Compel Church: Recent Episodes
Patrick Conrad
Hope (standard def.) - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
II Corinthians 9:10 (NLT) “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”
PURPOSE of GENEROSITY in the SPIRITUAL FORMATION of a CHRIST-FOLLOWER
II Corinthians 9:6-10
Open hands share from the abundance of a generous heart, allowing time, talent, and treasure to move freely through them to bless others.
I Timothy 6:10 (NLT) “For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
UNPACKING THE BAGGAGE OF A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY
“Dysfunctional” is that which is not operating according to its original design; faulty, impaired, or “not working properly” for optimal results.
Genesis 37:1-11 (ESV)
Marriage is a covenant relationship with God and your spouse that makes you HOLY; not a contractual agreement between you and your spouse so that you might be HAPPY.
Church hurt is painful because it disorients our thoughts and feelings about what we believe the Church should be and how it should treat one another.
Why should I develop a friendship with the Holy Spirit?
How do I access my friendship with the Holy Spirit?
Where do I start?
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8
How can we approach worship today in a way that pleases God and fosters intimacy with Him?
This week we're studying the book of 2 Samuel 5:17-21. Join us as we discuss David's secret to handling life's problems- his stronghold! A stronghold is defined as a fortified place, a place of security or survival; David's stronghold was God!
A Master Class on Dealing with Difficult People
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Listen attentively
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Ignore strategically
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Confront when necessary
• Lower the temperature
• Act humbly
• Feel empathy
• Speak wisely
• Offer restitution
• Ask for forgiveness
• End on a positive note
God often uses specific relationships in pivotal moments of our lives to accomplish His will for us and others.
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Goliath has the look of a hero
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Saul is disqualified as a hero
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David is ready to be a hero
Calling - A communication from God, accompanied by a special equipping by God, to fulfill a specific purpose for God.
God wants a people who desire Him more than anything else.
God wants a people who will make Him the ultimate object of their trust.
God wants a people who find their ultimate identity in Him.
Proverbs 12:25, “An anxious heart weighs a man down.”
- Worry is the sin of distrusting the promises and power of God.
Weight of Guilt:
• Destroys our confidence.
• Devastates our relationships.
• Damages our bodies
"They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus... "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!" Luke 24:2-3, 5-6 (NIV)
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Obey the voice of the Spirit
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Praise and worship Him as the King
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Testify about Jesus regardless of personal risk
“And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.”
Luke 14:23 ESV
Serving matters because it is THE medium through which we express the love of the One we are called to imitate as His disciples.
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV), 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
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Understand the role of parenting through God’s created order.
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Understand the role of authority in our child’s development.
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Understand the role of discipline and instruction.
Our choice to love our spouse must direct our feelings about them — if not, our feelings will direct our choice concerning whether or not to love our spouse.
Pastor Patrick teaches us in Week 6 of What Matters about relationships! He teaches us that love is the defining characteristic of Christianity.
The reason why so many Christians have failed to beat bad habits / sinful patterns; the reason we’ve not successfully experienced our God-given identity/purpose can be directly related to the degree to which we choose to BELONG to the community of faith.
We were made for more than survival or success in this world - we were made for SIGNIFICANCE ...
Where does my identity come from?
Genesis 1:27 (ESV), So God created man
in His own image, in the image of God
He created him; male and female He
created them.
Join us for our first week in our brand new series "What Matters!" Listen along as Pastor Patrick takes us through what your origin is and why it matters.
Join us for a special New Year's Service from our Lead Pastor Patrick Conrad, and our amazing worship team!
Christmas at Compel; a cinematic journey of the birth of Christ that you and your family do not want to miss! Watch along with us as we experience Christmas at Compel and the story of Christ in a way we have never before!
Hope (def) a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Hope implies little certainty but suggests confidence or assurance in the possibility that what one desires or longs for will happen. – Oxford Dictionary.
Christmas reminds us that our Hope came from eternity past entering our dark and uncertain world, and is now at the right hand of God the Father as an anchor for our souls!
Jesus divested Himself of every advantage and every divine privilege in order to make Himself available to display God’s Glory exclusively.
THINKING LIKE JESUS HELPS YOU FACE THE TRIALS OF LIFE
YOUR REACTION TO A TRIAL REVEALS YOUR TRUE MINDSET
CHRISTLIKE THINKING SEES A PURPOSE IN EVERY TRIAL
YOU MIGHT BE PLACING YOUR TRUST IN MONEY RATHER THAN IN GOD...
- If you feel as if you never have enough money.
- If you find it increasingly difficult to give.
- If you have money in the bank but no peace in your heart.
Our perspective shapes what we believe to be true about something - which will ultimately dictate our behavior.
Resolve the ownership issue:
1. Man’s claim is misguided
2. God’s claim is overwhelming
Regard money with the proper mindset:
- Unhealthy mindsets
1. Love of money leads to evil
2. Serving money leads to bondage
- Healthy mindsets
1. Gratitude leads to contentment
2. Worry-free leads to freedom
Recognize your “Kingdom Calling”:
1. You are called and created to be a steward
2. Stewards focus on their responsibilities, not
their rights
3. Stewards focus on fruitfulness, not fairness
Remember the partnership promise
How do we win at relationships with fellow believers who have different ideologies/perspectives/politics?
3 Plays That Will Get Us Back Into Good Field Position Every-time! 1. Order your relationships 2. Understand your role 3. Live daily in His mercy
The family environment, though difficult at times, can serve as one of the most effective training grounds for the development of Godly character in your life.
Getting the most out of my relationship with the body of Christ: This week we talk about the importance of the church from God’s perspective as well as the importance of the Church to you personally. (I Corinthians 12:12,18,19,21,26,27)
- How’s Your Relationship with God?
- What is keeping you from experiencing a winning relationship with God?
- Accept the Bible as your manual for living.
- Make prayer a part of everyday life.
Character of the meek. Contrast of the meek. Challenge to become meek.
Meekness shows the power of restraining what one could do in order to exercise the virtue they should do!
His provision brings rest and deep satisfaction. His direction brings alignment for His glory and my good. His presence brings courage and comfort. His kingdom brings victory and blessing.
Nature: - Declares God’s glory - Anounces his artistry - Points to his precision
The Bible tells: - A love story - A true story - An action/adventure story - A cautionary tale
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?[c] 5 You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e] and crowned them[f] with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their[g] feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
The seems to be full of so many unhappy, angry people, but why? Is it because they've taken the wrong road? Why would anyone take the wrong road? And how does God respond to us during this time? Answer these questions and more by watching the sermon above!
LOVE must be… Lived out in every relationship (not just the easy ones) and in every decision (not just those that benefit me)! the Overflow of God’s love. Vested in something/someone bigger and beyond myself/my situation. Experienced through God’s presence daily. You cannot spread what you do not have!
Happy Mother's Day to all moms biological and otherwise! We love you and don't know where we would be without you. Check out this message as Treasa teaches through the books of Ester, Ruth, and Judges.
Ephesians 5:16 (NLV) Make the best use of your time.
Go public - the initial act of evangelism is water baptism.
Go together, Go with God. • Go in His calling • Go in His power • Go in His presence
Go boldly and trust God’s plan.
1 – The “Calling” is too large to overlook. “The Harvest is plentiful…”
2 – The “Calling” is too obvious to ignore. “The Harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few”
3 – The “Calling” is too urgent to delay. “Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.“
Stop focusing your time, attention, and mental energies on what you don’t agree on - BY focusing on what you MUST agree on as a covenant couple. Focus on family over self. Focus on faith over doubt. focus on your future over present.
Fight your selfishness, not your spouse. Fight for reconciliation, not retaliation. Fight to win your marriage, not the argument.
As a Christ-follower, everything you and I need to heal, restore and reconcile our marriage is found in the Covenant of Marriage!
- Culture distorts our self-Image, but the BIBLE promotes His image.
- Culture promotes physical intimacy but the BIBLE promotes ordered commitment.
- Culture isolates couples from important relationships, but the BIBLE encourages input from a faith based community / family.
Patterns are founded on temporal changes, whereas Priorities are rooted in eternal realities. Patterns are tied to what you fear, but Priorities are tied to what you value! Make changes based upon your Original Purpose rather than your Own Pursuits. Focus on changing your Thoughts, rather than your Circumstances.
Shift your title in life from 'owner' to 'steward.' - Recognize that it all comes from God. Shift from living as a 'resident' to an 'alien.' - Prioritize the Kingdom of God while here on earth and Consider heaven your ultimate home. Shift your 'all-in' commitment to Jesus! - Commit to Jesus, decide today is the day!
Worship is our response to God’s invitation for Communion. It opens up the channel of communication between us and God. It gets my eyes off of the finite and onto the eternal.
Prayer and fasting accomplish 3 things; a divine DIRECTION, a supernatural PROVISION and lastly a REVELATION of His presence. When we sacrifice what is in the realm of our kingdom (control) - we receive what is in the realm if HIS kingdom (control)!
You are the light of the world through your worship! You are the light of the world through your words. You are the light of the world through your witness! Matthew 5:14 - 16 (NIV) 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
People of light... have wisdom from heaven NOT earth. People of light... are striving to be closer to the Lord. People of light... have an eternal perspective. (It's in all of us) People of light... love conviction of the Holy Spirit. (There's a difference in conviction and condemnation) People of light... stay on their face before God. People of light... want to be connected. People of light... are sincere.
"He is the Light".. of the world. Jesus is our hope, peace, and joy... Jesus is our light. He is the full revelation of God's redemptive love. He is the full revelation of God's power. He is the full revelation of God's hope.
You're Thanksgiving invitation is waiting for you to accept! Come just as you are to God's table. There's a place just for you. Enjoy the significance of the day and enjoy the welcome of family. Lastly, enjoy the flavor of food, "O taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who trust in God!" Psalm 34:8
When we realize God is always right beside us, when we focus on God's word and His word alone, and when we trust God's perfect divine plan for everything, then and only then can we find our courage. Proverbs 28:1 says, "The wicked are afraid of everything, but those who live right are as brave as lions."
You and I can have courage in every situation, every single time because of who we are in Christ. The enemy walks around like a lion but the enemy is deceitful, the enemy is no lion. He is looking for you when you are weak and tired and when you feel far from God, but God equips us to fight the manipulative tactics of the enemy with his word. We must respond in courage by remembering God's faithfulness and relying on our training through God's word. We must roar back at the enemy and run towards the roar that God equipped us to fight.
You and I can have courage in every situation, every single time because of who we are in Christ. The enemy walks around like a lion but the enemy is deceitful, the enemy is no lion. He is looking for you when you are weak and tired and when you feel far from God, but God equips us to fight the manipulative tactics of the enemy with his word. We must respond in courage by remembering God's faithfulness and relying on our training through God's word. We must roar back at the enemy and run towards the roar that God equipped us to fight.
You and I can have courage in every situation, every single time because of who we are in Christ. The enemy walks around like a lion but the enemy is deceitful, the enemy is no lion. He is looking for you when you are weak and tired and when you feel far from God, but God equips us to fight the manipulative tactics of the enemy with his word. We must respond in courage by remembering God's faithfulness and relying on our training through God's word. We must roar back at the enemy and run towards the roar that God equipped us to fight.
Quieting the roar; the roar of the unknown, the roar of other people's opinions, and even the roar of failure. Sometimes there is nothing you can do to prepare for a moment/season of courage except step into it! Every courageous act begins with a decision to step into your fear rather than away from it/around it. Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
"God is not interested in what you can do with what's in your hands, but rather what HE can do with what's in your hands." God has put each of us on this earth with a purpose, not our own purpose but HIS purpose. When we focus on God and on HIS purpose for our lives, then we can make a difference! So now we must ask, "what does God want to do with what's in our hands?"
"It's not about what we can do with what we have, but what God can do with what we give." This weekend we were joined by special guest speaker Dan Clark from Convoy of Hope. This is a faith-based, nonprofit organization with a driving passion to feed the world through children’s feeding initiatives, community outreach, and disaster response. In partnership with local churches, businesses, civic organizations, and government agencies, Convoy strategically offers help and hope to communities around the world. Compel has been partnering with Convoy of Hope for years, and we are so excited to be apart of 'One Day's Wage for Convoy of Hope' to help fight poverty around the world! What you might be thinking is, "Well what does this have to do with me?" As Pastor Patrick said, "You are more spiritual than you are physical, and the way you connect your everyday need to eternity is to connect your life to God's plan rather than your own. You must get outside of yourself and connect to eternity in God and His plan in, not just your own life, but in this world." We are so blessed to be able to love on humanity through philanthropy, by stepping outside of ourselves and into a giving spirit to help work towards eradicating poverty for good.
What if you 'lived intentionally'? What if you lived by your purpose, fulfilling God's plan for your life? Often we forget to live intentionally for God and we start to live intentionally for ourselves by following our own goals, ambitions and personal pursuits. But in reality it doesn't matter which direction we choose because God's purpose is still going to get done. We need to discover our design, and know we were created on purpose for a purpose. We are designed uniquely for God by God. We must realize everything is preparation for our next steps; even failure is preparing you to trust God over yourself. We can no longer make excuses, we need to respond in faith by walking in our identity, because identity determines our eventual destiny.
You were created for freedom. You are destined for more. But often we find ourselves settling. We believe the world and this life is all there is and find ourselves depleted, disappointed and trapped. To experience real freedom, we must believe the truth about Jesus Christ - who He is and all He taught. We must also believe and live by His Word. There is no other way.
You were created for freedom. You are destined for more. But often we find ourselves settling. We believe the world and this life is all there is and find ourselves depleted, disappointed and trapped. To experience real freedom, we must believe the truth about Jesus Christ - who He is and all He taught. We must also believe and live by His Word. There is no other way.
WHAT IF everything Jesus says is true? WHAT IF you embrace truth over facts? For Christ-followers, there is vast difference between the two especially in the context for how you frame your life and the decisions you make. You see, truth is not limited by facts or the measuring devices of this world. You don't deny facts or reality, but you acknowledge God is always able to bend the facts to match His Truth. So WHAT IF you simply tried embracing God’s truth and clearing out your dependency on the facts?
We know the old saying, "You are what you think." And it is true– life is often a reflection of the thoughts you think. We are the first generation with 24/7 access to the all of the world's problems. Technology has outpaced human capacity to process all of it. The mind is a battlefield constantly warring against what we take in creating stress, anxiety and frustration. As believers in Christ, we must stop staring at the storms in life and start staring at our Savior. How? By reframing our thoughts and renewing our minds with a different filter..the Word of God. Peace doesn’t exist because of a lack of troubles; peace exists in the Presence of God.
Do you long for more of God? Are you spiritually hungry for Him? Fasting is one of the primary ways modeled in the Bible for us to draw nearer to the heart of God. Through fasting, we humble ourselves, acknowledging our weakness and need. And in our dependency, God can change lives, circumstances, or even bring breakthroughs, physical healing or salvation we may have long prayed for. Will you embrace the transformational practice of fasting?
When we are overwhelmed, overcommited or just plain OVER IT, we STILL HAVE HOPE! Our hope is anchored in a promise and the Person of Jesus Christ. Through Him, we have a Power in the present to get through any amount of despair and discouragement. We have a hope that changes the way we live! This Hope is the witness of the Body of Christ. So we must stand against the division and disunity the enemy seeks to use to destroy us using the current political and cultural issues of our day.
Everything in creation was designed to need rest. In fact, God Himself modeled and instituted the Sabbath - a time to set aside a portion of the week to rest and worship. When we trust God more than ourselves to provide the "green pastures" we are looking for, our soul is recharged, aligning our emotions, thoughts and decisions with His Spirit.
When things in life become chaotic or a crisis happens, our natural tendency is to try and control everything. We want to manage our children, our spouses, our environment, and even our outcomes. But the reality is, the time and energy we spend trying to control everything eventually causes the most important things to implode. We can, instead, learn to control what is in our power to do so and overcome yesterday's regret, tomorrow's worries, seizing the potential and blessing of TODAY.
Are you seeking to live a balanced life? God, family, work, friends, exercise, leisure, community and more. Just the thought of trying to fit all of these things evenly into the mix of life is exhausting and overwhelming. But could it be that the stress, anxiety, and frustration we experience has more to do NOT with BALANCE, but with what’s NOT at the CENTER of our lives? Learning how to live a PRIORITIZED & CENTERED life instead seems extreme, but we'll find that, when we do, all of the smaller details tend to fall naturally into place.
We all experience storms of life that have blown us off course. Unforeseen tragedies and crises happen that lead to an unexpected detour and unwanted change. Transfers and divorce papers happen. Hopes and expectations won't always be met. WHEN trials happen, we have to know how to handle them and what choices to make. Hear what Biblical illustrations from the movie Castaway have to teach us about trials and suffering.
TRUE LOVE is often viewed as a fairy-tale or a story portrayed through epic Hollywood movies. So often this kind of love evades us in real life. But as Christ-followers, we should be known for true and sincere love because we are experiencing it through the One who is Love. So what makes a good love story? What should love truly consist of? Love is action, characterized by patience, pursuit and protection. Enduring hope, acts of sacrifice and kindness, and cloaks of valiant protection are the stuff of true love.
What is true UNITY? It's defined as "oneness" and "the arrangement of all parts to one purpose or effect." For too long, we've sought unity in legislation, a movement, a court decision, or even having the same beliefs or doing the same things. But real UNITY begins with a relationship. It starts in union with God the Father and is anchored in the eternal purpose of demonstrating Christ's love for the world. Learn how the unified Body of Christ is the answer to the division of our day.
It’s not easy to get the most out of vacation. Expectations aren’t always met. There's the stress of planning, preparing, and then traveling. Consider this: God designed vacation as a season of REST. So, what if you plan your vacation around what your SOUL NEEDS? Vacation done right CAN combat the physical, emotional, relational and even spiritual wear-and-tear on our lives that results from constant work and activity. God wants to go with you on vacation.
The role of the father in the family is absolutely essential, pivotal, and irreplaceable. Dads, your role matters. Who you are matters. And where you INVEST matters. In this message, Pastor Patrick presents Biblical and very practical ways to invest in knowing & spending time with your children, as well as investing in conversations with them. After all, where you invest, your heart expands and your impact is greatest.
AW Tozer once wrote, “When you kill time, remember that it has no resurrection.” Time is a non-renewable resource. We have an enormous responsibility to steward our time well, especially when it comes to our families. Through wisdom and careful intention, we can redeem the time we have been given, making the most of every opportunity.
Proverbs teaches us to honor God with everything we own. So, how do we honor God with our money? It's all about perspective. We practice gratitude, embrace a stewardship mentality, and remember that God is FIRST. He is worthy of our best.
We were designed to need to love. We were made for relationships. And the success and healthy of any relationship is founded on a proper understanding of love. But what is true love? True love is unending, unconditional, unlimited. Love is not an overnight thing; it is patient, available, and progressively growing & strengthening over time. We don't know what love truly is until we know GOD'S LOVE. It's the only way we are able to love ourselves and others in return.
Instilling Biblical values into our children has never been more necessary. We're either intentionally taking control and shaping our family’s values, or we're relegating that task to the culture & others around us. What are values? They are simply the principles, morals, and standards of behavior we adhere to and that guide our decisions. Listen in and learn two of the most important values we need and how to communicate them to our children. We are responsible for teaching them HOW to be a Christian, not just what it means to believe in Christ!
As parents we desire to love and affirm our children and raise them right. But many of us struggle greatly, because we are pressured by comparison and don't understand how to parent in freedom-- how to parent God's way. By establishing parent-centered boundaries, instructing and disciplining our children without fear, and loving unconditionally as God does, we can parent in ways where our kids thrive and grow to be all God intended for them to be. Though the world may shame us for raising children Biblically, we can be confident that we will "train them up in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will not depart from it." We will build families that last and children who love and follow God. It’s never too late to start parenting differently!
Mothers are the tone-setters of the home. The phrase was once coined, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." To a great extent, that's true! So what tone are we setting? What are we modeling to our children and our family? Life can be tough and a bit scary at times, so moms must regularly decide: will we have the faith in Jesus to release faith over fear.
It's been said everyone ends up somewhere, but few people end up somewhere on purpose. Your direction, not intention, determines your destination. On this journey of finding and sticking to the right path, it's imperative that you prepare your thought-life for the journey and walk by faith in your true identity. So what path are you on, and where is it leading you?
We can often understate the role of prayer in our lives. Our approach is casual or rote, devaluing its role in making our FAITH STICK. But prayer was designed by God to be a fulfillment to our lives. And we were designed intrinsically to pray- not to a seemingly aloof old man or a divine policeman who simply waits for us to mess up, but to have a conversation with our Father. Prayer is meant to be a remarkable spiritual connection and communion with God where our hearts are aligned with His.
Like a bandaid, the Word of God is designed to make our faith adhere in life. Through times of difficulty and pain, confusion or fear, the Word protects, heals and restores. Revealed through written form as well as the living person of Jesus, all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and right. If you find the Bible difficult to read or maybe even boring, this message shows you how to develop a desire and love for the Word, meeting its Author in a place of closeness and understanding you never knew was possible.
As a follower of Christ, we inherently know that our values and our faith are challenged by this world constantly. It's easy to be swayed or distracted or even compromise what we believe at times. In this digital age where church may seem irrelevant and so many are unconvinced about it, why does Church truly matter? What is it actually called to do? And how is it key in making our faith "stick?"
Jesus's own disciple, Thomas, struggled to believe that He had actually risen from the dead after watching Him be crucified. Thomas had to see and touch to believe. We often struggle with the same kind of doubt, basing our faith on what we can physically feel or see in order to believe in God. But Jesus said blessed are those who believe without seeing first.
This week we look at the cross from the perspective of Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph is described in Scripture as a wealthy and respected member of the Jewish council, a good and righteous man. But Joseph had a secret; he was actually a disciple of Jesus. Before Jesus died, it could be said that Joseph was more of an admirer. But the cross flipped the script. The cross compelled Joseph to come out of hiding, to risk his position and reputation, and go public with his faith. What about you? Do you simply admire Jesus or has the cross compelled your faith out into the open like Joseph? The time to decide is now!
As we consider another character amid the story of the crucifixion, we find a Roman Centurion. This commander over 100 other soldiers most surely knew who this Jesus was and all the events surrounding Him. He'd likely heard the stories, the rumors in the crowds, even the trial and testimonies against Him. This Centurion had no doubt seen many men die by his hand and at his command. He'd likely carried out hundreds of crucifixions before. So what was it about Jesus' crucifixion that was so different? What happened? What did he know that compelled him to make one of the most astounding declarations recorded in history? - "Truly this man was the Son of God."
We seem to have lost understanding of the significance of the cross of Jesus Christ. It's become a piece of jewelry or a decoration or simply a symbol of an historical event. But the cross is so much more. It reveals the true identity of Jesus as the Son of God and the validity of His message. It carries the potential to refresh faith, clarify calling and purpose, change attitudes, and restore vision. The cross IS the single greatest demonstration of LOVE the world has ever known. Recognizing the depth of its meaning can transform the entirety of your existence. Have you taken time to reflect on the significance of the cross and allowed it to change your life?
The day Jesus was crucified, two thieves hung on crosses on each side of him. In that moment faced with death, one thief rejected the Messiah, while the other recognized and accepted Him. One feared man, and one feared God. One rejected grace and mercy for what he had done, the other bowed down and asked for it. We are all "thieves." The question is, which one are you?
Jesus said for us to love our neighbor (Parable of the Good Samaritan). However, we quickly measure other people's behavior & lifestyle against our own standards and determine they don't fit the category of "neighbor." Thus, we exempt ourselves from having to love them. So who is our neighbor according to God? What can we do to love them? Remember: LOVE can transform lives and change people from the inside out.
It's always more convenient to make the Golden Rule fit us individually. Treat others the way they treat you. And if we get really spiritual, we may stick to what it actually says: "Treat others the way you would have them treat you." But what Jesus taught goes beyond that. Jesus says to treat others BETTER than we would want to be treated. Yes, even our enemies. But who are our enemies? And how is it possible to treat them better than we treat ourselves? After all, they don't deserve it. But neither do we.
No relationship on earth is more beautiful and fulfilling yet more complex and frustrating at times than marriage. We marry with so many hopes and dreams that slowly turn into expectations. Have you found yourself disenchanted with marriage, disheartened or even having "fallen out of love" with your spouse? If you knew you could have a thriving and happy marriage by committing to 3 things, would you do it? Then this message is for you.
Jesus commanded us to "love one another." That sounds easy enough right? But what we find is that loving those who have hurt or offended us often becomes very difficult, especially those who are closest to us. As Jesus demonstrated through the act of washing another's feet, we too can follow His example to love, serve and forgive in humility even when we've not received the same in return. As we do this, it proves the love of Christ to this world and that we belong to Him.
In this message, we learn what may be new perspectives about such a familiar passage of Scripture. The Parable of the Prodigal Son was told by Jesus not only to emphasize a call to repentance and gracious forgiveness, but to demonstrate the very nature and character of God Himself in the PRODIGAL way He responds to us. He is lavish and reckless in His desire towards us, and we see it in this beautiful story of generosity, availability, and love.
In the teaching of the Parable of the Lost Coin, we learn even more about God's love for the lost, the disenfranchised, the forgotten. Though they may be hidden in the hardest-to-find places, His heart is for them to be found, to be brought in, and to be celebrated. You are a part of God's search party! But have you committed to taking your light to broken people in dark places? Together, let's care enough to go out and seek diligently until they are found.
Jesus challenged our priorities and devotion in Luke 14. In fact, He challenged our faith with the word "COMPEL." To be compelled means to be moved by force of inner compulsion, to put constraint upon, to be persuaded or strongly urged. To be compelled means to understand the value of something, to comprehend the urgency of the moment. The truth is, we are always COMPELLED by something and someone. What and who compels us makes the difference between a faith that leaves us disappointed and self-consumed and one that leaves us satisfied and fulfilled in life.
Jesus came for the world, yes. But the real reason He came is more personal - He came for YOU. To save you and be present with you. He redeems your past. He brings the supernatural into your every situation. And He unleashes His potential within your future. Receive the birth of Jesus as a personal gift to you, and then give it away to others who need to know Him in the same way.
Have you ever experienced divine disappointment? Stepping out in faith, believing God to do the impossible, only to find that things don't turn out the way you had prayed or hoped for? You will encounter moments in your life where the story isn't playing out the way you expected. But could it be, God is doing something significant, you just can’t clearly see it yet? All of history culminating with the the birth of Christ assures us that He is. We can rest assured and live by faith that God is WITH US. You can walk through every circumstance knowing that Jesus is in front leading the way.
Bread is mentioned all throughout the Bible, but it’s not just referring to dinner rolls. It’s referring to the Bread of Life: Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus to restore relationship with man - to be the source and sustainer of life for every person. He can satisfy our deepest hunger. Bring yours to Him; taste and see.
Our choices and decisions often bring us to a place in life where our walls become broken down. When that happens, we're susceptible to attacks from the enemy. We can become overwhelmed, making excuses for where we are by either blaming others or our circumstances. We're taking liberties and no longer trying to practice moderation or constraint. The Bible teaches us that self-control is a big deal! It helps us take responsibility for our own lives and begin to thrive again by setting healthy boundaries. As we begin to take steps in practicing self-control, God meets us where we are with His grace and empowers our efforts. We start with ourselves and we can start TODAY!
We spend our days searching for real joy. But the world only offers us brief moments of happiness. However, these temporal moments are actually hints of the type of joy God makes available to a Christian 24/7. God's plan for us includes that JOY! But how do we get it? By remaining connected to Jesus. His joy can be ours.
The Holy Spirit is a gift to us so that God can live within us and guide us in everyday life. When we surrender to the Spirit, we become filled and empowered with the fruit of the Spirit. It could be said that LOVE is the first fruit produced. And what does God's LOVE in us look like? Compassion for others, helping those with needs, sacrifice. But we can’t give God's love without experiencing it first.
COVENANT is a binding, unbreakable obligation between two parties, bound and sealed with their lives. But GOD'S covenant with us is bound and fulfilled by Himself alone. In order for us to experience the depth of relationship we have been given with Him, we must understand it through COVENANT. We can't be good enough or obedient enough to earn it. And we don't have to! God is THE Covenant-Maker and Covenant-Keeper. He made a covenant with His own creation. There is no greater assurance of our standing with Him than that!
From the beginning, God created mankind so He could be in relationship with him. In Psalm 23, we see an even deeper aspect of God's relational desire for us: He wants to be our constant Companion. From personal Shepherd to personal Friend, He is a Father who loves us abundantly, forgives us completely, and wants us in His family.
In Genesis, God is named as the architect, artist and builder of Creation itself. But, He is also introduced as God our FATHER. In fact, He calls humanity the crowning achievement of all He has made. As our Father, He breathed the breath of life and spirit into each of us. He created us to reflect Himself, to relate to each other, and to respond to Him. We are each lovingly made unique, incomparable, invaluable, and essential-- different from every other thing in all of creation. You and I are made on purpose for a purpose.
God wants us to live in His presence everyday, but there's a problem: idolatry holds us back. Each day, we make the choice to live in or out of God's presence. We put people, things, and tasks above God in our hearts and minds. But there's good news: Christ in His faithfulness has given us provision to overcome them.
God’s plan from the beginning has been for us to experience and live in His Presence. Throughout Scripture, we see a garden as the place where He talks with mankind face to face. Our "garden" is God’s manifest presence with us and our relationship with Him. When we tend to our garden, we find delight, rest, and joy. How do we cultivate the Garden of God? Listen in...
God created us as relational beings. We are designed to be in relationship with God and other people. As Christ-followers there is a tension we encounter when it comes to relationships: how to love all people while being wise about who we allow into our inner circle. The people we spend time with WILL shape us as individuals. Those in our inner circle will either propel us toward God’s call on our life or keep us and distract us from the things God has called us to accomplish for Him. Choosing Godly friendships is vital.
For Christians, faith is a relational currency, a lifestyle, evidence that we belong to Christ. Faith is gaining access to the truth and promises of God. So how do we GROW IN OUR FAITH? Through the story of Peter walking on water with Jesus, we can learn 3 simple ways: saying "yes", deciding to leave, and taking one step. God is calling us to deeper waters with Him. What are you waiting for?
In this series we're asking the question, "HOW YOU HOLDIN' UP?" What should be our answer? BY FAITH! Everyone lives by faith. We put our faith in things and people all day long everyday. But what kind of faith is God looking for? Where does it come from? What is the evidence of it? You see, faith is limited by the strength, character and reliability of the object of our faith. So in what are you placing yours?
Have you ever been accused of your faith being a crutch? But consider what a crutch actually is: something to lean on, to put our full weight on for stability and support of a weakness. We all in fact NEED a "crutch." And everyone uses a crutch - it’s just a matter of what kind. In this message, Pastor Patrick looks at how deeply the current COVID-19 crisis has affected each of us in some way and revealed what we really lean on...WHO we truly put our faith in. HOW YOU HOLDIN UP depends on WHAT is holding you up.
All of us have been affected in one way or another by the global pandemic of Coronavirus. And for many of us, our faith has taken a hit. Crisis has a way of revealing what or who we truly lean on for support and stability. Is your faith your crutch? We are accused of our faith being a crutch. But it’s true!!! A crutch helps to support and stabilize weak areas in our lives and bodies. We all need a crutch. Everyone actually uses a crutch. It’s just a matter of what kind. How you holdin up depends on WHAT is holding you up.
This is for believers: and ask if we are leaning o something that can’t sustain me.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, we've heard it said: "Even thought the church doors are shut, the Church is not closed." But is that really true? We've been forced to do church online for the past few months - and in actuality, we do it well. This begs the question: Do we really need to belong to a church anymore? Do we even need a physical church building? Or is "online" a more efficient way to do church moving forward? In this message Pastor Patrick solidly refutes the idea that church has not been closed. Through Scripture and the activity of God, we see that the Church is designed to scatter and gather. You can't have one without the other. If you do, the Church is, in fact, closed. Gathering together as the Body of Christ matters. Listen in and learn why.
Simply put, PRAYER is communication with God. As Christians, we know we should pray. But we often don't know what to pray or how to pray. In this message, we learn that it's because we don't often understand WHY we pray. Prayer is meant to usher us into more knowledge of who God is and a deeper encounter with Him. People of prayer are people of fatih. The kind of faith that stands in the midst of storms and difficult circumstances. It matters when WE pray...and it matters that we pray NOW more than ever.
What is spiritual growth and why is it important? The concept may be simple, but spiritual growth requires faith, endurance, and effort. Pastor Daniel demonstrates through the Parable of the Sower how growth is expected and necessary and what is required for it. Discover how to prepare your heart for growth, identify the obstacles that get in the way of growth, and how to know you are actually growing.
The Bible. It sells over 100 million copies worldwide every year and has been translated into over 690 languages. It holds the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling book of all time. But more than that, the Bible is a compilation of stories, poetry, wisdom and letters all telling the same Grand Story of God's love and redemption for His people. And IT MATTERS. Why? As Pastor Tom shows us, the Bible is holy, God-breathed and useful for each of us.
In Philippians 4, Paul exposes an enemy of our joy: our THOUGHTS. God has promised us joy abundant. So why is it often missing, evading us at every turn? As Pastor Treasa teaches in this message, it's being robbed from us by an age-old pandemic called STINKIN' THINKIN'. But there's good news! We have been given a choice, and we can change the way we think. Every day, moment by moment, we can choose joy. LEAN IN and learn how.
What makes a great dad? In Luke 15, the father of the Prodigal Son has much to teach us about the subject. Our children need to know where they stand in our hearts. Thus, a "good father" is more about BEING, not doing. Being safe. Being present. Being joyful. And being a teacher. LEAN IN to this week's message to learn more.
Biblical joy is much more than a feeling and runs so much deeper than our circumstances. True joy is founded in Jesus and embodies hope and great expectation. It can safeguard our faith and turn an unbelieving world upside down as it's seen best in often the most difficult of times. Paul said, "Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord." Lean in and discover more of how we can experience and bear the transformational power of Biblical joy!
Happiness and joy are not the same. Joy is not dependent upon circumstances. Joy is a decision founded in UNITY and HUMILITY. The Bible teaches that when we take on the same attitude as Christ, confidently humbling ourselves and elevating the value of others first, we find true joy. Lasting joy. A joy that is complete, leaving us full and lacking nothing.
Don’t miss a special discussion premiering tonight at 6:00pm as Pastor Patrick is joined by the Church United pastors: Bartholomew Orr, Craig Wendell, Greg Davis, and Doug Bell; as well as Pastor Rick Bezet of New Life Church in Arkansas, and Michael and Philip Dees of Life Fellowship Church.
We dare you to listen as they sit down to discuss recent events related to the death of George Floyd, how the Church must lead the way in racial reconciliation, and how we can each make a practical difference through personal relationships.
The Book of Philippians has been termed "the Epistle of Joy." But the letter was written by Paul as he was chained in prison in Rome. How could he write about joy? In Philippians, Paul shares the secret of finding joy even in the most difficult struggle - trusting the sovereignty of God rather than the certainty of our circumstance. LEAN IN and hear what he has to teach us.
The pandemic that is COVID-19 has exposed the identity crisis of the Christian Church. For too long we've believe that the Church is a building, a doctrine or creed, or a set of weekend services alone. But Scripture reveals that the Church is so much more! We are a people called out by the authority of God to experience His Presence and receive His direction. The Church is WHO we are, not what we do or a place we go.
Pastor Patrick and Treasa Conrad share fond memories of their moms growing up as well as three key truths every mom should remember.
What should our mission be in crisis? Be Courageous! But how do we do this? Listen as Pastor Patrick shares practical application for being courageous by: demonstrating FAITH over FEAR, PRAYING for our leaders, and maintaining a GENEROUS SPIRIT.
One truth from history that is certain for every single Christ-follower: CRISIS reveals our FOUNDATION. The Coronavirus pandemic is not the crisis. The actual crisis is "Who's in Control." God has dropped a divine stop-sign into our midst allowing us to evaluate in whom or what we truly place our faith. We have the opportunity to learn and adjust our posture to reflect a belief that God is in absolute control over all things.
The Coronavirus has disrupted "life as we know it." Many of us are left bewildered and wondering "what's next". But God knew about this moment and ordained that each one of us would be a part of it. So how do we embrace this historical season as Christ-followers? Learn from the disciples in the days following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as they also sought to navigate uncertainty and lean into a holy interruption of life-as-usual. With Christ as our anchor, we can confidently step into "The New Normal."
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest POWER we have ever known. In this one act that changed the course of history, God shows that we are the focus of that power. The power of the empty tomb is an expression of unconditional love for people who had never demonstrated the same such love toward Him! God sent His Son, Jesus, to DO what mankind would not, and to BECOME what mankind could not. For every person who is tired of being a "slave", tired of sin costing them so much, or tired of the aching void in their life, there’ s a Love and Power that has pursued us since the beginning of time and is available to each of us right now.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest POWER we have ever known. In this one act that changed the course of history, God shows that we are the focus of that power. The power of the empty tomb is an expression of unconditional love for people who had never demonstrated the same such love toward Him! God sent His Son, Jesus, to DO what mankind would not, and to BECOME what mankind could not. For every person who is tired of being a "slave", tired of sin costing them so much, or tired of the aching void in their life, there’ s a Love and Power that has pursued us since the beginning of time and is available to each of us right now.
What do we think about when we think of God’s will? Divine insurance? A GPS or assistant? Often, what we really want is the best version of our own will combined with God’s blessing. But God’s will and His blessing are not always the same thing. As we take a closer look at Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, we learn that pursuing the will of God in our lives means having our own (even good) desires pruned away and the courage to truly pray "Not my will, but Yours be done."
In Part 2 of The Church United, local pastors come together to discuss how the Coronavirus has affected our lives so drastically that it could become easy for us to lose hope and fall into despair. Looking at the journey to the cross Jesus and his disciples took beginning from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem all the way to Calvary, we can learn many lessons from them that apply to our current situation. At first hailed a king, only 5 days later the disciples' expectations, hopes and dreams were dashed when Jesus was crucified. Despair and grief overtook them because life and the future was not as they planned.
The Coronavirus is spreading around the nation and the world. So why the mad dash to buy up the supply of toilet paper!?!?! People resort to extremes when things seem out of control and uncertain. We look for something physical & tangible; things we can see to assure us of things we cannot know. This is a dangerous trap that Christ-followers must be sure to avoid because we are to walk by faith and not by sight. Uncertainty which is not challenged by the Truth of God’s Word EXPOSES things in us as Christ-followers. This message from 5 local pastors will challenge us to move from a saving faith to a living, daily faith no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.
What does it mean to be spiritually brave?
The brave are adventurous: curious and excited for a new thing. The brave are full of assurance: confident of the vision and full of faith. The brave are ready for action: equipped and obedient. But these characteristics don't just happen. Even though we are all born brave, sometimes our courage has been domesticated, tamed, and quenched by the spirit of fear. With a prophetic message for the Church and every individual, Pastor Tom Van Kempen teaches us practical steps to recovering our courage and having a different spirit...a BRAVE spirit.
We all find ourselves at some point searching for our purpose. We scramble to understand the reason for why we exist. At the core of our searching is the belief that our purpose is our decision, so we need to come up with the answer. What if finding our purpose is actually much simpler than we make it? What if it only requires trust and surrender? What if we realized it's not up to us?
We will all face difficult situations and tension in our workplace. But God will use those people and those moments to bring great glory to Himself and have a tremendous impact in and through our lives. Taking us through the example of Daniel in the Bible, Pastor Tim points out the necessary habits required to tame these toxic workplace environments: God's favor, exceptional work, honest and integrity, and our commitment to faith over culture. Are you ready to stop being a victim in your workplace and live as a VICTOR in it? Listen in.
In Week 4 of our series on relationships, we talk through Taming Rage. In society, our issues and preferences and our perspective on them are dividing us more and more rather than bringing us together. We've become angry, isolated and defensive. We've lost our ability to reason together and understand each other. Why is that? How can we as Christ-followers tame the rage within ourselves? It starts with having our convictions transformed and established by the Word of God. Only then can we attempt to come together, communicate and understand one another as God intended.
Males and females were created with vast differences. Within the covenant of marriage, our differences were designed to make us one. We fit together, mutually dependent on the other. But in so many marriages, our differences become conflicts, leading to discontentment and hopelessness. So, HOW DO WE PREVENT OUR DIFFERENCES FROM BECOMING IRRECONCILABLE? Listen as Pastor Patrick gives practical steps we can take in our marriage to demonstrate there are no differences that can't be reconciled through Christ.
We were each made with an innate need to belong and be accepted, designed to thrive exclusively within community. Community was God's idea. However, in today's world, we have to constantly battle individualism and isolation. But the benefits of community greatly outweigh the cost of doing things on our own. What do we gain? Counsel, friendship, partnership and accountability. Truly, we are BETTER TOGETHER.
As parents, we have a lot of expectations placed on us, either by others or by our own doing. What we need is to build our parenting on a Foundation that does not change. So how do we tame our expectations as parents? Pastor Patrick shows us three essential truths to parent by and how they benefit not only us but our children as well: 1) dedicating our children to God's way and God's will, 2) replace comparison with love and understanding, and 3) establish Biblical values for healthy and realistic expectations. Listen in!
As Christ-followers, we are called to the plan of God in this world - to leave a mark on the next generation and to reconcile people to Him. So how do we do this? We DEDICATE ourselves to the purposes of God and COMMIT to making a difference. This requires obedience and sacrifice. Listen as we not only learn how to dedicate our personal lives to the work of the Lord, but how to join Life Fellowship as we commit to what God is doing over the next year and the next decade through our church.
Each of our lives was intentionally designed with purpose that extends to other people and lasts beyond our lifetime. So where do we FIND our purpose? In this message, discover how our purpose in life comes into clarity when we pursue our DESIGN and know our IDENTITY. We are wired to participate in God’s plan for this earth, and only by yielding to His purpose will we find the life we were intended to live and make a difference beyond our "7.5" decades.
God has a plan for each of our lives. Do we know what it is? How do we find it? So often we'd rather do our own thing, go our own way, or even try a new path rather than God's. Our focus is on circumstances and our desires, so we forfeit our faith and God's perfect plan. In His kindness, He asks us to stop and "consider our ways." What have they gotten us? Are we where we want to be or are we just surviving this thing called life? Finding the plan of God for our lives is simple: PURSUE THE RIGHT PATH AND STAY ON IT. What you decide to do with where you are right now, is the only influence you have over where you’re going in the future.
The average lifespan is said to be 7.5 decades. During our lives, we are actively leaving a legacy; it’s simply a matter of what kind. As we enter the 2020's, ask yourself: "If I continue to live my life the way I'm living it right now, what kind of legacy will I leave behind?" In this message, Pastor Patrick shares where to set our priorities and focus that we may enter into this new decade set to leave a spiritual mark and have an impact on a generation that transcends our lifetime.