South Bay Church: Recent Episodes
LA International Church of Christ
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
Sunday Service JULY 14, 2024 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast!
Sunday Service JULY 7, 2024 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast!
Spencer Wright - Obedient Faith Sunday Service JUNE 30, 2024 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Service JUNE 23, 2024 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Service JUNE 16, 2024 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Service JUNE 09, 2024 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Service MAY 12TH 2024 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast!
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast!
Sunday Service April 7th 2024 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Service March 24th, 2024 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast!
Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Service March 3, 2024 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Service February 25, 2024 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast!
Rico Clinton and Leslie Tolton lead sermon and communion at our 2/18/2024 Sunday Service!
Sunday Service October 15, 2023 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. Prospect Ave. 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast! Continuing Sermon Series: "By The Spirit"
Join us at 401 S. Prospect Ave. 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast! Continuing Sermon Series: "By The Spirit"
Join us at 401 S. Prospect Ave. 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast! Continuing Sermon Series: "By The Spirit"
Join us at 401 S. Prospect Ave. 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast! Continuing Sermon Series: "By The Spirit"
Sunday Service July 30nd, 2023 | 10:30am Join us at 401 S. Prospect Ave. 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast!
Sunday Service July 9nd, 2023 | 10:30am Join us at 401 S. Prospect Ave. 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast!
Sunday Service July 2nd, 2023 | 10:30am Join us at 401 S. Prospect Ave. 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Service June 25th, 2023 | 11:00am Was at Torrance Park (2001 Santa Fe Ave, Torrance, CA 90501)! Normally we are at 401 S. Prospect Ave. 90277 at 10:30am.
Sunday Service June 18th, 2023 | 10:30am Join us at 401 S. Prospect Ave. 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Service June 11th, 2023 | 10:30am Join us at 401 S. Prospect Ave. 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Service June 4th, 2023 | 10:30am Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast!
Sunday Service May 28th, 2023 | 10:30am Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast!
Sunday Service May 14th, 2023 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast1
Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Service April 16, 2023 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am every Sunday or right here on our podcast!
Sunday Service April 9, 2023 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on our Podcast!
Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Service March 12, 2023 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on our Podcast!
Combined Service with the rest of the Coastal LA Region of the LA International Church of Christ
Sunday Service February 26, 2023 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on the Pod Cast!
Sunday Service February 19, 2023 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on the podcast!
Sunday Service February 12, 2023 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on the podcast!
Sunday Service February 5, 2023 | 10:30amJoin us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on the stream!
Faithful Obedience in Uncertain Times-- Spencer Wright and Devin Ketch | Stories of FaithSunday Worship Service January 29, 2023Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on the podcast!
Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on our podcast!
Sunday Worship Service January 8, 2023Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on our podcast!
Sunday Worship Service December 18, 2022Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on our Podcast!
Sunday Worship Service December 11, 2022Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on the podcast!
Sunday Worship Service December 4, 2022Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on the stream!
Sunday Worship Service November 27, 2022 Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on our podcast!
Married couples from South Bay Church and sister congregations join for a weekend in San Diego at a married get-away weekend entitled “BEAUTIFUL THINGS.” Our Sunday worship will be live streamed for anyone to join in worship and hearing the word with us. Our service is a little later than our normal live stream: 12-1:30pm PST.
In our “This is Us” Sunday Series we are going to be talking about who we are and why we do what we do as a church. For what purpose do we meet up on Sundays? Why do we support HOPE worldwide? Why is it important to be connected to disciples around the world? It’s always good to be reminded of our identity as a kingdom community, lifting up Jesus and strengthened by our connections to each other.
Sunday Worship Service November 13, 2022 Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am or after right here on our podcast!
In our “This is Us” Sunday Series we are going to be talking about who we are and why we do what we do as a church. For what purpose do we meet up on Sundays? Why do we support HOPE worldwide? Why is it important to be connected to disciples around the world? It’s always good to be reminded of our identity as a kingdom community, lifting up Jesus and strengthened by our connections to each other.
In our “This is Us” Sunday Series we are going to be talking about who we are and why we do what we do as a church. For what purpose do we meet up on Sundays? Why do we support HOPE worldwide? Why is it important to be connected to disciples around the world? It’s always good to be reminded of our identity as a kingdom community, lifting up Jesus and strengthened by our connections to each other.
Sunday Worship Service October 30, 2022 Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on our Podcast!
No Fear in Love with Brian Craig | Building Bridges Series Sunday Worship Service October 9, 2022 We're building from our "Citizens of Heaven" Series and talking about how our identity as Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven can inform how we interact with others and transform our interpersonal relationships & friendships. Over the next few weeks we'll be discussing how to have healthy & intimate friendships, navigating conflict, having crucial conversations, building empathy & safe spaces and MORE! Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on our podcast.
Friendships that Sharpen with Rhett Butler | Building Bridges Series Sunday Worship Service October 2, 2022 We're building from our "Citizens of Heaven" Series and talking about how our identity as Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven can inform how we interact with others and transform our interpersonal relationships & friendships. Over the next few weeks we'll be discussing how to have healthy & intimate friendships, navigating conflict, having crucial conversations, building empathy & safe spaces and MORE! Join us at 401 S. PROSPECT AVE, 90277 at 10:30am on Sundays or right here on the stream!
Identity Centered Relationships | Building Bridges with Brian Craig Sunday Worship Service September 25, 2022 We're building from our "Citizens of Heaven" Series and talking about how our identity as Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven can inform how we interact with others and transform our interpersonal relationships & friendships. Over the next few weeks we'll be discussing how to have healthy & intimate friendships, navigating conflict, having crucial conversations, building empathy & safe spaces and MORE!
As Jesus-followers we have dual citizenship - living as “aliens and strangers” (1 Pet 2:11) in our homelands with ultimate citizenship in the kingdom of HEAVEN. This has profound impact in our value choices here in this life - where we look for fulfillment, how we treat others, and the ability to find true peace in a world of warring empires.
As Jesus-followers we have dual citizenship - living as “aliens and strangers” (1 Pet 2:11) in our homelands with ultimate citizenship in the kingdom of HEAVEN. This has profound impact in our value choices here in this life - where we look for fulfillment, how we treat others, and the ability to find true peace in a world of warring empires.
Escaping the Deceptions | Citizens of Heaven-- As Jesus-followers we have dual citizenship - living as “aliens and strangers” (1 Pet 2:11) in our homelands with ultimate citizenship in the kingdom of HEAVEN. This has profound impact in our value choices here in this life - where we look for fulfillment, how we treat others, and the ability to find true peace in a world of warring empires.
As Jesus-followers we have dual citizenship - living as “aliens and strangers” (1 Pet 2:11) in our homelands with ultimate citizenship in the kingdom of HEAVEN. This has profound impact in our value choices here in this life - where we look for fulfillment, how we treat others, and the ability to find true peace in a world of warring empires.
Feast and Family | Citizens of Heaven-- As Jesus-followers we have dual citizenship - living as “aliens and strangers” (1 Pet 2:11) in our homelands with ultimate citizenship in the kingdom of HEAVEN. This has profound impact in our value choices here in this life - where we look for fulfillment, how we treat others, and the ability to find true peace in a world of warring empires.
Rhett Butler preaches and Michael Velasquez gives his testimony at our Outdoor Service at Seaside Lagoon
Guest Evangelist Chester Umaguing provides a powerful message about serving on the mission field and our being called by God.
In this Episode we honor the fathers among us and delve into 1 Corinthians 15 & 16!
The “gospel" (which comes from the Greek word for “good news”) is the news that God has entered his creation, shown us the way to have a relationship with him, and is bringing about restoration, freedom, and a new way to live within a new kind of community. Looking back at Paul’s letter to the early gospel community in the ancient city of Corinth helps us to see how the gospel impacts real life. A wide variety of topics are covered in this letter: party divisions, immorality, lawsuits, marriage, idolatry, pagan customs, the Lord’s Supper, Paul’s ministry, gifts of the Spirit, the resurrection, church finance, and numerous other subjects. Seeing the world with “gospel glasses” changes everything--how we relate to each other, our every-day life situations, even our past, present, and future.
In this episode we honor the teachers and coaches among us and delve into 1 Corinthians 13 & 14!
The “gospel" (which comes from the Greek word for “good news”) is the news that God has entered his creation, shown us the way to have a relationship with him, and is bringing about restoration, freedom, and a new way to live within a new kind of community. Looking back at Paul’s letter to the early gospel community in the ancient city of Corinth helps us to see how the gospel impacts real life. A wide variety of topics are covered in this letter: party divisions, immorality, lawsuits, marriage, idolatry, pagan customs, the Lord’s Supper, Paul’s ministry, gifts of the Spirit, the resurrection, church finance, and numerous other subjects. Seeing the world with “gospel glasses” changes everything--how we relate to each other, our every-day life situations, even our past, present, and future.
Special Guest Evangelist Dustin Peck Men give a Special message about the Kingdom of God for our Special Missions Service. Isn't that...
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
The “gospel" (which comes from the Greek word for “good news”) is the news that God has entered his creation, shown us the way to have a relationship with him, and is bringing about restoration, freedom, and a new way to live within a new kind of community. Looking back at Paul’s letter to the early gospel community in the ancient city of Corinth helps us to see how the gospel impacts real life. A wide variety of topics are covered in this letter: party divisions, immorality, lawsuits, marriage, idolatry, pagan customs, the Lord’s Supper, Paul’s ministry, gifts of the Spirit, the resurrection, church finance, and numerous other subjects. Seeing the world with “gospel glasses” changes everything--how we relate to each other, our every-day life situations, even our past, present, and future.
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
Christ has risen! Join us as we explore the ramifications of Jesus' resurrection for humanity.
The “gospel" (which comes from the Greek word for “good news”) is the news that God has entered his creation, shown us the way to have a relationship with him, and is bringing about restoration, freedom, and a new way to live within a new kind of community. Looking back at Paul’s letter to the early gospel community in the ancient city of Corinth helps us to see how the gospel impacts real life. A wide variety of topics are covered in this letter: party divisions, immorality, lawsuits, marriage, idolatry, pagan customs, the Lord’s Supper, Paul’s ministry, gifts of the Spirit, the resurrection, church finance, and numerous other subjects. Seeing the world with “gospel glasses” changes everything--how we relate to each other, our every-day life situations, even our past, present, and future.
The “gospel" (which comes from the Greek word for “good news”) is the news that God has entered his creation, shown us the way to have a relationship with him, and is bringing about restoration, freedom, and a new way to live within a new kind of community. Looking back at Paul’s letter to the early gospel community in the ancient city of Corinth helps us to see how the gospel impacts real life. A wide variety of topics are covered in this letter: party divisions, immorality, lawsuits, marriage, idolatry, pagan customs, the Lord’s Supper, Paul’s ministry, gifts of the Spirit, the resurrection, church finance, and numerous other subjects. Seeing the world with “gospel glasses” changes everything--how we relate to each other, our every-day life situations, even our past, present, and future.
We are coming before our God with singing, scripture, and prayer, sharing Communion, and lifting our praise. STREAMING ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL both live Saturday night and for Sunday morning worship.
There is an ancient spiritual formation practice called ‘a Rule of Life’ within the Christian faith that is not meant to constrain but liberate us. A Rule of Life is not a rule in the same sense that word is commonly used today...It is a support structure that helps us to grow in Christ. It is an intentional plan centered around spiritual practices that enable us to pay attention to God and remain in Jesus—regardless of the powerful forces that seek to pull us away from him. (EHS Day by Day, 156)
To become an emotionally mature Christian adult is to recognize that loving well is the essence of true spirituality... learning, practicing, and integrating such skills as speaking respectfully, listening with empathy, negotiating conflict fairly, and uncovering the hidden expectations we have of others. (EHS Day by Day, 136)
God is offering us a way to deeply root our lives in him. This can be found in two ancient principles going back thousands of years—the Daily Office and Sabbath. When placed inside present-day Christianity, these are groundbreaking, countercultural acts that go against the grain of our fast-paced Western culture. They offer a rhythm to be with God in our chaotic world, enabling us to stay attuned to God’s presence throughout our days and weeks. (EHS Day by Day, p. 118)
Loss is a place where self-knowledge and powerful transformation can happen. Paying attention to our losses enlarges our souls…We all face many “deaths” within our lives…The choice is whether these deaths will be terminal (crushing our spirit and life) or will open us up to new possibilities and depths of transformation in Christ. Staying with Jesus during these challenging times—remaining, abiding, communing with him—makes all the difference.
All the ministries of Coastal LA come together today for a worship celebration praising God and hearing about news from around the globe from the foreign missions work we support with our donations.
This week we continue our survey of "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality" talking about the spiritual journey, how to move beyond our past and what to do when we hit a wall that leaves us in a crisis of faith. Our origin stories are a part of our past but don't have to define us. And sometimes on the darkest night is when we end up seeing God the most clearly.
Referenced in the sermon: Bema podcast about Pharisees https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/80 D'Today Article, "Crisis fo Faith" https://www.disciplestoday.org/crisis-of-faith God or Satan? Article, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/god-satan-2-samuel-25-1-chronicles-21/
God's word teaches us to be God-focused, not self focused. Yet self-awareness is intricately related to our relationship with God. In fact, the challenge of Scripture to shed our ‘false self’ in order to live authentically in our ‘new true self’ strikes at the very core of true spirituality…The vast majority of us go to our graves without knowing who we are.
We are going to talking today about plans for South Bay Church in this new year, and specifically an 8-week program we are going through in our small groups, and on Sundays, “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.” The goal is that each of us thrive… that we grow on to maturity as Christians rather than being hindered by the kinds of things that can stunt our spiritual growth. And as God transforms us, he brings his light to the dark world around us as well.
There is so much noise and clutter in our lives, we need to take time to "listen!" What events or people in your life has God used to better enhance your ability to hear God’s Voice? We'll be talking about regular disciplines that allow space for God's presence in our lives.
What does it mean to worship in spirit and in truth? Am I supposed to have a certain feeling or emotion, or does it mean something entirely different? How do I know if I am worshipping in truth or not? Join us as we explore what Jesus meant when he said, "God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)
We’ll be talking today about being a lifelong learner when it comes to God, no matter where you are on your journey—many years as a Christian or just starting out. Along the way we have the blessing of endlessly discovering new treasures in a satisfying and fulfilling connection with our Creator.
With the start of the new year, there are many things that may call for resolution: renewed family commitments, health and wellness, good eating, and exercise, growing in knowledge….it can be overwhelming. Ryan Winkler draws from scripture to help us sharpen our focus to what is most essential. Every day is a canvas. What will you draw?
Today we dig in to the angels' message to the shepherds in Luke 2, "good news of great joy for all people." There is no news like that of Jesus. There is no better message. There is no more important announcement. Discussion questions are provided for your house church (also below).
We take a break from the hustle and the bustle of the holiday season to focus on what the baby in the manger truly represents: an overturning of worldly values, an entrance to this world that demonstrates how God is with the humble. The story of the Magi reminds us to bring King Jesus our gifts of worship.
The churches of Coastal LA come together to celebrate Jesus' birth! There will be a special dramatic presentation, and a sermon on the topic "Immanuel."
The teen ministry takes over the worship service today, leading us in worship and helping out with the lesson about the nighttime interaction between Nicodemus and Jesus in John 3. We are reminded that when we come into the light we are free to truly be ourselves, and Jesus came to save us, not to condemn us.
We will be exploring the power of gratitude to transform our perspective. Thankfulness can affect your health, life expectancy, level of happiness, productivity, and resilience in dealing with difficult situations. No wonder the Bible has a lot to say about it!
Get lyrics for the live stream worship here: https://linktr.ee/southbaychurchus Connect or ask for prayers: http://www.connect.southbaychurch.us/ Give: https://www.southbaychurch.us/give Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoBayChurch/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southbaychurch.us/ Website: https://www.southbaychurch.us/
Join us as we explore the transforming power of love as displayed in the story of the tax collector Zacchaeus from Luke 19.
Our outdoor worship service and Fall celebration, had some Tech issues in the recording so the quality is not our best, but you can still hear the sermonette and personal sharing that was shared.
The way we view God and the world has a profound impact on how we interact with risk, uncertainty, anxiety, and fear, especially as it relates to using our gifts for spiritual purposes. Learn how a shift in perspective can change almost everything and make what you're doing a purposeful joy rather than a cynical grind. (1 Peter 4:10-11).
How should we respond to the times we are living through? What does it mean practically to "offer hospitality to others without grumbling" as Peter prescribed? (1 Peter 4:7-11).
In these times we live in God wants us to partner with him in confidently sharing his words with others. As Peter puts it, "speak as one speaking the very words of God." What does God want us to say, and how does he want us to say it? (1 Peter 4:7-11).
Have you noticed these are some crazy times? Like crazy, historic, maybe-end-of-the-world kind of times? The disciples in the first century faced similar hardships and fears and yet the apostle Peter encouraged them to remain faithful, focused, and prayerful, using their God-given gifts to change the world by God’s power and for His glory (1 Peter 4:7-11).
Have you noticed these are some crazy times? Like crazy, historic, maybe-end-of-the-world kind of times? The disciples in the first century faced similar hardships and fears and yet the apostle Peter encouraged them to remain faithful, focused, and prayerful, using their God-given gifts to change the world by God’s power and for His glory (1 Peter 4:7-11).
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
The clash between the teachings of Jesus and the religious establishment of his day really comes to a head in these chapters of Matthew. Why does Jesus seem angry? Why does he curse a fig tree? Why does he cause an uproar in the temple courts? It has to do with what the temple was always meant to be, a “house of prayer for all nations.” For us today, we get a glimpse of what Jesus wants the church to be in our time.
Jesus and his kingdom fulfill God’s plans to rescue the world but in a way that totally upset the expectations of his time. And even for us today achieving victory in life comes in a way that is counterintuitive and yet has the potential to change both our daily experiences and the world around us. What do you belief about Jesus? Who is he to you?
The churches of Coastal LA come together for the first time in a long time to worship God together and celebrate our connections with the mission field and HOPE worldwide serving those in need.
This week we continue our series from the book of Matthew by discussing different responses to Jesus we see displayed in chapters 11-13 and stories Jesus told about them. The point is not to miss out on the Kingdom of God, even when it might be right in front of your eyes.
The message of the kingdom in the book of Matthew —it’s God’s rescue operation for the world. An unexpected king and an upside-down kingdom that is for all people - the outsiders included! This week we dig into Jesus’ teachings about what it means to live as citizens of this new kingdom. Who is in (and who is out)? What is going on with it? How is this rescue operation for our lost world going to work?
The message of the kingdom in the book of Matthew —it’s God’s rescue operation for the world. An unexpected king and an upside-down kingdom that is for all people - the outsiders included! This week we dig into Jesus’ teachings about what it means to live as citizens of this new kingdom. Who is in (and who is out)? What is going on with it? How is this rescue operation for our lost world going to work?
BOOK OF MATTHEW: “GOD WITH US” The message of the kingdom represents God’s rescue operation for the world. It’s worthy of giving up everything we have to enter. It's a story of an unexpected king and an upside-down kingdom that is for all people - the outsiders included!
Ephesians 4 teaches us this: if you are part of the body of Christ, you are part of BUILDING the body of Christ. This we do by faith, trusting in God to provide and nourish our church as each one of us does our part - building relationally, generationally, and missionally.
Rather than just a few of us, the New Testament calls all Christ-followers to ministry. We have all been “chosen.” In today’s sermon, we are going to look at some of the qualities that contributed to David being chosen for God’s purpose and to lead his people. These are qualities we also see in Jesus, and qualities that will allow our church to have community impact as we imitate him: Spirituality, Humility, and Integrity.
After being in "survival mode" for a while now, it's time to dream again for the future, the plans God has for us, and His Church. Anything is possible for our God, so let's dream impossible dreams and pray impossible prayers!
Today we finish off our "Reading Romans Backwards" sermon series with the opening paragraphs of the letter from Paul and a bit of a review of some of the themes of the book. It is faith that makes us family, faith that makes us different than the people of the world, faith that gets us over each hurdle and on to what's next on the journey God has marked out for us.
We near the end of our "Reading Romans Backwards" sermon series as we reach the early chapters of Paul's letter to the house churches in first century Rome. We have learned the context of the letter - the cultural and socio-economic differences that the threatened to divide the disciples back then (similar to challenges we face in our time). Paul reminds us the "human condition" we all share...we all tend to worship the created rather than the Creator, and we all need God's grace.
Happy Father’s Day! Today we take a look at how the “Father of the Faithful” Abraham fits in to the overall story of the message of Romans about what ties us all together and makes us a family. We hear from some of the South Bay dads about promises of God that they hold on to, and what these promises mean for their families.
Our teens and teen leaders take over our Sunday worship this week, continuing our series on the book of Romans. We will be reminded of what Christ does for us, his life gives us the opportunity to no longer be enemies of God but instead be accepted by his grace.
We continue our Romans series with a look at chapter 6, and the power of Jesus to break us free from the chains of sin and death. This Sunday we also celebrate the connection we have to churches around the world we support with our financial offerings.
This week we reach the heart of the book of Romans - what it means to live by the power of the Spirit, instead of struggling through the many failings of relying on ourselves. Each of us has great intensions, but we stumble again and again. Yet God has the power to make us “more than conquerers” if we live in the way of the Spirit. He can make even difficult things work out for our good. And nothing can separate us from his love.
We continue our series on the book of Romans (from back to front), moving into chapters 9-11 which talk about the big story of God's people and what He is doing in the world. How does each of us fit into that story? How do the choices we make affect the twists and turns of the story?
We continue new series on the biblical book of Romans, starting we the END of the book, learning more about its audience and the historical context. Steve will be speaking from Romans 12 and 13 about the faith and family that builds the fabric of our relationships in the church and how that relates to our witness to the world around us.
Happy Mother's Day! This is week two of our new series on the biblical book of Romans, starting with the END of the book, learning more about its audience and the historical context. We start to dig in to the two groups addressed by the letter, and how cultural differences may have made unity difficult. Ultimately we discover that what God wants is the same as what MOM wants, which is everyone around the table together. You don't all have to agree, but you have to show up to dinner. And no matter what, we're family.
This week we are beginning a series on the biblical book of Romans by starting at the END of the book, learning more about its audience and the historical context of the book. Learning more about these early Christians helps us get more in our time out of Paul’s message. We can related to them in many ways.
The physical reality of Jesus appearing to his followers changed everything and upset all expectations. Grief was replaced by hope, and fear by boldness and faith. But what now? Living in a post-resurrection reality, what does this mean for us, and for our world? We’ll talk about the relationship between resurrection and being empowered by a Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. Learn what it means to be a modern-day “witness” to the resurrected Jesus.
This Sunday we hear personal stories of the power of the resurrection in our daily lives. Christ's love is the only firm foundation in this world.
In light of Jesus’ resurrection we want to make an impact for him with those around us. In this sermon Tim shares some practical help for how to love our neighbor by listening to them and learning from them. This skill helps make the church more healthy, strengthening our relationships, and it makes our outreach to others more effective by loving people the way Jesus did.
This is the first time in a long time that a large part of the South Bay Church will be able to get together IN PERSON! And how appropriate that it is on Resurrection Sunday that we can gather to celebrate our risen Lord and the power of renewal in our lives. Steve will be preaching on the topic “Cancelled.” They tried to cancel Jesus. But the grave couldn't hold him! The resurrection is the center of everything we believe as Christians. It gives us hope and inspiration in these crazy times.
It’s Palm Sunday! We join God’s creation in worshipping him today, remembering his presence in our lives. In looking at the Palm Sunday story from scripture, our guest speaker Rhett Butler exhorts us to #1 worship the king, and #2 clean house.
Temptation, sorrow, intense challenges… Our guest speaker Guy Hammond gives us perspective and inspiration for persevering through such times with scriptural insights and stories from his own life. Learn to have faith refined in crisis. We can use hard times as a catalyst for greatness and eternal meaning, honoring God with the brokenness of our lives.
There is much to divide us from others, and much to make us feel alone. But what if God’s design for the church is for us to be able to face spiritual challenges in community, instead of by ourselves? There are examples in the early church of profound issues that threatened to split the church and yet our brothers and sisters came together in unity to overcome these obstacles.
We live in a world that tries to divide us. We are told to choose sides and cancel anything we don’t agree with. Political, ideological, cultural, generational… Jesus wants us to be able to cut through the noise and make a lasting impact rather than getting caught up in all the divisive rhetoric that is so prevalent today. Jesus came to serve God and others. There was never any question in his mind as too whose side he was on.
Dr. Martin Luther King envisioned “The Beloved Community” as a society based on justice, equal opportunity, and love of one’s fellow human beings. Dr. Ben Barnett fleshes out how true love for God and neighbor can bring about this reality in the kingdom of God.
There are these things we feel so deeply about —the rights of the oppressed or the unborn, our relationship to the state, government’s role in our lives, what a functioning society should look like, how to make “the system” more just and equitable to all. What do we do when the solutions we strongly support are opposed by those we love and respect? How do we hold these ideas in tension with our identity as Christians and subjects of our God and King Jesus?
The narrative of God’s story is a contrast between humanistic “empire” and godly “shalom” — the peace that can only be found through the rule and reign of HIS kingdom. Andy Winje helps us understand the ramifications of identifying ourselves as citizens of the kingdom of God here on earth.
Today we kick off a new worship series, “Our God and Country,” and we celebrate the amazing kingdom of God and Lordship of Jesus. So what does it mean to make him Lord? Who is Jesus to you?
David Bruce, a licensed counselor as well as minister, helps us understand how to maintain joy and peace (and good mental health) even in troubled times. He shows the way neuroscience supports the teachings of scripture and examples of Psalms that allow us to process traumatic situations through connection to God and each other. His handy mnemonic “VCR” is a practical tool for rewiring unhealthy thought processes that can sometimes take us captive, creating better mental practices and pathways.
Weariness and discouragement can sap our physical, emotional and spiritual life - but renewal is within our reach because God is always at work, and he makes himself available to us. Our hope is not in the new year but in the one who makes all things new.
Last week we discussed the way popular yet unsatisfying postures of relating to God do not allow us to overcome fear in our lives. Today we'll talk about uniting with God in a way that allows faith, hope, and love to flourish in our lives and relationships.
Brian shares teaching gleaned from the book WITH by Skye Jethani, with the subheading, "Reimagining the way you relate to God." What defines your relationship with God? What is your posture towards him? If you’re anxious, not at peace, motivated by fear, not experiencing the fruits of the spirit — something is off. Fear and suffering, confusion, uncertain futures — these are universal human experiences. Every religion is an attempt to overcome this condition. But how much control can we really exert. Is there a better way?
Happy to say goodby to 2020? Ready for something new? God is calling us to move, to "get out of the boat," to embrace spiritual elasticity... to be NEW WINESKINS ready for the new wine that God is pouring out in our world. We don’t have a faith that fades. We have one that is renewed every single day.
There is a theme throughout scripture: God delights in the little. He chooses the weak and unknown. He lifts up the lowly. It’s easy for us to be down on ourselves, or to dwell on how we wish things would be, especially during times like this. But God rejoices in small beginnings. Let us take time to celebrate special moments like the first block in a new temple, or a newborn king in a humble manger.
God’s mercy and his promises to his people are also available to believers today. He will never give up on us (though we can sometimes give up on him). In response to his incredible grace we respond by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly.
This fresh take on the story of Jonah looks at the book from the perspective of the sailors, Jonah, the Ninevites, God himself for modern day application in our lives. Ultimately we see that we can trust God, and if we are willing, we can experience the impact of his amazing grace.
Sometimes we don’t think God sees or knows, that he is really hearing us. But Malachi reminds us he is involved in the intricacies of our daily lives. He gives us hope for facing the future.
We tend to view our relationship with God in terms of spiritual habits or things we do…and unfortunately religion can become empty ritual. But God truly desires relationship. He wants our hearts.
What will it mean for your life to really hear this message from God: “I am with you…do not fear…I have chosen you…” Learn more about your spiritual identity from this lesson from the book of Haggai.
God’s kingdom economy puts people over property. Relationship are valued over religion. Our hope in this kingdom provides us with eternal blessing, authentic security, answer to our fears, and a way trust in adversity.
Sometimes God’s plan is not what we had hoped for. Sometimes we go through hard times. But hard times are not the end. We can build a sustaining faith that is not at the mercy of our environment.
What happens when cancel culture invades are real relationships. We are hurt and so we say “I’m done with you.” A huge part of being a follower of Jesus is learning how to handle conflict. Divine love and grace allows us to experience true reconciliation.
Conflict and fear can cause us to allow separation and lack of resolution in our relationships. Marshall Mead shares a story from the OT that illustrates this and provides practical tips for resolution.
We all share a same set of spiritual needs — these things make us more similar than different. God’s plan for meeting these needs is through a walk with him and our relationships with each other.
We can never be truly connected unless we’re willing to “remove the masks” and allow ourselves to be seen for who we really are. God’s grace makes up for our weaknesses and allows us to find acceptance.
God’s design for relationships within the church demands that we overcome the spaces between us. Don’t let there be spiritual “six feet” - hit the reset button in your spiritual relationships if needed, but engage!
Maintaining spiritual ambition can be tough in troubled times. Yet it gives us focus and helps us maintain healthy self-dependency.
Gaining spiritual maturity affects every aspect of our lives - how we view our past, future, relationships, problems, and opportunities.
Take personal responsibility for daily spiritual choices that strengthen your mind, body, and soul. Could it be God is refining us during this time? Church relationships strengthened during this time?
Ever felt like a sermon was just for you? Like someone talked to the minister about you?What if the minister called you out by name! Well, that’s exactly what Paul does in Philippians 4 with this whole idea of unity and humility, intensional mindset.
When do you really “know Christ?” When you’re misunderstood. When you lay your life down for others. When you give to others without expecting in return. When you have to rely on the love of God to keep on going:.
Key to unity is learning to “align our mindset” with Jesus Christ, as Paul describes in Phil 2. What makes us beautiful is the diversity of all of us (from different cultures, perspectives, experiences, viewpoints) coming together in perfect unity
Some of the teens of South Bay Church share about what “true humility” looks like in our lives and relationships, and what it means to walk humbly with God.
Micah 6:8 says what God requires is for us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. What do we do with the anger we may feel about injustice? What does it mean to put mercy into our conversations and relationships?
The pages of the Old Testament our full of admonishments from God to work to protect the vulnerable: the orphans, widows, poor, and immigrants. How should this inform our current view of justice?
How can this letter from Peter to early Christians give us perspective into our current situation? Find comfort, peace, and a way to cope with our anxieties.
What does it mean to love each other “deeply and from the heart,” the way the Apostle Peter prescribes?
No one likes to suffer or struggle, but is it possible that hardships can refine and sharpen us? Make us better? The early Christians provide us with a great example.
The Apostle Peter points to Jesus as our example in our relationships - being like Jesus makes everyone better.
There is so much in the world that we can’t trust. But we can entrust our lives, struggles, hopes and fears to “him who judges justly.” Jesus is our perfect example of trust in God. And being forgiven allows us to forgive others.
Peter reminds us that Jesus is who brings us together - like “living stones” forming a building for God’s presence. Jesus’ death and resurrection make for a whole new reality.
Peter reminds us that Jesus is who brings us together - like “living stones” forming a building for God’s presence. Jesus’ death and resurrection make for a whole new reality.
In this historic and unprecedented time, we can have a hope that is “imperishable”- it cannot be destroyed or taken from us. Eternal security, infinite value.
In this series we look at the message from the Apostle Peter to Christians of his day, and it is remarkable how many things we can relate to in our present challenges. This message gives us hope, builds our faith and confidence in God.
Grace allows us to become better and better representatives of God with no limit to how much we can grow - it sets us free, leads us by the Spirit, and continually strengthens us.
Grace allows us to be people who are known not for being gifted, not for doing good things, but for how we love people. Real love doesn’t give up on God, ourselves, or on others. Graced people love people.
Understanding God’s grace is so motivating. It transforms our identity and allows to to truly be ourselves. It allows us to view weakness and struggle differently. It fundamentally changes our relationship to God.
The older we get as Christians, it can be easy to become self-reliant. Yet we quickly reach the end of ourselves and come up short. We try to fill ourselves with junk. But only the Spirit can produce in us those things which are most needed. Focus on being rather than doing. Live by faith and not by the flesh.
Could it be that God has designed a plan for you to make the world a better place through what you do? Learning to see your life as a calling from God can bring great purpose and meaning. An identity in Christ will make you a better employee.
This talk caps a weekend with Dr. Barnett learning more about racial reconciliation and having courageous conversations with those who may seem to be different than ourselves. Everyone has a “family of origin” story, and a good starting point is truly listening to each other—our hurts, our hopes, and our felt experiences. As we learn to know each other better we move from Awareness to Acknowledgement, and then to true Advocacy.
In the beginning there was work, and it was good! We begin this series with taking a look at God’s original design for work. Understanding this design can bring deeper meaning to daily routine in our jobs or schooling. We are all meant to be “gardeners” — cultivating beauty out of the ordinary.
"The rain is coming.” The Spirit of God is moving. We need to be ready. God is at work all around us. Be prepared to take a leap of faith to be able to be used by him.
Sean and Lisa share vulnerably about the spiritual battle in in their lives. Learn how to be equipped for long-term warfare by daily spiritual habits that protect our souls.
This portion of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians provides amazingly practical instruction in how we should live our lives in light of the gospel. See what it means to “put on the new self” in different contexts (marriage, on the job, relationships).
Our new identity in Christ has ramifications in how we live and who we are as a group. Together, we become a world-changing community of love. The power of unity and diversity is harnessed as we each play our part in God’s work here in our city.
The teens of South Bay Church just got back recently from summer teen camp entitled “Kingdom.” In this worship service they lead us in songs and in sharing about lessons learned and commitments made.
In the spiritual dimension of our universe, the church plays a unique role. When we understand the part we play, it affects how we view suffering and struggles, and how we invest for the future. Don’t approach life half-empty. Learn to be filled all the way up!
Studies show that everyone on earth craves (1) relationship, and (2) purpose in life. See how God’s plan for us gives us both security and significance. Each of us was made on purpose, for a purpose, and we’re never alone.
With life’s daily struggles, we can so easily forget that In Christ we are chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. We have hope, purpose, and power available to strengthen us. This study aims to open our eyes to how much we have to celebrate in Christ.
In Jesus Christ is the power of transformation and healing. By the power of the Spirit and of God using others to spur us on, we can become all we are destined to be.
What John describes as “perfect love” is love that is growing and maturing until fear is no longer present. Change takes place when truth is safely presented in relationship - both with God and with others. (1 John 4:13-21)
In this lesson we talk about the difference between goals and desires in terms of relationships. There are two criteria that need to be met in order to make encouragement count. There are three ways people handle negative emotions that come up in friendships, and we discuss which one is the best. (I John 3:18-4:12)
Although all of us would like to be considered encouragers, it takes real character to be one. There is a stark contrast between the Jesus way and the way of the world in terms of relationships, and it's not easy to choose the right way. God wants to hold tightly to certain things, and hold loosely to other things, in order to have great faithful friendships (1 John 2:15-3:16).
True connections are possible not only when there is transparency, but when open communication occurs within a framework of commitment. Jesus' teachings are best applied in our relationships. He models a perfect balance of self-sacrifice with proper personal autonomy. And the church should be a community of love which best shows Jesus to the world. (1 John 2:3-11)
Jesus is able to completely relate to the challenges that we experience. He understands and he transforms us by his grace.
In this fallen world most of us experience only "surface community." Our fears make us hide, and we struggle to truly be known and to know others. But Jesus came to bring restored intimacy with God and others. Jesus gives us a SECURITY that allows us to open up to others, and a solution for our hurts and fears. (1 John 1:5-7)
Whether you’re a faithful follower of Jesus or a skeptic just checking things out, everyone can benefit from what the Bible has to say about relationships. It’s surprising how much of the New Testament is devoted to the topic. Strengthen your relationships and tap in to the power of encouragement. In Christ we can truly experience fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7).
So many people are held captive by regret. Learn how God calls us to view our past and present, and how his power can loosen the chains of regret.
I John 1:1-4 Shows us that the early witnesses to the resurrection were proclaiming something they had actually experienced. It is possible in our “sophisticated and scientific” society to believe in bodily resurrection. This new reality makes it possible to have personal transformation and real and deep relationships (“we have fellowship with one another”). God uses others in our lives. Connection brings continual renewal.
In this sermon we look back at the story of Palm Sunday in the Bible and what we can learn about God's purpose, his heart for the city, and how our community fits into this in terms of our identity and purpose.
Christians can best impact the lives of others by simply inviting them to "come and see" who Jesus is. It's not about having all the answers, but rather knowing WHO has all the answers. From the story of the Samaritan woman (John 4:27-42) we learn that our job is to have open lives, open eyes, and a heart of Joy.
As we embark on new spiritual challenges, we desire to bring God glory by the lives that we lead.
Several members of the South Bay Church share their stories, reflecting on what the presence and power of Jesus has meant in their lives.
Every organization has a culture, ideals, core values - what should be those of the church? We examine the beginnings of the story of the church to see how these early Christians can inspire us in our modern-day setting. Learn to lead a life that is full of the Spirit.
Every organization has a culture, ideals, core values - what should be those of the church? We examine the beginnings of the story of the church to see how these early Christians can inspire us in our modern-day setting. Learn to lead a life that is full of the Spirit.
(Special Christmas Service) Every organization has a culture, ideals, core values - what should be those of the church? We examine the beginnings of the story of the church to see how these early Christians can inspire us in our modern-day setting. Learn to lead a life that is full of the Spirit.
Every organization has a culture, ideals, core values - what should be those of the church? We examine the beginnings of the story of the church to see how these early Christians can inspire us in our modern-day setting. Learn to lead a life that is full of the Spirit.
Every organization has a culture, ideals, core values - what should be those of the church? We examine the beginnings of the story of the church to see how these early Christians can inspire us in our modern-day setting. Learn to lead a life that is full of the Spirit.
Every organization has a culture, ideals, core values - what should be those of the church? We examine the beginnings of the story of the church to see how these early Christians can inspire us in our modern-day setting. Learn to lead a life that is full of the Spirit.
Imagine if someone from biblical times were able to travel to our time and see all that we experience on a typical day. The technological changes would no doubt overwhelm them, but what would they think about faith among people, especially those who claim to be disciples of Christ. Would thy be inspired by our faith..., or disappointed? Mark goes through a fictional scenario of what this would look like in relation to the South Bay Church.
Every organization has a culture, ideals, core values - what should be those of the church? We examine the beginnings of the story of the church to see how these early Christians can inspire us in our modern-day setting. Learn to lead a life that is full of the Spirit.
Giving sacrificially is not always an easy thing to do. God and Jesus expect it of those that choose to follow the faithful path. Calvin and Elaine Johnson walk through their lives and how, because they were willing to give to God sacrificially, he blessed them in so many ways. By no means did they have an easy life, yet God honored their willingness to give as much as they could.
All of us want to live a life of impact and adventure. Being led by the spirit can give us that opportunity to find true meaning and purpose in life. In this series we examine the beginnings of the story of the church to see how these early Christians can inspire us in our modern-day setting. Learn to lead a life that is full of the Spirit.
(HarvestFest Service) In today's polarized society, Unity is in short supply among many people today. We need people to come together under a common goal; to look at each other perspective. Jesus focused most of his ministry on unifying people under God's plan for the world. He taught love, respect, and togetherness.
Faith and Courage are a rare commodity today. It was not super abundant back in Jesus' day. There were those that stood out and showed amazing faith and powerful courage. Stephen was one of those that was not afraid to stand up for God. Do you have the courage and faith to do the same?
Guest missionaries share about some of the challenges of disciple-making in the Middle East, finding correlation and inspiration in the pages of the book of Acts and the faith of the first-century disciples. We examine the beginnings of the story of the church to see how these early Christians can inspire us in our modern-day setting. Learn to lead a life that is full of the Spirit.
Every organization has a culture, ideals, core values - what should be those of the church? We examine the beginnings of the story of the church to see how these early Christians can inspire us in our modern-day setting. Learn to lead a life that is full of the Spirit.
The book of Acts illustrates God moving in people, using the Holy Spirit in the disciples to bring about his Kingdom on Earth. God's kingdom is not physical, but spiritual, with His Spirit living inside us and guiding us towards His ultimate plan for us. We enter this kingdom through baptism, wherein the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Acts 2 focuses on God's spiritual kingdom being established here, through the Apostles after Jesus had gone back to Heaven.
The Spirit works in all God's followers. Many times, it asks us to wait for God's timing, which can often be very different than ours. If we are will to wait, God can do amazing things for us and through us. Often times he will use us to reach out to others with our lives. Our patience and faith can be incredibly impactful to others as they watch us go through different stages or situations. Our example an inspire them to want to seek God for themselves.
Sin is a part of every person's life, to varying degrees. Many think that it is just part of life and does not impact us at all. Sin is extremely damaging to our psyche. The more we give in, the more our sensitivity to it diminishes greatly, making the next sin even easier to give into. Satan knows this and tempts that us with small things at first and then pushes towards worse and worse things. Repentance is the only thing that can lead us back to God and the plan he has for our lives.
People often say that science and the Bible are polar opposites; that science disproves the Word of God. In many ways, science and the Bible actually help prove each other. Much of the scriptures is a history book that can be verified by scientific research. Also, a lot of science proves the existence of God in how there would have to be a designer for things to have worked out like they did.
Some people believe that faith is specific to the individual and that organized religion is unnecessary. Jesus did preach individual relationships with God, but also in the context of the church being a body. We are all connected and need each other to survive spiritually. For those that try to "go it alone", Satan is just waiting to pick them off because they don't have the support and structure that is needed. God always planned for the church to be a family and support each other on our path to Heaven.
Many people have preconceived notions about who Jesus is. Many pictures display him as pale-skinned, blue eyed, ultra gentle person. Jesus was indeed loving and focused on helping people, but he was not afraid to tell it as needed. He often challenged the authority of the day and was willing to be rough verbally when needed. He was willing to stand up for what was right, even if others did not like it.
America was founded on the notion of religious freedom. Most of those coming here were of a Judeo-Christian faith. However there are many other religions practiced by it citizens. Additionally, Christianity is practiced all over the world. God's plan was to save all humanity through Jesus. America may be largely christian, but God cannot be contained within a specific country.
We can often think of God as a cosmic cop that is always looking to spool our fun and make us overly focused on the duties of being a Christian. God really wants us to live a full life that allows us the freedom to do all that we want with our lives in this world. He has given us free will, but given us rules on how we are to enact that will
Special guest speakers: Marvin & Sharisse Lucas. Sometimes, we can forget what we have been given and complain about what we receive. The "Heat of the day" can cause us to forget all that God has done for us and focus on what we don't have. When we remember all that God had done for us, we are much better people as a result.
Joseph had a rough life from a young age: Sold into slavery, falsely accused, thrown into prison, forgot by his cell mate. His faith and love for God is what sustained him and allowed him to rise to an extremely powerful position in one of the most powerful nations in the world. Regardless of his situation, his integrity stayed strong and he remained loyal to God.
Even as disciples, disagreements can some time arise. John Mark and Paul had such a disagreement that caused them to split ways and John to temporarily abandon his mission. Eventually he corrected himself to them point where Paul praised him for the work he did. As disciples, we can stumble in our faith, but we can always come back and change our ways.
Esther was a unique case in the scriptures. She was picked to be queen by the king, having no royal background at all. Given her position, she worked to be a humble servant to the king, as well as to her people. She was able to get many things for her people, even at the potential cost of her own life. A humble person thinks not of themselves first, but of how they can help others out. If we all are humble, we will meet the needs of others, but also get our needs met by others.
Gideon was about as ordinary as you can get when it came to judges in that time. He was given impossible odds, but because he obeyed God, he was able to be successful, He may have "appeared" to question God, but honored his courage to ensure he was obeying properly and leading God's people properly. He was nothing special as a person, but did many amazing things because God used him powerfully.
Timothy may have been a kingdom kid, but that does not mean he knew it all. Paul mentored him, especially when he was put into a leadership position. He had a very strong spiritual upbringing with both his Mom and Grandmother being disciples, but that does not guarantee that he will have the same spiritual values. He had to learn the on his own. Whether you have come into the kingdom fresh, or live among it all your life, God still needs to be a personal relationship for you.
The Bible is replete with ordinary people that God used to further His kingdom in various ways. In the earliest days of the scriptures Enoch was a man that was described as 'walking with God' and 'pleasing God' We don't know much more about him, but we do know that God did not allow him to die in the traditional sense. He was simply "taken'. Any of us can have the same said about us.
God may have started the church with the Jewish people, but always had plans to open it up to all nations. He never intended to "wall-it-in" to only a certain people. He always wanted to spread His message to the entire world. It is our job as His followers to take that message to all those that we can.
Mission's Sunday is always about helping those around the world financially, but it is also about breaking down walls. We can get so caught up in our own life that sometimes we need something to help us step back and see the needs of others Jesus was all about this during his ministry and beyond. Its easy to focus on ourselves, but he taught us to look outside us and help others
(We apologize, but there was a minor issue with the audio and the first few minutes were silent/hard to hear) God's plan was always to live among us. Unfortunately, the pride of humanity ruined those plans. Man &Woman decided to rebel and go their own way. Throughout the rest of history, God was working to get his people back on board with his plan. He established his spiritual kingdom here on Earth, through Jesus, with the overall goal of bringing his people back to him so they can again live with him in his Eternal Kingdom of Heaven.
One of Jesus' goals was to bring about the kingdom of God. It was going to be a hard road, filled with much suffering and pain.
Mother's Day Service. Mary was a central part of Jesus' life in the early years. Even as a baby, Jesus had prophecies about him. A man name Simeon had waited many years to see the Messiah, and how this herald the coming of God's kingdom. Only through God's Kingdom, via the Lordship of Jesus, is how we achieve true peace as Simeon had now done. Are you willing to look to Jesus for the true peace and joy that we all search for?
Mexico and Central America are countries that need to know Jesus. There are many missionary teams in each country trying to help those there come to know our Lord. Understanding the work that goes on down there and their need for financial support is huge. Hearing from those in those areas provides a true sense of how important the need is.
The Middle East is the spiritual center of many different religions in the world. Mission teams are needed to help reach out to all those in those countries and bring them to Jesus. Giving for these teams is the best way that we can contribute, even though we cannot be there physically.
Our relationship with God needs to be the most important thing in our lives. We can, at times, let it slack and become stagnant. This is often due to un-confessed, or un-repented of sin in our lives. A revival is needed to rekindle our relationship with God and get us back on the right track. We must fight through Satan's accusations and focus on our commitment to His purpose.
The life that God has planned for us is more than just getting things done. While that is definitely a part of it, he wants us to thrive in life and constantly better ourselves. His plan is to make us better through His teachings and to provide us with all the opportunities to be the best version we can be. We just need to be brave enough to follow the path that He has laid out for us.
South Bay North side Easter Service 2018. Opening and closing lesson remarks by Steve Morici, with testimonies from Frank Aquillina, Amy Funabashi, Andrew Disario, and Janelle DeLeon. Christ is the cornerstone of all that we are, for those that have chosen to follow him. All of us have a past and lived lives that were not of Christ before He met us. These testimonies highlight how Christ has transformed many people's lives and provided comfort and strength to all of use who truly need it.
"All good things" Romans 8:28 does talk about good things, but that does not mean that bad things cannot happen to us. It ultimately deals with the sum total of things that happen to us and whether we are obedient to His word. "For the good of those who love Him". God's love for us is infinite. Our love can be conditional. but the more we love like Him, the more we connect with the true nature of this scripture.
John 3:16, is likely one of the most quoted and known about scripture all over the world. While most know the words, many do not truly know the context around the scripture. Jesus was teaching a religious leader at this point and was trying to help him understand Jesus as the messiah and savior of the world. Understanding this is the key to Christianity as a whole.
Rejoice always, thankful prayers, & positive thinking. That was Paul's secret to complete contentment in Christ, even when in prison. We all phase good times and bad times. Holding tight to God is how we stay humble and faithful in any situation. Christ will provide the strength we need. We only need to utilize it.
Many think that love is something that just happens; a feeling that comes over us. While it may start this way, true love is a decision. God's love for us is unconditional, yet we can often put conditions on the love we have for Him, and other people as well. 1 Corinthians 13 provides the truest definition of how we should all love, in every area of our lives.
As humans, we can put limits on how much we love. God definitely has no limits when it comes to love. His love can feel reckless at times, but it is only because he wants nothing more than to be close to us. Jacqi Morici interviews 3 women from the Coastal L.A. staff about how God recklessly sought them during the beginning of their relationship and how he continues to do so many years later.
A Shepherd knows his sheep. God is the shepherd and we are the sheep. He knows all of us intimately, even if we don't know him. He cares for us and always sets us up for success. It is up to us whether we follow the path he had laid out. Sheep should obey their shepherd, but even they rebel at times. Ultimately, they need the shepherd far more than they understand.
God does have plans to prosper us, however not always as we would want or expect. Part of the process is that we have to follow his plan for our lives. Just expecting that our lives will be blessed and perfect, without adhering to God's word and obeying it, is fool-hearty at best We need to walk the path he has set out for us, to gain the blessings he has laid forth in his word.
Wellness has many different levels. Spiritual is definitely important, but not the only part. Many times in the scriptures, it speaks of taking care of our bodies. How you look is not essential, but making sure you are healthy is commanded by God. All aspects of our wellness are vital, but we need to make the necessary decisions to work on each part, individually.
In this life, are we just living, or are we living with a purpose? God has plans for us, but it is up to us to follow the path he has laid out. There will be stumbles along the way, but we must press on toward the ultimate destination: Heaven. We cannot do this alone. We must strive together and keep each other motivated.
In today's society, it is very easy to listen to things without actually hearing them. When you hear good direction or advice, it needs to be followed. The scriptures are filled with God's plan for our lives and we have to not only listen to what it says, we need to obey it. Living out God's plan is the only way to truly understand all that he has in store for us.
Listening can often be a difficult for many people. Most specifically actively listening and not just waiting for your turn to talk. To truly get the most out of God's word, we have to be actively listening for what it and the Holy Spirit are trying to say. Often that means quieting our minds and focusing specifically on what the words say, rather than just reading through them mechanically.
God speaks to us in many different ways. He speaks to all humanity (Logos) with the path that he wants us to take. He also speaks to each of us individually (Remah) with specific paths that he has set out for each of us. We must listen to both and respond accordingly. He wants nothing but the best for us, but must obey all forms of his word.
While we are still between the two trees of Eden and Heaven, humanity is still waiting. Revelation describes the end of our spiritual road. It is where God's plan is ultimately fulfilled. Christ is the reason why we focus on God's plan and do all that we can to advance his kingdom while we are here.
During this time of the year can bring up many difficult situations. We can feel overwhelmed and 'Walled-in" to our issues. It can even feel like God is ignoring us when everything seems to be coming at us all at once. We need to hold fast to our Savior and trust that he will bring us out of everything and see us through to clearer times.
One of the most pivotal points in history is the list of Christ. He linked the old and new testaments together and fulfilled most of the prophecies. He is the gateway to the last Tree in God's plan. Only through Him can we have any hope of making it to the end of God's journey for us.
God calls us to be stewards of our lives and his kingdom. Stewardship comes from both faith in God's plan and his practical purpose for us here on earth. The scriptures help us to understand and have faith in God's plan for being stewards of his kingdom, as well as it lays out a set of practical applications on how we maintain this. One of those areas is related to our finances and giving back to His Church, which is the topic of this midweek lesson. Andy Winje outlines how we practically implement this plan in respects to our budge and Steve Morici shows us the heart we need to have behind our giving and how God will always honor it.
(We apologize for the audio quality). Life doesn't often go the way we planned. Things can frustrate us and cause us to do things that we would normally not like. The Israelites were sent into exile for many years. We can often feel "out of sorts", however God always has a plan. Sometimes the circumstances we are in are according to his plan so that we can grow and even humble ourselves. Do we have the faith to believe in His plan and follow him through all the "chaos"?
The Isrealites started out in Egypt as high in the social structure. Hundreds of years later, the Pharaoh feared them and thus, enslaved them. God used specific situations to not only free them from slavery, but also tried to humble Pharaoh, whose heart was too hard to listen. Through Jesus, God gave us the same freedom to live as God wangted us to.
While the first tree, Eden, was largely a lesson of how sin takes us away from God, the second step is Abraham and how God used his incredible faith and righteousness to create a whole nation of people. Eden relates to a loss of our relationship with God, Abraham represents God bring his people back to him.
The Bible begins and ends in a Garden, Genesis with the Garden of Eden and Revelations, describing a Garden City. We are currently in the time between these two great "trees". Eden started it all and was the birth place of humanity. God intended it for Him to live with us forever, however Satan was able to temp Eve and Adam, dooming humanity to be apart from God, until we are reunited with him again in the Garden City.
Several brothers and sisters share about what worship means to them, including Joe Perez, Elaine Johnson, Davita Fountain, and Andy Winje. Brian Craig also delivers a powerful sermunion about God's holiness, and how through his Spirit, we are made holy as well.
Annual Harvest Fest for 2017. Reyn and Nancy Hornwood share their testimony and what brought them to Christ, as well as what helps sustain their relationship with God and each other.
Often times, its easier to "prefer" things a certain way, rather than have them be about their actual purpose. Christianity can be all about preference, however Jesus has a specific purpose for all those that have been called by him. Will you go the easier route and do what you prefer, or be about the purpose that God has called you to?
HOPE Worldwide is an organization that helps all over the world with humanitarian efforts. While they help everyone else around the world, what are we doing in our local community. Mission work does not have to be somewhere else. We can always server in our local community most of all. Christ is everywhere and we can help to spread his message, in all its facets.
God's grace is something that all Christians strive to understand. We all know that we don't deserve it, but we desire it with all our hearts. God's grace comes through Jesus, whom we must learn to trust. We can't trust him until we know him intimately, We can then truly experience God's grace through living like Jesus.
Marijuana is a very hot-button topic in society today. The concept of legalization is extremely polarizing among many groups. Ultimately, the main question is: Does this fit into God's plan? Whether society deems it right or wrong, how does God view this overall.
Over the years, many spiritual traditions and ideas have become part of church doctrine. These can sometimes supersede God's word. In every process that we undertake in our worship of God, we must always ensure it is completely backed by scriptures and not just historical sentiment.
Politics can be a fairly polarizing subject. Most either have strong opinions or none at all. Even Jesus had to address the politics of the day. It can be a touchy subject since they are our leading our world, but ultimately we need to always keep God as our true leader.
Money is an integral part of our every day lives. From earning it to figuring out what to spend it on. God knows that it often tests peoples integrity and sincerity. However, he truly loves to see a cheerful giver. Where is your heart at when it comes to God and money?
We have become completely dependent on technology today We can't seem to survive now-a-days without our cell phones. While they are useful tools at times, we can certainly misuse them and lose our focus on God. We need to keep God in our focus, along with all the elements of our digital life.
As people, we can certainly be complicated at times. We need others in our lives to help us sort through our issues. For those that maybe did not have parents to teach them, spiritual mothers or fathers can be of tremendous assistance to help us work through the things we deal with on a daily basis.
God created all of us for a purpose. None of were accidents that were not meant to happen. He has a specific plan for all of us and wants to see that plan fulfilled in our lives. We were created just below him and the angels, so we need to use that purpose and bring God glory through fulfilling the glory he has planned for us
Jesus entreated his people to eat of his body and drink of his blood. He wanted to bind them together through his death, while helping them to connect with him after death. The church as a whole connects with Jesus through Communion. Honoring Jesus death allows us to be part of his kingdom.
It is not usual for people to see God as a reflection of their earthly father. This can lead them to have misconception about how God will treat them, especially if their father was not around or mistreated them. For everyone though, God is not a better version of our fathers, he is the perfect version.
Resurrection is not a term we use in everyday life. However, the concept of Resurrection is at the heart of the Christian faith. Baptism is a spiritual resurrection and someday, God will resurrection our bodies up to heaven to be with him forever. The future resurrection is what we have to look forward to.
Membership in anything has its privileges, but it also has its responsibilities. Being a member of God's kingdom does not mean you deserve anything. In fact, God has sacrificed so much for each of us, we are eternally in his debt. Therefore, we should do all we can to service his kingdom and work to glorify him with all we have.
Controversial topics are never easy to deal with. The world and the Bible have different concepts of what is controversial. Being single can be consider "bad", but Paul praises it. Sex, Marriage, Divorce are all things the Bible has clear stances on, yet the World does not agree. Where should disciples truly stand on these issue?
Sexuality is a major part of society today. For women, its especially difficult because our culture forces women to believe things that aren't true. God's plan allows for both men and women to understand sex in the same way. We cannot be afraid of experiencing the full range of what true sexuality means from God's prespective
In 1st Corinthians 13, Paul gives one of the best descriptions of what true Agape love looks like. Love is the core of being a Disciple and we have to show it with our lives. Does your life reflect Love and Unity, the way that Jesus' life did?
The Corinthians were known for their wisdom. Unfortunately it was not Godly wisdom. To truly understand God and his wisdom, we must look deep into his word. Only then will we truly understand the great reward that comes from letting God be the only wisdom we ever need.
Special Missions is a necessary time each year. We have so much her in America that it is only right that we share with those in other countries that are in need. We support Mexico, Central America and the Middle East. Many stories, via video, were shared that represents why we collect money to help these nations.
Science and the Bible have often been seen at odds. Science tries to explain the chaos, but God created the chaos and helps us understand the nature of it through the scriptures. Science and the Bible can really be companions when looked at through humans eyes.
People often question God because of suffering in this world. How can and all-knowing, all-loving God allow this? Free Will is God's gift to humanity, however many abuse it and do unspeakable things. Most suffering in life happens because of bad choices that humans make. Is God really to blame for our bad choices?
I already have my own relationship with God. Why would I need to go to church. Church is not a building or a structure, but anywhere the family of God meets to worship and praise him. Church is where we get encouragement and our faith built up. The world can tempt us to take our eyes of Jesus. Church helps to re-fix them on the author and perfecter of our faith.
God has setup an incredible banquet for us. Yet many people make excuses and reject what God has laid out for us. Their excuses may sound legitimate at times, but ultimately they cause them not to truly see the blessing they are being offered. Will you reject God's offer?
There are numerous different religions in this world; many of them saying very different things when it comes to salvation. Not all of them can be right. Christianity is the only religion where God came to earth and showed his people how to live.
Many have speculated on exactly what happens when we die. There are many theories, but no hard evidence, since no one has ever come back to tell us. According to the scriptures, we know that either Heaven or Hell is our ultimate destination. Where are you heading?
Good Friday and Easter is when we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This event brought salvation to the world, We are still living in Good Friday times. However, living according to Jesus' word, we will reach our own Easter resurrection into God's kingdom someday.
Good Friday and Easter is when we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This event brought salvation to the world, We are still living in Good Friday times. However, living according to Jesus' word, we will reach our own Easter resurrection into God's kingdom someday.
Daniel is often described as the history of the future. All the prophecies in Daniel happened at a later time, but are history for us. In all of it, God used his Angels to work for mankind and ensure they were blessed with future glory. Yet the wicked will still be wicked. Which will you choose?
Daniel was blessed with being able to see the future that God had set out. Pretty much all of us will never get this blessing in our lives. We have to trust that God sees the bigger picture and that he will take care of us through all that life will throw at us. Even when we are in the eye of the storm a times.
Life can certainly be hard at times. Courage is something that we need to have to make it through certain situations. With Jesus, we can have courage that stays consistent throughout all the challenges we will ever face in life.
We all know that our days on this earth are numbered. The real challenge is that we can never know how many days we actually have. Eventually, when we are called to Heaven, we must account for how we lived. Will God say to us, "Well done, good and faith servant"?
The pressure to conform is always around us. Especially when we are younger, the draw to be part of the crowd can be intense. God still calls us to stay true to our faith. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego all stayed true, even to the point being put to death, yet God saved them. Do you believe that God will save you too, if you stay true to your faith?
As Christians, we can often feel like aliens in this world. Thus it can be challenging to hold on to our faith, with the desire to fit in always around. Daniel was a great example of staying true, even when under complete oppression and thriving in his faith through all challenges.
The book of Daniel was really a history of the future. His interpretation of the King's dream prophesied the coming of several mighty kingdoms. God used him to tell the future for the next thousand years.
God is the power source of all things. When we are not plugged into the power source, we can get very drained spiritually. We need to keep ourselves plugged in to the source to take full advantage of all that it has to offer.
While Jesus turned out to be the biggest figure in history, his movement started pretty small. His Apostles and Disciples may have been known in their community, initially they were pretty hidden within history. Eventually Jesus, and all those he inspired became giants in history and changed the world.
We can sometimes feel stuck in a rut, doing the same old thing again and again. To be rejuvenated, we need to try something new at times. God creates us new when we surrender our lives to him.
We all want to be chosen in life. God provides the best course to be truly chosen for something special. With God, it is not an easy option though. He only chooses those that are willing to completely follow his specific criteria for what it means chosen. For those that are willing to follow his commands, he provides true rejuvention.
We can all get weary and feel beat down in life. Being rejuvenated is what we crave at these times. Many things can achieve this, but only Christ gives us the true rejuvenation that will sustain us through all things.
2017 South Bay Workshop. Priscilla and Aquila are known within the scriptures to be very mission-minded. They are always referred to together and using their talents to reach out to the lost. They are a great example of a family being used for Christ.
2017 South Bay Workshop. The Mission we all have is that of seeking and saving the lost. Jesus gave us that mission, but left it to al disciples to continue the mission and spread his message as far as wide as we can. To be a mission-minded church is to be completely focused on saving those that we can reach.
We all interact with people everyday. Whether we know it or not, we impact them in someway. we must decide if that impact will be positive or negative for them and for us. The best way to impact them positively is through our faith in God.
Jesus is the reason for this season. During this season, Jesus wants to know what we think about him. How we view Jesus in our lives says volumes about how we truly live our lives for God.
The greatest gift mankind ever received was Jesus living on this earth. The example he provided is the only thing that will truly sustain us all. We need to have the courage to accept this gift and alter our lives accordingly.
We have many "moments" throughout each day. God can use any one of these moments for many different reasons. So often, we need to look at things through God's perspective to see how he will choose to use that moment. Accepting that, we can see the true purpose of how God wants to truly use that moment
Supervisors often micromanage, but Jesus is all about calling people to follow his example. He wants us to want to follow him. With that, he is able to use us to reproduce the love he showed his people. His goal was to help people understand the power of his truth and we can change the world through sharing our faith with others.
Jesus' whole ministry was about showing people how to truly server God. He trained the twelve apostles and provided them with the tools to reach the world. With his last words, he called them to share his message with the world and reach out to all the lost souls of the world.
Consecration and Impartation. Essentially being real and legitimate with God and spreading His message to all around us. True discipleship is necessary for being close to God and sharing our faith with others is the best way to help build God's kingdom.
Changing the world is not an easy task. Many have claimed to have the right plan, but were unable to deliver. Only Jesus was able to present the necessary steps to make that a reality. He started it all by associating with and selecting those that would carry on his message. Are you willing to answer the call?
Sunday lesson from the 2016 South Bay Marriage Retreat. Rick Meckimson preaches on the importance of staying connected with Jesus. The world can distract us from God and Jesus, but we need to fight to stay connected.
We wrap up our current series with a second session of a discussion on Racism in today's society. We hear from two brothers and a sister that have had to deal with racism in their lives and how it shaped them and their views. Additionally, they discuss how God and his love helped them deal with the hurts.
Even in 2016, racism is still a part of our society today. People are judged by their skin color and ethnic background. God created all races, nationalities, socio-economical class, etc. He wants all of us to be judged by the standards of Jesus and the bible, rather than how we were born.
Poverty can be a difficult topic to talk about. It is too easy to get cynical about it or think that the problem is too big to conquer. God makes all things possible and his heart for taking care of the poor is well versed. We must strive to have the same heart
Drugs are a pervasive problem in society today. So many people are addicted and can't break out of the cycle. The only thing that will truly fill the feeling that the drugs bring is the power of God and his love.
Anger is something every experiences from time to time. For many, it can control their actions and lead to all sorts of problems. Anger is often a result of insecurity, pride, fear, or many other feelings. Anger itself is not bad, but its how we react in this anger that can lead us to sin. We need to keep our anger in check and ensure it is only for righteous reasons.
Anger is something every experiences from time to time. For many, it can control their actions and lead to all sorts of problems. Anger is often a result of insecurity, pride, fear, or many other feelings. Anger itself is not bad, but its how we react in this anger that can lead us to sin. We need to keep our anger in check and ensure it is only for righteous reasons.
Pornography is rampant in today's society. It is one of the largest and most profitable businesses. Addiction to it is the most dangerous part. Pornography distorts people's idea of reality in relationships. Jesus is the way out for all people. Only He can fill the the whole that people try to fill up with porn.
Sexual topics are all around us. T.V., Movies, Magazines, billboards, we can't really escape it. Understanding God's true view of sex is essential to not falling prey to the world's distorted view of it. We need to understand the power of married, connected sex, versus the shameful idea of sex that the world promotes
Sexual topics are all around us. T.V., Movies, Magazines, billboards, we can't really escape it. Understanding God's true view of sex is essential to not falling prey to the world's distorted view of it. We need to understand the power of married, connected sex, versus the shameful idea of sex that the world promotes
In our present chaos of election time, it can be hard to know what to believe or who to trust. With all politics aside, we know that God's message never changes. We can always trust in his power and authority. He will never lead us down the wrong path
What is our Mission as disciples? God's whole plan for us is to use our lives to reach out to others. Many of us have talents in various areas. We need to use those talents to help others know God.
Wade Cook, newly appointed VP for US operations with HOPE worldwide provides us with a powerful message regarding the work that HOPE is doing in our country, but also all around the world.
Several teens shared about their experience at Teen Camp and how it impacted their lives. Dustin ends everything with a short lesson about David and Goliath, playing off the camp theme of Impossible and how, what seems impossible to us, is completely possible with God.
Remainder of Frank Kim's closing lesson from the Reach 2016 North American Discipleship Conference.
Part 1 of the final Sunday lesson from Reach 2016 (audio only). Frank Kim closes out the conference with an amazing lesson about Jesus, God's plans, and generations of families that serve God faithfully. Part 2 to follow next week.
God has gone by many names throughout the years. Jehovah is one that many know him by. Jehovah Shalom means the Lord is Peace. True peace can only be experienced when we truly commit our lives to his plan for our lives.
Victory is something we all strive for in life. Many don't understand what true victory really is. Only through God can we achieve really, spiritual victory
Father's Day Service. Forgiveness is an essential part of the Christian life. While we are always grateful when we get it from others, especially from God, we can sometimes have difficulty giving it out. Jesus challenges us to remember what we have been forgiven of and give that out to others.
We all struggle in life with different things. Sin & temptation are an ever present part of our daily lives. Satan wants us to disappear and he will use every trick in the book. Having the strength to stand up and be open about it our struggles gives us the ability retain our souls and not let them vanish into Hell.
Special Missions Sunday is always a special day. We focus on the reason on why we give to help others. Giving is part of being a disciple of Jesus. We generally don't focus on it, but it is a test of our hearts as Christians. Money is more important in our lives than we would like to admit. Giving to God and his church helps to remind us of what is most important in life
Since Jesus changed the way church works, we need to be more engaged if we truly want to serve him. Every person needs to give their heart, mind, soul, and strength to building God's kingdom. There are no spectators in God's church.
We all have fears in our lives. We constantly ask the "What if..." questions because we don't know where things will head. This can often hold us back and stop us from being all that God wants us to be. We need to surrender those questions to God and have faith He will see us through.
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" is the message that Paul preached, but Jesus ultimately lived and taught. Love is more than a felling and must be accompanied by action. Our acts of love will show other our faith in Jesus, since we will then be living as he did.
Every now and then, we have to look back and remember what happened to get us to the point we are at. Recalling the past can sometimes give us vision for the future. We must always remember where we came from to know where we are going.
Before you can truly embrace the new, you have to let go of the old. Additionally, you have to be sure you are embracing the right new. Change is always happening, but can sometimes not be the best thing. Church needs to change for the right reasons.
Bankruptcy is a bad thing from a worldly sense. From a spiritual sense, it is essential. If ever we feel that we have it all figured out, then we stop learning. If we always feel "bankrupt" spiritually, we will constantly strive to learn more and more.
Executive orders are often given and can often be controversial. Jesus had authority to do much more than that and, while they did seem controversial at first, prove to be most beneficial to humanity. Obeying those orders are primary to following Jesus.
During political times, everyone is curious who will get the votes. We need to focus on who really should get our vote in life. Jesus is worthy to lead us in all ways and can truly provide us change. That is why he should always get our vote.
Just as the President fills his cabinet with those that are loyal to him, Jesus fills his kingdom with those that seek to surrender themselves to God. We are all sinners, so we must reach out for Jesus and be willing to give him control of our lives
Repentance needs to be a regular part of our lives as Christians. However, we often don't look at in the correct way. Repentance must start at our core beliefs and carry through the whole process of trials, emotions, temptations and sin.
During election time, many promises are made, but few are kept in the long run. Jesus also made us many promises through his life and has kept every single one of them. His promises shaped the course of history and daily give our lives meaning and purpose.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Many parables illustrate the importance of seeking even the one. We can sometimes think that this is small thinking, but God loves every opportunity to save souls. Where is our heart on this?
Relationships can often come with many questions. People are not easy to deal with at times. God calls us to love them anyways. The Bible, over and over again, tells us that the answer to any relationship issue is love.
Get an inside look into these internal meetings of the church leaders of the Southwest International Churches of Christ as they gathered for spiritual inspiration and church building strategy.
Get an inside look into these internal meetings of the church leaders of the Southwest International Churches of Christ as they gathered for spiritual inspiration and church building strategy.
Get an inside look into these internal meetings of the church leaders of the Southwest International Churches of Christ as they gathered for spiritual inspiration and church building strategy.
Get an inside look into these internal meetings of the church leaders of the Southwest International Churches of Christ as they gathered for spiritual inspiration and church building strategy.
Get an inside look into these internal meetings of the church leaders of the Southwest International Churches of Christ as they gathered for spiritual inspiration and church building strategy.
Get an inside look into these internal meetings of the church leaders of the Southwest International Churches of Christ as they gathered for spiritual inspiration and church building strategy.
Get an inside look into these internal meetings of the church leaders of the Southwest International Churches of Christ as they gathered for spiritual inspiration and church building strategy.
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
Get an inside look into these internal meetings of the church leaders of the Southwest International Churches of Christ as they gathered for spiritual inspiration and church building strategy.
REFRESH 3.0- Southwest Ministry Leaders Retreat 2016- Women’s Program
Get an inside look into these internal meetings of the church leaders of the Southwest International Churches of Christ as they gathered for spiritual inspiration and church building strategy.
REFRESH 3.0- Southwest Ministry Leaders Retreat 2016- Women’s Program
Get an inside look into these internal meetings of the church leaders of the Southwest International Churches of Christ as they gathered for spiritual inspiration and church building strategy.
Get an inside look into these internal meetings of the church leaders of the Southwest International Churches of Christ as they gathered for spiritual inspiration and church building strategy.
Get an inside look into these internal meetings of the church leaders of the Southwest International Churches of Christ as they gathered for spiritual inspiration and church building strategy.
Christianity is all about connections. Our greatest connection is with Jesus himself. Sometimes that connection is challenge as he calls to a standard that is unwavering and often hard to live up to. Through his love for us, and the love of our fellow disciples, we can push forward with encouragement and knowing that God's love is with u
Connectivity is all the rage today. We want to feel connected to others, but also we want to only present the "self" that we deem worthy. True connections come through spending time with people, as messy as that can sometimes be. Through Jesus, we can have these true connections.
With Social Media becoming more and more prevalent in our society, why is it that more and more people feel lonelier then ever. While digital connections can be beneficial in some cases, they are no substitute for actual human interaction. The best interaction we can have of all is with God through Jesus and the Spirit.
Family is not always biological. There are many people that we can count as family that share no blood relation with. The church is always our family, especially when we have no one else. We need our family to make it through life
Returning to the roots of being a disciple is needed from time to time. Many times, the big obstacle to us humbling out is our pride. Either we think we have it all figured out, or we are unwilling to admit we need to change. Jesus is the ultimate example of the how to keep our hearts focused on God.
Prayer is essential to the Christian life. Without it, we have no connection with God. It must be Regular, Transcendent, & Active. With this, we can achieve many breakthroughs in our faith.
Looking back on all the things that God has blessed us with or brought us through in our lives is a great way to constantly reminder ourselves of the amazing God we serve. Celebrating the past victories is just as important as looking forward to the future ones. Make your Memorial Stones (Joshua 4:1-3, 21-23) for this past year and celebrate all that God has done in your life
The holidays can often be a stressful, challenging time for many people. Happiness is supposed to be prevalent, but often times can elude people. God doesn't want people to be happy, he wants them to experience Joy. Happy depends on what's happening. Joy comes from the soul, through surrendering ourselves to God's will.
So often around the holidays, life can get chaotic. At times, we need to slow down and remember what we are doing this all for. When we focus on Jesus, just Jesus, our minds become much clearer and we can truly see what is most important in life... to serve God and his church.
America is often referred to as the most prosperous nation in the world. Unfortunately we are not also the most generous. Ultimately, God calls all of us to be generous and provide for others as needed. Regardless of where you live, are you will to be generous, so that you can truly prosper in God's kingdom
What is it that really matters most to God? He truly values our hearts for the poor. If we are willing to care for those that are in need, God will truly bless us. For that is what he wants us to focus on, among many other things
Many things in our lives can become idols to us. Christ tells us that He is our only "idol" in that we need to worship Him, and Him alone. We need to decide what our real "idol" is in our lives.
The most important part of our lives is our heart. Generosity is a vital component of Christianity. if we are unwilling to have the heart to, then we need to truly check who we are and develop our best response to that idea.
Some of the most generous people are those that don't have much. Yet it is amazing how those that have resources are the most un-generous of all.
Harvest Festival 2015. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Will you be one of the workers?
God has a plan for everything. Men, Women, Children; we each have a role to play within the family, and each person also has a role to play in God's eternal family. When we fail to play our role, we lose the power of togetherness. When we all play our role as God intended, his power knows no limits.
So often in life, people are truly searching for meaning. We try to find it in everything else; jobs, possessions, relationships, etc. Unfortunately these things do not provide what we are truly looking for. Only God can really provide the real redemption we are looking for.
In society, men and women deal with different issues. We all try our best to deal with them. Ultimately, God is the best source of the proper method to work through them in a spiritual manner.
There is much confusion and misunderstanding in the world of what it means to be a man and a woman. The "Battle of the sexes" is raging throughout society. God has the true blueprints for all of it.
With everything God does, there is a purpose behind it. He intended us to have children, so therefore, he would provide instructions on how to raise them. Each child is different however, thus we need to constantly get input and seek guidance from the scriptures.
Many people believe that our universe came about by some "happy accident". The closer you look at the details of the design, the more you realize that there had to be a designer. God planned this world and us, according to his perfect plan
We all have memories in life that, at the time, seemed innocuous. Often, later in life, those singular moments turned out to define the course of our lives. God foresaw all this and did everything he could to guide us to the necessary events to make this happen.
Jesus understood everything about humanity. He did this by sharing our struggles, our fears, our burdens. He was able to take on all that we do and still remain true to God. He is the example that we need to follow.
We can learn about God's will through the scriptures. The important aspect if how we, as humans, respond to it. Will we accept it, or will we rebel against it. This will determine our spiritual future. To see a YouTube video of this lesson, please visit http://youtu.be/kvJddMQpcjU
Over his many year ministry, Jesus made many promises. None more important than his promise to always be with us. He would not be there physically, but through the Spirit, and our faithful connection to God, he will provide all we need.
TO SEE A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THIS LESSON FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW. http://youtu.be/Wes5vyyoU_w
God is definitely all over the world. He is calling people from all walks of life and all nationalities. We each hear the call in our own way. What we need to focus on is how we will respond when we hear the call. This is for those that are hearing the call for the first time, or hearing it again for the hundredth.
The bible refers to life as a race. We are all running in it, but each of us will end the race at different times. God's plan for us is to finish the race, having put everything into it and going out with our faith as strong as possible.
The bible refers to life as a race. We are all running in it, but each of us will end the race at different times. God's plan for us is to finish the race, having put everything into it and going out with our faith as strong as possible.
Life can often feel like a juggling act. We have many things to deal with on a day to day basis. As Christians, we have to take each situation and bring it to God so we can truly grow. It can be difficult "juggling" all the thing we need to work on, but God can help us with that as well.
Life can often feel like a juggling act. We have many things to deal with on a day to day basis. As Christians, we have to take each situation and bring it to God so we can truly grow. It can be difficult "juggling" all the thing we need to work on, but God can help us with that as well.
In our lives, we all bring baggage into any relationship. It's how we deal with our baggage and how much we let other into it determines how close we get to people. We are all messed up, but together, we can make each other better.
Often times we can be blinded to the path we are on. We can be going the wrong way for a while and not even know it. God is constantly trying to remind us of the true way we should be going and how we should be living.
All of our lives get busy. Many times we get too busy to really focus on what is important. God is often trying to tell us to slow down and take stock of what we really need is most important.
Our fathers are a part of our lives, good or bad. God is our eternal father. No matter what happens, no matter how far we stray, he will always be there for us. When we turn to him, he will always welcome us, for the first time or again, with open, loving arms.
Our fathers are a part of our lives, good or bad. God is our eternal father. No matter what happens, no matter how far we stray, he will always be there for us. When we turn to him, he will always welcome us, for the first time or again, with open, loving arms.
As we get older as disciples, it can be easy to forget why we started doing all this in the first place. Remembering why we fell in love with Jesus and God's word will help us to make it in the long run.
Jesus' mission was to reach all the world with the word of God. That is our mission as disciples as well. In today's world, money is needed, which is why we give to support the mission work of the church.
Apologies, but there was a technical issue and we lost the last few minutes of the lesson
When people normally run, its an individual sport. Spiritually, we are all running together and can encourage and strengthen one another during the long miles.
Jesus teaches in the gospel that he is the Good Shepherd. He defines that as one who cares for, loves, and lays down his life for his flock. At the same time, he calls us to do the same. Are we willing to take up the mantle and be the good shepherd of whomever calls us to be?
Jesus teaches in the gospel that he is the Good Shepherd. He defines that as one who cares for, loves, and lays down his life for his flock. At the same time, he calls us to do the same. Are we willing to take up the mantle and be the good shepherd of whomever calls us to be?
Jesus started something incredible when he began his ministry. He called people to think differently and to be different. The main question is, are we willing to answer the call?
Jesus was the most revolutionary figure of our time. His main message throughout his whole ministry was love. He showed it constantly. He called us to show it in ways that are sometimes uncomfortable. It still must be who we are as his followers.
In our lives, there will always be storms and hard times. How we handle them shows our character. Jesus was able to calm a physical sea storm. How much more can he aid us in calming the spiritual and emotional storms in our lives.
One of Jesus' greatest commandments is to go out and make disciples... to become Fishers of Men. This is the main purpose of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. How are we doing in fulfilling that purpose?
In many bibles, Jesus' words are all in red letters. Jesus' teachings are the life blood of being a disciple. His death and resurrection cemented their importance for all eternity. He promised us that there would be more than this life to live for.
Jesus' resurrection is a pivotal part of Easter Sunday. We get to explore how this affected people in Jesus' time as well as try to understand how this should affect us. Some doubted and others had faith. Which will you be?
Various members of the worship team share their testimony and the times they have run from God and figure out how to connect with him again
Jonah was a great example of God's power and patience. God is rarely obvious in what he does, but lets us realize for ourselves how we should have really behaved. Jonah realized this in the belly of the fish and finally humbled himself out.
All of us, at times in our lives, have run from the plan that God has for us. Jonah is an explicit example of this, but spiritually, we can all do this from time to time. We must understand that, ultimately, running from God really hurts is in the end
All of us, at times in our lives, have run from the plan that God has for us. Jonah is an explicit example of this, but spiritually, we can all do this from time to time. We must understand that, ultimately, running from God really hurts is in the end
One of God's best qualities, specifically for us, is his abundant and rich love. Without it, he would have given up on us a long time ago. He continues to be Gracious, Compassionate, Patient with us because of his amazing love for us.
2015 Worship team workshop. Understanding worship and our role in leading people to it, not just on Sunday, but in all areas of our lives.
2015 Worship team workshop. Understanding worship and our role in leading people to it, not just on Sunday, but in all areas of our lives.
One of God's many traits that we get to enjoy is that he is slow to become angry with us. He definitely does get angry from time to time, but is patient with us and will allow us to, many times, figure out our mistakes on our own
As we explore God's many facets, compassion is one of his greatest attributes. It shows his love for us and very often the reason we are still around. Understanding its power helps us to appreciate who God i even more.
One of God's greatest traits is his Grace. Its what allows us to keep doing what we do, to continue to live. He provides it, even though we don't deserve it.
One of God's greatest traits is his Grace. Its what allows us to keep doing what we do, to continue to live. He provides it, even though we don't deserve it.
Jesus came to this earth to serve humanity, even though we don't deserve it. He provided us with an example of how we are supposed to be great, but not prideful.
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
When something is new, it can sometimes be scare. Especially if we don't know what the plan is. God can often take us in new and different directions, that can sometimes be scary since we don't know what his plan is. Trust and faith is the key.
So often, our past can define us, and at times, even hinder us from progressing forward. God wants us to remember our past, but not let it stop us from moving forward. Your past is part of you, but let God and his plan always be what is ahead of you.
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
Jesus' life was so significant that it actually changed the course of human history. He created a dividing line in time. God has the power to do that it all our lives, if we allow him to work in our lives.
Jesus' life was so significant that it actually changed the course of human history. He created a dividing line in time. God has the power to do that it all our lives, if we allow him to work in our lives.
This time of year is about giving thanks. What is really best to give thanks for? The fact that God loves us and we GET to love him back. We need to understand how awesome that is.
We often want many things in life. This is necessarily bad, but can be problematic when desire takes over. God wants us to be content, no matter what the circumstances. Greed can only damage the soul.
Life is all about choices. Many of the choices we make can put us in hot water. God provides us with grace and often the consequences we deserve are not what we get.
You only get once chance at life. It's essential that you do the best you can. Your best choice is to go with God and have the best chance you could possibly have.
While we are alive, we strive to collect many things. These things can make us happy, but ultimately they will all disappear when we die. We cannot take any of it with us. The only thing we can truly take with us is who we are and what we believe.
Group of various disciples who gave their testimony and how accepting Christ allowed them to experience life to the full.
Cheating is not something we usually think of when we think of God. However, if we cheat the things that really matter, we ultimately cheat our relationship with God. The best choice is to cheat what doesn't matter, for what does really matter.
Money is a major part of everyone's life. It can often be too much of a focus and even stress us out. Giving this aspect of our lives over to God can help us not stress out about it and provide that much needed breathing room.
What is the one thing that we never seem to have enough of? God won't magically give you more of it, but focusing on him will give you the ability to use it most effectively. Centering your life around him will give you the breathing room you need.
Our lives can get pretty complicated. Every now and then, we need to take some "breathing room" to regain perspective. God will be there to help us unwind.
Our lives can get pretty complicated. Every now and then, we need to take some "breathing room" to regain perspective. God will be there to help us unwind.
As disciples, our primary mission is to reach out to lost souls. However, we can often say to ourselves "They don't look open" or "They must have it all together". Is their soul worth taking that chance?
Many people look at the Bible as just a set of rules and do's/don'ts. However it is so much more than that. In reality, the Bible is a book of relationships and connections.
Prayer is an awesome thing. It can change so many things in our lives. So much of it is trusting that God is listening and will answer according to his good will.
We can often only see things from our own perspective. It's easy to assume what is real. So many times, though, we need a higher power to help us see what is real. God is able to provide us with that alternate perspective.
For some people, the truth is hard to determine or understand. With God, through Jesus, we have the absolute truth and we can trust it. Jesus not only spoke it, but lived it and provide us with the perfect example.
In life, there are warning signs when things are going bad. Most times, it's God providing us with those warning signs. We just have to open our eyes to what he is showing us and see the signs.
The world test everyone. Some people are able to fake it and appear strong. Those that are able to focus on God can truly stand up to the challenges. This comes from their brokeness not about being beaten down, but truly broken before God.
In life, there are many things that can seem really important. The question you have to ask yourself is, 'important to whom?'. Ultimately, if it's not important to God, then does it really matter. 3 things that God cares about: righteousness, peace and joy. Is this what matters to you?
{So sorry, however the first half of the lesson is difficult to hear} Life does not come with details some times, but God provides all the details we need. You just gotta read The red print, which is how Jesus teaches us to live life.
Very often, what we think we want is not really what we want. Jesus knew what he wanted and needed. He helps us understand what we should want. However, when we don't get it, we need to understand what we should want to want. Jesus can help us with that to. Enjoy a study on Judas, an unlikely character, but one who helps us understand where our hearts and minds should be at.
I do apologize, but due to technical difficulties, the last half of the sermon was lost. Very sorry.
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
What does a Christian look like? There is no outward appearance that signifies us as followers of Christ. It's what's on the inside that sets us apart from others in the world: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Sometimes, following others can be a scary thing. We never know where they might lead. Jesus calls us to be fearless as we follow him because he provides us with the truth.
Life does not always go as we would expect. Often times, God will test our faith and bring us to the edge. If we trust in him and following his word, we can see that the edge is much farther out than we thought.
Who we follow/hang around with can definitely affect our character. People with lower morale character can, over time, drag us down with them. Jesus provides the spiritual lift we need and the authority to follow the true leader.
Who we follow/hang around with can definitely affect our character. People with lower morale character can, over time, drag us down with them. Jesus provides the spiritual lift we need and the authority to follow the true leader.
Easter is all about the resurrection of Jesus. It is also usually one of the few days that most people attend church. Jesus died for us so that we would live every day for him
Easter is all about the resurrection of Jesus. It is also usually one of the few days that most people attend church. Jesus died for us so that we would live every day for him
Your upbringing does not define who you are or will become. Moses was born a peasant, raised as a prince, and God used him to lead his people out of slavery. When we rely on who we think we are, we limit our chances in life. With God, though, anything can happen.
Ever been faced with a situation that is scary or unnerving? Would putting your trust in God have helped you be strong and courageous through that event? David was able to do this and, through God's strength, was able to save all of Isreal by defeating Goliath. He decided to have faith.
Just because your young does not mean you cannot do great things. Joseph was the youngest of his brothers, but did amazing thing because of his faith in God. Hold strong and God will always bless.
Just because your young does not mean you cannot do great things. Joseph was the youngest of his brothers, but did amazing thing because of his faith in God. Hold strong and God will always bless.
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
This is the podcast of the South Bay Church, Los Angeles. We’re a vibrant, growing church community of families, single adults, and teens from all over the South Bay area --all ages, races, and backgrounds. We love to hear the Bible communicated in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and applies to every-day life. This podcast features lessons and sermons from our Sunday worship services as well as other midweek meetings and special events.
We can all be prideful and selfish. If there is one thing that most people would consider greater than themselves (even if they don't live that way) is God above. We as disciples must surrender our lives to this.
When thinking about things, how often do we consider God's view of things? To truly understand his ways, we need to look at things through his eyes, the eyes of faith.
Greater than is a very relative term in most cases. When it comes to God, there is nothing greater.
When we think about all the Universe and what God is fully capable of doing, what is mankind that we even matter to God. Amazingly enough, he cares for us above all else.
Life can constantly throw us curveballs. Jesus teaches us that we need to rejoice through all of them. This can certainly present its own challenge, especially when you are going through the tough times.
If God is truly first in our lives, then we must strive to be second. Accepting that role is essential to fulfilling God's plan for our lives
If God is truly first in our lives, then we must strive to be second. Accepting that role is essential to fulfilling God's plan for our lives
If God is truly first in our lives, then we must strive to be second. Accepting that role is essential to fulfilling God's plan for our lives
If God is truly first in our lives, then we must strive to be second. Accepting that role is essential to fulfilling God's plan for our lives
Life may be a journey, but the destination is what is truly important. Are you sure you are heading in the right direction? Our final goals need to focus more on Heaven then on this life.
Live Nativity play interlaced with spiritual life lessons to remind us what God and Jesus are all about
God provides us with all the tools to live a faith filled life. We often let fear, our own desires, and an unwillingness to wait on God interfere with true faith
God is eternal. If we don't keep our eyes on what is eternal, we miss the whole purpose of what God is trying to teach us.
What does it mean to have complete joy? It takes understanding that God is enough, no matte what the circumstances may be
Just as Jesus had to be dedicated to what he did to bring salvation, we must be just as dedicated to our faith so we can make it to Heaven. This section of 'Love Works' explores what it means and what it takes to be dedicated
Forgiving others that have wronged us can be very difficult at times In many cases, it takes real faith to overcome the hurts.
The truth is not always easy to hear. True love requires that truth be spoken, but only when it helps those who hear it.
It's so common for us to focus on our own needs all the time. The bible teaches that we need to focus on other needs (be unselfish), yet that is not easy to do. Love can help with that struggle
Many parts of loving God require trusting him. While its often against our nature, God rewards those who can do it
Part of loving others is being kind and encouraging to them, although it is not always easy to do. Jesus teaches us how to do this.
The bible teaches that part of Love is being patience. However, it is not always easy to have true patience.
We can all use more hope in our lives. Jesus is the only true hope that any of us really has. Once we have it, we need to wear like a band to help hold our live together until we reach Heaven
Even the smallest amount of Faith can do amazing things. What are you gonna do with your's
Jesus helps us to see that Heaven is really a hidden treasure that few know about. Are we willing to seek it out.
God has prepared a beautiful banquet for us all. It can only partaken of by those that are willing to accept his invitation.
Freedom is something we all seem to desire, but what does true freedom mean. True Freedom in Christ means something beyond what we typically thing
God's grace is never ending and provides us with amazing opportunities that we could not get anywhere else. We may never understand how "infinite" his grace is, but we must strive to do so.
Our earthly parents provide stability that we need in life. God provides the ultimate stability by promising he will never leave us. Unlike our parents, God will truly never leave us, providing inseparable grace and mercy.
God's grace is beyond human description. The scriptures try to help us understand how amazing it is.
When we are willing to give to help out others, God is pleased and will certainly bless.
We can all feel like God doesn't hear or know sometimes what we're going through. Or maybe we feel like he's out to get us. In this Mother's Day sermon we look at Jesus' interaction with a desperate mom, and we will see that really God is HERE TO HELP, whatever it is we are going through.
God calls everyone of us to be servants in his kingdom. We don't have to be super talented, just have a heart that God can use to help others and advance his kingdom.
Our hearts can take us to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. For this reason, we need to surrender our hearts to God and allow him to take us on the journey he set out for us.
Deep, meaningful relationships are what help us feel connected to God and to the body. How deep are your friendships?
Is unfailing love possible? We explore how Jesus was able to provide this in an unmistakable manner trough his interactions with others.
Many things in our world infect us in a negative way (overfocus on work, pleasure, entertainment, etc). Jesus calls us to be "infected" by his word and catch the "bug" of spiritual desire. Are you infected with Jesus
We can often get off track spiritually from time to time. A reboot with Jesus helps to get us centered back on what is truly important.
Peter started out as a simple man, but Jesus had a huge impact on his life. Through the example that Jesus provided, Peter became much more than ever expected