First Baptist Church of Argyle: Recent Episodes
Bobby Cates
Living generously is an act of worshipLiving generously demonstrates trust in GodLiving generously reflects God's work in you
Disciples worship freely by the power of the Holy SpiritDisciples worship freely by responding to truthDisciples worship freely by being willing to worship in front of othersDisciples worship freely regardless of the consequences
Intentional growth keeps us useful.Intentional growth builds our Christ-centered confidence.Intentional growth involves God and others.
Disciples never stop hungering for the gospel.Disciples hunger for the gospel because of the life it gives and the change it brings.Disciples hunger for the gospel through faith-driven individual pursuit and community equipping.
To do whatever it takes to reach as many people with the gospel as possible, we must:- look with discernment- live with intentionality- surrender ourselves
The annual special music-driven presentation of the redemption made available through Jesus Christ.
The hope of Christmas is a person. The hope of Christmas is alive. The hope of Christmas is purifying. The hope of Christmas must be seized.
Enduring leadership:- is the fruit of personal investment- helps the church navigate transition- must guard the church- must guide the church
Invest in the next generation by discipling them at home, by inviting them to serve with you, by sending them out with your blessing, and by treating them as equals in the Kingdom.
In order to cultivate the organic diversity that comes when making disciples of the nations, we must celebrate diversity within the church, listen when friction arises, keep the gospel at the center, and encourage mutual respect in the midst of differences.
We create lasting impact for the gospel when we continually strengthen churches.
We strengthen churches by starting new ones, equipping godly leaders, and sending people out
The Ethiopia team shares about their time working with Light of Life Church in Ziway, Ethiopia.
Trust the Holy Spirit to lead you. Trust God to break down strongholds. Trust God to give you opportunities. Trust God to help you endure difficulties. Trust God by never taking credit for what he has done.
We go together when we share life, when we give new people a chance to lead, when we combine efforts to meet needs, and when we worship and obey together.
To Go with the Gospel, we must learn that God prepares the way, embrace God's preparation of us, trust God with the results, and embrace the change that awaits.
Going to those who are different than us requires us to overcome difficult circumstances, setting aside prejudices, to have hard conversations, and to actually go.
If you want to be wise and full of the Spirit, you must be saturated with the Scriptures. If you are saturated with the Scriptures you will speak up. If you are saturated with Scripture grace and mercy will prevail in your life. If you are saturated with Scripture you will be used by God.
We can navigate conflict biblically by being honest about the problem, listening to godly leadership, and being ready to put the needs of others first.
We must be persistent with the gospel among our neighbors. We must be persistent in taking advantage of divine opportunities. We must be persistent in the face of opposition. We can be persistent because the gospel cannot be stopped.
Missions Pastor Raju Samuel leads a discussion with our summer missionaries regarding the work done in McAllen.
How did the earliest Christians go from a small group afraid to go out in public to a force that was described as "turning the world upside down"?
They were dependent on God by letting God set the agenda, by working in God's power, by constantly seeking God in prayer together, and by waiting productively for God to work.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread was a memorial to God's deliverance of the people from slavery through the Passover and their quick exit from Egypt. It foreshadowed the reality that God's judgment passes over those who are in Christ, and it reminds us that God will deliver his people from bondage.
The Feast of Weeks is the celebration of the the wheat harvest and God's provision for this people that season. It was during this festival that the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples and brought in a harvest of 3,000 souls. The Feast of Weeks reminds us that Jesus will reap a harvest of souls and that we are to be laborers sent out to work.
Through the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles, we see a foreshadowing of Jesus as the source of life for our souls and the hope of salvation for the nations.
Fully-devoted fellowships guard the gospel. We guard the gospel because it sets us apart. We guard the gospel by aligning our hearts and mouth with it and by discovering and holding on to truth.
A fully-devoted fellowship pursues godliness above all else. Godliness is our inner response to God that leads to outward change, should be increasing until Jesus appears, and must be anchored in the supremacy of God.
Fully-devoted fellowships serve for the sake of others, even in hard circumstances, because our hope is not in this life.
A fully-devoted fellowship honors their elders, holds their elders accountable, and carefully examines potential elders.
A fully-devoted fellowship sets healthy boundaries for its ministries in order to equip others for important work and to reserve resources for those in actual need.
A fully-devoted fellowship intentionally builds a multi-generational ministry that urges all towards Christ-likeness, understands how to honor different groups without showing partiality, protects and provides for the elderly in need, and helps families understand their roles in caring for their households.
Fully-devoted fellowships have diligent leadership who are not defined by demographics, who lead in life not just church life, who are committed to growing and guiding people with Scripture, who cherish the investment of others, and who are committed to following Jesus closely.
A fully-devoted fellowship trains for godliness by rejecting lies, feasting on God's Word, wrestling with the Word, stripping away every hindrance, and never stopping.
Legalism is a lie that scars the soul. It must be corrected through the nurturing word of God.
Jesus Christ is the source of all life and the author of abundant, eternal, secure spiritual life.
We all need peace. We are disjointed and incomplete. We lack a wholeness to ourselves because of sin. Peace is found only in Christ only by God's grace.
A fully-devoted fellowship is served by qualified deacons who are people of character, cling to the gospel, and are devoted to their family.
A fully-devoted fellowship is focused on helping men embrace their influence as leaders in the local church and helping women find their value in Christ.
A fully-devoted fellowship is engaged in gospel-centered prayer as we pray for the salvation of others and for our relationship with authorities so that the gospel won't be hindered.
A fully-devoted follower of Jesus never stops embracing instruction, and a fully-devoted fellowship never stops instructing and training. Embracing instructions helps you endure well, and rejecting it leads to disaster.
Who you were then matters, but who you are now matters more. Your relationship with God is intended to help others know and follow Jesus.
A fully-devoted fellowship is committed to biblical teaching, has leaders who guide and guard the fellowship, and understands how easy it is to wander into falsehood.
It is difficult for comfortable people to be a part of God's Kingdom, but God rescues us from the false sense of security we find in the things of this world.
Jesus offers us a place to mourn. Jesus offers us healing. Jesus offers us a hope that transcends our hurts.
Your high opinion of Jesus isn't enough to save you. Your knowledge of Scripture isn't enough to save you. Only Jesus is enough. Those who are saved are not content to live in the shadows.
Missions Pastor Raju Samuel reviews his recent trip to Uganda and challenges the church to carry the compassion and concern of Christ into the community so see the souls of our neighbors and the nations rescued by the gospel.
Dr. Richard Ross, an expert in student ministry and advocate for the centrality of parents in the discipleship of children, encourages believers to be intentional about shaping the spiritual hearts and minds of the next generation.
We should pray like David. We should be known as the Lord's people We should put our trust in the Lord
Deacons lead through service and serve with character because faithful service fosters increased fruit.
God has spoken to us through general revelation and special revelation that we might be changed.
God's is strong enough to rescue you. His strength should intensify your prayer. He deals with sin and rewards righteousness personally. God makes you ready for what will lie ahead of you, provides victory according to his purposes, and gets the glory for any triumph.
When facing fractured relationships, believers should be dependent on prayer, open to correction, committed to God's way of doing things, and confident in God's provision.
The righteous can dwell with the Lord. Live righteously. The righteous will not be shaken.
The fool's heart informs his actions. We are all born fools. The righteous embrace the end of themselves.
Repentance is turning away from our sin, away from ourselves, and toward God. It is a gracious gift that is necessary for us to experience salvation and on-going spiritual health.
If you have any questions about this message or about following Jesus, please contact us at pastor@fbcargyle.org
Fasting is expected of those who await Christ's return and is a key method by which we draw near to God.
Waiting is a gift rather than a burden. Through it God gives us opportunities to draw closer to him through seeking His help, worshipping him, trusting his nature, and believing His promises.
The Lord's Supper reminds us of our unity in Christ and demonstrates our unity to others.
Jesus pursues us, is patient with us, and persuades us through the Scriptures and his nearness that He is the Savior.
Healthy churches defend unity by dealing with divisive people biblically and by focusing on what matters most.
The Church is a people who is saved by God. There is no other standard by which our eternal destination is measured. To be saved by God is to know His mercy, to be made new, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to be cleared of all guilt.
Disciples can be devoted to the good works prepared for us by God by allowing ourselves to be reminded, by allowing God to define what is 'good', and by establishing ourselves in the good work that God has already done in us.
When you seek God you should seek authenticity, righteousness, and His presence. When you do you will find life.
A multi-generational church is the clear pattern of the New Testament. A church family in which all ages invest in each other is crucial because there is no retirement from disciple-making and there is much wisdom to be gained from the previous generation. As evidenced in Scripture, a healthy multi-generational church will advance the gospel.
Purity is not found in your work or from within. Rather, purity is found in Jesus Christ alone.
False teaching is rooted in rebellion, destroys lives, and, therefore, must be confronted with God's Word with the hope of restoring those who have wandered from the truth.
An elder is expected to faithful rather than flawless in putting himself last and to continually work toward godliness.
An elder is expected to be faithful rather than flawless. He should be faithful to his marriage covenant and in leading his children toward Christ.
Christ the head of the church, and he has set a pattern of leadership for his church to follow that includes men of character teaching and defending his people.
We strive for a healthy church because we are servants following the example of our Master, we are called to fight for the faith of others, and we have been entrusted with the transforming power of truth.
We are commanded to both forget the past and remember the works of God. Knowing what to hold on to and what to let go of requires Christ-centered focus and discipline.
Scripture is clear that Jesus is God the Son; so how can Isaiah refer to him as our Everlasting Father? Jesus is the only one who can perfectly reveal God's fatherly nature to us, and his fatherhood to us is unchanging and eternal.
Jesus is our Mighty God as demonstrated by his works, his death, his resurrection, and his return. He has conquered the law, our sin, death itself, and will conquer every enemy and judge every nation.
The infinite, incomprehensible knowledge of wisdom of God dwells in Jesus Christ and works on our behalf and for our benefit.
Humility is the proper alignment of ourselves in relation to who God is. When we humble ourselves we affirm God's power and give evidence of our trust in Him.
God has designed His church in such a way that some are called to lead and all are called to be led.
Suffering as a disciple of Jesus is promised to us throughout Scripture. We have also been given the strategies for leveraging that suffering for the glory of God.
We are called to live with the end in mind. Living with the end in mind keeps us from living for ourselves and helps us use our present for what matters most.
Doing good encompasses our whole being, is the heart of our mission, and is not dependent on our circumstances.
Marriage is the most intimate, complex relationship known to man. The marriages of followers of Jesus are to be characterized by a mutual submission that seeks the benefit and encouragement of their spouse.
Suffering comes to everyone in this life, but Christians are called to suffer well for doing what is right.
Rebellion is in our DNA as sons and daughters of Adam. But, through Christ, we are new creations who are called to turn from our natural desires and toward those that honor God. One are in which we are called to change is our direction is how we relate to government.
Believers are called to be holy or set apart because of our new life in Jesus Christ. This holiness is embraced by obedience and flows from hope.
Believers are called out of, or set apart from, the rest of the world in that our identity and perspective is to be pervaded with the confident and expectant trust in God's ability and faithfulness to accomplish His purposes and one day gather His children to himself.
Believers are called by the will of the Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and through the work of the Son.
Deliverance is a universal need that is most commonly opposed by our battle between our own emotions and our willingness to trust God.
When it seems as though there is an all-out assault against the things and people of God, we must rely only on God rather than the advice and cunning of men.
The plea for justice in our world is a constant because the wickedness of the sin-ravaged hearts of mankind is so pervasive. Let us plead to God for the oppressed that they might be rescued and that those who seek to dominate others be brought low.
We can celebrate and find hope in the truth that God will bring about justice for his people because He is the righteous judge.
God's glory is declared in and through the infinite expanses of the entire universe, and yet, God has chosen to set his image upon mankind, setting them apart as intended vessels of proclamation and blessing.
When we are accused of wrongdoing we should follow David's example from Psalm 7 of running to God first, examining ourselves to see if the accusations are true, urging the guilty to repent, warning them of the fruit of sin, trusting God for the outcome.
Though our sin causes us to become weary, frail, and deserving of judgment, God's mercy is available, restorative, and even proactive.
Our prayers should center on the full nature of God who rightly judges sin, lovingly welcomes the repentant, leads the faithful in truth, and provides security to those who run to Him.
Though our troubles may feel overwhelming we can rest in the abiding presence, encouragement, and protection of God.
The natural inclination of man's heart is to be his own ruler, his own god. But sinful man has no moral authority or inclination to claim the right to rule in place of the true King, Jesus Christ who has demonstrated himself worthy in all things.
The righteous and the wicked are two distinct groups that are differentiated by what guides them, what fruit they bear, and where they will spend eternity.
Student & Young Adult Pastor Joshua Robinson explains the centrality of grace to our relationship to God and others.
Redemption through Jesus Christ frees us to recognize and align ourselves with the guiding and sanctifying presence of the Holy Spirit that battles against our flesh.
Jesus frees us to live for others by fighting for others, cherishing our fellowship, strengthening each others' boundaries, and giving ourselves away to others.
Through Christ, we move from slaves to sin bound under the guardianship of the law to children of the promise given to Abraham. In our adoption, God grants to us all of the privileges and promises earned and owed to Christ. We are sons and daughters rejoicing in the freedom purchased for us by the blood of Christ.
Redemption through Christ frees us from the categories and labels used by the world to divide and define us. Your identity in Christ transcends those physical or cultural distinctives to enable you to see people in the way that matters most -- whether or not they are saved by faith in Jesus.
Life outside of Jesus Christ is one of cursed imprisonment. We are cursed to be faced with the task of obeying every part of God's Law, and we are cursed with never being able to do anything close to what is required. But Christ has come that, by our faith in His identity and obedience, we can be welcomed back by the Father as children rather than prisoners.
It is foolish to not abide in the freedom purchased for you by Jesus Christ. Only faith can drown out this kind of foolishness.
Christ frees us to understand what is worth fighting for and how to fight for it. Christ enables us to stop fighting for ourselves, begin fighting for others, and standing in Christ's strength.
Our freedom in Christ is formed and sustained by the redemptive work and the transformative will of God the Father. This freedom emancipates us from slavery to our sin and unites us to God and all those who have ever and will ever know this gift of grace. We are free but not independent.
Church member and Retired Missionary/Pastor Raju Samuel reminds us that our call as disciples is to go and make more disciples. We have no excuse to be unconcerned with the lostness and needs of our neighbors. We should make every resource available to achieve what God has called and equipped us to do.
To intentionally end the life of any image-bearer, including yourself, is a heinous sin against God and others. Even so, we must not elevate suicide to an unforgivable status. We must help the suicidal and those grieving the loss of someone find the light of the hope of Jesus Christ.
The root of all addiction is the pursuit of pleasure of relief. However, all addictive behaviors provide a temporary high that only creates a greater dependency on something g that cannot satisfy us.
Despite the feelings of emptiness and sadness that often accompany depression, God offers guidance, stability, and hope through the real and practical presence of His Spirit.
Anxiety is a common component of life. The root of anxiety is fear or a lack of trust in God above all else. God has graciously equipped us with invaluable tools to battle against anxiety.
We can have hope that our battle for mental health does not hinge solely on our own efforts because we have been made brothers and sisters of the Wonderful Counselor and been given the permanent presence of the Great Comforter.
Biblical authenticity requires that disciples make themselves known to other believers for mutual encouragement and correction.
Biblical authenticity requires Spirit-empowered changes that turn your heart and life away from yourself and toward God so that you might experience salvation and life in being continually conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
Biblical authenticity requires that we align with God's standards for faith and practice through confession -- the acknowledgment of and agreement with His truths.
Biblical Authenticity requires us to understand our identity in Christ while also fighting against our old nature through the practice of measuring ourselves against the Word of God.
In blessing God, we celebrate his goodness, kindness, and faithfulness by diligently redeeming our work for His glory and responding in reverent, Spirit-filled acts of worship.
Life is hard sometimes. The world is seemingly filled with reasons to abandon the expectation that there is anything or anyone worth trusting in through all circumstances. However, you can have hope because the God who made you hears you, forgives you, speaks to you, and redeems you.
Only that which God blesses lasts. Everything in our lives will rise and fall according to the will of God. As we build our lives, we must pay attention to who and what we are building for.
Times of difficulty come to us all. The Psalmist demonstrates how we can deal with that inevitable state: Remembrance of God's goodness and provision, earnest prayer, and perseverance through the tears.
The key to experiencing blessing and victory is to remember several key teachings found in Psalm 123 and 124. When we remember that God sovereignly rules, graciously instructs, purposefully humbles, fiercely fights, miraculously rescues, and faithfully sustains then we will understand what genuine triumph is, how to consistently know it, and how to intentionally invite others to experience it.
Our God is all-powerful, ever-present, faithful, and kind. No one and nothing can compare to him as a source of help and security.
Everything that sets disciples apart from the rest of the world is founded on what Christ has done for and in us.
The comforts and successes of this live do not determine what happens in the next. Each person's eternal destination is determined by one thing -- their relationship with Jesus Christ. Your ONE's default destination is an eternity of suffering in Hell, and you have the only truth that can change that.
As disciples, we must remember and let the mission of Jesus motivate us to bring our neighbors to Him so that their greatest need can be met.
The call to "Follow Me" is a call to commit yourself to becoming more and more like Jesus.
Mission Dignity is a 100 year old ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention that helps care for retired pastors and their widows. Dignity Sunday is designed to help believers understand how Mission Dignity is one way in which they can proclaim the gospel while caring for those who have served Christ's church faithfully.
Joy is found in the forgiveness of sin offered only by God through faith in Jesus Christ.
If God is your strength your worldview and life will be drastically altered as your continually rely on Him.
There will be a judgment for every single person that will lead to either eternal destruction or eternal life. We must be a people focused on and motivated that end.
It is easy but unwise to derive your value from your obedience. Your value flows from God, and your obedience demonstrates your understanding of God's love for you.
God desires that our giving be an act of grateful obedience that shapes our fellowship with Him and is rooted in our confident trust in God's desire to bless His people and bring Himself glory.
God is just. He will execute his justice according to His schedule and empowers believers to be a conduit of justice in the world.
Our relationships with each other matter because they are a reflection of our relationship with God, our Father and Creator.
Every believer is, by way of Christ's blood-bought access to God, a priest and thus carries with them the responsibility to take worship seriously, walk with integrity, guard truth carefully, and lead others faithfully.
We must rethink our concept of worship. Your worship is a response to God, it is a heart issue, and it impacts the world and eternity.
Our understanding of God's love is central to how we worship and practice our religion.
When taken out of context, John 3:16-17 can lull us into a false sense of affection between God and all of mankind that leads us to be lax in our evangelistic efforts. Verse 18-21 show that there is urgency in God's offer of salvation because condemnation is presently hanging over the world.
The misunderstanding from Romans 8:28 lies in two areas: "our good" and "His purpose". Our good is that which draws us closer to conforming to the image of Christ, which is God's purpose for us.
Rather than a pep-talk to accomplish all our dreams, Paul is telling us that Christ is enough for us regardless of circumstances. Paul is focusing on contentment rather than victory because contentment is key to our joy in Christ.
Jesus is the Resurrected King. He was obedient in his death. He is victorious in his resurrection. He is clear about his identity. He is patient in his pursuit. He calls us to follow him
God call's all disciples to serve. He calls some to serve by guiding and guarding the local church. It is important that churches acknowledge, affirm, and hone that calling in those who demonstrate the required faithfulness, character, and ability.
You can trust the Bible because it is historically accurate, we know what it really says, and Jesus trusted it.
NOTE: The manuscript numbers referenced in this message are not up to date. More recent numbers can be found online. These new numbers don't substantially change the point made in this message.
Abortion is not primarily a political topic. It is a social and spiritual one that has significant implications. Christians must call abortion what it is, value life at all stages, seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
Conflict will happen, even among disciples. That is why Jesus left us a clear and simple blueprint for how to resolve conflict when it arises. Biblical conflict resolution reflects God's heart, restores relationships, and rescues us from cancerous attitudes and actions.
You will have doubts because you are still learning and growing in Christ. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Understand the real dangers of refusing to address those doubts.
Through Hosea's commitment to Gomer we learn that God's redemption is persistent, patient, and permanent.
As relentless as our rebellion has been and perhaps still may be, God's mercy for his people is renewed so that we might be rescued and restored and that He would be glorified.
In order to understand the relentless mercy and love of God for his people, we must understand the depth and fortitude of our rejection of Him. In doing so, we see that God is not merely laying aside minor grievances. Rather, he is forgiving and restoring a wife who is prone to perpetual adultery.
The call to go and make disciples bears with it the command to preach the gospel to all people. There are no exceptions. All people of all ethnicities and backgrounds are our audience.
Disciples are not made on accident. Rather disciples are made through the intentional actions of gospel-going, gospel-preaching, gospel-teaching, and gospel-transformation.
If the Great Commission is to be understood and realized, we must understand what a disciple truly is. A disciple is literally someone who followers another's set of instructions or precepts. We must understand what a disciple of Jesus looks like if we are to fulfill our mission as the Church.
We exist to bring glory to God and to make disciples. Our goal for 2019 is to build a culture that cultivates disciples. We can do that by being fully-devoted to God and each other. That requires us to be all in!
Christ came not just to free us but to also facilitate our adoption as the sons and daughters of God.
God sovereignly directed governments, cultures, and even the stars to orchestrate the perfect period for which Jesus to be born and the Church to begin.
The bread in the Lord's Supper represents the body of Christ. It leads us to remember his work in obeying the Father's will completely, to proclaim his death until his return, and to participate in the work of building God's Kingdom through faithful obedience to the commands of the Father.
John Maxwell has said, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." Good leaders listen, grow, and rely on God.
God speaks to us repeatedly. He speaks to and through broken vessels. He speaks to bring about change.
God pursues us because he values us and those who will be impacted through our obedience.
Followers of Christ are called to stand out in terms of how they live because of who we belong to. Our actions, our love for people demonstrate what we really believe and what matters to us most.
God's call comes how and when He chooses. Your response reveals the condition of your heart. Your response has eternal impact.
The heart of spiritually-vibrant community is living with open arms: reflecting God's relentless love and boundless grace to everyone no matter how far they've wandered.
Living with open hands helps you focus on your purpose, helps keep your priorities properly aligned, and makes it easier for your life to reflect Jesus.
Being a spiritually-vibrant person requires living with discernment. Discernment flows from a renewed mind.
Building spiritually-vibrant community requires us to love with authenticity. Loving with authenticity requires us to live with authenticity. Living with authenticity requires us to welcome people into our lives -- our real lives.
What can we learn from the devotion to God of one good king in the midst of others who trusted in false gods?
Jesus demands and enables commitment from his followers. Those who are fully-devoted followers of Jesus are committed to loving others, to unchanging truth, and to trusting God for everything.
Because we approach God not in terror (like those at Sinai) but in awe, reverence, and freedom, we are able to pursue Christ in holiness and endurance. Our position with God is unshakeable through Christ. Therefore, we can be steadfast in our faith and obedience.
The only way to consistently overcome sin in your life is to focus on the work of Jesus and the joy found in his promise of salvation. This focus allows us to endure through the trials of life and view God's discipline as an evidence of grace rather than a punitive overreaction.
Faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ is the conduit through which God chooses to display his power. Faith drives us to act and enables us to endure.
Christ's work as our High Priest in opening the New Covenant has provided us direct communion with God and a dynamic community called the church.
Through his perfect and final sacrifice, Jesus purchases us from our sin, perfects us in the sight of God, and reminds us of what God truly desires from us.
All of the promises offered to us in Jesus are bound up in God's covenant to write his law on the hearts of man. This New Covenant is built on a better High Priest and better promises than the Old because the Old could not provide salvation.
Jesus provides a living hope that anchors us to the unmoving character and promises of God. This security is a defining trait of those who belong to God and thus prevents them from falling back into disbelief.
Jesus is our perfect and eternal High Priest who works on our behalf and gains us access to God as children and priests ourselves.
Jesus satisfied the work required by the law through his obedience and his suffering, therefore he has also made available a true and complete rest from the wandering caused by sin to those who would enter in by faith according to the Word.
Sermon Video: https://youtu.be/xvOKvDMXvro
The humanity of Jesus was made perfect through suffering, conquered death and the devil by dying, represents us before God, satisfies God's wrath against our sin, and shows us the way through temptation.
Sermon Video: https://youtu.be/UcTKJanOobQ
Jesus' authority over all things is eternal, exhaustive, and purposeful. This truth should compel us to boldly and endlessly trust Him as we follow His commands and guidance.
We can and should embrace Christ as the only one who can know and meet our needs because of His divine nature. We know that Jesus is completely divine because he is the Voice of God, the Owner of All Things, the All-powerful Creator, God in the flesh, the only way back to God the Father, and Superior to all, even the angels.
The next generations need parental figures who will fight for them. In order to reach the next generation, every generation must work together.
The Lord's Supper is about remembering who Jesus is and what He has done. We must remember that Jesus shows us the way to eternal life. That way is filled with hard truths, and each of us must choose whether or not to walk away from Jesus or trust Him. John 6 teaches us that we should trust Jesus because He IS the source of eternal life.
If we're going to fulfill our calling to help others deal with their issues then we must be present, be patient, and be persistent
How can you avoid baggage that comes from suffering even thought you've done what is right? Remember that God is with you in the suffering. Remember that God has a purpose for the pain. Remember that obeying God is worth any price you may be asked to pay.
The Resurrection is for the hurting, the doubting, and the dead. Jesus is not only the Resurrected One. He is the Resurrection and the Life. He calls us to come out of our spiritual death and come alive by faith in Him.
You are called to love those to whom you've committed yourself, those who have no one else, and those who make it hard to love them.
The command to love others is central to the Christian faith.
Loving well is more important than any other aspect of Christian life. Love leads us to set ourselves aside for the sake of others.Love feeds on the richness and joy of God's truth. Love is an immoveable force.
Living generously requires commitment and intentionality. You must decide and plan to be a giver.
Your generosity increases as your devotion to Christ deepens. Your generosity increases when you realize that your comfort is not the most important thing. Your generosity increases when you operate out of humble freedom.
God has made a way out of brokenness through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (aka: the gospel). Through this good news, God enables us to recover and pursue His design for our lives and empowers us to help others do the same.
We choose to depart from God's Design, and when we do it always leads to brokenness. Brokenness disrupts God's design, but God uses it to help us see our need for change.
God created you and loves you. He has a design for every aspect of your life. Most importantly, He designed you to have a relationship with Him.
Christ's birth was an act of mercy that gives a weary world the thrill of hope. This hope is alive because Jesus Christ is, and it continually shapes our lives.
Jesus tells us to go to the nations. God is bringing the nations to cities in North America. If we are going to reach the nations, we must rely on the Holy Spirit.
If you are going to be used by God as a spark for revival in your world you must intentionally and graciously engage those who are different than you.
We must rely on God's power because we are at war. In order to experience God's power we must first pursue God's presence. We can pursue God's presence by declaring war on our sin.
Our world is full of hurt and dysfunction. If the Church is ever going impact its community and world then we must remain sensitive to our broken world. We must plead for God's intervention. We must be ready and willing to intervene.
Our Mission Team shares about their experiences during and insights gained from their recent trip to help our church planting partner in Vancouver.
Most, if not all Christians, desire revival, but what does it take to see revival occur? In Part 1 of Be The Spark, Lead Pastor Bobby Cates shares how the you can be the starting point for spiritual renewal and revitalization through obeying what you know to be true about Jesus, honoring God with your present efforts regardless of your past, and multiplying God's Word through simple actions and conversations.
The Lord's Supper is our greatest memorial. In it we remember the sacrifice of Christ, seek the strengthening of His Church, and look forward to His return.
Video available here: https://youtu.be/kekaXHUfb3Q
Citizenship in the Kingdom comes with responsibilities. Part of those responsibilities is to be stewards of the Kingdom. Citizens faithfully help others know and enjoy the King, Jesus.
Video available here: https://youtu.be/WoeaSEN_SAY
Not everyone who is impacted by the Kingdom of God is a part of it. Only God has the final say on who is a citizen of the Kingdom. Because a separation between the saved and lost will happen, we must reach as many people as possible while we can.
The parables of the treasure and the pearl of great value show us one simple truth: the Kingdom of God is worth every sacrifice would could ever be called upon to make.
Our King is one who patiently nurtures His children and patiently deals with His enemies. We should be energized by Our King's patience to repent of pride and hatred, to reach as many people as possible, to commit to growing in an imperfect church surrounded by imperfect people.
God has told us exactly how His Kingdom will grown: through His Word.
As Christians, we must spread God's Word, allow God's Word to take root in our lives, and nurture God's Word.
If we do that, then God's Word will grow God's Kingdom.
The Kingdom of God is a mystery, and we have been invited in by Jesus to uncover those secrets.