CFM Sermons: Recent Episodes
Chris Goodwin
Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from June 15, 2025 entitled “Armor of God (pt.2)” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from June 8, 2025 entitled “Armor of God” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from June 1, 2025 entitled “More Than Conquerors” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from May 25, 2025 entitled “Minority Report: Caleb” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from May 18, 2025 entitled “Minority Report” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from May 11, 2025 entitled “Obed’s Mom’” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from May 4, 2025 entitled “Nature Abhors A Vacuum’” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from April 27, 2025 entitled “Our Daily Brea’ch’” from Frankie Johnson
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from April 20, 2025 entitled “Death, Burial, Resurrection” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from April 13, 2025 entitled “The Cross” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from April 6, 2025 entitled “The Trial” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from March 30, 2025 entitled “The Garden” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from March 23, 2025 entitled “Though He Slay Me” from guest speaker, Dr. Samuel Thomas
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from March 16, 2025 entitled “Connect The Dots” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from March 9, 2025 entitled “Family Friendly” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from March 2, 2025 entitled “Living To Please God” from Marty Mace
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from February 23, 2025 entitled “Fruit and Root” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from February 16, 2025 entitled “Sowing and Reaping” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from February 9, 2025 entitled “Transferable Transformation” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from February 2, 2025 entitled “Sustainable Transformation” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from January 26, 2025 entitled “Measurable Transformation” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from January 19, 2025 entitled “Transformational” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from January 12, 2025 entitled “Citi"Son"ship” from Frankie Johnson
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from January 5, 2025 entitled “The Three Gospels” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from December 29, 2024 entitled “A Gift Worth Giving” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from December 22, 2024 entitled “Possible” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from December 15, 2024 entitled “A Match Made In Heaven” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from December 8, 2024 entitled “He's Coming” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from December 1, 2024 entitled “Gratitude For The Cross” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from November 24, 2024 entitled “Thankful” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from November 17, 2024 entitled “Every Man Complete” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from November 10, 2024 entitled “Body of Christ pt. 2” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from November 3, 2024 entitled “Body of Christ” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from October 27, 2024 entitled “Ekklesia” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from October 20, 2024 entitled “The Path of the Disciple” from Frankie Johnson
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from October 6, 2024 entitled “Discipleship 101 pt 2” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from September 29, 2024 entitled “Discipleship 101” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from September 22, 2024 entitled “Convert or Disciple?” from Bill Stallings
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from September 15, 2024 entitled “For The Love Of God (Part 2)” from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from September 8, 2024 entitled “For The Love Of God" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from September 1, 2024 entitled “The Great Commission" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from August 25, 2024 entitled “Three Aspects of Sin" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from August 18, 2024 entitled “Follow The Leader" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from August 11, 2024 entitled “Word & Spirit" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from August 4, 2024 entitled "Spirit-Enabled Living" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from July 28, 2024 entitled "Conquerers" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from July 21, 2024 entitled "A Tale of Two Stories" from Frankie Johnson
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from July 14, 2024 entitled "Simon or the Woman?" from Bill Stallings
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from July 7, 2024 entitled "The Precious Spirit" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from June 30, 2024 entitled “The View" from Mark Wyatt
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from June 23, 2024 entitled “In The Beginning" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from June 16, 2024 entitled “Fathers" from Steve Bishop
Links & Resources* Deuteronomy 6:6-9 * Ephesians 6:1-4 * Proverbs 3:11-12 * Proverbs 22:6 * Proverbs 23:24
Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from June 9, 2024 entitled “Awe of God" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from June 2, 2024 entitled “Corporate Prayer and Results" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from May 26, 2024 entitled “Corporate Prayer" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage audio from May 19, 2024 entitled "Prayerful Admonishment" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage audio from May 12, 2024 entitled "Body Building" from Steve Bishop
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from May 5, 2024 titled, “When Praying Hurts" from pastor, Bill Stallings.
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Watch The Service LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AboutMessage from April 28, 2024 entitled "Is Anything Too Hard For The Lord?" from guest speaker, Dr. Samuel Thomas.
Links & Resources Hopegivers International
Message audio from April 21, 2024 entitled "The Psychology of Prayer" from Frankie Johnson
Message audio from March 3, 2024 entitled "Chaos of the Mind (Part 2)" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from January 7, 2024 entitled "The Why, The What, The Who" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from December 31, 2023 entitled "2023... So What? 2024... Now What?" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from November 26, 2023 entitled "I Am A Disciple Maker" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from November 19, 2023 entitled "I Have The Holy Spirit" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from November 12, 2023 entitled "More Than A Conquerer" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from November 5, 2023 entitled "Abundant Grace In Christ" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from October 29, 2023 entitled "I Have Grace In Christ" from Steve Bishop
Audio Block Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more Message audio from October 1, 2023 entitled "Who Am I, Who Is He?" from Mark Wyatt
Message audio from September 24, 2023 entitled "No Condemnation In Christ" from Bill Stallings
Message audio from September 17, 2023 entitled "The Blessing Of Abiding" from Steve Bishop
Audio Block Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more Message audio from September 10, 2023 entitled "I Have Faith" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from June 4, 2023 entitled "Born Again or Just Wet Living" from Mark Wyatt
Message audio from April 30, 2023 entitled "Source Of Our Faith (Part 2)" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from April 2, 2023 entitled "Jesus... Our Passover Lamb" from Bill Stallings
Message audio from January 29, 2023 entitled "Torn Between Two Lives" from Bill Stallings
Message audio from January 22, 2023 entitled "You Will Receive Power (Part 2)" from Steve Bishop
Audio Block Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more Message audio from January 15, 2023 entitled "You Will Receive Power" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from January 8, 2023 entitled "The Why, The Who, & The Rub" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from December 4, 2022 entitled "The Beautiful Act of Humility" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from November 20, 2022 entitled "The Farmer and His Seed (Part 3)" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from November 13, 2022 entitled "The Farmer and His Seed (Part 2)" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from October 30, 2022 entitled "The Wise & Foolish Virgins" from Bill Stallings
Message audio from October 23, 2022 entitled "Workers In The Vineyard" from Frankie Johnson
Message audio from September 4, 2022 entitled "Parable of the Talents" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from August 28, 2022 entitled "One Step To Resolving Family Conflict" from guest presenter, Robert Jackson
Message audio from July 31, 2022 entitled "Imitating God As Beloved Children" from Bill Stallings
Message audio from June 5, 2022 entitled "Our Spiritual Blessings In Christ" from Bill Stallings
Message audio from May 29, 2022 entitled "Overview - Ephesians Book Study" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from March 13, 2022 entitled "The Church at Laodicea" from Frankie Johnson
Message audio from March 6, 2022 entitled "The Church at Philadelphia" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from February 27, 2022 entitled "The Church at Sardis" from Bill Stallings
Message audio from February 20, 2022 entitled "The Church at Thyatira" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from February 13, 2022 entitled "The Church at Pergamum" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from November 21, 2021 entitled "The Truth About The Holy Spirit" from Steve Bishop
In this teaching, Mark uses three words to help describe the places in which we can find our life. The road is meant to represent where we should be, moving forward on solid ground though not without its bumps from time to time. The rub is when we find ourselves in situations where our integrity or direction is beginning to go off course and we are faced with the decision of correcting or letting go. Finally, the rut is meant to symbolize when we have strayed from the road for too long and have sunk too deep to simply correct our course. We need help that we cannot muster on our own in order to get back on track.
There will be times that we find ourselves in any of these places. So, as a resource, scripture and advisement has been given to keep our focus on God in each situation.
One of the most natural impulses of humans is to believe we are in control of our lives. However, we when conduct our plans, business, and ambitions without taking into account the sovereignty of God, we sin by making ourselves greater than our creator. We need to remember that it is God who numbers our days, gives us our breath, and holds all things together.
As image bearers of God, creativity and planning are appropriate. But as children of God, discounting the wisdom and counsel of our Father forsakes the relationship He desires to have with us.
In the beginning, God designed mankind in His image to reflect His glory, enjoy relationship with Him, and fulfill His mission to oversee the earth and occupy it. We forsook that identity and purpose when we chose to take life and matters into our own hands. As such, humans have consistently have tried to dominate, thrive, and survive in their own strength and on their own terms. This misses the mark that God set for us — it is sin.
But God loved the world so much that He sent His Son to make a way to be saved from our total inability to act as our own god. This gesture of undeserved favor is unexpected, but shows that God's love for His creation will not be quenched. It's our choice to recognize, admit, and change our desire for our sinful and selfish ways. Those who humble themselves and place their life in His hands, receive a new life, a new heart, and a restored purpose as a child of God.
Those who do not respond to the call of God will be opposed and will be left alone to be judged by their own standard of living. A standard that will end in death, because that is the ultimate end of our life in sin.
How do you conduct your life? Do you meditate on law of God, the character of Jesus, and discipline yourself to live accordingly? Or do you rely on what you feel, imitate what's been done to you, and take matters into your hands?
In this teaching, Steve discusses what Paul and James say in their respective letters about how we tend to elevate ourselves toward deciding what's best instead of subjecting ourselves to the perfect law of God. The first demonstrates selfishness and pride; and the other rests in the grace of God and trusts Him to work out His best through us.
What is it that allows us to come into a relationship with God? Humility. Because God has loved the world and sent His Son to make a way for reconciliation between a holy God and sinful people, we are kept separate from God only by our own pride—not believing we need or should want Him. As such, it is said that God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
When we recognize our need for Him, our insufficiencies, and our inability to cope with life's demands, we can come to terms with our limitations and turn to His abundant life. Because He is the Father who longs for the wayward to come where He waits with open arms—prepared to exalt the lowly who, in humility, understand that they can come home where they will lack no good thing.
In the book of James, readers are confronted with the conflict between their spirit and their flesh. By meditating on God's desires and teaching, we can keep our lives in check and submit them God.
During this morning session, Steve covers what we believe when we practice baptism and communion. Both are a demonstration of obedience to Christ and a demonstration of our life changed and transformed by death to self and being raised to new life by the power of Christ crucified, raised, and ascended to glory. It is the good news that we preach to ourselves and carry to the world. It is what motivates us to give as God gives to us. It is what compels us to love and to seek God's kingdom above all else.
A strong pursuit of God and surrounding ourselves with other God-following people develops a persevering character that will help us weather any of life's storms or defeating moments.
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. More than a suggestion, it's an expectation for God's people as they live out the greatest command: love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, and strength. When we do, we can give up worrying about our lives and trust that our true reason for living is to glorify God and find contentment and satisfaction in His presence and provision.
Our journey in truth is a journey of transformation. It is a transformation away from sin, born of the flesh, to righteousness, born of the spirit. For us grow in maturity, we have to learn what it is that God desires and commands; and how our feelings, flesh, and temptations will try to lead us away from those life giving things of God.
In a world so divided on its perception of truth, we must be ever diligent to stay connected to the Bible as God's revealed truth to us.
He has revealed Himself through His Word as the one true God, full of power and glory, displayed in three distinct persons: Father, Son, And Holy Spirit. Though they are one, each displays the God nature in ways that lead mankind to be confronted by sin, call them to repent, and turn to His salvation and loving heart wanting no one to perish. However, His Word also shows that there are other factors that want to draw us away or keep us from pursuing the knowledge and love of God. This unholy trinity can be represented as the world, the flesh, and the devil.
The world pulls in every direction to conform us to its own whims and values. Our flesh seeks pleasure, significance, and power. And the devil uses any means to turn our attention away from the things of God and onto the things that will lead to our destruction. So, the mission of God's chosen is to live in the world, but not of it; to deny our flesh and its sinful desires; and to resist the devil by submitting to God and standing firm in His victory over sin and death.
In this teaching, Steve lays out how vital it is for us to pursue knowledge of the truth of God. It can be easier than we think to believe that what other people tell us is God's truth, when often that isn't the case.
It should be our joy and duty to pursue the truth of God in His Word above all else. But this can't mean separating from one another or a local church. In fact, scripture teaches us to gather together and also to let our unique perspectives sharpen each other towards a purer understanding of God's truth.
By living in pursuit of truth through personal study and Biblical fellowship, we can expect to grow and mature as God intends so that our lives reflect His love and service to the world and demonstrate a deep adoration for the Savior and Lord that He is.
There has always been a war on truth, but there is only one kind of truth that surpasses them all: God's absolute truth.
Our lifestyles, habits, and choices can tell us a lot about where our beliefs and values lie. In this teaching, Mark walks through attributes and characteristics in Galatians 5 that he uses to demonstrate the extremes from worldly to Godly lives.
Our responsibility is to be critical of our own lifestyle and let these character traits help us see whether we are holding onto a self-centered and worldly driven life or practicing self-denial that seeks to serve and find its rest in God above all else.
The warnings of the end times in 2 Timothy 3 apply just as much to the state of the church as it does the world. In this teaching, Bill reframes each of the warnings to help us see that evidence of the end times will be among us, around us, and even in us.
When the world gains influence on the life of the children of God, a shift toward self-centeredness and ungodly desires can make its way into the culture of a church.
Because we are called to be in the world, but not of it, these consequences shouldn't come as a big surprise. What this reality should be, however, is conviction to return to our first love. Jesus Christ is the only solution to this problem of brokenness. So be encouraged to feast on His Word, serve His church, and keep eyes fixed on Him in faith.
Once we come to terms that the world will continue to grow darker as more of these end times are revealed, we must decide to either stay distracted, busy, and overwhelmed (our natural choice) or shift our focus to knowing and more closely walking with God (a redeemed choice).
A child of God will pursue the Father, His wisdom, and His truth through scripture and prayer. It's this desire for Him over all else that demonstrates our renewed nature — depending not on ourselves, but solely on Him.
This is what develops us and allows us to experience joy and peace in any circumstance. Not to say we never fall or struggle, but the grace of God that reigns in our life provides the opportunity to rise and return to His open arms. It is here, in daily grace, that we share our hope, minister to those in need, and patiently wait for our future home to come.
Continuing on from last week, Steve reviews the reality of the end times, as defined in 2 Timothy, that are becoming more evident in our world. Our respond to these desperate times should be becoming more in tune with the Holy Spirit and not getting caught up or overwhelmed by the circumstances that surround us.
The world tries to lead us into its own version of values and character, but these are in conflict the truth and purposes of God. We as Christians must distinguish, moment-by-moment, which will make us friends of God (sometimes temporarily painful but eternally satisfying) or slaves of the world (having temporary benefit but eternal consequence).
Yet despite any opposition we experience, we must remember that it is for Christ's sake that we make these choices and commit our lives to Him. For it was Christ that suffered and gave up His life for us to be born again into His kingdom that will be free of all of the pain and suffering that we experience on this earth.
The human heart has been tempted to selfish desires since the fall in the beginning. Our responsibility, as those who trust and follow Jesus, is to take up our cross every day being led by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
While encouraging and honoring our fathers, biological or spiritual, on Father's Day, we must also remember that in Christ we have a good and perfect Father: God. We may give ties and socks to our fathers as a thank you for their devotion, guidance, and provision, but the greater gift is the one that Father God gives to us. He gives instruction and promise that leads us into abundant lives of purity and maturity when we obey and walk according to His truth that is lovingly laid out for us in his Word.
Each person has an ultimate question to answer: if Jesus is who he says he is, what is His worth and what does that mean to you?
To those whom God reveals it, Jesus is the ultimate and priceless gift to the world. His church is built on the foundation of Jesus being the promised Savior and people will be saved through knowing and believing in Him.
But in a culture that is so focused on self-satisfaction and cost, we must realign our view in light of value of Jesus. His value doesn't fluctuate on how much we want Him or need Him or what we do for Him. He is constant and glorious all on His own. So, we must devote not only our moments, but our entire life to obey, exalt, and worship Him. Then share that same worth and value of Christ to those we know, love, and encounter.
When we talk about sharing the reality of Christ with the people we encounter, we cannot afford to neglect the needs of those same people. Their needs may not be extreme, but they are needs nonetheless. And if we are to demonstrate the love and kindness of God, we must imitate His compassion and consideration to provide for those who He ministered to.
When we read about the miracle of the feeing of the 5,000, we see that Jesus had a purpose in developing the faith of His disciples, meeting the needs of the ones who had come to see Him, and demonstrating His authority as the one God had sent.
We must realize that there will be times that God tests us to see if we are reliant on Him by asking us to be obedient in a situation that may be impossible without Him. In our obedience, we grow in our faith, testify to God's love, and meet a need that can build trust in God's people to be salt and light in the world.
To anyone who thinks that evangelism—sharing the good news of Jesus Christ—is only for the lost, Frankie wants to explain that it is also for the believer. God does supernatural work through the Holy Spirit to bring transformation to the hearer of the gospel. So, although the lost need a transformation of salvation from eternal destruction, the believer is also transformed by an ongoing salvation that shapes and conforms their lives into the image of Christ. But in our world, there is so much "noise" that distracts and leads people away from God and righteousness. So it takes an even greater determination to both listen to and proclaim the gospel of Christ to unbelievers and the church. So how can we observe Jesus to learn about hearing and sharing His good news?
When Jesus came to seek and save the lost, His method of evangelism was not conventional or formulaic. He was able to speak to the heart of each person without regard for any judgement from onlookers. He effectively extended His mercy to the oppressed and to the oppressor because He saw what the people didn't. Jesus knew a heart that was impacted by God was far greater than a political or social change in a man-made kingdom. The recipients of His grace and mercy led to the production of good fruit in their life. We can expect the same today—a true recipient of God's grace through the gospel—whether believer or unbeliever—will produce fruit that glorifies God and moves them toward a love for others that demonstrates the love they received from God.
God has a divine heart of cultivating a fruitful harvest. Jesus uses an analogy in John 15 that His Father is the vinedresser, He is the true vine, and we have the choice to be a branch attached to this true vine or one on our own.
The security and care that is provided for those who choose to abide and rest in the presence and work of Jesus gives eternal hope and an ability to produce good fruit for the vinedresser. But those who do not belong to the Jesus are cast out when fruit is not produced.
As those who have entrusted our lives to abide and rest in the work of Christ, it is our responsibility to obey Jesus as sustainer of our life, to produce good fruit in response to His great love for us, and testify to others the joy and security that comes from being in Him.
In this Mother's Day message, Steve talks about the tremendous value of our children and how proper training can make a life-changing impact.
We often don't live out the great commission because we don't realize what is as stake when we don't. If we believe that there are people in the world who do not know Jesus, then we also know that their life will end in a physical and eternally spiritual death.
We can keep being nice to people and helping with their needs—and this is good and valuable—but it does not compare to helping someone recognize their spiritual need for Jesus and pointing them to salvation and eternal life.
Reaching the lost with the gospel can put us in uncomfortable situations, but these are the circumstances that are used by God to teach, challenge, and grow us. We are not guaranteed tomorrow—and neither are they—let's trust God and obey Him by sharing that Jesus loves them and has offered forgiveness and eternal life to everyone who believes.
The life to which God has called us is an impossible task—in our own human ability. How then can we love, pray, give, and demonstrate the grace and power of God in a way that is worthy of honoring Him? The answer is a complete dependance on the Holy Spirit.
What is the Holy Spirit? He is the third person of the triune God. He is the power and the guide that has been given to dwell within the born again children of God.
It is His role to remind us of the truth, guide us in God's will, and give us what is needed to invest in eternal things like our relationship with God and our relationships with those that He brings us to.
Yet we have the free will to allow/deny His rule over our lives day-to-day and moment-to-moment. When we choose to ignore or disobey, we quench and grieve His presence. His desire is to be one with His people and to partner with those who love Him with all of their heart, mind, and strength in response to the love He has for us.
The gospel of Jesus Christ sets sinners free, introduces the lost to a loving Father, and strengthens the testimony of those who share it. So why don't we share it as we should?
Sometimes it's because our hearts have grown cold to the love of God, so we neglect sharing His good news — which shows that we need to hear it again ourselves.
When we are burdened or afraid to evangelize, it can often mean that we are trying to trust in our own efforts more than trusting that God is strong enough to save when His gospel is shared.
In addition to uncovering more of our excuses to evangelize, Bill highlights some practical principles based on the life of Jesus that can help us reignite a passion for God that, in turn, fuels our compassion for the broken world that He wants us to reach.
This week we take a closer look at the Roman centurion and soldiers who were tasked with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. These soldiers were hardened and unfazed by the process of these executions. So much so that they were mocking and playing cruel games with their next victim.
While we may see their behavior as inexcusable, it's actually a reflection of us. Our disobedience dishonors and mocks the authority of Christ over our lives. Without submission to Jesus, our hearts are left to their rebellion and wicked desires. Yet in his love for us, Jesus offering forgiveness and even his own life to save us from our selves and reconcile us to God.
When we better understand that every human is an image of God—even the one in the mirror—we can actually love more like God does and grow as ambassadors of Jesus.
Seeking rest on our terms prevents us from trusting God as our shepherd and provider. When we repent, God offers a rest that is without end.
Virtues and vices can keep us focused on satisfying ourselves and not on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. So what keeps us from living with Jesus at the center? Sometimes, hindsight can help bring perspective. Steve uses the story of Joseph in the Old Testament as an example of what a life lived with a God-focus can reveal.
Joseph's life was marked by being a sibling outcast, hated, and sold into slavery by his brothers. He was wrongly accused. He was unjustly imprisoned. Yet, through nearly 13 years of suffering, he sought to trust and obey God. So, when he becomes prime minister of Egypt, he is able to see that God has been preparing him to be used to save his family from certain death in the midst of a widespread famine. In his concluding remarks to the brothers who set out to destroy him, he says, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
Living with eyes fixed on Jesus is trusting God in every circumstance. It is listening to His voice and leaning on His strength. It is demonstrating His love and grace to others because we have been redefined and born again by His love and grace for us. It is seeking His kingdom and righteousness because in Him we have all that we need.
We can have such a strong desire for what we want or what makes sense to us that we will set aside the very commands or instruction of God.
In this teaching, Mark uses the story of Balaam and his donkey from Numbers 22 to illustrate that when we keep our eyes on God and His nature, we can see more clearly what will honor Him. If we don't, we can lead ourselves towards our own destruction — even with good intentions.
In the midst of painful circumstances it is natural for us to want a "fix" to make life less painful. But God wants to deliver us from our darkness and provide us with something better.
What we look at is typically what we become. If we look to things that are contrary to God, we will become more like those things. If we look to God however, we will become more like Him.
Steve reflects on the letter to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2. Following the accolades and note-worthy actions of the church is a rebuke that should awaken us to the motive of our actions. They had forgotten their first love. This tells us that doing what's right is possible even when the motive of the heart is wrong.
We're asked to consider whether what we think, say, and do is a genuine response to the love of God in our life or an empty (or self-centered) case of "going-through-the-motions." It is an important question to ask because the measure of God always lands on the condition of the heart.
Setting aside our own ambitions and plans, we can take up God’s — in the way we speak, testify, and make decisions that reflect His kingdom's reign over our hearts.
When we are misaligned with God, it is painful to leave behind what we've grown accustomed to in order for our believing, thinking, being, and doing to be transformed. But this pain can come from two completely different places.
Trying to follow God's law and live righteously by our own effort and in our own way, can bring a pain that is like building our house on the sand. When life's troubles come, we falter because of our limited ability to live apart from God's enabling grace and power.
However, the pain of learning to die to our selfish desires and lean on Christ alone allows us to grow in humility, submission, and dependance on Him. The significance and value of this true transformation means that we can embrace this kind of pain because it is only through the process that our life will be conformed to God's design.
In this teaching, Steve illustrates that we must be brought out of misalignment and rebellion to God and be brought into right alignment with Him. It demands that we be stripped of our selfishness, self-centeredness, and over-sensitivity, but it also invites us to better understand that God cares far more about our maturing, character, and integrity than about making us happy and giving us what we want.
Understanding the Biblical story helps us see that God works in and through situations differently than we expect. It is a story of redemption and purpose — not of rules that somehow earn us a seat in eternity. We must humble ourselves, ask God to transform our hearts, and trust Him to lead wherever He desires. This is only possible through the perfect record of Jesus Christ and power of the Holy Spirit living in us.
"God is looking for imperfect men and women who have learned to walk in moment-by-moment dependance on the Holy Spirit. Christians who have come to terms with their inadequacies, fears, and failures. Believers who have become discontent with "surviving" and have taken the time to investigate everything God has to offer in this life. God's method for reaching this generation, and every generation, is not preachers and sermons. It is Christians whose lifestyles are empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit." - Charles Stanley
What is the view of the world right now? Do we see a normal demonstration of righteousness? As we enter this new year, we must ask ourselves:
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What is the witness of the Church at large?
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What is our church's witness?
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What is my life's witness?
Is Christ being revealed in what we are saying and doing? If not, why? Excuses, whether from our past, our upbringing, or our circumstances, do not give us permission to live in sin and mask the reality of Jesus in our life. Instead, we have the responsibility by the power of the Holy Spirit to take control over our life and subject it to His Word and truth. And this goes deeper than just watching our words and actions and moves to the motivation of the heart. When our hearts are changed by the love and grace of God, anything that distracts from Christ being revealed in us is an indication of sin that needs true repentance and transformation to overcome.
Let us begin this year by making the decision to forsake the life we want for ourselves and instead pursuing the life that Christ died to give us that will honor and glorify Him!
Relationships can be some of the most beautiful and some of the most frustrating things in our lives.
Our first relationship is often to a parent. If this bond is built on nurturing and love, it can provide a solid foundation for trust and partnership with other people. When relationships like siblings and friendships enter our lives, that can be an entirely different story. While there are blessings and good moments, these bonds also subject us to the dangers and effects of jealousy, deception, and selfishness. Our family and friend relationships end up developing our character development, expectations, and even our understanding of the world.
In this teaching, Mark recounts the sorted and messy story of Jacob and his family to illustrate that no situation is beyond God's ability to bring about good. He shows that despite the deception, jealousy, mismanaged expectations, and unrequited loves, God used this family and its descendants to lead to the coming of Jesus.
Our responsibility as Christians is to view our relationships through a lens of God's redemption. When we recognize God's power to restore and bring good out of our sinful lives, it gives us the grace and means to walk with others through any hardship and be at peace with them as far as it depends on us.
We must acknowledge that out hurts can greatly affect our lives. It takes a trust and submission to God for Him to do the work in us that brings about forgiveness, repentance, and renewed commitment to following Him and laying our whole life at His feet.
Message audio from November 29, 2020 entitled "Hoarding Unforgiveness (Part 3)" from Steve Bishop
Message audio from November 22, 2020 entitled "Hoarding Unforgiveness (Part 2)" from Steve Bishop
Even when we agree that forgiveness is the right way to handle offense, we tend to make ourselves the exception to this truth when we get hurt. It's naturally easier to stay offended towards someone who hurt us. Making the harder choice to forgive depends on supernatural grace.
As Christians, we realize that we have been forgiven by God and reconciled to Him. So how can we justify our unforgiveness towards people who hurt us? We can't, but it's still hard to practice what we know to be true.
The answer is to reflect on God's grace and forgiveness in light of our sin so that we can ask for His power and strength to forgive. It is the lifelong journey of allowing the Holy Spirit to use the knowledge of God's truth to shape the posture of our heart. We must see others the way that God see us.
When we choose to live with our bitterness and hurts, we've forgotten that we too are guilty of causing hurt. The Word of God commands us instead to "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Comfort is a hidden threat to our spiritual life. What we seek and cling to become our idols to which we devote our time, money, and attention. This fallen nature of the human heart is a thread that traces self-centered behavior throughout the Scriptures and throughout history.
But God's love guides us to places of decision where we are asked to realize who or what is the object of our worship. He knows that anything other than Himself will lead us to destruction.
Recognizing that Jesus Christ is the only way, truth, and life advances us in the lifelong journey of dethroning false hopes and security and embracing the true comfort of God's salvation that our spirits desperately need.