Christ Community Church Sermons - Darien, CT: Recent Episodes
Landon Reesor
Podcast of Sunday Sermons from Christ Community Church located in Darien, CT, USA. Visit us Sundays at 10AM at 988 Post Road in Darien, or on the web, christcommunityct.org
In the midst of a world that is filled with darkness and despair, how do we live with a joyous hope that is so captivating, so intriguing it invites others to ask where our hope comes from? And what would it look like to explain that hope in a way that compels them to consider faith in Christ?
What happens next? What is there beyond this life? Are we mortal? Immortal? Do we end when this life is over or is there something more we were made for?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. - Genesis 1.1
Evidence of a design is evidence of a Designer.
What's our role in the growth of the Gospel? How do we partner with God as He extends the reach of His message around the world and offers hope to those desperately in need? Join us this Sunday as we continue our series in The Gospel of Mark and discover how we can be a part of God's harvest.
Who is Jesus? What was His message and mission? How does that shape the way we follow and imitate Him?
What does it mean to be a true disciple of Jesus? What does it ask us to give? What does it ask us to give up?
Every day, every moment thousands of things compete for our attention and affection. But what does God want us to pursue? What has God created us to be passionate about? What does He consider “first” in our lives? Join us as we launch into a new year and bring into focus the things that ultimately matter.
What does it mean to have peace with God and how do we experience it? The story of Christmas helps us answer those life-changing questions.
In the past, God's kingdom was made up from a singular, physical people. After Jesus arrived, God's kingdom became a spiritual one that would be made up from ALL peoples. World changing...
What does it look like to be generous when we have not only what we need but MORE than we need? What does God expect of us? What kind of attitude towards Him and our resources does He want us to display?
What does it look like to live generously when we find ourselves in a place of financial hardship and challenge? What kind of attitude does God want us to have? What kind of faith is needed to be in need and yet still be generous?
Sin, shame, and guilt can often consume us and convince us that God could never love us, that He could never use us again because of what we've done. But His grace is greater than our sin and his forgiveness is greater than our shame.
Every one of us has a plan, a vision for our future that often focuses on very temporary and self-consumed things: cars, houses, careers, family, etc. None of those are inherently wrong, but if they become obstacles to our pursuit of Christ and His plan for our life they can become self-defeating and soul-destroying. So what is our plan? What is God's plan? And why is His better?
The future is greater than the present. This is the defining worldview of the Christian life. Every aspect of our journey following Christ is informed by this confident hope. So how does this eternal perspective shape our daily choices and pursuits?
God's mission to take the Gospel to all peoples is something that belongs to each of us. So what's your part in the story? How does God want to use YOU to make a difference locally and globally for His name's sake?
Suffering is an inevitable part of the Christian journey. Jesus suffered. The Disciples faced persecution and the early Church paid a price for following Christ. So why do we suffer? And what does Scripture say about enduring suffering for the name of Christ?
Each of us has been given a mission … a life-calling shaped by the spiritual gift(s) God has placed in us, the Word He has given to us, and the Spirit who lives in us. So what’s your gift? What’s your calling? How can you pursue it? What will it take to complete it?
What moves and motivates the heart of God? What inclines Him to engage in our lives and intervene on our behalf? Join us this Sunday as we conclude our LifeSong series and discover how to align our lives with God's most passionate pursuit!!!
Raleigh Sadler, Founder of Let My People Go ministries talks about human trafficking in the context of Psalm 41.
The beautiful hope of the Good News of the Jesus story is that even though we aren't naturally a part of God's family, He chooses to bring us in and adopt us as His own. How does that happen and what does it mean for us?
We are all lost spiritually. We are all wondering aimlessly, hopelessly apart from God. So how does He find us and how does He respond when are found?
What does it mean when the Bible talks about being "saved"? What do we need to be saved or rescued from? And how does that rescue happen?
Even though Jesus was perfect and I am not, He was willing to be treated as if He wasn't so I could be treated as if I was. This is the "Great Exchange". So how does that exchange happen? How does it become real in my life?
At its deepest core, Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. So how do we enter into a relationship with God? How do we become "reconciled" with Him into a place of intimacy and connection?
What did Jesus mean when He said we must be "born again"? What does that describe about the state of our soul and how does this rebirth happen?
Deep inside of all of us is a thirst that money, power, sex, and success will never be able to satisfy. It is a thirst, a longing for something more than the mere trinkets, treasures, and pleasures of this life can provide. So what is the source of that thirst and how do we quench it?
Spiritual growth isn't a suggestion. It is a command, an expectation for all who follow Christ. So how do we grow in Him? How do we move forward in our faith?
At the end of this age, Scripture speaks clearly and powerfully of the fate of humanity and the universe. So what is that future reality and how is that meant to shape the way we live in the present?
Throughout history, there have always been false teachers who would twist and distort the truth for their own gain and advantage. So how do we recognize and avoid them while remaining committed to solid doctrine and teaching in the church?
What moves and motivates you? What awakens your spirit and engages your heart and mind in this journey of following Christ? And how do help stir others up to those same thoughts, convictions, and reactions?
Beliving in Jesus isn't the end of our spiritual journey. It's only the beginning. So what does God want us to supplement our faith with? How and what do we build upon the foundation of faith?
When the kingdom of heaven comes to earth, at first it seems insignificant but eventually it changes everything. Have you received the kingdom? Are you growing, multiplying, and influencing?
What does it look like to "get off the couch"? How can we live beyond our own comfort and convenience to serve (and even sacrifice for) those who are desperately in need of the grace and truth of the Gospel?
God has given each one of us a mission - a special and unique role in His plan to declare the Gospel to all nations. So what's your role? Where do you fit in? Who can God use you to reach and influence?
If God wrote us a letter, what would it say? What would He commend us for? What areas of our lives and ministry would He challenge us on? How would He want us to grow, mature, and change in order to align our lives more authentically with His Kingdom and purposes?
If there's a good God, why does evil exist? We're kicking our new series off with arguably the toughest question facing Christianity. Is "I don't know" the best answer we can give? Or does the gospel give us everything we need to not only fully explain the answer, but also offer salvation to the questioner?
What is the Gospel? Is it central or peripheral? How do we build regular rhythms to receive, rehearse, show, and tell the story behind all the stories?
God is writing a unique story of grace in each of our hearts. So how do we use our own journey to help spread the message of Christ to our world?
No matter how much money, power, sex, or success we experience, will it ever be enough to satisfy the deepest longings of our souls?
In a culture where biblical Christianity exists at the very margins of society, how do we develop relationships and create opportunities for sharing the life-changing message of the Gospel?
When it comes to the core issues of faith, what do Catholics and Christians have in common? What differences do they have? Does it matter?
What is the church? What's is the public's perception of the church today? How can we live like the church described in Acts 2?
Why do we exist? What should our primary goal in life be in light of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What should our response be?
What is Jesus for you? He is the resurrection and the life. Are you willing to embrace Him and find true life in Him through the hope of his resurrection?
What does Jesus mean by the Good Shepherd? How are we, the sheep, to respond to our good Shepherd?
What did Jesus mean when He said, "I am the door?" What is He a door to? What does He alone give us access to? Don't miss our third conversation in the I AM series as we discover the awesome, soul-thirst craving answer to these penetrating questions.
Who is Jesus? What does He want us to know about Him? What does He want us to believe about Him? How is that meant to shape the way we react to Him? Listen to this compelling series as we discover Jesus in His own words.
What does it look like to be a good Father? To whom can we turn to find a compelling image of the love, mercy, compassion, and kindness that are at the very heart of what it means to be a father? Join us this Sunday as we discover the answers through one of Jesus's most powerful parables.
Have you ever wondered, "Why doesn't God answer my prayers?" Have you ever felt abandoned by God in your time of need or distress? Have you ever questioned where He was in the midst of your sorrow or hardship? Sooner or later, all of us long for answers to these questions.
Have you ever wondered, "Why doesn't God answer my prayers?" Have you ever felt abandoned by God in your time of need or distress? Have you ever questioned where He was in the midst of your sorrow or hardship? If so, join us this weekend as we ask these questions and discover the answers that can comfort our hearts and bring peace to our minds.
How do we pray to a God who is three-in-one? How does our understanding of the Trinity shape our prayers? And what role does each person in the Trinity play in our conversations with God?
Prayer is our divine opportunity to communicate with God in a personal and intimate way. But what does it mean to pray? How does God want us to pray? What gives us the right to come to God in prayer? And what do we do when God doesn’t answer our prayers?
In this fireside-style chat, Dr. Jim O'Neill gives his perspective on living a life sent by God.
What happens next? What is there beyond this life? Are we mortal? Immortal? Do we end when this life is over or is there something more we were made for?
How should we live? What defines good and bad, right and wrong? What defines morality and how does that influence our everyday choices?
Where did we come from? What are the origins of the universe? How does the answer to that question shape our answers to all of life's other questions?
Christ's Resurrection is the source of our ultimate victory. So what does that mean and how does that change and transform our lives?
What evidence is there that the Bible is really God's words? Why does Paul call it "the sword of the Spirit"? What are some practical ways we can "take up" the sword? Get equipped to learn, love, live, and spread God's word.
One of Satan's most effective tactics is to make us question and doubt the security of our relationship with God. So how do we defend ourselves mentally and emotionally from this attack using our "helmet of salvation"?
The shield of faith is the largest piece of our defensive armor. So how do we use it effectively to "extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one"? We talk about the critical role faith plays in our spiritual warfare.
What is the Gospel? How can it give us peace? And how does it equip us for our spiritual battles? Join us this Sunday as we continue our series "Stand."
Even believers who have been given a "breastplate of righteousness," still struggle in our positional (our standing before God) and practical (our living before God) righteousness. These struggles leave "holes" in our breastplate, exposing ourselves to arrows of legalism and license from the enemy. This message will help get your breastplate repaired and get back to battle.
How can we use the Truth of Scripture to safeguard us in this struggle against evil? How do we defend ourselves with it, and what role does it play in our "armor"?
As followers of Christ, we are constantly engaged in an unseen battle that rages both in us and all around us. Yet God has not left us defenseless. He has given us all of the armor we need to withstand the spiritual attacks we encounter. So what is the armor? How do we put it on and utilize it effectively? Join us for this incredible series as we discover the answers and learn how to fight the good fight of the faith with all the tools God has given to us.
We wrap up our discussion of our 3 year Vision and look into one of Jesus’s best-known parables, the Parable of the Talents, to understand his challenge to us as his followers, in support of this Kingdom-focused Vision.
We wrap up our discussion of our 3 year Vision and look into one of Jesus’s best known parables to understand his challenge to us as his followers in support of this Kingdom-focused Vision.
What does it look like for the body of Christ to grow through our relationships with others?
If the church is going to grow, so do I ... and so do you. We can only do collectively what we're willing to take on individually. So how do we grow spiritually? How can YOU and I go deeper in our journey with Christ? Here we talk about the first commitment we have to make : GROW!
As a church, God has given us a compelling vision and sense of mission ... a passionate calling to partner with Him in making disciples of all nations. But what does that look like practically? How do we pursue that purpose personally and organizationally as a church body? Check out the first message in our Vision 20/20 series as Pastor Landon lays out our three-year plan.
Matt shares his testimony in context of Philippians 3: 12. Paul in this verse encourages us to "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus".
What kind of gifts would you bring to meet a King? What could you give Him that would symbolize his greatness and majesty, His power and dominion? Let's celebrate Christmas Eve and take a deeper look at the gifts the Three wise men brought to Christ.
Who was Jesus and why did He come? Two simple questions with two powerful answers found in the joyous declaration of a man named Simeon. We discover who He believed Jesus to be and what he knew Jesus had come to accomplish.
Joseph was a righteous man, but it still took a miracle to convince him to believe the unbelievable. Joseph was an ordinary man, but God used him for the extraordinary task of raising the Son of God. How does Joseph's story help us witness and respond to the miracle of the incarnation? Are we willing to believe and obey as he did?
Christ's coming was a seminal event in human history and was a part of God's great demonstration of love for the world (John 3.16). So how did the characters in that first Advent react to the news of His arrival and how should that inform our own perspective and response?
Discover what it means to give "sacrificially" in this message to conclude our series on Generosity.
If you had $100,000 to give away, where would you give it? In a world of 7.6 billion people, many with urgent and important needs, how should Christians give strategically?
Fear is one of the biggest obstacles to generosity. Yet God has promised not only to provide for us but to provide through us into the lives of others when we choose to live generously. So what are those promises and how can we live in faith when it comes to our finances and giving?
Generosity is one of the defining hallmarks in the life of a growing follower of Christ. So what does Scripture say about how we manage our resources and move forward in the journey of giving?
Just like God the Father sent Jesus into the world, so Christ has now sent us to the world. So what does that mean and how does God want to use each one of us to make a difference both locally and globally?
Suffering is an inescapable reality for every followers of Christ. He suffered for us. Now, we have the privilege and opportunity to suffer for Him. So how does that play out in our lives? What causes us to suffer? And how should we respond?
Jesus humbled Himself in unimaginable fashion to serve His disciples and then commanded them (and us!) to do the same. So what does that look like?
Forgivness is something we are all desperately in need of but often incredibly hesistant to offer to others. So what does in mean for God to forgive us in Christ and how can we resond in forgivness to others?
Jesus was God's great demonstration of love, the perfect image of selfless sacrifice. So how can we imitate Him in the way we love others?
Everything that God asks of us is a response to something He has done for us in Christ and now empowers in us through the Holy Spirit. So how does that change the way we view God, understand Christianity, and pursue Christ in our daily lives?
When it comes to our spiritual growth, how do we get from where we are to where God wants us to be? How do we get from A to B? Meet a new initiative called the Spiritual Growth Plan.
How do you wrap up the greatest sermon of all time? How do you summarize and apply the surprising yet life-giving truth of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount? Hear from Christ's own words how we are meant to respond!
Do you judge? Do you try to reason with unreasonable people? Do you fully depend on God through prayer? Do you keep the golden rule? These are the heart-shaping, relational questions Jesus is asking in Matthew 7:1-12.
In an age of ever increasing indulgence and abundance, what does is it mean to intentionally limit yourself from the physical to focus on the spiritual? Join us this Sunday as we talk about roots and meaning of the spiritual discipline of fasting and discover the practical relevancy it has in our lives today...
Jesus' followers are to be completely truthful and completely loving (even to our worst enemies). Are we willing to let God be our defense? If so, may the Savior deepen our truthfulness and love.
How high does Jesus set the bar for His people? What kind of life does He ask us to live?
What does it mean to be a people of influence? How does our identity as Christ-followers shape our mission as disciples? Discover who you are and how we are meant to live as world-changing people.
We have been given a mission to make disciples of Jesus among all the people groups of the world. So how does God help us do that? What kind of power and ability does He supply us with to make that overwhelming task possible?
God doesn't just work through us; He also works in us to grow us up and move us toward maturity in Christ. So how does that happen and what does it look like?
At the moment you embraced Christ, God granted you a special gift(s) designed to help you serve and mature His body - the Church. So what gift(s) do you have and how can you use those for the common good of His people?
What does it mean for God to be our "Father" and how do we become a part of His family? The Holy Spirit plays a key role in helping us understand and embrace this beautiful reality.
Prayer is an awesome privilege, an opportunity to converse personally with the God of the universe. So what do we say? How do we express our deepest fears, hurts, pain, and hopes?
How do we understand and apply the truth of Scripture? How do we process and engage God's Word in our every day lives? The good news is that we don't do it alone! God has given us a Guide to help.
How secure are we in our salvation? How much confidence can we have in the permanent nature of our relationship with God? Can we do something to lose our salvation? Or do we have some kind of promise and assurance from God that we are safe and secure in our hope in Christ?
Jesus said that it would actually be better for Him to leave so the Father could send us "The Helper" ... the promised Holy Spirit. Who is this "Helper" and how is His presence in our lives "better" for us?
A majority of our waking life is spent at work. And yet, how many of us as Christians fully integrate our faith with our work? Do we compartmentalize our faith or is it infused in our every act, especially in how we relate to our employees and employers?
Children are a gift from God and being a parent is a blessing. But it's not easy. The responsibility of teaching, shaping, nurturing, correcting, and developing a young life to become everything God created them to be is an often overwhelming task, one that we often as parents fail at. So how can we RESET our relationships with our kids to raise them in a way that honors God and is for their good?
The Apostle Paul gives us some wisdom to help us "reset" one of the three core relationships of life, marriage. He gives instructions to wives and husbands on how God designed a marriage to function modeled after Christ and his church.
The empty tomb was an expression of God's power, a declaration of Christ's authenticity, and the foundation of our hope not only in this life but in the one to come!
God is Holy and so He demands justice. But He is also Love which makes Him long to show compassion. The Cross became the elegant expression of both.
Jesus didn't come to establish a temporary or earthly Kingdom. He came to lay the foundation for an eternal and Heavenly one.
The Cross, while unexpected by Jesus' followers, was fully anticipated by Jesus and planned by God.
How can we engage people outside of our faith in a personal, compassionate, and Christ-like way?
What in our life do we need to "put off" and what do we need to "put on" in order to pursue Christ well and live a life pleasing to God?
How do you defeat temptation? How do we combat our fleshly urges and destructive desires? Will harsh rules and strict expectations be enough? Or is there something more to the fight against temptation?
How does Scripture describe our introduction into our relationship with God? What images and ideas help us understand what God has done for us in Christ?
This single passage is the densest description of Jesus' supremacy in all of Scripture. Let's rediscover the hope, the confidence, and the humbling that comes with knowing the One who is supreme over all things.
What does it look like for Christ to have supremacy in every area of our lives? How do we live our life in a way to please Him in everything we do?
The Gospel is meant to GROW:Out through us into the lives of those around us. We are His ambassadors, His messengers, His story tellers. So what did like look like for the early followers of Jesus and how can we emulate their example today?
All believers struggle with all kinds of sins. Hebrews 3:12-14 gives us a means of fighting our sin: close-knit, Christ-sharing community. What sins are deceiving, hardening, & leading our hearts away from the living God? What kind of exhortation can we share with each other to persevere in fighting sin and trusting Jesus?
God's passion is for each of us to GROW: Up into spiritual maturity in Christ. So how do we pursue that kind of growth and development? What do we need to take into our lives and what do we need to give through our lives to GROW?
The continual, relentless, and expansive growth of the Church is one of the primary narratives of the early followers of Christ. Regardless of their suffering, persecution, poverty, or social alienation, the Church grew and the Word of God continued to multiply rapidly. So how do we see that kind of movement of God today? How does our church partner with Him as He grows His Church? And what is our personal role in that process?
How do we respond to the Advent? How do we react to the arrival of Christ? In His names, God tells us what He offers us in Christ's coming. So what does God now want from us in reply?
"Jesus" means "The Lord is salvation". So what does Jesus save us from? And how does He accomplish that salvation? Check out this powerful message on the mission of Christ embedded in His very name.
What does it mean for Jesus to be "King"? What is He King over? Who is He King of? We examine the sovereignty and supremacy of Christ.
Immanuel means "God with us." How do we know that Jesus is God? In what ways is Jesus with us? And who exactly is "us"?
Used over 40 times in the New Testament by believers and naysayers, by demons and apostles, by accusers and affirmers, the phrase "Son of God" was repeatedly associated with the person of Jesus. So why do we believe He was God's Son and how does that impact the rest of our faith?
In this sermon we look at 1 Thessalonians 5 and discover how our faith and God's faithfulness intersect.
The end of the world is coming soon, according to Paul! But when? And how? What does it all mean for us today? We'll see Paul give us clarity on a mysterious topic, bringing some of the highest motivation the Christian can have to live every day like it was our last.
How does sex impact our sanctification? How does our sexuality shape our journey with God and others? The Bible has a lot to say about God's view and plan for our sexual expression.
What's your joy, treasure, and reward in life? What are you seeking? What will one day define your ultimate success?
When this life is over, when you take your last breath, what will your crowning achievement be? How will you define your success? How will you measure your significance? In the end, Scripture is clear ... people are meant to be our crown. So how do we invest in people in a way that maximizes our impact and influence in their lives?
What happens when we live as ONE? What's the practical result of our pursuit of unity? What does it say to us? What does it reveal about us? And how does it change the way the world sees us ... and Christ?
In the New Testament, one of the most recurring characteristics of the Christlike community is radical generosity. Let's take this Sunday as an opportunity to get past our negative bias toward money & church, expose the idols of greed in our hearts, and take steps to begin to live generously.
How do we grow as a family? How does our ONE body mature and become more like Jesus? The truth is it will take ALL of us doing our part. Everyone matters. Everyone is important. Everyone has to serve. So what's YOUR role? How do YOU fit into the family?
How do we do life in genuine community? How do we form the kind of relationships that change life and empower us for our ministry/mission? Jesus gave us an incredible picture of life lived in meaningful and transformational community.
Let's be honest. As a church, are we really acting as unified as God says we are in Christ? Are we really living in deep community? If not, how do we fight the barriers that prevent unity, and how do we grow closer to each like God intends?
Our unity is found in more than our shared experience. It's discovered in our shared identity. Through our common faith in Christ, we become ONE in Him.. So what does that mean? How does that happen? And how does that change the way we view and engage the Christian life?
What does it mean to enter into God's rest? How do we stop working for our own salvation and acceptance and simply entrust ourselves to the work of Christ in His life, death, and resurrection? We discover the reassuring truth and find freedom from the unrealistic expectations of our own perfection.
God wants to bless us ... but His plan is about more than just us! He blesses us so that through His goodness to us others can see Him, come to know Him, and ultimately worship Him!
How does my blessing become a part of other people's awakening to the reality (and worship!) of God? How does His goodness toward me tie in to His desire to see the nations worship Him?
What moves and motivates the heart of God? What is He pursuing and how do we align our lives with His passions?
The love of God is an enduring and ageless reality meant to prompt our hearts to continually give thanks for His unending and unearned kindness.
Unanswered prayer in desperate situations is one of the most debilitating experiences a Christian can have, and Psalm 22 is one of the best examples of this situation. See how the psalmist holds on to the promises of His King and Savior even in the midst of his darkest moments, and watch your hope increase.
Psalm 119. C. S. Lewis said that this psalm "is the language of a man ravished by a moral beauty. If we cannot at all share his experience, we shall be the losers."
If money, sex, power, position, success, fame, and knowledge can't satisfy us alone, what can? What is enough? How do we live a life with meaning, purpose, and value? Hear Solomon's final advice and counsel. (Spoiler alert ... He says we only have to worry about 2 things in life!!!)
Most of Ecclesiastes is telling us how NOT to live. But how should we live under the sun? How do we live in a world that is not our ultimate home? Hear sound advice from the wisest person who ever lived.
Evil and injustice seem to run rampant in our fallen and broken world. We see it in our politics, our economic systems, our workplaces, and our personal relationships. So how do we view and respond to the inequity we see and experience?
Death is the Great Equalizer. Rich or poor, black/white/hispanic/asian, well known or unknown, educated or without that opportunity, we must all face our own mortality and the inevitable end to this brief life.So how do we view both life and death in a way that maximizes the here/now and prepares us for the their/then of eternity?
The 14 pluses and 14 minuses of the "Time Poem" in Ecclesiastes 3 show that we are helpless to effect real change in the world. But the good news is that God is sovereign over every season of life, and His sovereignty is absolute, personal, beautiful, mysterious, immutable, and eternal
How do we view our work and wealth through a biblical lens? How can we honor God with what we do and what we gain through our career and employment?
How much is enough? How much do you need to own? What do you need to drive? Where do you need to live? What do you need to wear ... to satisfy your soul? Can anything this world truly be enough or do we need something more?
Relational Discipleship Questions 1 - Why do we look towards outside things to satisfy us on the inside? 2 - What's on our "list"? 3 - How do we turn towards Christ to be our soul satisfaction?
Everyone has a soulthirst. And everyone has tried to quench it with things that only leave us more thirsty. The book of Ecclesiastes is a warning and an invitation to put down the cup that doesn’t satisfy, find the rivers of living water, and never be thirsty again.
How often do we try to solve problems in our own strength only turning to God for help when we fail? God is our fortress and our salvation and His timing is perfect, wait on God.
As followers of Jesus, what role does suffering play in our growth and maturity, and how do we resist our great enemy on that journey to our completion?
What is the God-given role of pastors in the life of the church? What can we expect from them, and how can we support them as they love and lead us?
What is God's design for husbands and wives? How does He want them to function, and what are His expectations for them?
Suffering is an inevitable reality in the life of a Christ-follower. So what does it look like to be prepared to suffer and how should we respond to suffering when it comes? Join us this week to discover the answers to some of the most difficult yet compelling questions in following Jesus.
God has called us to honor those in civic authority and to submit ourselves to our government institutions. So what does that look like and are there limits to our call to obedience?
R/D Questions.
1 - How can we honor those in authority? 2 - What does it look like practically to submit to our governing authorities and are there exceptions to our obedience? 3 - How does our civic submission influence our spiritual message?
Peter offers 5 counter-cultural pictures of the church to help us transform our understanding of who we are and how we should act when life is hard. If we let God change how we see ourselves, we will finally become what we are.
“We are not loved because we obey; we obey because we are loved.” What’s the difference between these two attitudes? Do you try to live a holy life so that God would love you or because God has already loved you?
From beginning to end, God is the central player in the story of our redemption. Discover God's role in our past, present, and future and understand more about the living hope He offers us in Christ!
If the Resurrection is true, what does it change? How does it alter the way we view Jesus? How does it shape the way we approach the Bible? How should it change the way we live? What kind of response does it demand?
The people of Jesus' day took the place of God and condemned their only Savior. But the Silent Servant took the place of the people and bought them with His life. Are you willing to be such a silent servant?
Jesus was the Great Servant. Though He was God, He said He didn't come to be served but instead to serve us and to give His life as a ransom many people. So what did it mean for Him to serve us? How did He do it,and how can we imitate His example to love and serve those around us.
God has called us to live out our personal faith in collective community. So what does it mean to be a part of the community of the church? What kind of commitment does God long for us to make to His family, His people?
Unity matters. Jesus prayed that we would be one just as He and His Father were one. So how can we pursue that oneness and how can we protect the connectivity God has already given us?
Generosity was one of the defining marks of the early church. So what does the Bible say about "Living Generously" and what does that look like for us in 2016?
God has created each one of us with a specific calling. Every one of us has a unique ministry in His global mission. So what's yours? Do you know where you fit? Do you understand how He's made you and how He wants to use you?
If you could describe your perfect church, what would it be like? What would it do? What would it be passionate about and committed to? In this message we look at God's model for local congregation and talk about how can we be and become that kind of church!
What does it mean to "be" the Church? What kind of people does God want us to be and what kind of congregation does He want us to become? Is everything that Christians are doing contributing to the mission? If not, what do we do about it?
Making disciples (evangelism) and maturing disciples (discipleship) is indisputably THE mission of the church. But how many of us are actually doing this? What are the reasons we so easily get side-tracked from this mission? And what are some simple ways we can get back to actually living out our mission?
Making disciples (evangelism) and maturing disciples (discipleship) is indisputably THE mission of the church. But how many of us are actually doing this? What are the reasons we so easily get side-tracked from this mission? And what are some simple ways we can get back to actually living out our mission?
Contentment, what does it mean? Are you happy with the things God has given you? Even if you are you may be surprised to discover that this is still not what our bar for contentment should be based on. Tonight we will learn what true contentment is based on and how it can be realized no matter what your physical situation or status is.
We sing about them and see them on Christmas cards, but do we really know who these wise men were? If we don't, we miss the crucial role they played in the Nativity Story. Be moved by God's sovereign plan and welcoming grace as we learn about the Magi.
What was it like to be one of the shpeherds? Imagine being the first ones to know that the Savior had been born?! What did they see, hear, and experience, and how can their response shape our own this Advent season?
What did the Advent look like through the eyes of Mary and Joseph? How does their perspective shape our understanding of Christ's coming and how can we respond in faith like them?
What do we need to know about the "end times"? What does the Bible say? And how can we be informed but not fearful? Jesus dealt with these questions and more. Check it out in this discussion based on his conversation in Mark 13.
How do we respond as Christians to some of the big news of today, the threat of ISIS, the terrorist attacks in Paris, Syrian refugees landing in American and elsewhere. Here's what scripture has to say on these issues.
"Idolatry is the most discussed problem in the entire Bible. Behind every sin and struggle that you and I have is a false god that is winning the war in our lives." - Kyle Idleman, Gods at War. Learn from Jesus' devestating encounter with the Rich Young Ruler and get equipped to wage war against the idols that control our hearts.
What does it mean to be generous? How do you define generosity? How does God define it? Ultimately, it has nothing to do with how many 0's are on your check. God defines it by something much deeper ...
Who was Jesus? Who is Jesus? It's a question that Jesus himself felt was important enough to ask His disciples. Join us as we look at the wrong answers, learn the source of the right answer, and look at how that answer changes the world around us.
Jesus was not afraid to have his reputation questioned by his association with the broken, the hurting, and the lost. His compassion moved Him to action and motivated extravagant displays of love regardless of someone's past, present, or future failures (hello, Peter!). So how are you loving people like him today? How are you displaying this same kind of compassion?
Jesus is the God of miracles for whom nothing is impossible. So what do His miracles tell us about Him and how does His infinite power shape the way we live and view our circumstances?
What do you value more ... now or later? What drives your life ... the moment or the future? Your answers to those questions not only helps define your maturity but also shape every part of your journey through life. So which one should we value above the other and how do we adjust our lives to reflect that priority?
Jesus' answer to the greatest (and second greatest) commandment is stunning. On its own terms, these verses are some of the most important verses in the Bible. It gives endless applications. It deserves constant examination. We should know these words of Jesus better than any other passage in the Bible. Whether you are drinking milk or cooking meat, may this text challenge us to define maturity by how we treat an infinitely worthy God and others made in His image.
How do we move from milk to meat when it comes to God's Word? How do we grow from the simple truths of Scripture to the deeper and more complex realities of His Word? Check out this message and discover how God wants us to GROW through the constant use of His Word.
God is not threatened by our rebellion (individually or collectively as humanity). The Bible paints a picture of a sovereign God who rules over all ... not just with great power but great compassion. He is a God who commands the fate of the nations and yet cares about us. So why worry? Why be anxious? Instead, Scripture tells us to run to Him and find our refuge in Him regardless of what chaos we see in our world or experience in our lives!
In the midst of your sorrow and suffering, in times of either oppression or depression, if you've ever asked the question, "Where is God?", this message is for you.
How do we say Thank you to God? Listen as Matthew explains who is God, why he deserves our praise and thanks and how we should respond to these universal truths about Him in Psalm 100.
Sometimes we mess up and are plagued with feelings of guilt and shame. How can we use David's prayer in Psalm 51 as a guide when asking for forgiveness and restoration in our fellowship with God.
Would you say that reading the Bible is difficult? Boring? Do you almost never read it on your own time? Be encouraged and challenged by Psalm 19 to see that Scripture is one of God's greatest grace-gifts of Himself to us, and that reading Scripture is one of the most practical, life-transforming things we could do.
Life is like a journey, and Psalm 1 seeks to lay a foundation to that journey. It warns us and woos us by arguing the sobering reality that there are only 2 kinds of people, 2 paths, and 2 destinations. Where is your current path taking you? How should you recalculate your life navigation?
What does the Bible say about alcohol? Should a Christian drink? If so, what are the parameters that guide our use of alcohol and prevent us from abusing or misusing it?
God speaks through a variety of ways. He speaks through friends and counselors. He speaks through circumstances and open doors. He speaks through prayer, His Spirit, and peace. But the most reliable source of wisdom, direction, and insight is His Word. So how do we use God's Word to discern His will for our lives?
The Holy Spirit is the ever-present reality of God in me. He is the constant presence of God in my life and the continual source of Divine power that enables me to serve others and to share the Jesus story with my world.
Jesus is a prophet who reveals; are you listening and believing? He is a priest who redeems; are you drawing near? He is a king who reigns; are you obeying and worshiping Him? Learn more about how Jesus relates to us and how we should relate to Him.
Through faith in Christ, we become the adopted children of God. God is our Dad! So what does it mean for God to be our Father and how does that shape our understanding of and our interactions with Him?
Sexual abuse is an epidemic of incredible portions. The statistics are astounding and the damage inflicted on millions of children and adults is gut-wrenching. Yet there is hope and there is help. So whether you have been the victim of sexual abuse or know someone that has suffered through it, this sermon talks about how we can come "Out of the Shadows" of guilt, shame, anger, and fear into the freedom and restoration of Christ.
Ever get tired of doing good? Ever feel fatigued in your pursuit of a God-honoring, Jesus-exalting life? Ever feel like giving up or giving in? The journey is hard, but the reward is worth it.
What does it mean to "walk by the Spirit"? How do we know if the Spirit is truly working in us? How can we avoid leaning on our own strength to improve our character?
Through our faith in Christ, we are no longer slaves living under God's Law. Instead, we've entered into freedom as adopted sons and daughters of God. So what does that mean? How does our inclusion in God's family change the way we relate to Him?
What's the secret to moving forward in our journey with God? How do we make grow in our relationship with Him? How do we continue to be made more like Him?
The gospel is hard to believe, but it's true. It's hard to share, but it saves. It's hard to live out, but it keeps changing us. Don't let fear paralyze you; let the truth of the gospel mobilize you.
God's grace is so BIG it not only SAVES us; it also SENDS us. It doesn't just change us. It uses us as instruments of change in the lives of others. So who is God sending you to today?!
What does it mean to be justified before God? How can we be right(eous) before Him? And what role does religion and our religious processes play in that process?
What's the Good News and why is it important? This series of conversations from the book of Galatians shows us how Jesus > Religion is the ultimate "Good News."
Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, falsely accused, thrown in jail, and forgotten for years after keeping his integrity before God. But, as the story unfolds, we see God beautifully orchestrate all this tragedy for good. So how should this alter our perspective on suffering?
In what way does God want you to strive toward repentance? Which relationships in your life need reconciliation? Let's take a look at these topics through the story of Jacob.
Waiting is hard. Waiting in line, waiting for your tax refund...or waiting for God. So what happens when we don't wait? What happens when we try to rush the process (or even worse, rush God?!)?
Do you trust God with all your heart? Is there something you wouldn't do if God asked you? What reasons do we have to trust God? How has He proved Himself trustworthy?
Our world is full of racial and ethnic tension that seems to transcend our greatest attempts at reconciliation, yet in the Gospel we find the grace and the power to overcome our differences and find our common connection in Christ.
The Flood is a story of epic proportions, a global expression of God's commitment to both justice and compassion. So how does it apply to our lives today? (And what does the science say about a the possibilities of a global flood?)
God created mankind as the pinnacle of His creation, to rule over the earth ... but, tragically, we fell. And that Fall affected the very fabric of God's perfect creation, affecting every one of us every day. So what hope is there for a fallen world? And how should we live in it?
If you're God, what's the first thing you do after you create the universe? What's the next item on your "To Do" list?
Adam and Eve started a chain-reaction of unrighteousness. Neither Abraham, judges, or kings could lead God's people to recover the righteousness that was lost at the Fall. Only God Himself was up for such a task, so Jesus was born. Jesus came to make unrighteous people right before God. He came to live the life none of us could live, and in His advent we see the righteousness of God who wants His people to be like Him.
Humility was one of the defining marks of Christ's Advent. We see it in how He came. We see it in how He lived and served. And we see it in how He died. Though He was God, He was willing to take on the form of humanity, serve us, and then die in our place. That kind of humility is an example for us to marvel at and a model for us to imitate. So how can you and I live like Christ this week? How do we live with this kind of humility?
You will probably speak about 300,000,000 words in your lifetime. You will hear far more. How many of those words caused wounds? How many brought healing? In James 3.1-12, we get the privilege of listening in on James' warning and encouragement to his scattered congregation, apparently suffering from unity-destroying words. Listen in on what God has to say about the seemingly unlimited power of the tongue.
The Bible is clear: faith alone is what saves us, yet the faith that saves us is never alone. It is always expresses itself in our good works towards others. So how much good is your faith doing in the lives of others?
Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
Faith is a private experience with a public expression. Who we are, what we believe, and how we encounter God WILL reveal itself through our actions!
There is one truth, one idea, one concept, one conviction that shapes everything else in our journey with God.
How sure is our hope in Christ? How confident can we be in our salvation and eternal future?
The journey of following Christ is tough and not everyone that says they are a believer continues until the end. So how do we as a church respond to that? When people leave, what does that say about their faith? Were they really ever a believer? Did they somehow lose their relationship with God? Did they ever have one? How can we know?
We are defined by our passions and known by our pursuits. Those things that consume us and those desires that control us identify on the outside what is real and taking place on the inside. What passions identify you? And as followers of Christ, how should we be marked by our desires?
As followers of Christ, our lives should be marked by obedience. We ought to be known by our continual willingness to say "YES" to Christ. We won't do it perfectly (thankfully, God's grace is enough to cover our sin). But if we are genuine believers in Jesus, there will be a consistent, long-term pattern of growth and righteousness that reflects Christ to our world.
As followers of Jesus, love is to be one of the defining marks of our lives. And not just any love but a love like God's ... a self-less, sacrificial, life-altering love. God showed that kind of love to us in Christ. Now we are called to display that love to the world. So how's your love?
As believers, we have been sent. We are here to represent Christ and display His Grace+Truth to our world. So how can you do that today? What does that kind of life look like?
Homosexuality is one of the most controversial issues in our culture and political environment today. So how does the church respond in Grace+Truth? What does the Bible say about our sexuality and how do we demonstrate God's kindness in our actions and conversations about it?
We live in a culture consumed with wealth and materialism. Yet $$$ does not define us, and our stuff (cars, houses, etc.) can never satisfy us. So how do we treat $$$? How do we respond to our culture's pursuit of wealth with Grace+Truth?
All major world religions are fundamentally different, so they cannot all lead us to God. Either one of them is right, or none of them are right. But Jesus' life and teaching seem most convincing and at least most unique. He claimed, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me," - John 14.6. Jesus alone preaches a WAY of grace, offers a verifiable historical event (the resurrection) as proven TRUTH, and LIFE that quenches our soulthirst in ways that nothing else can. How can you respond to our pluralistic culture with grace and truth?
How does the story of Job and the truth of Scripture change the way we respond to suffering? The answers are intriguing ...
In the midst of our sorrow and suffering, we don't just find comfort in God's compassion. We also take refuge in His power. It is His sovereignty that make His promises like "All things work together for good" (Romans 8.28) both possible and reliable. Listen in to hear more about how to rest in His greatness and goodness.
If we live a godly life, are we guaranteed to prosper in health and wealth? According to Job, we worship a God who cannot be reduced to such predictability. God is free to give and take away for the development of our character and the increase of His glory. Can you say with him, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him"?
Suffering is a near universal human experience. So how do we survive (and even thrive) in the midst of grief, pain, and loss? Here are a couple of insights from our first discussion through the book of Job: A Journey through Suffering:
1) Worship and suffering are not mutually exclusive. It's not easy, but we can value and declare God's greatness even in the times of hardship and pain.
2) Humility is the path to emotional health. Recognizing that everything we have has come from God (family, health, finances, etc.) allows us to respond better if/when He chooses to take some of it away.
3) Our suffering is not an indictment on God's character. Our grief-filled circumstances don't mean God is not good or kind or loving. His character remains unchanged regardless of my pleasure or pain.
The journey of following Christ is not an easy one. Paul said that there are "conflicts on the outside, fears within" (2 Corinthians 7.5). So where does our courage come from? Where do we find our boldness - especially when it comes to sharing the story of Christ with those that may not agree or believe? In Ephesians 6, Paul asks his friends to pray for him, to pray for words to be given him, to pray for him to be bold and courageous regardless of the cost.
How about you? Where is your courage coming from? How can you pray for yourself? How can we pray for each other?
Most of us never think about spiritual warfare. Others are dangerously obsessed with it. According to Ephesians 6, we ought to have the balanced approach of respecting our Enemy but confiding in God's invincibility. Our spiritual weapons are nothing more mystical than the character traits of a Christlike Christian, so this week, stand firm with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, God's word, and prayer!
How we work and who we believe we really work for should be greatly influenced by our journey with Christ. What difference does our relationship with God make? How does it change our perspective on the workplace?
Marriage is a beautiful relationship, a connection created by God to be an image of Christ and His people. But that doesn't mean its easy! Almost 1/2 of all marriages end in divorce and even among followers of Christ it's 38%. So what are we doing wrong? What's causing this relational epidemic?
As a Christ-follower, our "walk" (the consistent patterns of our life) should look different now that we've embraced Christ. If God has made us one of His children and He has placed light and life in us, we shouldn't live the way we used to live! Our choices, passions, and pursuits should be different. They should be a reflection of Him. So how's your "walk"? How's your life? Is it an expression of Christ Himself? That's what God has made possible for us now that His Spirit is living in us.
Every one of us has been created and spiritually gifted in a unique way to make a difference in God's new family: the Church. So what's your role? What's your gift? How has God SHAPED you to serve?
God made us for a purpose. He has created us new in Christ for reason. Ephesians 2 says that He we were spiritually dead in our sins (separated from God) but God has spoken life (a relationship with God) into us through faith in Christ. And He did all of that so that we could live a life doing "good works" that God prepared in advance before we were even born! That's our purpose ... to glorify God and serve others in His name.
As a new people in Christ, we have "A New King." This King is all-powerful over death, sin, His people, and EVERYTHING. How should we live in light of this new King?
Before the universe began, God was passionate about making us a part of His people. Ephesians 1 says He chose us, predestined us, adopted us, redeemed us, and sealed us with His Spirit's presence in our hearts that guarantees us our inheritance in the life to come.
The global story of mission and redemption that God began in the book of Acts with the Apostles and the Early Church continues through us today! Our story is a part of His grand, eternal story. So how does your life fit into the beautiful narrative of God's love for the nations?
Sharing the Jesus story can be difficult in a culture that doesn't understand it, is too busy to care about it, or sometimes just doesn't want to hear it. So how do we share it more effectively? What's going to motivate us? And what kind of responses can we anticipate?
Learn from the example of the Apostles as they launch out into the unknown paths of obedience, all the while being guided by a God who is more committed to showing us His will than we are to discovering it. If you're struggling with not knowing the specifics of God's will, this message is for you.
In the process of life-change, we have a role (to share), our audience has a role (to respond), and God has a role (to appoint and grant faith). All three of these are necessary and essential. And all three are required to accurately understand how a heart is changed forever through faith in Christ.
God is at work in our world to bring people from every culture and community into His family ... and He is inviting us to join Him! When He speaks and we listen, we discover we are in the midst of a Divine Partnership that changes lives forever! So how can you partner with God?
Prayer is a powerful tool God longs for us to use for His glory and the good of others. He tells us to pray continually, to offer prayers to Him through Christ (our One mediator), and to do it with a spirit of trust and humility, knowing that He will work all things together for our good as His people (Romans 8.28-29). So pray ... and expect great things when you do!