Foothills Fellowship ABQ Sermons: Recent Episodes
Mike Potter
What does the story of a wee little man have to do with a big insight from Jesus about how he views salvation? Pastor Mike looks with us at the familiar story in Luke 19:1-10 and challenges some of our misunderstandings about salvation.
Mt 11:28-30 & Mt 23:1–4Jesus had very harsh words for the religious leaders of His day. He accused them of placing "heavy, cumbersome loads" on the people with their overwhelming rules and regulations. Pastor Mike sees the same thing happening today in American Evangelicalism, and he offers his critique.
Pastor Mike challenges us to do the hard work it takes to become a unified community. He says that while we all must stand on the foundation of the gospel, we must be careful not to elevate other beliefs to "gospel status" that could cause us to splinter and divide. Instead, he urges us to be more willing to unify around one another rather than around doctrinal dogma. Carl Sands shares two poems he has written about this and encourages us to assume the role of servants toward one another.
When it comes to making disciples, we are called by Jesus to teach others all that He has commanded. The question is: What does this imply? Pastor Mike - with the help of The Chosen and a testimony from one of our women - attempts to answer this question with the hopes of encouraging us in our disciple-making efforts.
The Apostle Paul was concerned about the lack of gathering together of some of the early Christians. It seems that the main reason for his concern is that not meeting together meant that would be unable to encourage one another in their faith and wouldn't be able to "spur one another on in love and good deeds." Pastor Mike offers a brief teaching on Hebrews 10:24-25 and then leads the church in a discussion about how we can better do this. The discussion is not included in this recording. You'll have to join us to be a part of that!
Pastor Mike leads us in a look at Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15 where he reminds the church there of the gospel message he was given and had passed on to them. As we consider what it means to live our lives OUT to and with those who have not yet received the gospel of Jesus, it's important for us to be reminded what the gospel message really is.
Jesus said that His sheep listen to His voice and follow Him. This means that Jesus speaks, and as His followers, we must learn to listen and discern His voice. Pastor Mike and Melissa Eastman team up to teach us how to do this intentionally and regularly.
We see Jesus living His life in 3-dimensions: UP with the Father, IN with other disciples, and OUT with the crowds declaring the Good News of the Kingdom of God. This summer, we will be pressing-in to one of these dimensions each week, and this week, Pastor Mike reminds us how we are going OUT as a church.
We see Jesus living His life in 3-dimensions: UP with the Father, IN with other disciples, and OUT with the crowds declaring the Good News of the Kingdom of God. This summer, we will be pressing-in to one of these dimensions each week, and this week we go UP together by trying to expand our understanding of just how big God is.
Romans 13:11-14 Advent is a season of anticipation. As Christmas approaches, our anticipation builds - anticipation of time off work, time with family and friends, parties, food, gifts. Pastor Mike contends that all of this is good, but he challenges us to allow the anticipation of these things to ignite our anticipation of Christ's return.
John 15:9-11 Jesus told His disciples to remain in His love. What does this mean? How do we do this, and what will happen if we do?
John 15:5-8 We know that Jesus calls us to abide in Him and that if we do, we will bear much fruit. But what does it actually look like to abide in Him, and what kind of fruit can we expect when we do?
John 15:1-4 Jesus words about Him being the vine and His disciples being the branches are familiar to many of us. What may not be familiar is what lies below Jesus' illustration. Pastor Mike peels back the layers and encourages us with the deeper meaning of this familiar analogy.
John 14:15-24We may say that we love God, but how can we know for sure that we really do? In his final words to His disciples, Jesus told them that there is actually clear-cut evidence that we can show that proves that we love Him like we say we do. Pastor Joe shows us the evidence.
John 14:12-14 In His last conversation before His death, Jesus told His disciples exactly what He wanted them to do when He went away. He also promised them that they would take His work to a whole other level, and that He would be ready and willing to provide for them success in their Kingdom work. These words remain true to this day for disciples who believes in Jesus and ask for fruitfulness in His name.
John 14:6-11 Is God knowable? As mere humans, are we even able to begin to comprehend the One who created and sustains all things in the entire universe? Well, Jesus thought so! He said, "Anyone who sees me has seen the Father." Pastor Mike shows us how the Gospel accounts from eye-witnesses of Jesus reveal who God is, and he also reminds us that Jesus continues to reveal to us who God is through the Holy Spirit as well.
John 14:1-6 John 14:2 in the King James Version has caused many Christians to believe that a mansion is awaiting them on the other side, but Pastor Mike delivers the bad news in this message that this is not what Jesus was saying to His disciples at the Last Supper. But, do not let your hearts be troubled! The bad news of no mansions is eclipsed by the good news of what Jesus was really saying that night - and this good news was not just for the disciples back then but for us now too!
John 13:18-38 Jesus gathered His disciples together one last time for a meal before his arrest and eventual crucifixion. Knowing that Judas would betray Him and Peter would deny Him, what do we learn was His greatest concern that night? It's not what you might think!
John 13:1-17 Most of us are familiar with the account of Jesus washing the disciples' feet during the Last Supper. So familiar perhaps that we struggle to see the message Jesus was sending all of His disciples (including us today). Pastor Mike helps us understand the message and shows us how we can imitate Jesus by following His example from that night.
John 12:44-50 In John 3:17, Jesus made it clear that God did not send Jesus to condemn the world but to save the world through Him. Then, in John 12:47, Jesus again says that He did not come into the world to judge it - but to save it. However, in this same text, Jesus warns that one day all of the words He said while on earth would serve as a judge for those who choose not to listen to them and obey them. Pastor Mike unpacks this concept and exhorts the church to keep listening to and obeying Jesus.
John 12:27-43 Jesus calls us to follow Him, but some of the things He calls us to follow Him into are hard things - like suffering and death. Pastor Mike explores Jesus' words in John 12 about His coming suffering and death and encourages us to be willing to follow Him there as well.
Acts 14:22 Our church planting pastor, Jesse Harden, encourages us to see the many different ways we can enter and build the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Mike plays portions of an interview with Josh Howard who is the Director of Leadership Training and Multiplication for the Central India Christian Mission. What Josh says prompts us to have a church-wide conversation about how we can better and more effectively pursue the vision we sense God has for our church.
John 11:55-12:11 As Jesus begins His final week of ministry that will lead up to His death, He makes a stop at the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha for dinner. Before dinner is served, Mary anoints Jesus with an expensive bottle of perfume. Judas can't believe she would waste that much money, but Jesus affirms Mary's actions. Pastor Mike helps us understand what Mary was doing and challenges our willingness to sacrifice like this for Jesus, and Melissa Eastman gives us a challenge from a woman's perspective.
John 11:1-54 Jesus claimed to be the resurrection and life, and then He brought Lazarus back from the dead proving that to be true. Pastor Mike walks us through this episode and shows how those of us "in Christ" who have received the resurrection and life are called to offer this to others.
John 10:22-42 Did Jesus ever clearly claim to be the Messiah? The answer is yes, and this is one of the passages where He did so. It all started with this question by the religious leaders: “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Pastor Mike explains that how Jesus answered this question made it clear to those with Him that day (and to us today) that he DID tell them plainly that He is the Messiah.
John 10:1-21 In an effort to clearly communicate to the Pharisees who He is, Jesus uses a familiar (to them) illustration - sheep, their sheep pen, and shepherding. He identified Himself as the "gate" through which the shepherd enters the pen, and He referred to Himself as the "Good Shepherd." Pastor Mike unpacks these illustrations and shows how this is REALLY good news for us!
John 9:6-41 In healing the man born blind, Jesus reveals the truth about who is truly blind and who isn't. The informal "trial" that John records in John 9 is an inside look at the mind of God when it comes to what it takes to "see" - and why so many who think they can see can't.
John 9:1-5 Jesus and His disciples came upon a man who was blind from birth. When the disciples asked why this happened to him, Jesus didn't tell them. Instead, He told them what the purpose is for his suffering. Pastor Mike shows us that asking the Lord for reasons why there is so much suffering in the world is the wrong question to ask. So too is trying to figure out the purpose of suffering. From this episode in John, Pastor Mike reveals what we are called to do in the face of suffering.
John 8:12-59 Among the myriad of events that took place during the Festival of Tabernacles the year Jesus showed up was the showdown between Jesus and the Pharisees. John records it in great detail in John 8, and Pastor Mike helps us see that this showdown poses a serious question for the church today: Are we true followers of Jesus, or are we more like the Pharisees?
John 8:1-11 The main strategy of the religious leaders of Jesus' time was to try to trick Jesus into saying something for which they could condemn Him. In this passage, they present Jesus with a woman caught in adultery hoping to corner Him with an impossible situation, but as Pastor Joe points out, it's foolish to play games with the wisdom of God.
Luke 3:15-17 Pastor Jesse Harden from our church plant brings us a message of good news that the fire of God is good, refining, and lifegiving.
John 7:14-52 Jesus was an enigma to many in Israel which made Him a threat. In this sermon, Pastor Mike explores the tense back-and-forth conversation Jesus had with people attending the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. The more He said, the more He revealed about the realities of who He is and where He came from - and the more the people were forced to come to terms with Him.
John 7:1-14 Some of Jesus' most confrontational and provocative teaching came after He decided to make a surprise appearance at one of Israel's most popular festivals. The Festival of Tabernacles was a festival that God instituted after His people entered the Promised Land, and by the time of Jesus, it was a significant, yearly tradition. As was normal for Jesus, He turned the meaning and significance of the Festival on its head, and in doing so, we receive a deep and profound understanding of who He is.
John 6:53-71 One of the main themes of John 6 - a theme that runs all throughout the Gospels - is that in Jesus, we can have eternal life. In this Easter sermon, Pastor Mike shows us that the eternal life that God offers us in Christ is something that we don't have to wait for. It's not something we get only after we die. It's something we can receive and enjoy right now!
John 6:53-59 Jesus' call to eat His flesh and drink His blood is one that was offensive to His original audience - and one that is hard to understand for us. In this Good Friday sermon, Pastor Joe helps us understand what Jesus means when He says these words and what our response to it should be.
John 6:41-52 How do we reconcile the words Jesus spoke in John 6 that "no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them" with other passages in the Bible about God not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance? Pastor Mike shows how scholars have explained this over the centuries and makes a practical application for us all today.
John 6:25-40 After Jesus fed the 5000, John reports that He had to get away from the crowd because they were ready to crown Him king. However, a group of them went looking for Jesus and eventually found Him. They wanted to see more miracles - but as Jesus pointed out to them, they weren't ready to truly believe in who He claimed to be. It's in this interaction that Jesus tells them to "not work for food that spoils but for food that endures." Pastor Mike dives into this and brings the meaning of this forward to our lives today.
John 6:16-24 When Jesus walked on the water to meet up with His disciples, it was His version of "show and tell." He was showing them that He is God by walking on the water, and He was telling them that He is God in the few words that He spoke. Pastor Mike explains how their response to Jesus' show and tell is the kind of response Jesus is looking for in us today.
The key to moving forward as a church in the Post-Christian culture in which we are living is to adapt. Pastor Mike explains what our Post-Christian culture is, what the implications are, and he shares some of the ways we're going to need to adapt as a church if we are going to be effective disciple-makers moving forward.
John 6:1-15 Jesus feeding the 5000 with five loaves and two fish was a miracle for sure. In this interactive sermon, Pastor Mike celebrates the miracle but shows how sometimes we allow the miracle to get in the way of the other things that Jesus was doing and saying that day.
John 5:30-46 In what many would consider a dense passage in John's Gospel, John records Jesus' words about who He is - specifically for the ears of the critical religious leaders of His day: the Pharisees. Jesus appeals to the culturally acceptable number of witnesses who testify about Him to make His case with the Pharisees. Pastor Joe brings this message to our cultural context offering up several witnesses to the truth of who Jesus is.
John 5:16-30 Jesus had just healed a paralytic, and in typical Jesus-fashion, He did it on the Sabbath - which turned the religious leaders of His time on their heads! As He defends His actions to these leaders, He states clearly and unequivocally who He is. Pastor Joe brings His statements of identity to our modern day lives in a powerful way.
As we pursue this new vision, mission, and strategy, we can only imagine what God will do in and thru us! Today, Pastor Mike leads us in a time of imagining what it could look like if - by engaging in our new strategy - we actually took seriously Jesus' words in Luke 10 to go out into the ripe harvest fields. He shows us that it's actually not a huge stretch of the imagination as there's already a lot of fruit being produced - and some of those experiencing this fruitfulness share their stories.
Now that the context has been set, Pastor Mike reveals the new vision, mission, and strategy for Foothills Fellowship.
Pastor Mike sets the stage for revealing the new vision, mission, and strategy for Foothills Fellowship by giving the context for it. He tells the inside story of how the Lord led the elders over the past 5 years to this new vision, mission, and strategy.
John 5:1-15 Thirty-eight years. That's how long the disabled man had waited for his chance at being healed at the pool of Bethesda. Thirty-eight years of false hope and sorrow. Then Jesus showed up at the pool. Pastor Joe takes us through the story and challenges us that when Jesus shows up in our lives, we too should stand up and walk.
John 4:43-54 Do we worship the Lord when when there is no “sign?” Do we worship Him when our requests go unanswered? And, do we take Him at His Word - truly believing that He will do for us what He says? These are the questions Pastor Mike poses from the episode in John's Gospel account of Jesus returning from Samaria to Galilee and healing the son of a desperate father.
John 4:31-42 Pastor Joe takes us on a deep dive into Jesus' words to His disciples about sowing and reaping. The "harvest," Jesus told them, was ready for reaping in the most unlikely of places: Samaria. Pastor Joe challenges us not to ever assume that there are people in our lives to whom the Lord can't or won't bring His Kingdom.
John 4:16-42 Joy to the world! The Lord has come! For the Samaritan woman at the well, this joy was unexpected and life-changing. Pastor Mike walks us through the transformation of the Samaritan woman and offers us something to be truly joyful about on Christmas Sunday 2021.
John 4:1-15 Jesus was never afraid of a good scandal, but His interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob may have been a bit too scandalous for the time - and what we learn about Him is that He has blatant disregard for any and all social, cultural, and religious biases. Pastor Mike explores the first half of this interaction and challenges us as followers of Jesus to "check" our own biases.
John 3:22-36 John the Baptist is back on the scene one final time. The Messiah has finally come, and his national ministry of preparing Israel for the coming of the Messiah is waning. Many of his followers have left him to follow Jesus, and those who remain are not happy at all about his decreasing influence and ministry - but not John! He's overwhelmed with joy at his loss of influence and followers, and this attitude is one Pastor Mike challenges all of us to imitate. "Jesus must increase, and we must decrease!"
John 3:16-21 What did God send His Son to do on earth - and what did God send His Son NOT to do? Israel at the time of Jesus expected Jesus to do something that He didn't come to do. We also have expectations on what Jesus will do for us that He has no plans to do. So, understanding what the Son came to do and not do is critical to understanding the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus - and critical to managing our expectations of Him.
John 2:23-3:15 How can anyone be a part of the renewed Kingdom that God established with Jesus? THIS is what Jesus reveals in our passage today, and He reveals it to a most unlikely person: Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee - a deeply religious man - who believed that because of his birth as a Jew and because of his devotion to God and His Law, he was SURELY a part of God’s Kingdom. There was no question in his mind about this! But Jesus has a funny way of turning everything we think we know and understand about God on its head, and His words to Nicodemus reveal to us how we can enter His Kingdom.
John 2:13-22 Why did Jesus cleanse the temple at Passover? Was it because He was upset about the marketplace being inside the temple walls? Yes. Was it because the merchants were ripping off the worshippers? Yes. But as John tells us, Jesus had a much deeper and more significant reason for cleansing the temple, and Pastor Mike explores it with us - and then takes us to another (often misunderstood) temple passage to help us understand what Jesus was actually saying.
John 2:1-12 Pastor Joe helps us understand the theology of Jesus' wedding miracle. When He turned the water into wine to keep the party going, there was a lot more going on than concern for wedding guests!
John 1:35-51 The handoff between John the Baptist and Jesus begins as Jesus invites some of John's disciples to "come and see." Those who do are amazed and changed as they encounter the Messiah.
John 1:19-34. All of the Gospel writers include a telling of the events surrounding John the Baptist. John is no exception. In his Gospel, John includes a "testimony" of what John the Baptist told him about the day before he introduced Jesus as the "Lamb of God" and the day of. Pastor Mike looks at this with us and challenges all who have had an encounter with Jesus to imitate John the Baptists posture and mindset.
John 1:1-18. With the help of part of an episode from The Chosen, Pastor Mike kicks off our series in John. The way John began his gospel account is unique, setting it apart from the other three gospel accounts. Pastor Mike explains why this is so significant.
If the CONTENT of disciple-making is the full gospel story, and the INTENT of disciple-making is multiplication, then what is the CONTEXT of disciple-making? Pastor Mike shows us from 2 Thessalonians 2 that disciple-making is done best in and through relationships.
After coming to the understanding that the full gospel is the CONTENT of disciple-making, we now move on to the INTENT of disciple-making - which is multiplication. Pastor Joe shows us how from the very beginning, God has intended that the gospel of the King and His Kingdom be a message that is passed on from one person to another and from one generation to the next. The gospel is a message and lifestyle that is meant to be multiplied.
The gospel of Jesus is not only about the cross and resurrection. It's about a King and a Kingdom. Pastor Mike - along with some help from Carole Wildes - puts all the pieces together and lays out for us the FULL gospel - from the beginning to the glorious ending!
Did the Apostles live and teach the same gospel Jesus lived and taught? And if so, are we living and teaching the same gospel? Pastor Mike contends that some of us may not be and continues to challenge all of us to expand our understanding of the gospel.
In order to be an effective disciple and disciple-maker, we must understand, believe, and embody the FULL gospel. Sadly, many people today only understand, believe, and embody a partial gospel, and Pastor Mike contends that this may be why the gospel has lost so much of its power. In this sermon, he helps us expand our view of the gospel by showing us the gospel that Jesus embodied and taught.
Pastor Mike launches a short, but important, follow-up sermon series to 2 Timothy called "5th Quarter." 2 Timothy is a letter written by Paul, a disciple-maker, to his disciple, Timothy. The letter contains Paul's final words to Timothy about disciple-making, and since ALL followers of Christ are called by Jesus to make disciples, Pastor Mike is sharing what he sees as the 3 essentials of disciple-making in this series - beginning with the CONTEXT of disciple-making: The Gospel. Pastor Mike challenges us today to consider if our view of the gospel is too narrow.
To close out our series in 2 Timothy - which is a letter by Paul (a disciple-maker) to Timothy (his disciple) - several people from Foothills share their discipleship testimonies.
Many would be tempted to pass over the final section of 2 Timothy as it contains Paul's personal greetings and requests to Timothy. However, as Pastor Mike shows us, there is something very profound about these words that gives us an imitatable example of what we should strive for as disciple-makers.
Pastor Joe takes us through some of Paul's last words ever recorded in 2 Timothy 4:6-8. Paul knows his life is about to end, and in these three verses, he gives Timothy a summary statement of his life - the life of a poured-out disciple-maker.
If you have placed faith and trust in Christ, then the Spirit of God has given you a gift. For Timothy, his gift was the gift of preaching, and in 2 Timothy 4:1-5, Paul charges him to use it. How has God gifted you? Pastor Mike uses the charge Paul gave to Timothy to charge you to use your gift in the ministry of disciple-making.
Pastor Mike looks with us at 2 Timothy 3:10-17 and shows us that effective disciple-makers don't just pass information down to their disciples, but they also live imitatable lives in front of them.
Every single Christ-follower is called to make disciples. Pastor Joe looks at 2 Timothy 3:1-9 and reveals the disciple-making traps that we can fall into if we're not careful. Make disciples...but beware!
Pastor Mike shows us more disciple-making essentials from Paul's second letter to Timothy as he looks at 2 Timothy 2:19-26.
In his final instructions to his disciple, Paul makes sure to remind Timothy of the importance of remembering that the Good News is good news, and he instructs him on the importance of being careful with the use of "words." Pastor Joe shows us how these are essentials for not just Timothy but for all disciple-makers - including us.
Jesus made it clear that the cost of being His disciple is high. He also made it clear that making disciples is costly too. In 2 Timothy 2:1-13, Paul spells out this cost, not as a warning - but as an encouragement.
After encouraging Timothy, Paul now moves into a section of his letter where he offers his disciple a good dose of challenge. In this sermon, Pastor Mike looks at 2 Timothy 1:8-18 and shows us how challenge was another of Paul's effective disciple-making tools.
Paul was a master disciple-maker, so it makes sense to look at the way he did it to learn how we can do it. In this sermon, Pastor Mike looks at 2 Timothy 1:3-7 and shows us how encouragement was one of Paul's most effective disciple-making tools.
What does Jesus really mean when He calls us to "make disciples?" What is a disciple, and what does a disciple-maker do? Paul's second letter to Timothy is a letter from a disciple-maker to a disciple, and in it, we get clear answers to these questions. In this sermon, Pastor Mike unpacks the significance of Paul referring to Timothy as his "beloved child."
Pastor Joe looks at Hebrews 12:1-6 and helps us to see that what we may see as the chaos of life may be a living adventure for those of us who are in Christ.
Memorial Day is about remembering. It's good and helpful to pause to remember the past. As a matter of fact, God is all about remembering as Pastor Mike points out from Joshua 4.
Pastor Mike wraps up his series on stress by showing us how valuable COMMUNITY is to overcoming the stress we (and the stress others) experience.
We can learn a lot from two episodes that Jesus orchestrated for His disciples on the Sea of Galilee. Both involved storms, dire circumstances, terrified disciples, and Jesus showing up just at the right time.
Could a good amount of the stress we experience be stress that we bring on ourselves? Pastor Mike recognizes this in his own life and shows us how the Lord offers us a deeply theological and deeply effective remedy.
Pastor Mike begins a new sermon series called, "Pressing On Under Pressing Stress." In this life, stress is unavoidable - but for those who follow Christ, there is something that is key to not being overwhelmed by it.
We celebrated Easter 2.0 and continued our celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Pastor Mike showed us how John's vision in Revelation 19 could have only been possible because of the resurrection.
We're all familiar with the story of Jesus' entrance into Jersulam at the beginning of Holy Week. But what does this event tell us about the Kingdom of God? Pastor Mike shows us that the first Palm Sunday reveals quite a bit.
Jesus spent much of His time on earth in prayer to His Father. He often invited His disciples to join Him, and one day, they asked Him if He would teach them to pray. The result of this is what we now know as "The Lord's Prayer," but Pastor Mike shows us that this was not a prayer to merely be recited - but a prayer to be used as a "launching pad" for our prayers.
How did Jesus transform His disciples from everyday fishermen, a tax collector, and even an anarchist into a powerful team that changed the world? Pastor Mike looks at 4 passages that show the progression of Jesus' interaction with his disciples - and shows us that this progression is one He is still taking disciples through today.
Evangelism simply means to declare the good news of Jesus to others. It's something that every Jesus-follower is called to do, but for many of us, it's an intimidating concept. But, what if there is a way to do it that is natural, effective, and imitatable? Pastor Mike claims that there is, and he shows us that it is the way Jesus taught His disciples to do it in Luke 9 and 10.
Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer with the Father. We see that He did this often before major events in His life, and we know that He did this in order to discover what His Father wanted Him to do. In Mark 1:14-15, we see that the key to us doing the same lies in three words Jesus spoke: time, repent, believe.
How did Jesus transform everyday fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and even thieves into
a powerful team that changed the world? Pastor Mike contends that it was Jesus' use of high invitation and high challenge. He also contends that Jesus is still using it with His disciples today and encourages us to press-in to it as disciples and utilize this way as disciple-makers.
Jesus had a "rhythm" to the way He lived His life. As a matter of fact, He created this rhythm (Genesis 1), lived it out while on earth, and then taught it to His disciples. If you are one of His disciples, then you'll want to be sure to imitate this rhythm in your life as well.
Pastor Mike begins a new sermon series called "Imitate: Following the Way of Jesus." Jesus chose 12 disciples to imitate the way He lived so that when He left them, they would be able to do and say the things He did and said. If we are going to be His disciples, we must learn to imitate His "Way" - beginning with whom Jesus spent His time with.
Pastor Joe wraps-up his 4-part series in the book of Philippians. He looks with us at Philippians 4 and shows us how to stand firm in the Lord - regardless of what is going on around us.
Pastor Joe continues with his overview series in Philippians. Philippians 3 is his focus, and he encourages us to reconsider confidence. Because of Christ - and in Him - we can have full confidence in this life, regardless of what is going on around us.
Pastor Joe continues with his overview series in Philippians. Philippians 2 is his focus, and he encourages us to reconsider humility by showing us the great benefit of humility to the Christian community.
Pastor Joe begins a quick but powerful 4-part "Overview of Philippians" series with a look today at Philippians 1. The new year is here but joy is still hard to come by, so Pastor Joe will help us reconsider joy as an option for 2021.
Advent is over, and many experience a letdown after the season of anticipation comes to an end. Pastor Mike looks at the big letdown that Mary and Joseph experienced after the birth of Jesus and shows us what they did to press-through.
The crescendo of the Old Testament is the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah. It begins in Genesis and crescendos all the way through. Pastor Mike talks about the crescendo of the New Testament, and offers us hope, encouragement, and challenge in this Christmas Sunday sermon.
Pastor Mike looks at the mission of the newborn King as spoken by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 61. Jesus has come, and He has and still is accomplishing His mission!
Pastor Mike looks at 1 Peter 3:8-15 to help us focus our anticipation during this Advent season on the second coming of the Lord. He is patient - and that's a good thing! Are we?
One of God's names is Jehovah-Shalom. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. But how do we experience the peace the Lord offers in the midst of a pandemic? Pastor Mike looks at Judges 6 and Philippians 4 and encourages us that peace in the midst of all of this is possible.
Pastor Mike concludes our study in the book of 1 John by looking at the last 4 verses (1 John 5:18-21) where John reminds believers of the 3 things every believer knows.
In 1 John 5:16-17, John tells us we can be confident in the effectiveness of our intercessory prayer for other believers. Pastor Mike encourages us then to offer up prayers that give life to one another - and he deals with what John calls "sin that leads to death."
Pastor Mike continues our study in 1 John by looking at 1 John 5:13-15. Throughout the letter, John has been reassuring believers that there are many things we can be confident in. In these verses, John tells us we can be confident in the effectiveness of prayer - as long as we pray "according to God's will." Pastor Mike explains what this means and encourages us to make praying God's will the bedrock of our prayer lives.
In 1 John 5:6-12, John reveals three "testimonies" that bear witness to the truth about Jesus. Pastor Mike explores these testimonies and encourages believers to stand firm in their faith in Jesus.
In 1 John 5:1-5, John reveals how belief, love, and obedience combine to offer the true Christian evidence and assurance of their salvation. He then tells these true believers that they are "over-comers!" Pastor Mike explores these 5 verses and encourages the church to live in victory.
In 1 John 4:16-21, John expands on his comment in 4:12 where he says, "God's love is perfected with us." Pastor Mike explains what perfect love is, how we get it, and what it does for us when we live in it.
Pastor Mike continues with the sermon series in 1 John by looking at 1 John 4:13-16. In it, John tells the church that they can be sure that God is in them and they are in God based on 3 pieces of evidence. Pastor Mike shows that we can be sure too based on these 3 things as well!
Pastor Mike continues with the sermon series in 1 John by looking at 1 John 4:7-12. In it, John tells the church to love one another 3 times in 3 different ways. Pastor Mike explores the significance of each of those ways and helps us see why loving one another is not optional for the believer.
Pastor Joe takes us through 1 John 4:1-6 where "testing the spirits" is encouraged. Joe tells us what is meant by this, explains why John felt the need to address this, and offers insight on what it means for us today.
Pastor Mike continues our series in 1 John by looking at 1 John 3:11-24. In it, John continues to call the early church to remember one of the first things they were taught when they came to Christ: that they are to love one another. This is a timely message for the church today!
Pastor Joe takes us through 1 John 3:4-10 and reminds us of the danger for the Christian of allowing sin to rule in our lives. He also reminds us that God always welcomes confession and repentance too!
Pastor Mike takes us through 1 John 2:28-3:3 and explores the incredible benefits for those who continue to abide in Christ. John says that those who do are God's children - and the benefits of being a child of God are unending!
Pastor Mike explores 1 John 2:18-27 to remind us that we are living in the last days - and have been for 2000 years. John says that these end times are filled with deceivers, so Pastor Mike tells us how to stand strong and not be deceived.
Pastor Joe takes us through 1 John 2:12-17 and encourages us not to love the world because it will pass away. Instead, he encourages us do God's will - because it is HE that will last forever...and so will we if we do His will.
in 1 John 2:7-11, John says that the old commandment to love one another has been made new in Jesus. Pastor Mike explains what John means by this and shows us how this is really good news for us.
In 1 John 1:5, John says that "God is Light." Light reveals things for what they really are, and today, Pastor Mike shows what God's light reveals about humanity and about His Son, Jesus.
Pastor Joe looks at 1 John 1:5-10 and encourages us to run from the darkness and walk in the true light - the light of Christ.
The 3 letters John wrote to the house churches of Ephesus were written for a couple of reasons - namely to encourage the church to stay unified in the face of divisive forces in their city. This is relevant for us today in our divisive national climate, and Pastor Mike exhorts Foothills to stay united.