go of our grudges, it frees us to live the way Christ wants us to.
"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about the importance of having christlike servants in the church. There are three key ways Christians need to be Christlike in order to take the church to the next level.
Christlike Culture
To understand how the culture of a church should be Christlike, first we should see two major obstacles to this. The first major obstacle is division. A divided church will never be able to maintain a Christlike culture because a house divided cannot stand. Jesus prayed for unity among his followers, and if we promote disunity and division we will never live up to the calling Christ has for us. The second major obstacle is complaining. Complaining is a critical killer of Christlike culture because it keeps our focus on anything but Jesus and his mission for us. There is no purity in complaining, and we need to avoid it if we are to have Christlike culture.
Christlike Character
All Christians are meant to have character like Christ (hence the name "Christian!"), but this becomes even more important as the church grows. The church will never be corporately what it is not individually, so the individual must seek Christlike character in order for the church to have it as a whole. Christlike character consistently does the right thing at the right time in the right way for the right reason. On the flipside, bad character consistently does the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong way for the wrong reasons. As a follower of Jesus, you can choose to be like him in character through the power of the Spirit.
Christlike Competence
God has gifted every believer with certain abilities, and we are called to use them to serve the kingdom. Christlike competence means that we use our skills and talents in order to build up the church. What are you competent in? How can you use that knowledge and ability to benefit God's people and his kingdom?
"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches why we need to have right motives.
Ananias and Sapphira
In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira sell property and donate a portion of the money to the church. Ordinarily, this would be an honorable thing to do, but the couple lied about their contribution. They had every right to donate only some of the money, but they told the church that they gave the entire amount. Their motivation was to appear more generous than they really were. God is not fooled by this display, and he strikes both husband and wife dead on the spot.
Let God be your motive, not the recognition.
By lying to the church, Ananias and Sapphira were essentially lying to God. They did this because they desired the praise and approval of men more than the approval of God. If they desired to please God, they would have been honest about the amount donated. When you do good deeds, is it to be seen by men or by God? If you seek the praise of other people, Jesus said that will be your only reward. If you seek to please God, not caring about human attention, your reward will be in heaven.
Let truth be your motive, not lies.
Some people struggle greatly with telling the truth. The bible emphasizes the importance of truth and honesty all over the place. For the Christian, therefore, honesty should be a life goal. To walk in the truth is God's desire for us, because God is truth. How can you become a more honest person in your daily life? What would it look like to live in the truth?
"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches us about how we can live in the power of the Spirit both individually and communally.
Walk in the power of unity.
In the early church, the believers were all of one heart and mind. If Christians today are to be the same, we must make every effort to promote unity ourselves. Promoting unity means that we refuse to give in to divisive attitudes or indulge in toxic behaviors. A healthy Christian community refuses gossip, slander, backbiting, envy, and bitterness. Saying "no" to these behaviors and emotions will keep divisiveness to a minimum and foster community within the church. This means not only refusing to engage in them yourself, but speaking up when others try to fall into them around you.
Walk in the power of generosity.
Often a church's potential is limited solely by a lack of generosity from its members. If the whole body of Christ maintained a godly sense of generosity, there would never be a need left unmet in the church. Sometimes the temptation for individual believers is to think that generosity is not our responsibility, but this is not so. God calls all Christians to be generous because generosity is a beneficial character trait for every person. We are to be generous not merely because others have needs, but because there is a need in our own hearts to develop generosity. When God gives opportunities for generosity, he is helping us grow. Truly it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Are you a Barnabas?
Barnabas means "son of encouragement." In the bible, Barnabas was a generous servant who built people up wherever he went. Are you an encourager? Are you generous? Are you a unifier? If not, you should not expect to be the church to be something you are not.
With all of this in mind, how can you embody unity and generosity in your life this week?
"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches us about the name (Jesus) that is above every name, and how the name of Jesus is specifically above your name.
Jesus is the name of your healing.
Jesus has the power to heal anyone of anything, and Christians can often see his miraculous power working. However, the most important healing that Jesus offers us is the spiritual healing we receive when we believe. When we become Christians, God works in our hearts to regenerate our spirits and bring from death to life. Physical healing is temporary, but the spiritual healing brought by Jesus through the gospel is eternal. One day, those who receive this spiritual healing will also receive new bodies like our present ones, but free of all weakness. This is accomplished when Jesus returns.
Jesus is the name you obey.
Many people want Christ's healing, but they have no interest in submitting to him. When it comes to God's kingdom, if you are only in it for the perks, you are not truly in it at all. Jesus said that those who love him keep his commands. To ignore God's rules is not the way of the Christian. Christ came to transform us into new men and women, not merely to grant us wishes. If we are to be transformed, we must keep his commands to the best of our ability.
Jesus is the name you build on.
The first stone laid in any building project is the most important one, because it orients everything that comes after. When the bible calls Jesus a "capstone" or "chief cornerstone" it means that he is the foundation for our faith and our lives. Is your life built on Jesus? Have you been trying to build on another foundation? If you make Jesus your cornerstone, it will orient everything else in the right way.
Jesus is the name of your salvation.
Christianity is exclusive. The gospel is available to all people, but there is not another gospel. When Jesus said he was the way, he meant it. All who call on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved, and there is no other name in heaven or on earth by which we are saved. Call upon the name of Jesus for your salvation.
"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Matt teaches about what caused the early church to explode in growth and why God cares about the numbers.
God Cares About the Numbers!
Sometimes churches and the people in them become too caught up in the numbers, but the opposite can be just as much a problem. At Fusion Christian Church, we care about how many people attend because each one of those "numbers" represents a person who Jesus died for. God loves people, and by reaching more people we show God's love to more people. If we stop caring about the "numbers" altogether, we limit how many people we can love on God's behalf. We do not want high numbers simply to have them, but because numbers represent real people who need the gospel.
A Church that Gives God the Glory Continues to Grow.
God draws people to himself when Jesus Christ is lifted up. This means both that Jesus draws people through his death on the cross, and that Christians can help with this. When we glorify our God, we lift up Jesus and point our attention toward him. This helps direct others toward the one who can save them, and the Father draws them into the church.
A Unified Church Continues to Grow.
Unity does not mean that we agree on everything, it means we agree on the most important things and are gracious in everything else. Many people confuse unity with uniformity, thinking that because Christians are not completely uniform in all things, we are not united. This is not the case. Complete uniformity is usually the sign of a cult group, whereas true unity accommodates a wide range of practices and beliefs. If we believe in "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all" (Eph. 4:5-6) then we have unity on the essentials.
A Generous Church Continues to Grow.
One thing that united the early church was their willingness to give what they had to provide for others. Generosity is a tangible expression of the love Christians should have for everyone, but most of all for each other. When we give to the church, we help ensure that its needs are provided for. Giving to the local church is a primary way to facilitate this.
A Church that Gathers both Corporately and in Small Groups Continues to Grow.
The early church would meet regularly both in large and small gatherings. They met daily in homes, but also met in larger groups at the temple. Both types of gatherings are valuable for the health of the church. Those who go only to large meetings and not small groups are unable to develop the close relationships that help bind the church together. Those who only go to small groups and not large meetings miss out on the larger vision of the church.
Every person in the church is essential. When you are not active in your church body, not only are you missing out on the church, but the church is missing out on you! You have something to offer God and to offer the church. Don't deprive the rest of the body of Christ of your unique gifts and abilities!
"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches from Acts 2 about the four elements that make a church healthy.
Be unshakeably devoted to God's word.
The early church committed to learning what God had spoken through the apostles. They received the Old Testament from their ancestors, but received new revelation from the apostles, now recorded in the New Testament. Because they knew God had spoken in this way, they were attentive to his word and determined to learn what they could from it. This sets an example for us to follow today. We should study and learn God's word both as individuals and within our church community.
Be devoted to authentic fellowship.
Fellowship is more than simply "hanging out." Fellowship is when the body of believers lives out their common faith in Jesus. When we fellowship with other Christians, our faith expresses itself in our relationships and interactions with each other. Love should be demonstrated above all when we fellowship.
Be devoted to breaking bread with others in the church.
Breaking bread is closely bound with fellowship, but is two-fold in expression. We should both eat together with other Christians and develop our relationships in that way, but also take communion together regularly. In the early church, these two often went hand in hand, as communion would often be taken as part of a larger communal meal. However we choose to partake in these two activities, they are important for our spiritual development as individuals and as a church.
Be devoted to personal and corporate prayer.
The church will never be corporately what it is not individually. This means that if we desire a church that prays, we need individuals who pray. Prayer is an undeniably crucial aspect of a healthy Christian life, and we must discipline ourselves to pray consistently. If we do not pray, the church will suffer as a result. How can you help yourself to become more disciplined in your prayer?
"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about how the Holy Spirit empowers believers and how the Last Days are upon us!
The Holy Spirit empowers the coward - and he can empower you.
Most of Acts chapter two is a sermon from Peter the apostle. Peter, the same man who abandoned Christ and denied him three times, is now giving a sermon in front of thousands of people. Through the Holy Spirit, God is able to empower believers to be bold and courageous where before they were cowardly. If God can make Peter into a pillar of the church, he can certainly use you!
The last days have begun— the countdown is real – are you ready?
According to the bible, the "Last Days" are the period between Jesus' first coming and second coming. This means we are in the last days right now. Knowing this, we all have to ask ourselves if we're ready for Christ's return. Are you living the way you should knowing that Jesus will be coming soon?
The Holy Spirit was poured out and is yours to receive.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit briefly enabled people to accomplish tasks. In the New Testament, in the "Last Days," the Holy Spirit lives inside of believers. The same power that led heroes of the Old Testament to do mighty deeds in God's name now lives inside every Christian. This means that God is always with us and that through him we can do great things to grow his kingdom.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
To receive the Holy Spirit, you must accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and submit to him as Lord. This promise is for everyone, because everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. If you repent and believe, you will be saved.
"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches about the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost and what it means for us today.
Your first fruits always belong to the Lord.
God chose to initiate the church at Pentecost because of what the day meant in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, Pentecost was the day that Israel would bring in the "firstfruits" of their belongings as an offering to the Lord. In the New Testament, Pentecost was the day that God took the firstfruits of the church. The 3,000 people saved in Acts 2 represent the first part of the whole of God's people, whom God has been bringing to himself out of every nation since that day. Just as Israel brought in their firstfruits, we, too, should offer the first of all we have to God.
You must surrender your heart to God.
Fifty days after the first Passover, Moses went to meet God at Mount Sinai. Fifty days after Jesus' death (at Passover), God sent the Holy Spirit to meet the church. Moses brought the law on stone tablets, but the Holy Spirit came to write the law on our hearts. When we surrender our hearts to God, the Holy Spirit fills us and gives us the ability to uphold God's commandments. Before we have the Holy Spirit, no good thing we do provides any spiritual benefit. Through the Holy Spirit we are enabled to do spiritual good and to truly love God.
Jesus has reversed every curse.
Through the gift of tongues given at Pentecost, the church is able to reverse the curse of Babel. At the tower of Babel, God confused the languages because the people were united against him. Now, in the New Testament era, God has given the gift of tongues to his church so that people of every nation, tribe, and tongue could be a part of his people. Instead of humans being united against God, we can now unite in exalting God.
The reversing of this curse is also the firstfruit of all other curses to be broken by Christ's power. For the believer, no curse cannot be overcome through the power of the Spirit. Whatever sin or curse is in your past has been nailed to the cross and you need bear it no more. Surrender to Christ and be freed from the bondage of sin and death.
"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches about how we can be a part of God's story through the Holy Spirit.
Don't doubt, believe.
What ought to strike us when we read through the opening of Acts is that Jesus presented many proofs to his followers that he was truly alive. The resurrection is at the core of Christianity, and it is important to know that it really happened. Jesus was not ambiguous with his followers, but he showed clearly that he had risen from the dead. He did this so that you and I would believe.
Don't do it alone - Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit
Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus promised that he would send the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide, and strengthen his followers. Christians who follow him today have access to this same Holy Spirit from the moment we place our belief in Christ. Don't struggle through issues on your own, but lean on the Holy Spirit.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
To lean on the Spirit, it is important to know about him. The Holy Spirit is God. He is not an impersonal force, but is the third person of the trinity. The Holy Spirit living inside us is how God's presence rests upon the life of a believer. The Spirit is also the change agent for godly living. Only through the Holy Spirit is the believer empowered to keep God's commands and live according to God's design.
Become a bold witness for Jesus.
Through the Holy Spirit, the apostles became confident in the Lord Jesus and became witnesses of his resurrection throughout the world. We take part in that legacy by spreading the gospel through the same Holy Spirit that lived also in the apostles.
Live like he's coming back tomorrow.
Finally, the angels present at Jesus' ascension told the apostles that he would return in the same way. Knowing this, we should always be ready and live like he's coming back soon. Keeping that mindset will help us to live the way we should.
"Your Story Isn't Over" is our message to you at Fusion Christian Church this Easter. Have you ever felt that your life is over? Have you ever been lost and not known where to turn? In this message, Pastor Zac will teach us what the resurrection of Jesus means for us and how to live accordingly.
You have two lives: one mortal and one immortal.
Though many deny that there is anything beyond the grave, the bible teaches clearly that there is. Further, we not only have both mortal and immortal lives, but the two are intrinsically connected. What you do with your mortal life will impact your immortal life. As a result, you have two choices.
Choice One: Live your life rejecting Jesus.
With choice one you choose death for your immortal life. This may seem like a contradiction, but the bible is quite clear on this point. If you reject Jesus, then you must pay the penalty for your sins on your own. Jesus has offered to pay it for you, and indeed he did pay it on the cross, but if you reject him then his payment will not cover you. Since the penalty for sin is death, refusing Christ will result in death since we are all lost in sin. Sin is serious, and the consequences are dire. If you reject Jesus in this life, you will face death in the life to come.
Choice Two: Live your life accepting Jesus
With choice two you receive life everlasting. When you accept Jesus, his blood covers your sin and his death cancels your debt. This is the most important choice anyone can make. Choosing to accept Jesus will change your life both now and forever.
You end up on the wrong road when you start looking for life among the dead things.
Just as the women at the tomb were looking for Jesus in the grave (though he was alive), we sometimes look for life in the wrong places. In order to make sure we end up on the right road, we must repent and turn to Jesus. This is what it means to accept Jesus: to turn from death to life and from sin to righteousness. Will you make that choice today?
This is part 5 of "Last Words," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine the final seven sayings of Jesus before he died. What is the significance of Jesus' last words? As we look forward to Easter, it's time to reflect on our Savior's final moments on the cross. In this Good Friday sermon, Pastor Zac closes out the series by teaching on the last "last words" of Jesus and asks the question: when does a bad day turn into a good day?
When your debt is paid and your record wiped clean
If Jesus died on Good Friday, why do we call it good? Because by his death he completed the work he was sent to earth to do. By finishing his work on the cross, Christ bought us back from death and sin and made a way for us to be reconciled to God. He nailed our sins to the cross along with himself and took them to the grave. For those in Christ, we no longer face the penalty from God for our sins. Christians should remember that our sins were nailed to the cross and no longer seek to dig them back up. God has forgiven them, and it is time to let them stay dead.
When your spirit is safe in the Father's hands.
When Jesus died, he committed his spirit to the Father. The best decision anyone could make is to follow this example. Trust God with your life and your spirit. With God alone are we truly secure. Jesus knew that, and he not only showed us the way to the Father, but he made a way when there was none. When we look at the cross of Christ, we should remember his sacrifice so that we could have peace with God. Rest in the Father's hands today.
This is part 4 of "Last Words," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine the final seven sayings of Jesus before he died. What is the significance of Jesus' last words? As we look forward to Easter, it's time to reflect on our Savior's final moments on the cross. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about Jesus saying "I am thirsty." Beyond the physical, what spiritual drink did Jesus desire from the cross?
What is the right kind of thirsty?
-You thirst for God's word to be fulfilled
When Jesus said he was thirsty on the cross, he fulfilled scripture. His desire was that God's word would come to pass through what he did, and he willed it to be so. Like Christ, we should also desire to see God's word fulfilled both in the world broadly and in our lives specifically. God's word does not return void, and we should act in a way that helps bring it to pass. This means we should bear fruit and, especially, that we should preach the gospel.
-You thirst for God's righteousness.
As Christians, we should desire to be right with God. We should desire goodness, and the only way to be good is through Jesus. If we are to satisfy our desire for righteousness, we must find the source of living water, which is Jesus. When we are in Christ, he renews us through the power of the Holy Spirit and gives us the ability to do good works. Without Jesus, nothing good that we do has any value for us spiritually. We must be made alive together with Christ before we can drink from the water he gives us. Will you choose Christ? Will you desire his righteousness?
This is part 3 of "Last Words," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine the final seven sayings of Jesus before he died. What is the significance of Jesus' last words? As we look forward to Easter, it's time to reflect on our Savior's final moments on the cross. In this message, Pastor Zac doubles up and covers two statements of Jesus from the cross. In the first are words of love, in the second are words of anguish.
Words of Love.
Jesus entrusted care of his mother to John, the beloved disciple. By doing this, he demonstrates two biblical principles. The first is that we should honor our Father and Mother. This is a principle so important that God included it in the Ten Commandments. Even though it is difficult to get along with our parents sometimes, it is still imperative that we honor them. By choosing to honor our parents we honor God as well. God placed you with your parents, and by honoring them you respect the sovereign will of God.
The second principle Christ demonstrated by ensuring the care of his mother, Mary, is to care for others. Jesus is especially demonstrating the scriptural command to care for the poor, the orphan, and the widow (since Mary was a widow at this point). By caring for those around us who need it the most, we demonstrate the love of Christ.
Words of Anguish.
In the next statement of Jesus on the cross, he cries out to God the Father. In his statement, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me," he references Psalm 22, which is a prophetic passage written almost a thousand years before his birth. Jesus makes this cry not only to fulfill scripture, but to show the anguish he felt at the wrath of God being poured out on him. He underwent this punishment so that we would not have to suffer it ourselves, for we could not endure it.
Jesus, being perfectly righteous, died a sinners death in order that we, being sinners, might be considered perfectly righteous. When we put our faith in Jesus, God looks at us and sees Christ's perfection rather than our sin. This is the beauty of the cross.
This is part 2 of "Last Words," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine the final seven sayings of Jesus before he died. What is the significance of Jesus' last words? As we look forward to Easter, it's time to reflect on our Savior's final moments on the cross. In this Sermon, Pastor Matt takes a deep dive into the thief on the cross next to Jesus and his last interaction with Christ.
Prophecies Fulfilled:
One of the most significant aspects of Christ's time on earth is that he fulfilled prophecies from hundreds or even thousands of years before. Two that are fulfilled in the story of Jesus and the Thief on the cross are that Jesus would be "numbered with the transgressors" despite being innocent, and that his enemies would surround him and mock him. Isaiah and David both looked forward to Jesus' coming and made predictions about it through the Holy Spirit.
We should identify with the criminals.
We should fight our tendency to view ourselves as the hero and recognize that we belong on the cross next to Jesus. The thieves on either side of Christ deserved their punishment, but Jesus did not. We, too, like the thieves, deserve punishment. Let us remember that we are not the hero, Christ is.
Jesus took our place on the cross.
God loves us so much that he provided his own Son to take the punishment we deserve. In the heroic climax of history, Christ died the death we deserved so that we could be saved.
We are Justified by Faith.
Since God has offered us salvation as a free gift, how do we access this gift? The scriptures make clear, and this story demonstrates, that we access the free gift of God through faith. When we believe in God who sent his Son for us, God grants us salvation. He makes it "just as if I'd" never sinned. This is what it means to be "justified by faith."
Propitiation
This is one of those words that you will only ever hear in church. Propitiation means that God's wrath was diverted from us and onto Christ. For this reason, we no longer pay the penalty ourselves, but rely on Christ who paid it for us.
The criminals' last words sealed their eternal destination
While the one criminal mocked Jesus, the other repented and expressed faith in him. In these final moments, each thief sealed his own fate. One sealed his eternity in heaven by putting faith in Jesus. The other condemned himself by refusing to put his faith in the only one who can save.
Ultimately it is Jesus who removes our condemnation
The most important point is that Jesus is the one who saves us. He is the only one who can. When you put your faith in him, you move from death to life, and from condemnation to reconciliation.
This is part 1 of "Last Words," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine the final seven sayings of Jesus before he died. What is the significance of Jesus' last words? As we look forward to Easter, it's time to reflect on our Savior's final moments on the cross. In this sermon we examine his prayer, "Father, forgive them," and ask: why did Jesus pray this?
To show you that Jesus is the promised Messiah.
The most important question you must wrestle with is whether or not Jesus Christ is the Son of God. To help you find that answer, Jesus fulfilled prophecy on the cross to show that he was from God. Demonstrating the divine character of his mission on earth, Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies. Several of these prophecies indicate that he was not just a human man, but also the Son of God. By praying for those who had wronged him, he demonstrated the intercession he would make for sinners.
To show you the power of prayer.
In praying for the very people who had put Jesus on the cross, Jesus demonstrated how powerful prayer can be. While he was still on the cross, the thief beside him came to believe that Jesus was the messiah, and a Roman soldier who crucified him exlaimed, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" Jesus' prayer produced immediate effects, and from that we learn to never stop praying for others. Though Jesus was beaten down and exhausted, he still prayed for others. Though the thief on his side seemed hopeless, it was not too late for him to be saved.
To show you your need for a mediator.
Finally, Jesus came and died so that he could act as mediator between God and men. Without Jesus, we would be hopeless in our efforts to reach God. Through Jesus and him only can we be reconciled to God.
Decide for yourself: Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?
This is part 5 of our sermon series, "Relationships on Lock," at Fusion Christian Church. In this series, we discuss the importance of relationships and how to create and maintain healthy ones. Here, Pastor Zac teaches us five steps to connect better with other people, and all are focused on in-person relationship.
Put Down the Phone.
Too many of us are addicted to our phones. We allow them to keep us from personal connection and it is destroying our relationships. Put down the phone when you're with other people and pay attention to them.
Look at and Listen to People.
When you are interacting with others, look them in the eye and listen to what they say. As Christians, we should desire that others know we are genuinely interested in them and that we care about their lives. Maintain eye contact and listen to other people to demonstrate your care for them.
Speak Words of Life.
It is overwhelmingly easy to be negative, especially because we are surrounded by it all the time. Because of this, choose to speak positively to people so that you stand out and shine a light in this dark world. Choose to lift up others rather than bring them down. If we can do this it will stand as a strong testimony of the light of Christ.
Practice Hospitality.
When is the last time you invited people to your home? Hospitality was perhaps the foremost characteristic of the early church, and it should be one of our strongest attributes in the modern church as well. Being inviting and kind to others should never go out of style, and God has told us in his word that he desires his people to be hospitable.
Be Fast to Forgive.
Bitterness will kill your relationships faster than almost anything else. Remember that all people are broken, and so if you have a relationship with anyone, you are likely to be hurt at some point. Choosing to forgive rather than resent the one who has wronged you will preserve your relationships. Christians must be forgiving people, because God first forgave us.
This is part 4 of our sermon series, "Relationships on Lock," at Fusion Christian Church. In this series, we discuss the importance of relationships and how to create and maintain healthy ones. Here, Pastor Zac teaches about the dangers of isolation and how to stay connected instead.
We need relationships! Those who are isolated face not just loneliness, but have increased health risks. It is time for us to choose to ditch the disconnection and build our relationships. Let's examine some ways that we disconnect:
If you want to be disconnected, be a backstabber.
One of the quickest ways to become disconnected from your relationships is to be a backstabber. If you talk behind others' backs and betray their confidence, you will soon find yourself alone. Even the people you have not betrayed will find that they do not want to be friends with a backstabber! You must keep the confidence of others if you want to stay connected.
If you want to be disconnected, be a taker.
Nobody likes the person who takes and never gives back. Become a generous person to create a generous spirit in others, and this will drastically improve all your relationships.
If you want to be disconnected, hate everyone who's different than you.
While it can be difficult to get along with people who differ from us, Paul the Apostle had a different perspective. Paul chose to adjust his own behavior so that he could get along with others and win them to Christ. If we are not willing to look past our differences, then we will be hindered in spreading the gospel. What should we do to ditch the disconnection?
Live your life with your hands lifted to the Lord.
Lifting your hands to God is a sign that we are surrendered to him. Choosing to put God first is the key to getting your life in order. Put him in the number 1 spot and it will be much easier to make your other relationships fall into place.
Live your life lifting others up.
Just as you desire to be lifted up and encouraged by others, you also should lift up others. Don't become so focused on your own problems that you neglect to help others.
Live your life standing with others.
In a similar way, standing by others when they need you will help you to maintain relationships. Don't stand alone and be left vulnerable, but instead stand with others and add your strength to theirs.
Live your life with your banner high.
Jehovah Nissi means "God is my Banner," and choosing to make God a banner over your life will inspire you to fight for what is right. It gives all of us a common cause as Christians. Choose to fight for the Lord's cause.
This is part 3 of our sermon series, "Relationships on Lock," at Fusion Christian Church. In this series, we discuss the importance of relationships and how to create and maintain healthy ones. Here, Elder Todd teaches about the importance of perseverance and determination.
As a church family, we must persevere together. While some Christians like to think of their faith as only personal, it is essential that we do not forget the value of the community around us. This is why being planted in a church is key to a healthy Christian walk. That said, it is equally important that each church member has an active relationship with the Lord. If we want to be part of a spiritually healthy church, we must engage in the habits that make us spiritually healthy individuals. Both communal and personal devotion to God are necessary for a strong Christian community.
To persevere we must understand it will get better.
Being a Christian means we trust God to deliver us in times of trouble. Christians should know that even if it never seems to get better in this life, God is a good God and he wins in the end. For those of us who are in Christ, that means we win in the end!
To persevere we must understand it won't get better.
What this means is that it won't truly get better in this life. Sin pervades the world and only when God finishes redeeming the world will things truly be fixed. Our hope is in the next life, not in this one alone.
We must persevere together!
One of the purposes of the church community is to provide support for each and every Christian as they seek to follow God. A good church encourages and assists other believers through persecution and when we stumble. We are stronger together, so we should bear the burdens of others and lift each other up that we might all persevere to the end.
How can you help others to persevere?
This is part 2 of our sermon series, "Relationships on Lock," at Fusion Christian Church. In this series, we discuss the importance of relationships and how to create and maintain healthy ones. Pastor Zac tackles the issue of conflict resolution in this part of the series, teaching us how to handle it the Christian way.
Great relationships are built on great conflict resolution.
Wherever you find people you will find problems. Therefore, you must learn how to resolve conflict and to do it in a godly way. If you never learn to resolve conflict, you cannot maintain lasting relationships. Let's take a look at how to deal with conflict like a boss.
Always take the high road.
It is important to consider others as more significant than ourselves. When we view ourselves as superior, we will not treat others properly. Learn to treat others as more important even when they are not.
Don't spill the tea.
Gossip destroys relationships. If you have an issue with someone, go to them and talk about it one on one. Too often we go to other people to complain when the situation could be remedied by simply talking to the person. Learn to deal with interpersonal problems head on to succeed.
Build a bridge, don't blow up the dam.
Patience is a key virtue in maintaining relationships. Rather than blow up a relationship, choose to look over or look past the offense and build a bridge. Be patient with other people, remembering that other people need to be patient for you as well.
Choose blessing over bitterness.
It is both easy and natural to become bitter when someone wrongs us. God calls us to reject bitterness and choose to bless our enemies instead. Deciding to bless others instead of cursing them will bring greater peace to our hearts and our relationships.
Let the Lord be the Mizpah over your relationships.
Mizpah means "watchtower." When we let God sit over our relationships and bring everything before him, we set ourselves up for great success. Learning to turn everything over to God and to consider how God views things will take us very far.
How can you improve at conflict resolution?
This is part 1 of our sermon series, "Relationships on Lock," at Fusion Christian Church. In this series, we discuss the importance of relationships and how to create and maintain healthy ones. Here, Pastor Zac teaches us that the first place we should look to improve our relationships is at ourselves.
Strong relationships lead to a stronger and more meaningful life.
In case some people doubt the value of relationships, it is important to recognize that no one is meant to live life alone. Everything in your life will rise and fall on the relationships that you keep and the relationships that you don't. If relationships are so important, then we must learn to improve them.
To get your relationships on lock, you must first look at yourself.
Wherever you go, you take you with you! This means that if you consistently have problems with your relationships, the most likely source is yourself. If we are the problem, how can we change?
You must let Christ change you.
We lack the power to make true and lasting change in ourselves. Turning to Christ for help will lead us to success. The way to let Christ change us is to ask him work on us. What happens when we let Christ change us?
You become a new creation.
When a person accepts Christ, they become a new creation. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside the believer and transforms them from the inside. In order to make lasting change for the better, pray to God that the Holy Spirit would mold you to become more like Christ.
You become a child of God.
Regardless of your family situation, when you are united with Christ you become a child of the King. You are adopted into the family of God and you gain a new family: the church. This means you have the benefit of gaining new relationships that can help strengthen you and provide deeper meaning for your life.
You are loved and accepted.
God loves you, and when you accept Christ, you allow that love to change you. Because God loves us, we then are able to love others. This is the most central method for improving our relationships: the love of God working through us.
Tune in to Rooted, a message at Fusion Christian Church about the importance of growing in our faith. In this message, Pastor Matt explains how we can grow both individually and as part of the church.
We are called to grow in our Faith.
If we want to grow closer to God and produce fruit in our lives, we must grow our roots down deep. There are many ways we can grow, but often the tasks that should help us grow become a chore for us. To orient ourselves properly, we must remember the most important commandment of God is to love. First, we love God; second, we love others. If we are genuinely motivated by love, we will continue in healthy growth. While internal and external motivations fade away, eternal motivations never pass away. This is why we must root our desire to grow in love.
How can we best grow in our faith?
- We grow closer to God in solitude.
It is crucial for a healthy spiritual life to spend time alone with God. Make it a priority to set time with God in your day. When you have that time, make sure you limit distractions so that you can focus on God and build your relationship with him.
- We grow closer to God in community.
You are not meant to live life alone. Connecting to a local church is essential for the life of a Christian. You cannot be a healthy Christian if you are not part of a local church.
At Fusion Christian Church, we encourage everyone to join a small group because personal relationships are crucial for building up one another in Christ. Our goal is that 100% of our church members would be part of a small group (or several!). Will you get connected? Will you join a small group?
In the finale to our Dream Big series at Fusion Christian Church, we look at how we can expand the kingdom of God. As we celebrate our Missions Sunday, Pastor Zac interviews missionaries from both local and global ministries supported by Fusion Christian Church. We have so many ministries to get involved with, so pray about how you can get involved with either your time or your giving.
Evan and Pam - YWAM in Japan
Our time starts with a video update from Evan and Pam in Japan. They update the church on what they have been doing for the last year. From disaster relief and festival outreach to college ministry and team coordination, the couple have been busy. On top of all the missions work, they introduce the newest addition to their family: baby Olive. Continue to pray for the work they do bringing the gospel to Sendai, Japan.
Project Touch - Temecula Valley
Project Touch is one of Fusion Christian Church's oldest ministry partners. They are a homeless outreach program that attempts to get people back on their feet. Anne, a longtime friend of the church, heads up the program and gives some updates on the ministry along with a new building project.
Birth Choice - Temecula Valley
Birth Choice is a local pregnancy resource center. They strive to save babies from abortion by providing resources and assistance to parents in need of help. Hear from Jessica as she explains more about the ministry, shares an encouraging story, and tells us how to get involved.
Circle of Care - Temecula Valley
Chuck and Terri run Circle of Care, a local foodbank that regularly provides groceries to hundreds of struggling families in the area. Hear from them as they describe the unique challenges and blessings of a relational ministry like theirs. They also describe some of the needs they have, so if it is on your heart and within your ability to fill a need, reach out to us to get connected.
Olive Crest/Strong Families - Riverside County
Strong Families is a ministry underneath the Olive Crest umbrella that seeks to provide short-term care for children in need. This is a hospitality ministry that steps in to offer support to families who have nowhere else to turn. Addison describes the sort of situation that Strong Families is able to help with and how you can help.
Student Venture - Temecula Valley
Monty and Karen head up Student Venture, a program which works within the school system to reach 6th-12th grade students. The program seeks to win kids to Christ, build them up, and send them out to do the same again. Monty describes the unique way that Student Venture is able to connect with students and change lives.
Camino de Vida - Lima, Peru
Next, we receive a video update from Nick Balcombe in Peru. Theirs is another ministry that Fusion Christian Church has supported for a very long time. Camino de Vida (Way of Life) church in Lima is a massive church that reaches thousands of people throughout Peru. Hear from Nick and continue to pray for their success in preaching the gospel.
World Mission Adventure - International
Mark and Debbie Blum are the founders of World Mission Adventure and longtime friends of Pastor Zac and his wife Laura. They work to set up mission trips and send people to many places around the world. They believe that going on a mission trip will provide help in foreign countries and change the perspective of Christians who go.
Casa Esperanza - Ensenada, Mexico
Casa Esperanza began as a shelter for women and children and has now expanded their ministry to offer schooling to the children there. Gabriel and Gabbi offer the sincerest thanks for the support we've given and describe the unique ministry challenges they face.
"Dream Big" is our series to kick off 2025 at Fusion Christian Church where we look to set godly goals. In this message, Pastor Zac lays out three biblical goals which we should all set for ourselves.
Make it Your Goal to Grow Closer to God
The first of our three goals is to grow closer to God. If you don't aim at it, you won't hit it! Aim to grow closer to God and make an effort to do so. God created you, so his plan for your life is better than yours. Getting closer to God gets you where you need to go. Growing with him also leads to a life of significance. Here are several ways you can grow closer to God:
-Turn from sin and turn toward God.
-Read and memorize your bible
-Never stop praying
-Be a faithful member of God's house
Make it Your Goal to Love Your Friends and Family More
Just as with God, you need to put effort into your relationships with other people if you want them to succeed. You must aim at better relationships by putting in the effort! Here are a few ways to improve your relationships:
-Tell your friends and family you love them and why they matter
-Set punch-out and punch-in times (Make time for the people you care about!)
-Take care of yourself physically and spiritually
-Get your finances in order and be generous (Nobody likes a moocher!)
Make it Your Goal to Excel at Your Work
In all things, Christians are called to work "as unto the Lord." The work that you do, whether good or ill, is a reflection of your character. As a Christian, your character is an example of Christ. Decide that you are going to do good work so that you represent Christ well.
"Dream Big" is our series to kick off 2025 at Fusion Christian Church where we look to set godly goals. In this message, Pastor Zac explains the vision of our church and the simple truth behind our mission statement: Love God, Love Others, Tell Everyone.
To fulfill a big vision, we must build on a godly foundation.
If God is not the cornerstone of the church, we may as well quit building. If God does not direct the building, the building will fail. We must continually work to ground our church in God and his word. With that said, what is the purpose of our church? Why do we exist as a church?
We exist to Love God.
The first and greatest commandment is to love God, and we can show our love for God in three major ways. First, by loving Christ the Son. Christ is the image of the invisible God, and if we do not love Christ, we do not love God. Second, we love God by loving and obeying his word. If we love God, we should love to read what he has written for us. To take it a step further: we should love to live out the commands he has given us as well. Third, we show our love for God by loving prayer. It does not make sense to say we love someone if we never speak to them. Prayer is our way to communicate with God, and if we love God then we should love prayer.
We exist to Love Others.
This is the second greatest commandment: to love your neighbor as yourself. At Fusion Christian Church, we believe that the duty of all Christians is to love other people. How can we love others? One of the best ways is by serving them. If we are willing to serve others and work for their good, we demonstrate our love for them. On a personal level, we can also show our love for others by expressing care and interest in them. Simply getting to know people is essential for knowing how to love them better.
We exist to Tell Everyone the good news about Jesus.
The most important way to love someone is to tell them the gospel. In fact, the most loving thing anyone can do for another is to tell them about Jesus Christ. Salvation is found in no other name than the name Jesus, and we, Christians, must share that name wherever we go. How can you share the gospel with those around you this year?
"Dream Big" is our series to kick off 2025 at Fusion Christian Church where we look to set godly goals. In this message, Pastor Zac will teach us why it is important to set godly goals and how to do so.
To fulfill big dreams, you must set godly goals.
If we want to live full and satisfying lives, we must set goals that are within God's will for us. He knows what is best, so we should strive to live according to what he has prescribed for us. This is not to say that anything we selfishly desire will be fulfilled if we have faith, because our next big point is...
Godly goals align our dreams with God's heart.
God does not merely give us the desires of our heart. What he does is much grander than that. Instead, God changes our hearts so that the things we desire match the good things he wants already. Submit to him to change your whole heart.
Godly goals are a sign of faith.
When we choose to set a goal that aligns with God's will, we demonstrate our belief that his way is better. The greater our godly goals, the greater the faith we demonstrate. This also leads to our next point:
Let the size of your God determine the size of your goal.
We serve a mighty and powerful God who can do all things. If our goal is godly, we should not shy away from it because it seems impossible. Instead, we should see that our God has done mighty works and can do them again.
Godly goals keep me growing and going.
One of the primary benefits of setting goals is that they help us grow. When we choose godly goals, it helps us grow in godliness. When we continue to grow and mature in our faith, as we should, it motivates us to keep moving forward. Ultimately, this will help mold us into the people God wants us to be.
How do you set godly goals for your life?
To help us set goals with God's will in mind, we should ask three questions:
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Do my goals honor God?
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Are my goals motivated by love?
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Will my goals deepen my dependency on God?
If we ask these three questions, they will help us to align our goals with God's.
This is part 4 of "God With Us," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine what it means for God to be present with his people through Jesus Christ. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us that God wants to be with us for eternity. For this reason, he has given the offer of Jesus so that we might go to heaven with him.
Only Jesus can calm a troubled heart
When the disciples were worried about Jesus leaving them, he reassured them by saying, "Don't let your hearts be troubled." Jesus promised that he has gone to prepare a place for those who are in Christ. If we believe in him, then this promise is secure for us. This leads us to the question: What eternity are you living for? Are you living for eternity with God or without God?
God has a special place for you
God sent his son into the world to reunite us with him. He made a way for us to be with him in heaven. If we accept his son, Jesus, then we have a special place prepared for us for eternity. We don't have a perfect picture of what heaven will be like, but we do know that it will be free from all wicked things and full of every good thing. If you are a Christian and worried that heaven might be boring or unpleasant in some way, then you probably have gotten some of your ideas of heaven from other sources. The bible describes heaven as a place of joy. There is no reason to think we might be unhappy there.
Jesus is coming back, and you're invited to his House
The central belief of all Christians when it comes to the end of time is that Jesus is coming back. We must prepare for his return by accepting the invitation he has offered us to be part of his kingdom and to live in the Father's House. This brings us to ask: "How do I get to the Father's house?"
You have to accept God's invitation
Christ came the first time to provide a way to be with him. He will come back again to bring home those who have accepted him. Jesus is God's special invitation to eternity, and we need to trust in Jesus if we want to go to heaven.
You have to live in his truth
In addition to trusting Jesus, we must live in him. He told us that he is the truth, so living in Jesus means we live in God's truth. There is no other way to the Father. If we want to be in the Father's house, we must accept the Son.
This is part 3 of "God With Us," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine what it means for God to be present with his people through Jesus Christ. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us that God is with us when we feel overwhelmed. When we are overwhelmed, we should remember God has a greater plan. When you feel like you are being buried, think of how you are being planted.
Jesus is the seed of salvation
The first thing to know is that Jesus was the chosen seed of Abraham to bring salvation to all of us. Like a seed, he was buried in death so that he could be raised to life. This opens a door for us to undergo the same process.
Bury your old life to be planted in Christ
Because Jesus died and rose again, we too can be raised to new life if only we will bury the old life. Baptism is a symbol of this death and rebirth. When we are baptized, we are "buried" in the waters and rise again as a new creation.
To be planted in Christ means you die daily so you can live daily
Jesus said that we must take up our cross every day. The battle with sin is real and constant. We must die to sin every day in order to have victory over it.
What happens when you're planted in Christ?
Your whole life should change when you become planted in Jesus. We leave sin and loneliness behind us as we grow. Bearing fruit becomes normal for us when we plant ourselves. As we grow, we begin acting and speaking in a life-giving way. Finally, when we are planted, we will glorify God and God will honor us in return. How can you make sure you are planted in Christ?
This is part 2 of "God With Us," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine what it means for God to be present with his people through Jesus Christ. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us that God is with us in the storm.
God doesn't leave you in the storm, so don't let the storm pull you away from God.
Sometimes our lives become overwhelmingly chaotic, but we must not let that pull us away from God. God stays with us through all our trials, so when we face them, we should remember to turn to him.
When we are in the storm, we are faced with many questions. What is happening? Where is God? Why God? Whose fault is this? Does God even care? It's important to remember that God never leaves us, and that he cares for us through our trials. When we are looking for someone to blame, it helps to remember that many of the storms we face are our fault! God does bring storms into our lives as a way to test us, but often we cause the problems ourselves! This brings us to an important truth:
Don't blame God in the storm; acknowledge him.
It is easy to blame God when things go wrong, but if we turn to him in faith instead, we can be comforted. God knows far more than we do, and he always sees around the corner. We should always trust him to know what is best in every circumstance.
When you're in the storm, turn to the one who can calm the storm.
As said, it's easy to blame God, but when we need comfort, we should look for him. Blaming God will never lead you to feeling whole when you suffer a storm. If we instead seek God for help and comfort, we can find healing and safety.
Who is in your boat?
Is Jesus with you? Have you given your life to him? If you want to be safe from the storms, you need to make sure that Jesus is with you. The only way to do that is to surrender to Jesus and let him take control of your life.
What's at the end of my storm?
There are two main results when we weather a storm God's way. First, we become stronger through the trials. Second, we become someone who can help others through their own storms.
Remember that God has a greater plan for your life. Will you submit to his plan?
This is part 1 of "God With Us," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine what it means for God to be present with his people through Jesus Christ. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us that God is with us through both good times and dark times.
God is with you in the good times
The most important thing to do when we are in good times is to remember the God who brought us here. It's easy to forget about God when things are going well, but remembering God lets us show him gratitude. We also should learn that good times are not for us, but for us to give glory to God. In the good times, we should say: "I didn't get here on my own, God was with me." We most often forget God when everything is going well. Try to avoid falling into that trap!
God is with you in the dark times
Jesus came as our Emmanuel, which means "God with us." When he came down and took on humanity, he took on our weaknesses as well. We do not have a God who is distant, but one who walked through the trials of a human life. Because of that, he is able to comfort us through our own trials. What should you do to help you through the dark times?
Get your strength from God
God's power is made perfect in our weakness. When we feel weak, we must rely on him for strength. Let him restore you.
Fix your mind on God
Your focus sets your course. If we set our eyes, our minds, and our hearts on God, we will be able to endure through all sorts of trials and obstacles. How can you focus on God throughout your week?
This is part 3 of our series, "In __ We Trust," where we examine the things that we wrongly put our trust in and compare them to the God we should trust in. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches about how important it is to live our lives for other people and not for ourselves. Teaching from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, he draws out biblical truth about how we should treat other people. What does it look like when we start loving others?
I value others above myself.
In the parable, the rich man knew Lazarus but never offered to help him. He only ever valued his own comfort and left Lazarus to suffer. As Christians we should value other people more than ourselves, putting their needs first. In humility, we should consider others to be of greater value than ourselves.
I care for others more than my comfort.
It would have been uncomfortable for the rich man to offer care for Lazarus, so he never did. Christians are called to set aside our own selfish desires and put first the good of others. Discomfort should not discourage us from giving comfort to others.
I show kindness to those who are different than me.
This means not only that we are kind to people from different backgrounds, but also to people who disagree with us. According to the bible, we must show love even to our enemies.
My love for others is a mirror of my love for Jesus.
We should be honest about ourselves and ask whether or not we truly love others. If we truly love others, it shows that we truly love Jesus. On the other hand, if we do not love others, it shows that we do not know Jesus at all. Don't be a hypocrite, but instead love God, love others, and tell everyone the good news.
This is part 2 of our series, "In __ We Trust," where we examine the things that we wrongly put our trust in and compare them to the God we should trust in. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches about the importance of gratitude in our lives. We choose to focus on our ingratitude and negative experiences when we should be grateful and focus on the blessings we have instead.
In Gratitude I Trust
In our story for this message, Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one of the ten return to thank him. While many of us are unfamiliar with leprosy today, in Jesus' day it was a deadly disease. Many of those who contracted leprosy would lose feeling in their limbs, causing any minor wound to become infected. Quite often, lepers lost limbs because of this. Much like sin, leprosy destroys the body from the inside out.
Leprosy and sin have more in common as well. Both are more than skin deep and both infect a whole person. Leprosy caused a person to be cast out of society, while sin, much more seriously, causes people to be cast out of God's kingdom into hell. Both lepers and sinners are essentially dead men walking. Finally, just as the only hope for the lepers was healing through Jesus, the only hope for sinners is salvation through Jesus. What can we learn about showing gratitude from this story?
We can cry out to Jesus, our Master
When we recognize Jesus as Master, we subjugate our sinful desire to reject authority. At its core, sin is rebellion against God, and when we cry out to Jesus as Lord and Master, we put him back in charge.
When we walk in obedience, miracles happen.
We must choose to walk according to what God designed. The lepers were healed when they did what Jesus told them to do. If we ever want to see miracles in our lives, we must walk in the way God laid out for us.
We need a rapid return to gratitude
We should be as quick to show gratitude as the tenth leper was to return to Jesus. Some of us are very quick to show other responses, but how often are we quick to say, "Thank you"?
In God's healing I trust
We must recognize that Jesus is the healer and we should look to him first when we need healing. God might work through modern medicine or doctors or any number of means to heal us, but all good things ultimately come from God. Turn to God first.
This is part 1 of our series, "In __ We Trust," where we examine the things that we wrongly put our trust in and compare them to the God we should trust in. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches about the new life we have in Christ, and why that means we shouldn't live in our old life any longer. We start with the question: What does a new life in Christ look like?
We died with Christ - We are alive with Christ - We are raised with Christ
To die with Christ means we die to sin. We are no longer to indulge our sinful desires, but instead we must live a life that is transformed. We have been freed from bondage to slavery, and now we can live for Christ. Just as Christ lives, we can also live with him. Just as Christ has been raised to new life, so, too, are we raised to new life with him.
We are hidden with Christ
Because we are hidden with Christ, we are protected from danger and our salvation is secure. There is nothing that will separate us from the love of God expressed in Christ Jesus. Take heart! If God is for us, then who can be against us?
We are glorified with Christ
A deep mystery of the faith is that just as Christ was glorified, so will we also be glorified. Christ's resurrection is a promise of our own future resurrection. On that day, we will receive glorified bodies free of sin or any blemish. When Jesus returns, he will raise all believers from the dead and restore our bodies to a perfected and glorified state. This is the hope which Christians have eagerly awaited for 2,000 years.
What should you do now?
Because of this, we must strive to put to death all our worldly desires. It is not only that we try to stop sinning, but that we try to purge even our sinful passions. With God's help, we must replace our earthly natures little by little with something that resembles heaven.
How can you defeat your sinful desires this week?
This is part 4 of "Built Different," our series at Fusion Christian Church about how Christians are different from the world and how we should act because of that. In this message, Pastor Matt teaches us how we can build our faith in a way that's different. Starting with 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, we will walk through how to build our faith.
You need a foundation before you can build
In our main passage, we read that each of us must start with the foundation of Jesus Christ. He is the chief cornerstone, and we must build our faith beginning with him. We can and will and should build on top of that foundation using good materials, but it is essential that the building begins with Jesus.
We need to build wisely
Again, returning to our main passage, we see the admonition for each of us to "take care" how we build upon our foundation. Once we have Jesus Christ as our starting block, we must choose carefully how to build after that.
We need to build with materials that will last
When the day of judgment comes, what we have built will be tested. We need to be sure to build with good materials so that when testing comes, our work stands the test.
What material will last?
The first material which lasts is the word of God. When we build our faith using God's Word, we build a faith that will last. There are four steps to building our faith with God's word, the first being to simply read it. If we do not read it, how can we make any use of it? The second step is to meditate on the scriptures, keeping them always in mind so that we can fully digest their meaning. The third step is to memorize it. Obviously, memorizing the whole bible is a tall task, so start small and memorize what you can! Any scripture memorized can be a benefit to the believer. The fourth step is to apply God's word. Knowing what God's word says is not much help if we don't ultimately put it into practice.
The second material which lasts is people. To build our faith with people, we need to participate in the ministry of reconciliation which Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 5. God designed us to be in relationship with him, and our duty as Christians is to bring as many people as possible back into that relationship.
This is part 3 of "Built Different," our series at Fusion Christian Church about how Christians are different from the world and how we should act because of that. In this message, Elder Reuben teaches us how we as Christians are built to serve.
We Are Blessed to Be a Blessing
The blessings God gave us were given so that we could be a blessing to others. Abraham was able to become a blessing to many nations because God blessed him with a son. What gifts do you have that you can bless others with?
We Have the Power of the Holy Spirit
Often we feel as though we are inadequate or unequipped to serve, but the Holy Spirit can enable us to do more than we ever thought possible. The Holy Spirit will empower you with gifts so that you can boldly step out in faith. If you are hesitant to step out and serve, pray that the Spirit would strengthen you and lead you to serve in the way God has for you.
We are Wired to Serve
God has given each of us unique gifts. We are to use these gifts to serve God and others. God did not design us to sit on our hands, but to go out and serve. How is God calling you? If we learn to recognize our gifts, we will learn where we should serve. Consider speaking to other Christians about what your spiritual gifts are. Perhaps you have giftings you haven't yet discovered!
In all things, we must remember that serving God and others is a primary goal for a Christian. Consider checking out some local service opportunities.
This is part 2 of "Built Different," our series at Fusion Christian Church about how Christians are different from the world and how we should act because of that. In this sermon, Pastor Zac finishes teaching through the book of Jude and we continue to learn how to build our faith. He begins with teaching what the result of bad building is.
What does it look like when I build the wrong way?
Here are 7 characteristics of a person who has built the wrong way: grumbling, boasting, manipulating, scoffing, self-centeredness, divisiveness, and lack of the Holy Spirit. Are you guilty of any of these? If so, examine your life and make sure you have been building it on Jesus and not your own desires. Christians should not look like this, so what do we do to look different?
How should you build?
There are several ways to build our lives based on what Jude says. We build our faith; pray in the Spirit; keep ourselves in God's love; and plunder hell to populate heaven.
Build your faith.
Our faith will not magically build itself! We must intentionally build our faith by doing the things Jesus commanded of us.
Pray in the Spirit.
Praying in the Spirit is sometimes made too complicated for believers. What it primarily means is to pray that God's will be done. When we pray for God's will to be done, it helps align our hearts with God's.
Keep yourself in God's love.
Love is a choice, not a feeling. If you base your love on feelings, it will collapse. Love is a commitment that we must stick to even when we don't feel like it. To love God, we must try to keep his commands even when we don't want to.
Plunder hell to populate heaven.
Among God's commands is to evangelize to those who are in danger of the fire of God's judgment. Our job is to pull people from the jaws of hell and bring them to God. One of the best ways to grow our own faith is to share it with others.
Choose one thing you can do to start building your faith.
In a final word of practical advice, choose one small area to start in. Don't try to tackle too many things at once, but instead pick one small thing that you can do first.
This is part 1 of "Built Different," our series at Fusion Christian Church about how Christians are different from the world and how we should act because of that. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches through the first half of the book of Jude, offering insights into how we should stand out from the way of the world and not be like those who fall into judgment.
How are we built different?
According to Peter, we are like stones being built into a spiritual house. From the first half of Jude, we will see four ways that we are "built different" from the world.
We contend for the faith.
As Christians, we must stand up for our beliefs. We should not be like those who desire to be in God's army but aren't willing fight for our beliefs. It is essential that we combat false teaching and refuse to let it spread in the church.
We live in reverent fear of God's judgment.
Though the subject is unpopular, we must not forget that God's judgment is very real. If we forget God's judgment, we will downplay our sin, because his judgment serves as a warning that our sins are deadly serious. As the bible teaches in many places, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowing this, we should maintain a healthy fear of God's judgment.
We walk under authority.
We must always remember that God is the only true authority. Though some Christians are fond of "rebuking" things in their prayers, Jude tells us that not even the archangels do that. Instead, we submit to God and offer every situation up to his judgment.
We learn from the examples God gives us.
Pay attention to the examples of evil behavior Jude gives so that we might learn to avoid the mistakes they made. Cain thought he knew better than God and refused to offer a worthy sacrifice. Balaam tried to curse God's people for money, an when that didn't work, he encouraged seduction as a way to draw them away from God. Korah despised Moses' leadership, rebelling against the one God had chosen to lead the people. God severely punished the sin of all three men.
Through it all, remember that God has made you a new creation, and that we should respond to that by acting differently in the world.
This is Part 5 of "Heart for the House," our series at Fusion Christian Church on growing and maintaining a heart that is passionate about God's people, the church. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches about the importance of building a place of worship by examining how it was done in the bible. He also makes an important announcement about future plans for Fusion Christian Church.
As our church looks forward to purchasing a building, getting ready for that significant cost must be a priority for us. This sermon follows two stories in scripture about the construction of God's house and the lessons we learn from them. To begin, we ask the question: what does it take to get ready?
To build the house, we must give from the heart.
The first story is the building of the tabernacle of Moses. In this story, we see that God's people offer their own treasures to the building of God's house. God tells Moses to collect whatever is on the heart of the people to give, and they give so much that Moses has to stop collecting donations. God had richly provided for the Israelites when they left Egypt, and the people gave those riches right back to God for the building of His house.
To build the house, we must give creatively.
Some of the things given by the people may seem odd to us, but there is more which we can offer to God than a lump sum. Other material possessions can be offered to God as well, and God can use what we offer Him.
To build the house, we must give willingly from what we have.
It is not for us to demand from God's people, but it is more blessed to give than to receive. God desires that we choose to give out of love for Him and His house. We should desire to give, not do so merely out of obligation.
To build the house, we must also give of our God-given skill.
Just as described when Moses built the tabernacle, many skilled workers from God's people contributed to the construction. What skills do you have that can help?
To build the house, we must give as an example to others.
David set the example for his people by giving his personal treasury and asking the people to do likewise. David knew that if he could not build the house, it was his job to ensure the project was ready for his son to carry out. How can you set an example with your generosity?
To build the house, we give to the Lord.
Ultimately, if God is not involved, our plans will fail. We must remember to keep God at the center at all times.
This is Part 4 of "Heart for the House," our series at Fusion Christian Church on growing and maintaining a heart that is passionate about God's people, the church. In this message, Pastor Matt teaches us four elements to a heart for the house.
Unity
The first element is that a heart for the house has unity. If we are not unified, we will never be effective in ministry. We must avoid divisions in the church so that we might be prepared for the work God has prepared for us to do. This also means we must speak the truth in love and not avoid confrontation.
No Gossip
The second element is that a heart for the house refuses to gossip. As Christians, our job is not only to refuse to participate in gossip, but to put an end to it when we hear it. We must encourage each other to speak directly to those with whom we have disagreements rather than gossiping to others about our problems with them. Few things breed disunity and destroy churches faster than gossip does.
Love One Another
The third element is that hearts for the house love one another. We don't have to like everyone, but we do have to love everyone. Love is an act of the will that aims for the good of others. This can be done regardless of our feelings towards another person. When we demonstrate love for each other, this becomes a witness for unbelievers. When we love one another, we will...
Shine in this Dark World
The fourth element is that a heart for the house shines in this dark world. As Jesus described it, the church is a city on a hill and a light for all to see. By persevering through trials and doing so without complaining, we demonstrate the hope we have in Jesus.
Finally, our mission is offensive: we will build God's church on the confession of Jesus as the Christ and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!
This is Part 3 of "Heart for the House," our series at Fusion Christian Church on growing and maintaining a heart that is passionate about God's people, the church. In this part, Pastor Zac tells us what it takes to have a heart for the house. Through Jesus' parable of the Great Banquet, we learn how to stop making excuses and bring others to the party.
A Heart for the House Makes No Excuses
The first lesson we pull from the parable is that many people make excuses which get in the way of their heart for the house. Here are some excuses we see from people in the parable:
"I've got too many things going on." Some people have made many commitments, prioritizing them over the needs of God's house. Ask yourself if you have made too many commitments and let them get in the way of serving God and your church family.
"I'm too busy with work." Often, we let work dominate our lives. While it is important to ensure that your family is provided for, don't let your work fill your life too full. Leave room for yourself to do God's work too.
"I've got too many family commitments." Family is important, but if we are to best serve our families, we must maintain godly priorities. Further, training your family in the importance of serving the Lord is essential to their spiritual growth. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." -Joshua 24:15.
A Heart for the House Never Comes Alone
The second lesson we pull from the parable is that God's servants don't come to the banquet alone. It is our responsibility and our duty to invite others, bringing them with us into the house of God. As the parable says, we must go out into the countryside and bring in anyone we can find so that God's house will be full. It is God's ardent desire that his house be filled, and he has tasked us with that mission. Let us invite everyone we can so that we complete the command God has given us!
This is Part 2 of "Heart for the House," our series at Fusion Christian Church on growing and maintaining a heart that is passionate about God's people, the church. In this message, Pastor Zac reads through the description of the beginning of the church from Acts chapter 2. From this passage, he pulls several truths about the importance of being in a godly community.
To begin with: what does it look like when we love godly community?
We love to study God's word together.
-The early church was committed to the apostles' teaching (preserved for us in scripture), having both leaders who loved to teach and a people who loved to learn. We should be the same way: excited to open and learn the word of God.
We love building relationships with other believers
-The early church was devoted to fellowship, which is a supernatural bond that can only be shared with other believers. This fellowship is what brings unity within the body of Christ. In order to maintain fellowship, we must love one another.
We love sharing meals and the Lord's Supper
-The early church met together regularly in homes, breaking bread together and partaking in communion. Eating together helps foster a strong sense of community. The early church also maintained a spiritual element in their meetings by taking communion. This practice of keeping Jesus at the center of our meetings is crucial to the health and unity of the church.
We love prayer
-An active prayer life being central to the health of both individual Christians and congregations, every believer should be diligent to pray continually.
We encourage all Christians to commit to God's word, to prayer, and to fellowship, believing that we will see miracles, generosity will become a way of life, faithfulness to God's house will increase, small groups will become a priority, and, crucially, we will share our faith and grow God's kingdom.
Do you love God's word? Do you love people? Do you love fellowship? Do you love prayer?
This is Part 1 of "Heart for the House," our series at Fusion Christian Church on growing and maintaining a heart that is passionate about God's people, the church. In the opening sermon for this series, Pastor Zac walks through the first example of worship we have in scripture, the story of Cain and Abel. He explains what the difference is between Cain and Abel in terms of attitude and behavior and encourages us to keep an attitude like Abel, which desires to give the best to God and make sacrifices for and to Him.
Key Question: How can I have a heart for the house?
Main Points:
A heart for the house brings its best to God
-Don't just give what is convenient for you. God desires a sacrifice from us. If it doesn't cost you anything, it isn't a sacrifice.
A heart for the house loves what is good.
-Like Abel, we should love what is good and hate what is evil. If we love God, we will also love the things which God loves.
A heart for the house walks in obedience.
-God told Cain, "You will be accepted if you do what is right," but Cain became bitter and hated his brother, choosing instead to murder him out of jealousy.
A heart for the house comes before God in faith.
-At Fusion Christian Church, we teach that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9. Only by coming humbly before God, believing in the savior, can we be saved.
-Will you choose to live like Cain and rebel against God? Or will you live like Abel and do God's will in faith?
This is Part 7 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In today's sermon, Pastor Zac explains what it means to live in God's will and how to know when we are in it.
This is Part 6 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In today's sermon, Pastor Zac tackles the questions of people who are at their wit's end. When we don't know where to turn, we turn to Jesus.
This is Part 5 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In this week's message we look at the importance of the words we say. Focusing on James chapter 3, we learn about the power our words have for both good and evil.
This is Part 4 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In preparation for our annual beach baptism, Pastor Zac gave us the biblical perspective on baptism. At Fusion, we teach that baptism is for those who believe in Jesus Christ.
This is Part 3 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In this message, Pastor Zac answers the question of whether or not a Christian should share their faith. He examines the relevant passages and gives the answer based on what the bible says!
This is Part 2 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In this message, Pastor Zac answers the question of why bad things happen to good people. If you doubt that God is really good, this message is for you!
This is Part 1 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In this message, Pastor Zac answers the question of why good things happen to bad people. He also spends a little bit of time answering the question of what Jesus looked like.
This is part 10 of "Stay the Course," our sermon series on the book of Hebrews. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us how to go through our troubles to triumph.
This is part 9 of "Stay the Course," our sermon series on the book of Hebrews. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us what to do when we want to give up.
This is part 7 of "Stay the Course," our sermon series on the book of Hebrews. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us why we should Keep on Keeping on!
This is part 6 of "Stay the Course," our sermon series on the book of Hebrews. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us about Jesus our King and Priest.
This is part 5 of "Stay the Course," our sermon series on the book of Hebrews. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us how to anchor our faith.
This is part 4 of "Stay the Course," our sermon series on the book of Hebrews. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us how to mature in our faith.
This is part 3 of "Stay the Course," our sermon series on the book of Hebrews. In this message, Pastor Matt teaches us how to change our hearts and keep moving forward.
This is part 2 of "Stay the Course," our sermon series on the book of Hebrews. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us how Jesus is Superior.
This is part 5 of our sermon series, "Hope Wins." In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us how Hope wins over stress.
This is part 3 of our sermon series, "Hope Wins." In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us how Hope wins over Depression.
This is part 2 of our sermon series, "Hope Wins." In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us how Hope wins over Anxiety.
This is the final part in our sermon series, Why Jesus? In this Easter sermon Pastor Zac teaches about how we can have new life through Jesus Christ.
This is part 4 of our sermon series "Why Jesus?" In this video, Pastor Zac teaches us why we should choose Jesus to guard our hearts.
This is part 3 of our sermon series about why we should choose Jesus. Pastor Zac teaches us that we can't earn our way to heaven and that we need Jesus to make us right with God.
This is part 2 of our sermon series "Why Jesus?" In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches us how the whole bible points to Jesus and how Jesus fulfills God's promises.
This is the opening sermon in our new series "Why Jesus." Pastor Zac teaches us that Jesus is above all things and why we should choose him because of it.
This is part 6 of our series on how to win God's way. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about the three ways Christians should be generous.
This is part 5 of our series on How to Win God's Way. In this message, Todd Hough teaches how we can win by pursuing peace in our lives.
In Part 4 of our sermon series about how to win in your spiritual walk, Pastor Zac teaches about the importance of having a godly attitude and, more importantly, how to cultivate a godly attitude.
This is part 3 of our series on Winning. In this video, Pastor Matt teaches about the importance of using God's word to create good habits.