Fulcrum Messages: Recent Episodes
The Fulcrum Center
Sharing Godly truths and insights to help each of us be and do all God designed us to be and do. We do this by sharing sermons , Bible Studies, and more.
Sermons are presented each Sunday at the Bellaire Methodist Church in Bellaire, Ohio by either Pastor Ian Thornton or Pastor Phil Bliss. Occasionally, a guest speaker will preach and their message is also listed here.
What is the message of Christmas? The angel gave the shepherds a life changing, world changing message. How does God give messages today? How do we react to them?
We start a new series on The Wonder of Christmas and today we ask ourselves how would we react if God surprised us with an impossibility.
What happens when you come into the presence of something? You start to take on the properties of that item. Get close to a fire and smell like smoke. Get close to rain and you will get wet. Get close to God and His holiness will be imparted upon you.
What happens when you are searching for closeness to God but do not go to God for that closeness? If you let others, or google, lead you to the truth, you may not find it. This message from Phil revolves around a personal testimony of what he went through from 2004 - 2006 and almost didn't celebrate Christmas that year.
The Holy Spirit is our power and our guide. We are nothing without Him and He leads us to the Father, through the son. What did Jesus mean when He said "Obey my commands?" watch this to find out.
When He said he was the alpha and the omega, Jesus was saying He is everything and everything in between. We use letters to make words and from first to last, He is the maker of all things.
After Pentecost, the new believers did many things day after day but it was God who added to their numbers. How can we apply this 2000 years later?
Kathy McLeish fills in for Phil in this powerful testimony about our identity in Christ.
The final part of the overcoming fear series. Knowledge of God's past, present and future promises helps us overcome fear.
Beginning a 3 part series about overcoming fear, Pastor Phil asks us to "Fan into Flame The Faith Given To Us" as a means of overcoming fear.
The Bible tells us in Romans 1 that all see God in their lives in some way. Therefore we have excuse to not believe. But what about those who never hear? We cover that too in this message.
In the Bible, many times it is said that every matter is confirmed by the witness of two or more. These "doubles" are everywhere including what Christ did for us. He died for our salvation and our healing (Isaiah 53) Be sure to look for the doubles
What does it mean to rest in God? Is there a difference between physical and spiritual rest? Listen to this podcast to find out.
Daniel and the lion's den is more than a fantastic children's tale. It shows us the story of Jesus before He was even born. God does this with Daniel and others to show us He had a plan and to help us believe in Him. We need this type of faith for our lives.
There are times in our lives when we feel all alone, but Jesus shows up. When all seems lost and it seems like we need to redirect, Jesus shows up. We look at John 11 and the death of Lazarus to find out how Jesus Shows Up.
Moses and Aaron showed a lack of faith and in so doing, were not permitted to go to the promised Land. This sermon talks about that passage from Numbers and how we can also speak to our rocks.
Pastor Ian delivers a powerful message from 2 Chronicles. The LORD is with you when you are with Him.
Pastor Phil takes some time to explain previous schisms in the church to show what we are facing now is not really new and then how to go forward from here.
How do you perceive sin, salvation and obedience? Do you know how sin affects you as a human? Tune into this message to find out Phil's take on it all.
Prayer is our foundation for our faith. It's our way of hearing from and speaking to God. Today we talk about the importance of Prayer.
A relationship with God is sometimes hard to comprehend, but it is one of the most important things you can ever work on with God. Phil explains his take on it in this sermon.
Continuing the series called "The Importance Of", Phil talks about how important it is for a Christian to read the Bible.
Starting a new series on "The Importance Of", Phil talks about surrender and gives a testimony of his recent whirlwind week and how two people he encountered had not surrendered to God. This becomes the basis of this powerful message
Kathy shares incredible wisdom and insight into the Lord's Prayer. We know it by heart, but you have probably never looked at it this way.
Using a blog post, Chad asks us to focus more on Jesus and less on the problems He can fix. In a powerful message, we are challenged to look at healing and deliverance in a new light.
In the final installment of the "Freedom" series, pastor Phil explains how we all have peace with God.
In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul reminds us that because of the redemptive work of Christ, we are not appointed unto wrath. However Satan wants to bring us down and he works in his nature, lies and deceit, to bring us to his level. Don't fall for it. You are not appointed unto wrath and Jesus has done so much for you already.
We all trust in what others have created for us every day. So let's trust God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit each day for our lives.
What happened in that shadow that the cross made? Are you living in it? Are you dwelling where you should not? Come out of the shadow and into the light. Palm Sunday 2023
In Mark 5, Jesus delivers a man from the demonic, giving Him freedom. The demonic play a pivotal role in our lives whether we realize it or not. But we do have authority over them and with that, incredible freedom.
Jesus plus nothing = everything. That's God's equation. Jesus is the sole focus we should have and when we stray from that, we risk dabbling in religion. Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship.
Continuing the freedom series, Pastor Phil talks about being free from illness. God wants you well and He has already died to make this happen.
Turning to the passage read by Jesus, Isaiah 61:1-3, we take a look at what freedom from sin means. Jesus died that we may have freedom from many things and sin is the first and foremost.
God has promised you freedom. Over the next several weeks, we will look at Freedom as a promise from God. We start in Exodus 3.
Wrapping up the series using the parables to get closer to God, Phil talks about the parable of the sower and seed.
Turning to Matthew 15 when Jesus eats without washing his hands, we discuss how to allow God to clean us from the inside so we can bring forth clean material. It's that which comes from the heart that defiles, not what goes in the mouth.
Continuing the closer to God series, we look at the parable of the prodigal son. What can you do to get closer to God, let God bring you closer. Nothing else you do will work. Let God bring you closer.
Continuing in the series, Closer to God, we turn to the parable of the Good Samaritan to discover how we can be closer to God by Being in His presence.
Continuing the series on getting Closer To God, pastor Phil discusses the parable of the wheat and tares.
Starting a new series on the parables, this one is from the parable of the lost sheep and discusses how God actively seeks and finds us.
Christmas has taken a beating over the years for being "Pagan". Was Christmas created to evangelize pagans? Find out the truth in this Christmas day message.
Love Came Down At Christmas is a famous poem written by Christina Roosevelt that talks about the love of God in Jesus Christ. But just how powerful is this love?
For the third week of Advent, we talk about how to experience Joy and how it is different than happiness.
For the first Sunday of Advent, we discuss the difference between hope and wish. What is your hope? Don't wish for it, believe it.
Can there be value found in random items? Does God see any value in me? These are topics we discuss in this message.
What do we accept as good that is evil? Have we forgotten where we came from? When we forget our past, we will fall from grace and into evil if we are not careful.
Turning to Matthew 6 and the Lord's Prayer, we look at what is prayer, why prayer, how to pray, when and why too. It's all about prayer this week.
The Bible is large and can be complicated. It can have complicated verses as well. Like Matthew 6:15. But can we do anything to keep ourselves out of Heaven? Should we forgive and is it different than forgetting? Listen to this sermon to find out.
Turning to 1 Corinthians 13, we will discuss how love is the most firm foundation for a Christian life. Coupled with truth, love teaches us and guides us in the ways of Christ.
In the next episode of Lifting The Veil, we look at creation and see how from the very beginning that Jesus was there, that He was part of creation, and we can see how God had plans for Him to die on the cross from the beginning.
We talk about what sin caused and how Jesus reversed it and finally in the bonus content, we try to uncover how the entire creation story is a picture of history to this point.
God speaks in many ways and we can look back on all that He has done and see how He spoke. It's not always verbal.
Pastor Phil returns from a week off and continues the voice of God series by talking about the authority that God gives us.
Continuing the Bible Study Lifting The Veil, hear how story of Ruth points to the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. Plus hear how the camping of the Israelites in Numbers 2 formed the shape of a cross.
Pastor Ian returns with a powerful sermon, But God. Things may seem to be completely lost or out of control, but God....
With a dedication to the victims of 9/11, Pastor Phil speaks of how God can rebuild our lives by the voice that comes through the Bible.
Introductory Bible Study. Join us each week as we discovery mysteries of the Bible and learn how to let the Bible change our lives. Tonight, we discuss numbers in the Bible and talk about how it is organized and how to overcome the obstacles that prevent us from reading it.
Continuing the new series When God Speaks, Pastor Phil talks about the voice that no one hears. The voice of God that does not come with a feeling or a thought. It's the voice that simply calms. It's the voice that answers prayer and calms us from our anxieties.
Beginning a new series, Pastor Phil talks about the many ways God speaks to us. In the coming weeks, these ways will be expanded upon. He ends with a message from The LORD to all who are willing to accept. God wants to remake you, will you listen and let him?
APEST stands for Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd, Teacher. Pastor Phil concludes the series on Gifs Of The Spirit with this look into the five-fold ministry.
Turning to Romans 12 for a talk about the "Helping Gifts", we will discuss more in depth what it means to have a gift from God and how to recognize it and use it.
Is speaking in Tongues real? Can people perform miracles today? To say no, limits the power of The Holy Spirit. Tying in to the passage on one body from 1 Corinthians 12, Phil delivers a message on what it means and how we can use the gifts today.
In one of his most powerful sermons ever, Phil discusses faith, healing and prophecy. He finishes with a testimony of the night that changed his life, three years ago this week.
Beginning the gifts of the spirit series, Phil talks about Knowledge, Wisdom and Discernment.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We will be discussing these in more detail in the weeks to come but this is a quick introduction into what they are and what they are for. Join us in the coming weeks for this series.
Kathy McLeish fills in and speaks on how when we let God fight our battles, we can go from being weary to being ready to fight back against the enemy. A touching and practical sermon for us.
In the spirit of Independence Day, Pastor Phil correlates our nation's freedom to our freedom in Christ. It is for freedom that Christ set you free. Gal 5:1
Chad McLeish delivers a powerful testimony and relates our Christian walk to an orange grove. Great message and one you don't want to miss.
Pastor Phil sits down to give a testimony about his time growing up and hearing God call upon him on multiple occasions. It's all preparation for the coming series on the gifts of the spirit coming in July.
Pastor Phil concludes the series on knowing God by delivering a message about the trinity and how we can think of them with the use of an oil lamp. If you struggle with the trinity, watch this. He also makes use of Matthew 25 to set the record straight on the wedding banquet.
For Pentecost Sunday, Pastor Phil unloads a powerful spirit filled message about the power of the Holy Spirit within us and issues a call to the Church to stop sitting in the pews and start acting with the power that God has given us.
Continuing the series of Knowing God and God being made known to us, Pastor Phil speaks of the most relatable aspect of the deity, the Son. Relatable because he is flesh and bones like us so we can relate to Him. He truly is the tie that binds us to God.
Continuing in the foundational series of Who is God, pastor Phil talks about how God the Father is the essence of Love, and how our Soul is like that of God The Father. There is also an explanation of the trinity too.
Who is God to you? That question can illicit many thoughts in our minds. But who is God? He is beyond our comprehension, yet so close to us that we can speak to Him. In this series, we will try to tackle the obstacle of knowing God and to be known to Him. This was the introduction to the series.
Many of us have concerns in our life that we can sin ourselves out of our salvation. Pastor Phil uses two sponges to demonstrate how when we are sealed in Christ, we cannot lose our salvation. For God to reject us, He would have to reject His son.
With Pastor Ian having his last day at the church last week, Pastor Phil steps back in with his first message. He sets the stage for the future regarding the United Methodist Church and explains how he is not putting new wine into the old wineskins. "I am a different person altogehter" he was heard to say. He finishes with a teaching on Mark 2:18-22 when Jesus was confronted about why His disciples did not fast.
Jesus goes to a place called Gehsemene and near there is a garden. Here He willingly says to God, I will die if I must. What are you willing to give up to further enhance your relationship with your Father in Heaven? Pastor Ian delivers an emotional sermon about being a willing sacrifice for God.
Pastor Ian's Easter message. He lives and because He lives, he is not a passive being. He is active and alive and working in your life. He is living with you and in you and your life can be different, just because He Lives!
Pastor Ian encourages us to find out who we are in the Palm Sunday story and then take our place in that story if we want to be someone else. A great way to tie in Palm Sunday with one's calling in life. You don't want to miss this one.
Don't Just Ask For A Few - Taken from 2 Kings 4 when Elisha is speaking to the poor widow regarding the oil. Pastor Ian talks to us about stepping boldly into all that we do. To go boldly before God and to not just ask for a few.
The written word is powerful and lasts longer than verbal words. When we write, we can look back and see how we progressed. We can also leave a legacy for our children. Pastor Ian explores the tool of the trade of journaling with us.
In a powerful move, Pastor Ian starts this message with a conversation with God to demonstrate what prayer really is. He also calls upon the audience in what turns out to be a beautiful prayer for Ukraine. Be sure you listen to this one.
Worship is not only commanded by God and made for God, but it changes us when we do it. This is a great message by Pastor Ian on what worship is and how it is a tool of the trade. It is a reflection of God in us.
It's Okay to be quiet. Solitude is an often overlooked tool of the trade but one that Pastor Ian lays out wonderfully in this very impactful sermon on being quiet and letting God work.
Pastor Ian continues the series on Tools Of The Trade with what reading The Bible does for us. The BIble is alive and well and it was written for us.
Continuing the series on tools of the trade and in particular fasting, Pastor Ian uses a passage from John 4 to talk about how self denial deepens our relationship with God. visit our website thefulcrumcenter.org to learn more.
Pastor Ian speaks on fasting as a spiritual discipline. This is the first in a series on fasting, prayer, reading scripture. worship, and more.
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Based on 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, this sermon is about being a new creation in Christ. We can falter and fail a lot. We are human, it's who we are. But God, Christ Jesus, is reconciling us back to Him. This great comeback is what reconciliation is all about. Phil compares this to reconciling a checkbook and talks about a "bank error in his favor" or was it the cable company?
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Pastor Ian starts a new sermon series called "Tools Of The Trade" in which he will discuss various spiritual disciplines including prayer, scripture reading, fasting, journaling, worship and more. This sermon is an introduction and a very down to earth explanation of what is to come.
Visit our website at TheFulcrumCenter.org and catch our radio station @ fulcrumcradio.org or download the Live365 smartphone app. You can also view this podcast on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1OTTS6kh4w Be sure to catch our other podcasts, UpLift and Bible Time just search for both and Fulcrum Center to the search and they will come up.
Finishing the Romans 8 series, Pastor Ian speaks on how nothing that is created can separate us from the creator. This is a powerful moving message to conclude this series and one that we should all listen to more than once. Too often feel "I've done this or that" and God can't possibly love me. Not so. This is a must lsiten.
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Pastor Ian sits down to talk about what God has revealed to him for 2022. All things new and there is a message for each of us in this sermon.
With the year coming to an end, it can be a scary time. What will 2022 bring us? Pastor Ian continues his series from Romans 8 and covers verses 26-28 and speaks about how faith in Christ can change our being. He also covers an encounter from Mark 9. You certainly want to hear this one.
The third Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of Joy and Pastor Ian explains to us what Joy is and where it comes from.
For the second Sunday of Advent, Pastor Ian walks us through the gift of peace. What it is, how to use it, and most importantly, how to walk in it. This is a great sermon for the season.
The first Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of Hope. Pastor Ian tells us what Hope is and what it is not.
Pastor Ian returns to deliver the sermon after being off dealing with Covid. You will want to listen to this one. He reminds us to embrace the journey God has us on.
Pastor Phil fills in one more time for Ian, who will likely return next week and discusses freedom, calling, and building a stronger relationship with God through submission and surrender.
In part two of the rethink sermon series, Phil asks us to think about how we view our salvation. It is a tremendous gift we neither earn, nor can ever lose.
How do we look at the gifts of the Spirit? How do we feel about healing? Is it for us? Phil takes a dive into this topic and asks us to rethink what we have been taught.
Pastor Phil fills in for Pastor Ian. The first step in a fulfilling life with Christ is being born again, but steps 2 and 3 will be discussed as well in this episode.
You have probably heard 1 Corinthians 13 at a wedding, but guest speaker Phil Bliss speaks about how God's love is more than what we think.
Continuing with the Romans Series, Pastor Ian discusses how we are adopted into the family of God
Continuing in Romans 8, Pastor Ian talks about how our obligation is to the spirit and not to the sinful flesh.
Continuing the series on Romans 8, Pastor Ian tells us to listen for the pronouns when discerning who is speaking to us, God or the enemy. He continues to remind us how Paul taught we are not led by the sinful nature when we put our trust and faith in God.
The battle of the flesh vs the spirit is one that every human faces whether they realize it or not. But in this sermon, Pastor Ian takes it by the horns and delivers what may be his most powerful sermon ever.
Pastor Ian was asked to preach on Romans 8. So in this video, he gives an overview of the history of the letter to the Roman Church and covers verses 1 through 4 in this exegetical series on Romans 8
Pastor Ian finishes the Samson series with the story of Samson and Delilah. He tells us how we can finish strong and also how the enemy tries to derail us along our journey.
Continuing the series on Samson, Pastor Ian relates to a personal event that happened earlier in the week and speaks about how when God's spirit joins your fights in life.
Beginning a series on Samson, Pastor Ian talks about how Samson received his commission and turns this into how we can help others become who God designed them to be.
Finishing up the series on Noah, Pastor Ian focuses on the promise of God and how our obedience and patience leads us to the fulfillment of God's promise. When it's time to leave the ark, God will let us know and give us a promise.
A gripping sermon by Pastor Ian on the patience that God gives us. Noah didn't just wait, he was patient.
Continuing the series on Noah, Pastor Ian speaks of God's protection, especially when we are asked to build an ark.
Starting a series on Noah, Pastor Ian tells us to prepare for rain and explains what rain is to us spiritually
Taken from the famous story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Pastor Ian talks about the times we may find ourselves within the fiery furnace of life.
Concluding a powerful sermon series, Pastor Ian speaks about worship and draws from the passage where Jesus and the woman at the well talk about who worships where.
In a very engaging sermon, Pastor Ian continues the series of the woman at the well, focussing on the water. What quenches your thirst? I bet your answer is different after listening to this one.
From John chapter 4, Pastor Ian starts a series as part of Life Stories regarding the woman at the well.
Guest Speaker Kathy McLeish pulls out points from Esther 4 to show how God was working in this situation.
Taken from Esther Chapter 6, Pastor Ian speaks of Divine Reversal, and confesses something that happened to him as well.
Taken from Matthew 6:25-34 and the passage about worry, Phil speaks about how experiencing God helps us when trials come our way.
The power of God is alive in you. How does the empty tomb empower our lives. How can we leave our tombs we have created.
Reflecting on the Palm Sunday story, pastor Ian asks "Who are you in the story?" A great time of personal reflection.
Continuing the life lessons series, Pastor Ian talks about how David was positioned to become king, but what happened afterwards as well.
Beginning a series on David as part of Life Stories, Pastor Ian discusses how David was chosen and hidden.
What happened when Jonah obeyed? People were saved! Our obedience affects ourselves and others too.
Starting a new series on Life Stories where he will take childhood Bible stories and apply them to life, Pastor Ian starts with the story of Jonah and the Whale and reminds us that God Chose You.
Kathy McCleish fills in with a wonderful message about the old hymn "It is Well With My Soul"
God doesn't make a promise to us only for us to choose our own way when things go badly. He wants us to stay focused.
Walking through the call of Abraham's life to go to a foreign land, the promised land. What is the promised land God is calling you to?
With the promises of God, we can lean into our new year with a hope of fulfilled promises.
There are many times in our lives where we have an in between time. What we do with that time changes everything.
The shepherds that saw the angels announcing the birth of Christ were in Awe at what had happened. Have you ever been in Awe? When God moves in our lives, Awe is the normal response.
When we are thankful in all circumstances, we invite God into our presence and the atmosphere around us changes.
From the living bread kitchen, to online Bible Studies and podcasts, and now radio spots, God has given us a great reach and more is coming.
Before we move on to the belt of truth, we take a moment to review the shield of faith.
What are the fiery arrows of the enemy? How are they shot at us and what happens if they hit us?
Our supernatural defense against the enemy. This is the first sermon in a series on the shield of faith and is part of the Armor of God series.
The Battlefield of the mind Part 4 - Make A Plan. We plan for work, for vacations, for our day in general but do we make a plan for when the tough times in life come? We really should. Tune in to find out Pastor Ian's advice.
We are told to take every thought Captive, but just how do we do that? How do we align our thoughts with God?
The greatest battles are fought in the six inches between the ears. The battlefield of the mind. The helmet of salvation in the armor of God series